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Transportation Interim Committee

MINUTES OF THE

TRANSPORTATION INTERIM COMMITTEE

        
Thursday, September 24, 1998 - 9:00 a.m. - 403 State Capitol


Members Present:
    Sen. John P. Holmgren,
        Senate Chair
    Rep. Marda Dillree
        House Chair
    Sen. Eddie "Ed" P. Mayne
    Sen. David H. Steele
    Rep. Gerry A. Adair
    Rep. Trisha S. Beck
    Rep. Ralph Becker
    Rep. Ron Bigelow
    Rep. DeMar "Bud" Bowman
    Rep. Don E. Bush
    Rep. Gene Davis
    Rep. Brad King
    Rep. Joseph G. Murray
    Rep. Lowell A. Nelson
    Rep. Richard M. Siddoway
    Rep. David Ure



Members Absent:
    Sen L. Alma Mansell
    Sen. Nathan C. Tanner
    Rep. Peter C. Knudson
    Rep. David L. Zolman, Sr.

Members Excused:
    Rep. Brian R. Allen

Staff Present:
    Benjamin N. Christensen,
        Research Analyst
    Dee S Larsen,
        Associate General Counsel
    Junie G. Anderson,
        Legislative Secretary


Note:    A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

1.     Committee Business - Chair Dillree called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.

    MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved to approve the minutes of the August 19, 1998 meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep Ure absent for the vote.

2.     Highway Jurisdiction and Funding - Chair Holmgren said that the new B and C Roads Account funding formula should have held all counties and cities harmless and failed to do so. He suggested that the committee correct the problem with the formula in the next general session.

    Mr. Christensen distributed a handout titled "Highways Requested by Local Jurisdictions and Meeting UDOT's Criteria for Transfer." He reviewed the committee's progress on the jurisdictional transfer issue and explained the handout.
    
    Mr. Thomas Warne, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), assisted by Mr. John Quick, UDOT, distributed a handout titled "B & C Fund Distribution," and gave a slide presentation displaying sections of road transfer proposals and UDOT's response to the proposals. Mr. Warne said there is a need to have a statewide standard of transfer established. He discussed roads recommended by UDOT to be on the National Highway System. He also distributed limited copies of maps titled

"Utah - State Highway Proposed for Transfer," "Provo-Orem Urbanized Area - State Highway Proposed for Transfer," "Ogden Urbanized Area - State Highway Proposed for Transfer," "Salt Lake Urbanized Area - State Highway Proposed for Transfer." Mr. Warne also recommended a proposed jurisdictional transfer process that included the following:
    a.    establish criteria
    b.    determine application on statewide basis - all in or all out (cities and counties)
    c.    develop a list of roadways
    d.    determine impact on and provide consideration for
        i.    people
        ii.    equipment
        iii.    real property
    e.    make the appropriate change to split in the Transportation Fund
    f.    a schedule to complete phase-in of transfers

    Mr. Quick distributed a handout titled "Jurisdictional Transfers - September 1998," and discussed the processes and provisions as outlined in the handout.

    Mr. Mark Bleazard, Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, said that he disagreed with UDOT's proposal for an application on a statewide basis (all in or all out). He said that a funding formula is difficult to determine because of factors such as urban and rural expenditures. He said these kinds of factors should be considered before a formula can be applied. He suggested that committee members consider the fact that the criteria may change over a period of years, especially with the changing of legislators.

    Mr. Clyde Naylor, Utah County, agreed that funding is the key factor in deciding road transfers. He also expressed concern over the all in or all out issue based strictly on criteria.

    Mr. Lee King, Midvale City, clarified that the League of Cities and Towns is not requesting that roads on the list be transferred, but it would accept the roads if adequate funding was available and the roads were brought up to a certain standard. He also agreed that the all in or all out plan would not work for local government.

    Chair Dillree recommended that UDOT and representatives from local government work together to establish criteria adjustments and present recommendations at the next meeting. She also asked for planned expenditures on each highway and other spending history on the highways.

    Mr. Brian Bremner, Garfield County, also spoke against the all in or all out issue.

    Mr. Brent Gardner, Utah Association of Counties, said that local government funding is fully programmed. He reminded the members that there is a large amount of property tax going into roads. He also said there would be no source of revenue at the local level without raising property tax.

    Mr. David Creer, Utah Motor Transport Association, spoke on behalf of the trucking industry. He said cities and counties should take into consideration the need for truck traffic on the roads because of current and future commerce.

3.     Other Committee Business - Chair Dillree informed the committee that the next meeting is scheduled on October 21.

4.     Adjourn -
    
    MOTION: Rep. Adair moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously at 11:26 a.m.



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