The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. in Room 326, Committee Room, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
In Attendance: Council Members Carlton Christensen, Kyle LaMalfa, Luke Garrott, Jill Remington Love, Charlie Luke, Stan Penfold and Søren Simonsen.
Staff in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; Jennifer Bruno, Executive Council Deputy Director; David Everitt, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Edwin Rutan, City Attorney; Lynn Pace, Deputy City Attorney; Rick Graham, Public Services Director; Greg Davis, Public Services Finance Director; Russell Weeks, Council Senior Policy Analyst; Mary Beth Thompson, Revenue Analyst/Auditing Manager; and Scott Crandall, Deputy City Recorder.
Guest in Attendance: Kevin Fayles, Envision Utah, Community Relations Manager; Linda Hamilton, Library Transition Director; Julianne Hancock, Library Innovation/Communications Manager; and Jace Bunting, Library Finance Manager.
Councilmember LaMalfa presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 2:09 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. 2:08:59 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM KEVIN FAYLES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER, ENVISION UTAH, REGARDING ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST WITH SALT LAKE CITY. This is one in a series of briefings from partnership organizations that will be scheduled in 2013 by the City Council. View PowerPoint
Mr. Fayles briefed the Council with a PowerPoint Presentation. Discussion was held on utilizing Envision Tomorrow Plus (ETPlus) tools to engage/inform government entities, community groups, residents, and other stakeholders about potential projects and planning processes.
#2. 2:28:01 PM HOLD A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ALTERNATIVES FOR THE SUGAR HOUSE STREETCAR EXTENSION (PHASE 2).(ITEM D4) View Attachments Streetcar Comments
Councilmember LaMalfa made an introductory statement and then gave each Council Member eight minutes to speak. He said additional two-minute rounds would be held as needed to help facilitate a decision. (Council Members names were drawn randomly to determine the order)
2:32:15 PM Council Members comments included receiving/responding to numerous public comments, misinformation about streetcars, residents support reliable/convenient public transit, congestion and other challenges created with potential growth, explore ways to improve public outreach, involve community at the beginning of a public process, develop a Citywide transit plan, mitigate residential/business impacts, decreased bus service/route eliminations, transportation options needed on east bench, community concerns about potential changes along streetcar routes, address quality of life issues including air quality, safety, new growth, and walkability, evaluate decisions/assumptions made regarding Alternatives Analysis Study, link transportation decisions to land use planning/zoning discussions, bureaucratic decision, 2300 East/Brickyard Shopping Center expansion, potential to enrich property owners, Sugar House historic center would shift to the south, Shopko Block development opportunities, potential transit couplet/loop, federal/taxpayer funding issues, move transit plan from Transportation to Planning, ensure public engagement efforts were designed/approved by Council, and explore Citywide streetcar extensions/other viable transit solutions.
3:43:13 PM Discussion was held on Councilmember Simonsen’s request to spend additional time evaluating Alternatives Analysis criteria. A majority of the Council was in favor of giving Councilmember Simonsen an additional 5 minutes to discuss the attached proposal. View Attachment
Straw Poll: A majority of the Council was in favor of moving to the next item.
Note: See File M 13-3 for formal vote/Council Members comments.
#3. 4:13:55 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING BUDGET AMENDMENT NO. 4 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012-2013. Budget amendments happen several times each year to reflect adjustments to the City’s budgets. This proposed budget amendment includes adjustments totaling $6,176,231.24, relating to general obligation bonds, the Public Utilities water budget, and the Streetcar budget among other items. (ITEM H1) View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno, Lehua Weaver, Lynn Pace, Rick Graham and Greg Davis briefed the Council from handouts. Ms. Bruno said the current shortfall was approximately $640,000 due to decreased revenue in the “Fines and Forfeiture” category. She said the Justice Court was investigating why “moving violations” and “criminal fines” revenue had deceased and they would provide information to the Council. She said 2014 projections were adjusted to avoid a shortfall next year.
Councilmember Penfold asked if information would be provided to the Council prior to adoption. Ms. Bruno said the Administration said due to the complexity of the issue information would not be available until next year’s budget discussions.
Discussion/direction was given on the following items: A-2: Attorney’s Office Access Data and Summation Software Costs ($85,500 – Governmental Immunity). Councilmember Christensen asked if maintenance costs were built into the ongoing budget. Mr. Pace said yes.
A-3: Parks Budget Increase for Water ($396,177 – General Fund). The Council expressed concerns about turf conditions in parks/playgrounds, how the additional $150,000 allocated in last year’s budget was spent, lower service levels, cost saving measures such as decreasing water and increasing grass heights. The Council requested earlier notification from the Administration regarding shortfall requests.
A-4: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Upgrade ($12,700 – Misc. Grants and $12,700 General Fund). Councilmember Penfold requested an update about requiring new parking structures to provide stations. Councilmember Garrott requested information about how charging station information/locations would be publicized. Mr. Graham said they would provide follow-up.
