Robert Farrington to Lead Salt Lake City’s Economic Development Efforts
 
SALT LAKE CITY – Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker announced today the appointment of Robert Farrington to the post of Economic Development Director for Salt Lake City. Since 1992, Farrington has been an instrumental leader in the economic development of downtown Salt Lake City through his role as the Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance.
 
In making the announcement, Becker said, “Today marks the beginning of a bright future, not only for our City, but for the state and region. Regions prosper with a strong core. Salt Lake City can and must be THE regional leader for economic development in the Intermountain West. Our Capital City truly can emerge as a Great American City through Bob’s visionary and effective economic leadership.”
 
Becker characterized the decision to hire an effective, knowledgeable Economic Development Director as vital to the economic success of Salt Lake City and the Intermountain Region. “Nobody in the state is more qualified to provide that leadership as Director of Salt Lake City’s Economic Development Department than Bob Farrington,” said Becker.
 
During Farrington’s tenure at the Downtown Alliance, Salt Lake City saw record- setting growth and development, with the addition of over $2.5 billion in public and private investment, and many other significant new public and private development initiatives underway.
 
Farrington has served as chairman of the cabinet of “Downtown Rising”, a major community visioning effort for Downtown Salt Lake City, and helped lead the efforts generating support for Trax, Salt Lake’s new light rail system.

Speaking of Farrington’s vast experience, Becker remarked, “As we see our “Downtown Rising,” with unprecedented investment and development, we will need Bob’s qualifications and experience to guide us through the next five years.”
 
Citing Farrington as someone who sees the big picture and the potential of Salt Lake City as a regional economic center, Becker has asked Farrington, within his first 90 days on the job, to meet with economic development directors from all of the major cities and counties, as well as the state and to formulate guiding principles of regional economic development for the Capital City.
 
Becker concluded, “I am pleased that Bob has agreed to accept this momentous task. He shares my belief  that economic development is in every City employee’s job description.  I look forward to helping our business community by supporting the work Bob will do throughout the City, both internally and externally to facilitate practices that will enable businesses to thrive in our Capital City.”
 
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Robert Farrington Bio
 
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker announced today that Robert F. Farrington, Jr. has been selected to serve as the Senior Director of Economic Development for the Mayor’s Office.
 
Farrington was the first Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance of Salt Lake City—a position he has held since 1992. He served as Chairman of the Cabinet of Downtown Rising, a major community visioning effort for Downtown Salt Lake City, and helped lead the efforts generating support for TRAX.
 
In addition to major economic and community development initiatives, Farrington has been instrumental in creating major new events and festivals in Salt Lake City. These new community institutions include the Downtown Farmers Market, First Night Salt Lake, Lights On!, Downtown Alliance Achievement Awards, Live Green, and Downtown Dine O’Round. Farrington was significantly involved in the successful hosting of the 2002 Winter Olympics in downtown Salt Lake City—a milestone in a progressive decade.
 
Farrington was one of the founders, and the first Executive Director, of the San Antonio Downtown Alliance. He has consulted with numerous communities around the nation in creating downtown organizations and business improvement districts.
 
Prior to joining the Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance, he was a partner in Admiralty Management Company—a real estate planning and project management firm. He has worked extensively in urban economic development and international trade, heading up those efforts for the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
 
Farrington was awarded a Master of Science degree in Urban Planning and Environmental Management from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston. He has received national recognition for planning and urban development projects from the International Downtown Association, American Planning Association, and the National Defense Transportation Institute.
 
He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and has been an adjunct professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Utah for the past ten years. He serves on the Boards of the Salt Lake Chamber, Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, and other community organizations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          
April 21, 2008                                                                                     
 
Salt Lake City – To commemorate Earth Day, Mayor Ralph Becker visited a group of West High School students today and shared with them the top items he personally does to help promote a greener city
 
The students are part of an Earth Systems class that has been studying global warming.  After the Mayor spoke he fielded questions from the students. Many students were surprised to hear that Mayor Becker walks or rides his bike almost everywhere he goes. They were also surprised to hear that he lives in a modest apartment close to work so that he can cut down on commuting time and the additional resources it takes to heat and cool a large home.
 
The following is the list of actions Mayor Becker personally incorporates to help protect the earth. He encourages others to try and implement as many of them as possible into their own lives.
 
1.      Walk, bike, or take public transportation whenever possible.
2.      Recycle everything possible, including taking glass to drop-off sites.
3.      Purchase locally grown food as often as possible.
4.      Purchase products that are made of recycled materials.
5.      Have compact fluorescent lights in the home.
6.      Support local businesses to help build sustainable economic communities.
7.      When there is a need to drive, use biodiesel or other alternative clean fuels in vehicles.
8.      Doesn’t print things unless absolutely necessary; files memos and reports electronically.
9.      Keep the home thermostat set at 68 degrees when home and 60 degrees when away.
10.   Live in small space to reduce heating and cooling demands.
11.   Live close to work, transit, and services to make it easier to walk and bike around for work and errands.
12.   Re-use water and save water for plant watering.
13.   Boil only enough water necessary for purpose.
14.   Recreate primarily with non-motorized activities.
 
