SLC Council Minutes December 3, 2002

The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 3, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 315, City Council Chambers, City County Building, 451 South State, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The following Council Members were present:

Carlton Christensen Van Turner Nancy Saxton

Jill Remington Love Eric Jergensen Dave Buhler

Dale Lambert

Mayor Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson, Cindy Gust-Jenson, Council Executive Director; and Chris Meeker, Chief Deputy City Recorder, were present.

Councilmember Buhler presided at and conducted the meeting.

#2. Councilmember Jergensen moved and Councilmember Saxton seconded to approve the minutes of the City Council meeting held November 19, 2002 , which motion carried, all members voted aye.

COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL

The following citizens spoke in favor of the City relinquishing the Main Street Plaza public easement to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Jeff Davis, Linda Kay Christensen, J. Kirk McCullough, Bruce Grant, Richard Skankey, Adam Erickson, Richard Terry, Ed Thatcher, Brad Voss, Brennen VomBaur, Tom Tyler, Hunter Pritchett, Trevor Pritchett, and William Silver.

The following citizens spoke in opposition of the City relinquishing the Main Street Plaza public easement to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Brent Hardy, Lonnie Pursifull, Carol Goode, Bonnie Mandgold, Bill Afeaki, and Mariana Allers.

The following citizens spoke about the Main Street Plaza public easement: John Carter, Mike Brough, James Webster, Hermann Peine, Norman Johnson, Jan Bartlett, Cindee Mudrow, and Craig Jeppson,

The following citizens did not wish to speak but submitted written comment: Lori Keddington, Pamela Hull, Linda Hull, Dan Hull, Nathan Morgan, Jeanette Terry, Velma Terry, Janice Derbyshire, and Brent Herr.

Valeri Craigle, spoke about the party houses in the University of Utah area. She said the home next door to her had been destroyed by tenants with baseball bats. She said she was living in fear.

Douglas Cotant spoke about the Christmas decorations in Downtown Salt Lake City.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

#1. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting a resolution expressing the Council’s policies associated with Downtown.

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

Councilmember Saxton moved and Councilmember Jergensen seconded to continue the item to a later date, which motion carried, all members voted aye.

DISCUSSION: The following citizens spoke in support the Council’s policies associated with Downtown: Derek Dyer, Kirk Huffaker, Richard Wirick, Craig Peterson, and Bob Farrington.

The following citizens spoke about the Council’s policies associated with Downtown: Tony Seymour, Robert Glessnor, Ed Morgan, Anna Archuleta, and Jake Boyer.

The following citizen did not wish to speak but submitted written comment: Brent Herridge.

Councilmember Buhler said a public hearing was not required but was held because the Council wanted to receive additional public comment. He suggested the Council take all comments into consideration and move the issue to a later date. He said this would allow for suggestions and amendments.

Councilmember Buhler said the intent was to look at a multifaceted approach. He said the City needed to be involved and support many areas. He said the document included the Gateway, Downtown and Trolley Square areas.

Councilmember Lambert said the issue was important and the comments valuable. He said he agreed the issue should be moved to a later date.

#2. a. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending the Salt Lake City Code to create a new Public Lands zoning district (PL-2), pursuant to Petition No. 400-02-28.

b. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance rezoning the Library Square Block from Public Lands (PL) to Public Lands-2 (PL-2), pursuant to Petition No. 400-02-28.

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

Councilmember Jergensen moved and Councilmember Turner seconded to approve Ordinance 73 of 2002, which motion carried, all members voted aye except Councilmember Saxton who voted nay.

Councilmember Lambert moved and Councilmember Christensen seconded to approve Ordinance 74 of 2002, which motion carried, all members voted aye except Councilmember Saxton who voted nay.

DISCUSSION: The following citizens spoke about creating a new Public Lands zoning district (PL-2), and rezoning the Library Square Block from Public Lands (PL) to Public Lands-2 (PL-2): James Webster, Mimi Cruz, Mary Fraser, Judy Brady, Denise Winslow, Lyndon Tan, Brook Crismon, Michael Steed, Judy Short, Jeff Edwards, and Bob Farrington.

The following citizens did not wish to speak but submitted written comment cards: Keith Montague, Linda Kay Christensen, and Susan Crook.

Councilmember Jergensen said the ordinances were important to Salt Lake City . He said the library space would be a place where the community could come together as a place of learning. He said the new library would be unique and rare. He said the zone change would allow retail in the Library. He said the proposal was supported widely by the community and would not negatively affect existing retail. He said the idea of re-zoning the space was a fundamental part of the evolution of the City and development of the library.

Councilmember Saxton said public land should never be in competition with the private sector. She said she was not against the library but retail businesses were not needed. She said to change the zone to allow retail on the library Block was inconsistent with the way the City treated the public and was contrary to the purpose of public land.

Councilmember Lambert said he supported the creation of a new Public Lands zoning district and the re-zoning of Library Square . He said retail facilities would be a compliment to the library. He said he had raised concerns regarding mixed-use zoning and concerns for more retailers on Main Street . He said the City needed to focus energy toward Main Street retail.

