QUALITY GROWTH COMMISSION
September 2, 1999 Minutes
Miner’s Hospital, Park City, Utah  

Commission Members:
Mayor Lewis Billings, Provo City
Mr. David Allen, The Ensign Group
Commissioner Lee Allen, Box Elder County
Ms. Kathleen Clarke, Dept of Natural Resources
Councilmember Carlton Christensen, Salt Lake City
Mr. Jon Huntsman, Jr., Huntsman Corporation
Mr. Dan Lofgren, Prowswood Companies Councilmember Shauna Kerr, Park City
Commissioner Carol Page, Davis County
Commissioner Cary Peterson,  Agriculture & Food
Mr. Max D. Thompson, Mansell & Associates

Staff:
Mark Bedel
Michael Crane
Scott Frisby
Natalie Gochnour
Camille Hacking
Ray Milliner
Wilf Sommerkorn
Gary UreskExcused:
Commissioner Gary Herbert, Utah County
Brad Barber, Staff

Visitors:
Darrell Cook, Mountainland AOG
Lisa Crookston, UAC
Sydney Fonnesbeck, ULC&T
Brent Gardner, UAC
Jay Hamburger, Park Record
Janice Jardine, SLC Council Staff
Chris Kyler, Utah Association of Realtors
Gene Moser, Utah Local Government Trust
Taylor Oldroyd, Envision Utah
Andrea Olsen, WFRC
Donald George Ramjoue, WFRC
Myles Rademan, Park City Municipal
Nora Shepard, Park City
 
1. Approve the August 11, 1999 Minutes

 Councilmember Carlton Christensen made the motion to approve the August 11, 1999 minutes.  Mr. Max Thompson seconded the motion.  The motion carried.

2. Local Quality Growth Examples

Councilmember Shauna Kerr and Mr. Dave Allen welcomed the commission to Park City.  Councilmember Kerr gave a brief history on the Miner’s Hospital.  The Miner’s Hospital was a “flop house” for many years and then it became the library with the help of 1,600 people from the community transporting the books by hand in the 1970s.   Park City outgrew the building for a library and it was remodeled to be the “community living room” where it is used for various events (i.e. public meetings, weddings, celebrations, etc.).

Mr. Dave Allen mentioned that Summit County is divided into two planning districts:

 1) the Park City area and
 2) the east area which is more rural.

Quality growth ideas have been attempted by zoning everything one-unit per 20 acres or one-unit per 40 acres; this enables planners to move through a matrix by providing certain community benefits, building in certain areas, transferring development rights, etc. and receiving higher density.
Myles Rademan, Public Affairs director for Park City Municipal Corporation discussed the following:

 • Park City was originally a mining town for approximately 100 years.

 • Today, as a Resort Area, Park City’s citizens feel that the number one priority is planning.

 • Citizen’s have indicated they want a government close to the people and access to their government.

 • Citizen’s have indicated they want participation in joint planning efforts on county, by-county and state efforts.  Goals of the community are posted in public places.

 • Park City residents have said clearly that they are “a historic resort community.”  It is easier to state what you don’t want to become than what you are and some communities end in that process.  The citizens have stated that they want a healthy ski industry.  The citizens believe they are a community which has managed growth and they have tried to outline what that means.  They have defined what they want to look like.

3. Budget - Overview of State Rates and Reimbursement

Mark Bedel presented a draft budget.

 Commissioner Cary Peterson made the motion to approve the draft budget with the following changes: Lower administrative costs by $1,000 for a total of $19,000, Lower Part B Funding (second round) by $1,000 for a total of $19,000 and hold in reserve $2,000 for a net total and discretionary money.  Commissioner Lee Allen seconded the motion.  The motion carried.

Mayor Lewis Billings indicated that no travel policy is currently in place for the Commission.

 Dave Allen made the motion to adopt a Travel Policy that would cover three categories of travel for Commission Members which include: 1) Presentations, conferences, events approved by the Quality Growth Commission, 2) Programs or assignments (such as the Outreach Project) and 3) Any other specific event that is approved in advance by the Quality Growth Commission.  Mr. Leland Hogan seconded the motion.  The motion carried.

