Salt Lake City Council adopts wildland-urban interface fire code, vacates part of 200 North for West High rebuild; RMF zoning vote deferred
November 18, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
The Council voted 7-0 to adopt the state-required Wildland Urban Interface Fire Code, to amend public-lands zoning and vacate a block of 200 North for the West High School reconstruction, and to pass Budget Amendment No. 2 after trimming a transition-cost item from $45,000 to $14,440. After a hearing with about ten speakers, it deferred action on the RMF-35/RMF-45 multi-family zoning amendment. The Council also closed hearings on two grant applications and adopted a station-area-plan exception resolution.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item A5 · Other
Resolution recognizing Transgender Awareness Week and Day of Remembrance
Approved · 7-0
Council Member Lopez Chavez read a joint resolution with the mayor recognizing Nov. 12-19 as Transgender Awareness Week and Nov. 20 as Transgender Day of Remembrance. Representatives of two community groups thanked the city for the recognition.
Item B1 · Public hearing
Public hearing: Sugar House Station Area transit-oriented development grant application
No action · 7-0
The Council heard the Transportation Department's application to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Innovative Finance and Asset Concession grant program. If awarded, the grant would help turn the Sugar House Station Area into a finance-ready, mixed-use, transit-oriented district. It was heard together with item B2; no speaker addressed it, and the hearing was closed with the item referred to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to U.S. Department of Transportation
Item B2 · Public hearing
Public hearing: Police license plate reader camera grant application
No action · 7-0
The Council heard the Police Department's application to the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office for the fiscal year 2024 Technology and Equipment grant, which would pay for license plate reader cameras. One speaker asked for transparency on camera locations, system costs and data access, and for stricter data-privacy rules in the grant. The hearing was closed and the item referred to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office
Item B3 · Zoning
Public hearing: RMF-35 and RMF-45 multi-family zoning text amendment
Tabled · 7-0
The proposal amends Title 21A to remove barriers to infill housing in moderate-density multi-family districts: new design standards, smaller minimum lot sizes, no lot-width minimums, multiple buildings per lot and a density bonus for preserving existing housing. A small number of RMF-35 properties would be rezoned to RMF-45. Speakers in favor said current rules restrict housing and would help affordability. Others raised concerns about historic districts and federal landmark certification, and a nonprofit housing provider asked for language allowing connections between buildings in the same development. Council Member Puy spoke of the need to ease current restrictions; Council Member Wharton said the nonprofit's questions needed review before adoption. The Council closed the hearing and deferred action.
- Petition: PLNPCM2024-01388
- Current zone → proposed: RMF-35 → RMF-45 for a small number of properties; text changes citywide
- Tentative council action: Dec. 2, 2025
Item B4 · City code
Public hearing and adoption: Wildland Urban Interface Fire Code
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted the state Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Code, which the city is required to adopt, along with a map of where it applies. The ordinance also gives the WUI code precedence over conflicting Title 21A regulations except in the Riparian Corridor Overlay. The code governs building materials, construction, separation and landscaping to reduce fire risk. One speaker opposed it and asked the Council to review the mapped zones' effect on residential properties; Council Member Wharton acknowledged those concerns and pointed to ongoing fire-safety work.
- Ordinance 68 of 2025
Item C1 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 2 for fiscal year 2025-26
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted the amendment, which includes money for YouthCity afterschool programs, the National League of Cities summit in Salt Lake City, Inland Port Authority expansion of the Trainfo system, more Green Bike stations and a grant for crime-victim services. It reduced an elected-officials transition cost item (A3) from $45,000 to $14,440 and corrected a scrivener's error on item G2. A second motion adopted a legislative intent asking the administration to write a formal policy on when and how private donations for capital improvement projects are accepted, including evaluation criteria, approval procedures and maintenance costs.
- Budget$14,440
- Ordinance 69 of 2025
- Legislative intent on private donations to CIP projects adopted 7-0 (moved by Council Member Daniel Dugan, seconded by Council Member Victoria Petro)
Item C2 · Zoning
Public-lands zoning text amendment and 200 North street vacation for West High School
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted two ordinances tied to rebuilding West High School. One changes K-12 public school development standards in Public Lands zones (building height, buffering, allowed uses) and exempts new construction from Historic Preservation Overlay review. The other vacates a 130-foot-wide, 530-foot-long portion of 200 North between 300 West and 200 West that sits inside the campus. Council Member Wharton said concerns were addressed, including a one-way exit onto 300 West and security gates to bar unauthorized parking.
- Petitions: PLNPCM2025-00320 and PLNPCM2025-00321
- Ordinances 55 and 55B of 2025
Item F1 · Other
Station area plan exception resolution
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted a resolution finding it impracticable to prepare state-required station area plans for six transit stations: Airport, Stadium, Central Campus, Fort Douglas, University of Utah Medical Center and River Trail. The finding lets the city ask the Wasatch Front Regional Council for an exception.
- Resolution 38 of 2025
Item G · Other
Consent agenda: hearing dates and board appointments
Approved · 7-0
The Council set Dec. 2, 2025 hearings on parking dimensions and off-street parking standards (PLNPCM2025-00358), a Water Conservation and Land Use general plan element (PLNPCM2025-00481) and the 2025 Water Conservation Plan. It also approved appointments to the Library Board and the Parks, Natural Lands, Urban Forestry and Trails Advisory Board, and a reappointment to the Bicycle Advisory Committee.
What residents said
Historic district impact of RMF zoningWUI fire code mappingLicense plate reader data privacyUtility rate increases
Speakers raised the WUI fire code's effect on residential properties, the city's involvement with federal law enforcement, Department of Public Utilities procedures, and thanks for the West High plan. Three speakers said the new sewer and water rate structure had sharply raised bills, including for a condominium complex and residents on fixed incomes. Council Member Young said staff would meet with residents after the meeting.