Neighborhood bosses who run their community councils year after year may lose their influence with county officials.
Salt Lake County moved a step closer this week to passing an ordinance requiring community councils to hold well-publicized elections with a monitored ballot count afterward. Community councils that don't follow the ordinance will lose their say in planning and zoning matters.The county's executive council has recommended the Salt Lake County Commission pass an ordinance outlining election procedures and limiting community council terms to four years.
The county wants more control of community councils because people have complained that some councils only represent the interests of a few. Since the county funds the councils, giving a total of $15,000 a year to them, officials can lay down the law, they concluded.
"There have been complaints aplenty that there is a core group of people in these community councils that know how this works and no one else knows," said David Marshall, associate director of the county's community and support services department.
One man stumbled onto an election at a community council meeting but was told he couldn't vote, Marshall recalled.
"It's a serious problem," said Salt Lake County Attorney Doug Short. "In the past, they have been viewed as private citizens' groups. But since we give them money each year and they have an advisory capacity on zoning matters in their area, we've got to ensure that they are truly representative of the area."
Currently, community councils can ask the county to delay decisions on planning and zoning matters. Council officers also carry extra weight when they testify on behalf of the council at public hearings.
With the new ordinance, community councils could still decide when they are holding their elections and how, Short said. "But they can't decide one night, `OK, we've got the right people here to to vote so we'll have an election.' That's the accusation made in the past against a couple of councils. This should allow people who want to get involved the chance to do that by letting them know how."
The executive council voted unanimously to recommend the adoption of the ordinance.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Proposed changes
Community councils would be required to:
- Designate an elections officer
- Develop a fair candidate-nomination process
- Report candidates to the county clerk
- Post notice of an election in 25 prominent places
- Establish a ballot system
- Maintain security in ballot count. (No candidates counting ballots)
- Report election results to the county clerk
- Hold elections at least every four years.