A-6: Additional Fire SAFER Grant Funding ($199,500 – General Fund). No objections were raised.
D-7: Utilization of the $1 Million Settlement Fund from Chevron for Oil Spill in Red Butte Creek ($0 – Donation Fund). No objections were raised.
D-5: Increase to Public Utilities Water Budget ($2 Million Expense and $2 Million Revenue – Water Utility). Councilmember Christensen asked for earlier notification (same as Item A-3) when departments knew there would be shortfalls.
Councilmember Penfold asked for follow-up information regarding the CIP percentage and how that related to the Council’s target assuming some CIP funds were used as revenue. Ms. Bruno said she would provide follow-up.
#4. RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON ITEMS RELATED TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014 ANNUAL BUDGET. The briefings include budget proposals for departments, separate funds, and other budget related items. View Attachments
a. 4:46:07 PM Revenue Update View Attachments
An update from the Administration regarding the revenue outlook for the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Budget.
Mary Beth Thompson and David Everitt briefed the Council from Powerpoint/handouts. Councilmember LaMalfa asked how/if education program funding was spent. Ms. Thompson said she would provide that information. Discussion was held on commercial property tax values. Councilmember Christensen suggested holding a policy discussion about where economic development should be emphasized. Ms. Thompson said a variety of scenarios could be created from existing data for analysis. She said a new sales/use tax report would be provided to the Administration/Council quarterly.
b. Overview View Attachments
Mayor’s recommended budget for Salt Lake City, Utah for Fiscal Year 2013-2014.
No discussion was held.
c. Public Utilities View Attachments
Follow-up briefing to the Mayor’s recommended budget relating to the Department of Public Utility Funds, including:
•Street Lighting
•Water
•Storm Water
•Sewer Utility
No discussion was held.
d.
Metropolitan Water District View
Attachments
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 has taxing authority over Salt Lake City residents.
Item pulled from agenda.
e. 5:05:38 PM Library View Attachments
Library Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014.
Russell Weeks, Linda Hamilton, Jace Bunting and Juliann Hancock briefed the Council from attachments. The Council expressed interest in having the Library match the City’s Domestic Partner health benefits plan for its employees. Discussion was held on providing books in foreign languages. Ms. Hamilton said a policy discussion was needed because those materials were costly and had very low circulation.
#5. BOARD APPOINTMENT INTERVIEWS:
a. Jani Iwamoto prior to consideration of her appointment to the Public Utilities Advisory Commission.
Item pulled from agenda.
b. John McCarthy prior to consideration of his appointment to the City and County Building Conservancy and Use Committee.
(Item H3)
Item pulled from agenda.
#6. 9:03:05 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 13-5 for announcements.
#7. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
No discussion was held.
#8. 5:29:15 PM CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE § 52-4-204, FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: a) DISCUSSION OF THE CHARACTER, PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE, OR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL, PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 52-4-205(1)(a); b) A STRATEGY SESSION TO DISCUSS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 52-4-205 (1)(b); c) A STRATEGY SESSION TO DISCUSS THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY (INCLUDING ANY FORM OF WATER RIGHT OR WATER SHARES) WHEN PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THE TRANSACTION WOULD DISCLOSE THE APPRAISAL OR ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY UNDER CONSIDERATION OR PREVENT THE CITY FROM COMPLETING THE TRANSACTION ON THE BEST POSSIBLE TERMS, PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 52-4-205(1)(d); d) A STRATEGY SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING OR REASONABLY IMMINENT LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 52-4-205(1)(c); e) A STRATEGY SESSION TO DISCUSS THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY (INCLUDING ANY FORM OF WATER RIGHT OR WATER SHARES) IF (1) PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THE TRANSACTION WOULD DISCLOSE THE APPRAISAL OR ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY UNDER CONSIDERATION OR PREVENT THE CITY FROM COMPLETING THE TRANSACTION ON THE BEST POSSIBLE TERMS, (2) THE CITY PREVIOUSLY GAVE NOTICE THAT THE PROPERTY WOULD BE OFFERED FOR SALE, AND (3) THE TERMS OF THE SALE ARE PUBLICLY DISCLOSED BEFORE THE CITY APPROVES THE SALE; f)FOR ATTORNEY-CLIENT MATTERS THAT ARE PRIVILEGED, PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 78B-1-137; g) A STRATEGY SESSION TO DISCUSS DEPLOYMENT OF SECURITY PERSONNEL, DEVICES OR SYSTEMS PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 52-4-205(1)(f); AND h) A SESSION TO INVESTIGATE PROCEEDINGS REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT, PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 52-4-205(1)(g).
Councilmember Garrott moved and Councilmember Love seconded to enter into Closed Session to discuss collective bargaining. A roll call vote was taken. Council Members Christensen, Penfold, LaMalfa, Love, and Garrott voted aye. Council Members Simonsen and Luke were absent. See File M 13-2 for Sworn Statement and recording.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 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 7, 2013.
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