The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Regular Session on Tuesday, July 8, 1997, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 315, City Council Office, City County Building, 451 South State.
The following Council Members were present:
Lee Martinez Joanne Milner Mary Mark
Deeda Seed Tom Godfrey Bryce Jolley
Keith Christensen
Mayor Deedee Corradini; Roger Cutler, City Attorney; Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; and Bonnie Ferrin, Deputy City Recorder were present.
Councilmember Seed presided at and Councilmember Milner conducted the meeting.
#1. The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance.
#2. Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to approve the minutes of the Salt Lake City Council meeting held July 1, 1997, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(M 97-1)
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Bob Fisher, 2172 Hannibal Street, commented on the construction at 2100 South and said the media should treat everyone equally.
David Greer, spokesman for the Salt Lake Police Association, said this organization was part of the process which led to the proposed citizen review board ordinance which was before the Council. He encouraged the Council to pass the ordinance with a few minor changes. He said this would be a big step forward in holding the Police Department accountable for the management of its internal investigations and discipline. He said there should be slight editing before the ordinance passed, making it correctly reflect what the intention was. He explained the proposed changes to the Council.
City Attorney Roger Cutler said Mr. Greer's recommendation was to make the ordinance broader than was stated.
Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director, said the changes being suggested seemed to be consistent with what was discussed previously. She said the Council could consider adopting the ordinance, based on the fact that it was what the Council was looking for. She said the Council could come back in August with language worked out to the satisfaction of all parties.
Councilmember Godfrey suggested adopting the ordinance "in concept", with the understanding that there would be slight changes coming.
Councilmember Milner asked Officer Greer if he had the recommendations in writing and if they had been submitted formally to the Council.
Mr. Greer said he had only submitted them through the administrative chain, but would submit them to the Council.
Councilmember Christensen suggested adopting the existing ordinance now, rather than doing it "in concept", so it would be in place. He said it could be amended at a later time.
Mr. Cutler said at the last meeting the Council discussed two changes, both of which had been made. He said the first was to change the terms from two years to four years and the other change was to make the term clear regarding the initial appointees being staggered. He said he had a substitute which amended Paragraph 2.72.040, sub-paragraph B. He said this effectuated both changes. He said he assumed the Council wanted to adopt the changes when the motion was made.
Polly Hart, 355 North Quince Street, said she received a letter from Mayor Corradini, dated June 9, 1997. She said it stated the Mayor was unaware that Ms. Hart was running for City Council when she submitted her name for the Landmarks Commission. She said Mayor Corradini said she was withdrawing her submission because "I do not wish to place individual Council Members in a difficult position". Ms. Hart said she was stunned that the Council had refused to consider her appointment to Landmarks. She said she had not yet decided to run for public office when the Mayor first considered her for the appointment. She said after unsuccessfully seeking Councilmember Souvall's seat, she received another letter commending her commitment and urged her to remain involved in issues effecting the City. She said the letter gave information regarding City boards. She said she then received a letter from Councilmember Christensen, dated April 17, 1997, suggesting that she stay involved. She said it was suggested that she consider sitting on a City Commission. She said she had a masters degree in Historic Preservation. She said she chose Landmarks because it was best suited to her educational and professional background. She said only one person who sat on the Landmarks Commission actually had a degree in Historic Preservation and she assumed the City would have welcomed an appointee who was trained to interpret and apply landmark ordinances. She said no where in the City Code did it state that it was a conflict of interest to seek election and sit on a commission at the same time.
She asked how her running for office, while serving on a City Commission, would place individual Council Members in a difficult position. Councilmember Jolley said he was not aware that this had happened. Councilmember Christensen said he concurred with her and hoped that the City would not set such a precedence in the City.
Ms. Hart said she spoke to Carlton Christensen who sat on the Planning Commission and said at no time had he been told that his intention to run for office would be a conflict of interest.
