2. Newsletters & Events

Your City at Work for You

The City of Cedar Hills staff and elected officials are hard at work to make our community an even better place in which to live and play. Check back often to learn about scheduled and completed projects.

 

City Receives Two Government Grants

In October 2014 the City of Cedar Hills received two large government grants to supplement city expenses in forestry and emergency management. A forestry grant in the amount of $8,000 was awarded for tree removal, pruning, and invasive species control in city parks and along city trails. In addition, an emergency management performance grant was allocated in the amount of $10,000 to assist in supplementing necessary expenses for emergency supplies and equipment, assuring that city emergency management programs will be successful.

Cedar Hills Recognized by Governor Herbert As Business-Friendly Community

Utah Governor Gary Herbert has issued a certificate of recognition to the City of Cedar Hills for being a business-friendly community. The recognition, dated Oct. 16, 2013, comes as a result of the city complying with a request from Herbert to all cities in Utah to review their codes and ordinances to ascertain that all regulations are conducive to business growth. In 2011, Governor Herbert initiated just such a review of the State’s then 1,969 administrative rules. It resulted in the revision or elimination of some 368 rules that inhibited business growth. At that time, the Governor challenged the Utah business community to create 100,000 jobs in 1,000 days. At the half way mark, Utah had created 63,600 jobs. Utah’s unemployment rate of 4.6 percent is far below the national average. Jobs are growing at 2.6 percent, nearly twice the national rate.

At the recent conclusion of the city’s review of its administrative rules, it was ascertained that there were very few, if any, regulations that were hindering business growth. A copy of the Governor’s certificate may be viewed here.

Cedar Hills Refinances GO Bond

CEDAR HILLS – On December 12, 2012, the City of Cedar Hills refinanced its general obligation bond for the golf course at a new lower rate of 2.47%. This new rate was made available after the city received an AA- bond rating by both Fitch and Standard & Poor in November. It is difficult for any community as small as Cedar Hills to obtain such a high rating, as rating agencies generally believe that risk is reduced as costs are spread out to a larger population.

In their report Fitch stated “the city has maintained good reserves, including 18% unrestricted general fund balances the past two years and excess reserves in the capital projects fund, some of which have been used to support golf course operations. The city’s moderate debt levels, which are primarily related to its golf course, are likely to decrease over time as the city intends to continue financing capital needs through pay-go sources.”

The new interest rate equates to a total savings of almost $500,000 over the life of the loan, or approximately $23,000 each year. “We are pleased with the score provided by both rating agencies and the opportunity to refinance this bond,” stated Mayor Gary Gygi. “This opportunity is due to the commitment of current and former City Councilmembers to adhere to sound fiscal principles throughout the years.”

The City of Cedar Hills always strives to reduce costs while providing quality service to the community. Recently, Mayor Gygi headed a committee of citizens with experience and expertise in finances that carefully reviewed golf course finances to ensure the city is properly handling those resources. City officials are dedicated to improving the community in all areas.

Harts Gas and Food Opens

The City of Cedar Hills has its first gas station. Harts Gas & Food opened their doors to customers on October 4, 2012. The new store features a large variety of fountain drinks with pebble ice and an extensive food offering. Harts is known for its fresh sandwiches made daily, self-serve frozen yogurt, milkshakes, its refreshing “Icee,” and friendly service. There are picnic tables located to the north side of the building, where customers can enjoy their purchases. Harts has competitive fuel prices, and they look forward to serving the citizens of Cedar Hills and the surrounding area.

City Pays Off Bond Early

On June 28, 2012, the city paid off Series 1999 Lease Revenue Bonds six years early in order to save the City of Cedar Hills over $50,000 in interest and fees. The bonds were encumbered by the City for the Public Safety Building. The Lone Peak Public Safety District currently leases this building from the city.

MONEY WATCH: Looking out for City Funds

City staff constantly strives to find more efficient and cost-effective ways to operate. The staff has been given the charter to find “Better Ways of Doing Things” each month, and we take this responsibility very seriously. We would like to highlight some of the things that are being done by staff to ensure prudent and wise use of budgetary funds. This month we will review how street lights are maintained and operated.

During the current fiscal year, the Public Works Department worked closely with Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) to complete an audit on all of the street lights in the city. During that process, it was determined which lights were owned by the City of Cedar Hills or RMP. Address and location discrepancies were corrected, and the billable rate for each street light was determined. This was an extensive process, which took many man hours and great cooperation from RMP representatives.

When the audit was completed, it was determined that 108 street lights had been incorrectly billed by RMP. Going back 24 months, RMP provided an immediate rebate of $24,831, based on the updated information and billing schedules, which city staff had assisted in correcting. In addition, the corrected billing schedules for the city-owned and maintained lights now provide an annual savings of $12,000 to the city! To maximize the on-going savings on street light maintenance, the city was able to purchase a used lift to assist trained staff in completing routine maintenance, such as light bulb exchange and photo cell replacement.

City of Cedar Hills Bond Rating Is Raised (March 2012)

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services raised its rating on the city’s series 2005 general obligation (GO) refunding bonds one notch to ‘AA-‘ from ‘A+’. The upgrade reflects Standard & Poor’s assessment of the city’s maintenance of its stable operations, supported by, what Standard & Poor’s considers, very strong general fund reserves. “Due to the city’s demonstrated budget flexibility, it is our opinion that officials will likely continue to make the adjustments necessary to maintain, what we consider, very strong reserves,” said Standard & Poor’s credit analyst Daniel Zuccarello.

