May 2025 Ivins City Council Updates

Mike Scott, Council Member

Closer To a Drought Plan?
On April 23rd, the Washington County Water Conservancy District’s (WCWCD’s) Administrative Advisory Committee (AAC) voted to recommend adoption of a long-overdue Water Shortage Contingency Plan. You can download the draft plan and a 30-page slide presentation explaining the plan at https://www.mikescott4ivins.com/?p=3991.

This is a big step toward preparing our region for droughts, disasters, and supply shortfalls. It’s a shame though that it isn’t already adopted and that it took three and a half years to get to this point.

But it’s progress of sorts. So that’s the good news. The not-so-good? Nearly every committee member also wanted changes to the plan. And the way WCWCD works, they all must agree. Only our mayor firmly backed the plan as-is and voiced what many of us have felt for years: it’s baffling we didn’t do this sooner.

The plan itself is solid. It introduces clear drought stages, outlines practical response actions, and builds on years of investment in conservation. It includes long-overdue measures, like phasing out ornamental lawns, limiting new water-intensive development, and tightening restrictions as drought conditions worsen.

But the cracks are still showing. There’s still little agreement on the details, the actual water-reducing steps we need to take in each drought stage. Meanwhile, 2024–25 is already the driest water year on record.

We’re not just kicking the can down the road, we’re risking doing it on a dusty, cracked riverbed. This isn’t water policy; it’s high-stakes roulette with our future supply.

WCWCDs Board of Trustees will now decide whether to adopt the plan, likely with revisions. Let’s hope they move quickly, plug the gaps, and show the urgency the moment demands. Hope is not a water management strategy. Their next meeting is on May 5th at 6:00 p.m. at the district’s office, 533 E Waterworks Drive. These meetings are open to the public.

Shake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Shake Out drill on April 17th. This was a full-scale test of the Disaster HUB Box system, and it was a big step forward in improving community preparedness.

Now we need your help to make it even better. If you took part in the drill, I’d love to hear how it went. Did your radio work? Did you hear the alarm? Did the instructions make sense? And just as important, if your drill went smoothly and everything worked exactly as it should, please let me know that too.

One group at HUB Box PC02 shared valuable feedback. They showed up on time, followed the instructions, and used the radio, but didn’t receive any response and weren’t sure if they were on the right channel. The experience left them feeling uncertain about whether their efforts had been successful.

That kind of feedback helps us refine the system, clarify instructions, and improve reliability. So, your input is essential. Please email your thoughts to me at mike@MikeScott4Ivins.com. Thanks again for helping keep Ivins safe and prepared.

Property Tax Heads-Up
We’re heading into budget season, and this year’s draft budget for Ivins shows a $1.3 million deficit. With some trimming and deferring of expenses, we might reduce that to about $1 million, maybe less, but that’s not a solution, just a delay.

Why such a large deficit? The answer is too complex for these short articles. I’ll post more detailed information on my website as we work our way through the budget. But contact me anytime at mike@MikeScott4Ivins.com if you have questions.

So, to keep our city running well, funding police, fire, EMS, parks, and road maintenance, we will likely need to raise property taxes for the first time since 2010. No final decisions have been made yet, but I want everyone to start paying attention now, especially with important budget discussions coming up at City Council meetings.

Raising taxes isn’t something I take lightly. But after 15 years of holding the line, it’s time to talk openly about what it costs to maintain the quality of life we all enjoy, and what happens if we don’t.

I thought we would need to raise taxes last year, and posted an article, “Yes I know Taxes Is A Four Letter Word” at https://www.mikescott4ivins.com/?p=2441. It has a lot of information that is still useful in understanding our situation.

Please stay informed, join us at upcoming Council meetings, and plan to participate in the public hearing on the budget (most likely on June 5th). Your voice matters.

Time to Talk Roads and How to Pay for Them
We have approximately $90 million of roads, trails, sidewalks, curb/gutter that should be funded through a reserve account. If these were all new today, we would need to set aside about $860,000 a year for future replacement and increase that amount annually for inflation.

But right now, our road replacement reserve balance is zero, because we’ve never set up this type of fund. We might be able to get grands for our roads that are regional in nature, but they account for less than 15% of our total lane miles.

I believe we have an obligation to plan ahead, not kick the can down the “road” so to speak and leave the next generation with the bill.

We have two main options:

• Create a fund using property tax revenue: Second homes and commercial properties pay more, while modest primary homes pay less. But future councils could drain this reserve for anything else. These funds are not protected. Happy to explain this oddity if you want to contact me.
• Transportation Utility Fee: A monthly fee for all properties added to our utility bills. As an example, Provo charges $3.68 for single-family homes. This method legally protects the funds in a secure account that can only be used for road replacement. But this type of fee could hit low-income households harder because everyone pays the same amount.

