The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at 5:18 p.m. in Room 326, Committee Room, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
In Attendance: Council Members James Rogers, Luke Garrott, Erin Mendenhall, Lisa Adams, Kyle LaMalfa, and Stan Penfold.
Absent: Councilmember Charlie Luke.
Staff in Attendance: Jennifer Bruno, Executive Council Deputy Director; David Everitt, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Margaret Plane, City Attorney; Libby Stockstill, Council Constituent Liaison; Lehua Weaver, Council Policy Analyst; Sean Murphy, Council Policy Analyst; Mike Akerlow, Housing and Neighborhood Development Manager; Tammy Hunsaker, Community Development Programs Administrator; Elizabeth Buehler, Outreach Programs Administrator; Nora Shepard, Planning Director; Brian Roberts, Senior City Attorney; John Vuyk, Budget Manager; Lynn Pace, Mayor’s Senior Advisor; Robin Hutcheson, Transportation Director; Todd Reese, Parks and Public Lands Program Director; Lewis Kogan, Open Space Lands Program Manager; and Cindi Mansell, City Recorder.
Guests in Attendance:
Councilmember Garrott presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 5:18 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. 5:18:45 PM RECEIVE A WRITTEN BRIEFING ON THE 2014 COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN, WHICH WILL REPLACE THE WASATCH FRONT REGION NATURAL HAZARDS PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN. The new plan identifies the region’s natural hazards, risks and vulnerabilities and provides strategies, goals and objectives to mitigate those risks. By adopting the plan, Salt Lake City will qualify for some FEMA disaster funds and the National Flood Insurance Program. View Attachments
Councilmember Adams said she thought better verbiage was needed regarding language contained in the document indicating the property was still owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She suggested changing the word “still” to something like “while” or “as this is the home of…”.
#2. 5:19:30 PM RECEIVE A BUDGET PRESENTATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING A REPORT ON REVENUES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND A PREVIEW OF REVENUES AND THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015-16. View Attachments
Gina Chamness and John Vuyk briefed the Council from attachments. Comments included revenue funding sources, sales tax revenue increase, declining traffic citation revenue, balance budget with one-time revenue, pension changes, health insurance issues, years-of-service increase, ongoing recession impacts, fleet replacement/inventory issues, budget amendment increases, debt-service payment increase, Information Management Services (IMS) technology issues/challenges, reporting system changes, internal services funds, credit rating status, grant fund positions, inflationary price increases, Regional Athletic Complex coming online, Redevelopment Agency (RDA) property tax funding/increment issues, tax-based growth/documentation, personal property depreciation, department reduction strategy, communication barriers with residents, energy management, fair compensation for employees, incorporate Council input such as Urban Forestry and Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and maximize revenue transfer to CIP fund.
Councilmember Penfold said he wanted the Administration to analyze flexible revenue streams (some punitive) such as parking, traffic enforcement, etc. and shift them to less critical funding areas rather than relying on them to balance the budget. Ms. Chamness said there was a legislative intent regarding that issue which the Administration had been working on and would come back to the Council with an update.
Discussion was held on impacts to the City’s credit rating and bonding capacity (including enterprise funds). Ms. Chamness said she needed to confirm information with Airport/Public Utilities and would come back to the Council. Councilmember LaMalfa requested further details on the City’s bonding capacity/debt service.
Discussion was held on tracking/documenting new tax-based growth. Councilmember Penfold asked if new growth in areas not located in RDA project areas could be tracked the same way as RDAs. Ms. Chamness said she had a meeting with the County on Wednesday and would ask that question. Councilmember LaMalfa said similar issues existed with tracking potential impacts to personal property depreciation. Ms. Chamness said that would be included in the budget proposal. She said the Mayor’s budget presentation would occur in three weeks. Councilmember LaMalfa requested information about potential changes to the parking program as it related to revenue generation.
#3. 5:47:46 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON CURRENT POLICIES AND DISCUSS POSSIBLE CHANGES RELATED TO CONSTITUENT NEWSLETTERS AND COUNCIL MEMBER DINING EXPENSES WHEN ATTENDING OFFICIAL EVENTS. View Attachments
Item removed.
#4. 5:48:10 PM HOLD A DISCUSSION ON WHETHER TO SUPPORT SALT LAKE COUNTY MOVING AHEAD WITH A NOVEMBER BALLOT ITEM PLACING LANGUAGE ON MUNICIPAL ELECTION BALLOTS IN NOVEMBER CALLING FOR SALT LAKE COUNTY TO ENACT A COUNTY-WIDE SALES TAX INCREASE FOR TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS AND PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. The Utah Legislature passed a bill this year authorizing counties to impose a general sales tax of .25 percent to fund transportation. The bill would allocate the increase in the following ways: .10 percent to cities and towns; .10 percent to transit districts such as the Utah Transit Authority; and .05 percent to counties. Salt Lake County voters would have to approve the increase.
