Mayor Walker, mayor of Draper, used a keynote-style address to praise local public service, call for more intercity cooperation and regional planning, and describe a major redevelopment opportunity at the former state prison site at the Point of the Mountain.

In context: Walker told attendees that "local office was the highest government service you could do," repeating a comment he attributed to a panelist, and described volunteers, mutual-aid agreements and transit investments as examples of local governments working together. He also identified the former state prison site in Draper as a roughly 700-acre parcel that currently produces no tax revenue and said the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority is leading development plans for that property.

Walker opened by emphasizing the value of local office and civic service, saying the role of mayor has been "a tremendous experience" across 16 years in elected office and that he loves the job "94% of the time." He framed volunteerism and local events as essential to community life, citing Draper's tree-lighting, youth council and historical-society events as examples supported by volunteers. He said population in Draper has grown from "a little under 40,000" when he took office to "a little over 50,000" now, and recalled that when he and a council colleague, Fred Lowry, were in high school Draper had about 4,000 residents.

On regional cooperation, Walker pointed to mutual aid agreements, a joint SWAT team and shared planning with neighboring cities including Sandy, Riverton, South Jordan and Bluffdale as ways municipalities reduce costs and improve services. He described long-range transit investments, including FrontRunner and new track stops serving event venues, as examples of projects that took years to plan but now provide value to multiple communities.

Turning to land-use and revenue, Walker said the former state prison site in Draper is a roughly 700-acre state-owned parcel that paid "$0 in tax revenue" to the city while state-owned. He said moving the prison opened the parcel for redevelopment and that a seven-member Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, on which he serves alongside elected officials including Mayor Ramsey (South Jordan) and Mayor Wilson (Salt Lake County), is charged with developing the site. Walker said the authority has announced plans for an indoor event center intended to help kick off broader development.

Walker also credited local chambers of commerce for fostering intercity ties; he highlighted Jay Francis (identified in his remarks as retired from the Miller Company) as a leader in that work. He closed by urging elected officials to share ideas across communities, emphasizing the long-term legacy local officials leave for their hometowns.

No formal motions or votes were referenced in the remarks; Walker presented observations, examples and planning updates rather than seeking action from the audience.