Local Government

Awareness & Understanding

Your city government makes decisions that affect your daily life — roads, parks, zoning, and more. Start by visiting slc.gov (Salt Lake City's official site) and clicking through every department tab to see what local government actually covers. Watch the "How Local Government Works" series on YouTube by the National League of Cities. Download the free "Citizen's Guide to Local Government" from utah.gov. Check out r/SaltLakeCity on Reddit to see what issues residents are discussing right now. You're ready for the next step when you can name five city departments and explain what each one does in one sentence.

Research & Investigation

Dig into who runs Salt Lake City and how decisions get made. Visit slc.gov/council to learn about your city council members — find out which district you live in and who represents you. Watch a recorded City Council meeting on the SLC TV YouTube channel (search "Salt Lake City Council"). Explore the Utah Open Data portal (opendata.utah.gov) to look at real city budget and project data. Follow @SLCgov on social media to see announcements in real time. You're ready for the next step when you can name your city council member, describe one issue they're working on, and explain how a city ordinance becomes law.

Planning & Preparation

Choose one local issue you care about and prepare to engage with it. Look up when the next City Council meeting is at slc.gov/council/agendas — agendas are posted publicly before each meeting. Read the agenda ahead of time. Write a 2-minute public comment about your issue (anyone can sign up to speak). Practice your comment out loud at least twice. Also find a local advocacy group working on your issue: try the Salt Lake City Community Foundation (slcfoundation.org) or search for neighborhood councils at slc.gov/neighborhoods. You're ready for the next step when you have a written public comment and a meeting date on your calendar.

Taking Action

Attend a City Council meeting — in person at City Hall (451 S State St, Salt Lake City) or virtually via the live stream at slc.gov. Deliver your public comment or simply observe how decisions are made. After the meeting, email your council member with a follow-up question or statement using the contact info at slc.gov/council. Keep a copy of your email. Try the free SLC 311 app (iOS and Android) to report a neighborhood issue — it goes directly to city staff. You're ready for the next step when you've attended one public meeting and had at least one direct interaction with a city official or department.

Leadership & Expansion

Share what you've learned and help others engage. Create a simple "How to Participate in SLC Government" one-pager using Canva (canva.com, free) and share it with neighbors, a school group, or on Nextdoor. Organize a small group to attend the next City Council meeting together. Contact your neighborhood council (find yours at slc.gov/neighborhoods) and ask how to get more involved or attend their meetings. You're ready for the next step when you've shared civic engagement resources with at least 10 people and attended a second public meeting.

Impact & Reflection

Look back at how far you've come. Write a 200-word reflection: What did you learn about how your city works? Did your engagement change anything, even a little? What surprised you most? Post your reflection on r/SaltLakeCity or share it with your neighborhood council. Set one ongoing civic commitment — monthly council meeting attendance, following one issue, or staying in contact with your council member. You're ready for the next step when you've written your reflection and stated one specific ongoing civic action you'll continue.