Jan. 27, 2026
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall delivered her seventh State of the City address on Tuesday at City Hall East, the former Leonardo building, speaking on her determination to continue ensuring public safety, affordability, and environmental stewardship.
“Today, that responsibility rests heavily on our City,” Mayor Mendenhall said. “At a time when divisive politics and dangerous rhetoric dominate headlines, the work of effective and representative local government matters more—not less. And it is no secret we are being asked to do more than ever.”
The City is pushing forward on its commitments to improve public safety, affordability, stewardship of public spaces and lands, and sustainability.
As part of the City’s Public Safety Plan, Project CONNECT emerged with great promise and will continue in 2026 to break down barriers and create efficiencies throughout the criminal justice and judicial systems. It leverages City, County, and State resources to connect Salt Lake City Police Department’s 50 most-arrested individuals with individualized solutions. Since the beginning Project CONNECT, 60% of individuals have been arrested less often.
The administration’s vision for a connected city was reiterated by the release of a vision for the City’s Civic Center—connecting Washington Square across 200 East to Library Square-–that serves as the community’s front yard and heart of civic life. In 2026, the administration will ask the City Council for $2.2 million from the Capital Asset Program to create construction documents for the Civic Center.
“We will repair [Library Square] while also transforming this beloved space to better serve our City and residents,” Mayor Mendenhall said. “These spaces help us encounter one another, understand different experiences, and build trust across experiences. In today’s world, the role of public spaces has never been more important.”
Mayor Mendenhall announced that the building formerly occupied by the Leonardo Museum, now informally referred to as City Hall East, will be repurposed to strengthen the Civic Center. Once essential maintenance is complete, the building will be a responsible use of taxpayer dollars by:
- Supporting downtown families with a central location for after-school programming through Salt Lake City’s Youth and Family Division;
- Displaying Utah Division of Arts & Museums’ Visual and Folk Art programs;
- Housing office space for 70 existing City staff members from three departments, to avoid the cost of constructing another administrative building for years to come; and
- Continuing to welcome Ken Sanders Rare Books customers.
The administration’s commitment to preserving affordability is also bringing positive impacts for residents. Since 2020, Salt Lake City has invested $135 million supporting the creation of 7,600 affordable and deeply affordable units. Without supporting those units, it’s estimated that rent would have cost Salt Lakers an additional $13 million in 2025, and $28 million total since the beginning of the Mendenhall administration.
This year, Salt Lake City will launch a program that invests in repairs for existing affordable housing while locking in long-term affordability through deed restrictions. New wealth-building programs that help renters become owners will soon deliver nearly 200 units focused on long-term opportunity. A plan to expand housing options will also be presented to the City Council in order to give residents more flexibility to add housing that fits their neighborhood.
Mayor Mendenhall closed her address by underscoring that many Salt Lakers, like herself, are a product of the country’s history and immigrants. She is determined to do everything in her power at the City to keep people safe and support residents, whether they’ve been here decades or just days.
“We owe it to those who came before us to protect those seeking a better life—to ensure those who arrive are not persecuted for their beliefs, like so many of Utah’s first pioneers, but that they are embraced,” Mayor Mendenhall said. “That they are welcomed. That they may become a part of our strong community.”
Watch the full address at link.slc.gov/SOTC.
Additional 2025 achievements of note
- Strengthening our Urban Forest: 2,100 new trees were planted, while pruning increased by 50%, long-term disease treatment studies were launched, and 1 ton of invasive species were removed.
- Simplifying Zoning: The City trimmed its zoning code by 50 pages to make clearer rules that allow housing to be built faster and more affordably.
- Opening of Glendale Park Phase I: In December, this new westside regional park opened following extensive neighborhood outreach. Construction for more amenities will begin later this year.
- Completion of the 2018 Streets Bond: After more than a decade of deferred maintenance following the Great Recession, Salt Lake City rebuilt 122 miles of roads, resurfaced 310 lane miles of pavement, and replaced more than 15,000 feet of century-old pipes.
- Regional Athletic Complex Celebrates 10 Years: In 2025, it drew a record $25.7 million in economic impact, hosting 19 out-of-state tournaments and welcoming 1.7 million visitors.