WVC City Spotlight Employee Newsletter

December 2025

There is still time to get involved in West Valley City’s Giving Tree Program!

REMINDER:
City Offices Closed
December 24 & 25
Happy Holidays!

While you are out holiday shopping this month, pick up a few gifts for the West Valley City Giving Tree program!

Visit wvcgivingtree.com and you can pick a child to shop for. You’ll be given a list of their clothing and shoe sizes, as well as some ideas for toys or other fun items. You don’t have to buy everything on the list, and you can shop for more than one child!

You can also donate money at that website if shopping isn’t your thing.

Another surprising way to help out—eat chicken! On Saturday, December 13th, the new Chick-fil-A Valley Fair location at 3817 S 2700 W (near City Hall) will be donating a portion of its sales to the Giving Tree program. Just head there between 7:30am-10:30am and make sure you mention the West Valley City Giving Tree program when you order. Santa will make an appearance starting at 8:30am!

The program is helping out nearly 200 children this year, along with about 30 seniors.

Don Those Ugly Christmas Sweaters—It’s Time for the Employee Holiday Luncheon!

red holiday sweater graphic with "ugly" written on chest

This year’s Employee Holiday Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, December 10th at 12pm. We’ll be eating at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center.

There will be a few fun twists to make this year’s celebration even more memorable, including:

Employee Talent Show (Optional): Do you sing, dance, play an instrument, tell jokes, or have a hidden talent you’d love to share? We’re planning a lighthearted talent show during the luncheon, and we’d love to see you shine! If you’re interested in performing, please contact HR by end of business on December 4th.
Ugly Holiday Sweater Fun: Don’t forget to dust off your most outrageous (but appropriate), sparkly, or hilariously hideous holiday sweater — the uglier, the better!

We're Thankful for West Valley City Employees!

From music, food, and family to great friends and co-workers, West Valley City employees have a lot to be thankful for!

Thank you to those who brought a little gratitude to City Hall and contributed to our city Gratitude Tree by filling its leaves with “Thankful Thoughts.” We’re grateful for all the work each employee puts in every day to make West Valley City the best place to work and live.

gratitude tree made of construction paper with colored leaves attached

Employee Spotlight: Shining a Light On Employees Who Go Above and Beyond

smiling woman sitting in chair at desk in office

Marisa Burnett is a Judicial Assistant with the Justice Court. She has been working with West Valley City for seven years.

Marisa’s supervisors say she is an incredibly hard worker, always brings a positive attitude, and is someone you can rely on. “Even with her busy schedule, she’s always willing to help,” they say. “She’s held the top phone position for three straight months by being the top incoming call taker—and no one has been able to take that spot from her.”

Marisa’s bilingual skills are also a tremendous asset to the city, and she assists the Spanish-speaking court patrons.

Marisa is so great, that her co-workers voted for her to be this month’s spotlight!

Great job, Marisa!

Congratulations to Jeremy Tye, Superintendent at The Ridge Golf Club — he was named Superintendent of the Year by the Utah Golf Course Superintendent’s Association!

Jeremy has been the Superintendent at The Ridge since 2021 and started working there 25 years ago. He has also worked at Stonebridge Golf Course. Jeremy says he prides himself on paying attention to detail and making sure everyone enjoys coming to work every day.

Those qualities have clearly paid off. Congratulations, Jeremy!

Jeremy Tye

Make a Difference through the Family Fitness Center Food Drive

cans of food and bags of dry pasta in cardboard boxes

The West Valley City Family Fitness Center is hosting a food drive to benefit the community. We all know times are hard and access to food is limited for some families.

Accepted Donations:

Shelf Stable Food: rice, pasta, peanut butter

Canned Food: vegetables, soups, meat

Dry Food: cereal, beans, instant noodles

Household Items: deodorant, bar soap, first aid kits

Donation bins are located inside the Family Fitness Center lobby.

Childcare Discount for City Employees

We’re excited to share a special opportunity for all city employees! Sunshine Academy Preschool and Daycare, located right here in West Valley City at 4059 S. 4400 W, is offering a 20% discount to city employees. In addition, first responders can access discounted hourly rates, subject to availability.

This partnership reflects Sunshine Academy’s commitment to supporting those who serve and care for our community.

graphic of sunshine and butterflies, text says Click to learn more

Parental Leave: New Policy Approved!

West Valley City is excited to introduce a new Paid Parental Leave Policy designed to support employees during one of life’s most meaningful milestones — welcoming a new child! Whether through birth, adoption, or surrogacy, this policy provides eligible full-time employees up to four weeks of paid leave to bond and care for their growing families. Running concurrently with FMLA, this benefit reflects the City’s commitment to work-life balance, family well-being, and recognizing the importance of those first moments together. Learn more about the Parental Leave Policy.