LWV of Salt Lake Studies and Briefings
Click on the list to read more about the work of the LWV of Salt Lake. The list is a work in progress and more links will be added as we upload the work done.
STUDIES
The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue only when we have a position addressing it. If the members have not studied and come to consensus on it, the League has no position and therefore cannot take action. Studies (whether national, state, or local) are a defined process lasting one to three years, during which we undertake thorough pursuit of facts and details, both positive and negative, and come to consensus about policy. Read the national Guidelines for LWVUS Studies for more information.
BRIEFINGS
Briefings provide updates on issues where a consensus has already been reached or as background for further study and consensus.
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The purpose of this briefing is to describe how our lives are both limited and permitted by our water supplies in the Jordan River Valley Basin. The briefing explains where our water comes from, the problems and shortages that appear imminent and methods to manage them, and resources for additional study.
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The LWVUS position on health care is that “a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost should be available to all US residents.” This study identifies the status of health care in Utah, especially in Salt Lake County.
Consensus Question:
Should the League of Women Voters Slat Lake modify its position on health care to more closely reflect, in content and style, the position of the League of Women Voters of the United States on Access to Care?
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LWVSL POSITION
In 2004-2005 The League of Women Voters of Utah undertook a study of alternative elections systems. The Salt Lake League began identifying faults in the current political process: the dominance of big money, poor media coverage, voter apathy, inadequate public debate, non-competitive voting districts, and voter frustration with candidates and parties. We agreed that any changes in election systems should address these issues.
The League of Women Voters of Salt Lake believes a majority vote should be required to elect a candidate to a single seat position. We think that using an instant run-off system to select a majority candidate would support League goals of a more robust political debate, higher voter turn-out, and fewer wasted votes (However, this preference does not preclude the League from supporting other means of achieving a majority where appropriate.)
The League of Women Voters of Salt Lake supports experimentation with proportional representational systems to achieve League goals of improved depth and tenor of political debate, accountable election officials, competitive elections, legislative bodies that reasonably mirror the electorate, and a higher level of citizen participation.
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The League of Women Voters prepared this briefing to help citizens better understand their community. In 2001 the structure of the governing body of the county will change from 3 commissions elected at large to a system which separates executive and legislative governmental powers. the new chief executive will be known as the County Mayor. The legislative body will consist of nine council members.
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Charter Schools: Panacea or Pandora’s Box?, LWVSL 1997 Study, introduced the concept of charter schools. A Charter Schools Task Force was formed in 1997 by the Utah Legislature with League members observing and reporting at each meeting. The final report was not heard at the Education Interim Committee.
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Currently there is a crisis in the Salt Lake Valley and the State of Utah for school-age latchkey children. The briefing shows there are few affordable programs available for the number of children needing them. The problem of costs and availability impact the family and community.
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The briefing reviews the process and provision for local school districts to fund special purpose optional programs as defined by the Utah Legislature with review of the expenditures in Jordan, Murray, Granite and Salt Lake School Districts.
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This briefing focuses on capital improvement needs in the area of street improvement, parks, storm drainage, and public buildings such as fire and police stations, community centers, and city halls.
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The briefing explores the impact of block grants in social programs in Salt Lake County first by reviewing the nine block grant grants and the actual and estimated use in Salt Lake County.
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The briefing focuses on the most serious of the hazards that threaten the Salt Lake Valley and what is or is not being done.
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The briefing provides information for League members to use in deciding whether they support annexation of Lake Valley City. The League did not have a position.
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Governor Scott Matheson proposed a greater emphasis on vocational education in Utah in order to improve the state’s ability to meet the growing needs of business and industry and to improve management of the state’s resources. The study takes a deeper look at equity issues and how they are addressed with specific examination of Granite, Jordan, Murray and Salt Lake City School Districts.
Consensus Question:
Should the League of Women Voters of Salt Lake take specific action to support and encourage sexual equity in vocational education in the local school districts?
