The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 13, 1996, at 6:00 p.m., in Room 315, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
The following Council Members were present:
Stuart Reid Jo Anne Milner Deeda Seed
Sam Souvall Bryce Jolley Tom Godfrey
Keith Christensen
Mayor Deedee Corradini; Roger Cutler, City Attorney; Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; and Chris Meeker, Chief Deputy City Recorder were present.
Councilmember Christensen presided at and conducted the meeting.
#1. The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance.
#2. CITIZEN COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
Tom Guinney, 560 East South Temple, Associate of Gastronomy, reported on the Farmer's Market being held every Saturday at Pioneer Park. He said this was a five year project, which featured Utah products and was sponsored by the Downtown Alliance. He said the market had been expanded with food sponsors, arts and crafts, cooking shows, and specialty products. He said 2000 visitors had been in attendance in the past three weeks. He passed photos of the Farmer's Market to Council Members. He said the Farmer's Market could be used as an example for things to come in the future for the area and the park.
Hermoine Jex, 272 Wall Street, listed three items for the Council to review and give counsel on. She said first was the property tax increase in the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Capitol Hills area. She said people were asking if this was what the RDA was all about. She said people in the area needed help finding comparables and reasonable assessors.
Councilmember Souvall said he would put a front page news article in his next newsletter concerning an update on the RDA.
Ms. Jex said her next concern was Items E-3 and 4, the closure of Main Street from North Temple to South Temple and South Temple to 100 South. Ms. Jex asked if the closures would be permanent or temporary. She said the closures would have a negative impact on the surrounding streets and neighborhoods. She asked if the Capital Hills, Avenues, and Peoples Freeway Central community councils could participate in the decision making process.
Ms. Jex said the third item she was concerned about was the name change designation of Pioneer Park. She said the park was the first settlement site for Salt Lake City. She said plans for new facilities in the park had been presented but nothing historical had been planned. She said a Pioneer Park committee had been set up in 1995 and had proposed a flag pole with historical plaques at the base. She asked the Council to help implement the flag pole project. She said Mayor Corradini and Governor Levitt supported the project. She said the project had received a grant of $1000 for construction of the flag pole. She said a design and $200 for the Historical Landmarks Committee to review the design was needed. She asked if the Parks Department could work on a design for the base of the pole.
Ken Milo, Architect, spoke in favor of changing Pioneer Park to Pioneer Square. He said he had made an offer to buy the Bailey Tire building. He said a great interest had been expressed in upscale restaurants occupying the Bailey Tire building. He said the project would consist of residences, commercial space and office space. He said it would be a true mixed use project. He said his vision for the gateway community was diversity. He said the strength of the neighborhood was the diversity.
Mr. Milo said his belief was that the unsavory element in Pioneer Park was too highly represented. He said if there was a more balanced mix, the neighborhood would be more of an asset to the City. He asked the Council to give the neighborhood and the project an opportunity to succeed.
Betsy Bradley, Tire Town, and Ken Milo's partner, spoke in favor of Pioneer Park's designation being changed to Pioneer Square. She said the Tire Town project had unlimited interest. She said the project had a snowball effect and had attracted many restaurants. She said the restaurants would like to obtain liquor licenses. Ms. Bradley said the intent was not to create a Bourbon Street atmosphere. She said the intent was to have a relaxing atmosphere. She said it was apparent in order to redevelop the area the liquor laws needed to match the redevelopment.
Tony Tietjen, resident of New York, spoke in favor of changing Pioneer Park to Pioneer Square. She said she was excited about the change demographics of Salt Lake City. She said she was concerned with the lack of visible ethnic groups in Salt Lake City. She said she was excited about the redevelopment of Pioneer Park. She said the Park could bring the City together and unify it. She said she was a musician and was interested in bringing to Salt Lake City some top jazz musicians. She said would like to bring a jazz club to Salt Lake City. She said this would bring different segments of the City together, but the liquor laws would need to be changed in the Pioneer Park area.
Fred Mossinger, representing Caffe Molise spoke in favor of renaming Pioneer Park to Pioneer Square. He said a similar change had occurred when the City had leased Dinwoody Plaza to Caffe Molise. He said Dinwoody Park had been changed to Dinwoody Plaza. He said alcoholic beverages were served at Caffe Molise but the area had changed from the unsavory element.
