Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We have a quick episode for you today! We discuss week 4 of the Utah State Legislature’s 2025 General Session and then share some cool collaborations between the Summit County Sustainability Division and the Summit County Library. Alright, let’s get into the news! 

TOPIC 1: Legislative Update 

And, we’re back again with week 4 of legislative updates from the Utah State Legislature’s 2025 General Session! This week, Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, highlighted several bills the county is following on the hill. We’ll mention a few here today, but if you want to listen to Janna’s full recap, please visit summitcounty.info/councilrecording. 

Up first, Janna discussed a bill related to the Transient Room Tax. Details of the bill seem to be constantly changing, but in its most recent form there is potential for counties, like Summit, to use a portion of the revenues from the Transient Room Tax generated within their borders to spend on things like Search and Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and, even, roads. Janna mentioned that if passed Summit County could explore using these funds for the Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, project on SR-224. 

After that, Janna dove into a couple energy-related bills. 

• The first was House Bill 241 which prohibits solar development in the State of Utah on cropland, grazing land or forests and some other types of property. Some of the successful online and planned solar facilities in Utah couldn’t be built if they had to meet the requirements outline in the bill. As you know, Summit County, is already a part of a large-scale solar facility in Toelle County that supplies net 100% renewable energy for our county buildings and we have aggressive renewable energy goals that this bill would hamper.
• Up next, Janna talked about House Bill 249 which supports nuclear power development in the state. Summit County supports that, but there is language in the bill we object to. That language limits the ability of counties and cities to negotiate financial incentives for energy developments unless it is proposed in one of these to-be-established “electric energy development investment fund”. Also, for the tax incentives and tax increment financing negotiated, those benefits would flow partially to the state, not stay entirely within the local government. 

Every week of the session, we’ll remind our listeners that you can watch the 2025 legislative session in real-time through the online tool at le.utah.gov. Click on the “calendar” button then the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording. 

You can also follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, visit le.utah.gov and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page to perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click “Track this” or “Email notification.” The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debates, and details on the bill sponsor.

TOPIC 2: Summit County Library x Sustainability Collaborations 

The Summit County Sustainability Department and the Summit County Library Branches have partnered to offer our community FREE resources to help their homes run more sustainably! 

If you’re interested in figuring out how your home may be wasting energy and money, you can now check out a FREE energy detective kit at any Summit County library! Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, this interactive kit can help you find where energy and money are wasted in your home. A thermal camera, watt meter, smart plug, and refrigerator thermometer are included in the kit. For more information visit: summitcounty.info/energydetective.

And, if you need simple ways to improve energy and water efficiency in your household, all Summit County libraries are now offering FREE take-home conservation kits with items such as a toilet tank bank and weatherstripping foam, designed to save energy, water, and money! For more information visit: summitcounty.info/energydetective.

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Hey everyone and welcome back to Summit County News here on Summit in Six. Today, we’ve got some interesting findings based on community feedback from the General Plan updates, more info on the 2025 Legislative session and its impacts on Summit County and a reminder for Summit County Parents. Let’s get into the news!

GENERAL PLAN  UPDATES
Earlier this week, the Community Planning Department presented on the Eastern Summit County and Synderville Basin General Plan updates to the Council of Governments. Here’s what residents have told us so far in this process:

In Eastern Summit County, residents identified the following priorities:

Preserve open spaces for ecosystems & recreation:

• 79% of residents value open spaces for protecting natural ecosystems, wildlife, and water bodies
• 65% consider open spaces important for supporting local agriculture
• 56% want more spaces for passive recreation like bird watching and walking 
• Only 2% of residents consider their own homes as “development” that impacts open space 

Expand affordable housing options thoughtfully

• 53% support making apartments and condos available and affordable for community members 
• 75% support limiting short-term rentals in certain areas 
• 65% favor developing new housing near existing commercial areas and public facilities 
• Most residents want “Little Growth” or “No Growth,” yet the majority support more attainable housing 

And in Transportation & Economy, residents want to reduce traffic with smart planning, and support local businesses & small scale growth.

• 87% of residents drive alone when traveling within the community 
• 34% believe the region’s economy needs more diversification 
• The community prefers local small businesses over national chains 
• 66% say architectural style is the most important factor in commercial areas 

In the Synderville Basin, residents shared similar concerns:

Open Space for ecosystems and recreation is a top priority

• 82.5% value open spaces for protecting natural ecosystems, wildlife, and water bodies
• 60% love open spaces near their homes and neighborhoods 
• 76% feel the Basin is rural due to its mountain setting and preserved spaces 
• Only 5% consider their own homes as “development” impacting open space 

Housing & Development: Residents want more attainable options near transit and services

• 70% support development near public facilities and transit 
• 66% favor adding housing to existing commercial areas 
• 62% say more attainable housing is needed 
• 55% indicate a need for more single-family housing options 

Walkability, Transportation & Accessibility

• 87% currently drive alone in the community but many hope to rely less on cars
• 68% want to use public transit more 
• 55% would like to bike to local destinations 
• The community wants cars to have a less visual presence while maintaining access 

Community Character

• Local businesses preferred over national chains 
• 70% prioritize walkable commercial areas 
• Community service and volunteerism were highlighted as key values 
• 44% believe community boards need more diverse representation 

Want to stay involved or give your input? Visit summitcounty.org/GeneralPlans to share your feedback!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
And now we’ve got a few updates on bills in this legislative session that could impact Summit County and Summit County residents. 

HB 332 – This would require the state to withdraw from ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center), which acts as a clearinghouse for information on people moving from state to state within the U.S. for elections, ultimately reducing the accuracy of our voter roles. This bill is a concern with Clerks across the state who are working with the Lt. Governor’s office on it.

HB 342 – allows farming operations to compost animal waste without state oversight from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). 

