Platform Pillar 1: Code Clarity and Simplification
Introduction
As part of my campaign, I want to break down my platform pillars and why we need them. One of my key pillars is Code Clarity & Simplification. Clear, modern, and fair ordinances are the foundation of a strong community — they empower residents, support families, and help small businesses thrive.
Today, I want to share why this matters and how, if elected, I will take action.
Why Code Clarity Matters
First, let’s understand what code is. Code could better be thought of as the laws that govern a municipality. The laws are agreed on by the citizens of a municipality via your elected representatives, In Magna City’s case, these would be your council members. The mayor of the city sits outside of this, acting only on the measures passed by your representatives, the council.
When Magna became a city, we inherited much of our municipal code from Salt Lake County. While this provided an initial framework, it also left us with ordinances that:
Don’t reflect Magna’s actual services or structure. For example, we have code that assumes the City runs a jail, an airport, or its own utility departments. Magna relies on partnerships with the Unified Police Department, Unified Fire Authority, the Magna Water District, and other service districts for these functions.
Contain outdated rules. Our code includes requirements like mandatory bicycle registration — a policy that dates back decades and is rarely enforced or practical today. We also have daytime juvenile curfews that no longer align with modern legal standards or community needs.
Create confusion for residents and businesses. Outdated or irrelevant ordinances make it harder for families and small business owners to understand what’s expected of them. Or what changes need to be addressed to empower them to grown and prosper in the community while respecting their neighbors.
We deserve a code that is easy to read, easy to follow, and written for Magna City today — not the Magna Township of the past.
Examples From Recent Research
In my campaign research, I have identified several code areas needing review. These are just some of the examples I found but relate to the larger issue of having difficult to navigating code. Occurrences that are common enough in our current code to make this a campaign pillar that will align our city better for the future.
Airport Regulations: Magna has no airport and is unlikely to ever build one, yet portions of our zoning code reference airport zones and regulations. link
Jail Provisions: Our code includes rules about operating a jail or using inmate labor — but Magna has no jail; we rely on Salt Lake County’s facility. link
Bicycle Licensing: Magna requires bicycles to be licensed before use on public streets — an outdated and unenforced rule that could be abused in the future. Link
To Our Ski Resorts: As the Operator of a ski resort, your can find definitions of use here. Link
While this list highlights some obvious areas for improvement, updating our code would provide significant benefits to both our community and local businesses. Modernized ordinances could empower small business owners, home-based entrepreneurs, and those running undefined business entities to thrive. Additionally, clearer guidelines on local government structure would support residents in navigating and engaging effectively with their government.
My Plan: The Magna Code Clarity Board
If elected, I will form the Magna Code Clarity Board — a citizen-led group dedicated to modernizing our ordinances. Here’s how it will work:
Led by the Mayor: I will chair this Board to ensure the process reflects our community’s voice and to ensure we tap into the resources we have available at the city, county and state level.
Made up of citizens and local experts: Residents, small business owners, youth representatives, and municipal law advisors will review the code together as part of the process.
Public participation encouraged: We’ll hold workshops and town halls so everyone can weigh in on what’s working and what’s not.
Structured, transparent process: The Board will review the code by topic (e.g., governance, safety, land use), report their findings, and propose clear recommendations for Council action. In the end, the City Council represents the city and the people and will be the ones to ultimately do the people’s will.
The Goal
A code that:
Removes outdated and confusing ordinances.
Clarifies roles and responsibilities (so residents know who provides what service).
Supports small business, families, and neighborhoods empowering residents to live the life they desire in our city.
Reflects our six-member council government with a Mayor who leads collaboratively, not as a strong mayor.
Together, we can ensure that Magna’s laws serve Magna’s people.
How You Can Help Now
Share your thoughts! If you’ve run into a confusing or outdated rule in Magna, let me know. Your voice matters!
Follow the campaign: Learn more about my pillars at mike4magna.com, facebook.com/mike4magna
Look at the code: Exposure might inspire your interest! Manga’s Code