Grand County advisory board narrows strategic-plan approach, confirms vice chair and reports grant win

The Grand County Economic Advisory Board discussed steps to update the county's economic strategic plan, confirmed a new vice chair and received an update that a recent RCG application was approved.

Board members spent the bulk of the meeting debating what parts of the county's 2022 general plan and a more recent strategic plan should be carried forward, who should use the final product, and how to make a concise, actionable document that staff and commissioners will actually apply in day-to-day decision making.

The conversation centered on creating a short, high-level statement of the county's current economic position and a small set of guiding “pillars” that would justify and prioritize tactical actions. Melissa Jeffers, nonvoting Grand County economic development staff, said the board should “boil that down to... some core principles” so subsequent policy or implementation work would have clear justification. Jeffers also told members she had completed the RCG 2025 reporting and said, “we just got notified within the last hour that it was approved.” The board also heard that the county intends to prepare an intent to apply for RCOG funds but that completing an outstanding RCOG award from a previous round remains uncertain.

Board members agreed the best near-term use of staff time is to produce a concise working document the board can use as an implementation tool — an update or amendment that provides pillars, a short “where we are” statement, and a one-year set of strategic actions that fit within the existing general plan rather than attempting a full general-plan rewrite now. Jasmine Duncan, a voting member, said she would not seek reappointment when her term ends in 2025: “I don't intend to apply again... I think it's time for new blood.” Several members recommended recruiting both a municipal representative (staff or an elected official) and a citizen-at-large to fill upcoming vacancies and to time advertising so new appointees can be seated early in a calendar year.

Board business included two formal votes. The board approved minutes from the June 26 meeting (a motion to approve passed with one abstention from Jasmine Duncan) and voted to nominate Randy Martin, who represents the Moab Area Chamber of Commerce, as vice chair; the nomination passed unanimously. Lisa (first name given in meeting) moved to nominate Martin, and Ashley seconded the motion. The minutes motion was seconded by Randy; the meeting record shows the motion passed with one abstention.

Members spent substantial time reviewing how this advisory board's strategic document should relate to the county general plan and to Trail to Tomorrow stakeholder work. Several members and staff urged a concentric approach: use the general plan for long-range vision and the advisory board's strategic document for executable, staff-driven implementation steps and grant-selection criteria. Board members also repeatedly urged that the chosen document be practical for staff use so the commission and administration can cite it when making funding and policy choices.

Other operational items included confirmation that Melissa Jeffers will step out of a voting seat now that she is a county economic development staff member; the vacancy will open a public-citizen seat and an officer position (vice chair had been open). James Dixon (county staff) provided clarification later in the meeting that the municipal representative should be “a representative of the municipality,” and the board agreed that staff or an elected municipal representative would be the appropriate recruit for that seat. The board also discussed timing: some current seats expire later in 2025 and the group agreed to begin recruitment and application outreach in the fall so new appointees can be seated at year-start.

The meeting closed with members assigning homework: identify what is truly missing from the existing general plan and the strategic plan draft and return with specific recommended amendments or a short amendment package the board can present to the commission. Several members emphasized that successful execution will require staff continuity and better communication so an adopted strategic tool actually guides future grant decisions and daily staff work.

Votes at a glance - Approval of June 26 minutes: motion passed; one abstention (Jasmine Duncan). No further vote counts specified in the record. - Nomination and confirmation of Randy Martin as vice chair: motion passed unanimously.

What was not decided / next steps - The board did not adopt a final amended strategic plan; members asked staff and the board to prepare a concise “pillars” one-pager and a short list of prioritized, implementable actions (one-year priorities) for the next meeting. - RCOG funding: an intent to apply will be prepared; whether a prior-round RCOG award can be closed out in time to avoid duplication remains uncertain.

Ending The board asked members to review the general-plan chapter called “Healthy Economy,” the Trails to Tomorrow findings and the current strategic-plan draft before the next meeting; staff will add those documents to the agenda packet and begin outreach for upcoming vacancies.