HB 368 – Limits local land use restrictions, increases state oversight of zoning decisions and requires faster processing of development applications to reduce delays. This is a large bill (more than 7,000 lines) and the County is working to understand the impact it could have at the local level.

SB 197 – fully repeals the homeowner credit and replaces it with a tax deferral. The home owner credit is an option for individuals 66 years or older with an annual income of $40,000. Many Summit County residents utilize this program to keep their homes. Tax deferrals only pass the tax burden on to the heirs of the property.

As a reminder, you can watch the 2025 legislative session in real time through the online tool at https://le.utah.gov/. Click on the “calendar” button then the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording. 

You can also follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, visit le.utah.gov and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page to perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click “Track this” or “Email notification.” The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debate, and details on the bill sponsor. 

SHARP SURVEY REMINDER
Hey Summit County parents of 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders! The Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention or SHARP survey provides the youth in our community a chance to share their voices on community climate, school safety, underage substance use, mental wellness, and more.

The survey is anonymous, voluntary, and confidential. Results are used by numerous local organizations that provide valuable services for our children. The Health Department asks that parents give permission and encourage their children to take the SHARP Survey this year. To help you and your child prepare, a frequently asked questions page is available at  https://summitcounty.info/SHARP25 

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. This week, we’ll cover some key items from this week’s County Council meeting, including a weekly report on the Utah State Legislature’s General Session and an update on a Summit County housing authority for our community. Then, we’ll give a forecast from our friends over at UDOT Wasatch Back and wrap things up with some messages from the Summit County Health Department. Alright, let’s get into the news! 

Topic 1: Legislative Update 

On Wednesday’s County Council meeting, Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, reported on the activity happening at the Utah State Legislature’s General Session this week. 

Some key bills Janna highlighted were:

• House Bill 256 which is the short-term rental bill working its way through the legislature. In general, Janna noted that this bill could help the county because it would allow easier regulation of short-term rentals in Summit County.
• Another bill Janna highlighted was House Bill 300 which, if passed as currently written, would do away with the mail-in ballot voting option in the State of Utah as well as other voting-related stipulations. 90% of voters in Summit County choose to vote by mail which means this bill is concerning to Summit County as it would make voting more difficult and goes against the preferred method of voting for our voters.
• And there are two school-based health care services bills that could affect the County: House Bill 281, which would prevent the organizations the county contracts with to provide behavioral health services in our K-12 schools from providing those school-based services, and House Bill 102, which would defund health services in K-12 schools and would get rid of dual-language programs in our schools. Summit County is very concerned about these two bills and will continue to follow them closely.

For more details on the bills we’ve mentioned and other legislative updates, visit summitcounty.info/councilrecording and click item number 4 listed below the video. 

Interested citizens can watch Utah’s 2025 legislative session in real-time at le.utah.gov and click on the “calendar” button. Click on the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording. 

Additionally, the State Legislature’s website allows citizens to sign up to follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, go to le.utah.gov, and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page. Then either perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click on “Track this” or “Email notification” underneath the photograph of the bill sponsor. The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debates, and details on the bill sponsor.

Topic 2: Housing Authority Update 

Before we dive into the Housing Authority update, for some context, the Housing Authority was created by the County Council on December 11, 2024. The purpose of the Housing Authority is to manage and provide affordable housing, especially for low- and middle-income families, located within the jurisdiction of the Authority. The Housing Authority boundaries are the unincorporated area of Summit County (no towns or cities are included in those boundaries).

At this week’s County Council meeting, draft bylaws for the Housing Authority were brought before the Council. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the terms and conditions related to the Board of Commissioners for the Authority – including how many commissioners should sit on the board, term limits for commissioners, the qualifications of commissioners, and the County Council’s involvement with the board and housing authority overall. 

Council requested that the Commission be comprised of: 

1. One member that lives in the North Summit School District
2. One member that lives in the South Summit School District
3. One member that lives in the Park City School District
4. Two County Council Members
5. One member who lives in deed-restricted housing
6. One member at large

Council also requested that Commissioners serve no more than three (3) consecutive terms, including portions of unexpired terms; and asked staff to draft preliminary interview questions for the potential commissioners and some recommendations regarding background.

If any of our listeners are interested in serving on the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Summit County will advertise the vacancies at a future date on summitcountyutah.gov. 

TOPIC 3: Council of Governments Meeting Reminder 

Before we move on from our Council recap, we wanted to mention to our listeners that there will be a Council of Governments meeting next Tuesday, February 4. At the meeting the Council, along with each city mayor, will review and discuss feedback the Summit County Planning Department received from General Plan surveys that were administered to the community last year. The group will also review Transportation Sales Tax Revisions and a reprogramming request for the Old Ranch Road project as it relates to Transportation Sales Tax funding. 

The community is invited to attend this meeting in-person at the Council Chambers located within the Courthouse in Coalville (60 N Main Street, Coalville) OR tune in on Zoom at summitcounty.info/cogzoom (that’s cogzoom in all lowercase). The meeting will begin at 6 PM again on Tuesday, February 4. 

Topic 4: Weekly UDOT Update & Dashboard Reminder 

ICYMI: earlier this month, the Utah Department of Transportation (aka UDOT) launched UDOT Wasatch Back to bring increased communication to drivers traveling in Parleys Canyon and the Park City area.

UDOT Wasatch Back provides real-time updates and driver education on social media (@udotwasatchback on Instagram, Facebook, and X) and at wasatchback.udot.utah.gov. 

This week’s forecast from our friends at UDOT Wasatch Back is: 

Traffic will remain busy this weekend in and around Park City, especially with winter weather in the forecast. Make plans to carpool, or ride Park City Transit and High Valley Transit for free. Use public transit from the Ecker Hill (I-80) and Richardson Flat (US-40) Park & Rides.