CONSENT AGENDA
ACTION: Councilmember Jolley moved and Councilmember Souvall seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, deleting Item 4, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
#1. RE: Approving the appointment of G. Robinson Hunt to the Housing Advisory and Appeals Broad for a term extending through October 14, 1998.
(I 96-1)
#2. RE: Approving the appointment of Brian C. Crockett to the Salt Lake City Arts Council for a term extending through July 1, 1999.
(I 96-7)
Approving the appointment of Brian J. Wilkinson to the Salt Lake City Arts Council for a term extending through July 1, 1999.
(I 96-7)
Approving the appointment of Kaye Wankier to the Salt Lake City Arts Council for a term extending through July 1, 1999.
(I 96-7)
Approving the reappointment of Juan J. Benavidez to the Salt Lake City Arts Council for a term extending through July 1, 1999.
(I 96-7)
Approving the appointment of Brian J. Wilkinson to the Salt Lake City Arts Council for a term extending through July 1, 1999.
(I 96-7)
#3. Approving the reappointment of Susan Deal Anderson to the Historic Landmark Commission for a term extending through July 14, 1999.
(I 96-16)
#4. Approving the appointment of Virginia Martinez to the Development Advisory Committee a term extending through July 1, 1999.
(I 96-13)
#5. Setting the date of September 5, 1996 at 5:30 p.m. for the City Council to consider an appeal by Ms. Jan Haug of Planning Commission decision for Conditional Use, Petition No. 410-186, submitted by Eastland Regency Company for a commercial development located at 2800 East Parley's Way, known as the Woodbury Project.
(H 96-13)
#6. Setting the date of September 19, 1996 at 5:30 p.m. for the City Council to consider an appeal by Joseph Rohan of Planning Commission decision for Conditional Use, Petition No. 410-188, submitted by Westminster College for a parking structure.
(H 96-1)
#7. Approving Resolution 53 of 1996 authorizing the approval of an interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City Corporation, and the Third District Court to initiate a Youth Offender Work Program.
(C 96-497)
#8. Approving Resolution 54 of 1996 authorizing the approval of an interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City Corporation, and Salt Lake County, West Valley City, Midvale City, Murray City, Sandy City, Draper City, South Jordan City, West Jordan City, Riverton City, South Salt Lake City, Bluffdale, and the Town of Alta regarding Public Works Mutual Aid Agreement.
(C 96-498)
#9. Approving Resolution 55 of 1996 authorizing the approval of an interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City Corporation, and the State of Utah, Department of Transportation regarding Sunnyside Bicycle Lane Project.
(C 96-499)
#10. Approving Ordinance 61 of 1996 amending subparagraph B of Section 9.08.030 of the Salt Lake City Code, relating to garbage pickup charges.
(O 93-25)
NEW BUSINESS
#1. RE: Approving an ordinance granting to GST Lightwave (Utah), and its successors, a telecommunication franchise.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to suspend the rules and adopt Ordinance 62 of 1996, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(O 96-1/C 96-500)
#2. RE: Adopting an ordinance amending Section 15, Salt Lake City Code, relating to Parks, changing the name and designation of Pioneer Park to Pioneer Square.
ACTION: Councilmember Milner moved and Councilmember Reid seconded to table Item E-2, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to amend the motion to return the issue to City Council by September 3, 1996, to accept public comment and consider adopting changing the name of Pioneer Park to Pioneer Square with an expedited review of the issue by the Community Council before the September 3, 1996 date, which motion carried, all members voted aye except Council Members Reid, Milner and Jolley who voted nay.
DISCUSSION:
Councilmember Milner said she felt it was necessary to provide ample time for the public process and to hold a public hearing. She said many sources had not been contacted to comment on or plan for the change. She suggested directing the administration to put forth a consultant committee to examine all aspects and implications pertinent to the area. She said ample time should be provided for all interested parties to be involved and the second week in October would provide ample time.
Councilmember Reid said he had spoken with staff concerning the name change for Pioneer Park. He said the focus should be on what the City wanted the Park to be. He asked who the changes would include and what were the changes and goals being accomplished. He said Pioneer Park could be unique. He said a consultant who had worked with urban population could be contacted. He said staff had suggested a time limit of the first week in October. He said he wanted the Police Department, Parks and Recreation, Community Councils, the homeless shelter, and the Greek Orthodox Church to be able to address the issue. He said it was not unreasonable to ask for a month or two months for the process to take place.