Jon Huntsman Jr. asked if the interest on the $3 million Critical Land Conservation Fund could be used for expenses and/or incurred costs to the commission.   Mark Bedel indicated that any of the interest that the fund earns becomes an asset of the Critical Land Conservation Fund, and the Act allows the Commission to cover administrative expenses from the Fund assets.
Councilmember Shauna Kerr suggested that the Quality Growth Commission (QGC) could specify that administrative costs be covered by the interest received on the Critical Land Conservation Fund, not that all interest would go to administrative costs, but that administrative costs could be covered by interest generated.

4. Outreach Project

Comments from the QGC include:

 • The Outreach Project Subcommittee and the Utah Association of Counties recommended that the counties and cities should be approached considerately with the Outreach Project.  It is budget season for most entities and they may or may not have ample staff.  The Commission should remember that the county is being asked to participate on a voluntary basis.  The counties are being asked to host the meeting and may provide us with a place to meet.

 • No member on the Commission represents Southern Utah, this would be helpful in the future.

 • This project is a great opportunity and hopefully it will build trust and open doors for input.

 • On November 23, Bear River Association of Governments will meet in Box Elder County.

 • Staff will invite the Association of Governments from the appropriate area to all Outreach Project meetings.

 • A letter from Governor Leavitt has been sent to each county commission chair, each mayor in each city within the county and the county clerk (dated August 20, 1999).

 • Kathleen Clarke believes that counties will be very receptive to the Outreach Concept. Ms. Clarke has her meetings scheduled and her counties are thrilled.  She indicated it is important to contact your assigned county and let them know who will be in charge of the meeting in their county, even if the meeting will not be scheduled for a few weeks.

 • Jon Huntsman, Jr. recommended that the QGC meet with the legislature to inform them of the comments received at the Outreach Project meetings.  Mr. Huntsman also indicated that this would be a good opportunity to update the legislature on the QGC accomplishments.

 • Brent Gardner, Utah Association of Counties offered his staff’s assistance to the QGC on the Outreach Project meetings.

 • Staff will prepare a press release to be sent to each individual county with the date and time of the Outreach Project meeting.

Michael Crane asked the commission if they were comfortable with the assignments as outlined.  Mayor Billings indicated that if too much is being asked of members that they should let us know.   Michael Crane will assist Commissioner Lee Allen in the Outreach Project meetings.   Mr. Crane distributed a draft agenda for the Outreach Project meetings, this may be helpful to members conducting meetings.  A survey instrument will also be provided for members to take to their county meetings.

Mayor Lewis Billings requested each commission member present to indicate their commitment to the Outreach Project with a verbal response.  All members present indicated yes.  Mayor Billings had previously spoken with Commissioner Gary Herbert who indicated his commitment to his assigned counties.  Ideally, the Outreach meetings will be completed by November 1999.

5. Ad Hoc Committees

Notes from the previous Ad Hoc Committee meetings were distributed.  The commission thanked staff for preparing the meeting notes which are very helpful.

Ad Hoc Committees reported as follows:

• Critical Land Conservation Subcommittee
 Dan Lofgren, David Allen, Shauna Kerr, Leland Hogan

 Dan Lofgren reported that staff is working with the Division of Finance to update the  balance of the LeRay McAllister Critical Land Conservation Fund.  The legislative appropriation has been posted to the Fund, but there is still back interest due.

 Dan Lofgren reported that the Critical Land Conservation Subcommittee met with representatives from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and Geneva Rock on a potential land trade of a wind park currently used by hang gliders at the Point of the Mountain.  Comments/concerns included:

 • This land is in Utah County and has unique attributes that are not found anywhere else in the world for a hang gliding park.

 • Al Shellenberg from Geneva Rock has been doing the legwork on this proposal for the last two years.  This proposal would preserve open space which is part of the Lake Bonneville Shoreline and is in a high-visibility, high-growth area.

 • Geneva Rock proposes to trade 68 acres with UDOT.  The question is who would ultimately own and operate this land as a park. Possibilities are Utah County Parks & Recreation, Utah State Parks and Recreation, or others.

