Mayoral candidates
Natalie Hall
Occupation: Bluffdale’s emergency program manager.
As the Salt Lake Valley continues its booming growth, what are your solutions for affordable housing, preserving community character and creating a high quality of life for city residents?
Bluffdale has unique and diverse housing. Every home and property is important. As mayor, I want our residents and business owners to know their land and homes will be preserved. I will support the work Bluffdale has done to plan for affordable housing. We currently have two large, income-based housing developments that have brought good families and people to our community. Bluffdale also allows for accessory dwelling units in all residential zones where single-family dwellings are permitted.
I will support the update to the general plan, which looks at all aspects of the city for our future growth. Planning for future affordable housing, more well-planned economic growth, streets, water and other infrastructure is vital. The way we preserve community character in Bluffdale is to continue to maintain and plan for open space and trails, provide the best possible public safety and work together as residents and business owners. I will make this planning a priority.
Besides affordable housing, what are the two biggest challenges facing the city in the next four years, and what are some specific programs or policy changes you will introduce to solve them?
One priority will be to focus on bringing more economic growth and services so we can shop locally. The current council has had a grocery study analysis completed, had an impact fee study completed and met monthly to discuss new ways to encourage business to come to our city. I am committed to working with the council to plan for new business in Bluffdale, looking at our city code to make sure it is business friendly and updating our general plan to include economic development.
Another focus as mayor is connecting the east side and west side of Bluffdale. We are looking at improvements to our trestle bridge and studying areas where a walking bridge will allow our children to safely get to school over the river and train tracks. The completion of Porter Rockwell Boulevard is also a high priority for connection and transportation. I will communicate with residents and business owners about the progress of these projects and ask those who live or work by the projects to be involved in the planning. This can be accomplished by serving on citizen committees.
What are your ideas for investing federal pandemic aid in the city, including funds left over from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act as well as funds from the American Rescue Plan Act?
Bluffdale used CARES Act funds to support our first responders. A potential use for rescue plan funds includes opportunities for investing in infrastructure in the community. I will examine accelerating water or stormwater projects and/or using the money on specific broadband communications needs.
What is a fun or unique fact about you?
I am a flute teacher, hockey mom of five children, married 25 years and completed a half ironman.
John Roberts
Occupation: Retired fire chief.
As the Salt Lake Valley continues its booming growth, what are your solutions for affordable housing, preserving community character and creating a high quality of life for city residents?
We have added more affordable and low-income housing options over the past seven years. Bluffdale has a diverse community with several unique neighborhoods and developments. Each has its own attractive attributes. We have property with animal rights to dense neighborhoods with many parks and amazing trails through both. I look forward to preserving the positive attributes each area values. I will be working to bring the retail amenities that our city is striving for and creating a sense of unity through open space uses, walkable lifestyles, and recreation accessibility. I believe responsible housing growth is very important as we utilize logical areas for placement with capable infrastructure.
Besides affordable housing, what are the two biggest challenges facing the city in the next four years, and what are some specific programs or policy changes you will introduce to solve them?
Most important is public safety and keeping up with the demands of growth. We will need more police and fire staffing, and I have great working relationships with our agencies. I will continue to look to their needs with efficient and supportive plans for expansion. Transportation, traffic and parking will always be at the forefront of priorities for a city growing as fast as we are. I will work with public transportation to build a positive plan that will serve our city well into the future. I look to implement parking strategies for our current areas that have a demand that is greater than its capacity.
Our residents need more retail, recreation and entertainment within our own city. They want it, and we will work hard to bring greater focus on these issues. We will need businesses, and facilities both private and public, that provide this quality of life. Bringing in a greater tax base, to keep our property taxes low while accomplishing these things, will be a major priority.
What are your ideas for investing federal pandemic aid in the city, including funds left over from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act as well as funds from the American Rescue Plan Act?
There are many areas that Bluffdale can benefit from these funds. Most of our funds thus far have gone to our public safety — namely our fire department. This has been long overdue and has been a great blessing. As we move forward, we have many options that can be brought before us for use of these funds. I look forward to working with our various departments as they bring forth their suggestions for our city council to sift through and ultimately move forward with.
What is a fun or unique fact about you?
I have lived and worked in Bluffdale longer than it has been its own city.
Council candidates
At-large candidates
Wendy W. Aston
Traci Crockett
Blain Dietrich
Tammy L. Rasmussen
Connie Robbins
