The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at 12:00 p.m. in Room 326, Committee Room, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
In Attendance: Council Members James Rogers, Kyle LaMalfa, Luke Garrott, Erin Mendenhall, Charlie Luke, Stan Penfold, and Lisa Adams.
Staff in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; Marina Scott, City Treasurer; Dale Oklerlund, City’s Financial Advisor; Padma Veeru-Collings, City Prosecutor; Lehua Weaver, Council Research and Policy Analyst; Cindi Mansell, City Recorder; Jennifer Bruno, Executive Council Deputy Director; David Everitt, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Margaret Plane, City Attorney; Vicki Bennett, Division of Sustainability and the Environment Director; Nancy Sanders, Public Services Senior Accountant; Rick Graham, Public Services Director; Robin Hutcheson, Transportation Director; Allison Rowland, Council Policy Analyst; Ben Roberts, Compliance Program Director; Jaysen Oldroyd, Senior City Attorney; Mary Beth Thompson, Revenue Analyst/Audit Manager; Alden Breinholt, Public Services Operations Director; Gina Chamness, Budget Director; Greg Davis, Finance Director; and Beverly Jones, Deputy City Recorder.
Councilmember Luke presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 12:41 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE § 52-4-205, FOR ANY ALLOWED PURPOSE.
Councilmember Garrott moved and Councilmember Adams seconded to enter into Closed Session to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation pursuant to Utah Code Provision 52-4-205(1)(c), Utah Open and Public Meetings Law. A roll call vote was taken. Council Members Luke, Mendenhall, Garrott, Penfold, LaMalfa, Adams, and Rogers voted aye.
See File M 14-2 for Sworn Statement. View Sworn Statement
In Attendance: Council Members Rogers, LaMalfa, Garrott, Mendenhall, Luke, Adams, and Penfold.
Others in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Margaret Plane, Jennifer Bruno, David Everitt, Lehua Weaver, Gina Chamness, Rick Graham, Jayson Oldroyd, Mary Beth Thompson, Robin Hutcheson, Dan Weist, Ben Roberts, and Beverly Jones.
The Closed Session adjourned at 1:19 p.m.
#2. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. RECEIVE A BRIEFING IN ANTICIPATION OF ADOPTING A BOND RESOLUTION FOR THE PROPOSED SALES AND EXCISE TAX REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2014A.
Jennifer Bruno, Dale Okerlund, and Marina Scott briefed the Council from attachments.
#3. RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON ITEMS RELATED TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 ANNUAL BUDGET. The briefings include budget proposals for departments, separate funds, and other budget related items.
n. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Attorney’s Office - The Office of the Salt Lake City Attorney includes a section responsible for civil matters and administration, a section responsible for prosecution of criminal matters and the Office of the City Recorder. The City Attorney also administers the Risk Management and Governmental Immunity functions. View Attachments
Padma Veeru-Collings, Lehua Weaver, Cindi Mansell, and Margaret Plane briefed the Council with attachments. Councilmember Penfold asked for information on discovery and GRAMA requests and responsive volume associated; he inquired how or what technology could provide assistance and whether staff has evaluated systems in this regard. A discussion was held on overall department technology needs, associated costs, and terabytes of information being stored.
A discussion was held on Attorney staffing levels and base purpose statements. Councilmember LaMalfa said he wanted to see more quality or reflective statements on the mission and the purpose statements of the Prosecutor’s Office. He said Risk Management’s base purpose statements were not as tangible as they could be.
Councilmember LaMalfa said he felt Sterling Codifier’s technology was not up to date and that research or locating items within the City Code was not easy. Ms. Mansell said one issue was the quality of graphics or images that had historically been provided to Sterling. She said she wanted to continue with Sterling Codifiers for the remainder of the contract, but she was not against going out for bid and researching alternatives.
Discussion followed regarding the Homeless and Drug Court functions.
o. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Refuse - Major initiatives in Fiscal Year 2014-15 for the Refuse Fund center around modifying fees, implementing ACA requirements and increasing focus on the wise use of energy sources. View Attachments
Lehua Weaver, Rick Graham, Vicki Bennett, and Nancy Sanders briefed the Council with attachments.
