PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
REGULAR AND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1988
The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met as the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, February 2, 1988, at 5:00 p.m. in Suite 300, City Hall, 324 South State.
The following Council Members were present: Florence Bittner Thomas Godfrey Wayne Horrocks Roselyn Kirk Sydney Fonnesbeck Willie Stoler Alan Hardman.
Council Chairperson Godfrey presided at the meeting.
BRIEFING SESSION
The City Council interviewed Gary Hicks prior to his appointment to the Recreation Advisory Board. Mr. Hicks told the Council that he had a master’s degree in recreation education. He said he was very active in community athletics and told the Council that he had coached several baseball and football teams in the Rose Park area. Councilmember Kirk said that Mr. Hicks seemed to be a busy person. She asked him if he felt he had the time to dedicate to the Recreation Advisory Board. Mr. Hicks assured the Council that the time commitment was not a problem. He said he was honored to be given the opportunity to serve on the Board.
The City Council interviewed Alan Katoa prior to his appointment to the Recreation Advisory Board. Councilmember Kirk asked Mr. Katoa about his background. Mr. Katoa indicated that he was involved in organizing athletic activities and events for the Tongan community. He said it was his goal to bring the Tongan community closer together and he felt he could best do this through athletic activities. Mr. Katoa said that he was a body builder and a body building consultant and said he was please to serve on the Recreation Advisory Board.
Linda Hamilton, Executive Director, told Council Members that they had each received a copy of the finalized process schedule for the hiring of to budget analysts (a copy is attached as part of the minutes). She added that she had received no negative response from Council Members so she had concluded that Members concurred with both the hiring process and schedule. Ms. Hamilton indicated that she would proceed with the hiring schedule as had been presented to the Council.
Ms. Hamilton briefed the Council on the evening’s agenda. Councilmember Stoler questioned the necessity of an ordinance adding the designation of “Residential Special Local Street” to the existing Street designations (e.g. “arterial”, “collector”, “local,’). The proposed ordinance would amend the City Major Street Plan to designate the following streets as “Residential Special Local Streets”: “B”, “E”, “I”, Virginia, Eleventh Avenue, and parts of Second Avenue and of Third Avenue. The ordinance would also designate South Temple as a “collector”. Councilmember Fonnesbeck explained that the creation of “Residential Special Local Street” designation was necessary to enable the Transportation Division to place less lighting on the targeted streets, yet still meet national lighting standards. She added the Transportation Engineer determined the amount of the light required on a street by the street’s designation. National standards dictated how much light was required for different designations. Residents along the affected streets did not want as much lighting as the current street designations required, therefore they had requested that the designation be changed to allow for less lighting.
Councilmember Stoler asked Roger Cutler, City Attorney, if the City really needed to follow the national standards. Mr. Cutler said the City could be liable if accidents occurred on streets which did not meet national lighting standards. Councilmember Stoler asked if it was cost effective for the City to meet standards. Mr. Cutler answered that only in extreme cases did the City not meet nationally-set standards in order to save money. He cited City liability as the reason for meeting standards. Councilmember Stoler said he felt it was unnecessary for the City to meet national lighting standards. Ms. Hamilton told the Council that Larry Livingston, Council Staff, had recommended that the ordinance be referred to the City Transportation Engineer for a recommendation and preparation of the necessary map change as well as to the City Planner for a Planning Commission recommendation.
Mayor Palmer DePaulis and Buzz Hunt, City Treasurer, briefed the Council on the fiscal year 1987/88 revenue shortfall. Mr. Hunt told the Council that the Finance Department was expecting approximately a $900,000 revenue shortfall by the end of the fiscal year. He said the sales tax figures were much lower than estimated. Mr. Hunt told the Council that the City was experiencing negative growth in sales tax revenue and attributed the negative growth to specific industries. He told the Council that low revenue from retail sectors was a big surprise and a big disappointment and said that all aspects of construction were down as well as nationwide automobile sales. Mayor DePaulis said that automobile sales contributed a lot to sales tax revenue.
Mayor DePaulis added, however, that revenue received from the mining industry was significantly higher than last year. He attributed the increase to the reopening of the Kennecott Copper Mine. Mr. Hunt told the Council that sixteen of the eighteen Wasatch Front cities were experiencing negative sales tax growth. Mayor DePaulis said that sales tax revenue was up in Sandy because of the new shopping mall and up in Midvale because of the large outlet stores which had recently located there. Mayor DePaulis added that there was a new formula for the redistribution of sales tax. He said that the new formula had resulted in Salt Lake City receiving less sales tax revenue. Councilmember Bittner asked why revenue from building permits was lagging behind expectations. Mr. Hunt said that construction activity levels in the City had decreased and therefore the permit revenue had decreased. Councilmember Bittner then asked why revenue from parking fines was lower than expected. Mr. Hunt said that the most expensive tickets issued were those for willful violations. He told the Council that the number of tickets written for willful violations was decreasing. He attributed the decrease to the fact that the fines were deterring people from willfully parking illegally. Councilmember Stoler asked if fines for meter violations had decreased because violations had decreased or if the City parking enforcement personnel were just not enforcing as many violations. Mr. Hunt said that the only difference in enforcement was that if an individual returned to his/her car while the enforcement officer was writing the ticket then the officer gave a verbal warning instead of a citation.
