Residents urge West Valley City Council to preserve The Ridge as city staff say appraisals and ALTA survey are underway

Dozens of residents, veterans and youth-program leaders urged the West Valley City Council on Oct. 14 to reject any plan to sell The Ridge golf course, calling it an irreplaceable public asset for recreation, wildlife habitat and community events. The city manager said staff sought appraisals after prior offers and will return with an ALTA survey in the coming weeks.

At the start of the public-comment portion of the meeting, a resident told the council, "our city's beloved golf course, The Ridge ... is at risk of being sold for development," and asked for transparency about any surveys and cost estimates. Brian Adams, Utah state director of the Veterans Golf Association, said The Ridge "supports veterans in unique ways," describing veterans-exclusive leagues and programs the organization runs at the course.

Several speakers — including longtime resident David Rock, First Tee Utah president Paul Pugmire and local golfers — said The Ridge provides youth programming, high-school competition venues, annual tournaments that benefit local charities, and habitat for deer, foxes and migratory birds. "We're asking our leaders to be stewards, not sellers," one commenter said.

Council approved routine business earlier in the meeting: a motion to approve the minutes of Oct. 14 was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. Council member Wood also read a proclamation declaring Nov. 1, 2025, "Extra Mile Day," which volunteers from the Harmon Senior Recreation Center accepted.

City Manager (last name transcribed in the record as both "Peely" and later as "Bealey") told the council he had asked staff to look into the golf-course properties after earlier offers and that the city obtained appraisals. He summarized the figures discussed in the meeting record: that an earlier offer had been cited at about $12,000,000; operational appraisals reported figures the manager described as roughly $5,000,000 for The Ridge and $6,000,000 for Stonebridge; land valuations in the appraisal document were reported as more than $220,000,000 (The Ridge) and more than $300,000,000 (Stonebridge). The manager said capital needs and looming one-time obligations — including debt service for recent projects — prompted staff to explore options and that an ALTA survey (a detailed title and boundary report) is not yet complete.

The manager emphasized that council had not approved a sale and that staff were "just taking a look at it," adding, "This isn't about greed ... it's about really trying to find what's best for the city using the assets that we have." He said staff expect the ALTA survey to be returned in a few weeks and that the council will have another opportunity for discussion and public input then.

Speakers asked whether the city would host additional public meetings and how alternative uses or conservation options would be evaluated; the manager said the survey and follow-up discussions will inform next steps. The mayor then called a five-minute recess; the hearing remained open for the scheduled public-hearing agenda items later in the meeting.

What happens next: the city manager said staff will present the ALTA-survey results and further analysis to the council when the report is complete, and residents will have additional opportunities to comment at that time.