Another weekend storm is on tap, with snow moving in late Friday through Sunday. Snow looks to return Wednesday, so expect increased weekday crowds at the resorts. Winter driving skills will be needed, check traffic cameras at wasatchback.udot.utah.gov. 

And Sundance wraps up this weekend, so expect crowds to die down Monday — but not for long. The FIS World Cup kicks off next Thursday at Deer Valley. Catch a free bus at Richardson Flat Park & Ride to avoid parking hassles.

Topic 5: Health Dept. Messages 

We’ll wrap things up today with a few messages from the Summit County Health Department! 

First up, is a call to Summit County parents of 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders! The Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention or SHARP survey provides the youth in our community a chance to share their voices on community climate, school safety, underage substance use, mental wellness, and more. The survey is anonymous, voluntary, and confidential. Results are used by numerous local organizations that provide valuable services for our children. The Health Department asks that parents give permission and encourage their children to take the SHARP Survey this year. To help you and your child prepare, a frequently asked questions page is available at  https://sumh.utah.gov/data-reports/sharp-survey/#survey-questions-and-privacy.  

Switching gears: the Summit County Health Department is holding a Stop-the-Bleed training on Feb. 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Downstairs Conference Room at their Park City Clinic (650 Round Valley Drive). This class is for anyone who would like to learn life-saving information. The course will be taught by Intermountain Healthcare and free tourniquets will be handed out after you complete the course. Email mrc@summitcountyutah.gov to reserve a space today! 

And, finally, January is Radon Awareness Month: Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that can build up inside buildings and homes. Now is a great time to test for radon levels because windows and doors in your home are usually closed all day and that helps with a more accurate reading. Testing your home is the only way to know if radon levels are high which could cause an increased risk for lung cancer in you and your family. Test kits are available at ALL Summit County Health Department clinics. We have more info on how to test for radon in your home at summitcountyhealth.org.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! This week, we dive into a quick preview of this year’s General Session of the Utah State Legislature. Then, we share some important public health information regarding norovirus including tips on how to help stop the spread. Finally, we wrap things up with a last call for community planning lab applications and surplus vehicle bids! Alright, Derek, let’s get into the news. 

TOPIC 1: LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW  

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the general session of Utah’s 69th legislature began and will run until Friday, March 7, 2025. Over the next 45 days, Summit County will track activity at the State Capitol and provide updates to the County Council and to the public at the regularly scheduled weekly Council meetings. 

You can tune into those meetings every Wednesday on Zoom (https://summitcounty.info/councilzoom) or live on the Summit County, Utah Facebook Page. 

In case you’re wondering what the County’s areas of focus are for this session, key policy concerns relate to: 

1. Transportation. This includes securing support and funding for projects like the Kimball Junction/I-80 Interchange project, the SR-224 and Bus Rapid Transit or BRT project, and High Valley Transit’s Sego Lily Transit Campus and expansion plans.
2. Olympics Planning. The County is hoping to actively engage with the legislature and others to start planning for a 2034 Olympic Winter games, understanding the infrastructure needs, particularly around transportation, transit, solid waste, and sustainability measures, seeing this as an opportunity to use our community as a demonstration of innovation for the rest of the world.
3. Revenues for Counties. This includes looking for support from the legislature for counties to have access to revenue sources that cities do, particularly to fund infrastructure/capital projects. The county also hopes to stay engaged in the Transient Room Tax (TRT) conversations among legislative leadership to ensure the county’s revenues from this tax are preserved and the county has the flexibility to use its portion of the tax on tourism impacts.
4. Affordable Housing and Land Use. Summit County hopes the legislature will see the value of public-private partnerships between counties/municipalities and developers to negotiate affordable housing projects with significant public benefits. We will also continue to monitor land use bills that will likely be considered or move through the legislature this session and work to maintain the county’s authority to decide its land use locally. In addition, the county hopes to see a revision to the HTRZ statute to better fit with projects in Summit County and plans to request modifications to the Moderate Income Housing Plan statute so the county can receive credit for things it has done to encourage the development of affordable housing that do not count currently. Finally, we’ll follow and engage in the discussions about short-term rentals regulations.
5. Childcare. Summit County hopes the legislature will continue to fund start up partnership grants between employers and providers who want to expand childcare offerings in their communities. The county will also request state assistance to remove barriers to make it easier for employers to partner with providers and offer childcare benefit to employees, as well as request state funding for scholarships, grants, subsidies, or tax incentives to moderate- and low-income families to afford childcare. Finally, we’ll ask the legislature to continue to fund, and possibly expand, the Department of Workforce Services Childcare Assistance program.

We’ll continue to follow and report on the session’s progress, specifically as it relates to Summit County’s interests, each week right here on Summit in Six.  

TOPIC 2: NOROVIRUS

The Summit County Health Department wanted to share some information about Norovirus, as it’s a commonly spread virus this time of year that is very contagious and causes vomiting and diarrhea.  It is sometimes called the “stomach flu” or the “stomach bug.” However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days; but they can still spread the virus for a few days after. 

Here are some ways to stop the spread of norovirus: Wash hands well with soap and water; hand sanitizer alone does not work well against norovirus. Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces. Do not prepare, handle food, or care for others when you are sick. Stay home when sick for 48 hours after symptoms stop.

If you are looking for more information on this topic, visit summitcountyhealth.org.

TOPIC 3: LAST CHANCE!  

And, last but not least, we’ll wrap things up with a last call for community planning lab applications AND surplus vehicle bids! 

The community planning lab is a 10-week course that can help YOU understand the processes that drive local planning and land use policy decisions. Learn more about the Community Planning Lab and apply today through this coming MONDAY, January 27 at summitcounty.info/planninglab. 

The Summit County Auditor’s Office is accepting bids to purchase county surplus vehicles. 

