Summit in Six

Hello, and welcome to Summit in Six from the Communication and Public Engagement Team at Summit County, Utah. Let’s kick things off and get caught up. Hey everyone, so this is Derek Siddoway, the communication director with Summit County, and today I’m sitting down with our county manager, Shane Scott, to talk a little bit more about the Altus project update that we recently held a an open house or a public meeting for last week we wanted to get the word out to more people that weren’t able to attend, so we’re going to be talking a little bit about an amendment to the development agreement, which will have some exciting implications for our nonprofit community. So, to kick things off, Shane, just give us a little bit of an overview on what the meeting last Tuesday was for, and including maybe just a little bit of background on what an amendment to a development agreement is and why this was the right process for us to potentially be able to add these community benefits on the Altus project. All right, thanks, Derek. It’s nice to be with you. I think it’s my first time on the podcast, and as an avid listener, I’m excited to be here. The development agreement amendment is simply just an amendment. I did sign a development agreement with Six Ridge Partners that are formerly Dakota Pacific Real Estate. It’s been over a year now that was signed, and the process to amend it is an administrative process, so that means that it doesn’t go back onto the county council’s desk, it just stays with the administration, and as the county manager, I get to sign both the amendment and the original development agreement. So, because it’s not a public process, in that it doesn’t land on the council agenda, we wanted to really highlight this amendment, and what it was, and so we went through that meeting that you referenced last Tuesday, I believe it was, and it was simply just an opportunity for us to involve the public to let them know what this amendment was, why I was citing it, and really to get some feedback, is this a good amendment or not. The basis of the amendment, there was a couple of little things in there that really were kind of inconsequential, and there, and there will be another amendment too. This will not be the only one that I sign, but those amendments come as we go through design processes, and we discover certain things. We’ll have to, we’ll have to tweak the development in some form or fashion, but this one, the major change is to accommodate up to 50,000 square feet of new space in this development, and that new space could accommodate is actually up to three different spaces. One would be a new building that’s up to 30,000 square feet, and this would accommodate the Kimball Arts Center. They have been quite public about their desire to move into this area, and this is just more or less a formality for them to accommodate them there. They would build a 30,000 square foot building just west of the Peak building, which is the former Skull Kenny building that the county owns. The other 210 1000 square foot spaces would be in existing buildings, so it’s there. What’s on in the what’s called the podium area, and we included a map as part of the public process there last last Tuesday, so that could be helpful to people. If they’re interested, they can go to our website and and check out the map. 10,000 square feet could accommodate a new visitor center. Existing visitor center is in Hugo Coffee, just to the south of this location, and an additional 10,000 square feet is is to allow for a nonprofit hub. One of the concerns about this situation right now is that we are, we’re making the decision to accommodate these spaces today. It’s actually at 10am this morning. After I get done with this interview, I’ll be going over there to sign that development agreement, but we’re making that decision today. But we still have a lot to decide on those 10,000 square feet spaces. When I say a nonprofit hub, that definition right now is different for everyone. Is it all nonprofits, is it one nonprofit? So, there’s still a lot of decisions to decide in the county right now. Still, even though we’re accommodating, accommodating that space, we have all of the control in what actually lands there. So I say that in really emphasizing to the public what this could be, could be a nonprofit hub, but it’s also not going to be retail, it’s not going to be housing, it’s not going to be a commercial space, it’s only for a community benefit, or it won’t be included in the project. So, we’ve talked about this being a nonprofit hub. What are some of the kinds of organizations that have expressed interest in being part of this project and. And what is the benefit of having a nonprofit hub, kind of a central location, not only for the nonprofits in our community, but also for our residents in the community as well. The location is great, of course. The Kimball Junction is more or less, or for all intents and purposes, the heart of the basin. This is the first exit that most people, when they’re visiting our community, take. This is how they get to Park City. It’s a very important location for us. It’s also right on the transit stop. We’re doing a new transit center in this location, so there’s a lot of things that are happening at the same time, between the housing and transit and shopping. There’s a lot of real community benefits already in this location, so the nonprofit hub idea, I’ve heard it described to me as kiln for nonprofits, so kiln is a business, as a business owner, you can— Yeah, kind of like a co-working space for businesses where you don’t have to own the retail space for yourself or have a lease yourself, it’s kind of a shared space that multiple people can take advantage of, depending on how many hours a day or how many office spaces, exactly. Right. So, as that is for businesses, this could be for nonprofits, sharing resources, sharing maybe staff. When we went to City Tour just this year, we were in Breckenridge, and there was a, I think it was a similar idea, it was called FERC F I R C, and it was kind of a nonprofit hub in that community, and I think there was a lot of both council members, staff, as well as members of the leadership class that really got excited about this and bringing this back to our community, between that being well timed in that visit and this amendment being requested by the nonprofit leaders in our community, this is a real opportunity for us to accommodate this space in this location. Maybe another good way to put it is looking specifically at transit or transportation, is it can be a one stop shop for services for people, whether they’re riding the bus there or they’re driving their car there. They can come to one place, kind of walk around and hit several different things at once. We all know how annoying it is when you drive to one store and then you drive 10 minutes to another store and somewhere else to another store. So this kind of provides a one stop shop for people who may be taking advantage of these nonprofit services, but also just some of the civic services that will be in the area. Absolutely, and and retail, and the walking around is really a key part of this this development in this area, and we’d love to get people out of their cars as much as possible, and and we’ll have, of course, almost a 1200 lot parking garage that will accommodate cars for anyone that wants to get out and visit the Kimball Art Center. We hope to have some civic spaces there that are really exciting. The library, not least of which is the library, so the really exciting opportunities for us. So, why wasn’t this nonprofit space in the original plan for the area? Or why does the county have involvement not only with the amendment agreement, but also control over what goes into this additional space? Well, I just think it’s the nature of the public-private partnership is that we work together. It’s not just us at the Summit County and Six Ridge Partners, but it’s also High Valley Transit. They are a partner of this in this agreement as well. It’s between the three of us that we make all the decisions, and we’re teaming up together on the development on the consulting from the construction consults to the to the architects. We’re teaming up together on all those consultants, so we get to have that say. And when the development first came to us, they asked for a certain amount of square footage, and we accommodated that square footage over time. We negotiated what that was. This is just a renegotiation of that square footage to accommodate these, these different what we’re considering community benefits. And I think it’s important to note that the Kimball Art Center would be a new building, but aside from that, a space we’re talking about is adding additional space in commercial space that exists, so one way you put it recently was that you know it’s the difference in you probably can’t tell the difference in a 60 to 70,000 square foot building, it’s adding on a few more rooms, potentially kind of another area there, it’s not like we’re adding another floor on top of something or putting another building outside of the existing footprint. That’s exactly right. This, this is just accommodating additional space in already existing buildings. And one thing I want to go back to, the meeting last Tuesday, there was about 30, probably 40 to 50 people that attended there. What were some of the things that you heard from the community members at that meeting last week? I think it was a really good opportunity to answer questions. Not only do we get our message out of what this development agreement amendment is, what we’re