City Council Announcements
July 8, 2003
A. Decisions, Feedback & Information needed by staff
1. Downtown Improvement District: The Request for Proposals for the Central Business Improvement District has been sent out by the Administration and the responses are due in by July 16. Ms. Gust-Jenson said she had not received the legal opinion back which stated whether this was an administrative or legislative function. She said until that was received, the assumption was this was a legislative function because that was what the state statue said.
2. Commuter Rail Open House
The Utah Transit Authority will hold an open house on Monday, July 14, to show two proposed locations for commuter rail stations in Salt Lake City. The open house will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. The open house is part of the first phase of UTA's environmental impact study of commuter rail. According to the Administration, UTA "would like to meet with property owners early in the process to provide an overview of the project and answer questions about how the proposed stations might affect the surrounding community." The two proposed locations are at 500 West North Temple and 300 South 600 West. The North Temple location ultimately would have a "vertical access" to a light-rail overpass for the planned Airport to Salt Lake City line. The 600 West location is the Intermodal Hub site. According to the Administration, if the stations are built they would most directly affect people in the Capitol Hill, People's Freeway, Rio Grande, Poplar Grove and Fairpark neighborhood communities. UTA plans to notify people in those neighborhoods about the open house. The Administration also plans to notify the chairs of other community councils in the city. Councilmember Saxton said she brought up issues at the Wasatch Regional Council regarding right-of-way purchases by UTA. She said she thought there were other options for getting other modes of transportation like buses on line sooner while waiting for the money for commuter rail which could take more than 10 years. She said she was raising questions and wanted the Council’s support.
3. July Celebration dates and times to remember:
There will be several meetings scheduled with Sister City representatives during the 24th of July holidays. The City will be hosting activities celebrating the 45th Anniversary of Sister City relations with Matsumoto, Japan. The delegation from Japan will meet with Council Members and the Mayor on July 23, 2003. The time and place of the meeting has not been confirmed, but meeting schedules will be distributed as soon as Council staff has confirmed meeting times. Later that evening, the delegation will be attending a Stingers baseball game and meeting with Salt Lake City residents. On July 24th, the delegation from Japan will participate in the 24th of July Parade, have lunch at the Japan pavilion in the International Peace Gardens and be honored at a reception at the Memorial House in the evening. RSVP information will be sent next week.
In addition to the Matsumoto City delegation, there will be a visit from the Mayor and several businessmen from Oruro, Bolivia scheduled during the 24th of July holiday week. Final meeting times will be sent as soon as the delegation has finalized their itinerary.
Due to health concerns, Taiwan will not be sending a delegation this year.
Matsumoto City, Japan has invited a delegation from Salt Lake City to attend celebratory activities in Japan, tentatively scheduled for September. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Councilmember Christensen asked if a time had been established. Mr. Sears said staff would have times by the end of the week. He said the gift exchange was on the 23rd. Ms. Gust-Jenson said festivities would be held in Japan in September. She said they would be looking for someone to attend from the Council if the Mayor did not attend.
ADDITIONAL City Council Announcements
July 8, 2003
A. Decisions, Feedback & Information needed by staff
1. Amtrak Resolution
The Administration has received a request from Midwest High Speed Rail Coalition that the Council consider a resolution urging Congress and the President to provide better funding for Amtrak. Would Council Members be interested in signing a resolution? No
2. 500 South near Rice Eccles Stadium
Given the development of the Olympic area near Rice Eccles Stadium, interest has unofficially been expressed in renaming 500 South near Rice Eccles Stadium to “Olympic Boulevard”. This is a preliminary request, as no one has checked with the University. Would Council Members be interested in expressing an opinion on this? It is a UDOT decision. Council Members felt they might be open to other locations. Ms. Gust-Jenson said she would write specific questions and check on legalities.
3. Council Minutes
Based on a concern expressed by a Council Member, Council staff has been reviewing the format of the minutes with the Recorder’s Office.
Currently the minutes do not reflect the chronological order of the meeting but list the action right after the agenda item. The discussion summary follows the action. Does the Council object to changing the minutes format to reflect the actual order in which the business is conducted? No objections
4. Traffic Calming
Tim Harpst has provided a listing of traffic calming projects. His office has had a number of inquiries from residents whose projects are at various stages of the process and he wants to be certain the Council is aware of the status of the projects. Ms. Gust-Jenson said three projects under construction and other which were close. She said Mr. Harpst was concerned that people felt they were grandfathered because they had already applied.
5. Salt Lake City Resident Survey
Attached is a script for a survey of citizens relating to interest in bonding. Councilmember Buhler said Rocky Fluhart told him the Council would get to see the results before reading them in the paper.
6. Pool Party!
Party at Cindy’s house – Saturday, July 12 from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Additional Item: Ms. Gust-Jenson said the Council talked about creating a subcommittee for Youth and Family Board and asked who wanted to serve. Council Members Saxton, Love, and Jergensen were selected.