August 2023

Mayor's Message: July 2023

This month's message from Mayor Young looks at the results from the very recent city employee survey. The study had some amazing insights about the state of the city and the work that employees do. Use the links below to either watch or read the message.

You can read the full message here.

City Council Message

from Councilmember Terry Peterson

As my time on the Orem City Council comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of serving our community. It has been an incredible journey, and I am truly thankful for the support, collaboration, and shared vision that has defined our work together.

In a survey sent to city employees, 80% of the respondents were very positive about the direction of the city. Quoting from the city's press release, "This does speak volumes about the collective efforts of our Mayor, City Council, Executive Leadership, staff and all city employees."

Representing the views and concerns of our fellow Orem residents has been an honor. I am grateful for the trust you placed in me to voice their interests and address their needs. Every decision made, every discussion held, and every action taken was carried out with the best interests of our community in mind.

One of the biggest accomplishments is our successful efforts to maintain the character and integrity of our neighborhoods by halting the State Street Master Plan.  We recognized the massive strain it would have placed on our city's infrastructure, and the irreparable effects it would have had on the character of our neighborhoods. It would have added a much heavier load on our police and fire departments as well.

Your concerns were my concerns, and your voices were heard loud and clear. Together, we stood against this plan and preserved the integrity of our beloved community. We need to be vigilant to make sure this plan is not reimplemented.  I urge you to vote for candidates who will commit that they will not reinstate the State Street Master Plan, and who do not stand to receive any personal or monetary benefits if the State Street Master Plan is reinstated. 

Alpine School District continues to close schools in Orem. The school my children attended, Hillcrest Elementary, was closed a few years ago. Now the children, including many low income and minority students in this part of the city, are bussed across town to crowded schools. I lobbied my fellow members of the city council to buy the land and build a park. I am grateful to have received their support. This part of town didn't have a park. Now they will have a new park with pickleball courts, a splash pad, a playground, a walking trail, etc.

We, as a city, need to protect our children. They need neighborhood schools. They need parks where they can play. We need to continue to do all we can to protect what we have and strive to make it better. 

I have chosen not to seek re-election because I believe I have accomplished what I set out to do. I embarked on this journey with a promise to be a true advocate for the people – to listen to your voices and to be a strong and unwavering voice for your needs. Looking back, I am grateful for the opportunities I had to engage with you, to listen to your stories, and to understand the challenges you face. Your trust in me has been the bedrock of our accomplishments, and I am humbled to have been a part of this collective effort. Our combined dedication to Orem's prosperity and the well-being of its residents has been evident in the positive changes we have brought forth during my tenure.

As I bid farewell to my role as a council member, please know that my commitment to Orem remains unwavering. I will continue to champion the values and priorities that make our city “Family City USA”, and I I am excited to witness the continued growth and success of Orem. During this coming election, please support candidates that share your values for the future of Orem.

With heartfelt appreciation and warm regards,

Terry D. Peterson

Click the buttons to view our pages!

Utah County will be conducting the City of Orem Municipal Elections all VOTE BY MAIL

● Ballots will be mailed to ALL active registered voters around August 13th for the Primary Election.

● Return postage is included on the return envelope or the City of Orem has provided 2 Ballot Drop Boxes, located at the north end of the City Center in the Library/Utility drop box loop and in the parking lot of the Orem Senior Center

● After filling out your ballot, seal it in the envelope, sign the appropriate spaces and mail it back or drop it in a ballot box

● Mailed ballots MUST be postmarked no later than September 5, 2023,

● Dropped off ballots will be accepted until the close of Election Day, Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 8:00 pm.

● In person voting on election day in Orem will be at the Center Point Church (1550 Sandhill Road)

Registered to Vote?

● You must be registered in order to vote in the upcoming elections,

● Your voter registration information must be updated if you have moved or changed your name

● Voter registration can be done online at Vote.Utah.Gov

Registration questions, contact the County Recorder at 801-851-8128

Other questions, contact the City Recorder at 801-229-7298

“MEET THE CANDIDATES”

Crystal Muhlestein

Matt McKell

Greg Duerden

Chris Killpack

Jeff K. Lambson

Archie A. Williams III

Spencer Rands

Heather M. Fry

Jenn Gale

David Edward Garber

Mike Carpenter

Wade A. Sewell

Candidate information can be found at: orem.org/elections

The primary election will narrow the field to six (6) City Council candidates

in preparation for the November 21, 2023, General Election.

