The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at 4:00 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, Charlie Luke, Kyle LaMalfa, and Stan Penfold.
Staff in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; Jennifer Bruno, Executive Council Deputy Director; Ralph Becker, Mayor; Margaret Plane, City Attorney; Lynn Pace, Mayor’s Senior Advisor; Russell Weeks, Council Senior Policy Analyst; Lehua Weaver, Senior Council Policy Analyst, Michael Akerlow, Housing and Neighborhood Development Director; Todd Reeder, Housing Development Program Specialist; Jennifer Schumann, Housing and Neighborhood Development Auditor/Accountant; Nick Tarbet, Council Policy Analyst; Ryan McFarland, Real Property Manager; Wayne Mills, Senior Planner; Todd Reese, Parks and Public Lands Program Director; Nicole Smedley, Assistant City Recorder; and Scott Crandall, Deputy City Recorder.
Guests in Attendance: Maria Garciaz, NeighborWorks Salt Lake Executive Director and Matt Minkevitch, Road Home Executive Director.
Councilmember Garrott presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 4:02 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. 4:02:09 PM COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HOLD A LOTTERY TO CHOOSE THEIR SEATS FOR 2015 WORK SESSION MEETINGS.
Following the lottery, Council Members moved to their new seats.
#2. 4:07:08 PM HOLD A DISCUSSION AND RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING ISSUES FOR THE 2015 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. Priority List
Lynn Pace said transportation was the main priority for the 2015 session. He said a question was raised by some legislators about the City’s position on the Governor’s Healthy Utah Plan. Discussion was held on the City’s position, potential impacts relating to low income/homeless populations, and the County’s role in implementing Medicaid’s mental health component.
A Straw Poll was taken on supporting the County in their efforts to support the Healthy Utah proposal. All Council Members were in favor.
Councilmember Luke said the City passed a resolution a couple of years ago supporting Medicaid expansion. He said the resolution could be re-released if the principals still held true or the Council could consider a new one.
Discussion was held on the prison relocation proposal. Comments included consumption of existing sewer system capacity, costs to provide water-sewer-stormwater services, new lift station, new treatment plant needed to accommodate future development (upfront cost $250 million), impact fee reimbursement, potential rate increases/bonding, complete Northwest Quadrant Master Plan, potential impact on taxpayers/water customers, negative impact on future development, demonstrate development trends in proposed site, provide information to Prison Relocation Commission (PRC) about market trends, development interests, and work with State Economic Development.
Councilmember Luke said the main message to the Commission was that relocating the prison in Salt Lake would have a direct negative impact on future economic development. Councilmember Garrott suggested referring this to the Council’s Legislative Subcommittee with the suggestion that impact on future development be a major insight as to potential costs to City taxpayers and a press event or other promotion might be needed. A majority of the Council was in favor.
Ms. Gust-Jenson said it would be helpful for the Council to know if the Mayor’s Office was going to make (future development impact) a major messaging point with the public, Legislature, and PRC. Mr. Pace said he would provide follow-up.
Discussion was held on cost/capacity analysis being performed by Public Utilities/consultants and providing that information to the Council’s Legislative Subcommittee, PRC, Legislature, and public. Councilmember Luke said the PRC sighted economic development impacts as one of the main factors of their decision making and thought that should be the primary message being conveyed.
Councilmember Rogers said the Northwest Quadrant did not have a current master plan but asked if it would be helpful for the Council to have one or adopt a legislative intent. Mr. Pace said yes. He said there were some old master plans but not having a current plan hindered the City’s response. He said unfortunately, the PRC’s decision would probably be made in a much shorter timeframe than would be realistic for the Council to adopt a plan. Councilmember Penfold said there was some new information regarding development in the Northwest Quadrant and asked if the City could demonstrate current trends. Mr. Pace said any information the City could provide the PRC about market trends, development interests, or anyone who had shown interest in that area would be helpful. Councilmember Penfold said the State Economic Development organization was taking the lead on recruiting/locating those types of businesses/interests and asked Mr. Pace to work with them.
