The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at 2:14 p.m. in Room 326, Committee Room, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
In Attendance: Council Members Luke Garrott, James Rogers, Erin Mendenhall, Charlie Luke, Kyle LaMalfa, and Lisa Adams.
Absent: Council Member Penford
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; Lehua Weaver, Council Senior Policy Analyst; Robin Hutcheson, Transportation Director; Libby Stockstill, Council Constituent Liaison/Budget Analyst; Rick Graham, Public Services Director; Nick Tarbet, Council Senior Policy Analyst; Nick Norris, Planning Manager; John Anderson, Principal Planner; Scott Fisher, Assistant City Prosecutor; Mike Akerlow, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development; Sean Murphy, Council Policy Analyst; Michael Stott, Council Community Affairs Analyst; Benjamin Luedtke, Council Constituent Liaison; Matthew Dahl, Deputy Director of Housing & Neighborhood Development; Nancy Monteith, Landscape Architect; David Gellner, Principal Planner; Christopher Lee, Associate Planner; Daniel Echeverria, Principal Planner; and Kory Solorio, Assistant City Recorder.
Guests in Attendance: Pam Perlich, Director, Demographic Research at the University of Utah Policy Institute; Jim Wood, Director, Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Utah; Laura Lewis, Principal, Lewis Young Robertson & Burningham Inc.
Councilmember Garrott presided at and conducted the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 2:14 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. 2:14:12 PM RECEIVE A STATUS UPDATE ON THE COUNCIL’S SIX PRIORITY PROJECTS AND 10 ACTIVE PROJECTS. Discussion will focus on staff questions for next steps in project areas. As a reminder, the following Council 2015 priorities are ongoing: View Attachments
•Economic Development;
•Urban Forestry;
•Recreation bond;
•Impact Fees;
•Capital Improvement Program; and
•Westside Master Plan & implementation model.
10 Active Projects are:
•Sexual Assault audit of Justice System;
•Prison;
•Police use of lethal force – training, funding, update, status;
•Dog-Off Leash;
•Housing;
•Homelessness;
•Disposition of property;
•Campaign Finance;
•Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs); and
•Parking – big inventory of changes.
Lehua Weaver, Jennifer Bruno, and Mike Akerlow briefed the Council from attachments. Discussion was held regarding the Council’s six Priority Projects and ten Active Projects, project status updates, items that needed immediate direction to move project areas to the next steps, Economic Development (Priority Project), legislative intent of an Economic Development Master Plan; and development of a Technology Campus in the West Downtown and/or Granary District.
A unanimous Straw Poll was taken in support of adopting a policy statement that directs administration to consider a Technology Campus as an important element in an economic development plan in the West Downtown and/or Granary District.
2:27:22 PM Discussion was held regarding Disposition of Property (Active Project), individual project interests, opportunities for exploring disposition of property, property ownership and leases on current City property, maintenance and funding of city owned property, and Council roles in the disposition of property.
Councilmember Garrott requested Staff have Public Services prepare a budget/detailed statement to include the status of department properties, standard maintenance for parks, percentage of properties that are below standard maintenance, and costs to bring below standard maintenance properties up to standard maintenance for presentation in the spring. All Council Members present supported the request.
2:50:07 PM Discussion was held regarding Campaign Finance, options for reforming the City’s campaign contribution structure, Staff research time addressing options regarding political candidates carrying over campaign balances to future campaign years (“war chests”), campaign financial contribution limits, definitions of a successful campaign, pros and cons of “war chests”, organization of Political Action Committees (PACs), and their allowance/regulations of fund expenditures.
Councilmember Garrott stated that additional information and discussion were needed in order to create a draft ordinance for consideration. Mr. Murphy said that Staff would research/gather additional information on campaign finance structures including “war chests” and PACs and forward information to Council as soon as possible in order to obtain feedback to produce a draft ordinance for consideration at the end of October. All Council Members present supported the request.
