HB 356 Council Districting

How YOU elect Summit County Council Members is changing.

Introduction & Background

Summit County currently operates under a Council-Manager form of government, a structure voted on by our residents in 2006. Previously, Summit County had a 3-member Commission form of government. Under both forms of government all county voters elect all members of the commission or council—this is considered at-large representation.

The Council-Manager model separates legislative and executive responsibilities, with the County Council setting policy and a professional County Manager overseeing daily operations.

What’s changing?

During the 2025 Utah Legislative Session, the Utah State Legislature passed House Bill 356 (HB356), a new law that mandates Summit County transition from at-large to district-based representation. District representation divides the county into a set number of geographic districts, and the voters in that district elect one person who lives in that district to represent them. This legislation will significantly change how your County Council is elected—and how you are represented.

The bill was signed into law on March 27, 2025. However, Governor Spencer Cox acknowledged problems with the legislation and committed to a special legislative session to address its “unintended consequences.”

What does HB356 do?

HB356 eliminates at-large representation for counties with a population of 260,000 or less with a Council-Manager governance structure, including Summit County.
The bill requires elections by geographic districts, not at-large.
- This means instead of voting on all 5 council seats, Summit County voters only cast a vote for the one council member who represents their district every 4 years.
By June 1, 2025, the County Council must establish a county districting commission that includes the Mayors from each municipality within the county and 1 person representing Summit County's unincorporated areas. The Council officially established the commission on May 21, 2025. It includes the Mayors of the cities and towns of Henefer, Coalville, Oakley, Kamas, Francis, Park City, and Hideout. The unincorporated representative is the former County Council Chair, Malena Stevens.
Existing council members are to be randomly assigned to districts by lottery, regardless of where they live—a process that may disconnect elected officials from their closest constituents.
By October 1, 2025, the county districting commission must divide the county into districts and propose a map of those districts to the County Council. The County Council, after holding a public hearing, must approve the district map proposed by the county districting commission within 30 days without the ability to revise the district boundaries, regardless of input provided by the public at the hearing.

What is Summit County Doing?

Summit County officials have proposed changes to the bill to be considered during a special legislative session (likely in the fall of 2025). These include:

Creating a process whereby current county council members can serve out the remainder of their terms and be assigned to a district based on where they live.
Preserving the option of having one or two at-large seats and 4 or 3 districts to maintain a broad countywide perspective, accountability, and access/representation for residents.

Pros and Cons of Moving to District-Based Representation

Potential Benefits

Improved Rural Representation: Districts may ensure that rural voices, particularly from eastern Summit County, have a seat at the table.
Geographic Equity: Residents could be assured of a council member who lives nearby and understands their community’s specific needs and values.
Focused Advocacy: Council members from districts may have a deeper understanding of and commitment to the specific priorities of their constituents.

Potential Drawbacks

Loss of Countywide Perspective: Without at-large members, decisions may become more parochial or less focused on what benefits the county as a whole.
Limited Access: Voters would only elect one council member instead of five, reducing the number of representatives accountable to each person and the frequency with which a voter gets to vote for their council representation (every 4 years instead of every 2 years). This particularly impacts residents who live in unincorporated areas of the county and only have the County Council to represent them.
Gerrymandering Risks: District boundaries could unintentionally divide communities or concentrate power unevenly.
Administrative Disruption: Transitioning from at-large to district representation in a short time frame presents logistical, legal, and staffing challenges for the county organization.

What District-Based Representation Could Look Like in Summit County

Summit County is home to a diverse mix of rural and urban-leaning communities. Approximately two-thirds of the voting population live in unincorporated areas, including Snyderville Basin, Silver Creek, and eastern Summit County, while the remaining third live in cities and towns like Park City, Coalville, Henefer, Kamas, Oakley, and Francis.

Here are three possible districting scenarios based on population distribution and geographic diversity:

NOTE: Districts must be relatively balanced in population, meaning there is less than 10% total population deviation between districts. Each district must also be contiguous and reasonably compact and must not divide existing voter precincts.

3-District Model + 2 At-Large Seats

Larger geographic districts.
Creates a balance between district representation and countywide accountability. Also allows residents to have three representatives each rather than only one and allows them to vote on at least one council member every two years.

Pros: Simpler structure, easier transition.

Cons: May marginalize smaller communities and limit diversity of perspectives.

4-District Model + 1 At-Large Seat

The at-large seat would provide a unifying voice elected by all residents. But possibly diminished because there is only one at-large seat.
Allows each resident to have two representatives rather than one.

Pros: Preserves broad oversight while improving local representation.

Cons: Neighborhoods from eastern Summit County and western Summit County would have to be combined to meet population thresholds.

5-District Model (HB356 as enacted; current law)

The entire county council elected by district, no at-large seats.
Could lead to fragmented governance, especially if district interests diverge.
Reduces the number of representatives each voter has and the frequency of voting on new council members.

Pros: Equal geographic voice for each individual district.

Cons: Loss of countywide focus, only one council member to call with your concerns, potential for community conflict/division, and difficult implementation timeline.