Council Member Eva Lopez Chavez and the District 4 City Council team had a productive year with significant community engagement and impactful initiatives. Here’s a summary:
Community Engagement:
- Participated in 516 Council-related events, including community gatherings, community council meetings, and discussions with residents and stakeholders. Organized four successful community engagement events, including a cleanup that collected ten bags of waste.
- Responded to over 3,000 emails and 235 constituent calls, ensuring open communication with District 4 residents.
- Completed 83 constituent requests, addressing City-related questions and concerns.
- Received, considered, and responded to 54 policy comments from constituents.
Legislative and Policy Actions
- Council Member Lopez Chavez wrote, and the Council passed, a resolution about the importance of protecting the Great Salt Lake.
- Coordinated with the City Administration to secure 50 free parking spaces for volunteers of a nonprofit organization.
City Budget Funding and Resource Allocations
This summer, the Council reviewed the Mayor’s Recommended City Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25 (FY25) and approved funding for several items important to our community, including:
- Funding to guide redevelopment efforts and enhance public art installations in Japantown.
- Funding for three new full-time employees to expand the City’s Rapid Intervention Team (RIT).
- Funding to increase public restroom access for our unsheltered community members.
- Additional funding for general park upkeep.
- Funding for six new full-time employees to help manage park projects and address maintenance needs.
- Funding for the installation of approximately 100 new 20 MPH speed limit signs near schools and other key areas.
The Council also allocated Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding for several essential infrastructure projects including:
- Public Safety Building HVAC control updates
- Art Barn repairs and accessibility enhancements
- 500 East raised crosswalk (400 Block)
- LGBTQ+ and neighborhood visibility enhancements
For information on the City budget and CIP project details, please visit tinyurl.com/SLCFY25.