Progress

Last January I set myself ten goals for the year. (See post here.)

Six months into the year, it's time to check progress.

1. Support the Mayor's outlined objectives. Status: In progress.

Design and engineering on the secondary water system is 75 percent complete, and we still plan to meet our goal of installing the first third of the City by Spring 2008. We have formed a transportation committee and have given hours of scrutiny to UDOT's proposed redesign of the AF Main Street/I-15 interchange. For the downtown, we appropriated $100,000 in sidewalk funds to this area and are hoping to solve the problem of the bedraggled trees along Main Street -- we're looking into designs for planters. Last Thursday, we heard long-range needs from three City departments (recreation, cemetery and public works) -- an important first step toward long-range capital facilities planning. And we've entered into a letter of intent with a local firm, SURPHA, which will allow us to privatize the Broadband services enjoyed by some 1400 AF households. We're optimistic that this one will take.

2. Become a Tree City USA. Status: In progress.

We have nearly fulfilled the four requirements necessary to become a Tree City. (1) We have a tree board. (2) Said board, the Beautification and Shade Tree committee, has successfully completed a six-month course of study and has given direction as to content for our tree ordinance. (3) We have budgeted $2 per capita on trees. (4) We observe Arbor Day. So we're well on our way -- just have to get the ordinance written and fill out the application.

3. Upgrade the Arts Council by-laws. Status: In progress.

The by-laws are drafted and will hit the City Council agendas (and this blog) some time this summer.

4. Establish a partnership with The Music School to stabilize Concerts in the Park. Status: Done.

The Music School sponsored a bee-yu-ti-ful poster for the Concerts in the Park. I hope you've seen it around town. They'll also be sending their award-winning Crescent Super Band to perform for us in August. What's more, the City is, as we speak, installing lighting at the amphitheater and upgrading the sound system there.

5. Inventory the library's holdings. Stauts: Not done.

This will wait for the bottom half of the year.

(Actually, inventory is the wrong word. The library keeps, and has always kept, a thorough inventory. This goal is about creating an analysis of the inventory. The analysis will show, for every section of the Dewey decimal system, whether the collection has an adequate number of titles and whether the titles are current. This enables the City to focus future book dollars on areas of greatest need.)

6. Establish strong public communications policies and procedures. Status: In progress.

Last spring, the City appointed PR luminary Linda Walton to handle several public information functions, and we've been keeping her busy ever since. In the works: a re-design of the newsletter, a crisis communication plan, an aggressive communication plan for construction of the secondary irrigation system, and a Dan Jones survey that will provide the City Council with accurate data on what the public wants from American Fork. We also have hopes for a re-design of the City Web site.

7. Create a mission statement for Economic Development. Status: Done.

See my earlier post here.

8. Install and repair sidewalks in the Shelley School area. Status: In progress.

We applied for two federal grants to double our money. One failed. We're still waiting to hear on the second. Regardless of the outcome, we will enter into a contract this coming Tuesday night with J.U.B. Engineering for project design.

9. Finally finish the parks bond by installing curb and gutter at Art Dye and Hunter Parks. Status: In progress

The most significant thing we accomplished on this front was to budget for, and hire, a City Engineer. What this means is that our Public Works director, on whose desk this item sits, will now have more time and attention to devote to the cause. (Prior to this, he was in the dual-hat role of Public Works Director and City Engineer.)

10. Do all the above with no tax increases. Status: Done.

Not only did we not increase taxes this year, we actually gave tax relief to many households. Residents who paid $282 in City taxes on a $170,000 home last year will pay $206 this year on that same home.

(This is not actually a tax cut because there was no change in our certified tax rate. What's happening is that commercial properties in American Fork, which are rising in value, are paying a higher proportion of the City's tax dollars, thereby reducing the burden placed on households.)