[0:00] Now,
[0:03] >> uh, we want to welcome everyone out to
[0:04] our meeting this morning. What we'd like
[0:06] to do is, uh, go around the room real
[0:08] quick and introduce yourselves and then
[0:10] we'll go to the people online with them
[0:13] also. So, you guys want to start right
[0:14] down there? You're up first.
[0:17] >> Hi everyone. Rosie Hernandez, Wasach
[0:19] Front Regional Council, and I'm part of
[0:21] the admin team.
[0:24] >> Jordan Chandler, also part of the admin
[0:26] team at Wasach Front Regional Council.
[0:29] Tish Baro, mayor of Riverton.
[0:33] >> Jim Harvey, Weber County, Dustin Guttle,
[0:36] Mayor Midbill.
[0:37] >> Sherry Jackson, mayor of Mil Creek.
[0:39] >> Dan Digazel, city council.
[0:42] >> Carlton Christensen with the Utah
[0:43] Transit Authority.
[0:45] >> Tammy Tran, Keysville, City Mayor.
[0:48] Ariel DeFay, Utah House of
[0:50] Representatives.
[0:52] >> Cal Roberts, Utah House of
[0:53] Representatives.
[0:55] >> Andrea Pearson, WFRC admin. I'm Andrew
[0:58] Guber, executive director here at WFRC.
[1:01] And welcome Bob Stevenson, Davis County.
[1:04] >> Sorry, Miranda Jones Cox, WFRC.
[1:07] >> Mark Shepard, mayor of Clifffield City.
[1:10] >> Amy Winter Newton, Salt Lake County.
[1:13] Railen Blocker, Morgan County.
[1:16] Sher Bingham, Her City Mayor.
[1:19] >> Ben Hwitt with UD do Ivan Morero, Father
[1:22] Highway Administration.
[1:24] Jason Brown with Envision Utah.
[1:28] >> Mag Pageant, WFRC staff.
[1:32] >> Byron Head, WFRC staff.
[1:35] >> Adam Olsson with Midville City.
[1:39] >> Marshia White, WFRC, uh, community and
[1:42] economic development.
[1:43] >> Marian Florence, WFRC Finance.
[1:47] >> Hi, Cottonwood Heights. Council member
[1:49] Ellen Burrell here on behalf of Mayor
[1:51] Gayen Bignyan.
[1:54] Uh, David Brams, mayor, Immigration
[1:57] Canyon.
[1:59] >> John A. Nardone, communications manager
[2:01] with WFRC.
[2:03] >> Ryan Mikum, Sandy City.
[2:07] >> Barry McLaren with Senator John Curtis.
[2:11] Nicole Berdau, UTA.
[2:15] >> Samantha Deil Horst, WFRC, LongRange
[2:18] Planning.
[2:20] >> Ben Wridge, Westfront Regional Council.
[2:24] >> Wayne Benion, WFRC staff.
[2:28] >> Chrissy Dolberg, Community Economic
[2:29] Development, WFRC.
[2:31] >> Paula Guilera, uh, WFRC staff.
[2:35] Joel Temple, WFRC.
[2:38] >> Hugh Wagon and WFRC staff.
[2:41] >> Susie Swim, the analytics group at WFRC.
[2:45] >> Tim Watkins, community planner, WFRC.
[2:48] >> Madison Oilis, WFRC staff.
[2:51] >> Okay,
[2:53] thank you on that. Before we go to
[2:55] online, those that are elected officials
[2:57] that are sitting back there, there's
[2:58] chairs up here if you want to join us at
[3:00] the table. We'd more than appreciate you
[3:02] come on up and sitting at this chair
[3:04] with us. So, uh, with that, we'll turn
[3:07] over to Andrew. He'll go through the
[3:08] guys online.
[3:09] >> Okay. Thank you very much. With hybrid
[3:10] meetings, it's very important that we
[3:12] recognize the folks that are online. We
[3:14] see you. I'm going to just call your
[3:16] names out and just introduce yourself.
[3:18] Uh, Mayor Fatheringham, Mayor Burke, uh,
[3:21] Mayor Manzion.
[3:23] >> Well, Fatheringham, Mayor of Holiday,
[3:25] glad to have glad to be
[3:26] >> Roger Burke, mayor of Ala.
[3:30] >> Mara Manzion, Tilla City mayor. Cameron
[3:33] Deal, Councilman Bordal, Mayor Palmer.
[3:38] >> Cameron Deal, the director of the Utah
[3:40] League cities and towns.
[3:41] >> Scott Wle, Twilla County Council.
[3:44] >> Uh Lauren Palmer, mayor and Haramman.
[3:47] >> Commissioner Kamalu, Mayor Nadski, Mayor
[3:51] Mann,
[3:53] >> Loren Kamalu, Davis County Commissioner
[3:55] and representing Utah Association of
[3:57] Counties
[3:59] and Nadski, Augen City Mayor. Thank you.
[4:06] Mayor Mann,
[4:09] Mayor of Syracuse. He's trying to
[4:11] unmute.
[4:14] We got you, Mayor. Um, Mayor Wampler,
[4:18] Commissioner Bolos, Mayor Perry.
[4:21] >> Uh, Mayor Wampler from Ogden Valley
[4:23] City.
[4:29] Weber County Commissioner Sharon Bolos.
[4:31] I'll do the honors for you.
[4:34] And Alan Perry.
[4:40] Alan.
[4:45] » Okay. Mayor Overson. Mayor Vanderwood.
[4:49] Senator Harper.
[4:52] >> Good afternoon. Christy Overson, Mayor
[4:54] of Taylor'sville.
[4:56] Rob Banderwood, mayor of West Haven
[4:58] City.
[5:01] Senator Wayne Harper.
[5:04] >> Oh, and Mayor Zotansky
[5:08] from Sandy City. She's here. Okay. Thank
[5:10] you very much, everybody. We miss
[5:13] anybody.
[5:14] Okay. Thanks, Mom.
[5:16] >> Okay. We appreciate appreciate the
[5:18] attendance here uh today. It's uh
[5:20] wonderful to see as many people as we
[5:21] have. Uh we do want to welcome uh
[5:24] Senator Harper who's online and also
[5:25] Representatives DeFay and Roberts.
[5:28] Appreciate you guys being here also
[5:29] today. Uh we have one item uh under
[5:32] action item which is going to be to
[5:34] approve the minutes from our January
[5:36] 22nd meeting along with our current
[5:38] financial report and financial
[5:40] statements for December 25 and also for
[5:43] January 26. Could I get a motion of
[5:45] approval on that? So moved and seconded
[5:48] that we approve the Wasatch front
[5:50] meeting minutes from January 22nd along
[5:52] with the financial report from December
[5:54] 25 and also January 26. All in favor
[5:57] please say I.
[5:59] >> I.
[6:00] >> Any opposed? Thank you. That is
[6:02] unanimous. One thing I did forget to
[6:04] mention is that obviously Dawn is not
[6:06] here today. She is back in Washington I
[6:09] think representing South Jordan. Some
[6:12] items of business that they need to do
[6:14] as far as that goes. So the same goes
[6:16] for Carlos Beris also in DC separate
[6:18] missions but both for Utah.
[6:21] >> Welcome Joy Petro here also mayor of
[6:23] Blake. So uh what we'll do at this point
[6:26] in time now is we're going to turn some
[6:28] time over Miranda and then we're going
[6:30] to lead into a discussion with Senator
[6:32] Harper and also Representative Roberts
[6:34] and DeFay to talk a little bit about
[6:36] transportation. We are really really
[6:38] appreciative of all three of these
[6:39] people for everything that includes
[6:41] Miranda, but the representatives and the
[6:43] senators for all that they've done
[6:45] during this past session. So Miranda,
[6:47] take it over.
[6:47] >> All right. Thank you, Commissioner.
[6:50] Well, the legislative session has been
[6:52] wrapped for a few weeks now. Um we're
[6:55] all uh I think we're all still trying to
[6:58] figure out exactly what happened and now
[7:00] what are we doing moving forward? And so
[7:02] want to use this opportunity to
[7:03] highlight a few uh of the the key things
[7:07] that happened this session and then also
[7:09] we're hoping to have a broader
[7:11] discussion amongst this group and then
[7:13] also from our legislators that we have
[7:14] joining us here today um to share some
[7:17] of the key themes that we saw happening
[7:20] this legislative session. So I I'll
[7:23] highlight a few uh key bills, key
[7:26] appropriations. I'm not going to go into
[7:27] a lot of detail. A lot of you have
[7:29] already been involved uh throughout the
[7:31] session, post session. We have a lot of
[7:33] resources that we have shared out
[7:35] regularly, including our bill tracker,
[7:37] appropriations tracker, and then our
[7:39] more comprehensive legislative summary.
[7:42] I will note that in front of you all,
[7:43] and then we'll post this uh in the chat
[7:45] as well, we have this legislative
[7:47] summary postcard. Um, I really love this
[7:51] because it shows very simply and
[7:54] succinctly what the key issues were that
[7:57] we were watching and working on this
[7:59] legislative session. Um, so limited
[8:02] detail, but but it's all the the the top hits that you have right here.
[8:07] So feel free to take a look through
[8:09] that. Um, so I'll I'll run through a few
[8:12] of the key transportation bills and then
[8:15] key housing and economic development
[8:18] bills that we saw this legislative
[8:20] session. Um, again, won't go into too
[8:22] many details, but always happy to chat
[8:24] after if you guys still have some
[8:25] questions. So, Senate Bill 197, this is
[8:28] a Senator Harper bill um that would that
[8:32] will change the UTA governance structure
[8:35] from a three-member uh board to a seven
[8:39] member transit commission. Uh the bill
[8:41] also increases funding to the transit
[8:44] transportation investment fund or the
[8:46] TTIF by taking a portion of future uh
[8:50] state sales tax growth. Um,
[8:54] notably on this one, uh, councils of
[8:57] governments or COGS in your areas are
[8:59] now looking at, uh, proposing, uh, or
[9:03] nominating individuals to the governor
[9:06] for him to appoint for the transit
[9:08] commission. Um, WFRC has provided
[9:11] information to our COGS about that uh,
[9:14] about those nominations. Um, but again,
[9:17] if that's something that uh that you
[9:19] have questions about or you'd like to
[9:21] discuss after, we'd be happy to have a little sidebar about that, those
[9:25] nominations need to be into the governor
[9:27] by May 1st um for for that that next
[9:31] appointment. Uh Senate Bill 242, this is
[9:35] a transportation omnibus from Senator
[9:37] Harper. Amongst many things, some of the
[9:40] key uh things in this bill are that it
[9:43] amends the highway reduction strategies
[9:46] um uh related to Salt Lake City roads in
[9:49] Salt Lake City and then it modifies the
[9:51] fifth fifth local option sales tax
[9:54] distributions in first and secondass
[9:56] counties. Uh you all are likely aware
[9:59] the quarters the the fifth fifth it's a
[10:02] very convoluted
[10:04] uh flow and so WFRC has a lot of
[10:07] resources on the quarters on the fifth and so if you have questions about
[10:10] those local option sales taxes uh we'd
[10:13] be happy to share some more information
[10:14] with you. Uh notably also in that bill,
[10:18] it uh it allows uh active transportation
[10:21] investment funds and transit
[10:23] transportation investment funds to be
[10:25] used for corridor preservation. Uh next
[10:28] we have House Bill 575 by Representative
[10:31] Roberts, which would temporarily reduce
[10:33] the gas tax for 6 months um by 6 cents
[10:38] per gallon. So that will be July through
[10:40] December of this year. Uh and then in
[10:43] addition to that, it would um has
[10:45] provisions in there to help increase
[10:47] supply uh for uh fuel in the state.
[10:52] House Bill 425, local government fee
[10:55] amendments. This is the transportation
[10:57] utility fee bill. TUS uh are the fees
[11:00] that uh municipalities can impose in
[11:02] your cities to pay for transportation
[11:04] needs. What uh Representative Karen
[11:06] Peterson did on this bill uh was provide
[11:10] uh process study requirements and
[11:12] transparency requirements for imposition
[11:15] of those fees. House Bill 481, a
[11:18] transportation uh minibus uh which
[11:22] complements Senator Harper's omnibus,
[11:24] made a number of other transportation
[11:26] changes like um increasing flexibility
[11:29] for certain quarter preservation funds
[11:32] and changing and increasing the road
[11:34] usage charge program fee for greater
[11:36] adoption of vehicles into that program
[11:39] at UD do.