#3. 4:30:52 PM DISCUSS DEVELOPING A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE COUNCIL’S POLICY RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND FUNDING. View Attachments
Russell Weeks, Lynn Pace, and Mayor Becker briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included transit master plan development, ongoing transportation policy discussions, potential resolution language, lobbying efforts, Salt Lake City’s transportation vision, explore funding sources (local/state), individual Council Member’s transportation goals, Council input needed on Citywide transit plan, explore circulator buses, reliable/dependable/affordable public transportation systems, who decides where/how transportation funding gets allocated, provide scope to transit consultants, investment in pedestrian/bike options, widening streets damages neighborhoods, develop multi-model streets, non-car transportation options, support transportation plan without the use of sales tax, provide viable/consistent transportation alternatives, address regional transportation needs, explore every possible funding source, air quality issues, increase gas tax, find ways to maximize state funding, ongoing conversations about residents wants/needs, free residents from vehicle dependence, review transportation tools, and provide good transportation choices.
Discussion was held on Council priorities/potential resolution language. Ideas included increased gas tax, sales tax, who receive funding (counties or municipalities) and how that would be dispersed, Legislature may adopt multiple funding sources, vehicle registration fees, Unified Transportation Plan components, support funding options identified in plan, approach legislature in unity with other communities, use fuel tax for roads not transit, acquire funding first and then discuss how to spend it, resolution to be utilized by Utah League, prepare statement that represents Council values, develop simple resolution, increase funding for transportation and transit, local transportation projects including transit, local discretion for spending, and local funding should have local control.
Straw Polls:
•Council support to do a resolution. Council Members Adams, Mendenhall, Penfold, Rogers, and Luke were in support. Council Members LaMalfa and Garrott were opposed.
•Council support for a simple resolution. Council Members Adams, Mendenhall, Penfold, Rogers, LaMalfa, and Luke were in support. Councilmember Garrott was opposed.
•Council support for referencing the 2040 Unified Transportation Plan. Council Members LaMalfa, Mendenhall, Luke, and Garrott were opposed. Council Members Adams, Rogers, and Penfold were in support.
•Council support to include transit. Council Members Adams, Rogers, Penfold, LaMalfa, Mendenhall, Luke, and Garrott were in support.
•Council support to include no sales tax. Council Members Adams, Rogers, Penfold, Mendenhall, Luke, and Garrott were opposed. Councilmember LaMalfa was in favor.
•Council support to include local control with all of the implications of that i.e. include County, and entities like Utah Transit Authority. Council Members Adams, Rogers, Penfold, LaMalfa, Mendenhall, and Luke were in support. Councilmember Garrott was opposed.
•Council support to call out municipalities. Council Members Adams, Penfold, Mendenhall, and Luke were in support. Council Members Garrott, LaMalfa, and Rogers were opposed.
Discussion was held on whether to include “Whereas” clauses in the resolution. A majority of the Council was opposed. Councilmember Garrott asked staff to prepare potential resolution language for Council consideration after the dinner break.
8:41:17 PM Discussion was held on the attached draft resolution prepared by staff. View resolution Councilmember Garrott said Mayor Becker reviewed the language and was in support. Councilmember Luke suggested removing the word “adequate”.
Straw Poll:
•Council support for the proposed joint resolution with the removal of the word “adequate”. Council Members Adams, Penfold, Mendenhall, Luke, Garrott, LaMalfa, and Rogers were in support.
