#1.     The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance.

#2.     Councilmember Thompson moved and Councilmember Turner seconded to approve the minutes of the Salt Lake City Council meetings held October 2 and October 4, 2001, with changes, which motion carried, all members voted aye.

(M 01-1)

QUESTIONS TO THE MAYOR

     Councilmember Saxton asked if the City chose to take the lower of two amounts offered with regard to the foothill property conveyance for an over-sized temporary sign, would the lower amount put the City at financial risk.

Mr. Fluhart said the Olympic Rings would be a monetary benefit and an enhancement benefit to the community.

Mr. Cutler said City Ordinance required selling City property on a competitive bid with the exception of intangible benefits to the City.  He said the Mayor had determined that the ambiance of the games benefited in lieu of cash payments.

Councilmember Saxton asked if a request or offer of a certain amount would change the dynamics of a property conveyance issue.  Mr. Cutler said the City could change or sell property as a natural citizen would.  He said under Separation of Powers the policy rested with the Mayor. 

     Councilmember Turner said the big issue in Council District 2 was the railroad track removal.  He asked for an update from the Administration.  Mr. Fluhart said the Mayor was traveling to Washington D. C. to discuss this and other issues with members of Congress.  He said the Administration opposed the use of the railroad lines in the District 2 area.  He said hearings had been held with the Service Transportation Board to stop the use of the tracks.  He said the Administration would continue to aggressively pursue that end.    

     Councilmember C. Christensen asked Mr. Fluhart if the Administration knew how many City employees would be called up for military duty.  Mr. Fluhart said he had not seen the numbers.  Councilmember C. Christensen said his concern was the potential fiscal impact to the City.  He said the City had an obligation to those employees.  He asked the Administration to look into the numbers.  Mr. Fluhart said he would follow up on the issue.

COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL

     Jerry Schmidt spoke with regard to water conservation.  He requested the City raise water rates.

     Steven Pace asked if the City had insurance for his property located next to Medals Plaza in case of a terrorist act.  He asked about the issue of risk and indemnification for the Olympic games. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

#1.     RE:     Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending Chapter 3.25 of the Salt Lake City Code, relating to revised fee schedule for large-scale special events of nation or international significance.

ACTION:  Councilmember Thompson moved and Councilmember Saxton seconded to close the public hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.

Councilmember C. Christensen moved and Councilmember Thompson seconded to adopt Ordinance 69 of 2001, which motion carried, all members voted aye.

(O01-20)

#2.     RE:     Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending Chapter 3.52.050 of the Salt Lake City Code authorizing one over-sized temporary sign related to large-scale special events of national international significance. (Olympic Rings)

Councilmember Rogan said an administrative public hearing would also be held simultaneously with regard to the proposed temporary real property conveyance to permit the Salt Lake Organizing Committee to place lighted Olympic Rings on the Foothills.

ACTION: Councilmember K. Christensen moved and Councilmember Thompson seconded to close the hearing, which motion carried, all members voted aye.

Councilmember K. Christensen moved and Councilmember C. Christensen seconded to adopt Ordinance 70 of 2001, which motion carried, all members voted aye except Council Members Rogan Thompson and Saxton who voted nay.

     DISCUSSION:  The following citizens spoke in support of the lighted Olympic Rings being placed in the foothills.

Mitt Romney,President and Chief Executive Officer of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee said the project would have a positive impact due to remediation efforts that would improve the area after the games.  He said beauty was in the eye of the beholder.  He said 2 1/2 to 1 residents favored the placement of the rings on the side of the mountain. 

     Joseph L. Walker Jr., Krista Rowles, Burke Olsen, Lon Jenkins, Craig Peterson, Representing the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Guinney, Downtown Alliance.

     The following citizens reported on the placement of lighted Olympic Rings in the foothills.

     Mary McDonald Rogan, Planning Commission Member listed some of the Planning Commission’s concerns with the expedited ordinance.  She said the notice was short with no time for review.  She said another concern was what the decisions would be based on.  She said the Planning Commission was concerned with the lack of legal counsel because of the shortened time period. She said there was confusion in the ordinance with regard to the wording  “public property” or “public/private property”.

 Ms. McDonald Rogan said there were discrepancies in the ordinance with regard to a sunset clause, the Mayor making the decision not the City Council or the Planning Commission and the type of sign.  She said the ordinance had been brought to the Planning Commission for a public hearing as a temporary use ordinance not as a public hearing on a large sign.  She requested the ordinance go back to the Planning Commission for a public hearing with regard to the large sign issue. 

     Gavin Noyes, Director of Save Our Canyons, proposed an alternative site above the U at the University of Utah for the Olympic Rings.

     Diane Conrad Gleason, Director of Environmental Programs for the Salt Lake Olympic Committee (SLOC), reported on the proposed Olympic Ring site.  She said a biological review had taken place and had found that no threatened, sensitive, or proposed sensitive plants were on the site.  She said the review also found that in general the site had been adversely affected by grazing, fire and invasion of non-native species.  She said SLOC had written detailed plans for reclamation requirements.  She said notable insulation requirements were included in the SLOC plan. She said they were using no heavy equipment on the site, only hand tools.  She said they would avoid rock out crops on the site which contained sensitive plants.  She said they would flag the U. S. Forest Service property boundary and flag the occurrence of sensitive plants.  She said they would restrict site travel to designated pathways and time of day.

Ralphael Piescia suggested putting the rings on the Great Salt Lake on a floating pavilion, which he had designed.

     The following citizens spoke in opposition to the placement of lighted Olympic Rings in the foothills.