[11:41] Again, sorry we're we're kind of running
[11:43] through these very very quickly, but uh
[11:45] next, housing and economic development
[11:47] bills. I will note something interesting
[11:48] on the slide, which is that all of these
[11:50] four bills are sponsored by
[11:52] Representative Roberts, who we have
[11:54] here. So, this is a Representative
[11:55] Roberts slide. Uh House Bill 492,
[11:59] Transportation, Infrastructure, and
[12:00] Housing Amendments. Um this bill uh
[12:04] increases the state's role in funding uh
[12:07] regional infrastructure um at the local
[12:10] level um by providing a $und00 million
[12:14] statewide revolving loan fund and $150
[12:16] million grant fund specifically for Salt
[12:19] Lake County. Um, I'll I'll note that,
[12:23] you know, moving forward there will be
[12:24] an opportunity obviously for your
[12:26] communities to be applying for these
[12:29] funds. And so, as we have, you know,
[12:31] maybe a cleaner and and clear process,
[12:33] we'll obviously be sharing information
[12:35] out with you all. I know the league um
[12:37] will be doing the same. Uh, House Bill
[12:40] 507, State Coordination of Regional and
[12:43] Local Economic Development. Um this bill
[12:47] uh attempts to or or tries to
[12:49] consolidate existing tax increment
[12:52] financing tools to have greater
[12:54] transparency and accountability uh and
[12:57] consolidates them into a new single tool
[13:00] uh known as regionally significant
[13:02] development zones or RSDZs. So this uh
[13:06] sunsets existing tools like housing and
[13:08] transit reinvestment zones, first home
[13:10] investment zones, home ownership
[13:12] promotion zones um into this this new
[13:16] tool,
[13:17] House Bill 475, development planning
[13:19] amendments. This uh this changes the
[13:22] Governor's Office of Economic
[13:24] Opportunity to the Governor's Office of
[13:26] Economic Development. We're going back
[13:28] to what the original name was of that
[13:30] office. Um
[13:33] and notably it establishes a new council
[13:37] um under god which is the economic
[13:40] development council and there's a number
[13:42] of of um different appointments on that
[13:45] council and local representation from
[13:48] cities and counties. Uh and then lastly,
[13:50] housing and community development
[13:52] amendments. This bill uh consolidates uh
[13:56] housing uh efforts, housing offices um
[14:01] all into the governor's office of
[14:03] economic development. So it moves the
[14:04] division of housing and community
[14:05] development and the governor's um the
[14:10] governor's current cabinet member um
[14:13] Steve Waldrip who is the adviser on
[14:15] housing. Well, that will now be a role
[14:17] that's under GOED as well to coordinate
[14:20] these efforts statewide. again for
[14:23] greater coordination, transparency,
[14:25] accountability. So
[14:27] >> I think Representative Roberts is having
[14:28] PTSD even though the session's only been
[14:30] over for a few weeks.
[14:34] >> Yes, there's there is a lot there was a
[14:36] lot in all of these bills, both the
[14:38] transportation bills, the housing and
[14:39] economic development bills. Obviously, a
[14:42] lot of effort that went in um to getting
[14:45] these changes passed and accomplished.
[14:47] And so want to want to recognize our our
[14:49] great legislators, Senator Harper, who
[14:51] we have online, Representative DeFay,
[14:53] Representative Roberts. Thank you all
[14:54] for your efforts this legislative
[14:56] session. Um we're going to turn to you
[14:58] in a few minutes just to hear some of
[14:59] your key takeaways from the session. But
[15:01] Andrew, maybe you wouldn't mind just
[15:03] kind of jumping in here and sharing some
[15:05] of WFRC's key takeaways from the
[15:08] session. How did how did we kind of
[15:10] observe the changes that happened and
[15:12] what does that mean moving forward?
[15:17] I'd be happy to. Did you want to mention
[15:19] appropriations?
[15:20] >> I jumped too far ahead. I do want to
[15:21] mention appropriations.
[15:22] >> Well, why don't you go ahead and do
[15:23] that?
[15:24] >> Okay. Thanks. Um, notably some of the
[15:27] key appropriations that tied to a lot of
[15:29] the bills that we were just mentioning,
[15:31] new funding for transit through that
[15:33] funding mechanism into the TTIF, that's
[15:35] for statewide transit needs. Um, can
[15:39] also be used on the frontr runner um
[15:41] project. uh new regional infrastructure
[15:44] to unlock housing. Uh another one that
[15:46] we talked about during the session was
[15:49] uh technical assistance programs. So
[15:51] WFRC, our other associations of
[15:54] governments, the uh Utah League of
[15:56] Cities and Towns, all partner in
[15:58] providing technical planning assistance
[16:00] to our communities. Um particularly
[16:02] those that may not have the staff or
[16:05] expertise to do so. Um and while at one
[16:09] point during the session those funds
[16:11] were uh either cut from a previous
[16:12] session or were maybe on the chopping
[16:14] block um those uh those programs are
[16:18] continuing to move forward are funded
[16:20] and we believe the legislature found and
[16:23] saw a lot of value in those technical
[16:25] assistance programs that we provide. So
[16:27] a great win from the session. And then
[16:30] lastly, I want to note that um because
[16:32] of some of the budgetary constraints
[16:34] this legislative session um you know we
[16:37] the state didn't see as much one-time
[16:40] funding uh as it had in years past to
[16:43] spend on various pro new programs or
[16:45] projects. Um the legislature did fund uh
[16:50] fund new projects um partly with
[16:53] existing funds from from transportation
[16:56] programs, existing transportation funds.
[16:58] So, we kind of saw a shift, a
[17:00] significant shift of transportation
[17:02] funds at UD do and with some other
[17:04] programs getting shifted to fund other
[17:06] needs this session. Um, notable because
[17:09] there will be some impacts to UD do's
[17:12] programs um and and the the projects
[17:15] that can be funded and if we're going to
[17:18] see some delaying of certain projects
[17:21] because of those budgetary impacts um to
[17:24] those transportation funds. So, uh
[17:26] Andrew, I
[17:27] >> sure, I'll pick up. right where you left
[17:29] off. Um sometimes when a session ends,
[17:31] people will say, you know, what happened
[17:33] the session? How did you feel about it?
[17:34] And it takes a little while to um
[17:37] digest. And so two themes that we would
[17:41] note uh coming out of the session. One
[17:43] is what Miranda noted already is that
[17:45] there were some funds shifted from
[17:48] transportation,
[17:49] state dollars and local dollars for
[17:52] housing related infrastructure. and the funds provided in HB492 for the
[17:59] state revolving loan fund come from the
[18:02] UD do transportation investment fund.
[18:04] We're super excited about the funds
[18:06] available to unlock housing. Um and then
[18:09] the other local funds, the 150 million
[18:12] for grants that Miranda mentioned in
[18:14] Salt Lake County come out of future
[18:17] local option sales tax funds that would
[18:19] otherwise be available for
[18:20] transportation projects. So this is a
[18:22] balancing of interest. I want to note as
[18:24] you think about that that the state of
[18:27] Utah has put um a huge amounts of
[18:30] revenue into our transportation
[18:32] infrastructure. Our state and Ben I'll
[18:34] talk a little bit later about federal
[18:35] funding. Our state has made a more
[18:38] significant commitment to per capita to
[18:41] investing in transportation than just
[18:43] about any other state in the nation. And
[18:44] so we think it we understand the
[18:46] balancing act that has to occur in terms
[18:48] of priorities. But it's a notable uh um
[18:51] observation coming out of the session.
[18:54] The second one we'll just note is that
[18:57] uh uh the League of Cities and Towns
[18:59] likes to emphasize partnership rather
[19:01] than preeemption. And I think that is
[19:04] what happened this session through a lot
[19:06] of great work and dialogue. New tools
[19:08] were provided and authorized to help
[19:12] local governments address the challenges
[19:14] of growth. We're just mentioning the
[19:16] infrastructure funds. Representative
[19:18] Peterson and the transportation utility
[19:21] fee, some more flexibility on some of
[19:23] the local options
[19:25] rather than unfunded mandates coming
[19:28] from the state requiring locals to do
[19:30] things that they might not um uh be
[19:34] their first choice. Let's just put it
[19:35] that way. So more tools. So I think
[19:37] those are notable things that to uh
[19:39] coming out of the session. Now uh
[19:42] Miranda, if you go to the next slide,
[19:43] these are the questions that we wanted
[19:45] to pose. We are posing. Senator Harper,
[19:48] we can go to you first uh and then to
[19:50] our other uh representatives and then
[19:52] open it up for dialogue if that's that's
[19:54] okay. Mr. Chair, um what you know,
[19:58] Senator, to you uh and really all three
[20:00] of you, what stands out as the most
[20:02] significant actions on transportation,
[20:04] economic development, and housing, and
[20:06] what do you think these changes signal
[20:09] regarding the state's role and
[20:11] priorities relative to the role of local
[20:14] governments? Before I turn to Senator
[20:16] Harper, I'll note he was up until
[20:18] recently also worked for a city for
[20:21] Taylor'sville uh community and economic
[20:23] development. Representative Roberts was
[20:24] a former Draper city council person. Um
[20:27] and so they know of what they speak
[20:30] about the balance between local and
[20:31] state. Senator,
[20:33] >> well, I'm going to correct you on a
[20:35] couple things here first. Uh Andrew, the
[20:38] session is not over until the governor's
[20:40] ability to veto or sign bills is done,
[20:43] which happened oh within the last 60
[20:46] minutes. He vetoed a couple bills and
[20:49] signed everything else. Some of the
[20:51] major bills that you talked about uh you
[20:55] know the omnibus, the minibus, the 507,
[20:58] the 492, the other bills, those were
[21:01] just signed within the last two two and
[21:03] a half days. So now the session is
[21:05] officially over and the work of the
[21:08] agencies begin as they start to
[21:10] implement uh you know what is what we
[21:13] put into code and figure out how to make
[21:16] that uh most effective.
[21:18] So I think uh I think overall there is a
[21:23] you know a shift uh representative
[21:26] Roberts and I talked about this uh uh
[21:28] quite a bit. Uh I and and Senator
[21:32] Filmore and Colmore had put in uh
[21:34] several programs into place for uh
[21:36] housing as tools not mandates uh which
[21:40] the league appreciated and and a lot of
[21:42] other stakeholders. he has uh
[21:46] um he has also gone through and uh you
[21:50] know kind of more of a house push to go
[21:52] through and consolidate those and I
[21:54] think that's good because there are some
[21:56] of those programs which have not been
[21:57] used others which are being used most
[22:00] effectively. We've got a period of time
[22:02] here to go through and and have another
[22:06] session decide which ones are the ones
[22:08] we want to keep and how to uh phase
[22:10] those into this new program and to make
[22:13] sure that we have all stakeholders
[22:15] involved. So I think uh I think you're
[22:17] going to see some good changes there uh
[22:19] with transportation
[22:22] uh the the minibus and the omnibus and
[22:24] things like that. Those are those are
[22:26] great bills that incorporated,
[22:29] you know, you take 242, it had in it the
[22:32] potential for 17 to 18 other bills and
[22:37] uh we decided we wanted to put that
[22:39] together and we uh found some other
[22:42] stuff. So, Representative Kristofferson
[22:44] did his minibus. And then if you take a
[22:46] look at it, some of my other bills that
[22:48] I had on HTRZ in that were uh
[22:52] incorporated and some of the good bills
[22:54] that Representative Roberts did. And we
[22:57] also uh some of the other bills on
[23:00] counties and on Goyo and on the
[23:02] assessing and collecting and property
[23:04] tax reporting. Those five or six bills
[23:07] were rolled into my Senate bill 206.
[23:10] There's a lot of great big bills that
[23:11] have a lot of a lot of impact and import
[23:14] to them. And I just want to thank
[23:16] everybody who uh who were involved, all
[23:20] the mayors, uh all the legislators, the
[23:22] league, and the different stakeholders,
[23:25] state agencies. So, I think Andrew and
[23:27] Miranda going forward, we've got some
[23:29] really good things, but uh this tells us
[23:32] we've got still a lot of work to do. And
[23:35] as we take a look at uh transportation
[23:37] funding, we did adjust and increase the
[23:40] fees for EVs. Uh but we're also uh
[23:44] reduce some of the the uh temporarily
[23:46] some of the revenues for UDOT, which
[23:48] makes them a little bit uncomfortable as
[23:50] they look at construction, maintenance
[23:52] of roads. So, a lot of things to look at
[23:54] over the next u eight months and we'll
[23:58] uh and we'll be keeping everybody
[24:01] involved.
[24:02] Senator, thank you so much.
[24:05] Representatives, what would you like to
[24:07] share?
[24:12] » Well, thank you. Um, I just to note, I
[24:15] do sit on this council and the only bill
[24:16] that I had related to transportation was
[24:18] eliminating the requirement for signals
[24:21] to be used in roundabouts. Um, so
[24:24] >> that's one of my favorite bills of this
[24:25] and that was a wonderful, wonderful
[24:27] bill.
[24:28] >> It's a very popular bill. maybe not as
[24:29] impactful as some of the other ones that
[24:31] Representative Roberts and Senator
[24:32] Harper are doing. Um, however, uh, one
[24:35] of the themes that I saw from the
[24:36] session is the need for transparency and
[24:39] communication with all the legislators.
