County approves interlocal agreement with University of Utah for fiscal analysis of service‑district talks

The Salt Lake County Council on May 6 approved a resolution authorizing an interlocal cooperation agreement (ILA) with the University of Utah's Kempsey Gardner Policy Institute to provide fiscal and policy analysis in support of upcoming facilitation among service districts.

County leaders said the work will produce localized revenue and expense assessments and policy options to support a separate mediator/facilitator who is handling the negotiations. "Kempsey Gardner is the perfect, candidate for that work," the County Mayor said, citing the institute's experience with local policy and fiscal analysis.

The council was told the Kempsey Gardner contract is for $63,000. Council members were also briefed that the mediation contract for facilitation work is budgeted up to $150,000 and is planned in two phases (a first phase through July and a second phase through September), funded from the unincorporated administrative line requested to MSD. The mayor's office warned the schedule could be extended as the work proceeds.

Several council members asked why the county did not run a public RFP for the analysis contract. The mayor replied the county's contracts and district attorney's offices advised an RFP was not necessary because Kempsey Gardner is part of the University of Utah and therefore a governmental entity; the work is being executed via an interlocal cooperation agreement rather than a typical vendor procurement. When a council member asked for confirmation, a staff member replied, "Correct."

Council members also discussed who should sit at the facilitation table. Some asked that council members who also serve on the boards of involved districts be invited to participate. The mayor's office said it will meet this week with the facilitator to set the table and pledged to return to the council before finalizing a definitive list; the mayor cautioned that including many county representatives could complicate representation because individuals may wear multiple hats (for example, county executive and district board member).

The council moved and approved the item by voice vote. Staff said the $63,000 Kempsey Gardner contract and the mediator budget will be paid from the unincorporated administrative budget line requested to MSD; the mayor's office confirmed these are not general‑fund dollars.

Next steps include the mayor's office convening an initial meeting with the facilitator and returning to the council with a proposal about which elected officials or board representatives will be invited to the negotiation table.