PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1983
THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, MET IN EMERGENCY SESSION ON THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1983, AT 5:00 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 PALMER DEPAULIS EDWARD W. PARKER.
Council Chairman Grant Mabey presided at and conducted this meeting.
Albert Haines, chief administrative officer, and Roger Cutler, city attorney, were present at this meeting.
COUNCIL BUSINESS
Mr. Cutler presented an Emergency Declaration and Expenditure Resolution for the Council’s consideration. He indicated that the resolution had been prepared to meet the Fiscal Procedures Act which allows the administration to spend the fund balance, to order interfund transfers, and to incur deficits during emergencies. He said that the resolution was structured to document that a state of emergency was declared on May 26, 1983 and that emergency conditions were evident as early as March 1983. It was also structured to document the steps taken to deal with the emergency.
Mr. Cutler said that the City had expended approximately $2 million to date and approximately $300,000 per day to deal with the emergency. He also said that the resolution takes into account sales tax losses and potential property tax losses and other losses that would negatively impact the City’s financial condition. Mr. Cutler explained that the resolution would give the Mayor the power to expend money as reasonably necessary to deal with the emergency, to spend the fund balance, general fund, enterprise funds, and other City accounts, to incur deficits in any fund, to borrow and make interfund loans, and to enter into interlocal cooperation agreements to acquire funding and for other emergency purposes. The resolution could be rescinded at any time by the City Council.
Councilmember Shearer expressed some concern that funds obtained through bonding would be expended. Mr. Cutler said that bonding commitments for the Airport Revenue Bonds prohibit the City from spending the money for anything other than the purpose stated in bonding documents, but water bond monies could be expended as they are related to the emergency. Mr. Cutler said that the administration has been informed that the federal government will reimburse the City for as much as 75% of losses, the state government will reimburse for as much as 12 1/2%, and reimbursements from county flood control and insurance policies are also possible. Councilmember Davis asked whether it would be advisable to limit the amount that could be expended without Council approval. Mr. Cutler said that as the operation is moving quickly and as unexpected emergencies arise daily, a provision of this nature in the resolution could severely hamper flood control operations. He also indicated that controlling flood waters is the administration’s primary concern while accounting for costs was of secondary importance and was running several days behind actual expenditures. Councilmember Davis said that the Council needed control of the City’s finances.
Councilmember Parker said that he felt the administration was handling the emergency competently and that City residents perceive that a good job is being done. Councilmember Mabey said that the administration needed flexibility to respond to situations as they arise. Mr. Cutler said for the record that each member of the Council and the press had been notified of the meeting in accordance with Section 6 of the Open Meetings Law.
Councilmember Whitehead moved and Councilmember Davis seconded to call the emergency meeting in accordance with state statutes, which motion carried, all members present voting aye.
Councilmember Whitehead moved and Councilmember Mabey seconded to adopt an Emergency Declaration and Expenditure Resolution, Resolution 52 of 1983, which motion carried, all members present voting aye. Mr. Cutler requested that the Council ratify its action during its next regularly scheduled meeting.
(R 83-12)
The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.