A Riverton legislator has pre-filed a bill directed at making UTA board members more accountable to the public in a plan that would create 13 representative districts along the Wasatch Front.
Sen. Brent C. Richards, R-Riverton, says he wants to make the UTA board representative with SB6."This is not really not changing numbers. It would be far more democratic within counties, politically and geographically," Richards said.
Under Richards' bill, each decennial census would be used to create 13 equal transit board districts based on population and geography inside the larger transit district.
A bill promoted in previous sessions by Richards that would have created direct election of board members was defeated. UTA officials had opposed direct election of board members.
The bill, if it becomes law, would apply to any transit board that represents a population of more than 200,000. However, no districts except UTA's fit the population requirement.
Richard's said he isn't motivated by any ill-will or disfavor with UTA, he just wants board members to be accountable to a geographic district. He's complimentary of the job UTA does given its resources.
Under the Richards plan, several governments may be required to sign an interlocal agreement spelling out how a UTA board member would be appointed. With a 13-member scheme using 1990 population figures, it is estimated each board member would represent 100,000 people. That means in Davis County, for example, many cities and the county would be involved in selecting a board member.
The plan is also likely to give Salt Lake County more representation on the board. Salt Lake County Commissioner Jim Bradley said the county has long been concerned that it only has six of the 13 UTA board members.
While still remaining neutral on the bill, UTA spokesman Bill Barnes expressed concern about the way such agreements would work. On the surface they appear cumbersome, he said.
At a hearing earlier this year about the bill, some expressed concern about county sovereignty. Currently, in Salt Lake County, commissioners appoint UTA Board members.
Richards wants to expand board members' terms to four years from the current three years. As in the current law, board members may be appointed to two successive terms.
Richards said he will meet with UTA officials to "work out the kinks" in the proposal.