trying to do in this, in this space, but I also was able to talk a little bit about other exciting happenings in the area, between what we’re doing on the Peak Center, we were redoing the entire four. First floor to accommodate the library and the DMV. We talked about bus rapid transit and what’s happening with BRT High Valley Transits project there on 240 on 224 and just was another opportunity to talk about what this development is. What is Six Ridge doing here? How much housing is going in here? What’s the transit center look like, and having that map, I think, was real helpful for people. It generated a lot of questions, and we had, we had individuals from Six Ridge, from the Park City Chamber, from some of our nonprofits, and even the Kimball Arts Center there to answer questions for anybody who had them. And I think it was real, real good opportunity for people to just even just get a general update on on timing. Other than that, I only heard positive feedback. I received a lot of letters from the nonprofit community about what an exciting opportunity this nonprofit hub might be, and I think I had maybe 15 individuals send me, send me letters or sign letters that were supportive of this development agreement amendment. So talking next steps. So we’ve teased an event we have coming up on September 12 a little bit, maybe just give people a little bit of an overview of what to expect there. There’s a couple different things going on at that, that’s really going to be the next big public event, or guess you could say kick off or unveiling. I think it will be somewhat similar in what we did last Tuesday, in that it will be very informational. We hope to have similar partners there to explain what their role in this public-private partnership is. It will be a lot more casual, it will be during the day. We do hope to have food trucks and other other kind of amenities that would bring the public out, but I think it’ll be, I think we’ll also know a lot more about details, details around what does the development look like, what are some schematics that we can show that show what actually housing might look like. So I think we’re going to make a lot more decisions between now and then, and I think also with this community, with these community spaces, what does a nonprofit hub look like, and who’s involved? Is it again, is it all nonprofits? Is it one nonprofit? I think we’ll have some of those decisions made by September 12, and we can bring those back to the public for comments, and again to answer questions, but I’m really excited about September 12. I think it’ll be really not only informational, but a lot of fun too. If anyone listening to this is looking for more information and wants to stay up to date on the latest of what’s going on in the Kimball Junction redevelopment area, go to summitcounty.info/kjupdates and that’s going to take you to the project page, where you can also sign up for email notifications to be aware of all the different steps and the timelines and things that we have coming up as work gets underway, not only with the Altus project, but with some of the other projects as well. Thanks, Shane. Thanks, Derek. Thanks for having me. Bye.

Hello and welcome to Summit in Six, from the communication and public engagement team for Summit County, Utah. Let’s kick things off and get caught up! In this episode, we’ll take a deep dive into some recent land acquisitions by the county. We’re pleased to welcome our guest, Jess Kirby, director of the lands and Natural Resources Department. Jess, the county has recently closed on two major purchases involving historic ranches combined. The acquisitions have brought more than 9,000 acres under public ownership. Can you tell me a little bit about why the county would be interested in purchasing land like this? Thanks for that question. I’m glad to be here. We’re incredibly lucky in Summit County to have a county council and a county government that really supports conservation and land acquisitions. Our county council has as one of their objectives to put lands like this under conservation, and then, with the support from our community, we’ve been fortunate enough to have bond funds that allow us to do that work. When you put it like that, it makes perfect sense. We want to get into some specifics here. So we’ll start with the larger of the two acquisitions, the 910 Ranch, located along both sides of East Canyon Road between Jeremy Ranch and East Canyon reservoir. The 910 contains almost 8,600 acres of pristine forest land and vital wildlife habitat. What can you share about the 910’s history and prior management? The ranch has a very long history. Really exciting things have happened out there — starting way back with with the indigenous people. We have found some significant artifacts on the property. So we do know that we had significant use of the property from our Native American populations, which is exciting. And then fast forward into when settlement started happening in Utah, and in the 1890s the Jeremy family was the first owner of the land. They ran a sheep operation out there on almost 38,000 acres — a very big swath of land. As they sold off different pieces, part of that land is now Jeremy Ranch the neighborhood and then the elementary school there. That acquisition happened in about the 70s, and then the current landowner took over in the late 1980s–early 1990s and has been the sole owner of the property ever since. Why did the county want to acquire and protect the 910 Ranch specifically, and where did the funds come from? This is a really unique property for Summit County. It’s one of the last large contiguous pieces of land that we have in the western part of our county. By contiguous, we mean a large swath of land with one owner. It provide incredible wildlife habitat connections to other protected lands and forested lands owned by the forestry and state lands offices. There’s a state park right next to it, and there’s other forest legacy parcels that are really near it, so it creates this large swath of protected land. The funding, first and foremost, came from our community. The OSAC bond, which is the Open Space Bond that we passed in 2021, was a $50 million bond. It passed with over 70% support from our community. So we got a big thumbs up to go and do projects like this. So that $15 million as our first down payment came from the bond, and then I was tasked with finding the rest. The whole purchase was $55 million, so we had a $40 million deficit. Luckily, at that moment, we had an opportunity to go for a Forest Legacy Grant that allowed us to fill that gap, and we applied and were awarded those funds in 2023. Fantastic! I’m sure every acquisition is a little bit different, but I know we’ll be hearing more about that Open Space Bond again, when we discuss the Ure Ranch next. Before we move on, can you share what’s next for the 910? A lot of planning. For right now, it’s status quo. We’re keeping the land pretty much private. We’re not opening up, we’re not cutting the ribbon, and we’re trying to take our time and be very thoughtful about management and how we open up the property to the public. Like I said, it’s been in one landowner’s hands for a very long time. It’s kind of a wilderness area out there. It hasn’t had a lot of human interaction. There’s lots of wildlife. So we want to be very mindful about how we open that up, though we’ve been spending the last year or two doing some very overarching baseline assessments and conservation easement writing. We’ve done a forest health plan. We’ve worked on the watershed plans. We have a grazing plan. And so now we’re going to take all these plans, put them together, and put an overarching management plan together for the property, which is going to include some recreation. We’ve done several open houses and several surveys with the community, but we do hope to still engage with the community on the recreation plan coming forward. Some stakeholder meetings will be coming up here in the near future, then work session with council, and then we’ll adopt those final plans and make a plan for cutting that ribbon here soon. Going back in time just a few weeks, and traveling across the county towards the southeast: the Ure Ranch was formally acquired by Summit County in December 2025. This transferred 835 acres, split between five distinct parcels, into county ownership and kickstarted the process of placing each parcel under a conservation easement. As you enter the Kamas Valley on the east side, driving along State Route 248, you’d pass the Ure Ranch with most of the total area on the south side of 248. Who gave this ranch its iconic name, and what can you tell us about the ranch’s history? The Ure Ranch is named for the Ure family: a historic family in the Kamas Valley. They’ve been there since 1892, so 130 years this family has been on the property. They’ve run a dairy farm, different cattle operations over the years, and there were sheep there for a small minute. But that entire time it’s been ranched by that family and handed down through the family over those years. We definitely want to express our sincere gratitude to the Ure family for entrusting their legacy to Summit County and working alongside us towards this conservation goal. With that in mind, what natural resources and features can we protect now that the property is in public hands, and what changes might the public see in the coming years? So first and foremost, I think the protection of this ranch was important for us to preserve the rural quality of eastern Summit County, to keep agriculture on the land, and to keep producers on the land. So really