At today’s Council Meetings:

• The Council received updated revenue and expenditure numbers for the City, and Council staff reviewed the Mayor’s proposed Salt Lake City budget for the next fiscal year, which begins in July. More here. 
• Council Members will meet Thursday, May 13 as part of the process to fill the empty Council seat in District 2. Council Members will interview candidates in a public meeting starting at Noon. A final candidate could be chosen at the meeting. More here. 

Council Work Session items
The Council was:

• given a revenue update, and an overview from the Administration of the Mayor’s Recommended Budget for Salt Lake City for Fiscal Year 2021-22. It was reported sales, franchise and permit taxes are doing better than anticipated. Airport and parking income are underperforming. Federal dollars, property and sales taxes are expected to increase, helping fund the next fiscal year. Insurance costs, merit and salary increases, software changes, adding 62 employees, and other issues are among the major increases in expenses for the next fiscal year. Discussion among Council Members included employee additions, which are grant funded or by the general fund, and other topics. This information helps inform the City’s annual budget hearings on Tuesday, May 18 and Tuesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. A vote on the annual budget will be in June.
  
  
• given an overview from Council Staff of the Mayor’s Recommended Budget for Salt Lake City for Fiscal Year 2021-22. To start with, staff pointed out various items connected to policing and racial equity, such as adding social workers, 911 dispatchers, staff for the Racial Equity in Policing Commission, and other items. Homelessness and Affordable Housing changes were noted and are part of ongoing actions. Funding our Future dollars for increased transportation were highlighted. Discussion among the Council included a $21 million structural deficit in the Mayor’s budget proposal, mostly because of added staff recommendations and the large influx of short-term federal dollars. Also discussed was adding a 24-hour social service program, status of traffic-calming initiatives, hiring proposals with one-time money, and other topics. This information helps lay the groundwork for upcoming department budget briefings, and inform the City’s annual budget hearings on Tuesday, May 18 and Tuesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. A vote on the annual budget will be in June.
  
  
• briefed about the proposed Justice Court Department budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22. The Justice Court handles misdemeanor criminal citations, small claims, traffic citations and traffic school for moving violations. All hearings are now virtual. Traffic cases were down this past year. Along with the full City budget, this topic will be part of the City’s annual budget hearings on Tuesday, May 18 and Tuesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. A vote on the annual budget will be in June.
  
  
• briefed about the proposed budget for the Metropolitan Water District for Fiscal Year 2021-22. A three percent increase is proposed for FY 2022. District officials said water storage is healthy but drought conditions are being closely monitored. The District will host its own budget hearing on May 24.
  
  

Other Agenda items

The Council was:

• briefed about Budget Amendment No. 9 for the current fiscal year. The proposed amendment includes funding for building office space to accommodate expansion of the Emergency Management Division, technology upgrades for the 911 Department, and reimbursements to the Fire Department, among other changes. Discussion among Council Members included the status of new public safety facilities, revisiting on June 1 the “Salt Laker” card, and other topics. A public hearing on this item is May 18 at 7 pm. Tentative Council action on this item is Tuesday, June 1.
  
  
• briefed about granting a master license agreement for wireless facilities in the public way to SQF, LLC, a Delaware company. Also briefed was granting a telecommunication franchise agreement to the same company, SQF, LLC. Discussion among Council Members included the limiting federal and state regulations involved with these types of agreements, possible new revenue from these types of agreements, and length of agreement. Tentative Council action on both items is Tuesday, May 18.
  
  
• briefed about an amended and restated broadband services franchise agreement with Google Fiber Utah, LLC. The company intends to discontinue video services to its customer base. The amended and restated franchise agreement has been negotiated to omit video services, change the fee structure and authorize broadband for a 15-year term. Tentative Council action on this item is Tuesday, May 18.
  
  
• briefed about a resolution that would authorize two changes to the original loan agreement between the City’s Housing Trust Fund and Garden Lofts Holding, LP. The loan was originally granted in 2017 to help fund an affordable multi-family development that consists of 272 units, all at or below 60% of the Area Median Income. The proposed amendments would change future rental rates to reflect an “income-averaging” approach, as well as the City’s loan position, which would shift to third, behind a new private loan to the developers to cover increased construction charges. Discussion among Council Members included how this change might affect current tenants, and other topics. Tentative Council action on this item is Tuesday, May 18.
  
  
• given an informational update on the pandemic. The Mayor signed an executive order Monday evening to continue preventing the spread of COVID-19 by requiring City employees and members of the public to wear a mask when they are in a City facility (with some exceptions). Covid numbers are improving in the City.
  
  
• given an informational update on recent efforts on various projects related to racial equity and policing in the City. The Racial Equity in Policing (REP) Commission, which is reviewing the Police Department to make recommendations, continues to meet regularly, usually weekly. The REP will hold another public listening session on Wednesday, May 19 at 6 pm. More on the Commission
  
  
• given an informational update on relieving the condition of people experiencing homelessness. The Mayor reported an abatement will be underway on Victory Road and that the encampments are offered assistance from community partners through the Community Commitment Program and the accompanying Resource Fairs

Council Limited Formal Meeting:

 Note: A special limited meeting does not normally include public comments. This agenda had only one item.

• The Council approved an ordinance that makes changes to Salt Lake City Code relating to electronic meetings of the City’s public bodies.
  
  
  

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.