The City Council met at a Legislative Breakfast on Monday, January 12, 2015, at 7:30 a.m. at the Gallivan Center, Second Floor, 239 South Main Street, Salt Lake City.
In Attendance: Council Members Charlie Luke, Kyle LaMalfa, Luke Garrott, Erin Mendenhall, Stan Penfold, and Lisa Adams.
Absent: Councilmember James Rogers
Also In Attendance: Ralph Becker, Mayor; David Everitt, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Cindy Gust-Jenson, Council Executive Director; Jennifer Bruno, Council Deputy Director; Russell Weeks, Council Senior Policy Analyst; Dan Weist, Council Communication Director; Allison Rowland, Council Policy Analyst; Karen Hale, Senior Advisor to the Mayor; Art Raymond, Mayor’s Assistant Communication Director; Holly Hilton, Mayor’s Project/Policy Manager; Lynn Pace, Mayor’s Intergovernmental Advisor; Matthew Dahl, Redevelopment Agency Senior Project Manager; and Cindi Mansell, City Recorder.
Utah State Representatives: Rebecca Edwards, District 20; Sandra Hollins, District 23; Rebecca Chavez-Houck, District 24; Joel Briscoe, District 25; Angela Romero, District 26; Brian King, District 28; Mark Wheatley, District 35; Patrice Arent, District 36; and Justin Miller, District 40.
Utah State Senators: Luz Escamilla, District 1; Jim Debakis, District 2; Gene Davis, District 3; and Jani Iwamoto, District 4.
The meeting was called to order at 8:02 a.m. View Agenda
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
8:02:30 AM Mayor Becker and Councilmember Garrott welcomed those present and thanked them for their time and service. Introductions of everyone present were made, including their area of representation.
2015 SALT LAKE CITY STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
8:06:15 AM City Council Chair Garrott highlighted several key areas of priority: Apartment Inspections; Historic Preservation including the City ability to create Local Historic Districts; Drive-Thru regulations for Bikes; Transportation/Transit; and support for long-term State funding for the homeless.
8:08:501 AM Mayor Becker briefly highlighted key Salt Lake City 2015 Legislative Priorities.
INCREASE FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC TRANSIT
o Salt Lake City’s top legislative priority for the 2015 session was to increase funding for transportation and transit. The State Unified Transportation Plan identifies significant unfunded needs for State roads, local roads, and for transit. Salt Lake City believes this was the year to obtain legislative approval for that funding increase and ask that the Legislature increase funding for local transportation and transit, by raiding and indexing the gas tax, and/or by authorizing a local option sales tax.
o There was the need for additional transportation funding because the existing gas tax was a flat fee per gallon and not indexed to inflation. The tax has not been raised since 1997, and the buying power of that revenue source continues to decline over time. As a result, both the State and local governments have had to subsidize transportation costs with general fund revenue. There was the need for additional transit funding to make it easier to use transit as an alternative to driving. There was the need for more coverage that runs more frequently and costs less. Improved transit will not only improve air quality, but will also reduce the demand for other transportation funds.
Representative Briscoe said many local governments only address transportation and not public transit. He said if there was a successful coalition to increase gas tax, the transit tax would then possibly be forced. Mayor Becker said transit was as much an integral part of government as roads. He said Salt Lake City was different than other cities but the goal was to try and ensure transit was adequately represented with any funding approved. He said the key was for local governments to work together.
Discussion followed regarding local transportation and dispensing of funds, with Representative Briscoe stating there was great interest in transit. Mayor Becker said the transit system was regional in nature and if funding went directly to the counties, Salt Lake City would suffer. He said there were many moving parts on transportation funding, and the goal was to ensure transit received a good portion of the funding percentage.
Mayor Becker addressed one item not on the list of priorities: Mountain Accord. He said this group was working hard to galvanize all public/private/local/state/federal interests and the hope was to produce something following the Legislative Session that represented that consensus.
Holly Hilton discussed the new Legislative Bill tracking website at www.slcgov.com/legislature2015. Representative Chavez-Houck inquired if the tracking could also include the Utah League of Cities and Towns position. She expressed concern the City’s position and the League position could be different at times and Representatives had no way of knowing. Mr. Pace said Staff could let Legislators know if there was a League and City disconnect on position; he encouraged contacting Ms. Hilton with questions or tracking issues. Ms. Chavez-Houck asked that City Staff send Legislators (and Jen Jankowsky/House Leadership Offices) an email or text message should a new bill come up or if there was a disconnect issue. Representative Arent suggested color delineation on the tracking site to indicate various positions.
Mr. Pace said Salt Lake County Caucus Meetings would be held on Thursdays at 7:00 a.m. starting January 29, 2015 in the Main Floor Building and the agendas would be arranged topically. He said positive feedback was received on the 2014 Legislative Parking Plan and would be duplicated again this session. He said during the 45 days of the Legislative Session, courtesy parking for legislators would be offered at any blue parking meter location.
Mr. Pace completed the SLC Priority review of issues: Transportation and Transit; prison relocation; air quality changes; changing the definition of New Growth; funding to address Homeless Issues/Housing the Homeless; funding for Sexual Assault Kit processing, investigation, and Prosecution of Sexual Assault; changes to Special Assessment Area Regulations; Apartment Inspections/Good Landlord Program; Ground Transportation Regulations; and legislation affecting the Airport.
Discussion followed regarding the prison relocation, with Mr. Pace stating were still three sites on the table. He said one site was in west Salt Lake City. He said the biggest concern was to ensure the decision was made on merits rather than politics. Further discussion followed on the congruence of the property owners in this location in regards to the City position; stigma to future development; mixed messages; and existing or future needs for sewer capacity. Mayor Becker said there was a detailed analysis on the City’s website.
Mr. Pace said there would be a continued push for Air Quality this session. He said a top priority bill would address the current law that prohibits Utah from enacting more-structured Air Quality Standards than the federal government. He said Utah cared enough to require their own rules and regulations.
Mr. Pace addressed changing the definition of New Growth as it related to new development and to provide transparency in taxing as well as predictability in budgeting. He said some other jurisdictions are opposed.
OPEN FORUM
Discussion followed regarding Healthy Utah, Special Assessment Area Regulations, same sex marriage, and communication between the City and Legislators.
Mayor Becker thanked everyone for attending and encouraged Legislators to Mr. Pace or Ms. Hilton for questions/issues. Councilmember Garrott said the Council also had a Legislative Subcommittee to contact consisting of Council Members Erin Mendenhall, Charlie Luke, and Stan Penfold.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.
This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript as additional discussion may have been held; please refer to the audio for the entire content.
This document along with the digital recording constitute the official minutes of the City Council Legislative Breakfast meeting held January 12, 2015.
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