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Home My WebLink About07/09/2025 - Meeting Minutes MINUTES FOR THE BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 1. Roll Call The following members of the Business Advisory Board were present: Scott Lyttle – Chair Sheridan Mordue, Vice-Chair Andy Robertson Barri Allaire Brittany Reese Jocelyn Kearl Jeff Carleton Isaac Atencio Pook Carson Also Present: Peter Makowski, Department of Economic Development; Will Wright, Department of Economic Development; Kiara Polee, Department of Economic Development; Ibrahim Ramazani, Department of Economic Development; Anne Olsen, Young Professionals of Salt Lake City; Bryce Wurtsbaugh, Suazo Business Center; Alyn Toalepai, Utah Pacific Island Chamber of Commerce; Austion Kimmel, Salt Lake City Council; Liz Ward, Department of Economic Development; Abbey McLennan, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Absent: Alfonso Brito Abudujaannah Soud 1. Approval of the minutes a. Review and Approval of June 11th, 2025, BAB Minutes. Mr. Carleton made a motion to approve the minutes of June 11th, 2025. Mr. Atencio seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion passed unanimously. 2. Briefing by SLCPD Detective Bitseedy from the Salt Lake City Police Department provided an update to the Business Advisory Board, introducing himself as the business community engagement officer. He emphasized his role in supporting the business community and encouraged members to reach out with any needs or concerns. Although he forgot to bring his business cards this time, he noted that his contact information is available in the group and invited members to email or text him directly for support, meetings, or general communication. He stressed the importance of open communication and responsiveness. He also shared positive feedback about the recent Open Streets event, noting that even residents from outside Salt Lake City, like those in Herriman, were talking about it and enjoyed the experience. He closed by thanking the Board and encouraging continued outreach if any assistance is needed from the department. 3. Briefings by the Staff a. Report from the Assistant Director. Peter Makowski, Assistant Director of Economic Development, provided a few updates during the Business Advisory Board meeting. He began by announcing personnel changes within the Business Development team, including the hiring of Colin Gibbs as the new Business Development Director— though Colin could not attend the meeting due to a prior commitment—and the addition of Liz Ward, the new Business Development Project Manager. Liz is taking over responsibilities related to special assessment areas and business districts. Peter expressed appreciation for outgoing team member Andie and welcomed Liz to the team. He also mentioned the successful hosting of the first Public Safety Board meeting, which aims to engage businesses in discussions about safety in Salt Lake City. Mr. Makowski then shared a recap of the June Open Streets event, describing it as both challenging and successful. Despite setbacks like protests and a shooting incident, the event drew good crowds and provided valuable lessons about timing and coordination with other city events. The team is collecting feedback from businesses, conducting surveys, and analyzing tax data to evaluate the event’s impact. Importantly, the City has now allocated ongoing funding for Open Streets, allowing for better planning, greater community involvement, and long-term growth. Peter encouraged Board members to share any additional feedback to help improve future events. 4. Business Items A. Open Meetings Act Training As part of their Open Meetings training, Business Advisory Board members watched the "Utah Open and Public Meetings Act" training video, which emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in government meetings. The video covered key topics including the legal requirement to provide proper public notice for meetings, maintaining a quorum for valid decision-making, and distinguishing between open and closed sessions. It also outlined the necessity of accurate recordkeeping—such as agendas, minutes, and recordings—and making those records publicly accessible. Finally, the video highlighted the legal consequences of non-compliance, including potential invalidation of decisions and personal liability for violations. B. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco – Salt Lake City Branch Abbey McLennan, Vice President and Regional Executive for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Salt Lake City Branch, provided an overview of her role and the importance of regional feedback in shaping national monetary policy. She emphasized the Federal Reserve’s efforts to gather insights from business and community leaders across the region to supplement economic data. This feedback directly informs President Mary Daly and the Federal Open Market Committee’s decisions. Ms. McLennan highlighted the Federal Reserve’s presence in Salt Lake City and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to listen to local business leaders' experiences regarding economic conditions, inflationary pressures, and market uncertainty. The discussion Ms. McLennan led revealed a range of business challenges tied to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and tariff impacts. Business owners shared firsthand accounts of rising material costs, such as aluminum and matcha, and how uncertainty is halting expansion or forcing operational pivots. Retailers and café owners noted shifts in consumer behavior, including hesitancy to spend and a trend toward supporting local businesses. Others described broader struggles in labor availability and fluctuating construction and supply costs, which are impeding strategic planning. In sectors like life sciences, regulatory uncertainty and limited venture capital were causing hiring freezes and layoffs. Across all industries, the common thread was heightened caution and a need to adapt swiftly to unpredictable economic forces. C. Northpoint Small Area Plan Krissy Gilmore, Planning Manager for Salt Lake City, presented the Northpoint Small Area Plan to the Business Advisory Board, highlighting its vision for promoting light industrial development while minimizing impacts on nearby residential areas and the environment. Adopted in 2023, the plan establishes new zoning regulations under the M-1A zone, which permits uses such as light industrial, research, office, retail, and agricultural activities, but prohibits new residential development and distribution/package delivery centers. The plan also sets strict development standards, including maximum lot and building sizes, required setbacks near residential areas, and tree planting requirements to enhance visual buffers. Ms. Gilmore also detailed environmental protections, such as a tiered 300-foot buffer along the Jordan River that restricts or limits development, and robust design standards addressing building materials, lighting, bird-safe glass, and stormwater management. She emphasized sustainability by outlining incentive-based modifications to allow larger building footprints if developers incorporate features like electric vehicle parking, solar panels, green roofs, or stormwater retention systems. Finally, she discussed annexation considerations and noted that 20% of development sites must be preserved as open space, reinforcing the city’s commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. 5. City Council Announcements Austin Kimmel, Public Policy Analyst with the Salt Lake City Council, provided the Business Advisory Board with a summary of Salt Lake City’s recently approved zoning text amendment and capital improvement updates. The Council voted to consolidate 27 existing commercial and mixed-use zoning districts into just 6 mixed-use zones. This major change is designed to simplify the city's overly complex zoning code, making it easier for both city staff and the public to navigate, while also supporting greater flexibility in housing types across the city. The zoning changes will go into effect shortly, pending final processing by the City Recorder’s Office. Mr. Kimmel also highlighted the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which allocates funds for long-term infrastructure projects like parks, streets, and buildings that cost over $50,000 and have a service life of five or more years. The Council is currently reviewing funding recommendations and is expected to finalize approvals by August 19, ahead of the September 1 deadline. Additionally, he shared that the Council has renamed a baseball field at Riverside Park to "Neil Draper Field" in honor of a respected Rose Park business owner and community member who passed away earlier this year. 6. BAB Member Announcements Next BAB meeting is on September 10. No BAB meeting in August. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. _________________________________ Scott Lyttle, Chair This document and the recording constitute the official minutes of the Economic Development Business Advisory Board meeting held on July 9th, 2025. Scott Lyttle (Oct 7, 2025 12:14:14 MDT) Scott Lyttle