The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 2:00 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 Lisa Adams.
Absent: Councilmember Penfold.
Staff in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, City Council Director; Jennifer Bruno, Executive Council Deputy Director; David Everitt, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Russell Weeks, Council Senior Policy Analyst; Robin Hutcheson, Transportation Director; Julianne Sabula, Streetcar Program Manager; Margaret Plane, City Attorney; Debra Alexander, Human Resource Director; Jodi Langford, Employee Benefits Administrator; Tamra Turpin, Risk Manager; Sean Murphy, Council Policy Analyst; Rick Graham, Public Services Director; Alden Breinholt, Director of Operations; Greg Davis, Director of Public Services Finance/Administrative Services; Karl Lieb, Deputy Fire Chief; Brian Dale, Deputy Fire Chief; John Vuyk, Financial and Administrative Services Manager; Bill Haight, IMS Director; Lehua Weaver, Council Policy Analyst; Curtis Preece, Courts Administrator; Chief Judge Jeanne Robison; Mike Akerlow, Housing and Neighborhood Development Director; Valeta Bolton, Justice Court Financial Analyst; Police Deputy Chief Michael Brown; Elizabeth Buehler, Principal Planner; Lynn Jarman, Asset and Capital Improvements Project Manager; and Cindi Mansell, City Recorder.
Councilmember Luke presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 2:12 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON A PROPOSAL TO MATCH FUNDING IN THE EVENT THE CITY IS AWARDED A FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS GENERATING ECONOMIC RECOVERY (TIGER) GRANT. The City has applied for the grant to fund extending the Sugar House Streetcar “S” Line from McClelland Street to the intersection of 2100 South Street and Highland Drive. The grant also would help fund other transportation improvements including reducing the number of automobile lanes on a 4/10th-mile section of Highland Drive from four lanes to three. Under the proposed resolution, the Council would be asked to appropriate about $3.1 million in the event the City is awarded the federal grant totaling about $10.6 million. View Attachments
David Everitt, Russell Weeks, Robin Hutcheson, and Julianne Sabula briefed the Council from attachments. Councilmember Luke asked Mr. Weeks to work with Transportation on the resolution.
#2. 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.
g. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Insurance and Risk Management - The Insurance and Risk Management Fund is the funding source for the entire City’s purchased group and self-insured policies, including the health insurance policy for City employees. View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno, Deb Alexander, Jodi Langford, Tamra Turpin, and Margaret Plane briefed the Council with attachments. Councilmember Luke asked the department to move ahead with the Tenant Users Liability Insurance Program (TULIP) and come back with an updated master plan policy.
h. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Public Services - The Public Services Department provides many of the direct, day-to-day services Salt Lake City residents and visitors receive. They repair streets, maintain parks and public open spaces, provide culture, education and recreation activities for youth and families, remove snow, remove graffiti, trim trees, sweep streets, maintain traffic signs and signals, enforce parking ordinances, maintain the City’s buildings, and other activities. View Attachments & View Attachments
Sean Murphy, Rick Graham, Alden Breinholt, and Greg Davis briefed the Council with attachments. Councilmember Mendenhall requested that the list of generators be prioritized. She said depending on the model, the manufacturer suggested replacement at different ages and asked if that could be factored in to prioritization for replacement. Councilmember Rogers asked that in addition to that information hours on each machine be included.
A discussion was held on firework displays, garbage cans, parking enforcement, meter maintenance, legitimate citations, enforcing rules, YouthCity, parking validations, a more efficient glass site cleanup, cost options for snow removal and sidewalk cleaning, and the sports complex.
i. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Fire - The Salt Lake City Fire Department provides emergency medical and firefighting services for the residents and guests of Salt Lake City. View Attachments & View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno, Karl Lieb, Brian Dale, and John Vuyk briefed the Council with attachments and a power point presentation. Ms. Bruno said the Administration had proposed closing operations at Fire Station No. 9 located at the International Center. She said another change was that the Fire Department could create a new two-person downtown emergency services squad. She said funding was requested for salary increases of 3%.
A discussion was held on the impact of closing Fire Station No. 9, business inspections, special event fees, timing, challenges, transition to medical teams and expectations, and Police and Fire Departments working together.
j. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Information Management Services (IMS) - The Department of Information Management Services provides technical support for all General Fund services and all Enterprise Funds in the City. The department is operated as an Internal Service Fund with divisions including Administration, Software Engineering, Network Infrastructure, Technology Consulting, and Multimedia Services. View Attachments
Bill Haight and Lehua Weaver briefed the Council with attachments and a power point presentation. A discussion was held on the computer lease program increase, the tactical mission plan, cloud computing by attrition, no transparency theme in master plan, no members of the public on the steering committee, adding positions to SLCTV in a future budget request, GRAMA requests and records retention, and purchasing versus developing of City software.
k. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Justice Court – The Justice Court has jurisdiction over all Class B and C misdemeanors and infractions committed within the City’s corporate limits. The Justice Court consists of three sections: criminal, traffic, and small claims. View Attachments
Curtis Preece, Lehua Weaver, Jeanne Robison, and Valeta Bolton, briefed the Council with attachments. Ms. Weaver said the Justice Court had a proposed budget of $4.1 million for the coming fiscal year. She said one change in the budget was the addition of three new positions that would be responsible for case management for cases coming through the court; following up more regularly with court orders; and coordinating for warrant service.
