Since 1999, Nicole Cottle served in several roles as she helped shape and guide West Valley City during a period of rapid growth.

She was assistant city manager through most of that tenure during which she also oversaw West Valley City’s community and economic development functions. Cottle also was city attorney and general counsel for a while and supervised the city’s Justice Court.

After 24 years and having a hand in nearly all aspects of city government, Cottle stepped away from the city in July. 

She will continue her professional career as director of government affairs at fiber-optic internet network UTOPIA.  

“I’ve loved my time at the city. I truly do,” Cottle said. “I’ve grown to love the community.” 

Cottle started at city hall after graduating from law school at the University of Wyoming in 1999. “My first real job out of law school,” she said. She was the city’s attorney and general counsel before being appointed to other duties like legislative liaison, community and economic development director and assistant city manager. 

Each position gave her a prime view of and a say in West Valley City’s evolution during those years. “I think the city has really come into its own over the time I’ve been there,” Cottle said. What she described as “strategic and appropriate” commercial, industrial and residential development has filled much of the city’s available land and has boosted the population from 109,000 in 2000 to 140,000 today. 

That “renaissance,” as she labeled it, includes the creation of a true city center made up of new office space, multifamily housing, a police department building, a transit hub, and additional retail development around Valley Fair Mall, all of it surrounding the current city hall, which opened in 1990. “We have a strong and diverse tax base,” Cottle said. “I’ve just kind of watched it blossom.” 

Mayor Karen Lang praised Cottle’s contributions. “Nicole’s commitment to West Valley City is greatly appreciated and is evident on so many levels.” 

West Valley City is one of 20 Utah cities where UTOPIA has installed lines that are leased by private internet service providers from which people can choose to deliver internet service to their homes and businesses. 

As time allows, Cottle will also do some legal and consulting work. 

“I’m kind of moving into a different phase of life,” she said. λ