Check out the available stock at summitcounty.info/surplus. To place a bid, the online bidding form can be found in the description of each vehicle. Bidding concludes end-of-day also this coming MONDAY, January 27, 2025. 

The winning bid will be the highest reasonable bid submitted. If a tie occurs, the Auditor’s Office will accept the bid that was placed first. 

If you have any questions about how to bid or the process, contact the Summit County Auditor’s Office at (435) 336-3027 or auditor@summitcountyutah.gov.

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 TOPIC 1 – UDOT Wasatch Back dashboard 

We’ll get the ball rolling with some big news for Wasatch Back commuters! 

The Utah Department of Transportation (aka UDOT) is bringing increased communication to drivers traveling in Parleys Canyon and the Park City area.

UDOT Wasatch Back will provide real-time updates and driver education on social media (@udotwasatchback on Instagram, Facebook, and X) and at wasatchback.udot.utah.gov. This is an extension of the Roads to Recreation program that includes UDOT Cottonwood Canyons which has helped travelers navigate Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons since 2019.

Reporting in this new area will focus on I-80 in Parleys Canyon, US-40 between Silver Creek Junction and Mayflower, SR-224 from Kimball Junction into Park City, and SR-248 from Quinns Junction into Park City. It’s targeted toward drivers traveling to winter recreation destinations, but the information can be useful to anyone driving through this area.

Real-time updates begin January 22 and include major crash alerts, notifications of the Traction Law going into effect, ski resort parking status and other big impacts to traffic. During storms, footage of road conditions will show drivers exactly what to expect.

You can also find information about Summit County plowing routes and snow removal.

Check it out at wasatchback.udot.utah.gov.

TOPIC 2 – Text My Gov Launch Announcement

Have you signed up for Summit County’s new text-based alerts yet?

In December, Summit County launched a new communication platform for residents to connect with county services via TextMyGov. This service enables residents to effortlessly receive important non-emergency notifications and easily find specific information or report issues by texting the county.

Opt-in by texting the keyword “SUMMITCOUNTY” to the number 91896. After sending the initial keyword, you will be asked to reply “YES” to confirm opt-in. Residents may receive notifications for events, county service disruptions, and more.

For specific text alerts, text one of the following keywords to the number 91896:

• For county road construction, snow plowing, and other updates from Public Works: text SCROADS
• For health advisories and other Health Department updates: text SCHEALTH
• For information on Summit Bike Share: text SCBIKE

Additional notification categories will be released in 2025. Beginning Spring 2025, residents can receive on-demand information 24/7 by texting 1-2 keywords to Summit County’s TextMyGov number, 435-495-4090. You’ll be able to get quick information about county departments and elected offices, and report concerns.

TOPIC 3 – Community Planning Lab Applications 

It’s time to apply for the SPRING 2025 Community Planning Lab, a 10-week course that can help YOU understand the processes that drive local planning and land use policy decisions. Learn more about the Community Planning Lab and apply today through January 27 at summitcounty.info/planninglab. 

TOPIC 4 – 910 Ranch Survey Open + Upcoming Open Houses

This is Summit County’s chance to help shape the future of the 910 Ranch:
There is a survey open through January 31 that will help the County gather vital public input for creating a balanced land management plan that reflects community sentiment, allows for recreation opportunities, and safeguards natural resources and conservation values. You can take the survey at: summitcounty.info/910survey 

You can also attend some open house events about planning for the 910 Ranch. All events will be held at the Sheldon Richins Building in Kimball Junction from 6:30pm – 8:30pm.

There will be two sessions in January, one is NEXT WEEK on January 21st + there is another on January 30th. At these sessions, there will be materials outside the scope of the survey that residents will have the opportunity to engage with. To be clear: there are two January opportunities to attend, but both events are structured the same.

At the Open House on March 18, event-goers can expect a recap of the data gathered from the survey and January Open House sessions. There will be an opportunity to submit questions to be answered by staff during a live Q+A.

Visit summitcounty.info/910ranch for history, details about the land acquisition, and how to stay involved.

TOPIC 5 Surplus Vehicles

The Summit County Auditor’s Office is accepting bids to purchase county surplus vehicles. 

Check out the available stock at summitcounty.info/surplus. To place a bid, the online bidding form can be found in the description of each vehicle. Bidding concludes end-of-day on January 27, 2025. 

The winning bid will be the highest reasonable bid submitted. If a tie occurs, the Auditor’s Office will accept the bid that was placed first. 

If you have any questions about how to bid or the process, contact the Summit County Auditor’s Office at (435) 336-3027 or auditor@summitcountyutah.gov.

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We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! We’re kicking off the new year with our first episode of 2025! In this week’s segment, we’ll cover elected official appointments, the upcoming SR-32 Open House next week, the 910 Ranch Survey, and some opportunities to get involved with several volunteer boards.

TOPIC 1: County Council Recap

During this week’s council meeting, the following individuals were sworn into public office for a variety of positions with the County: Councilmember, Megan McKenna, Council Member, Tonja B. Hanson, Council Member, Roger Armstrong, Recorder, Greg Wolbach, Assessor, Stephanie Poll, Sheriff, Frank Smith, and Recorder, Corrie Forsling. Congratulations to all and a big thank you for your service.

Also in yesterday’s meeting, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources presented the County Council with a payment in lieu of taxes (PILT); compensation given to Summit County to make up for the presence of nontaxable land. We’re grateful for our state and federal partners who work with us to keep Summit County one of the country’s best places for outdoor recreation.

Every year, the County Council adopts an official work plan as a way to focus staff hours and align their work with the budget. It’s basically a blueprint for what work Summit County will accomplish in the coming year. The 2025 Work Plan was approved by Council at this week’s meeting. If our listeners would like to review the Work Plan and see what the County will be up to this year, please visit: summitcounty.info/workplan25

TOPIC 2: SR-32 Open House 

Mark your calendars for the SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Open House happening on Monday, January 13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kamas Services Building located at 110 N Main St. in Kamas! 