A discussion was held on the proposed new staff, current status on Drug Court (disbanded) and Homeless Court, proposed formal DUI Court, security cuts, and payment schedules for people with lower incomes.
l. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Overview - Capital improvements involve the construction, purchase or renovation of buildings, parks, streets, or other physical structures. Generally, projects have a useful life of five or more years and cost $50,000 or more. View Attachments & View Attachments
Sean Murphy, Jennifer Bruno, Lynn Jarman, and Mike Akerlow briefed the Council with attachments. Mr. Akerlow said the Mayor had recommended that deferred maintenance come off the top. He said they focused on more collaborative efforts between divisions and departments on projects. He said the departments had been asked to tier their projects into three tiers to tie into the new 10 year plan.
Councilmember LaMalfa asked about the proposal for ADA playground improvements and irrigation system upgrades at Poplar Grove Park. He asked if it was more irrigation or playground. Mr. Akerlow said he would get that information for the Council. Councilmember LaMalfa asked about local street reconstruction. He asked if the policy could be that they chose the worst streets Citywide to go forward. Mr. Jarman said in 2012, the City had a consultant perform an inventory of the entire City. He said the results had the City reevaluating operation of the pavement management program.
Councilmember LaMalfa asked about the Cemetery Master Plan project. Mr. Akerlow said it was his understanding that the master plan was a condition assessment and a way to assess costs. Councilmember LaMalfa asked the Council to characterize the cemetery plan should they choose to adopt it as something more aspirational than fixing a few broken items.
Councilmember Luke suggested when considering design for Fire Station No. 3, the Council look at designing a joint fire station and police precinct. Councilmember LaMalfa said he wanted to add curb and gutter in District 2 near North Temple along the rerouted Jordan River Parkway. He asked the Council to support this project at an estimated cost of $75,000.
m. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Unresolved Issues – Hold 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, Deputy Chief Michael Brown, Margaret Plane, Elizabeth Buehler, and Lehua Weaver briefed the Council with attachments. A discussion was held on delaying funding for proposed position hirings. Councilmember Mendenhall said she had requested an analysis of gender pay equity. She asked if current inequities had been identified in specific positions that could balance out with a salary increase.
Councilmember LaMalfa said he wanted to consider partially funding west side youth services for $100,000, so there was money to move forward after the Administration conducted an evaluation of the best way to implement YouthCity services.
Councilmember Adams asked about fees for various organizations. Ms. Bruno said while the City might not get a payment every year to justify the payment of dues, it was a policy decision that the benefits outweighed the costs. Councilmember Adams said she supported funding for the Homeless Employment Program. She said on the parking meters she wanted to leave the credit card minimum at $1 so the City could keep the $246,000. She said they should keep the eight minutes for a nickel.
Councilmember Luke said the next item was the closure of Fire Station No. 9. Council Members were not ready to decide this issue. Councilmember Rogers said he would feel more comfortable if Fire Station No. 14 was constructed before closing Station No. 9. Councilmember Mendenhall said they could consider funding CED’s Capital Asset Manager Position. She said that position could prioritize the building of the new station as the No. 1 priority. Ms. Bruno said the design of the station would be a quick process if the Council approved bonds for it. Councilmember Mendenhall said the Council should roll the McClellan Trail into the proposed bond. She said for $1 million, the Council could get 3.7 miles of largely protected bike/pedestrian corridor.
Councilmember LaMalfa said robberies had dipped from 60% to 23% between 2011/12 and 2012/13. Deputy Chief Brown said he did not know why the City dipped 40% in robberies. He said he would get back to the Council with that information.
Councilmember Luke said the next item was fireworks. He said the proposal was to put $25,000 into Public Services and $15,000 in non departmental. Councilmember Mendenhall suggested they compile air quality data with fireworks shows. Councilmember LaMalfa proposed that the City shrink the scale of the fireworks shows to $10,000 at each location. Councilmember Luke said future discussion would be held.
Straw Poll Taken:
•Restore funding for fireworks with conditions to be determined next week. All Council Members were in favor.
Councilmember Garrott asked about proposed funding of $30,000 for the Weigand Homeless Shelter. Ms. Buehler said that funding would partially fund extended hours at the Center.
#3. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. 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.
Jennifer Bruno briefed the Council on the announcements.
See File M 14-5 for announcements.
#4. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
This item was not held.
#5. CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE § 52-4-205, FOR ANY ALLOWED PURPOSE.
This item was not held.
The meeting adjourned at 9:17 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 27, 2014.
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