Russell Weeks, Robin Hutchison, and Lynn Pace briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included preliminary estimates on how much revenue would come to the City, League of Cities/Towns draft resolution, campaign/issues to educate general public, local community needs, active transportation/transit component, consistency with City goals including Council philosophy statements, create quality list of efforts/projects which would go through an open/transparent public process, determine appropriate time to pursue election, determine amount of time needed to prepare an effective information campaign to engage voters, define responsibility for campaign implementation/management, legal restrictions (no for or against promotion) regarding ballot initiatives, global transportation effort, advocacy would come from Transportation Coalition group, creating a competing interest if general obligation bond was added to ballot, timing issues, and lack of City contribution to Transportation Coalition.
Straw Poll: To express Council support through a letter/resolution to the County Council that the City wanted to move forward with the ballot initiative this November and join the Transportation Coalition’s campaign including making a financial contribution. All Council Members present were in support, except Councilmember LaMalfa, who was opposed. Mr. Pace said he would come back to the Council after he received the League’s draft resolution. Councilmember Garrott asked if the Mayor supported this position. Mr. Everitt indicated/gestured yes. Discussion was held on preparing a letter/resolution no later than April 28, 2015. Councilmember Garrott said he saw Council support for the Chair and Vice Chair to approve the final letter.
#5. 6:51:46 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CITY’S CITY-OWNED PROPERTY REGULATIONS, SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS. Under the proposal, existing park rules would be applied to all lands managed by, maintained by or under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Public Lands division. The proposal would also direct that funds from the sale of surplus property be deposited into the respective open space fund or enterprise fund. View Attachments
Lehua Weaver, Todd Reese, and Lewis Kogan briefed the Council with attachments. Ms. Weaver explained there were several housekeeping items and one larger policy discussion. Discussion and review of the housekeeping items followed. Mr. Reese said one item that brought this topic forward was the discovery that many of the open space properties did not technically have governing rules. Mr. Lewis said the larger item would provide names and rules to 75% of the properties that did not have those listed in ordinance. He said clarification was also added relative to the disposition process for open space lands.
Discussion followed regarding property surplus and disposition of proceeds. Councilmember Penfold expressed concern that golf course land could automatically roll into open space. Clarification was offered that whatever asset fund had the property received funds from sale. Further discussion followed regarding trails and whether they were parks or wild lands. Mr. Lewis said trails were treated in different ways; parks and public lands primarily managed those within parks and public lands inventory. Ms. Weaver said the proposal would include updates to the inventory, adding trails, and assign naming associated with parcel numbers. Inquiry was raised relative to the S-Line Trail. Mr. Reese said the challenge was when ownership became convoluted. Discussion followed regarding how to make the distinction between property owned inventory or property associated with trail access.
The Council discussed slacklines, hammocks, and barbecues with open space and public parks. Comments included risk management, safety, possibility to designate specific areas or locations, slacklining being considered a new form of recreation, not allowing fires of any type, not completely disallowing these items from all areas, and concern with the change to parcel identification number instead of the former legal description. Mr. Reese said Staff would be happy to return with creative ideas relative to guidelines, rules, and identification of site options. He clarified the ordinance does consider allow charcoal in the barbecues.
Councilmember LaMalfa expressed concern relative to a parcel not included along the 9-Line. Mr. Lewis responded that was considered un-parceled land and had never been identified by Salt Lake County; some of these parcels do exist along former railroad lands. Inquiry was raised as to the legal description for Jordan Park and whether it included the recently acquired two homes. Mr. Lewis said they could be included.
Discussion followed regarding naming and process for renaming. Mr. Graham explained there was a specific code reference relative to this process. Mr. Lewis addressed the public input and process involved in the naming of those properties that had never had formal naming or affirming the commonly known name and just updating City Code.
There appeared to be Council consensus to advance this item with changes or creative additions relative to slackline and hammock language. Ms. Weaver said she also noted the request for changes relating to open space sales based on clarification as to which fund was replenished, S-Line, two houses adjacent to Jordan Park, and the un-parceled parcel along the 9-line.