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This study examines the problems that gifted and talented students encounter in the public school systems and the programs Salt Lake County school districts have instituted to deal with them. Including discussion of the benefits of to society, difficulties in identification, and the importance of teach training and parental involvement.
Consensus Question:
Keeping in mind the question of how much are you, as a taxpayer, willing to pay to augment public school education to accommodate the gifted child, should the League support special funding for education of gifted children?
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The briefing was compiled to explain the system in Special Purpose Districts in Salt Lake County and provides a capsule summary of all districts currently established in the county.
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The briefing provides observational conclusions pertaining to the effectiveness of child abuse laws in Utah and the reporting system.
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The study examines the provisions of the Utah Boundary Commission Act of 1979, written in part to define the respective roles of cities and counties. The study cites several specific proposals in order to illustrate the scope of the problem. It summarizes the county’s position in regard to annexations and considers proposed solutions.
Consensus Questions:
Do you agree with the Boundary Commission Act statement that municipalities should provide municipal services? Should the League amend its statement of position on local government to include a philosophical statement about the provision of municipal services? If so, what should it say?
Do you think that the League should amends its position on planning and zoning to include a statement on the control of decision-making process regarding planning and zoning? If so, what should it say?
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Specific Salt Lake water information as addendum to LWV Utah
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An update to the Mass Transit study review management, finances, new equipment, no fare transit, goals and objectives of UTA.
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The briefing provides an overview of programs designed to help low income women and their families become economically self sufficient.
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A report of the Jordan School District athletics budget and use.
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The status of Salt Lake garbage currently and future needs, what can be done to reduce waste.
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In 1977, the Utah State School Board of Education mandated development and administration of minimal competency tests as part of high school graduation requirements. The material examines the current requirements and the compliance of the four school districts.
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Examination of the national welfare reform proposals and the operation fo current state welfare.
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Explores the implementation of Title IX in the Salt Lake Schools. Follow-ups of the Title IX study were completed in 1980 and 1981.
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This briefing presents an overview of the workings and philosophies of each of the alternative schools in Salt Lake City, Granite, Murray and Jordan School Districts.
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A reference document for citizens of Salt Lake County on local government provided by the League of Women Voters of Salt Lake.
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The Charter for a Unified Salt Lake City and County Government was produced and distributed by the Salt Lake League of Women Voters for citizen information.
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This study identifies what pollutants, visible and invisible, now exist in the Valley air, where these pollutants come from, what their existence means in terms of human health, and what agencies have the authority to regulate air quality.
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A look at water quality problems and consideration whether to support recommended plans of managing future problems.
Consensus Question: Should the LWV of Salt Lake support the idea of a single waste treatment plan for the Salt Lake County areas?
Should the LWV of Salt Lake support the creation of a regional agency to deal with water quality problems?
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Education material for League members to understand the statutory basis for reform of city and county governments and assess the wider implications of Salt Lake City’s steps to improve its functioning through reform of its structure.
Consensus Question: Should the League of Women Voters of Salt Lake support structural changes in municipal government?
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Information on the current employment situation in Salt Lake County and review of agencies and program designed to deal with employment policies.
Read the briefing.
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The report addresses the need for affordable housing units, availability, location of units and available financial assistance.
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The briefing examines the zoning ordinances of Salt Lake City and County.
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A study of flood control considering the content of water runoff and the downstream use. “Water is too valuable a resource to be wasted, especially in ways which are also destructive. Consensus question: Should LWV Salt Lake continue to support land-use controls currently used by local government officials.
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An overview of the Jordan School District.
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An overview of the Salt Lake School District.
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An overview of the Granite School District.
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An overview of the Murray School District.
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The briefing reviews the importance of day care, definition and history of day care, types of day care facilities, standards and application, and public money in day care services.