[24:42] um when it comes to uh in terms of
[24:46] transportation funding, economic
[24:47] development tools, um I think going
[24:50] forward um it will be key to ensure that
[24:53] we're sharing our vision, the WFRC
[24:56] vision and also your vision of your
[24:58] cities and also the needs that they have
[25:00] with your legislators and also probably
[25:03] with the transportation committee. Um so
[25:05] that when we are looking at projects
[25:08] that need to be funded, we talked about
[25:10] funding and and that money getting moved
[25:12] around. Um I think bringing the
[25:14] legislature along with you in the vision
[25:17] that you see and along with the visions
[25:19] WFRC will be key in making sure that we
[25:22] continue to grow responsibly and to
[25:25] fulfill the vision that we have here.
[25:31] » Yeah. Well, I should say first, Senator
[25:33] Harper has led out in this space for I
[25:37] don't want to date you, Senator, but
[25:38] what's it been like 20 years?
[25:40] But it was we worked closely together on
[25:42] a lot of fun bills and it was it was
[25:45] really enjoyable. I'd say there was two
[25:46] themes. One is cost of living. That is
[25:48] something we've heard continually from
[25:51] our residents. I'm sure you've heard
[25:53] from your residents is how do we keep
[25:55] the cost of living competitive here in
[25:56] the state of Utah? How do we drive it
[25:58] down? So, that's where you see the
[25:59] housing bills come into play. the
[26:01] non-controversial gas tax bill that I
[26:04] got to participate in was a part of
[26:05] those discussions. Um, and then two is
[26:08] how do we build that next generation of
[26:10] infrastructure? When I think about
[26:12] infrastructure today, what we build
[26:14] today is what we're going to live with
[26:17] 50 years from now. And I'm I'm in my
[26:20] Well, now I'm in my late 30s. I'm in my
[26:22] late 30s. And when I think about what
[26:24] we're doing at the state capital to
[26:25] build that transportation system, it's
[26:28] something that will be here the rest of
[26:29] my life. That's what gets me excited and
[26:32] I think we we did some good work around
[26:34] transportation especially on the funding
[26:37] side with the the increase in the TTIF.
[26:39] Um, and then I'd say the third thing
[26:42] too, and this is a a probably part of
[26:44] the cost of living question, but there
[26:47] was a lot of economic development
[26:49] property tax increment bills, and we can
[26:52] talk about those if you're interested.
[26:53] But the idea there is
[26:56] you want to broaden your tax base. And
[26:58] we've been narrowing it in a lot of ways
[27:01] with our property tax base by giving,
[27:03] you could argue by giving away too much
[27:05] of the property tax base. and we know
[27:08] the impacts of that on the existing um
[27:10] tax base payers. So I think you'll see
[27:13] in the next year too a lot more work
[27:15] going into that space. What are TIFF
[27:17] tools for? Are we using them the right
[27:19] way? Are they driving economic value
[27:22] back to the people of Utah? Are we doing
[27:24] it in a smart way to protect the tax
[27:26] base? So you saw some a lot of good work
[27:29] on that as well.
[27:30] >> Really notable comments and themes from
[27:33] all of you. Thank you very much. I do
[27:34] have to correct you on one thing,
[27:36] Representative. You said that you think
[27:37] Senator Harper has been doing this work
[27:40] for maybe 20 years. I think he has
[27:42] literally been doing this work longer
[27:44] than you have been alive. Um, which is
[27:47] just a testament to the impacts he's
[27:49] made. Mr. Chair, I just want to give a
[27:52] >> Hey, I'm I'm not sure. I I would say
[27:55] that he's probably older than 30 years.
[27:57] So, you know, let's give him a little
[27:59] bit of slack there.
[28:00] >> Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. But you know
[28:02] who's when you get to that, you know,
[28:04] number of yours who's even counting. Uh
[28:06] thank you so much, Mr. Chair. I want to
[28:09] just give uh two of our partners who are
[28:12] really involved in this just a minute
[28:13] each to to to give their reflections if
[28:16] I may. One is Cameron Deal with the
[28:18] League of Cities and Towns and then also
[28:20] uh Ben Hewitt if you'll let me put him
[28:22] on the spot to comment about the
[28:24] budgetary uh impacts and then we'd love
[28:26] to have some questions or dialogue.
[28:28] Okay.
[28:28] >> And they have more than just one minute.
[28:30] We'll we'll give him a little more time
[28:31] than what
[28:32] >> a chairman's prerogative. Uh whatever
[28:33] you want. Cameron.
[28:36] >> Perfect. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Andrew
[28:38] and every everyone. I want to thank the
[28:40] three legislators who just spoke.
[28:42] Representative DeFay actually predicted
[28:44] back at the December WFRC meeting that
[28:48] the legislature would approach the
[28:50] session in a spirit of collaboration and
[28:52] she was spot on. That's exactly what
[28:54] happened. And I also want to thank her
[28:56] for referencing the need for local
[28:58] governments to tell our story because
[28:59] when we do that at the capital, it does
[29:01] pay dividends because legislators do
[29:04] reflect the spirit of partnership over
[29:06] preeemption. And Andrew pointed out that was a key theme of this session.
[29:10] But I want to also emphasize that is not
[29:13] happening in other states. Utah is very
[29:14] unique that we tackle these challenges
[29:17] through that spirit of partnership and collaboration. Miranda mentioned
[29:22] several key bills and I just want
[29:25] everyone to recognize how much work year
[29:28] round goes into these bills. So for
[29:29] example, House Bill 47,
[29:33] the House Bill uh Representative Karen
[29:35] Peterson's bill that House Bill 425,
[29:37] which was the transportation utility fee
[29:38] bill, that bill passed this year. That
[29:42] was a three-year effort with multiple
[29:45] work groups that the league and WFRC
[29:47] participated on with legislators and
[29:49] other stakeholders. and we we got that
[29:51] bill to a place where it's good policy
[29:53] and is and is respectful the principle
[29:57] principles of all the various
[29:58] stakeholders. Likewise, uh
[30:00] Representative Cal Roberts, he mentioned
[30:03] several bills that he worked on. He came
[30:04] to the league conference in September
[30:07] and said, "We need to partner on
[30:09] infrastructure." And then the
[30:10] legislature delivered on that promise.
[30:12] And that was a multi-year effort to
[30:15] highlight the need for that partnership
[30:17] and have willing builders and willing
[30:19] cities and the state come together to
[30:21] pay for infrastructure that can unlock
[30:23] housing units. Um he also referenced
[30:26] House Bill 68. Well, that bill
[30:30] is the result of more than 60 60
[30:34] meetings last interim where league staff
[30:37] and mayors and council members
[30:38] participated in interim meetings through
[30:40] the commission on housing affordability
[30:42] and elsewhere and and represent Roberts,
[30:44] you didn't mention that your bill killed
[30:45] the commission on housing affordability.
[30:47] Uh but the interim work will continue um
[30:49] this off season. And then Senator
[30:52] Harper, he mentioned the the UTA bill
[30:54] and Senator Harper met with us
[30:56] repeatedly on that bill during the
[30:58] session and accepted multiple amendments
[31:00] to ensure engagement and collaboration
[31:03] with all the stakeholders. Um, and
[31:05] that's just one example of many in
[31:07] Senator Harper's career where he's put
[31:09] forward that principle of collaboration.
[31:10] So, we mentioned a handful of bills.
[31:13] There were over 200 that affected cities
[31:14] and towns in some form or fashion. We
[31:17] appreciate everyone who participated
[31:19] through the league. We had about 400
[31:21] people at every LPC this year and
[31:23] appreciated the opportunity to
[31:24] participate with WFRC and the
[31:26] partnership is is as strong as ever.
[31:29] Even though the session ended three
[31:30] weeks ago, my other reflection is that
[31:34] this is truly a year- round process. We
[31:36] are already in conversations with
[31:37] legislators and the governor's office
[31:40] about what's going to happen this coming
[31:42] interim. Um, and I I mentioned the
[31:44] legislators by name. I also want to
[31:45] thank the governor's office and the
[31:46] executive branch for their spirit of of
[31:48] collaboration on all of these issues and
[31:52] through the leagues Friday facts and our
[31:53] midyear conference in sunny St. George
[31:55] next month. There'll be plenty of ways
[31:57] for you to elevate your voice through
[31:59] the interim process. It's a year-round
[32:00] effort and through WFRC and the league,
[32:04] uh, we do have this great spirit of
[32:05] partnership which I think is the envy of other state leagues around the
[32:08] country. So, thank you for the
[32:10] opportunity to to weigh in on the 2026
[32:12] session.
[32:13] >> Cam, amen to that. You noted the
[32:14] governor's office, Laura Hansen from the governor's office is on with us.
[32:18] I'll just note, Cam, that was a quite
[32:20] cogent uh discussion, which is
[32:23] impressive because Cameron was up for
[32:24] over three hours in the middle of the
[32:26] night with his new baby uh that came
[32:29] after the legislative session, which
[32:30] made all of us happy that Cameron and
[32:32] baby and and his wife Rachel really to
[32:35] the point made it until the end until
[32:37] the end of session. So, just impressed
[32:39] that he got up and must have he's at
[32:41] home obviously.
[32:42] >> Yes.
[32:42] >> And he got up got up and put a shirt and
[32:44] tie on for this meeting.
[32:46] >> I mean what's happening probably in
[32:48] pajamas in the bottom. So
[32:51] >> thanks Kim.
[32:53] >> Yeah. Thanks Andrew. Thanks Mayor.
[32:55] >> Okay Ben.
[32:58] Yeah, I guess first of all just always
[33:00] appreciate the the collaboration like
[33:02] it's it's been mentioned, you know,
[33:03] working with the uh Senator Harper and Representative Roberts and all the
[33:09] legislators. We always appreciate the dialogue and um like Senator Harper
[33:14] mentioned, there was a lot of things in some of those bills that were little
[33:17] fixes and stuff that we work on
[33:18] throughout the year and over the interim
[33:20] period that are super helpful in in
[33:22] doing business. As far as um the you
[33:26] know you talked about the the funding on
[33:28] the the funding side you know just at a
[33:31] high level we manage you know our
[33:33] programs with the available funding that
[33:36] we have. And so
[33:38] like our our transportation investment
[33:40] fund that was mentioned you know once
[33:43] the once projects are approved by the
[33:45] transportation commission then the way
[33:47] that from a financial standpoint the way
[33:49] it's managed is the timing of those
[33:51] projects. And so like in past years when
[33:54] there was additional funding you know
[33:56] then there's an opportunity to maybe
[33:58] accelerate some projects and in in times
[34:01] where you know there's some you know the the transfer of funding for uh
[34:06] housing then we would take that and look
[34:08] at the timing and and possibly delay or
[34:10] not start uh some projects that we had
[34:13] planned. Um it's dynamic. We have
[34:15] projects programmed into 2032 in the in
[34:19] the TIFF. And so there's a lot of moving
[34:21] pieces there because there's projects
[34:23] that are being worked on now that that
[34:24] the timing could change. So some of that
[34:26] just happens organically without any,
[34:29] you know, outside funding adjustments.
[34:31] But yeah, we just we manage those as
[34:33] programs. On the on the transportation
[34:35] fund side, we combine that funding with
[34:37] our federal funding. And that's more of,
[34:40] you know, taking care of what we have
[34:41] operation and maintenance. you know, we ask for transfers each year between
[34:46] the the project side, I'll call it, of
[34:48] that program into the operations and
[34:50] maintenance side. And, you know, we're
[34:52] very appreciative that we, you know, got that funding approved this year to
[34:56] take care of what we have. And and like that, we we adjust the projects
[35:00] that we program for the upcoming years
[35:02] to manage that. So, that's at a high
[35:04] level on what how we how we do things
[35:06] with with the funding.
[35:09] >> And no, thank you. Appreciate it, Ben
[35:10] and Cam for kind of on the spot giving
[35:13] us your answers. You know, one of the
[35:14] things that I think is pretty cool is
[35:16] that not only did the Delta Center
[35:18] become Delta Center again, which we all
[35:20] called it all the time it wasn't, but
[35:22] we've also always called Goyo Gowad and
[35:25] glad to see this go again because that's
[35:27] what we all think of it as far as that
[35:28] goes. Um, we again want to thank Senator
[35:31] Harper. One of the things I will say,
[35:34] uh, you know, Gage Fer and I actually
[35:36] work very closely with Senator Harper
[35:38] and and Christopherson on a couple of
[35:40] things and, um, you know, it's it's
[35:43] pretty cool that we can go in and sit
[35:45] down with these legislators and have
[35:47] them listen to some of the concerns that
[35:48] we have and for them to work with us.
[35:50] And there's some things that took place
[35:52] that deal with the counties that will go
[35:54] a long ways as far as transportation
[35:56] that goes in the future. Um,
[35:58] Representative Roberts, appreciate your
[36:00] enthusiasm and everything that you're
[36:01] doing. There's no question that that is
[36:03] very welcome. And I will say as I let uh
[36:06] Ariel DeFay know that she actually was
[36:08] the most responsive uh legislator in
[36:11] Davis County and told her I was going to
[36:12] give her the award for getting back to
[36:14] me quicker than anybody else as far as
[36:16] that goes. So, we appreciate that goes
[36:19] up in Davis County. Uh, with that, are
[36:21] there any questions anybody would have
[36:22] for these great individuals that are
[36:24] here now?