Liesa Mannel, 623 5th Avenue, League of Women Voters, said there were representatives on the committee who reviewed possible campaign finance reform. She said it was her understanding that the primary recommendation, as a consequence for those candidates who did not comply with voluntary limitation of expenditures, would be a notation on the ballot. She said it should not be the notation on the reference sheet which stated that a candidate who signed a contract agreeing to comply with expenditure limits, then did not comply, would have their name removed from the ballot. She said this was a serious legal issue. She said regarding public funding, she understood that finding a funding source was an obstacle to implementation. She said she wanted the Council to consider subsidizing mailings for City Council candidates. She said these candidates typically did not run expensive races. She said if the Council would agree to fund one or two mailings, per each qualified candidate, it might be within the Council's funding capability. She recommended sending the mailing with both candidates information on one sheet of paper.
CONSENT AGENDA
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, with the exception of Item No. 5, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
#1. RE: Approving the appointment of Joleen G. Meredith to the Library Board for a term extending through June 30, 2000.
(I 97-20)
#2. RE: Approving the appointment of William R. Littig to the Historic Landmark Commission for a term extending through July 14, 2000.
(I 97-6)
#3. RE: Approving the appointment of Kathryn V Getz to the Community Development Advisory Committee for a term extending through July 3, 2000.
(I 97-24)
RE: Approving the appointment of Edward D. Makowski to the Community Development Advisory Committee for a term extending through July 3, 2000.
(I 97-24 )
RE: Approving the appointment of Raven L. Rivera to the Community Development Advisory Committee for a term extending through July 3, 2000.
(I 97-24 )
#4. RE: Approving the appointment of Suzanne H. Weaver to the Transportation Advisory Board for a term extending through March 30, 1998.
(I 97-23)
#5. RE: Approving the appointment of F. Marian Bishop to the Airport Authority Board for a term extending through January 15, 2001.
Appointment withdrawn.
(I 97-14)
#6. RE: Approving the appointment of Jeanette D. Watkins to the Housing Authority for a term extending through October 27, 1998.
(I 97-19)
#7. RE: Approving the appointment of Craig R. Mariger to the Planning Commission for a term extending through July 1, 2001.
(I 97-10)
#8. RE: Setting the date of August 12, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 1997-98 Budget, (Amendment No. 1) to include any and all City funds, as well as City staffing document.
(B 97-4)
#9. RE: Adopting Resolution 37 of 1997, authorizing the approval of an interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City Corporation and Utah Valley State College, Utah Fire and Rescue Academy for the purpose of establishing a firefighter training program. The required equipment and facilities shall be provided by the City and the Academy shall manage all course instruction requirements and course completion documentation, including certification.
(C 97-367)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
#1. RE: Adopting an ordinance adopting the rate of tax levy upon all real and personal property within Salt Lake City, made taxable by law for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1997 and ending July 30, 1998.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Martinez seconded to adopt Ordinance 44 of 1997 establishing Salt Lake City's certified tax rate of 0.004552 upon all real and personal property within Salt Lake City, made taxable by law for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 1997 and ending June 30, 1998, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(O 97-17)
#2. RE: Adopting a resolution declaring the intention of the Municipal Council of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, State of Utah, to create Salt Lake City, Utah Central Business Improvement District No. DA-8690-97 (The "District") to promote business activity and economic development in an area of central downtown Salt Lake City, by assessing benefited properties for the costs of such economic promotion activities including administrative expenses within The District; to provide Notice of Intention to authorize such economic promotion, to create The District and to fix a time and place for protests against such economic promotion or the creation of The District, and related matters.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mark seconded to adopt Resolution 38 of 1997, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(Q 97-4)
#3. RE: Adopting a resolution authorizing the approval of an interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City Corporation and Utah Transit Authority which agreement details the working relationship between the City and UTA in connection with the design, construction management and construction of the TRAX Project.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to adopt Resolution 39 of 1997, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(C 97-368)
#4. RE: Adopting an ordinance enacting Chapter 72 of Title 2 of the Salt Lake City Code, relating to Civilian Review Board.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to adopt amended Ordinance 45 of 1997, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
DISCUSSION: Councilmember Godfrey said the final result of creating this ordinance was supported by police officers. He said in most cities officers would fight this type of thing. He said it was nice to work with these officers and have an ordinance everyone could live with.
(O 97-23)
#5. RE: Adopting a motion authorizing the Council Chair to enter into agreement with David Griffith and Associates to conduct a management and performance review of the Police Department.
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Mark seconded to adopt the motion, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(C 97-369)
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
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