MINUTES OF THE

REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE

Tuesday, July 26, 2011 – 11:00 a.m. – Uintah Basin Applied Technology College, Vernal, Utah

Members Present:

Rep. Kenneth W. Sumsion, House Chair

Sen. Ralph Okerlund, Senate Chair

Sen. Gene Davis

Sen. Kevin T. Van Tassell

President Michael G. Waddoups

Rep. Roger E. Barrus

Rep. Melvin R. Brown

Rep. Francis D. Gibson

Rep. Neal B. Hendrickson

Rep. Don L. Ipson

Rep. Brian S. King

Rep. Todd E. Kiser

Rep. Merlynn T. Newbold

Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Rep. R. Curt Webb

Members Absent:

Sen. Benjamin M. McAdams

Sen. Stuart C. Reid

Rep. Gage Froerer

Speaker Rebecca D. Lockhart

Staff Present:

Mr. Leif Elder, Policy Analyst

Mr. Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst

Mr. Richard C. North, Policy Analyst

Mr. Eric Weeks, Deputy General Counsel

Ms. Kimberly A. Heiner, Legislative Secretary

Note: A list of others present, a copy of related materials, and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

1.   Committee Business                                                                                          

Chair Sumsion called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.

Mr. Mark Walker, President of Uintah Basin Applied Technology College, welcomed the Committee to the college.

Members of the Committee introduced themselves and indicated the areas of the state that they represent.

MOTION: Rep. Kiser moved to approve the minutes of the July 12, 2011 West Jordan and July 13, 2011 Logan and Ogden meetings. The motion passed unanimously.

2.   Overview of Redistricting

Mr. Elder gave a presentation on what redistricting is, why it is done, and the redistricting principles that were adopted at the May 4, 2011 meeting. He also gave an overview of the redistricting public website, RedistrictUtah.com and demonstrated the online redistricting tool that allows the public to create redistricting plans.

3.   Presentation of Redistricting Plans

Sen. Okerlund presented a senate plan entitled "Okerlund Plan - B" and explained the rationale of the plan. He said that the Committee is not settled on any particular plan and the map is subject to change based on public input.

Sen. Van Tassell presented President Waddoups "U.S. Congressional - Waddoups - Military and Salt Lake City Whole" plan.

Chair Sumsion presented a randomly selected State School Board plan entitled "Garber SBs B" submitted on RedistrictUtah.com by David Edward Garber.

Chair Sumsion also presented a house plan entitled "Complete House Plan - Version 2" and explained the rationale of the plan.

Chair Sumsion then discussed a randomly selected house plan entitled "Steven Clark_Statewide House Districts III" submitted on RedistrictUtah.com by Steven Clark.

Ms. Joni Crane, Uintah County Republican Party Chair, presented a congressional plan entitled "Pinwheel Plan = Equitable Everywhere" which she submitted on RedistrictUtah.com. She said that her plan makes each congressional districts about the same geographic size making it fair for representatives to have the same amount of territory to travel and represent. She said she used existing lines such as counties and highways for boundaries. She also said that Rep. Sumsion's congressional plan C is the most similar to the one she created.

Rep. Sumsion asked the public if they would prefer a pizza slice or doughnut hole approach to congressional redistricting. The public nearly unanimously preferred the pizza slice approach.

4.   Public Comment and Committee Discussion About Redistricting

Mr. Kent Peatross, Duchesne County Commissioner, said he supports the pizza slice approach to creating congressional districts. He said it would not be feasible to expect one person to address all public lands issues of Utah. He also said that because of similar interests, the Uintah Basin needs to remain as united as possible in both state and congressional representation.

Ms. Irene Hansen, Duchesne County Economic Director, said that redistricting is about what is best for the state of Utah, not individual counties or cities. She presented a partially created house map showing proposed districts for eastern Utah. She said a unified voice from eastern Utah is important to the strength of the state.

Mr. Mark Raymond, Uintah County Commissioner, said that Uintah and Duchesne County provide a significant amount of revenue for the state and as such those counties should be in the same district.

Mr. Jerry Segway, Daggett County Commissioner, said Daggett county shares the same vision of Uintah and Duchesne County and asked to remain in the same district.

Ms. Kathrun Larsen, Duchesne County resident, said for economic benefits Daggett, Uintah, Duchesne Emery, and Carbon Counties should be in the same district. She also said there is great value in having diversity within districts.

Mr. Gordon Snow, Duchesne County resident, said he supports the map presented by Ms. Hansen and said it represents eastern Utah well. He also said that Daggett County should be included in the same district as Duschesne County.

Rep. Kraig Powell, House District 54, said the large turnout at this meeting is an example of how involved the residents of the Uintah Basin are. He said that Duschesne and Uintah County should remain in the same district and discussed surrounding counties that could be included to make the population large enough for a house district. He also said that it is crucial to have strong representation from the Legislature to maintain the economic contributions that the Uintah Basin makes to Utah.

Rep. John Mathis, House District 55, said that the more people representing the rural issues of eastern Utah the stronger Utah will be.

Mr. Randy Crozier, Duchesne County Water Conservancy District, said the Colorado River Basin of Utah is a critical resource to Utah. He also said there are unique issues of rural Utah such as water and Indian tribal lands that need to be considered in redistricting.

Mr. Ryan Lundstrom, Roosevelt resident, said that the Indian tribal lands within Duchesne and Vernal need to be considered in drawing district lines. He said those lands are currently represented by two representatives and that it is important for those areas to have as many voices as possible. He responded to questions from the Committee on where the Indian tribal land borders are.

Mr. Kent Peatross responded to further questions from the Committee on Indian tribal lands.

5.   Adjourn

MOTION: Sen. Van Tassell moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.

Chair Sumsion adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m.