UPCOMING CITY EVENTS

Meet the Candidates Night: Aug. 10, 6-8pm | Library Hall

City Council Meetings:

Aug 22, Sep 12, Sep 26, 6pm| City Center

Walk of Kindness: Aug 19, 9:30-11:00am | Orem Community Hospital

Day of Service: Aug 26th & Sep 11th | Various Activities

Orem Harvest Festival: Sep 25th, 4-7:30pm | Orem Community Hospital

Orem Farmers Market: Every Wednesday in City Center Park from 5-9 pm

An opportunity to meet the 12 Candidates running for the Orem City Council spots will take place on Aug. 10, 2023 from 6-8 p.m. in Library Hall Auditorium. From 6-7 p.m. Candidates will each briefly address the audience. 7-8 p.m. will be open house style, allowing the public to personally meet the Candidates. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and discuss platforms.

Previously, Candidates were interviewed all being asked the same set of questions. These videos were posted for public viewing on Orem’s YouTube page and the Orem website.



There are three spots to be filled on the Council during this next election. The Primary Election will narrow the 12 Candidates down to six. From there, the six Candidates can be voted on in the November 2023 General Election.

The Orem City Council unanimously agreed by resolution to put the CARE Tax Renewal on the November ballot. The resolution reads:

"A resolution of the Orem City Council (1) Placing an opinion question on the November 21, 2023, municipal general election ballot as to whether or not the City of Orem should renew a citywide local sales and use tax of 1/10 of 1% to fund city-owned recreational and cultural facilities, the ongoing operating expenses of city-owned recreational facilities, and the ongoing operating expenses of private, non-profit cultural organizations in Orem; and (2) approving the ballot title and proposition."

City Employee Survey:

Orem's Heading the Right Direction

Onpointe Insights conducted a comprehensive and independent survey of city employees and presented their findings at the Orem City Council work session on August 1, 2023.

The Mayor and City Council released a joint statement about the results of the survey:

"We are encouraged by the 95% response rate from our full-time employees and their overall positivity expressed in the survey.

According to the survey findings, 80% of our employees believe that the city is headed in the right direction. This speaks volumes about the collective efforts of our Mayor, City Council, executive leadership staff, and all city employees who work tirelessly to serve our community.

We are especially delighted to learn that a majority of employees expressed their commitment to staying with the city for six years or longer. This is a testament to the strides we have made in recruiting and retaining top talent. It was only a few years ago that we faced challenges with attrition among first responders in Fire, Police, and Public Works. However, through the dedicated work of the Mayor, City Council and executive leadership staff, we have successfully achieved record-breaking satisfaction and retention levels in these essential departments.

We want to assure our employees that their satisfaction and well-being will remain a top priority for us. We aim to make Orem the premiere location for civic professionals seeking to build fulfilling careers in the service of our great city.

As we move forward, we will use the survey feedback as a foundation for further improvement. Listening to our employees is crucial for the continued success of Orem, and we will actively seek ways to address any concerns.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all city employees for their dedication and commitment to public service. Their efforts are vital to the prosperity of our community, and we look forward to building an even brighter future together."

Property All-Star Program Award

On Monday, Orem Council members, Debby Lauret and David Spencer and members from the Neighborhood Improvement Team presented the Stubbs family with a Property All Star Award. The family did an amazing job transforming their older brick rambler (both inside and out) into a nice, modern home to match the new subdivision built next door. We appreciate their efforts to improve their home and property on 400 South.  

The Property All-Star Award Program was developed to show appreciation and recognition for homeowners and landlords who have worked hard to improve their once-blighted properties and have brought them up to a community standard or beyond. More information can be found at orem.org/neighborhoods/property-all-star. Nominate your neighbor or yourself today!  

Growing Green Space in Orem

The former Hillcrest Elementary School site was purchased to create an additional park and recreational space in Orem. Blu Line Designs was hired in early January 2022 to design and make the project into a reality.

With a budget of $12 million allocated for the park, there's a commitment for significant improvements and amenities that will benefit the community. Construction began in late 2022, and the community can look forward to the park opening in the Fall or Winter of 2023. The park will provide opportunities for pickleball, a splash pad, a hammock park, a community fire pit and more.