The rating also reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the city’s participation in the expanding Provo-Orem regional economy, with additional access to Salt Lake City, strong wealth and income, ability to fund capital projects through pay-as-you-go financing, maintain reserves in the capital projects fund, and moderate overall debt with no additional debt plans.

Earthquake Preparedness

The Utah Seismic Safety Commission with others has published a very helpful handbook for earthquake preparedness in Utah: Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country: Your Handbook for Earthquakes in Utah. This handbook provides information about the threat posed by earthquakes in Utah, particularly along the Wasatch Front, and explains how you can prepare for, survive, and recover from these inevitable events. If you live or work in Utah, you need to know why you should be concerned about earthquakes, what you can expect during and after an earthquake, and what you need to do beforehand to be safe and protect your property.

Power Outages

Visit Rocky Mountain Power online for updates on select outages in our area. Information is typically posted for outages affecting more than 500 customers. Otherwise, to report an outage or receive an update on a current outage, please call Rocky Mountain Power toll free 1-877-508-5088.

Recommended Emergency Home Fuel Storage Limits & Guidelines

The following information is approved by Utah County area fire departments and agencies, including the Lone Peak Public Safety District (LPPSD). The information in the brochure is intended to provide typical homeowners with general guidelines concerning emergency fuel storage at residential locations. After reviewing the recommendations, please consult LPPSD (801-763-5365) for definitive answers to questions you might have. Download the brochure.

Sand Bags for Spring Flooding

In the event of an eminent residential flooding situation or any other type of flooding in our area, the city has materials to assemble sand bags. Please contact the Public Works Department to coordinate necessary action.

HAM Radio Training: “Stand-Alone Communications”

The worst communication disaster in history was the 2004 Tsunami in Colombo, Sri Lanka. About 200,000 people were killed because they were not warned. During the tsunami in Sri Lanka, one HAM at their “White House” was the only link for the entire country. After Hurricane Katrina, officials begged for HAM operators to go there and maintain communications. Many public safety officers carry ham radios because they “stand alone” and have hundreds of channels. Local Utah County parade organizers use HAM radios to improve communications during the parades. Even in the event of a large-scale disaster such as an earthquake, the best reliable source of communication for families is a HAM radio. You can even link into the Internet worldwide. For more information, email Gary Wallace (DeltaMeta5@gmail.com) or phone him at 801-785-4797 or his cell 801-367-5066. Gary’s HAM call letters are: N7JZN. For more information on emergency communications through HAM radio, visit: ucares.org (Utah County Amature Radio Emergency Service).

CERT Training

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training takes place under the direction of the Utah Department of Public Safety. Training is available for all interested citizens, male and female, over the age of 12, who desire to increase their emergency preparedness skills. The training is designed to first help yourself and then your family and your neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster. The classes cover topics such as emergency preparedness, fire suppression, utility control, disaster medical operations, light search-and-rescue, and how to deal with the aftermath of a terrorist event.

CERT training, which normally requires eight evening sessions, has been condensed into two Saturday sessions by Kenneth B. Moravec, who is offering the course locally. You may contact the instructor by calling 801-492-9029. Boy Scouts, after completing the course in full, can earn three merit badges: First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Fire Safety.

City officials and local businesses sign Community Covenant (March 2012)

On March 20, 2012, the City of Cedar Hills and 16 local businesses signed a Community Covenant document to commit to supporting Cedar Hills service members and their families. The businesses have generously offered a variety of options, from discounted to free services for deployed service members. The participating businesses are:

·        aGeeko.com
·        CMS Law, PLLC
·        Prometheus Development, Inc.
·        Xpressions Photography
·        Cedar Hills Family Dentistry
·        Keith Johnson Plumbing
·        Chase Bank
·        Walmart
·        Gygi Capital Management
·        Copper Woods Development
·        Hart’s Gas Station
·        Cool Valley Air Conditioning & Heating
·        Flint, Grimes, Hullinger
·        NMS Management
·        Zoobuh, Inc.
·        Cedar Hills Golf Club

Service members being deployed to hostile fire areas may bring their deployment papers to the city office to obtain further information about the program and to sign up for these benefits. For more information on this program or to participate, please contact Jenney Rees at: jrees@cedarhills.org.

FAQ: Is Cedar Hills ever going to get UTOPIA fiber-optic network? (12-28-11)

Cedar Hills is a UTOPIA city; in fact, it is a founding member. A decade ago, when the UTOPIA project began bonding for construction costs, many cities pledged a portion of their sales tax revenues to guarantee the payment of the bonds. Cedar Hills opted NOT to guarantee the bonds with sales tax revenues, so we are at the bottom of the list, waiting for the network installation.

Hillside Stabilization Project (10-10-11)

During September 2011 the City of Cedar Hills completed a hillside stabilization and reclamation project. The project included relocation of approximately 30,000 yards of rock tailings from the construction of the culinary water and pressurized irrigation tanks, located up slope, and the seeding of the reconstructed slope with native seed mix.

Each spring the Public Works Department evaluates the hillside and monitors sensitive slopes for movement. The slope containing the uncompacted tailings showed signs of distress, due to record moisture received during the spring. Based on recommendations from geomechanical consultants, the project entailed removing the overburden material from the upper slope and creating a locking keyway at the toe of the slope to stabilize the area. Drainage flows, which previously penetrated subsurface areas, were redirected to limit additional water from flowing through the slope. The seeding of the slope will aid in the absorption of surface drainage and will reestablish native plants on the hillside. The preventative work performed will ensure a more stable hillside.

