Mike Caldwell // Mayor // Grade: A
How have the arts, culture, and/or humanities impacted your life?
Answer: We haven't just talked about the arts, we have actively engaged in them. We have created a Master Plan for the 9 Rails Creative district, created a full time Arts and Advisory Position in the Mayors office, First Friday Arts Stroll, Farmers Market, Mayors Awards for the Arts, the Ogden Twilight Concert Series. Collectively we have brought 10's of thousands of people downtown to celebrate the arts, culture and diversity of Ogden. I was also the director of the RAMP program just after it was voted in and helped direct millions of dollars to Arts, Culture and Humanities programs. In this election cycle and for these topics I would quote Ralph Waldo Emerson when he said "What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say." I feel very proud of what we have actually done.
Would you like to be considered for endorsement by Utah Cultural Alliance?
Answer: Yes
Utah's humanities and arts employ 112,000 Utahns, provide $4 billion in earnings, and $16 billion in sales. This is a larger economic impact than agriculture, mining, and real estate. Do you consider the arts and cultural sector an economic driver in Utah?
Answer: Yes
Government investment in arts and humanities organizations at fiscally responsible levels.
Answer: Strongly support
Government investment in my local arts council at fiscally responsible levels.
Answer: Strongly support
Cultural Districts (gov't can designate, fund, and create incentives/zoning ordinances to attract creative businesses to a district).
Answer: Strongly support
Low rent housing and studio space for artists.
Answer: Support
Facilitating partnerships between tourism and culture.
Answer: Strongly support
Facilitating partnerships between businesses and culture.
Answer: Strongly support
Reducing regulations of creative businesses.
Answer: Support
Capital investment (in museums, performance/concert halls, studios, galleries, nonprofit office space, etc.).
Answer: Strongly support
Increased investment in public art projects to encourage murals, sculptures, utility wraps, and more.
Answer: Strongly support
Reduced fees (land/building use, garbage, utilities, etc) for festivals and special events.
Answer: Strongly support
Artistinresident at my city or county.
Answer: Strongly support
Fiscally responsible government investment in the arts and humanities means to me (could be the right $ amount for the local arts council and/or its grants, etc.).
Answer: A huge part of Ogdens history and Heroics have been a creative culture. We can and have done things nobody else is doing. Twilight, First Friday Art Strolls, Mayors Awards in the Arts, the 9 Rails Creative District, Eccles Art Center, the New Monarch Building, painted crosswalks and public murals. I would put our efforts and results up against anyone. In fact I did a mountain bike ride with a bunch of Park City council people and all they wanted to talk about was how we have accomplished so much in the arts in such a short period of time.
7 counties and 33 cities have passed a RAP (recreation, arts, parks) tax. They are:
Counties: Cache (RAPZ); Duchesne (RAP); Salt Lake (ZAP); Summit (RAP); Uintah (RAP); Washington (RAP); Weber (RAMP)
Cities (all are RAPs unless otherwise designated): American Fork, Aurora, Blanding, Bountiful, Brian Head, Cedar City, Cedar Hills, Centerfield, Centerville, Clearfield, Fairview, Farmington, Green River, Gunnison, Helper, Layton, Lindon, Mayfield, Monticello, North Salt Lake, Orem (CARE), Payson, Price, Provo, Redmond, Richfield, Roosevelt, Salina, Syracuse, Spanish Fork, Tooele City (PAR), West Bountiful, Woods Cross.
I am: Running for office in one of these cities or counties
I support the RAP tax.
Answer: Strongly support
I make sure that the arts and humanities receive at least a 1/3 of RAP revenues.
Answer: Strongly support
I will support putting a RAP tax on the ballot to be decided by voters.
Answer: Strongly support
I will make sure that the arts and humanities receive at least a 1/3 of RAP revenues.
Answer: Strongly support
Optional: explain your answers.
Answer: I was the Director of the Weber County RAMP Tax for the first 6 years it was in place and helped coach and train people both how to apply and how to draw people into the program. When it hit the ballot for the 2nd time it passed with over 70% of the voting public saying "yes, lets self impose this tax again." I am very proud of that.
Percent for public art programs, which optionally designate 1-2% of government capital costs for public art.
Answer: Strongly support
I support increasing my percent for art ordinance by .25-.5% to cover maintenance (vandalism, weather, etc.).
Answer: Strongly support
(if applicable) My municipality's redevelopment authority should have a public art ordinance.
Answer: Strongly support
Incentives (such as tax breaks) to encourage private developers add public art to projects.
Answer: Strongly support
Design standards.
Answer: Strongly support
Friendly ordinances that encourage public and private mural creation.
Answer: Strongly support
Increased investment in public art projects to encourage murals, sculptures, utility wraps, and more.
Answer: Strongly support
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-Public buildings.
Answer: Yes
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-Transportation.
Answer: Yes
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-Utilities.
Answer: Yes
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-Private developments.
Answer: Yes
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-All government capital projects.
Answer: Yes
Anything else you'd like us to know about you?
Answer: As I stated earlier, my track record is strongly supportive of all these projects. I haven't just talked about what I would like to do, I have done them. We have created a fantastic Arts and Cultural team in Ogden and we will continue to support that.
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