Local Administrative Advisor | MAG


Local Administrative Advisor


In the 2023 General legislative session, funds were allocated to help Utah's smallest cities and towns create policies, processes, and programs to enable them to "city better". Cities and towns are eligible for Local Administrative Advisor (LAA) Program assistance if they:

  • Are under 10,000 population
  • Are a dues-paying member of the Utah League of Cities & Towns
  • Do not have full-time administrative staff 

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In the MAG region, one full-time LAA Program Manager provides technical assistance to 19 eligible cities and towns located in Summit, Utah, and Wasatch counties.

LAA Program Contact

Spencer Foster
Local Administrative Advisor
801-310-9632
sfoster@magutah.gov

What Can the LAA Help With?

Eligible Program Activities

  • Advise city and town leaders on general personnel matters, budgets, agendas, resolutions, policies, and procedures.
  • Facilitate discussions with city leaders in creating goals and objectives for the community.
  • Help coordinate and conduct personnel hiring, performance management, coaching, and creating personnel policies and procedures.
  • Create templates for meetings, staff reports, and enacting ordinance/resolutions.
  • Work directly with city and town leaders on day-to-day issues as requested.
  • Examine internal programs and procedures for the city or town.
  • Establish and monitor city budgets to accomplish goals and objectives for state compliance, including status review to encourage the meeting of citywide needs and public accountability.
  • Recommend strategies for financial and technical assistance in helping to facilitate grants of all types, including, if needed, completing grant compliance reports.
  • Connect cities and towns with possible resources to accomplish land use goals and objectives.

Program Projects List

Examples of recent and active projects are shown below.

Agency Project Type
Cedar Fort TownAnnexation Policy PlanDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Coalville CityCompensation AnalysisProject Management, Oversight, & Analysis
Coalville CityLong-Term Employee Needs AnalysisProject Management, Oversight, & Analysis
Daniel TownWebsite and Email Transition to .govDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Elk Ridge CityImpact Fee Project UpdatesProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
Elk Ridge CityRCOG Grant Pre-Application SubmissionDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Fairfield TownGovernment Data Privacy TrainingTraining & Curriculum
Francis CityGovernment Data Privacy TrainingTraining & Curriculum
Francis CityPersonnel Policy UpdateDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Genola TownCode of Ordinances CodificationDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Genola TownGovernment Data Privacy TrainingTraining & Curriculum
Goshen TownGovernment Data Privacy TrainingTraining & Curriculum
Hideout CityCommunity Reinvestment Area SupportAdministrative Advisory Support/Q&A
Independence TownWebsite Transition to .govDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Interlaken TownGrant/Loan Application SupportProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
Kamas CityNew City Planner TrainingsTraining & Curriculum
Kamas CityRCOG Grant Pre-Application SubmissionProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
Oakley CityPersonnel Policy UpdateDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Spring Lake TownFormal Letter Requesting Property TaxDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Spring Lake TownIncorporation Process SupportAdministrative Advisory Support/Q&A
Spring Lake TownWebsite Transition to .govDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Wallsburg TownProperty List (Excel) and MapDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
Wallsburg TownCode Book ReviewProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
Wallsburg TownGovernment Data Privacy TrainingTraining & Curriculum

How to Request Program Assistance?

Have a general question?

Submit an 'Ask Your LAA' Form or reach out to Spencer Foster, Local Administrative Advisor at 801-310-9632 or sfoster@magutah.gov.

Ask Your LAA Form

Not sure what you need or don't know where to start?

Complete the Self-Audit Form we have developed. After completion, our LAA will reach out and go over next steps with you.

Self-Audit Form

Have a specific project or task in mind?

If you've already completed the self-audit and want help with a specific project or task, schedule a one-on-one with our LAA and submit a Project Scoping Form.

Project Scoping Form

Give us your feedback!

After asking a question, working with our LAA, or utilizing our resources, help us by submitting a 'How Did We Do' Survey. Your suggestions will help us make the program better.

How Did We Do Survey

Want to research more on your own?

We are accumulating resources and templates local governments can use to elevate their knowledge of, skills in, and compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations. Click on the links below in our Resources and Templates section to utilize our growing repository of materials.

Resources and Templates

More Coming Soon!

Article Tags: laa, planning, advisor