Bountiful to pursue Get Healthy Utah Community designation; council to form small stakeholder committee

BOUNTIFUL — City Manager presented a staff report on applying for the Get Healthy Utah Community designation and the council agreed to assemble a small committee of community stakeholders to prepare the application, drawing on existing organizations and programs.

The city manager opened the agenda item by directing council members to the staff report: “In your packet on page 7 is the staff report on the Get Healthy Utah Community application,” he said. The program — described in the staff report as sponsored by the Utah League of Cities and Towns in conjunction with the state — recognizes municipalities that adopt policies and programs promoting healthy lifestyles.

Council members discussed forming a modest committee of stakeholders (the discussion settled on approximately four to six members in addition to city representatives and staff) drawn from existing community groups such as trails volunteers, the farmers market, health care partners and youth programs. The city manager and other staff emphasized that the designation can be achieved by highlighting existing activities and that selecting partners who already run programs would limit staff time and workload.

Councilwoman Price Huish confirmed she would lead the effort, saying, “I am so willing.” Staff said they would identify a city staff coordinator and that council members should email suggested community representatives so staff and the mayor can formalize appointments. The timeline discussed: the council aims to circulate a letter of commitment this week (to be signed by the mayor), collect names for the stakeholder committee within about a week and hold initial meetings in July so the application can be ready for an August deadline.

During discussion, council members proposed possible overlaps with other initiatives — for example, outreach from the Office of Outdoor Recreation to promote youth outdoor activities, and potential synergies with tree‑planting or a “City of Trees” effort — that could count toward the designation’s mental health or gathering objectives. Staff and council members noted existing local assets that could be emphasized: Lakeview Hospital, the farmers market, gardening groups, Communities That Care and the Bountiful City Youth Council were mentioned as possible partners.

Staff said application requirements include developing a three‑year strategy explaining how the city would maintain or expand health‑related programs; council members suggested starting by highlighting current work in year one and then expanding in later years. The council directed members to email candidate stakeholder names to staff (copying the mayor’s office and the staff lead) so invitations can be sent and an initial committee formed.

No formal vote was required; the council provided direction to proceed. The key commitments from the meeting were a letter of support to be signed by the mayor, Councilwoman Price Huish leading the stakeholder effort and staff identifying a coordinator and working with the committee to finalize the application on an accelerated timeline to meet the August submission window.