As South Salt Lake looks ahead to 2025, the South Salt Lake City Council is committed to fostering an engaged and empowered community. One of the most important things in a city is community involvement. As the council works to make the city better, they need public opinion in order to know how their residents feel about things. 

“Communication is definitely one of the greatest challenges,” said Sharla Bynum, SSL council chair. “We’ve worked hard over the years to improve communication with our residents in hopes that would lead to increased involvement.”

Here are some things residents can do to foster communication: 

Attend City Council Meetings

City council meetings are held regularly at City Hall. Check the official calendar on the South Salt Lake website for dates and times.

Meetings are open to the public and provide firsthand insights into discussions on local policies, development plans and budget decisions.

During public comment sessions, residents are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, or express concerns directly to councilmembers.

Join a Citizen Advisory Board

Advisory boards focus on specific areas like transportation, housing or sustainability. They provide valuable input to the council. 

If you want to get involved but you’re not sure where to start, Bynum says to start small. Start with getting to know your neighbors and community more, attend city events, a council meeting or volunteer with the city. 

“Then consider submitting your resume for the possibility of representing our city on the Planning Commission or the Civilian Review Board,” Bynum said. “There are so many amazing things happening in South Salt Lake.” 

Serving on a board allows residents to work closely with city leaders and other passionate community members to address key issues.

Stay Informed 

Subscribe to email updates to receive agendas, summaries and information on upcoming events.

“Most residents who are not using digital tools or social media still receive utility bills in the mail,” Bynum said. “We have included flyers with important information with those bills in the past and will continue to build on that.” 

Follow South Salt Lake on platforms like Facebook and YouTube for real-time updates and meeting broadcasts.

Share your opinions or report concerns through the city’s website.

Connect with Your Council Representatives

South Salt Lake is divided into districts, each with its own representative. Find out who represents your area.

Councilmembers are approachable and welcome communication via email, phone, or in-person meetings.

“Residents can always reach out to all elected officials,” Bynum said. “Our emails and phone numbers are listed on the website. Another way to give us feedback is to make sure they are signed up for FlashVote. That is the survey tool we use to get feedback on key issues.” 

If you want to look into the FlashVote, you can go to www.flashvote.com/sslc.  

Volunteer and Advocate

Work with city programs or nonprofits that align with council goals, such as neighborhood cleanups or youth initiatives.

Join local organizations that focus on issues you care about to amplify your voice collectively.

Bynum expressed her hope for greater involvement in 2025, saying the council would love to see more residents regularly communicating with elected officials, showing up to council meetings, attending more city events and taking advantage of volunteer opportunities within South Salt Lake. 

South Salt Lake’s City Council was elected for their love of the city and their desire to shape the city’s future in the best way they can. 

“My favorite thing about South Salt Lake is our diversity and kindness,” Bynum said. “We’ve welcomed families from all over the world and provided resources through our Promise program that benefit all residents. Many of these recipients are now part of giving back to our newer residents and their feedback helps us continue to improve our Promise program.” λ