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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/11/2026 - Meeting Minutes Salt Lake City and County Building Monday, May 11,2026 Conservancy&Use Meeting Minutes lw I ism, aft T1 ahr Litt, & Cronttfl Jz uilDhtg Cottserwitip & rise crotninitft 2� f' firm ~� Date!, June, . Refit It", Salt Lake City and County Building Conservancy and Use Committee Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, May 11, 2026 The Salt Lake City and County Building Conservancy and Use Committee convened in a Regular meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Salt Lake City and County Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. Chair Travis Sheppard Time called to order:4:06 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: • Travis Sheppard (Committee Member, Chair) • Catherine Tucker(Committee Member) • Steven Burt(Committee Member) • Mark Morris (Committee Member,Vice Chair) • Nick Pedersen (Committee Member) • Robyn Taylor-Granda (Committee Member) Ex-Officio Members in Attendance: • Josh Lander(Board Manager) • Cameron Johnson (Board Attorney, new ex-officio member) • Sean Fyfe (City Architect) Salt Lake City and County Building Monday, May 11, 2026 Conservancy&Use Meeting Minutes Presenters • Amy Reid (Public Lands) • Nancy Monteith (Public Lands) Public Communication: General • None noted. Approval of Minutes • Motion to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2026 was made by Steven Burt, seconded by Nick Pedersen. • Vote:Approved with majority vote. • Ayes:All Discussion Items COMMITTEE BRIEFINGS Washington Square Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) Update Presentation was made byAmy Reid and Nancy Monteith regardingthe Washington Square Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) project. Staff provided an overview of the proposed scope of work for the CLR, which included: • Historical background and contextual analysis; • Development of recommendations related to perimeter security and landscape treatments; • Evaluation of existing conditions and impacts to the historic arboretum; • Development of security typologies integrated with the historic character of the site; • Recommendations for event management and event infrastructure to minimize impacts on the landscape and urban forestry. The committee discussed the Washington Square Design Basis Threat Assessment and the need to evaluate both exterior and interior perimeter security improvements. Amy Reid and Nancy Monteith outlined proposed Technical Advisory Committee JAC) participants, including: Salt Lake City and County Building Monday, May 11, 2026 Conservancy&Use Meeting Minutes • Arts Council representative • City Hall Building Administrator • Events Team representative • Transportation representative • Urban Forestry representative • Public Lands Maintenance staff representative • A representative from the Conservancy and Use Committee Staff also reviewed the proposed consultant selection committee process and anticipated project timeline: • Draft Request for Proposals (RFP) to reviewers in the near term; • RFP issued in late June; • Consultant selection and contracting during the summer; • Consultant work to begin in the fall; and • Final CLR product anticipated the following summer. Consultant Selection Committee: Responsibilities: Review RFP and consultant proposals, participate in the interviews and rank firms to select consultants. Attend TAC meetings during the CLR process. CUC Board Members: • Nathan Kobs, Director of Safety and Security, Public Services, SLC • Kelsey Lindquist, Planner Manager, Planning Division , SLC • Nancy Monteith, Senior Landscape Architect, Planning& Design, Public Lands, SLC • Amy Reid, Associate Landscape Architect, Planning& Design, Public Lands, SLC Committee Discussion Committee members discussed the importance of including structural engineering and architectural expertise in the consultant selection and technical advisory processes. Catherine Tucker recommended that the project team include: • Structural engineering expertise to evaluate vehicular impact resistance and load paths; and Salt Lake City and County Building Monday, May 11, 2026 Conservancy&Use Meeting Minutes • Architectural expertise to ensure perimeter security elements are historically compatible with the building and site. Nancy Monteith noted that the consultant RFP could specify desired expertise and qualifications for consultant teams. Committee members discussed appointing Karen Ferguson as the committee's representative for the Technical Advisory Committee and consultant selection process due to her experience with force protection work at the Utah State Capitol. Discussion also included: • Potential conflicts of interest for committee members or affiliated firms; Travis Sheppard recused himself siting conflict of interest. • Community outreach opportunities; • Whether community council participation should occur through public presentations rather than TAC membership; and • The importance of selecting a consultant experienced with Cultural Landscape Reports involving public buildings, security, access, and events. Sean Fyfe agreed to participate on the Technical Advisory Committee as City Architect. Committee Direction The committee expressed support for: • Continuing development of the CLR process; • Including architectural and structural engineering expertise in consultant selection criteria; • Conducting outreach presentations to the Community Council rather than including a public member on the TAC; and • Informally contacting Karen Ferguson regarding potential participation before formal appointment. Catherine Tucker made a motion to nominate Karen Ferguson as the committee representative to the Cultural Landscape Report Committee, pending her willingness and avai[abilityto serve. Salt Lake City and County Building Monday, May 11, 2026 Conservancy&Use Meeting Minutes Discussion followed regarding whether a formal vote should occur immediately or be postponed until the next meeting after Karen Ferguson could be contacted regarding her interest and any potential conflicts of interest. No second was formally recorded and no final vote was taken regarding the appointment. The committee agreed to contact Karen Ferguson and revisit the matter at the next meeting. 