Straw Poll Taken:
•Keeping the 40-gallon garbage can at the current rate of $13.75 and keeping the 90 and 60 gallon cans at the proposed rate. Council Members LaMalfa, Mendenhall, Adams, Rogers, and Luke were in favor and Council Members Penfold and Garrott were not in favor.
p. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Parking Issues - The Council will hold a discussion regarding parking in the City, including enforcement practices, revenue decreases, and functioning of meters. These parking functions span City departments, and this briefing will allow time for a combined policy discussion on all pieces. View Attachments & View Power Point
Robin Hutcheson, Allison Rowland, Ben Roberts, Rick Graham, Mary Beth Thompson, Jayson Oldroyd, and Lehua Weaver briefed the Council with attachments and a power point presentation.
q. Semiannual Report on Legislative Intents and Interim Study Items - The Council will be briefed by the Mayor’s Administration regarding the progress of the Council’s legislative intent statements for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. Legislative intents are formal requests made to the Administration seeking further study of a particular issue. This briefing will include the Administration’s responses on a variety of matters, including infrastructure, business districts, fire stations, and insurance for small neighborhood events. View Attachments
This item was not held.
r. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. & Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Unresolved Issues – Hold a discussion with Council Staff regarding unresolved issues relating to the recommended budget for Salt Lake City, Utah for Fiscal Year 2014-2015. View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno, Lehua Weaver, Margaret Plane, Rick Graham, David Everitt, Robin Hutcheson, Gina Chamness, and Greg Davis briefed the Council from attachments and a power point presentation.
Straw Polls Taken:
•Fund $1 million for the McClelland Trail but instead of funding it from regular CIP, the Council could add it to the sales tax bond that would be issued later this year. All Council Members were in favor.
•Fund $403,000 of one-time money to keep Fire Station No. 9 open and that the Council work with the Administration to expedite the construction of Fire Station No. 14. All Council Members were in favor.
•Fund $100,000 to expand the provision of Youth City incrementally to have a program ready for the summer of 2015. All Council Members were in favor.
Councilmember Luke said the next item was Technology Improvements relating to GRAMA. Ms. Plane said funding included monthly user fees for the online GRAMA system and to include the on-line credit card module. She said the larger piece would include the Records Management System software.
Straw Polls Taken:
•Technology Improvements relating to GRAMA for $45,000. All Council Members were in favor.
•Grants for Youth Sports Participation Programs for $50,000 to continue the program. All Council Members were in favor.
•Supporting the Granary/Depot District Historic Warehouse Survey for $12,700 but funding it through an RDA budget request. All Council Members were in favor.
•Delay hiring the Auditor/Analyst and the concrete sidewalk replacement crew FTE’s until January 1, 2015 and not delay the hiring of the Regional Athletic Complex Manager. All Council Members were in favor.
Ms. Gust-Jenson said if six full time equivalents were added for medical squads it would cost $350,000 in addition to what was currently budgeted. She said a reduced squad would cost approximately $240,000. Councilmember Mendenhall said they needed to get Station No. 14 up and running as quickly as possible. She asked if they should delay the creation of medic squads. Councilmember Garrott said the mobile medical teams could save money because the City would not pull all apparatus out for each medical call. He said the budget line of $66,000 was for delivery of equipment costs. David Everitt said there would be a potential savings in the life of the trucks.
Straw Polls Taken:
•The Council move forward with the reduced squad of $240,000 plus capital expense. Council Members Mendenhall, Adams, Rogers, Garrott, and Luke were not in favor and Council Members Penfold and LaMalfa were in favor.
•Delaying the proposal indefinitely but potentially opening up during a budget opening should funding be found once the Council had more answers. All Council Members were in favor.
Councilmember Luke said the next issue was fireworks. A discussion was held on air quality.
Straw Polls Taken:
•Increase the amount by $5,000 to $30,000 but limit the fireworks to $10,000 per show. Council Members Penfold and LaMalfa were in favor and Council Members Rogers, Mendenhall, Adams, Luke, and Garrott were not in favor.
•$25,000 for fireworks but have Councilmember Mendenhall work with staff and the Administration to come up with Legislative Intent that would deal with the air quality City-wide and could be passed with the budget next week. All Council Members were in favor.
