04/16/2024 - Work Session - MinutesMINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
redevelopment around the Delta Center.
Katie Lewis provided an overview of the process under SB 272 and approving an up
to .5% sales tax increase City-wide to benefit an applicant developing a project area,
including:
•Defining a project area -an area located in Salt Lake City, no greater than 100
acres, roughly centered around a qualified stadium (major league sports stadium or
home venue for a major league sports team)
•Defining a major league sports team -either a NBA (National Basketball
Association) or a NHL (National Hockey League) team
•Purpose of this Bill -creating a process to provide public funding for the
development of the Delta Center for either an NBA or NHL franchise under the law
and to also develop property around the Delta Center of up to 100 acres
•Next step being for the Council to approve a .5% sales tax increase
•Application requirements for the franchise agreement (for either NBA or NHL
franchise)
•Application recently received from Smith Entertainment Group and its affiliates,
was currently under review in the City Attorney's Office (received by the City on
April 4, 2024)
•Upon receipt of a complete application, the City and applicant begin negotiating
the terms of the participation agreement (being the contract for a term of up to 30-
years where the City and the applicant were agreeing on what/how the .5% sales
tax would be spent on to develop the project area)
•Terms to be included in the participation agreement: map or description of project
area, description of the type and extent of the tax revenue available, the location
and footprint of the qualified stadium, plans for the design/remodel/ operation of
an existing or new stadium, and a Master Plan
•The law specifies what the tax could be used for: debt service or cost of bonds, cost
to construct or remodel the stadium, construction/demotion of structures within
the project area, aesthetic/entertainment/recreational purposes, infrastructure in
roads, traffic mitigation, law enforcement/public security, the City receives a 1%
administrative cost ( cannot be a direct subsidy to the entity/ applicant)
•Timeline moving forward/important dates:
0 September 1, 2024 -law requires by this date that the applicant and the City
will provide notice and copy of application, proposed project area, proposed
participation agreement to the City Council for approval
0 The Council, no later than 14 days after receiving the notice, must hold a
public meeting, and by majority vote to endorse or reject the project area or
the participation agreement or both
0 If the Council has endorsed both the project area and participation
agreement, it will be sent to the Revitalization Zone Committee (RZC), and
no later than 30-days the RZC will be required to hold a public meeting and
by majority vote, approve or reject the project area and participation
agreement. (The RZC cannot make amendments to either the project area or
agreement.)
0 September 1, 2024 -law requires by this date that the City to adopt any
zoning changes required to effectuate the plan under the participation
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MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
agreement
0 December 31, 2024 -by this date, if approved by the RZC, the City will have
final approval of the applicant and adopt the .5% tax
0 May 7, 2024 -Work Session presentation by Smith Entertainment Group
(SEG), discussing SEG's vision and introduction to deal points in the
participation agreement
0 May 21, 2024 - A public hearing would be held related to the terms of the
participation agreement and project area
0 July 2, 2024 -Work Session discussion related to the participation
agreement with a potential vote that evening
Council Member Mano spoke on SB 272, expressing excitement for what it meant for the
City, and said it was an opportunity to keep professional sports downtown, reinvest in the
capital City, and solidify the City as the arts/entertainment/sports center for the entire
Intermountain West, however; it was an opportunity to undo the racism fueled urban
renewal project that led to the eminent domain and seizure of SLC's historic
Japantown to make way for the Salt Palace in the 1960s. He went on to express gratitude
for the willingness of Mayor Mendenhall, Mayor Wilson (Salt Lake County), and Ryan
Smith (Smith Entertainment Group) to include and prioritize Japantown in the current
negotiations for the Captial City Revitalization Zone plans, he would update the Council
on his recent meetings with leaders and members of the Japanese-American community
on what true reparations might look like to Japantown, and stated his decision to levy an
additional sales tax would not be taken lightly, but was certain that the inclusion of
genuine reparations for Japantown in this project would make Salt Lake City's sports and
entertainment district the most meaningful, culturally rich and historically significant,
sports and entertainment district in the entire country.
8. Board Appointment: Business Advisory Board - Isaac Atencio 6:30 pm
The Council will interview Isaac Atencio prior to considering appointment to the
Business Advisory Board for a term ending December 25, 2028.
5min
Interview was held. Council Member Petro said Isaac Atencio's name was on the Consent
Agenda for formal consideration.
Standing Items
9.Report of the Chair and Vice Chair
Report of Chair and Vice Chair.
Item not held.
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