Issues

I care about quality of life for Provo residents in all stages of life: 

how we can move through the city safely, 

enjoy community, 

and are productive.

What I campaigned on 4 years ago, and what I've done since then:

• Develop infrastructure that makes our city safe and accessible for everyone: including sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes so we can all move through the city, whether we have the option of driving a car or not.

  1. I was instrumental in getting sharrows painted on Center Street in conjunction with the raised crosswalks. These improvments have made Center Street much safer for all users--pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. 

  2. I'm still working with Public Works and Development Services on more that we can do to improve Center Street for businesses, residents, and visitors, with an eye to getting things done before the Olympics return to Provo.

  3. I worked with the council to make funding sidewalks (repairs, improvements, ADA cutouts, and expansions) a council priority. We learned that at historical funding levels, it would take 40 years to repair all exising sidewalk deficiencies! So we revised the budget priorities process so that the city council can let the administration know what the council priorities are--and now we are putting more money towards essential sidewalk infrastructure.

• Adapt and update zoning laws: protect historic landmark structures while allowing for new development; preserve our pioneer neighborhoods while encouraging higher density developments, especially near our strong public transportation routes.

  1. I convinced the council to fund a complete zoning overhaul to simplify and update our very outdated zoning code. We expect to review this in May 2025.

  2. I worked on the Station Area Master Plan, which should be adopted by the council soon. This state-mandated plan will encourage more reasonably priced housing and density around the UVX stations and the Frontrunner.

  3. I also worked on passing the new General Plan,  which encourages modest infill development in our neighborhoods so we can retain neighborhood character while welcoming more people into our community.

  4.  I also worked on the Conservation and Resiliency Plan which the council passed.  Most recently, I've worked to help Provo become the first Bee City in the state of Utah as one concrete expression of our commitment to following through on those conservation goals. 

• Promote liberty and justice for all: foster both freedom and accountability to find the balance between asserting our personal and property rights and infringing on the rights of others. 

  1. Worked with our Development Services department to clarify council priorities so they can help developers and applicants propose projects that align with our community needs.

  2. Work closing with zoning enforcement to be more responsive to nuisances and complaints. Learned about obstacles to enforcement and gave them feedback and additional resources necessary to be more responsive. 

  3. Have you tried the new Provo City app? It is so much easier now to book a pavilion a the park, pay a ticket, or report an issue. As a council, we pushed the city to include an app when they redeveloped the City's website, and it is so much better. 

• Diversity of age and experience is a huge asset to our city; our policies should make room for students in every phase of life (single, married, nontraditional), retirees, people who work in retail, single parent families, entrepreneurs and restaurateurs, trade professionals like electricians and plumbers, teacher and professors, programmers, authors, artists, and musicians; we should continue to host and promote events like Provo Farmers Market, the Freedom Festival, Festival Latinoamericano, the Utah Pacifika Festival, and Provo Pride.

  1. I have to admit, this is the hardest one. Our council has a discernable bias towards homeowners over renters and nuclear families over unmarried people. My fellow councilors want to be good for all residents, but the discourse and decisions of the majority make it clear where the priorities lie. I (or whoever is elected to represent District 5) need more of you to show up and VOTE. Our district has more renters, more single people, more students than most other neighborhoods in Provo. My fellow councilors are hearing from very different demographics, and if you don't show up and vote, they discount what I say when I advocate for you.

  2. I love our festivals and events. I've taken point in defending the public's right to assemble on public property and explaining why that defense is constitutionally necessary in response to a barrage of angry emails the council received about one particular event in a public park.  That was a very interesting experience: many people got past the angry talking points they'd been fed by outrage hustlers and we had a really good and productive dialogue. But we've also been the recipients of hostile trollery in which there was no willingness on the other side to have a real conversation. Fortunately, most people who email the council in anger are doing so out of real worry, and when we take time to engage with them, listen to their concerns, and help them understand what we've done or learned about their issue, we all benefit from teh conversation.

  3. I also have spent the last year or so on the Provo City Library Board. The amount of work and engagement we did to protect the library from drastic budget cuts in 2024 was extraordinary. Even more extraordinary was the response from our residents who love the library and begged us to protect it and maintain its current hours and level of service. This really is a community asset that benefits people across all demographics.

Contact Rachel at rdmwhipple@gmail.com