The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. in Room 326, City Council Office, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
In Attendance: Council Members Carlton Christensen, Søren Simonsen, Luke Garrott, Jill Remington Love, Kyle LaMalfa, Stan Penfold and Charlie Luke.
Absent: Councilmember Luke Garrott (first half of work session).
Staff In Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; Jennifer Bruno, City Council Deputy Director; Ann Ober, Director of Administrative Services; Linda Benton, Finance and Contract Coordinator; Karen Halladay, Council Policy Analyst; Rick Graham, Public Services Director; Alden Breinholt, Public Services Operations Director; Michael Akerlow, Housing and Neighborhood Director; David Terry, Golf Enterprise Fund Manager; Thomas Ward, Public Utilities Deputy Director; Mary De La Mare-Schaefer, Community and Economic Development Deputy Director; Eric Shaw, Community and Economic Development Director; Debra Alexander, Human Resource Director; Jodi Langford, Employee Benefits Administrator; Nancy Sanders, Public Services Senior Accountant; Bob Farrington, Director of Economic Development; Russell Weeks, Council Policy Analyst; Orion Goff, Building Official; Randy Isbell, Civil Enforcement Inspector; Wilford Sommerkorn, Planning Director; Lynn Pace, Deputy City Attorney; Sonya Kintaro, Chief Deputy City Recorder and Beverly Jones, Deputy City Recorder.
Guests in Attendance: Michael Allegra, Utah Transit Authority General Manager; Todd Provost, Utah Transit Authority Senior Program Manager for Project Development; Dave Goeres, Utah Transit Authority Chief Safety Officer; and Jeff Sachs, Managing Partner, Strategic Advisory Group.
Councilmember LaMalfa presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. RECEIVE A STATUS UPDATE ON THE OPENING OF THE UTAH TRANSIT AUTHORITY (UTA) AIRPORT LINE BY MICHAEL ALLEGRA, UTA GENERAL MANAGER, AND TODD PROVOST, SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS AN AIRPORT LINE SAFETY PRESENTATION BY DAVE GOERES, CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER.
Michael Allegra, Todd Provost, and Dave Goeres briefed the Council on the status of the TRAX and Frontrunner projects and UTA safety program with two videos.
2:29:29 PM Discussion followed regarding the time of operation to accommodate early flight departures and late night arrivals, bus service changes due to the addition of the Airport TRAX line and accommodation for Airport employees.
#2. RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING;
a) A PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT WOULD DEFINE THE CRITERIA AND PROCESS FOR THE NAMING OR RENAMING OF THE CITY’S ASSETS. THE SCOPE OF THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT INCLUDE HONORARY STREET NAMING. View Attachments
b) DISCUSS A PROPOSED PROCESS FOR HONORARY NAMING OF STREETS. View Attachments
Karen Halladay, Ann Ober, Linda Benton and Nick Tarbet briefed the Council with handouts.
2:45:18 PM Discussion followed on longevity of naming rights, the use of ‘ninety acres’ standard applied to a City park where approval of the naming would be determined by the Council, how the naming policy would apply to the Utah Performing Arts Center, sponsorships and past philosophy regarding naming assets.
2:56:03 PM A straw poll was conducted on the following:
a) The Council was in favor of moving forward on the proposed process for honorary naming of streets.
b) The Council was in favor of moving forward on the discussion on the proposed ordinance defining the criteria and process for the naming or renaming of the City’s assets, not to include honorary street naming.
3:00:51 PM Discussion followed on criteria set for the definition of a major asset and the ability to subsequently name assets that had an honorary name. Council Members Christensen, Penfold and Sorenson were interested in adding a reference in renaming an asset that had already been named to the ordinance.
3:05:33 PM Cindy Gust-Jenson asked Council if staff could bring each item to the Council early in the process. She said if staff knew the Council was interested in moving forward on an item, staff could set priorities to meet Council’s needs and provide an estimation of staff time. Councilmember LaMalfa said yes. He said they would return to the assets naming item one more time and try to move forward.
#3. RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING BUDGET AMENDMENT NO. 3 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012-13. BUDGET AMENDMENTS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES EACH YEAR TO REFLECT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CITY’S BUDGETS, INCLUDING PROPOSED PROJECT ADDITIONS AND MODIFICATIONS. THIS AMENDMENT INCLUDES ITEMS SUCH AS CARRY-FORWARD ENCUMBRANCES FOR THE SEWER, STORM WATER AND WATER FUNDS, AS WELL AS A PROPOSAL FOR THE STEINER EAST SPORTS COMPLEX. View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno and Gina Chamness briefed the Council with handouts. Discussion followed regarding the Administration’s delay in projecting upward sales tax revenue until February 2013. Ms. Bruno briefed the Council on fund balance.
