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1. What is ranked choice voting?

Ranked choice voting or “instant run-off voting,” allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, when marking their ballots. Ranked choice voting eliminates the need for run-off elections.

2. Does my vote still count if I give same candidate multiple rankings?

Yes. However, your vote will count only once for that candidate.

3. Does my vote still count if I only select one choice?

Yes. Your vote will count for your one choice.

4. How are ranked choice votes counted?

With ranked choice voting, if a candidate receives a majority (50%+1) of the first-choice votes cast for that office, that candidate will be elected. However, if no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice votes cast, an elimination process begins. The candidate who received the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Next, each vote cast for that candidate will be transferred to the voter's next-ranked choice among the remaining candidates. This elimination process will continue until one candidate receives a majority and is deemed the winner.

5. If I really want my first-choice candidate to win should I rank that candidate as my first, second, and third choice?

No. Ranking a candidate more than once does not benefit the candidate. If a voter ranks one candidate as the voter's first, second, and third choice, it is the same as if the voter leaves the second or third choice blank.

6. Can I give multiple candidates the same ranking?

No. If a voter gives more than one candidate the same ranking, the vote cannot be counted. Only one individual candidate can represent the voter's first, second, or third choice.

7. Is anyone else using ranked choice voting?

Yes, in fact many communities across the country are either using or piloting ranked choice voting systems. This includes 23 cities in Utah for the 2021 general election. Ranked choice voting is also being used in Maine for federal and statewide elections (and municipal elections in the city of Portland); in Minnesota for elections in Minneapolis and St. Paul; in California for elections in Oakland, San Francisco, San Leandro, and Berkely; in New Mexico for elections in Santa Fe and Las Cruces; in Colorado for elections in Telluride; and various other states have adopted it and are in the implementation process.

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1. What does “RAP” mean?

RAP stands for Recreation, Arts, and Parks.

2. What is the RAP Tax?

The RAP tax is a 1/10 of 1% sales tax that would be included on sales and uses within Moab City. It is not a property tax. It does not include sales for most food items or food ingredients.

3. What is the process to enact a RAP Tax?

This sales and use tax must be approved by a majority of the City’s registered voters in either a general election or a municipal general election

4. Is this a property tax?

No, this is not a property tax. This is a sales and use tax. It is not automatically assessed on each resident. It is only charged on eligible items at the point of sale.

5. Who pays the RAP Tax?

The tax is collected on the sale of eligible items and uses within Moab City (the tax does not apply to groceries). As a sales and use tax, it is not a tax solely on Moab residents. To the contrary, it is a tax on eligible purchases by anyone who buys a good or service within Moab City boundaries. A visitor or tourist who shops in Moab stores or attends events within Moab City will also contribute to the RAP tax.

6. How much can I expect to pay?

One-tenth (1/10) of 1% is equal to one cent for every $10 spent. That means a family spending $1,000 a month on qualifying purchases in Moab will pay an additional $1 a month in RAP taxes.

7. How is the RAP Tax used?

According to Utah State Code, the RAP tax can be used for a broad list of recreational, cultural, or zoological facilities and recreational, cultural, or zoological programs provided by the city.

8. Who determines how the RAP tax will be used?

Moab City residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback and input into how the funds are utilized. The City will suggest potential projects. As is with each budget year, residents will have the opportunity to be informed of those projects and provide input and feedback during a public meeting. The City Council will make the final decision.

9. Have projects already been identified?

Specific projects have not been identified at this time. Residents will have an opportunity to make suggestions, share ideas, and otherwise provide input on how the funding will be used. The City Council makes the final decision.

10. Where can I find more information?

Additional details and voter information will be available at www.moabcity.org/RAP.

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1. Will the City continue to conduct business?

Moab City Buildings to close to limit COvid-19 risk

As a health and safety measure in response to concerns about COVID-19, all City of Moab buildings will be closed to the public at the end of business on Friday, March 13.

The City will continue to conduct business. Anyone who needs to do business with the City or a tenant in City Hall is asked to call the appropriate number listed below:

• Administration- 435-259-5121 (please listen for options)
• Business Licensing – 435-259-5123
• Utilities (Water, Sewer, Trash) - 435-259-5123
• Communications-435-260-7027
• Code Compliance-435-259-5129 option 4
• Police- 435-259-8115 (Dispatch)
• Animal Shelter-435-259-0199
• Planning- 435-259-5129
• Film Commission-435-259-4341
• Engineering-435-259-4941
• Recorder-435-259-2683
• Treasurer-435-259-5123
• Finance- 435-259-5121 ext. 830
• Building Inspection-435-259-5129 option 1
• Public Works-435-259-7485
• MRAC-435-259-8226
• Recreation-435-259-2255
• MARC-435-259-6272
• AP&P-435-259-7411
• SITLA-435-259-7417
• DCFS Assistant Attorney General -435-259-7464

The City will provide updates on our website, www.moabcity.org, and our Facebook Page, Facebook.com/cityofmoab as new information is available.

“We are taking this preventive measure in response to ‘social distancing’ recommendations from the State of Utah and the Centers for Disease Control,” said Moab City Manager Joel Linares. “We will continue working for our community while limiting person-to-person exposure both for our residents and our staff. We appreciate the community’s understanding as we all work together to manage and mitigate this serious issue.”