[36:26] Yes, Car
[36:29] Mora, just a a comment. Um, our thanks
[36:33] uh from the transit authorities
[36:35] perspective on the adjustment for the
[36:38] funds for 5600 West. We often think in
[36:41] transportation of just the capital cost
[36:44] of that, but uh that was going to be a
[36:47] difficult line for us to open up in
[36:50] about a year and a half. um with uh
[36:54] because you add you have to add 50
[36:57] operators and you think about flat sales
[36:59] tax adding 50 fully funded employees and
[37:03] the equipment to maintain and operate it
[37:05] and you sometimes that's the barrier to
[37:08] new operations in transit and so making
[37:11] that adjustment was very helpful.
[37:14] >> Thank you Carlton. Anyone else?
[37:18] Okay, Randa, thank you.
[37:20] >> Oh thanks. Yeah, I think I think we just
[37:22] we also wanted to keep these reflections
[37:24] these questions open to the group as
[37:26] well in case anyone here had any key
[37:29] takeaways from the session that they
[37:30] felt that they wanted to share. So, I
[37:33] guess I'll just give one.
[37:34] >> Was there anything major that was
[37:36] vetoed? I know we said there were a
[37:38] couple.
[37:38] >> I don't know. I didn't see any vetos
[37:39] until today. So, I'm not actually sure
[37:41] what was vetoed. Um,
[37:45] >> okay.
[37:46] >> We're gonna hear from
[37:47] >> Go ahead. If you've seen Did you see the
[37:49] letter already? Go ahead.
[37:51] >> Yeah, she can tell you.
[37:53] >> Well, okay. Go, Amy. Bring bring us the news. Amy,
[37:57] >> I one on the So, if you remember, there
[37:59] was a bill about um adding internet for
[38:01] school buses. He vetoed that. That's one
[38:04] that he feels very strongly kids should
[38:06] not be on screens and should be
[38:07] interacting with each other. Um, and
[38:09] then there was another bill um that was
[38:13] uh Representative Grecious's bill that
[38:15] was similar to a another bill that had
[38:18] passed and I'm sorry I don't know the
[38:19] numbers but um and so he vetoed that. Um
[38:24] and then he did not sign the gold bill.
[38:29] So you can read the letter and see why.
[38:31] >> Okay. Thank you. Appreciate that.
[38:34] >> Thanks. Thanks, Commissioner.
[38:39] Okay, with that we'll move on. Uh, next
[38:41] item is our public comment period. Uh,
[38:44] this is open to anyone who would like to
[38:46] spend a couple of minutes maybe uh,
[38:48] sharing their thoughts with us. We'd
[38:49] appreciate giving your name and address.
[38:51] If there are any online that would like
[38:53] to also make public comment, we need you
[38:55] to raise your hand so we know that you
[38:56] are making comments. So, we'll open that
[38:58] up at this time. Anyone come forward to
[39:00] the mic.
[39:03] Okay. If there's no one in this room,
[39:05] we'll go to online. Uh, Andrew, anybody
[39:07] online? Uh, no one online at this time
[39:09] either. So, uh, we appreciate it. We'll
[39:11] move on to item four, which are re
[39:13] regional growth, uh, committee. Uh,
[39:16] which we'll turn that over to
[39:20] >> Mayor TR.
[39:23] >> Thank you.
[39:23] >> She was over here before.
[39:24] >> Thank you. I've been bopping around the
[39:26] room. Okay. Thank you. We had a great
[39:28] meeting last week. Some of the
[39:30] highlights, we welcomed our new members,
[39:32] generated ideas for the year such as a
[39:33] focus on water availability. We had a
[39:36] discussion about housing capacity
[39:37] analysis from the governor's office of
[39:39] economic development and envision Utah.
[39:42] We previewed key progress indicators for
[39:44] the on the ground implementation of the
[39:46] Wasach choice vision. And then today we
[39:49] have two items to bring to the council.
[39:51] So item 4 A is the station area plan
[39:54] certification. In the past year we made
[39:57] tremendous effort and progress by
[39:59] communities in developing station area
[40:00] plans. And so there are now 108,700
[40:04] new homes planned in station areas along
[40:06] the Wasach front, which is a huge
[40:08] number. Last week, the regional growth
[40:10] committee reviewed the Midvil portion of
[40:12] the Fashion Place West stationary plan,
[40:14] and RGC is making a recommendation to
[40:16] the council for certification. We are
[40:19] joined here by Midville's mayor, Dustin
[40:21] Gtle, and then I will turn the mic over
[40:23] to Byron. Thank you.
[40:25] >> Great. Thank you, Mayor. Uh good
[40:27] afternoon, council. uh Byron Head,
[40:29] community planner and the CED group here
[40:30] at WFRC. Uh and yeah, today we we have a
[40:33] short uh list today. We've we've had
[40:36] multiple cities most of the past
[40:38] meetings, but today just just one
[40:40] station in Midvail. Um so a brief
[40:43] reminder to everyone about the
[40:45] requirements of stationary planning.
[40:47] This applies to the half mile or quarter
[40:50] mile radius around a fixed guideway
[40:52] transit station, whether that's uh rail
[40:54] or bus. And there are a series of
[40:57] objectives and requirements that those
[40:58] plans have to have. You can find more
[41:00] about that on our website. Um but our
[41:04] progress today um so far we've gotten uh
[41:09] us including MAG to the south. We have
[41:12] certified 98 of 127 kind of pieces of
[41:16] station areas. Uh we have one more um
[41:18] being considered for certification today
[41:20] which will would take us to to 99 and we
[41:23] have 14 more that are currently in
[41:25] progress and 14 that either have older
[41:28] plans or have not yet engaged in uh
[41:32] HP462 supported stationary planning. Um
[41:36] so we're we're coming up towards the
[41:39] finish line here. Um,
[41:42] and as as Mayor Tran just mentioned, you
[41:44] know, the certified plans that we've certified to date would support
[41:48] over 108,000 new homes and that's just
[41:50] in these very small concentrated areas,
[41:53] most of them in Wasatch Choice Vision
[41:54] centers. So, this really is implementing
[41:57] and supporting the Wasatch Choice Vision
[41:59] uh that we all know and love. Um so
[42:03] today fashion place west midvail portion
[42:06] is um a very small portion of this
[42:08] station area just kind of in the
[42:10] southwest portion of the station area.
[42:13] Um the midvail portion calls for a mix
[42:16] of housing and jobs. This is currently
[42:17] kind of an industrial area that is
[42:20] transitioning with also the passage uh a
[42:23] couple years ago of the Midville Fort
[42:25] Union station area just to the south of
[42:27] here. You can see I circled on the top
[42:29] like where this kind of overlap happens.
[42:31] Um and also the city is in the final
[42:35] stages of completing a Porter Rockwell
[42:36] extension uh trail extension project to
[42:39] find a new alignment to extend that
[42:41] trail up north from Sandy. And so th
[42:44] this plan would also uh accommodate
[42:46] that. Um maybe on the front run or maybe
[42:49] on the tracks line, maybe on Cottonwood
[42:50] Street yet to be determined, but
[42:53] cognizant of that and there's some some
[42:54] synergy there. Um, I will stop talking
[42:57] now and turn it over to Mayor Ghetto.
[42:59] >> Thank you so much. Um, and I have
[43:01] invited our community uh development
[43:03] director, Adam Olson, to just talk some
[43:05] of the very brief specifics about this
[43:07] one. Uh, but I just wanted to give you
[43:09] for those who don't know Midvil as
[43:10] intimately as I do. Um, we are a 5.9
[43:14] square mile city. We have 36,000 people.
[43:17] That makes us the second most densely
[43:19] populated city in Salt Lake County. Um,
[43:22] and we also have three track stations in
[43:24] our 5.9 square miles. We're very
[43:26] fortunate to have uh that much access to
[43:30] public transportation. Uh, with that, we
[43:32] have three station area plans of our own
[43:34] that are entirely within the Midville
[43:36] city boundaries, which we're very, very
[43:38] proud of. U, but one of the themes of
[43:41] today so far from a lot of the speakers
[43:43] has been collaboration. And
[43:45] collaboration doesn't just end with
[43:47] working with the state legislature. It's
[43:49] one city working with another city. So,
[43:51] this particular uh fashion place west um
[43:54] does touch a a bit on some areas in
[43:58] Midville that we have some plans for,
[43:59] but it essentially completes the part of
[44:03] that Murray had certified. And we always
[44:05] like to say we have four shared borders
[44:08] with different cities in Midbell still
[44:09] tiny city with four shared borders with
[44:11] four different cities. So, we're we're
[44:13] actively working with West Jordan on
[44:15] another Yes. Thank you, Dirk. And we're
[44:18] now working with Murray. Uh we welcome
[44:20] Sandy in Cottonwood Heights too if
[44:22] there's anything we can collaborate on.
[44:24] Um but yeah, if Adam if you want to
[44:26] explain just some of the the details
[44:28] here. This is an area I'll note. Uh we
[44:31] have some difficult geography in Midbell
[44:33] 2. We have a convergence of two major
[44:34] highways around this area which um you
[44:38] know that's great for transportation but
[44:40] it's not great sometimes for businesses
[44:42] that tend to pop up in those areas. um
[44:45] uh motel, which you can still pay cash
[44:48] with some of them, which is an odd thing
[44:50] still. Um but this will hopefully um
[44:54] lean into the development that we have
[44:56] planned all around our 7200 corridor. So
[45:00] with that, Adam, if you have anything
[45:01] else to add, that'd be awesome.
[45:02] >> I'll just note Adam can take a minute.
[45:04] We appreciate that. And we do uh those
[45:07] of you that are on regional growth
[45:08] committee, as Mayor Tran noted, we go
[45:09] into more detail on each stationary plan
[45:11] at regional growth committee. Thanks.
[45:14] >> Uh thank you everyone for the
[45:16] opportunity to be here. Um as I
[45:19] mentioned last week, for those of you
[45:20] that were here, um Midvil is very uh
[45:23] thankful to be able to partner with WFRC
[45:26] and our surrounding neighbors. Uh we did
[45:28] about two years ago um have a station
[45:30] area plan that we uh two stations, one
[45:33] in West Jordan, one in Midville where
[45:35] both of those crossed over into each
[45:36] other. And so it was great working with
[45:38] uh West Jordan on those as well. Um, for
[45:41] this one in particular, the Fashion
[45:43] Place West, although it does contain a
[45:45] small portion of Midvail, um, it does
[45:48] align with our future plans for that
[45:49] area for mixed use and housing
[45:51] opportunities. Uh, this is a prime area
[45:54] for redevelopment and we're hopeful to
[45:55] use some of the tools uh that the state
[45:58] has um provided to uh help kind of spur
[46:01] this development. And just to very
[46:03] briefly touch on our other plans, um,
[46:05] some people wonder, okay, what happens?
[46:07] You now you have a plan, it's approved,
[46:08] it's certified, what's next? Um, our
[46:11] council has been very proactive um in
[46:13] working with um our staff to revise some
[46:17] of our zoning codes and ordinances to
[46:19] allow for greater heights, greater
[46:21] densities, uh some reduced parking and
[46:24] some al also some incentives for those
[46:26] areas for um uh development that chooses
[46:30] to go in. So again, thank you.
[46:33] >> Thank you, Adam. Thank you, Mayor. Uh
[46:35] and so we have uh WFRC staff reviewed
[46:39] the plan. uh made a recommendation to
[46:41] RGC. RGC has made a recommendation to
[46:43] this body. We've also um collaborated
[46:46] with UTA on this and so we have a
[46:48] suggested motion for you. Um but that
[46:51] concludes my remarks. I'll turn it back
[46:53] to Mayor Trent.
[46:55] >> Okay. Thank you. This is exciting. Mr.
[46:58] Chair, if it's okay, I'd like to make a
[46:59] motion. Okay. I would like to make a
[47:01] motion to certify the Midville Fashion
[47:03] Place West area stereia west station
[47:06] area plan.
[47:09] Second
[47:10] >> been moved and seconded. All in favor
[47:12] say I.
[47:13] >> I. I.
[47:15] >> Any opposed? That is unanimous. Thank
[47:18] you.
[47:18] >> Okay. Thank you very much.
[47:19] Congratulations. All right. The next
[47:21] item is transportation and land use
[47:23] connection program 2026 awarded
[47:26] projects. So, we're excited to announce
[47:28] the projects. Um the 2026 transportation
[47:32] and land use connection program awards.
[47:34] All of these awards are in response to
[47:35] requests made by our communities. and
[47:37] I'll turn the mic over to Meg. Thank
[47:39] you.
