Sept. 23, 2004-When public organizations are unable to resolve disputes, litigation often results, a costly outcome for both government and the public. The annual summit of the Utah Intergovernmental Roundtable will offer an overview and discussion of alternative approaches to litigation, including Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This year’s event, “Us vs. Them: Helping Organizations Resolve Their Conflicts,” will be held on Thursday, Sept. 30, from 7:45 a.m. until 2 p.m., in the Utah State Office Building, 450 N. Columbus Str. (50 E.), directly north of the Capitol. The meeting will be held in the first floor auditorium. Parking is available in the lot on the corner of Main Street and 500 N. Cost to attend the summit is $50, with student discounts offered. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call 801-585-7764.
Sponsored by the University of Utah’s Center for Public Policy and Administration, the Utah Intergovernmental Roundtable, the Roy Water Conservancy District and The Utah League of Cities and Towns, the summit is designed to present better ways to resolve public policy issues and contention among public jurisdictions. The recent conflict between Draper City and the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy cities will be used for the basis of a discussion on jurisdictional conflicts.
Summit presenters include Gov. Olene Walker; Michael D. Zimmerman, former Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court and a partner at Snell & Wilmer; Palmer DePaulis, commissioner with the Utah State Tax Commission and chair of the Utah State ADR Council; James R. Holbrook, clinical professor at the University’s S.J. Quinney College of Law; Utah Sen. Carlene Walker; Utah County Commissioner Gary Herbert; Utah Rep. Greg Hughes; Diane Hamilton, mediator; and cartoonist Pat Bagley.
The mission of the Utah Intergovernmental Roundtable is to facilitate discussion and promote understanding of intergovernmental issues in order to enhance the cooperation and interaction of governmental entities. Roundtable members are volunteers who represent a wide range of entities, including cities, counties, special districts, state agencies, the legislature and the Governor’s office. Issues relating to water and watersheds and wilderness and roads are currently at the forefront of the public debate. The Alternative Dispute Resolution council, a subcommittee of the Roundtable, was formed to help resolve some of these issues.