Ongoing identification of potential hillside failure is an important component of the city’s overall hillside maintenance. With the charge to protect valuable assets of the city and residences, the department will continue to inspect and evaluate sensitive slopes in our city.

Lots of Great Things are Happening in Cedar Hills! (9-1-11)

Did you know?

  • The City of Cedar Hills currently has 2,360 utility accounts and approximately 10,000 residents.
  • The city has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Award in eight of the last nine years.
  • The City covers approximately 2.5 square miles and has over 27 miles of the best streets in Utah!
  • The number of city employees per 1000 residents has decreased from 2001 to present. The City of Cedar Hills currently has 23 full-time employees.
  • The city has five community parks and three neighborhood parks. Our parks are some of the best manicured parks in Utah.
  • The city is currently in construction with a Community Recreation Center. This center will house golf functions and will offer a variety of recreational classes including aerobics, zumba, dance, karate, digital photography, gardening, etc. We also would like to provide a competitive climbing course, whiffle ball tournaments, ping pong, etc. The center will also house events, including receptions, family reunions, business meetings, and a Family Grill, where families can eat and youth groups can get an ice cream cone or a shake.
  • The city disposed of 3,541 tons of solid waste in 2010 (that is 1.5 tons per household per year) and 232 tons of recycling materials. This diverted 6.15% of the overall tonnage from the landfill and saved approximately 3,900 trees.
  • The city is currently masterplanning the Southside Commercial District to include a town center, a gas station, restaurants, aquatics center, strip mall, and a civic center. This is planned to be a walkable, convenient, sales tax generating area.
  • The city’s golf course provides approximately 155 acres of beautiful, groomed landscape, making our open spaces more attractive and the city better.

City Gets Full-Time Fire and Emergency Personnel (4-1-11)

As of April 1, 2011, full-time fire and emergency personnel from the Lone Peak Public Safety District will occupy the east side of the upstairs floor. When the building was constructed in 2000, it had room for the emergency vehicles, but it has not been staffed. In December, members of the public raised questions about the department’s response time to emergencies in the city, and on February 24, the district voted to accept amendments to its budget to allow for the additional personnel.

Cedar Hills Mayor Eric Richardson is pleased with the decision. “I am very happy,” he said. “This is good for the overall district. It helps provide that excellent service. When there is an emergency, and lifesaving personnel are needed, minutes are precious. This action gets us to that point where we need to be, to have excellent response. We have been planning for this for a long time,” he said. “The timing hasn’t been right to grow into that until now.”

Cedar Hills Opens McDonald’s Restaurant (8-1-10)

If you haven’t seen or heard by now, Cedar Hills has a new McDonald’s restaurant at 10180 North 4800 West (west of Walmart). The main lobby of the restaurant offers diners a warm atmosphere with rich cherry woods and relaxed seating options. Children will enjoy the unique musical toy PlayPlace, a climbing wall, and seating designed just for them. The exterior of the restaurant features attractive brick and extensive landscaping.

Arbor Day Foundation Names Cedar Hills Tree City USA Community (6-29-10)

Cedar Hills was recognized by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry. It’s the first year Cedar Hills has earned this national designation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

Cedar Hills has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community. Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

“We commend Cedar Hills’ elected officials, volunteers, and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees provide numerous environmental, economical and health benefits to millions of people each day, and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority.”

Communities that earn Tree City USA recognition not only have taken the time to meet the four standards, they also know that trees: 1) promote healthier communities by filtering the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles, 2) moderate climate, conserve water, and provide vital habitat for wildlife, 3) reduce the heat island effect in urban areas caused by pavement and buildings, and 4) increase property values, reduce energy use, and add beauty to our homes and neighborhoods.

More information about Tree City USA can be found on the Web at TreeCityUSA.

2010 Census E-News: An Information Service of the Denver Regional Census Center

Click here for the most up-to-the-minute information on the 2010 Census.

Golden Arches Coming to Cedar Hills (1-1-10)

Representatives from McDonald’s USA attended the Dec. 8, 2009, city council meeting to receive final site plan approval for a McDonald’s restaurant in Cedar Hills. The structure, which will be located at 10180 North 4800 West, just north of Chase bank, was approved, subject to acceptance of items pertaining to traffic flow, a drainage plan, conveyance of water rights, a finding that the planned signage will comply with the spirit and intent of the city’s commercial design guidelines and sign ordinance, and a development agreement. Construction is slated to begin as the weather permits with a completion target date of Summer 2010.

Chase Opens New Branch in Cedar Hills (11-17-09)

The City of Cedar Hills welcomes its newest addition to the commercial district. Chase bank, located at 4782 W Cedar Hills Drive, adds convenience for area consumers and businesses, as it opened its Cedar Hills and Lone Peak branch on Nov. 17. Regular branch hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Cottonwood Culinary Water Well Completed (10-20-09)

The Public Works Department held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 20 for its new Cottonwood well. City staff, elected officials, invited guests, press representatives, and members of the public were on hand for the event. Drilled to an approximate depth of 1,000 feet, this culinary well is fully redundant, meaning that it provides the city with a complete backup water source. The Cottonwood well was built for protection against drought and as a supplemental water supply if there are ever problems with the city’s other wells. Powered by a 500 horse-power vertical turbine pump and motor, the well pumps 1,700 gallons per minute, which is well above the 1,200 the city originally had as a goal. Water from the well can also be pumped to an irrigation pond to deliver additional water to the city’s pressurized irrigation supply, if needed. The design includes the installation of alternate power via an on-site generator for emergency operation.

