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Show A-2 The Park Record The Park Record. Serving Summit County since 1880 The Park Record, Park City’s No. 1 source for local news, opinion and advertising, is available for home delivery in Summit, Wasatch, Salt Lake, Davis and Utah counties. Single copies are also available at 116 locations throughout Park City, Heber City, Summit County and Salt Lake City. SUBSCRIPTION RATES In Summit County (home delivery): $56 per year (includes Sunday editions of The Salt Lake Tribune) Outside Summit County (home delivery available in Wasatch, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Utah counties; all other addresses will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service): $80 per year To subscribe please call 435–649– 9014 or visit www.parkrecord.com and click the Subscribe link in the Reader Tools section of the toolbar at the bottom of the page. To report a missing paper, please call 801–204–6100. 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No portion may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the managing editor or publisher. The Park Record (USPS 378-730) (ISSN 0745-9483) is published twice weekly by Wasatch Mountain News Media Co., 1670 Bonanza Drive, Park City, UT 84060. Periodicals postage paid at Salt Lake City, Utah, 84199-9655 and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Park Record, P.O. Box 3688, Park City, UT84060. Entered as second-class matter, May 25, 1977, at the Post Office in Park City, Utah, 84060 under the Act of March 3, 1897. Subscription rates are: $56 within Summit county, $80 outside of Summit County, Utah. Subscriptions are transferable: $5 cancellation fee. Phone: 435–649–9014 Fax: 435–649–4942 Email: circulation@parkrecord.com Published every Wednesday and Saturday Continued from A-1 Buyout vote looms deep-rooted concerns about the project. The critics argue that traffic headed to and from Treasure would overwhelm the roads, the buildings would loom over Old Town and the years of construction would devalue the quality of life. They claimed the 1980s approval did not envision a project as large as the one the partnership sought. As the Planning Commission appeared poised to cast a vote against the project, Park City leaders and the Treasure partnership engaged in closeddoor talks about the possibility of some sort of conservation deal. The $64 million acquisition was reached in early 2018 and was followed by the financial discussions that ended with the ballot measure priced at $48 million. The deal would be unlike any other in City Hall’s years of conservation acquisitions. The $64 million soars above the $38 million paid for Bonanza Flat, to date Park City’s most expensive conservation deal. It would also end a development debate that has stretched through the decades even as other large-scale projects have been argued and ultimately built. In another wrinkle, the Park City Council late in the Treasure talks agreed to contribute up to $3 million of the $48 million toward an unrelated conservation deal in Thaynes Canyon known as Snow Ranch Pasture. City Hall projects a successful $48 million ballot measure would increase property taxes by $194 annually on an $800,000 residence classified as primary. The increase on a vacation home or a commercial property of the same value is projected to be $353 each year. The bond would be repaid over a 16year term. Some of the topics that could be crucial to the Treasure campaign include: • whether the possibility of development on the Treasure land is a critical issue outside Old Town. The core opposition to the Treasure development is centered in Old Town, with people living within blocks of the land appearing to be the most worried. But Old Town voters typically do not decide City Hall elections. It has been decades since Old Town has been the population center of Park City, and elections are typically won or lost in other neighborhoods. The supporters of the ballot measure will need to convince voters outside of Old Town the acquisition Continued from A-1 Pedal power only E-bikes The rise of e-bikes has forced cyclo-centric communities to reevaluate their trail use policies. Currently, e-bikes are allowed in Park City anywhere with a multi-use path over 5 feet wide — a rule that precludes them from riding the more than 400 miles of mountain bike trails in the area. Legislators from several states, including Utah, have divided the bikes into three categories: pedal-assisted bikes with a motor that activates only when the rider pedals; bikes with a throttle that don’t require pedaling; and bikes that can reach speeds up to 28 miles per hour. Summit Bike Share is likely the most prominent example Direct Importer of the World’s Finest Rugs A t t h e H i s t o r i c Vi l l a T h e a t r e 3092 So. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City (801)484-6364 888.445.RUGS (7847) Mon.