RDA BOARD MEETING:
1. RDA FY 20-21, BUDGET AMENDMENT NO. 1: There were no public comments. This budget amendment is a true-up amendment to adjust budget projections to actual tax increment received. There are several additional items included in the amendment. The RDA has received more tax increment than budgeted in most of our funds.
2. RDA BUDGET FOR FY 21/22: This discussion started with some highlights from FY 21. The total projected revenue for FY 22 is $47.6M. $17.1M will be refunded back to other Taxing Entities, $3.8M will be TI Reimbursement agreements, $11M is for Debt Service, and $7.75M is left over for projects. Of the $7.75M, the majority (61%) will go to affordable housing. We discussed a few pieces of the RDA budget including keeping funding for the Community Land Trust program as well as an affordable ADU program.
3. AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES: This discussion was rolled into the previous agenda item.
4. BOARD APPOINTMENT: We met Nicholas Peterson from the Downtown Community Council who is being considered for appointment to the Redevelopment Advisory Committee.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION:
ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES:
COVID: The crude positivity rate in 84101 is up again above the 191/100,000 rate. Central City and West Side vaccine rates are still behind.
HOMELESSNESS: HRC usage was recently to about 93%. The Victory Road Resource Fair is still happening. Kayak Court is taking their maiden voyage on Friday.
RACIAL EQUITY AND POLICING UPDATE: Tune into the REP Commission Listening Session tomorrow at 6:00 pm. https://www.slc.gov/…/racial-equity-in-policing…/ Check out the website tinyurl.com/slcracialequity for more information about the city’s work on Racial Equity in Policing including a graphic look back at actions taken in 2020.
FY 21-22 BUDGET, POLICE DEPARTMENT: The total proposed budget for PD is $83.4M. Key changes over the last fiscal year include funding for Encampment Cleanup, an analyst to report statistics to a statewide database, a mental health responder to serve the officers and civilians in the department, 6 new social workers for the co-responder team, and $70,000 to combat street racing. There are a total of 84 officer positions which are empty or unavailable due to training. There was also a 19% increase in calls for service in 2020 as compared to the average of the previous three years. These factors have led to an increase in average call time from 10:13 to 11:37 for Priority 1 calls. These are all concerning statistics. The department is working to fill positions and get call times down and to fully staff the social worker program we are trying to build up. Our discussion touched on the social worker program, low priority call diversion to a civilian community service officer, officer staffing and resignations,
FY 21-22 BUDGET, COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS DEPARTMENT: The total proposed budget for CAN is $23.6M. Some of the major changes are moving divisions between this Department and Public Services. Engineering would leave for Public Services and Youth and Family would move in from Public Services. I flagged my support for the 3 additional associate planners and asked about adding Police and Fire services into the boarded building fees.
FY 21-22 BUDGET, HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT: Pulled for a future agenda.
FY 21-22 BUDGET, COMPENSATION FOR CITY EMPLOYEES: Pulled for a future agenda.
BONDS FOR FINANCING AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION: This was some updated information including a timeline about the Airport’s plans to borrow up to $1B for construction costs. This dept would be paid only by airport revenue, not taxpayer dollars. The total airport project cost is over $4B.
ADVICE AND CONSENT: We heard from Debbie Lyons who has been recommended for appointment as the Director of the Sustainability Department. Debbie has been the Deputy Director for many years and stated that her goal is to end global climate change which was my favorite statement of the day.
FORMAL MEETINGS (LBA, RDA, COUNCIL):
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
LOCAL BUILDING AUTHORITY CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND: No comments were related to this item.
RDA BUDGET FOR FY 21-22: We heard only one comment and it touched on parks and inclusionary zoning.
LEARNED ALLEY VACATION: Ths alley is near 10th West and North Temple. We heard a handful of comments, a majority of which were opposed on the basis of the gentrification and displacement which would result.
FERN ALLEY SUBDIVISION VACATION: This alley is near 10th East and Logan Avenue. We had a handful of comments on this alley as well and they were supportive of the vacation. A note on this, because it is in District 5. I love alleys, I don’t like vacating them. I especially don’t like vacating them based on the justification that they have already been encroached upon. But to be fair, I don’t know of anything to do but vacate them. We created this problem ourselves because we haven’t maintained our alleys (a problem I am committed to working on). Also, the encroachments often were done by previous owners so it’s generally not the current owners that created the encroachments.
SLC FY 20-21 BUDGET AMENDMENT NO. 9: We had a few comments on this budget amendment touching on the Raise Up SLC program and the Police Impact Fees.
SLC FY 21-22 BUDGET: This is the public hearing for the full Mayor’s Recommended Budget. We only heard about 8-10 comments on this. As expected, they touched on several different parts of the budget including the Police Department budget, funding for Odyssey House, Tennis Courts, and many other items.
GENERAL COMMENTS: About 10 commenters gave general comments. Most of the comments are related to the new foothill trails which are being installed and people’s concerns about them. This seems like a good excuse to go on a hike and see them with my own eyes. Who wants to join me?
OTHER ITEMS:
SLC FY 20-21 BUDGET AMENDMENT NO. 8: Passed unanimously with one CM abstaining.
2058 NORTH 2200 WEST ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS: Passed unanimously with one CM abstaining.
ADVICE AND CONSENT FOR DEBBIE LYONS, SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR
SQF, LLC SMALL CELL LICENSE AGREEMENT: Passed unanimously with one CM abstaining.
SQF, LLC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT: Passed unanimously with one CM abstaining. A note on both this and the previous item. I, like many CM’s and residents, am disappointed that the city doesn’t have more control over the small cell towers and where they will go. But we are operating within very narrow state and federal laws limiting local control over these items.
GOOGLE FIBER UTAH AMENDED FRANCHISE AGREEMENT: Passed unanimously with one CM abstaining.
HOUSING TRUST FUND LOAN AMENDMENT FOR GARDEN LOFTS HOLDINGS: Passed unanimously.