House amends and passes Jordan River Recreation Area bill with funding for patrols and improvements

The House on Feb. 20 adopted an amendment to and passed the second substitute of H.B. 216 to create the Jordan River Recreation Area and fund local recreation and safety work tied to a planned homeless resource center in South Salt Lake.

Sponsor Representative Winder said the recreation area will focus on two miles upstream and downstream of the center, provide recreation and safety improvements and fund patrolling along a three-county, roughly 50-mile length of the Jordan River. "We propose that we create the Jordan River Recreation Area. This is coupled with an appropriations request of 500,000 1 time, 500,000 ongoing," Winder said.

Members questioned whether the state would fund patrolling for the entire river length and who would conduct enforcement. Winder said the Jordan River Commission — an interlocal body including the state, counties and cities — would coordinate and authorize annual spending decisions and could partner with off-duty officers, sheriffs' deputies, and local urban ranger programs to provide patrols. He confirmed the patrols would be paid with state funds, not city or county funds.

Representative Romero, whose district borders the Jordan River, supported the bill, saying the river corridor's use and safety declined after Operation Rio Grande. Sponsors and floor members emphasized partnership with counties, cities and nonprofits.

The House adopted the floor amendment and recorded a final vote of 67 yeas, 0 nays. The bill will be forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.