| Members Present: Sen. David P. Hinkins, Chair Rep. Keven J. Stratton, Co-Chair Sen. Jani Iwamoto Rep. Carl R. Albrecht Rep. Joel K. Briscoe Rep. Ken Ivory Rep. Michael E. Noel |
Members Absent: Sen. Kevin T. Van Tassell Staff Present: Ms. Julie Humberstone, Policy Analyst Ms. Christine R. Gilbert, Associate General Counsel Ms. Debra Hale, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the
meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| 1. Committee Business |
| Chair Stratton called the meeting to order at 8:37 a.m. |
| Rep. Noel led meeting attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| Rep. Albrecht offered a prayer. |
| 2. State Resource Management Plan |
| Ms. Kathleen Clarke, Director, Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, provided an update on modifications made to county resource management plans, as well as recommended modifications to the State Resource Management Plan. |
| 2-The Purpose Behind Resource Planning in Utah [PLPCO] |
| 2-State Resource Management Plan [PLPCO] |
| Ms. Brianne Emery, Natural Resources Planner, Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, continued the update. |
| Ms. Clarke spoke to the U.S. Forest Service's response to the state's management plans. |
| Ms. Clarke and Ms. Emery responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Chair Stratton invited public comment. |
| 3. Update from Federal Delegation |
| Chair Stratton stated that this agenda item is time specific and will be addressed at 9:30 a.m. |
| 4. Public Land Management |
| Sen. Hinkins assumed the chair. |
| Rep. Stratton discussed proposed legislation that would address the management of public land in Emery County and the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monument areas. |
| Rep. Stratton responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Rep. Stratton resumed the chair and invited public comment. |
| MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the meeting minutes of November 13, 2018. The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays-0 | Abs-1 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Briscoe Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. K. Ivory Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. M. Noel Rep. K. Stratton | Sen. K. Van Tassell |
| 5. Update from Federal Delegation |
| Chair Stratton stated that U.S. Senator Mike Lee was called to the floor at 9:30 a.m., and his presentation may be addressed later in the meeting. |
| 6. Central Wasatch Commission/Proposed Federal Designation |
| The following presenters discussed the proposed creation of a Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Area: |
| 5-Central Wasatch Commission - description [CWC] |
| 5-Central Wasatch Commission - FY 2018/2019 Budget [CWC] |
| 5-Central Wasatch Commission - work overview [CWC] |
| 5-Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Act - Working Draft 10-26-2018 [CWC] |
| 5-Comments - December 2018 [CWC] |
| 5-Draft Chronology of Efforts to Address Alta Ski Lifts - Grizzly Gulch Land Exchange [CWC] |
| 5-Little Cottonwood Canyon - Environmental Impact Statement - Fort Union Boulevard to Alta [CWC] |
| 5-Summary of 10/26/2018 CWNCRA Act Changes [CWC] |
| 5-Working Draft - Proposed CWNCRA Option #1 (map) [CWC] |
| 5-Working Draft - Proposed CWNCRA Option #1A (map) [CWC] |
| 5-Mountain Accord [CWC] |
| 5-Mountain Accord booklet [CWC] |
| Mr. Chris McCandless, Chair, Central Wasatch Commission |
| Mr. Jesse Dean, Deputy Director, Central Wasatch Commission |
| Mr. McCandless stated that the fight to preserve Utah's mountainlands and all they offer is crucial. |
| Mr. McCandless and Mr. Dean responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| 5-Save Our Canyons - The Grinch Who Stole Grizzly [Noel] |
| 7. Update from Federal Delegation |
| Chair Stratton stated that Sen. Lee will not be able to address the commission because of voting needs on the floor, and his report will be addressed at a future meeting. |
| 8. Central Wasatch Commission/Proposed Federal Designation |
| Mr. McCandless and Mr. Dean continued to respond to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Pres. Wayne L. Niederhauser spoke of his concern with the threat of wildfire in the area. |
| Mr. McCandless and Mr. Dean continued to respond to questions and comments from Pres. Niederhauser and the commission. |
| The following presenters continued the discussion of the proposed creation of a Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Area: |
| Mr. Richard Snelgrove, Member at Large, Salt Lake County Council |
| Mr. Snelgrove responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Ms. Barbara Cameron, President, Big Cottonwood Canyon Association |
| Mr. Michael Maughan, President and General Manager, Alta Ski Area |
