The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About01/07/2025 - Work Session - MinutesThe City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Work Session on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The following Council Members were present: Victoria Petro, Daniel Dugan, Chris Wharton, Alejandro Puy, Darin Mano, Sarah Young, Eva Lopez Chavez Present Legislative leadership: Jennifer Bruno – Executive Director, Lehua Weaver – Deputy Director Present Administrative leadership: Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Rachel Otto – Chief of Staff, Jill Love – Chief Administrative Officer Present City Staff: Mark Kittrell – Acting City Attorney, Cindy Lou Trishman – Acting City Recorder, Brian Fullmer – Constituent Liaison, Policy Analyst, Andrew Johnston – Director of Homelessness Policy and Outreach, Tammy Hunsaker – Deputy Director of Community Services, Kristina Gilmore – Senior Planner, Angela Price – Legislative Affairs Director, Debbie Lyons – Sustainability Director, Weston Clark – Mayor's Senior Advisor, Sylvia Richards – Public Policy Analyst, Austin Kimmel – Public Policy Analyst, Meagan Booth – Principal Planner, Renato Olmedo- Gonzalez – Economic Development Manager, Felica Baca – Arts Division Director, David Buchanan – Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer, Keith Reynolds – Deputy City Recorder, Christopher Bell – Waste and Recycling Division Director The meeting was called to order at 2:06 pm MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 7, 2025 1 Work Session Items 1.Nomination of Council Chair and Vice Chair for Calendar Year 2025 ~ 2:00 p.m. 15 min. The Council will take a straw poll to nominate the Council Chair and Vice Chair for calendar year 2025. The process includes expressions of interest from Council Members, nominations for each position, and then voting each for the Chair and Vice Chair positions. Council Member Puy nominated Council Member Wharton for Council Chair. Straw Poll: Written support for the nomination of Council Member Chris Wharton for Council Chair. All Council Members present were in favor. A verbal correction was made to the written record vote by Council Member Lopez Chavez. Written ballots confirmed by City Recorder. Council Member Mano nominated Council Member Puy for Council Vice Chair. Straw Poll: Written support for the nomination of Council Member Puy for Council Vice Chair. All Council Members present were in favor. Written ballots confirmed by City Recorder. 2.Informational: Updates from the Administration ~ 2:15 p.m. 15 min. The Council will receive information from the Administration on major items or projects in progress. Topics may relate to major events or emergencies (if needed), services and resources related to people experiencing homelessness, active public engagement efforts, and projects or staffing updates from City Departments, or other items as appropriate. Weston Clark presented the community engagement highlights and updates to the Council. Andrew Johnston presented the homelessness update to the Council. Council Request Council Member Lopez Chavez requested further discussions on what services the City provided and what happened with people's belongings for those experiencing homelessness and to compare other organizations' process MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 7, 2025 2 Angela Price presented information and briefed the Council about the 2025 General Legislative Session, including: • City legislative priorities gathered and submitted from departments, then compared to the State interim priority list to track subject topics • 2025 City Priorities ◦ 2034 Olympics ◦ Transportation and Walkability ◦ Boise to Vegas Rail Line ◦ Safety and Zero Fatality Initiative Around Crosswalks and Railroads ◦ Homelessness and Affordable Housing ◦ Water and The Great Salt Lake ◦ Maintaining Local Control Jennifer Covino (Covino Smith & Simon, Salt Lake City Federal Advisor) presented information regarding the Trump Administration 2025 plans. 4.Informational: State Legislative Briefing ~ 3:00 p.m. 30 min. The Council will receive a briefing about issues affecting the City that may arise during the 2025 Utah State Legislative Session. Angela Price, Kate Bradshaw (Director of Government Affairs, Holland & Hart, LLP), and Council Members discussed upcoming items that Salt Lake City followed in the 2025 General Session. • School Security • Judicial Reform • Affordable Housing • Air Quality, Renewable Energy Policies, and Rocky Mountain Power Contracts • Elections and the proposed movement of the elections office out of the Lieutenant Governor Office • GRAMA and Data Privacy • Land Use and Other Tax Impacts • Immigration • Homelessness and Homeless Services MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 7, 2025 3 3.Informational: National Legislative Briefing ~ 2:30 p.m. 30 min. The Council will receive a briefing about the City’s National Legislative priorities with Salt Lake City Advisor Jennifer Covino. reflect changing conditions. The recommended rates and rate design will be important to future City decisions for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and the Consolidated Fee Schedule. Austin Kimmel and Laura Briefer introduced and gave a brief overview of the water rate study to the Council. Jason Brown presented the study's findings and discussed the recommended water and sewer utility rates for the 2026 budget season. Council Members and staff discussed: • Rates and water pricing bills in the 