Council tentatively adopts budget with 12.5% property tax proposal, delays vote on camping ordinance and 800 East rezone
May 5, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
In a meeting that ran until 11:34 p.m., the council voted 7-0 to adopt the tentative FY 2026-27 budget, which includes a proposed 12.5 percent property tax increase, and to rename part of 500 South honorarily for Dolores Huerta. It deferred action on the camping ordinance, Fortune Road vacation and Mansell Manor rezone, and continued the hearing on the 800 East and 400 South rezone. The council also voted to start an independent investigation into allegations involving Council Member Eva Lopez Chavez and to suspend some of her duties during it.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item B1 · Budget
LBA: Tentative budget for the Capital Projects Fund, fiscal year 2026-27
Approved · 6-0
The Local Building Authority board approved LBA Resolution 1 of 2026, the tentative Capital Projects Fund budget, which only includes bond debt service for the Glendale and Marmalade libraries. Council Member Lopez Chavez had not yet arrived.
Item D1 · Budget
CRA: Tentative budget for the Community Reinvestment Agency, fiscal year 2026-27
Approved · 7-0
The Community Reinvestment Agency board approved CRA Resolution 5 of 2026, adopting its tentative budget. Council Member Lopez Chavez arrived during this item and voted.
Item F3 · Budget
Mayor's proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget
Discussed
Mayor Erin Mendenhall presented a proposed $498.9 million general fund budget, up 1.57 percent, which includes a proposed 12.5 percent property tax increase after $13.2 million in identified departmental savings. She cited rising operating costs, inflation, reduced federal funding and growing service demand, said the plan continues investment in affordable housing, street and sidewalk maintenance and parks, and includes utility and waste rate increases for aging infrastructure. Council Member Puy outlined the council's review process and upcoming public hearings.
- Budget$498.9 million
Item G1-G4 · Public hearing
Four grant applications: police vehicles, Glendale Park pump track and skatepark, cemetery records scanner, emergency communications
Approved · 7-0
The council held one hearing on four grant applications. They are: a Police Department request through federal Community Project Funding (sponsored by Representative Blake Moore) for three quick response transport vans, one transport van and one operations management center vehicle; a Public Lands request to the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation for a pump track, adaptive pump track and skatepark at Glendale Park, which would be the state's first fully adaptive pump track; a Salt Lake City Cemetery request to the State Historic Preservation Office for a large-format scanner to digitize 179 years of records; and a Fire Department request to the Utah Division of Emergency Management for backup communications hardware if the cellular network fails. Two speakers opposed the police vehicle grant, one saying the money would be better spent on alternative public safety and community trust and one citing concern it could support immigration enforcement. One speaker supported the adaptive pump track and urged opening the nearby Canal Trail. The council closed the hearing and referred the items to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (Community Project Funding)
- GrantAmount not given to Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation
- GrantAmount not given to Utah State Historic Preservation Office
- GrantAmount not given to Utah Division of Emergency Management
Item G5 · Development
Fortune Road partial street vacation
Continued · 7-0
After a public hearing at which no one spoke, the council closed the hearing and deferred action to a future meeting. Petitioner Thatcher Company Inc. owns all adjacent land and the right-of-way would be sold at fair market value.
Item G6 · Zoning
Mansell Manor zoning map amendment
Continued · 7-0
The council heard one speaker, the chair of the Ballpark Community Council, who opposed the MU-8 zoning as inconsistent with surrounding residential areas and said there is no updated neighborhood master plan. The council closed the hearing and deferred action.
Item G7 · Other
Honorary renaming of 500 South as Dolores Huerta Boulevard
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Resolution 2 of 2026 honorarily renaming the city-owned part of 500 South between State Street and 700 East as Dolores Huerta Boulevard. One speaker discussed the city's welcoming role during the 2002 Olympics and urged keeping the existing Martin Luther King Jr. honorary designation. Council Member Puy praised Huerta's labor rights work.
Item G8 · City code
Camping or obstructing public property and park rules text amendment
Continued · 7-0
The hearing drew roughly 80 commenters, most of whom opposed the ordinance, saying it would criminalize homelessness, remove vehicle habitation as a last-resort shelter, and burden people with limited housing options; several suggested safe parking, housing, supportive services or a city campground instead. Supporters, including residents and a downtown community council representative, cited safety, drug activity, blocked access and encampments near homes, schools and parks; the downtown council representative supported it conditionally if enforcement includes services and safeguards. Council Member Petro wanted creative solutions and added supports before advancing the ordinance. Council Member Wharton voiced concerns and said more work was needed on protecting vulnerable people from violence and trafficking. Council Member Puy said the city is the primary government response to homelessness and that more state and federal help is needed. The council closed the hearing and deferred action.
Item G9 · Zoning
Master plan and zoning map amendment at 346, 350, 354 and 370 South 800 East and 775 East 400 South
Continued · 7-0
Most of about 15 speakers opposed the request, citing scale and density, height, loss of naturally occurring affordable housing, displacement, traffic, impacts on the 800 East bike corridor and concerns about spot zoning; one cited a neighbor petition with 48 signatures. A representative of the East Central Community Council asked for an outcome that preserves workforce housing while allowing development. The applicant's representative and architect spoke in support, saying they worked with the community and describing site constraints and fire access. Council Member Lopez Chavez thanked participants and the developer for revisions but said the project did not yet fit the neighborhood. The council voted to continue the hearing.
Item J1 · Other
Code of conduct: working group and investigation
Approved · 6-0-1
The council voted 6-0, with Council Member Victoria Petro abstaining, to create a working group of Council Members Erika Carlsen, Daniel Dugan and Chris Wharton to retain an independent investigator to look into allegations involving Council Member Eva Lopez Chavez and any potential code of conduct violations, with a goal of finishing before the end of July. The minutes record no discussion or reasons.
Item J1b · Other
Code of conduct: temporary suspension of certain duties
Approved · 5-0-2
The council voted 5-0, with Council Members Petro and Lopez Chavez abstaining, to temporarily suspend Council Member Lopez Chavez's duties of conducting formal meetings, her CRA leadership role, city-related travel, speaking on behalf of the council, and using the communications budget about the investigation while it is underway.
Item K1 · Budget
Tentative budget of Salt Lake City and the Library Fund, fiscal year 2026-27
Approved · 7-0
The council approved Resolution 9 of 2026 adopting the tentative FY 2026-27 city and library budget, which includes the proposed property tax increase. Final hearing is May 19.
Item L · Appointment
Consent agenda: hearing dates and board appointments
Approved · 7-0
The council set a May 19 hearing on the airport lost-property ordinance and a June 9 hearing on the Jefferson Park alley closure, appointed Deborah Chiquito to the Housing Authority board (term ending May 5, 2030), and reappointed Joseph Murphy to the Community Development and Capital Improvement Programs Advisory Board (term ending May 5, 2029). The Turner Bitton appointment was pulled because the council had been unable to connect with him; it will return at a future meeting.
What residents said
Criminalizing homelessnessVehicle habitationEncampment safetyLoss of affordable housing on 800 EastBuilding scale and densityProperty tax increase
On the camping ordinance, about 80 speakers commented, most opposing it as criminalizing homelessness and vehicle habitation, with others supporting it on safety grounds. On the 800 East project, most speakers opposed the scale and loss of affordable housing. Speakers also addressed the police vehicle grant, the Glendale Park adaptive pump track, and the Dolores Huerta honorary street name.