| Mr. Maughan responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Ms. Nancy Carlson-Gotts, President, Association of Community Councils Together |
| Ms. Carlson-Gotts responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Chair Stratton invited public comment. |
| Dr. Howie Garber, citizen, spoke in strong support of the National Conservation and Recreation Area. |
| Mr. Vaughan Cox, Chairman, Granite Community Council, spoken in opposition to the designation legislation. |
| Mr. Jim Bradley, Member at Large, Salt Lake County Council, spoke in support of the efforts of the Central Wasatch Commission. |
| Mr. Bradley responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Mr. Paul Dalrymple, citizen, discussed his desire to protect Utah's pristine mountains and the watershed. |
| Mr. Norm Hendersen, retired from National Parks Service and Town of Brighton homeowner, spoke to his opposition to the Mountain Accord process. |
| Mr. Hendersen responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Mr. Greg Schiffman, Vice Chair, Granite Community Council, discussed the Town of Alta and the Mountain Accord. |
| Mr. Chris Adams, Board President, Wasatch Back Country Alliance, discussed the Mountain Accord process and spoke in support of Central Wasatch Commission's efforts. |
| Mr. Adams responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Mr. John Knoblock, member, Mount Olympus Community Council; Board Chair, Trails Utah; and member, Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee, spoke in support of the designation legislation. |
| Mr. Knoblock responded to comments and questions from the commission. |
| Mr. Bryan Hutchinson, citizen, spoke in strong support of the National Conservation Recreation Area designation legislation and appreciation of the commission's stated commitment to preservation of public land. |
| Mr. Hutchinson responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Ms. Maura Olivos, Director, Alta Environmental Center, Alta Ski Area, spoke in favor of sustainability and finding a balance of environment, economy, and social well-being. |
| Sen. Hinkins assumed the chair. |
| Mr. Taylor Monney, intern, Save Our Canyons, spoke in support of the National Conservation Recreation Area legislation. |
| Mr. Monney responded to comments and questions from the commission. |
| Mr. Jack Stauss, Alta skier and back-country enthusiast, spoke in favor of protecting Utah mountains from development. |
| Mr. Carl Fisher, Executive Director, Save Our Canyons, spoke in favor of the National Conservation Recreation Area proposal. |
| Mr. Fisher responded to questions and comments from the commission. |
| Rep. Briscoe called a Point of Order. |
| Mr. Fisher's response to questions and comments from the commission continued. |
| Mr. Kris Nosack, skier, spoke in opposition of further ski resort development. |
| Rep. Kim F. Coleman, House of Representatives, State of Utah, spoke to how imperative a fair and open legislative process is. |
| 5-Present and future proposals to transfer, sell, or exchange state land in Utah with the federal government (letter) [Coleman] |
| 5-The role of the Utah Legislature in state land transfer to the federal government (letter) [Coleman] |
| Chair Stratton called the meeting back to commission discussion. |
| MOTION: Rep. Stratton moved to open a commission bill file that would take the proposed verbiage of the Central Wasatch Commission as a resource, together with the concerns discussed (including the jurisdiction and legislative approval process, watershed, Brighton's progress toward becoming a city, fire, utility, hunting, fishing, water, private property rights, creation of a management plan as part of the bill, and adaptive management), try to build upon consensus, and get a clear statement from Team Utah. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 6 | Nays-0 | Abs-2 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. K. Ivory Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. M. Noel Rep. K. Stratton | Rep. J. Briscoe Sen. K. Van Tassell |
| MOTION: Rep. Ivory moved to forward former 2018 General Session H.B. 136, "Federal Designations," as a commission bill, to be sponsored by Rep. Albrecht and presented in January 2019. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 6 | Nays-0 | Abs-2 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. K. Ivory Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. M. Noel Rep. K. Stratton | Rep. J. Briscoe Sen. K. Van Tassell |
| 5-2018 General Session H.B. 136, "Federal Designations" [Ivory] |
| 9. Other Items/Adjourn |
| MOTION: Rep. Noel moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 6 | Nays-0 | Abs-2 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. K. Ivory Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. M. Noel Rep. K. Stratton | Rep. J. Briscoe Sen. K. Van Tassell |
| Chair Hinkins adjourned the meeting at 1:43 p.m. |