In a brief speech, Mayor McGee credited the past and current city council members and staff for the vision and foresight to plan and complete this important project. He also gave special acknowledgements and recognition to the engineering and construction companies that worked with the city to complete this project, including: Henkle Drilling and Supply; Bowen, Collins & Associates; Hills Construction; Riter Engineering; Delco Western; and Civil Science.

Eagle Scout Project Improves City’s Storm Drain Systems (9-14-09)

Eagle Scout nominee John-Robert Chambers, 14, recently provided improvements to the city’s storm water system. He and his crew of volunteers created and distributed flyers to residents of Cedar Hills to provide educational information and promote the protection of the city’s storm water systems. He organized the installation of storm water identification decals and he and his group cleaned the storm water collection box grates, removed silt buildup, and restored rip-rap (stones) in a retention basin to prevent erosion. John-Robert is a member of Troop 1213 in Pleasant Grove.

Cedar Hills City Recorder Receives Master Municipal Clerk Designation (9-14-09)

For more than 18 years City Recorder Kim Holindrake has worked for the City of Cedar Hills. She has become well-versed in the business transactions and legislative decisions taking place in the city. On July 21, 2009, Kim achieved the designation of Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. Master Municipal Clerk is the highest designation a city clerk can achieve. Master Municipal clerks must fulfill an extensive list of requirements, including many hours of continued education, completion of the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation, and various professional and social contributions. Kim began her career with Cedar Hills in 1991 as Town Clerk and became City Recorder when Cedar Hills became a city in 1999. She has served as vice-president and president in the Central Utah Recorders Association and is currently serving as secretary in the Utah Municipal Clerks Association. There are currently 847 Master Municipal clerks in the world, only 23 of which are in Utah.

Recycling Effort at Family Festival (6-27-09)

You may have noticed a booth at the Family Festival that was set up to promote the curbside recycling effort in Cedar Hills. The city thanks resident and volunteer, Wyatt Davis, for the time and energy he devoted to this project. We were encouraged with his enthusiasm and willingness to “get the message out there.” We are glad to receive new subscriptions from the Johnston, Lowry, Graf, and Spear families!

The city appreciates having a recycling “presence” at the Family Festival. It helps let everyone know that we care about this important service that is offered for the benefit of our residents and the environment. Many families with two garbage cans find that they can replace one of the toters with a recycling bin.

The curbside recycling service is available every other week on the regular pickup day. To sign up for the service, contact the front desk at the city office. The every-other-week pickup schedule and the list of acceptable and unacceptable items are available on the city’s website under Sanitation.

City Receives Distinguished Award (4-3-09)

The City of Cedar Hills has again received the prestigious Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Presentation Budget Award. This award has been earned by the City of Cedar Hills in seven of the last eight years. Out of the 243 incorporated municipalities in Utah, Cedar Hills is one of only nine to receive the award this year.

The GFOA established the award program in 1984 to encourage and assist state and local governments to prepare budget documents of the very highest quality and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal. It is an honor for the city to receive this recognition and reflects the superb work the city’s Finance Department does in preparing the document.

Cedar Hills Walmart Opens March 18, 2009

A grand opening ceremony for the new Cedar Hills Walmart will herald the opening of one of Utah’s newest Walmart Supercenters. On March 18, at 7:30 a.m., the public is invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony, which will be attended by local business, civic, and religious leaders. At 8:00 a.m. the store will officially open for business.

Walmart broke ground last May for this unique 127,000-square-foot store, which features a grocery center, bakery, deli, pharmacy, garden center, 1-hour photo center, and a Subway® restaurant. Mayor Mike McGee expressed pleasure in working with the Walmart team: “We are very pleased with the outcome of the design and look of the building, and the beautiful landscaping has greatly enhanced our commercial district. This project will provide needed jobs for several hundred people in the area, and the revenues it will generate for Cedar Hills will help us improve and add to the amenities we offer our citizens.”

The new Walmart Supercenter is located at 4689 W. Cedar Hills Drive. Store hours are 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, phone the store at 801-756-2372.

Year in Review: Noteworthy Headlines from 2008

  • $12M 2008/2009 Fiscal-Year budget adopted
  • Youth City Council completes many service projects, including 4th annual Easter Egg Hunt with over 1,200 participants, and food and toy drives
  • City declares May 1 as Silver Star Day, honoring armed forces men and women
  • Parks and Trails Committee hosts National Trails Day and creates Adopt-a Trail program
  • 11th annual Family Festival held
  • Creation of 22 paper lots to help write down city’s bonded indebtedness
  • Cedar Hills Golf Club hits break-even mark on operations
  • New redundant well installed to pump 1500-1800 gallons of culinary water per minute
  • New home construction rate drops from 280 homes built in 2005 to seven in 2008
  • Over 260 home-based business licenses issued
  • City constructs Mesquite Soccer Park, bringing total city parks to seven
  • Upgrades installed at Heritage Park, including new picnic tables, playground equipment, and security lighting
  • Cedar Hills along with American Fork and Highland, acquired debris basin at the mouth of AF Canyon, giving all three cities the ability to control storm waters and run off to reduce flooding
  • Interlocal Library Cooperative formed with North Utah County libraries. City continues to reimburse residents for non-resident library card fees
  • City participates in County-wide dispatch system. Mayor McGee appointed to represent Cedar Hills
  • Boundary adjustment with Pleasant Grove brings 14 new residences into Cedar Hills
  • City becomes an official “Tree City USA” member and creates a city Tree Board to advise the City Council
  • CARE tax adopted to bring additional arts and recreation funds to city
  • Fiscal year audit brings no State compliance findings?excellent for any city
  • Commercial zone anchored by Wal-Mart set to open March 2009
  • Year-end estimated population: 9,861

Community Arts and Recreation (CARE) Tax is Approved by Cedar Hills Voters (12-9-08)

With an approximate 50% voter turnout, the CARE tax proposition was approved on the November 4 ballot. After all four precincts reported, there were 2,057 for the initiative and 1,075 against it. This initiative will add one-tenth of one percent to all retail purchases made in Cedar Hills. This amount equates to one penny for every $10 dollars spent. The revenue will be used by the City for community arts and recreation purposes.

