Rocky's accomplishments as mayor 2000-2008
  • National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA and Growth Award
  • U.S. Conference of Mayors Cans for Cash Recycling Contest – Most Innovative Campaign [read more]
  • Drafted, narrated, and broadcast numerous radio spots state-wide on substance abuse, underage drinking, and public health
  • Facilitated first homeless overflow shelter by an Olympic Host City [read more]
  • Launched Arts in the Park Program [read more]
  • Right-sized city fleet to use smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles and vehicles powered by clean sources of energy
  • Implemented unique Employee Disclosure System, providing disclosure of public money reimbursed to all city employees
  • Added over 15 miles of bicycle lanes [read more]
  • YouthCity inspired state-wide after-school movement [read more]
  • Percentage of city officials and administrators (higher levels of responsibility and compensation) from ethnic minority community increased 47% since December 1999
  • Data collection system to monitor possible racial profiling by the Salt Lake City Police Department
  • Fire Department maintained response time of 5 minutes or less for all life-threatening emergencies during 2007
  • “City at Your Feet” Award from America Walks
  • Held Freedom Forums on substance abuse (including abuse of prescription drugs)
  • Conducted RFP process for use of old library building and helped secure $10 million bond for The Leonardo
  • Recognized by American Style as one of top 25 arts destinations in the country
  • Originated plan and advocated for flowers on Main Street (after three-year battle with Council for funding)
  • Partnered on Parley’s Trail Connection
  • Obtained funding for Parley's tunnel
  • City Library named “Library of the Year” by Library Journal [read more]
  • Launched West-Side Initiative to draw development projects to west Salt Lake City
  • “Bicycle Friendly Community” in the bronze category (League of American Bicyclists)
  • Started summertime Pioneer Park concert series
  • Issued Gift Ban Executive Order (banning gifts to all city employees, other than in Council Office)
  • Extensive positive profiles of Salt Lake City in Sky Magazine and Travel & Leisure
  • Numerous artistic bike racks installed throughout the City, including 65 new racks downtown
  • Sued and successfully established in court that English-Only initiative cannot impact City communications 
  • Originated Tips 4 Cash Reward Program to solve and deter crime
  • Co-hosted Town Hall meeting on underage drinking and drug abuse with Mary Kaye Huntsman and Robert Gray
  • Raised funds and re-opened 7 Canyons Fountain after installation of filter system for safety
  • Launched Artists on Main Street Program [read more]
  • Improved recycling at City events and provided for free water from coolers as an alternative to bottled water
  • Develop SLC-TV Channel 17 into content-rich, engaging resource, available on cable television and on-line at www.slctv.com
  • Instituted One-Stop Shop in City’s Business Services and Licensing Division
  • Public art project, including whirligigs, on downtown bike racks
  • Established Family-to-Family Program to assist those impacted by Federal Government's airport raid
  • Campaign warning about risks of underage drinking
  • Constructed skate-boarding parks at Fairmont and Jordan Parks
  • Partnered with Salt Lake City Marathon and 5K
  • Convened Salt Lake City Sustainability Committee
  • Vastly improved City’s award-winning website
  • Recognized as international leader on climate protection. Major presentations to international audiences, including the Clinton Global Initiative, assistants to heads of state in London in preparation for the 2005 G8 summit, UN COP Conferences in New Dehli, Buenos Aires, and Bali, the National Environmental Law Society, the Newsweek Global Environmental Leadership Advisory Committee, and the Business and Sustainability Summit in Australia
  • International Leadership Award (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives–ICLEI)
  • Achieved highest ratio of paramedics to citizens of any city in Utah
  • Convened City’s first Mayor’s Coalition on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
  • Pink Star Award (CodePink)
  • Raised funds for and acquired Alan Houser sculpture
  • Climate Protection Award (Environmental Protection Agency) [read more]
  • Advocated effectively for ¼ cent transit sales tax increase, making possible commuter rail and expanded light rail
  • Initiated Walkable Communities Ordinance, reducing pedestrian-unfriendly strip mall-designed shops and restaurants
  • Created energy efficiency and clean air incentives, providing free parking at city meters for alternative energy vehicles
