Council adopts homeless resource center rules with firearm signage requirement, approves 792 West 900 South rezone with 35-foot height limit
May 2, 2023, 7:00 p.m.
The Council voted 7-0 to adopt Ordinance 19 of 2023, the homeless resource center and shelter text amendment, with a requirement that privately owned centers that bar firearms post signs and provide secure storage. It also approved 7-0 the rezone at 792 West 900 South with a recorded 35-foot height limit, extended the flood emergency declaration to June 15, and adopted tentative FY2023-24 budgets. The meeting also covered the Local Building Authority and Redevelopment Agency. Council Member Victoria Petro was recorded absent for the first votes of the evening.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Budget
Mayor presents proposed FY2023-24 budget
Discussed
Mayor Mendenhall presented the proposed FY2023-24 budget, including the Library Fund, and read her budget message. Council Member Puy reviewed next steps for approval and encouraged public involvement.
Item B1 · Public hearing
Downtown Building Height and Street Activation text amendment (public hearing)
Continued · 6-0
Two speakers addressed the amendment. One asked the Council to account for historic districts, remove the FB-UN1 district, limit FB-UN2 to the map in the meeting materials, and consider less expensive housing. The other, speaking for a property along 500 West, said a required mid-block walkway through the middle of a large store was not feasible and would keep stores such as Home Depot from building downtown. The Council closed the hearing and deferred action. Council Member Petro was recorded absent for this vote.
- Petition PLNPCM2022-00529
Item B2 · Public hearing
Budget Amendment No. 6 for FY2022-23 (public hearing)
Continued · 6-0
No one spoke on the amendment, which includes funds for adapting the Seven Canyons Fountain at Liberty Park, a Steiner Aquatics Center roof replacement and ARPA uses including a $10 million contribution to the Perpetual Housing Fund of Utah. The Council closed the hearing and deferred action.
Item B3 · Roads and utilities
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant for traffic signal synchronization (public hearing)
Continued · 6-0
The Division of Transportation seeks federal money administered by UDOT and the Wasatch Front Regional Council for radar detection equipment at about 31 key intersections to reduce traffic diverting onto residential streets. One speaker said air quality is important but wanted more detail on how the program would achieve it. The Council closed the hearing and referred the item to the consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to Utah Department of Transportation / Wasatch Front Regional Council
Item C1 · City code
Homeless Resource Center and shelter text amendment
Approved with conditions · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 19 of 2023, which creates an approval process and overlay zone for future homeless resource centers and updates standards for centers and shelters. An amendment requires privately owned centers or shelters that prohibit firearms to post signs at public entrances, provide detection devices and offer secure storage while a person is inside. Legislative intents call for developing metrics to show the impact of the centers and for helping providers with data collection, and a legislative action asks the Administration to propose letting the zoning administrator require Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) standards for other homeless services uses. Members discussed the wording of the motions, what would happen to firearms if the language were removed, detection devices and storage options.
- Petition PLNPCM2022-01068
- Initiated by the City Council through Ordinance 15B of 2022
Item C2 · Zoning
Rezone at 792 West 900 South and 875 South 800 West
Approved with conditions · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 20 of 2023 rezoning the properties from M-1 Light Manufacturing to R-MU Residential/Mixed Use, on the condition that the applicant record a restrictive covenant limiting building height to 35 feet. The rezone is meant to allow two small multi-family buildings.
- Applicant: the applicant
- Condition: restrictive covenant limiting height to 35 feet
- Petition PLNPCM2022-00587
Item E1 · Contract
Election services interlocal agreement with Salt Lake County for the 2023 municipal election
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Resolution 11 of 2023, an interlocal agreement under which the county provides election services for the November 7, 2023 general election, which uses ranked choice voting. The city is responsible for any charges above the estimate, such as a recount.
- ContractAmount not given to Salt Lake County
Item E2 · Other
Naming the airport greeting room for Senator Jake Garn
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Resolution 12 of 2023 supporting the Mayor's naming of the Salt Lake International Airport greeting room the Senator Garn Greeting Room.
Item E3 · Public safety
Extension of the local flooding emergency declaration
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Resolution 13 of 2023 extending the Mayor's Proclamation 1 of 2023, issued April 12, 2023, until June 15, 2023 unless extended or ended sooner. The earlier work session had discussed June 30.
Item F1 · Budget
Tentative FY2023-24 city budget, including the Library Fund
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Resolution 14 of 2023, the tentative FY2023-24 budget for the city and the Library Fund. Final budget hearings are set for May 16 and June 6, 2023.
Item G1-G9 · Appointment
Consent: grant holding account items and board appointments
Approved · 7-0
On consent the Council approved Grant Holding Account Items (Batch No. 9) for FY2022-23; Sister Cities Board appointments of John Wilson, Matilyn Mortensen, Ross Chambless and Annie Quan (terms ending July 6, 2027); reappointments to the Arts Council of Kathy Davis and Torle Nenbee (terms ending May 2, 2026); Deirdre Darby-Duffin to the Utah Performing Arts Center Agency (May 2, 2027); and Neil Vickers to the Mosquito Abatement Board (December 31, 2027).
Item LBA J1 · Budget
Local Building Authority tentative FY2023-24 Capital Projects Fund budget
Approved · 7-0
Meeting as the Local Building Authority, the Council adopted Resolution 1 of 2023, the tentative budget for the authority's Capital Projects Fund, which only covers bond debt service for the Glendale and Marmalade libraries. It also approved a list of past LBA minutes, 7-0.
Item RDA L1 · Budget
Redevelopment Agency tentative FY2023-24 budget
Approved · 7-0
Meeting as the Redevelopment Agency board, the Council adopted Resolution 09 of 2023, the agency's tentative FY2023-24 budget.
What residents said
Homeless shelter closuresFirearms in sheltersDowntown mid-block walkway requirementHistoric districts and downtown heightAffordable housing
Under comments, about 15 speakers raised homelessness and housing: a shortage of shelter and housing, the cost of abatements, people moved to the street when winter shelters closed, support for a sanctioned campground, safety in shelters, and a need for health care, mental health and addiction services. One speaker supported the Mayor's FY2023-24 budget, and others asked about affordable housing and survey data.