Reward Given to Alert CH Resident (7-7-08)

Thanks to the efforts of an alert resident, two Cedar Hills boys were arrested for criminal mischief. The following notice appeared in the Lone Peak Press on June 12, 2008: “CRIMINAL MISCHIEF – Two 15-year-old boys were arrested for criminal mischief. The boys had written graffiti on several items at a local elementary school and park.” The city still offers a $500 reward to anyone who has information leading to an arrest and prosecution of those involved in any vandalism in the city. If you have information about recent vandalism, or wish to report suspicious activities, please contact the American Fork Police.

North Utah County Library Cooperative (7-7-08)

The cities of American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Lehi, and Eagle Mountain have agreed to participate in a reciprocal borrowing system that will allow library card holders at any of the cooperating libraries to check out materials from all four libraries. (This is not a county library system.) Library borrowers are encouraged to search for needed materials at their home library before searching the other libraries’ online catalogs. Each library will continue to function as it currently does in terms of policies, budget, administration, non-resident card fees, etc. Requests (holds) made to a library other than the home library will not be honored. The intent is to allow card holders of each library first access to the materials at that library.

Ground Broken for Cedar Hills Walmart (6-5-08)

A small group braved the threat of rain on Friday morning, May 23, to watch the official groundbreaking ceremonies for Walmart in Cedar Hills. Mayor Michael McGee, city council members, and staff members first used gold shovels to turn over dirt for the 124,000 square foot store. Others joined in, and some went a step further. Councilwoman Charelle Bowman took the opportunity to learn first hand how a backhoe works. She took the controls and maneuvered the equipment through some of its paces.

Speakers at the brief ceremony included David Wilhelm of the Orem Walmart, Roy Williams of Phillips Edison, the original developer, which still controls outparcels, and McGee.

In his remarks, Mayor McGee stated, “[This building] is unique in the nation to Cedar Hills. It really is a phenomenon. This does not look as much like a big box as it could. There is a brick facade and the front is broken up to add interest.” In a prepared statement, McGee said, “The opportunity to live and shop in our own community will be a quality of life enhancement we will enjoy. People will be able to enjoy the convenience like they have never done before in Cedar Hills. Not to mention the tax advantage we have never had before.” He noted there would be a plaza in front of the building, saying he usually runs into friends or family when he goes shopping. “It will be a real nice area to meet and greet your neighbors,” he said.

The supercenter, its landscaping, and 591 parking spaces will take up 14 acres of the 18-acre site near Lone Peak High School, with three sites for small businesses to come later. The building was designed with varying roof heights to break up the facade of the building.

Walmart originally proposed a store in Cedar Hills in 2003, but ultimately withdrew that proposal after residents organized in protest. After many other proposals for the property either met resistance or failed to materialize, Walmart returned in late 2006, proposing a slightly smaller store. This time, a group of residents organized in support of the store.

Mesquite Soccer Park (5-2-08)

Another beautiful addition to the city’s parks system is being built at 10440 N. Mesquite Way.. This park will have one full-sized soccer field and two junior-sized fields, which can be played the opposite direction for a full-sized field. The park will also have a small playground area.

Code/Zoning Enforcement (1-7-08)

The city staff is focusing on a number of Code/Zoning issues that have plagued neighborhoods throughout Cedar Hills. Please help us by reporting any violations to the city office.

  • Parking Restrictions/Snow Removal: No parking of motor vehicles, RV’s, trailers, or basketball standards, etc. is allowed on public streets.
  • Signs: No signs are permitted on any public property, as well as on any public right-of-way. Further, non-premise signs are not permitted without a sticker from the city. Non-premise signs include real estate signs, yard sale/garage sale signs, lost dog/cat signs, etc.
  • Garbage Cans: Garbage/recycling toters must be pulled off the curb within 24 hours of being emptied.
  • Landscape Ordinance: All new homes are required to have landscaping installed within 12 months of issuance of a final inspection approval.
  • Off-Road Vehicles: The new Motor Vehicle Trespass Ordinance, which was passed in December by the City Council, prohibits the use of cars and trucks on undeveloped public land east of Canyon Road. Please also recognize and respect the wishes of private property owners who have posted “no trespassing” signs on their property. The ordinance also prohibits the reckless driving of all motorized vehicles in this area, and limits the speed of all vehicles to 25 mph. A motorist will now be cited by the police if they are found in violation of this ordinance. The fine for the first offence will be $200, and the fine for the second offence and thereafter will be $750. Please be safe, and make it safe for others by reporting violators to the police (763-3020).

