The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 315, City Council Office, City County Building, 451 South State.
The following Council Members were present:
Carlton Christensen Deeda Seed Tom Rogan
Joanne Milner Roger Thompson Bryce Jolley
Keith Christensen
Mayor Deedee Corradini; Roger Cutler, City Attorney; Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; and Beverly Jones, Deputy City Recorder were present.
Councilmember Jolley presided at and Councilmember Milner conducted the meeting.
#1. The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance.
#2. Councilmember Seed moved and Councilmember K. Christensen seconded to approve the minutes of the Salt Lake City Council meeting held April 14, 1998, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(M 98-1)
QUESTIONS TO THE MAYOR FROM THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember K. Christensen asked how long 400 South and Main Street was going to be closed due to construction of light rail. He said he had seen revised dates for completion. He asked Mayor Corradini to check and see how much longer this section of Main Street would be closed. Mayor Corradini said she would check.
Councilmember Milner recognized Scout Troops 710 and 473.
CITIZEN COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL (ON ANY ITEM NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, AS WELL AS ON ANY OTHER CITY BUSINESS).
Bob Fisher, 2172 Hannibal Street, said he had a friend who owned a store called Gadgets. He said his friend had to file bankruptcy because of pressure from the Redevelopment Agency and Planning and Zoning. He said the closure of 400 South had also contributed to the bankruptcy. He said no one could get to the business because there was no parking.
CONSENT AGENDA
ACTION: Councilmember Jolley moved and Councilmember C. Christensen seconded to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of Item D-2, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
#1. RE: Adopting a motion approving the following decisions made by the Planning Director.
a) Petition No. 400-97-35, a request by Bingham Engineering to amend Plat 1, Lots 1, 2 and 3 of the Sorenson Technology Park Subdivision, located at approximately 1251 South 3600 West. Planning Director's Decision: approve.
(P 98-26)
b) Petition No. 400-98-16, a request by Bingham Engineering to amend Plat 2, Lots 21 and 22 of the Sorenson Technology Park Subdivision, located at approximately 1100 South 3700 West. Planning Director's Decision: approve.
(P 98-27)
c) Petition No. 400-98-9, a request by Donald Sanborn to amend Lot 8 of the Centennial Industrial Park Phase IV Subdivision located at approximately 1805 South 4130 West. Planning Director's Decision: approve.
(P 98-28)
d) Petition No. 400-98-12, a request by Don Wallace of Sortech L.L.C. to amend Plat 1, Lots 16 and 17 of the Sorenson Technology Park Subdivision, located at approximately 3550 West 1500 South. Planning Director's Decision: approve with conditions.
(P 98-29)
#2. RE: Setting the date of May 5, 1998 at 6:00 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance adding the Odd Fellows Building at 39 West Market Street as a landmark site to the City's Register of Cultural Resources pursuant to Chapter 21A.34.020C(1) of the Salt Lake City Code.
This item was pulled from the agenda.
(P 98-30)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
#1. RE: Adopting a legislative action item asking Administration to draft an ordinance rezoning property located at 1555 West 1000 North, 951 North Cornell and 875 North Cornell.
ACTION: Councilmember C. Christensen moved and Councilmember K. Christensen seconded to adopt the legislative action and refer to Community and Economic Development and City Attorney, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(P 98-31)
#2. RE: Adopting a legislative action asking Administration to draft an ordinance that will allow reduced-width public streets for in-fill developments without compromising the delivery of public services.
ACTION: Councilmember C. Christensen moved and Councilmember K. Christensen seconded to adopt the legislative action and refer to Community and Economic Development and City Attorney, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(O 98-7)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
#1. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending the fiscal year 1997-98 budget.
ACTION: Councilmember K. Christensen moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember K. Christensen moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to adopt Ordinance 17 of 1998 with the addition of a transfer of $50,000 from General Fund contingency to the Council office budget for improvements to the Committee of the Whole room and request that Council staff draft a letter to the Administration regarding the practice of incurring costs prior to Council approval by a budget amendment and that the Council issue a legislative intent statement in connection with the annual budget adoption, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
DISCUSSION: Councilmember K. Christensen said he was concerned with money which was spent before the Council had the opportunity to authorize its expense. He said departments needed to come before the Council before deciding to spend money. He said if the money had already been spent, then the department should absorb the money within that department's budget.
