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Show THE SENTINEL 2 PiQ Thursday, April 8, 1982 Proposed Lake Valley: A good idea? Editor's Note: This is part one of series. a Residents of the unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County will decide May 11 whether to make history in establishing the large, unprecedented Lake Valley City. The proposed city would have an estimated population of 229,000, including residents of Herriman, Copperton, and Cottonwood Heights. If incorporated, the city would be the largest in Utah, covering about 200 square miles. two-pa-rt surrounding cities that "erode their area's tax base and force up their taxes." According to the report, proponents were also concerned that many small communities, . such as Union, Magna, and Cottonwood Heights, "would be absorbed into cities piecemeal and lose their identity in the process." Since residents of the areas are unincorporated the county by governed . salaries of the city's elected commissioners who are elected by The city would also include most of the entire county, proponents feel the population of Salt Lake County that as a city, electing their own not presently a part of any city, officials would result in better equaling 35.2 percent of the representation. With elected The could "deal with county's population. proposal officials, they excludes canyon areas and cities as equals, no longer as islands. second class citizens." They in residents several further argue that this city 1961, Early of the area submitted a petition government would offer them calling for the election to the Salt greater control over their taxes Lake Commission, and services. County Another advantage to the city explaining that the increasing of commercial would be its size, according to annexations properties of the unincorporated proponents cited in the report "It areas into current cities were would be in a stronger position to attract industry, federal grants, eroding the tax base. In August, 1981, the county and exercise political influence commission appointed an than would a small dry. A Lake committee to study the Valley City would enjoy economics feasibility of the proposed city. of scale mat could keep costs and The Lake Valley City Study taxes down." Committee presented a report of A "mayor-council- " form of to their the government is proposed for the findings commissioners last January, city. Under this form, seven or which stated that the city could be eight council members, each a viable governmental entity. different a representing The report indicated that Lake community within the city, would Valley City would not be a oversee taxes and expenditure. "compact entity," but would be Because the mass of the "an alliance of diverse population of the new city is on the communities spread throughout east side, the east side would the Salt Lake Valley." The probably more have purpose of the proposed city would representatives than the west side. be to consolidate the tax bases The report stressed that the from these communities, many of form of government could be which are too weak to form changed later, as West Valley City independent cities. According to did. For that matter, the report the report, put together, they said, residents could vote to "have a stronger tax base than disincorporate the city "if it does many existing cities and a larger not fulfill their expectations." base than all but Salt Lake City." Some communities may even vote new the claim Proponents city to break away and Join another, would end constant annexations by city or form a separate city. The Rlvorton Hearing April Note: (Editor's 20... Riverton officials win be hosting a public 20 to discuss forms available to governmental third class cities. The meeting will be held at Riverton Elementary at 8 p.m. This is the second of a three-pa-rt series on those options. The articles are not meant to be comprehensive. They represent an overview of Information gathered from various sources including the Utah Code. Those who want more information are encouraged to research the issue.) hearing April by Renette Anderson Sentinel Staff Before 1975, third class cities were limited to the traditional of form mayor-counc- il government. As cities grew, requests for services became more comlex. The Optional Forms of Municipal Government Act was passed by the 41st Utah State Legislature who recognized that "increasing demands for services ano growing citizen awareness and concerns have strained the ability of local governments to respond effectively." Chief . Executive Mayor proposed name of Lake Valley City could be changed if voted upon. "Creation of a new city is not free," says the report, but it indicates that it probably won't be expensive for residents of the new city. Because all services would be contracted from the county for the first years at least, the only additional costs would be the officials, their staff, and some administrative costs. According to the committee's study, Lake Valley City's tax base would near $354 million. That, taken into consideration with the study's estimation of $1.5 million needed to create the new city, would amount to additional costs of $8.50 per person. The number of employes to be paid from the city's coffers will depend on the wishes of the elected administration upon incorporation. According to the study, there are presently about 950 Salt Lake County employes e services to the providing city-typ- area. It estimates that a similar number would be required for Lake Valley, though most of them may be the same people employed presently by the county. A franchise tax on utilities is being considered for additional revenue for the city. Most city revenues are not collected until long after the city incorporates, and the main advantage of a franchise tax would be the immediate resulting funds, The city could establish its own service departments at some According to the report, "a future time, but at additional cost franchise tax of .6 percent would for the city. The report estimated be the least painful way to pay for that it would cost the city the costs of setting up a new city." $2 million more for approximately The report indicated that a slightly lower level of service if it essential services would not be were to set up its own services. affected. "The city could contract If the new city were with the sheriff and the existing Salt Lake County fire district to continue their incorporated, services without change or at the government and its elected officials would continue to exist level the city desires." Garbage and unincorporated citizens would collection and street maintenance still be taxed by the county for .wjll also be contracted from the their services. Lake Valley county. ' would leave 7.7 percent of current The act allowed third class cities to choose between a council-mayform as and a alternatives to the mayor-councgovernment It also outlined the procedures to follow should a city decide to adopt one of the two options. council-manag- must return the