PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
REGULAR SESSION
THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1988
The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in regular session on Thursday, July 21, 1988, at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 324 South State Street.
The following Council Members were present: Florence Bittner Tom Godfrey Sydney Fonnesbeck Roselyn Kirk Alan Hardman Willie Stoler. Councilmember Horrocks was absent.
Mike Zuhl, chief of staff, and Steven Allred, assistant city attorney, were present. Mayor Palmer DePaulis, Roger Cutler, city attorney, Kathryn Marshall, city recorder, and Lynda Domino, chief deputy city recorder, were absent.
Councilmember Godfrey presided at and Councilmember Bittner conducted the meeting.
DEPARTMENTAL BUSINESS
MAYOR’S OFFICE
#1. RE: The appointment of Mike Chabries to the position of Salt Lake City Chief of Police.
ACTION: Councilmember Fonnesbeck moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to suspend the rules and on first reading approve the appointment, which motion carried, all members present voted aye.
DISCUSSION: Councilmember Bittner said she had a problem with the procedure of allowing Mr. Chabries to serve before his appointment was approved by the Council. She said she felt like the Council was acting as a “rubber stamp”. Councilmember Stoler agreed and Councilmember Fonnesbeck said this situation made the Council’s position awkward. Councilmember Godfrey suggested that the procedure change for future appointments. Councilmember Fonnesbeck said she didn’t understand why the appointment process took this direction. Mike Zuhl, chief of staff, said the decision was made that the police department had been without a chief for too long but it was understood during discussions that his appointment was contingent upon Council approval. Steven Allred, assistant city attorney, said the Mayor couldn’t make the final appointment but could make an interim appointment until the Council approved his recommendation. He said this was not an unusual circumstance and said this was a political issue and was not legally improper.
(I 88-19)
The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.