The last several days have been a nonstop labor of love for me. As many of you may know, our city council had an emergency meeting to pass a resolution stating our opposition to the committee members who will review HB98.
Myself and city council members Kim Dixon and Nina Morse from West Haven have been working tirelessly calling and emailing representatives in Weber and Davis County to get the word out about HB98. Within 24 hours, we had 17 cities join the press release and 46 signatures (and still counting) for neighboring cities who also oppose this bill. I want to thank my own city council members who signed the press release and for Wayne Winsor willing to give a statement.
I was interviewed by ABC4 and Channel 2 News last night. The Standard Examiner is also picking up the piece. Representative Ray, who says the bill will be substituted, still feels it is a good bill. I found with this press release and in talking with other leaders this bill is non-negotiable. It's a bad bill.
Representative Ray remains confident the bill will pass through the session with support of the legislative leaders - specifically Speaker Brad Wilson, Senate President Stuart Adams & Majority Whip Mike Shultz - all founding members of the Northern Wasatch Home Builders Association who contribute money to campaigns of numerous elected officials throughout Northern Utah.
Below is an excerpt from Representative Ray in the Northern Wasatch Home Builders Association newsletter regarding HB 98: "We will allow the builder to hire a third-party inspector to complete inspections instead of waiting for the city to schedule one. We are also restricting what type of building ordinances that can be implemented by a city or county.....Gone will be the days of requriing rock and brick, pitch of roof, what color the door is and other things....I am tired of government redlining neighborhoods to keep lower income families out."
I stand by my initial statement: "Once again, our state legislature is demanding requirements of municipalities under the guise of moderate-income housing, knowing full well it cannot and will not guarantee affordability. This bill will greatly diminish local control and lower the standards of structures built. As CEO of the Northern Wasatch Home Builders Association, it is clear who Rep. Ray is truly representing, and it is not his constituents.”
Other news stories regarding our work on HB98.
https://www.standard.net/news/government/northern-utah-leaders-still-have-concerns-after-lawmakers-ok-housing-measure/article_962620ca-3986-5502-9337-58e5b47859bf.html
https://ksltv.com/456293/bill-aims-to-combat-utah-housing-boom-affordability/
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