 • UDOT has proposed to transfer the land to the Quality Growth Commission. The Commission could hold it long-term or simply be the conduit for which to pass the property to the end user to operate.

 • The subcommittee agreed unanimously to recommend that staff pursue questions that need to be resolved so this land exchange could take place.

 • Both parties are in favor of the land swap and are in need of an entity to act as the landowner for the wind park.

 • The QGC may not want to be in the property management business.

 • The QGC is being asked to facilitate the mechanics and assist to negotiate with entities who become the ultimate recipient of the wind park.

 • The facilitation of the trade would not require any funding from the Commission. It’s a matter of assuring that the proper procedure is followed to allow the trade to take place.

 • No net loss of private land would occur.

 • David Allen recommended that unsolved issues be discussed at the next subcommittee meeting.

 • Geneva Rock has agreed to perform some reclamation on the hillside.

 • An endowment fund for the maintenance of the property may be a possibility.

 Dan Lofgren made the motion to specifically request staff to pursue the information necessary to accomplish the wind park land transfer, specifically the legal questions surrounding the mechanics of the transfer and who will be the end owners of the wind park.  Councilmember Shauna Kerr seconded the motion.  The motion carried.

• Intergovernmental Relations Ad Hoc Committee
 Carol Page, Kathleen Clarke, Gary Herbert

 Broad discussions included:
 
 • Local control over land use and development decisions.

 • Review of the five factors discussed in the legislation.  Factors were divided between the individuals on the Ad Hoc Committee for detailed definitions.

 • Encouraging voluntary cooperation among local entities and other providers of public service.

 • Options that are available to communities that generate money for local activities and functions.

 • One additional person may be added.  A representative is needed  from another part of the state to participate on the Intergovernmental Relations Ad Hoc Committee.
 

• Housing Ad Hoc Committee
 Max Thompson and  Mayor Lewis Billings

 The discussion at the first meeting was mostly informative.

 The committee acknowledged the fact that it is difficult to define the factors assigned.  The third factor “affordable housing” is the most critical and plays a part, but defining this part of the legislation is difficult and will take more time and effort.

• Infrastructure Ad Hoc Committee
 Kathleen Clarke, Carol Page, Gary Herbert, Cary Peterson, Carlton Christensen

 Municipal and county budgets usually don’t have a funding component to fund repairs and replacement of buildings.  The legislature may want to consider using small fiscal incentives/disincentives to require this funding.

 For example, in Milford, Circle Four Farms is quality growth.  Quality growth is defined differently depending on the county or city.

 The importance of technology was discussed in regards to infrastructure and development.  In a globalized world it is important to access the financial world and market place to develop and understand capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), etc.  Many small communities do not have this capacity.

•
Free Market Ad Hoc Committee
 Commissioner Lee Allen, Jon Huntsman, Jr.

 Natalie Gochnour is staff for the Governor’s Council on Economic Advisors (CEA).  The CEA have discussed the issue and will prepare and submit a memorandum to the QGC with proposed principles of efficient infrastructure investment.

6. Conferences

Rural Water Users Association Conference - Kathleen Clarke indicated the conference was a success.  The audience was very receptive and interested in the QGC.  Participants listed critical issues and ranked them.  The twelve issues in priority order from the workshop will be part of a record of quality growth definitions.  Staff will continue to collect information from conferences concerning quality growth regularly.

Private Property and the Public Good is a conference being held Wednesday, October 6 at the Cavanaugh’s Olympus Hotel.  Please contact Camille Hacking to register.

A list of upcoming conferences is updated regularly and distributed.

7. Potential State Role Presentation - Natalie Gochnour

For a copy of the presentation, please contact Camille Hacking at 538-1619.8. Public Input

No one from the audience participated.

9. Next Meeting

The next Quality Growth Commission meeting will be Wednesday, October 13, at noon.  Please meet in the parking lot of Jeremy Ranch Golf and Country Club for a field trip at the Clayton/Macfarlane Ranch.  Box lunches will be served.  The meeting will be at the Jeremy Ranch Banquet Room at 1:30 p.m.  A map will be distributed.