Administrative Report and Partial List of Accomplishments For the Twelve Month Period  Ending December 31, 2001 

"Our greatest asset is the high quality and generosity of the people who live    here.  One of this Administration’s key goals is to work with our residents to     insure that Provo remains one of the best of the best, when it comes to idea   places for families to live, work, and play."
Mayor Lewis K. Billings
                            
Presentation by Mayor Lewis K. Billings
Provo City State of the City Report
January 4, 2002
  Provo City Key Highlights 2001

New Provo Library Opened: On September 8, 2001, the new Provo City Library at Academy Square was dedicated. Provo’s newly renovated Academy Square building is now home to a bustling, state-of-the-art library. The new library also houses an art gallery, conference rooms and a beautiful   ballroom that can seat 400.  Library usage is up over 20% since the        library opened in its new home.

The Angels: The Provo Angels played their first season in Provo. They are affiliated with the Anaheim Angels team in California. This Pioneer League Team was the only professional team in Utah to make the playoffs this year. Fund raising for a new $4.3 million stadium in Southeast Provo continues with $1.7 million remaining to be raised.

New Provo Airport Executive Terminal: Million Air, a fixed base operator at the Provo Airport, completed construction on a beautiful new executive terminal at the Provo Airport. Thanks to a unique public/private partnership, this terminal was completed without the use of any taxpayer dollars. It will now be available to all airport operators and users on a reasonable fee basis.

Sister City Relationship with the City of Meissen, Germany: Provo City established formal Sister City relational ties with the City of Meissen, Germany located in Eastern Germany approximately 30 miles from Dresden on the Elbe River. Meissen is world-famous for it very expensive and elegant Meissen Porcelain. Meissen, Germany now joins Nanning, China as Provo City’s two sister cities.
Completion of New Fire Station #5:  Provo City Facilities Services Department and the Provo City Fire Department deserve great praise for the completion of a beautiful new fire station that will provide more equal access in response times and emergency services delivery to the southeast portions of the City. This beautiful new station was completed with minimal budget overruns and is a wonderful enhancement to the 300 South State Street corridor. 

New Teen Center Open: Provo City Parks and Recreation professionals and the Provo Foundation deserve considerable  recognition for the successful funding and opening of the new Provo Teen Center in the former Utah National Guard Armory building. This unique facility is intended to provide a number of desirable programming options for teenage youth residing in Provo City.

Olympic Preparations: Provo City officials in almost every department, under the direction of Leland Gamette, worked very hard in preparation for three Olympic games related venues that will be conducted in Provo during the month of February. These are the Peaks Ice Arena Hockey Venue; the Downtown International Ice Carving Venue; and the Nu Skin World of Ice Venue. Thanks to the hard work of many individuals including Greg DuVal, Richard Healey, and others, Provo City will be a safe and wonderful place to be during the Olympic Winter Games.
        
Best Place for High Growth Companies: The National Commission on Entrepreneurship (NCOE) released its report High Growth Companies: Mapping America’s Entrepreneurial Landscape, that examined entrepreneurial growth in communities across the country.  The report found that the bulk of high growth companies in the last decade were not in Silicon Valley and Boston, but in cities like Provo, Utah. In fact, Provo was the only city that garnered a perfect score of 200 in the NCOE’s Growth Company Index (GCI).

Provo is a very safe place: A recently released report, based on F.B.I. statistics, noted that Provo had the second lowest rate of violent crime in the nation. Only Bismark, North Dakota rated as safer than Provo

List of Accomplishments 2001
(By Department)

Fire Department:  Delivery made of two new ambulances to improve rescue capabilities. Fire Station 5 had its public Open House on December 3, 2001.  Provo Fire and Rescue involved in Olympic weekly meetings and training.  Provo firefighters honor those who lost their lives on September 11.  New "Quint" fire trucks with latest technological features and capabilities received. Fire officers and engineers completed training to certification levels confirming competence in operation of new fleet

Parks and Recreation Department:   Improvements were made to Recreation Center with the installation of a new roof. Opening of the Provo Teen Center. Revenues for Veterans Memorial Pool were up 15%. Community pride strengthened through events of Children’s Celebration of the Arts, Blue Sky Concert Series, Pioneer Day Extravaganza and Jell-O Festival.  Restoration of native plant communities program begun in Rock Canyon with U. S. Forest service.  $36,000 grant monies used for park improvements at Canyon Glen Park.  Improvements made at Footprinter’s Softball Complex including fencing, cement curbing, and sprinkling system. Veteran’s Monument completed at Memorial Park to honor Provo veterans. A 300 foot mural wall was completed at Maeser Park with community and neighborhood volunteers under the director of artist, Alberto Moreno. 