2. Cannon Room Reclassification Discussion The committee discussed the classification status of the Cannon Room and whether the room should remain a Priority A space or be reclassified to Priority B. Josh Lander summarized prior committee actions, including approval of: • Installation of a television in the room; • Modular tables and chairs; and • Continued review of furniture design options. Committee members discussed concerns regarding: • The room's current Priority A designation requiring historically appropriate furnishings • The Mayor's Office desire for flexible, modular, contemporary furniture • The room's limited public accessibility • Preservation of historic architectural features • Whether maintaining Priority A status would unnecessarily limit functional use of the room. The committee reviewed language from the Building Use Guidelines related to Priority A and Priority B spaces, including provisions requiring historically appropriate furnishings in Priority areas. Key Discussion Points Committee discussion included: • Whether movable furniture should be treated differently from permanent fixtures • Whether an exception could be granted without formally reclassifying the room Salt Lake City and County Building Monday, May 11, 2026 Conservancy&Use Meeting Minutes • Whether a temporary or conditional reclassification was appropriate • Concerns regarding precedent-setting exceptions for other Priority A spaces • Whether the room may have been ambiguously classified in the original guideline document • The committee's authority to amend or interpret the guidelines Catherine Tucker emphasized that the committee's role was to preserve the historic integrity of permanent architectural features while still allowing the building to function as a modern workplace. Sean Fyfe expressed support for maintaining flexibility and allowing reasonable exceptions where appropriate. Legal counsel advised that the committee possessed authority under City Code to recommend actions contrary to the guidelines for good cause stated in writing, provided the committee clearly documented its rationale. Potential approaches discussed included: • Allowing an exception for contemporary movable furniture while preserving all historic architectural features • Reclassifying the room as Priority B • Temporarily reclassifying the room with a future review period • Initiating a future amendment or clarification to the guideline document. Motion: Catherine Tucker made a detailed motion proposing that, in the interest of being responsive to the operational needs of the City and the Mayor's Office, the committee allow the use of movable modern furniture within the Cannon Room, provided that the furniture not be permanently attached to the room, with the exception of the previously approved monitor installation. As part of the motion, Catherine Tucker further stated that the committee believed this action remained within the overall intent of the building guidelines while recognizing that the room's current Priority A designation created inconsistencies with the room's current non-public operational use. She proposed that the committee pursue a formal amendment and fact-finding process to retroactively amend the guidelines and reclassifythe Cannon Room as a Priority B space through a future amendment process. Salt Lake City and County Building Monday, May 11, 2026 Conservancy&Use Meeting Minutes Additional discussion clarified that: • The current guidelines depict the room as a Priority A space • The room is presently functioning as a non-public operational space • The committee intended to pursue a future amendment process to clarify or reclassify the room • If the room were to become a public-facing room again in the future, the committee recommended that it revert back to its original Priority A classification status. Cameron Johnson advised the committee that City Code Section 2.39.070(C) provided authority for the committee to make recommendations contrary to the guidelines where justified. Discussion continued regarding the wording of the motion, including whether the room was definitively misclassified or whether the guidelines were simply unclear regarding the room's intended use and classification. Catherine Tucker emphasized that the guidelines were ambiguous and that future committees should retain the ability to return the room to Priority A status if the room again became publicly accessible. Second: Steve Burt Vote:All Aye, no opposed—motion passes Motion 2: Travis Sheppard made a separate motion to continue the process of formally amending the guidelines at a future meeting in order to clarify the room's classification and permitted uses. Second: Catherine Tucker Vote:All Aye, no opposed—motion passes 3.Art Mounting Rail in the Formal Chamber The committee discussed the proposal to install an art mounting rail system in the Formal Chamber to better accommodate rotating artwork displays while minimizing damage to historic wall surfaces. Salt Lake City and County Building Monday, May 11, 2026 Conservancy&Use Meeting Minutes Presentation and discussion were led by Josh Lander and committee members regarding prior concepts and recommendations previously reviewed by the committee. Discussion included: • The need for a mounting solution that reduces repeated penetrations into historic plaster walls • Whether the rail system could be installed in a manner that minimizes visual impacts to the historic character of the chamber • Potential locations and mounting methods for the rail system • The compatibility of the proposed rail with the architectural character of the room • The benefit of creating a standardized hanging system for future art installations and exhibits • Whether the installation should be considered reversible in accordance with preservation best practices Committee members expressed general support for identifying a solution that balances preservation concerns with the operational need for temporary and rotating art displays. Travis Sheppard agreed to provide prior presentation materials and additional information regarding the proposed rail system for future committee review at the next meeting. No formal motion or vote was taken on this item. 4. BUILDING PROJECT UPDATES Josh Lander provided an update on the transformer replacement project at the City & County Building - no updates at this time. Washington Square fountains- no updates at this time. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Steven Burt and seconded by Catherine Tucker to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed without objection. Chair Travis Shepard adjourned the meeting at approximately 05:56 p.m.