[47:41] >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Every spring, we
[47:44] get to announce these brand new projects
[47:45] in your communities that have been
[47:47] funded through our transportation and
[47:48] land use connection program. So, this is
[47:50] always a fun meeting for me. Um, we have
[47:53] many ways that we support cities with
[47:55] planning. You heard about one just now,
[47:57] the station area planning work. Um,
[47:59] we've been helping your cities with
[48:00] station area planning for a few years
[48:02] now. The transportation and land use
[48:04] connection program is kind of our our
[48:06] core planning pro technical assistance
[48:08] program. And so this has been um we're
[48:10] on our 13th year of funding here. Um the
[48:14] goals of the program are up there on the
[48:16] screen. So TLC helps cities with land
[48:18] use and transportation plans that
[48:20] maximize the value of investment in
[48:22] public infrastructure, enhance access to
[48:24] opportunities, increase travel options
[48:26] to optimize mobility, and create
[48:28] communities with opportunities to live,
[48:30] work, and play. There's a lot of room
[48:32] here. Um the the purpose is to
[48:34] accomplish what whatever it is your city
[48:36] is is trying to plan for and and to
[48:39] accomplish. And then we also um look to
[48:41] the program to help us help help us help
[48:43] you implement the Wasatchet choice
[48:45] vision. This is a partnership between
[48:47] W4C UD do and UTA. And then we have our
[48:50] partnership with the governor governor's
[48:51] office of planning and budget as well
[48:53] that helps us to provide some of that
[48:54] in-house um planning support to your
[48:56] cities.
[48:59] These are the kind of projects TLC can
[49:01] fund. So, I want you to keep these in
[49:02] mind because as you're having um
[49:04] questions about, you know, maybe we
[49:06] should do a plan for this area, maybe we
[49:08] need to think about design or or our
[49:10] development ordinances for this area. I
[49:12] want you to think of TLC and reach out
[49:13] and see if it might be a fit. So, plans,
[49:15] design, ordinances, and implement
[49:17] implementation strategies beyond that as
[49:19] well. All things that can be funded with
[49:21] TLC.
[49:24] This year, we've funded 15 new projects.
[49:27] Um the total project funds are about 1.7
[49:31] million. Uh 300,000 or so of that is
[49:34] from local match. So there's a small
[49:36] matching requirement. Helps the money go
[49:38] a little further. I want to plug our our
[49:40] online map where you can go see every
[49:42] project ever funded through the program.
[49:45] All of the projects in your city. You
[49:46] might be curious what you've um worked
[49:48] on with TLC in the past. And you can see
[49:50] all of the applications as well as the
[49:52] final products of those projects on
[49:54] there. So, it might um get your gears
[49:55] turning as to what you might work on as
[49:57] a city. Um, as well, I'm going to list
[50:01] all of these projects that we funded
[50:02] this year and dive into just a couple of
[50:04] them so you can get an idea of what um
[50:06] some of our cities are trying to
[50:07] accomplish and how TLC can help. In our
[50:10] Davis and Weber counties, we funded the
[50:13] Davis County Regional Trails Wayfinding
[50:15] Signage Plan.
[50:17] In Far West, we funded a general plan.
[50:19] In Ogden, the Five Points Area Master
[50:21] Plan. I'm going to talk about that one.
[50:23] In Pleasant View, we provided funding
[50:25] for our general plan. Uh, excuse me,
[50:27] it's not funding, it's in-house support.
[50:28] So, we will help Pleasant View in-house
[50:30] with their general plan. Really excited
[50:31] to work with that city on that plan. In
[50:34] West Haven, a transportation master
[50:36] plan. And then in Ogden Valley, a new
[50:38] city in our region. Um, kind of a a a
[50:42] bucket of plans. So, the general plan,
[50:44] the transportation master plan, and a
[50:45] zoning road map to get them uh off to a
[50:48] good start as a new community.
[50:51] I'm going to talk about this Ogden
[50:52] project here. So, this is the five
[50:54] points area in Ogden. Um, in purple is
[50:57] the study area for the project. It's uh
[50:59] about Wall A and Washington Boulevard
[51:02] and then Second Street um is that uh
[51:05] coordinate in the in the center there.
[51:07] So, Ogden's going to take a look at this
[51:09] area. It's in the northern part of
[51:10] Ogden. If uh off to the right there is a
[51:14] screenshot from our Waset choice vision.
[51:16] So, this is a city center in the vision.
[51:18] The study area is comparable to that. um
[51:20] boundary of the center. So, this is a
[51:22] the city taking a deeper dive into this
[51:24] area and and thinking about the
[51:26] implementation of this as a Wasatch
[51:28] Choice Center. It'll be a land use
[51:29] vision and zoning recommendations as
[51:32] well as some infrastructure strategy um
[51:35] conversations. The city's going to look
[51:37] at adding housing and jobs, kind of
[51:39] increasing um the the access the access
[51:43] to opportunities in this area is really
[51:44] good. So, increasing the housing and
[51:46] jobs that are here um gives more people
[51:48] access to all of those opportunities.
[51:50] Um I'm going to flip to zoom out just a
[51:53] little bit. So, I want to show you
[51:54] everything that's surrounding this area
[51:56] and why it's such a great area for a
[51:57] center. So, um just east of the center
[52:00] area is the Ogden Weber Technical
[52:02] College. Downtown Ogden is a couple
[52:06] miles south along with the Front Runner
[52:08] Station. And then um it's tough to see
[52:10] here, but if you were to go to the
[52:12] vision, there's several future active
[52:14] transportation routes shown here in
[52:16] green, including a protected bike lane
[52:18] on um Wall Avenue that goes directly to
[52:22] the Front Runner station. So that's a
[52:23] really wonderful um kind of adjacent
[52:26] center to downtown Ogden. There's also a
[52:29] core route transit that goes into
[52:31] downtown Ogden in the future as well. So
[52:33] a great area for Ogden to think about
[52:34] the future. um think about connectivity,
[52:37] walkability, as well as housing and jobs
[52:39] and just um making this a vibrant
[52:41] neighborhood. Merida Dulski, I think
[52:44] you're online. Would you like to say
[52:46] anything?
[52:48] You still online?
[52:49] >> Yep, I'm still here. Thanks everybody.
[52:51] Um no, I appreciated the summary you
[52:54] provided. Obviously, as you can see from
[52:55] the slides, this uh five points area has
[52:58] a significant regional impact
[52:59] economically. Uh this is area that
[53:02] historically has been kind of a node and
[53:05] a a main connection point for a lot of
[53:07] communities. Um and also a heavy uh
[53:10] retail area and commercial area. Uh
[53:13] we've done a lot of revitalization
[53:14] economically especially around our
[53:16] downtown which was mentioned a couple of
[53:18] miles to the south. This is an area
[53:20] that's been needing attention. Um over
[53:22] the past many decades, we've seen a loss
[53:25] of uh of economic investment in that
[53:27] area. And we're looking to uh start with
[53:30] land use and infrastructure and really
[53:32] put together a good master plan that can
[53:34] help us revitalize this area similar to
[53:36] the way that we have in our uh downtown
[53:38] core. And we thank the the staff and uh
[53:42] the Wasatch Regional Council and our
[53:44] partners for uh hopeful uh support for
[53:47] this effort so that we can uh plan out
[53:50] that revitalization and make sure that
[53:52] we're having the biggest impact not only
[53:53] for Ogden but for the rest of the
[53:54] partners in the region. Thanks.
[53:59] » Okay, thank you. In Salt Lake County, we
[54:02] funded Copperton small area plans. I'm
[54:04] going to talk about that one a little
[54:06] bit. in Draper transportation master
[54:08] plan in Holiday a project to do citywide
[54:11] zoning ordinances ordinances that
[54:13] implement their recent general plan as
[54:15] well as do a little bit of a deep dive
[54:16] into their northwest commercial district
[54:18] um where they also have a west trace
[54:20] center and want to think about the
[54:21] future of that area in Magna
[54:25] the 2011 corridor research park and
[54:27] lifestyle center plan in Midville a
[54:30] general plan land use element that will
[54:31] also be something we um support mid
[54:33] midvil with inhouse
[54:35] in Milk Creek, the Parley's trail
[54:37] feasibility study, and then the town of
[54:39] Elta general plan were all funded this
[54:41] year. So, Copperton is a historic mining
[54:45] town um in the southwest corner of Salt
[54:48] Lake County. Um and they have a desire
[54:50] to look at land use throughout their
[54:51] city, but zoom into a few key areas. One
[54:54] of them is the site of the old Bingham
[54:56] High School um the furthest west and
[54:59] then two areas that include a little bit
[55:01] of or a lot in in one case um of area
[55:05] that is in their future annexation plan.
[55:07] So thinking about the future of their
[55:08] city increasing some community serving
[55:11] commercial out there is something that
[55:13] Copperton is interested in looking at
[55:15] and then as well as looking at the
[55:16] connectivity and walkability of these um
[55:18] highlighted areas. So we're excited to
[55:20] work with Copperton on this one.
[55:23] Finally, some Tilla County projects,
[55:25] Grantsville general plan and Rush Valley
[55:28] general plan and land use code. So, all
[55:30] over our region, we have lots of new
[55:32] projects this year. Our staff loves this
[55:34] time of year, just diving into some new
[55:35] work with you all. Um, I'm happy to
[55:38] answer any questions.
[55:48] » Okay, thank you.
[55:49] >> Thank you so much. These this money is
[55:52] so helpful. Kisville received a grant uh
[55:54] last year and we've been able to work in
[55:56] our small area plan for our downtown
[55:58] area and it's just really nice to be
[55:59] able to have the funds. So, we
[56:00] appreciate this. It's a great program.
[56:02] Encourage all the cities to participate
[56:04] and is there any discussion
[56:06] >> on this? Are we good? Okay.
[56:09] >> If not, there's no action needed on
[56:10] this. We appreciate everything and look
[56:12] forward to seeing these projects put in
[56:14] place. We'll move down to now item five
[56:16] and we'll turn time over to Mayor Mark
[56:18] Shepard.
[56:19] >> Thank you, Chair. We have uh three items
[56:21] today. Okay. The first is the
[56:22] opportunity to ask some questions about
[56:24] the product modifications that were
[56:25] approved by Transcom in February. Uh
[56:28] second is an opportunity to take action
[56:29] on the most recently requested board
[56:31] modifications. And then uh we'll have a
[56:34] brief review of the obligated federal
[56:35] transportation funds during uh fiscal
[56:37] year 2025. And so I will turn the time
[56:40] over to my buddy Ben.
[56:41] >> Thank you, mayor. Thank you. So, as we
[56:44] talk about the transportation
[56:45] improvement program or as a reminder,
[56:47] it's referred to as the tip the top um
[56:52] or the top tip. I like them both.
[56:55] Anyway, here on the as we talk about the
[56:57] transportation improvement program, a
[57:00] reminder that it's a six-year program of
[57:02] highway, transit, and active
[57:04] transportation projects along the
[57:06] Wasatch Front. The transportation
[57:08] improvement program implements the long
[57:11] range plan and it helps us meet the
[57:14] short range needs along the Wasatch
[57:16] front. And then we periodically modify
[57:19] the tip. Actually about every time we
[57:21] meet we modify the tip because of the
[57:24] dynamic nature of the projects, the
[57:26] funding, the scope. And so as the mayor
[57:30] mentioned here, we will be this is the
[57:32] 2026 transportation improvement program
[57:37] and uh three items as mentioned by the
[57:39] mayor. The first being a report. So in
[57:42] your meeting materials is a copy of the
[57:44] resolution as well as a list of the
[57:47] tables that identify those projects that
[57:50] were presented to the re uh to transcom
[57:53] for the review and for their approval
[57:56] and to ask if there's any questions on
[57:58] this. This is an information item for
[58:02] this meeting.
[58:05] Senator, thank you mayor. So then the
[58:08] second item is a board modification
[58:10] before you today. Um again in your
[58:14] meeting materials there's a copy of the
[58:16] resolution and attached to that
[58:17] resolution is a table. It identifies
[58:21] three projects that we will review with
[58:24] you today for your approval uh so that
[58:27] they are included in the transportation
[58:29] improvement program. The very first
[58:31] project there is a project in Salt Lake
[58:34] County. This is a Salt Lake County
[58:37] project. This is for some signal
[58:39] interconnect. Uh this to install fiber
[58:42] or radio connections to various
[58:44] intersections in the county.
[58:48] Back when this project was reviewed and
[58:50] recommended by this body was 2019.
[58:54] As part of that project, it was
[58:56] identified or that was recommended that
[58:58] we would program 900,000 for this
[59:02] project. Estimated cost at 1
[59:05] six plus million dollars. Uh that a
[59:08] project that initially had identified 40
[59:11] intersections that would have either
[59:14] fiber or radio connections to the
[59:16] automated transportation
[59:18] or traffic management system or the ATMS
[59:22] network.
