The Pioneer Post Volume V Issues 1-3 Marriott-Slaterville City Newsletter February 2003 1195 West 400 North, MSC, UT 84404 (627-1919, Fax 627-1880) State of the City Address Keith H. Butler, Mayor We have been very fortunate in our community to not suffer from a dramatic revenue short-fall in light of the continuing weak economy. Fortunately, our sales-taxes business base has proved quite stable. As you probably already know, the state government has not been as fortunate, struggling with its incredulous budget short-fall. Now, my concern is that the state is seeking to balance its shortfall problems with money from local governments. The state has already cut the local government liquor funds by taking the money we use to fight drunk driving to apply it to the state's budget shortfall. Now, the legislature is limiting local government road funds received from the gas tax, and taking this money which we use to maintain roads, to pay state losses. officials in Marriott-Slaterville have been very frugal with our tax revenues, resulting in yearly budget surpluses. Even in 2002, when the state faced 100 million dollar losses, the city came out, according to our audit, $21,000 ahead. Realize though, that our surplus is minuscule when compared to the state budget. However, it does show the efforts that your leaders exert in keeping the budget in-line. Although our community, along with others, is not going unscathed by the state's budgetary problems, facing a loss of increase in our road funds, I anticipate that some public improvements on roads may need to be postponed. Also, new development will be more strictly scrutinized to analyze its benefits versus its costs to the community. Be aware that development projects which require costly additional services, such as police, roads, and sewer maintenance, may be detrimental to our current tax base, even when such development projects are commercial in nature. Another issue that will effect each of us very soon is a federal mandate for storm water control. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a mandate that all cities and counties on the Wasatch Front must develop, implement, and fund a storm water management program. The notice of intent outlining the storm water program must be completed and submitted to the state by March 10, 2003. We have worked closely with Weber County to follow the practices that the county and other cities will be utilizing. In order to meet the federal mandated deadline, the administration submitted to the council its proposed plan and regulations for storm water, including the necessary funding element. The council held a public hearing and approved this storm water program for the city. The council also implemented the monthly EPA storm water fee required to fund the storm water program in the amount of $3 per home. For businesses, the fee is $3 for each equivalent residential unit, meaning the more asphalt and concrete at a business, the higher the fee. Starting March 2003, this fee will be included on your monthly water bill. The fee was set at this amount based upon a fee study which was conducted by a civil engineer who examined the impervious surface area in the community. The amount is at or below what many other communities are charging for their particular storm water program. Also, it is my understanding after my conversations with the county storm water official, that Weber County may also impose its fee at $3 for residents and businesses in the unincorporated areas. The program created by the federal storm water mandate is quite complicated and expensive to handle. However, the city must comply with the law or face steep fines and penalties from the federal government. In order to facilitate the implementation of this new program, the city has hired a new employee to manage storm water and development issues. I welcome Ken Martin, to our administrative team. Ken will lead the Community Development Department which is responsible for the storm water program, zoning administration, building and inspections, and oversees development and public works. Ken has 32 years of experience as a building inspector with North Ogden. As a community, our most important asset is the public we serve. Living on the Wasatch Front has dangers and liabilities that many in our community may not realize. The interstate through our community poses a great risk of accidents involving hazardous waste or materials. Also, the risk of an earthquake on the Wasatch Fault is another threat to our homes and families. The soil in our area has a high potential for liquefaction in the event of an earthquake which could result in catastrophic property damage. Another threat is the flood plain that covers nearly one-third of our city. Although we are presently in a drought cycle, that cycle could change again in a few years to a flood cycle. Not so long ago, in 1983, there were many areas of this community under water because the Great Salt Lake rose high enough that the river backed up, submerging much land in this community. This flooding historically seems to happen every 20-30 years.