Utah Tomorrow Strategic Planning Committee
Members Present:
Sen. LeRay McAllister, Cochair
Rep. Afton Bradshaw, Cochair
Sen. Joseph L. Hull
Rep. Beverly A. Evans
Mr. Mark Bedel for Mr. Barber
Mr. Eric Leeson for Mr. Becker
Mr. Kim Burningham
Mr. Gary Carlston
Mr. Gene Moser
Dr. Dianne Nielson
Ms. Kathleen Clarke
Members Absent:
Sen. Craig Taylor
Rep. Daniel Tuttle
Mayor Tom Dolan
Commissioner Kent Petersen
Staff Present:
John Q. Cannon,
Research Analyst
James L. Wilson,
Associate General Counsel
Angela D. Kelley,
Legislative Secretary
Note: A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
1. Call to Order
Chair McAllister called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m.
2. Committee Business -
MOTION: Rep. Evans moved to approve the minutes of the July 28, 1998 meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Chair Bradshaw and Mr. Carlston absent for the vote.
3. Department of Environmental Quality Presentation - Dr. Dianne Nielson, Executive Director, Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), gave a presentation titled "Utah Tomorrow Strategic Plan, Draft Reformat Proposal" and distributed copies of the proposal. She also distributed a handout titled "Utah Tomorrow - Draft Revision _ Utah Department of Environmental Quality," and discussed its content.
Mr. Moser said that the purpose of the Utah Tomorrow document is to educate, and Ms. Nielson's presentation serves that purpose.
Sen. McAllister was supportive of the visual format but concerned about how the level of performance would be represented in this format.
Sen. Hull said that the presentation had helped him understand more about the Utah Tomorrow document. He said that the graphs would be helpful in explaining the document to other agencies, and suggested putting the statistics in a graph with an explanation underneath.
Chair McAllister and Mr. Burningham suggested simplifying the document by eliminating a number of performance measures.
Mr. Brent Bradford, Deputy Director, DEQ, said that many items can be eliminated if they are distinguished by importance.
Dr. Nielson noted the work involved in this type of effort.
Mr. Burningham said that the charts are much easier to read, and indicated that both charts and text would be helpful.
Ms. Clarke noted the need to focus on those items which mean a better quality of life for Utahns, not just the numbers.
Chair McAllister was concerned about the role of the Utah Tomorrow Committee in the changes to the document. He questioned if the agencies should have the final say in what the product is, or if there should be a meeting with the Utah Tomorrow Committee before making a decision.
Chair McAllister said that some people need help on their section of the Utah Tomorrow document. Mr. Wilson asked how the committee should notify agencies on how to change their section of the document.
Mr. Cannon said that it is difficult to identify who is responsible for each section. He also suggested that the committee needs to cut down and simplify the document before doing the graphs and tables. Mr. Burningham agreed that there needs to be a simplified model for the agencies to study.
Mr. Bedel indicated that agencies are in favor of changes. He said that it would be a longer process the first time to get the document completed, but it would not take as long after that because it would only need updates. He noted that the agencies should be given an adequate time frame.
Sen. Hull suggested that the agencies be put on notice that the document is going to be changed, and invite them to come to future meetings to give input.
Mr. Bedel suggested changing the process and the format. He recommended that agencies be invited to make suggestions, including formatting changes. He suggested that a timeline be given for this committee.
Chair Bradshaw asked that Mr. Bradford, DEQ, bring a simplified model document of DEQ's section of the document back to the committee.
Mr. Wayne Rago, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), said that UDOT has its own performance measures. He said that UDOT is accepting of what the Utah Tomorrow Committee is doing and the changes that have to be made.
Chair Bradshaw noted that at the next meeting there will be two sections for committee review: environmental quality and justice.
4. Adjourn -
MOTION: Rep. Evans moved to adjourn the meeting at 2:59 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
[Back to the Interim Directory][Back to the Monthly Schedule][Back to the Committee Listing] Utah State Legislature