2025 General Session • Simplifying communications to the community • Strategies for communications and engagement for education about utility rate and pricing setting and what it means to their proposed legislative bills 6.Tentative Break ~ 4:15 p.m. 20 min. 7.Ordinance: Alley Vacation at Approximately 373 West American Avenue ~ 4:35 p.m. 15 min. The Council will receive a briefing about a proposal that would vacate a City-owned alley situated adjacent to properties located at approximately 373 West American Ave. The proposal would close the alley to public use and allow the property owner of three of the four adjacent properties to potentially redevelop this site (the other adjacent property owner also supports the alley vacation.) The alley cannot be used as a mid-block connection because the 900 South viaduct is directly to the south. Located within Council District 5. Petitioner: Jarod Hall. Brian Fullmer, Krissy Gilmore, and Meagan Booth presented the alley vacation proposal to the Council. Jarod Hall (applicant) and Justin Earl (developer) discussed the application proposal to build townhome units along the easement to avoid a blank wall within the project. Council Request Council Member Mano requested a review of the final plan, stated that a blank wall created a hostile walking environment, and would like the easement to become a more friendly public walkway. MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 7, 2025 4 Stormwater Rate Study 5.Informational: 2024 Comprehensive Water, Wastewater, and ~ 3:30 p.m. 45 min. The Council will receive a briefing from the Department of Public Utilities about the 2024 Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Rate Study. Rate studies are conducted approximately every five years to ensure utility pricing structures remain appropriate and 8.Informational: Public Art Program Maintenance and Conservation Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25 ~ 4:50 p.m. 15 min. The Council will receive a briefing about the Public Art Program Maintenance and Conservation Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25 and the Maintenance and Conservation Artwork Projections. The Public Art Program recommends to the Finance Department that 20% of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 CIP Percent-for-Art funds ($40,000) be deposited to the Maintenance Fund based on the information contained in the report. Sylvia Richards, Renato Olmedo-Gonzalez, and Felica Baca presented the report to the Council. Council Request • Council Member Puy requested urgent and essential projects be highlighted to the Council so items could be addressed adequately and proactively. • Council Member Petro requested a follow-up meeting to discuss art installation maintenance, private and public donors, and guiding criteria for artists and events. 9.Utah Open Meetings Law Training and Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) Training ~ 5:05 p.m. 20 min. The Council will receive a briefing from the City Attorney’s Office about the Utah Open Meetings Law, and from the Recorder's Office about the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). This briefing will serve as the annual trainings for both the City Council and the Board of Directors of the Redevelopment Agency. Keith Reynolds presented the GRAMA Training to the Council. Mark Kitrell presented the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act (OPMA) Training to the Council. 10.Ordinance: Library Budget Amendment No.1 for Fiscal Year 2024-25 ~ 5:25 p.m. 15 min. The Council will receive a briefing about an ordinance that would amend the budget for the Library Fund for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Budget amendments happen several times each year to reflect adjustments to the City’s budgets, including proposed project additions and modifications. The proposed amendment includes re-appropriating $190,000 in the Library’s FY25 budget from unused employee benefits to help pay for the Main Library roof renovation project. MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 7, 2025 5 Austin Kimmel introduced the item. Noah Baskett (Library Executive Director) and Tyler Bahr (Library Assistant Director of Finance) presented the 2025 Library budget, including the status of the roof renovation project to waterproof and create the outdoor public area. 11.Informational: Waste and Recycling Weekly Residential Collection Route Changes ~ 5:40 p.m. 15 min. The Council will receive a briefing from the Sustainability department about changes to the residential waste and recycling collection routes, which will start on February 3, 2025. The route adjustments are intended to better align the daily workload with the typical staffing levels of the collection crews. A citywide communication effort will inform residents of the upcoming changes. Debbie Lyons and Chris Bell presented the new plans for the waste and recycling collection routes to increase productivity and efficiency and benefit the worker's well- being. 12.Advice and Consent: Chief Human Resources Officer - David Buchanan ~ 5:55 p.m. 10 min. The Council will interview David Buchanan prior to considering appointment as the Chief Human Resources Officer. An interview was held. Council Member Wharton said David Buchanan's name would be on the Consent Agenda for formal consideration. MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 7, 2025 6 13.Advice and Consent: Director of the Community and Neighborhoods Department - Tammy Hunsaker ~ 6:05 p.m. 10 min. The Council will interview Tammy Hunsaker prior to considering appointment as the Director of the Community and Neighborhoods Department. An interview was held. Council Member Wharton said Tammy Hunsaker’s name would be on the Consent Agenda for formal consideration. 