[59:23] Um since that time there's been some
[59:26] changes or um some cost um changes to
[59:31] the request here. We've actually had
[59:34] eight intersections that have been
[59:35] completed with other intersection
[59:38] projects and we've had five
[59:40] intersections that have experienced
[59:42] significant cost increase and that's due
[59:45] to necessary improvements beyond the
[59:47] scope of this project. So the request
[59:50] here before you is from Salt Lake County
[59:52] is to modify the scope down to 27
[59:55] intersections. Uh the estimate was back
[59:58] in 2019. We've had a lot of different
[1:00:01] factors that inflated cost. And so
[1:00:04] currently right now
[1:00:07] we have um 900,000
[1:00:10] programs for that project with the match
[1:00:13] would be 65,000 plus giving us a total
[1:00:16] project cost of 965,300
[1:00:19] plus dollars. Um the county has
[1:00:23] agreements in place with those
[1:00:24] associated cities that uh where those
[1:00:28] intersections and this is strictly a
[1:00:30] scope change. There's no additional
[1:00:32] cost. It's just the number of
[1:00:34] intersections that will be addressed
[1:00:36] with the project. The next project that
[1:00:38] we have before you is also a project in
[1:00:42] Salt Lake County. This is a request from
[1:00:44] MUD. This on Bangar Highway to enhance
[1:00:47] freeway striping. This is phase two
[1:00:50] project.
[1:00:52] Initially the project is was programmed
[1:00:56] to enhance the freeway striping from
[1:00:58] I-15
[1:01:00] um north to 4700 south. The request is
[1:01:03] to extend that to include from 2400
[1:01:06] south north to the airport. And for your
[1:01:09] information, this section in the middle
[1:01:11] between 24th and 47th will actually be
[1:01:16] completed with ongoing um bangador
[1:01:19] intersection projects that are happening
[1:01:21] now. So the request here, well, as many
[1:01:25] as of us have an opportunity as you're
[1:01:27] driving during the day, striping looks
[1:01:30] fine. When you get into the night
[1:01:34] without appropriate striping, it gets a
[1:01:36] little more fuzzy. And then when you add
[1:01:38] some wet weather to that, it gets a lot
[1:01:40] more dangerous. So this project will
[1:01:43] replace the existing striping with
[1:01:45] enhanced striping that'll improve the
[1:01:48] vision and durability especially during
[1:01:51] nights andor during the rainy times. Uh
[1:01:55] we hope we get more rainy times to show
[1:01:57] off these stripes. Um so the enhance or
[1:02:01] this project is to extend the existing
[1:02:04] scope and include the section from 24
[1:02:07] south to the airport.
[1:02:09] Uh the total projects estimated to cost
[1:02:12] 4.7 plus million and the funding
[1:02:15] resources include the surface
[1:02:17] transportation program flexible or any
[1:02:20] area program funds.
[1:02:23] The last project that we have before you
[1:02:25] is a project in Davis County. This is a
[1:02:28] project located in Leighton. This is on
[1:02:30] Cage Creek Trail. This particular
[1:02:33] project when reviewed and approved by
[1:02:35] this committee for funding is for a
[1:02:38] pedestrian bridge or overpass over the
[1:02:41] railroad lines there in Leighton at the
[1:02:43] Front Runner Station.
[1:02:46] As that project was identified, there
[1:02:48] were funds that were awarded and
[1:02:50] programmed from WFRC through the CMAC
[1:02:53] and the carbon reduction program little
[1:02:55] more than $2 million. There was funds
[1:02:58] from the UDOT tiff active 3.6 Davis
[1:03:01] County third quarter 2 million, Leighton
[1:03:04] City 500,000 plus, the outdoor recck
[1:03:07] grant 750,000
[1:03:09] and the Utah Rec trail trails grant at
[1:03:12] 150,000. And that gave us a total
[1:03:14] project cost of a little more than $9
[1:03:16] million. As the design pursued and
[1:03:20] preparations, the engineers cost
[1:03:22] estimate came in at a little over $12.8
[1:03:25] million.
[1:03:27] Lincoln City again went back and from
[1:03:31] request identified additional funds
[1:03:33] because we had a $3.8 million shortfall.
[1:03:37] They were requesting and were
[1:03:40] recommended last year at this time from
[1:03:42] WFRC an additional 510,000
[1:03:46] from UD do active an additional 900,000
[1:03:49] Davis County third quarter an additional
[1:03:52] 677,000
[1:03:54] and then additional funds from Leighton
[1:03:56] City through their Prop 1 and their ramp
[1:03:58] funds 316,000
[1:04:01] that still left us short about $1.4
[1:04:04] million. So late city has come to the
[1:04:08] table in the request today before us is
[1:04:10] to um add the additional funds from
[1:04:14] Lincoln City through the prop one and
[1:04:16] ramp $1.4 plus million dollars to this
[1:04:20] project. Any questions?
[1:04:24] Mayor, that's all those
[1:04:26] >> I I have one question just a comment on
[1:04:29] the signal lights for Salt Lake County.
[1:04:31] I think we should give that the green
[1:04:32] light.
[1:04:36] Thank you, mayor. Any other questions
[1:04:38] for Ben?
[1:04:41] All right.
[1:04:43] Seeing none, then I would, Mr. Chair,
[1:04:45] I'd move that we adopt the resolution to
[1:04:46] modify the 2026 2031 transportation
[1:04:48] improvement program as Ben has
[1:04:50] presented.
[1:04:50] >> There's a motion. Do I hear a second?
[1:04:54] Moved by Carlton. All those in favor say
[1:04:57] I.
[1:04:59] >> Any oppose say nay.
[1:05:02] >> Yes. Uh the mayor of Leighton would like
[1:05:04] to make a comment.
[1:05:06] >> I'd just like to thank everyone here for
[1:05:08] your help and support. Obviously, you
[1:05:10] can see it's been a number of years and
[1:05:13] obviously a number of different uh
[1:05:15] avenues in order to even to collect the
[1:05:17] funds to put this uh pedestrian bridge
[1:05:20] across an area that's part of our
[1:05:23] stationary plan. So, you know, I mean,
[1:05:25] it's very valuable. Every all the work
[1:05:27] that's done here um pays off and we we
[1:05:30] we're just very appreciative of it. And
[1:05:31] I want to say thank you.
[1:05:34] >> There's there's no doubt that it's been quite the cooperative putting this
[1:05:39] all together to make it work. So shows
[1:05:41] you how collaboration which somebody
[1:05:43] used earlier in this meeting uh helps
[1:05:45] makes things work. So I think we took
[1:05:47] the vote and I believe it was unanimous
[1:05:49] on that Ben. So and Mark, we're should
[1:05:51] be set on all those projects.
[1:05:53] >> All right, Ben, you want to talk about
[1:05:54] the obligation to federal transportation
[1:05:56] funds?
[1:05:57] >> Yes. Thank you, mayor, and thank you,
[1:06:00] commissioner, and everybody. So, as
[1:06:02] required by law, each year, the WFRC
[1:06:05] staff, with the help of UDOT and UTA
[1:06:07] prepare an obligation report, which
[1:06:09] includes a list of all the projects that
[1:06:11] receive federal transportation funding
[1:06:14] during this past fiscal year, which
[1:06:16] initiated on October 1 of, 2024, and
[1:06:20] concluded on September 30th of uh 2025.
[1:06:25] Relatively speaking, here in Utah, the
[1:06:27] majority of the transportation funding
[1:06:29] comes from state resources and we do not
[1:06:32] depend on the federal resources as much
[1:06:35] of the other states around us. But
[1:06:37] having said that, the federal funds are
[1:06:39] still very important to meeting the
[1:06:41] transportation needs throughout our
[1:06:43] state and along the Wasatch front. So
[1:06:46] this report real quick will show you
[1:06:47] some of the impacts or the amount of
[1:06:50] funds that were obligated. So statewide,
[1:06:53] if you'll focus there in the corner, we
[1:06:55] silo week all of the benefits into just
[1:06:58] a few silos. There's tens of tens of
[1:07:01] different improvements um for every
[1:07:04] project. But you can see there's a
[1:07:06] federal obligation amount of more than
[1:07:09] $617 million in the state last year. And
[1:07:14] with the local match, that's over 655
[1:07:17] million almost $656 million in
[1:07:20] obligations of federal funds. If we were
[1:07:23] to break that down and bring it just to
[1:07:25] the along the Wasatch front into the MO
[1:07:27] area or Wasatch Front area, we have a
[1:07:31] federal obligation there of over $350
[1:07:34] million.
[1:07:35] And with the added match of 20 million
[1:07:38] there, it gives us about 370.7
[1:07:41] million in obligations along the Wasatch
[1:07:44] Front.
[1:07:46] If we look a little deeper into the
[1:07:48] programs that the Wasatch Front Regional
[1:07:51] Council administers here, we have a
[1:07:55] federal obligation there, including a
[1:07:57] match of more than $55 million. So
[1:08:02] that's a significant amount of money
[1:08:04] that's comes and benefits our area from
[1:08:06] the federal government uh through our
[1:08:09] federal resources. Then on the transit
[1:08:11] side of things, so these are the federal
[1:08:13] highway funds that are obligated. Then
[1:08:17] through the active transit grant or
[1:08:21] grant funds during the year 2025,
[1:08:24] you can see the amount of funds there.
[1:08:26] We have a total amount of over 756
[1:08:30] million. Uh federal share of that is 542
[1:08:34] plus million with the local match of
[1:08:38] more than 214
[1:08:40] plus million. So a very big benefit to
[1:08:43] the state. Any questions on the
[1:08:45] obligation report for 2025?
[1:08:50] » Have a Yeah, I don't have a question for
[1:08:52] Ben. I I do want to just make a comment
[1:08:54] about I want to first of all emphasize
[1:08:56] something that Ben said about the role
[1:08:59] that federal funds play in our overall
[1:09:01] transportation mix. Um in many ways Utah
[1:09:05] is an envy of states around the nation
[1:09:08] because of the really significant
[1:09:11] commitment that the state and local
[1:09:13] governments have made to investing in
[1:09:15] transportation. It's one of the reasons
[1:09:17] that infrastructure investment that we
[1:09:20] have such a strong economy and really
[1:09:21] good mobility and quality of life. Um,
[1:09:24] so relatively speaking, Utah relies less
[1:09:28] on federal transportation dollars than
[1:09:30] almost any other state in the nation.
[1:09:32] Having said that, as Ben said, these
[1:09:34] funds are still critically important.
[1:09:37] It's a significant amount of money. It
[1:09:39] allows us to do roadway maintenance uh
[1:09:41] for UD do transit expansions and the
[1:09:45] funds that WFRC and the other NPOS's
[1:09:49] program that's the term allocate to
[1:09:51] local communities next council meeting
[1:09:55] in May uh you'll have the opportunity to
[1:09:58] approve the this next year's round of
[1:10:01] project awards and it's in the range of
[1:10:04] $65 million this year that we are making
[1:10:08] available in grants to local
[1:10:10] communities. Those are federal dollars.
[1:10:12] So, that's notable resources that um
[1:10:15] that come to you through a datadriven
[1:10:17] selection process. Um in addition to
[1:10:21] that, I'll note that there are
[1:10:24] discretionary grant programs from the
[1:10:26] federal government. What we've been
[1:10:27] talking about to this point is mainly
[1:10:29] federal formula funds. They come based
[1:10:31] on population or lane miles or various
[1:10:34] federal formulas, but they're also
[1:10:36] discretionary grant programs. And um
[1:10:39] while this is not official, we are
[1:10:41] anticipating that there is going to be a
[1:10:44] significant release of what are called
[1:10:47] no, notices of funding opportunities
[1:10:49] from US DOT. Uh the number that I've
[1:10:53] heard is 17 no 17 different
[1:10:57] discretionary grant programs are going
[1:10:59] to release NOFOs in April and there will
[1:11:02] be a short turnaround time to apply for
[1:11:05] those funds. Some of them are focused on
[1:11:07] state DOT, some of them are transit,
[1:11:09] some of them are local. We will share
[1:11:11] that information with all of you. It's
[1:11:14] yet another possible funding source
[1:11:16] that's available to uh invest in our
[1:11:19] infrastructure. Thanks.
[1:11:24] Okay.
[1:11:27] » So, Andrew, what's the word with the
[1:11:29] federal budget process? How is that
[1:11:31] affecting uh state programs and what can
[1:11:34] we do as commission members to help
[1:11:37] advance our regional projects, their
[1:11:39] federal delegation?
[1:11:40] >> Yeah, great great question. Um, what I what you may be referring to is
[1:11:45] the federal surface transportation
[1:11:48] reauthorization process. There you go.
[1:11:51] Um, so every five or six
[1:11:54] years, the Congress authorizes the
[1:11:57] federal transportation program policy
[1:11:59] and funding. That program, the
[1:12:02] infrastructure investment and jobs act,
[1:12:03] it's called, expires September 30th of
[1:12:06] 2026. We have been working, when I say
[1:12:09] we, I mean all of the Utah
[1:12:11] Transportation stakeholders along with
[1:12:13] our congressional delegation who are
[1:12:15] very well represented in the committees
[1:12:16] of jurisdiction. We have been working
[1:12:18] with them looking ahead to the next
[1:12:21] reauthorization to advance Utah
[1:12:24] priorities. Uh we've offered up program
[1:12:27] priorities and principles and emphasize
[1:12:29] certain programs that are really
[1:12:31] important to Utah. Um uh if I was to bet
[1:12:35] I would not bet that the program gets
[1:12:37] reauthorized on time by September 30th.