-Sat. 10 am to 6 pm and tax increase required to fund the deal are worthwhile even to those who do not live nearby and may only occasionally drive on the streets that would be most impacted by traffic headed to and from Treasure. The addition of the Snow Ranch Pasture land to the ballot measure is seen as a carrot for voters outside of Old Town, notably those in Thaynes Canyon. • whether there is an opposition movement that could act as an election-season counterbalance to supporters who have already mobilized. The supporters of the ballot measure — those who oppose the Treasure development proposal — were able to quickly coalesce, likely a result of them having organized against the development proposal over the past decade-plus. Yard signs in support of the ballot measure appeared in recent days and the political chatter thus far has been heavily weighted toward the backers. It is becoming less likely as the important weeks of the campaign near that an organized group in opposition will form. Two people had signaled their interest in drafting an argument against the ballot measure that would be included in official election materials. Six people had submitted their names as candidates to draft the argument in favor of the ballot measure. • whether voters considering their decision on the Treasure ballot measure will weigh the potential of a City Hall tax increase to acquire the land against the near-certain prospects of the Park City School District sometime in the next few years asking for voter approval of a high-dollar package of capital improvements that would necessitate a property-tax increase. Voters in the School District in 2015 rejected a $56 million ballot measure that would have funded a separate list of upgrades. The School District, perhaps as early as 2019, could put a reworked package of improvements on the ballot. The School District covers Park City and the Snyderville Basin, meaning that a broader electorate would decide a ballot measure for capital improvements. A voter-approved tax increase in the School District would be paid inside Park City regardless of whether it wins a majority within the municipal limits. The looming School District ballot measure could influence some people in Park City as they decide their Treasure vote, particularly those in the middle and lower classes with worries about the affordability of Park City. Supporters of the Treasure deal, though, could mount an argument highlighting that earlier voter-approved City Hall ballot measures that funded conservation acquisitions will be retired in coming years, reducing property taxes paid to the municipal government over time even as a successful Treasure ballot measure remains on the books. of local e-bikes. The company has a fleet of bikes that fit into the first category available for rental around town, though mountain bike manufacturers do make high-performance motorized bikes built for single-track trails. The survey started its e-bike inquiry by asking if respondents owned an e-bike. Ninety percent said no, and 88 percent said they had never used an e-bike on single-track trails. A full 78 percent of respondents said e-bikes should not be allowed on single-track trails. “Seventy-eight percent is a pretty large number to say no to e-bikes,” he said. Another question asked how e-bikes should be managed on single-track trails. The majority — 57.49 percent — said they did not think e-bikes should be allowed on them. The next largest answer was a 17.66-percent vote for restricting use to certain trails and areas, which Sturgis said isn’t an option the foundation sees as viable. “Getting into segregated trail building is a huge deal,” he said. He added Wed/Thurs/Fri, September 5-7, 2018 Treasure statements submitted to county Clerk will select the people to write key opinion pieces JAY HAMBURGER The Park Record One supporter of the City Hall ballot measure that would raise the funding needed for the acquisition of Treasure in a conservation deal and one opponent of the measure added their names to the list of people interested in drafting statements that will be included in official election materials. The Summit County Clerk’s Office said Brian Van Hecke, a leader in the opposition to the Treasure development proposal, indicated he wants to write the statement in favor of the ballot measure. Stephen Streamer submitted his name as a candidate to draft the statement in opposition. By late on Tuesday morning, six people had contacted the office wanting to write the statement in favor of the ballot measure while two had done so asking to write the opposing statement. The people who are interested in writing Continued from A-1 State seat contested litical resume than him. But, he said, he brings a different perspective to the table that would be valuable, especially as it pertains to technology and entrepreneurship. Neville owns a software company, working with ski resorts across the country on various projects. Neville said the state should be encouraging and supporting more people to create their own businesses. “With the way the economy is changing, people don’t have to wait for big business to take over their towns,” he said. “It’s just a different perspective and different skill to offer.” Neville said he has knocked on hundreds of doors throughout his campaign and immersed himself in the politics of counties such as Morgan, hoping to appeal to both Republican and Democratic voters in the district. He said Democrats, in particular, are frustrated and don’t feel like that they are represented. He said many voters tell him they have lost their voice due to gerrymandering. “It’s really frustrating that no Democrats are elected to office outside of Salt Lake County and not all Democrats are the same,” he said. “I feel like that it’s expensive and doesn’t promote an inclusive attitude among riders, because user groups become accustomed to having the trails to themselves. “Coexisting goes away in an instant,” he said. “It’s always a little scary to allow for that mindset.” As for reasons why people did not want e-bikes on single-track trails, 36 percent said “because they have a motor and our trails are not motorized.” Only 26 percent said they disagreed with e-bike use because of safety concerns. “I would have thought that would be the overwhelming response,” Sturgis said regarding concern for safety. “I think if you asked anyone sitting at our table during a meeting, they would say safety is the issue.” Only 7 percent said the trails were al- the statement favoring the ballot measure are: Van Hecke, Niels Vernegaard, Cindy Matsumoto, Rory Murphy, Arnie Rusten and John Stafsholt. Streamer and Jeff Weissman by late on Tuesday morning were vying to draft the statement in opposition. The deadline was 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Van Hecke is a leader in the Treasure Hill Impact Neighborhood Coalition and is one of the primary figures in the opposition to the Treasure development proposal. He and other opponents of the development proposal have long pressed issues like the traffic Treasure would be expected to generate on streets like Lowell Avenue and Empire Avenue and the overall size of the project. Streamer in a guest editorial printed in The Park Record in February criticized City Hall’s $64 million agreement to acquire Treasure as “a bad deal” for Park City. He argued in the guest editorial the agreement prioritizes the resort industry. That industry and related sectors should finance a Treasure deal, he argued. Summit County Clerk Kent Jones said he planned to select the people to draft the two statements as early as Tuesday evening. there is a different way to represent rural Utah and the Wasatch Back that doesn’t have to mirror the policies of someone in Salt Lake.” Neville said he typically addresses three issues with voters: fair representation, compassionate government and environmental stewardship. He expressed concerns about the way the state views the environment, describing the health issues that many face as a result of poor air quality. “It seems like their main focus is to grow as fast as possible, and I’m worried about how that reflects in District 53 where there is a lot of agriculture and tourism and these communities rely on a healthy environment for their economy,” he said. Neville said one of the reasons he is seeking a seat is to bring an aspect of creativity and enthusiasm to the Statehouse that is lacking. “I think when we have 83 percent of our Legislature from one party, creativity isn’t necessarily there,” he said. “I’ve spent a long time coming up with creative solutions and I want to bring that to that to the Legislature.” District 53 covers large swaths of Daggett, Rich, Morgan, Duchesne and Summit counties. In Summit County, District 53 includes: Park West, Kimball Junction, Promontory, Snyders Mill, Moose Hollow, Silver Springs, Jeremy Ranch, all of North and South Summit, and parts of Pinebrook. Ballots will be mailed to Summit County voters on Oct. 16 and should arrive around Oct. 19. Returned ballots will need to be postmarked no later than Nov. 5. ready too crowded, which Sturgis said was the Foundation’s second-highest concern regarding e-bikes. Status quo supported The survey also asked people about their perceptions of leash laws. When asked how Mountain Trails should handle dogs on trails, nearly 70 percent selected the answer “I like things just as they are, with the community being responsible dog owners.” Sturgis said the response was heartening considering that some options on the survey advocated for more restrictive leash laws and fewer areas for dogs. “Dogs need to run, too,” Sturgis said, interpreting the response to the question. “Dogs are spirits, let ‘em go.” |