Meeting
PENDING MINUTES – NOT APPROVED

The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, met in Formal Session on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. 

The following Council Members were present:
Alejandro Puy, Chris Wharton, Daniel Dugan, Darin Mano, Sarah Young, Eva Lopez Chavez, Victoria Petro

Present Legislative Leadership:
Jennifer Bruno – Executive Director, Lehua Weaver – Deputy Director, Nick Tarbet – Deputy Director

Present Administrative Leadership:
Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Rachel Otto – Chief of Staff, Lindsey Nikola – Deputy Chief of Staff, Jill Love – Chief Administrative Officer 

Present City Staff:
Mark Kittrell – City Attorney, Keith Reynolds – City Recorder, Stephanie Elliott – Minutes & Records Clerk, Taylor Hill – Constituent Liaison/Policy Analyst, Scott Corpany – Staff Assistant 

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm
 
A.
OPENING CEREMONY:
1.
Council Member Sarah Young will conduct the formal meeting.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance.
3.
Welcome and Public Meeting Rules.
4.
The Council will approve the work session meeting minutes of December 10, 2024 and January 21, 2025, as well as the formal meeting minutes of January 21, 2025 and February 4, 2025.
Motion:
Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Lopez Chavez to approve the work session meeting minutes of December 10, 2024, and January 21, 2025, and the formal meeting minutes of January 21, 2025, and February 4, 2025.
AYE: Alejandro Puy, Chris Wharton, Daniel Dugan, Darin Mano, Sarah Young, Eva Lopez Chavez, Victoria Petro
Final Result: 7 – 0 Pass
5.
The Council will consider adopting a joint ceremonial resolution with Mayor Mendenhall recognizing April 2, 2025 as Start by Believing Day in Salt Lake City.
Council Member Petro read the ceremonial resolution. 

Council Member Young acknowledged Dr. Julie Valentine from the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Liz Chavez Diaz, and Carlos Paldtenia from Youth City Government.

Dr. Julie Valentine expressed thanks for supporting the resolution and the public awareness campaign.

Bethany Crisp from the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault thanked the Council for the resolution and expressed gratitude for the public awareness and support. 
 
Motion:
Moved by Council Member Lopez Chavez, seconded by Council Member Wharton to adopt Resolution 08 of 2025: Joint Ceremonial Resolution with Mayor Mendenhall Recognizing April 2, 2025, as Start by Believing Day in Salt Lake City. 
AYE: Alejandro Puy, Chris Wharton, Daniel Dugan, Darin Mano, Sarah Young, Eva Lopez Chavez, Victoria Petro
Final Result: 7 – 0 Pass
B.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
 
1.

Resolution: Creation of a Public Infrastructure District
The Council will accept public comment and consider adopting a resolution that would create the Convention Center Public Infrastructure District and define the general process and role of the City in establishing the Proposed District. The proposal would assist with financing the redevelopment of the Delta Center, the development of SEG's entertainment district, and the redevelopment of the Salt Palace. The public hearing allows for public input on whether the requested service is needed, whether the service should be provided by the City, County, or the Proposed District, and all other matters relating to the Proposed District. State law provides the City with a strict and short timeframe within which to take action on the Proposed District. The Council intends to take formal action on April 8th. Petitioner: John Larson, representing Jazz Arena Investors, LLC.
 

FYI – Project Timeline: (subject to change per Chair direction or Council discussion)
Briefing - Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Set Public Hearing Date - n/a
Hold hearing to accept public comment - Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 7 p.m.
TENTATIVE Council Action - Tuesday, April 8, 2025
 
  Staff Recommendation - Refer to motion sheet(s).



 
Jennifer Bruno introduced the item.

Lori Wike spoke on SB26, expressing concern about the Public Infrastructure District (PID) authority and requested clarification on private board members running the PID and how that can be used for public benefit. 
 
Motion:
Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Puy to close the public hearing and defer action to a future meeting.  
AYE: Alejandro Puy, Chris Wharton, Daniel Dugan, Darin Mano, Sarah Young, Eva Lopez Chavez, Victoria Petro
Final Result: 7 – 0 Pass
C.
POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS:
NONE.
 
