Council ratifies Puy as 2026 chair; dozens of speakers press city on immigration enforcement and license plate readers
January 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
The Council voted 7-0 to ratify Alejandro Puy as chair and Erika Carlsen as vice chair, adopted a Public Lands fee schedule change, and deferred action on the Public Utilities fire line fee corrections after a hearing. A mayor's office representative told the Council the city has not entered and will not enter a 287(g) agreement with ICE. About three dozen speakers addressed immigration enforcement and public safety during general comment.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Public hearing: five grant applications | No action · 7-0 |
| Public Utilities fee schedule corrections (fire lines) | Tabled · 7-0 |
| Ratification of 2026 Council Chair and Vice Chair | Approved · 7-0 |
| Consolidated Fee Schedule amendment for Public Lands | Approved · 7-0 |
| Consent: RMF clarification, hearing dates and reappointments | Approved · 7-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item B1-B5 · Public hearing
Public hearing: five grant applications
No action · 7-0
One combined hearing covered applications for a community violence intervention grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, a victim services mini-grant from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, a state DUI equipment grant for 30 portable breath testers, and two federal transportation grants for Wakara Way reconstruction and a Wakara Way/Chipeta Way roundabout in the University of Utah Research Park. Five speakers opposed B1, citing license plate reader and data privacy concerns. Council Member Lopez Chavez clarified that license plate readers were not part of these items. The hearing was closed and the items referred to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to U.S. Department of Justice
- GrantAmount not given to International Association of Chiefs of Police
- GrantAmount not given to State of Utah
- GrantAmount not given to U.S. DOT via UDOT and Wasatch Front Regional Council
Item B6 · Taxes and fees
Public Utilities fee schedule corrections (fire lines)
Tabled · 7-0
The ordinance adds the title "Fire Lines" and description "Per Inch" to a Public Utilities rate table. One speaker asked the Council to confirm the schedule complies with city ordinances before adoption. The Council closed the hearing and deferred action.
Item E1 · Other
Ratification of 2026 Council Chair and Vice Chair
Approved · 7-0
The Council ratified Council Member Puy as Chair and Council Member Carlsen as Vice Chair for 2026.
Item F1 · Taxes and fees
Consolidated Fee Schedule amendment for Public Lands
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted a change exempting certain transactions from credit card surcharge fees in the Public Lands Department.
- Ordinance 1 of 2026
Item G · Other
Consent: RMF clarification, hearing dates and reappointments
Approved · 7-0
The Council clarified that its Dec. 9 RMF 35/45 action consisted of Ordinances 74A, 74B and 74C (code) and 74D (map). It set a Jan. 20 hearing on creating the Silos Park Public Infrastructure District at about 470 West 600 South (petitioned by entities represented by Joseph McKay), set a Feb. 3 hearing on Budget Amendment No. 4, and approved reappointments to the Business Advisory Board, Racial Equity in Policing Commission (three) and Mosquito Abatement District Board.
What residents said
Federal immigration enforcementLicense plate reader privacyPublic comment time limitsSewer biotower conditional use
The Council questioned the mayor's office on federal collaboration; the mayor's chief of staff said the city and police do not take part in civil immigration operations, do not fund ICE for civil enforcement, and have not and will not enter a 287(g) agreement. About 35 speakers then addressed immigration enforcement, public safety and data privacy, with several asking to restore unlimited public comment time. Individual speakers also raised a sewer treatment biotower at 1020 West Pierpont Avenue, the proposed renaming of Harvey Milk Boulevard (one speaker urged rejecting it), and what it means to be an inclusive city. Comment closed at the one-hour limit.