Bill Rappleye, City Council candidate: intro - Used to be on WVC planning commission, loves Draper and is a champion of anyone who wants to be involved, running for a second term, was on the Draper planning commission.
Phil Shell, Mayor: attorney, owns land and has lived here a long time, wants everyone to get along, enjoys problem-solving and looking for win-win solutions.
Jeff Stenquist, City Council candidate: moved to Draper in 1996, software engineer, 4 kids, running for a third term, made difficult decisions over the years, made a lot of progress with SunCrest properties that benefit the entire city.
Troy Walker, Mayor (current City Council member): moved here in 2003, attorney, 4 kids, love/hate relationship w/gov't, gov't should provide services we can't provide for ourselves, then get out of the way. Businesses in Draper support the community and help keep taxes low. Believes in open space, volunteerism, sense of community, has been involved in Haunted Hollow, Draper Days etc.
Michele Weeks, City Council candidate: Thinks Draper is growing too fast. Roads, sewers and schools can't handle the growth. From Maryland.
1. What is the biggest issue in Draper and how would you address it?
Michele Weeks: Draper is growing too fast. Slow the growth and have diversity in lot sizes. Education is not doing well in Draper.
Troy Walker: Managing growth, paying bills and maintaining quality of life. We need the right business, right employers, finding companies to bring to Draper. For example, Edwards Life Sciences, making heart valves, cutting-edge technology. Balanced budget every year. Parks and open spaces need to be maintained. Responsive and responsible.
Jeff Stenquist: Concerned about economic development because not enough businesses to support the community/population. Since he has been on, IKEA and multiple companies have been vetted and are in Draper. If state moves prison, we need to figure out how to redevelop property in the best way to benefit residents.
Phil Shell: Communities suffer without solid economic base. Master plan for prison property. Need to be aggressive but not give away the farm. Wants to increase volunteerism.
Bill Rappleye: Issue makes it sound like a bad thing. We try to balance economics with what is best for the city. Buying SunCrest increased property values, for example. City does not have much say in education. It is the district's responsibility. City's job is to keep taxes low, protect your property rights and keep taxes low.
2. How have you contributed to our community already and how would you get others of all ages involved?
Troy Walker: Talks to neighbors, works on trails, involved w/Mayor's Youth Council, community events. Been on City Council for six years. Chaired Park Committee for Draper Days, Haunted Hollow, parades etc. Encourage people to get involved. Coached Draper sports for many years as well.
Jeff Stenquist: activist, lobbied for changes with City Council, was asked to run for City Council and lost, but gained experience. Served on Planning Commission, helped to understand the role of City Council, land use, zoning, and legal issues. Liaison to Parks/Trails committee, Arts Foundation, Draper Days, coach HS mountain bike team. Likes to be involved to be a good example to his kids, to show them the importance of being involved.
Phil Shell: sense of community, wife has gotten him involved in a lot of things, worked on Draperville area of Draper Days for the kids, Haunted Hollow booth, amateur ham radio operator, emergency communications team, getting kids involved is good, interested in having grandparents tutor kids in schools.
Bill Rappleye: Board member for Volunteers of America, lost his first city council election, learned a lot, helped fund and work on restoration of the Fitzgerald property, serves on Emergency Prep committee and is on the Tree Commission, loves it when the kids get involved - Youth Council is a great program, so is DARE. Volunteerism is critical to the success of our community.
Michele Weeks: Traveled to 35 countries after high school, helped build community centers, schools, orphanages, understood the power of one individual. She is Mrs. Utah, a lobbyist for heart association, encourages us to take control of heart disease, works on pageants, and in schools. Wants to make society a better place.
3. How will you decrease crime and increase safety awareness, particularly for TRAX in Draper?
Jeff Stenquist: Draper made the decision to have its own police department, low crime rates but still eye-opening to see the amount of crime that goes on. TRAX adds a wrinkle, but it's not soon enough to tell what impact there will be, although I understand the concerns.
Phil Shell: Occasionally when he was a kid, there would be prison escapees. Grateful that doesn't happen anymore. My dad keeps an eye on my property, citizens can be alert and report things to the police. That is priceless as we watch out for each other.
Bill Rappleye: City is working on several solutions, trying to use more officers without increasing taxes to pay for them. Watch out for your neighbors. Lots of crimes of opportunity can be prevented by awareness. Working for three years on UFA training processes to do Fire School in Draper. Emergency Prep committee helps educate how to be safer. Work w/neighbors, families, firemen and police to stay vigilant.
Michele Weeks: 30% of our budget goes to public safety. Crime is low. She lived in NYC for 13 years, rode subway, looked after her stuff. We can increase safety awareness. People who live by the park are afraid that the homeless will use TRAX and start living in the park. She got a ticket, wants to put officers in the park. Hopes TRAX won't damper quality of life.
Troy Walker: Rides w/police officers every quarter. Has two ladies in his neighborhood dubbed "The Sheriffs". Supports neighbors watching out for each other. Was on hiring committee for Chief Bryan Roberts, focusing on treating citizens with respect they deserve. Public safety is expensive. On UTA Board, appointed by Speaker of the House, keeping an eye on process.
High-density housing. Question from the audience.
Phil Shell: From a planning perspective, every community needs it. Best place is close to freeway, doesn't wan tit to creep into our neighborhoods.Doesn't oppose them in the right spots.
Bill Rappleye: Process starts with land use map. Developers want x, y, or z because of market forces coming into play.
Michele Weeks: Not a fan of high-density housing. Concerned about impact on roads, sewers, schools. Lot sizes should not be small.
Troy Walker: Lived in HD housing until out of school, great experience. Our job as council members is to make sure the property fits within the zone and that it meets code. Let the market drive the zoning.
Jeff Stenquist: Supports a variety of housing densities, wants to step it out and include more HD next to transportation corridors.
Mining at point of mountain impacting environment and paragliding. Question from the audience.
Bill Rappleye: Met w/Geneva Rock, trying to find a win-win situation, it's like asking someone to walk away from a gold mine.
Michele Weeks: Don't have a quick solution. Dust issue is disturbing. They've had the permits before we were Draper. Many voices affect change.
Troy Walker: Owners of gravel quarries pay lots of sale tax in Draper. They bring revenue and employ a lot of people in the city. State controls the air quality. Draper has worked with the state to make sure Geneva is in compliance, suggests lobbying the legislature since they have authority over the issue. Don't expect an easy solution and don't expect everyone to get everything they want. Compromise has to be a part of the negotiation.
Jeff Stenquist: Shocked by the impact. Met with Paragliding Association, then with the company and how their plans work. Met again w/Geneva and SL County, discussions in process, very helpful, tried to open lines of communication and start the dialogue. Looking to preserve ridgeline and air flow. Cities do not have the authority to regulate mining operations in their town. However, we want to advocate and make sure our voice is heard.
Phil Shell: Two things: 1. air quality - state determines if it's in compliance, if not city can lend voice to help citizens. 2. Steep Mountain is a unique resource. If it disappears we can't get it back. City can support efforts to maintain it - we have to try.
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