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COUNCIL: March 23 RDA Board and Council Meetings Recap

At today’s Council and RDA Meetings:

  • The Council received an update on the audit of the police budget. A preliminary draft of the audit is expected next month.
  • The Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency Board, furthered a centralized Housing Development Loan Program for the City.
  • The Mayor reported on the timeline for assistance from community partners for several large encampments, and later closure.

Council Work Session items
The Council received:

  • an informational update on recent efforts on various projects related to racial equity and policing in the City.
  • Council staff reports a preliminary draft of the audit of the police budget is expected next month. The audit is a precursor to a zero-based budgeting exercise of the police department.
  • The Racial Equity in Policing (REP) Commission continues to meet regularly, usually weekly. Subcommittee meetings are scheduled for next week, and the next full REP meeting is scheduled for March 24 at 5 pm. Read: More on the Commission
  • an informational update on relieving the condition of people experiencing homelessness. The Mayor reports encampments in the Rio Grande and the Fleet Block areas will be closed in the next several weeks but first, people there will be offered assistance from community partners through the Community Commitment Program and the accompanying Resource Fairs.

Other Agenda items
The Council:

  • received a follow-up briefing about a new proposal for Shared Housing zoning text amendments. The proposed amendments would redefine what was previously known as Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing to Shared Housing, and defines it as a residential building, or part of one that contains smaller housing units consisting of one or more sleeping rooms and contains either a private kitchen or private bathroom, but not both.
    • In the updated proposal, units could contain multiple sleeping rooms, rather than limiting the unit to one sleeping room.
    • Discussion by the Council included how this proposal affects some neighborhoods, and about how the change could affect areas where there are existing hotels and other facilities that could be more easily converted.
    • Other concerns also were raised by several members relating to geographic equity for this kind of change. Planning staff was asked about potentially expanding this proposal into other areas to address these and other concerns, and include a yearly report/review to evaluate what tweaks may need to be made to help address potential concerns. The proposal is expected to return to Council for further review.
  • received a follow-up briefing about a request to increase the building heights within a portion of the G-MU (Gateway Mixed Use) zoning district from a current maximum of 120 feet up to 190 feet across portions of two separate blocks located between 500 West Street and the railroad tracks west of UTA’s Salt Lake Central Station and 200 South and 400 South. The applicant is requesting the change for a specific area and is not seeking to alter height limits across the entirety of the GMU zone. Council discussed potential incentives for additional height and other issues. *The Planning Commission forwarded a negative recommendation, therefore an ordinance was not drafted with the original transmittal but has since been added for the Council’s formal consideration. The Chair indicated this proposal will return for potential action (with options) at a future meeting.
  • received a follow-up briefing about an ordinance amendment that would increase the ongoing annual Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding minimum for art from 1% to 1.5%. Tentative Council action is Tuesday, April 6.
  • was briefed about potential changes to the current City budget, including proposed project additions and modifications. The proposed amendment includes $6 million from the U.S. Treasury Department for rental assistance, an outdoor business activity assistance pilot program, police overtime, delayed employee compensation, among many other items. A hearing to accept public comment is on Tuesday, April 6 at 7 p.m.
  • briefed by the Citizens’ Compensation Advisory Committee to review the 2021 Annual Report. The report includes information and recommendations pertaining to the compensation levels of the City’s employees, pay equity, and turnover data, and is presented for consideration each year prior to the City’s budget review process. An additional study on citywide pay equity did not turn up any major discrepancies among employees.
  • briefed about the Mayor’s funding recommendations and an appropriations resolution that would adopt the One-Year Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2021-22. The plan includes Community Development Block Grant funding, HOME Investment Partnership Program funding, Emergency Solutions Grant funding, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS funding. A public hearing to accept public comment is Tuesday, April 6 at 7 p.m.
  • received a report from the Council’s Executive Director, including an update on Ranked Choice Voting, which will be discussed at the April 6 Work Session.

Redevelopment Agency meeting items
The Board received:

  • public comments regarding Redevelopment Agency (RDA) business, including such topics as housing, and the Utah theater.
  • a briefing about, then adopted a resolution amending the 9-Line project area budget based on the terms of interlocal agreements with participating taxing entities. A public hearing was held today, too.
  • received a follow-up briefing about, and then adopted a resolution that makes potential revisions to the Real Property Disposition Policy. For example, the changes clarify and narrow the circumstances and terms in which the RDA can exclusively negotiate the disposition of a property.
  • received a follow-up briefing about, and then adopted a resolution to establish the Housing Development Loan Program Policy (HDLP). The purpose of the program is to provide low-cost financial assistance to incentivize development and preservation of affordable housing within the City. The HDLP would provide a centralized application, underwriting, and approval process for housing projects within the City regardless of the fund source.
  • received an update about requirements to the sales pricing terms of RDA-owned property at 144–158 South Main Street, which includes the Utah Theater. As part of the original approval of terms for the project in 2019, the Board required any redevelopment include certain public benefits such as affordable housing, a mid-block walkway, and repurposing of some historic elements of the theater. The Board also required green open space as part of the proposed project. The Board discussed the public space, how the public accesses it and the history of downtown open spaces. The Board asked for the topic to return for further discussion on details of this space including accessibility features and iconic design.
  • delayed an update to a future meeting about potential creation of the University of Utah Research Park Project Area.
  • interviewed Rosa Marnoto Bandeirinha, then later approved to the Redevelopment Advisory Committee for a term ending January 20, 2025.

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.

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