At today’s Council Meetings:

• The Council received an update on $7.1 million in federal grants for community partners and City departments providing services directly to housing programs and assistance to help respond with the pandemic.
• The Council was briefed on a proposal increasing the number of energy-efficient vehicles eligible for free metered parking.
• The Council heard recognition for the Police Department’s Hostage Negotiation Team.

Council Work Session items
    The Council received:

• an informational update relating to the local emergencies including COVID-19: 
  • the Mayor’s staff reports the rollout of vaccinations continues among frontline city employees, many in their second dosing.
  • the Mayor’s staff also reports 1,165 City employees have taken some kind of pandemic leave (about 32% of the City’s total employee pool).
    
• an informational update on relieving the condition of people experiencing homelessness: the Mayor reported an encampment called by some as “Camp Last Hope” will be closed this week. The City and its partners are working with people camping there, including holding a Resource Fair for several days to help people connect with housing and other help. The Mayor, in her update, also reviewed the Federal CDC guidelines about encampments.
  
• an update on recent efforts on various projects related to racial equity and policing in the City. It included:
  • the Council staff noting a timeline is shaping up for auditors who will review the police budget as a prequel to the Council’s zero-based budgeting exercise.
  • the Council staff who noted the Racial Equity in Policing (REP) Commission continues to meet regularly. The recent REP public listening session can be accessed here: More on the Commission
    
• The Mayor also read a resolution honoring the Police Department’s Hostage Negotiation Team, highlighting Jessica Waters and the team’s work on the recent peaceful resolution of an armed incident. The Council echoed its support of the team.

Other Agenda items
The Council was:

• briefed about a request to amend the zoning map and Central Community Master Plan for five properties located at 159 South Lincoln Street, 949 East, 955 East, 959 East and 963 East 200 South. The proposal would allow the applicant more flexibility to develop future multi-family residential housing than what is currently allowed. The Planning Commission had forwarded a negative recommendation on the amendment. The Council discussion at this meeting included such topics as engagement with the community, what was being demolished and why, and affordability for one or several units. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. and tentative Council action on Tuesday, March 16.
  
• briefed about a proposal to amend the Sugar House Master Plan and Zoning Map for property at 2903 South Highland Drive. The property is currently “split zoned.” The applicant is requesting the eastern portion of the property be changed from Low Density Residential to Low Intensity – Mixed Use. If approved, the changes would allow for potential future development of the site. The Council discussion included such topics as building height, other zoning options and the design review process. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. and tentative Council action on Tuesday, March 16.
  
• updated on funding recommendations from resident advisory boards and the Mayor for a $7.1 million interlocal agreement between the City and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This agreement allocates and awards funding to those applicants. Community partners submitted applications for one-time pandemic response funding. Funds not allocated yet included more than $900,000 but the Mayor’s staff notes they have contacted organizations that can the use a portion of the funding for emergency food supplies. Other funding options are being considered, included helping with equitable vaccine rollout programs. Tentative Council action on this is Tuesday, February 16.
  
• briefed about a proposal to rezone the properties at 1301 and 1321 South State Street. The proposal would change the properties to Form Base Urban Neighborhood 2 and partially be eligible for additional building height. The applicant requested the rezone because the FB-UN2 zoning district better aligns with potential use of the corner lot and potential for a new mixed-use building, which would replace existing buildings on the parcels (which includes the Coachmans restaurant). A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. and tentative Council action on Tuesday, March 16.
  
• briefed about a proposal that would make changes to the Salt Lake City Green Vehicle Parking Program, increasing the number of vehicles eligible for the free metered parking. The intent of the proposal is to return the ordinance to 2006 eligibility criteria, which would include a broader range of energy efficient vehicles. The Council discussion included what other efforts were being made to encourage the transition to ‘green’ vehicles and encourage mass transit/biking/walkability.
  
• briefed by the Department of Public Utilities about the status of water runoff, snowpack and water supply projections. Utah recorded a very dry year in 2020. There are concerns about a drought this summer, but the Department noted the planned water reserves available to the City.

Formal Meeting items

• The Council held its regular open comment section, with several people who spoke on various topics, including the issue of people experiencing homelessness.
   
• The Council approved Grant Holding Account Items (Batch No. 4) for Fiscal Year 2020-21 associated with Budget Amendment No. 7. These are all items that have had public hearings.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Council approved members for the:

• Bicycle Advisory Committee – Rachel Manko
• Business Advisory Board (Reappointment) – Derek Deitsch

All agenda-related comments received through any source are shared with the Council and added to the Council public meeting record.

Visit the Council’s agenda page for meeting documents and video or view an archive of prior meeting recaps.