PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1984
THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1984, AT 5:50 P.M. IN ROOM 211 CITY AND COUNTY BUILDING.
ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT: RONALD J. WHITEHEAD ALICE SHEARER GRANT MABEY IONE M. DAVIS SYDNEY R. FONNESBECK EDWARD W. PARKER EARL F. HARDWICK.
Albert Haines, chief administrative officer, was present at the meeting. Mayor Ted L. Wilson was absent from the meeting.
Council Chairperson Ronald Whitehead presided at and conducted the meeting.
PETITIONS
Petition 400-181 of 1984 by Donald A. Mackey.
RE: A request for Salt Lake City to vacate the public interest across petitioner’s property located in Arlington Hills Plat C Subdivision.
Without objection, a public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, July 17, 1984, at 7:15 p.m. to discuss this petition.
(P 84-39)
DEPARTMENTAL BUSINESS
CITY COUNCIL
#1. RE: Membership in the state retirement plan.
Jane Erickson, risk management, said that on July 1, 1984, elected officials can file a formal request to be exempt from the retirement plan. Members who are eligible for exclusion from participation and who are delinquent, as in the case of the City Council, shall have the option of bringing current their delinquent contributions and accrued interest for any period prior to July 1, 1984, plus payment of the 2.5% administrative fee; or, shall have the option of not bringing current their delinquent contributions and accrued interest and permanently forfeiting all of the years of service accrued for four years. Ms. Erickson said that the Council Members could decide independently from one another whether or not to participate. She that the benefit received from the retirement plan would be minimal and mentioned that the Council Members can participate in the deferred compensation plan. She also mentioned that on July 1 an executive retirement system will be established.
#2. RE: Legislative intents relating to the fiscal year 1984-1985 budget.
Ms. Leigh von der Esch, council executive director, presented the proposed legislative intents. The intents are as follows (a copy is on file in the Office of the City Recorder): City Wide 1. It is the intent of the City Council that its legislative intents be acted upon immediately by the administration. To that end, questions and points for clarification should be raised no later than July 15, 1984, so action on intents can begin immediately. 2. In approving the budgets in various city departments for fleet and approving the fleet safety training coordinator position, the Council requests that a report on development and implementation of a system to monitor possible abuse of and chronic problems with city vehicles be prepared and submitted no later than September 1, 1984.
3. The City Council is concerned that funds approved in this budget could be utilized for in-house printing by various departments. It is the intent of the City Council that the administration monitor printing done by different departments to insure that printing is done in a cost-effective manner. Concern was expressed with the vagueness of the term “monitor”. The Council changed the term “monitor” to read “conduct an operations review of’. The word “printing” was changed to “it”. 4. In approving funds for personnel costs, the Council recognizes the effect reclassifications have on the amount of funds required for salaries. It is the intent of the City Council that reclassifications that increase salaries be submitted for the review of the City Council prior to the approval of the reclassification.
5. It is the intent of the City Council that salary schedules for each employee group be made uniform prior to the beginning of collective bargaining for fiscal year 1985-86. Concern was expressed about the term “uniform”. The term “uniform” was changed to read “consistent”. 6. It is the intent of the City Council that a summary of unfilled positions, by department, be provided for the Council‘s review on a quarterly basis. 7. In reducing $35,000 from general fund departments’ travel budgets, it is the intent of the City Council that travel budgets not exceed the amount appropriated in fiscal year 1983-84.
The Council understands that the police department has appropriated $50,000 to sponsor the International Police Chiefs' Convention and has not attempted to reduce funding for this convention; however, it is the intent of the City Council that expenditures for travel in the police department not exceed the amount appropriated in fiscal year 1983-84 with the exception of funds specifically expended for the International Police Chiefs' Convention. This intent was not considered since the $35,000 was not reduced from the travel budget. 8. Should funds be realized from the sale of property related to the Clark Financial Corporation Urban Development Action Grant, it is the intent of the City Council that the following projects be included in the 1984-85 capital projects list: (LIST). This intent was not considered since the anticipated revenue to be received from the sale of the property was not included in the 1984-85 budget. City Attorney 9. In approving funds for the City Attorney’s Office, the Council recognizes that funds will be utilized to contract for legal services rather than hire permanent employees to perform the city’s legal work. It is the intent of the City Council that the administration initiate an audit no later than January 1, 1985, to determine whether funds are better utilized by contracting, and whether city residents are adequately served by attorneys under contract.
There was a question as to what type of audit this would entail. Albert Haines, chief administrative officer, said it was more of a management study. He said that two issues would be considered: if the concept of contracting is a more efficient use of resources and the extent of coverage. The term “audit” was changed to “management review”. Finance and Administrative Services 10. In approving funds for service level increases within the animal control division, the Council recognizes and appreciates the improvement in the division. The Council feels that a humane education program will be of benefit to the residents of Salt Lake City, and will further improve the animal control program.