protecting that use of the property — the historic use of the property — but also the watershed. These ranches are flood irrigated. They have great connection to the amount of water that gets into the Weber River, which then passes all the way down to the Great Salt Lake. And the Kamas Meadow is just a great big sponge. If you take that water out of the sponge, it dries up. So we really want to keep the water on the land. We want to keep the land in working hands, and protect that habitat, that resource. I think people forget about the fact that agricultural lands really serve as spaces for migrating birds like the cranes that come through every year. They nest out in those fields. They use those open spaces. It’s also winter habitat for mule deer and elk, and we have sage grouse populations out there as well. So I think there’s a lot of habitat that we’re protecting. We’re protecting a lot of heritage. There is Native American culture that we found on the property as well relics of tipi rings and different flakes that we found out there. And so we want to preserve that history as well and keep that green space open in our valleys. Are there any partners we can shout out that help make this acquisition happen? Yeah, absolutely! We couldn’t have done this without the partners that we have. Summit Lands Conservancy, first and foremost, they’ve been at the table with us from day one. Bringing in different federal grants — they did some application and we did some applications. Summit Lands worked on that North Meadows piece. We also received funding from the State of Utah’s Outdoor Recreation Initiative and the state’s Land and Water Conservation funds. So we had a lot of different funding streams that went in this to create that layer cake of funding that was needed to purchase this property. Just because I think the public would like to know, how much did the total purchase price end up being? $25 million was the final purchase price on the Ure Ranch. Thank you so much for giving such great background on these two historic properties and sharing a glimpse of their respective futures. Before we end, what’s the status of the Open Space Bond? Is there any funding left to acquire more conservation easements or properties? So with really great excitement, we’d like to announce that we have preserved almost 16,000 acres with the bond funds so far, and we do have money left! We’ve been really successful at leveraging those dollars. So with the funds that we have left, we are putting a shout out to the community. If you have land that you would like in conservation, or if you have neighbors that have land, reach out to us. Fill out an NOI, which is a notice of intent, that can be found on our website. That just gives us an idea of your property, and we can evaluate that. Yes we do have funding left over, and we do hope to get that back into more conservation lands. Whether you’re a land owner or just a local resident, how can one get involved with these conservation projects or maybe weigh in on future land acquisitions? We do have a formal board that helps determine the qualifications for funding, and that’s our OSAC board. We just recently onboarded three new members, so those opportunities come about every couple of years. Keep your eyes out if you are interested in being part of our formal board. Otherwise, you know, always can reach out to us via email or phone call, but if you’re just curious about the properties, please sign up for our newsletter. There’s a link on the lands page that you can get information. We’ll have different stakeholder meetings and public engagement opportunities to weigh in on the final management plans for both the 910 and the Ure Ranch, and we always have just different events that are going to be held. Right now, we are only holding those events on the 910 Ranch. The Ure Ranch is currently being leased back to the Ure family for another year, so it technically is still in their hands for one more year. But into the future, we’ll have events on that property. We do different kind of walks — birding hikes and education and vegetation walks — so can always engage with the Natural Resources Department with those things. Perfect! We’ll have links to all those pages as well as a way to sign up for the newsletter in our show notes. I just want to say thank you again, Jess, for joining the podcast. Best of luck in 2026 we hope to have you back with more good news in the future.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We’ve got the latest from the Council of Governments meeting on Monday, and the county council’s Wednesday meeting. This includes a review of the Transportation Sales Tax policy, information on the Utah Renewable Communities program, and much more! Alright, let’s get into the news! TOPIC 1: TRANSPORTATION TAX The Council of Governments met earlier this week to discuss the Transportation Sales Tax, also known as the TST, which is a voter-approved .25% sales tax that pays for regionally significant transportation projects across Summit County. This includes things such as road improvements, active-transportation connections, transit, and safety projects that enhance connectivity, reduce congestion, and promote economic development. The Council of Governments finalized its recommendation for how this year’s TST funds should be allocated. The County Council approved that recommendation during their meeting on Wednesday, meaning the 2025 project funding decisions are now set. This includes funding or partial funding for: A countywide vanpool program (Summit County) Upgrades to the bikeshare program (Summit County) The Hoytsville bridge replacement (Summit County) The Icy Springs Interchange project (Summit County) High Valley Transit’s SR-224 Bus Rapid Transit project (High Valley Transit) Phase 2 of Park City’s Thaynes Pathway project (Park City) Little Kate and Monitor Drive bike and pedestrian improvements (Park City) A transit signal priority technology upgrade in Park City (Park City) Lastly, a total of $483,040.26 of Small Cities Grants will be awarded to Coalville, Henefer, Kamas, Oakley and Francis. TOPIC 2: UTAH RENEWABLE COMMUNITIES If you don’t already know, Utah Renewable Communities, or URC, is a coalition of 19 cities and counties, including Summit County, that are working with Rocky Mountain Power to provide a new option for clean energy. The program’s goal is to support the development of new clean energy sources that would match the amount of energy consumed by homes and businesses. Before moving forward, the URC needs to be approved by the Utah Public Service Commission, which is reviewing the program now. There is a scheduled public hearing set for December 16 at 6 p.m. where anyone can share comments or ask questions. After the hearing, the Public Service Commission is expected to issue a decision as early as January 2026. If the program is approved, Summit County would have 90 days to pass an ordinance to officially join. From there, Rocky Mountain Power would mail two opt-out notices to all local customers, giving them the choice to participate or stick with their current service. If you are interested in attending the Public Service Commission hearing on December 16th, you can attend in person at the Heber M Wells Building in Salt Lake City, or virtually by going to summitcounty.info/URCmeeting. TOPIC 3: CLINE DAHL PROPERTY Next up is an update on the Cline Dahl property near Jeremy Ranch. This is a 30 acre site owned by Summit County that could include housing, a transit park-and-ride hub, and recreation amenities. The current proposal from the developer team includes a recommendation to build more for sale units in place of rental units due to a revision in average income data. They are now proposing about 60% ownership and 40% rentals, with the overall plan calling for 173 total units. The plan also includes community uses like a Basin Rec fieldhouse and space for a new Park City Fire District station, however details and final agreements are still being negotiated with the County and housing partners. Construction wouldn’t start until at least August 2026. TOPIC 4: URE RANCH Now moving on to Ure Ranch, the 848 acre property in the Kamas Meadows area of Eastern Summit County. On Wednesday, Council approved the conservation easements for the North Meadows and Recreation parcels located within Ure Ranch, ensuring the protection of the area’s natural and cultural features by limiting development. These are just two of the six parcels that make up the Ure Ranch property. Staff will continue to advance the remaining four conservation easements for the rest of the property before the end of the year. TOPIC 5: EAST CANYON ROAD CLOSURE Quick reminder: East Canyon Road will begin its seasonal road closure on December 1st and will reopen on April 30th, 2026. TOPIC 6: HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES To close out this week’s podcast, we want to wish all our listeners a happy Thanksgiving! As a reminder, Summit County offices will be closed on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28, in observance of the holiday. The Sheriff’s Office and local Fire/EMS crews will have limited staff working. Republic Services’ trash pickup will be delayed by one day for curbside pickup on Thursday and Friday. That means, residents who usually receive curbside pickup on Thursday should put their containers out on Friday morning, and Friday customers should put their containers out on Saturday morning. All Summit County offices will return to regular hours on Monday, December 1. We hope all those traveling, stay safe and enjoy time with loved ones and friends!

