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CITY NEWS
Syracuse City Updates
Your City Council at Work
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On April 13, the council gathered for a business meeting.
Here’s a synopsis of their actions: • Drought-Related Restrictions for Secondary Water
Use: Following the lead of Governor Cox, the council addressed the water shortages that our state and local water supplies will be facing. They authorized the public works department to take enforcement action against those wasting water, and also delayed the pressurization of the secondary system until May 1. We (along with other jurisdictions) are expecting nearly half of the water that we are normally allotted. Using less water in the cool spring months will reserve water for use in drier months.
• Interlocal Agreement Regarding Paramedic Service:
Over the next two years, Davis County will cease providing paramedic service. The council approved an agreement between the county, and cities in Davis
County will allow for an orderly transfer of that service to
SYFD.
• Osteoporosis Awareness Day: The council and mayor have declared May 22, 2021 to be Syracuse City
Osteoporosis Awareness Day. All citizens are encouraged to learn about and take action to prevent or mitigate osteoporosis in our community. • Appointments: The council consented to the mayor’s appointments of Lonn Hunter and Kyler Mecham to the Planning Commission, Shawn Gilbert to the Board of Adjustment, and Jennifer Eagle to the Disaster
Preparedness Committee. • Budget Amendment: The FY21 budget was amended, including allocating funding for replacing a retaining wall along 2200 West, adding lights to the pickleball courts at
Founder’s Park, and various other adjustments. • General Plan Map Amendment: The general plan map was amended for properties around the previous
RC Willey site to potentially allow for medium density housing. • Sale of Land Near Cemetery: A real estate purchase contract related to some of the land owned by the city, north of the Cemetery, was approved with conditions.
Syracuse City is Second Safest City in Utah
According to SafeWise, Syracuse was ranked as the #2 safest city in Utah (take that, Kaysville!). The full report can be viewed at www.safewise. com/blog/safest-cities-utah/. Also, for more than a year, Syracuse Police Department has been diligently working to achieve accreditation. The Utah Law Enforcement Professional Standards Accreditation Program, under the direction of Utah Chiefs of Police Association (UCOPA), provides law enforcement agencies of the state of Utah an avenue for demonstrating that they meet accepted, professional standards for effective and efficient operations. We submitted over 3000 pages of documentation for review, and an on-site evaluation was conducted by an UCOPA assessor. The UCOPA Executive Director has officially confirmed that our accreditation was approved. Syracuse Police Department is only the 12th department in the state of Utah to achieve UCOPA accreditation.
Syracuse Water Update
Utah is in a state of drought for outdoor watering. This is a result of limited precipitation last year, which caused low water levels in the mountain reservoirs. Due to the limited supply of secondary water, a drought reduction has been issued from water suppliers that will affect water users throughout Weber and Davis Counties. The total reduction is about 45% less than last year. Please be mindful of water conservation and eliminate overuse. Excess water runs into the storm drain or infiltrates into land drains underground that is not recaptured into the system. Provide only the water your landscape requires. Check timers and turn off systems when possible, adapting to the weather conditions. Enforcement of wasteful watering will occur.
The secondary water season for Syracuse begins May 1 and ends Oct 1. Check our website, www. Syracuseut.gov for further updates or restrictions. Please help in being good stewards in our limited water supply.
Here are more resources to check out: www.weberbasin.com/ conservewater.utah.gov/ https://slowtheflow.org/
Family Communication During an Emergency
How do we communicate with our families during an Emergency? This question comes up every time we see another national or international natural disaster. Whether it be extreme wind storms, earthquakes, wildland fires, or more, communicating with our families to ensure their well-being and safety is paramount. Most will rely on Cell Phone/Texting. This is the technology that we depend on throughout our day to day lives. HOWEVER, what if we are not able to use our cell phones? We witnessed the lack of cell phone capabilities in and around Salt Lake County during the March 18, 2020 medium-sized earthquake in Magna. Cell/text traffic was limited at best and severely hampered and delayed. We have seen this in recent national events as recent as Christmas Morning, 2020. We have options with the capabilities during these events to still reach out to our families during a time of need, and they come in various options of radio communications, which work from one up to ten miles and may offer multi-state radio coverage.
These options are known as FRS Radio, GMRS Radio, and Amateur (Ham) Radio communications.
