Natalie Larsen
For St. George City Council
CANDIDATE Q&A
Question #1
Washington County’s rapid growth pressures both development and preservation of open spaces. What is your proposed zoning strategy to balance new housing and commercial projects with maintaining the region’s natural landscapes, and how will you address community concerns about overdevelopment?
I fully support internal dwelling units (IDUs) and...READ MORE
I fully support internal dwelling units (IDUs) and dwelling units (ADUs) and are currently in our zoning code. These types of housing offer flexible, more affordable options for families, retirees, and young professionals alike, and they support our goal of increasing density in a smart and sustainable way. I have also supported free-form zoning areas like Desert Color, this opened the door for mixed-use, high-amenity, and walkable communities. Ensuring that this flexibility doesn’t come at the expense of our region’s natural landscapes or overwhelm our infrastructure in vital.
Question #2
Aging infrastructure, such as roads, water lines, and public facilities, requires ongoing investment. What is your plan to fund and prioritize maintenance and upgrades, and how will you balance these costs with other municipal budget demands?
As your representative on the St. George City Council...READ MORE
As your representative on the St. George City Council, I take seriously the responsibility to balance fiscal responsibility with the real impact city decisions have on residents and businesses. That’s why I voted NO on the proposed property tax increase.To ensure our police, fire, and emergency services remain adequately funded and staffed as our population grows, I will continue to prioritize these essential services in our budgeting process. A large portion of our property tax revenue is supported by sales tax and Transient Room Tax (TRT), and we will continue to protect and strengthen these revenue streams to support public safety. To be clear, public safety is not limited to police and fire. Water, power, roads and wastewater are included. In addition to maintaining current funding levels, I will continue to explore strategic reallocations within the existing budget, seek grant opportunities, and consider innovative partnerships to enhance staffing and resources.
Question #3
With rising populations, how will you ensure that police, fire, and emergency services remain adequately funded and staffed? Please specify whether you would reallocate existing budgets, seek new revenue sources, or implement other strategies to meet these needs.
To be clear, I voted NO on a property tax increase...READ MORE
To be clear, I voted NO on a property tax increase the first year in office. While I support investing in our city’s future, I believe was not the right time to increase the financial burden on our homeowners and business owners, especially given rising costs across nearly every household budget.
As a council member, I’ve focused on projects that make a real difference in our daily lives—especially when it comes to safety, infrastructure, and planning for the future.
Relocating Fire Station 1 (opening Fall 2025) and built two new stations in Little Valley and Desert Canyons to improve response times and lower our ISO rating. I also helped secure funding for 42 new police officers and 29 firefighters to keep up with our city’s growth.
Expanding the St. George Regional Water Reclamation Facility—from 17 million to 25 million gallons a day—to meet future demand, and we’re building a new City Hall, set to open in October 2025. It’ll make city services more accessible and efficient.
I supported bringing the state’s Star 9 rescue helicopter to a permanent home at our airport, which had a record year with over 311,000 passengers. We finished the traffic tower study and should start building it shortly, and the terminal expansion design is moving forward.
And yes, 3000 East is finally widened—better traffic flow for everyone!
I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited about what’s ahead for St. George.
Question #4
Large and even small scale development projects often spark community debate. How will you ensure that residents’ voices are meaningfully incorporated into decisions about zoning and development, and what specific mechanisms (e.g., town halls, advisory boards) will you establish or strengthen?
As a former Planning Commissioner and now as a...READ MORE
As a former Planning Commissioner and now as a City Council member, I’ve made it a priority to personally visit proposed development sites—often two or three times, on different days and at different times—to better understand the character of the area and how changes might affect the neighborhood. During these visits, I’ve had meaningful conversations with residents who stop to ask questions or share their thoughts. I also respond to emails, texts, and phone calls, and I’m always open to conversations at community events. That’s often why I attend—so I can listen and learn from those I represent.
I believe public comment isn’t just a formality—it’s essential. It is important to me we have public comment at our council meetings. To ensure residents’ voices are meaningfully incorporated, I will continue to advocate for transparent, accessible forums like town halls and neighborhood meetings, and support strengthening advisory boards that reflect our community.