Cottonwood Well Construction (11-6-07)

Great news! The city is in the process of constructing a new culinary water well. Currently, the city operates its city-wide culinary water supply with one well, which is a very productive well. Nonetheless, the ability to have a redundant, backup well is paramount. If the city ever has a pump go down or any type of mechanical issue, there will now be a solid, functioning backup well. Some of the specific and more technical aspects of the well are as follows:

  • The city has contracted with Bowen and Collins Engineering, a specialist in water engineering, for the overall project. The city has contracted with Henkle Drilling, Inc. of Denver, Colorado, to drill the well, and another firm to do all of the connections and build the housing. The well is anticipated to be drilled to a depth of between 800 to 1,000 feet in an attempt to provide 2,500 to 3,000 gallons per minute.
  • Not only will this well project satisfy Cedar Hills’ culinary water needs at build out, but it will also provide water needs for the foreseeable future.
  • The city is also providing a ‘water break’ resting area with benches and a water fountain as part of the well house for an ‘upgraded’ trail system.
  • The pedestrian trail was closed in order to install the well pad. The city understands the inconvenience this may cause our residents, so as a solution, a temporary gravel trail was installed and will remain open until May/June of 2008, when the well house is expected to be completed.
  • Unfortunately, this culinary well development will take out a few trees in the construction process, but the city has completed a topographic survey of the area to reduce the amount of trees to be removed.
  • The new culinary well and trail improvements will be located just off the new portion of Cottonwood Drive below the golf course. Estimated completion date is May 2008.

EPA Green Power Partnership (10-22-07)

The City of Cedar Hills has partnered with the EPA to become a Green Power Community (GPC). GPCs are cities, towns, and villages in which the local government, businesses, and residents collectively buy green power in amounts that meet or exceed the EPA’s Green Power Community purchase requirements. The EPA requires that a community’s local government becomes a Green Power Partner and then takes the lead on a green power campaign. The green power campaign requires coordination between the local government and the local utility, as well as the participation of local businesses, residents, and non-profit organizations. Communities can garner a number of benefits as a result of buying green power: reduce the community’s carbon footprint; increase community pride; protect the environment; engage businesses, environmental organizations, and citizens; earn national recognition as an EPA GPC.

City of Cedar Hills Leads the Way with Renewable Energy (10-22-07)

The City of Cedar Hills is a leader in sustainable practices. With its Blue Sky renewable energy purchase covering 100 percent of its city building’s electricity use, we are helping to keep the environment healthy and preserve resources. The City of Cedar Hills joins thousands of Utahns buying Blue Sky and encouraging renewable energy development in the region. Thanks to participating customers’ support, the Blue Sky program was recently named 2007 Green Power Program of the Year by the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Center for Resource Solutions. To learn more, please click here (off-site link).

Soaring with the Eagles…or at Least with the Birdies! (10-22-07)

The July 2007 issue of Golf Inc. magazine reports that year-to-date rounds played at municipal, military, and university golf courses continue to decline. The information shows a drop from -8.96 percent reported in the May issue to -11.2 percent reported in the July issue. The Cedar Hills Golf Club is bucking the trend; rounds played have risen. In fact, revenue at the course is seeing unprecedented growth, evidenced by its increased rounds played, steadily increasing revenues, and multiple tournament bookings.

FAQ: Is Cedar Hills ever going to get UTOPIA fiber-optic network? (6-6-07)

Cedar Hills is a UTOPIA city; in fact, it is a founding member. A few years ago, when the UTOPIA project began bonding for construction costs, many cities pledged a portion of their sales tax revenues to guarantee the payment of the bonds. Cedar Hills opted NOT to guarantee the bonds with sales tax revenues, so we are at the bottom of the list, waiting for the network installation.

Golf Course Reconfiguration (4-2-07)

In an effort to retire the golf course bond, the City Council has proposed reconfiguration plans to develop two new subdivisions on the course. In addition, new holes would be built to maintain the 18-hole course. Questions may be directed to any of our elected officials and/or executive staff. View the reconfiguration drawings for Canyon Road and for The Grove.

Water Line Repair (1-10-07)

The Public Works Department repaired a ruptured connection on a 20-year-old main culinary water line. Nearby residents were out of water for 36 hours as the city’s technicians worked day and night in extremely cold temperatures to restore service. The city would like to thank the affected residents for their patience during the repair.

Decisions 2006

A public opinion and marketing research firm was retained by the city to conduct and compile a public opinion survey of Cedar Hills residents. The primary objective of the survey was to determine how city residents feel about their city and to begin the process of Decisions 2006. Download the results of the survey.

Clean it up…Don’t be a nuisance! (10-1-06)

The City of Cedar Hills has adopted a nuisance ordinance “…to protect the health and safety of the public; foster neighborhood stability; preserve the appearance, character and beauty of neighborhoods; encourage community pride; preserve the value of property; and to protect the general welfare of the city and it’s citizens, businesses, and visitors.” Following are some of the items that are commonly violated:

  • Improper Parking or Storage – Trailers, boats, recreational vehicles, etc. are not to be parked in the public right-of-way, except for temporary loading/unloading. In addition, basketball standards must be removed from the public right-of-way.
  • Accumulation of Junk – Furniture, appliances, fixtures, lumber, junk, etc. are not to be stored so as to be visible from a public street, alley, or adjoining property.
  • Improper Storage – Dirt, sand, gravel, concrete, mulch, etc. shall not be stored and deposited on the premises for an unreasonable period of time or in the public right-of-way.
  • Garbage Cans – Leaving of any garbage can or refuse container in the street, other than on collection day, for more than twenty-four (24) hours after collection day is deemed a nuisance.
  • Accessory Apartments – Residential zoning within the city only allows for single-family residences, which are defined thusly: A detached residence designed for or occupied by one family…. Single-family dwellings may include accessory apartments (Code 10-2-1: Terms Defined). Accessory apartments are defined thusly: A subordinate dwelling within an occupied main building, which has its own eating, sleeping, and sanitation facilities, within a main residential building and having no separate address or utilities, and having a separate entrance (Code 10-2-1: Terms Defined). Occupancy [of an accessory apartment] shall be limited to two (2) persons per bedroom with a maximum of four (4) people. The residence must provide off street parking for all occupants of the main building (Ord. 11-9-2010B, 11-9-2010). Please contact the city’s zoning official for further clarification of the code.
  • Improper Signs – Improper placement or maintenance of a sign is prohibited. Signs of any type are prohibited from being affixed to any street sign, traffic device, or in the public right-of-way. (This includes yard sale, wedding, lost/found, etc.) Signs are only allowed on private property, with proper approval by the city, and with the owner’s permission.

