January 23, 2023
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall released the City’s Report Card for 2022 today, giving the City an ‘A’ for its work on ambitious goals ranging from launching the first of its kind Free Fare February across the entire UTA system, to deploying a first-ever Park Ranger program, to maintaining the City’s 100 point Human Rights Campaign score.
“In the past 12 months, we’ve accomplished the vast majority of my ambitious goals to make this City a better place for all our residents,” Mayor Mendenhall said. “This report card reflects the forward-thinking work we’re doing above and beyond our critical work of providing clean drinking water to our residents, picking up garbage and recycling, providing emergency services, and more. I invite the public to view the report card at www.slcmayorplan.com to see how much we’ve completed and the few goals we have left.”
Of the Mayor’s 74 goals the City worked on in 2022, the City fully accomplished 66, while eight remain in progress.
Most notable accomplishments include:
- Completion of the Citywide Equity Plan, which will be sent to the City Council soon.
- Continuing to lead on local and regional efforts to achieve 100% community-wide renewable energy by 2030 and enacting policies needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2040.
- Advocating for the health and longevity of the Great Salt Lake through state legislation and progressive City policy.
- Constructing the Harrison Community Garden in 2022 and seeking funding to construct the Rose Park Community Garden in 2023.
- Launching two new bus routes that will serve the 600/700 North corridor as well as 1000 North, 900 West, and South Temple.
- Partnering with Utah Transit Authority and businesses to create Free Fare February across the entire transit system.
- Working with UTA to provide all Salt Lake School District students with a free bus and TRAX pass.
- Refining and implementing a citywide Language Access Policy.
One goal the City made progress on but did not complete was the development of an initial design for a “Green Loop” trail and park system that would encircle downtown. The City has secured funding for this initial design and is making progress to accomplish this exciting effort in 2023.
Other notable accomplishments the City achieved outside of the 2022 Plan include a $20 million investment in affordable housing, and $6 million toward 400 permanent supportive units to come online this spring.
The Mayor’s 2022 Report Card and 2023 Plan are released annually in conjunction with the Mayor’s State of the City address, which she will deliver Tuesday, January 24 at 6 p.m. The speech can be streamed live at www.facebook.com/slcmayor and youtube.com/@SLCtvmedia.