14.Board Appointment: Accessibility and Disability Commission – Nancy Strahan ~ 6:15 p.m. 5 min The Council will interview Nancy Strahan prior to considering appointment to the Accessibility and Disability Commission for a term ending December 28, 2026. An interview was held. Council Member Wharton said Nancy Strahan’s name would be on on the Consent Agenda for formal consideration. MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 7, 2025 7 Standing Items 15.Report of the Chair and Vice Chair - - Report of Chair and Vice Chair. Council Member Wharton stated that the Council Retreat scheduled for January 14, 2025, would discuss multiple topics for the next year and laid out the proposed schedule for the day. - - 16.Report and Announcements from the Executive Director 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: • Newsletters for Public Utilities; • Financial Disclosure; • Legislative Action; and • Scheduling Items. Jennifer Bruno gave the following updates: • Council Members could include newsletters in the Public Utilities mailing in specified months – April, August, December ◦Council Requests ◾Council Member Young requested the August Newsletter ◾Council Members Mano and Puy requested December ◾Council Member Wharton requested more information on the newsletter publishing timeline compared to the 2025 Council Election. • Legislative Action during tonight's Formal Meeting regarding Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) and their height restrictions • Financial Disclosure forms were to be submitted to the Recorder 17.Tentative Closed Session - - The Council will consider a motion to enter into Closed Session. A closed meeting described under Section 52-4-205 may be held for specific purposes including, but not limited to: a. discussion of the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual; b. strategy sessions to discuss collective bargaining; c. strategy sessions to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation; d. strategy sessions to discuss the purchase, exchange, or lease of real property, including any form of a water right or water shares, if public discussion of the transaction would: (i) disclose the appraisal or estimated value of the property under consideration; or (ii) prevent the public body from completing the transaction on the best possible terms; e. strategy sessions to discuss the sale of real property, including any form of a water right or water shares, if: (i) public discussion of the transaction would: (A) disclose the appraisal or estimated value of the property under consideration; or (B) prevent the public body from completing the transaction on the best possible terms; (ii) the public body previously gave public notice that the property would be offered for sale; and (iii) the terms of the sale are publicly disclosed before the public body approves the sale; f. discussion regarding deployment of security personnel, devices, or systems; and g. investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct. A closed meeting may also be held for attorney-client matters that are privileged pursuant to Utah Code § 78B-1-137, and for other lawful purposes that satisfy the pertinent requirements of the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act. MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 7, 2025 8 Meeting adjourned at 6:31 pm Minutes Approved: February 4, 2025 _______________________________ City Council Chair Chris Wharton _______________________________ City Recorder Please refer to Meeting Materials (available at https://data.slc.gov by selecting City Council Meeting Information) for supportive content including electronic recordings and comments submitted prior to or during the meeting. Websites listed within the body of the Minutes may not remain active indefinitely. This document along with the digital recording constitutes the official minutes of the City Council Work Session meeting held Tuesday, January 7, 2025 and is not intended to serve as a full transcript. Please refer to the electronic recording for entire content pursuant to Utah Code §52-4-203. MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 7, 2025 Chris Wharton (Feb 12, 2025 15:02 MST) January 7, 2025 Work Session Minutes Final Audit Report 2025-02-21 Created:2025-02-11 By:STEPHANIE ELLIOTT (STEPHANIE.ELLIOTT@slc.gov) Status:Signed Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAUH4sE1SS2StkkrNvJTKn-feneCgFbgbI "January 7, 2025 Work Session Minutes" History Document created by STEPHANIE ELLIOTT (STEPHANIE.ELLIOTT@slc.gov) 2025-02-11 - 4:32:48 PM GMT Document emailed to Chris Wharton (chris.wharton@slc.gov) for signature 2025-02-11 - 5:11:29 PM GMT Email viewed by Chris Wharton (chris.wharton@slc.gov) 2025-02-12 - 6:04:01 AM GMT Document e-signed by Chris Wharton (chris.wharton@slc.gov) Signature Date: 2025-02-12 - 10:02:24 PM GMT - Time Source: server Document emailed to Keith Reynolds (Keith.Reynolds@slc.gov) for signature 2025-02-12 - 10:02:26 PM GMT Email viewed by Keith Reynolds (Keith.Reynolds@slc.gov) 2025-02-21 - 8:29:37 PM GMT Document e-signed by Keith Reynolds (Keith.Reynolds@slc.gov) Signature Date: 2025-02-21 - 8:29:53 PM GMT - Time Source: server Agreement completed. 2025-02-21 - 8:29:53 PM GMT