Draper City Council Meeting Summary - November 19, 2025

The Draper City Council held a regular meeting to approve previous minutes, establish the 2026 meeting schedule, discuss the upcoming Black History poster contest, review the aftermath of Kindness Week, plan for the America 250 celebration, and explore local service opportunities. The conversation highlighted community engagement strategies, logistical adjustments for future events, and plans for a volunteer-driven holiday season.

Consent Calendar

• 2025 Minutes Approval: The council unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting, with members noting improvements in the Zoom-generated action points.
• 2026 Meeting Calendar: The council approved a schedule for January through August, excluding May, July, November, and December. They agreed to reschedule the November meeting to avoid the week before Thanksgiving while retaining the day before Thanksgiving as the new date to ensure a touch-point before the holiday service projects.

Public Comments & Testimony

• School Outreach for Poster Contest: Committee members expressed concern over low turnout for the Black History poster contest. They proposed increasing prize incentives (suggesting a $50 gift card for high schoolers) and establishing direct communication channels with art and history teachers, as opposed to relying solely on district-wide emails.
• Kindness Week Feedback: Members shared positive testimonials about interactions with residents, including a recent Swedish immigrant and families playing basketball. They expressed full support for continuing the event in February and discussed the necessity of removing signs promptly in December to avoid confusion, while expressing willingness to store them for reuse.
• Volunteer Opportunities: Members expressed strong enthusiasm for volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House during December and support for participating in Cold Blue shelter operations when temperatures drop, citing the emotional reward of interacting with residents.

Discussion Items

• Black History Poster Contest: The group discussed strategy to improve participation, including contacting the Draper VAF board for high school connections, reaching out to Girl/Boy Scouts, and offering service hours to the Youth Council. They agreed that a coordinated effort to contact specific schools and teachers directly is essential for higher turnout.
• Kindness Week Review: The committee reviewed the distribution of bookmarks and kindness cards at local parks. They noted the success of face-to-face interactions and discussed the possibility of expanding to other locations or partnering with the Draper Journal for coverage.
• Hanukkah Celebration: The council discussed a traveling menorah lighting event led by Rabbi Zippel on December 17th. They confirmed the city would host the event in the lobby, allowing the mayor to introduce the Rabbi, and expressed support for publicizing the half-hour event.
• Service Projects:
  • Ronald McDonald House: Discussed the logistics of preparing hot meals within their kitchen (catered or prepared onsite) for available Thursday dates in December. The group agreed to aim for monthly attendance.
  • Cold Blue: Discussed the new volunteer vetting process and the activation of the program when temperatures fall below 18°F for two hours. Members discussed the importance of respectful engagement and overnight shifts.
• America 250 Committee: The council announced the formation of a committee to plan events for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, running from January through July. They confirmed that pavilions are reserved for July 5th celebrations.

Key Outcomes

• 2026 Calendar: Approved with modified dates (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jun, Aug, and the revised early-Nov date).
• December 18th Meeting: The council selected Thursday, December 18th, for the holiday gathering, hosted by Millery.
• Service Project Scheduling: The committee agreed to pursue volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in December and will coordinate with Cold Blue for winter shelter shifts.
• Signage Management: The council directed members to retrieve kindness signs from public areas before they become a safety hazard or cause confusion in December, with plans to store them for future use.
• America 250 Planning: The America 250 committee will be recruited, with a focus on neighborhood barbecues and Draper Days integration.
• Next Steps: Committee members (including Jennifer and Linda) agreed to create a contact list of schools for the poster contest and coordinate outreach to the school district and individual teachers in January.