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Home My WebLink About05/22/2025 - Work Session - MinutesThe City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Work Session on Thursday, May 22, 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, Nick Tarbet – Deputy Director Present Administrative leadership: Rachel Otto – Chief of Staff, Lindsey Nikola – Deputy Chief of Staff Present City Staff: Mark Kittrell – City Attorney, Keith Reynolds – City Recorder, Mary Beth Thompson – Chief Financial Officer, Allison Rowland – Public Policy Analyst, Lorena Riffo Jenson – Director of Economic Development, Peter Makowski – Economic Development Manager, Tyler Murdock – Deputy Director of Public Lands, Matt Kammeyer – Golf Division Director, Austin Kimmel – Council Policy Analyst, Jacob Maxwell – Deputy Director of Economic Development, Kim Shelley – Director of Public Lands The meeting was called to order at 2:03 p.m. MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Thursday, May 22, 2025 1 Work Session Items Click Here for the Mayor’s Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26. 1.Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget: Department of Public Lands ~ 2:00 p.m. 45 min. The Council will receive a briefing about the proposed Department of Public Lands budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/SLCFY26. FYI – Project Timeline: (subject to change per Chair direction or Council discussion) Briefing - Thursday, May 22, 2025 Set Public Hearing Date - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Hold hearing to accept public comment - Tuesday, May 20, 2025 and Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 7 p.m. TENTATIVE Council Action - TBD Summary: Allison Rowland introduced the item. Kim Shelley and Tyler Murdock presented the item and discussed with Council the bond rates in comparison to debt interest rates, goals of the Park Ranger program, departmental seasonal employees, existing tree canopy, both current and deferred maintenance funding, the Foothill Stewardship program, and the Foothill Plan Implementation timeline. Kim Shelley and Tyler Murdock noted that the department was actively replacing irrigation systems with smart meters and implementing separate irrigation for trees and turf, allowing water to be explicitly directed to trees during drought conditions, thereby helping to preserve the existing tree canopy while also supporting long-term budget planning. Funding was also allocated from the department budget to address deferred maintenance. Mary Beth Thompson spoke about debt principal trends, confirming that bond interest would increase as additional tranches were issued. Council Requests: Council Member Petro requested metrics on the Park Ranger positions and the increased community response training to further enhance the Park Rangers’ ability to serve the community as initially intended by the City. Council Member Lopez Chavez requested more data on the safety and crime around smaller city parks, in addition to the current data gathered to assess security needs. Council Member Mano requested further discussion regarding the responsibilities of the MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Thursday, May 22, 2025 2 Park Rangers to ensure the program was meeting the Council's goals. Council Member Dugan requested a report on the City's irrigation uses and water meter numbers to demonstrate water-saving efforts for public spaces, which consumed a significant amount of water. Council Member Wharton requested: •A report from the department outlining the most critical maintenance projects within Public Lands that the Council should be aware of when considering future funding needs. •Foothill Stewardship Program opportunities and information released for the community •Updated reports on the Foothills Plan Project timeline for the public ◦Tyler Murdock stated that one of the Foothill Plan projects was complete, and the grand opening of the Bonneville Boulevard trailhead was scheduled for May 13, 2025. 2.Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget: Golf Fund ~ 2:45 p.m. 45 min. The Council will receive a briefing about the proposed Golf Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/SLCFY26. FYI – Project Timeline: (subject to change per Chair direction or Council discussion) Briefing - Thursday, May 22, 2025 Set Public Hearing Date - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Hold hearing to accept public comment - Tuesday, May 20, 2025 and Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 7 p.m. TENTATIVE Council Action - TBD Summary: Allison Rowland provided a brief introduction to the item. Kim Shelley and Matt Kammeyer presented the golf budget, covering new programs, irrigation systems, water usage, maintenance costs, tee-stations, and the long-term goal of transitioning the golf program into a self-funded enterprise for the City. Council Member Wharton expressed appreciation to Matt Kammeyer for his dedication to the department and the public lands of Salt Lake City. Council Requests: MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Thursday, May 22, 2025 3 Council Member Lopez Chávez requested a report on the alternative uses of City golf courses for events compared to similar cities, along with recommendations on how SLC could increase and improve utilization of its public lands. Council Member Dugan requested a more detailed report quantifying actual water savings, in addition to the existing report on monetary savings, to better understand how SLC golf courses are conserving water where possible. 