     Gale Dick, President for Save Our Canyons;     John Francis, Steven Pace,     William Thompson, Dean Reader, Director of the Utah Travel Council; Bill King, Jerry Schmidt, Walter Haas, Stephanie Tonin, Peter Corroon, Samantha Francil, Dru White, Merrill Dixion,  and Susan Malovey.

     Councilmember K. Christensen spoke to his motion.  He said the mountains were beautiful and made Salt Lake City a special place to live.  He said if advancing this issue for approval would in some way destroyed the foothills he would not vote to advance it.  He said he understood there would be an environmental impact to the foothills.  He said the impact to the foothills would be minimal vs. the impact to or for the community.  He said the beneficial impact of the Olympic Rings icon representing the Olympic movement was worthy of consideration.  He said the rings were a symbol of peace and international cooperation.  He said the issue of international peace had never been more poignant than now. 

     Councilmember Buhler said he appreciated the strong feelings on both sides of the issue.    He expressed his concern for the issue coming before the Council so late.  He said the Council had allowed an extra weeks time for public comment and discussion.  He said he had been told that SLOC had not requested the permit earlier because no donor had been available.  He said the issue should have been brought to the City Council as a concept based on when and if funding was provided.  He said there would be environmental impacts but they would be of a temporary nature.

     Councilmember Thompson said he would vote against the ordinance.  He said he was a proponent of the Olympic games but this was a serious matter.  He said the games would go on with or without the rings.  He said he did not believe there would be large environmental impact to the site but the road to the site could become a problem.  He said the City had set many provisions in place to protect the mountain slopes and foothills.  He said the ordinance did not meet City policies.

     Councilmember Saxton said she saw three issues.  She said the first was that the public process had been expedited and the area in question was zoned open space.  She said for a regular citizen this would not be allowed.  She said the second issue was the environment.  She said there was the possibility of re-vegetating the area but if re-vegetation did not work it would be too late.  She said the third issue was the anonymous donor.   She asked whomever it was to come forward and be part of the public process. 

Councilmember Saxton said the attention should be on the athletes not lights on the hill.  She said this would bury the spirit of the Olympics. 

     Councilmember Turner said he supported the Olympic experience.  He said the rings would be part of the experience.  He talked of elementary schools in his district and what their experiences had been waiting for the Olympics to come to Salt Lake City.  He said he supported the Olympic rings.

     Council Members C. Christensen and K. Christensen wanted a legislative intent statement for a third party evaluation of the reclamation plan, the seeding and funding to accomplish the reclamation plan and the consideration that the Olympic rings honor the Paralympic games as well as the Olympic games. 

     Councilmember C. Christensen said he was in favor of the Olympic rings.  He said he was glad they would be multi directional and could be seen from a number of places in the community.  He said reclamation of the site could be a challenge and proper safeguards should be in place.  He said the rings would be good for the community and a reminder of the opportunity for peace.

     Councilmember Rogan spoke about Mr. William F. Christensen who had recently passed away.  He said Mr. Christensen was truly an icon.  He said that characterization should be reserved for people who had served the community.

     Councilmember Rogan said perspective was being lost on what foothills open space protection was about.  He said the foothills were not commodities and were not for sale or rent.  He said using the foothills in this manner would reduce the protected open space to a commodity.  He said people supporting the rings and working for the open space cause needed to look at what their future credibility would be for protecting foothill open space. 

     Councilmember Rogan said he hoped the Mayor would listen to the tape of meeting comments and not sign the ordinance.

     Councilmember Saxton said she had other issues.  She said a bond should be posted with regard to reclamation of the site.     

Councilmember Thompson said the administrative public hearing also ended simultaneously with regard to the proposed temporary real property conveyance to permit the Salt Lake Organizing Committee to place lighted Olympic Rings on the Foothills.

(O 01-30)

CONSENT AGENDA

ACTION:  Councilmember Thompson moved and Councilmember C. Christensen seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, with the exception of Item-7, Bud Mahas reappointment to be deferred to a later date, which motion carried, all members  voted aye.

#1.     RE: Setting the date of November 6, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending the Salt Lake City Zoning Code regarding sign standards in the Gateway Zoning District, pursuant to Petition No. 400-01-24. (Blade signage)

(P 01-182)

#2.  RE:  Setting the date of Nobermber 6,2001 at 6:00 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance rezoning property located at 680 South 900 West form Medium Density Residential (RMF-35) to Neighborhood Commercial (CN), pursuant to Petition No. 400-01-31. (The “Island Connection”)

(P 01-19)

#3.     RE:  Setting the date of November 6, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting a new and updated Sugarhouse Master Plan, pursuant to Section 10-9-303, U.C.A., and pursuant to Petition No. 400-00-58.

(T 01-1)

#4.     RE: Approving the re-appointment of Mark Smedley to the Transportation Advisory Board, for a term extending through September 27, 2004.

(I 01-17)

#5.     RE:     Approving the appointment of Noreen Hied to the Historic Landmark Commission for a term extending through July 14, 2004.

(I 01-22)

#6.     RE:     Approving the appointment of Orville Paller to the Capital Improvement Program for a term extending through June 7, 2004.

(I 01-16)

#7.     RE:     Approving the re- appointment of Bud Mahas to the Utah Air Travel Commission for a term extending through September 1, 2004.

(I 01-24)

#8.     RE:     Approving the re-appointment of John Tanner to the Utah Air Travel Commission for a term extending through September 1, 2004.

(I 01-11)

#9.     RE:     Approving the appointment of Laurie Noda to the Planning Commission for a term extending through July 1, 2002.

(I 01-11)

The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.

Council Chair

Chief Deputy Recorder

cm