It is the intent of the Council that the administration pursue implementation, either in-house or by contracting with another agency, of a humane education program, and that a proposal for the program and a recommendation for funding be submitted by the administration by September 1, 1984. Councilmember Fonnesbeck felt that this type of program should be a cooperative effort on the part of the city and county. Councilmember Shearer felt that two separate programs would weaken both. Fire Department 11. It is the intent of the City Council that the administration submit, no later than January 1, 1985, a report on operating fire dispatch services as a self-sustaining enterprise fund. The report should contain information on savings the city will realize if an enterprise organization is implemented. The Council decided to omit the last line of this intent.
Parks Department 12. It is the intent of the City Council that the budget for the golf course enterprise fund be separated from the budget for the parks department so both budgets can be more closely scrutinized. 13. It is the intent of the City Council that the golf course enterprise fund be audited by the administration to insure that the funds are not co-mingled with general funds. 14. In approving the increase in green fees, it is the intent of the City Council that 85% of the funds realized from this increase be earmarked for capital improvements, including the purchase of property for golf courses.
Mr. Haines indicated that 85% of the funds realized from the fee increase cannot be earmarked for capital improvements because of a deficit situation. Intent #14 was omitted and the following line was added to intent #13: It is further the intent of the City Council that a report on the financial status of the golf course enterprise fund after the 1984 playing season be prepared and submitted no later than December 1, 1984. Public Utilities 15. It is the intent of the City Council that the public utilities department initiate an audit of its customer service operation and that a report on the findings of the audit be submitted to the City Council within the course of the fiscal year. The City Council is concerned about the department’s ability to respond to customer needs and feels an in-depth study of the department’s needs and abilities in customer service is necessary and possible within the budget.
Mr. Haines indicated that the new telephone system would be implemented July or August in the public utilities department which will aid in this area of concern. The company’s customer service consultants will provide training and they are being asked to study the customer service program. 16. It is the intent of the City Council that the public utilities department base sewer usage measurement on a shorter period of time so city residents can utilize water for outside purposes in the late fall and early spring.
The phrase “a shorter period of time” was changed to read “water usage during the months of December, January, and February”. 17. It is the intent of the City Council that the public utilities department organize and pursue an education campaign to explain the water rate increase included in this budget to rate payers. Councilmember Parker presented the following intent for Council consideration: That the City Council go on record to favor the restoration of the Hillcrest Avenue Extension Mini-Park on the 8-year Capital Improvement Study. Councilmember Davis disagreed with this intent because she said that there were already many parks within a short distance of this area and she questioned the need for another park. She also mentioned that this district has a lot of open, green space.
Arlo Nelson, capital planning, explained that each year parks are considered and prioritized and Hillcrest will be considered again next year. Councilmember Shearer suggested that it was the responsibility of the residents to indicate to the capital improvements committee which parks they feel are priority for their area. The following intent was presented in addition to those listed previously: 18. It is the intent of the City Council that the administration pursue a study of the Salt Lake County recreation services to determine what is provided by the county to city residents and that the study be submitted by January 15, 1985.
Councilmember Shearer moved and Councilmember Davis seconded to adopt, as amended, legislative intents numbered 1-6, 9-13, and 15-18, relating to the fiscal year 1984-85 budget for Salt Lake City, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
Councilmember Parker moved to approve the legislative intent which he presented. There was no second to this motion.
(B 84-5)
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
#1. RE: A resolution relating to the capital improvement program for fiscal year 1984-85.
At the Council meeting held June 12, 1984, a resolution approving the capital improvement program and approving the four-mill property tax allocation for the eight-year capital improvement program was presented but was not adopted. The Council amended the resolution to read as follows and included this as a legislative intent: It is the intent of the City Council that funds appropriated for capital improvements be reserved for the projects specified in the general fund Capital Improvements Program and in the enterprise funds Capital Improvements Programs without invasion or reallocation for other purposes or needs.
Councilmember Shearer moved and Councilmember Parker seconded to adopt this legislative intent relating to the capital improvement program for fiscal year 1984-85, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(B 84-1, B 84-5)
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
#1. RE: Industrial Revenue Bonds for Hazel Investment Co., for the purpose of constructing a warehouse to relocate and allow for expansion of an existing business, Amware Inc., which is an automobile parts wholesaler. The proposed facility is to be located at approximately 1657 South 700 West. Dick Fox, bond counsel, said that Hazel Investment is a holding company for a wholesale distributor of auto parts. The inducement resolution would authorize the issuance of up to $1,000,000 of Industrial Revenue Bonds so that the company can construct a warehouse/office facility. This company has done business for many years through Amware, its affiliate.
Councilmember Davis moved and Councilmember Parker seconded to adopt the inducement resolution, Resolution 69 of 1984, authorizing and inducing the execution of a memorandum of agreement with Hazel Investment Co., a Utah Partnership, or its affiliates, regarding the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds, which motion carried, all members voting aye.
(Q 84-12)
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.