A Provo City Publication Fall 2018
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INVOLVEDA PROVO CITY PUBLICATION FALL 2018 The man behind Library opens free audio and University Avenue construction 8 Provo's music scene. 16 video recording studio. 18 paves way for new bus system. PROVO.ORG TABLE OF CONTENTS | INVOLVED FALL 2018 5 MAYOR’S MESSAGE PROVO CITY & NEIGHBORHOODS 6 COVEY CENTER N FOR THE ARTS 00 0.25 .5 0.75 1Miles COREY FOX FOUNDING FATHER OF PROVO’S MUSIC SCENE 8 What happened when this musicians’ friend needed help himself? CITY CALENDAR TRIPLE PLAY Provo Recreation Center membership just got even better. BASEMENT CREATIVE LAB Want to borrow a camera or record a song? 16 Provo’s library has got you covered. UTAH VALLEY EXPRESS UPDATE University Avenue construction paves the way 18 for brand new UVX buses. CITY NOTICES 2 INVOLVED FALL 2018 3 PROVO.ORG MAYOR’S MESSAGE | INVOLVED FALL 2018 Welcome to the Involved magazine! As So one of my first orders of business was to your new mayor, I have challenged myself sit down with our County Commissioners and our great city employees to keep to see if we could avoid the auction. an eye out for ways we can do an even I’m grateful we reached an agreement better job for you, while spending fewer whereby Provo City now operates the of your tax dollars. This magazine is the facility independent of the county. And how result of exactly that kind of thinking. We is that going? I’m pleased to report that hope it provides you with more in-depth this budget year marks the first time since information, in a way that is inviting and user Provo acquired an interest in the ice arena friendly. And I’m pleased to report that this that there has been no taxpayer subsidy innovation will save money, as compared for arena operations. If you care about cost to the utility-bill newsletters and separate savings like I do, that’s something to shout distribution of the Active guide. The Active about. Read more about our Parks and Rec guide, which highlights activities ranging innovations on page 14. from Middle East dance lessons to a senior book club, is now found on the flip side of Would you like even more information than this magazine. we can bring you in this magazine? Here are a few of the many places you can turn: As with everything in the city organization To receive email updates from the mayor’s though, this publication is ultimately yours, office, go to provo.org/cityemail. You can and we want to know what you think about also follow my blog at mayorkaufusi.com it. We’ll compile your feedback and use it to or follow me (or the Provo City Council) inform our decisions. If there’s something on Instagram or Facebook. City Council you’d like to see more (or less) of in our meetings and other events are broadcast communications to you, please let us know. on Provo’s Channel 17, which you can view through your regular television provider or Allow me to report on one accomplishment: through YouTube. saving Provo’s Olympic venue, the Peaks Ice Arena, from being auctioned to the highest And if you want to reach me directly, please bidder. Months before I was elected mayor, feel free to email me at michelle@provo. Utah County triggered a termination of the org. This is your city. We work for you and long-standing agreement between Provo value your input. City and the county to operate the ice arena. As I took office, the clock was ticking As I close, I would like to pay tribute to you. as we headed toward the cliff of an auction. More than anything else, it is the people Meanwhile, organizers of another Olympic here that make this the place I love most. bid for Utah were watching closely. The 2002 Olympics are known as the only Warm regards, Olympics that has maintained all venues after the games ended. I shared the hope that the Olympic legacy would live on in this valley, through the ice arena. Michelle Kaufusi 4 INVOLVED FALL 2018 5 PROFILES PROVO.ORG FIRE CHIEF MIGUEL: LEADING WITH LOVE | INVOLVED FALL 2018 COVEY CENTER | INVOLVED FALL 2018 COVEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS 2018 FALL CALENDAR love my job,” says Provo Fire Chief was on his knees over the baby, completely CO I (801) 852 - James Miguel, and it shows in his face. “He focused on giving it the help it needed.” is upbeat,” says Mayor Michelle Kaufusi. “He's When Miguel then heard the baby scream, energetic. At the same time, he’s incredibly he had to walk away to