D.
COMMENTS:
1.
Questions to the Mayor from the City Council.

There were no questions for the Mayor. 
2.
Comments to the City Council. (This is a one-hour time slot for the public to comment on any City business not scheduled for a public hearing. Each person will have two minutes to talk. General comment registration closes at 7:30 p.m.)

Katie Dwyer (Executive Director of Wasatch Community Gardens) spoke on the Wasatch Community Gardens Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) request for funds to cover the wages for the Green Team. Stated the following benefits were provided for the community to keep funding the farm-based job training program:
  • Provided women facing homelessness and abusive situations a safe place to work and integrate into the community.
  • Provided growing space and educational opportunities for healthy food to the community and its members.
  • Provided job training program and community access for anyone. 

Carrie Allred spoke on the Wasatch Community Gardens CDBG funding request for funds to help provide the wages for the Green Team. Stated the farm-based job training program provides women facing homelessness and abusive situations a safe place to work and integrate into the community.

Jackie Rodabaugh spoke on the Wasatch Community Gardens Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) request for funds to cover the wages for the Green Team. Stated the farm-based job training program provides women facing homelessness and abusive situations a safe place to work and integrate into the community.

Shannon Jones spoke on the Wasatch Community Gardens Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) request for funds to cover the wages for the Green Team. Stated the farm-based job training program provided growing space and educational opportunities for the community and members. 

Teresa Hogge spoke on the Wasatch Community Gardens Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) request for funds to cover the wages for the Green Team. Stated the farm-based job training program provides women facing homelessness and abusive situations a safe place to work and integrate into the community. 

Margaret Holloway thanked the Council for shutting down unsafe parts of the Jordan River, adding wait time information at the train stops, and requested more help from the Council for the elderly in the Fairpark District. 

Karina McLellan, representing the Ability and Inclusion Service Non-Profit in Utah, invited the Council to a community event and listed some of this organization's community activities. 

Angela Morgan spoke on the homelessness and drug issues now in the Cottonwood dog park and requested help clearing up the area and making it safe again.

Jason Wessel spoke on behalf of the West Side Coalition, expressed concern about the Jordan River Trail closure, and requested more community engagement and communication when significant developments occur. 

Kevin Parke spoke on the Jordan River Trail and the West Side Park homeless and drug issues, requested help creating a safe environment in Rose Park area. 

Evan Rufert spoke about the need to mitigate traffic in the downtown area and requested that cameras be installed to help improve traffic flow, prevent crime, and enhance public safety.

Bernie Hart spoke on the issue of homelessness and requested that the Council take action to help the community.

Council Member Puy took a moment of personal privilege to speak about the CDBG funding decisions made this budget season, stating that the decisions were not easy and that the funding was limited. 

Council Member Petro took a moment of personal privilege to address the safety issues in the community and the need to control drugs and crime in the community, and invited the community to participate in small groups with the council, the mayor, and the police to help address this issue.  

Mayor Mendenhall spoke about drug and crime issues within the community and discussed the public safety plan being developed to address the safety concerns. 

 
E.
NEW BUSINESS:
NONE.

 
F.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1.

Ordinance: The Central Business Improvement Area (CBIA-25)
The Council will consider adopting an ordinance to re-establish the Salt Lake City Central Improvement Assessment Area (CBIA-25), creating two assessments: one for downtown economic promotion and another for holiday lighting on certain streets. The ordinance would accept Board of Equalization recommendations, establish the effective date of the CBIA-25, confirm the equalized assessment list, and impose an assessment on specific properties within the Area.




 
Motion:
Moved by Council Member Lopez Chavez, seconded by Council Member Petro to accept and adopt the findings and recommendations of the Board of Equalization for the Central Business Improvement Area (CBIA-25). I further move that the Council adopt Ordinance 16 of 2025: Central Business Improvement Area 25 (CBIA-25) Assessment Ordinance, confirming the equalized assessment list, levying the assessment, and related matters..
AYE: Alejandro Puy, Chris Wharton, Daniel Dugan, Darin Mano, Sarah Young, Eva Lopez Chavez, Victoria Petro
Final Result: 7 – 0 Pass
2.

