Skip to main content

West Valley City Journal

Naloxone kits and new data storage: a rundown of recent city council action

Nov 03, 2017 02:07PM ● By Travis Barton

Here is a rundown of recent city council action in West Valley City. 


City code continuance

Discussion about the possibility of amending certain requirements for rezoning was continued following the Oct. 10 city council meeting. 

The request would change criteria used in rezone applications to an RM zone (residential area with multiple units such as apartment buildings). 

In 2015, an ordinance was passed where rezones to RM were only allowed under certain conditions. One of those conditions is that properties must have access and frontage on a street with an 80’ width on a planned right of way. 

The proposed change came from Raymond Crane, a property owner hoping to rezone his property at 6000 W. 4100 South near two of the city’s busier roads. 

Crane told the city council this change would allow more flexibility and options for the council to consider when deciding what’s best for each property. 

He also said the wording is a safety issue with the city’s requirement that there be access onto a main road potentially causing traffic problems. 

But city councilmembers were hesitant to make a change for one property that could affect the entire city. 

Councilman Steve Buhler said he has no issue with the property owner or what he wants to do, but he’s concerned about the rest of the city. 

“We’re looking at an ordinance change where we’re painting with a very broad stroke, and I always approach that cautiously,” he said during the city council meeting. 

Councilman Steve Vincent said he wasn’t in favor of the change. “I’m afraid it could have a negative effect on other pieces of property throughout the city.” 

Buhler said changing the city code could have unintended consequences giving developers too much freedom to stray from what elected officials indicated they wanted in 2015. “The ordinance as it is now, is what we intended when we passed it not so long ago.”  

The city council voted unanimously to continue the ordinance to another meeting giving time to city staff and Crane to examine stricter requirements for the proposed change. 


Fire Trucks

The West Valley City Fire Department has operated out of a 1997 Pierce Heavy Duty Rescue apparatus for its fire trucks. It’s an all-in-one type of configuration. 

West Valley City Council voted on Oct. 3 to purchase two replacement apparatuses for the fire department: a search and rescue trailer and a crew cab. The crew cab will be used to pull the rescue trailer for heavier rescue calls throughout the city, county and state. 

Councilman Steve Buhler said the equipment being replaced is “old and obsolete” and “requiring more maintenance than is cost effective at this point.” 

Fire Chief John Evans told the city council the new trailer will have better access, maneuverability and storage space. 

Funding for the apparatuses was made possible through a resolution also passed by the council allowing for a lease agreement that will see a payment schedule happen over eight years on quarterly payments with a 2.21 percent interest rate. The lease agreement is with US Bancorp Government Leasing and Finance. 

City documents show the fiscal impact to be $562,730.


Naloxone Packs

A resolution was passed by the city council which sees Salt Lake County transfer $5,250 to WVC for the purchase of 70 Naloxone kits and appropriate training for their use. 

Naloxone is a prescription medication for treating and preventing narcotic overdoses, such as with opiates. The Naloxone packs are meant for emergency responders to provide prompt and effective medical assistance. 

Fire Chief John Evans said they are often used by the fire department while Police Chief Colleen Nolen said research indicates overdose deaths can be reduced by 50 percent when distributed in communities. 

Naloxone packs last approximately one year. 


New data storage system

The city council voted to authorize the purchase of a new data storage system, servers and requisite software, hardware and services. 

Ken Cushing from the IT department told the city council in their study meeting on Oct. 10 that new storage is needed to replace the storage network currently being used for the city. Its current network is up in January. 

The $246,000 purchase is meant to increase the storage size and access speeds for all 130 servers at city hall. Equipment will be purchased from Tivitri. 

Cushing said the purchase would also be implemented in the city’s disaster recovery site in St. George. Currently, the site has no servers running meaning if city hall were to lose its infrastructure, it would take months to get back online. 

He said with the replicated servers in St. George, it would allow services to be up and running again within 24 hours.