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We’ve got the latest from county council’s Wednesday meeting — including a breakdown of county employees, details for a newly approved sales tax, housing data, and more! Alright, let’s get into the news! TOPIC 1: 2026 PERSONNEL BUDGET County council continued its 2026 budget review in this week’s meeting. Kicking off the discussion, County Manager Shayne Scott and Finance Manager Matt Leavitt presented an overview of current employees and a request for funds to support new hires, raises, and employee benefits. A few key stats that might interest you: Summit County currently has 19 elected officials and chief deputies, 373 full-time positions, and 38 part-time positions The average age of a county employee is 44 The average length of service (meaning time working for the county) is 8 years However, only 38% had more than 8 years of service, meaning there are some long-term employees that skew the result higher Year-to-year, the county spends an average of 62% of its budget on personnel (but the 2026 budget will actually be slightly under that average) Eight new positions were proposed, including a full-time public records coordinator, an additional school resource officer through the Sheriff’s department, and more staff for the finance, engineering, facilities, IT, and waste collection departments. The raises proposed in the upcoming budget include a 2.7% cost of living adjustment for all employees and an additional $1.2 million in funds for merit raises. The county is also raising its 401(k) match to be more competitive in retaining and attracting new employees. The council will continue to hear more about the 2026 budget in the weeks to come. A public hearing on the budget will be held on December 3rd in the Snyderville Basin (location to be determined) and a second public hearing will be held on December 10th at the county courthouse in Coalville (after which the council is expected to adopt the budget). TOPIC 2: COUNCIL APPROVES IMPACTED COMMUNITIES TAX Near the end of the lengthy meeting, council voted 4-1 to approve the “Impacted Communities Tax” (formerly known as the Resort Communities Tax). The new sales tax of 1.1% would be applied to purchases of specific goods and services within unincorporated Summit County, including: Retail sales of physical or digital goods Paid admission for entertainment and recreational activities Meals at restaurants, eateries, catering & other dining options The tax would not apply to unprepared food (like groceries), prescription medications, and gasoline. The intent of this tax is to pay for bonds that would support long-term transportation improvements to benefit residents, visitors, and businesses. The tax takes effect next summer and is expected to bring in about $17 million annually. The total sales tax for purchases in unincorporated Summit County would then be 8.75%. Use of these funds is restricted to transportation infrastructure and transit projects. The goal is to reduce traffic congestion and provide public amenities to improve community connectivity and quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. The county needs to start preparing for the future by establishing a funding source to construct these improvements, some of which begin in 2026. To learn more about the intent of the tax and where the money will be spent, check out the link in our show notes. TOPIC 3: AFFORDABLE HOUSING HELPS KIDS The Summit County Housing Authority is tasked with addressing the housing shortage facing Summit County’s medium and low-income residents — a growing problem facing residents of all ages and backgrounds. Since the housing authority was created in May, the board of commissioners has been meeting monthly to talk with community partners, prepare a strategic plan, and start community outreach efforts. One goal for the housing authority is to increase awareness of the challenges faced by people experiencing housing insecurity. We are excited to share an excerpt from the first of many educational articles from the Housing Authority: “Stable, affordable housing is essential for children — and for Summit County’s future,” written by Kristen Schulz, director of the Early Childhood Alliance and housing authority commissioner. The article begins, “Providing families a safe, affordable, and stable place to live allows children and families to thrive. Research across public health, education, and economics shows that affordable and stable housing reduces toxic stress, improves physical and mental health, provides better educational outcomes, and creates economic stability and opportunities that last a lifetime…” To read the article in full and find links to peer-reviewed research that backs up her claims, visit summitcounty.info/housinghelpskids. TOPIC 4: ELECTION CERTIFICATIONS Did you know? Election results aren’t final until the canvass. A canvass is when the governing body of the entity holding the election (in this case, each municipality, board, or special service district) reviews the election results and either approves them or asks for more information. Once they approve the results, they become final. The local election officer for each entity that held an election will post the date, time, and location of the canvass on their website. You can find links to those sites at summitcounty.info/electionFAQ. Most are being held next Tuesday, November 18, so voters can likely expect official results of the municipal elections shortly thereafter. TOPIC 5: PROPERTY TAXES The Treasurer’s Office mailed tax notices in late October. If you want to view/download your notice online, visit summitcountyutah.gov/treasurer. Taxes are due on Monday, December 1, 2025. Reminder: If you’ve moved here full-time, recently bought a home, or rent your property long-term to a Utah-domiciled resident (aka someone who pays Utah income tax), then NOW is the time to make sure you update and declare your primary residency status. Use the Primary Residential Exemption form online at summitcountyutah.gov/pre by December 1, 2025. A property that is granted a primary residence exemption is only taxed at 55% of the market value of the home and up to one acre of land.