#2. 3:03:28 PM RECEIVED A BRIEFING ABOUT RENAMING THE JORDAN RIVER OXBOW AT 900 SOUTH. The following three names have been suggested:
•Fred & Ila Rose Fife Wetland Preserve (suggested by the Poplar Grove Community Council);
•9th South Oxbow Nature Preserve (suggested by a Council District Two Resident); and
•9 Line Oxbow Preserve (suggested by the Administration).
Michael Stott and Benjamin Luedtke briefed the Council from attachments.
Discussion was held regarding the renaming of the Jordan River Oxbow at 900 South, history and development of the property, recommendation from the Poplar Grove Community Council to rename the Jordan River Oxbow at 900 South to the Fred & Ila Rose Fife Wetland Preserve, City process for Naming of City Assets, and public service backgrounds of Fred & Ila Rose Fife.
A unanimous Straw Poll was taken in favor of renaming the Jordan River Oxbow at 900 South to the Fred & Ila Rose Fife Wetland Preserve as recommended by the Popular Grove Community Council. Councilmember Rogers was not present for the poll.
#3. 3:37:08 PM CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE MAYOR’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET RELATING TO THE CITY’S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015-2016. View Attachments
a. 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.
b. The Council will receive a follow up briefing about progress on the City’s development of a financial toolkit that will aid in master plan implementation. The toolkit is comprised of three phases. Phase 1 is now complete.
Sean Murphy, Robin Hutcheson, and Nancy Monteith briefed the Council from attachments. Discussion was held regarding priority of CIP Projects, proposed allocated funding, potential air quality feasibility study, concern regarding constituent proposed CIP projects, and consideration of Mayor and Board recommendations.
A unanimous Straw Poll was taken in support of first considering allocated funding of recommended CIP projects proposed by constituents. Councilmember Rogers was not present for the poll.
3:53:15 PM Discussion was held regarding constituent applications for proposed CIP Projects, allocated funding, and individual project details.
A unanimous Straw Poll was taken in support of approving $117,000 of allocated funding for the 1700 East Traffic Calming Permanent Roundabout (1700 East Princeton Avenue and Yalecrest Avenue). Councilmember Rogers was not present for the poll.
A unanimous Straw Poll was taken in favor of support of approving $140,000 of allocated funding for the Sugar House Park Restroom Project reconstruction. Councilmember Rogers was not present for the poll.
A unanimous Straw Poll was taken in support of approving $303,960 of allocated funding for the Fairmount Park Pond Restoration (1040 East Sugarmont Drive). Councilmember Rogers was not present for the poll.
4:22:48 PM Laura Lewis and Mike Akerlow briefed the Council from attachments. Discussion was held regarding the draft Comprehensive Financial Resource Guide, a financial toolkit for master plan implementation. Comments included the three phases of the toolkit development process, completion of Phase 1, moving forward with Phase 2 and 3, and details/sustainability of individual tools.
Mr. Murphy stated that an updated CIP project log reflecting the Council’s recent revisions including new fund totals, bond service, and debt service would be sent out for review as soon as possible.
#4. FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITYWIDE HOUSING POLICY.
Hold a follow up discussion about the Citywide Housing Policy. This is the second discussion in a series on the topic. View Attachments
4:48:00 PM Sean Murphy briefed the Council from attachments. Discussion was held regarding previous housing policy discussions and the amended Citywide Housing Policy for Council consideration.
4:51:34 PM Pam Perlich and Jim Wood briefed the Council from a Power Point Presentation. Comments included demographic trends and specific information regarding housing in the city, population needs, and 2010 Severe Housing Problems in the City.
5:19:38 PM Discussion was held regarding current city housing issues and needs, individual concerns about housing related issues, development of new and affordable housing opportunities, funding for housing development, zoning and transportation in relation to housing opportunities, and options to address housing needs. Further briefing and discussion regarding the City Housing Policy will be held September 22, 2015, including residential developers who have experience working with incentives and requirements for affordable housing.
