Draper City Talk Podcast

Mayor Walker is joined by Michael Ambre, Executive Director of The Point, to discuss Phase I development and beyond at the former prison site. Learn about the progress being made at The Point, what can be expected as this phase nears completion, Draper's role in The Point's future, and more in the final episode of 2025.

Originally published December 8, 2025

Listen on Spotify - Draper City Talk: What's Happening at The Point?

Watch on our YouTube channel at the link below. 

Mayor Walker is joined by Public Works Director Scott Cooley to discuss everything having to do with Draper City's roads. Learn about potholes, widening roads and adding sidewalks, and much more in this deep-dive into all the work that goes into building and maintaining our city roads.

Listen on Spotify - Draper City Talk: What is Happening with Draper Roads

Watch on our YouTube channel at the link below. 

Draper City Talk is back with a new season! In this episode, Mayor Walker sits down with Draper Police and School Resource Officer Adam Neff, and Canyon School District's Public Engagement Coordinator Susan Edwards to discuss how all of us can help keep schools safe.

Listen on Spotify - Draper City Talk: How Do We Keep Draper Schools Safe

Watch on our YouTube channel at the link below. 

Listen on Spotify - Draper City Talk: 2025 - 2026 Budget

Watch on our YouTube channel at the link below. 

Mayor Walker is joined by Draper Fire Captain Brian Garn and Wildland Firefighter Supervisor Parker Hansen, who discuss their deployment to help combat the recent L.A. fires in California. They discuss their experience, as well as mitigation efforts taken by the City to help prevent catastrophes from wildland fires in Draper.

Originally published February 27, 2025

Listen on Spotify - Draper City Talk: Wildfire Deployments and Prevention

Now with VIDEO - Watch on our YouTube channel at the link below. 

Mayor Walker is joined by City Manager Mike Barker and Assistant City Manager Kellie Challburg to discuss changes in city management, as well as a review of what happened in Draper in 2024.

Originally published January 14, 2025.

Draper City Police Chief Rich Ferguson and Fire Chief Clint Smith join Mayor Walker on the podcast to discuss the recruitment and retention challenges public safety professions currently experience, and the measures Draper City have taken to bring in and keep qualified personnel in these departments.

Originally published October 24, 2024.

Utah League of Cities and Towns Director Cameron Diehl and Deputy Director Justin Lee join Mayor Walker on the podcast to discuss proposed legislation related to gravel pit operations and their potential impacts on communities in Utah, including Draper.

Originally published July 31, 2024

Cameron Diehl, Executive Director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) discusses the 2024 Utah State Legislative Session, the role of ULCT during the session with respect to advocating for local government, and how some bills impact communities.

Originally published April 8, 2024

Parks & Recreation Director Rhett Ogden shares details about recent storm impacts on parks and trails and upcoming projects including a conservation garden, more pickleball courts, trail improvements and connections. Did someone say disc golf?

Originally published August 24

Representatives for Draper in the Utah State Legislature, Senator Kirk Cullimore and Representative Jeff Stenquist recap items of interest to Draper residents from the 2023 legislative session, share requests or feedback they've received from constituents, and discuss long-term goals they feel are important for the state to address.

Originally published May 1, 2023

Community involvement and belonging have great benefits for our health and wellbeing. Draper City offers a wonderful variety of recurring community events - from the Easter Egg Hunt to the Haunted Trail, fun times are just around the corner. Community Events Manager David Wilks and Chief of Staff Kellie Challburg give a preview of events for 2023 and discuss how residents can get involved behind-the-scenes. Other volunteer opportunities are available on one of the City's commissions or committees.

Originally published January 13,2023

Steve Cunningham, Assistant General Manager, WaterPro, Alan Packard, Assistant General Manger and Chief Engineer, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and Brien Maxfield, Senior Engineering Manager, Draper City Public Works, return to the podcast to discuss the continuing severe drought in Utah, current water supply and management, long-term planning to ensure adequate water supply, conservation efforts and tips, and the results of WaterPro's flouride survey.

Originally published June 21, 2022

Jay Francis, South Valley Chamber President & CEO, discusses his longtime career with the Utah Jazz and the Larry H. Miller Group and how that prepared him for his post-retirement role with the chamber, how the chamber supports local businesses and provides connections and training for business owners to grow and improve their business, and the chamber's partnership with Draper City.

Originally published June 9, 2022

Draper City Code Enforcement Officer Dave Bernal discusses common code violations, processes for requesting a response on a problem, and how he works with property owners and businesses to resolve issues.

Originally published May 13, 2022

Parks and Recreation Director Rhett Ogden previews projects and events for 2022, including the new boat launch at Rotary Park, a trail connection with Lehi, all-abilities playground, conservation garden at the Parks & Rec building, improvements to Ballard Arena, amphitheater shows, new community events and more.

Originally published May 5, 2022

Planning Manager Jennifer Jastremsky discusses misperceptions about what the City can and cannot do with respect to approvals or denials of development applications, different categories of zoning and what types of building is allowed in each, how state legislative decisions impact city code and enforcement – including recent changes related to Accessory Dwelling Units, and how the Draper City Historic Preservation Commission seeks to keep the community’s history alive.

Originally published March 7, 2022

Deputy Director of Public Works Robert Markle and Solid Waste Manager Hazel Dunsmore discuss garbage and recycling management in Draper City, fluctuations in the recycling market, where to dispose of items not accepted in curbside bins, probable changes to collection routes, landfill processes, and what garbage truck drivers want everyone to know.

Originally published February 18, 2022

City Manager David Dobbins and Assistant City Manager Bret Millburn discuss their roles and responsibilities, keeping property tax low through strategic economic development, the pursuit of additional communications infrastructure, accommodating growth, adjustments to City operations to ensure essential services continue during a pandemic, and recent changes to special event permitting on City trails.

Originally released February 1, 2022

Draper City Police Chief John Eining discusses Draper Police Department's approach to law enforcement, nationwide tensions following the George Floyd case, training, and responsibilities of police officers.

Originally published January 19, 2022

On the fifth anniversary of the reorganization of the Draper City Fire Department, Chief Clint Smith and Deputy Chief Bart Vawdrey join Mayor Walker to share their experience of restarting the department from the ground up, what life is like at a fire house, and notable events, including the tragic line-of-duty death of Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett.

Originally published January 3, 2022

Did you know Draper City has a Traffic Committee? Hear about that process and more as Public Works Director/City Engineer Scott Cooley and Senior Engineering Manager Todd Hammond join Mayor Walker to talk about 2021 road projects, pandemic impacts to construction, development impact fees, and strategic planning for the future.

Originally published December 22, 2021

Brien Maxfield (Draper City Senior Engineering Manager), David Gardner (WaterPro), and Alan Packard (Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District) join Mayor Troy Walker to discuss the unique partnership of Draper City of having two water providers, the impact of Utah's extreme drought on next year's water supply, the potential for a water reuse system, preventing contamination and water quality monitoring, and more.

Originally published December 6, 2021

Ron Williams and Shivam Shah of the Draper City Diversity and Inclusion Committee share some of their background and experiences, the objectives of the committee and discuss challenges with diversity and inclusion in Draper.

Originally published November 15, 2021