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05/08/2007 - Minutes PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2007 The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 7 : 00 p.m. in Room 315, City Council Chambers, City County Building, 451 South State. The following Council Members were present: Carlton Christensen Van Turner Jill Remington Love Eric Jergensen Nancy Saxton Soren Simonsen Dave Buhler Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; Mayor Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson; Edwin Rutan, City Attorney; and Beverly Jones, Deputy City Recorder were present. Councilmember Turner presided at and Councilmember Jergensen conducted the meeting. #1 . 7:01:56PM The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance . #2 . 7:02:26 PM Youth City Government presented the Youth State of the City report. View Attachments The following students presented the report: Sophie Jin, Council District 3; Trevor Gordon, Council District 3; Larissa Esquivel, Council District 1; Jackson Hannon, Rowland Hall St. Mark' s High School; Glen Brixey, Council District 6; Alice Lin, Council District 7; Zachary Burt, East High School; Ayesha Liaqat, East High School; Joel Organista, Council District 1; and Ben Murphy, Council District 7 . (B 07-1) #3. 7:26:31 PM Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Turner seconded to approve the minutes for the Salt Lake City Council meetings held May 1 and May 3, 2007, which motion carried, all members voted aye . View Attachments (M 07-3) PUBLIC HEARINGS #1 . 7:26:54PM RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of up to $8,800 ,000 aggregate principal amount of Sales Tax Revenue Bonds of Salt Lake City, Utah to be issued in one or more series; fixing the maximum aggregate principal amount of the bonds, the maximum number of years over which the bonds may mature and the maximum interest rate that the bonds may bear; providing for the publication of a Notice of Bonds to be issued; providing for the running of a contest period; authorizing the circulation of the preliminary official statement with respect thereto; and providing for related matters . (On the issuance by the 07 - 59 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2007 City of its Sales Tax Revenue Bonds to finance a portion of the costs of acquisition and construction of (a) certain improvements relating to its Westside Railroad Realignment Project (Grant Tower) , (b) certain infrastructure improvements in connection with the light rail expansion within the City and (c) various other capital improvement program projects and to provide for the publication of a notice of such public hearing in accordance with applicable law) . View Attachments (Q 07-3) Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Saxton seconded to close the hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye. Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Turner seconded to adopt Resolution 32 of 2007 , which motion carried, all members voted aye . (Q 07-3) 7:29:07PM COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL Evan Jennins , Bryan Brown, Jeff Salt and Dan Potts spoke in opposition to the proposed regional sports complex. Ralphael Plescia spoke about drug dealing in Pioneer Park and asked when something would be done . William Garbett spoke in support of the proposed skywalk. Willy Littig, Christian Harrison, Brenda Scheer and Esther Hunter spoke in opposition of the proposed skywalk. UNFINISHED BUSINESS #1 . 7:53:23PM RE: Adopting an ordinance amending certain Sections of Chapter 2 . 46, Salt Lake City Code, relating to campaign financing disclosure and Chapter 2 . 68, Salt Lake City Code, relating to municipal elections . View Attachments Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Turner seconded to adopt Ordinance 15 of 2007, which motion carried, all members voted aye . (0 05-15) #2 . 7:53:54PM RE: A motion to override a veto of an ordinance to amend the Downtown Master Plan and the Urban Design Element pursuant to Petition No. 400-06-37 . (Skywalks/City Creek Center) . View Attachments 07 - 60 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2007 Councilmember Love moved and Councilmember Buhler seconded to override the veto of Ordinance 13 of 2007 . Councilmember Love said the Council spent hours discussing the issue . She said she had met with architectural and retail experts and had spent hours on the phone . She said she understood the significance of the element in the master plan. She said sky bridges had been prohibited because of concerns for the view corridor and pedestrian flow. She Love said 400 South had a view of Ensign Peak and the sky bridge would not obstruct that view. She said on 100 South and 200 South the view was gone because of traffic signals, trees, skyscrapers and TRAX signs . She said the view of Ensign Peak was littered with cell phone towers and houses . Councilmember Love said there was concern about pedestrian flow. She said the City had struggled for 20 years to connect the southern end of downtown to the northern end. She said 20 acres of mixed use development on two blocks would better interface with the rest of