Dear Friends:

Aside from the above legislative appointments, I serve on the Emergency Medical Services Committee (EMSC) and the Utah State Instructional Materials Access Center (USIMAC) of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, and Primary Children's Hospital Board of Trustees.

 

For a complete summary of topics discussed during the May 18, 2016 interim meetings, please see Interim Highlights and Fiscal Highlights, which are excellent resources prepared by the amazing Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, and Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst.

In addition to interim meetings, I will continue to have meetings with numerous stakeholders pursuant to the directives in SB 192 - Study on Claims Exceeding Statutory Limit, which I sponsored during the past 2016 legislative session. Unfortunately, another bill that I sponsored, SB 81 - Redistricting Advisory Commission, will not be studied during interim. However,  HJR005 - Joint Rules Resolution on Redistricting Standards,  sponsored by Rep. Merrill Nelson, is on the interim study list for Government Operations. Although good standards, HJR005 is a resolution only and supports standards to follow but does not allow for an independent, bipartisan redistricting commission which would allow for increased public involvement and transparency.

 

Neighborhood community councils (which are different from school community councils, both of which do amazing work for our communities) work on local issues on a volunteer basis. They are your neighbors and watch for issues which arise in your neighborhood, as well as represent your priorities and interests. I wanted to introduce, or re-introduce you to the community councils in this district - and provide you with important information directly from them. Hopefully, you will be able to voice your concerns, or even better, get involved in some of the issues impacting where you live! Below are summaries provided by the community councils in District 4. 

Canyon Rim Community Council - Vice Chair, Linda Milne

With so much of government distant from the challenges and realities of our day-to-day lives, it is refreshing to have easy access to participate in governance at a community council level - both as a resident and as a council member. It is democracy at its finest and simplest. 

CRCA is a forum for issues that are important to our citizens. A few examples include preserving our unique history and heritage, reviewing zoning change requests, and finding a balance between the needs and passions of dog owners and those residents who place a value upon open, unfettered nature.

It's summer and we our about to embark on Venture Outdoors - our summer-long Friday night family activity held in the parks of all four community council areas in Millcreek. There are food vendors, free activities, live music and a movie in the park.

We cordially invite our residents and business partners to attend our CRCA meetings the 3rd Tuesday of each month (except July and December). We value an on-time, 7:00p.m start and move swiftly through a relevant agenda. Come meet us and participate. We open our meetings by offering 3 minutes for each person who wants to address our council, then we move on to the business of our community.

 

Jeff Waters	[email protected]	801-467-8155
Rhonda Bachman		801-641-0826
Robin Clegg	[email protected]	801-486-0507
Kory Meyerink	[email protected]	801-466-1888
Linda Milne	[email protected]	801-466-4812
Christopher Newton	[email protected]	801-809-0642
Robert Peterson	[email protected]	801-485-9196
David Scott	[email protected]	801-466-1745
Nancy Von Allmen	[email protected]	801-466-8076

East Mill Creek Community Council - Chair, Lee Ann Hansen

Mount Olympus Community Council - Chair, Jeff Silvestrini

Mount Olympus Community Council meets the first and third Tuesday of every month in the library of Churchill Jr. High School on Oakview Drive, above Wasatch Boulevard.  Recently, we have been addressing the new flood plain map proposed by FEMA and the Utah Division of Emergency Management as it affects hundreds of residents in our community.

Rita Lund - Community Relations Liaison for Millcreek area

R ita Lund has been the community relations liaison for Millcreek Township for many years. Rita is a  Millcreek resident and her position is with Salt Lake County.  Rita can assist residents with their questions or concerns with municipal services and community issues.  Rita can be reached at [email protected] or (385)468-7471.

Sugar House Community Council - Chair, Amy Barry

The Sugar House Community Council is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that works to involve citizens in identifying issues, plans and projects that enhance the beauty, safety, vibrancy, and human-scale character of Sugar House neighborhoods, businesses, and historical and natural resources. We have very active committees that are open to anyone living or working within our boundaries. The Land Use & Zoning Committee (LUZ), Parks, Open Space and Trails (POST), Transportation (TRANS), Historic Signs (HIST) and Arts & Culture (ARTS).

We participate in every development that occurs requiring a conditional use or variance. These all go through the LUZ committee for community participation and comments. Currently, the POST committee is working on cleaning up the 1300 E freeway exchange with Senator Iwamoto and UDOT. The Historic Signs committee has been hard at work with success in restoring the old Snelgrove ice cream cone, Sputnik and the Stark Steerlink sign which will soon be working in its neon glory! Learn more about us at  www.sugarhousecouncil.org and follow us on facebook. You can contact us at [email protected] .

