After eight years of frequently lengthy mayoral discourses - outgoing Mayor Rocky Anderson's last State of the City speech ran 100 minutes - Becker set a new pace Monday for Utah's capital, holding the city's first outdoor swearing-in ceremony in at least three decades.

His speech and the blue-sky, January day were both, in a word, brisk. Close to 700 people, including Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., sat beneath portable heaters or stood along the sidewalks outside City Hall's east entrance to witness the simple ceremony.

Becker, an urban planner and environmental lawyer, capitalized on the location by emphasizing the city's "unparalleled natural setting" and "appreciation for the value of our mountains."

His 180-day action plan includes a number of green initiatives. In his inaugural address, he asked residents and the City Council to help him bolster education, protect natural resources, revitalize downtown, safeguard neighborhoods and improve air quality.

"Today," he said, "we begin our partnership, and together we will succeed."

Becker closed with the mantra, "This is our place. This is our future. This is our time."

The capital's 34th mayor was sworn in by his brother William Becker and accompanied by another brother, Don Becker.

Leslie Reynolds-Benns, who heads the Westpointe Community Council in northwest Salt Lake City, called the speech "dynamic."

"I'm excited. Finally, we're going to see a time for the west side," she said, dressed in a warm winter coat. "He'll support us in making changes there that have not been addressed for years and years and years," such as the completion of the Jordan River Parkway.

Becker, a longtime Democratic state lawmaker, replaces Anderson after crushing outgoing City Councilman Dave Buhler in the November election.

Anderson, who attended the ceremony, was complimentary of his successor.

"Ralph will be a great mayor and certainly do things differently. I wish him the best of luck," he said. "I'm very excited about the future."

rwinters@sltrib.com