Deputy mayor briefs council on multiple state bills including short-term rentals, gravel pits and fluoride

Deputy Mayor Kim Bell told the Sandy City Council on Feb. 25 that staff and the citys legislative team are tracking multiple bills this session that could affect city policy and services.

At a council meeting attended in person and online, Bell listed HB300 (voting amendments), HB355 (critical infrastructure/gravel pit amendment), HB198 (highway amendments affecting billboards), HB256 (municipal short-term rental, or STR, authority) and HB81 (fluoride amendments).

Bell said the city opposed HB300 in its original form but is reviewing a substitute that would allow mail return of ballots with specified identification. "We have not yet changed our position on that which is currently opposed," she said. On HB355, she said a substitute tightened the definition of land eligible for expansion so expansions would need to be contiguous, and that staff remain concerned but are working with the sponsor. On HB198 she said language would allow relocation of billboards within the same roadway but not into another city; Sandy plans to remain neutral as the bill returns to committee.

On short-term rental regulation (HB256), Bell said the substitute changes the remedy from a mandatory removal by listing vendors to a nonbinding city request that vendors take listings down after the city shows a violation. "The substitute language is that the city can request that it be removed, but it is non binding," Bell said, adding legislators and staff plan to gather data during the interim to revisit whether a stronger, mandatory remedy is possible in a future session.

Bell also reported that HB81, the fluoride amendments (substitute 1), has been approved and is awaiting the governors signature. "It prohibits a political subdivision or a municipality from adding fluoride to the water. So we will no longer be doing that as of May," she told the council.

Council members asked follow-up questions about vendor resistance on the STR bill, whether substitutes would be final and the timing of upcoming committee hearings. Council Member Zach Robinson asked whether listing vendors are actively resisting the STR language; Bell replied they have concerns because removal of listings affects their business and that the city is negotiating with vendors. Robinson and others asked for the final hearing time; Bell said she would confirm and text the council.

Why it matters: The bills cited would change municipal authority on elections, land use, commercial signage and public water treatment, areas that could affect city operations, costs and local regulation. Council members received the update for information and asked staff to continue monitoring and to notify the council when hearings are scheduled.

Provenance: Excerpts of the council meeting transcript include Bells remarks summarizing the bills and the question-and-answer exchange with council members. Two transcript excerpts supporting this summary are cited below.

Ending: Council members did not take formal action on local positions at the Feb. 25 meeting; staff will continue to monitor the bills and update the council when hearings or substitute language change.