gain his composure. He is upbeat,” says conscientious and is the consummate He later approached the firefighter in the Mayor Michelle professional.” hospital but couldn’t get the words out. All VE he could do was point a finger at him from a Kaufusi. “He's Chief Miguel has been part of fire and rescue distance and look him in the eye as if to say, “I energetic. At the same for almost as long as he can remember. As a see you; I saw what you just did.” Later, Miguel young man, he was torn between a desire to presented the firefighter with an outstanding time, he’s incredibly YC serve as either a firefighter or police officer. service award. conscientious and 70 But when a family tragedy brought the fire department into his life, he knew firefighting His firefighters seem to appreciate his is the consummate 07 was his path. He brings passion and a sense approach. “He knows each of us by name professional. ENTER. of mission to his career, which has spanned and extends kindness and respect to all,” says over thirty years. firefighter Michael Mecham. Engineer Andy Hall adds, “he always listens to our concerns was, she said ‘I live by fire station 2. That’s my Asked about his leadership style, Miguel and weighs them fairly.” And Mecham notes station and those are my guys. You take good pauses, then says he loves his firefighters. that the firefighters know Miguel’s top priority care of them!’” Miguel says you don’t get that But it’s not just that. “I tell them I love them,” is their safety and wellbeing. And it’s not just kind of ownership anywhere else he’s seen. he adds. Tears seem to well in his eyes, as lip service. “[He] makes sure we always take “The connection between the firefighters and Miguel describes how he recently drove to care of each other,” Mecham says. our community is incredible.” For that and the emergency room to check on firefighters many other reasons, Miguel says Provo is an who had been transporting a lifeless infant. “I Miguel is not a Provo native. In fact, he has ideal place to live and serve. knew that that kind of experience rocks you, been fire chief in two California cities and ORG so I wanted to be there.” called California home for most of his career. According to Mayor Kaufusi, Miguel “is He says working in Provo is unique. For one the perfect example of the high caliber of Miguel arrived before the ambulance, and thing, there’s the clean language among people serving in our city organization. I when the ambulance door opened, he his staff, which he deeply appreciates. cannot imagine a more spectacular fire chief was surprised to see a firefighter up on the Additionally, he says that at his first public out there and doubt one exists. Our fire gurney, bent over, still trying to revive the meeting here “a lady walked up to me and department is incredible, and we’re blessed child. “He wasn’t standing on the side; he said, ‘you’re the fire chief?’ When I said I to have him leading it.” 6 INVOLVED FALL 2018 7 PROFILES PROVO.ORG COREY FOX, FOUNDING FATHER OF PROVO'S MUSIC SCENE | INVOLVED FALL 2018 When asked if he has listened to more A few years ago, the community he fos- live music in Provo than anyone else, Corey tered got a chance to show Fox how Fox laughs but responds in the affirmative. much he means to them. Fox has had kid- It started in the early 1990s, when he start- ney problems since his youth. When he ed managing local bands. Later, he found- learned he needed a transplant, he initially ed Velour Live Music Gallery, an all-ages wanted to keep it private but ultimate- music venue in downtown Provo. From ly felt compelled to share the news. The the beginning, it was never about making response was so overwhelming—nearly money, he explains. And musicians could 200 people signed up to be tested with- tell. “He’s in it for the music and I deeply in days—that the donor center had to ask respect him for that,” says John Lane from people to stop signing up. Fox’s initial do- local band Festive People. “Corey’s genuine nor candidate, a high school friend, was interest in our success ruled out through fi- as a band has made a nal testing. Brandon major impact on [us].” People don’t get to Robbins from The Moth and The Flame That’s a sentiment attend their own was on tour when echoed by many oth- funerals,” Fox says. he got the news and er musicians, including immediately initiat- Brady Parks, front man “We go through life ed testing of his own for The National Parks.