A-1: AT&T Cell Tower Relocation ($350,000 – Source: CIP Fund) Ms. Bruno and Michael Akerlow briefed the Council. Discussion followed regarding relocating the cell phone tower from the Barnes Bank Building to the new Public Safety Building. Councilmember Penfold asked for clarification about using the monopole on the Public Safety Building and possible disruptions to the emergency system. Council discussed the cost savings for relocating versus keeping the tower at the Barnes Bank Building and waiting for the lease to expire.
A-5: Increase to Golf Water and Operating Capital ($407,599 – Source: Golf Fund). Ms. Bruno, David Terry and Tom Ward briefed the Council. Discussion followed regarding the timeframe for the irrigation design and energy audit. Mr. Terry said a report from Public Utilities on secondary water options was required for each golf course to reduce water costs. He said the amount asked for would complete this phase of the Siemens audit. Discussion followed regarding secondary water projects at various sites of the City. Mr. Terry said they were not looking for a lower rate from Public Utilities or subsidy from the General Fund. Mr. Terry said they were already using this money on the Rose Park restrooms and kitchen infrastructure at Mountain Dell based on the contract with the concessionaire and the start of golf season. He said the requested funds would be rolled into the whole Siemens project. He said if not funded through the budget amendment, the money would come from the Golf Fund. Mr. Terry said there would be zero cash balance in the golf fund on June 30.
A-6: Refuse Budget Increase for Expense in Fleet Maintenance ($245,700 – Source: Refuse Fund) Ms. Bruno and Nancy Sanders briefed the Council. Discussion followed regarding the higher-than-expected maintenance cost of the CNG packers.
A-7 and A-8: No discussion.
A-9: 3:50:19 PM Expedited Plan Review Outsourcing ($150,000 – Source: fund balance of the General Fund) Ms. Bruno briefed the Council. Discussion followed regarding the increase to access this service. Councilmember Love said outsourcing might not be the answer for expeditious service for plan review. She suggested a City employee dedicated to plan review and paid through the expedited plan review fund might be more efficient.
A-10: No discussion.
A-11: 3:53:50 PM Sports Complex/Steiner East HVAC Improvements ($3,937,425 – Source: CIP Fund) Ms. Bruno, Rick Graham and Alden Breinholt briefed the council. Ms. Bruno said this was to authorize upfront payment and engage ESCO debt service arrangement to pay for HVAC and energy improvement projects. She said the City owned the building and contracted with the County to run the building. She said the County paid $500,000 a year in operating subsidy. She said the City and the County would each pay half of the debt service. Discussion followed regarding the benefit of service, County involvement in capital improvements and sharing of utility savings, savings from the use of high energy-efficient equipment, pay back, annual savings and alternatives to ESCO service.
A-12: 4:05:11 PM Remove $150,000 Reduction Placeholder from CED – ($150,000 – Source: fund balance of the General Fund) Ms. Bruno, Mary De La Mare-Schaefer and Eric Shaw briefed the Council. Discussion followed regarding the placement of the public engagement coordinator in the Community and Economic Development Department (CED), City-wide departmental access to the public engagement coordinator and the expectations of what this position would accomplish. Ms. De La Mare-Schaefer said training on public engagement had been informally conducted amongst other departments. She said Planning was seen as a leader in civic engagement and by placing the position in CED, the budget would allow them the resources to move forward in a more deliberate way. She said it was important for City-wide consistency in the civic engagement process. Ms. Bruno said they would add the full time employee budget funds to CED.
*Councilmember Luke Garrott arrived during the 10-minute break.
5:28:52 PM Ms. Bruno continued the briefing on the budget amendment #3.
B-1, B-2: No discussion.
D-3: Memorial House Rental Income – ($51,819 – Source: CIP Fund) Ms. Bruno said the Administration mistakenly allocated certain items to the donation account and requested moving them to a CIP account. The repairs and maintenance items were not placed in the City’s 10-year CIP plan. Councilmember Penfold asked for a follow up regarding the non-inclusion of these budget items in the CIP plan.
D-5 to D-9: No discussion.
D-10: Request to Increase Risk Budget from Sale of Redwood Rd. Clinic ($252,515 –Source: Risk Fund) Ms. Bruno and Jodi Langford briefed the council. Ms. Bruno said the Administration requested funds from the sale of the Redwood Clinic be placed in the Risk Fund for an employee health clinic.
Discussion was held regarding the location of the new clinic and its accessibility to the majority City employees.
D-11 to D-17, I-1: No discussion.
Ms. Bruno said she would add the public engagement coordinator position as a Council Added Item.
