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Archive for May, 2010
Bike-to-Work Day
Tuesday is Provo’s Bike-to-Work Day. Show up at the Provo Historic Courthouse at 7:30 a.m. for free bike tune-ups, free helmets, and a celebratory bicycle ride with Mayor Curtis.
The Provo Bicycle Committee has also planned a Bikebecue (bike-in barbecue) for 6:00 p.m. that evening. Show up at Rowley Press in downtown Provo for a leisurely ride to Paul Ream Wilderness Park. Charcoal will be provided – cyclists should carry along whatever they’d like to eat.
More info on these and other Bike Week events can be found on BikeProvo.org.
Council Meeting Preview – May 18
There’s a lot on the agenda for Tuesday’s city council meeting. Here are a few of the key issues the public will be asked to give their opinions about:
Should the municipal power rates be increased? The Energy department has asked for an increase in rates – 11% this year and 6% next year.
Should municipal water rates be increased? The Director of Public Works has recommended that rate will be increased by 15% during summer months.
Should the Water Department refinance bonds? The water department is asking to refinance Storm Water bonds in order to fund approximately $3 million in additional capital improvements.
Additionally, the council will vote on grants to be used for funding the Police Department, the Fire Department, and the Provo City Library.
If you’d like to share your input or see what your neighbors have to say, don’t forget to show up tonight at 7:00 p.m.
As always, you can download the official council agenda from the Provo City website.
Council Meeting Recap – May 4
During the last city council meeting, we heard from many residents that came to share their views on the new bus rapid transit system and other city issues. Here’s what was discussed:
UTA will continue plans to add a bus rapid transit system on University Ave. Bus rapid transit is a bus system that runs like a train – it has its own dedicated lanes in the middle of a street and has fewer stops than a regular bus. I voted against the University Avenue proposal because I felt that the location would have negative repercussions for downtown businesses as the area continues to develop.
I put a lot of thought into this decision and spent many hours meeting with business owners on both University Ave. and Freedom Blvd. Ultimately, all of the owners on University Ave. I was able to speak with opposed the plan. The dedicated bus lanes will likely eliminate many of the parking spaces used by their customers; many of these small business owners have no off-street parking and worry about the financial impact on struggling downtown businesses.
The council will appropriate $550,000 for the Airport Fund. Council members voted unanimously to dedicate these funds to preparing the Provo Airport for commercial flight services. Soon, residents will be able to fly from their home city rather than driving out to Salt Lake. Like many of the residents I’ve spoken to about this issue, I’m excited about the economic benefits this will bring to Provo.
City code will reflect department restructuring. The administration has asked to update city code to reflect changes to the way some departments are structured. The council unanimously supported this proposal.
As always, you can watch the entire city council meeting online at any time through Provo Chanel 17. You can also view meeting agendas and minutes through the Provo City website.
Council Meeting Preview – May 4
Show up at tonight’s council meeting for a chance to weigh-in on some important issues including budget allocations and the new Bus Rapid Transit route.
At the meeting, there will be public hearings for the following issues:
Should UTA add the Bus Rapid Transit Route on University Ave. or Freedom? Bus Rapid Transit is a fast bus system that acts like a train. It comes more regularly, has fewer stops, and drives on its own dedicated lanes. In Provo, Bus Rapid Transit buses are expected to come every five minutes, making it easy for people to get where they’re going. These buses will have their own lanes in the center of the street, much like the train system in Salt Lake. UTA has suggested that University Ave. is the best place for the new route. However, Freedom Blvd. is also an alternative.
Should the council appropriate $550,000 for the Airport Fund? Commercial flights may soon be landing in Provo. This will bring new business and income to the city – plus, we won’t have to ride down to Salt Lake when we need to fly. The funding appropriation will help the airport prepare for the big changes.
Other issues on the agenda include an ordinance regarding the time allotted for homes to connect to the sewer system, insurance-related changes to the municipal code, and the authorization of a municipal recreation grant application.
As always, you can download the official council agenda from the Provo City website.
I apologize for the lack of posts over the past week as I was out sick. Please keep coming back updates about our district. If you ever need to reach me, don’t hesitate to call or email.