#4. 6:54:33 PM RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT OUTREACH GRANT PILOT PROGRAM. The program, which offers small grants for neighborhood projects and improvements, awarded 48 projects funding for community gardens, fitness programs, beautification efforts, leadership training and more. The grant program stems from the Council’s interest in a lighter, quicker, cheaper approach to government, with low cost, high impact. All of the projects have been launched and a majority of them have been completed. View Attachments
Michael Akerlow and Jennifer Schumann briefed the Council with attachments. Mr. Akerlow said approximately half of the projects had been completed and they would come back to the Council later in the year with additional updates. Ms. Schumann said the follow-up briefing would include a community outreach update, neighborhood matching grant categories, program analysis done by University of Utah students, and Council criteria/objectives to evaluate overall program effectiveness. She said recommendations would be included regarding continuation of the program and potential to use a third party for grant administration.
Comments on the proposal included ongoing funding issues, involve small groups/individuals, many grants went to large experienced non-profits, and modify application process/guidelines to engage local community.
The Council requested that future briefings contain recommendations about focusing/empowering more individual participation rather than the usual large organizations. Ms. Gust-Jenson said staff referred four small self-formed groups to larger organized groups to help facilitate their applications. She said staff could track the number of those in the future.
The Council requested that funds not be diverted from this program to accommodate people who did not want to go through the regular CDBG process or other City processes. Councilmember Penfold requested that future updates contain funding recommendations about how money was spent, the number of projects completed, etc.
Discussion was held on how much time was needed to complete projects. The Council asked the Administration to include information and recommendations in future briefings including the potential for a 2-year funding cycle.
Discussion was held on the department’s capacity to administer the program, staff burden, and the potential to outsource grants. Mr. Akerlow said the follow-up briefing would include information about how much time staff spent on the program and recommendations for future participation. Councilmember Garrott asked that the information include how much time involved startup costs including onetime costs. Councilmember Penfold requested the briefing contain recommendations regarding the potential to outsource various components of the program versus adding resources. He said there might be a concern that outsourcing could cause delays or other issues.
Councilmember Garrott said another organization was administrating grants for the Youth Athletic Program and requested information about how that was working.
#5. 7:22:10 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ABOUT A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE A LOAN TOTALING $750,000 FROM THE CITY’S HOUSING TRUST FUND TO NEIGHBORWORKS. The loan would be used to develop affordable housing and rehabilitate qualified homes. NeighborWorks is a non-profit organization that creates affordable housing and rebuilds neighborhoods. View Attachments
Michael Akerlow, Todd Reeder, and Maria Garciaz briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included line-of-credit criteria, consider proposal in context of Citywide affordable housing goals, provide home ownership, 5000 Doors program, leverage funding, preserve housing stock, support affordable housing development in high opportunity areas, focus on Westside neighborhoods, development opportunities limited by NeighborWorks charter, forcing low-income people to live in low-income areas, ideas/funding needed to reverse trend of concentrating development in low-income areas, new construction limited by high costs, consider land value/costs, explore federal funding tools/capacity, consider neighborhood revitalization strategy areas, develop market rate/affordable housing in same areas, identify City-owned parcels to accommodate development, utilize City’s Consolidated Plan, federal funding limits/restrictions, create mixed-income neighborhoods, school performance/grades, and partnership creation.
Councilmember Penfold said since this was a 0% loan, he requested information on how much interest the $750,000 would earn at market rates so potentially that amount could be added to future loans.
Councilmember Mendenhall asked the Administration to quantify how the program fit in the context of the City’s larger affordable housing needs/goals.
Councilmember LaMalfa expressed concerns that the City continued to put low-income people in areas of the City where low-income already existed. Mr. Akerlow said they were encouraging housing providers to spread low-income projects throughout the City.
Councilmember LaMalfa requested that staff work with Ms. Garciaz to prepare another plan which contemplated rehabbing/building the same quality of home described in the proposal in areas of the City which had an “opportunity index” higher than two. Councilmember Garrott said that might speak to a larger policy direction for the Housing Trust Fund. Councilmember LaMalfa suggested complimenting the loan with a grant which would allow some land costs to be written down.
