Council opts into ranked-choice voting 6-1 without a primary and adopts Budget Amendment No. 7 and a 900 South rezone
April 20, 2021, 7:00 p.m. · Electronic meeting
The Council voted 6-1 to join the state ranked-choice voting pilot for the 2021 municipal election with no primary; Council Member James Rogers voted no. It also adopted Budget Amendment No. 7 (7-0), the FY 2021-22 federal grant action plan (6-0 after a recusal) and a rezone of properties at 706-740 West 900 South from light manufacturing to residential mixed use.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item A5 · Presentation
YouthCity Government State of the City address
Discussed
YouthCity members described their interest in policy, racial equity, police reform and sex education, and asked the Council to keep discussing systemic racism. Council Member Chris Wharton asked whether the group had reviewed HB 338, which would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections.
Item B1 · Public safety
Distracted Driving Prevention Program grant application (public hearing)
Discussed · 7-0
Heard with item B2 as one hearing. The Police Department seeks a Utah Highway Safety Office grant for distracted-driving enforcement and education overtime for twelve months from October 1, 2021. The hearing was closed and the items referred for future action.
- Grant$12,000 to Utah Highway Safety Office
Item B2 · Public safety
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program grant application (public hearing)
Discussed · 7-0
The Police Department seeks a Utah Highway Safety Office grant for crosswalk enforcement and a youth bicycle rodeo. One speaker suggested mailing tickets using license plate data, another opposed the grant and asked for police funding to be redirected, and a third supported more police funding.
- Grant$10,296 to Utah Highway Safety Office
Item C1 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 7 for fiscal year 2020-21
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 9 of 2021. Items include $300,000 for the National League of Cities conference, $50,000 for World Trade Center membership, $650,000 for encampment re-establishment prevention, $4,943,048 for employee bonuses, $6,067,033 in U.S. Treasury emergency rental assistance, $537,337 for police protest costs, $241,224 for police COVID costs, and $700,285 for an on-demand rides-to-transit pilot. As recorded, the same motion also covers Council Consent Agendas 3 and 4, a series of grant holding items (such as $300,713 federal Byrne JAG, $248,064 halfway house grant and $160,100 homeless shelter city mitigation).
- Grant$6.07 million to U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Payment$4.94 million
- Budget$650,000
- Budget$300,000
- Payment$537,337
- Budget$700,285
- Grant$300,713 to U.S. Department of Justice
- Grant$160,100 to State of Utah
Item C2 · Budget
One-year action plan for CDBG and other federal grants, FY 2021-22
Approved · 6-0-1
The Council adopted Resolution 14 of 2021 approving the action plan and allocating the federal grants. After public comment, the original 7-0 vote was reconsidered because Council Member Andrew Johnston has a conflict of interest through his employment with Volunteers of America; he recused, and the Council re-approved the resolution 6-0.
Item C3 · Zoning
Zoning map amendment, 706-740 West 900 South and 710-739 West Genesee Avenue
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 10 of 2021 rezoning the properties, including parts of two alleys, from M-1 (light manufacturing) to R-MU (residential mixed use). The applicant intends multi-family housing on the rest of the site and to renovate two vacant commercial buildings; no specific development plan was submitted. Petitions PLNPCM2019-01137 and PLN2020-00442.
- Current zone to proposed: M-1 to R-MU
Item E1 · Contract
County election services interlocal agreement
Approved · 7-0
The Council approved Resolution 10 of 2021 for an agreement with Salt Lake County for vote-by-mail and potential ranked-choice election services in 2021.
- PaymentAmount not given to Salt Lake County
Item F1 · Roads and utilities
Interlocal agreement for 700 South reconstruction corridor preservation funds
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Resolution 11 of 2021 authorizing the agreement with Salt Lake County for transfer of corridor preservation funds for the 700 South reconstruction.
- GrantAmount not given to Salt Lake County
Item F2 · Other
Ranked choice voting pilot program
Approved · 6-1
The Council adopted Resolution 12 of 2021 notifying the Lieutenant Governor that the city will use ranked-choice voting in the 2021 municipal election without a primary. Council Member Amy Fowler supported it and wished the decision had come earlier. Council Member James Rogers opposed, citing the number of seats up for election, timing in an election year and little time to educate voters. Council Member Andrew Johnston called it a difficult change but supported it. Mayor Erin Mendenhall said she backed ranked-choice voting but believed removing the primary was a mistake.
Item F3 · City code
Idling of vehicles ordinance amendments
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 11 of 2021 changing idling penalties and exceptions, including exceptions for extreme temperatures, emergency and law enforcement vehicles, and traffic stops, and allowing a citation after one warning.
Item F4 · Other
Recycling Market Development Zone Program resolution
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Resolution 13 of 2021 approving the Sustainability Department's application, limited to M-1 and M-2 zones, so qualifying recycling businesses can receive state income tax credits.
Item F5 · Budget
Compensation plan for appointed and non-represented employees
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 12 of 2021 adding six appointed positions, retitling and raising the pay grade of one, and raising pay grades for three others.
Item G · Other
Consent agenda: Budget Amendment No. 8 hearing date, board appointments, FY 2021-22 budget hearing dates
Approved · 7-0
The Council set May 4, 2021 for the Budget Amendment No. 8 hearing and May 18 and June 1 for FY 2021-22 budget hearings, and approved appointments of Ronald McClain and Daniel Cairo to the Library Board and Chad Whittaker, Melanie Pehrson and Philip Carroll to the PNUT Advisory Board. Acting as the Local Building Authority board, it also set hearing dates for its FY 2021-22 capital projects budget.
What residents said
Ranked-choice votingPolice fundingIdling enforcement
Speakers supported ranked-choice voting (citing voter choice and lower cost), some asked to move police funds to social services, two opposed the idling ordinance as predatory enforcement, one thanked the YouthCity Government, and several thanked Council Member Andrew Johnston for his service on the Council.