During his presentation, Mayor Becker told the students he remembers the first Earth Day because it took place during his senior year in high school. Earth Day played a major role in helping him decide to devote much of his career to working on issues and projects that would protect the environment.
 
 

Becker Worked with Legislators to Advance Key Elements of 180-Day Plan
 
SALT LAKE CITY – The first legislative session for the Becker Administration has concluded and by all accounts ended on a high note for the new Mayor of Salt Lake City, with several key victories and very few bills passed that negatively impact Utah’s capital city.
 
“I always viewed this session as an opportunity to lay the groundwork for future sessions and to build trust with the Legislature. We came in with a different attitude and in good faith, believing that common ground can be found on most issues. I think the final outcome shows this approach served Salt Lake City very well,” Becker remarked.
 
One key element of the Becker Administration’s legislative approach was working closely with the City Council to present a united front to the Legislature.  In fact, each time Mayor Becker testified during the session, he was accompanied by at least one member of the City Council, who worked collaboratively with the Mayor to advance the City’s priorities.
 
Jill Remington-Love, Chairwoman of the City Council said, “Mayor Becker set the standard for diplomacy and exemplified how you work out issues. Working closely with Mayor Becker, we had a seat at the table to negotiate all of the important pieces of legislation Salt Lake City cared most about this session.”
 
Some of the key positives that came out of the legislative session for Salt Lake City included:
 
Domestic Partnership Registry - After facing a very real threat that the registry would be overturned by the Legislature, the session ended with a compromise bill in which Salt Lake City’s registry was essentially untouched, despite a name change. Mayor Becker remarked, “While we don’t believe that any state action was necessary, we’re happy the legislation that was passed was tempered and will allow the registry to go forward. I praise the members of the Legislature who were willing to work collaboratively with us and achieve a compromise.”
 
Riparian Corridor – Despite attempts by the Legislature to take away Salt Lake City’s ability to protect areas around the City’s riparian corridor, Mayor Becker was able to work to promote the protection of the capital city’s streams and waterways. Through negotiation, that bill never made it to committee.
 
Alcohol – A bill that had potentially far-reaching negative implications for businesses and residents of Salt Lake City was amended at the urging of Salt Lake City.  Through the skillful negotiations of the City, the bill was amended and urban interests were protected. Now restaurants and businesses around libraries and parks will be allowed to receive a variance from the City to serve alcohol.
 
Airport TRAX Funding – The Legislature restricted the City’s ability to use airport surplus monies for the portion of the TRAX line built on airport property. Despite this fact, Mayor Becker still felt the City made progress. “We began the session trying to convince the Legislature that building a TRAX line to the Airport was important and ended with some funding mechanisms,” the Mayor said. “While I continue to be concerned with the Legislature’s willingness to overstep its bounds by telling Salt Lake City how to manage its own City departments— in this case the Salt Lake International Airport— I was pleased legislators provided funding to partially offset the funding restrictions, which will allow the construction of the airport line to move forward.”
 
One of the most notable negative outcomes for Salt Lake City was the so-called School District Equalization bill.  “We felt strongly that since Salt Lake City residents and business owners didn’t vote to split the Jordan District, they shouldn’t be required to foot the bill,” explained Becker.  “I didn’t see the legislation as an effort to hurt Salt Lake City; rather it was a politically expedient decision to find a way to fund the Jordan District split. Unfortunately, the levy for the Jordan School District tax came down on Salt Lake City and other Salt Lake County property owners.” Mayor Becker is planning to ask Governor Huntsman to veto the legislation.
 
 “We hope the relationships we built this year will help us next year,” said Mayor Becker. “We plan to be even more aggressive and continue to educate the legislature about the importance of helping the capital city.  I deeply believe that when the State Legislature helps the capital city, they help the whole state of Utah.”
 
Mayor Becker concluded, “At the end of the day the State Legislature didn’t go out of its way to hurt us or to help us.  Working together with the City Council, we impacted public policy to the benefit of our constituents in Salt Lake City.” 
 

It’s official. Ralph took in over 63% of the vote. Thanks for all your help and your votes.

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know that if you missed out on voting for Ralph the first time around because you were not registered to vote you have a few more weeks to give it a second go!

Voter registration forms can be obtained through the Salt Lake County Clerks website, or by simply clicking here . Mail in voter registrations must be postmarked by October 6, or you can personally deliver it to the County Clerks office by October 20.