Draper City Talk

Draper City Police Chief Rich Ferguson and Fire Chief Clint Smith join Mayor Walker on the podcast to discuss the recruitment and retention challenges public safety professions currently experience, and the measures Draper City have taken to bring in and keep qualified personnel in these departments.

Utah League of Cities and Towns Director Cameron Diehl and Deputy Director Justin Lee join Mayor Walker on the podcast to discuss proposed legislation related to gravel pit operations and their potential impacts on communities in Utah, including Draper.

Cameron Diehl, Executive Director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) discusses the 2024 Utah State Legislative Session, the role of ULCT during the session with respect to advocating for local government, and how some bills impact communities

Significant progress was made in 2023 with The Point development at the former state prison site, including the demolition of the prison, approval of funding from the state legislature, long-range transportation plans, and a signed agreement with development partners for phase one.

The Point Executive Director Alan Matheson again joins Mayor Walker to provide an update about this historic development that will change the landscape of Draper and Utah.

Maintaining adequate water supply and service in Utah will require smart planning, the investment of billions of dollars in infrastructure, and the cooperation of all residents to conserve this vital resource.

Maura Carabello of the Exoro Group and Tage Flint of Utah Water Ways join Mayor Walker to discuss their participation in a recent water conference where projections were presented about the future of water in Utah.

Parks & Recreation Director Rhett Ogden shares details about recent storm impacts on parks and trails and upcoming projects including a conservation garden, more pickleball courts, trail improvements and connections. Did someone say disc golf?

Although record snow has greatly improved drought conditions in Utah this year, Utah will always need to be concerned about drought. Draper City recently took an additional step in long-term planning for water conservation as the city council adopted changes to our landscaping requirements to make them more water-wise, including the adoption of Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District’s (JVWCD) standards for water efficiency. The City’s application of these new requirements and standards will be mainly focused on new development but with these changes come additional benefits for current residents and businesses who want to make the change to more water-efficient landscaping.

Cynthia Bee, Public Information Officer for Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and Jennifer Jastremsky, Community Development Director for Draper City join Mayor Walker to discuss these changes and benefits.

Representatives for Draper in the Utah State Legislature, Senator Kirk Cullimore and Representative Jeff Stenquist recap items of interest to Draper residents from the 2023 legislative session, share requests or feedback they've received from constituents, and discuss long-term goals they feel are important for the state to address.

With snow totals reaching levels not seen for 20 or more years, we look forward to the warmer temperatures of spring. But, all that snow melting too quickly can bring other concerns – particularly the potential for flooding.

Draper City Public Works Director/City Engineer Scott Cooley and Assistant City Manager Bret Millburn discuss the groundwater flooding that some residents experienced this winter, runoff flooding mitigation plans for spring, and tips to help prevent flooding at your property.

Community involvement and belonging have great benefits for our health and wellbeing. Draper City offers a wonderful variety of recurring community events - from the Easter Egg Hunt to the Haunted Trail, fun times are just around the corner. Community Events Manager David Wilks and Chief of Staff Kellie Challburg give a preview of events for 2023 and discuss how residents can get involved behind-the-scenes. Other volunteer opportunities are available on one of the City's commissions or committees.