Many of our staffers love Park City. They work hard, follow City Council direction, and take pride in serving our community.
There’s been a talk lately that Park City’s government is stuck, slowed down by process, and paralyzed by indecision. And while large projects have stalled, it’s not because of a lack of decisive action from a majority of Council. It’s also not because of a lack of care or commitment from city staff. Actually it is quite the opposite.
But like in any complex organization, a few voices behind the scenes can derail progress. When one or two elected officials quietly oppose the will of the council majority, it creates confusion. Staff are left uncertain whether to move forward or wait. Instead of executing clear council direction, they’re pulled off course — sometimes deliberately — by dissenting opinions outside of public process.
That’s not how an accountable government is supposed to work.
The current “liaison” model where individual council members and/or the mayor oversee major projects or departments is a major part of the problem. Liaisons sometimes offer personal direction to staff based on their own preferences or the influence of favored consultants and stakeholders. They bypass the full council process, which leads to muddled priorities, contradictory instructions, and wasteful spending.
Park City voters demanded change in 2021 because they were tired of decisions being made behind closed doors with little transparency or true representation. Despite promises made, actions proved the cycle repeating in 2022 and 2023.
Consultants were hired to run the same surveys again and again until leadership got the result they were looking for. Public input on development, infrastructure, Bonanza Park, Main Street and resort expansion was routinely dismissed.
Park City residents deserve better. We deserve leaders who don’t dictate or manipulate, but who listen and lead with integrity. Leaders who respect taxpayer dollars, public will, and professional staff by offering clear direction, not political gamesmanship or private agendas.
Finally, in 2024, we saw a shift. A more focused, action-oriented council emerged, willing to make decisions based on public feedback and common sense. And that change has been refreshing. But it hasn’t been easy.
Real change never is. It challenges the status quo and it threatens legacy power structures.
We’ve already seen what happens when we let dysfunction fester:
1. Bonanza Park (5-acre site): Despite clear community input for years, internal mismanagement led to wasted consultant dollars, biased information presented to council, off-track procurement requests, and delays. It took three council members months and months of requesting a new staff leader be assigned (who has been highly effective) to stop more waste and start moving the project forward, yet because of these previous failures we ended up with proposals that are more a high density housing project than the community gathering space our community is pleading for, which will be corrected.
2. Senior Center: A procurement request ignored both council majority and community direction, costing us two years we’ll never get back. It’s a textbook case of the failed liaison model.
3. Mine Bench Housing: Two council members and the mayor pushed for affordable housing on an unsafe, unsuitable open space site requiring rezoning, tree removal and trail relocation despite community pushback and serious access concerns. Ultimately, they were promoting a public funds handout to very profitable luxury hotel operators. Thankfully, the majority prioritized road safety, neighborhood integrity, and better alternative locations.
These are not just political fumbles. They’re real-life examples of what happens when process gets hijacked and when a few try to steer the ship when they think nobody is looking rather than respecting our form of government with honesty and transparency.
I believe in continuous improvement. I believe in empowering our staff, not confusing them with mixed messages. I believe Park City voters deserve real leadership, not lip service.
Let’s elect a council that respects your voice, protects your investment, and holds itself accountable. Let’s restore pride and purpose to our City Hall staff and ensure every Parkite feels heard, seen, and served.
This community is worth standing up for. With transparency, integrity, and your support, I intend to continue doing just that.
Jeremy Rubell
Park City