Park City Council to consider establishing a ‘Nonprofit Services Committee’

Park City Municipal Town Hall. Photo: TownLift // Meredith Kluever

PARK CITY, Utah – At tomorrow’s Park City Council meeting, held on July 11, the City Council will consider a resolution to establish a Nonprofit Services Committee to help guide the City’s policies and partnership programs with non-profit organizations in the area.

The City Council will consider a vote on a proposed resolution to form the committee.

If the resolution is agreed upon and passed at tomorrow’s meeting, the Nonprofit Services Committee will serve as a public body that will work to define nonprofit service categories to be funded next year through public service contracts and community needs grants.

The committee would be between five and seven members, and at least three must reside within Park City municipal borders. Term limits would be set at three years, and members may not be employed by or serve on a nonprofit board that will likely apply for funding through the City.

The committee would also align the nonprofit service categories with the priorities derived from the City Council’s annual retreat, as well as establish a diverse Nonprofit Services Advisory Committee that represents a broad range of perspectives from Park City residents and stakeholders.

The City Council’s retreat resulted in the identification of eleven different priority focus areas, which include transportation; core services, meaning services that provide for the health, safety, and well-being of residents; an increase in affordable housing; community, which is described as services that increase accessibility to community resources; community and development planning; neighborhoods; economic development; recreation; sustainability; equity; and organizational capacity. 

The formation of the Nonprofit Services Committee was proposed to the City Council during the May 23 meeting, in which it was proposed that a new committee be formed to advise the City Council on awarding public service contracts and emergent community needs grants.

In the May meeting, the City Council agreed with the proposal and advised that the new committee must be established as a public body; members of the committee be appointed by the Mayor and consist of diverse members of the Park City community; not include any City Council liaisons to maintain more political independence; evaluate applications, interview applicants, and make award recommendations to the City Council; have access to all support made by Park City to nonprofit organizations; as well as make recommendations to the Council on the new emergent community needs grant program. 

If the committee is formed, it will focus on four of the City Council’s priorities: core services, community, housing, and recreation.

Part of the committee’s priorities would include emergency assistance for residents, which could include providing food to Park City residents facing food insecurity, support medical needs of those who are uninsured, expand access to mental health services, and provide a safe haven for those who are seeking shelter.

The committee would also want to focus on increasing investment in arts and culture, support affordable daycare, and organize programs at the Park City senior center.

Other priorities include helping residents secure affordable housing and increase access to recreational activities.

The City Council will meet Thursday, July 11 at 4:10 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.