The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Regular Session on Tuesday, September 16, 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 Scott Crandall, Deputy City Recorder were present.
Councilmember Seed presided at and conducted the meeting.
#1. The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance.
#2. Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Martinez seconded to approve the minutes of the Salt Lake City Council meeting held September 9, 1997, with correction, which motion carried, all members voted aye, except Councilmember Christensen, who was absent for the vote.
(M 97-1)
#3. Adopting a joint resolution with the Mayor appealing to Congress to enact the original version of Senate Bill 513, providing for continuous project-based assistance for expiring Section 8 buildings and encourage adequate funding for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Title VI Preservation Program.
ACTION: Councilmember Martinez moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to adopt Resolution 50 of 1997, which motion carried, all members voted aye, except Councilmember Christensen who was absent for the vote.
DISCUSSION: Councilmember Martinez read the resolution. Mayor Corradini and Councilmember Martinez presented the resolution to residents from the Escalante apartments.
(R 97-1)
CITIZEN COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL
May Steiner, 1636 West 1000 North, Apt. 23, said she was a board member of the National Alliance of HUD Tenants and thanked the Council for the resolution concerning Senate Bill 513.
Deb Sawyer, 549 Cortez Street, said she was a board member of Utah Common Cause. She spoke concerning campaign finance reform. She said she wanted the Council to consider what voluntary expenditure limit would be appropriate for a Mayoral race. She said the limit on the proposed draft was $340,000. She said Utah Common Cause felt that amount was too high and would make the office inaccessible to many good City residents.
CONSENT AGENDA
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Christensen seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, including Councilmember Martinez's legislative action, requesting the Administration send a letter to the County Elections Office, requesting them to make a more concerted effort to appoint ethnic citizens to serve as election judges for future elections, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
#1. RE: Adopting Resolution 51 of 1997, appointing election judges for the 1997 Salt Lake City Primary and General elections.
DISCUSSION: Councilmember Martinez said he reviewed the list of election judges. He said he did not believe any ethnic citizens were serving as judges. He said he wanted the Council to contact the County Elections Office and ask them to make a more concerted effort to be more inclusive of the City's ethnic population when selecting election judges in the future.
(U 97-25)
NEW BUSINESS
#1. RE: Consider adopting an ordinance amending Section 5.61, Salt Lake City Code, relating to sexually oriented businesses.
ACTION: Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to refer to Committee of the Whole for briefing on October 14, 1997, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(O 97-25)
#2. RE: Consider a motion adopting a Legislative Action from Councilmember Seed requesting amortization of a non-conforming use to rent rooms to six individuals in an existing single family dwelling at 1403 Butler Avenue in a R-1/5000 Zoning District. (Staff report, analysis and background information is provided.)
ACTION: Councilmember Godfrey moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to suspend the rules and adopt the motion, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(P 97-35)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
#1. RE: Consider adopting an ordinance amending assessment Ordinance No. 17 of 1997 adopted on April 8, 1997 modifying certain assessment totals for Special Improvement District No. 103005 (California Avenue and 4400 West); establishing the effective date of this amendment to the assessment ordinance; and related matters.
ACTION: Councilmember Milner moved and Councilmember Martinez seconded to adopt Ordinance 58 of 1997, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(Q 95-7)
>#2. RE: Consider adopting a resolution authorizing the issuance and providing for the sale of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah $726,000 special assessment bonds, Series 1997, Special Improvement District No. 103005 (California Avenue and 4400 West)(The "Bonds"); providing for pricing and terms of the bonds, prescribing the form of bonds, the maturity and denomination of said bonds; providing for the continuance of a guaranty fund; authorizing and approving the form of a bond purchase agreement and the official statement, and related matters.
ACTION: Councilmember Milner moved and Councilmember Mark seconded to adopt Resolution 52 of 1997, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
(Q 95-7)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
#1. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting ordinances vacating a portion of the Union Heights Subdivision, closing a portion of Elizabeth Street, and rezoning property located between 2100 South and Wilmington Avenue and between Highland Drive and 1300 East pursuant to Petition No. 400-96-93. (Staff report, analysis, and background information is provided.)
ACTION: Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Godfrey seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Jolley seconded to adopt ordinances with the following conditions: approve Ordinance 59 of 1997, for a subdivision plat amendment vacating a portion of the Union Heights Subdivision; approve Ordinance 60 of 1997, rezoning certain properties in the Sugar House Business District; approve Ordinance 61 of 1997, as written, to close a portion of Elizabeth Street (1140 East and approximately 2200 South), retaining title to the property until the City receives compensation, either in cash or in another form acceptable to the City, for the property in an amount not less than the fair market value of the property; he said he wished to condition this motion on the approval of the ordinances to close a portion of Elizabeth Street, as heretofore described, and to rezone certain properties in the Sugar House Business District to become effective upon compliance with Conditional Use No. 410-244, Conditions of Approval, as approved by the Planning Commission and the Planning Commission Design Review Committee; he further requested the Administration include the use of a conservation easement as a recommendation for the Hidden Hollow Nature Area Master Plan, and that as a condition to approval, the developer agree to a police station (Cop Shop) for an acceptable, accessible location on these premises; he further requested that Salt Lake City and the City Council use whatever political power was available for the installation of a traffic signal on 1300 East and Wilmington Avenue, which motion carried, all members voted aye.
DISCUSSION: Bill Wright, Planning Director, presented a staff report. He said a number of issues were involved regarding this project. He said Union Heights Subdivision, which was created in 1909 needed to be vacated. He said the portion of Elizabeth Street, located north of Wilmington Avenue and extending into the center of the block, needed to be closed. He said the intention was to close the street and make the property available to the abutting property owners at fair market value. He said another issue involved zoning boundaries adjustments which required land trades. He said the parcels of land were City owned property, which was zoned to open space in 1995 and a property owned by the developer, which would become open space under the new plan. He said the proposed actions were recommended by the Planning Commission in response to a development plan by the Boyer Company called the Commons of Sugar House.