Hi everyone! Happy November, and welcome back to another episode of Summit in Six. This week, we’re going to be taking an in-depth look at information we learned from last night’s meeting about House Bill 48, which is the Wildland Urban Interface Code. Let’s get into the news! TOPIC 1: HB 48 – WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE On November 6, the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) held a public meeting to discuss the upcoming of implementation of House Bill 48, a fee and enforcement imposed by the State Legislature to improve defensible space in Wildland Urban Interface (also known as the WUI). Before we get into the recap from this meeting, we want to stress that there are still many details to be finalized moving forward. Here’s what we’ve learned so far: For some background, the WUI is the area where development meets or intermingles with wildland. These zones are more prone to wildfires and require specific safety measures and mitigation strategies. In addition to wildfire prevention efforts, the intent of HB 48 and the WUI code may be a tool in the future to prevent insurance companies from dropping coverage of properties in high risk WUI areas by providing a means for residents to take documented and certified measures to protect their property from wildfire risk. Although this is a state law, municipalities such as counties and cities will be responsible for adopting and enforcing the WUI code. Counties and cities are required to adopt this law by January 1, 2026 and will then work to produce a WUI boundary map for their area. The state is also working on a high-risk boundary map for all of Utah that has not been finalized at this time. Beginning next year, FFSL will send notices to property owners in the high risk area. Fees In 2026 and 2027, there will be a flat fee between $20 to $100 dollars based on the square footage of every taxable structure on a property. This fee will be the same regardless of any wildfire prevention work you’ve done on a property. While the fee schedule has not been finalized by Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, here’s a summary of the current proposals : Structures up to 1500 sq ft. will be charged $20 Structures up to 3000 sq ft will be charged $40 Structures up to 4500 sq ft will be charged $60 Structures up to 6000 sq ft will be charged $80 Structures beyond 6000 sq ft will be charged $100. Beginning in 2028, the fees for properties in the high-risk WUI area (still to be defined) will be based on a Lot Assessment conducted by a certified WUI coordinator from the state, county, or city. The fee schedule will likely change to be based around the annual costs of implementing the WUI code. Residents will not be charged for Lot Assessments directly, as the fee set by FFSL is meant to fund the cost. Fees will be collected by the county and given to the Utah Wildfire Fund with exact details based on agreements with each county. Fees can only be used to cover the cost of Lot Assessments, mapping, database softwares and other needs to implement the WUI code. The county may keep a portion of this fee to cover these direct costs. Lot Assessments Lot Assessments must be voluntarily requested by the property owner. Neither the state nor municipalities have the authority to conduct a lot assessment on private property without the permission of the property owner. Any type of Lot Assessment done before the program begins in 2026 or not conducted by a certified WUI coordinator will not count. Properties that choose not to undergo a Lot Assessment will be classified at the highest risk level, which we’ll discuss in a moment. The two main areas of focus for the lot assessment will be looking at the defensible space around structures and home hardening methods (such as the type of siding or roofing a structure has). This assessment results in a triage score, based on the WUI code in HB 48 and national “Firewise” standards. A Classification III score is the most extreme, meaning a property is not fully compliant with survival space or home hardening measures. A Classification II score means a property has survivable space but not home hardening. A Classification I means a property is still in the high risk area but has done everything to be compliant with WUI code. As risk is reduced, the fee for property owners is also reduced. After a Lot Assessment is conducted, homeowners will receive a full assessment report and can self certify improvements to their property. Property owners may appeal the results of their Lot Assessment or their score within 45 days of the assessment being conducted and include evidence of why they think the results were wrong. Data Information from property Lot Assessments will be given to property owners, counties and the Forestry, Fire and State Lands Division. Insurance companies will only be able to see the triage score but not the full assessment. Stay tuned as more information and clarity on HB 48 and the WUI code becomes available from Forestry Fire and State Lands. As Summit County works to understand the implications of this new law, we will do our best to keep residents informed. If you’re looking for more information, an FAQ is available from the State at ffsl.utah.gov/wuirisk. TOPIC 2: GREEN BUSINESS LUNCH & LEARN And a couple other round-up items before we finish the podcast this week. We want to let everyone know about the Green Business Lunch & Learn. On Nov. 12, you can learn practical buying strategies to cut costs, improve efficiency, and prevent waste before it happens. You’ll also hear from Swaner EcoCenter on their waste-reduction initiatives and sustainable gift shop. Please register for this FREE event: summitcounty.info/greenbizlunch. Don’t forget to bring your re-usable water bottle and take-home container for leftovers. We look forward to seeing you there! TOPIC 3: SR-32 OPEN HOUSE We want your feedback on a draft for the SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan in Kamas Valley! We’ll be holding an open house on Tuesday, November 18, from 5–7 p.m. in the Summit County Library Kamas Branch Auditorium. There you can learn about the draft plan for SR-32, see what’s in store for the city centers along it, and provide your feedback. The team took your input from the last community open house in June and worked with a stakeholder committee to develop preferred concepts for Oakley, Kamas, and Francis. These concepts seek to balance the priorities for the corridor — sustainably accommodating growth, preserving rural character and open space, increasing roadway safety, building trails, and establishing vibrant city centers. Find out more at SR32.org, where you can learn about the project and stay up to date on the latest work products. We appreciate your participation in this important project!

Hey everyone and welcome to another week of news here on Summit In Six. We’ve got some important information on Early Voting for next week, an overview of the Resort Communities Tax Council is considering, a couple of open surveys and more! TOPIC 1: EARLY VOTING AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS With the 2025 General Election just around the corner, Early Voting begins this coming Wednesday, October 29, through Saturday, November 1. Voters: please be aware that the Park City voting center has been RELOCATED to the Quinn’s/Round Valley Summit County Health Department at 650 Round Valley Drive, Park City. Voting will take place in the Lower Conference Room. The Marsac Building will not serve as a voting center for this election. This includes Election Day as well. While early voting dates are the same in both locations, please pay close attention to the following times: Hours at the Health Department will be 8 AM–1 PM all four days. Hours at the Summit County Courthouse will be 8 AM to 4 PM EXCEPT on Saturday, November 1, which is 8 AM–1 PM. And don’t forget to check your mailboxes, voters! The Summit County Clerk’s Office mailed ballots to active, registered voters for the 2025 General Election last week. If you didn’t receive a ballot, but believe you should have, please email [email protected]. Questions about the upcoming election? Visit summitcounty.info/electionFAQ. TOPIC 2: RESORT COMMUNITIES TAX This week in County Council, Finance Officer Matt Leavitt and County Manager Shayne Scott gave council members an overview of the Resort Communities Tax. This is a local sales and use tax the County can impose on certain taxable purchases from businesses in unincorporated Summit County (outside any city limits). Revenue from this tax can be used on public infrastructure and improvements, including transportation and transit projects. It was created to help resort communities support the needs of visitors and mitigate the impacts of tourism on the community. The County Council can choose to implement the tax anywhere from 0.5% to 1.1% to bring in an estimated $7.7 to $17 million in annual revenue. Examples of purchases this tax would apply to include: Retail sales of physical or digital goods. Paid admission for entertainment and recreational activities. Meals (prepared food and beverage) at restaurants, eateries, catering & other dining options. Major industries contributing to the tax include: Utilities Restaurants Online sales Retail businesses Home improvement stores Resort lodging and nightly rentals Items such as unprepared food (like groceries), prescription medications, and gasoline, diesel and other fuels are not affected by this tax. The Resort Communities Tax does not change property tax amounts, either. The County is considering this tax to support