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Council outlines three concerns with House Bill 356, invites public comment at April meetings
Summary
Council members discussed House Bill 356 and flagged three primary concerns (district count, committee composition, and assignment of council members to districts), and invited public input at upcoming meetings and via email; staff warned the schedule could accelerate if the legislature holds a special session or veto override occurs.
Summit County Council members spent part of the meeting discussing House Bill 356 and asked for public input on three areas they say need clarification: the number and makeup of council districts; the composition of the district committee; and how existing council members would be assigned to new districts.
A council member summarized the three issues: whether the council should be divided into five districts, four districts with one at‑large seat, or three districts with two at‑large seats; whether all municipal mayors should serve on the district committee or if more at‑large representation is appropriate for the Snyderville Basin; and whether the county clerk's proposed approach of drawing lots to assign sitting council members to districts is preferable to clerk assignment based on where members live.
The council said it will discuss the bill at the COG meeting on April 15 with mayors and will accept public comment at the council meeting on April 23 at the Richlands Building. Council members encouraged residents to submit input by email, text, phone, or by attending those meetings. Jana (staff) cautioned the council that if the legislature pursues a veto override and calls a special session, changes could occur more quickly and a special session might be scheduled in April or May on an accelerated timeline.
Council members asked citizens to provide feedback during the interim period leading up to a likely May special session and noted staff will post information about HB 356 on the county website.
Ending: The council directed staff to make information available and encouraged public comment; no formal council action or vote on draft legislative language was recorded in the transcript excerpt.
