The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 326, City Council Office, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
In Attendance: Council Members Carlton Christensen, Stan Penfold, Søren Simonsen, JT Martin, Luke Garrott, Jill Remington Love and Van Turner.
Also In Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; Russell Weeks, Council Policy Analyst; Mayor Ralph Becker; Bianca Shreeve, Assistant Chief of Staff; Rick Graham, Public Services Director; Vicki Bennett, Office of Sustainability and Environment Director; Nick Norris, Planning Manager; John Anderson, Principal Planner; Maryann Pickering, Principal Planner; Wilford Sommerkorn, Planning Director; Tim Harpst, Transportation Director; Jason Mathis, Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance; Emy Maloutas, Director of Parks and Public Lands; Leslie Chan, Open Space Coordinator; Jennifer Bruno, Deputy Council Director; Karen Halladay, Council Policy Analyst; Karen Hale, Mayor’s Communications Director; Jim Baehr and Molly Mesolini, Infinite Scale Design Group; and Beverly Jones, Deputy City Recorder.
Councilmember Love presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 3:20 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. 3:06:28 PM CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE § 52-4-204, FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: a) A STRATEGY SESSION TO DISCUSS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 52-4-205 (1)(b); b) 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); c) A STRATEGY SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING OR REASONABLY IMMINENT LITIGATION PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 52-4-205(1)(c); d) 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; e) FOR ATTORNEY-CLIENT MATTERS THAT ARE PRIVILEGED PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE § 78B-1-137, AND f) A STRATEGY SESSION TO DISCUSS DEPLOYMENT OF SECURITY PERSONNEL, DEVICES OR SYSTEMS PURSUANT TO UTAH CODE SECTION 52-4-205 (1)(f).
Councilmember Garrott moved and Councilmember Turner seconded to enter into Closed Session for the reason of Attorney/Client privilege, which motion carried. A roll call vote was taken with Council Members Garrott, Simonsen, Penfold, Turner, Christensen and Love voting aye. Councilmember Martin was absent for the vote.
See File M 11-2 for Sworn Statement.
#2. 3:36:45 PM REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INCLUDING A REVIEW OF COUNCIL INFORMATION ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
See File M 11-5 for Announcements.
#3. 4:30:59 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON POTENTIAL MOTIONS FOR THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ENACTING CHAPTER 12.58, SALT LAKE CITY CODE, PROHIBITING IDLING OF VEHICLES WITHIN CITY LIMITS. THE ORDINANCE WILL ESTABLISH TIME LIMITS FOR IDLING OF VEHICLES. View Attachments
Russell Weeks, Mayor Ralph Becker, Bianca Shreeve, Rick Graham and Vicki Bennett briefed the Council from the attached handouts. Councilmember Love asked if any Council Members wanted to move the idling limit from two minutes to three minutes besides Council Members Christensen and Turner. All other Council Members were in favor of the two-minute idling limit. Councilmember Love asked if Council Members were ready to vote on this issue. Council Members Christensen, Turner, Martin, Penfold and Simonsen were in favor of voting. Councilmember Love said this item would be moved forward.
#4. RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A LOAN FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO KCPW RADIO FOR ITS OPERATIONS. KCPW RADIO IS APPLYING FOR A LOAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000. View Attachments
This item was pulled from the agenda.
Item Nos. 5 and 6 were discussed together.
#5. 6:15:02 PM DISCUSS PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CITY CODE INCLUDING THE CITY’S ZONING REGULATIONS TO ELIMINATE THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND THE LAND USE APPEALS BOARD AS LAND USE APPEAL AUTHORITIES AND REPLACING THE BOARDS WITH AN APPOINTED PROFESSIONAL HEARING OFFICER. THE HEARING OFFICER WOULD REVIEW AND MAKE DECISIONS RELATING TO VARIANCE APPLICATIONS, APPEALS OF ADMINISTRATIVE, PLANNING COMMISSION AND HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DECISIONS. THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDE A MORE STREAMLINED AND CONSISTENT APPEAL PROCESS FOR LAND USE DECISIONS AND REDUCE THE EXPENDITURE OF CITY FUNDS AND STAFFING RESOURCES PURSUANT TO PETITION NO. PLNPCM2010-00312. RELATED PROVISIONS OF TITLE 21A, ZONING, MAY ALSO BE AMENDED AS PART OF THIS PETITION. (PETITIONER MAYOR RALPH BECKER, SUSTAINABLE CITY CODE INITIATIVE) View Attachments
Nick Norris, John Anderson, Maryann Pickering and Wilf Sommerkorn briefed the Council from the attached handouts. Councilmember Love said this was a concept the department was bringing to the Council. She said if Council was interested then an ordinance could be prepared and they would have an opportunity to consider the ordinance. Council Members were in favor of having an ordinance prepared for more discussion.