Storm Water District:    2700 Feet of pipe being laid along West Center Street to alleviate ponding concerns.  Installation completed of asphalt overlay impacted by construction of Riverview Storm Drain/Groundwater project. 4' deep box culvert completed for 3700 North Storm Drain.

Emergency Response:  Every City department involved with the upcoming Olympics has attended special training to be prepared to handle situations that arise.  Intensive training ongoing during the 9 11 event. System was activated and proved to be very effective.

Traffic Mitigation:  University Avenue Retimed to allow less congestion and cross street delay.  Rebuilt traffic signals along University Parkway include left turn phasing completed. University Avenue Interchange and I15 widening from University to Center Street is complete.  Olympic roundabout completed at 700 East Center.

Public Services Department:  Fleet Maintenance implementing preventive maintenance in-house.  Implementation of drive through, drop-off recycling facility at South Utah Valley Solid Waste District under consideration.          Approximately 300' of private irrigation ditch on east side of Canyon Road installed. Allowed widening of intersection at 1650 North/Canyon Road Intersection. Airport ASR9 radar in place for the Olympics. 

Water Resources:  Reconstruction of City’s Westside Wastewater Pump Station completed. Project modernizes the automated electrical controls and increases the capacity of the pump station providing for future growth and development. West Side Sewer Lift Station completed.  Provides service to a large part of southwest Provo.

Police Department:  SHOCAP Juvenile Offender Database shared with Utah County, Salt Lake County, and Severe County.  Allow law enforcement access to information regarding targeted juvenile offenders in the State of Utah.  Members of Fire Arson Cause Task force were able to apprehend arsonist who admitted to setting nine fires resulting in just under $500,000 in damage.  Dispatch capabilities improved with addition of UCAN system with BYU as a backup.

Energy Department:  Electric rates remained stable while many other utilities including Utah Power raised rates from 10% to 40%. Although, Hunter I and the drought in the west caused a financial impact on the                system, reserves were used to keep rates low.  Even though others have struggled, Provo enjoys stable electric rates and quality of service.  Your utility bill is available to preview on the Internet thru www.provo.org . Energy is working to make it available and secure for those interested to pay their utility bill on the Internet.

Telecommunication backbone is under construction with 90% of the fiber loops complete. In February, the loops will be lit to provide high speed service to all city buildings. This is the start to connect traffic signals and create an intelligent traffic system (its) and followed by connecting the        schools with high speed access.  New decorative street lights installed on University Avenue from 100 South to 100 North. Planning and constructing the services for the electrical needs at the Olympics has been done.   A new $2 million substation was completed at Plum Tree in December.  City has over 32,000 electric customers.  Quality infrastructure is continued to meed the demands of growth.

Information Systems Department:  Upgrades to PeopleSoft Financials, Police Reporting System, Parking Ticket System.  New Systems: Council recording system, fleet system, and server, and Juvenile offender                    database.  Completion of additions to the network were the new library, fire station #5, the Cemetery,  Recreation Center and the Veteran’s Pool.         Created system of PC’s at Teen Center.

Economic Development:  New web site designed to help consumers find services and products made in their local communities called "finditinutah".     Olympic Torchbearers selected and honored in event at the Peaks. February 5 Torchbearers will  be in Provo.   Information on 2002 Olympic activities in Provo are available on city’s web site at www.provo.org Provo will host the International Ice Carving Competition, part of the Cultural Olympiad on February 15 and 16, 2002. Nu Skin Enterprises will cohost the Nu Skin World of Ice from February 8 through 23. Buses were donated to Cuahtemoc Mexico to be used by the Cuahtemoc School District, a local        orphanage and medical clinic.  Baseball Stadium designs were unveiled for the new stadium at Ironton for the Provo Angels baseball team.

Human Resources:

Switched to new Employees Assistance Program called APS to expand services at a better value. Drug test company to provide quicker pre employment turnaround time and service.  New or enhanced insurance coverages on numerous City properties has resulted in substantial savings and better coverage.
 

Redevelopment Agency:   Low and moderate income households who qualify for a home mortgage with a conventional lender may also qualify for a zero interest, deferred payment loan from the Redevelopment  Agency to use toward down payment, closing costs, and home improvements. Community Development Block Grant Applications were received totaling over $4 million. Recommendations will be made to the Municipal Council by January 30, 2002 on final funding.