[{"_1":2,"_95":-5,"_96":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6722554,"mediaKeyId","3381961-4ea9c3d9d4f7b543f5727b0bc80f51e7","parentId",3381961,"title","Council hears ranked-choice voting presentation; no decision tonight","audioSeconds",1950,"startMs",1166000,"endMs",3116000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3381961-4ea9c3d9d4f7b543f5727b0bc80f51e7&start=1166&end=3116","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6722554/Utah/Council-hears-ranked-choice-voting-presentation-no-decision-tonight","mediaUrl","author","Oakley Oakley City Council","date","2025-01-29T19:00:00Z","article","Colleen, executive director of Utah Ranked Choice Voting, presented an overview of ranked-choice voting (RCV) to the Oakley City Council and answered questions about local experience, auditing and administrative implications.

Colleen explained that on a ranked ballot “voters rank the candidates in their order of preference,” and that if no candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, the lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated and votes are redistributed until someone achieves a majority. She told the council the system can eliminate the need for a primary election and that some Utah cities have used RCV in recent municipal cycles.

Why it matters: Adopting RCV would change Oakley’s municipal election schedule and ballot counting. Colleen said a city that opts in notifies its county clerk and the lieutenant governor (she cited a May 1 notification deadline); the council discussed an internal deadline for making a decision at or before its second April meeting.

Presenter points and local experience
Colleen described Utah’s pilot use of RCV: dozens of municipalities have tried it in recent years, and in 2023 she said 12 cities and three counties used RCV. She noted mixed reactions in some cities and cautioned the practice requires voter education and administrative support. “It encourages more civil, issue-based campaigns,” Colleen said, arguing candidates may seek second- and third-choice votes from voters who support other candidates.

She also told council members RCV can reduce election costs by removing a separate primary for city races and that county election systems in Utah can tabulate RCV results. Colleen said audits are possible and that preliminary results can be shown before the official canvas, similar to other elections.

Council discussion and next steps
Council members asked whether Park County Clerk Diaz would support running RCV elections; Colleen said she had spoken with the Park County clerk and described that clerk as supportive. Council member Kelly said she supported the idea in nonpartisan races and highlighted potential city budget savings from skipping a primary.

No formal motion was made. The council agreed to continue discussion at a future meeting; the mayor noted the council would need to act by the council’s second April meeting if it intends to notify the clerk and lieutenant governor by May 1.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Oakley City Council Meeting - Agenda - CC 1-29-2025AUDIO ","oneSentenceSummary","Colleen, executive director of Utah Ranked Choice Voting, presented an overview of ranked-choice voting to the Oakley City Council and answered questions about local experience, auditing and administrative implications.","taxTitle","Oakley, Summit County, Utah","taxId",80008,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6722558,"Oakley approves $13,500 consent-item to help finish Trail Park Phase 2",957,171000,1128000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3381961-4ea9c3d9d4f7b543f5727b0bc80f51e7&start=171&end=1128","/articles/6722558/Utah/Oakley-approves-13500-consent-item-to-help-finish-Trail-Park-Phase-2","Howard Sorensen, a Trails Foundation representative, told the Oakley City Council the Oakley Trail Park Phase 2 trail system is about 95% complete and organizers plan a late-May grand opening.

The council added the foundation’s funding request to the consent calendar and approved the consent calendar by voice vote. The ask was $13,500 to cover playground bark, picnic tables, metal railings and a commemorative plaque; the council approved the added item unanimously by “aye” voice vote.

Why it matters: The project includes a reinforced-concrete pavilion with restrooms, a pump track for youth riders, a playground and new parking improvements. Council members and the presenter said the park will expand recreational access and connect to regional trails over time.

What was presented and requested
Howard Sorensen described completed and near-complete features: trail berms, a “pump park” for skill-building, a playground with low-risk features and a pavilion that now includes flush restrooms. He said the pavement/parking work and stone edging have been improved and that some quarry stone was donated to the project. “It’s such a great place to live,” Sorensen said while describing the volunteer effort and donations.

Sorensen said the foundation has raised “a little over $500,000 in cash,” roughly half from grants and about half from individual donors, plus roughly $220,000 in contractor in-kind donations. He said the pavilion cost exceeded early estimates (initially projected about $60,000) after the decision to include flush toilets and reinforced construction; that change increased the pavilion cost by roughly 20 percent.

Organizers asked the city to help place playground bark and to anchor picnic tables to concrete; the proposal that came before the council included a $13,500 request that staff summarized as: $2,240 for bark, $7,500 for picnic tables, $1,650 for metal railings and $1,400 for a bronze plaque. Sorensen said contractors had donated a $4,000 security camera system and that final tuning of the trail builder’s work (about $15,000 reserved) would occur in spring.

Council action and funding details
A council member moved to add the Trails Foundation request to the consent calendar; another council member seconded. The council then moved to approve the consent calendar, which included minutes, the invoice register and the Trails Foundation item. The motions were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Project timeline and next steps
Sorensen said he hopes for a grand opening near the end of May (presenter referenced both May 30 and May 31 as targeted dates). He said the foundation and contractors will finish remaining trail work and that some postoperative fine-tuning is scheduled for spring. Organizers asked for city assistance to spread bark and to anchor tables before opening.

Community context
Speakers noted the park will link to regional trails (references were made to the Weaver River pathway and connections toward Wooden Shoe and Millrace). Organizers emphasized the project also protects hundreds of acres as conservation land adjacent to the trail system.

Ending
Council members thanked Sorensen and the volunteers. The council added the Trails Foundation request to the consent calendar and approved the consent calendar, clearing the way for the foundation to complete remaining work ahead of the planned late-May opening.","The council added a Trails Foundation request to the consent calendar and approved it by voice vote. The Oakley Trail Park Phase 2 is nearly complete; organizers seek city help with playground bark and anchoring picnic tables ahead of a late-May grand opening.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6722548,"Hearing officer upholds city’s administrative decision on Chateau Recovery conditional use permit amendment",44,3276000,3320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3381961-4ea9c3d9d4f7b543f5727b0bc80f51e7&start=3276&end=3320","/articles/6722548/Utah/Hearing-officer-upholds-citys-administrative-decision-on-Chateau-Recovery-conditional-use-permit-amendment","Mayor reported an appeal hearing was held regarding Chateau Recovery’s proposed amendment to a conditional use permit. Hearing officer Doug Clyde ruled in favor of the city and the administration’s prior action, the mayor said.

City staff said they are finalizing the written opinion with the hearing officer and the city attorney and will publish the written decision on the city website once complete. The company that appealed has 30 days to file for judicial review in district court, staff said.

Why it matters: The hearing officer’s finding sustains the city’s administrative decision and advances the matter toward final administrative closure unless the applicant pursues a court appeal.

Details from the meeting
The mayor summarized the hearing outcome in public remarks to the council. City staff said they will complete the written opinion and post it online; staff reiterated that the 30-day window to appeal is available to the applicant.

Ending
Council members received the update. No further council action was recorded tonight on the Chateau Recovery item.","A hearing officer ruled in favor of the city in an appeal over the administrative decision on Chateau Recovery’s conditional use permit amendment. The applicant has 30 days to appeal to district court; the city will publish the written decision when finalized.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears ranked-choice voting presentation; no decision tonight

Oakley approves $13,500 consent-item to help finish Trail Park Phase 2

Hearing officer upholds city’s administrative decision on Chateau Recovery conditional use permit amendment