Question #5
To reduce reliance on tourism and construction, what specific industries or business types will you target to diversify Washington County’s economy, and what incentives or policies will you propose to attract them?
As a City Council member, I’ve seen how important...READ MORE
As a City Council member, I’ve seen how important it is for St George to have a more balanced economy—one that doesn’t rely quite so heavily on tourism and construction. That said, construction jobs are still valuable, and the tourism industry brings in critical tax dollars that help keep our property taxes lower. We want to support those industries, but also make sure we’re building long-term stability for local families.
That’s why I’ve supported projects like Tech Ridge, which bring in year-round, good-paying tech jobs and create walkable, community-focused spaces that fit the St. George lifestyle.
Going forward, I’d like to see us attract more industries like:
Healthcare and medical tech, since we already have a strong hospital and medical community. Light manufacturing, which offers stable jobs without putting a strain on our natural resources. Remote work and startup spaces, especially for people moving here who want to live and work in the same great place.
To make that happen, we make have to make sure our schools and training programs are aligned with what those industries need, and look for ways to make zoning and permitting a little easier—without sacrificing what makes our area special.
It’s all about planning ahead and making sure our local economy can support our residents.
Question #6
Washington County is experiencing increased traffic congestion, particularly in urbanizing areas. What specific infrastructure improvements or policies will you prioritize to reduce traffic delays and improve road safety, and how will you fund these initiatives without overburdening taxpayers?
St. George is growing, and with that comes increased traffic...READ MORE
St. George is growing, and with that comes increased traffic—especially in our more urbanizing areas. To address this, I’ll continue prioritizing smart infrastructure improvements, like intersection upgrades, signal timing, and alternate route options to keep traffic moving. I have personally help with adding crosswalks at key intersections in our community, I also support expanding our trail networks to give people more choices. To fund these improvements without overburdening taxpayers, we’ll continue leveraging Class C Road funds and actively pursue matching dollars through state and federal grants. We’ve had success with this approach before, and it’s the most responsible way to stretch local dollars further. But traffic safety isn’t just about road, it’s also about how we drive. Drivers must take more responsibility when it comes to distracted driving and making safe, defensive choices behind the wheel. We can’t expect our police department to fix this alone.
Question #7
Given the ongoing drought concerns in Southern Utah, how will you prioritize water allocation among residential, commercial, agricultural, and recreational (e.g., golf courses) users? Please provide a specific plan or framework to ensure equitable distribution while addressing conservation goals.
Water is vital in Southern Utah, and with drought concerns...READ MORE
Water is vital in Southern Utah, and with drought concerns, we must use it wisely. I believe in a balanced approach that supports our residents, respects our agricultural roots, and protects the quality of life we all enjoy.
First and foremost, I’ll always prioritize residential use, making sure families and neighborhoods have what they need. But that also means continuing to push for conservation through things like water-wise landscaping, smart meters, and education on everyday water habits.
For commercial growth, I support responsible development that builds with water in mind from the start. Businesses that use water efficiently and plan ahead should be the ones we support and encourage.
As for recreation, things like golf courses and parks add value to our community. Since I’ve been on the City Council, we’ve made real progress in making those spaces more water-wise. You might noticed grass has been removed in areas where it wasn’t being used for recreation, like around the Dixie Commons building and in park strips. We’ve also have continued made a strong commitment to using reuse water for irrigating parks and golf courses. In addition, we’ve cut back on how often and how long we water our parks. Using recycled or non-drinking water and limiting grass to areas where it really makes sense is how we’re striking the right balance between conservation and quality of life.
It’s about collaboration, foresight, and efficient use of resources.
The Board of Trustees—which includes Adam Bowler, Ed Bowler, Kress Staheli, Michele Randall, Victor Iverson, Clark Fawcett, and Rick Rosenberg—makes high-level decisions on water allocation, rates, capital projects (such as pipelines and reservoirs), and conservation policy. This board of directors plays a critical role in shaping the future of water use and sustainability in Washington County.