Robert MacFarlane, a realtor who pays a lot of attention to local issues and hosts the 435 Podcast sent a questionnaire to all city council candidates in the county. I wrote detailed responses to all seven questions, but they were too big and blew up his online survey form. So I redid those responses as short summaries. That worked. But it left out a lot of valuable information. So, here are the complete answers to the survey.
Land Use and Zoning
Question: Washington County’s rapid growth pressures both development and preservation of open spaces. What is your proposed zoning strategy to balance new housing and commercial projects with maintaining the region’s natural landscapes, and how will you address community concerns about overdevelopment?
First, we need to be clear about what cities can and can’t control. Property owners have the right to build, and if their plans conform to existing zoning, the city has little legal authority to deny them. What we can do is carefully evaluate zone change requests and land use amendments, and use those tools to ensure that growth aligns with our General Plan, respects surrounding neighborhoods, and reflects Ivins’ long-term vision.
That’s been my approach on the Council. I’ve supported twelve zoning changes that I believed were compatible with neighboring homes. I’ve opposed eight that would have undermined neighborhood character or introduced incompatible uses. And I’ve taken an even more cautious approach to land use changes supporting only three and opposing seven.
When it comes to commercial development, many residents understandably want more options closer to home, from a Trader Joe’s to an InstaCare clinic. But commercial development isn’t something the city can just create. It’s driven by private developers and market demand. If a company doesn’t see the traffic volume or population density to support a store, they won’t build here, no matter how much we’d like them to.
Ivins faces a particular challenge in that regard: we’re at the edge of the metro area, not the center of it. That makes it harder for many types of businesses to succeed here, especially without strong visibility or pass-through traffic. Still, we’ve tried to plan for and encourage thoughtful commercial zones, especially along Highway 91 and Center Street.
I support growth that is thoughtful, compatible, and grounded in our General Plan. I’ve voted that way. And I’ll continue working to make sure that as Ivins grows, we do it with our eyes open, protecting what makes this place special, while being realistic about what’s in our control and what isn’t.
Infrastructure
Question: Aging infrastructure, such as roads, water lines, and public facilities, requires ongoing investment. What is your plan to fund and prioritize maintenance and upgrades, and how will you balance these costs with other municipal budget demands?
Aging infrastructure is one of those issues that’s easy to ignore, until it becomes a crisis. I don’t want Ivins to be caught off guard 10 or 20 years from now, facing multi-million-dollar road repairs with no plan and no money set aside. That’s why I’ve been actively working with City staff since I joined the Council to analyze what we’ll need and when and how we can begin preparing now.
For water lines, storm drains, and sewer systems, the city already collects utility fees that help build reserve funds for future repairs and replacements. That’s good policy. But I’ve dug into those reserves and discovered that some may not be sufficient to meet the actual long-term costs. As a result, the city is updating its financial models to determine how much we really need to set aside, and how to do it gradually and fairly.
Our biggest gap is roads. Ivins currently has no dedicated funding source for long-term road replacement. That means every year we wait, the hole gets deeper. In mid-2023, I raised this issue, analyzed potential costs, wrote about it, and encouraged the city to explore what other cities like Provo have done: implement a Transportation Utility Fee. It’s a way of treating roads like the essential infrastructure they are, with a small monthly fee that can be adjusted over time.
It would cost residents a little more each month. But if we act now, the amount could be relatively small. I believe being proactive is the responsible thing to do. Of course, no decision has been made – consider this just my personal opinion at this point – but I’m open to any other solutions and I would only support moving forward after full public input and discussion.
Public Health and Safety
Question: With rising populations, how will you ensure that police, fire, and emergency services remain adequately funded and staffed? Please specify whether you would reallocate existing budgets, seek new revenue sources, or implement other strategies to meet these needs.
Ensuring high-quality police, fire, and emergency medical services is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of local government. I’ve taken that responsibility seriously from day one.
