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PCMC Newsletter-March 2011
March, 2011 Community E-NewsletterPark City Council Targets for Action 2011
At last month’s annual visioning session, City Council identified the following targets for action in 2011.
• Preserve Park City Character
• Maintain World Class, Multi-Seasonal Resort Community Status
• Continue Effective Transportation
• Protect Water and Park City’s Natural Environment
• Safeguard Recreation, Open Space and Trails
• Sustain Regional Collaboration and Partnerships
• Uphold Open & Responsive Government to the Community
Park City Road Show
The Park City Road Show highlights the accomplishments of the past year and the goals for 2011. To arrange a presentation to your professional or business group, Home Owners Association or community organization, email Phyllis Robinson, Park City Community and Public Affairs Manager.
Winter Trails Survey
Over the past several years, local entities have worked to provide additional opportunities for winter recreation outside of traditional alpine skiing. Grooming services are now provided. Since 2007, the amount of available groomed trails has more than doubled to almost 70 kilometers. Trail counters are used to gauge the actual number of users accessing the system.
In 2011, staff created a survey to better understand the winter use of trails in Park City. The survey’s intent was to collect demographic information, types of use, economic impact, trail experience, conditions, concerns relating to dogs and their impact on wildlife in the area, and general feedback.
The survey was posted on the Park City Municipal and Mountain Trails Foundation websites January 11th - 31st. A total of 864 people participated in the survey.
View survey results.
Summit County BeefPark City Municipal Corporation is one of the founding members of the Summit County Beef program. Over the past twelve months the City, along with representatives from Uinta Headwaters RC&D, Summit County, Utah State University Ag Extension, The Park City Chamber/Bureau, Utah’s Own, Summit Land Conservancy, Flashpoint Media, and local ranchers have worked to bring grass-fed beef from eastern Summit County to western Summit County grocery stores, restaurants, and consumers. February 22, Salt Lake Magazine awarded the program the Green Fork Sustainability Award - exactly one year from the first meeting of the group.
"Summit County Beef is the first project of Summit County Food Coalition, made up of ranchers, government officials, concerned citizens and non-profit organizations. The group hopes to create a steady supply of local grass-fed beef for Utah consumers and started with a bang in November. Not only is grass-fed beef better for human and bovine health, it also helps ranchers keep their land in agricultural use and preserves open space, the reason we all love Utah." -Salt Lake Magazine, February 2011
Under the leadership of Uinta Headwaters RC&D and Summit County, the program is looking forward to expanding in the coming year. More details and to buy beef direct.Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)-Open House! (3/10/2011; 7-9:00 p.m.)
Do you like fresh local produce? Would you like a convenient pickup option? Come learn about community supported agriculture options available in Park City. Uinta Headwaters and Recycle Utah would like to invite you to a free CSA Open House on Thursday March 10th at the Miners Hospital on Park Avenue. Stop in between 7 and 9 p.m. You’ll have a chance to meet the farmers and ask questions about their farming methods, standards, and program details. Many will be offering a special promotion if you sign up at the event. There will also be snacks, treats and prizes!
Event Summary Details
Date: Thursday, March 10, 2011
Time: 7 PM - 9 PM
Location: Miners Hospital (1354 Park Ave.; Park City, UT)
Sponsors: Uinta Headwaters RC&D Council & Recycle UtahTransit Facility Construction
The Transit Facility, located at 1053 Iron Horse Drive, is steadily moving forward for an August 2011 completion. The project consists of a 34,000 square foot bus barn that will house 38 of the Park City Transit buses and includes parking for 86 employee vehicles on the roof. Also included in the project is a 14,000 square foot Maintenance Building and a Fueling Station for Transit buses and fleet vehicles. Public Officials from the Hainan Province in China
Public officials from the Hainan Province in China visited Park City in February. Mayor Dana Williams (center right), City Manager Tom Bakaly (center left) and Summit County Councilman Chris Robinson (not pictured) met with the students to talk about the role of local government in economic development and the growth of Park City from a winter to a multi-season resort economy. Hainan is an island resort southwest of Hong Kong and on the same latitude as Hawaii. The public officials are part of a special Master of Public Administration program at the University of Utah.
Bus, Bike, Walk Program
City employees participated in the 6th annual internal Park City Municipal Bus, Bike and Walk Program during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The goal of the program is to limit the number of cars entering and exiting Park City during Sundance, in addition to mitigating parking concerns within town.
The program is simple; participants earned a ‘card’ any time they “Leave the Car at Home” and still make the trip to work, or in other words “Bus, Bike, Walk”. All cards earned from January 20th through January 29th were eligible for a prize drawing.
The program resulted in reducing 3,065 lbs. of CO2 and saving $2,220 in fuel consumption.
News You Can Use
In February, City Council . . .
• Conducted its annual visioning session
• Denied an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval for a conditional use permit at 1440 Empire Avenue.
• Amended the Municipal Code regarding for-hire vehicle licensing to include vehicle age limits, background checks and a drug free workplace policy requirement.