• FRS (Family Radio Service) are somewhat advanced
Walkie-Talkies that can be purchased locally, require no license, and are inexpensive. These Radios have programmed ‘channels’ and are useful up to five miles. The down side is that, in an emergency or need, this option will have a tremendous amount of traffic of communications with very limited protocol. • GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) are further advanced walkie-talkies that have a bit more power that FRS Radios.
These radios do require a license; however, it is a simple form, and a fee of $35.00 for a ten-year license. These radios use a different set of ‘channels’ and having higher power, the range can be up to 10 miles or more. • Ham Radio: Ham Radio communication has been around since the 1920s and are still in use for private hobbyists and used in worldwide emergency communication support during times of need and disasters. A Ham operator is a licensed operator, and it’s relatively easy to become one. In many cases a full-day class, or a few nightly classes, a test, and $35.00 provides the operator a ten-year renewable license. Ham radios have capability of local, state, national and international communications. As a family and community, we need to do our part to be prepared. To communicate locally with our family members is easy, and with these options, each family can decide which is the best option for them to have the ability and peace of mind to effectively communicate with their family members during an emergency. As recent historical events have shown, we may not have our trusted cell/text communications during a time of real need.
For further information on how best to increase our emergency communications back-up, please reach out to the City Emergency Preparedness Committee, your local District Leaders, or any of the more than 300 Licensed Ham Operators that reside within our City.
Dolls for Sale!
The Syracuse Regional Museum is selling dolls to raise money. We have a wide variety of dolls in size, appearance, and brands. Come check them out at the museum. Cash, check, or PayPal are the only payment methods accepted.
Employee Spotlight- Mark Reid
Police Officer Our employee spotlight for May is Mark Reid. Mark is a Police Officer for the city and has been with the Syracuse Police Department for over four years. Prior to joining the department, he worked at the Davis County Jail. He does a great job as an officer in the patrol division. The city is grateful to have him on the team.
THANK YOU for your hard work and dedication to our city residents!
Syracuse City Arts Council
Do you like the theater arts? Do you
want to serve your community? Volunteer and join the SCAC Executive Board! The Junior Theater Chair position is open to someone who wants to join us ASAP. Applicants need to be a resident of Syracuse and must have participated within SCAC via a committee, production team, or cast member in the last six months. See www.syracuseutaharts.org for more details about this position. Send letters of interest to info@ syracuseutaharts.org before the deadline May 26th. “I’m Feeling It!” is a concert of feel-good songs. The
Syracuse City Symphony
Orchestra will be performing a free concert on May 10th at 7 p.m. @ Syracuse High School Auditorium. Please adhere to school district policies for mask wearing and social distance seating. Our Junior Theatre program will be having auditions for “Matilda Jr.” July 29-31. Rehearsals will begin in August with performances in November. Watch for more details. Tickets now on Sale! Our summer musical is back! “Big Fish” will be performed June 16-21 at the Syracuse Arts Academy Amphitheater. Visit www.syracuseutaharts.org for more info.
Volunteers are always needed and welcome! Please see our webpage if interested! Sponsors and Donations
We are looking for sponsors and donations for our 2021 season, which features Big Fish the Musical, Matilda Jr, orchestra concerts, summer camp, and more. Sponsorships range from $50 to $2000+, and we accept both cash and in-kind donations. Visit our website for more details.
Parks & Recreation Department
Sports-TENNIS
Registration: Limited space, so sign up soon! Session 1 & 2: May 1- June 5 Cost: $35 (Non-Resident Fee additional $15) Sessions consist of eight one-hour sessions. SESSION 1 Beginning the week of June 28 (morning classes) 5 & 6-year-old class: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. 7 & 8-year-old class: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. 9 & 10-year-old class: Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. 11 to 14-year-old class: Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. SESSION 2 Beginning the week of June 28 (evening classes) 5 & 6-year-old class: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. 7 & 8-year-old class: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. 9 & 10-year-old class: Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. 11 to 14-year-old class: Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
STORM FOOTBALL
Registration: June 1-June 30 Registration for Storm Football will be done online this year. Register and pay online at www.syracuseut.gov/221/Parks-Recreation. Parks and Recreation staff will contact you in July to sign up for a date and time during which each participant can come to the Community Center, show documentation, and receive equipment. To complete registration in July, each participant will need a recent physical, his/ her original birth certificate, proof of medical insurance or insurance waiver, and proof of Syracuse residency (Syracuse City utility bill). Cost: $140.00
FALL SOCCER
Registration: May 1-June 30 Leagues: Little Kicks (turning 3 as of September 1, 2021), Pre-K (turning 4 as of September 1, 2021), kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd/4th grade, 5th/6th grade, 7th-9th grade. All leagues are co-ed. Cost: $46 *Register participant in the grade they will be in for the 2021-2022 school year.