long-term transportation improvements to benefit residents, visitors, and businesses by easing congestion and constructing public infrastructure for major future events (such as the 2034 Olympics). If approved, potential projects include: Improvements to the I-80/Kimball Junction interchange and surrounding roads Transit center, bus rapid transit along State Route 224 Structured parking with workforce housing Pedestrian bridge over State Route 224 The Council will decide whether or not to adopt the tax in the October 29th council meeting next week. TOPIC 3: FEEDBACK ON WATER ELEMENTS OF COUNTY GENERAL PLANS Do you care about thoughtful planning and development based on water availability? Round 2 feedback on the Water Element of the Snyderville Basin and Eastern Summit County generals plans opens today, October 24 through November 5. Visit summitcounty.info/waterelement to review the plans and provide your feedback on this vital component of the planning process. TOPIC 4: SUMMIT BIKE SHARE: COUNTDOWN TO SEASON’S END It seems like no time at all has passed since things kicked off for Summit Bike Share in May, but after almost 6 months of unprecedented ridership: we’re approaching the season’s end. Projections estimate we’ll have served over 20,000 riders, and our bikes will have traveled almost 70,000 miles! There’s still time to try out a bike for the first time, or ride a few miles more if you already have a pass. To celebrate the incredible season we’ve had, we’re offering half price rides for the next 10 days. From today through Sunday, Nov. 2, you can enjoy a 30-minute ride for just $2.50. Go to summitbikeshare.com to see a station map, purchase a pass, and learn about the bike share’s history. Barring any extreme weather, our last day of the season will be Monday, November 3. We have many incredible sponsors to thank, especially title sponsors Intermountain Healthcare and Park City Chamber of Commerce. We also appreciate the continued support of Deer Valley Resort, Mountain Magazine, and Pocket Guide to Park City. We have ambitious plans for next year, so stay tuned for more updates. TOPIC 5: LAST CALL FOR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION SURVEY We’re entering the last week of our survey for Active Transportation in Summit County, and we want to hear from YOU! One emphasis for the updated plan is to address a need for more trails in Eastern Summit County. The ultimate goal is to create a countywide active transportation network that will link communities from east to west and north to south. Every resident or visitor that enjoys getting around on their own two feet (or two wheels) is welcome to contribute their input to the official Active Transportation Plan for Summit County. To see a map of existing conditions, learn about areas of concern, and find out what’s planned for the near future: go to summitcounty.info/activetransportation. You can go directly to the survey by clicking the link in our show notes. After reviewing public comments and working with a steering committee, the Transportation department plans to present final recommendations in spring 2026.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We may have experienced the first snows of the season, but we have more autumn weather on the horizon and plenty of seasonal events to enjoy. In today’s episode, we are going to cover a brief overview of the draft 2026 county budget, share some great sustainability news, answer your election questions, and highlight some great events and public engagement opportunities! Alright, let’s get into the news. TOPIC 1: DRAFT BUDGET FOR 2026 At Wednesday’s meeting, County Council reviewed a draft budget for 2026 totalling $100 million. County Manager Shayne Scott and Finance Manager Matt Leavitt presented the draft figures and highlighted key details. The roughly $10 million increase over this year’s budget was largely attributed to a 0.5% sales tax for emergency services implemented last November. Next year, the same tax is expected to bring in about $16.5 million in revenue. Revenue sources in general breakdown as follows: $36.2 million from property taxes $18 million through sales taxes $16.5 million from the aforementioned emergency services sales tax $4 million through licensing and permitting $13.9 million from grants and intergovernmental revenue (much of which supports Health Department programs) $8.2 million through fees and services (fees from commercial businesses, planning department, etc.) $5 million from other sources As for where the money will be spent, the five highest expenditure sectors are public safety ($32 million), public works ($15 million), general fund ($22 million), governance ($13 million), and public health ($10.5 million). Between now and December 10, the county will be meeting weekly to review the budget in greater detail and discuss changes as necessary. Some items that were considered or requested for the budget but not addressed in the 2026 draft include: funds for 8 additional full-time employees (in addition to 8 that would be funded), about $1.1 in miscellaneous requests, a courthouse remodel, the Park City Senior Services building, and no recommendation for a property tax increase. The next meeting for council on Oct. 22 is expected to include a discussion on revenue and tax projections, as well as an overview of fund balances. A public hearing on the budget is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 3 in the Snyderville Basin (at the Richins Building) with another hearing in Coalville scheduled for Dec. 10 (at the courthouse). After the public hearing on Dec. 10, the County Council is expected to adopt the budget later in that meeting. TOPIC 2: EXCITING DIVERSION NEWS WITH RECYCLE UTAH Earlier this week, Summit County, Park City, and Recycle Utah announced a partnership to ensure residents continue to have uninterrupted, accessible, and expanding options for responsible waste diversion now and in the years to come. Together, they are developing a coordinated plan for the Summer of 2026, when Recycle Utah moves out of its current location, in order to guarantee residents continue to have access to the recycling options they have always enjoyed. Included in the plan is an effort to find Recycle Utah a new home. Park City is relinquishing its rights to a 4.18-acre parcel of land in the U.S. 40 corridor specifically so Summit County and Recycle Utah can designate the property as the permanent location for Recycle Utah’s future operations. This site will allow Recycle Utah to continue operating a central drop-off and collections center, while remaining a hub for waste education, outreach, and community building. Looking ahead, the three organizations are exploring opportunities to make recycling more convenient than ever for more of our community. This includes launching a joint effort to “refresh” Summit County’s 2018 Solid Waste Master Plan. This process has already begun and includes creating an action agenda with new and more robust waste reduction and diversion targets, as well as strategies to achieve them. Our goal is to create a roadmap for the next 5, 10, 20 years and beyond that reflects the values of our community, adapts to changing needs, and advances long-term sustainability. It’s really cool to know Summit County, Park City, and Recycle Utah are united in this work. This joint success reflects the best of what we can accomplish together. TOPIC 3: ELECTIONS UPDATE Are you registered to vote yet? If not, the deadline to register and receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the 2025 General Election is just ONE WEEK away on Friday, October 24, 2025. The easiest way to register if you have an up-to-date Utah driver’s license is to go to voter.utah.gov. If you miss the October 24th deadline, you can register to vote at an early voting location or an Election Day voting location. However, you will need to present two forms of identification at the voting location to register, one that proves your identity and the other that proves your residence. For our registered voters: check your mailboxes! The Summit County Clerk’s Office began mailing ballots for the 2025 General Election this past Tuesday, Oct. 14. After filling out your ballot, it must be RECEIVED by the clerk’s office on or before 8:00 pm on Election Day (November 4). In the past, ballots only had to be postmarked by the day before Election Day — voters should be aware of the shorter timeline to return their ballots. You can also drop your ballot off at a dropbox location before 8 pm on Election Day. Get all your elections-related questions answered at summitcounty.info/electionFAQ. TOPIC 4: HALLOWEEN HEALTH FAIR And just in time for the spooky season: Summit County Health Department will be hosting a Halloween Health Fair on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 5–7 pm at the Ledges Event Center in Coalville. (that’s located at 202 Park Rd next to the fairgrounds). Costumes are highly encouraged, but not required! Come learn about resources and services your local health department and community partners have to offer. We will have activities, prizes, and treats! Flu and COVID vaccines will be available for those interested with no appointment needed. Bring any health insurance cards you have if you want to get a vaccine (we are unable to accept Cigna or University of Utah Health insurance plans). Come enjoy a spooktacular time and protect your health at our Halloween Fair! TOPIC 5: “KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:” AVALANCHE AWARENESS If the Halloween Health Fair isn’t your scene, or maybe you spend a lot