#6. 7:31:26 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ABOUT THE MAYOR’S FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND THE ONE-YEAR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR 2015-2016, WHICH ALLOCATES HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) FUNDS TO PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF SALT LAKE CITY. The plan includes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, HOME Investment Partnership Program funding, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funding, for Fiscal Year 2015-16 and approving an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Salt Lake City and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno, Sean Murphy, Mike Akerlow, Tammy Hunsaker, Todd Reese, and David Everitt briefed the Council with attachments. Mr. Murphy provided information on progress made during the previous meeting including ESG and HOPWA. He said the Public Services category was already $99,000 over the limit with capital and building improvements still to be discussed. Councilmember Adams said two housing units identified in the attachments were not located in her district. Councilmember LaMalfa requested clarification about the Council’s ability to add items to the list. Mr. Akerlow explained the various step involved in the process. Ms. Bruno said other considerations for adding items included having new projects conform to submitted categories/plans (federal limitations) and avoid going outside the process including citizen board review, etc.
Discussion was held on the following categories.
ADMINISTRATION 7:43:10 PM
Councilmember LaMalfa asked if community relation support was provided equally across the City (liaisons) or did CDBG areas receive extra support. Mr. Everett said liaisons attended other meetings besides community council meetings.
CONTINGENCY 7:45:25 PM
Discussion was held on fund balance and re-capturing money from projects that either cost less than anticipated or were not started. Mr. Akerlow said they normally maintained a $300,000 balance and used budget amendments to handle re-captured revenue.
PUBLIC SERVICES: HOMELESSNESS/HOMELESS PREVENTION 7:47:49 PM
Mr. Murphy said Public Services had a 15% cap ($483,523) on total spending. He said during the Council’s prior discussion, the fund was $99,000 over the allowed limit. He said due to a miscalculation made earlier in the day, the overage was closer to $211,000. Councilmember Garrott said based on that information, he wanted to move on to other items and asked Mr. Murphy to zero out the category. He said the Council would address Public Services at a future date or later in the evening. He said Councilmember Mendenhall submitted a net neutral proposal which the Council could consider when the issue was readdressed.
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
HOUSING 7:59:58 PM
Councilmember LaMalfa asked about geographical limits of Community Development Corporation of Utah. Mr. Akerlow said they could operate anywhere in the City including non-CDBG areas. He said NeighborWorks Salt Lake was a chartered organization that was restricted to the City’s West side.
Councilmember LaMalfa expressed interest in exploring ways to spread housing to other high opportunity areas and focus on mixed-income projects rather than sole income targeted projects. He suggested that the Council set a preference expressing desire for mixed-income projects as a direction for next year. He said he thought that would go a long way toward allowing people of low income to live in areas of high opportunity. Councilmember Garrott said the Council would bracket Councilmember LaMalfa’s policy question and address it later in the evening.
Mr. Akerlow said under the City’s Housing Rehabilitation and First Time Homebuyer program approximately 20 homes were done Citywide each year. Councilmember Rogers asked if homeowners were allowed to obtain a second-mortgage with this program. Mr. Akerlow said he did not think so but would double check and get back to the Council.
HEALTH 8:12:54 PM
Discussion on this category included the potential to move some applicants to CIP process instead of CDBG, Parks Department priorities, Loma Lane Park project utilized both CIP/CDBG, more explanation needed on why Jordan Park needed two playgrounds, public outreach/input needed on potential park improvements, limited number of playgrounds eligible for CDBG funding, Parks adhered to 15-year replacement/upgrade cycle, Jordan Park gateway proposal was staff driven, housing demolition/mitigation, finish Rose Park plan, and potential to merge projects.
Councilmember Penfold asked the Administration to determine if impact fees could be utilized to fund park acquisition and/or improvements. Mr. Akerlow said park development/acquisition was impact fee eligible but amounts requested for all projects did not contain an impact fee component.
Councilmember Penfold said since the Council needed to identify additional funding, he suggested flagging the category for additional discussion. No objections were raised.
TRANSPORTATION 8:28:26 PM
Discussion on this category included capturing projects through some other process, standing water/lack of stormdrains, potential to involve Public Utilities in funding, potential policy discussion regarding stormwater and defining “gutters”, potential to incorporate gutter repairs in stormwater utility program, feedback request on complimenting CIP projects with CDBG funding, feedback request on status on ADA ramp completion, no curb/gutter along of 1000 West, street deterioration, potential to sell Learned Avenue for housing development, safety concerns relating to Item 6, transportation funding match, complete streets, street width limitations, right-of-way issues, signal improvements, land acquisition, and east-west connectivity.
The Council requested feedback on ADA ramp completion and complimenting CIP projects with CDBG funding. Councilmember Garrott asked Mr. Bruno to make a note to schedule a policy discussion regarding the potential to shift gutter repairs to the stormwater utility program.
The Council wanted to flag Item 6 for additional funding sources (matching funds/contributions) including clarification on what the funding would accomplish.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 8:46:23 PM
Discussion included not being an eligible category in the past, focus development funds to concentrated poverty areas, leverage commercial components with street improvements, explore other potential improvements, explore funding limits, code violations/vacant buildings, forgivable loans, grant application/review process, design guidelines, job creation, income limitations, ability to constrain NeighborWorks grant to specific locations, and request for additional information on Alliance House.