Any violations should be reported to the zoning official at 801-785-6261. Thanks for doing your part to beautify Cedar Hills!

Door-to-Door Solicitation (10-1-06)

All businesses, including door-to-door, must register and license through the city in which they are operating. If someone comes to your door to sell you something, you may ask to see their Cedar Hills, city-issued business license. (A city-issued license should include the logo, signature of the city recorder, and a stamped seal from the recorder’s office.) All licensed solicitors are instructed to carry a copy of their license with them at all times. If a solicitor comes to your door, ask to see their license. If they cannot produce one, you may instruct them to go to the city office to obtain a license, or you may contact the police. If you have a “No Soliciting” sign posted, you may immediately contact the police. We encourage and support businesses that are properly licensed and encourage residents to use services that are offered within the community.

Turn Lane on Canyon Road (9-1-06)

New striping was painted on Canyon Road to provide a turn lane from Cedar Hills Drive north past Ironwood Drive. We appreciate UDOT for responding to the city’s requests to review the safety concerns at this location and for taking appropriate action to improve safety along this busy road.

Street Overlay & Patching (9-1-06)

Although the cost and availability of asphalt has hampered some street projects, a number of needed overlays and patches were completed. Asphalt overlays were installed on Meadow Drive, 4100 West, 9820 North, 9950 North, 4160 West, 9860 North, 9800 North, and Manila Creek Drive. Additionally, approximately 20 road patches were completed.

Road Striping (9-1-06)

A number of roads were striped and crosswalks were repainted throughout the city.

Speed Tables (9-1-06)

Two speed tables were installed: one on Harvey Blvd. at the trail crossing and one on Canyon Heights Drive.

Sidewalk Installation (9-1-06)

Approximately 20 locations throughout the city have had new sidewalks installed. One of the key locations is at the roundabout at Cottonwood Drive/Nielsen Blvd. With the elimination of some school district bus routes, the city is working to install more sidewalks where children walk to and from school.

Electronic Public Hearing

On August 8 and 9, 2006, a town meeting was held to present and discuss reconfiguration options for the Cedar Hills golf course. For those who were not able to attend one of the meetings, the city invites residents to submit their comments. View the presentation of the options.

New Sign Ordinance

At the March 7, 2006, city council meeting, the council adopted Ordinance 3-7-2006B regarding the placement of signs throughout the city. The purpose of the ordinance is to regulate signs and to authorize the use of signs that are compatible with their surroundings and are conducive to promoting safety, to limit visual distractions, and to preserve and enhance property values. The ordinance also balances individual rights while promoting short and long term civic beauty and order by establishing standards and regulations for signs. This ordinance will help to create signs that are functional, human-scaled, and attractive to residents, businesses, and visitors.

The ordinance addresses a number of issues such as criteria for residential and commercial zone signs, placement of signs, required permits for signs and other items. View a complete copy of the sign ordinance.

Curbside Recycling (2-3-06)

Beginning in April 2006, Cedar Hills will offer curbside recycling. Resident participation is voluntary. The service is offered for a low monthly fee of five dollars per bin. The recycling bins look like a regular trash bin, except they are blue. Residents simply put the recyclables inside their bin without separating them, and wheel the bin out to the curb every other week on the day of their regular garbage pickup. Waste Management will collect recyclables and transport them for processing. Residents currently using two trash bins can save money by replacing one of their regular garbage bins with a recycling bin. Click here for more information, including a list of acceptable and unacceptable items for recycling and a schedule of the every-other-week pick up.

New Public Works Building (2-3-06)

The city is in the architectural design phase of constructing a new Public Works building. The city owns and stores very few pieces of equipment, supplies, and tools necessary for basic public works duties, and, as a result, must contract outside sources for many traditional public services. As the city grows, the necessity for timely and qualified services becomes more paramount. This facility will allow us to accomplish basic services such as road, water, sewer, and storm drainage maintenance and repair, park maintenance, and snow removal, etc., in a more timely and cost-effective manner. The building will be constructed prudently, maintaining an aesthetic, positive image for the city.

Pressurized Irrigation Upgrade (1-6-06)

The city has identified several upgrades to the upper pressurized irrigation system, which will maximize the delivery capability of the system. Upgrades include four new booster pumps in addition to the existing pumping system and two new wet wells. Final engineering and construction plans will be completed in January, and construction will begin in February. The new system will be operational for the irrigation season, which begins in mid-April.

Two New City Parks (1-6-06)

Bids for two new parks should go out in the next couple of weeks, with construction starting shortly thereafter. We hope to have these parks completed by Fall 2006. The two parks will be in the Juniper Heights and Canyon Heights subdivisions.

Electronic Meter Reading (1-6-06)

The city is in the process of installing a city-wide electronic meter reading system. Currently, 78 percent of the city is read electronically. We hope to have the entire city online by October 2006. Thereafter, the meters will be read monthly, including the winter months.

