Responding to Neighborhood Needs
July 21, 2009
In most municipalities, council members are elected by the city as a whole. But, Provo is unique. Here, each district chooses the person they want representing their area.
Council members have a responsibility to listen to all of their constituents and serve as a voice for the neighborhoods that select them.
The Facts:
- Residents rarely have up-to-date information about council decisions that will affect their neighborhood. Currently, residents need to attend a lengthy city council meeting or wait approximately two weeks after the meeting to access the minutes. Often, people miss the opportunity to share their opinion on the issues that matter to them. (See: Provo City)
- The previous council decided to fund iProvo, a high-speed internet venture, without a vote from the tax-payers. iProvo was a colossal failure and has already wasted more than $8 million. In 2008, the city sold it to private company Broadweave, promising to take it back if it failed. Now that Broadweave doesn’t have enough funds to make payments without drawing from their surety deposit, the people of Provo may have to take on the massive $39.6 million bond. (See: Salt Lake Tribune, Reason Foundation, Daily Herald)
- Council decisions often end in a stalemate when members fail to listen to all of their constituents. The previous council has had difficulty resolving the North Joaquin parking permit issue in a way that benefits long-term homeowners and renters because many were angered when the council made a plan before listening to both sides of the issue. (See: Daily Herald)
The Sterling Solution
I recognize the opportunity and responsibility that district-wide elections hold. As a city council member, my door will be open to all residents of the district. Homeowners, renters, long-term residents, and students will be welcomed.
I’ll also focus on transparency and provide my district with up-to-date reports on what the council is doing. Within two days after a city council meeting, I’ll post new information on a website accessible to everyone.
I understand that the council’s decisions have a real impact on the people of Provo and will avoid any major undertaking without getting the input of the residents.
Revitalizing Downtown
July 19, 2009
Downtown is growing, but so much more needs to be done. Dozens of downtown buildings remain vacant, graffiti hurts our image, and many residents still choose surrounding cities when they want shop or dine.
It’s time for the city council to make downtown revitalization a priority, creating a new jobs and city revenue.
The Facts:
- A thriving downtown will benefit the entire city of Provo. Solutions for America explains: “…Research shows that a healthy and vibrant downtown boosts the economic health and quality of life in a community. Specifically, it creates jobs, incubates small businesses, reduces sprawl, protects property values, and increases the community’s options for goods and services. A healthy downtown is a symbol of community pride and history.” (See: Solutions for America)
- A single building cannot make a downtown area viable. The creation of a conference center or parking structure is not the “silver bullet” to downtown revitalization. Growth requires a plan and a concentrated effort. (See: Downtown Revitalization Myths)
- In many cities, tech companies are choosing to relocate downtown. They provide a business anchor for the area and their presence contributes to the success of nearby restaurants and retailers. (See: The Plain Dealer, Carleton University)
The Sterling Solution
Downtown is an important part of Provo’s character and heritage. My wife and I can often be found walking downtown, visiting at a local hamburger joint, browsing through the book stores, and sharing a gelato. As a council member, I’ll work to make the downtown experience even better for all of our residents.
As Provo becomes more attractive to tech companies and other businesses, many will choose to make downtown their home. The influx of people and money will contribute to the overall success of the area. I’ll work to make downtown bike-friendly, business-friendly, and family-friendly.
Jumpstarting Provo’s Economy
July 19, 2009
During the next few years, Provo has the unique opportunity to become a hub of technology and entrepreneurialism. By attracting tech companies to our city, we’ll jumpstart the local economy and create new jobs in every sector.
It’s time for the city council to focus on encouraging local business rather than competing with the private market.
The Facts:
- Utah in general is becoming an increasingly popular place for the tech industry. The state currently has over 5,000 technology companies employing 66,000 people. (See: Deseret News)
- Even during the recession, Utah’s tech companies have continued to grow. Between September 2007 and September 2008, marketing consulting grew 19.5% and information services grew a whopping 41.2%. (See: Utah Tech Council)
- Technology professionals contribute to the local economy. The overall Utah tech industry payroll is over $3.3 billion. The average tech company salary is 58% higher than Utah’s average annual non-agricultural wage. (See: Deseret News)
- According to Novell CEO Ron Hovsepian, tech companies are choosing Utah because of our “fantastic engineers that are innovative leaders, workforce with skills beyond technical ability, good balance of the right type of workers with professionalism and values, and low-cost data center facilities.” (See: Utah Tech Council)
- Instead of attracting these tech companies to Provo, previous councils made the mistake of undertaking a speculative tech venture themselves. The iProvo internet fiasco ended up wasting over $8 million. (See: Reason Foundation).
The Sterling Solution
Tech businesses are bringing their money to Utah and we want to be sure that many of them make Provo home.
If we want to make sure companies choose Provo, we need to stop driving them away with overbearing legislation. I have over a decade of experience working with the tech industry and know how to make this happen. As a council member, I’ll work to jumpstart our local economy by supporting programs and policies that make it easy for businesses to start or relocate here. I’ll also use my influence to ensure that the council remembers the proper role of government, focusing on supporting businesses rather than entering into ventures that are better left to private enterprise.
Bringing tech companies to Provo will benefit everyone. We’ll see more jobs and more business tax revenue for city services. The incoming funds can be used to support local schools, parks, and downtown revitalization.