of time in the backcountry during the winter, you should consider joining a free avalanche awareness training held on Thursday, Oct 23, from 6–7 pm at the Sheldon Richins Auditorium (1885 W Ute Blvd in Kimball Junction). “Know Before You Go” is a free avalanche awareness training hosted by Summit County Lands & Natural Resources. You can expect an informative and easy to grasp explanation of the when, why, and how of avalanches as well as how you can continue to have fun in the mountains and stay safe. Learn from experts and have some fun next Thursday evening with “Know Before You Go.” For more information, go to kbyg.org. TOPIC 6: ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION UPDATE After 6 years of hard work securing funds, collaborating with partners, and building connections, Summit County is updating our Active Transportation Plan. This 2025 update will build on the 2019 recommended facilities to create a countywide active transportation network. “Active transportation” includes all forms of human-powered mobility like walking, cycling, and even non-mechanized wheelchair use. We’re seeking public input on how to increase connectivity, safety, accessibility, and sustainability within our active transportation network. We especially want input on areas outside the boundaries of Park City Municipal to inform new trails and help us build linkages in collaboration with Park City. Go to summitcounty.info/activetransportation to see a map of existing conditions, learn about areas of concern, and find out what’s coming in the near future. Whether you live or work in Summit County, visit for recreation, or enjoy the trails and open spaces in any way: please submit your comments in the survey linked in our show notes.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. Today, we recap this week’s County Council meeting & share upcoming event and engagement opportunities for our community to tap into. Alright, let’s get into the news!  TOPIC 1: DISTRICTING MAP APPROVAL & DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS  The Summit County Council approved the Districting Map on Wednesday, and Council members were assigned to their new districts. To view the approved district map, please visit: summitcounty.info/districtmap2025.  District 1, shown blue on the map and encompassing much of the North Summit area as well as neighborhoods like Upper and Lower Silver Creek, and Bitner North and South, will be represented by Tonja Hanson; District 2, which is green on the map and covers the South Summit area, will be represented by Megan McKenna; District 3, showing purple on the map and covering Park City Proper, will be represented by Roger Armstrong; District 4, which is orange on the map and encompasses neighborhoods including Upper Pinebrook, Park West and Park West South, Ranch Place, Silver Springs, Snyders Mill, Old Ranch Road South, and Highland Estates East and West, will be represented by Chris Robinson; and, finally, District 5, which is yellow on the map and covers neighborhoods including Kimball Canyon, Jeremy Ranch East and West, Pinebrook North, Lower Pinebrook East and West, Wagon Wheel, Moose Hollow, and Summit Park, , will be represented by Canice Harte.  Again, we recommend reviewing the approved district map at summitcounty.info/districtmap2025 to see which district your voting precinct falls in. If you don’t know your voting precinct, visit summitcounty.info/precinctmap and type in your address.  For the 2026 Election Cycle, the seats held by Councilmembers Harte and Robinson, in Districts 4 and 5, are the two seats up for election. The other three seats, so seats for Districts 1, 2, and 3, will be up for election in 2028.  TOPIC 2: SNYDERVILLE BASIN REC DISTRICT PROPOSED TAX INCREASE  Also at council this week, the Snyderville Basin Recreation District discussed its proposed tax increase. Dana Jones, District Director, shared that Basin Rec intends to increase 2026 property taxes in the amount of $1,337,367, which is an approximate 15% increase. If approved, the additional revenue will be used for the purpose of Staffing, Capital, and Ongoing Asset Maintenance Projects, Contract Services & Insurance Increase.  A public hearing on the proposed increase will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. At that hearing, residents will have the chance to comment on the proposed increase. After, the Council will approve the district’s 2026 budget with or without the proposed increase.  TOPIC 3: SKULLCANDY BUILDING UPDATE  The Summit County Manager’s Office gave an update on the Skullcandy Building. Here’s what we learned:  Since purchasing the building, county staff have been working with GSBS Architects on a design for the first floor of the building that includes a new library, DMV office, Council dais and meeting room, and more. The design is now complete, and construction documents are finalized.  Highlights of the design include: A single point of entry for all of the public for easy wayfinding; a public lounge/lobby area near the front entry; several conference spaces, as well as a large multipurpose room that the county can use for a variety trainings, film screenings, meetings and other functions (meeting space is the biggest need currently in county facilities, particularly in the Kimball Junction area). The county has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a General Contractor (GC). The plan is to choose a GC and complete a contract by the end of October or, beginning of November, so construction can start mid-November. We anticipate the project to take around six months to be completed. The intent is for very limited construction and improvements to this space for cost purposes.  The Richins Building will be demolished in the Spring of 2026 to make way for a parking structure and transit center as contemplated in the Public-Private Partnership with Dakota Pacific Real Estate.  Because of this, services currently offered in the Richins Building will need to find a new home.  The Park City Branches of the Summit County Library and DVM will go to Skullcandy. Other offices we are considering relocating to Skullcandy are: Lands and Natural Resources Team; Building Inspectors; Communications and Public Engagement; Emergency Operations Center & training space; Health Department (administration and nonclinical teams); Deputy County Manager office; Housing Authority Executive Director; Offices for IT and Facilities personnel dedicated to the building.  The transportation planning and bike share team will move to the former Mountain Regional Water building in the Silver Summit area, which the county purchased in September 2025.  We are still discussing where to move the MCOT and Latino Behavioral Health, which both require HIPPA compliance with patient privacy, creating a unique set of facilities’ needs. And that’s the latest! We’ll be sure to keep the community up-to-date as more decisions and steps are taken.  TOPIC 4: UPCOMING EVENTS / ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES  We’ll wrap things up today by highlight some upcoming Events and engagement opportunities our listeners should be aware of:  General Plan Water Element Feedback  First up, do you care about thoughtful planning and development based on water availability? If yes, tap into this feedback opportunity! All counties are required to integrate a water use and preservation element into their General Plans by December 31, 2025 according to Utah State Code. Learn more and provide feedback on Summit County’s Water Element in the Snyderville Basin & Eastern Summit County general plans at summitcounty.info/waterelement. Round 1 of feedback is open online October 9-17, 2025. Round 2 of feedback is open October 24 – November 5, 2025. If you prefer to give comments in person, the Water Element for each General Plan will be presented at the following planning commission meetings. Public comment will be taken. Join the Snyderville Basin Planning Commisson on October 14 at the Richins Building beginning at 6 p.m. Join the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission on October 16 at the Kamas Library also beginning at 6 p.m. Halloween Health Fair On Thurs., Oct. 23 from 5-7pm at Ledges Event Center in Coalville the Summit County Health Deparment is hosting it’s annual Halloween Health Fair! Learn about resources and services Summit County Health and its community partners have to offer. There will be tricks, treats and vaccines! (Flu and COVID vaccines available, no appointment needed.) Costumes are highly encouraged! Don’t miss out!  Compost Your Pumpkins! Speaking of Halloween…did you know you can compost your pumpkins?! Drop-Off your pumpkins at Jeremy Ranch Elementary, Parley’s Park Elementary, Trailside Elementary, McPolin Elementary, Ecker Hill Middle School, Park City High School, PC MARC anytime from October 31 – November 12. Thanks to the Park City School District, Park City Community Foundation’s Zero Food Waste Initiative, and Momentum Recycling for making this possible! We’re serious about car seat safety! And, finally, the Summit County Health Department hosts car seat safety classes each month for parents and caregivers who want to make sure their car seats are installed correctly and being used the right way. The next class is Monday, October 27 from 5-6pm at the Quinn’s Jct. Health Dept. building. The class is taught in English and Spanish. Register today: summitcounty.info/carseatclass.