Shortly after joining the city council, I learned that our Center Street fire station wasn’t always adequately staffed and that our fire and EMS services were still largely volunteer-based. That model had served us well for years, but it was becoming unsustainable. Recruitment was getting harder, response times were at risk, and we weren’t equipped to meet the needs of a growing and aging population. About one-third of Ivins residents are 65 or older, a much higher percentage than other cities in the area, which makes timely EMS response even more critical.
I pushed hard for the transition to a fully professional department with full-time, 24/7 staffing at both of our stations. I also supported pay adjustments and equipment funding for our police and public safety personnel to ensure we can retain and recruit qualified staff. These changes have made a real difference and I believe they were essential. But they haven’t come cheap. My estimate is that the fire/EMS upgrades alone have added over $500,000 a year to our ongoing budget.
From 2022 to now, we were able to cover those costs using one-time revenue, including federal COVID relief funds. But that money is now gone. Which means we’re left with a hard truth: public safety services cost more than they used to, and we need a stable funding source to sustain them.
I know I won’t make anyone happy by saying this, but I believe raising property taxes is the fiscally responsible step to take if we want to maintain the level of service our residents expect and deserve. I’m also keeping a close eye on potential legislative changes that might allow cities to add a small sales tax, one-third of one percent, specifically to support EMS services.
At the end of the day, public safety isn’t optional.
Community Engagement in Development
Question: Large and even small scale development projects often spark community debate. How will you ensure that residents’ voices are meaningfully incorporated into decisions about zoning and development, and what specific mechanisms (e.g., town halls, advisory boards) will you establish or strengthen?
When I first ran for city council in 2021, I said my number one goal was to involve Ivins residents early in the city’s decision-making process. I’ve done my best to follow through.
I’ve posted regular social media updates, sent out 36 monthly email updates on city issues to residents who signed up for them, granted – not quite monthly but close, and written over 170 articles sharing my ideas, concerns, and positions on upcoming issues, usually before decisions are made, so residents have time to weigh in.
And when residents email me asking about any issue, from proposed rezones to the Parks Department budget, I don’t send a form reply. I answer personally, with detailed information and my views, because I believe the more informed residents are, the more effectively they can participate in shaping our city’s future.
That’s also why I championed and helped shape the 2022 citywide resident survey during our General Plan update. I read all 2,244 responses, and personally dictated every handwritten comment into a 110-page document so it could be part of the public record.
Some residents feel the city does not listen to the survey results, but we do. That feeling comes from legal constraints we have, particularly around zoning approvals, which I’ve mentioned in a response to another question. The survey doesn’t just inform my thinking; it shapes how I vote. I believe we should repeat this kind of survey at least every five years. It’s a huge effort, but absolutely worth it.
I’ve also supported and helped with the Mayor’s “Talkabouts” – town-hall style meetings that focus on a single issue, whether it’s water, public safety, or (most recently) a proposed property tax increase. These meetings allow for open discussion, visual materials, data sharing, and live Q&A. I’ve helped prepare materials for three of them so far, and I strongly believe they should continue and expand.
Beyond development issues, I launched two new community initiatives aimed at broadening public involvement: the Ivins Youth Council, which gives high school students a chance to engage with local government, and the Healthy Ivins Coalition, which brings together city departments and residents to support wellness, recreation, and community connection. Both are examples of how grassroots engagement can strengthen our city in ways that go beyond land use.
At the end of the day, public input isn’t just a box to check. It’s what makes smart planning possible. And it’s how we protect what’s special about Ivins, together.
Economic Diversification
Question: To reduce reliance on tourism and construction, what specific industries or business types will you target to diversify Washington County’s economy, and what incentives or policies will you propose to attract them?
Ivins faces real constraints when it comes to economic development. Unlike many cities, we didn’t grow up around a traditional Main Street or central commercial district. We developed as a farming and residential community, and as a result, many of the prime locations that might have supported commercial hubs are now fully built out with homes. What remains are scattered parcels, often directly adjacent to neighborhoods, where any commercial development must be carefully evaluated to ensure compatibility and preserve community character.
