UV Chamber of Commerce Redistricting Resolution

Redistricting Matters to Utah County Businesses

Whereas, state governments redraw district boundaries every ten years based on the results of the most recent census and reapportionment results, and

Whereas, using results from the 2010 census, the Utah State Legislature is redrawing districts for the United States House of Representatives, the Utah House of Representatives, the Utah Senate, and the Utah State Board of Education, and

Whereas, redistricting ensures that each citizen’s vote carries the same weight and preserves the ideal of “one person, one vote”, and

Whereas, the Utah legislature has created a redistricting committee made up of legislators from around the state, and

Whereas, there has been established, fundamental core standards to which, the 2011 Redistricting Committee must adhere as they draw maps; namely

1. Congressional Districts must be nearly equal as practical with a deviation not greater than +- .1%

2. State legislative districts and state school board districts must have substantial equality of population among the various districts with a deviation not greater than +-3.5%.

3. Districts will be single member districts.

4. Plans will be drawn to create four Congressional Districts, 29 State Senate Districts, 75 State House Districts and 15 State School Board Districts.

5. In drawing districts, the official population enumeration of the 2010 decimal census will be used.

6. Districts will be contiguous and reasonably compact.

And whereas, the 2010 census tally found that total resident Utah population is 2,763,885, and

Whereas, the same census found that the total resident Utah County population is 516,564, and

Whereas, the same census found that an ideal district size for a Congressional seat is 690,971, for a State Senate seat 95,306, for a State House seat 36,852, for a State School Board seat 184,259, and

Whereas, as mentioned above a redistricting plan must take into account traditional redistricting criteria such as compactness, contiguity, and respect for political subdivision lines and communities of interest, and

Whereas, Utah County is clearly a reasonably compact, contiguous community of interest with political subdivision lines, and

Whereas, the way lines are drawn can keep a community together or split it apart, leaving it without a representative who feels responsible for its concerns, and

Whereas, the way lines are drawn can change who wins an election, and

Whereas, based on census criteria, Utah County merits most of one Congressional District, and

Whereas, based on census criteria, Utah County merits representation of 5.42 State Senate seats, and

Whereas, based on census criteria, Utah County merits representation of 14.02 State House seats, and

Whereas, multiple preliminary redistricting proposals for Congress, State Senate and State House split up Utah County in ways that significantly diminish its reasonably compact, contiguous community of interest with political subdivision lines,

Whereas, Utah County has no representation on the 2011 Senate redistricting committee despite being the state’s second largest county, representing nearly one in five state residents, and

Whereas, in 2001 Utah County received less representation than it merited in Congress and State Senate with districts created with a majority of people outside Utah County, forcing a significant proportion of Utah County to be represented by people who live outside Utah County, and

Whereas, 2001 redistricting has caused Utah County to be under represented in State and Federal government for the last 10 years, and

Whereas, in the interest of accountability and fairness, Utah County’s citizens merit representation of those who live in Utah County.

Therefore, let it be resolved that the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce strongly urges the Utah Legislature and the 2011 Redistricting Committee to do the following:

Ensure that all of Utah County is in one Congressional District.

Ensure that Utah County receives at least five State Senate seats each of which are wholly inside Utah County or more than five State Senate seats with the majority of people in each district in Utah County.

Ensure that Utah County receives at least 14 State House seats each of which are wholly inside Utah County or more than 14 State House seats with the majority of the people in each district in Utah County.

Furthermore, let it be resolved that if Utah County does not receive the representation it merits, we encourage Utah County business and government leaders to use all means at their disposal to fight for merited Utah County representation.

Furthermore, be it resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to each member of the redistricting committee and each member of elected and appointed leadership in both the Utah House and Senate, Governor Herbert, Utah County Commissioners and the Mayor of each Utah County city.

Save Money with Cloud Computing

Look to the Sky: Save Money with Cloud Computing

By Lanny Gray, Director of Business Services

Comcast

“Cloud computing” is a new generation of computing that uses distant servers for data storage and management. Placing key applications from your business in the “clouds” can save you a lot of money here on Earth.

No matter the size of the business, cloud computing offers efficiencies, cost savings and peace of mind. Here, we’ll outline the benefits of certain cloud applications so that you can better protect, access and leverage your data.

Backup is one popular use of cloud computing. Business owners have lots of options to securely backup their data into a ‘cloud’ or servers hosted by trusted companies. One service, Mozy, allows users to upload photos, business documents, financial records and other digital files. And, backups can be performed according to an automatic schedule.

For businesses ready to move beyond backup and leverage other IT services in the cloud, there are tremendous cost savings. The Yankee Group recently analyzed one year’s cost for two email and messaging options for a hypothetical business of 25 employees. In a traditional model, the business relied on Microsoft Exchange and Outlook with servers located on premises. The other option allowed the business to use Cloud Services by Microsoft® from Comcast Business Class.

In the example where technology is located in-house, the business might spend $14,000 a year on software licensing, maintenance and cost of servers, backup and support. With the cloud computing option – costs were cut to $2,463. That’s an 80 percent reduction in cost!

If you’re considering cloud computing, here’s a checklist of questions to consider:

1. Is the company credible? Ask if they have security at all levels including physical, network, application, internal systems and operating systems security. Investigate the company as you would any major business partner. You’re safe with companies like Microsoft, and there are others that are highly regarded.
2. Are my people well trained? In small business, there is always a risk when undergoing a major change – especially in IT. Before moving to the cloud or making any other major IT change, make sure you have a training and transition plan.
3. Will I need help to make the transition? Some businesses hire someone to help them make the transition. You want to get it right if you are transferring your email from one system to the cloud. Consider bringing in someone who has done this before. Check their references.
4. Is my recovery plan strong enough? An automatic backup plan is great. Surely, you will sleep more securely knowing that if there’s a business disruption, your data is safe. Yet a disaster recovery plan is more than about data. Your people will need equipment and know-how to get to the data during a disaster.