Salt Lake City operates under a Mayor/Council form of government. The Mayor is the chief executive, and the City Council is the legislative body. This system is modeled after the Federal Constitution structure of government. Salt Lake City residents elect the Mayor and Council Members in separate elections.

Download the Council’s guide to local government for the City’s young constituents.

Council Members serve four-year terms, work for the City part-time, and are paid. Each Council Member represents one of the City’s seven geographical Council Districts of similar population size.

The City Council exercises the legislative powers of city government, including adopting the annual City budget, ordinances, and resolutions; setting appropriate tax levies; establishing sewer and water rates; setting other general tax and service rates; Mayoral veto override authority, and setting the Council agenda. Other responsibilities for City Council Members include introducing legislation, setting City policy, and giving advice and consent on appointments made by the mayor to City boards, commissions and departments.

The Council also serves as the Board of Directors for Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency, the Local Building Authority, and jointly with the Mayor as the Board of Canvassers.

The Mayor is elected by residents separately from the Council and serves a four-year term. The position is full-time and paid. The Mayor’s authority includes; proposing the annual City budget, appointing City Department Directors, exercising veto authority, and managing the City’s day-to-day operations.

Every January, the Council elects one of its members to serve as Chairperson and one member to serve as Vice Chairperson

Chair duties include; signing documents such as adopted ordinances and resolutions, representing the position of the Council to the media and the Mayor’s Administration, overseeing the management of the Office of the City Council, including monitoring and guiding the Council priorities, and scheduling items on the City Council meeting agendas. The Vice Chair is a backup to the Chairperson if the Chairperson is unavailable for any reason.

In addition, the Council Chair and Vice Chair represent the Council in meetings with stakeholders, including the Mayor, Salt Lake City School Board, and the Salt Lake Chamber Board.

2024 Council Leadership: Victoria Petro, Chair. Alejandro Puy, Vice Chair.

The budget is one of the Council’s strongest policy-making tools. Each year, the Mayor and City Council adopt an annual budget and some budget amendments (changes) throughout the year. Check out our Budget 101 for more information.

Ceremonial resolutions are non-binding and support, recognize, or show appreciation for individuals, groups, and causes. A ceremonial resolution can either be jointly supported and signed by the Council and the Mayor or supported and signed only by the Council.

The public may submit an online request for the Council to consider. Submit the request at least 30 days from the date you hope to have your resolution adopted. Please allow Council staff three business days to confirm your request. The Council receives many submissions and, unfortunately, can only accommodate some requests. The Council has made it a practice to refrain from passing resolutions on issues outside its responsibilities.

The Council determines the final resolution language but suggested language is requested. Please provide information in bullet point format or as “whereas” clauses. Please specify whether you intend for the resolution to:

• Recognize a person or cause.
• Urge others to action.
• Support a position.
• Raise awareness of a month, week, or day.

View an example of a resolution that the Council has adopted.

After the Council adopts the resolution, we will provide an original signed copy via the delivery method indicated in the request.

Guidelines:

• Keep the resolution text to one page.
• Order the bullet points or “whereas” clauses in a way that helps the resolution flow in telling the story/background of the topic.
• Language and tone can be inspirational or celebratory.
• Provide sources of any fact-based text.

View a list of Council policies and procedures.

The Redevelopment Agency (RDA) of Salt Lake City works with communities to implement Salt Lake City’s master plans to create vital housing opportunities, improve infrastructure, and participate in the economic development of Salt Lake City.

The Salt Lake City Council members serve as RDA Board Members and regularly meet with the Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC) to discuss current focus areas.

Learn more about the RDA, upcoming meetings, and their current projects.