The Council was supportive of focusing funding to specific areas such as Poplar Grove. Councilmember Adams proposed shifting $15,000 to Alliance House. Councilmember Penfold requested specific information on Alliance House before proceeding.
PUBLIC SERVICES BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS SECTION:
HOUSING 8:54:07 PM
Discussion included withdrawal of Helping Hands application and encouraging Road Home to acquire housing Citywide in future applications. Councilmember Penfold suggested moving forward with all items in the category except Alliance House which needed to be flagged for follow-up. Councilmember LaMalfa requested a legislative intent for Road Home to seek funding to acquire homes for similar services in all parts of the City.
EDUCATION 8:56:53 PM
No comments/objections.
HEALTH 8:57:20 PM
Councilmember Garrott said he wanted to flag this category.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 8:57:57 PM
No comments/objections.
DOES NOT MEET PRIORITY 8:58:14 PM
No objections. Ms. Hunsaker said next year’s process would contain additional information.
Ms. Bruno said HUD had strict requirements which meant the Council needed to adopt CDBG applications no later than April 28, 2015. Mr. Akerlow said the Consolidated Plan also needed to be adopted.
Councilmember Penfold suggested only coming back with flagged items for the next meeting.
HOME 9:01:27 PM
Councilmember LaMalfa said he wanted to find money for the mixed-income project shown in Item 3. He said funding could potentially come from Item 2. Councilmember Garrott said this involved a larger policy direction which needed further discussion.
Discussion was held on a policy shift from locating low-income people in known low-income areas to locating them in areas of high opportunity. Comments included creating mixed-income communities (Poplar Grove), Citywide, create successful business nodes, encourage people to acquire homes in high opportunity areas, help residents be successful, more disposable income, concentrated poverty, ensure residents have a variety of opportunities, build affordable housing Citywide (utilize City-owned property), developer requirements, impact on CDBG allocations, evidence needed from housing experts, illegal activity/development restrictions, provide mixed-income housing Citywide, informed policy discussion/public participation, resources needed for economic development/job creation, how to shift/change low-index areas to high index areas, federal formulas, consider different perspectives, avoid cost burdening residents, freedom of choice, and preserving versus creating new housing.
Councilmember Penfold said the Council was talking about an entire policy shift about how the City funded/built low-income housing in Salt Lake City and was not prepared to have that policy discussion.
Councilmember Garrott said a follow-up briefing would be scheduled for May 5, 2015. He said research was needed on the concept of higher incomes needed in order to make business nodes work. Ms. Bruno expressed concerns about staff being able to prepare adequately for a comprehensive discussion. Councilmember Mendenhall said the Administration probably already had a lot of information.
Mr. Akerlow said they would continue to work with the applicant in Item 3 regarding their subsidy request which was not currently allowed.
Discussion was held on merging Items 2 and 3. Councilmember Garrott said that needed to be flagged for further discussion.
Councilmember Garrott said the Council would revisit flagged items at the next briefing (April 28th) and invited Council Members to make other proposals providing they identified a balancing funding source. He asked how much time staff estimated was needed to finalize CDBG. Mr. Murphy said he needed to review the number of flagged items and consider deliberations with Public Services. He invited Council Members to contact him with suggestions/changes.
#7. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INCLUDING A REVIEW OF COUNCIL INFORMATION ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Council may give feedback or staff direction on any item related to City Council business. View Attachments
No discussion or announcements.
#8. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
No discussion was held.
#9. 6:10:26 PM CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE §52-4-205(1)(b) STRATEGY SESSION TO DISCUSS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. (CLOSED SESSION HELD IN ROOM 326)
Councilmember Penfold moved and Councilmember Rogers seconded to enter into Closed Session for a strategy session to discuss collective bargaining, Utah Code §52-4-205(1)(b), Utah Open and Public Meetings Law. A roll call vote was taken. Council Members Mendenhall, Penfold, LaMalfa, Rogers, Adams, and Garrott voted aye. Councilmember Luke was absent. See File M 15-2 for Sworn Statement.
In Attendance: Council Members Rogers, LaMalfa, Garrott, Mendenhall, Adams, and Penfold.
Absent: Councilmember Luke.
Others in Attendance: Margaret Plane, Jennifer Bruno, David Everitt, Brian Roberts, Rusty Vetter, Gina Chamness, John Vuyk, Russell Weeks, and Cindi Mansell.
The Closed Session adjourned at 6:26 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript as other items may have been discussed; please refer to the audio or video for entire content.
This document along with the digital recording constitute the official minutes of the City Council Work Session meeting held April 14, 2015.
clm