[1:12:40] oftentimes these programs get extended,
[1:12:43] but the work is happening right now and
[1:12:45] actually we expect within just the next
[1:12:47] month or so to see the first drafts of
[1:12:50] the reauthorization legislation coming
[1:12:53] out of the committees of jurisdiction
[1:12:55] and uh I know Miranda will be reporting
[1:12:57] on that um to all of you. Separate from
[1:13:00] that is the annual appropriations
[1:13:03] process that actually provides the
[1:13:05] annual funding that is authorized in the
[1:13:07] multi-year bill. And separate even from
[1:13:10] that are the uh um community directed
[1:13:13] the community prep earmarks. I can never
[1:13:16] remember what we call them now. Anyway,
[1:13:17] earmarks um that are available for us to
[1:13:20] ask our members of our delegation to
[1:13:23] support. So there's lots of layers on
[1:13:25] this with some notable stuff coming up
[1:13:27] as we as we mentioned.
[1:13:30] >> So stay in close contact with our
[1:13:32] federal delegation.
[1:13:33] >> Yes.
[1:13:34] >> Stay tuned.
[1:13:35] >> Stay in touch with them. share your
[1:13:37] needs and we will keep providing
[1:13:39] information to you about the broad
[1:13:42] reauthorization and also about the
[1:13:44] discretionary grant opportunities as
[1:13:46] they come out. Thanks.
[1:13:49] >> Any other questions or comments for Ben?
[1:13:52] Okay, that concludes our report.
[1:13:55] >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Appreciate
[1:13:56] both of you on that. We'll now move to
[1:13:58] item six. Uh we'll turn the time over to
[1:14:00] Amy Wender Newton. Uh
[1:14:04] >> thank you. Um, in your packets are the
[1:14:06] draft fiscal year 27 WFRC goals, budget,
[1:14:10] and unified planning work program that
[1:14:12] outline the activities that WFRC plans
[1:14:14] to undertake in the year 2027. Um, these
[1:14:17] materials were prepared by staff. It was
[1:14:19] presented to our budget committee on the
[1:14:21] 7 on the 19th and our budget committee
[1:14:24] is recommending that the council approve
[1:14:26] releasing this draft for public comment.
[1:14:30] um they'll do an updated version of this
[1:14:33] so that will be prepared for our May
[1:14:35] 28th council meeting um for final
[1:14:38] approval. Um so we'll go to Andrew who's
[1:14:41] going to briefly summarize the proposed
[1:14:43] fiscal year 27 goals and then our CFO
[1:14:46] Marian Florence will summarize the
[1:14:47] budget.
[1:14:49] >> Thank you very much council member
[1:14:50] madame budget committee chair Newton. um
[1:14:55] three goals that we are proposing for
[1:14:57] WFRC for next year. They're on the
[1:15:00] screen. They were in the materials that
[1:15:01] were sent out to you. What you see on
[1:15:03] the screen now is just the topline
[1:15:05] goals. There is more content, sub goals,
[1:15:09] subcontent under each of these. That
[1:15:12] subcontent
[1:15:14] we're recommending some modest ch and
[1:15:16] the budget committee is recommending
[1:15:17] some modest changes. We sent to you in
[1:15:19] your materials a redline version that
[1:15:22] shows those specific changes. But here
[1:15:24] just in this setting, we just want to
[1:15:26] highlight these three topline goals
[1:15:28] which actually are not changed from the
[1:15:31] current year. This reflects the fact
[1:15:33] that we have a lot of continuity in the
[1:15:35] work we do. Number one, collaboratively
[1:15:38] advancing the Wasatch Choice vision to
[1:15:40] accommodate growth and enhance quality
[1:15:42] of life. Number two, provide subject
[1:15:44] matter expertise to federal, state, and
[1:15:46] local officials and policy makers. And
[1:15:48] number three, strive for organizational
[1:15:52] excellence. Uh we're always happy to
[1:15:54] take questions or comments on any of the
[1:15:56] details, but we figure just in this
[1:15:57] setting, we would just hit the
[1:15:59] highlights and um council member, if
[1:16:02] anybody has any questions or comments
[1:16:03] about these or wants us to dig into the
[1:16:05] details, we're happy to do so.
[1:16:06] >> Thank you.
[1:16:07] >> Okay.
[1:16:09] >> Thanks. Uh we'll go over this initial
[1:16:11] budget again. Um, if you'll go back
[1:16:14] before Ben's presentation, which is
[1:16:16] about lots and lots and lots of millions
[1:16:17] of dollars that we that Ben handles
[1:16:19] through the tip, we I handle the budget
[1:16:22] that we use here at WFRC to fund the
[1:16:26] programs that help you in your
[1:16:28] communities like the TLC, like the
[1:16:30] station area planning. And um you'll see
[1:16:33] I wrote stable budget because the good
[1:16:36] news is that over the last 5 years our
[1:16:38] initial budget which reflects the new
[1:16:40] funding that we have for the coming
[1:16:42] fiscal year has fluctuated between about
[1:16:44] 10 and 13 million. Um and so this time
[1:16:48] from last year to from this current year
[1:16:50] into next year we go from 12.2 down to
[1:16:53] 10.6. And that's really the product of
[1:16:57] having some projects wrap up and having
[1:16:59] some new projects start. Um, as Byron
[1:17:01] mentioned, our stationary planning
[1:17:03] project, for instance, a few years ago
[1:17:06] started with $5 million and between us
[1:17:08] and MAG and we've been using th those
[1:17:11] funds over the years. And so that for
[1:17:13] instance, that piece has diminished and
[1:17:16] that's one of the products, one of the
[1:17:18] reasons this goes down. So our main
[1:17:21] expenditures here at WFRC in our
[1:17:24] organization are our staffing and our
[1:17:27] consulting lines reflecting our
[1:17:29] investment in our staff as well as our
[1:17:31] many projects, initiatives and studies
[1:17:33] that require consultant support. So we
[1:17:36] do um as you saw also in our TLC awards,
[1:17:39] we do in-house work and we also contract
[1:17:42] out with consultants to support us in
[1:17:44] that work. The staffing line includes
[1:17:46] COLA and merit adjustments in line with
[1:17:48] all of our government partners and
[1:17:50] health insurance and retirement costs
[1:17:52] adjustments. This is this is our normal
[1:17:55] staffing line. And then in consulting we
[1:17:58] actually do see a lot of fluctuation
[1:18:00] over the years as we as I said we have
[1:18:03] balance of completed and new work going
[1:18:06] from year to year. Um so here are four
[1:18:10] areas that we have been working on this
[1:18:12] year that we're anticipating either
[1:18:15] completing or completing the first phase
[1:18:18] of this work. One is the green field vis
[1:18:20] visualizations which actually is kicking
[1:18:22] off right now is a small project that
[1:18:25] goes with our mixeduse centers
[1:18:27] visualizations that we have been working
[1:18:29] on. This is an add-on funded by the land
[1:18:32] use um land use training fund out of the
[1:18:36] Utah Department of Commerce. Um we're
[1:18:39] also currently working on roadway safety
[1:18:41] audits in 11 corridors in our community
[1:18:45] and that work is through our safe
[1:18:46] streets for all federal grant program
[1:18:49] and that will conclude by June 30th as
[1:18:51] well. Station area planning and our
[1:18:54] activity- based model development are
[1:18:56] both in process. Um, stationary planning
[1:19:00] has been going for a few years and this
[1:19:02] is the first year that we have kicked
[1:19:04] off, we are currently this month, I
[1:19:06] believe, kicking off the activity- based
[1:19:08] model development that we've been
[1:19:10] talking a lot about. That will be a
[1:19:11] three-year at least three-year project
[1:19:14] um to out of our analytics department.
[1:19:18] Um, so coming up next year, we plan to f
[1:19:22] focus our significant effort on
[1:19:24] strategic communications. John Aardone,
[1:19:27] our communications manager, is working
[1:19:29] with our new communications consultant,
[1:19:31] Wilkinson Ferrari, to enhance our
[1:19:33] engagement and impact. So that will be a kind of a new effort for next year, an
[1:19:39] enhanced effort, not entirely new. We
[1:19:42] will also continue working on our
[1:19:44] station area planning and our activity-
[1:19:47] based model of development as well of
[1:19:49] course as all of the transportation and
[1:19:51] land use connection pro projects that
[1:19:52] you just heard about. So those pro
[1:19:55] projects are all in our budget um as as
[1:19:59] the funding that we use to support you.
[1:20:02] That funding comes from a variety of
[1:20:05] sources here. Um primarily from uh
[1:20:09] federal. You can see here on my graph
[1:20:12] they come from three sources, federal,
[1:20:14] state, and local. Um although most of
[1:20:17] our funds are federal, our terrific
[1:20:19] partnerships with state and local
[1:20:21] entities provide over a quarter of our
[1:20:23] budget every year. Um our federal funds
[1:20:27] come mainly from the US Department of
[1:20:29] Transportation as Andrew was mentioning
[1:20:31] right now from the infrastructure
[1:20:33] investment and jobs act and that will
[1:20:35] continue until the reauthorization
[1:20:38] project process is completed. You can
[1:20:41] see our state partnerships listed here.
[1:20:43] Um, state and local funds support all of
[1:20:46] the collaborative work that we do with
[1:20:48] partners at UT, UTA, MAG, and with all
[1:20:51] of you. Local funds match these federal
[1:20:54] grants and also cover additional work
[1:20:56] outside of our MO boundaries um and our
[1:20:59] MO responsibilities. We're so grateful
[1:21:01] for all of you, for all of our partners
[1:21:03] who support our important work. H I'm
[1:21:05] happy to take any questions um on this
[1:21:09] now or at any time. um always happy to
[1:21:12] dig into more detail and as we mentioned
[1:21:15] this is our initial um proposal and we
[1:21:18] would like to um send this out for
[1:21:21] public comment and then bring it back to
[1:21:23] you in May for formal adoption as our
[1:21:26] initial budget for next year. So this is
[1:21:28] the recommended motion and that is my
[1:21:31] presentation.
[1:21:32] >> And council member just again to note in
[1:21:34] the materials that we send out and we
[1:21:36] make available to the public there's
[1:21:39] lots more detail all the numbers all the
[1:21:42] footnotes transparency
[1:21:45] uh and prudency in the use of funds is
[1:21:47] of public funds is very very important
[1:21:49] to us. Um we didn't want to go over it
[1:21:52] in a lot of detail with you. We do a lot
[1:21:54] of that with the budget committee, but
[1:21:56] all the information is available and we
[1:21:58] are happy to talk with anybody in as
[1:22:00] much detail as anybody would like at any
[1:22:02] point. Thank you.
[1:22:04] >> Before I make a motion, are there
[1:22:06] questions for any of our staff?
[1:22:09] >> Okay, I'll move that um we release the
[1:22:12] draft fiscal year 27 WFRC goals, budget,
[1:22:15] and unified planning work program for
[1:22:17] public comment.
[1:22:18] >> There's a second.
[1:22:21] Uh, Commissioner Harvey, did I hear you
[1:22:23] say second?
[1:22:25] With that, all in favor say I.
[1:22:27] >> I.
[1:22:29] >> Any opposed?
[1:22:31] That is unanimous. Thank you.
[1:22:33] >> Appreciate you. Uh, we'll now move down
[1:22:36] to item number seven, which is reports.
[1:22:39] Turn the time over to
[1:22:42] Andrew.
[1:22:43] >> Sure.
[1:22:46] » We're let we'll turn to, if we can,
[1:22:48] Commissioner Gage Fer. Oh, did I miss
[1:22:51] that?
[1:22:52] >> As Yeah. No. 7A gauge four with the
[1:22:56] Wasatch Front Economic Development
[1:22:58] District update.
[1:22:59] >> Look, when when when Harvey made the
[1:23:01] second, it really threw me off on
[1:23:03] everything as far as that went. So, I
[1:23:06] apologize, Gage, but I know you work
[1:23:07] with him every day and you understand
[1:23:08] exactly what we deal with here.
[1:23:10] >> Yeah, you feel my pain. I'm glad to hear
[1:23:12] that. So, well, he he'll keep you in
[1:23:15] track on track down there, Mr. Chair.
[1:23:17] So, thanks for the opportunity to
[1:23:19] present for the Wasatch Front Economic
[1:23:21] Development District. Uh, we had a
[1:23:23] meeting on March 12th. Very productive.
[1:23:26] We welcome several new members to the
[1:23:28] board, including a new vice chair who I
[1:23:31] believe is uh joining you down there,
[1:23:33] Commissioner Blocker from Morgan County.
