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What Does the City Council Do? |
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Written by Pax Rasmussen
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With the mayoral race such a hotly followed and flashy issue, many people may not even be aware that another election, just as important, hangs in the balance as well. The city council is an important aspect of city politics, underappreciated by most.
Like the federal government, city government is designed with checks and balances, too, and the council forms half of our city's power structure. Here's a quick overview of the council's function. (Also see side bar, left.)
While the mayor's office can be viewed as the executive branch, the city council exercises the legislative functions in city government. The members of the council set the overall policy direction for the city. They draft and adopt the budget, deciding what money gets spent on which projects. Also, they review and decide upon ordinances, drafting them into law. The executive branch (often the mayor's office) writes many of these ordinances, but the council members write and propose many themselves.
The council is made up of seven members, each elected from seven districts within the city. The elections are staggered; roughly half the members are up for election every two years. This year, districts two, four and six are on the ballot: that's Van Blair Turner, Nancy Saxton and David Buhler (who is running for mayor instead), respectively.
Søren Simonsen, council member for Sugar House and surrounding area, agrees that the city council is a vital part of city government.
"Our most important job is to safeguard the interests of the community," he says. He feels that by paying close attention to the city budget, we can create a "safer, healthier, more beautiful and more sustainable city."
Carlton Christensen (Rose Park/Poplar Grove) believes the actions of the city council directly affect the lives of the people he represents, and seeing those positive changes develop is the most rewarding aspect of the job.
City Council resources
November election candidates
for City Council:
District Two:
J. Michael Clara vs. Van Blair Turner
District Four:
Luke Garrott vs. Nancy Saxton
District Six:
J. T. Martin vs. Roger J. McConkie
Contact information for
candidates: www.slcgov.com/recorder/pdfs/2007_Open%20Committee_Address.pdf
Find out which district
you're in: www.slcgov.com/council/districts.htm
Read up on your current
council member:
www.slcgov.com/council/members.htm
See where the city's money is
being spent (and where it
comes from): www.slcgov.com/finance/2007budget/
See what the City Council is
planning to talk about: www.slcgov.com/council/agendas/
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Pax Rasmussen |
| About the author: |
| Pax Rasmussen is CATALYST editor, an Agent for Change and a lieutenant in the H.E.A.D. Revolution. He also teaches magazine writing to undergrads at the University of Utah Communication department. When he’s not out agitatin’, you can usually find him bumming around a local coffee shop, most likely Nostalgia. Fnord.
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