3.Tentative Break ~ 3:30 p.m. 20 min. FYI – Project Timeline: (subject to change per Chair direction or Council discussion) Briefing - Set Public Hearing Date - Hold hearing to accept public comment - TENTATIVE Council Action - 4.Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget: Department of Economic Development ~ 3:50 p.m. 45 min. The Council will receive a briefing about the proposed budget for the Department of Economic Development for Fiscal Year 2025-26. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/SLCFY26. FYI – Project Timeline: (subject to change per Chair direction or Council discussion) Briefing - Thursday, May 22, 2025 Set Public Hearing Date - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Hold hearing to accept public comment - Tuesday, May 20, 2025 and Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 7 p.m. TENTATIVE Council Action - TBD Summary: Austin Kimmel gave a brief introduction. Lorena Riffo-Jenson and Jacob Maxwell presented the budget and discussed the Economic Loan Fund Program, the Open Streets initiative, the decline in business development, and recent closures of local businesses around Main Street. Peter Makowski addressed the business closures, noting that multiple factors contributed, and that the department had been actively engaging with operating MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Thursday, May 22, 2025 4 businesses to gather feedback on the future of Open Streets Activation and explore ways to improve the program, thereby enhancing business interaction and increasing sales. Council Requests: Council Member Petro requested a follow-up on business development and plans to increase development for the continued growth of the City. Council Member Wharton requested more information on the cost of continuing the Open Streets program along Main Street in downtown SLC, as well as what the outcomes or barriers of the possible permanent closure of Main Street to cars would mean to the city. Council Member Lopez Chavez requested more information on the Open Streets activation plan, safety measures for local businesses and consumers, and how to draw technology companies back to the downtown center. •Lorena Riffo-Jenson stated the newly created partnership between the Economic Development Department and the Community Reinvestment Agency would allow for collaboration to address small business needs outside of housing and other essential developments around the City. 5.Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget: Office of the City Attorney Written Briefing - The Council will receive a written briefing about the proposed General Fund portion of the Attorney’s Office budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/SLCFY26. FYI – Project Timeline: (subject to change per Chair direction or Council discussion) Briefing - Thursday, May 22, 2025 Set Public Hearing Date - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Hold hearing to accept public comment - Tuesday, May 20, 2025 and Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 7 p.m. TENTATIVE Council Action - TBD MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Thursday, May 22, 2025 5 Written briefing only, no discussion was held. Standing Items 6.Report of the Chair and Vice Chair - - Report of Chair and Vice Chair. There were no announcements or reports from the Chair or Vice Chair. 7.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 scheduling items. There were no announcements or reports from the Executive Director. 8.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 MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Thursday, May 22, 2025 6 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. Item not held. MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL Thursday, May 22, 2025 7 Meeting adjourned at 4:18 p.m. Minutes Approved: October 7, 2025 _______________________________ City Council Chair – Chris Wharton _______________________________ City Recorder – Keith Reynolds 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 Thursday, May 22, 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 Thursday, May 22, 2025 8 Chris Wharton (Oct 10, 2025 16:48:45 MDT) *Approved October 7, 2025* - May 22, 2025 Work Session Minutes_SE Final Audit Report 2025-10-13 Created:2025-10-10 By:DeeDee Robinson (deedee.robinson@slc.gov) Status:Signed Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAypkLqfc4rXoCA7a4X35E6jiHWYvvABZx "*Approved October 7, 2025* - May 22, 2025 Work Session Min utes_SE" History Document created by DeeDee Robinson (deedee.robinson@slc.gov) 2025-10-10 - 3:30:49 PM GMT Document emailed to Chris Wharton (chris.wharton@slc.gov) for signature 2025-10-10 - 3:31:49 PM GMT Email viewed by Chris Wharton (chris.wharton@slc.gov) 2025-10-10 - 8:24:49 PM GMT Document e-signed by Chris Wharton (chris.wharton@slc.gov) Signature Date: 2025-10-10 - 10:48:45 PM GMT - Time Source: server Document emailed to Keith Reynolds (Keith.Reynolds@slc.gov) for signature 2025-10-10 - 10:48:47 PM GMT Email viewed by Keith Reynolds (Keith.Reynolds@slc.gov) 2025-10-13 - 2:34:58 PM GMT Document e-signed by Keith Reynolds (Keith.Reynolds@slc.gov) Signature Date: 2025-10-13 - 2:37:51 PM GMT - Time Source: server Agreement completed. 2025-10-13 - 2:37:51 PM GMT