Friday February 28, 2025

As February comes to a close, the Utah Legislative Session continues with important discussions and decisions happening daily. Stay engaged with weekly Legislative Policy Committee meetings hosted by ULCT, where you can hear about timely policy updates and information about bills that may impact your city or town. You can also find WFRC's Bill Tracker, Appropriation Tracker, and email sign-up information on the Government Affairs page of the WFRC website.

If you have not yet received the following update from the Lt. Governor's office, please see the excerpt below from a recent ULCT Friday Facts email blast regarding election resources:

"For municipal recorders, the Office of the Lt. Governor (LGO) has purchased a 1 year contract from a company called Civic Roundtable for municipal recorders (and district clerks) to use for the 2025 election year. This platform allows members to ask questions (and get answers) in real-time, to share ideas and resources, and to celebrate the hard (and meaningful) work of election administration. 

Earlier this week, you all should have received an email from the LGO regarding this pilot project. In addition, recorders and secondary contacts from each city will receive an invitation to create an account on the platform.

Please reach out to Shelly Jackson or Karlee Hansen with any questions about this. If you are not receiving emails from the LGO, please reach out to Karlee at kjhansen@utah.gov to have your name added.

County clerk offices have been using the Roundtable platform for over a year now and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Please note that anything shared on this platform is subject to GRAMA, although the membership and access will be controlled by the LGO."

Utah Main Street's Revive & Reside Grant - Due March 21

Applications for Utah Main Street's Revive & Reside Grant are now open. This is an opportunity for Utah's main street communities to receive funding to support revitalization of their historic buildings. The Revive & Reside Grant aims to rehabilitate the interior spaces of historic buildings for both commercial and residential uses. To apply, visit the Utah Main Street website, linked here, to view the Grant Guidelines Packet, other informative resources, and the application forms.

AARP Community Challenge Grant - Due March 5

Designed to fund quick-action community improvement projects, this grant will support projects that improve public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; and community resilience. Last year, AARP invested over $65,000 in Utah communities. To view previously funded projects and eligible requests, visit the AARP website for more details.

Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman - Online Training Available

Online training on a multitude of local government topics is available at no cost to cities and towns because the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman has provided funding for this training program from the 1% surcharge on all building permits in the State of Utah. Topics include annexation policy plans, Open Meeting Law, variances, subdivision requirements, and GRAMA requests. Classes are hosted on the CivicLinq website, and can be accessed here.

Urban Land Institute (ULI) 2025 Legislative Update - March 13, 11:30 a.m.

Join ULI Utah for a lunch and learn update on the 2025 Legislative Session, unpacking significant legislative milestones of this session and their potential impacts on Utah’s land use and infrastructure trajectory. Visit their website for more information and to register to attend this luncheon.

Utah Land Use Institute Spring Conference 2025 - March 27

This full-day event in St. George and online offers expert discussions on housing policy, economic trends, and planning strategies, with continuing education credits available for attorneys, AICP planners, and planning commissioners. View the tentative agenda and register here.

Save the Date! Utah Trails Conference - April 23-25

Mark your calendars – the Utah Trails Forum and Division of Outdoor Recreation is calling on passionate trail enthusiasts, builders, and advocates to join them for the Utah Trails Conference 2025 in Kanab, Utah. Find more details and register for the conference here.

Need to schedule time with me? Click here to book a meeting at your convenience using my Google Calendar scheduling link—it's quick, easy, and you can find a time that can fit right into your schedule.

Sincerely,

Madison Aviles

Local Administrative Advisor