The Salt Lake Tribune
The Thumb - Opinion
August 7, 2010

"THUMB UP: Saving the Jordan • The long-neglected Jordan River has been the butt of jokes for years because of its murky waters and history as a sewer and garbage dump. But efforts to turn the river into a sparkling corridor for recreation took a big step when Salt Lake, Utah and Davis counties formally launched the Jordan River Commission last week. Three cities — West Valley, North Salt Lake and Sandy — also have joined. Others should soon. The goal is to create regional planning for the river and give it a full-time steward. That way, local governments should be better able to cooperate in acquiring private land along the river and transforming it into a watery playground and scenic green space connecting the most populous areas of the state. It's a worthwhile voyage that has been too long in coming."

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Deseret News
Laura Hancock
August 7, 2010

"SALT LAKE CITY — High population growth and poor air quality along the Wasatch Front could work to the region's advantage in getting a grant to help with housing and transit planning.

About a dozen state and local agencies have banded together to apply for a $5 million sustainable planning grant from the U.S. departments of Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency."

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Envision Utah
Kevin Fayles
July 30, 2010

“For the first time in its history, Envision Utah has projects underway in three states. Starting on Friday, August 13th, Envision Utah will kick-off the Bear Lake Valley Blueprint, a visioning effort in Rich County, Utah and Bear Lake County, Idaho. (The complete schedule of first-round workshops is below.)

Envision Utah is also providing technical help to the High Plains Initiative (HPI) in Goshen and Platte Counties in eastern Wyoming. While staff are still gathering information as part of the technical analysis, the first Steering Committee for HPI will be held on August 24th in Wyoming. A kick-off summit is scheduled in October and public workshops will shortly follow."

Read Media Advisory Here (PDF 95 KB)

The Salt Lake Tribune
Jeremiah Stettler
August 4, 2010

"It has been squeezed by suburbia, tainted by trash and tarnished by occasional crime.

Now the long-neglected Jordan River is poised to get more attention — and more money — than ever.

A coalition of government leaders created a Jordan River Commission on Wednesday to guide development and raise funds for the urban waterway snaking through Utah's most populous region. ."

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Deseret News
Laura Hancock
August 4, 2010

"GARDEN CITY, Rich County — A widow would like to feel safe among the unfamiliar tourists renting houses and hotel rooms near her home. The mayor wishes a call center would open and provide jobs for the area. And a local taxidermist and part-time farmer resents development, preferring that land revert to agriculture and wildlife.

But their competing visions for the Bear Lake region are on hold because of the economic downturn.

Folks here in Rich County, Utah, and Bear Lake County, Idaho, are using the lull to consider the past and what they want to become in the future."

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DCStreetsBlog.org (web)
Ben Fried
March 2010

"The Senate Banking Committee voted 12-10 yesterday in favor of the Livable Communities Act, legislation that would bolster the Obama administration's initiatives to link together transportation, housing, economic development, and environmental policy.

The administration has been taking steps since last March to coordinate between the Department of Transportation, HUD, and the EPA. This bill, carried in the Senate by Connecticut's Chris Dodd, would formalize those partnerships and authorize substantially more funding to work with. "

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KCPW
Whittney Evans
August 4, 2010

"(KCPW News) Representatives from Salt Lake, Davis and Utah Counties signed an agreement this afternoon to coordinate efforts to restore and revive the Jordan River. And they're calling the plan "historic." KCPW's Whittney Evans reports."

Listen to Entire Story Here (weblink)

KSL.com
Jed Boal
August 4, 2010

"NORTHERN UTAH -- Three Wasatch Front counties took a major step Wednesday to make the Jordan River corridor a greater community centerpiece.

Utah, Davis and Salt Lake Counties signed a pledge to turn the long-neglected and often-abused waterway into a signature urban amenity. The interlocal agreement created the Jordan River Commission. They want to finish work that's already started and treat the Jordan River like a waterway we're all proud of."

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Deseret News
Amy K. Stewart
August 4, 2010

"WEST VALLEY CITY — Requiring paid parking passes for visitors to Big and Little Cottonwood canyons was one proposal Wednesday during a county symposium on water quality, pollution control and nature protection.

Sporting a yellow T-shirt that read "Wasatch Wildflower Festival," Creighton Hart of Salt Lake City said, "We have a great asset in our canyons."

As a concerned canyons supporter, Creighton likes the idea of encouraging people to ride a bus up the canyons, but said he isn't sure about charging for parking."

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The News-Examiner (Montpelier, ID)
Rosa Moosman
July 30, 2010

“People will have several opportunities in August and September to let elected officials and planners know what they want Bear Lake Valley to be in the near future and in 10 or 20 years.

People will be able to voice what they think is needed for housing, jobs and recreation. They can look at issues that arise from growth.

Workshops are scheduled in Garden City for Aug. 13, Fish Haven on Aug.14, Georgetown, on Sept 14, Montpelier and Paris on Sept. 15 and Randolph and Garden City on Sept. 16. All meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. "

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Envision Utah
Kevin Fayles
July 30, 2010

“On Wednesday, August 4th, representatives of Davis, Salt Lake and Utah Counties will sign an interlocal agreement to create the Jordan River Commission. As part of Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon's opening remarks (9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) at the County's Watershed Symposium, Mayor Corroon will sign the agreement. The symposium is at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center (1355 West 3100 South)
in West Valley City."

Read Media Advisory Here (PDF 71 KB)

Brookings Mountain West
Mark Muro & Jonathan Rothwell
March 2010

"The Mountain West’s recovery from the Great Recession is spreading. Output is growing in every metropolitan area. Still, hiring remains elusive—a fact frustrating the entire nation, but perhaps more so in a region used to snapping, even roaring, back from recessions faster than the rest of the nation."

"[...] this edition of the Mountain Monitor examines data on employment, unemployment, output, home prices, and foreclosure rates for Intermountain West’s 10 large metropolitan areas, the nation’s 100 largest metros, and 17 smaller metros dispersed around the Mountain region through the fourth quarter of 2009."

Read Entire Report Here (PDF 435 KB)

Tuesday, SEPT. 14 at 7:00 P.M.
GEORGETOWN, ID
Georgetown Elementary Gym,
142 Stringtown Road

Wednseday, SEPT. 15 at 7:00 P.M.
MONTPELIER, ID
Bear Lake Middle School Gym
633 Washington Street

Wednesday, SEPT. 15 at 7:00 P.M.
PARIS, ID
Paris Elementary Gym
39 S. Fielding

Thursday, SEPT. 16: 7:00 P.M.
RANDOLPH, UT
Senior Center
5 North Main Street

Thursday, SEPT. 16: 7:00 P.M.
GARDEN CITY, UT
Garden City Complex
145 W Logan Road
North Building, Lakeview Room

Roll up your sleeves and enjoy a fun, interactive evening sharing your vision of our valley's future. Light refreshments provided. RSVP to Mary at mdavies@envisionutah.org or (801) 303-1462.

If you can't attend a workshop, please
complete an important on-line survey at www.bearlakevalleyblueprint.org,
available August 13th.

A steering committee of local elected officials and community leaders is heading Bear Lake Valley Blueprint, and Envision Utah is facilitating the effort. For more information, please go to www.bearlakevalleyblueprint.org.

Inside this issue: Wasatch Canyons Tomorrow has final rounds of workshops, Corporate Friends Breakfast discusses City Creek project, Envision Cache Valley moves towards implementation, Blueprint Jordan River sees formation of Jordan River Commission, and much more.

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The 3% Strategy approach responds to market trends and creates significant regional benefits, while leaving existing residential neighborhoods largely unchanged.

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