legislation to the . er il , R . or communicate with employes through the mayor. The act does, however, give the council the appoints and directs option of appointing committees to investigate an employe or any city I Chief department Administrative Officer Failure to abide by these provisions could result in a forfeiture of office. Council members may be elected by district, or by a combination of the two. Supporters of the council-mayooption point out that by separating at-larg-e, r, ( V DcPl- Head m J J ( V Dept. Head m J ( V Head m J unincorporated areas, with percent of the property tax base and 2.2 percent of the sales tax base. The petitioners left Kennecott in the unincorporated area so that with this tax base residents, such as in White City, "might see their taxes go down even if their service costs went UP- - at"' council within fifteen days. A vote of the council is required to override it The vote must be taken at the meeting following the mayor's action. The mayor executes council policy and is responsible to see COUNCIL-MAYOthat all laws and ordinances of the Under this form, the mayor and community are enforced. With the the council are separate, advice and consent of the council, and removes independent and equal bodies. The he appoints mayor heads the administration municipal officers, department and the council serves as the heads and commission and board members. legislative branch. As chief executive officer, the He must also appoint a budget officer and provide the council for is mayor responsible city administration. He may choose to with periodic reports on all budget "run" the city himself, or he may appropriations, total appoint a chief administrative disbursements to date, and total officer (CAO) to oversee that indebtedness against each function. If a CAO is appointed, he appropriation. form closely is solely responsible to the mayor. The council-mayWhile the mayor may initiate resembles state government. The proposals and participate in mayor's position can be compared council deliberations, he has no to the governor. The council is the vote. He is charged with the legislature. The role of the council is to pass of however, responsibility, or disapproving ordinances, appropriate funds, approving ordinances, tax levies, or review municipal administration, appropriations passed by the and perform other duties required council. If he vetos a measure, he bylaw. It is the mayor's responsibility to monitor all city departments. Members of the council are prohibited from attempting to Council influence, except in writing, the Legislative appointment or removal of any body for city employe. The council can only g or Dept. A residents still in 9 . policy-makin- A unincorporated reducing the need for borrowing. Proponents cited in the report claim that Lake Valley City would solve "double taxation" problems iiHft when 'city" that ae5t residents help pay for services for unincorporated area residents. With incorporation county-wid- e taxes would then pay for only county-wid- services. e Lake Valley City would not affect current school districts or their boundaries. The comments, reports "Distrust of unknown quantities is an understandable concern." But as the report stresses, the success of the entity depends entirely on the quality and purpose of the men and women elected to office on Memaiives expand local government options I - j ( V Dept. Had m Y T J V Dept. Head rh A J the legislative and executive powers, the city is provided with a checks-and-balan- ce Similar to that found (governor-legislatur- national e) system. at the state and (president-congress- ). levels. The mayor also has the a trained appointive officers of boards and to assist him commissions. He establishes the with his responsibilities. standards, qualifications, criteria and procedures which win govern Those opposed to such a form note that the mayor has too much dty employes. The manager should attend all power and that the council is council meetings and take part in g reduced to a body the discussion, but he has no right only. They argue that the mayor to vote on an issue. He is to submit may or may not be qualified to to the council plans and programs provide the necessary leadership to the development and and state that the (CAO) could relating needs of the dty. He also should become a powerful political special reports prepare appointment They also point out concerning the financial, that it is a "wasteful duplication" administrative, and operation to have both a mayor and a CAO. activities of the dty together with his evaluation and recommendations. Again, under this option, the A budget officer for the city is executive and legislative powers appointed by the dty manager to fulfills are separated. The council fulfill the requirements of the the legislative responsibilities of fiscal uniform the community and hires a municipal The act. manager manager to handle the day to day procedures examines dty documents and can operations. make investigations and require council-managThe mayor in the government is a voting member of the council. As chairman, he presides at all meetings. He also performs option of hiring professional (CAO) poUcy-makin- COUNCIL-MANAGE- R reports from personnel. The act gives the council the right to terminate the manager at any time. Except for malfeasance, he is entitled to receive six months compensation after termination. Those against- - the council manager option argue that too much power is given to a official. Too much decision-makin- g is left to the without and an elected manager the chief executive, community lacks political leadership. Supporters point out that the division of labor frees the council of administrative detail, leaving them time to provide community leadership and monitor other manager's performance. Daily administration of dty business is removed from politics and the manager is professionally trained non-elect- to perform his required duties. (Next week: Wrap-up.- ) . er ceremonical functions on behalf of the dty and signs actions taken by the council. Council Legislative body for g policy-makin- Similar to the other option, the role of the council is to pass ordinances, appropriate funds, appoints review municipal administration, and perform other duties required by law. Members may be elected or by a by district, combination of both methods. v at-lar- ge Manager The council, by a majority vote, appoints a manager who is the chief executive officer of the city. He is charged with carrying out the council's policies and programs. two-thir- ds ''.'"': With the advice and consent of the council, the manager appoints the city recorder, treasurer, attorney, and other officers "deemed necessary for the good government of the municipality, He has the power, again with the council's advice and consent, to appoint, suspend and remove officers, department heads and all ' X A ( Dept. Had m J . m ' ' r ". ' appoints and directs . S X S (I Dept. (I Dept. Had Had J "' T X-.- J rrr (: Dept. I Head m Y I I Dept. Head m ) |