#5. 6:10:37 PM WESTSIDE MASTER PLAN ZONING AMENDMENTS
Receive a briefing on a number of zoning amendments as part of the Westside Master Plan implementation process, a priority of the Council’s this year. These amendments are designed to better foster neighborhood business zones on the westside, a need identified in the planning process. View Attachments
a. Rezone – 700 South 900 West Neighborhood Node
900 West 700 South – zoning map amendment for three properties at the Northwest corner to rezone them from RMF-35-Moderate Density Multi-family Residential to CN-Neighborhood Commercial. (Item H3) (Petition No. PLNPCM2014-00374)
b. Rezone – 400 South 900 West Community Node
400 South 900 West – zoning map amendment for 24 properties on or near the intersection to rezone them from RMF-35-Moderate Density Multi-family Residential and CN-Neighborhood Commercial to R-MU-35-Residential/Mixed Use. (Item H4) (Petition No. PLNPCM2014-00375)
c. Rezone – 400 South Concord Street Neighborhood Node
400 South Concord Street (1240 West) – zoning map amendment to rezone properties from R-1/5000-Single Family Residential to CN-Neighborhood Commercial and R-MU-35-Residential/Mixed Use. (Item H5) (Petition No. PLNPCM2014-00380)
d. Rezone – Indiana Avenue Neighborhood Node
Indiana Avenue (850 South) between Navajo Street (1365 West) and Pueblo Street (1440 West) – zoning map amendment on the north side of Indiana Avenue to rezone the properties from CN-Neighborhood Commercial to R-MU-35-Residential/Mixed Use. (Item H6) (Petition No. PLNPCM2014-00381)
Nick Tarbet, Christopher Lee, Nick Norris, and Daniel Echeverria briefed the Council from attachments.
Discussion was held regarding master plan implementation process, concerns regarding development and zoning of neighborhood nodes, and proposed zoning changes.
#6. 6:27:27 PM RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON ZONING AMENDMENTS AND REMOVAL OF OPEN SPACE LANDS FROM CITY’S INVENTORY AT APPROXIMATELY 2425 SOUTH 900 EAST, FOREST DALE GOLF COURSE. View Attachments
a. Proposal to change the zoning on a portion of the Forest Dale Golf Course property to allow for a fire station to be constructed. Under the proposal, a .86 acre portion of the property at about 2425 South 900 East, just south of the existing club house, would be rezoned to PL-2-Public Lands so a fire station can be built. The property is currently hard surfaced and being used for salt storage by the City. The fire station will replace the existing fire station located at 1085 East Simpson Avenue. Petitioner – Mayor Ralph Becker, Petition Nos. PLNPCM2014-00882 and PLNPCM2014-00881. (Item H1)
b. Removal of Open Space Lands from City’s Inventory at Approximately 2425 South 900 East, Forest Dale Golf Course.
The Council is required to hold a public hearing on the open space removal in addition to the hearing for the proposed zoning amendments.(Item H2)
Nick Tarbet and David Gellner briefed the Council from attachments.
#7. 6:33:53 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, including but not limited to:
•Vote By Mail Update
•Scheduling Items
See file M 14-5 for announcements.
#8. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
No discussion was held.
#9. CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE §52-4-205(1)(a) DISCUSSION OF THE CHARACTER, PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE, OR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL (ADVICE OF COUNSEL/LITIGATION). (CLOSED SESSION HELD IN ROOM 326)
Councilmember LaMalfa moved and Councilmember Adams seconded to enter into Closed Session to discuss the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual (Advice of Counsel/Litigation), Utah Code §52-4-205(1)(a), Utah Open and Public Meetings Law. A roll call vote was taken. Council Members Mendenhall, Adams, LaMalfa, Luke, and Garrott voted aye. Council Members Penford and Rogers were absent. See File M 15-2 for Sworn Statement.
In Attendance: Council Members Adams, LaMalfa, Mendenhall, Luke, and Garrott.
Absent: Council Members Penford and Rogers.
Others in Attendance: Margaret Plane, Cindy Gust-Jenson, Mark Kittrell, and Jennifer Bruno.
The Closed Session adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
The Work Session meeting adjourned at 6:55 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 September 1, 2015.
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