I went to the Alpine City Council meeting tonight.  Alpine City has some of the lowest taxes and lowest debt for cities in all of Utah County (they owe under 5 million dollars total).  I had heard that their City Council reviews the cities financial details regularly at their Council meetings, and I thought maybe we could learn something from them. 

I liked how multiple members on the Council asked sincere questions of those who were presenting information to them.  There was no sense of hostility, just a genuine interest in finding out information to make the best possible decisions.  I liked this free flow of information and the open atmosphere where dialogue could occur.

I didn't realize that Alpine City just recently had their credit rating upgraded two notches on their existing debt, from AA- to AA.  This unusual and positive result was said to be due to the strong cash balances the city maintains in various accounts.  The raters also liked that the city had a 5 year plan, both in general, and for specific accounts, with goals and steps laid out for achieving those goals.  Another factor mentioned in the credit rating upgrade was the cities relatively low debt.  

Someone at the meeting mentioned that Alpine City doesn't have any large shopping districts to provide a strong revenue source like many other cities have, yet they were still able to achieve a strong financial position (through fiscal discipline).  Their council did seem unified in their desire to have a fiscally sound city.  For example, one Council member asked questions of the City Manager about pension and retirement benefits.  It didn't seem like he was looking to cut benefits, rather he simply wanted to understand the cities liability for such benefits (perhaps to make sure those liabilities were adequately covered).  He mentioned that he had been reviewing the city of Stockton California (a financially troubled city) and wanted to make sure his city didn't face similar challenges.  Another Councilman inquired about the 7 million dollar cash balance on the balance sheet.  He clarified that he wasn't looking for 7 million to raid and spend, rather, he wanted to make clear that 7 million was spread out over several accounts to cover operating expenses, and should be left alone. 

I think the current American Fork City Council also wants to have a financially strong city.  Maybe there are some things that Alpine City is doing right that we can also do in American Fork City.

New Red Tape for Landlords

I was disappointed to see the American Fork City Council unanimously add a new layer of bureaucracy, including a brand new $50 tax/fee, to those in American Fork City who may at some future point, or who now, rent their property.  I'm not yet sworn in as a City Councilman (that will happen January 6, 2014, at noon, at the historic Council Hall in American Fork) but I would have voted against this measure.  I spoke out publicly against the new tax/fee and this red tape regulation at last night's meeting (November 19, 2013).

The new measure requires property owners to pay a $50 fee to register their contact information with the city, or face several hundred dollars in fines and possible jail time.  They must also pay a renewal fee each year, even if their contact information hasn't changed.  The requirement is for those who rent their property, with some minor exceptions.

One current council member claimed we have a "conservative" council.  I have to disagree.  Conservatives don't add new layers of bureaucracy, new fee structures, and new regulations targeted at businesses and property owners (and residents!).  This new ordinance will only serve to make our city a less desirable place to live in, to do business in, and to own property in.  I believe the measure will have the opposite effect the Council intended. 

I note that Utah County already maintains property owner contact information for all property located in Utah County, including American Fork City landowners.  The county uses this information to collect property taxes annually, and this same contact information is already accessible to the police and public, at no cost to American Fork City.

Several American Fork City citizens and landowners who were present at last nights meeting also noted that the city already maintains contact information for property owners, including the phone number, through the city's utility billing system.  (In American Fork City, the utility/water bill is in the property owner's name and goes to the property owner's mailing address, not to the renter.)  One citizen commented he knows the system works because he's had test calls from the city on a number that is otherwise private.

While the current City Council voted unanimously for the measure, including Council members Rob Shelton, Brad Frost, Clark Taylor, Heidi Rodeback and Craig Nielsen, the citizens attending last nights meeting to speak during public comment were unanimous in their opposition to it! 

There seems to be some kind of disconnect between the current Council and the will of the Citizens.  That disconnect was made evident in the recent 2013 election, where a 20 million dollar bond proposal that the City Council approved of and lobbied hard for, was resoundingly defeated by over 71% of the electorate!  Two new city councilmen were also elected, defeating an appointed incumbent.  The Mayor, who had been quite popular, ended up having a closer than expected race. 

My faith in the common sense of my fellow citizens to do the right thing has been restored.  I know they are now watching what happens in our City government, and are holding elected officials even more accountable.

Victory Statement

"Thank you to the hard working  and concerned Citizens of American Fork, who carefully considered the future direction of our city and expressed their will at the ballot box.  I share the voter's vision of a low tax and eventually debt free city, and shall work to make that vision a reality.  We live in a great city, and together we will make it even better!"

"I look forward to working with the Citizens of American Fork, new and existing City Council members, the Mayor, and city staff, to do what is best for our city."

"I would like to halt future utility rate increases, establish an objective process for prioritizing road improvements, make minor adjustments to the budget to better fund road improvements, and I want to protect the Rights of all Citizens."

Election Results

(unofficial) Election Results:

Against the Bond - 2798  (the Bond failed, a win for citizens!)

Carlton Bowen - 2521  (We won!  Thank you!!!)

Jeff Shorter - 2285  (Another win!  Congrats Jeff!)

James Hadfield - 2064  (Congratulations Mayor.)

Thank you!

Best Citizens and Citizens group ever!

We did it!!!

I received my 5th mailer on the bond today, but this one also campaigned for Mayor Hadfield, at city expense.  Sending out a 5th mailer to every household in AF City, this time with a large color picture of the Mayor on the front, at city expense, 2 days before an election with a contested Mayoral race, strikes me as not only wasteful of city resources, but also as implying city endorsement of a particular candidate.