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Under the human resources item of the national program of the League of Women Voters, the Salt Lake League Minorities Subcommittee interviewed Black, Chicano and Indian leaders in Salt Lake to determine their feelings about the most urgent needs of their groups locally. All agreed the criminal justice system often works to the disadvantage of minority people, particularly in jail experiences. Upon further study, the League found that what was thought to be a problem for minorities was a problem for the poor with the jail population being predominantly white. This report covers the jail and alternatives available.
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The Executive Branch Study Committee of LWVSL produced a preliminary review in preparation for an LWVUS study of the executive branch.
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What happens with water in Salt Lake County to help League members understand the effect of the proposed Plan of Government for Salt Lake City and County will have on the planning and management of water supply and delivery, the treatment of waste water and flood control.
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The significance of federal dollars in urban planning and community development in the Salt Lake area.
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The report takes a brief general look at the delivery of police service in Salt Lake County by local public law enforcement agencies. The study does not evaluate critically the functioning of the agencies, but the efforts being made to raise the level of performance and effectiveness.Read the
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Briefing provides mass transportation information in preparation for November 1974 ballot issue to support an additional 1/4 of 1 percent sales tax for mass transit.
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Study analyzes the planning and proposed financing for mass transportation in the Salt Lake Valley and along the Wasatch Front.
Consensus Questions:
Which proposed method of funding the UTA is preferred?
What kind of actions can the League take on a local and national level to further its statement of position?
Link to read briefing.
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A briefing of the University of Utah traffic problems and proposals offered for their solution.
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The briefing provides a summary of optional forms, plus a chart on optional forms.
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LWV SL identified low-income housing as one of major emphasis for the 1972-73 program. The report looks at the effect of laws, population growth, availability of land, needs of low-income, public attitude, and need for planning. “League members must be effective decision makers concerning the crucial housing needs of the low-income citizens of the community.”
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January 1972 supporting meeting material to summarize the current proposals for the Jordan River Parkway, discuss the needs, problems and possibilities for implementation, and to alert members to the pertinent local and legislative action.
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In spring 1972 Salt Lake City received a transportation consultant’s study and evaluation of the present bus system, the beginning of the Transit Authority’s operations, and the City’s receipt of Ford’s “feasibility study.” This briefing reports on these developments.
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A study to establish criteria the judge the mass transit plan proposed to the Utah Transit Authority.
Consensus Questions:
To what extent should the various governmental levels share responsibility for improving metropolitan public transportation Utah? How?
What specific means of financing public transportation would be appropriate and acceptable in Salt Lake and in Utah in general.
What improvements in service would most increase public use of the bus system in Salt Lake City?
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A requirement of LWV US recognition of a county league, LWVSL also wanted to provide a resource work which could be used throughout the county as a teaching aid. The first two sections “Municipal Government in Utah” and “Taxes in Salt Lake County” are general information chapters relating to specifics in the later portion of the study.
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Additional information on Salt Lake efforts to modernize local government.
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An extract of the final report from the University of Utah study of local government modernization. Done under sponsorship with Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, and Murray City with some funding from HUD and the state.
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Became the handbook for air pollution control study in the whole state and led to the passage of the Air Conservation Act in 1967. The first chair of the Utah Air Conservation Committee had been the chair of the League’s air pollution committee.
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Part II includes the problem of flexiilibity, the status quo, administration and enforcement of the city and county zoning ordinances, and administrative procedures for zoning appeal boards and planning commissions.
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Study includes summary of the development of zoning in the country as a frame of reference, briefing on revisions in the County zoning ordinance, explore administration and enforcement, identify alternative courses for zoning for the future.
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The Salt Lake City League updated their Continuing Responsibilities (an item studied by League members, and on which agreement has been reached and action taken) for school financing. Part I deals with school financing.
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Briefing provides a brief history an description of Utah Indian Peoples including:
Present population,
The Navajo,
The Hunger-Gatherers,
The Utes,
The Souther Paiute, Gosiute, and Western Shoshone peoples,
The indian in an urban environment,
Programs in Salt Lake,
Thoughts on the “new Indian Movement”