That challenge isn’t just theoretical, we’ve seen it play out. Years ago, the land where the Hidden Springs Resort now sits was designated for professional office use. The vision was a mid-sized office park to serve local needs. But that never happened. No developer stepped forward, and ultimately the property was repurposed. Similarly, we designated several corner lots for small-scale neighborhood commercial, the kind of mixed-use spots you see in walkable towns, with ground-floor businesses and residential units above. Despite our intent, those never materialized. The market didn’t respond.
Still, we do have a few opportunities. A handful of key parcels remain designated for commercial use on our Land Use Map. And while it’s true that the private market ultimately decides what gets built, the City can help shape what’s possible by keeping strategic sites zoned appropriately, avoiding shortsighted rezonings to residential, and being clear with developers about the kind of uses residents support.
So what kinds of businesses should we target? Based on what residents told us in our 2022 General Plan survey, they6 don’t want more short -term rentals or more tourism but there’s strong support for neighborhood-scale restaurants and small independent businesses. Many would like to see an urgent care or medical office facility. These are realistic, community-serving uses that could succeed here, so it’s important to keep land uses and zones open to these types of uses.
We’ve also seen that our position “at the end of the road” while challenging for traditional retail, can be an advantage when it comes to tourism and wellness-focused businesses. I have been clearly opposed to adding more short-term rentals and “tourism accommodations” in general. We’ve got more than enough, given everything that has already been zoned for that use. But the tourism we will have gives us an opportunity to welcome complementary enterprises like outdoor recreation outfitters, spa and wellness services, art galleries, and other small, independent businesses that reflect our natural setting and community values. Our responsibility as a city is to protect the land use designations and zoning that allow for these kinds of businesses, and to review whether additional opportunities should be created.
But that’s where it gets complicated. The state is increasingly pressuring cities to rezone land for affordable housing, a worthy goal, but one that can come into direct conflict with economic development objectives. In a sense, we’re being squeezed from both directions: we need more revenue-generating commercial uses to diversify our tax base, but we’re also being asked to devote more land to housing. That makes it even more important that we plan carefully, protect key commercial sites, and work to strike a fair and sustainable balance.
Traffic
Question: Washington County is experiencing increased traffic congestion, particularly in urbanizing areas. What specific infrastructure improvements or policies will you prioritize to reduce traffic delays and improve road safety, and how will you fund these initiatives without overburdening taxpayers?
Ivins needs the Western Corridor built as soon as possible, a direct connection between Highway 91 and Dixie Downs Road in St. George. This will provide a vital alternative route to I-15 and help reduce pressure on Snow Canyon Parkway and other east-side roads. It’s also the only realistic way to handle the future traffic we’ll see if development on the Shivwits Reservation proceeds. Since this is a regional traffic solution, we should be aggressive in seeking funding from the county and state.
Within Ivins, we’ve tackled several local problem areas. On Puerto Drive, we addressed speed and volume concerns with simple striping to add pedestrian and bike lanes, a low-cost solution that’s working well.
On Snow Canyon Parkway at the Mustangs roundabout, we installed a speed table. It’s effective, but it’s not ideal, and no one really likes it. In my view, the roundabout wasn’t designed with enough built-in traffic calming. In hindsight, curb extensions (also called “chokers”) at the roundabout entries might have helped by tightening the turning radius and forcing slower speeds but retrofitting that now would be extremely difficult.
Another key traffic-related issue is bicycle safety, especially on our roadways. Ivins has a great multiuse trail system, but our on-street bike lanes need improvement. In many spots, better pavement markings, like sharrows, are needed to show where bike lanes merge into travel lanes and remind drivers to share the road. I raised this issue last fall and invited two representatives from the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance (SUBA) to present practical solutions to the City Council. Like a lot of things in government, progress has been slower than I’d like, but it’s on the City’s to-do list, and I’ll keep pushing to make sure it doesn’t fall through the cracks.
