Employees and board members of nonprofit organizations expected to apply for grants from Park City will not be allowed to serve on the advisory committee under rules passed by the City Council on Thursday.

Craig Weakley, board member of the Park City Senior Center, expressed concern about this restriction at a public hearing.

“I think there are legitimate concerns about a conflict of interest, but I would like to think there are better ways to deal with that issue than potentially excluding 1,000 people in this community who could make outstanding contributions to this process by participating on this committee,” Weakley said.

Several nonprofit executives and employees also urged the council to reconsider the rule. The ban applies only to current nonprofit executives or employees, not those who have worked for charities in the past.

The City Council was divided on how to proceed. Council members Bill Ciraco and Ed Parigian supported keeping the restriction on nonprofit employees and board members. Council members Tana Toly and Ryan Dickey said it made sense to remove the provision.

Council member Jeremy Rubell was absent. In the event of a tie, the mayor’s vote will decide.

In the first runoff election during her term, Park City Mayor Nann Worel sided with Ciraco and Parigian and kept the rule.

“I’m optimistic that we can find a great committee, and if that doesn’t work, the matter can certainly be reconsidered,” Worel said.

Worel was previously executive director of the nonprofit People’s Health Clinic.

Under rules set Thursday, the new committee will consist of five to seven members who must either live, work, volunteer or own property or a business in Park City. The majority of members must have their primary residence in Park City.

Mayor Worel will be responsible for appointing the committee, whose members will serve for three years. The final decision on the committee members rests with the City Council.

The city hopes to conduct interviews and appoint members no later than October. The goal is to establish the committee early next year and make funding recommendations for the city’s next wave of public service contracts.

Park City donates thousands of dollars annually to local nonprofits for a variety of services, including child care, trail maintenance, and assistance with basic needs.

The new committee will make recommendations on how the city should spend the tax money, but final approval of the spending must come from the City Council.

Note: KPCW has received grants from Park City Municipal. Most recently, the station received $35,000 for a bilingual reporter to translate news into Spanish as part of a 2024 public service contract.