Salt Lake County serves as the governing body for Taylorsville, providing various administrative and advisory functions. One such civic institution is the ZAP Advisory Board, which includes both Tier I and Tier II branches. The Tier II branch specifically focuses on Zoo, Arts, and Parks. These boards play a role in managing community interests and resources within the county.
According to a meeting notice for the ZAP Advisory Boards, the Tier II Advisory Board is tasked with business related to the arts and parks. The organization of these boards involves specific leadership roles. For example, during an orientation held on May 28, 2026, at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center in Taylorsville, the agenda included the election of the 2026 Tier II Advisory Board leadership. The nominees listed for the leadership positions were Paul Pehrson for Chair and Patti Hobfoll for Vice Chair. Other leadership figures mentioned in the meeting documents include Acting Chairs Lynette Wendel for the Tier I & Zoological board and Paul Pehrson for the Tier II board. Samantha Thermos serves as the Director.
These boards operate under the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act, which requires specific training for members, such as the training provided by Senior Deputy District Attorney Craig Wangsgard. The boards are responsible for reviewing information and voting on various items, including practice updates and meeting minutes. For instance, the agenda for the May 2026 orientation included action items to approve meeting minutes from November 17, 2025, for the TI&Z Advisory Board and from September 9, 2025, for the TII Advisory Board.
Residents of Taylorsville can engage with the ZAP Advisory Boards through public comment. According to the board's meeting documentation, the public may submit comments in two specific ways. Written comments may be submitted to the ZAP Advisory Board liaison, Dustyn Burt, via email no later than two hours before the meeting starts. Alternatively, residents may provide verbal comments of two minutes or less in person during any ZAP Advisory Board meeting. Meetings are also made available through Cisco Webex for virtual participation.
In addition to advisory boards, Salt Lake County manages various facilities and services. For example, Millrace Park is a large park that serves as a trailhead for the Jordan River Trail. According to park operation details, the park features two pavilions, a playground, grassy areas, two backstops for informal field games, a bass pond with a cleaning station, and a fenced dog playground. The City of Taylorsville requires that dogs using the dog playground must be registered with the City. For information and instructions regarding this requirement, residents can call 801-963-5400.
What this means for Taylorsville
Residents of Taylorsville can influence local zoo, arts, and parks initiatives by participating in ZAP Advisory Board meetings. Whether through written email submissions or verbal comments during meetings, the public has a direct way to engage with these county-led institutions and stay informed about local governance and community amenities.
