01/17/2020 - Work Session - Minutes MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORK SESSION MEETING
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020
The City Council met in Special Work Session on Friday, January
17, 2020, in Room 326, Committee Room, City County Building, 451
South State Street .
In Attendance: Council Members Chris Wharton, James Rogers, Andrew
Johnston, Amy Fowler, Analia Valdemoros, and Daniel Dugan.
Staff in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Council Executive
Director; Jennifer Bruno, Council Executive Deputy Director; Erin
Mendenhall, Mayor; Rachel Otto, Mayor' s Chief of Staff; Katherine
Lewis, City Attorney; David Litvack, Mayor' s Special Advisory;
Mike Brown, Police Chief; and Scott Crandall, Deputy City Recorder.
Councilmember Wharton presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 4 : 38 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
4:37:57PM Councilmember Wharton said although public comment was
not typically taken during "special meetings" , there were
opportunities for the public to share their thoughts/comments with
the Council . He said written comments handed to Staff, creating a
video "comment" with the video team (in hallway) , sending e-mails
directly to Council Members or to the Council Office' s general
comments line, sending e-mails to temporaryshelter@slcgov. com,
calling a new line which was setup for the temporary shelter (801
535-7711) or visiting the City' s website at www. slc .gov\temporary-
shelter.
#1. 4:39:46PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ABOUT AN ORDINANCE ENACTING A
TEMPORARY LAND USE REGULATION TO ALLOW TEMPORARY OVERFLOW HOMELESS
SHELTER USE AT APPROXIMATELY 2234 SOUTH HIGHLAND DRIVE. The
temporary shelter location is proposed for people experiencing
homelessness for the remainder of this winter. It is proposed in
response to winter weather conditions and the most recent data on
the number of people seeking shelter within the existing shelter
system. The Council may also discuss stakeholder partnerships,
budget, the efforts to focus on affordable housing rather than
temporary shelter in the long-term, and other related matters.
View Attachments
David Litvack, Katherine Lewis, and Chief Brown briefed the
Council with attachments . Comments included utilizing available
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MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORK SESSION MEETING
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020
resources to help those less fortunate, inviting community to
participate, collaborate, and help in any way possible, volunteers
needed at Homeless Resource Centers (HRCs) , temporary shelter,
encouraging people to contact the Council with ideas about helping
the homeless community (group effort needed) , questions regarding
proposal (details, timing, etc . ) , parameters of temporary
ordinances versus normal ordinances, temporary land use
regulations being unique under State Code 10-9a-504 (maximum six-
months) , inability to extend ordinance beyond six-months without
going through standard land use process (public notice/hearings,
Planning Commission, Community Councils, and City Council
involvement) , temporary land use ordinances could only be adopted
if there was a compelling reason requiring immediate action, 24-
hour notice requirement, ability for Fire Marshal and/or Chief
Building Official to recommend/use other reasonable means/methods
for fire mitigation and life-safety issues in temporary structure,
issues involved in transporting people to/from the shelter
(when/where/how) , homeless services being available at Weigand
Center, daily transport between Weigand Center and temporary
shelter exploring ways to communicate with clients (educate them
about services/transportation options) , site selection criteria
for temporary shelter.
Further comments included goal being to provide a warm bed
for those in need, safety plan (more people being added to area) ,
safety issues inside shelter (nine staff members, three being
security guards) , additional police patrols for residents in Sugar
House neighborhood, no intent to criminalize homelessness,
Fairmont Park being consistently monitored, details about how the
structure' s space would be designed/utilized, both men and women
being served at shelter (safety barriers being utilized) ,
collecting and utilizing input from potential shelter clients,
providing a warm space versus warm bed, future conversations and
public engagement about how to address/serve diversity in the
homeless community, continue maximizing use of HRCs (daily
inventory being conducted) , proposal not intended to solve
homelessness (ongoing conversations needed with residents,
stakeholders, service providers, elected officials, etc . ) , stop-
gap measure to get through winter months (needing to do better
next year) , issues regarding storage of belongings, pet/animal
accommodations (people would be directed to HRCs were pets were
allowed) , property owner participation, and showing
compassion/empathy for those experiencing homelessness .
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MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORK SESSION MEETING
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020
Council Members commented on the critical/expedited need for
this temporary shelter and thanked everyone involved in making
this happen so quickly. They said the proposal was only a temporary
measure for this winter season and it was important for everyone
(officials from State/County/municipalities, homeless advocates,
community members, public safety/service providers, etc . ) to
continue working toward permanent solutions to end homelessness .
Councilmember Fowler volunteered to help in any way she could
and wanted to encourage other residents to sign up/volunteer.
Council Members requested the following item from Staff :
• Provide information about where/how volunteers could sign
up to participate in the process (enable Council Members
to pass information along to constituents/others) .
Ms . Gust-Jenson said the City' s webpage, addressing this
issue, contained links to organizations involved in this process .
She said each organization maintained a list of various things
they needed and what types of volunteer opportunities were
available .
#2 . REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INCLUDING A REVIEW OF
COUNCIL INFORMATION ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Council may give
feedback or staff direction on any item related to City Council
business, including but not limited to Public Utilities Newsletter
Schedule and Scheduling Items.
No discussion was held.
#3 . REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
No discussion was held.
#4 . (TENTATIVE) CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED
SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE §52-4-205 FOR ANY ALLOWED
PURPOSE.
Item not held.
The meeting adjourned at 5 : 08 p.m.
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MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORK SESSION MEETING
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020
COUNCIL CHAIR
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This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript
as other items may have been discussed; please refer to the audio
or video for entire content pursuant to Utah Code §52-4-203 (2) (b) .
This document along with the digital recording constitute the
official minutes of the City Council Work Session meeting held
January 17, 2020 .
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