PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
REGULAR/BRIEFING SESSION
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1987
THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, MET AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1987, AT 5:00 P.M. IN SUITE 300 CITY HALL, 324 SOUTH STATE.
THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT: FLORENCE BITTNER THOMAS M. GODFREY GRANT MABEY ROSELYN N. KIRK SYDNEY R. FONNESBECK WILLIE STOLER EARL F. HARDWICK.
Council Chairperson Kirk presided at the meeting.
BRIEFING SESSION
Linda Hamilton, Executive Director, briefed the Council on the evening’s agenda. She told the Council that it was necessary for the rules to be suspended and the Housing Authority Budget for the elderly housing project to be approved on the first reading due to the schedule for marketing the bond. Lance Bateman, Director of Finance, and Cheryl Cook, City Treasurer, answered questions raised by Councilmembers.
Mrs. Cook pointed out that the City didn’t want to borrow anymore money than was absolutely necessary for the project. Mr. Bateman told the Council that the Administration was accepting a large amount of responsibility in taking on the project. He mentioned that the Administration would insist upon a complete audit of the project and the project would be carefully watched and quarterly reports of progress would be made to the City Council.
The City Council discussed Petition 400-455 submitted by Robert Jensen, et al. The petitioners were requesting Salt Lake City to vacate a portion of an alley running between Charlton and Crandall Avenues extending from the Salt Lake Jordan Canal east to the rear of the properties at 1153 Crandall Avenue. Councilmember Stoler indicated that access wouldn’t be denied to the people who needed it to get to their properties. The City Council discussed possible demolition of Ferry Hall on the Westminster College Campus. Councilmember Stoler pointed out that the decision of the Westminster college administration would likely be to demolish regardless of the outcome of a study.
The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1987, AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, SUITE 300, CITY HALL, 324 SOUTH STATE.
THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT: FLORENCE BITTNER THOMAS M. GODFREY GRANT MABEY ROSELYN N. KIRK SYDNEY R. FONNESBECK WILLIE STOLER EARL F. HARDWICK.
Mayor Palmer DePaulis, Roger Cutler, city attorney, Kathryn Marshall, city recorder, and Lynda Domino, chief deputy recorder, were present.
Council Chairperson Kirk presided at and conducted the meeting.
Police Chaplain Michael Denos gave the prayer.
Approval of Minutes.
Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Stoler seconded to approve the minutes of the Salt Lake City Council for the regular meeting held Tuesday, December 16, 1986, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(M 87-1)
PETITIONS
Petition 400-435 by Leah Brown and Rick Collins.
RE: The request that Salt Lake City vacate the southern most east-west portion of the alley located south of 300 North between Chicago Street and 900 West.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to set a public hearing for Tuesday, February 10, 1987, at 6:30 p.m., which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(P 87-2)
Petition 400-451 by Gayle Hughes, et al.
RE: The request that properties located on Beacon Drive, Indian Hills Circle, Eagle Way, Indian Hills Drive and Kensington Avenue be rezoned from Residential “R-2” to Residential “R-l”.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Hardwick seconded to set a public hearing for Tuesday, February 3, 1987, at 6:30 p.m., which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(P 87-1)
Petition 400-474 by O.C. Tanner.
RE: The request that Salt Lake City close a section of an east-west alley located between 1956 South Main and 1968 South Main.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to set a non-advertised public hearing for Tuesday, January 13, 1987, at 6:30 p.m., which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(P 87-3)
DEPARTMENTAL BUSINESS
CITY COUNCIL
#1. RE: Salt Lake City Council Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for calendar year 1987.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to suspend the rules and on first reading ratify the election of Roselyn N. Kirk as Chairperson and Florence B. Bittner as Vice Chairperson of the Salt Lake City Council for calendar year 1987, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(G 87-1)
HOUSING AUTHORITY
#1. RE: The Housing Authority of Salt Lake City project budget for the elderly housing project.
ACTION: Councilmember Stoler moved and Councilmember Hardwick seconded to suspend the rules and on first reading accept and approve the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City project budget for Housing Development Corporation Housing for the elderly housing project, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(B 87-1)
MAYOR’S OFFICE
#1. RE: The reappointment of Dorothy Pleshe and the appointment of Lee Martinez to the Board of Adjustment.
ACTION: Without objection Councilmember Kirk referred this matter to the consent agenda.
(I 87-1)
#2. RE: The appointments of Chris Clark and William West to the Housing Advisory and Appeals Board.
ACTION: Without objection Councilmember Kirk referred this matter to the consent agenda.
