Welcome to the January edition of the LAA Connection! As we mark the first anniversary of the Local Administrative Advisor (LAA) program in the Wasatch Front Regional Council region, we celebrate a year dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of our local governments. After launching in 2023 through a collaboration between the Utah League of Cities & Towns (ULCT) and the state legislature, the LAA program has been instrumental in providing administrative support to over 140 qualifying local governments in Utah with little to no administrative staff. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to serve and support the communities in the WFRC region, and take pride in seeing how this program strengthens local governments. Thank you to the Utah Legislature, Governor Cox, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, and Utah's seven Association of Governments (AOGs) for their support in making this program a success.

As we approach the end of the month, remember that the new conflict of interest disclosure forms should be completed by all elected officials and posted publicly on your municipality's website. A link to the webpage where those forms are located should also be sent to the Lt. Governor's Elections Coordinator (disclosure@utah.gov or mttopik@utah.gov) by January 31. If you need assistance meeting this deadline, you can book a meeting using my Google Calendar scheduling link - it's a quick and easy way to find a time to meet with me that can fit right into your schedule.

Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation Grants - Due March 17

The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation is accepting applications for three funding opportunities that aim to improve outdoor recreation infrastructure. Check out the program guide for more information on the Utah Outdoor Recreation grant, the Recreation Restoration Infrastructure grant, and the Community Parks and Recreation grant. All applications are due March 17.

Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) Broadband Grant - Due March 31

The Broadband Infrastructure Grant (BIG) is accepting applications via the GOEO application portal to help expand broadband service to all of Utah. Applicants are invited to submit proposals to provide reliable high-speed internet to eligible locations in designated Utah Project Funding Areas (UPFA).

APA Utah Planning Connections - February 3 at 12 p.m.

Municipal Planning Commissioners are invited to join APA UT’s monthly roundtable Zoom call to network, discuss planning activities, and problem solve collaboratively. These calls take place on the first Monday of each month, and your entity does not have to be a member of APA Utah to join in on the conversation. Find more information and registration details here.

ULCT & APA Utah 2025 Legislative Update - February 25 at 11:30 a.m.

Join ULCT and APA Utah for a legislative update with a focus on land use related legislation on February 25. This will be a hybrid training opportunity, with an option to join via Zoom or in person at the Utah Local Governments Trust building. Visit this link to find registration information.

Updated 2025 Open and Public Meetings Act Training - Available Now!

The Utah State Auditor's Office has updated its Open and Public Meetings Act training for 2025. All public governing body members are required to receive this training annually, and you can access the free updated course here.

Stay Informed With WFRC - 2025 Legislative Session

During this legislative session, you can stay up to speed by following along with the WFRC Government Affairs newsletter (click here to subscribe). Miranda Jones Cox, WFRC's Government Affairs Manager will share relevant pieces of legislation on the WFRC Bill Tracker. There, you’ll find a brief bill summary and any positions taken on bills by WFRC. You may also be interested in following the WFRC Appropriations Tracker, where you can track proposed appropriations relevant to our work, how they’re ranking in appropriation subcommittees, and ultimately if they get funded and at what level. If you have any other questions about government affairs at WFRC, visit our website for additional legislative tracking information and Miranda's contact information.

In addition to the WFRC bill tracker, a number of our partners have bill trackers that may also be of interest:

Utah League of Cities and Towns Tracker

Utah Association of Counties

Sincerely,

Madison Aviles

Local Administrative Advisor