downtown. She said one sky bridge would not hurt retail further south. She said they needed to address the size of the blocks and follow the lead of the Downtown Rising Plan. She said the Mayor had suggested closing a section of Main Street allowing for just pedestrians . She said this was not a solution to second floor access to the proposed project. She said they were at the point where districts with distinct characters could be developed. She said the City could offer an urban experience that Utahans could be proud of and people nationwide could enjoy. She said she supported the override because a developer willing to invest almost $1 billion in the downtown should be given a chance . Councilmember Christensen said he had not been bullied into a decision. He said he made his decisions based on principle and experience . He said he resented the inference of bullying because it was unfair to the petitioner and to himself. Councilmember Saxton said she wanted to start discussions on the sky bridge last fall . She said she had wanted to ask different architects to brief small groups so they could hear information from the community and professionals . She said she was concerned about the design and wanted to make sure it was pedestrian friendly. She said the Mayor' s option to close Main Street did not address the developers' concerns . She said Main Street was the narrowest street in the City. She said it was an easy street to cross and was not a barrier. Councilmember Saxton said the last thing she wanted was an unsuccessful mall . She said there was an escalator option and she felt that would move people seamlessly from the sky bridge down and from the street up. She said she was concerned the main downtown would have multiple sky bridges . She said she hoped the verbiage in the master 07 - 61 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2007 plan would give developers' a difficult time meeting requirements and obligations . She said she would vote to override the veto. Councilmember Simonsen said master plans were developed with considerable public input. He said these plans were often modified. He said the proposed plans were contracts with the community at the request of developers' with little or no public outreach or input . He said they were making a decision that would have generational impact on the City. He said positive changes were needed downtown. He said they would have opportunity for future input in the design of the City Creek Center and the sky bridge . He said the Downtown Rising called for policy changes, projects and steps to create a vibrant downtown. He said this effort was not a move in that direction. Councilmember Buhler said master plans like zoning ordinances were important but they were subject to change. He said if the sky bridge came back to the Council from the Planning Commission for final approval on design criteria they could hold the developers' to the outlined criteria. He said the City needed something to bring people to Main Street. He said he supported the override of the veto. Councilmember Jergensen said four months ago he attended the Avenues Community Council and told them the sky bridge issue would be coming to the Council . He said he told them what the Planning Commission was proposing to approve . He said he received many e-mails from people on both sides of the issue . He said he had considered that information carefully. He said last fall the Planning Commission received a request for amendments to the Downtown Master Plan and the Urban Design Element . He said over a period of months the Commission carefully considered the issue and various proposed amendment text options . He said the Commission forwarded an approved master plan amendment to the City Council . Councilmember Jergensen said after much thought the Council approved language amending the Downtown Master Plan and Urban Design Element. He said if the Council felt they did not discuss issues raised by the Mayor or that they did not fully understand what they were approving, then the Council should sustain the veto. He said then they could go back and revisit the issue. He said if the Council felt they had considered clearly the issues raised by the Mayor and were comfortable that the Council' s efforts were appropriate then they should override the veto. Councilmember Jergensen called for the question, which motion carried, all members voted aye except Councilmember Simonsen who voted nay. (P 07-1) CONSENT AGENDA 07 - 62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2007 8:29:49 PM Councilmember Buhler moved and Councilmember Simonsen seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, which motion carried, all members voted aye . #1 . RE: Adopting Resolution 33 of 2007 authorizing the Mayor to sign the cooperative agreement preconstruction and construction reimbursement for the Jordan River Parkway Trail, Utah Department of Transportation No. STP-LC34 (144) , SLC Job No . 260137 . View Attachments (C 07-232) The meeting adjourned at 8 : 30 p.m. This document along with the digital recording constitute the official minutes of the City Council Regular Session meeting held May 8, 2007 . bj 07 - 63