The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at 5:00 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, and Stan Penfold.
Absent: Councilmember Lisa Adams.
Staff in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; Jennifer Bruno, Executive Council Deputy Director; David Everitt, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Margaret Plane, City Attorney; Brian Roberts, Senior City Attorney; Nick Tarbet, Council Policy Analyst; Casey Stewart, Senior Planner; Michaela Oktay, Planning Manager; Gina Chamness, Budget Director; Robin Hutcheson, Transportation Director; Mary Beth Thompson, Revenue Analyst/Audit Manager; Debra Alexander, Human Resource Director; Lehua Weaver, Council Legislative Policy/Project Manager; David Salazar, Human Resources Program Manager; Jeffry Niermeyer, Public Utilities Director; Jodi Langford, Employee Benefits Administrator; Jaysen Oldroyd, Senior City Attorney; Sylvia Richards, Council Staff Policy Analyst; Alden Breinholt, Public Services Operations Division Director; Greg Davis, Public Services Finance Director; Butch Kucher, Fleet Manager; Sean Murphy, Council Policy Analyst; and Scott Crandall, Deputy City Recorder.
Guests in Attendance: Mike Wilson, Metropolitan Water District General Manager; John Kirkham, Metropolitan Water District Board Chair; Tom Godfrey, Metropolitan Water District Board Vice Chair; and Mike DeVries, Metropolitan Water District Assistant General Manager.
Councilmember Luke presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 5:07 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. 5:07:44 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON PROPOSED CHANGES FOR A VARIETY OF ZONING REGULATIONS PURSUANT TO PETITION NO. PLNPCM2013-00291. Proposed changes include: View Attachments
•clarifying the allowable front-yard fence height (maximum 4 feet) for non-residential zoning districts;
•resolving confusing setback language for the R-MU-Residential-Mixed Use and TSA-Transit Station Area districts; and
•including exemptions for bike share stations and bus stop shelters in park strips. Currently, poured concrete pads in park strips are limited to 4 feet, preventing the City and UTA from making bike share and bus stop shelter improvements.
Related provisions of Title 21A, Zoning, may also be amended as part of this petition. (Petitioner – Mayor Ralph Becker)
Nick Tarbet, Casey Stewart, Michaela Oktay, and Robin Hutchison briefed the Council with attachments. Discussion included fence heights, sight triangle, setback clarification, public right-of-way vegetation, concrete pad design standards, Utah Transit Authority (UTA) bus stop/shelter funding, bike share stations, and potential legislative action.
Ms. Oktay said Planning felt altering the legislative intent (see attachments) would provide better flexibility and suggested establishing some type of administrative guidelines. Councilmember Garrott said he thought that was a good suggestion and asked Planning to come back to the Council before internally approving any design guidelines/rules. Councilmember Garrott asked about a potential timeline. Ms. Oktay said she felt they could have something prepared in approximately 40 days.
Councilmember Garrott asked what the public could expect as far as bus stop construction over the next twelve months. Ms. Hutchison said she would contact UTA and get information back to the Council. She said design guidelines being contemplated by Planning should be incorporated in the construction. Councilmember Garrott said Council direction/input was needed regarding public right-of-way concrete pad design standards.
Discussion was held on park strip regulations regarding installing vegetation including height limits. Councilmember LaMalfa said he wanted to modify the ordinance to allow 30% vegetation in the park strip with unlimited height restrictions for areas located outside sight triangles. Further discussion was held on including modifications in the current proposal or in the landscape/park strip petition that Planning was currently working on and would be coming to the Council at a later date.
Straw Poll: A majority of the Council was in favor of including/addressing modifications as part of the landscape/park strip petition. Councilmember Mendenhall said she wanted to see a provision for “large trees” included in the petition.
#2. 5:25:04 PM 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.
a. Overview of the Mayor’s recommended budget View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno, Mary Beth Thompson, and Gina Chamness briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included sales/property tax revenue, Council priorities, converting seasonal employees to full time, close Fire Station 9, transfer fire fighters, overtime cost savings, create two-person emergency downtown response teams, air quality initiatives, eliminate City-funded fireworks, phase out two-cycle engines, sidewalk snow removal program expansion, add sidewalk grinding/repair personnel, Consumer Price Index (CPI) fee adjustment, cost justification to raise fees, 1.2% credit card usage surcharge, statutory fee limitations, parking stations fee adjustment, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) reduction, employee pay increase, judgment levy, parking ticket/revenue issues, increased warnings, residential/commercial property values, public parking education, impact of fireworks on air quality, potential changes to New Year’s Eve fireworks show, urban trail network expansion, and equitable YouthCity participation.
Councilmember Mendenhall requested that credit card surcharges be utilized as part of Public Utilities processes. Councilmember Garrott requested information on how air quality would be impacted by removing two City funded shows. Ms. Bruno said staff would ask the Sustainability Division to do an analysis.
Councilmember LaMalfa expressed concerns about providing equal YouthCity programming to Westside residents. He said kids Citywide needed to have an equal opportunity to access YouthCity programming. Ms. Chamness said the Administration would continue to explore options to address the issue.
