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First Substitute S.C.R. 10

Senator Wayne L. Niederhauser proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING UTAH'S

             2     
INTERCONNECTED SKI AND SNOWBOARD INDUSTRY

             3     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne L. Niederhauser

             6     
House Sponsor: Ryan D. Wilcox

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses support for
             11      interconnection of the seven Salt Lake County and Summit County ski resorts.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This resolution:
             14          .    expresses support for low-impact interconnection of the seven resorts in Salt Lake
             15      County and Summit County to enhance the ski and snowboard resort industry's
             16      contribution to Utah's economy, jobs, and tax base;
             17          .    urges interconnection of the Salt Lake County and Summit County ski resorts using
             18      best environmental practices;
             19          .    supports thorough consideration of multiple uses in the Wasatch Mountains in the
             20      evaluation of resort interconnections;
             21          .    urges meaningful and balanced public involvement in any associated planning and
             22      decision-making processes regarding resort interconnections; and
             23          .    supports a comprehensive set of solutions to transportation problems in the Wasatch
             24      Mountains, including short term and long term alternatives, potential year-round
             25      utilization and support of Utah's vibrant human-powered outdoor recreation.


             26      Special Clauses:
             27          None
             28     
             29      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
             30          WHEREAS, tourism is one of Utah's major "export industries" that sells services or
             31      products to destination visitors and brings money into the state to support our local economy
             32      and provide jobs for current and future Utahns;
             33          WHEREAS, over 20 million people visited the state of Utah in 2010, spending over
             34      $6.5 billion, or 5.5% of Utah's gross domestic product, contributing over $840 million in state
             35      and local taxes, and sustaining as much as 10% of the jobs in the state;
             36          WHEREAS, the ski and snowboard industry is a major contributor to Utah's tourism
             37      industry, contributing over $1.2 billion to the state's economy as a result of over 4 million skier
             38      days, and growth in the ski and snowboard industry will bring additional spending, revenue,
             39      and jobs to the state;
             40          WHEREAS, tourists who ski or snowboard in Utah spend money on lift tickets,
             41      equipment rentals, hotels, restaurants, car rentals, and other matters, and this money circulates
             42      through the economy, supporting over 20,000 local jobs;
             43          WHEREAS, the seven ski resorts in Summit County and Salt Lake County are all
             44      located in close proximity to one another, offering the opportunity to connect these resorts, an
             45      opportunity that leading competing winter tourism states do not have;
             46          WHEREAS, connecting the ski resorts in Summit County and Salt Lake County will
             47      create a skiing experience unavailable anywhere else in North America and reposition Utah's
             48      ski and snowboard experience to be even more competitive and attractive relative to other
             49      states, leading to increased tourist visitation and spending, which will in turn lead to an
             50      increase in revenue and jobs;
             51          WHEREAS, it is recognized that Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons are critical
             52      watersheds from which more than 500,000 Utah residents, businesses, and visitors throughout
             53      Salt Lake County receive their drinking water, and that best management practices would be
             54      required in any potential resort connections;
             55          WHEREAS, the balance of multiple uses in the Wasatch Mountains, including
             56      developed recreation, such as skiing and picnicking, and dispersed recreation, such as hiking,


             57      mountain biking, and back country skiing, are highly valued by residents, visitors, and
             58      businesses in Utah and contribute significantly to the state's economy and quality of life;
             59          WHEREAS, the roads to ski areas in Summit County and Salt Lake County are
             60      congested during certain times of the year, and studies should be conducted by numerous
             61      federal, state, local, and private sector entities to comprehensively evaluate alternatives to solve
             62      transportation problems;
             63          WHEREAS, connecting the ski resorts in Summit County and Salt Lake County will
             64      improve access to the ski resorts and allow the unique opportunity of skiing at multiple resorts
             65      in a single day;
             66          WHEREAS, connecting the ski resorts in Summit County and Salt Lake County is an
             67      issue of state concern because the connection will cross county boundaries, have a
             68      tremendously positive impact on the state economy, and may contribute positively to state
             69      roadways and airsheds;
             70          WHEREAS, connecting ski resorts will allow the winter sports industry to grow while
             71      making the most efficient and sustainable use of ski terrain, roads, facilities, and parking lots;
             72          WHEREAS, connecting the ski resorts in Summit County and Salt Lake County may
             73      require review and approval of permits by Summit County, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City,
             74      Park City, the town of Alta, and the United States Forest Service;
             75          WHEREAS, the public will be engaged in meaningful and balanced ways in any
             76      potential decision-making processes regarding resort interconnections, and these processes will
             77      be open and transparent;
             78          WHEREAS, many skiers drive from Summit County to ski in the Cottonwood
             79      Canyons, or from one Cottonwood Canyon resort to ski in Summit County or at another
             80      Cottonwood Canyon resort, contributing to congestion on canyon roads;
             81          WHEREAS, connecting the ski resorts in Summit County and Salt Lake County will
             82      decrease traffic on congested canyon roads and lead to cleaner air and water by reducing
             83      automobile-related pollution, and provide emergency evacuation options for Big and Little
             84      Cottonwood canyons;
             85          WHEREAS, the 1988 Governor's Task Force on Interconnect concluded that
             86      interconnecting the Wasatch ski resorts "would provide a substantial boost to Utah's ski
             87      industry and have a positive influence on the state's economy"; and


             88          WHEREAS, the Wasatch Mountains Inter-Resort Transportation Study, completed by
             89      Mountainland Association of Governments in 1990, found that connecting the Wasatch resorts
             90      "hold[s] the promise of substantial public benefits in the form of reductions in automobile
             91      traffic on congested canyon roadways, watershed and environmental pollution abatement,
             92      increased slow-season occupancy of existing facilities, and the potential for future economic
             93      expansion":
             94          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
             95      Governor concurring therein, support connecting the seven ski resorts in Summit County and
             96      Salt Lake County with an inter-resort transportation system based on sound research and
             97      balanced public input, and careful evaluation of its impact on transportation, the economy, job
             98      creation, the environment, multiple uses, and visitor experience.
             99          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and Governor encourage Summit
             100      County, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, Park City, the town of Alta, and the United States
             101      Forest Service to fairly consider the benefits of connecting the various resorts and
             102      expeditiously approve a low-impact inter-resort transportation system based on appropriate
             103      analysis and balanced public input.
             104          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Summit
             105      County Council, the Summit County Manager, the mayor of Park City, the Park City Council,
             106      the Salt Lake County Council, the town of Alta, the Mayor of Salt Lake County, the Salt Lake
             107      City Council, the Mayor of Salt Lake City, the Chief of the National Forest Service, the
             108      Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Supervisor, the Speaker of the United States House of
             109      Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and all members of the Utah
             110      Congressional Delegation.


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