  • Terminated ineffective, wasteful DARE program and brought to SLC the highly effective ATLAS and ATHENA drug-prevention programs [read more]
  • Construction of Intermodal Hub, the first Salt Lake City-built LEED-certified structure
  • World Leadership Award (Environment Category), World Leadership Forum (London) [read more]
  • Issued Executive Orders providing protections for LGBT community [read more]
  • Acquired or converted over 530 acres of land to open space
  • Added 250 center-of-the-street parking stalls to Broadway Boulevard and 300 East (calming traffic and providing more welcoming streets at the same time) and introduced reverse-angle parking on 200 South to expand bicycle lanes and provide for bike safety
  • Successful one-person national campaign (including negotiations with FAA and Delta) to require screening at airports nationwide of all checked luggage; SLC International Airport was the first airport in nation to screen all checked luggage [read more]
  • Issued anti-idling Executive Order
  • YouthCity Artways a two-time semifinalist for NEA’s “Coming up Taller” Awards
  • Percentage of City workforce from ethnic minority community increased 37% since December 1999
  • Established unprecedented Police Civilian Review Board
  • Association for Commuter Transportation Individual Leadership Award
  • Made City & County Building carbon-neutral
  • Implemented a task performance test for firefighters
  • Hosted monthly Brown Bag Lunch Speakers Series
  • Partnered in constructing the 100-unit Sunrise Apartments for chronically homeless people
  • Hosted 2007 Rotary International Convention, largest convention in state history
  • Shepherded drought-tolerant landscaping and conservation rate ordinances to approval by City Council (after national attention was brought to the issue by illegally removing all of front lawn of Mayor’s house and planting drought-tolerant landscaping) [read more]
  • Monthly News and Community Conferences
  • Established Youth Mural Project
  • Percentage of Mayor’s Office employees from ethnic minority community increased 58% since December 1999
  • Established Cold Case Unit for solving old, closed homicide cases
  • Organized first-ever, largest-in-the-nation Step It Up event to promote effective action on global warming (in conjunction with Bill McKibben)
  • Updated and printed the 2002 and 2006 Salt Lake City Bikeways Maps
  • Secured $7.5 million donation from Real Salt Lake for Athletics Complex, and advocated effectively for passage of $15 million bond
  • Installed “Share the Road” signs
  • Flew Rainbow Flag over City & County Building during Pride celebrations
  • Launched extensive public campaign to reduce sexual violence
  • Launched campaigns to reduce the incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome and promote eating dinner with family as means of preventing substance abuse
  • Initiated Salt Lake City Gets Fit Together, a city-wide fitness program
  • Opened first City tree nursery
  • Partnered with XMission to provide free wireless internet access at City Library, Pioneer Park, Liberty Park, and on Main Street
  • Created citizen task force for liquor law reform
  • Implemented numerous pedestrian- and bicycle-activated traffic signals
  • Initiated Bridging the Religious Divide Program [read more]
  • Advocated for state law ban on smoking and initiated City ordinance banning smoking in city parks and at mass gatherings [read more]
  • Champion of Life Award (Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation)
  • Began Monday night movie series in seven City parks
  • Initiated Blue Sky Wind Power purchase (Salt Lake City largest purchaser)
  • Hero of the Soccer Community (Utah Youth Soccer Association)
  • Intern program at the Mayor’s Office for college students
  • Began partnership to create a bicycle transit center at the Intermodal Hub
  • Co-convened Alliance for Unity with Jon Huntsman, Sr. [read more]
  • Launched Halloween Monster Block Party
  • Implemented High Performance Building Executive Order
  • Freedom Forum Series on critical, controversial issues
  • Launched Sunday People’s Market at Jordan Park
  • Issued Executive Order and launched major public campaign against using cell phones while driving
  • Set standard of excellence for City staff. In email surveys, Mayor's Office was #1 for morale.
  • Established conservation easement for nature preserve at Hidden Hollow [read more]
  • Worked to make Revolving Loan Fund more accessible for locally-owned businesses
  • Improved life support services to southwest and Glendale areas by adding paramedic rescue engine at Fire Station Number 14
  • Successfully budgeted more than 9% of the general fund for capital improvements for the first time (every year of Anderson Administration)
  • Opened Fire Station No. 9 at the International Center