The Sandy City Council withdrew its membership fee from the Central Wasatch Commission on June 16. The move followed the committee's unsuccessful lobbying attempts to designate specific areas of the Wasatch Mountains as federally protected land.
Councilmembers Brooke Christensen and Kris Nicholl submitted a budget amendment in early June that stripped $95,000 previously set aside for the commission. Most of those funds are slated to be transferred toward water mainline replacements.
Council chair Cyndi Sharkey stated during a June council meeting that the decision was not merely about the $95,000 amount, but rather the total of approximately $750,000 paid to the commission over the years. She noted that the organization had not achieved its intended goals.
The Central Wasatch Commission, which includes Summit County and six other cities and towns along the Wasatch Front, was established in 2017 under the Mountain Accord charter. While the charter aimed to create federal legislation for protecting large areas of the Wasatch canyons, that bill has stalled in Congress. Sandy lawmakers specifically cited the failure to pass the Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Area Act as a reason for the withdrawal.
Lindsay Nielsen, director of the Central Wasatch Committee, told the council that passing the legislation remains a top priority. Nielsen noted that while a window of opportunity closed in 2021, it is currently reopening as stakeholders return to negotiations, and requested the city remain committed for two more years.
Councilmember Marci Houseman indicated she would have supported staying in the commission if funds were released based on outcome benchmarks, though she noted that such a proposal was not accepted by the committee. Houseman is a former CWC board member.
The commission also funds transportation projects in Cottonwood canyons, such as the ski bus bypass program. Following Sandy's withdrawal, the future of these initiatives is uncertain. However, Council chair Sharkey suggested it might still be possible for the Sandy police department to escort buses through the canyon, noting that this would be subject to the mayor and the police department.
The budget measure to remove the funds passed with a 5-2 vote. Before the vote, Councilmember at-large Aaron Dekeyzer urged colleagues to reconsider, noting that Sandy City was a founding member and had hosted the organization's first meeting.
During public comment, residents also spoke in favor of maintaining membership. Sandy resident Janet Kinneberg argued that the commission serves as a political shield for municipalities that rely on the canyons for drinking water and ecological services.
