Stephen Nelson AICP
Hyrum,UT
Summary
As a seasoned City Planner and department head in municipal and county government for the past decade, I have consistently delivered results in policy development, budget management, and team leadership. My leadership has driven initiatives that cut planning review times by 50%, strengthened community engagement, secured critical grants, and led teams to measurable success. I am committed to fostering civic participation and promoting economic development through innovative urban planning strategies. I have a strong background in advising and assisting elected and appointed officials, and working with City Councils to help them achieve their goals.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Community Development Director
West Haven City
West Haven, UT
11.2024 - Current
- Manage the Community Development Department, including planning and zoning, code enforcement, and building staff.
- Write reports and make presentations to the City Council and Planning Commission.
- Oversee long-range and current planning efforts by the city.
- Implement an online application and payment system for land-use, building, and business license applications.
- Oversee the department's budget.
Development Services Director
Cache County
06.2023 - 11.2024
- Managed the Planning, Building, and GIS Divisions within Cache County
- The Planning Division comprises current planning, long-range planning, trails and active transportation, and countywide planning services.
- Helped coordinate regional planning activities.
- Created and oversaw divisions' budgets.
- Updated programs and application review criteria.
- Dropped planning review time frames by half.
- Supported and provided administrative help to the Open Space Advisory Committee as it reviewed open space applications for a Cache County bond.
- Non-voting member of the Cache County Planning Commission.
Planning Director
Hurricane City
04.2020 - 06.2023
- Manage the Planning and Building Departments, including hiring new staff to address turnover, expanding the departments to accommodate city growth, prioritizing projects, managing budgets, and handling disciplinary actions.
- Responsible for long-term and short-term planning for Hurricane City.
- Work closely with city staff, elected officials, and citizens.
- Generated reports regarding growth and development for the City Council.
- Develop General Plan Updates, Master Plans, and land-use codes.
- Voting member of the Hurricane City Water Board.
- Helped enhance Hurricane’s technology use, including updating the Planning Commission’s meeting packet and reports to a digital format, managing the City’s Facebook page, conducting digital surveys and projects, updating the City’s meetings to an online format, and working to implement software to allow all land use and building applications to be submitted online.
- Work on code enforcement, including site inspections, sending warning letters, and working with the city prosecutor.
City Planner
Nibley City
11.2016 - 04.2020
- Work with the City Manager, Planning Commission, and City Council to create and update land-use policies, master plans, General Plan updates, and ordinances.
- Authored several code updates to modernize city code, ordinance recommendations, and resolutions for the Planning Commission and City Council.
- Oversaw update of the City’s Parks, Trails, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan; the Transportation Master Plan; Moderate Income Housing Plan; created a new Future Land Use Map; and a new Annexation Policy Plan.
City Treasurer
Nibley City
11.2013 - 10.2016
- Wrote and implemented City Investment Policy, Nibley City Cash Handling Policy, and Debt Collection Policy.
- My responsibilities included managing accounts receivable, managing over 1800 utility accounts, and maintaining records.
- Management: I manage front desk operation and front desk staff.
- Including responsibilities of keeping track of the record, taking payment, answering the phone, interacting with the public, and being a representative for the city.
- I also managed most registration for city events, dog licenses, and business licenses.
- Communication: I help manage and update Nibley City’s communication network, such as social media, an award-winning website, an emergency contact system, and interaction with residents, boards, and other entities through face-to-face, phone, and electronic communication.
- Board Member of Utah Association of Public Treasurers.
- Obtained Utility Management Certification from the Rural Water Association of Utah in 2016.
Intern/Assistant to the City Manager
Nibley City
10.2012 - 11.2013
- Interned with Nibley City Manager.
- The following June, I was hired on for part-time work.
- Created bicycle and pedestrian routes, wrote office procedures, collected city stats, implemented Utah Benchmarking Project, participated on Heritage Days board, helped plan community activities and events, organized Emergency Preparedness Fair, secured sponsors for events, presented plans/policy to the city council.
Education
Masters - Public Administration
Villanova University
Merion, PA01.2015
BS - Political Science
Utah State University
Logan, UT01.2013
Skills
- Policy writing
- Budget management
- Land use planning
- Regulatory compliance
- Community engagement
- Team leadership
- Strategic thinking
- Economic development
- Civic participation improvement
- Project management
- Policy changes
- Grant writing
- Policy enhancements
- Urban planning
Certification
American Institute of Certified Planners
Awards
- Hurricane City Department of the Year, 2020
- Department Head of the Year for Hurricane City, 2021
- Meritorious Planner by Utah American Planning Association, 2021
Other Experiences
- Current member of the Hyrum City Planning Commission. Chair of the Planning Commission for 2025.
- Earned my American Institute of Certified Planners certificate in Spring of 2021.
- Coordinating regional planning projects and managing budgets.
References
David Zook, Former Cache County Executive-(435)890-9239
Kathryn Beus, Cache County Council- (435)512-5680
Kaden DeMille, Hurricane City Manager- (435) 668-5616
Larry Jacobson, Nibley City Mayor -(435) 512-7495
Timeline
Community Development Director
West Haven City
11.2024 - Current
Development Services Director
Cache County
06.2023 - 11.2024
Planning Director
Hurricane City
04.2020 - 06.2023
City Planner
Nibley City
11.2016 - 04.2020
City Treasurer
Nibley City
11.2013 - 10.2016
Intern/Assistant to the City Manager
Nibley City
10.2012 - 11.2013
Masters - Public Administration
Villanova University
BS - Political Science
Utah State University