(B 97-10)
#2. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance vacating an alley located between Ramona Avenue and Hollywood Avenue and between 1500 East and 1600 East pursuant to Petition No. 400-97-28.
ACTION: Councilmember Rogan moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember Thompson moved and Councilmember K. Christensen seconded to reopen the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember Thompson moved and Councilmember Rogan seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember Jolley moved and Councilmember Thompson seconded to adopt Ordinance 18 of 1998, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
DISCUSSION: Rodney Whitlock, 1526 Ramona Avenue, said he had talked to several homeowners along Ramona Avenue. He said everyone he had talked to except for one person was not in favor of the vacation. He said they were satisfied with the way the alley was right now.
Ms. Gust-Jenson said there seemed to be confusion on the vacation of the alley. She said if the City were to relinquish its interests in the alley, then everything which currently existed on the alley would continue to exist.
Mr. Whitlock said the Utah Code stated that part of an alley could be vacated. He said the whole alley did not have to be vacated. He said most of the alleyway was being used for lawns. He said the neighbors had kept trash from building up and had cultivated for weeds.
Robert Glessner, Central City/Long Range Planner, said the application had come in approximately one year ago. He said only two people had not signed on that block to get the petition through. He said he had not received any calls regarding the petition until the last three weeks when the City Council notice went out. He said Mr. Whitlock had called him with his concerns. He said the alley vacation was a six foot strip behind each property where the owner had already encroached.
Councilmember K. Christensen asked with respect to the vacation, if the real estate would go to the adjoining property owners. Mr. Glessner said that was correct. Councilmember K. Christensen asked if the property owners would have complete control of the land and would not have to worry about the City doing anything else with the property. Mr. Glessner said that was correct.
Brent Wilde, Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning, said alleys which were no longer functioning as alleys became a problem through the building permit process when property owners desired to build rear fences or garages. He said people became frustrated if the alley was not vacated because they could not encroach the property. He said the vacation would just put this property in the hands of the property owners.
Councilmember Rogan asked Mr. Whitlock why he wanted to keep the alley open. Mr. Whitlock said he had called the Planning Department approximately two weeks ago and talked to Mr. Glessner. He said he was informed at that time that the City did not vacate land, they sold it. He said he did not want to buy this additional land. Councilmember Jolley said the City would just give the land to the abutting property owners.
Councilmember K. Christensen said the law permitted the City to vacate a portion of an alley, but in this case it would serve no purpose for the City to vacate a portion of the alley.
Roger Cutler, City Attorney, said he would meet with Mr. Whitlock to answer his questions.
Carol Richardson, 1568 East Ramona Avenue, said she was the petitioner. She said she felt some property owners had been given misinformation because when she did the petition, 83% of the people signed and two people did not. She said to vacate the alley was to the benefit of all abutting property owners.
Tom Johnson, 1576 Ramona Avenue, said there was a 12-foot easement which went along with the alley. He said the alley should be vacated.
(P 98-15)
#3. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending the zoning ordinance to modify the zoning requirements for parks, community centers, places of worship, pedestrian pathways, trails, greenways, natural open space, conservation areas, squares and plazas within residential, commercial and downtown zones pursuant to Petition No. 400-97-52.
ACTION: Councilmember K. Christensen moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember Thompson moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to adopt Ordinance 19 of 1998, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(P 98-16)
#4. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance rezoning properties located at 550 to 558 East 300 South and at 326 to 352 South 600 East from RMF-35 and RO to RMU and RMF-75 pursuant to Petition No. 400-97-74.
ACTION: Councilmember Thompson moved and Councilmember K. Christensen seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember Thompson moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to adopt Ordinance 20 of 1998, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(P 98-14)
#5. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending the Salt Lake City Code regarding radio stations in downtown districts pursuant to Petition No. 400-98-21.
ACTION: Councilmember Jolley moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember K. Christensen moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to adopt Ordinance 21 of 1998, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(P 98-22)
The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.