Council adopts Jordan River Fairpark district 7-0 and directs a development agreement with Larry H. Miller Development
December 10, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
The Council voted 7-0 to establish the Jordan River Fairpark zoning district on 93 acres near 1500 West North Temple and asked the Administration to enter a development agreement with the applicant, plus an annual public review of city service costs and tax revenue diverted to the state-created Fairpark district. It also approved a municipal services agreement with that district, Budget Amendment No. 2, building code changes in Title 18, ranked choice voting for 2025 and the ADA transition plan, and tabled a leadership restructuring resolution.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Recognition of Council Chair Victoria Petro | No action |
| Joint resolution recognizing City Attorney Katherine Lewis | Approved · 7-0 |
| Title 18 building code text amendments | Approved · 7-0 |
| Budget Amendment No. 2, fiscal year 2024-25 | Approved · 7-0 |
| Jordan River Fairpark District zoning map and text amendment | Approved with conditions · 7-0 |
| $350,000 loan to Frontier Fruit, LLC | Approved · 7-0 |
| Municipal services interlocal agreement with the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District | Approved · 7-0 |
| Ranked choice voting for the 2025 municipal election | Approved · 7-0 |
| Americans with Disabilities Act self-evaluation and transition plan | Approved · 6-0 |
| Council policy manual: travel, training and capacity building | Approved · 6-0 |
| Council and board leadership structural changes | Tabled |
| Consent agenda: grant holding account items and appointment | Approved · 6-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item A.5 · Other
Recognition of Council Chair Victoria Petro
No action
Council Member Wharton recognized Council Member Petro for her service as 2024 Council Chair and presented her a shadowbox of items representing the Westside and the year's work.
Item A.6 · Other
Joint resolution recognizing City Attorney Katherine Lewis
Approved · 7-0
The Council and Mayor adopted Joint Resolution 46 of 2024 recognizing the contributions of City Attorney Katherine Lewis. Members and the Mayor thanked her, and the Council gave her a bowl carved from trees that fell in the 2020 windstorm.
Item C.1 · City code
Title 18 building code text amendments
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 91 of 2024 amending Titles 2, 5, 18 and 21A of city code to update references to state-adopted code, change the building code enforcement appeal process, and add and raise building enforcement fines and penalties to match zoning enforcement and cost of operations. The changes are needed to bring city building regulations into line with state law.
Item C.2 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 2, fiscal year 2024-25
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 93 of 2024 amending the fiscal 2025 budget and staffing document for the items on the motion sheet, with a legislative intent statement asking the Administration for a written report on the Prosecutor's Office structure under the current interlocal agreement model versus alternatives, including returning the functions to the City Attorney's Office. Approved items include $3.9 million for fleet vehicles; $200,000 for Justice Court security; the COPS hiring grant for two sergeants and 10 officers ($1 million from the nondepartmental holding account and $617,673 from general fund balance); $877,832 for police vehicles, equipment and costs not covered by the Homeless Shelter Cities grant; a new dedicated fund for the Capital City Downtown Revitalization Zone 0.5% sales tax ($25,982,860 ongoing); $100,000 for 3200 West complete street additions; $7 million for landfill projects, budget neutral through county reimbursements; $240,950 for Racial Equity in Policing Commission-recommended police training; a $4.2 million University of Utah donation for Sunnyside Park; and state transit grants for the 200 South Transit Corridor ($1.8 million), West Temple bike connections ($1.326 million) and the Westpointe/Jordan Meadows byway ($900,000). The minutes list the 400 South multi-use trail grant as $6,356,000,000, which appears to be a typographical error.
- Purchase$3.90 million
- Budget$200,000
- Grant$1.62 million to U.S. Department of Justice (COPS)
- Budget$877,832
- Budget$26.0 million
- Grant$4.20 million to University of Utah
- Budget$7.00 million
- Budget$240,950
Item C.3 · Zoning
Jordan River Fairpark District zoning map and text amendment
Approved with conditions · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 92 of 2024 creating the Jordan River Fairpark (JRF) zoning district and rezoning 93 acres at about 1500 West North Temple to it. Council Member Puy's motion also asked the Administration to enter a development agreement with the applicant as outlined in Attachment A, and requested an annual audit or review, posted on the city website, of the cost of city services provided to the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration (UFAIR) District and the property and sales tax revenue diverted to it. The district allows buildings up to 400 feet. Each member spoke about the discussions behind the agreement with the Larry H. Miller Group, the expected improvement to the area and benefits to the Westside; members said minor items remained to be finalized in the following days.
- Applicant: Snell & Wilmer, representing Larry H. Miller Development
- Acres: 93 across 32 parcels
- Petition: PLNPCM2024-00982
- Condition: Administration to enter development agreement (Attachment A); annual public review of city service costs and diverted tax revenue
Item E.1 · Contract
$350,000 loan to Frontier Fruit, LLC
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 94 of 2024 approving a $350,000 Economic Development Loan Fund loan to Frontier Fruit, LLC, a taproom, to create 19 jobs and retain 11.
- Payment$350,000 to Frontier Fruit, LLC
Item F.1 · Development
Municipal services interlocal agreement with the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Resolution 47 of 2024 authorizing the Administration to enter an interlocal agreement with the UFAIR District under which the district reimburses the city for municipal services such as water, sewer, police, fire and homelessness assistance. The reimbursement is in addition to the city receiving the base taxable value and 25% of the enhanced property tax from the district boundary. State House Bill 562 requires the agreement by Dec. 31, 2024.
Item F.2 · Other
Ranked choice voting for the 2025 municipal election
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Resolution 44 of 2024 requesting the city's participation in the state Municipal Alternative Voting Methods Pilot Project to use ranked choice voting in the 2025 municipal election.
Item F.3 · Other
Americans with Disabilities Act self-evaluation and transition plan
Approved · 6-0
The Council adopted Resolution 43 of 2024 confirming the city's ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, which assesses compliance and identifies steps to remove accessibility barriers. Council Member Puy left the meeting during this item and was absent for the vote.
Item F.4 · Other
Council policy manual: travel, training and capacity building
Approved · 6-0
The Council adopted Resolution 45 of 2024 amending the Council policy on travel, training and capacity building. Council Member Puy was absent for the vote.
Item F.5 · Other
Council and board leadership structural changes
Tabled
A tentative resolution adjusting Council and board leadership positions was tabled to a future meeting.
Item G · Other
Consent agenda: grant holding account items and appointment
Approved · 6-0
The Council approved Grant Holding Account Items (Batch No. 2) for fiscal 2024-25 and appointed Nate King to the Art Design Board for a term ending Dec. 10, 2027. Council Member Puy was absent.
What residents said
Fairpark green space and ownershipImmigrant protectionsArena funding
General comment: about a dozen speakers urged the Council to make a public statement supporting immigrant residents and not to cooperate with deportation activities, in response to the governor's remarks; others asked that the Green Loop be built with the Rio Grande plan, questioned arena funding versus other pre-Olympic projects, urged Larry H. Miller to include green space and owner-occupied units in the Fairpark design, criticized the Church of Scientology, and raised zoning and height issues for a temple construction in Texas.