Straw Poll:
•Council support for staff to return with a proposal which maintained the quality and character of the current proposal with the caveat that homes would be rehabbed and offered for sale to people of 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) or less, everywhere except in places where the opportunity index was two or lower (meaning the most desperate places in the City the Council would look to not expand more income targeted housing there) and furthermore that if so required, the program be expanded to include grants for land write downs to address concerns about land being too expensive in other parts of the City. Council Members Adams, Mendenhall, Penfold, Rogers, Garrott, and Luke were opposed. Councilmember LaMalfa was in support.
Councilmember Penfold said Councilmember LaMalfa had valid concerns and the City needed to find ways to integrate/fund mixed-income neighborhoods/projects Citywide. Councilmember Garrott said this was an important policy issue and future discussions would be scheduled.
#6. 7:53:00 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ABOUT A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE A LOAN TOTALING $265,000 FROM THE CITY’S HOUSING TRUST FUND TO SHELTER THE HOMELESS. The loan would be used to renovate a 32-unit permanent supportive housing apartment building at 204 West 200 North. Shelter the Homeless is a non-profit organization created by the Road Home that provides affordable housing options for individuals and families experiencing long term homelessness. View Attachments
Michael Akerlow, Todd Reeder, and Matthew Minkevitch briefed the Council with attachments.
No concerns were raised. Ms. Gust-Jenson said the proposal could be scheduled for formal consideration on January 20, 2015.
#7. 7:57:26 PM RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED NEWSRACK ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD INCREASE LICENSING FEES FOR NEWSRACKS AND WOULD MAKE THE CITY’S PROPERTY MANAGER RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING PERMITS AND ENFORCING THE NEWSRACK ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO PETITION NO. PLNPCM2012-00793. Currently, the City’s Zoning Administrator is responsible. (Petitioner - Mayor Ralph Becker) View Attachments
Nick Tarbet, Ryan McFarland, and Wayne Mills briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included cost-recovery justification, comparisons to other cities, encroachment process, First Amendment issues, explore ways to standardized newsracks, process needed to track newsrack locations/inventory, document maintenance issues, less sidewalk clutter/debris, locate newsracks inside businesses, political judgment, limiting flexibility, input from boards/commissions/businesses, fair/equal enforcement, two-year renewal fee, and minimize fee increase.
Straw Poll:
•Council support for a $100 application fee and $10 per newsrack, renewed annually. Council Members Mendenhall, Rogers, Penfold, LaMalfa, and Luke were in support. Council Members Garrott and Adams were opposed.
Discussion was held on placing newsracks in Sugar House. Councilmember Adams said her constituents requested that the City avoid doing anything that would make sidewalks narrower.
Straw Poll:
•Council support for newsracks in Sugar House. Council Members Mendenhall, Penfold, Adams, Garrott, LaMalfa, and Luke were in support. Councilmember Rogers was opposed.
Discussion was held on consolidating insurance fees by removing them from the Code and creating a separate schedule similar to the Consolidated Fee Schedule. Mr. Tarbet said the Attorney’s/Recorder’s Offices recommended against doing that. Councilmember Penfold said he supported that recommendation. No objections were raised by other Council Members.
#8. 8:19:22 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON A PROPOSED LAND EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE SALT LAKE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SUGAR HOUSE PARK AUTHORITY. Under the proposal, the School District and Park Authority would exchange parcels of equal size, enabling the School District to construct a baseball field on Highland High School property rather than using the field located in Sugar House Park. View Attachments
Lehua Weaver and Todd Reese briefed the Council with attachments. No objections were raised. Councilmember Garrott said the proposal would be scheduled on a future agenda for formal consideration.
#9. 8:25:21 PM 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.
See file M 15-5 for announcements. View Attachments
#10. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
No discussion was held.
#11. CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE § 52-4-205, FOR ANY ALLOWED PURPOSE.
Item not held.
The meeting adjourned at 8:43 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 January 13, 2015.
sc