This week, the Grand County Commission heard a presentation about the Moab Area Affordable Housing Master Plan and discussed a Redtail Air charter service for flights from Moab to Salt Lake City. Commissioner Bill Winfield joined the meeting on Zoom. There was also a moment of silence for Doug Larsen, a North Dakota state senator, and his family, who died in a plane crash at the Canyonlands Regional Airport on Sunday.
Commissioners rejoiced at leaving the building with light outside—the meeting ended earlier than usual.
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Workshops
Moab Area Affordable Housing Plan
- Presented by Laura Harris and Kaitlin Myers representing the Moab Area Housing Task Force
- The plan seeks to guide future policy making, budgeting, and programmatic development in local government: The first plan was made in 2009, and later updated in 2017. The task force found that in 2023, 67.8% of Grand County homes were primary residences while 32.3% were secondary residences. 73 permanently deed restricted affordable housing units have been created by the Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah (HASU), Community Rebuilds, and Moab Area Community Land Trust as of 2022.
- Goals and action steps include meeting housing need projections, increasing the diversity of housing stock, and increasing ADU and infill development by continuing to look at zoning ordinances through the lens of affordable housing.
- Commissioners proposed a “good landlord” program that would reward keeping long-term rentals in the housing stock.
- Discussion began at 0:00
Presentation: County Needs, Priorities and Initiatives
- The needs, priorities, and initiatives were created from data collected by a survey sent to department heads and elected officials: 18 people responded. This workshop was intended to help the commission develop a strategic direction moving forward.
- Categories included capital projects, operational, infrastructure, capital purchase, personnel, and long-term identified needs. Commissioners discussed projects including:
- Groundwater monitoring for 2024 including more tools to collect data, a study to identify current infrastructure; public Engagement, including using social media to communicate; an impact fee analysis; Community Impact Board applications; and improving county roads and drainages
- Discussion began at 53:01
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Department reports
- Facilities maintenance report began at 1:34:22
- Projects include the Grand Center roof, Courthouse HVAC replacement, and boiler room repair and update
- IT department report from Matt Ceniceros began at 1:46:14 by
- Current projects include replacement and expansion of networking hardware by replacing 32 computers and phone system services. The department’s GIS specialist, James Murphy, also updated the sheriff department’s mapping services.
- Commissioner Reports began at 2:09:30
- Elected Official Reports began at 2:27:42
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General Business
Redtail Air charter service agreement amendment
- The new commercial air service provider at the Canyonlands Regional Airport doesn’t provide connections to Salt Lake City. In June, the commission approved a grant agreement with Redtail Air for charter service to SLC; this motion is to extend the grant to September 2024.
- Discussion began at 2:37:35; passed unanimously
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Alternative Dwelling Overlay intent to apply submissions, round three (postponed decisions from the previous meeting)
- Two ADO intent to apply submissions were postponed at the last county commission meeting, as Commissioner Mary McGann was not present and Commissioner Mike McCurdy recused himself as he had an active application. Eight units total are proposed in these two applications: four each from applications by Sarah Sorg and Nathan Pertuset.
- Both applications were approved with a vote of 4-2: Commissioners Trish Hedin and Kevin Walker voted in opposition. Said Hedin: “We’re going to have to do something about Spanish Valley Drive. We’re throwing a lot of density in there and the road hasn’t changed—it’s a mess. I drive it every day.”
- The approved applications will bring the ADO count to 134 of the 150 permitted.
- Discussion began at 2:41:18; passed 5-2 with Hedin and Walker opposed
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Operating agreement between Canyonlands Regional Airport and Lyft, Inc.
- The airport will charge $2 per Lyft vehicle pick-up or drop-off starting in 2024.
- Discussion began at 2:58:44; passed 5-0 with Commissioner Bill Winfield and Hedin absent
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Ratification of a letter of support encouraging continued operation of national parks and public lands in the event of a federal government shutdown in October 2023
- In the event of a government shutdown, Utah national parks and public lands will not cease operations (currently, the new deadline for a government spending bill is November 17) due to funding provided by the State of Utah. The commission drafted a letter to Deb Haaland, the Secretary of the Interior, urging her to “do everything within your power to keep these parks open to visitors” as tourism “plays a critical role in Grand County’s economy and the quality of life of both residents and visitors.”
- Discussion began at 3:00:10; passed unanimously with Winfield absent
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Consent Agenda
- Approval of meeting minutes for September 19, 2023
- Ratification of payment of bills
- FY24 WRI Grant 6605 cooperative agreement between the Utah Department of Natural Resources (Division of Wildlife Resources) and Grand County (Weeds Department)
- Grand County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) 2024 OHV Grant
- Specialized service agreement between Grand County (Weeds Department) and Utah State University (Utah Conservation Corps)
- Indigent Defense Commission FY24 grant agreement
- Search and Rescue avalanche training
- Independent contractor agreement for countertop and cabinet installation in the Planning, Building, and Engineering building.
- Discussion at 3:04:08; passed unanimously with Winfield absent
