The Park City Council is slated to discuss what to do with $5 million in walkability funding, how to make city buildings more environmentally friendly, and what the winter events schedule might look like at its meeting Thursday.
Thursday’s meeting is scheduled to begin with a work session at 4:30 all about future city walkability projects and whether a pedestrian tunnel near Snow Creek Drive is the best use of the city’s money.
Park City voters approved a $15 million walkability bond in 2007. There is just over $5 million left in that fund, but current estimates for the tunnel, also known as the Dans to Jans project, put the cost at $7 million.
Alex Butwinski was an original member of the 2008 committee formed to examine how to spend that money; that committee was brought back together this summer to consider how to spend the remaining funds. He said several options were on the table, including some for the area around the proposed arts and culture district near Prospector Square, but the committee ultimately decided on the Snow Creek location.
“In our walking tour, we walked through the tentative plans for the arts and culture district, but we’re really not sure what’s gonna go there, so why would we build infrastructure if we’re not sure what’s gonna be there?” Butwinski said. “We do want to spend the $5 million remaining from the walk bond.”
The council is expected to decide whether or not to prioritize the pedestrian tunnel, and direct city staff to provide an updated financial plan on walkability projects.
Also in work session, the council will explore ways to “decarbonize” buildings as the city works towards its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. According to city data, 60% of carbon emissions in the city come from commercial and residential buildings.
Celia Peterson is the city’s environmental sustainability project manager and said several options are on the table for both new and existing buildings.
“If we don’t have to build extra, efficiency is always the first and foremost way to go,” she said. “It’s to really look at ways we can build our new buildings to be as highly efficient as possible, but then also looking at retrofits for existing buildings.”
Utah state law prohibits local governments from enacting mandatory building codes, so cities and towns instead need to incentivize energy-efficient practices. Options include using money from the Utah Clean Energy Fund or the city’s energy and franchise taxes to do this. City staff is looking for council feedback on the proposed strategies.
During the council’s regular meeting at 6:00, city events staff will update the council on the winter 2021-22 events schedule. In addition to holiday festivities like the grand menorah lighting and electric light parade, the Deer Valley Freestyle World Cup, Sundance Film Festival, and 20th anniversary celebrations for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics are all on the calendar for early 2022.
City Manager Matt Dias said this winter could be the busiest yet in Park City.
“This is all about balance,” said Dias. “What staff is attempting to do here for both the community, the city council, and our media outlets, and our residents and our businesses is signal about the winter events season ahead. It will be a busy season. It is undoubtedly maybe our busiest season ever.”
Although COVID-19 is not an item on Thursday’s agenda, according to a staff report, the city anticipates that winter events can be “managed effectively” as long as there are no significant changes to pandemic regulations.
The full council agenda and details on how to participate can be found here.
