Ogden Vision

The City of Ogden is a beautiful place!

As a member of the City Council and as a citizen, I have considered many times Ogden’s historic past, the more
recent decades of economic difficulty and Ogden’s great potential for the future. It is important to remember the past
and the many wonderful things Ogden has been and, at the same time, move forward into a positive future, by taking
opportunities RIGHT NOW to help make Ogden a place of choice.

Since we are defining today, what that future will be in 10, 20 and even 50 years, it is very important that we have a
clear vision of where we want to go. I believe that we have made some very good recent decisions which are moving
this city in the right direction and we have some difficult decisions yet to make.

When I was first elected to the City Council in 2004, I was instrumental in helping the Council to clearly re-define our
vision for Ogden’s Future. This vision, which was also unanimously accepted by the current Council at the beginning
of 2006, is as follows:

Ogden City is the community of choice by people of all income levels and nationalities. Ogden City has a

thriving economy, stable & safe neighborhoods with actively involved citizens, quality activities

accessible to all and is well known for its rich natural environment.

This vision is a representation of our ideal community, something that we are not yet, but can become. Over the past
several years, the City Council and Administration have worked diligently to make this vision come to pass. I believe,
wholeheartedly, that we must embrace the positive changes that will move us towards this vision.

In order to become a “community of choice”, we have to reach out and embrace the opportunities that are
prerequisites to this vision. It will not happen without resolve and dedication to change and improve upon what we
already have.

A Thriving Economy - Ogden City was built upon the economic backdrop of the railroad, which has had a powerful
impact on Ogden’s economic development since the late 1800’s. This history needs to be honored and
remembered, however, the railroad industry is no longer a viable means of economic fertility based upon things that
are largely out of our control.

Since the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s the railroad, by-in-large, left town. Without the railroad drawing people and
businesses into Ogden, the last few decades have been a real economic struggle for Ogden City. We have been
searching to find our potential and establish another economic base that will carry us into our future.

Recently, City Leadership has seized opportunities in regards to our downtown area. Revitalization efforts include
the building of a High Adventure Recreation Center that has caused active development in other mall-site projects
such as Boyer Company’s Development, PRI Development and the Earnshaw Development. These projects are
finally creating synergy downtown and property values are rising for the first time in years.

The Ski Hub Concept has begun to take hold. Businesses now, after many years of forgetting Ogden all together, are
beginning to make investments into our city. This influx of business investment is an ideal opportunity to build and
expand our economic base. It is possible, it can be done, and now is the time to take those opportunities!

Stable & Safe Neighborhoods – Ogden City has struggled in many of our neighborhoods to overcome serious
issues such as decaying housing stock and infrastructure, proliferation of rental property and high crime levels. Over
the past several years, we have worked diligently, using civic enforcement, a smarter and stronger police presence
and various programs such as the Asset Control Program, The Good Landlord Program, The Weed and Seed
Program and The East Central Revitalization Plan and have had some major successes. However, we need more!

We have millions of dollars in current water and sewer infrastructure needs (for which we have no funding) as well as
costs that are increasing at a greater rate than our revenues (See 2007 Budget). The answer is not to increase our
taxes, the answer is to spur additional economic investment into our community. Our current economic opportunities
are the means to achieve future prosperity and neighborhood revitalization.

Actively Involved Citizens – I have been encouraged in recent months with the increased level of citizen activity
regarding many important projects and issues in Ogden City. Whether citizens agree with city leadership or not, it is
very important that each citizen educate themselves on the issues at hand and then provide input.

Many current initiatives are designed to help citizens be more engaged in civic activity. Neighborhood Council
groups, various volunteer initiatives and the Youth City Council initiative. These, and other opportunities are an
outward expression of Ogdenites that love Ogden and want to move the city forward into a positive future.

The last few years has also seen leadership from across the city working together for common purposes. The
Ogden School District, Weber State University and state and federal legislative leaders have taken recent
opportunities to coordinate schedules and look for common purposes with local Ogden City leadership.

Ogden City will truly come alive as the citizens and stakeholders continue to become engaged in civic issues,
volunteer service, community and neighborhood projects, while pursuing common objectives and moving forward.

Quality Activities Accessible to All – In the past few years there has been a huge effort to bring programs and
activities back into Ogden City’s downtown. The basis of these events has been the Ogden Amphitheater, 25th Street
and the Union Station and include many successful events such as the Farmer’s Market, Christmas Village, The
Ogden Marathon and many other wonderful events that have continued each year.

Ogden City has also sponsored several other privately organized events across our city the bring thousands into
Ogden, such as Pioneer Day festivities, the Hot Rockin 4th and Cinco de mayo festivities.

Great efforts have also been taken to better care for and utilize our parks and public facilities. These efforts include
recent work with the Ogden City School District to find ways to more efficiently accomplish facility maintenance and
the potential of sharing responsibility for a state of the art recreational park.

By better utilizing our current resources and by continuing to promote Ogden City to private organizations as an ideal
venue for activities, we can strengthen Ogden’s ability to continue being the location of many quality activities for
years into our future.

Is Well Known for its Rich Natural Environment - In recent months and years, there has been a huge effort to bring
recreational activities closer to the city and to make many recreational activities more accessible to a greater number
of people. Great examples include much investment in the river parkway, kayaking parks and rock climbing facilities
in our foothills. In addition, thousands of volunteer hours have created and maintained the many miles of trails that
so neatly surround our city and offer unparalleled access to walking, hiking and biking just minutes away from
downtown Ogden City.

Other potential projects have just begun to capture the imagination of Ogdenites and private investors. These
projects offer a glimpse of just what Ogden City can become. Among these proposed projects are The Malan’s
Basin year-round resort and accompanying Mountain and Urban Gondola system, a year round Ice Climbing Park
and a Competition Speed Boat Racing venue at the 21st Street pond area.

The potential for Ogden to utilize our beautiful and accessible rich natural environment for the economic rebirth of the
city is at the foundation of many important decisions that must be made RIGHT NOW! Our future is bright and
exciting and Ogden City must move forward considering the successes of our past, while looking forward to a
positive future for Ogden City.

Brandon Stephenson To give feedback, please click here