(I 87-2)
#3. RE: The reappointments of Lynn Thatcher and James Webb to the Mosquito Abatement District Board.
ACTION: Without objection Councilmember Kirk referred this matter to the consent agenda.
(I 87-3)
#4. RE: The reappointment of Kip Harris and the appointments of Brock Bowman, Tom Kass, and Charles Loving to the Salt Lake Art Design Board.
ACTION: Without objection Councilmember Kirk referred this matter to the consent agenda.
(I 87-4)
#5. RE: The reappointment of Mirv Borthick to the Utah Air Travel Commission to represent the Airport Authority.
ACTION: Without objection Councilmember Kirk referred this matter to the consent agenda.
(I 87-5)
#6. RE: The reappointment of Jennings Phillips to the Salt Lake Housing Authority.
ACTION: Without objection Councilmember Kirk referred this matter to the consent agenda.
(I 87-7)
#7. RE: The appointment of J. Gordon Sorensen to serve as trustee for the Sugar House Park Authority, filling the unexpired term of Dr. Edward Parker.
ACTION: Without objection this item was pulled from the agenda.
(I 87-6)
#8. RE: An interlocal agreement with Salt Lake County regarding parking tickets in county parking lots.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to adopt Resolution 1 of 1987 authorizing the execution of an interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City Corporation and Salt Lake County regarding the issuance and enforcement of parking tickets in county-owned parking lots, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(C 87-1)
POLICE DEPARTMENT
#1. RE: An amendment to the interlocal agreement with the Utah State Circuit Court Administrator regarding security in the Fifth Circuit Court Building.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to adopt Resolution 2 of 1987 authorizing the execution of an amendment to the interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City Corporation and the Utah State Circuit Court Administrator to provide security to the Fifth Circuit Court Building, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(C 85-356)
PUBLIC UTILITIES
#1. RE: An interlocal agreement with UDOT for readjustment of manhole covers, rings, boxes and valves as part of the State’s repaving project.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to adopt Resolution 3 of 1987 authorizing the execution of an interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City Corporation and the Utah Department of Transportation for readjustment of Department of Utilities manhole covers, rings, boxes and valves as part of the State’s repaving project, with the State paying the cost, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(C 87-3)
#2. RE: An interlocal agreement with UDOT, street maintenance division, which would allow for relocation of the City’s sewer facilities at 1000 North Redwood Road, at UDOT’s expense.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Hardwick seconded to refer this agreement to the Committee of the Whole, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(C 87-4)
#3. RE: The Board of Equalization and Review for Project 50-1313.
ACTION: Councilmember Hardwick moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to adopt Resolution 5 of 1987 scheduling a Board of Equalization and Review for the noncontiguous sewer and water special improvement district, Project No. 50-1313, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(Q 86-5)
PUBLIC WORKS
#1. RE: An interlocal agreement with UDOT for construction of an urban system project on urban route 1005, and striping for 40th West.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to adopt Resolution 4 of 1987 authorizing the execution of an interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City and the Utah Department of Transportation to provide for construction of an urban system project, financed in part by federal funds, located on urban route 1005 and to provide striping for 40th West, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(C 87-2)
#2. RE: The Board of Equalization and Review for Project No. 40-R-10.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Hardwick seconded to adopt Resolution 6 of 1987 scheduling a Board of Equalization and Review for Special Improvement District Project No. 40-R-l0, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(Q 86-3)
#3. RE: Notice of Intention for 1988/89 non-contiguous streets, Curb and Gutter Extension No. 38-819.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Stoler seconded to refer this matter to the Committee of the Whole, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(Q 87-1)
#4. RE: Notice of Intention for 900 West, Curb and Gutter Extension No. 38-757.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Stoler seconded to refer this matter to the Committee of the Whole, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(Q 87-2)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Petition 400-455 by Robert Jensen, et al.
RE: A public hearing at 6:30 p.m. to obtain public comment regarding the request that Salt Lake City vacate a portion of an alley running between Charlton and Crandall Avenues extending from the Salt Lake Jordan Canal east to the rear of the property at 1153 Crandall Avenue.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
Councilmember Hardwick moved and Councilmember Stoler seconded to adopt Ordinance 1 of 1987 vacating a portion of an east-west alley running between Charlton and Crandall Avenues extending east to the rear of the property at 1153 Crandall Avenue, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
DISCUSSION: Bil Schwab, planning and zoning, outlined the area on a map and said it was located at approximately 30th South and 1100 East. He said all the abutting property owners had signed the petition. He added that it was not generally city policy to vacate just a portion of an alley but in this case people to the east had access to this alley from Crandall Avenue and they wanted the portion abutting their properties to remain open so they could reach the rear of their properties.