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! In today’s episode, we are going to cover the latest on redistricting for county council seats, share an opportunity to gather public input on active transportation, and let you know more about vaccine clinics coming soon to your neighborhood. Alright, let’s get into the news! TOPIC 1: County Hears From Public on Redistricting Maps This week the county council held a public hearing on the latest version of the Summit County districting map. After listening to a handful of residents, who all supported the proposed map, council chair Tonja Hanson announced the hearing will be continued next week — Wednesday, October 8. That meeting will take place at the courthouse in Coalville & allow more opportunity for comment. Ahead of the October 8 meeting, the Utah state legislature will meet in a special session on Monday, October 6 to potentially revise HB356. It’s unclear how that session will affect the proposed map. For some context, in Summit County, a significant shift is underway in how residents will choose their County Council representatives. A new state law, House Bill 356, mandates that Summit County transition from an at-large election system to district-based representation. This means voters will elect a single representative from their geographic district every four years, instead of voting for all five council members. The law also outlined the process to create a district commission made up of all municipal mayors in county boundaries and one representative from unincorporated Summit County. The districting commission’s task was to divide Summit County into five distinct geographical districts, ensuring each district has roughly equal population, with only a 10% deviation based on the most recent census. The commission met throughout the summer to develop and refine their map, which they’ve now presented formally to the county council. Stay tuned for more information next week! TOPIC 2: Active Transportation Plan Survey Chances are, if you live in, go to work, or visit Summit County, you love the mountain landscape. Easy access on trails from residential or shopping areas is a huge part of the appeal: whether you’re on two wheels or your own two feet. “Active Transportation” is the term we use to describe human-powered travel like walking, running, and cycling. In 2019, Summit County completed its first Active Transportation Plan to start building a countywide network of trails, road crossings, and facilities. The transportation team has been hard at work bringing funds and planning resources to towns and cities to support their projects while connecting the unincorporated areas, as well. After 6 years, it’s time for an update to the plan! And we need your input to shape the future of our beautiful county roads and trails. See a map of existing conditions, areas of concern, and recommendations at summitcounty.info/activetransportation. This new plan will focus on areas outside of Park City, with particular emphasis on eastern Summit County. Some key considerations that will guide the new plan include safety, accessibility, connectivity, and sustainability. We want to preserve the county’s natural character and make living and visiting here even better! Please share your thoughts and help inform the planning process through the community survey. Access the survey and review the background info at summitcounty.info/activetransportation. TOPIC 3: Vax & Go Clinics Gear up for cold and flu season with ease! Visit one of our drive-through vaccine clinics NEXT WEEK: October 7 at the Kamas Library October 8 at the Coalville LDS Church Lot, or October 9 at Park City Mountain Parking Lot All of these clinics will run from 11 am – 6 pm. We have both flu and Covid vaccines available. If you have medical insurance, please bring your cards. If you are uninsured, you can still attend and receive a free flu vaccine. There is no appointment necessary, but pre-registering is helpful at: summitcounty.info/vaxngo25. TOPIC 4: Final Month for Summit Bike Share 2025 Season To kick off the final month of its 2025 season, Summit Bike Share is offering $1 rides Oct. 2–4! Cruise around town this evening (Friday Oct. 3) and all-day Saturday Oct. 4 and enjoy the many great events and activities set against an incredible autumn backdrop. Feel the crisp air, take in the views at your leisure, and skip the hassle of finding parking. Just download the app and sign up for an individual pass to take advantage of the discount. For more information about how to get a pass and start riding, visit summitbikeshare.com. Thanks to the Restaurant Tax Grant for sponsoring Summit Bike Share and making this promotion a possibility.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. Today, we recap this week’s County Council meeting, which included an affordable housing update and the latest on the County’s facilities planning process. Then, we wrap things up with some fun community engagement opportunities you won’t want to miss out on. Alright, let’s get into the news!  – TOPIC 1: Affordable Housing Update  This week’s County Council meeting kicked off with an exciting update on affordable housing in Summit County. Economic Development and Housing Manager, Maddy McDonough, presented a beta version of a brand new tool her team is calling the Land Use Prioritization Map.  The tool comes on the heels of the creation of a local Housing Authority and the drafting of a Housing Authority Strategic Plan. With a clearly identified need for affordable housing, the question becomes, as McDounough stated, “where do we put the housing?”  The Land Prioritization Map can be used to answer that question. It will help identify lots and parcels that are most suitable for affordable housing in Summit County. It can be used to inform Future Land Use Maps, regional and neighborhood level planning, and help the County prioritize land acquisition.  The tool is not available for public use yet, but this is a great example of really innovative, informative and useful work happening inside the county organization right now. We’ll be sure to keep our listeners updated as the Land Use Map continues to take shape!  – TOPIC 2: County Facilities Planning  Next, County Manager Shayne Scott provided the latest information on the county’s facilities master planning process.  For some background, the county has been going through this process since January of 2025. A study was conducted to better understand the current condition of the county’s facilities and their ability to respond to things like workforce needs, service delivery, and growth, giving the county a road map for the next 25 years. It involved interviews with county leadership, elected officials, department directors, an employee survey, and a physical evaluation of each county building looking at safety, space, condition, and ability to meet county purposes.  Now, a Master Plan has been proposed including recommendations for facility upgrades, renovations, and new construction. The Maste Plan will be broken into three phases, each with a specific timeline for improvements, as well as estimated costs of such improvements. At this week’s meeting, Councilmembers wanted to reiterate and make clear that the county seat will NOT be moving from Coalville at any point during this planning process.  Further discussion about facilities upgrades and renovations specifically for next year, 2026, will occur as the 2026 budget discussions continue. Those budget discussions are important for our community to tune into beyond learning about this facility’s process. It is in those conversations that decisions about how taxpayer dollars are spent get made, so tune in! We’ll make sure to provide details on budget discussions as they begin to occur.   A recommendation for how to utilize the former Skullcandy facility will be a separate conversation with the Council in two weeks on October 8, 2025.  – TOPIC 3: Air We Share The Summit County Health Department’s latest installment of their Public Health Speaker Series is happening NEXT WEEK! This session, called the “Air We Share”, will allow attendees to hear from local air quality and healthcare experts and learn practical tips to protect their health, including how to monitor local conditions and learning to build a DIY box fan filter. Representatives from local and state agencies will also be present for conversation and connection. These speakers include: Seth Arens from Western Water Assessment; Kerry Kelly, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah; and Dr. Wing Province, Chief Medical Officer and Emergency Medicine Physician at Intermountain Health.  This is a don’t miss event! Join the Summit County Health Department at the “Air We Share” event on Tuesday, September 30 from 5:30 – 8pm at Kamas City Event Center. More information can be found at summitcounty.info/speakerseries.  – TOPIC 4: Book signing at Kamas Library Summit County Library invites you to join authors Heather B. Moore and Allison Hong Merrill at the Kamas Valley Branch as they discuss “The Paper Daughters of Chinatown” (Young Readers Edition). Their book, based on a true story, relates the experience of two friends who unite to help rescue immigrant women in the most dangerous corners of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 1890s. Come hear from the authors as they share how they combine their love for historical research with storytelling. DATE: October 3 TIME: 5:00 p.m. LOCATION: Kamas Valley Library Ages 12+ are welcome. Refreshments will be served, and Dolly’s Bookstore will be on hand during the signing with books available for purchase. This event is made possible through partnership with the Utah Humanities Book Festival. If you plan to attend, please register at the link in our show notes.