Once per year, all Cottonwood Heights councilmembers and department chairs meet in a quiet room for the entire day to propose, debate and settle on the city’s priorities and projects for the upcoming year. This is their annual retreat. It is one of the main opportunities for each of the city’s leaders to pitch their desired initiatives and hopes for project funding. Held roughly one and a half months earlier than usual, the 2025 council retreat began at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 at Market Street Grill (2985 E. Cottonwood Pkwy.). Here are the highlights: 

“We are not expecting full funding of everything, but I do want to make you aware of all these asks,” City Manager Jared Gerber began as he summarized the overlaps in projects previously pitched.  

The city’s infrastructure quickly emerged as a concern and priority for almost every individual in the room. Public Works Director Matt Shipp suggested studying the entire city’s infrastructure in order to draft a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP) specific to Cottonwood Heights to help in developing a five-year plan for prioritizing transportation projects.

“While our Public Works Department does an excellent job with the resources available, it’s clear that a more detailed and strategic approach will be essential in the coming years,” Gerber said. 

The entire council affirmed their commitment to infrastructure needs, especially storm drains, as a high priority to help guide their decisions for the upcoming year and develop a long-term strategy based on gathered data evaluating the condition of the current infrastructure.  

“We must prioritize General Fund monies toward ensuring robust infrastructure operations and maintenance,” said Councilmember Ellen Birrell.

The Hillside Plaza Town Center was on top of most of the city leaders mind as well, as the ballot measure to bond for the project recently passed through the election results. The city since sent out a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a development partner.

“What a great year to look to the future by developing the town center at the old Hillside Plaza site,” said Councilmember Suzanne Hyland referencing the 20th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. “Choosing a development partner will be a crucial next step for the council.”  

In anticipation of the future development, Mayor Mike Weichers and Councilmember Shawn Newell would like to prioritize city funds to go toward extending the sidewalks around the Hillside Plaza area and filling in any existing gaps to the pedestrian walkways.  

Beyond these few overarching conversations, each of the five councilmembers pitched a few of their own unique priorities and projects for their fellow councilmembers to further consider. 

Both Birrell and Hyland would like to expand the CSAP to further identify the highest risk areas and propose transportation priorities to address those risks. Birrell mentioned incorporating a Safe Systems Approach as they could then utilize funding from the Safe Streets for All grant monies already secured back in 2023. Such a five-year transportation project plan has been earmarked as a $100,000 expense. 

“I’m urging my council colleagues to build a community-driven Safety Action Plan to guide future road improvements. This is part of my ongoing efforts for walkability for Cottonwood Heights and will require hiring a professional firm in 2025. This is a departure from past city practices of basing funding decisions on a Transportation Master Plan largely based on car-centric metrics,” said Birrell.

Councilmembers Newell and Matthew Holton would like to establish a nonprofit foundation where volunteers would sign up to help provide those services to older adults or differently-abled residents not typically covered by normal city operations. 

“I share my continued effort to create opportunities for our residents to identify and serve those who are most in need. I will be working on a community foundation that will create an avenue for us to care for those around us who need a helping hand,” said Holton.  

Mayor Weichers and Holton are asking for continuing support to develop their Sister City relationship with Incheon Yeonsu-gu, South Korea. They would like the council to consider setting aside $20,000 to host Incheon’s representatives and engage in cultural exchanges. 

“A delegation of 15 is coming to visit our beautiful city and amazing state of Utah for the first time (this summer). Events for all in the city are in the works,” said Holton. “I am also looking for private industry scholarship opportunities to send a group of our own high school students to visit our sister city through a cultural exchange, further sharing our Utah values across the globe while broadening the horizons for kids in our own community.” 

Other potential projects that at least two councilmembers are in support of include: location improvements and outfitting of a federally-funded shooting range ($50,000), placing a monument within the Bengal Boulevard roundabout ($50,000), and completing the sidewalk along Chris Lane. 

Initiatives without requiring fiscal impacts were proposed by councilmembers to prioritize as well. Councilmembers Hyland and Newell would like to research code for short-term rentals to determine appropriate areas for amendment and regulation implementation.  

“I’m focused on reviewing and revising short-term rental policies. We need to consider how to maintain the mountain suburban lifestyle we enjoy as residents and promote local business growth by offering a mix of goods and services to capture tourism dollars,” Hyland said. 

Before this annual retreat, each of the separate city departments and committees were asked to identify and forward along their priorities for consideration. Both the Cottonwood Heights Parks & Recreation Service Area Committee (CH2) and the Parks, Trails and Open Space (PTOS) Committee identified upgrading Mountview Park (1651 Fort Union Blvd.) as high priority. (The PTOS Committee also suggested funding the second phase of Pollinator Gardens which would cost $65,000.) 

“We discussed looking at this site as the city’s first ADA-accessible playground, making sure that all kids in our city, no matter their physical abilities, have a place to play. This is something that I will fight for,” said Holton. 

In addition, the council discussed the possibilities of replacing the athletic fields (which would cost approximately $60,000) and refurbishing existing courts (which would be $19,000). 

Many of the suggestions made by city departments involved furthering staff employment. The Finance Department would like extra funds to hire a full-time employee to train under the current treasurer before his retirement this upcoming year. 

“We discussed divvying out the HR and recorder responsibilities,” Gerber said and suggested hiring a full-time employee to take over the duties of city recorder and risk manager to ensure legal requirements are being met.

In addition, he would like to hire a full-time maintenance position to help maintain both the city hall and public works buildings. The possible savings from current contracts could be $45,000. 

The Police Department (CHPD) would also like to hire another officer to cover night and weekend animal control (which could be upward of $120,000 for an experienced officer). 

Beyond personnel, the CHPD will need to update security systems per the FBI’s direction and upgrade their interview rooms – anticipated costs between $10,000 and $65,000. The Community & Economic Development Department will also need to upgrade their permitting software to provide more efficient service and transparency – anticipated cost $145,000. 

While all of the above requests are merely options for the council to delegate next fiscal year’s revenue, there are some necessary expenditure increases already accounted for: general IT increases for software licensing and equipment replacement will cost $79,000; liability insurance will increase $35,000; and elections will cost $45,000 (unless the state legislature makes changes to how elections are run). Both VECC (dispatch communications) and UFA will be increasing their fees this year as well, but those numbers have yet to be finalized.  

As per staff compensation: MERIT projections were reported at $235,000, with health and dental projected to increase 5% (for $50,000), a 3.4% COLA increase would be an additional $225,000, and a $7,500 increase for the city attorney fee all totaling a $517,500 increase. 

“Our city council is deeply committed to improving the lives of our residents,” said Gerber. “One key focus is enhancing public outreach and engaging more effectively with residents. This includes leveraging available technology to ensure we remain efficient and effective in delivering services, while also finding innovative ways to enhance transparency and improve the user experience for residents interacting with us in this digital age.” 

Each councilmember reported on their several conversations with varying city staff members about ways to better engage residents and make sure that communications, events and activities are fully inclusive in the Cottonwood Heights community.

“The 2025 council retreat gave us a chance to think and deliberate comprehensively including the perspectives and expertise of key staff,” concluded Birrell. λ