09/27/2013 - Formal Meeting - Minutes MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 , 2013
The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Special Session on
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 6 : 03 p.m. at the Sugar House Monument
Plaza, 2100 South and Highland Drive, Salt Lake City.
The following Council Members were present:
Soren Simonsen Luke Garrott Jill Remington Love
Kyle LaMalfa Charlie Luke Stan Penfold
The following Councilmember was absent:
Carlton Christensen
Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; David Everitt,
Mayor' s Chief of Staff; Robin Hutcheson, Transportation Director; and
Cindi Mansell, City Recorder; were present.
6:03:43 PM Councilmember LaMalfa presided at and conducted the
meeting. He said the Council had come to the Sugar House Monument in
effort to further facilitate public interest/involvement and wanted to
hear from constituents .
PUBLIC HEARING
#1 . Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance
adopting the Circulation and Streetscape Amenities Plan for the Sugar
House Business District. The plan proposes ways to improve
transportation in the Sugar House Business District by making use of
public transit, managing automobile parking, and increasing walk
ability and opportunities to bicycle on streets. Proposed ideas
include closing the right turn lane south of the Monument Plaza,
realigning Sugarmont Drive and Wilmington Avenue, increasing safety on
Highland Drive between 2100 South and the I-80 overpass by changing to
two traffic lanes with a center turn lane and adding bike lanes,
dividing large blocks, adding bicycle lanes on parts of 2100 South,
and connecting Parley's Trail between the Fairmont Aquatic Center and
Hidden Hollow. If adopted, the plan would be an addendum to the Sugar
House Master Plan. View Attachments
6:06:41 PM Robin Hutcheson provided a brief outline of the
Circulation and Streetscape Amenities Plan. She discussed the origin
of the study, and seven resulting elements :
• Expansion of the Monument Plaza area by eliminating the
existing right-turn lane on eastbound 2100 South at Highland
Drive.
• Study Sugarmont Drive (2250 South) /Wilmington Avenue at
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MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Highland Drive realignment or connection.
• Reconfigure Highland Drive from four to three lanes to allow
for the creation of bicycle lanes and a center turn lane.
• Division of larger blocks to enable walking and improved
pedestrian crossings .
• Addition of Bicycle Lanes on 2100 South.
• Parley' s Trail connection.
• Streetscape and amenities such as street lighting, benches,
a recognizable unified theme .
6:15:13 PM Scott Kisling, Lynne Olson, Maggie Shaw, Sarah Carlson,
Philip Carlson, Deb Henry, and Bonnie Veil spoke in favor of the plan
and expressed appreciation for the City Council and Redevelopment
Agency support.
Amy Barry and Claudia Johnson said they supported the plan but
felt the plaza needed to be designated for pedestrians or traffic, not
both.
George Chapman, Jim Johnson and Mary Slocum spoke against closing
the right hand turn lane and losing 18 parking spaces near the plaza.
Concerns included increased traffic congestion, air pollution,
expense, ongoing safety concerns, and the need for more police
presence .
Steve Summon spoke in favor of the pedestrian plaza and Parley' s
Trail connection .
Dion Harris discussed multiple incidents involving homeless
people, including area drug and alcohol problems . He said the street
closure could make the area safer but he would not support reduced
parking.
Robert Peacock said he felt the Circulation and Streetscape
Amenities Plan was simply a Streetcar preconstruction project.
Lavena Smith and Gerrie Dowdle spoke about the bicycle path being
too close to residences which would attract thieves, alcohol, traffic,
etc. and encouraged the Council to listen to their residents .
Linda Collard read an e-mail correspondence to the Redevelopment
Agency regarding property, safety, and fencing in the area.
Dave Poulson said residents opposed additional bicycle lanes or a
train down Highland Drive and had concerns with traffic, parking, and
vagrants .
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MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 , 2013
Jody Lister, Russell Kelly, and Andrew Bornstein spoke in favor
of the pedestrian plaza and Circulation Plan.
