Council adopts 200,000-gallon daily water cap and fee waiver for Ivory Innovations housing; hearings on 500 East townhomes close without action
September 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m. · Council Chambers, 451 South State Street
The Council voted 7-0 to adopt Ordinance 48 setting a 200,000-gallon daily water cap for non-residential uses, with a request that the Administration report within nine months on whether the cap can go lower. It also adopted the public services reorganization and a permit fee waiver for the 66-unit Ivory Innovations project. After hearings it deferred action on the 22-townhome rezone at 1990 and 2002 South 500 East and two alley vacations, and the license plate reader ordinance hearing was postponed. Council Member Daniel Dugan conducted the meeting.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Hearing on three Police Department grant applications | No action · 7-0 |
| Hearing on 22 townhomes and rezone at 1990 and 2002 South 500 East | Continued · 7-0 |
| Hearing on alley vacation near 2553 South Chadwick Street | Continued · 7-0 |
| Hearing on alley vacation at about 750 South Main Street | Continued · 7-0 |
| Police license plate reader ordinance hearing postponed | Continued |
| Maximum daily water use text amendment | Approved · 7-0 |
| Administrative organization text amendment for Public Services | Approved · 7-0 |
| Building permit fee waiver for Ivory Innovations housing at 707 South 400 East | Approved · 7-0 |
| Consent: hearing dates for budget amendment, liquor waiver and wetland conservation easement | Approved · 7-0 |
| Board appointments on consent | Approved · 7-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item B.1-B.3 · Public safety
Hearing on three Police Department grant applications
No action · 7-0
The Council held one hearing on three applications: a COPS Hiring Program grant that would fund up to 75 percent of salary and benefits for 12 entry-level officers over three years (grant period October 1, 2026 to September 20, 2031); a Department of Workforce Services state appropriation to expand the Project Connect program and fund four new positions; and a Highway Safety Office grant for 12 replacement LiDAR units for traffic enforcement (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027). One speaker supported the grants, especially Project Connect, while urging investment in prevention; another supported them while raising privacy concerns; a third opposed the COPS hiring grant, citing officer conduct and a preference for community-based services. The Council closed the hearing and referred the items to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
- GrantAmount not given to Utah Department of Workforce Services, Office of Homeless Services
- GrantAmount not given to Utah Department of Public Safety, Highway Safety Office
Item B.4 · Zoning
Hearing on 22 townhomes and rezone at 1990 and 2002 South 500 East
Continued · 7-0
The Council held a hearing on rezoning two properties in Liberty Wells from R-1/5000 to RMF-35 and changing the future land use map from low to medium density residential to allow 22 for-sale, four-bedroom townhomes with a playground. The Planning Commission recommended approval with a development agreement and a water-wise landscaping condition. Ten speakers commented: several raised height, setbacks, privacy and natural light, traffic, parking and pedestrian safety; a Liberty Wells Community Council representative spoke against the rezone; a Board of Realtors representative questioned whether the homes would be attainable; and others asked about alternative zoning, lower heights and affordability. Council Member Erika Carlsen thanked residents, credited the developer for incorporating feedback, urged continued talks and said the motion was only to close the hearing. Action was referred to a future date.
- Applicant: Castlewood Development
- Petitions: PLNPCM2026-00329 and PLNPCM2026-00331
- Current zone to proposed: R-1/5000 to RMF-35
- Units: 22
- Planning Commission: recommended approval with development agreement
- Council District 5
Item B.5 · Development
Hearing on alley vacation near 2553 South Chadwick Street
Continued · 7-0
The Council held a hearing on vacating portions of two city-owned alleys, 12 feet wide by 262 feet and 12 by 51 feet, to be divided among adjacent owners. No one spoke. The hearing was closed and action deferred.
- Petition: PLNPCM2026-00073
- Council District 7
Item B.6 · Development
Hearing on alley vacation at about 750 South Main Street
Continued · 7-0
The Council held a hearing on Intermountain Health's request to vacate an alley about 8.25 feet by 248 feet to support an off-site parking structure for the future hospital. No one spoke. The hearing was closed and action deferred.
- Petitioner: Chad Moynahan with Intermountain Health Services, Inc.
- Petition: PLNPCM2026-00374
- Council District 4
Item B.7 · Public safety
Police license plate reader ordinance hearing postponed
Continued
The hearing on an ordinance regulating the Police Department's automatic license plate reader system (use, access, retention, sharing, training, security and auditing) was rescheduled to a date to be determined pending updated amendments. The Council will set a new hearing date with notice. During general comment several speakers opposed license plate readers.
Item C.1 · City code
Maximum daily water use text amendment
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 48 of 2026, making permanent a temporary rule that non-residential land uses are limited to 200,000 gallons of water per day, with exemptions only for agriculture, schools, government facilities that mainly provide social services, places of worship and hospitals, in all zones. The motion also adopted a legislative action asking the Administration to analyze usage data once the cap is in effect and report within nine months on whether it can be lowered, and to explore incentives for smart irrigation controllers and other ways to cut outdoor water use. Council Member Alejandro Puy stressed smart irrigation incentives; Council Member Daniel Dugan stressed protecting the Great Salt Lake and cutting water use across all customer types.
- Cap: 200,000 gallons per day, non-residential
- Ordinance 48 of 2026
Item F.1 · City code
Administrative organization text amendment for Public Services
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Ordinance 49 of 2026 amending Title 2 to move the Engineering Division to Community and Neighborhoods, rename the Compliance Division as Urban Services, and update the City Architect's responsibilities.
Item F.2 · Development
Building permit fee waiver for Ivory Innovations housing at 707 South 400 East
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted Resolution 18 of 2026 waiving building permit fees for a nonprofit affordable housing developer's project at the former Liberty Wells Center: 66 units, 75 percent planned for households at or below 80 percent of area median income. The Community and Neighborhoods director had approved the application after a January 14, 2026 informal hearing.
- FeeAmount not given to Ivory Innovations
- Units: 66
Item G.1-G.4 · Other
Consent: hearing dates for budget amendment, liquor waiver and wetland conservation easement
Approved · 7-0
On consent the Council set September 22 for a hearing on Budget Amendment No. 1 for fiscal 2026-27 (which includes $11.5 million in grants for Fleet Block and 9 Line improvements, $1 million for a Glendale Park pump track and skate park, and a $700,000 transfer for the Old Library Building Project). It set October 6 for hearings on a liquor proximity waiver for Taste of Thai at 2130 South Highland Drive, on waiving the price of a conservation easement over city-owned land next to the Great Salt Lake to Utah Open Lands, and the required hearing on selling surplus airport wetland to the Utah Department of Natural Resources.
- Grant$11.5 million
Item G.5-G.9 · Appointment
Board appointments on consent
Approved · 7-0
The Council approved Todd Newman and Ryan Richards as Administrative Appeals Officers (terms to September 15, 2031), Conrad Duerr to the City and County Building Conservancy and Use Committee (to July 15, 2030), Katherine Johnson to the Library Board (to June 30, 2029) and Katie Riggs Hansen's reappointment to the Utah Performing Arts Center Agency (to September 15, 2030).
What residents said
Building height and privacy at 500 East townhomesTraffic and pedestrian safety near 500 EastHousing affordabilityLicense plate reader surveillanceWater conservationScooters on sidewalks
On the 500 East rezone, residents raised building height, privacy, traffic, parking and pedestrian safety, compatibility with single-story homes and whether the townhomes would be attainable; some supported more housing. General comment included opposition to automatic license plate readers over privacy and data-sharing concerns, requests to keep Westside food microgrant and senior services, and concerns about scooters on downtown sidewalks.