PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1986
THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, MET AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1986, AT 5:00 P.M. IN ROOM 211 CITY AND COUNTY BUILDING.
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 Hardwick presided at the meeting.
BRIEFING SESSION
Carole Stokes, council executive director, briefed the Council on the evening’s agenda. The Council discussed the protests of Special Improvement District No. 40-R-l0 and the criteria the engineering department used to remove Main and State Streets from the District. Larry Livingston, council office staff member, then reviewed the recodification of Title 51 highlighting some textual changes made after the Council’s first review. The Council also discussed requirements, included in Title 51, for parking stalls at theaters and stadiums. The Council reviewed the process through which the Mayor’s recommendation of John Gisler to the Civil Service Commission had passed before the Council received the request. Carole Stokes then reviewed the Council’s upcoming schedule of events. Larry Livingston reviewed plans for a Memorial Day celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony at City Creek Canyon.
Lance Bateman, finance director, reviewed the finance department concerns in connection with parking decriminalization. He indicated that the administration was requesting conceptual approval of the new process before the specifics were implemented. He also said that the new system would include an Increase In the fee schedule. Roger Cutler, city attorney, then reviewed the negotiations through which the city had gone in gaining state approval of the changes in the process. Mr. Cutler reviewed the reasons, beyond economic concerns, for adopting the new system.
The briefing session adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1986, A 6:00 P.M. IN ROOM 301 CITY AND COUNTY BUILDING.
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 Hardwick presided at and Councilmember Mabey conducted the meeting.
The invocation was given by Police Chaplain Joseph Sanders.
Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes.
Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to approve the minutes of the Salt Lake City Council for the regular meetings held Tuesday, April 15, 1986, and Thursday, April 24, 1986, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmembers Fonnesbeck and Hardwick who were absent for the vote.
(M 86-1)
Special Presentation
#1. The Council and Mayor presented a Resolution of Appreciation to the Salt Lake Area Community Councils Budget Committee for their work on the Fiscal Year 1986-87 budget. Councilmember Godfrey read the resolution and Mr. Doitch from the committee accepted the resolution.
Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to adopt Resolution 54 of 1986 expressing appreciation to the SLACC Budget Committee, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmember Fonnesbeck who was absent for the vote.
(R 86-1)
PETITIONS
Petition 400-196 of 1984 by SGE Associates.
RE: The vacation of the entire forty acre Capital Heights Addition Subdivision, subject to the preservation of the public’s interest in the existing dirt road system.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to schedule a public hearing for Tuesday, May 13, 1986, at 7:00 p.m., which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(P 86-89)
Petition 400-277 of 1985 by the Sugar House Community Council.
RE: Rezoning the Highland Drive Neighborhood.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to adopt Ordinance 40 of 1986 amending Section 51-12-2 of the Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake City, Utah, 1965, as amended, relating to zoning and fixing of boundaries of use districts by rezoning several parcels South of Interstate 80 to 2700 South along both sides of Highland Drive and along 2700 South between 1100 East and Highland Drive, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(P 86-7)
Petition 400-347 of 1985 by Ed Jensen.
RE: The vacation of an alley located between Browning and Roosevelt Avenues, Eleventh East to the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to schedule a public hearing for Tuesday, June 10, 1986, at 6:45 p.m., which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(P 86-90)
Petition 400-364 of 1985 by the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City.
RE: An alley vacation between 1100 West and 1140 West and 940 South and 960 South (in the block surrounded by Hayes Avenue, American Avenue, Glendale Street and 11th West Street).
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to adopt Ordinance 37 of 1986 vacating an alley between 1100 West and 1140 West and 940 South and 960 South, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(P 86-5)
Petition 400-365 of 1985 by the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City.
RE: An alley vacation between 1140 West and 1170 West and 940 South and 960 South (in the block surrounded by Hayes Avenue, American Avenue, Glendale Street and Emery Street).
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to adopt Ordinance 38 of 1986 vacating an alley between 1140 West and 1170 West and 940 South and 960 South, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(P 86-6)
Petition 400-381 of 1985 by S. Whitfield Lee.