I believe we need to decide what to do about this before we adopt the FY2026 budget in June, even if funding doesn’t begin until FY2027. This isn’t just about roads. It’s about smart planning and long-term fairness. I really want your input. What do you think? Email me at mike@MikeScott4Ivins.com

Short-term rentals (STRs)
The State Legislature gave cities a little more enforcement power this year through House Bill 256, which outlines clear steps cities can take when STRs operate in zones where they aren’t allowed. This includes issuing warnings, requesting listings be removed, and imposing fines if violations aren’t corrected. The Legislature didn’t give us as much as I had hoped, but something is better than nothing.

Ivins allows STRs in a few designated overlay areas and in Resort Commercial, Resort Mixed Use, and Commercial Resort areas. But they are not allowed in most of the city. Here’s the catch: our code doesn’t clearly regulate how STRs are used.

Washington City recently updated its STR ordinances to address problems they’ve encountered. I believe it’s time for Ivins to do the same, and ensure our rules are fair, enforceable, and strong enough to protect our neighborhoods.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Should Ivins revisit and strengthen its STR code? Email me at mike@MikeScott4Ivins.com and let me know what you think.

Home Businesses: Time to Draw Some Lines?
It’s interesting how, even after more than three years on city council, I stumble on things that just don’t make sense. Back in 2017, the Utah Legislature passed a law limiting cities from charging license fees for home-based businesses. So, Ivins had to change its city code regarding these fees. But our City Council went a step further, repealing the entire city code chapter that regulated home based businesses.

That decision reflected the preferences of the City Council at the time, which leaned toward fewer regulations. Reining in unnecessary regulation is a good thing. But in hindsight, it may have gone further than necessary. State law (Utah Code 10-1-203(8)(a)) doesn’t prohibit all regulation, just excessive fees or restrictions on home businesses.

Now, as more home-based businesses operate across the city, including some that generate traffic, parking overflow, or visible activity, I’m hearing more concerns from neighbors. I believe it is time to bring back some regulations, not to burden small businesses, but to preserve the peace and character of our residential neighborhoods.

I believe we can adopt reasonable standards as long as we avoid fees and don’t interfere with businesses that operate quietly within the home. This isn’t about creating a heavy-handed system. It’s about restoring a few thoughtful safeguards that protect the peace and character of our neighborhoods, while also encouraging the kind of small, homegrown businesses that provide valuable services to our community and meaningful opportunities for their owners.

I’d really like to hear what you think. Should Ivins revisit this issue? What should we focus on?
Email me at mike@MikeScott4Ivins.com.

Ivins to Add Part-Time Code Enforcement Officer
Ivins is adding a part-time Code Enforcement Officer, something that has been missing for too long. The position is being created to address a range of common concerns, including nuisance violations, property maintenance issues, signage, and short-term rental enforcement. Unlike traditional policing, code enforcement focuses on helping residents understand and comply with local ordinances that protect neighborhood character, property values, and quality of life.

This isn’t about writing tickets. It’s about providing consistent follow-through, encouraging voluntary compliance, and making sure our standards are upheld fairly across the board. The Code Enforcement Officer will work closely with other city staff and respond to both citizen complaints and observed violations. As long as we get the structure and guidance right, it will be a resource that benefits the entire community.

“Grab and Go, Ivins!” — Emergency Kits Made Easy
If a disaster hit and you had to leave your home in a hurry, would you be ready? Find out what to do at the next free Ivins Preparedness Seminar on Wednesday, May 8 at 7:00 PM at Ivins City Hall. The topic: “Grab and Go Kits,” those essential backpacks or bins packed with supplies to keep you and your family going for 72 to 96 hours after an emergency.

Learn what to pack, what to skip, and how to tailor your kit to your family’s needs, including food, prescriptions, water, documents, flashlights, first aid, and more. This seminar is hosted by Your Family Matters Food Storage and is open to all.

Looking ahead, the June 12 seminar will focus on earthquakes, how they could impact Ivins and how to be ready. After that, seminars will resume in the fall. Have a topic you’d love to see covered? Let us know. Contact: David Williams at IvinsUtahCERT@gmail.com

The Youth Council’s ADA-Accessible Swing Set Is Happening
The Youth Council raised enough donations at the Ivins Easter Egg Scramble to reach their target. So, the ADA-accessible swing set is officially happening!

If you’ve pledged a donation, now’s the time to bring this inclusive playground to life. And if you haven’t donated yet, there’s still time to join in, because any extra funds raised will help cover future accessibility upgrades.

