April 29, 2022 – Utah Housing Legislature, Development Code amendments & County Fair tickets



In this week’s episode we’ll:

  • Give you an update on the I80 Hazmat Spill.  
  • Talk about what the County Community Development Department is up to, and how their program affects the 2022 Work Plan. 
  • Continue the conversation on 501c3 tax exemption revocation appeals, 
  • Summarize several county code ordinance changes, and 
  • Remind you about two exciting events you should have on your calendars, Summit County!

HAZMAT SPILL UPDATE

[Bailey]

First up, we have a brief update on the I-80 Hazmat Spill/ Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail closure.  

The roughly 100-yard section of the Rail Trail near the Tollgate overpass will remain closed through Friday (April 29th) and potentially until Monday (May 2) while excavation work takes place. 

[Derek]

Summit County Environmental Health continues to oversee the cleanup. Booms in the drainage did well to prevent spread due to the previous weekend’s precipitation. Soil samples were taken to determine the depth the substance reached. The focus for the rest of the week is on removing contaminated soils, which poses a challenge due to excavation equipment access on the Rail Trail. 

We’ll keep you updated with more information on Summit County social media channels as we receive it. 

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

[Bailey]

Shifting gears to this week’s County Council meeting, the Community Development Department, Housing Director, and Attorney’s Office were in front of Council to review the scope of work associated with House Bill 462, Utah Housing Affordability Amendments adopted this past legislative session.  

[Derek]

For some background, in their general session earlier this year, the Utah State Legislature placed new requirements on Summit County, and other counties across the state, to develop and adopt a Moderate Income Housing plan by October 1, 2022. The County is required to adopt three or more strategies from a list provided in the statute that will lead to the development of moderate income housing units within the County. The County’s plan also has to identify benchmarks that must be met to implement those strategies, demonstrating the County’s commitment to facilitating the development of moderate income housing within the County. 

[Bailey]

The consequence of not adopting a plan by October 1, 2022, or not fulfilling the requirements of the statute, is the County is made ineligible for transportation and transit funding from the state. 

It will take a significant amount of staff work to complete this plan by October 1st. As a result, the County Manager and Deputy County Manager discussed with the Council on Wednesday proposed revisions to the County’s 2022 Work Plan to free up staff capacity to work on the Moderate Income Housing Plan.

 

2022 WORK PLAN 

[Derek]

On February 2, 2022, the Summit County Council adopted the 2022 Work Plan, outlining projects prioritized by County Department and organized by Council’s strategic priorities, on which County staff would focus for the year.  

[Bailey]

Typically, the Council does not revise the Work Plan after it is adopted, unless a new issue arises. This year, like we just discussed, the Utah State Legislature adopted several bills that placed new requirements on counties.  

This compelled the County Manager’s Office to suggest revisions to the 2022 Work Plan to both add those items to the Work Plan and postpone or “shelve” others to free up staff time to work on these new items.  

[Derek]

The Council chose not to adopt the County Manager’s recommendations and instead, requested that the Council Chair and Vice Chair meet with staff to figure out where the Work Plan can be revised to complete both the Moderate Income Housing Plan and other Council priorities this year, and will present those suggestions to the full Council at a later date.

 

TAX EXEMPTION STATUS 

[Bailey]

Last week, several representatives from local community organizations were in front of Council to appeal the revocation of their tax exemption status. Their appeals were accepted by Council given this was the first year that the County did not mail reminder notifications for organizations filing their 501c(3) Non-Profit Property Tax Exemptions.

This week, several more entities’ tax exemption statuses were up for review. 

[Derek]

Council voted to extend the deadline (for this year only) to May 6. This means that any organization who received a revocation letter (dated March 30) and would like to appeal that decision, has the opportunity to stand before Council to present their case. 

If this is you, contact Stephanie Poll, County Assesor, at 435-336-3253 or spoll@summitcounty.org between now (April 27) and May 6. Any further appeals will be heard by the Council at their regular May 11 meeting. 

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

[Bailey]

There were several public hearings held regarding proposed ordinances that would amend the Snyderville Basin and Eastern Summit County Development Codes.  

Ordinance 936 proposes amendments to the Snyderville Basin Development Code with the  intention to create water-wise landscaping regulations. After a lengthy discussion between Council, Staff, and several members of the public, Staff was directed to take comments back to the office and come back to the May 25th Council meeting with necessary adjustments.  

[Derek]

Ordinance 937, which amends the Snyderville Basin Development Code to require that the County Treasurer replace the County Assessor as a signer on mylars prior to recordation of a subdivision plat and final site plan, was passed. Ordinance 938, which does the same thing for the Eastern Summit County Development Code, was also passed.  

Ordinance 939 establishes an annual review/discussion of municipal Annexation Declaration Areas and a minimum 30-day notice to municipalities for development proposals within ADAs. The ordinance was passed.  

 

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY 

[Bailey]

Up next we have a final reminder that Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection day is happening THIS Saturday, April 30th in the Canyons Cabriolet parking lot from 9 AM to 1 PM!  

Think materials like paint, oils, any products under your kitchen cabinet or in your garage that you wouldn’t want to drink. When toxic materials like these end up in the landfill they leach into the ground and into our drinking water, so the goal of this event is to keep them out of our environment.  

[Derek]

Bikes in all conditions will be accepted this year, as well as mattresses for $20 per item. You can view a full list of accepted items at recycleutah.org/events. 

Special thanks to Recycle Utah, Park City Municipal, Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District and Park City Sunrise Rotary for making this event possible!

 

FAIR TICKETS

[Bailey]

Finally, we’ll end on some very exciting news…The Summit County Fair is back! The 2022 Summit County Fair will take place from August 6 – August 13 this year. 

[Derek]

And, guess what? It’s already time to buy tickets to the PRCA Rodeo and Demolition Derby! Tickets officially go on sale on Monday, May 2 at 9 AM. 

The Demolition Derby is happening on Saturday August 6th at 7 PM. You can buy tickets at bit.ly/summitderby22 

[Bailey]

The PRCA Rodeo will take place Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13 at 8 PM. You can buy tickets at bit.ly/summitrodeo22

We hope to see you there!