RE: Rezoning an area at about 1300 South to the north boundary of Bonneville Golf Course, between Foothill Boulevard and Wasatch Drive.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to adopt Ordinance 39 of 1986 amending Section 51-12-2 of the Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake City, Utah, 1965, as amended, relating to zoning and fixing of boundaries of use districts by rezoning an area at approximately 1300 South to the north boundary of Bonneville Golf Course and between Foothill Boulevard and Wasatch Drive from R-2” to “R-1”, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(P 86-9)
DEPARTMENTAL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
#1. RE: Mayor and Council to convene as the Board of Canvassers and approve the canvass of votes.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to convene as the Board of Canvassers in order to canvass the returns of the special bond election held April 29, 1986, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmembers Fonnesbeck and Hardwick and Mayor DePaulis who were absent for the vote.
Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to approve the canvass of votes prepared by the City Recorder for the returns of the special bond election held April 29, 1986, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmember Hardwick and Mayor DePaulis who were absent for the vote.
Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to adjourn as the Board of Canvassers and reconvene as the City Council, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmember Hardwick and Mayor DePaulis who were absent for the vote.
(U 86-1)
CITY COUNCIL
#1. RE: Ambassador Club rezoning.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Bittner seconded to uphold the Planning Commission recommendation to not rezone the property at 145 South 500 East (Ambassador Club) from a Commercial “C-3A” to a Residential “R-7” zone, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmember Hardwick who was absent for the vote and Councilmember Fonnesbeck who voted nay.
(G 85-20)
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
#1. RE: An interlocal agreement amendment with the State Deparent of Economic Development regarding low income housing issues.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to adopt Resolution 50 of 1986 authorizing the execution of an amendment to the Interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City Corporation and the State of Utah, Department of Community and Economic Development for low income housing issues, by revising the contract termination date, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(C 85-544)
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
#1. RE: An ordinance amending Section 25-1-2 of the Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake City, Utah, 1965, as amended by Bill 44 of 1985, relating to the adoption of an employment staffing document.
ACTION: Without objection this was referred to the Committee of the Whole.
(O 86-12)
#2. RE: An ordinance relating to refuse collection fees for Salt Lake City residents.
ACTION: Without objection this was referred to the Committee of the Whole and a public hearing was set for Tuesday, May 20, 1986, at 7:30 p.m.
(O 86-13)
#3. RE: An ordinance relating to a franchise fee on water and sewer utility revenues.
ACTION: Without objection this was referred to the Committee of the Whole and a public hearing was set for Tuesday, May 20, 1986, at 7:45 p.m.
(O 86-14)
#4. RE: An ordinance decriminalizing parking citations and increasing parking fines.
ACTION: Without objection this was referred to the Committee of the Whole and a public hearing was set for Tuesday, May 20, 1986, at 8:00 p.m.
(O 86-15)
#5. RE: An ordinance increasing certain building permit fees.
ACTION: Without objection this was referred to the Committee of the Whole and a public hearing was set for Tuesday, May 20, 1986, at 8:15 p.m.
(O 86-16)
#6. RE: An ordinance amending the compensation plan, Section 25-1-1 of the Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake City, Utah, 1965, as amended, for city officers and employees, including statutory officers.
ACTION: Without objection this was referred to the Committee of the Whole and a public hearing was set for Tuesday, May 20, 1986, at 7:15 p.m.
(O 86-17)
#7. RE: A resolution determining the rate of tax levy and levying taxes upon all real and personal property within Salt Lake City made taxable by law for 1986.
ACTION: Without objection this was referred to the Committee of the Whole.
(R 86-6)
MAYOR’S OFFICE
#1. RE: The appointment of Willy Price to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
ACTION: Without objection this was referred to the consent agenda.
(I 86-10)
#2. RE: The appointment of John Gisler to the Civil Service Commission.
ACTION: Without objection this was referred to the Committee of the Whole.
(I 86-9)
#3. RE: The Mayor’s FY 1986-87 budget message and tentative 1986-87 budgets.