This swing set will include a shade structure, a rubberized ground surface to ensure safe, year-round use, five swings for a variety of users – toddlers, children with mobility challenges, and even a generational swing for kids and caregivers to enjoy together.

Mail a check to Ivins City (write “ADA Swing Set” in the memo) or call the City at 435-628-0606 Ext 703 to donate by credit card. Let’s make Unity Park a place where everyone can play. Thank you for your support!

I’m Running for Re-Election
So… this is awkward. I just told you I’ll probably vote to raise your property taxes. Now I’m turning around and asking you to re-elect me to the Ivins City Council. Nervy, right? Yes, I’m running for re-election this year.

When I ran in 2021, my top priority was to give Ivins residents a real voice in the City’s decision-making process, not just a vote, but a voice. I’ve done my best to follow through. I’ve posted regular social media updates and written 172 articles sharing my ideas, concerns, and positions on city issues, usually before decisions are made, so you have time to weigh in. And when residents email me, I don’t send a form reply. I answer personally, with real information and my views, because I believe the more informed you are, the more effectively you can participate in shaping our city’s future.

You may not always agree with me. But I hope you’ve seen that I approach every decision thoughtfully and actively seek your input. Over the past three and a half years, your feedback, questions, concerns, and ideas have shaped how I think and how I serve. I’m deeply grateful for that.

I’m running again because I believe the next few years will be just as critical as the last. We face big challenges and great opportunities, and I want to help make sure we meet them while staying true to the values that make Ivins special.

Thank you for being engaged. Thank you for caring. Let’s keep the conversation going, and let’s keep Ivins special.

More City Information
I try to keep these articles relatively concise. Not doing too well at that. It’s frustrating because there’s so much to discuss. So, please email me at Mike@MikeScott4Ivins.com for more information about these and other Ivins issues. Also, please tell me what issues in Ivins matter to you. Visit my website at www.MikeScott4Ivins.com for regular updates and now you can also add your comments to my articles.

May 2025 Update

Marking, and Measuring, Success

Tackling a huge project, such as the removal of dangerous invasive plants, particularly tamarisk, requires planning, commitment, and patience. It also requires tracking progress, to demonstrate success and keep volunteers and the community on board. Thus, the resounding success of DPI’s biggest project to date is cause for celebration and calls for a continuing effort to protect native habitats from invasive species and to reduce wildfire risk.

Since December 2023, 30 DPI volunteers contributed some 1,500 hours to clear five acres of tamarisk. While the physical effort has been substantial, the results have been dramatic. Within the project area, between Cactus Gulch Court and Wisteria Way where fire risk to homes was highest due to the enormous fuel load, the destruction of native habitat by the invasion of tamarisk was striking.

“We found dead cottonwood trees, two to three feet in diameter, which likely were killed by the invasion of water-consuming tamarisk,” reports DPI President Chuck Warren. “No native plants have survived inside what became a monoculture of this invasive plant/tree. The size and density of tamarisk invasion suggests that considerable water was present in this area in the past and may now be available for the return of natives.”

This massive project is but one of 35 that have been completed in the 3 ½ years since DPI was founded. Warren estimates another 300 to 400 hours of work will be required to finish removal of tamarisk in this particular area alone.

As part of its mission to permanently remove invasive plants, DPI begins monitoring removal areas for tamarisk regrowth within three months after a project has begun and continues to monitor the site for up to two years. If regrowth appears at nine or twelve months, the monitoring visits continue until two 3-month intervals show no regrowth. Given the great expanse of infestation that had been visible to homes [with debris piles left to decompose in time] cottonwood and mesquite trees were planted, adding to surviving trees and adding to the force of native species now naturally advancing into tamarisk dead zones.

“Good things happen when people work together and support each other in a mission to preserve the desert ecology and reduce fire danger,” says Warren. Clear results include new access to space for trails and recreation that was previously blocked, increased diversity of plants and animals, and reduced fuel load for wildfires, which has become an on-going issue as insurance companies raise rates and threaten cancellation of coverage for homeowners. “And certainly of significance is the development of relationships and connections with others in the community and city,” Warren adds.

Although the work of DPI has made a tremendous difference in our community, the invasion of tamarisk in southern Utah requires on-going vigilance. What can be accomplished requires not only time and physical effort but also financial support to cover operating expenses and the costs of purchasing and maintaining the equipment—saws, clippers, a chipper, and herbicide applicators—used in the process. Unfortunately, federal funding cuts threaten a promising grant for which DPI has applied that would open the door to hiring small crews to advance its work.

If you believe in this mission and would like to help celebrate DPI’s success to date, your financial support would be most welcome. Please contact Chuck Warren at chuckwarren222@gmail.com or Vice President Dan Beck at danbeck2@me.com if you are willing to donate and/or volunteer to support this effort.