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Authority hears OPMA refresher, audit follow-up and RFP updates for trail and lake study
Summary
Counsel reviewed changes to Utah's Open Public Meetings Act, staff addressed state-auditor exceptions and accounting changes from HP 335, and staff updated the board on two RFPs: a facilitator for a disputed trail parcel and a large water-quality study procurement closing in June.
Paula Berber, counsel to the Authority, provided required annual training on the Open Public Meetings Act and briefed the board on recent statutory changes. Berber stressed transparency and recordkeeping requirements and read a statutory provision preventing a quorum from 'acting together outside of meeting in a concerted and deliberate way to predetermine an action to be taken at a meeting.' She also described conditions for electronic meetings and the procedures and vote thresholds required to close a meeting for specific purposes.
Sam Brager and other staff summarized the Authority’s interaction with the state auditor. Staff acknowledged four exceptions in a recent audit cycle—missing paperwork for a March 2023 invoice (which staff said they located and filed), separation-of-duties concerns around monthly reconciliations during a time of minimal staffing, and time-sheet signature practices—and described steps implemented to address each finding.
On procurement, Ben Starman reported ownership disputes on a trail parcel involving private parties and the Bureau of Reclamation. Staff said Forest Street Partners has been working to broker a resolution; the Authority issued an RFP for a facilitator (staff said the facilitator RFP closes June 5). Staff also announced a legislatively directed Utah Lake water-quality study RFP; the staff presentation transcribed an appropriated amount as $1,500,000,000 and noted a closing date of June 25. Staff described the study as focused on water quality, invasive species and carp removal; they cautioned the dollar figure should be verified against legislative appropriation documents.
Board members asked clarifying questions about the audit corrective steps, the mechanics of predetermination prohibitions under the Open Public Meetings Act, and potential uses for the remaining one-time appropriations. Counsel encouraged members to refrain from coordinated deliberations outside noticed meetings and to use roll-call votes during electronic sessions.
