Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
In this Sunday Edition, hear key leaders' vision for Utah's future growth and development. Also, June is Refugee Month in Utah. A refugee shares his story. And learn what community leaders are doing to encourage civility.
SEGMENT 1: Wasatch Choice for 2040
By 2040 population along the Wasatch front will increase by 65 percent. That's another 1.4 million people in the next thirty years.
Thousands of citizens and community leaders from four counties came together seven years ago to create an innovative plan for that growth.
In May, the Wasatch Front Regional Council adopted the final plan. The Wasatch Choice for 2040 project is now moving forward with extraordinary effort.
Council members Alan Matheson, executive director of Envision Utah, and Jan Zogmaister, chair of the Wasatch Front Regional Council and Weber County Commissioner discuss the plan.
Zogmaister says change in development patterns is necessary.
It's about accommodating the growth in a way that makes sense. This vision is designed to make the most of the infrastructure we have, save public funds... give people more choices about how they live and get around, and stimulate the economy.
–Alan Matheson
"Within our community, without some sort of change, we will continue in the direction we have been going. We will continue in developing the large spread neighborhoods, the tracks of land that will all be developed. We have a lot of agriculture within our community and our community has expressed an interest in preserving that, yet we still have pressure for housing development," explains Zogmaister.
The vision is focused on solving problems to maintain our quality of life.
"Utahns are known for being able to solve problems," says Matheson. "And this is really developed in that spirit, so over the course of the last several years we've involved thousands of people in expressing their hopes for the future and how maybe the region can satisfy that there has been a lot of study into the market, how it might change over time. So this plan, this vision is very much driven by the market and people's desires. We think, if it's implemented and it will be, that we will see the elements of quality of life here continue."
The council has identified six demonstration sites throughout Salt Lake County to serve as models throughout the state and the country. The sites will combine living, economic opportunities and transportation.
There is a market for different housing option, explains Zogmaister. She says for many the traditional single- family home is not the desire. Many in the younger population are looking for less yard work and to be closer to jobs and recreation. And many people are looking to retire in their same community but can't afford or cannot maintain a large home.
"It's about accommodating the growth in a way that makes sense," explains Matheson. "This vision is designed to make the most of the infrastructure we have, save public funds... give people more choices about how they live and get around, and stimulate the economy."
Project leaders are now working to put the vision into action, working with communities, leaders, builders and lenders.
"We think this certainly will be a model around the country for how you solve problems in a constructive way," Matheson says.
SEGMENT 2: Refugees in Utah
Gov. Gary Herbert has declared June Utah Refugee Month. Each year more than one thousand people from around the world are relocated to Utah, in order to escape violence and persecution in their own countries. They are refugees.
Last week KSL profiled Iraqi refugees who are working to make a new life in America. Among them, former Iraqi journalist Mohammed Mushib. And joining him, Gerald Brown, Utah Director of Refugee Services.
Mushib left Iraq because his family and children were threatened.
"When I came I started working in landscaping. It is hard from the pen to the shovel, but when you want to start you should do anything," he says.
When I came I started working in landscaping. It is hard from the pen to the shovel, but when you want to start you should do anything.
–Mohammed Mushib
Finding a job is very difficult for refugees.
"Employment is the most important part of resettlement and it is hard. Since the economy took a hit in 2008, it has been very hard. And so it is not only a job that we have to worry about now, it's keeping people in their apartments until they can find a job, it's dealing with the mental health issues that result from not being able to have any control over you life, which a job gives you. It's been tough," Brown explains.
"There are 16-million refugees in the world and less than half a percent come to the United States, 80-thousand a year, roughly. About 1,100 come to Utah each year," says Brown. "There is not much of a public safety net here. The reason refugee resettlement works as well as it does is because the private sector chips in. If it weren't for the mainstream community in Utah things would be much, much worse. This has got to be the most supportive public in the United States."
Brown has worked in many locations throughout the United States and believes Utahns are the most giving.
Mohammed did not pick Salt Lake City, but he says, "It was a very nice choice because Utah is good for family."
Mohammed's wish for the future: "I hope that I can work in the media.... For family I want to see them grow up with a good situation. My children have a lot they can learn here in America."
Everyone can help Utah's refugees.
"Best thing anyone can do is befriend a refugee, don't worry about collecting stuff, don't worry about giving money, just find a refugee family and make friends with them," Brown says.
SEGMENT 3: Utah Civility and Community 2011
Why does civility matter to you? That's the question local leaders asked Salt Lake County residents last Monday. It's part of the Utah Civility and Community 2011 Initiative. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and John Kessler, the director of initiative explain their goal.
Becker explains why civility is important to Salt Lake City.
It's at the core of what we do as a city and how we interact with our residents, visitors and businesses. While it is hard to identify it as this great project, my goal is to have it at the center of what we do and the way we act as a city.
–Ralph Becker
"It's at the core of what we do as a city and how we interact with our residents, visitors and businesses. While it is hard to identify it as this great project, my goal is to have it at the center of what we do and the way we act as a city," he says.
What is civility?
"Minimally, it's respectful discourse and behavior. But from the heart, they call it the civic expression of the golden rule," says Kessler. "To reach a higher level of civil-ization, it requires an expansion of your heart and a real deep desire to be an inclusive community."
The initiative is not focused on any one topic and is designed to foster the discussion of various points of view.
"We hope it reaches across the board," Becker explains. "It is in no way to reduce the passion, our views, our opinions, it's much more about listening to others, being respectful to others and I've believed for a long, long time we get the best solutions when we have the most and the best engagement of our community in those decisions."
"This is a movement about growing up because those who can only see their own point of view and demonize others or any other kind of different point, that's the least developed position," Kessler says.
