2006 Council Announcements

December 12, 2006

 

City Council Announcements

December 12, 2006

 

A. Information Needed by Council Staff

 

1. Giant in our City Award Dinner: Wednesday, February 7, 2007. A 6:00 p.m. reception will be followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Grand Ballroom at The Grand America Hotel, 555 South Main Street. The cost is $150 per person and $1,500 for a table of ten. Reservations should be made by January 31, 2007. Black tie is invited. Seating is limited. Are any Council Members able to attend?

 

2. Donner Trail Park is located in Council District Six on Kennedy Drive (east of Hogle Zoo).  There are several high rise condominium units in near proximity and directly east of the park and single-family homes directly south across from the park. Due to the close proximity of these residences to the park, homeowners have expressed concern to Council Member Buhler that in the warm weather months, teenagers tend to loiter in the park after closing hours.   Residents claim the disturbances from the late night gatherings are disruptive to their evenings and make it difficult to sleep.  They have requested that the park closure time be changed from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. This would allow enforcement efforts to begin at 10 p.m. rather than 11 p.m., thus providing residents the peace of mind of knowing problems associated with loitering in the park can be resolved earlier in the evening.

      The Salt Lake City Police Department was made aware of the community’s concern regarding teenagers loitering after 11 p.m.  In response to the community’s concern, the Police Department increased their presence in the park during the summer months with additional patrols during park closure time.  In addition, residents were asked to contact the Police Department whenever violators were in the park to increase the effectiveness of enforcement efforts.  

Council Member Buhler supports the community’s request to change the closing time of the park.  He would like to ask for the City Council’s support in requesting that the Administration revise Section 15.08.020A of Salt Lake City Code to reflect Donner Trail Park as an exception with a closure time of 10 p.m. rather than 11 p.m. and is interested in having a revised ordinance completed for the Council’s consideration prior to next spring.

      Current code related to hours designated states: 

"All public parks and playgrounds of the city shall be closed to the public between the hours of eleven o'clock (11:00) P.M. and five o'clock (5:00) A.M. the following morning, with the exception of: 
 
1. Charles Lee Miller park, which shall be closed to the public between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and five o'clock (5:00) A.M. the following morning;

2. Pioneer park, which shall be closed to the public between one-half (1/2) hour after sunset to seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. the following morning; and

3. With the exception of City Creek park, which shall be closed to the public between the hours of eleven o'clock (11:00) P.M. and five o'clock (5:00) A.M. the following  morning, all public parks and playgrounds of the city five (5) acres or less in size, whether or not specifically named or described in this title, which shall be closed to the public between the hours of ten o'clock (10:00) P.M. and five o'clock (5:00) A.M. the following morning.


B. The Memorial House in Memory Grove shall be closed to public use at twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight; outdoor activities on the leased south lawn shall be closed at eleven thirty o'clock (11:30) P.M.; and the Memorial House shall be locked and vacant no later than two o'clock (2:00) A.M. Between twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight and two o'clock (2:00) A.M., use of the Memorial House shall be limited to employees cleaning the premises after an activity.

C. No person or persons shall be permitted in said parks or playgrounds, either on foot or on or in any type of vehicle, during such hours unless for the express purpose of traveling directly through the park or playground on a public street that passes through the park or playground. (Ord. 19-06 § 1, 2006: Ord. 31-01 § 2, 2001: Ord. 35-94 § 1, 1994: Ord. 3-93 § 1, 1993: prior code § 27-6-1)"

 

 

Most Council Members were in favor of moving the issue forward

 

B. For Your Information

 

1. Attached are the Interim Financial Statements for the period ending September 30, 2006.  Included in the narrative is a brief explanation of some variances of general fund revenue and expenditures. Let Gary know if you have questions.

2. Airport Radar: The Salt Lake City Airport is continuing its effort to have the federal government provide a supplemental radar system for the airport. The system also would provide coverage for other airports in the region including Provo and West Jordan. Airport officials have renewed their efforts for the supplemental system because the number of people using aircraft for travel and business has surpassed previous peak levels that occurred before September 11, 2001.

       Airport officials are seeking to have a second “airport surveillance radar facility” at a location around the Point of the Mountain. Locating the facility there would provide coverage for aircraft in Salt Lake and Utah counties. It also would fill in gaps in aircraft radar coverage caused by mountainous terrain along the Wasatch Front. It should be noted that several major commercial airlines this year designated the Provo Municipal Airport as the primary reliever airport for the Salt Lake City airport. However, the Provo airport as yet has no radar coverage, according to Salt Lake City Airport officials.