FLAG FOOTBALL
Registration: May 1- June 30 Leagues: 1st/2nd grade, 3rd/4th grade, 5th/6th grade, 7th-9th grade, 10th-12th grade (bring your own team). Cost: $55 *Register participant in the grade they will be in for the 2021-2022 school year.
HEART AND SOUL PAINT NIGHT
Come enjoy a night to relax, have fun, and create your own masterpiece! Everything is provided! You can register for one class or all of them; it is up to you. Space is limited, so sign up today! Place: Syracuse Community Center Cost: $30 per night Ages: 10 and up Time: 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Dates and Paintings:
Wednesday, May 5th | At the Beach Wednesday, May 12th | Sunflower Fields Wednesday, May 19th | 4th of July Pride To see example of the paintings, go to Syracuse UT Parks and Recreation Facebook Page.
CAMP SYRACUSE SUMMER FUN!
Your child will make new friends, participate in arts and crafts, play fun games, and have outdoor experiences! Cost: $35 Registration: Limited space, so sign up soon! Session 1 & 2: May 1-June 19 Age Groups: 1st- 5th grade (2021-2022 school year) Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 1st session: July 6- July 22 (9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) 2nd session: July 6-July 22 (12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.) Place: Syracuse Community Center
Adult Fitness
ZUMBA WITH ANGIE!
Fun Fitness! When: Tuesday & Saturday: Zumba, 9 a.m. Thursday: Zumba Tone, 9 a.m. Cost: Cost is $36 for a 12-Class Punch Pass or $5/class First Class is FREE - What Are You Waiting For?
More info at angiec.zumba.com
PUMP IT UP!
Boost your metabolism and tone your muscles with resistance training. We provide hand weights and exercise balls; you just bring your own exercise mat. All skill levels are welcome. We suggest different options, so you can work at your own pace. Where: Syracuse Community Center When: Tuesday Time: 6 a.m. Cost: First class is free | $3 drop-in | 10-time punch pass for $20
STEP IT UP!
Work your heart, muscles. and mind in this fun, energetic workout! All skill levels are welcome; we offer low and high intensity options for you to choose from. Find more info on Facebook at Syracuse Fitness Classes When: Monday, Wednesday, Friday Time: 9 a.m. Cost: First class is free | $3 drop-in | 10-time punch pass for $20
HIGH FITNESS
When: Every Thursday Time: 6:10 a.m. Cost: First class is free | $5 drop-in | 10-time punch pass for $30
Personal Disaster Preparedness
How to make your home safer to prevent a burglary. BY DAN MERKLING
When we think of disaster preparedness, we think of big things – earthquakes, floods, tornados, etc. But disaster can be a personal thing, too – totaling your car, losing your job, being diagnosed with cancer. One of the personal disasters that few of us think about in our quiet suburban oasis of Syracuse is home invasion, aka burglary, because “we’re not that kind of area”. Did you know that since 2018, there have been 88 residential burglaries reported in Syracuse? This article will list only a few small things that you can do to make your home a little safer and less inviting to the “bad guys” and hopefully prevent this personal disaster.
1. DETER
• Make it look like someone is home This is especially true at night. You should have lights over the front, back, and garage doors. Burglars do not like to be seen. They like homes that are dark. This is a simple and inexpensive step to deter a burglar. A 60-watt bulb turned on for eight hours per night would cost you a whopping $2.16 per year. • Make your life seem unpredictable Bad guys don’t like unpredictable events. Kids’ toys on the front lawn or dogs in the backyard will encourage the burglars to find an easier target. If you don’t have kids or dogs at home, lean a used skateboard next to your front door and put up a couple of “Beware Of Dog” signs. • Give the illusion of robust security Many people today have a home security system. But if you don’t have one, you can still get the signs and window decals that say you do. If the burglar thinks you’ve got a security system, they’ll go elsewhere with easier pickings.