Mayor & City Council Honor National Champ

& UVU Track Team

In a groundbreaking achievement, Everlyn Kemboi has etched her name in Utah Valley University history as the institution's first NCAA Division I National Champion. Her remarkable victory came in the 10,000-meter final at the NCAA Championships, held at University of Texas.

Kemboi's performance was nothing short of outstanding, as she not only secured the championship but also set a new facility record at Mike A. Myers Stadium. Her incredible prowess led her to conquer the 10k race with an impressive time of 32:39.08.

The Orem Mayor and City Council honored Everlyn and the UVU Track Team at the City Council meeting on August 1st.

Orem Fall Festival

🍁 Embrace the season of abundance and celebrate the Orem Harvest Festival with us!🍁

🌾🥕 There will be something for everyone! Enjoy fun activities for the kids, live music to get your toes tapping, and an array of delicious local food vendors serving up delicious delights. 🍽️🎶



🗓️ Date: Monday, September 25th, 2023

⏰ Time: 4-7:30 pm

📍 Location: Orem Community Hospital

Highlighting Heroes

When considering those who serve our community, dispatchers are at the top of that list. The brave women and men who answer the 911 call on what could be someone's worst day, have a unique ability to de-escalate situations. The Orem community is able to function in an orderly manner due to dispatchers processing information in the moments before services arrive.

Early January 2023, Provo and Orem dispatch were combined. Dispatch describes the move to Provo as an easy adjustment, as both dispatch centers had previously worked together in Orem, while the new Provo City Hall was being built. There are three dispatch centers in Utah County. Dispatch covers Fire, Medical and Police for Provo, Orem and Lindon. They also cover Medical for Vineyard. Dispatch will also send Medical to UVU Campus as needed. One of the most common calls out of Orem are traffic accidents.

“Dispatchers are everyday heroes making a difference in people’s lives,” Head of Communications at Metro Emergency Communications Heather Perkins says.

Those who work at Dispatch carry a unique set of skills. They have the ability to multitask interrogating, while typing in the collected information and listening to the radio channels all simultaneously. They are trained to give medical instructions over the phone and triage. But most importantly, they have a strong desire to serve their community.

“Whether it’s a duck in a gutter or a house fire, people find themselves in situations that exceed their resources,” Perkins says. “We have the honor to answer those calls–it’s a big responsibility.”

According to SaferWatch, average National response times of Police services is 11 minutes. Orem is proud that its Police response time for in-progress emergencies averages at five to six minutes. Orem Medical response time is approximately five minutes.

The Fire Department usually arrives when a baby is in the process of being delivered outside of the care of medical professionals. But in the rare case they don’t, dispatchers are certified to deliver babies over the phone. This is something that is celebrated within dispatch, and the dispatcher is given a stork pin for their lanyard to highlight the event.



Dispatchers work anything from a 10-12 hour shift. They have mental health resources available to them that are confidential and timely. There are currently 42 full-time positions and nine part-time positions at Dispatch.

The Orem Kindness Committee holds quarterly activities to foster a culture of kindness in the community. For this quarter’s activity, the committee will be hosting a mile walk around Orem Community Hospital from 9:30-11:00 on Aug. 19, 2023. This is a free event.

During this event, the Kindness Committee will be taking donations for the Community Action Food Bank.

Items needed for donation are:

• Canned Meats (Tuna or Chicken)
• Toilet paper
• Canned Meals (Spaghetti O, Beef a Roni, Beef Stew, Ravioli)
• Dry Goods (Cereal, Pasta, Pasta Meals, Rice)

Accessory Apartments: 

Did you know that Accessory Apartments play a significant role in increasing housing affordability? With rising home prices and limited inventory, Accessory Apartments offer an opportunity for homeowners to generate rental income while providing much-needed housing options for individuals and families. Check out www.orem.org/accessory-apartments for more information! 



Affordable Senior Housing

As our community grows, it is crucial that we provide housing options that are accessible and affordable for our senior population. Did you know that Orem has an Affordable Senior Housing Zone that allows for the development of units exclusively for elderly persons whose income is at or below eighty percent (80%) of the median income for the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Statistical Area? This is critical as it allows for units that allow affordability that support the needs of our seniors. Join us in creating a community where all our seniors can age with dignity and comfort. Talk to a planner in Development Services if you have questions about affordable senior housing!