Governor's Executive Order 2004-0001: Creating the Quality Growth Communities Program

Issued: 1/21/2004

(DAR NOTE:  This Executive Order is superseded by Executive Order 2004-0002, issued 05/17/2004)

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EXECUTIVE ORDER

Creating the Quality Growth Communities Program

WHEREAS, the Quality Growth Act of 1999 created the Quality Growth Commission to advise the Legislature and local entities on growth management issues and on identifying principles of growth that help achieve the highest possible quality of growth;

WHEREAS, the Quality Growth Commission has identified Principles of Quality Growth in response to that charge;

WHEREAS, the state supports the Principles of Quality Growth and encourages implementation of such principles at the state and local levels;

WHEREAS, the Quality Growth Commission is willing, able, and desirous of helping to implement the Principles of Quality Growth in state and local government planning and has agreed to be responsible to develop and implement a process for certification of qualifying local entities as "Quality Growth Communities";

WHEREAS, the Quality Growth Communities program has been approved and endorsed by the Utah League of Cities and Towns, the Utah Association of Counties, the Association of Special Districts of Utah, the Utah Homebuilders Association, and the Utah Association of Realtors;

WHEREAS, to become certified as a Quality Growth Community a community must demonstrate that it is implementing the Principles of Quality Growth through adherence to criteria established by the Quality Growth Commission;

WHEREAS, it important that the polices and resources of the state be aligned with, and supportive of, the Principles of Quality Growth;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Olene S. Walker, Governor of the State of Utah, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws and Constitution of the State of Utah, do hereby order the following:

1. There is established the Quality Growth Communities Program, under the direction of the Quality Growth Commission. Participation in the Quality Growth Communities Program by local entities is voluntary.

2. Each local entity in this state that implements the Principles of Quality Growth in local planning and complies with the criteria set by the Quality Growth Commission may be certified as a "Quality Growth Community" or, in the case of a local entity that provides services, but would not be considered a community (such as a service district), may be certified as a "Quality Growth Service Provider".

3. The Quality Growth Commission shall:

a. Coordinate with state agencies to implement the Quality Growth Communities Program.

b. Develop criteria to be met, application forms to be used, and an equitable process for certifying Quality Growth Communities and Quality Growth Service Providers and submit the same to the Governor's Office for final approval before implementation.

c. After receiving final approval, implement the process and certify local entities that meet the criteria; and

d. Report annually to the governor and legislature on the progress of the program.

4. State agencies shall:

a. Within existing law, funding sources and resources, work with the Quality Growth Commission to identify incentives and other benefits that can be used to support, encourage and reward participation in the Quality Growth Communities Program.

b. Establish a process for Quality Growth Communities and Quality Growth Service Providers to access these incentives and benefits.

c. Integrate, to the degree practicable, Principles of Quality Growth in state strategies and programs; and

d. Coordinate with the Quality Growth Commission for implementation of the Quality Growth Communities Program.

5. The Quality Growth Commission and the Governor's Rural Partnership Board shall work together to integrate the 21st Century Communities Program with the Quality Growth Communities criteria. Pending that integration or until October 31, 2004, whichever comes first, rural communities may meet the criteria for certification as a Quality Growth Community through the 21st Century Communities Program.

6. The Quality Growth Communities Program shall be implemented on the following time line:

a. The Quality Growth Commission shall prepare the certification criteria, application forms and process by January 30, 2004.

b. The following state departments, which have identified programs that can provide access to state funding and benefits for Quality Growth Communities, shall coordinate with the Quality Growth Commission to implement pilot programs by June 30, 2004:

i. Department of Community and Economic Development

ii. Department of Environmental Quality

iii. Department of Natural Resources

iv. Department of Transportation.

c. All other state departments shall either (i) comply with this Executive Order by December1, 2004 or (ii) notify the Quality Growth Commission in writing by that date that the department does not have any funds or benefits that apply to Quality Growth Communities.

IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Utah. Done at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City, Utah, this 21st day of January, 2004.

(State Seal)

OLENE S. WALKER
Governor

ATTEST:

GAYLE F. MCKEACHNIE
Lieutenant Governor

2004/0001