City Council Announcements
November 12, 2013
Information needed by Staff 9:03:49 PM
A. Fire Department Four-Handed Staffing – Proposed Resolution
Council Member Simonsen is advancing for Council review, at the request of the Fire Union, a resolution in support of four-handed staffing - four personnel on each fire apparatus that is designed to be staffed by four people. The Union has previously indicated to Council staff that they prefer to retain the flexibility of absences of up to 12 hours to allow for administrative meetings, training and personal leave needs. Discussion was held on adopting an ordinance versus a resolution, benefits of having four-handed staffing, and potential budgetary impacts. Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director, said a draft resolution had been prepared and staff needed to know if the Council was interested in having this placed on an agenda before the end of the year. A majority of the Council was opposed to moving forward with the resolution.
D. Citizen’s Compensation Advisory Committee (CCAC) Replacement
This announcement has been in front of the Council previously. Would the Council like to move forward on re-appointing Ms. Spyropoulos-Linardakis? Also there is one more seat the Council needs to fill. Charlie would like to recommend Dale Cox. Staff has requested Mr. Cox’s resume and will forward onto Council once we receive it. Ms. Gust-Jenson said one Councilmember requested additional information about the committee and how it related to both union and non-union employees. She said staff would come back to the Council with additional information before raising the membership question.
E. Quarterly Leadership Council/School Board Meetings
Quarterly Council/School Board leadership meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 22 from noon to 1:30 pm hosted by the Council Office. Please provide agenda items to Council staff. Council staff has listed two items for the agenda: 1) Council's education priority: "civic readiness" and interest to institutionalize civic readiness" and 2) upcoming legislative issues. Ms. Gust- Jenson invited Council Members to provide potential agenda discussion items. She said in keeping with the Council’s education priority, one agenda item was to discuss the civic readiness concept. She said staff put together a summary of different suggestions people had in terms of civic readiness. She said Councilmember Garrott provided a re-write which did not change the meaning or anything like that but just made it flow.
Councilmember LaMalfa said he felt the proposed language was too broad and suggested a narrower interpretation of civic readiness. Discussion was held on various aspects of the issue. Ms. Gust-Jenson said staff could use Councilmember Garrott’s format and try to come back with something along Councilmember LaMalfa’s description. Councilmember Love suggested having Council Members LaMalfa and Garrott work together to refine the language.
Council staff would like to request for a clear definition of "civic readiness." As a result of the Council's most recent discussion regarding the education priority, Council staff has taken phrases from your discussion to develop this DRAFT definition:
Original Text: Civic Readiness: A civically-engaged community consists of individuals or groups who interact, participate in, and understand the decision-making process of local government and other institutions. A civically-engaged community is equipped with the fundamental tools to help develop sustainable community values through partnerships while promoting tolerance and respect of others as they advance the interests and welfare of the community as a whole.
Councilmember Garrott’s suggestion: Civic readiness prepares citizens for an understanding of, interaction with, and participation in local public life. Salt Lake City’s goal of a civically-engaged community includes citizens with the tools to: -develop sustainable community values (through partnerships?) –promote tolerance and respect for others-advance the interests and welfare of the community as a whole.
Councilmember Penfold suggested adding a discussion item about how to ensure that programs intended to reach youth, actually did reach at-risk youth since there seemed to be some disconnect between the School Board and some of the organizations that might approach the Council about how they were identifying high risk youth and how they planned to involve them in activities. Ms. Gust-Jenson said staff would also include the Council’s earlier discussion about the “Dead Sea Scrolls” exhibit.
Additional
City Council Announcements
November 12th, 2013
For Your Information
B. Utah Transit Authority (UTA)/SLC Council Retreat
UTA Trustees are available to participate in a half-day retreat with the Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday, November 26, in either the morning or the afternoon. This will be an opportunity for Council Members to have a discussion with UTA officials on how to improve service in Salt Lake City.
Ø What is the best time for Council Members to schedule the half-day retreat with UTA Trustees on Tuesday, November 26? Councilmember LaMalfa said newly elected Council Members were invited to attend but would not participate in the discussion unless other Council Members objected. A majority of the Council was in favor. Ms. Gust-Jenson asked if the Council wanted to hold the retreat in the morning with the understanding that Councilmember Christensen might not be able to attend. She said the function needed to be concluded no later than 1:00 p.m. A majority of the Council was in favor.