7:12 – festivities get underway

7:14 – Salt lake has a great responsibility to not only the city, but also the region and it is hoped that the 2010 will continue to be the “centerpiece of the region”

7:15 – The city must focus on the environment, efficiency , equality and engagement.

• Environment: Our air quality is unacceptable, downtown streetcars and to Davis County. We have wonderful natural resources.  Half of the energy in Salt Lake is used by commercial buildings and we have funds from federal sources to increase efficiency. The city too has made efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Glass recycling is going to take place in downtown businesses and new LED street lights will save energy and maintenance costs for the cities 15,000 street lights – this is just one of many new efforts.
• Efficiency: City services have become more open through online website usage with real time access to the planning process (as an example). Macy’s and Nordstroms used this, and they did not need to print massive blueprints and fly them in – it saved them both time and money and it is a sign of Salt Lakes progressive future. The city has been able to cut 6.2% percent of its budget without ever loosing a single job, all because of its gains in efficiency.
• Equality: a cities livability can be defined by its ability for its citizens to have opportunities for success. Work has been done to reach out to the Salt Lake City School District to ensure that all of Salt Lake’s school children to succeed. We have also made efforts to improve the lives of those who are experiences homelessness. The Office of Diversity and Human Rights were responsible for the passage of a nondiscrimination ordinance, and this year they will launch the Mayor’s human rights campaign to educate employers about the new laws. The city is also working aggressively to ensure that all citizens of the city are counted fairly through the census.
• Engagement: We are growing our downtown though the arts and culture of the Leonardo as well as a world class theater. Downtown is filling with life as City Creek expands with a “soon to be announced” tenet. Many companies are thriving because of the efforts of the city to brand itself as a Western distribution hub. Local businesses are not forgotten, however, as efforts have been made to expand business in local neighborhood businesses. Furthermore crime is down and accidents with injuries are down, and the city has been engaging with the county and state to plan for the inevitable “big” earthquake.

A year ago, the city launched an open government initiative, and the city is continually working to improve this process – as demonstrated by the public safety building. The change in the 2 bar per block law is also proof of this, as a bill was drafted and passed into law with no objections from the council.

7:48 – Livability is the main theme, and the work on North Temple is proof of this. The city will improve sidewalks, expand bike lanes, ground power lines, add green space, and improve business and residential access. the new project is now known as the  The capitol city boulevard project on North Temple.

7:51 – Over the past two years, Mayor Becker has worked hard to ensure that “Blueprint Man” is fulfilling its goals, and as he enters the second half of his first term, there are many campaign promises kept and much more work still to be done. He will be calling on the leaders and residents of the city and state to recognize the disproportionate number of residents the city serves. The city is a capitol city, a economic hub, and a cultural center – and tax revenues from outside sources should reflect this reality.

7:54 – Other cities have inquired about the nondiscrimination ordinance and how they too can implement it. The city must lead with the emphasis on livability, if only because that is where the new world economy is headed.

7:55 – Mayor Becker calls on all citizens to support him in this process.

Analysis coming soon.