In case you haven’t heard yet, the cities of Kamas, Francis, and Oakley, in partnership with Summit County, UDOT, and Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) are working to establish a holistic vision for the State Route 32 corridor from Oakley to Francis, with strategies for land use, transportation, economic development, and recreation. 

The SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan will balance and complement the regional use of the corridor with the needs of the communities of Oakley, Kamas, and Francis, including developing city center (downtown) plans for each community.

The project team wants to hear from the community as an integral part of developing a vision and plan for the SR-32 Corridor. 

At the open house on Monday, January 13, community members will have the opportunity to learn more about the project, meet the project team, and provide feedback on their experiences on SR-32 and their vision for the corridor and city centers along it. 

If folks can’t make the open house, there is an opportunity to provide input through an online survey: summitcounty.info/sr32survey.  

TOPIC 3: Community Planning Lab Applications 

It’s time to apply for the SPRING 2025 Community Planning Lab, a 10-week course that can help YOU understand the processes that drive local planning and land use policy decisions. Learn more about the Community Planning Lab and apply today through January 27 at summitcounty.info/planninglab. 

TOPIC 4: Current Summit County boards and commissions volunteer opportunities

If you’re looking for ways to get more involved with your county in 2025, we’ve got two openings:

1. To apply for either of the following openings, visit summitcountyutah.gov and click the Volunteer Opportunities box under “Latest News”. The Summit County Council is seeking one individual to serve on the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission. Meetings are scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Interested citizens must be residents of the Snyderville Basin Planning District for at least one year and no more than two members may reside within the incorporated boundaries of Park City. The Commission’s role is to hear, review, and recommend approval or disapproval of land use proposals consistent with the Snyderville Basin Development Code and to prepare amendments to the general plan, zoning, and subdivision regulations. For further information, contact Peter Barnes at (435) 336-3158. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. this coming Monday, January 13, 2025
2. The Summit County Manager is also seeking an individual to fill one vacancy on the Summit County Fair Advisory Board. The Board is responsible for planning, organizing and promoting activities at the fair. The Board meets as needed at 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. For further information contact: Tyler Orgill at 435-336-3249. This position is open until filled.

We will have all this information in our shownotes.

TOPIC 5: 910 Ranch Survey Open + Upcoming Open Houses

This is Summit County’s chance to help shape the future of the 910 Ranch! There is a survey Open Through January 31 that will help the County gather vital public input for creating a balanced land management plan that reflects community sentiment, allows for recreation opportunities, and safeguards natural resources and conservation values. You can take the survey at: summitcounty.info/910survey. 

You can also attend some open house events about planning for the 910 Ranch. All events will be held at the Sheldon Richins Building in Kimball Junction from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. There will be two sessions in January, one on the 21st + one on the 30th. At these sessions, there will be materials outside the scope of the survey that residents will have the opportunity to engage with. To be clear: there are two January opportunities to attend, but both events are structured the same.

At the Open House on March 18, event-goers can expect a recap of the data gathered from the survey and January Open House sessions. There will be an opportunity to submit questions to be answered by staff during a live Q+A.

Visit summitcounty.info/910ranch for history, details about the land acquisition, and how to stay involved.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. This is our last episode of 2024 – which feels crazy to say! Time flies! Today, we’re recapping the six biggest stories of the year, including this week’s big story about the Summit County Council approving an amended development agreement with Dakota Pacific Real Estate. Without further ado, let’s get into the news… 

TOPIC 1: DPRE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT APPROVAL 

At this week’s County Council meeting—the final meeting of 2024—the Summit County Council approved Dakota Pacific Real Estate’s amended development agreement in a 4-1 roll call vote. 

The approval concludes an arduous deliberation process that began in 2019 when DPRE first applied to amend its development agreement for 90 acres of property in the Kimball Junction area – adjacent to the Skullcandy Building. 

To read the agreement in full, visit: summitcounty.info/dpreagreement. To watch the council meeting and approval, visit summitcounty.info/councilrecording. 

TOPIC 2: PURCHASES & ACQUISITIONS 

Moving onto some big purchases and acquisitions that happened this year. First up, back in May, the Summit County Council purchased the Skullcandy headquarters building for $17.5 million using sales tax bond funding.  

At the time, County Council Chair, Malena Stevens, said of the purchase: “Summit County has worked for years to identify a suitable location for a new county facility in the Snyderville Basin. The Council has explored options to acquire an existing property such as the Skullcandy headquarters compared to the cost feasibility of building a new facility. Existing infrastructure may best serve our community in a more fiscally responsible manner.” 

From here, the county will work with Skullcandy on a new lease to determine the future of the building. Summit County is interested in getting some county functions in the building and anticipates sharing more with the public about these plans in the new year. Stay tuned!

In more purchasing news, Summit County also acquired the following properties this year with the help of bond funds for open space: the 835-acre Ure Ranch, the 8,558 acre 910 Ranch, and the 4,338 acre Wright Ranch in Echo Canyon. 

For some context, over the past three years, the Summit County Lands and Natural Resources Department has been dedicated to preserving vital wildlife corridors, water resources, viewsheds, and our county’s agricultural roots. To date, 13,731 acres of land have been secured countywide since 2021 with help from the General Obligation Bond for Open Space, grants, and Summit County Volunteer open space boards such as ESAP and the Open Space Advisory Council (OSAC).

Summit County acquires property and secures conservation easements for open space, conservation, and agricultural preservation. The County welcomes landowners to submit a Notice of Interest, or “NOI”, to have their property evaluated for possible qualified use of these Open Space Bond Funds. A NOI may only be completed by the property owner or an authorized representative. Find out more at summitcounty.info/NOI. 