Councilmember Christensen said the new zoning would be a favorable service to library patrons. He said he was optimistic the number of patrons would increase.

Councilmember Love said she had expressed concern throughout the process with regard to business going into the library and not on Main Street . She said she realized that development should not be stopped out of fear for the impact on Main Street . She said the reality was that the space had been built.

Councilmember Buhler said retail in the library was a venture into something new. He said the two most cherished services citizens received were the library and the neighborhood cleanup.

#3. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending the Salt Lake City Code to require that parking lots be located behind buildings, rather than on street frontage, in all community oriented commercial and mixed-use zones. (Walkable Communities)

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

Councilmember Saxton moved and Councilmember Love seconded to table the issue for further study, input and refinement, which motion carried, all members voted aye.

DISCUSSION: The following citizens spoke in favor of the ordinance: Brenda Scheer, and Armand Johansen, representing Johansen-Thakeray & Company.

The following citizens spoke in opposition of the ordinance: Wade Williams, representing Smith’s Food King.

The following citizens spoke about the ordinance: James Webster, Craig Peterson, representing the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, Bob Moore, Mike Steed, Cindy Cromer, and Ted Knowlton.

Councilmember Christensen said both sides of the issue had made valid comments. He said the intent was valid but the vehicle might not be right.

Councilmember Saxton said planning of this type constantly evolved and grew. She said she did not want to table the issue for long.

Councilmember Lambert said he supported the concept and hoped the issue would not lose momentum. He said he was concerned with the comments regarding one size did not fit all. He said the concept of the ordinance would not fit in all communities.

Councilmember Turner said many of the businesses on the west side which used this concept struggled and lost. He said the concept did not attract people off the street into the business. He said some back parking areas were unsafe. He said the concept had limitations for the west side area.

#4. RE: Accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending the Salt Lake City Code to create transit oriented zoning districts, rezoning property along the east-west light rail corridor, and making other related changes. (Transit Oriented Development).

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

Councilmember Christensen moved and Councilmember Love seconded to table the issue for further study, input and refinement, which motion carried, all members voted aye.

DISCUSSION: The following citizens spoke in favor of the issue: Kirk Huffaker, representing the Utah Heritage Foundation, and Dennis Guy-Sell,

The following citizens spoke in opposition of the issue: Lois Brown, Ana Archuletta, and Cindy Cromer.

The following citizens spoke about the issue: Kelly Gillman, and Debra Lawler.

The following citizen did not wish to speak but submitted a written comment card: Eric Jones.

Councilmember Saxton said the ordinance was moving in the direction the Council wanted. She said it needed some fine-tuning. She said she did not want to discourage investment in the area or new home ownership. She said she wanted to talk to the community more. She said she did not want to lose the momentum of the issue. She asked the administration to look at options which would provide ease of pedestrian access into businesses. She asked to include additional landscaping for interior parking lots for both the walkable communities ordinance and the transit oriented zoning districts. Councilmember Buhler suggested the request go to the Council’s sub committee.

Councilmember love said she supported the ordinances but felt they needed more work.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

#1. RE: Adopting a legislative action item asking the administration to review the Salt Lake City Code relating to electronic meetings held by the City Council and City Boards, Commissions and Committees.

#2. RE: Setting the date of December 17, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance, resolution or motion relating to previously adopted ordinances closing a portion of Main Street between North Temple and South Temple Streets.

ACTION: Councilmember Jergensen moved and Councilmember Love seconded to set the date of December 17, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. , which motion carried, all members voted aye except Councilmember Lambert who voted nay.

DISCUSSION: Councilmember Lambert said he opposed setting the date on the same night the Council was briefed on the issue. He said more legal research could be needed. He said by putting the briefing and setting the public hearing set on the same night the Council would not have the options needed.

Councilmember Jergensen said moving the issue forward was important. He said having the hearing on the same night, as the briefing did not demand a vote on a motion.

CONSENT AGENDA

ACTION: Councilmember Saxton moved and Councilmember Jergensen seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, which motion carried, all members voted aye.

#1. RE: Approving the re-appointment of Pedro A. Gomez to the Capital Improvement Program Board for a term extending through June 6, 2005 .

#2. RE: Setting the date of December 10, 2002 at 8:30 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending Salt Lake City Ordinance No. 32 of 2001 which adopted the final Biennial budget of Salt Lake City, including the employment staffing document for Fiscal years 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. (Budget Amendment No. 11)

#3. RE: Setting the date of December 10, 2002 at 8:30 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance adopting the Solid Waste Management Facility budget, which has been prepared and submitted by the Salt Lake Valley Solid Waste Management Council for calendar year 2003, subject to specific policy directives.

#4. RE: Setting the date of December 10, 2002 at 8:30 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending Chapter 12.96 of the Salt Lake City Code, relating to the impoundment of vehicles.

#5. RE: Setting the date of December 10, 2002 at 8:30 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance amending Chapter 9.08 of the Salt Lake City Code, relating to garbage and refuse.