Below is an overview of the City Council and its main functions.
Mayor/Council Form of Government
Download the Council’s guide to local government for the City’s young constituents.
Council Duties
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.
Mayor Duties
Chair and Vice Chair Roles
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, oversees 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 acts as a backup to the Chairperson in the event that 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.
2023 Council Leadership: Darin Mano, Chair. Victoria Petro, Vice Chair.
Budget
Ceremonial Resolutions
The City Council receives a large number of requests and, unfortunately, cannot adopt every requested resolution. The Salt Lake City Council has made it a practice to decline to pass resolutions on issues outside its sphere of responsibilities.
Please complete the online request form at least one month from the date you hope to have your resolution considered.
Resolution language is determined by the City Council but suggested language is requested. Please provide information in bullet point format or as “whereas” clauses. Also, please specify whether you intend for the resolution to recognize a person or cause, urge others to action, support a position, declare a month or week a day in recognition of an event or person, etc. View an example of a resolution that has been adopted by the Council.
Guidelines:
- Order of the bullet points or “whereas” clauses should be organized in a manner to help the resolution flow in telling the story/background of the topic
- Keep the language of the resolution to one page
- Language and tone can be inspirational or celebratory in nature
- Provide sources of any fact-based language
One signed original of the resolution will be made available. Allow two weeks to receive a confirmation regarding your request.
Council Policies
View a list of Council policies and procedures.
Redevelopment Agency Board
The Salt Lake City Council members serve as the RDA Board and meet with the Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC) regularly to discuss current areas of focus.
Learn more about the RDA, upcoming meetings, and their current projects.
2023 RDA Leadership: Alejandro “Ale” Puy, Chair. Amy Fowler, Vice Chair.
Filling a Vacated Council Seat
Visit the Recorder’s website for additional information.