[1:23:36] Um, we've got a new vice chair or a new
[1:23:38] co-chair as well. We've gone to a
[1:23:40] private industry for that which I think
[1:23:42] really makes a lot of sense since this u
[1:23:44] economic development district uh depends
[1:23:47] as much on private enterprise as uh we
[1:23:50] do from the government side. So it's great to see the involvement from
[1:23:53] our private partners. Um we started off
[1:23:56] with a discussion with uh Miranda Jones
[1:23:59] Cox, our government affairs manager. She
[1:24:02] provided a report on the 2026
[1:24:04] legislative session talking about bills
[1:24:06] regarding transportation, housing, and
[1:24:09] economic development, which is the three
[1:24:11] things, three big things we deal with in
[1:24:13] the economic development district. Um, I
[1:24:15] want to make a shout out to Miranda and
[1:24:18] Andrew. Uh, I crossed paths with them a
[1:24:22] number of times at the legislature,
[1:24:24] uh, up the capital this session. Uh,
[1:24:26] they did a great job. I've talked to a
[1:24:29] number of my former colleagues and
[1:24:31] nothing but praise for the work they
[1:24:32] did. So, I would just say we can be very
[1:24:35] um very appreciative of their works. Uh
[1:24:38] a number of bills that were fairly
[1:24:41] complicated this year, but at the end of
[1:24:43] the day, uh there were some bills that
[1:24:45] came out u that benefited a lot of our
[1:24:48] counties, a lot of the transportation,
[1:24:50] housing, and obviously economic
[1:24:52] development. So, Andrew Rand, appreciate
[1:24:54] your work there. Uh the other part
[1:24:56] couple other things we did as part of
[1:24:58] our mission statement to help understand
[1:25:01] the available funding in our region. We
[1:25:03] hear Marsha talk about the economic
[1:25:05] development the EDA grants available. Uh
[1:25:08] so we had a gentleman by the name of
[1:25:09] Trent Thompson spend some time with us
[1:25:12] and discuss the current funding
[1:25:13] opportunities. So I would say any of our
[1:25:17] uh city partners, county partners out
[1:25:19] there that are looking for additional
[1:25:20] funding, talk to Marsha. Uh she can get
[1:25:23] you in contact with Mr. Thompson. There
[1:25:25] are fund there are funding opportunities
[1:25:27] available out there. So I'd encourage
[1:25:29] you to use those whenever possible. Uh
[1:25:32] in addition to that, we met with uh
[1:25:34] online Kirsten Swinyard from the Salt
[1:25:36] Lake County and Kate Lucas with the
[1:25:39] Kansas State University and she provided
[1:25:42] a great presentation on brownfield
[1:25:44] funding. again for those communities
[1:25:46] that may have brown brownfield issues in
[1:25:49] their communities. Two great resources
[1:25:52] um that I would encourage anybody in a
[1:25:55] city or county level to reach out to
[1:25:57] either one of these great ladies uh to
[1:26:00] be re-educated or again funding sources
[1:26:03] to help you clean up some of those
[1:26:04] problems. So with that, uh Mr. Chair,
[1:26:07] I'm happy to answer any questions that
[1:26:09] you may have. Andrew,
[1:26:13] >> any questions?
[1:26:15] Okay, appreciate that, Gage. We'll move
[1:26:17] to item 7B.
[1:26:18] >> Thank you.
[1:26:21] >> Turn the time over to Christie.
[1:26:22] >> Hi, thank you, chair. Um, so I will be
[1:26:25] as brief as possible. I'm looking at the
[1:26:26] clock and know we all want to get out of
[1:26:28] here. So, this is just looking at the
[1:26:29] 2026 community development block grant
[1:26:32] projects that were applied for this
[1:26:34] year. I know on your agenda it says
[1:26:35] awarded and in a perfect world, uh, we
[1:26:37] would be able to fully fund all of them.
[1:26:39] However, unfortunately, um with some
[1:26:41] delays at the federal level, we actually
[1:26:43] are still unaware of how much actual
[1:26:46] funding that we will receive this year
[1:26:48] to fund these projects, but um generally
[1:26:50] we are receiving just a little bit over
[1:26:52] a million dollars each year. Um you'll
[1:26:55] notice that that total is much higher
[1:26:57] than a million dollars. A lot of these
[1:26:58] projects come with match associated with
[1:27:01] them. Um, however, if we don't receive
[1:27:05] more than about $1.1 million, we'll be
[1:27:07] able to fully fund these first three
[1:27:10] projects. These are ranked um in order
[1:27:12] of the score that they received. We'll
[1:27:13] be able to fully fund these first three
[1:27:15] projects and partially fund the fourth
[1:27:17] project and unfortunately not be able to
[1:27:19] fund uh this Marriott Slaterville
[1:27:21] project. But as you can see, projects
[1:27:22] range um from emergency rental
[1:27:25] assistance, sewer rehab, waterline
[1:27:27] replacement, main street reconstruction,
[1:27:29] and a restroom purchase. And just as a
[1:27:32] reminder, uh the community development
[1:27:33] block grant program is primarily for low
[1:27:36] to moderate income um residents and for
[1:27:39] the purpose of the Wasatch Front
[1:27:40] Regional Council is eligible in Morgan,
[1:27:41] Towilla, and Weber counties excluding
[1:27:44] Ogden City. Um all of you have access to
[1:27:47] CDBG funds whether it be through WFRC or
[1:27:49] not. Um, so if anyone has any questions
[1:27:51] about CDBG, feel free to reach out to
[1:27:53] me. And that's all I got.
[1:27:55] >> Thank you. Any questions?
[1:27:58] Okay, Chrissy. Thank you. We'll now move
[1:28:02] to item C, executive director's report
[1:28:06] by Andrew Groover.
[1:28:07] >> Thank you, uh, Commissioner Stevenson.
[1:28:10] Now I get to do one of my favorite
[1:28:13] things, which is recognize some of our
[1:28:15] staff. I've got two work anniversaries,
[1:28:18] two new hires, two staff awards, and two
[1:28:23] babies. Okay, so let's start. Let's
[1:28:26] start with uh Marsha White. Where's
[1:28:29] Marsha? Marsha, who's already referenced
[1:28:30] for five years of service with WFRC. You
[1:28:33] know that Marsha leads our economic
[1:28:35] development work. She's our point person
[1:28:36] for the economic development district.
[1:28:39] In her time here, she's really expanded
[1:28:41] and professionalized the work that we do
[1:28:43] and our networks for economic
[1:28:44] development, working with cities and
[1:28:46] counties doing economic development. She
[1:28:49] came from Ogden City Council and she's
[1:28:51] bringing that knowledge about local
[1:28:53] needs to the work that we do,
[1:28:55] collaborating together. So, Marca for
[1:28:57] five years of service. Good job.
[1:29:02] And then also Miranda Jones Cox for her
[1:29:05] five years of service. You all know of
[1:29:07] course that Miranda is our government
[1:29:08] affairs manager. She works on state
[1:29:10] issues and federal issues. She is known
[1:29:12] and trusted by all for her collaborative
[1:29:15] and supportive approach working with
[1:29:17] partners uh and communities and giving
[1:29:19] timely and substantive information. She
[1:29:21] is a real partner to me. Um and in her
[1:29:24] five years, her and her husband Tanner
[1:29:26] have had two kids, Henry and Lucy, uh in
[1:29:29] her five years here and still still
[1:29:31] going. So way to go. I don't mean on
[1:29:33] kids. Well, I don't know. I'm
[1:29:37] Not. Yeah. Anyway, way to go, Miranda.
[1:29:39] Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Never mind.
[1:29:41] Okay.
[1:29:42] >> You're just getting yourself deeper.
[1:29:44] >> Yeah. No. Um, now to now to our to our
[1:29:46] new hires. I want to introduce you to
[1:29:48] two new staff people. We're so excited
[1:29:50] to have them. Uh, Joel Temple. Where's
[1:29:52] Joel? Joel Temple um is joining our long
[1:29:55] range planning team as a transportation
[1:29:58] planner. And as you know, he helps
[1:29:59] support regional transportation planning
[1:30:02] coordination with our state and local
[1:30:04] partners. Joel has a background in
[1:30:06] physics, international development, and
[1:30:08] in planning, a masters in urban and
[1:30:10] regional planning. He's actually worked
[1:30:12] at both the regional and local levels.
[1:30:14] He worked at the Oahu MO. And then most
[1:30:17] recently, he was a planner with Saratoga
[1:30:19] Springs. Um, and he's actually a a um a
[1:30:22] planning commissioner with the city of
[1:30:24] Provo. So, Joel, welcome. And he's a
[1:30:26] competitive cyclist also.
[1:30:31] And then the other new hire is uh Paulo
[1:30:34] Aguilera. Where's Paulo? Where? Oh,
[1:30:36] right next to Joel. Paulo uh is joining
[1:30:38] our community and economic development
[1:30:40] team as a community planner. This is the
[1:30:42] work that we've been talking about. It's
[1:30:43] supporting communities in our region.
[1:30:46] You to achieve your local visions and
[1:30:49] increase mobility and quality of life.
[1:30:51] He has a degree in urban ecology and
[1:30:53] metropolitan planning. He was worked for
[1:30:56] seven years with GSBs architects and
[1:30:58] alta planning, economic development,
[1:31:00] community planning, uh, GIS, datadriven
[1:31:03] design. And, um, he won us over in his
[1:31:06] interview when he referred, well, at
[1:31:07] least me, when he referred to WFRC as
[1:31:10] the north star for regional guidance and
[1:31:13] stewardship. Nice job. Nice job.
[1:31:15] Welcome, Paulo.
[1:31:19] Okay. So, so I gave you two
[1:31:21] anniversaries. I gave you two new hires.
[1:31:23] Here's two awards. Susie Swim from with
[1:31:26] our WFRC analytics team received the
[1:31:29] transportation professional of the year
[1:31:32] award from the Institute for
[1:31:34] Transportation Engineers Utah section.
[1:31:37] This is the lead engineers group. It's
[1:31:39] interestingly though this award is for
[1:31:41] somebody who is not an engineer but
[1:31:43] their work in planning or research or
[1:31:45] technical support has made meaningful
[1:31:48] contributions to the transportation
[1:31:49] field and communities across Utah. The
[1:31:52] award is really cool in part in uh
[1:31:53] particularly because it's peer
[1:31:55] nominated. So it makes it a really
[1:31:57] meaningful recognition. Uh
[1:31:59] transportation professional of the year
[1:32:00] Susie Swim.
[1:32:05] And then here's a fun one. The other
[1:32:07] award uh Bill Hars also from uh our
[1:32:10] analytics team was the inaugural
[1:32:12] recipient of the Golden Cone Award. Tell
[1:32:15] me you've got the cone with you, Bill.
[1:32:17] No, it's in his office. of the Golden
[1:32:20] Cone Award which is a new honor
[1:32:22] presented by the same organization IT.
[1:32:24] recognizes an individual who stands
[1:32:27] out for their leadership, their service
[1:32:29] and overall impact within IT and the
[1:32:32] transportation industry. It celebrates
[1:32:34] people who cons well well it will he's
[1:32:36] the first one who's ever gotten it that
[1:32:37] who that will cons who consistently
[1:32:40] contribute their time and support others
[1:32:42] and help move the field forward. Way to
[1:32:44] go, Bill. Congratulations.
[1:32:49] And to conclude, uh, two babies, uh,
[1:32:52] Faria, is Faribba here? Is Farba here?
[1:32:54] No. Okay. Um, one of our newest
[1:32:56] employees, Fariba, um, just came back
[1:32:59] from, uh, maternity leave after having
[1:33:02] her baby. So, we'll, uh, well, we'll, um, uh, celebrate her and say
[1:33:06] Mazle to her in in her absence, uh,
[1:33:09] here. And then uh we'll say
[1:33:12] congratulations in advance and masleto
[1:33:14] to me um who may not be at our next
[1:33:18] council meeting. Uh she is not planning
[1:33:21] to be here.
[1:33:22] >> Okay. So congratulations to both of them
[1:33:25] on their uh new babies.
[1:33:28] >> So Meg Me I I have a question. If it's a boy, are you going to name it
[1:33:34] Andrew?
[1:33:35] >> Okay.
[1:33:36] I guess I'll just I'll just have to see.
[1:33:41] I did if I Meg, if it's okay for me to
[1:33:43] say this, I um I did officiate Meg's
[1:33:46] wedding at her request. Um and we'll see
[1:33:50] how much she cares about me if in the
[1:33:52] naming. We shall see. We shall see. Uh
[1:33:55] the very last thing I'll note to all of
[1:33:57] you is that if you like riding bikes, uh
[1:34:00] I'm not only looking at Mayor Burton,
[1:34:02] but I am looking at Mayor Burton. Um
[1:34:05] with the the 9th annual Golden Spoke
[1:34:08] ride is on May 16th or Saturday, May
[1:34:12] 16th all over the region. It's a fun
[1:34:14] thing to celebrate that as a mode of
[1:34:16] transportation. More information to come
[1:34:18] on that. Mr. Chair, that concludes my
[1:34:20] report.
[1:34:21] >> Thank you. Any questions for Andrew
[1:34:23] before we move on and out? Okay. If not,
[1:34:27] just a reminder, our next meeting will
[1:34:28] be held on Thursday, May 28th. I'm
[1:34:31] predicting with the way this weather is
[1:34:32] that it will be snowing that day. So, I
[1:34:35] hope
[1:34:36] >> uh again, we want to appreciate
[1:34:38] everybody and uh have a good rest of the
[1:34:41] week. Enjoy the weekend and uh we'll
[1:34:43] adjourn at this time. Thank you.
[1:34:46] >> Thank you everybody.