Green Your Routine
Dishwashers
It's commonly assumed that washing dishes by hand saves hot water. However, washing dishes by hand several time a day can be more expensive than operating an energy-efficient dishwasher. You can consume less energy with an energy-efficient dishwasher when properly used and when only operating it with full loads. MoreRecreation
The annual Play Magazine will be mailed out this month to all City and western Summit County residents. Find all the great program offerings from Recreation, Ice, Library, Golf and McPolin Farm events. Registration opens April 1 for all Summer recreation programs.
Recreation Services continues with its free “spotlight classes” in March. Zumba on Wednesdays, 8:00am and Pilates on Tuesdays, 11:00am. Drop in for a free class and receive a “Be Our Guest Card” to use for any class or facility drop in.
Visit our webpage often for updated program information, dates and deadlines.Ice
The Park City Ice Arena has a few early spring activities coming soon. Our early spring sessions of Learn to Skate/Play Hockey classes will begin the first week of March. We offer classes for all ages and ability levels. For complete class descriptions click here for Learn to Skate or here for the Learn to Play Hockey class flyer. Call our front desk at (435) 615-5707, or stop in the ice arena to register – classes fill up fast! The next session after this will start mid-April
Bonanza Bulletin
The pedestrian tunnel and access ramps will be available for public use May 1.
Comstock Talk
The Comstock/Sidewinder Walkability Project is slated for construction this summer. The project includes an 8’ separated pathway along the east side of Comstock Drive and a 6’ sidewalk on the south side of Sidewinder Drive from Comstock Drive to Gold Dust Lane. The project will complete the walkability spine route through Park Meadows and Prospector, connecting the McLeod Creek trail to the Rail Trail. The project also represents an integral upgrade to the ‘safe routes to school program’, sponsored by the Park City School District.
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Home: Energy Myths
Following are some common home energy myths that may be costing you.
1. Setting the thermostat higher or lower will heat or cool the house faster.
Many a homeowner has come home to an uncomfortable house and set the thermostat higher or lower than necessary, thinking it will warm or cool faster. In reality, a furnace or air-conditioner works at the same speed, no matter what the thermostat setting. A home will warm up to 68ºF just as quickly if the thermostat is set at 68ºF as it would if the thermostat was set at 80ºF. In such instances, energy may be wasted as the heating or cooling system continues to run after it reaches your desired set point.
2. A heating and cooling system "works harder" to reach a comfortable temperature after setback or set forward.Many people do not adjust their thermostat at night or while the home is unoccupied because of the common misconception that the heating or cooling system must "work harder" or use more energy to reheat or re-cool the house. This is not how a thermostat works. The system turns on to reach a set level and then shuts off when that level is reached. It can be likened more to a switch that shuts on and off, rather than a gas pedal that accelerates faster the more you step on it.
3. Energy efficiency and energy conservation are the same thing.
Efficiency refers to using less to perform a specific task. Examples include replacing traditional lighting with LEDs (light emitting diodes), or installing a high performance appliance. Conservation refers to reducing your need for energy through changes in behavior, such as setting the thermostat lower or riding a bike to work.
4. When an appliance is turned off, it is off.
Many appliances and electronic devices—such as coffee makers and cell phone chargers—in the home continue to use power after they have been switched off. Sometimes as much as if they were on! This is known as standby power or “phantom load.” The only way to stop the power usage by these devices is to unplug them.
5. Leaving lights, computers and appliances on uses less energy than turning them on and off.
In most cases, the small surge of power needed to start a device is much less than the power that is wasted by leaving it on when it is not needed.
6. Duct tape is the best choice for sealing ducts.
Duct tape has very low durability when used to seal ducts, according to laboratory research. On new installations duct tape will not last long without extensive surface preparation, especially in dirty or dusty locations. Over time, duct tape will fall off as the adhesive dries out and the tape starts to wrinkle. Mastic or metal-backed tapes—available at your local hardware or do-it-yourself retailer—are better choices for duct sealing.
7. Purchasing an efficient air-conditioner or furnace will automatically reduce energy bills.
This is true to some extent, but optimal savings will not be achieved unless the system is sized and installed correctly. Installing an efficient, but over-sized, system can negate much of the potential savings, while a poorly designed duct system can also have an impact on efficiency and comfort. Windows, doors, and insulation also play a factor in heating and cooling efficiency.
8. Dimming lights by 50% will cut lighting costs in half.
In reality, the relationship is not quite direct and the savings may be less than expected. Dimmed lights do use less power, but when lights are dimmed, the voltage drops and the filament becomes cooler. This causes a loss in overall efficiency.
9. Closing off vents will help to lower heating and cooling costs.
Closing or covering up vents is typically not a good way to save on energy costs. Heating and cooling systems balance their load throughout the duct system. If one vent gets closed off, it throws the system off balance. Pressure can build up in the duct work, causing leakage and less air circulating in your home. This reduces system efficiency and home comfort.