2. Where can I find more information?

There are a number of online options to choose from:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html 

The World Health Organization- https://www.who.int/ 

The Utah Coronavirus Task Force https://coronavirus.utah.gov/

The Utah Department of Health https://health.utah.gov/  

The Southeast Utah Health Department-https://www.seuhealth.com/ 

Moab Regional Hospital has a website https://mrhmoab.org/ 

as well as a Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/MoabRegionalHospital 

The City of Moab will continue to update this website as well as put information on our Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/cityofmoab/  Twitter - @CityofMoab and Instagram - @moabcity  Follow/like our social media pages to easily see regular updates.  

3. Should residents be concerned about COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a serious threat to public health, but everyone can do their part to help:

• Stay home as much as possible. People over 60 and those with health concerns should be especially vigilant about staying away from other people.
• If you do have to leave home, such as for groceries or medication, do so during off-hours so there are fewer people out, and send only one person per household. Maintain a distance of 6 feet between yourself and other individuals in public.
• Practice good health habits that help your immune system work effectively:
  • Get appropriate sleep.
  • Stay physically active.
  • Manage stress.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Eat nutritiously.
  • Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
• Keep on hand at least a two-week supply of food, as well as prescription and nonprescription drugs. While it is always good to ensure your 72-hour kits are stocked, it is not necessary to purchase water or most other emergency supplies in response to COVID-19; this is not a natural disaster and our utility systems, including water and electricity, will continue to function normally during the outbreak.

4. Are City Parks still open?

City Parks are still open but all playgrounds, restrooms and drinking fountains are closed. It is still recommended to use Social Distancing and only gather in groups of 10 or less. Park reservations are in the process of being canceled for groups that are larger than 10 attendees. No new reservations will be accepted for the next 30 days and will be reassessed at that time. Read the flyer for full details.

5. If I think I have contracted COVID-19, what should I do? How do I get tested?

If you have traveled in the last two weeks to an area experiencing community transmission of COVID-19, or if you have been in close contact* with someone you know to have COVID-19, and you develop flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, or difficulty breathing), call your health care provider before visiting unannounced.

If your provider determines you need to be seen, they may have special instructions about how you should arrive to minimize exposing other people. Some health care providers also have a telehealth ability so patients can be evaluated for their symptoms without visiting a clinic in-person.

Health care providers need to rule out other potential causes of your respiratory illness, such as influenza, before requesting COVID-19 testing.

To be tested, you must get a direct recommendation by your health care provider.

If you have traveled in the last two weeks to an area experiencing community transmission of COVID-19, or if you have been in close contact with someone you know to have COVID-19, and you do not have symptoms, you should quarantine at home and monitor yourself daily for symptoms.

*Close contact is defined as within 6 feet of someone for at least 15 minutes.

6. Should I stay home from my community event or public gathering

If your gathering is fewer than 10 people, and has not been canceled by the organizer, the CDC advises that—in areas where COVID-19 is actively spreading—people at higher risk of serious illness (seniors over 60 and those with other health conditions like heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes) to avoid groups of more than 10 people and stay home as much as possible. The 10 people—including staff and attendees—must maintain 6 feet of distance between each other.

7. What happens now that we have cases of COVID-19 in Utah?

Utah’s public health system has plans and procedures in place that are designed to help limit the spread of infection within our community. These plans and procedures include isolating ill people and quarantining people who may have been exposed, as well as canceling school, church, and community events.

On March 13, Governor Gary Herbert announced that all public and charter schools in the state will be dismissed for at least two weeks as part of a "soft closure.” On March 23, Gov. Herbert announced that schools will remain closed until May 1.

On March 15, the CDC limited gatherings, community events, and other types of assemblies to no more than 50 total individuals, which must maintain 6 feet of space between themselves for social distancing.

On March 16, the CDC and President Donald Trump recommended Americans promote further social distancing and limit gatherings to no more than 10 individuals at a time.

8. Do I need to buy a face mask?

Surgical-type face masks can help prevent your respiratory droplets from getting out into the environment; they do not prevent you from inhaling airborne germs. So while they can be useful for preventing sick people from making others sick, they are not especially useful for keeping healthy people from getting sick.

Wearing an N95 respirator mask can help prevent illness, but the respirator mask must be individually fit-tested and worn correctly. Currently, N95 respirator masks should be reserved for specific populations who are at the greatest risk, such as health care professionals working with an infectious patient; widespread public use is unnecessary.

9. Should Moab City residents be concerned about COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a serious threat to public health, but everyone can do their part to help:

• Stay home as much as possible. People over 60 and those with health concerns should be especially vigilant about staying away from other people.
• If you do have to leave home, such as for groceries or medication, do so during off-hours so there are fewer people out, and send only one person per household. Maintain a distance of 6 feet between yourself and other individuals in public.
• Practice good health habits that help your immune system work effectively:
  • Get appropriate sleep.
  • Stay physically active.
  • Manage stress.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Eat nutritiously.
  • Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
• Keep on hand at least a two-week supply of food, as well as prescription and nonprescription drugs. While it is always good to ensure your 72-hour kits are stocked, it is not necessary to purchase water or most other emergency supplies in response to COVID-19; this is not a natural disaster and our utility systems, including water and electricity, will continue to function normally during the outbreak.