Ms. Bruno said the next item was the Homeless Employment Program. She said $85,000 had been budgeted for this item. Councilmember Penfold said he wanted to encourage matching funds.
Straw Poll Taken:
•Were Council Members in favor of the $85,000 without strings. Council Members were in favor.
Councilmember Mendenhall asked if the City could put together a $200,000 marketing program for the HIVE Program before the opportunity ran out. Ms. Hutcheson said she was working on an extension. She said they had some existing resources to ramp up marketing.
Straw Polls Taken:
•Supportive of funding marketing for HIVE for $200,000. Council Members Penfold and LaMalfa were in favor and Council Members Rogers, Luke, Mendenhall, Adams, and Garrott were not in favor.
•A $30,000 increase to the Weigand Homeless Shelter. All Council Members were in favor.
•Eliminate $34,000 for snow removal on bike path through Wing Pointe Golf Course. Council Members LaMalfa, Adams, Rogers, and Luke were not in favor and Council Members Penfold, Garrott, and Mendenhall were in favor.
•Add $30,000 in for the HIVE program. All Council Members were in favor.
Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Councilmember Luke said they needed $571,000 of revenue. He said the Governmental Immunity Fund would raise $1.2 million. He said a one-time operational cut in departments would raise approximately $319,921. Councilmember LaMalfa said the proposal was taking unfilled positions as vacancy savings and setting it aside rather than allowing it to be used for any purpose. Ms. Bruno said the Mayor’s recommended budget proposed to take the vacancy savings at the beginning of the fiscal year and use it to offset the overall budget. A discussion was held on raising taxes.
Councilmember Luke said the sustainability fund had $880,000 allocated to the local food system, $370,000 for expanding green waste to include food, $950,000 for energy efficient projects, and $300,000 for historic preservation grants or loans. He recommended that $525,000 budgeted for the Aviary be funded out of the sustainability budget. He said $182,500 for two-cycle engine conversion was clearly a sustainability issue and recommended the Council fund that from sustainability. He said those two items would amount to $707,500 and they would be $136,427 in the black.
Straw Polls Taken:
•Does the Council want to keep the minimum out for parking. All Council Members were in favor except for Councilmember Penfold who was absent.
•Moving $100,000 from storm water fund to the Aviary. All Council Members were in favor.
•Two-cycle engine amount to purchase new two-cycle engines and $20,000 for slow fill natural gas filling stations amounting to $182,500 would be paid for with the sustainability fund instead of the General Fund. All Council Members were in favor.
•Moving $525,000 from the General Fund for the Aviary to the Sustainability Fund. Council Members Rogers, Garrott, Adams, Mendenhall, and Luke were in favor and Council Members LaMalfa and Penfold were not in favor.
•$672,000 of Governmental Immunity to fund with a property tax levy. Council Members Penfold and LaMalfa were in favor and Council Members Rogers, Garrott, Adams, Mendenhall, and Luke were not in favor.
s. Golf Report Follow-up and Budget - receive a follow-up briefing about a report on the City’s golf courses. The report, which was conducted by a golf consulting firm in fall 2013, consists of a financial study and capital improvement assessment of the City’s golf program and courses. The Council will also discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget. View Attachments
This item was not held.
#4. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. INTERVIEW MIKE IVERSON AND FERNANDO RIVERO PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION OF THEIR APPOINTMENTS TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
Councilmember Luke said Mr. Iverson’s and Mr. Rivero’s names were on the Consent Agenda for formal consideration.
#5. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. INTERVIEW KAREN SUZUKI OKABE PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION OF HER APPOINTMENT TO THE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT BOARD.
Councilmember Luke said Ms. Okabe’s name was on the Consent Agenda for formal consideration.
#6. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. INTERVIEW TYSON CARBAUGH-MASON PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION OF HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE POLICE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD.
Councilmember Luke said Mr. Carbaugh-Mason’s name was on the Consent Agenda for formal consideration.
#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.
This item was not held.
#8. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
This item was not held.
The meeting adjourned at 7:05 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 June 3, 2014.
bj