The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 326, Committee Room, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
In Attendance: Council Members Carlton Christensen, Kyle LaMalfa, Luke Garrott, Jill Remington Love, Charlie Luke, Stan Penfold and Søren Simonsen.
Staff in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; Jennifer Bruno, Executive Council Deputy Director; Ralph Becker, Mayor; David Everitt, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Karen Halladay, Council Policy Analyst; Russell Weeks, Council Senior Policy Analyst; Dan Mulé, City Treasurer; Edwin Rutan, City Attorney; Justin Belliveau, Redevelopment Agency Deputy Director; Neil Lindberg, Council Legal Director; Gina Chamness, Budget Director; Cindi Mansell, City Recorder; and Sonya Kintaro, Chief Deputy City Recorder.
Guest in Attendance: Jeff Edwards, Economic Development Corporation of Utah Director/CEO; Sherrie Martell, Economic Development Corporation of Utah Membership Relations Manager; and Jace Bunting, Library Finance Manager.
Councilmember LaMalfa presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 6:19 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. 7:22:45 PM HOLD A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FINANCING OF THE UTAH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (“UPAC”) PROJECT. View Attachments
•The project will be funded through City and/or Redevelopment Agency (RDA) bonds; and
•The Council will also discuss a budget amendment to grant budget authority for this project.
Justin Bellevue, Jennifer Bruno and Dan Mulé briefed the Council from attachments/PowerPoint presentation. Ms. Bruno said a Council decision was needed about setting May 7, 2013 for two public hearings regarding a parameters bond resolution and a budget amendment to establish a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) expenditure account.
Discussion about future issues/decisions included what percentage of the bonds should be issued by the City/RDA, whether to maximize the RDA’s borrowing capacity which would preserve the City’s capacity, Statutory Allocation Reduction Revenue (SARR) repayment to the City, direction on how/when to use surplus funds included in all debt service scenarios, agreement amendments that would increase the City’s contribution to debt service, annual contribution agreement regarding a moral obligation pledge to fund shortfalls, RDA/City agreement needed to allocate naming-right sale proceeds from Performing Arts Center amenities/facilities to the Arts Accessibility Program, and how to allocate theater operating income to supplement other Arts Accessibility Program funding.
Councilmember Christensen said he wanted to see any surplus money go toward some type of relief fund for early debt retirement. Councilmember Penfold asked staff to calculate the amount/timeline regarding surplus revenue. Mr. Mulé said interest would also accumulate on unspent bond proceeds which could be used for the project or to call bonds.
#2. 6:21:13 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM JEFF EDWARDS, PRESIDENT AND CEO, OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF UTAH (EDCUTAH) REGARDING ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST WITH SALT LAKE CITY. This is the second in a series of briefings from partnership organizations that will be scheduled in 2013 by the City Council. View Attachments
Jeff Edwards and Sherrie Martell briefed the Council from attachments. Mr. Edwards said in approximately two years, the City was in danger of losing the Foreign Trade Zone designation. He said a prioritization discussion was needed and requested assistance/direction on ways to attract new tenants.
Councilmember Simonsen asked Mr. Edwards to find ways to incentivize electric car manufacturers to relocate in Salt Lake. Mr. Edwards invited Council Members to participate in hosting activities and attend the International Council of Shopping Center event in Las Vegas.
#3. RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM CORY LYMAN, SALT LAKE CITY’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM DIRECTOR. View Attachments The briefing will include:
•An update on the CERT program and upcoming City emergency exercises;
•Introduction of the new “catastrophic neighborhood mass care” initiative where the City will be partnering with Red Cross and Salt Lake City School District;
•A proposal that would create a Building Occupancy Resumption Program (BORP) for Salt Lake City. The program would utilize local building inspectors and qualified volunteer inspectors to perform emergency inspections following an earthquake that causes damage to buildings. The inspections would determine whether buildings are safe to occupy. The proposal is designed to reduce inspection delays; and
•A proposal that would grant leave with pay to employees who are certified disaster service employees to participate in disaster relief services for up to 12 work days in any 12 month period. The proposal would also create Title 22 – Local Emergencies, a separate title in Salt Lake City Code, to give local emergency provisions greater prominence. The proposal is part of the City’s efforts to actively prepare for disasters and catastrophic events.
Item was removed from agenda.
#4. 7:45:44 PM HOLD A DISCUSSION REGARDING PRIORITY PROJECTS TO FURTHER PARKS AND OPEN SPACE. View Attachments The Council has established seven areas of policy focus since 2011, including Parks and Open Space and is highlighting projects throughout the City to further those seven policies. Priority projects relating to the Council’s policy focus on Sustainability and Transportation and Mobility will be discussed at a future meeting. Priority projects for Arts and Culture, Neighborhood Quality of Life, Economic Health of the City and Education were discussed at the February 19th, March 5th, March 19th and April 2nd meetings. (Council Philosophy Statements)
Karen Halladay briefed the Council from attachments. Councilmember Garrott said he wanted the new Parks, Natural Lands, Trails and Urban Forestry Advisory Board to provide a short list of recommendations regarding data gathering, needs assessment and funding sources/partners for Council review/input. Councilmember Penfold suggested the Council move ahead with infrastructure/software needed to gather information in order to assess costs/savings related to managing City parks.