2. DETECT
• Get a security system today Home security systems are readily available, fairly inexpensive, and the technology is pretty high quality. Place the cameras where they will get the highest quality images. You don’t want your camera pointed right into the rising or setting sun or getting a panoramic view of your living room. You want to place the cameras where the perpetrator will be easily identified in the pictures. • Talk to your neighbors The old-fashioned idea of watching out for each other is one of the best ways to detect things that should not be happening. If you and your neighbors are at least familiar with each other – what the work and school schedules are, when someone’s gone on vacation, etc. – then something that doesn’t look right could prompt a quick call to that neighbor or 911. “It takes a village”
3. DENY
• Keep your garage door down and keep the garage
pedestrian door locked Most burglars know that the
Syracuse
garage is the best and easiest way has had 88 into your home. Even if your car is burglaries parked in the garage, don’t leave since 2018. valuables – keys, wallet, purse, cell phones, computers – in the car. If the burglar gets into your garage, he is going to take everything in your car.
• Cut off or tie up the garage door opener release handle.
It’s very easy for a burglar to reach in with a coat hanger, yank on the garage door release cable and be inside your garage in a few seconds. Then he has full access to your home and nobody knows he’s in there. • Get a solid core or aluminum door This is not a cheap fix. However, if your home exterior doors need to be upgraded, this is an effective way to slow down or prevent a break-in.
• Reinforce all exterior door frames with 3 1/2-inch deck
screws This is a very inexpensive fix, but it makes your doors much more difficult to break into for the bad guys.
Normal door hardware is mounted using 1/2 inch screws that barely go into the door frame trim. Replacing them with the long deck screws anchors your door into the heavy studs of the door frame. By adding the deck screws about every 8 inches all the way up and down the locking side of the door frame, you’ve just made it very difficult to kick in. Depending on his strength, the burglar will now require 5-10 heavy kicks to break down your door, and that gives you extra time to escape or defend yourself. This tip will take about $5-10 worth of deck screws, but it will significantly improve your home’s safety. • Install protective window film You can put hurricane film on your windows to make them virtually unbreakable.
Hurricane film is like the “clear bra” film that people put on the front of their car’s hood to protect from flying road debris. While this doesn’t make your windows bulletproof, it does make them much, much harder to break. Hopefully, these tips have provided you with some ideas on how to fortify your home against one of the most disturbing personal disasters – home invasion or burglary.
Public Works Update
Secondary Water Shortage / Drought
Utah is in a state of drought for outdoor watering. This is a result of limited precipitation last year, which caused low water levels in the mountain reservoirs. Due to the limited supply of secondary water, a drought reduction has been issued from water suppliers that will affect water users throughout Weber and Davis Counties. The total reduction is about 45% less than last year. The Governor has issued a State of Emergency due to drought conditions. The city council passed a resolution on April 13th, encouraging water conservation and implementing the following water restrictions: Section 1. Watering Restrictions. Pursuant to Section 4.25.130 of the Syracuse Municipal Code, the following restrictions are effective during the entire 2021 watering season: A. No residential or other customer watering during the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. B. No excess water from irrigation that allows water to pool onto neighboring properties, streets, or storm drains. C. Customers are required to repair any known leaks within fifteen days of notification. D. Water conservation plans for large-area properties shall be filed and followed. E. This resolution does not supersede the exceptions identified in subsection 4.25.130(F) related to establishing new landscaping, spot-watering, and use for diagnostics and maintenance of irrigation systems. Please be mindful of water conservation and eliminate overuse. Excess water runs into the storm drain or infiltrates into land drains underground that is not recaptured into the system. Provide only the water your landscape requires. Check timers and turn off systems when possible, adapting to the weather conditions. Enforcement of wasteful watering will occur. Under emergency action, the city council delayed the secondary water season for Syracuse to begin May 1 and end Oct 1. The council understands this might be an unpopular decision but felt it would be the best course of action to get residents through the hotter/drier summer months. Check our website for further updates or restrictions. Please help in being good stewards in our limited water supply.
Here are some useful links and resources:
https://slowtheflow.org/ https://conservewater.utah.gov/ https://weberbasin.com/
Environmental-Pool and spa care:
• Store pool and spa chemicals in a manner that will prevent leaks and spills, preferably in a covered enclosure and out of reach of children and pets. • Avoid copper-based algaecides such as copper sulfate. At a concentration that is a mild irritant to humans, it is fatal to fish and other aquatic wildlife. • Drain only when chlorine levels are very low and not detected by a chlorine test kit (less than 0.019 mg/L). • Reuse water for landscaping areas whenever possible and avoid allowing the water to drain on neighboring properties. • Drain only clean pool water. If it’s not safe for your yard, then it’s not safe to go down a storm drain. • Any water that goes into a storm drain is not treated. Any pollution entering the storm drain makes the waterways unsafe for people and wildlife.