Resolution: Confirmation of Ranked Choice Voting for 2025 Municipal Election and Interlocal Agreement
The City Council will consider adopting a resolution authorizing the City to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Salt Lake County Election’s Division to support the 2025 Municipal Election. In addition, the City Council may confirm their determination to participate in the Alternative Voting Methods Pilot Project, more commonly referred to as Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) without a Primary election. Under ranked choice voting, voters rank the candidates in order of preference. Election equipment counts the preference numbers for each ballot. If none of the candidates receive more than 50% of the overall vote after the first round, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated. The voters who had selected the eliminated candidate as their first choice would then have their votes counted for their second-choice candidate. This process of elimination continues until a candidate crosses the 50% threshold and is declared the winner.

For more information on this item visit https://tinyurl.com/RankedChoiceSLC.




 
Motion:
Moved by Council Member Wharton, seconded by Council Member Dugan to adopt Resolution 07 of 2025 for an election services interlocal cooperation agreement between Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County for the 2025 municipal general election..
AYE: Alejandro Puy, Chris Wharton, Daniel Dugan, Darin Mano, Sarah Young, Eva Lopez Chavez, Victoria Petro
Final Result: 7 – 0 Pass
Council Member Puy stated that this funding was being approved due to the upcoming changes happening to the voting process, such as vote-by-mail changes, and requested that the public be informed about the voting and participation process as these changes were implemented. 

 
G.
CONSENT:
 
1.

Ordinance: Mixed-Use (MU) Zoning Consolidation Zoning Text and Map Amendment
The Council will set the date of  Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 7 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance that would amend the City's zoning ordinance and zoning map by consolidating up to 27 existing commercial, form-based, and mixed-use zoning districts into six new mixed-use (MU) districts. The proposal aims to simplify zoning regulations, improve clarity of language, and incorporate missing design standards. The new mixed-use districts will be similar to the current districts but will have changes to setbacks, building height, lot coverage, and permitted land uses. Other sections of Title 21A may also be amended as part of this petition. Petition No.: PLNPCM2024-00707.

For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/SLCMixedUse.
 

FYI – Project Timeline: (subject to change per Chair direction or Council discussion)
Briefing - Tuesday, February 4, 2025 and Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Set Public Hearing Date - Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Hold hearing to accept public comment - Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 7 p.m.
TENTATIVE Council Action - TBD
 
  Staff Recommendation - Set date.



 
2.

Ordinance: Budget Amendment No.5 for Fiscal Year 2024-25
The Council will set the date of Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 7 p.m. to accept public comment and consider an ordinance amending the final budget of Salt Lake City, including the employment staffing document for Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget. Budget amendments happen several times each year to reflect adjustments to the City’s budgets, including proposed project additions and modifications. The proposed amendment includes funding to cover remaining costs for the 400 South Bridge Reconstruction project, funds to repair homes in the Community Land Trust, additional funding for the Hive Pass program because of increased usage, and funding to expand the scope of a public restroom study.

For more information visit tinyurl.com/SLCFY25.
 

FYI – Project Timeline: (subject to change per Chair direction or Council discussion)
Briefing - Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Set Public Hearing Date - Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Hold hearing to accept public comment - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 7 p.m.
TENTATIVE Council Action - Tuesday, May 6, 2025
 
  Staff Recommendation - Set date.



 
Motion:
Moved by Council Member Petro, seconded by Council Member Lopez Chavez to approve. 
AYE: Alejandro Puy, Chris Wharton, Daniel Dugan, Darin Mano, Sarah Young, Eva Lopez Chavez, Victoria Petro
Final Result: 7 – 0 Pass
H.
ADJOURNMENT:

 

 
 
Meeting adjourned at 8:01 pm

Minutes Approved:



_______________________________ 
City Council Chair Chris Wharton


_______________________________ 
City Recorder Keith Reynolds


Please refer to Meeting Materials (available at https://data.slc.gov by selecting City Council Meeting Information) for supportive content including electronic recordings and comments submitted prior to or during the meeting. Websites listed within the body of the Minutes may not remain active indefinitely. 
 
This document along with the digital recording constitutes the official minutes of the City Council Formal meeting held Tuesday, April 1, 2025 and is not intended to serve as a full transcript. Please refer to the electronic recording for entire content pursuant to Utah Code §52-4-203.