Prior to the Sandy City Council vote on 6/16/2026, WBA sent an action alert asking our community to share their support of keeping Sandy in the Central Wasatch Commission (CWC). We were grateful to see many members respond by submitting comments, sending emails, and speaking at the meeting in support of continued regional collaboration. THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to make their voice heard!
Unfortunately, the Sandy City Council voted 5–2 to remove the city’s funding for the CWC. Councilmembers Alison Stroud and Aaron DeKeyzer voted to continue supporting the organization. Councilmembers Brooke Christensen, Kris Nicholl, Marci Houseman, Cyndi Sharkey, and Brooke D’Sousa all voted to pull out.
The vote came after significant public engagement, with most public comments and many emails urging the council to remain in the CWC. Stroud and DeKeyzer pitched a compromise that would have kept Sandy in the CWC while reducing its contribution by 50% and increasing oversight, but the proposal did not gain support from the rest of the council.
WBA spoke in favor of Sandy remaining in the CWC for three primary reasons. First, our Backcountry Shuttle has been funded through the CWC’s Short-Term Projects Grant Program. Second, we support the CWC’s Ski Bus Priority Access Program, which helps improve access to the Wasatch while encouraging transit use. Third, we think Sandy should participate in efforts to shape the Central Wasatch National Recreation Conservation Area (CWNCRA) legislation.
While the vote ends Sandy’s financial contribution to the CWC, questions remain about what it means for the city’s future participation in the CWC. We will keep our community in the loop as we learn how this will impact efforts to advocate for for practical transportation and access solutions that benefit the backcountry community.