Dave Morrow and Judy Darby requested increased police presence.
Helga Fleischer said streetcars were trendy and suggested using
natural gas buses . She encouraged the Council to spend money on more
necessary items such as crime .
Kevin Paulson said he opposed the 11th East Streetcar and
encouraged the Council to stand up to the Utah Transit Authority
monopoly.
Diane Orcutt and Kyle Deans spoke in favor of the plan and
streetcar elements .
David Hibdon said if the Council kept adding traffic, there must
be an accompanying solution for resulting affect to surrounding
neighborhoods .
Rich Hendron spoke against the plan. He said he did not want
Sugar House to end up being a smaller version of Salt Lake City but
would support walk able areas and less hodge-podge development.
Beverly Hawkins spoke against the streetcar and said funding
would be better spent elsewhere. She expressed concern for the narrow
bicycle lanes on busy streets and traffic congestion in the area.
Angela Waagen said Elm Street would be the most impacted and
expressed concern regarding crime in the area.
Other general comments included the requirement for bicyclists
and motorists to take safety classes; blocking access onto 10th East
and Lincoln; traffic congestion and calming; more pedestrian and
business friendly; affordable public transit or a local reduced/free
fare zone; and consider outlying neighborhoods where residents live .
The following submitted written comments supporting various Plan
elements : Steven Lester, David Peterson, Juan Arce-Larreta, Marlene
Herazo, Mike Christensen, Rosalie Petersen, and Lori Komlos .
The following submitted written comments opposing various Plan
elements : Elizabeth Long, LeeAnn Diamond, Judy Maryon, Dottie Miles,
Francine Morrow, Steven Sheffield, Burton Brown, Lisa Hildebrand,
Grace Sperry, Ken Wheddon, and Kathy Wheddon.
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MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
The following submitted video comments : View Comments
Judith Dierkes expressed concern about losing parking should
Monument Plaza be expanded.
Ben Mates spoke in favor of the Sugar House Circulation and
Streetscape Amenities Plan. He expressed support for additional bike
lanes on Highland Drive and the expansion of Monument Plaza. He said
he preferred the streetcar head east to Foothill .
Yda Smith spoke in favor of the Sugar House Circulation and
Streetscape Amenities Plan, particularly the expansion of Monument
Plaza. She expressed concern with plans for a streetcar on 1100 East.
Fred Graham expressed concern with expanding Monument Plaza. He
said he liked the idea, but thought it would cause significant traffic
jams at 2100 South and 1100 East.
Nick Melander expressed opposition to the Sugar House Circulation
and Streetscape Amenities Plan. He expressed concern that the loss of
parking was not justified and loss of the right hand turn lane was bad
for cyclists .
Lori A Leighton expressed opposition to the Sugar House
Circulation and Streetscape Amenities Plan, particularly the expansion
of Monument Plaza. She said she felt concerned it was a precursor to
the streetcar, which was not wanted in the area .
7:10:54 PM Councilmember Simonsen thanked those present and
residents from District 7 for their time/interest in this beneficial
project. He encouraged comments regarding other projects such as
Fairmont Park and cleaning up the tennis courts .
7:12:57 PM Councilmember Luke said this was the first time the
Council had utilized the process to actually come into an area
neighborhood; he said the Council appreciated the support of its
citizens .
7:10:01 PM Councilmember LaMalfa thanked those present for their
comments and said the City Council would continue to discuss the Sugar
House Circulation Plan at future public work sessions . He said the
Council would hold at least one more public hearing on the matter.
(T 13-4)
The meeting adjourned at 7 : 20 p.m.
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MINUTES OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 , 2013
Council Chair
City Recorder
This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript as
additional discussion may have been held; please refer to the audio or
video for entire content.
This document along with the digital recording constitute the
official minutes of the Salt Lake City Council Special Session meeting
held September 27, 2013 .
clm
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