We also want to mention that Summit County is currently developing the “910 Ranch Management and Recreation Plan” intended to guide future use of the property. A survey is out now for you, the community, to give input that reflects the priorities, direction, and vision of the property, and to inform a balanced plan that can provide recreation opportunities while protecting resources and conservation values. Take the survey today at summitcounty.info/910survey. 

TOPIC 3: ELECTION RECAP

The 2024 General Election saw record voter turnout with just over 26,000 ballots cast, a turnout of 89.11%. A massive kudos to the Summit County Clerk’s Office for overseeing and ensuring another year of secure and fair elections.  

Locally…

• Three council seats were up for election this year. Incumbent Roger Armstrong maintained Council Seat A. Tonja Blonquist Hanson ran unopposed for Summit County Council Seat B, and Summit County Council Seat C was won by newcomer Megan McKenna. 
• The County Assessor, Sheriff, and Treasurer Offices were also up for reelection. All incumbents in those offices ran unopposed and will complete another term. 
• In the County Recorder’s Office, Greg Wolbach ran uncontested. 
• Each school district had school board seats up for election. In North Summit, school board seat 2 was won by Waylon Bond and seat 3 by Maggie Judi. In Park City School District, school board seat 3 was won by Kathleen Britton. And, in South Summit, school board seat 1 was won by Wade Woolstenhulme and seat by Dan Eckert. 
• And, finally, the North Summit School Bond, a $114 million bond intended to fund a new high school, was voted down. 

TOPIC 4: EMERGENCY SERVICES SALES TAX

Another important ballot measure voters saw on their ballots this past November was the Emergency Services Sales Tax. Voters passed the proposed sales tax increase with flying colors,  with approximately 72% of voters voting YES on the proposition.

The ESST is a one-half (.005) percent increase to sales taxes in Summit County (that’s 50 cents on applicable purchases of $100) intended to reduce the impact of tourism. 

Revenue generated from the Emergency Services Sales Tax will support things like Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, Fire Protection, and even solid waste, here in Summit County:

Approximately 65% of sales tax revenue is generated by non-residents, which means nearly two-thirds of revenue generated from this tax will be paid by visitors.

Gas & Diesel, Medical prescriptions, and groceries or unprepared foods are not taxed.

Examples of taxable purchases include:

• Retail sales of physical or digital goods.
• Paid admission for entertainment and recreational activities.
• Meals (prepared food and beverage) at restaurants, eateries, catering & other dining options.

Residents can expect to start seeing the tax increase on applicable purchases around March or April of 2025. 

TOPIC 5: GENERAL PLAN UPDATES  

The County also began the process of updating our two general plans –  the Eastern Summit County General Plan and the Snyderville Basin General Plan – this year. 

For some context, a General Plan is a guiding document that outlines a community’s goals for future development, including land use, transportation, housing, conservation, and other key elements. General Plans are typically updated every five to ten years to ensure that the community’s values and expectations for the future are being considered.  

The Snyderville Basin General Plan was last updated in 2015. The Eastern Summit County General Plan was adopted in 2013. Over the years, there have been amendments to both plans to accommodate new State regulations, but this is the first comprehensive update in some time. 

Through research and extensive community engagement, the goal is to update both General Plans to include actionable goals and policies and clear implementation strategies that reflect the values of our community and support a sustainable future. 

This year, county staff sought feedback from both Eastern Summit County and Snyderville Basin community members through open houses and surveys specific to their own communities. Three in-person open houses were held and five surveys were administered across both sides of the county. Residents also had the opportunity to speak with planning staff virtually and participate in a self-guided, virtual open house. The engagement focused on themes like managing natural resources and growing responsibility, as well as Promoting Healthy Living, Preserving Unique Identities, and Creating Inclusive Communities, which were themes identified by the Community during Our Summit Community Visioning. The feedback staff receives will help guide the General Plan updates which in turn help to inform County policies.

In 2025, residents can expect more opportunities to provide feedback on the general plans, including updates to future land use maps and a newly required element focused on water use and conservation. Staff anticipates the adoption of both plans by the end of 2025.

To learn more, stay up to date on involvement opportunities, and more visit: summitcounty.info/gpupdates.

TOPIC 6: COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT 

And, finally, this year, the Summit County Health Department conducted and wrapped up the Community Health Assessment, and it is now complete! Thank you to everyone who participated. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping the future of our community. From the results, the top areas identified for improvement overall in Summit County are:  

1. Affordable housing  
2. Childcare  
3. Elder care options  
4. Affordable food options  
5. Road maintenance and safety  

On a positive note, residents rated several factors as strengths, including:  

• Access to parks, trails, and outdoor recreation  
• Crime rates and safe neighborhoods  
• A clean environment  
• A great place to raise children  
• Access to healthcare  

 We appreciate your contributions and look forward to using this data to better serve our community. Together, we’ll work to address challenges and celebrate our community’s strengths. Stay tuned for more updates!

OUTRO

Well…what a year it’s been! We’ll be back in 2025 continuing to bring you fast Summit County news every Friday! See you in January!

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We have some exciting news to share this week: from the launch of a new countywide text messaging service to celebrating Council Chair Malena Stevens as she closes out her four years of service on the Summit County Council. All right, let’s get into the news.

TOPIC 1: TEXT MY GOV LAUNCH

This week, the county launched a new communication platform called “TextMyGov” for residents to connect with county services. This enables residents to receive important non-emergency notifications and find specific information or report issues through a simple text message.

A number of residents received a text message from Summit County initiating the service this week if they already had their number on file with the United States Postal Service. If you didn’t get this message, no worries. You can opt-in by texting the keyword “SUMMITCOUNTY” in all caps, with no spaces, to the number “91896”. Then reply “YES” to confirm you want to opt in.