Looking ahead, our current 5-year capital plan includes four more roundabouts at key intersections to maintain smooth traffic flow as growth continues. The estimated cost is $2.1 million, with $825,000 funded by traffic impact fees from developers. Other roundabouts are planned in our Traffic Master Plan but will be timed based on actual traffic conditions.
Traffic has increased significantly over the past decade and will continue to rise as Ivins grows. Residents feel that change, and a common misconception I hear is that our roads are failing, that they simply can’t handle more traffic. In most cases, that’s not true. What’s really happening is that people are noticing the roads are busier, not that they’re over capacity.
Here’s why: Roads are typically built to handle future growth, not just current traffic. So when a new road goes in, it may seem empty at first. But as development builds out, traffic increases, and that can feel like a problem, even if the road is still operating exactly as designed.
Traffic engineers use a standard called “Level of Service” (LOS), which ranks traffic flow from A (free-flowing) to F (gridlock). Ivins, like most urbanizing areas, plans for LOS D or better, meaning the road is carrying a lot of vehicles, but still functioning within acceptable limits. Currently, I believe all of our roads are performing much better than LOS D.
Water
Question: Given the ongoing drought concerns in Southern Utah, how will you prioritize water allocation among residential, commercial, agricultural, and recreational (e.g., golf courses) users? Please provide a specific plan or framework to ensure equitable distribution while addressing conservation goals.
Water is the issue I care about most, have spent the most time on, and yet, where I’ve had the least success. That frustrates me deeply, because it’s our most critical resource and the one we have the least control over at the local level.
Ivins already has the lowest per-capita water use of any city in Washington County. I took the lead in drafting one of the region’s strongest water conservation ordinances for new construction. I recommended that the city implement Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) so residents can monitor their water use daily. It’s one of the best tools we have for catching leaks quickly. That program is moving forward thanks to a $747,000 grant secured by our Public Works team.
We’re also rolling out transparent billing to help residents track and reduce their use. Public Works is working hard to identify and repair leaks in our water delivery system. That might sound minor, but leaks account for 10% or more of total water use. And we’ve made code changes to prohibit new high water-use developments like golf courses or certain types of car washes.
But the real problem is regional, and that’s where the frustration really sets in. The Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD) began developing a drought contingency plan in late 2021. A full draft was delivered by consultants in January 2023. It laid out clear drought stages and strong actions: pausing new construction permits, restricting water features and pools, and implementing mandatory cutbacks as drought conditions worsened.
And yet, to this day, there’s still no plan in place.
We live in a desert. Even if we weren’t in drought conditions, having a plan on the shelf should be a no-brainer. But the cities haven’t agreed on how to proceed because the proposed actions in the drought plan are politically difficult. That’s not an excuse. It’s a failure.
I’ve written over 50 articles breaking down what’s missing, whether it’s the lack of a drought plan, the flawed practice of approving development based on anticipated but not yet accomplished “new” sources of water, like reuse of 24,000 or more acre-feet of wastewater which still mostly gets put back in the Virgin River and heads to Lake Mead.
In February 2023, I gave a presentation at our city’s Talkabout public meeting outlining the problems and suggesting a path forward. I’ve even proposed strategies for how WCWCD might get buy-in from the cities to move the drought plan forward. But they haven’t taken that up.
So yes, this has been my biggest disappointment. But I won’t stop pushing. Because the alternative is gambling with our future.
Some residents ask, “Why not just stop new development?” I wish it were that simple. State law says we can only impose a building moratorium if we’re told we don’t have the water to support new growth. Since we get our water from WCWCD, only they can make that determination. So far, they haven’t.
So where do we go from here? In Ivins, we’ll keep doing everything we can at the local level. But we also need regional leadership, and resident pressure, to demand better policy from the top. That’s what I’ll keep fighting for.