Mr. Hunt added that this measure was an attempt to increase public relations. Councilmember Horrocks told the Council that the parking fines were so high that many people would not shop in the City. Councilmember Godfrey pointed out that during the Christmas season the Mayor designated five Saturdays as “park free” days. Mr. Hunt added that the City could expect a further decrease in fine revenue because the State had decided not to enforce violations for expired vehicle inspection sticker this year. Mayor DePaulis told the Council that he was recommending a one percent spending freeze on City departments. He estimated that the freeze would generate approximately $1.1 million. Councilmember Fonnesbeck said that a few months ago the Council approved the hiring of 15 new fire fighters contingent upon the budget.
She asked the Mayor what the revenue shortfall meant in terms of the additional fire fighters. Mayor DePaulis said that the fire fighters would not be hired because of the budget shortfall. Mayor DePaulis told the Council that although the budget had not yet been opened and the money for the municipal building bond had not yet been appropriated, he needed to sign the contract with Utah Power and Light. He told the Council that the contract allowed for the purchase of the light poles and fixtures.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Regular Session on Tuesday, February 2, 1988, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 324 South State Street.
The following Council Members were present: Florence Bittner Thomas Godfrey Wayne Horrocks Roselyn Kirk Sydney Fonnesbeck Willie Stoler Alan Hardman.
Mayor Palmer DePaulis, Roger Cutler, city attorney, Kathryn Marshall, city recorder, and Lynda Domino, chief deputy city recorder, were present.
Council Chairperson Godfrey presided at and conducted the meeting.
The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes.
Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Bittner seconded to approve the minutes of the Salt Lake City Council for the regular meetings held Tuesday, January 19, 1988, and Tuesday, January 26, 1988, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(M 88-1)
Special Recognition
The Council considered a resolution of support for the Regional Urban Design Assistance Team. Councilmember Kirk read the resolution which endorsed and supported a Regional Urban Design Assistance Team for downtown Salt Lake City. The resolution also thanked the American Institute of Architects and the Regional Urban Design Assistance Team steering committee for making this planning effort available to Salt Lake City.
Councilmember Fonnesbeck moved and Councilmember Horrocks seconded to adopt Resolution 10 of 1988 supporting the Regional Urban Design Assistance Team, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(R 88-1)
PETITIONS
Petition 400-372 by Keith Woodland/Agusta Anderson.
RE: An ordinance vacating a portion of the south side of 900 North Street between Westpointe Circle and Starcrest Drive and repealing Bill 82 of 1986 because of an error in the property description.
ACTION: Councilmember Bittner moved and Councilmember Horrocks seconded to adopt Ordinance 13 of 1988 vacating a portion of the south side of 9th North between Westpointe Circle and Starcrest Drive, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(P 86-281)
Petition/Legislative Action by Sydney Fonnesbeck.
RE: An ordinance adding the designation of “Residential Special Local Street” to the existing street designations (eg. “arterial”, “collector”, “local”); and amending the City Major Street Plan to designate the following streets as “Residential Special Local Streets”: “B”, “E”, “I”, Virginia, Eleventh Avenue, and parts of Second Avenue and of Third Avenue; and designating South Temple as a “collector”.
ACTION: Councilmember Fonnesbeck moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to refer this action to the City Transportation Engineer for recommendation and preparation of necessary map changes; and refer this to the City Planner for Planning Commission recommendation, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(P 88-25)
DEPARTMENTAL BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
#1. RE: A proposed ordinance amending Section 51-8-4(3) of the Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake City, Utah, relating to parking lots and nonconforming uses.
ACTION: Councilmember Bittner moved and Councilmember Horrocks seconded to set a date for a public hearing to be held Tuesday, March 1, 1g88, at 6:20 p.m., which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(O 88-5)
#2. RE: The designation of the Anton H. Boxrud house and the Alfred J. Bettles house as historical landmarks.
ACTION: Councilmember Bittner moved and Councilmember Horrocks seconded to set a date for a public hearing to be held Tuesday, February 16, 1988, at 6:20 p.m., which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(L 88-1)
MAYOR’S OFFICE
#1. RE: The appointment of Larry W. Reading to the Community Development Advisory Committee.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Bittner seconded to approve the appointment, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(I 88-3)
#2. RE: The Appointment of Ron Rowley to the Housing Advisory and Appeals Board.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Horrocks seconded to approve the appointment, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(I 88-2)
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.