Mr. Schwab showed pictures of the alley and said it was overgrown with vegetation and was not usable for vehicular traffic. He said the necessary city departments reviewed this request and had no objection. He showed the audience the map so they would know which portion of the alley was being considered for closure and which portion would remain open. Robert Jensen, 1148 East Chariton, said he petitioned to have this alley vacated because of the problems with vandalism, burglaries and lewd graffiti which had been written on a number of garages. He reiterated that the alley was overgrown with weeds and said access was not needed by the abutting property owners. He mentioned that vehicles had been driving across a cement conduit of the Salt Lake Jordan Canal and children played in the irrigation ditch.
Raina St. Clair, Vern Fraser, 1162 Chariton, and Janice Wilden, owner of property at 1156 Charlton Avenue, opposed the alley vacation. Ms. St. Clair indicated that using this alley was the easiest route to the rear of her property. Mr. Fraser indicated that he used the alley for access to his garden area and said it would be difficult to move material from Charlton to the garden area with this alley closed. He also said if the alley was closed it would be difficult to turn a car around and it would be difficult to service an irrigation ditch. Ms. Wilden concurred with Mr. Fraser.
Councilmember Fonnesbeck suggested that the Council go see the alley. Councilmember Stoler asked if any property owners would be landlocked to which Mr. Schwab answered no and said the non-abutting property owners had other accesses to their property. He added that vacation of the alley would not impair the irrigation ditch. Councilmember Mabey said it was not uncommon to have an alley where motorists couldn’t turn around and had to back out. Councilmember Hardwick said the portion being closed would not deny access to any of the other property owners and the abutting property owners wanted it closed. Councilmember Fonnesbeck said the request could not be denied unless there were extraordinary circumstances.
(P 86-324)
Planning Commission Case 628A Ferry Hall, Westminster College.
RE: A public hearing at 6:45 p.m. to obtain public comment concerning an appeal by the Sugar House Community Council of the Planning Commission’s decision on Case No. 628A approving the demolition of Ferry Hall on the Westminster College Campus.
ACTION: Councilmember Mabey moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
Councilmember Stoler moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to uphold the Planning Commission’s action which allowed for the issuance of a dismantling/demolition permit without delay with respect to Landmark Committee Case No. 628A, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmembers Fonnesbeck and Hardwick who voted nay.
DISCUSSION: Bil Schwab, planning and zoning, explained that in August of 1986 Westminster requested the Historical Landmark Committee to approve demolition of Ferry Hall, which was denied. He said the college appealed to the Planning Commission which overrode the Landmark Committee and approved the request. He said the Sugar House Community Council appealed the Planning Commission’s decision and was requesting the City Council to deny demolition of Ferry Hall. He said if the request for demolition was denied, there would be a 5-month delay and then the college could proceed. He mentioned there was no approved post-demolition plan and one would have to be approved prior to demolition.
He explained that in 1983 Ferry Hall was put on the National Register of Historic Places, and the 1983 survey for Salt Lake City designated the entire campus as a potential historic district and recommended that all of the historic buildings be saved and the campus be designated a historic district. He said the new Sugar House plan included Ferry Hall as part of the historic conservation/preservation of the community and explained that in 1969, Westminster College presented a master plan to the Planning Commission showing Ferry Hall as part of the master plan.
He said at that time they proposed two open space areas and were now including Ferry Hall as an addition to the open space. He said the planning department had not seen an update to the master plan but indicated that the college felt Converse Hall was a number one priority for restoration. He showed slides of Ferry Hall and said the planning department felt the building was significant and an important part of Sugar House.
Roger Roper, Utah State Historical Society, said Ferry Hall was a significant building based on its architecture and the historical role it played in religion and education. He said Ferry Hall was built in 1908 and was the only building on campus funded by the Ferry family. Colonal William Ferry donated the land for the campus and funded the building’s construction. He said Westminster campus would probably not be eligible as a historic district without Ferry Hall and mentioned that there was grant money available for a feasibility study of the building and the creation of a historic district for the campus. He said they wanted a 5-month delay in order to complete a study and said they were interested in making sure all preservation options for Ferry Hall had been explored.
Ken Eltinge, chairman of the Sugar House Community Council, said the City had spent a lot of money for studies of historic sites and he would like the City to have a policy regarding preservation. He reiterated that 5 months would be adequate for a study of Ferry Hall. Ed Sweeny, general council of Westminster College, said the college was a private, independent institution and they did not get state or federal funding. He mentioned that student enrollment had increased as well as their endowment and said they had been able to take care of some financial problems. He said in May of last year the Board of Trustees prioritized buildings for deferred maintenance.
