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Salt Lake City plans multi-step process to address Foothills trail controversies; working group and interagency agreement planned
Summary
City staff outlined a three-part plan to address the paused Foothills trail work: a small-area planning effort with consultants for the Upper Avenues and Twin Peaks, a Foothill management agreement among five landowners, and establishment of a foothills stakeholder working group to guide trail alignments, decommissioning and restoration.
Salt Lake City staff told council members they will pursue a three-part process this summer and fall to resolve long-running disputes over Foothills trail management and a 2021 construction pause.
The department plans to contract a consultant for a small-area plan covering the Upper Avenues and Twin Peaks to examine trail alignments, decommissioning, trailhead infrastructure and restoration. That consultant work is booked through mid-summer and staff expect the planning document to be ready by late fall or winter for council consideration.
Why it matters: the Foothills include multiple landowners and high public interest; decisions about trail building, restoration and decommissioning affect recreation, habitat and neighborhood impact in several districts.
Interagency management agreement and stakeholders Public Lands staff said they are drafting a Foothill management agreement with five major landowners: Salt Lake City (public lands), Salt Lake City Public Utilities, U.S. Forest Service, Utah State Parks, and the University of Utah. Staff said they anticipate a first draft of that cross-jurisdictional agreement by June and described the agreement as an important mechanism to coordinate management and maintenance responsibilities across boundaries.
The department also plans to establish a foothills stakeholder working group this year, with membership still to be determined. An environmental dispute-resolution firm from the University of Utah will help craft the working group and support the planning process, staff said.
What has already happened and next steps Staff described three ongoing strands of work tied to the foothills plan: (1) consultant-led small-area planning for the Upper Avenues and Twin Peaks, (2) the interagency foothill management agreement with five landowners that would align management responsibilities across jurisdictions, and (3) establishment of the foothills stakeholder working group to guide planning and implementation. Staff said initial GIS mapping, weed surveys and habitat coordination have already begun prior to consultant work.
Council requests and communications Council members urged better public communication about the distinction between maintenance/rehabilitation projects and new construction. Public Lands staff said they will provide clearer definitions of “maintenance,” “rehabilitation,” and “trail construction” and will circulate those to council and the public. Staff committed to return with public-facing materials and the small-area plan results before winter; they also said the stakeholder working group could be formed as early as the fall.
Ending Staff said the larger plan and the multiagency agreement are intended to clarify responsibilities for maintenance and funding and to reduce confusion about projects in the Foothills; council members asked for regular updates and stronger outreach to community councils and neighborhood stakeholders.