Mr. Wright said on May 15, 1997, the Planning Commission voted to approve the development proposal after approximately one year of a public review process. He said during that time the proposed plan went through many changes to address numerous planning issues. He said the the Sugarhouse Master Plan, Sugarhouse Business District Strategies Plan, and certain traffic studies were used in the review process.
Mr. Wright said a subcommittee was established on November 7, 1996. He said the committee was chaired by Judi Short from the Planning Commission. He said other members included Gil Iker and Max Smith, Planning Commission; Lynn Olsen, KOPE Kids; Dale Brewster, Sugarhouse Chamber of Commerce; and Rich Bennett, Sugarhouse Community Council. He said the subcommittee's weekly meetings were attended by large numbers of community residents who provided imput on planning issues. He said the subcommittee reviewed design issues, building orientation issues, amount and design of open space, scale and mix of development, relationship of surface and underground parking to buildings and street frontages, and the expansion and parking issues regarding Sprague Library.
Mr. Wright said this proposal was part of a larger development located from 2100 South to Wilmington Avenue and from 1100 to 1300 East. He said the developers goal was to develop a seamless block of mixed uses with Hidden Hollow at the center and Parley's Creek becoming a pedestrian corridor.
Mr. Wright said in the proposed development building sizes ranged from small to approximately 15,000 square feet. He said the Planning Commission felt there was a good mix which would provide good opportunity for a variety of tenants. He said there were no back doors on any of the properties in this proposal. He said the Parley's Creek connection was a significant planning issue over the past 10 to 15 years. He said the goal was to preserve the creek's natural features and carry the design elements to the library and monument areas. He said setback issues were discussed concerning open space around the creek. He said cross over easements would be provided for patrons of the library.
Mr. Wright said the master plan called for public transit service to this area. He said transit would serve the area by stopping at 1100 East and 2100 South and would not be brought into the center portion of the development. He said there would be a perpetual pedestrian public access easement from 1200 East into Hidden Hollow. He said other corridors would also have pedestrian right-of-ways.
Mr. Wright said underground parking was being proposed which would support second and third level office development for the building located in the center of the block. He said if needed the parking could be used for the Library or other retail businesses. He said the Planning Commission recommended Council's approval of the action items as they related to this proposal. He said the proposal would move the Sugarhouse Business District forward and accomplish most of the planning goals.
Lew Swain, 127 South 500 East, said some people wanted more emphasis on the town center concept. He said he thought that had been addressed with mixed use, public space, open space and eight points of public access. He said the proposal called for an open space easement on the east side of the property, which would run along the center corridor. He said the merits of conservation and open space easements had been discussed. He said over the life of the project there would be a need to change landscaping, public amenities, walkways, and surface improvements. He said he wanted to make sure whichever type of easement was utilized, the open space remained.
Mr. Swain said there was an existing easement in connection with the Post Office and the intention was not to modify the easement. He said it was difficult to increase open space and at the same time create an urban setting. He said the proposal had an open space of 23% and surface parking at 2.7 spaces per 1000 square foot. He said he was working with the Police Department to address the need for a cop shop with a storage area and large meeting room.
Cheri Carlson, 2163 South Wellington Street, said a conservation easement should be part of the proposal. She said value needed to be given by the Boyer Company to compensate the City for lack of compliance to master plans. She said compensation could be open space and provision and maintenance of a combined cop shop and community meeting room. She said the Council needed to make sure the City was compensated for the loss of Elizabeth Street and non-compliance to City master plans.
Judi Short, 862 East Harrison Avenue, said she sent a letter to the City Council. She said the traffic signal at the corner of 1300 East and Wilmington needed to be installed by the time this project was completed. She said she did not have an answer for a community meeting center but thought it could be incorporated with the library. She said the cop shop was also an important issue. She said she was in favor of a conservation easement and suggested Council make the easement a condition of the proposal pending further study.
Del Brewster, 1138 South 1300 East, said he lived and worked in the area. He said he supported the recommendations of Bill Wright and the Planning Commission. He said he worked for the Chamber of Commerce which also supported the recommendations.
Jan Haug, 2420 East Stringham Avenue, said community council and southeast neighborhood residents were generally supportive of the proposal.
Ray Pugsley, 2171 Hannibal Street, said he was the coordinator of the Sugarhouse Mobile Watch. He said a cop shop was needed which would be large enough to hold meetings and store equipment. He said equipment was scattered among members and was difficult to assemble when needed. He said the vacation of Elizabeth Street warranted certain considerations.
Rawlins Young, 2135 South 1900 East, gave the Council a handout. He said he was concerned the Council had not been briefed on information concerning town center, bicycle and pedestrian provisions, housing and urban development and public transit. He said the development was not transit or pedestrian oriented.
Councilmember Milner said Council wanted to emphasis alternative means of transportation. She said the motion should include further study for transit accessibility to this project.
Councilmember Christensen said no residential housing would be removed with the development of this project. He said the proposal was street friendly, provided green space, and complied with City master plans. He said the development would benefit the library, broaden the tax base, reduce crime and help the business district. He said he also wanted to see public transportation issues addressed.
Councilmember Jolley said these kinds of developments should be encouraged. He said the City needed to do everything they could to expedite the process for developers.
Councilmember Seed said the street presence of the buildings and pedestrian orientation were not as strong as master plan recommendations. She said for future projects, she wanted the planning staff to strengthen these issues. She said she was also concerned about the box concept and national retail outlets. She said she wanted more innovation in the kind of retail businesses which would locate in the project.
(P 97-22)
The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.