There are text alerts already set up for specific topics. For county road construction, snow plowing, and other updates from Public Works, text “SCROADS”. For health advisories and other Health Department updates, text “SCHEALTH”. For information on Summit Bike Share, text “SCBIKE”.

It doesn’t stop there, though! Additional notification categories will be released next year. Beginning Spring 2025, residents will be able to receive on-demand information 24/7 by texting one or two keywords to Summit County’s TextMyGov number: 435-495-4090. You’ll be able to get quick information at your fingertips about county departments and elected offices, as well as report concerns.

TOPIC 2: MALENA STEVENS’ PROCLAMATION

At this week’s County Council meeting, Malena Stevens was recognized for her four years of service on the Summit County Council.

During her years serving, Malena focused her time and attention on bolstering law enforcement, enhancing emergency medical services, assisting families with childcare, and responding to public feedback provided through the county’s “Our Summit” community visioning project. She also prioritized addressing the county’s housing crisis and traffic congestion challenges, particularly by supporting the newly established rural transit district, High Valley Transit, as a board member.

Thank you to Council Member Stevens for your commitment to making Summit County an all-around better place for those who live and visit here!

TOPIC 3: MENTAL HEALTH CONTRACT 

This week, the council approved that the Behavioral Health Division of the Summit County Health Department enter into the Behavioral Health Medicaid Services Agreement with the University of Utah Health Plans. This agreement is effective January 1st, 2025 and will run through July 1st, 2030.

Here are some stats to illustrate how important this particular contract with U of U Health is:

• Around 11,600 people benefitted from this Medicaid contract last calendar year.
• In November 2024 alone, 1,435 individuals received care thanks to this agreement.
  

As always, if you or someone you know is in crisis or in need of mental health resources, don’t hesitate, dial 988.

TOPIC 4: DAKOTA PACIFIC DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE

At last week’s county council meeting, the Summit County Council proposed changes to the Daktoa Pacific Development Agreement for their property in Kimball Junction. At this week’s council meeting Dakota Pacific respond with their counter-proposal. 

There was a lot of detail discussed regarding density, construction phasing timelines, and more.  We recommend watching the replay of this conversation via the Agenda & Meeting Minutes section on the County website homepage.

The County attorneys will continue to work on a draft of the amended development agreement, and that will be brought before council at next week’s meeting on December 18th at 4pm at the Richins building.

TOPIC 5: LAST CHANCE FOR SUMMIT BIKE SHARE END OF SEASON SURVEY

This is your LAST CALL to fill out the Summit Bike Share End-of-Season survey! What do YOU want to see from Summit Bike Share next season? Your feedback will help us create a service that best reflects our community’s needs & values. You can take the survey at summitcounty.info/season24 until THIS SUNDAY, December 15, 2024.

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Hi everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. This week, we kick things off with a preview of an exciting new way residents can get updates from the county. Then, we provide updates on the Summit County Childcare Scholarship Program, Dakota Pacific, and more! 

Text My Gov Launch Announcement

Summit County is launching a new communication platform for residents to connect with county services via TextMyGov. This service enables residents to effortlessly receive important non-emergency notifications and easily find specific information or report issues by texting the county.

Summit County will officially launch the new text messaging system to the public on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Residents who have a cell phone number listed with the Post Office will likely receive a text message from 91896 from Summit County initiating the service. You can choose to opt-out at any time by texting STOP.

If you don’t receive the initial message, you can choose to opt-in by texting the keyword “SUMMITCOUNTY” to the number 91896. After sending the initial keyword, you will be asked to reply “YES” to confirm opt-in. Residents may receive notifications for events, county service disruptions, and more.

For specific text alerts, text one of the following keywords to the number 91896:

• For county road construction, snow plowing, and other updates from Public Works: text SCROADS
• For health advisories and other Health Department updates: text SCHEALTH
• For information on Summit Bike Share: text SCBIKE

Additional notification categories will be released in 2025. Beginning Spring 2025 , residents can receive on-demand information 24/7 by texting 1-2 keywords to Summit County’s TextMyGov number, 435-495-4090. You’ll be able to get quick information about county departments and elected offices, and report concerns.

Childcare Scholarship Program Update

At this week’s County Council meeting, Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, gave an update on the county’s Needs-Based Childcare Scholarship Program, which launched in June of 2024.

Since then, 33 families have enrolled in the program, and more than 100 eligible families are on the waitlist. 

Approximately 35% of applicants were from the North Summit area, 24% from South Summit, and just under 22% from the Snyderville Basin. 

Due to a need to secure ongoing funding, program promotion to onboard new families was paused this year, and the requested funding for 2025 would only cover the families currently enrolled in the program.

Council approved $360k to fund the program in 2025, including an increase of $80k from last year to provide an additional three months of coverage next year for the families currently enrolled. Sixty-thousand dollars of the $360k was set aside for county employees who can receive an FSA match for childcare.

Dakota Pacific Update

Also during this week’s Council session, Summit County Council provided a response to redlines from previous meetings with Dakota Pacific Realt Estate (DPRE).

Among this response was an updated proposal on a number of areas concerning DPRE’s proposal at Kimball Junction:

Council proposed 350 market rate units and 350 affordable housing units and determined that building of the affordable and market rate units would happen at a 1:1 ratio as part of Council’s current structure.

To phase the construction of the proposed 700 units… 

• 170 affordable and 170 market rate would be permitted to be built once the SR 224 project is added to the UDOT Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan, also known as the STIP.
• 50 more housing units of market rate and 50 affordable units would be allowed at the start of the Public Private Partnership (P3) project construction, This project includes a potential SR 224 Bridge, the public plaza and landscaping, the Olympic View Park, and ampitheater, all of which DPRE would be require to pay 50% of the costs to build, up to $10 million.
• 65 units of market rate of 65 affordable would be allowed at the start of the design for the SR 224 Project, and another 65 of each when the project design is completed by UDOT.
• Following that, 125 units of affordable and 125 units of market rate would be approved upon the start of construction on the SR 224 Project.
• And the last 250 units (125 affordable and 125 market rate) could begin construction upon the completion of the SR 224 Project.