#6. DISCUSS PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CITY’S ZONING REGULATIONS TRANSFERRING THE APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS FROM THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION (FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS LOCATED IN A HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT.) THE ZONING REGULATIONS DEFINE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS AS A USE THAT IS INCIDENTAL TO OR IN ADDITION TO THE PRINCIPAL USE (SUCH AS A HOME OCCUPATION OR OUTDOOR DINING AS PART OF A RESTAURANT), OR AN ADJUSTMENT TO A SPECIFIC DIMENSION STANDARD (SUCH AS MODIFICATIONS TO HEIGHT, YARD AREA OR FENCE HEIGHT) THAT HAVE LESS IMPACT THAN A CONDITIONAL USE, BUT WHICH REQUIRE A CAREFUL REVIEW OF BUILDING LOCATION, DESIGN OR POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD PURSUANT TO PETITION NO. PLNPCM2010-00785. RELATED PROVISIONS OF TITLE 21A, ZONING, MAY ALSO BE AMENDED AS PART OF THIS PETITION. (PETITIONER MAYOR RALPH BECKER, SUSTAINABLE CITY CODE INITIATIVE) View Attachments
#7. 5:41:34 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 12.56.170, SALT LAKE CITY CODE, RELATING TO PARKING METER RATES, TO WAIVE PARKING METER CHARGES DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ALSO MAY CLARIFY A SCHEDULED 50-CENT PER HOUR INCREASE IN PARKING RATES WHEN THE HOLIDAY SEASON WAIVER ENDS. (THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS A REQUEST FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO WAIVE PARKING METER FEES FROM THANKSGIVING DAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011 TO SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2012 TO ALLOW TWO-HOUR FREE PARKING DOWNTOWN. THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE CITY’S 2011-2012 FISCAL YEAR INCLUDES A 50-CENT PER HOUR INCREASE IN PARKING METER RATES STARTING JANUARY 1, 2012.) View Attachments
Russell Weeks and Tim Harpst briefed the Council from the attached handout.
#8. 3:39:13 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM JASON MATHIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE AND INFINITE SCALE DESIGN GROUP, REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING DOWNTOWN “WAYFINDING” SIGNS. (THE SIGNS PROVIDE DIRECTION FOR PEDESTRIANS AND MOTORISTS TO DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY DESTINATIONS AND PARKING FACILITIES.) View Attachments
Karen Hale, Jason Mathis, Jim Baehr, Molly Mesolini and Russell Weeks briefed the Council from the attached handouts and a power point presentation.
#9. 5:06:33 PM & 5:15:08 PM RECEIVE A FOLLOW-UP BRIEFING REGARDING A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE RESTORATION, USE AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WASATCH HOLLOW OPEN SPACE. THE GOAL OF THE PLAN IS TO PROTECT NATIVE VEGETATION, WATER QUALITY AND AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE HABITAT OF EMIGRATION CREEK WHILE PROVIDING APPROPRIATE ACCESS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC. View Attachments
Emy Maloutas, Leslie Chan and Jennifer Bruno briefed the Council from the attached handouts and a map.
#10. 5:43:40 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING THE CITY’S 10 YEAR CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN AND IMPACT FEES. 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
Karen Halladay and Jennifer Bruno briefed the Council from the attached handouts.
#11. RECEIVE A BRIEFING REGARDING A JOINT RESOLUTION WITH THE MAYOR ADOPTING WASTE REDUCTION AND DIVERSION GOALS FOR SALT LAKE CITY AND DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO DEVELOP A ZERO WASTE STRATEGIC PLAN TO ACHIEVE THE CITY’S GOALS. THE ZERO WASTE RESOLUTION FORMALLY ESTABLISHES WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING GOALS. View Attachments
This item was not discussed.
#12. HOLD A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION ON THE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED AT THEIR SEPTEMBER RETREAT, INCLUDING A REVIEW OF A PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT ON ARTS AND CULTURE. (THE OTHER PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED WILL BE DISCUSSED AT FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND INCLUDE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE CITY, NEIGHBORHOOD AND SCHOOLS, LOCAL/NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY.) View Attachments
This item was not discussed.
#13. 6:10:55 PM INTERVIEW POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE SALT LAKE CITY REDISTRICTING WORK GROUP PRIOR TO BEING APPOINTED.
MAYOR’S RECOMMENDATIONS:
•MARIA TORRES, DISTRICT 4; AND
•STEPHEN L. NELSON, DISTRICT 7.
Councilmember Love said Ms. Torres’ and Mr. Nelson’s names would be forwarded to the Consent Agenda for final approval.
The meeting adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
This document along with the digital recording constitute the official minutes of the City Council Work Session meeting held October 25, 2011.
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