Councilmember Christensen said he wanted feedback regarding sales tax revenue and a plan to manage the budget if there was a short fall before the budget amendment was approved. Ms. Bruno said the public hearing was scheduled for February 19, 2013 and the adoption might be the first meeting in March. She said the Administration would have the revised estimates and solutions by then.
Councilmember LaMalfa said he wanted a status update on the Community Education Program regarding parking meters.
Councilmember Christensen said he wanted to receive a report of revenue generated from bagged parking meters for the budget going forward in various areas of the City. Ms. Bruno asked about doing a legislative intent. Councilmember Christensen said yes.
Councilmember Penfold said he wanted feedback on the subject of relocating meters to areas where more revenue could be generated.
#4. RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM STRATEGIC ADVISORY GROUP (SAG) ON THEIR ANALYSIS AND FINANCIAL MODEL FOR A POTENTIAL CONVENTION HEADQUARTER HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY. THE SALT LAKE CITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RDA) AND SALT LAKE COUNTY JOINTLY FUNDED THIS STUDY. View Attachments
4:31:03 PM Bob Farrington and Jeff Sachs briefed the Council with handouts and a power point presentation. 5:09:15 PM Discussion followed regarding local option sales tax and exemptions, expectations of certain return of investment based on numbers of responders to a Request for Proposal, the method used for the impact on the market, partnership with parking and a revenue-generating parking model that paid for itself, financing models compliance with State law, the status of tourism in Salt Lake City, downsizing the convention hotel and market research on demand for conventions.
Councilmember Penfold said he wanted Mr. Sachs to provide information for comparing the static nature of Salt Lake City with other comparative markets. Councilmember Garrott asked Mr. Sachs for a report on the state of the tourism market in downtown Salt Lake City.
#5. DISCUSS THE CITY’S SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL ORDINANCE, INCLUDING THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE. View Attachments
5:42:39 PM Russell Weeks, Orion Goff and Randy Isbell briefed the council on the snow removal ordinance with handouts and photographs. Mr. Weeks asked if the Council wanted to change the ordinance to allow more administrative discretion. He said the existing ordinance did not outline specific enforcement guidelines.
Councilmember Luke said he was concerned the City was not giving residents the benefit of doubt in storm situations. He said he wanted latitude given when a good faith effort was made to clear the sidewalk.
Discussion was held regarding issuing warnings before citations, consideration during severe storms while keeping sidewalks safe, recommendations to carry out the intent of the ordinance and allow flexibility.
6:00:11 PM Councilmember Love said her issue was that of fairness and lack of consistency when citations were given. Mr. Goff said more warnings were given last year and more citations this year. He said they did not have an electronic method to track which residences received warnings or citations in past years.
Mr. Goff said he would do more research, have a conversation with staff about consistency, provide more training and would speak with Administration about recognizing the good faith effort made by residents. The Council directed staff to list comments and concerns for discussion.
#6.HOLD A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PROPOSED MASTER PLAN REFINEMENT PROCESS. View Attachments
No discussion was held.
#7. RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING POTENTIAL MOTIONS TO ADOPT OR AMEND A PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT WOULD AMEND SALT LAKE CITY CODE SECTION 21A.46.020.B, TITLED DEFINED TERMS, AND ENACT SECTION 21A.46.070.X, TITLED ELECTRONIC SIGNS. THE SECTIONS ARE PARTS OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE FIRST CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN JANUARY 2012 UNDER PETITION NOS. PLNPCM2010-00717 AND PLNPCM2010-0032. RELATED PROVISIONS OF TITLE 21A, ZONING, MAY ALSO BE AMENDED AS PART OF CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THE MOTIONS DURING THE COUNCIL’S FORMAL MEETING. View Attachments
6:20:21 PM Mr. Weeks, Lynn Pace and Wilford Sommerkorn briefed the council with handouts. Discussion was held regarding the public service given by electronic signs, brightness of signs, full motion video, aesthetics, the applicability and relevance of the 1995 ordinance, an approach to regulate through Zoning and construction of a new ordinance with electronic sign components.
Mr. Sommerkorn said he felt a more comprehensive look at the ordinance was needed because there have been many developments in electronic signs since 1995.
#8. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INCLUDING A REVIEW OF COUNCIL INFORMATION ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. View Attachments
See File M 12-5 for announcements.
#9. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON COUNCIL INTEREST ITEMS AND A REPORT ON MEETINGS WITH THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF VARIOUS CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
#10. CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE §52-4-204, FOR ANY OF THE ALLOWED PURPOSES:
Not held.
The meeting adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript as additional discussion may have been held; 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 22, 2013.
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