The newly formed Utah Inland Port Authority board will meet later Wednesday to discuss progress on Salt Lake's planned commercial hub amid public pressure to be more transparent.
The board, which only formed this summer, has faced criticism from public advocacy groups and local officials, including Salt Lake Mayor Jackie Biskupski, for holding private subcommittee meetings behind closed doors.
More than 140 organizations have signed onto a letter calling on the body to open all of its meetings to the public.
"What we're saying is these subcommittee meetings are going to be a place where a lot of work is happening and they need to be open to the public," said Deeda Seed, an organizer with the Coalition for Port Reform.
Gov. Gary Herbert, who supports the port, told the Salt Lake Tribune this week that the 11-member board should consider opening all of its meetings to the public.
Derek Miller, the chairman of the port board, said boardmembers will consider the issue when they meet today at Salt Lake Community College's Wespointe Center.
"We're cautiously optimistic that today they will vote to open those meetings," Seed said.
The board is overseeing the development of an international trading hub connecting air, rail and trucks on more than 16,000 acres of northwest Salt Lake City. The port was created through legislation passed by state lawmakers during the 2018 session.
The port board has weathered previous controversies after conflicts of interest came to light for two former members during its first unofficial meeting in June. Those members, Sen. Don Ipson and House Speaker Greg Hughes, resigned from the board and were replaced.
WHAT: Utah Inland Port Authority Board Meeting
WHERE: SLCC Westpointe Center, 1060 North Flyer Way, Room 102, SLC, UT 84116
WHEN: 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