BY CHIEF GARRET ATKIN
From the moment a report of a missing child is received, every minute matters and every action taken has the potential to make the difference between a successful recovery or a tragic outcome. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) developed the Missing Kids Readiness Program to promote law enforcement best practices for responding to calls of missing, abducted, and sexually exploited children. To become a member, and to meet the requirements of the Program, Syracuse Police Department worked with NCMEC to ensure its policy met the critical elements of NCMEC’s Law Enforcement Model Policy and Procedures for Reports of Missing and Abducted Children. Additionally, all sworn members completed various levels of training as required by NCMEC. Armed with the information, knowledge, and operational resources gained through meeting the Program’s requirements, Syracuse Police Department has dramatically improved its abilities to respond more quickly and effectively when a child’s life may be at stake. According to NCMEC, Syracuse Police Department is one of only a handful of agencies in Utah that have met the high standards necessary to be a member of the Missing Kids Readiness Program. By demonstrating leadership and making a commitment to this advanced level of training and preparedness, we hope we have made our community proud and communicated that protecting the lives and safety of children is one of our top priorities.
>> To learn more about NCMEC and the Missing Kids Readiness Program, go to: www.missingkids.org/education/training/mkrp
Syracuse City Information
Syracuse Library
Located at 1875 S 2000 W in Syracuse. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Phone: (801) 451-1850
Job Openings
For a list of current openings with Syracuse City, hover over the Government tab and click on the ‘Employment Opportunities’ link on our main city page www.syracuseut.gov. You can also sign up for Job Alerts by going to that same link. Fix-It Requests
We appreciate our citizens who help the city to be aware of issues that need to be addressed throughout the city, such as road repairs, street light/sign repair, park maintenance, water problems (culinary & secondary), garbage can pickup, code ordinance enforcement, and employee feedback. The city website is a great tool for providing us with notifications. The Fix-it Request link can be found on our home page by clicking on the REPORT A CONCERN icon.
Passport Applications
Passport application processing services are offered at City Hall between 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. More info available on our website
www.syracuseut.com/Passports
SYRACUSE CITY Notice of 2021 Municipal Election
In accordance with UCA 10-3-301, notice is hereby given that the following governing body positions are to be voted upon in the Syracuse City 2021 Municipal Election: • Mayor (4-year term) • Councilmember At-Large (4-year term) • Councilmember At-Large (4-year term) Candidate filing period begins June 1, 2021 and ends June 7, 2021 (UCA 20A-9-203). Declaration of Candidacy must be filed in person at the Syracuse City Recorder’s Office located at 1979 W. 1900 S., Syracuse, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Primary election to be held August 10, 2021. General election to be held November 2, 2021.
www.syracuseut.com
Key Community Contacts
MAYOR
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Lisa W. Bingham: 801-725-2300 lbingham@syracuseut.com Corinne Bolduc: 801-529-5779 cbolduc@syracuseut.com Dave Maughan: 801-927-7752 dmaughan@syracuseut.com Jordan Savage: 385-424-0258 jsavage@syracuseut.com Seth Teague: 951-515-6423 steague@syracuseut.com
SYRACUSE SERVICES
City Arts Council: 801-896-8101 volunteer@syracuseutaharts.org City Hall: 801-825-1477 1979 West 1900 South Open Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm, closed holidays City Museum: 801-614-9674 Hours: Tues, Wed, & Thurs 2pm - 5pm Community Center: 801-614-9660 1912 West 1900 South Summer hours: Mon-Thurs-6am-8pm; Fri- 6am-8pm; Sat- 8am-12pm Fire Station: 801-614-9614 1869 South 3000 West
Lady Lions Service & Social Club:
801-825-1752 Lions Club: 801-719-1804 Utah Lions District 28UT (open to all)
Parks & Recreation: 801-614-9660 1912 W. 1900 S. parksandrecreation@syracuseut.com Police Station: 801-825-4400 1751 South 2000 West Post Office: 801-614-9677 (Inside City Hall) Public Works Facility: 801-825-7235 3061 South 2400 West Utilities Department: 801-825-1477 Opt #2
Volunteer/Eagle Scout Projects:
Lesley Draper 801-614-9655 ldraper@syracuseut.com Youth Council: 801-643-8996
