Summit County names districting commission; Mayors and chair to redraw council districts by Oct. 1

The Summit County Districting Commission convened and selected Melina Stevens as chair during a Council update on June 11, completing a statutory step required by House Bill 356, which requires Summit County to switch to district‑based council seats.

The commission will include mayors from the county’s municipalities and an at‑large representative for unincorporated Summit County. The commission is required to deliver five districts to the council by Oct. 1; the council must then hold a public hearing and act within 30 days.

Why it matters: The Utah Legislature’s 2025 House Bill 356 mandates district elections in counties like Summit. The change ends the at‑large voting system that previously allowed every voter to select every council member, replacing it with single‑district elections so voters will elect one councilor from their district each four years.

What the commission must do

• Equal population requirement: The commission must draw districts based on population (not number of registered voters) and keep each district within plus or minus 10% of equal population.

• Timeline and meetings: Stevens outlined a meeting schedule beginning the week after the council meeting; meetings will be open to the public and broadcast via Zoom. The commission intends to meet multiple times in June through September and may use GIS precinct and population data to draft maps.

• Public process: The commission will not hold formal public hearings while drafting maps; the public hearing will occur after the commission forwards a proposed map to the county council. The council will then hold the required public hearing before adoption.

Key context from staff

Deputy county staff advised the commission and council that the statutory timeline is tight; the commission must provide its initial map by Oct. 1. Stevens noted she has contacted all seven mayors and said they plan to participate in person if possible; meetings will be scheduled to facilitate mayoral attendance.

Quotes

"The bill requires that these geographic districts are put into place relatively quickly," Stevens told the council, adding that the commission’s charge is to meet as many times as necessary to reach a commission recommendation.

Ending

The commission will begin meetings next Monday (dates and locations to be announced by county staff) and will forward a recommended five‑district map to the council by Oct. 1. The council will hold the public hearing and act within the 30‑day statutory window.