ACTION: Without objection the Council adopted Resolution 55 of 1986 adopting tentative budgets for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 1986, and ending June 30, 1987, referred the tentative budgets to the Committee of the Whole, and set a public hearing for Tuesday, May 20, 1986, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the tentative budgets for Fiscal Year 1986-87.
DISCUSSION: Mayor DePaulis said that never in recent years had Salt Lake City government faced as serious a fiscal dilemma as in 1986 and said that the task of balancing a budget to maintain basic municipal services had never been as difficult. He said that the fiscal year 1986-87 general fund budget of $81 million was approximately the same as the fiscal year 1985-86 approved budget and that the total budget, including enterprise funds, of $199.9 million was a l0% reduction from last year’s approved budget. He said that this austere budget proposed that most city departments would operate with less money than in the current year and that eligible employees would only receive merit salary increases.
Mayor DePaulis said that during the preparation of the budget more conservative revenue estimates were used than had been used in the past and federal revenue sharing was not included beyond the first quarter of the fiscal year. He recommended that if the city received revenue sharing in the next fiscal year it be earmarked for capital improvement projects and not included into the operating budget. The Mayor said that during the budget process each department was asked to propose 5 and 10 percent reductions in their budget along with requests for necessary program enhancements. He said that the general fund budget proposed a net reduction of 44 full-time positions and that proposed service reductions included: 15 fewer police officers; 24 fewer firefighter positions which would impact fire prevention, weed abatement and support service programs; a reduction in street lighting services; restricted watering, lighting and flower planting in city parks; consolidated police and civilian crime prevention programs; several positions being left vacant; and reduced travel and purchases of furniture and equipment. Mayor DePaulis said that the total general fund spending level proposed was a net reduction of 3.7 percent from the current base budget. He pointed out that this was not applied across-the-board; department budgets reflected differing levels of needs and priorities.
Mayor DePaulis then talked about revenue increases and recommended that several existing fees be increased, new fees be imposed and some unobligated funds be transferred to the general fund. He recommended fee increases for building permits and inspections, planning and zoning actions, and parking tickets. He proposed a new fee to cover garbage collection and the annual trash pick up and supported a franchise fee on water and sewer services. He also said that the city reached an agreement with the State Court Administrator’s Office to decriminalize parking tickets and while there were start-up costs, the revenue from parking tickets would increase if the system operated properly.
Mayor DePaulis said that even with heavy spending reductions and a broad reliance on new fees, the budget required a small property tax increase. The Mayor also recommended that 4.6 mills of property tax ($5.29 million) continue to be dedicated to capital improvement projects, which coupled with $4.16 million from other revenue sources would give the city a total capital budget of $9.45 million. He noted that it was not necessary to include any money for the renovation of the City and County Building in this budget aside from engineering and architectural fees since the debt service requirement for the bond would not appear in the capital improvements budget until fiscal year 1989-90 when the construction of the building was completed.
He recommended an additional $500,000 to augment the city’s general fund reserve balance since prudent budget principles suggested that this reserve approximate 5 percent of general operating revenues. He said that the budget also allocated funding to continue a strategic planning process since the development of a future plan for Salt Lake City was a vital component of his administration. He recommended that a sum of $100,000 be appropriated and administered by the Economic Development Office for convention and civic support or other economic development activities and he recommended further study of the automated refuse collection system. Lastly he recommended considering the possibility of a one-time payment to employees later in the year in lieu of a cost-of-living increase at this time. Mayor DePaulis then showed several slides which outlined the budget process which was used to arrive at the proposed budget.
(B 86-8)
PUBLIC UTILITIES
#1. RE: Creation of Special Improvement District No. 50-1313 and bid opening for this project.
ACTION: Councilmember Hardwick moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to adopt Resolution 51 of 1986 to create Salt Lake City, Utah, Public Utilities Water and Sewer Project No. 50-1313, and to authorize construction of Improvements as set forth In the Notice of Intention and to create the Special Improvement District, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmember Fonnesbeck who was absent for the vote.
Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Hardwick seconded to refer the bids to public utilities for tabulation, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmember Fonnesbeck who was absent for the vote.
DISCUSSION: Kathryn Marshall, city recorder, opened and read bids for this project. Bids were received from Noland and Son Construction Co., Inc., and Western Utility Contractors, Inc.
(Q 86-5)
PUBLIC WORKS
#1. RE: Special Lighting District No. 1.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to approve the recommendation of the Board of Equalization for Special Lighting District No. 1, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmembers Hardwick and Fonnesbeck who were absent for the vote.
(Q 86-2)
#2. RE: Special Improvement District No. 40-R-l0.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to adopt Resolution 52 of 1986 to create Salt Lake City, Utah, Special Improvement District No. 40-R-l0, and to authorize construction of improvements as set forth In the Notice of Intention and to create the Special Improvement District, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmembers Fonnesbeck and Hardwick who were absent for the vote.
(Q 86-3)
#3. RE: Special Improvement District No. 38-800.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to adopt Resolution 53 of 1986 to create Salt Lake City, Utah, 200 South Street Beautification Curb and Gutter Extension No. 38-800, and to authorize construction of improvements as set forth in the Notice of Intention together with additional improvements as requested by property owners and to create the Special Improvement District, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmembers Fonnesbeck and Hardwick who were absent for the vote.
(Q 86-4)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
East Bench Community Master Plan.
RE: A public hearing at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the East Bench Community Master Plan.
ACTION: Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Fonnesbeck seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmember Godfrey who was absent for the vote.
Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Fonnesbeck seconded to adopt the East Bench Community Master Plan, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
DISCUSSION: Brent Wilde, planning and zoning, said that the East Bench master planning process was instigated in 1982 with a series of citizen meetings which led to the development of several reports. He indicated that the East Bench community was generally in the area of 1300 East eastward, from 1700 South to the University of Utah and said the primary goal of the master plan was to maintain and enhance the community’s quality housing and residential neighborhoods. Mr. Wilde said that the main interest in the housing issue had been with problems associated with Illegal duplexes and inadequate standards for duplexes. He said that many proposals had been recommended to help remedy these problems, such as zoning changes and increased zoning enforcement.
Mr. Wilde mentioned that the plan also included a series of criteria to help evaluate proposed zoning changes for apartments and neighborhood businesses. He said there had been a concern with the potential of foothill development and the plan’s objective was to conclude that the majority of the foothills was not developable and development potential in other areas of the foothills was subject to more rigorous geologic study. Mr. Wilde addressed the issue of traffic circulation and said that the only realistic solution was to improve 1300 East and Foothill Drive. He said their recommendation was to resist any state effort to widen these streets and said that the plan identified several possible actions which would help remedy the traffic situation, such as coordinating with the major institutions in the University area to stay abreast of their plans. He said the plan called for an eventual ceiling on growth at the major institutions based on a predetermined capacity of the major streets serving the area and said the plan also focused on mass transit. No one from the audience addressed this issue. Councilmember Kirk said that the community had been involved with this master plan for a long time and the community councils had reviewed the master plan.
(T 86-7)
Recodifying Title 51.
RE: A public hearing at 6:45 p.m. to discuss an ordinance amending and re-codifying Title 51 relating to zoning.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
Councilmember Kirk moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to adopt Ordinance 41 of 1986 amending Title 51 of the Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake City, Utah, 1965, as amended, relating to zoning, which motion carried, all members voting aye except Councilmember Hardwick who voted nay.
DISCUSSION: Mark Hafey, planning and zoning, said that along with the re-codification there were two maps, reflecting changes, which needed to be adopted. He said the major change was the elimination of the chapter regarding the “R-5A” zoning and the replacement of it with the “R-3A” zoning. He also said that many citizens in the northwest district of the city were concerned with the number of planned unit developments occurring on the west side of Redwood Road north of 900 North. He said the map would be changed to reflect a change of zoning from “R-2A” to “R-2” in this area. He mentioned that other changes on the map included minor modifications, new streets, and the squaring of boundaries. He said that the Planning Commission recommended approval and indicated that the Council had reviewed this ordinance. Because of the size of the ordinance, Mr. Hafey did not specify all of the changes but answered the Council’s specific questions.
