January 2024

Mayor's Message: January 2024

Mayor Young reports on the annual City Council retreat and lays out the areas of focus for the new year. There's so much momentum right now in Orem and it is going to be a great year for the city.

You can read the full message here.

City Council Message

from Councilmember LaNae Millett

2023 was a GREAT year for Orem! I’d like to give a big shout out to our amazing Staff and Orem City employees who were able to execute the vision of the City Council, a vision that was built through collaborative discussions and ideas from our residents. We are listening to residents, working countless hours and basing our decisions on the vision of:  Family City USA: Creating an Environment Where Families can Thrive. The creative efforts of our Staff definitely flourished in 2023 and from what I hear, our employees are enjoying the new vibe in Orem City offices.

As we begin 2024, I’d like to welcome our newest City Council members, Jenn Gale and Chris Killpack. I look forward to serving with them and continuing to serve with Jeff Lambson. The City Council recently held our annual retreat and much of our focus was on “renewal.” Orem City Council and Staff will be prioritizing renewal efforts as we continue to establish our community character. We had a productive retreat and set five areas of focus for 2024:

-Safe, Livable, Connected & Engaged Neighborhoods

-Thriving and Balanced Business Environment

-Dependable Infrastructure

-Community-Focused & Effective Government

-Skilled & Talented Workforce

I want to focus briefly on the area of Safe, Livable, Connected & Engaged Neighborhoods. I believe Orem’s strength comes from our neighborhood connections. I look forward to working with community members in ways that will reconnect and strengthen our neighborhoods. As a new year begins, many of us typically contemplate our own renewal and connections--renewal of heart, mind, and body. As a community, we can pursue these same connections. We often talk of collaboration and unity—which are important words. 

However, I’d like to add a new word to contemplate, Dignity.  Maintaining an atmosphere of dignity is vital. One definition of dignity is: “the glue that holds all of our relationships together.” Everyone has the right to human dignity, which involves kindness, respect, and reverence for them as a person of good intent. Dignity isn’t related to social status or to performance. Dignity is desired by all. 

This year as we seek to create connections in our community, let’s remember that our ability to treat everyone with dignity is what creates uplifting and collaborative discussions and brings the resulting best outcomes. True unity and collaboration begin with dignity. Even when disagreeing—especially when disagreeing—we should seek to understand, we should seek truth from the source, we should seek to be kind, we should seek to live the golden rule. We should seek to maintain dignity--our dignity and the dignity of those with whom we disagree. As we do this, we will all emerge as a stronger and more connected community, and positive outcomes will follow. We will all emerge as friends. 

As we enthusiastically begin 2024, let’s keep our positive momentum going. I’m looking forward to 2024! Stay tuned and you’ll see—GREAT things will continue happening in Orem!

-Council Member LaNae Millett

The dates for all of the Orem City Council meetings in 2024 have been set.

We'll post each week there is a meeting to keep you in the loop and provide both the agenda and a recap after the meeting is over so you can keep up on all the official city business.

This schedule is also posted online here:

Christmas has come and gone but we still want to brighten up these dark winter nights so we're keeping the lights in City Center Park on until January 31st.

If you haven't had a chance to take a stroll along the walking path under the lights, we highly recommend it. It definitely helps lift the spirits.

The 2024 Recycling Schedule is now available online as well as on the Recycle Coach app.

Stand Out Business Awards

We hosted our 4th annual Stand Out Business Awards and honored three incredible local businesses:

• The Fellas Chop Shop (Community Engagement Award)
• Little Beakers Science Lab (Innovative Business Award)
• Mr. Mac Men's Clothier (Historically Significant Award)

Mayor Young and the City Council presented the awards and celebrated the achievements and contributions of these fantastic local businesses.

The Sponsor for this month was Sun River Gardens. They are a family owned and operated full service garden center & gift shop located in Orem, Utah. Visit them at sunrivergardens.com

You can read more here:

HEAT & Utility Crisis Program

In Utah, the winter season brings frigid temperatures, posing a challenge to afford the necessary bills that ensure your home remains warm and cozy. The Home Energy Assistance Target (HEAT) Program assists low-income households with energy costs. Households may apply for a one-time benefit per year.

Applications for households with disabled, elderly (age 60 and over) and young children (under the age of 6) are accepted October 1 - September 30 or when federal LIHEAP funds are exhausted.

Applications for the general public are processed November 1 - September 30 or when federal LIHEAP funds are exhausted.

Those who qualify must be the person responsible for the utilities, have a total household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty line for the month preceding your application, and have at least one person in your household who is a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen.

To apply and for more information visit, https://mountainland.org/heat/

If you are in an immediate electric crisis defined as: when a household receives a 48-hour shutoff notice, or is within 10% of depleting deliverable fuel and faces sudden or unexpected event beyond their control resulting in the inability to pay household heating costs, you may qualify for the Utility Crisis Program.

Call 801-229-3855 for more information on the Utility Crisis Program.

Accessory Apartments:

Navigating the regulations surrounding Accessory Apartments can be challenging! This month, we're here to provide guidance and resources to help homeowners in Orem understand and comply with the city's regulations regarding Accessory Apartments. Development Services staff have a checklist that outlines all the requirements for creating an accessory apartment. You can find this checklist and other information here: www.orem.org/accessory-apartments

Affordable Senior Housing: 

Affordable senior housing is not just about providing a roof overhead; it's about creating age-friendly neighborhoods where our seniors can thrive. The Affordable Senior Housing Overlay Zone contributes to the overall well-being of Orem by fostering intergenerational connections, enhancing neighborhood livability, and promoting social engagement for our senior community. Learn more about the Affordable Senior Housing Zone here: www.orem.org/planning

AT THE OREM PUBLIC LIBRARY

Gold Star Family Monument Project

If you're looking for a local cause to support this year, please consider the Orem Gold Star Family monument.



At our Lights On ceremony, we heard from the Olsens, one of our Orem Gold Star families. The gold star designation is given to families that lose a family member in the armed forces in active combat. The gold star is meant to honor the sacrifice of the living.

Kim Olsen is the Gold Star mother of Lance Cpl. Nigel K. Olsen who died in combat in Afghanistan in 2010. Nigel grew up in Orem and was a graduate of Mountain View High School.



We are building this monument, which will be the first of its kind in Utah County, to make sure the sacrifices of our Orem Gold Star families are never forgotten and they will always have a place of honor in Orem.

Donations are 100% tax-deductible and can be made online here: