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Show A-2 Wed/Thurs/Fri, October 21-23, 2020 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 Amendment debated cause public school funding is abysmal anyway. Somebody might ask, ‘How much worse will it get? When it’s terrible already, could this be worse?’” Lear is referencing Utah’s rank as dead last in the nation for per-pupil spending. Proponents of state funding efforts, meanwhile, point to recent investment increases and education attainment levels that are line with states that spend more money on education. While Lear contends that Amendment G would further dilute public education’s funding source, the state teacher’s union supports the measure. Heidi Matthews, the president of the Utah Education Association, said her group was heavily involved in crafting the compromise during the general session in March, and that what the union really supports is the passage of the legislation that is contingent on the amendment’s passage. She acknowledges the amendment may put more demand on the income tax revenue that funds education. But she says that there is nothing now that compels legislators to use all of income tax revenue on schools, or to fund them at any particular level. While the money cannot be spent on roads, the Legislature is free to use what it deems as excess income tax revenue for tax refunds or tax credits, or to lower the income tax rate across the board. “Our constitutional guarantee guarantees a revenue source, it does not guarantee a distribution,” said Matthews, a former educator in the Park City School District. “That is the issue that we have had. The income tax that is raised, it goes to education. But it doesn’t say how much of it or to what level. Regardless of the wording in the constitution, there is nothing compelling our Legislature to fund education.” As Park City School District Business Administrator Todd Hauber puts it, Continued from A-1 Arts district pursued efforts, said the proposal involves the buildings the Kimball Art Center and the Sundance offices would occupy. The locations would be sold to the two not-for-profit organizations later. The project also includes four buildings City Hall itself plans to develop. The details include 50 residences, which City Hall proposes to operate as rental units. They are proposed to range in size from 400 square feet to 900 square feet and include studio apartments and what are described as micro-units. The residences are proposed to be part of the restricted workforce or otherwise affordable stock, meaning someone must qualify through their income. Everitt said approximately eight of the residences would be reserved for people involved in artist-in-residency programs in the district. Some of the other highlights of the proposal include: • approximately 12 co-op spaces that would be available to rent. The spaces would be unfinished. • creative spaces like classrooms • a food hall that would have an anchor tenant as well as a place for socalled emerging food purveyors that occupy the industry space between food trucks and brick-and-mortar restaurants. “There’s no guarantee that just because we collected an income tax dollar it’ll go to public ed.” Hauber has previously worked on the state level and, while he said he is not in a position to tell voters how to vote, he touted the overall improvements to education funding that would come if Amendment G passes. “I would say the amendment and its accompanying pieces of legislation do have a beneficial impact for public ed,” he said. In addition to the automatic funding changes for inflation and enrollment growth and the implementation of a rainy-day fund, Hauber said the legislative compromise also appropriates the money that was promised to school districts earlier this year but was cut when the pandemic hit. Hauber and Matthews both said the compromise was a meaningful step toward consistent state funding for education and represented progress. Lear and Matthews both acknowledge that the education groups are abandoning a constitutional protection — that income tax revenue can only be spent on public education and higher education — for reforms in state statute, which can be changed more easily than the Constitution can be amended. Lear compared the situation with the Legislature and education funding to Lucy and the football in the Peanuts cartoons. “I feel like, essentially, we’re giving up a constitutional guarantee for legislative promises,” Lear said. Matthews estimated the demand on the income tax revenue source could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the changes the amendment is asking. Sen. Allen Christensen, who represents parts of Summit County at the Statehouse, said he supports Amendment G. He touted the compromise efforts and said education funding has been a mess for years. “I hate to put it this way, but if you trust the Legislature, you will vote for G. If you just don’t trust them, and you think they’re out to get you like so many people do, then G isn’t a good idea,” he said. Constitutional amendments requires a simple majority of voters to pass. Amendment G is one of seven such questions on November’s ballot. • artist exhibition space • event space, which Everitt likens to a jazz lounge “It really brings together and puts into action a whole range of the city’s critical priorities,” Everitt said. City Hall leaders see the district as something that will advance topics like housing, economic diversification and transit. The 50 residences would make the project among Park City’s largest workforce or otherwise affordable developments. The transit component, meanwhile, is designed to be a “major node,” Everitt said, indicating it will provide links to Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and the Old Town transit center. Leaders also argue the district will be a key step in diversifying the Park City economy from one that is heavily reliant on the ski industry. Everitt noted arts and culture is not dependent on the weather, as is the case with skiing. The Planning Commission process could be challenging as the panel weighs a major proposal at a crucial location. The previous owner of the land encountered broad resistance as it pursued a development approval. There were concerns at that time about the height of the proposed buildings, the road network and other design issues. The Bonanza Park partnership that sold the land to City Hall made limited progress as it attempted to win a development approval prior to the transaction with the municipal government. The Planning Commission will likely spend significant time addressing topics like the design of the buildings, the overall layout and traffic, some of the issues broached during talks about any major development proposal. Continued from A-1 Annexation approved He sounded animated, raising his voice at times and appearing to speak with passion. He defended himself against allegations that he was a “land-grabber” and indicated that Hideout would never be welcomed by Park City and Summit County as a negotiating partner and regional player if it didn’t annex this land. “I remember sitting in one of the first meetings we were talking about this, and you guys were worried about how are you going to pay a police officer, when Park City, in their same meeting, was wondering how they’re going to get their $77 million that they’re just a little bit short to build their arts center,” Brockbank said. “The reason they have the money is because they have the commercial (businesses). And if you think there’s any way possible they’re going to sit down with the Town of Hideout and help them — I just don’t see it.” Brockbank also offered to pay to build the new town hall/community center that Hideout officials are seeking — a hefty financial contribution and one that he had not previously offered — and to continue to pay for studies about the project’s financial feasibility and traffic and environmental impacts. Hideout Mayor Phil Rubin, who has been a staunch proponent of the annexation plan but does not have a vote on the Town Council, echoed some of Brockbank’s sentiments. “I think you can’t sit at the card table if you don’t have cards,” Rubin said. “... I bet sometime in the next five to eight years there’ll be something going on right here, it just won’t be Hideout’s.” Councilor Jerry Dwinell, who, along with Ralph Severini, voted for the proposal after indicating that he opposed it, echoed those words in later discussions. And Baier has said repeatedly that Hideout would never be welcomed to the negotiating table unless it controlled more land. Park City and Summit County have been trying to stop the annexation vote in the courtroom and with old-fashioned politicking, with Summit County representatives participating in settlement talks for five weeks with Hideout officials and Park City offering to hire an independent party to broker regional planning sessions. Continued from A-1 Main Street packed Sunday sales this year compared to previous years when the Silly Market Hideout officials said they’d received calls from current Park City Mayor Andy Beerman, former Mayor Dana Williams and Summit County officials, as well. Their efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful, and Summit County Manager Tom Fisher said he was disappointed by the outcome of Friday’s vote. “They now bear the responsibility of taking advantage of the nefarious legislative actions of the developer to sneakily change pending state legislation for the profit of the landowners and ultimately at the expense of all who have been so careful to protect what makes the greater Park City area special and unique,” Fisher wrote in a message to The Park Record. “... Their actions to approve the annexation last week could have a chilling effect on their ability to meaningfully and honestly participate in regional planning in the future.” Summit County Attorney Margaret Olson has indicated the court challenges will continue. After the annexation narrowly passed, Hideout councilors unanimously passed the annexation master development agreement that councilors have spent at least a dozen hours negotiating in public. The 53-page document governs key elements of the project like how much and what type of development should be built and how the town will be protected against future costs related to environmental cleanup, among other provisions. The latest version of the plan calls for 600 residences — 120 of which would be earmarked for affordable housing — and 95,000 square feet for commercial businesses, which would have to be built in the project’s first phase. Other amenities include the town hall/community center, which is also seen as a senior center; an assisted living facility; parks, trails and open space; and a chairlift to the highest point on Richardson Flat. As of Monday evening, Wasatch County Clerk Auditor Cal Griffiths said he had not received any referendum paperwork, though he had fielded calls from people requesting the number of active voters in Hideout. A referendum effort would require signatures from 35% of the town’s active voters to put the question on the ballot, with a vote likely to come next spring. Referendum organizers have seven days from when the resolution was passed to gather five co-sponsors and file paperwork with the Hideout town clerk. Hideout has 281 active voters, Griffiths said, and if a referendum is filed, organizers would need to collect roughly 100 signatures. was held, she said. Kuhlow, though, also said there are other businesses describing a drop in sales during the pedestrian days this year when put against Sundays of Silly Market. The Historic Park City Alliance plans to conduct a survey of members regarding the topic. The survey is expected to be taken as early as December. The Park Record was unable to contact a representative of the Silly Market. Correction Candidate Darren Parry’s last name was misspelled in the 1st Congressional District voter guide published on page A-12 of the Oct. 17-20 edition of The Park Record. The Park Record regrets the error. #1 Title Company 2018 Th e Park Record. 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 2019 Committed To Views overlooking the Rees Jones Golf Course 6689 E Moonlight Drive / Victory Ranch 4 bd / 5 ba / 3,337 sqft / Offered at $2,665,000 NARI TROTTER STEFANIE BOWEN (435) 649-8322 theteam@parkcitytitle.com 1670 Bonanza Drive • Park Record Building Matthew Sidford REALTOR® matthew@sidfordrealestate.com 435.962.4544 sidfordrealestate.com Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed accurate. Buyer to verify all information. 3092 So. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City (801)484-6364 888.445.RUGS (7847) Mon.-Sat. 10 am to 6 pm |