Utah Legislature: Plan may put Snowbird in Sandy

SALT LAKE CITY — Skiers in search of "The Greatest Snow on Earth" might be seeking that fine product of Utah's vaunted "lake effect" in a familiar place with an unlikely new address: Snowbird in Sandy.

That head-spinning juxtaposition could become a reality under a legislative proposal being put forward by Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo.

Bramble's SB244 lays the groundwork for the popular Little Cottonwood Canyon resort, currently part of unincorporated Salt Lake County, to become part of Sandy by creating special exceptions to current annexation statutes. Bramble said the idea, which was brought to him by Snowbird officials, is all about opening the door for a dialogue on options.

"The issue here is one of giving resorts like Snowbird a choice," Bramble said Tuesday evening. "This bill provides a specific forum for a very robust discussion."

The resort's location creates unique issues when it comes to annexation, he said. As the law stands right now, a property has to be physically connected to an annexing entity. Snowbird, however, is isolated from the closest municipalities by federal land.

Bramble said his bill accounts for that isolation and creates a new possibility for the resort to seek municipal services — police and fire protection, road maintenance, garbage collection, etc. — from someplace other than Salt Lake County.

Snowbird general manager Bob Bonar said the idea of seeking those services from Sandy has been bouncing around for a decade and is one that could make sense due to the resort's many connections with the county's fourth most populous city.

"We have been working on many things for many years with Sandy city — joint tourism promotions, branding, the Sandy Boys and Girls Clubs," Bonar said. "We've gotten to know them pretty well."

That 10-year, positive relationship with Sandy is coupled with the reality that fees and taxes paid to the county have been trending upward, he said. While discounting that the timing of seeking a legislative change was precipitated by any single or recent event, Bonar acknowledged that looking for savings was a necessity and part of "the due diligence of good business."

Bramble, however, was less charitable about the economic connection between the county and the resort, calling out the recently adopted Unified Police Department fees as a catalyst in bringing the legislation forward.

"I think part of this definitely has to do with Mayor (Peter) Corroon's UPD fee," Bramble said. "It's a non-tax tax and one that's rather extraordinary and onerous."