Councilmember Godfrey said he did not disagree with analyzing what the park should be. He said the other issue was the potential development around the park. He said the goal was to try to get people into the park and remove the undesirable element. He asked the City Council to go the Farmer's Market at Pioneer Park to see what it was like. He said the goal was to get as much activity around the park as possible. He said this would attract the kind of people that were wanted and the wrong kind of people could be discouraged. He said developing the areas around the park would discourage some of the negative activities going on in and around the park. He said he did not want to slow the development around the park.
Councilmember Seed said she wanted to clarify the term unwanted element. She said the term meant people who were engaging in an illegal activity, not homeless people resting in the park. She said she was anxious to see the area be redeveloped and she commended the effort to do so. She said development of the Gateway community could link development with high and low end housing units. She said incentive programs could be developed for this. She said Community Councils should be given the chance for input. She said she supported Councilmember Milner's motion.
Councilmember Jolley said he was in support of the October date to give adequate time for Community Council input. He said this was fair to the community.
Councilmember Souvall said he wanted to clarify the fact that if the designation of Pioneer Park was changed to Pioneer Square a State liquor license was not guaranteed. He asked City Attorney Roger Cutler if the name was changed, would the term square be defensible. Mr. Cutler said it would no longer be a park by definition. He said the designation would change. He said the State would accept the new classification of square for Pioneer Park and would then grant liquor licenses based on that criteria. Councilmember Souvall said if by September 3, 1996 the questions had not been answered, the time could then be extended.
Councilmember Christensen sighted west 200 South as a successful redevelopment project. He said he concurred with the need to go to the Community Councils. He said he understood the Community Councils were willing to expedite the review. He said his concern was for businesses and the risk involved. He said the September 3, 1996 date was an appropriate date. He said the Council could, on September 3, 1996 vote to continue the item further if needed. He said he was concerned with the criminal element in the park and he felt anything which could be done to remove the criminal element from the park should be done. He said he supported Councilmember Godfrey's amended motion to bring the item back to Council on September 3, 1996.
Councilmember Milner said she was in opposition to the amended motion. She said this was something which should not be expedited. She said she represented the district Pioneer Park was in and her district would be directly impacted. She said citizens had not had the opportunity for input and this was significant change. She said the park had historical significance to the City. She said October was a reasonable time for the issue to be brought back to Council.
Councilmember Reid spoke to the original motion to table the item. He said he had talked to the Chairman of the State Liquor Control Commission. He said the commission was not sure they would honor the name change and recognize this as a non park. He said the City Council had circumvented the issue. He said the City Council had never before asked Community Councils to hold special meetings to address a specific issue. He said the Redevelopment Agency had spent tens of thousands of dollars on the park for improvements and security. He said many of the improvements had been to attract and encourage families to use the park. He said to change the designation of the park, the City would be in direct conflict with the intent of the alcohol laws. He said the laws were established by the State to protect children from the exposure to alcohol. He said the City should not waste tax payers money on playground equipment if families with children were not going to use the park. He said to change the name of Pioneer Park to Pioneer Square would be viewed by many as an attempt by the City to circumvent the law created by the State. He said it would set the wrong example. He said it was wrong to change the name of the park so alcohol could be used to entice businesses into the area as a means to clean up drug and alcohol use. He said this was contradictory. He said he encouraged the Council to table the motion.
Councilmember Godfrey said he was concerned that the issue was getting more complex than it had to be. He said the Council had no intention of serving drinks at Pioneer Park. He said when the name change for Washington Square took place alcohol had not become a problem. He said families and children were not at risk. He said he did not see anything wrong with businesses surrounding the park serving alcohol. He said it would not change the park. He said in the past the Council had always been concerned with the downtown area. He said the whole Council was concerned with Pioneer Park not just one person.
(O 96-36)
#3. RE: Adopting an ordinance closing Main Street from North Temple to South Temple, to facilitate establishment of a pedestrian mall-type atmosphere.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Souvell seconded to refer to the City Administration and Planning Commission and request expedited study; request response by November 12, 1996, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(O 96-37)
#4. RE: Adopting an ordinance closing Main Street from South Temple to 100 South, to facilitate establishment of a pedestrian mall-type atmosphere.
ACTION: Councilmember Reid moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to refer to the City Administration and Planning Commission and request expedited study; request response by November 12, 1996, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(O 96-37)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
#1. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 1996-97 Budget. (Amendment #1).
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to close the hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded, to adopt Ordinance 64 of 1996, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(B 96-1)
The meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m.
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