Local Administrative Advisor

The Local Administrative Advisor (LAA) Program helps eligible communities strengthen their administrative capacity, improve local processes, and navigate day-to-day challenges. 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:

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

Claudia

Claudia Saldana
Local Administrative Advisor
801-229-3673
csaldana@magutah.gov

The Role of the Local Administrative Advisor

  • 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.

MAG Region Municipalities Qualifying for the LAA Program

    • Coalvile
    • Francis
    • Henefer
    • Kamas
    • Oakley
    • Cedar Fort
    • Elk Ridge
    • Fairfield
    • Genola
    • Goshen
    • Spring Lake
    • Woodland Hills
    • Charleston
    • Daniel
    • Hideout
    • Independence
    • Interlaken 
    • Midway
    • Walsburg 

    Program Projects List

    Examples of recent and active projects are shown below.

    Agency Project Type
    Cedar Fort TownNew Town Recorder TrainingsTraining & Curriculum
    Cedar Fort TownSubdivision Ordinances Update CoordinationProject Management, Oversight, & Analysis
    Coalville CityStrategic Planning WorkshopTraining & Curriculum
    Coalville CityEmployee Handbook ReviewDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
    Elk Ridge CityTax Streams FeasibilityProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
    Elk Ridge CityStrategic Planning WorkshopTraining & Curriculum
    Fairfield TownCompensation AnalysisDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
    Francis CityNew City Planner TrainingsTraining & Curriculum
    Francis CityTAG/TPA Grant ApplicationProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
    Genola TownCode of Ordinances CodificationDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
    Genola TownGeneral Plan Update AssistanceProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
    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 CityTAG/TPA Grant ApplicationProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
    Oakley CityProcurement Policy ReviewDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
    Spring Lake TownBudget Process AssistanceAdministrative Advisory Support/Q&A
    Spring Lake TownIncorporation Process SupportAdministrative Advisory Support/Q&A
    Spring Lake TownUtah Cyber Security Grant Application & CoordinationProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
    Wallsburg TownLien Process Ordinance CreationDirect Administrative Work & Assignments
    Wallsburg TownCode Book ReviewProject Management, Oversight & Analysis
    Wallsburg TownOpen & Public Meetings Act 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

    Article Tags: laa, planning, advisor