He said their critical need was quality classroom space and the Board prioritized renovation in the following order: Carlson Hall, Walker Hall, Converse Hall, Foster Hall, and Ferry Hall. He indicated that it would cost $4 million for renovation, not including Ferry Hall. He explained that in 1978 the fire department said repairs had to be made to Ferry Hall or it would have to be closed. He said repairs were made but the college couldn’t afford to maintain the building so the Board of Trustees closed the building in 1982.
He said in 1984 they put Ferry Hall on the historic register to take advantage of tax shelters and try to raise money. He also said they went before the legislature twice with no results. He said they spent $20,000 for a study which indicated that it would cost between 1.8 and 2 million to renovate the building. He reiterated that the other buildings on the priority list were more critical and said Converse Hall and Foster Hall were historic buildings.
He said it was clear that in the next 5 years it would be unlikely that they could raise money for Ferry Hall and said their business was to educate students and not renovate buildings. He said in the building’s place they would create Ferry Plaza which would be an open area with a monument to the building using the corner stone. He explained that there was a liability associated with keeping the structure intact since it was a fire trap and could cause the loss of two neighboring buildings if it caught on fire. He reiterated that they had tried several means to save Ferry Hall and felt their decision was reasonable to dismantle the building.
Orrin Nelson, president of Nelson Brothers Construction and a member of the Board of Trustees of Westminster, endorsed Mr. Sweeny and added that the building was not seismically safe and the cost for restoration would be prohibitive. He reiterated that Converse and Foster Halls were historic structures. Randy Dixon, vice chairman of the Historic Landmark Committee, asked the Council to reverse the Planning Commission’s decision. He said Ferry Hall was on the City Register of Historic Places and suggested that the money raised to demolish the building could be used to maintain the building until a later point when it could function as part of the campus.
He said the landmark process was well thought out and said the Sugar House area had few buildings of this age and significance. He mentioned that Ferry Hall also honored one of Salt Lake’s past mayors and said education included understanding our past and our heritage and gaining culture. Jim McPherson, Utah Heritage Foundation, indicated that restoration of old buildings averaged $55 to $70 per square foot and not $90 as had been suggested.
Rawlins Young, land use chairman of the Sugar House Community Council, said they wanted to make sure all attempts had been made to preserve Ferry Hall. He said they believed that Westminster College had made a good—faith effort to preserve the building but did not know if they had done it in context with the master planning efforts for the area. He said they felt the City had not given a concerted effort toward preservation of institutional buildings in Sugar House and said they wanted time in order to understand the significance of the loss of this structure in the overall preservation plan for the neighborhood. Greg Beesley, 2927 South 1400 East, said he thought it was presumptuous for people outside of Westminster’s financial considerations to ask them to preserve a nonfunctional building. He urged the Council to support the Planning Commission’s decision.
Monty Draper, 2892 South 1500 East, reiterated that Westminster was privately owned and it was their decision and not the City’s or the State’s. Councilmember Stoler said Westminster had demonstrated an honest effort at preserving Ferry Hall and it behooved the Council to support them. He said the Sugar House Chamber of Commerce supported the college in their efforts to improve the campus. Councilmember Hardwick said Ferry Hall was a significant piece of history and he hoped that if it was demolished it would not have a domino effect. He also said that the Council had made a commitment to the master plan.
Councilmember Bittner said if she thought a 5-month delay would change the outcome of the situation she would support that, but she said the benefits had to be weighed of asking the institution to save the building when they were on precarious financial ground. She said the Council had to consider the overall good to the community and she felt Westminster’s educational contribution outweighed the need to save the historic structure.
(P 86-325)
COMMENTS
#1. Kitty Burton, 1392 South 600 East, said she had done some research regarding the City’s status of incorporation and thought there might be a problem. Roger Cutler, city attorney, said that according to Chapter 3 of Title 10, Salt Lake City was a corporation and was recognized in the statues by legislative act. Mr. Cutler suggested that Ms. Burton come to the attorney’s office and he could show her the statutory authority. He said Salt Lake was a valid corporation.
#2. Bernice Cook, People’s Freeway Community Council, said that people living south of the retention basin at 10th South had heard rumors that somebody was going to buy houses in this area for a big project. She asked if the Council knew anything about this. Councilmember Mabey and Mayor DePaulis both indicated that they knew nothing about this. Mayor DePaulis indicated that he would have someone check into this and let her know.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.