(1) The commission shall evaluate, study, prepare one or more reports, and make recommendations concerning the future planning and development of the project area. The study shall focus on the three key areas described in Subsections (2), (3), and (4).

(2) The commission shall study and develop strategies to engage the public and collaborate with stakeholders, including: (a) providing a public forum to gather insight from citizens; and (b) evaluating the costs and benefits of growth, land use, and economic development strategies in the project area and the impacts of those strategies on residents of the project area and the state.

(a) providing a public forum to gather insight from citizens; and

(b) evaluating the costs and benefits of growth, land use, and economic development strategies in the project area and the impacts of those strategies on residents of the project area and the state.

(3) (a) The commission shall study and make recommendations regarding future transportation and infrastructure needs within the project area, including: (i) evaluation of projected population, housing, and employment growth; (ii) identification of transportation infrastructure needs, including: (A) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of highways and streets, on both the local and state jurisdictional levels; (B) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of public transit; and (C) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of active transportation facilities, including trails; and (iii) evaluation of projected costs related to transportation and other infrastructure needs. (b) In performing the study described in Subsection (3)(a), the commission shall coordinate with transportation agencies, including: (i) the Wasatch Front Regional Council; (ii) the Mountainland Association of Governments; (iii) the Utah Department of Transportation; and (iv) the Utah Transit Authority.

(a) The commission shall study and make recommendations regarding future transportation and infrastructure needs within the project area, including: (i) evaluation of projected population, housing, and employment growth; (ii) identification of transportation infrastructure needs, including: (A) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of highways and streets, on both the local and state jurisdictional levels; (B) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of public transit; and (C) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of active transportation facilities, including trails; and (iii) evaluation of projected costs related to transportation and other infrastructure needs.

(i) evaluation of projected population, housing, and employment growth;

(ii) identification of transportation infrastructure needs, including: (A) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of highways and streets, on both the local and state jurisdictional levels; (B) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of public transit; and (C) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of active transportation facilities, including trails; and

(A) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of highways and streets, on both the local and state jurisdictional levels;

(B) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of public transit; and

(C) development, construction, operation, and maintenance of active transportation facilities, including trails; and

(iii) evaluation of projected costs related to transportation and other infrastructure needs.

(b) In performing the study described in Subsection (3)(a), the commission shall coordinate with transportation agencies, including: (i) the Wasatch Front Regional Council; (ii) the Mountainland Association of Governments; (iii) the Utah Department of Transportation; and (iv) the Utah Transit Authority.

(i) the Wasatch Front Regional Council;

(ii) the Mountainland Association of Governments;

(iii) the Utah Department of Transportation; and

(iv) the Utah Transit Authority.

(4) The commission shall study and make recommendations regarding financing economic development of, and the infrastructure investment in, the project area, including: (a) evaluation of economic growth projections; and (b) evaluation of financing tools to encourage and facilitate economic growth in the project area, including: (i) property tax increment financing, with the requirement that the property tax increment remain within the jurisdiction in which the property tax increment is created; (ii) assessment districts; (iii) bonding; (iv) partnerships between public and private entities; (v) excise taxes, including transient room taxes and taxes on community resorts; (vi) redevelopment agency funds; (vii) federal funding; (viii) private capital; (ix) investment strategies used by other governmental entities for purposes of economic development; and (x) other innovative financing strategies.

(a) evaluation of economic growth projections; and

(b) evaluation of financing tools to encourage and facilitate economic growth in the project area, including: (i) property tax increment financing, with the requirement that the property tax increment remain within the jurisdiction in which the property tax increment is created; (ii) assessment districts; (iii) bonding; (iv) partnerships between public and private entities; (v) excise taxes, including transient room taxes and taxes on community resorts; (vi) redevelopment agency funds; (vii) federal funding; (viii) private capital; (ix) investment strategies used by other governmental entities for purposes of economic development; and (x) other innovative financing strategies.

(i) property tax increment financing, with the requirement that the property tax increment remain within the jurisdiction in which the property tax increment is created;

(ii) assessment districts;

(iii) bonding;

(iv) partnerships between public and private entities;

(v) excise taxes, including transient room taxes and taxes on community resorts;

(vi) redevelopment agency funds;

(vii) federal funding;

(viii) private capital;

(ix) investment strategies used by other governmental entities for purposes of economic development; and

(x) other innovative financing strategies.

(5) The commission may hire or direct the hiring of one or more consultants, or enter into agreements and otherwise collaborate with governmental entities and other stakeholders, with experience or expertise in a subject under consideration by the commission, to assist the commission in fulfilling the commission's duties under this part.

(6) In carrying out the study, the commission shall consider the following objectives for the project area and the state as a whole: (a) maximizing job creation; (b) ensuring a high quality of life for residents in and surrounding the project area; (c) strategic residential and commercial growth; (d) preservation of natural lands and expansion of recreational opportunities; (e) provision of a variety of community and housing types that match workforce needs; and (f) planning for future transportation infrastructure and other investments to enhance mobility and protect the environment.

(a) maximizing job creation;

(b) ensuring a high quality of life for residents in and surrounding the project area;

(c) strategic residential and commercial growth;

(d) preservation of natural lands and expansion of recreational opportunities;

(e) provision of a variety of community and housing types that match workforce needs; and

(f) planning for future transportation infrastructure and other investments to enhance mobility and protect the environment.

(7) The commission shall report the commission's interim findings and recommendations to the Transportation Interim Committee, the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee, the Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee, the Executive Appropriations Committee, and the governor before December 1, 2016.

(8) The commission's recommendations under this section are advisory only.