A number of additional details were also discussed. For the full picture of where the project stands, we recommend watching the replay of this agenda item from this week’s Council Meeting via the Agenda & Meeting Minutes section on the County website homepage.

News Roundup:

1. There is still time to take the Summit Bike Share End-of-Season survey! What do YOU want to see from the Bike Share next season? Your feedback will help us create a service that best reflects YOUR needs & values. You can take the survey at summitcounty.info/season24.
2. Need a New Year’s Resolution for 2025? Save our night sky! According to area development codes: by the end of this year, on December 31, 2024, all outdoor light bulbs in Park City and unincorporated Summit County must be 3,000 degrees Kelvin or less, and all outdoor lighting fixtures must be fully shielded and down-directed. Pollution of our natural environment is not limited to daytime hours only. Light pollution hinders access to viewing the starry night sky, and has negative impacts on our area’s beloved wildlife, human health and more. This is why your local leaders at both the city and county level have committed to encouraging dark sky-friendly lighting practices! If you have any questions about this ordinance, visit summitcounty.info/darkskies.

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Hey everyone, welcome to another week of news here on Summit in Six. Today we go over a council recap of the Dakota Pacific conversation, the potential formation of a housing authority in Summit County and more. Let’s get into the news!

Dakota Pacific Continues 

Today, we’re diving into the latest updates on the Dakota Pacific project. Here are the key issues they discussed with the council this week:

Water Allocations

The first issue was water allocations. Council raised concerns about water shares for multifamily units, parks, and landscaping. Dakota Pacific assured them they can purchase water shares at a fixed price to address these needs.

Development Fees 

The second item council brought concern around was development fees. Affordable housing will be funded through a tax credit process. They debated how to split the developer fee. Dakota Pacific suggested 30% for themselves and 70% for Summit County, after negotiating down from their original 40%.

Open Space Funding

The third item was open space funding. Dakota Pacific proposed $3.5 million for open spaces, including parks, bridges, and community areas. They’ve added up to $200,000 more to align with council requests.

Housing Mix 

The fourth concern revolved around the housing unit mix as affordable housing remains a challenge. Dakota Pacific insists market-rate units are essential for middle-income earners. They also proposed AMI-restricted units with deed restrictions lasting 20-55 years.

Phasing

The final concern was how the project would be phasing out. Profits for the project will come in the final stages and Dakota Pacific reassured the council their phased plan hasn’t changed.

So what’s next? A draft agreement is in the works. The council will review it at the next meeting, but nothing is finalized yet.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Housing Authority 

Let’s talk about a big conversation in Summit County—there’s a push to establish a Housing Authority. But what exactly is that? A Housing Authority is a public agency focused on managing and providing affordable housing, especially for low- and middle-income families.

To create one, the county must show two things:

1. That Unsafe or unsanitary housing exists.
2. That there’s a lack of affordable, safe housing for moderate- and low-income residents.

Summit County is motivated to establish a housing authority because of the growing housing shortage in our area. The goal? Create solutions for middle- and low-income families who can’t find affordable options.

Four Key Focus Areas for the Potential Housing Authority & Moderate Income Housing Plan

• Data Collection for building a housing and economic data dashboard.
• Employer-Assisted Housing to engage businesses to support housing for their workers.
• Utility Allowance Studies to help offset costs for residents.
• Incentives for Eastern Summit County by encouraging affordable developments with fee waivers and a $50,000 incentive fund in 2025.

The county has already allocated $250,000 for this initiative, with only $81,000 needed to kickstart the dashboard, incentive fund, and studies.

So Why Now?

Eastern Summit County Planning Commission lacks the authority that Snyderville Basin Planning Commission has in place to require affordable housing in new developments. A Housing Authority could help bridge that gap and strengthen partnerships with local towns to create real change.

The council is on board, signaling strong support for this move. Stay tuned as this unfolds!

Summit Bike Share CTA 

Although the 2024 Summit Bike Share season is officially over, we wanted to take some time to reflect on some big wins! The Bike Share had over 17,000 rides this season, a 20% increase from last year! AND, we added two brand-new stations at the Lincoln Station Apartments and Park City Hospital, expanding access to the bikes for our community. 

As we celebrate these wins, we also want to make sure we hear from the community too. What do YOU want to see from the Bike Share next season? 

Take Summit Bike Share’s End-of-Season Survey to help us create a service that best reflects YOUR needs & values. You can take the survey at summitcounty.info/season24. 

Be a Dark Sky Steward
Pollution of our natural environment is not limited to daytime hours only. Light pollution hinders access to viewing the starry night sky, and has negative impacts on our area’s beloved wildlife, human health and more. This is why your local leaders at both the city and county level have committed to encouraging dark sky-friendly lighting practices!

According to area development codes: by the end of this year, on December 31, 2024, all outdoor light bulbs in Park City and unincorporated Summit County must be 3,000 degrees Kelvin or less, and all outdoor lighting fixtures must be fully shielded and down-directed. If you have any questions about this ordinance, visit summitcounty.info/darkskies.

Seasonal Parking in Summit County 

And finally just a reminder that seasonal parking limits went into effect last week, Friday, November 15, and will run through April 15, 2025. This means no on-street parking on County roads (unless otherwise marked by the County) is allowed. For more winter safety reminders, including the winter trash policy from Republic Services and County snow storage guidelines, please visit summitcountyutah.gov/publicworks. 

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