New Public Works Building Planned (1-6-06)

The city is in the design phase of erecting a Public Works building. This building will be located north of the Public Safety Building on Canyon Road. The benefits of this building will be numerous, including a quicker and better response to infrastructure, parks, and streets needs.

New Ambulance (12-2-05)

The Lone Peak Public Safety District has just purchased a 2006 Wheeled Coach 4×4 ambulance, which has found it’s new home in Cedar Hills. This vehicle was purchased as a component of the District’s vehicle replacement program. The cost for this vehicle, plus equipment, was $125,000. The ambulance, which it replaced, was sold to the State Fire Academy for training.

Utility Drop Box (12-2-05)

The city’s utility drop box and the mail box have been relocated to the city building’s parking lot. The box was the victim of a hit-and-run accident at the beginning of October 2005. To date, no one has claimed responsibility for the damage, but if you have information regarding this incident, please contact the city office.

Mile Markers on Trails

The city recently had an Eagle Scout install trail markers along city trails. The markers were installed every 1/4 mile throughout the trail system beginning at the mouth of American Fork Canyon. We appreciate the work that was done and hope that those using the trails will find the markers useful.

New Park Playground Equipment

The city has secured bids for playground equipment for The Cedars East pocket park, located at the corner of Tamarack Way and Doral Drive, and the Cedar Run Circle pocket park, located south of Cedar Run Circle. The playgrounds will be prepared for the installation of the equipment this spring. We are excited about the development of these area pocket parks for the recreation and enjoyment of the children who live in those neighborhoods.

New Left-Hand Turn Signals

With the anticipated commercial district and the current high school traffic, the city installed four type-five left-hand turn signals at the 4800 West/Cedar Hills Drive intersection. The project was completed on October 21, 2005.

Canyon Heights Park

In completion of part of the Parks Master Plan, the city will construct a new public park, which will connect to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, in the Canyon Heights subdivision at approximately 9500 N Timpanogos Cove. (Timpanogos Cove is accessed from 9340 N Canyon Heights Drive.)

The five-acre park complex will contain five picnic pavilions: one large, one medium and three small; two playgrounds: one for tots and one for teens; a basketball court; and a natural amphitheater area. The estimated completion of the park is Summer 2006.

We are Growing!

Cedar Hills was incorporated as a town in November 1977 with 31 homes, 137 residents, and a total budget of $31,400. In 1991, there were 191 homes, 848 residents, and a total budget of $149,350. In 2000, the city had 686 homes, 3,045 residents, an operating budget of $1,471,839, and a total budget of $2,407,143. As of September 2005, the city has 1,847 homes, 8,201 residents, an operating budget of $2,148,910, and a total budget of $8,788,703. We estimate growth of approximately 250 new homes over the next twelve months, or 1,100 residents. Our estimated buildout is 12,500 to 13,000 residents.

The City of Cedar Hills has 25 full-time equivalent employees (19 full-time, 2 part-time and 12 seasonal). In addition, we have four contracted police officers; contracted park maintenance, garbage, sewer, and partially-contracted snow removal; and the city is a member of the Lone Peak Public Safety District, which provides fire and EMS [Emergency Medical Services], the only paramedic service in North Utah County.

As you can see, we are growing very quickly. As we grow, the city staff and elected officials are committed to continue to provide Cedar Hills residents with the very best municipal services at the lowest possible cost. Thank you for helping us make our city the best place around.

Street Signs

The city is actively commencing its street sign update and replacement program. Throughout the next year, street signs will be removed, replaced, and/or combined to make a more uniform appearance throughout the city. Some regulatory traffic signs will be changed to better meet proper and consistent traffic engineering standards. This project will make our city look and function even better. Residents, public safety personnel, and visitors will benefit from these improvements.

Neighborhood Watch

The Canyon Heights neighborhood has initiated a Neighborhood Watch program. Jointly, with our police, the neighborhood is on its way to being a safer place to live. If you are interested in learning more about Neighborhood Watch or starting a program in your own neighborhood, contact Sergeant Shawn Richins at 785-9668, ext. 112.

Cedar Hills Landslide

Beginning on Thursday, April 28, 2005, a portion of the hillside above The Cedars East townhomes began moving. Click here to go to a Web site, which contains information, including an explanation of what happened and photos of the landslide site.

Two geotechnical studies were done prior to development of the affected area, which is in the subdivision known as The Cedars, Plat E, east of State Road 146 at approximately 10500 North:
Earthtec Geotechnical Report (80-page pdf)
AMEC Supplemental Geotechnical Report (7-page pdf)

Cedar Hills Hires Its First Police Sergeant

The city continues to contract with the American Fork Police Department for police services. However, we now have a full-time sergeant, who is permanently assigned to our city on a daily basis. Sergeant Shawn Richins directly oversees three additional patrol officers assigned to our city. Along with these four officers, we have access to all of the police services offered by American Fork City on an as-needed basis. American Fork continues to be a great partner in this area.

Sgt. Richins is a welcome addition to the city office staff. He has been with the American Fork Police Department for 13 years and oversee all police activities in Cedar Hills, including Neighborhood Watch and DARE. Among his other responsibilities, he also serves as the department firearms instructor.

Trails

The city recently completed a large section of the city-wide trail system. With the help of a $47,000 grant from the State of Utah Parks and Recreation, the city was able to match those funds to build a portion of the Bonneville/Shoreline Trail. The city also completed the Forest Creek Trail section.