Ms. Bruno asked Council to bring any questions/changes to staff’s attention. Councilmember LaMalfa said the McClelland Trail expansion needed to be added. Councilmember Mendenhall requested the Administration explore options to prioritize replacement/conversion of City-owned diesel generators to cleaner/more efficient ones.
b. 5:55:59 PM Human Resources Department View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno and Debra Alexander briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included strategic goals/performance measures, training programs/expenses, attracting/retaining employees, quality workforce, diversity issues, how to measure employee morale, meaningful goals, Council input on goals/performance measures, and mitigate behavior risks.
Councilmember Mendenhall asked the Administration to analyze employee salaries (male vs. female performing similar jobs) and provide numbers/percentage of gender pay inequities.
c. 6:15:21 PM Metropolitan Water District - Salt Lake City is part owner of the Metropolitan Water District, which treats and sells water. The District has several large scale capital improvement projects that help provide additional water resources and may impose taxes and fees to help pay for such projects. View Attachments
Lehua Weaver, Jeffry Niermeyer, John Kirkham, Mike Wilson, Tom Godfrey, and Mike DeVries briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included proposed 12% rate increase, revenue sources, inflationary costs, no property tax increase, maintain adequate storage, facility/equipment upgrades, high debt service over next twenty years, reduced water usage, and aggressive long-term fee increases.
d. 8:02:21 PM Compensation for City Employees View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno, Debra Alexander, David Salazar, Jodi Langford, Brian Roberts, and Gina Chamness briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included pension contributions, gender pay equity analysis, employees under federal poverty level, responsibility to pay living wage, early retirement budget analysis, savings realized from eliminated positions, and long-term pension costs.
Councilmember Penfold said he wanted to pursue a living wage component that was higher than minimum wage and requested information that would help future policy discussions. Councilmember Rogers requested analysis/data/savings on providing early retirement incentives.
e. 8:18:07 PM Consolidated Fee Schedule (CFS) View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno, Mary Beth Thompson, and Jaysen Oldroyd briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included authority to create/raise fees, review all fees charged by the City, cost justified fees, CPI increases, policy decision for cost recovery, fee waivers, analyze special event fees/tent inspections, penalties/late fees not on CFS, and definition of pyrotechnics special flame effects/costs.
Ms. Thompson said following a detailed fee analysis of every department the Administration would schedule a follow-up briefing with the Council.
f. 8:35:07 PM Fleet Division - The City’s Fleet Management Internal Service Fund provides vehicles, fuel, and vehicle maintenance and repair services for all City departments. View Attachments
Sylvia Richards, Alden Breinholt, Greg Davis, and Butch Kucher briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included enhanced productivity, customer service improvements, sustainability initiatives, utilization of hybrid vehicles, evaluate electric vehicle purchases, and escalating maintenance costs.
Councilmember Mendenhall said there were benefits associated with electric vehicles and asked Fleet to be positive/pro-active in replacement strategies.
#3. 8:50:05 PM RECEIVE A QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM COUNCIL STAFF ON MAJOR PROJECTS AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE COUNCIL’S DISCUSSION ON PRIORITIES. THE REPORT INCLUDES LARGER PROJECTS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED, OR THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE REQUESTED, IN ADDITION TO THE COUNCIL PRIORITY PROJECTS. THE PURPOSE OF THE BRIEFING IS TO REVIEW THE LIST OF PROJECTS IN LIGHT OF AVAILABLE STAFF TIME, AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO RECALIBRATE STAFF FOCUS, IF NECESSARY. View Attachments
Cindy Gust-Jenson, Jennifer Bruno, and Lehua Weaver briefed the Council with attachments. Comments included base workload issues, track additional items, address retreat priorities such as urban trail networks, public services accounting system, and air quality issues, balancing Council Member requests, determine staff hour allocation/policy for two/three member category, bring more transparency to entire process, address internal system items, some issues take on a life of their own, guidance needed to prioritize projects/workload, keeping sponsoring Council Members informed, work needed on interim master plan update process, and increased record requests/litigation issues.
Ms. Gust-Jenson said staff would continue to work on processes with the understanding that additional direction might be needed from the Council. Councilmember Penfold encouraged staff to come to the Council when further direction was needed. He suggested having a regular reporting system to identify various issues staff was working on even down to requests from individual Council Members.
#4. 9:08:27 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. View Attachments
See File M 14-5 for announcements.
#5. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
No issues were discussed.
#6. 6:44:56 PM CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE § 52-4-205(1)(b) DISCUSS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING; AND UTAH CODE § 78B-1-137, ATTORNEY-CLIENT MATTERS THAT ARE PRIVILEGED.
Councilmember Garrott moved and Councilmember Rogers seconded to enter into Closed Session to discuss Collective Bargaining and Attorney-Client Matters, pursuant to Utah Code provisions 52-4-205(1)(b) and (78B-1-137), Utah Open and Public Meetings Law. A roll call vote was taken. Council Members Luke, Mendenhall, Garrott, Penfold, LaMalfa, and Rogers voted aye. Councilmember Adams was absent. See File M 14-2 for Sworn Statement.
In Attendance: Council Members Rogers, LaMalfa, Garrott, Mendenhall, Luke, and Penfold.
Absent: Councilmember Adams.
Others in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Margaret Plane, Brian Roberts, Jennifer Bruno, David Everitt, Lehua Weaver, Gina Chamness, Sean Murphy, and Scott Crandall.
The Closed Session adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
The Work Session adjourned at 9:25 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 May 13, 2014.
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