The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 11, 1997, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 315, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
The following Council Members were present:
Joanne Milner Sam Souvall Deeda Seed Bryce Jolley
Keith Christensen
The following Councilmember was absent: Tom Godfrey
Councilmember Stuart Reid resigned from the City Council effective Monday, March 10, 1997.
Kay Christensen, Mayor's Chief of Staff; Roger Cutler, City Attorney; Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; and Scott Crandall, Deputy Recorder were present.
Councilmember Seed presided at and conducted the meeting.
#1. The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance.
#2. Councilmember Jolley moved and Councilmember Milner seconded to approve the minutes of the Salt Lake City Council meeting held March 4, 1997, which motion carried, all members present voted aye.
Councilmember Souvall said due to personal priorities he was resigning from the City Council. He said his resignation would be effective at the conclusion of the meeting.
Council Members expressed personal feelings and best wishes to Councilmember Souvall.
CITIZEN COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL
Nancy Saxton, 164 South 900 East, said she felt Kent Anderson's association with American Stores would create a conflict of interest and asked the Council to deny his appointment.
CONSENT AGENDA
ACTION: Councilmember Jolley moved and Councilmember Christensen seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, except Item No. 3, which was moved to New Business, which motion carried, all members present voted aye.
#1. RE: Approving the appointment of Jerry D. Sears to the Airport Authority Board for a term extending through January 15, 2001.
(I 97-14)
#2. RE: Approving the appointment of Katharine D. Deiss to the Recreation Advisory Board for a term extending through January 15, 2001.
(I 97-15)
Approving the appointment of Agnes Valdez to the Recreation Advisory Board for a term extending through January 15, 1999.
(I 97-15)
#3. RE: Approving the appointment of Kent T. Anderson to the Planning Commission for a term extending through July 1, 1997.
(I 97-10)
#4. RE: Approving the appointment of Harvey S. Glade to the Recreation Advisory Board for a term extending through January 15, 2001.
(I 97-15)
Approving the appointment of Yoshiko "Yo" Uno to the Recreation Advisory Board for a term extending through January 15, 2001.
(I 97-15)
#5. RE: Adopting Ordinance 11 of 1997 amending Section 17.12.040 of the Salt Lake City Code, deleting the reference to Mayor's appointment of members of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City. (This proposed ordinance is a housekeeping amendment).
(O 97-5)
NEW BUSINESS
Councilmember Seed asked Councilmember Jolley to conduct items under New Business.
#1. RE: Approving the appointment of Stuart Reid as Director of the Salt Lake City Department of Community and Economic Development.
ACTION: Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Seed seconded to suspend the rules and approve the nomination of Stuart Reid as the Director of Salt Lake City Department of Community and Economic Development, which motion carried, all members present voted aye.
DISCUSSION: Council Members expressed personal feelings and best wishes to Councilmember Stuart Reid.
(I 97-16)
#2. RE: Approving the appointment of Kent T. Anderson to the Planning Commission for a term extending through July 1, 1997.
ACTION: Councilmember Seed moved and Councilmember Milner seconded to deny the appointment of Kent Anderson to the Planning Commission, which motion carried, all members present voted aye, except Council Members Christensen and Jolley, who voted nay.
(I 97-10)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
#1. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending Section 12.96.025, Salt Lake City Code, relating to vehicle immobilization and immobilization release fees. (An ordinance change and fee schedule which would allow the City to immobilize vehicles that would otherwise be towed, and establishing for vehicle immobilization release, towing, impound and related fees.)
ACTION: Councilmember Jolley moved and Councilmember Christensen seconded to cancel the hearing pending additional information, which motion carried, all members present voted aye.
(O 97-4)
#2. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance vacating a portion of an alley running north/south, located between Concord Avenue and Emery Street and between 300 South Street and Iola Avenue, pursuant to Petition No. 400-96-89. (Petitioners are requesting that Salt Lake City vacate the above referenced alley because it was not needed as a vehicular access, it was not maintained, and the alley posed a safety threat to the abutting property owners. A staff report, analysis and background information is provided.)
ACTION: Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members present voted aye.
Councilmember Milner moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to adopt Ordinance 12 of 1997, which motion carried, all members present voted aye.
DISCUSSION: Joe Ruppert, 1198 Iola Avenue, said the portion of the alley he wanted closed ran from Iola to the back alley. He said the alley did not go clear to 300 South. He said he did not want the portion closed which ran from Emery to Concord so people would have access to their backyards. He said the alley ran 160 feet along his property.
Councilmember Seed asked staff if the proposal was consistent with Mr. Ruppert's statements. Katia Pace, Assistant Planner, said it was.
(P 97-9)
#3. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance vacating a portion of an alley located between Lincoln Street and 1000 East and south of 1300 South, pursuant to Petition No. 400-96-80. (Petitioners are requesting that Salt Lake City vacate the west half of the alley running east and west. A staff report analysis and background information is provided.)
ACTION: Councilmember Jolley moved and Councilmember Christensen seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members present voted aye.
Councilmember Jolley moved and Councilmember Souvall seconded to adopt Ordinance 13 of 1997, which motion carried, all members present voted aye.
DISCUSSION: Richard Interdonato, 1323 South Lincoln Street, said the alley closure was for safety reasons. He said a number of cars had been stolen and the alley was not maintained. He said the Fire Department would still have access.
Max Eliason, 4349 South Lynne Lane, Holliday, said he was opposed to the petition and submitted pictures to the Council. He said he owned two four plexes on the alley for the past 21 years. He said eight families lived there and used the alley on a regular basis. He said a petition was made two years ago to close the entire east/west alley. He said the petition was turned down because the Fire Department needed access. He said closing the alley would create traffic problems.
Harold Gustafson, 962 East 1300 South, said he had lived there 55 years and wanted the alley closed.
Timothy Wiser, 964 East 1300 South, said the petition two years ago had been withdrawn, not rejected. He said he was in favor of the closure.
Emily Interdonato, 1323 South Lincoln Street, said vandalism was a problem from people using the alley. She said kids threw balls at their windows and painted graffiti on their garage. She said her cat was also killed.
Rolf Kay, 950 East 1300 South, said he lived directly north of the alley and wanted the alley to be closed.
Councilmember Souvall asked why one portion of the alley was being closed and not the other. Ms. Pace said the current petition was only for the western half. She said the original petition two years ago was for the entire east/west portion. She said the Fire Department rejected the closure due to improper access. She said there was a discrepancy concerning the width of the alley. She said the portion to be vacated was 22 feet wide, which gave each of the abutting property owners 11 feet. She said this would leave enough room for vehicular access to garages.
Councilmember Souvall asked if the Fire Department signed off on all closures. Ms. Pace said they did and had signed off on this petition. Councilmember Jolley asked about light poles on the east portion of the alley. Ms. Pace said the poles were installed with the understanding that the alley was 14 feet wide. She said Council staff was working with Utah Power and Light (UP&L) concerning possible relocation. She said better lighting and clean-up were issues being addressed.
Councilmember Jolley asked if UP&L would agree to relocate the poles. Ann Wescott Gerber, Legislative Auditor, said UP&L gave the impression the poles could be moved. She said staff was still waiting to met with UP&L to finalize options.
(P 97-10)
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Sc