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Zion Regional Collaborative seeks continued Hurricane support; cites bus, scenic-byway and trailhead projects
Summary
Representatives from the Zion Regional Collaborative asked Hurricane to continue a $10,000 annual contribution and summarized regional projects including a Saint George–Zion transit shuttle, SR-9 National Scenic Byway nominations and work to legalize and improve the Guacamole Mesa trailhead.
Representatives of the Zion Regional Collaborative (ZRC) briefed Hurricane City Councilors on regional planning work and requested continued financial support of the collaborative coordinator.
Tom Dancy, director of community development for the town of Springdale and founding member of the ZRC, described the organization as "an informal association of local governments, state agencies, public land managers, local businesses, and other stakeholders in the Zion area." He said the ZRC acts as a forum for regional planning and communication among communities affected by visitation to Zion National Park.
Dancy and Patty Weiss, introduced in the presentation as a local council representative, described recent accomplishments: securing recreation-hotspot funding through the Utah Department of Transportation to support the Saint George–Zion bus; a successful 2021 nomination of SR-9 (from La Verkin to Zion National Park) as a National Scenic Byway; grant-funded corridor planning that will expand the scenic-byway work to include Virgin and the route from the east entrance to Mount Carmel Junction; and grant funding for environmental clearance to make the Guacamole Mesa route a legal trailhead with restroom facilities (the ZRC does not plan to allow camping there).
Dancy highlighted the coordinator role. "The role of the ZRC coordinator is important because this is an informal organization, volunteers, and there is no administrative support to work it and get things done," he said, identifying Emily Friedman as the coordinator the ZRC has contracted for four years and noting Hurricane's past annual contribution of $10,000 is included in fund 20.
Council members asked about meeting schedules, funding and local benefits. Dancy said the ZRC holds quarterly workshops (the next was scheduled for Aug. 14) and that members include Springdale, Rockville, Virgin, Iron County, Washington County and public agencies such as UDOT, BLM and the Utah Office of Tourism. He thanked Hurricane for previous financial support and asked the city to consider another annual contribution to sustain the coordinator and project administration.
No formal vote was held; staff noted the line item is currently included in fund 20 and can be considered in the upcoming budget process.