 

General meetings are the 1st Wednesday of every month at Sprague Library (2131 S Highland Drive) from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Come join us!

The Sugar House Community Council's Executive Committee includes:

Amy Barry, Chair

Maggie Shaw, 1st Vice Chair

Judi Short, 2nd Vice Chair

Steve Kirkegaard, 3rd Vice Chair

Bryce Williams, Secretary

Larry Migliaccio, Treasurer

 

For the full list of the board, please click here.

Yalecrest Community Council - Chair Lynn Kennard Pershing

Yalecrest Neighborhood Council (YNC) represents residents living within the area between Sunnyside Avenue and 1300 South, and 1300 East to 1900 East. The neighborhood council meets the first Wednesday of every month (except July and January) in the Kiva at the Carmen Pingree Autism Center of Learning (780 South and Guardsman Way) from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. We discuss resident and city issues and concerns, and provide necessary information to the residents to meet the needs and desires of a great community. We do not have 501c3 nonprofit organization status.

 

YNC uses the new YNC website, www.ycncslc.com , our Facebook page, "Yalecrest Neighborhood Council", email, [email protected] and NextDoor.com as community tools to keep residents informed about local and city events and as a venue to share information.

The 2015-2016 YNC Officers are:

Lynn Kennard Pershing, Chair                   [email protected]            801-971-4959

Jan Ellen Burton, Vice Chair                      [email protected]

Robert Argenbright, Vice Chair                  [email protected]

Nicholas Marsh, Secretary/Treasurer        [email protected]

 

Yalecrest Neighborhood Council Purpose

The purpose of the Council shall be (1) to promote a positive, cultural and physical environment that aids the community members in obtaining a meaningful, geographic identity; (2) to encourage positive relationships among the members of the community; and (3) to pursue other objectives that are beneficial to residents of the Yalecrest Neighborhood (Bylaws 040412)

To accomplish our vision, YNC mission educates the community about local city issues that impact YNC and quality of life. It encourages residential involvement and volunteerism in local projects.

Areas of YNC interest and activity

Urban Forest - Yalecrest is noted for its large tree-lined streets and for being the second largest forest in the city. YNC works with the Urban Forestry to promote and maintain health in our 78+ year-old iconic canopy park strip trees, by preparing a flyer on deep watering. Provision of contact information and forms for obtaining park strip trees has promoted the renewal of our urban forest with replacement trees.

Historic Preservation

Yalecrest has been cited for historic preservation in all City Master and Preservation Plans since 1979 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Five of the nine local historic district applications submitted to date to Salt Lake City have been approved through the citizen-initiated process. However, historic preservation has garnered support, as well as opposition. State legislative efforts since 2010 have made the citizen-initiated local historic district preservation efforts more difficult.

 

Local Parks/Green Space

YNC was involved in the design, restoration and stabilization plans for the Miller Bird Refuge and Nature Park (established in 1935) located at 900 South and 1700 East, after the 2010 Chevron oil spill. Designs for stabilizing the creek bed, removal of invasive tree species, trail restoration and water rights were achieved through many hours of negotiation with SLC Parks and Open Space.

 

Spillover commuter traffic number and vehicle speeding on neighborhood streets has been a constant issue in Yalecrest, as Foothill Drive reaches maximal capacity as a commuting corridor. Capital improvement project (CIP) funding has been applied and awarded for installation of physical barriers to reduce traffic speed on one street. YNC continues to engage UTA, SLC Transportation and the University of Utah in discussions for bus service to the neighborhood to promote neighborhood solutions to slow down vehicle speed on local streets and encourage use of mass transit.

 

Good Neighbors

YNC has joined the University of Utah Community Forum to promote awareness of the impacts that University athletic events have on Yalecrest traffic, safety, street parking, noise and light pollution, pedestrian safety and trash. Meeting quarterly has improved our relationship into a productive and more effective partnership. YNC has been actively involved in the East Bench Master Plan document, the Foothill Implementation Study and Parleys (2100 South) Master Plan(s).

 

Crime

Yalecrest has the lowest crime in the City. Increased education on enhancing residential security, reporting and neighborhood-watch strategies are contributing to better crime statistics. Monthly statistics on the number and types of crime in the Council meeting have increased awareness and methods of prevention and contacting appropriate authorities for help.

Emergency Preparedness for every family

Guest speakers and Council meeting education have provided the "nuts and bolts" of emergency preparedness in terms of action plan, enrollment in various training courses and making an emergency kit of essentials for each family member.

________________________________________________