Councilmember LaMalfa asked if Council Members supported moving ahead with Item 1, asking the board for feedback on Item #2 and delaying Item 3 for additional information. A majority of the Council was in favor. (see attachments for items)
#5. (TENTATIVE) RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ONE-YEAR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR 2013-2014, WHICH ALLOCATES HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) FUNDS TO PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF SALT LAKE CITY. The plan includes the Community Development Block Grant funding (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program funding (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grant funding (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS funding (HOPWA), and approving the interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. View Attachments
Item was removed from agenda.
#6. 7:52:41 PM HOLD A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF LEASE REVENUE BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING AND CONSTRUCTING A NEW LIBRARY, THE GLENDALE LIBRARY PROJECT. The Council will also have a brief initial discussion of Library budget issues. View Attachments
Councilmember Simonsen recused himself.
Russell Weeks, Dan Mulé, Gina Chamness and Jace Bunting briefed the Council from attachments. Discussion included tax rate scenarios/limits, how bonding would impact the library budget, property value fluctuation, ways to utilize accumulated revenue including funding a variety of system wide technology upgrades, allocating more money toward bonds in order to borrow less, postponed construction produced more reserves, concern about whether ongoing revenue could fund current infrastructure replacement needs, equipment lease provision, labor intensive material handling process, inefficient system, automate library processes, tax rate increase needed to complete/furbish/manage new branches, ongoing operation plans, and collection materials included in Glendale/Marmalade project budgets.
Ms. Gust-Jenson said the Council would receive additional information prior to the May 7, 2013 meeting. Councilmember Penfold asked that the upcoming budget include plans/ideas to ensure technology was an ongoing part of operations so libraries did not continue to fall further behind.
Discussion was held on allowing Glendale Community Council representatives to make verbal comments. A majority of the Council was opposed since the agenda did not include a “public comment” period but said written comments were welcome.
Ms. Gust-Jenson said the Council could restore items reduced during the design process by increasing the parameters resolution from $9 to $10 million. A majority of the Council was in favor. Mr. Mulé said the resolution was scheduled to be adopted April 23, 2013.
#7. RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION REGARDING PLAN SALT LAKE – A CITYWIDE PLAN THAT WILL BE USED TO GUIDE THE CITY FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. The plan will include multiple planning topics, including: Housing, Transportation, Recreation and Open Space, Economic Development, Education, Arts and Culture, Urban Design, Institutions, Land Use, Neighborhoods, Resources and Infrastructure. The briefing will outline the project timeline, public engagement process, and when during the process the Administration will update the Council. View Attachments
Item was removed from agenda.
#8. RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING MAYOR RALPH BECKER'S ADMINISTRATION’S OUTLINE OF THE PROCESS FOR UPDATING THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. The process includes a public engagement plan and research and analysis of the Downtown area. The current Downtown Master Plan was adopted in 1995. View Attachments
Item was removed from agenda.
#9. HOLD A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PROPOSED MASTER PLAN REFINEMENT PROCESS. View Attachments
Item was removed from agenda.
#10. 8:22:47 PM DISCUSS A REQUEST BY MOVE TO AMEND SALT LAKE TO INITIATE THE LOCAL OPINION QUESTION PROCESS AS PROVIDED IN CHAPTER 2.69, SALT LAKE CITY CODE. This will include the method by which the City will ask the voter’s opinion regarding Move to Amend’s petition that “corporations are not people.” View Attachments
Neil Lindberg and Cindi Mansell briefed Council from attachments. Discussion included July opinion poll, ordinance parameters, posting requirements, voter registration options/issues/eligibility, cost issues/estimates for various methods, staffing issues, election process integrity/legitimacy, online voting issues, ability to test vote-by-mail process, honor commitment, educate public about Council action/other components, Council to approve language, ballot verification issues and return postage not included.
Councilmember Penfold requested information about when a person’s registration was officially added to County’s rolls so it could be used for mailing purposes. Mr. Lindberg said feedback would be provided to the Council.
Straw Poll: A majority of the Council was in favor of the vote-by-mail option. Councilmember Penfold added a qualification that he wanted to push the voter registration deadline as close as possible to the mailing.
Councilmember LaMalfa asked if a public hearing was required. Mr. Lindberg said no, but the Council could chose to hold one. He said consideration was needed to allow enough time to accomplish necessary issues/tasks if the Council chose the July date. He said he would prepare a resolution for a vote-by-mail option, including detailed mechanics for Council consideration on April 23, 2013.
#11. 8:53:25 PM REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INCLUDING A REVIEW OF COUNCIL INFORMATION ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. View Attachments
See file M 13-5 for announcements.
#12. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON COUNCIL INTEREST ITEMS AND A REPORT OF MEETINGS WITH THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF VARIOUS CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
No discussion.
#13. (TENTATIVE) CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE § 52-4-204, FOR ANY ALLOWED PURPOSE.
Item not held.
The meeting adjourned at 9:06 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 9, 2013.
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