Councilmember Hardwick referred to the section which states that for business or commercial buildings or structures there would be one parking space for every three hundred square feet of first floor area in said building and every seven hundred and fifty square feet of floor area above the first floor. He asked why there was this difference. Mr. Hafey indicated that in the high density areas the parking requirement was less than in outlying areas because the building space needed to be concentrated and it was not good planning to have a large number of parking lots in high density areas or tear down buildings for parking lots. This also allowed for commercial parking lots or the use of mass transportation.
Mr. Hardwick expressed concern about this section of the ordinance and the fact that there would be as many employees on the upper floors as on the first floor. Larry Livingston, council staff, indicated that this ordinance was not a total rewrite of the zoning ordinance and the text which Councilmember Hardwick referred to was currently in use. He said that the Planning Commission did not discuss this specific issue. No one from the audience addressed this issue.
(O 86-10)
Community Development Block Grant Funds.
RE: A public hearing at 7:00 p.m. regarding 12th Year Community Development Block Grant funding.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Kirk seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Fonnesbeck seconded to accept the Mayor’s 1986-87 recommended list of projects as the Council’s preliminary list, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
DISCUSSION: Stephanie Loker, capital planning and programming, said that the purpose of the hearing was to receive input from various community groups before the Council’s preliminary recommendation was made. She said that the Council’s preliminary recommendation would be published in the paper May 11, 1986, after which there would be a comment period until Monday, May 19, 1986. She said the Council would need to make their final recommendation on Tuesday, May 20, 1986.
The following citizens spoke about this issue: Perry Underwood, Euclid area, said the neighborhood was in the process of rezoning the area in order to meet the Council’s directive prior to receiving the grant and she expressed her appreciation for the grant money. Daphne Williams, Guadalupe Educational Program, thanked the Council for recognizing the needs of the Guadalupe program. She said their building was in need of repairs. Pauline Valdez and Virginia Walton, Westslde Food Bank, thanked the Council and Mayor for supporting the food bank. Ms. Walton said that she appreciated the Council recognizing the needs for food and housing programs.
Mary Allen, Housing Outreach Rental Program, thanked the Council for recommending their project and said there was a need for emergency housing. She also supported the food bank program. Linda Lazenby, 1066 Pierpont Avenue, said she had used the food bank and housing programs and expressed her support for these programs. Steve Johnson, Utahns Against Hunger, expressed his appreciation to the Council for their support and briefly explained one of the projects accomplished by Utahns Against Hunger which was a study of the nutritional needs of transient men and their use of food assistance programs.
Kathy Sheaffer, Neighborhood Housing Services, thanked the Council for their past support and said that NHS had been raising outside funds. She said the CDBG funds were used toward their revolving loan fund and about 1/3 of the funds this year were used for operations. James Easter, 1344 West Wasatch Avenue, said he had used NHS and he supported this program as well as ASSIST. Chris Layton, Graduate School of Architecture, supported the ASSIST program and said it was a mechanism and valuable resource for architectural students. Tim Chapman, graduate student at the University of Utah Architecture Department, also supported ASSIST. David Ayer, ASSIST, thanked the Council for past and continued support of the ASSIST program. He said one of their greatest programs was the emergency home repair.
John Greene, KRCL radio station, said that KRCL was not recommended for funding and asked the Council to reconsider giving money to KRCL. He said that KRCL had been a publicity mechanism for the CD process and they promoted and advertized the various assistance groups which were available. Michael Ortega, 509 East 800 South, supported the Euclid area project and KRCL, but he questioned giving funds to Project 1990-2000. Hermoine Jex, CDAC, questioned the need for Project 2000 and suggested that neighborhood councils could help develop future plans. She said that the Land Use and Natural Resources Committee had prepared a list of items they wanted addressed in regards to a canyon master plan.
(T 86-9)
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.