Council leans toward shared housing zoning with management plan and yearly review; supports funding boiler repair
March 23, 2021, 4:00 p.m. · Electronic meeting (no physical anchor location)
In a March 23 work session, council members discussed the shared housing zoning amendments, a request to raise building heights in part of the Gateway Mixed Use zone, the percent-for-art ordinance and Budget Amendment No. 7. A straw poll supported funding a repair of the boiler that heats the Library and City and County Building, and members reviewed the Citizens' Compensation Advisory Committee's pay equity report and the draft federal grant action plan for 2021-22. No formal votes were taken. The minutes are marked pending approval.
From the draft minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Mayor Erin Mendenhall reviewed COVID-19 statistics and vaccination sites and hours, and reported on housing, camping and crime issues affecting people experiencing homelessness at the Rio Grande and Fleet Block areas.
Item 2 · Presentation
Updates on racial equity and policing
Discussed
Staff said the police budget audit would be available in early April 2021 and that the Commission on Racial Equity in Policing would meet March 24 at 5 p.m.
Item 3 · City code
Shared housing zoning text amendments follow-up
Discussed
Council Member Andrew Johnston asked how shared housing differs from motels and raised concern about neighborhood impacts; the planning director said the difference is amenities and that zoning is a poor tool for regulating behavior outside the use, pointing to bar management plans. Council Members Darin Mano and Ana Valdemoros stressed enforcement, 24-hour management and spreading facilities across the city. Council Members Amy Fowler, James Rogers and Chris Wharton said single-family homes can raise the same issues and that shared housing is a way to help people unable or unwilling to use shelters. Mayor Erin Mendenhall spoke in favor of approving and expanding the ordinance. Senior Advisor Russell Weeks said the council could adopt it with a management plan, yearly review, wider geographic spread, a buffer between sites and business license enforcement, and members discussed whether to sunset the ordinance.
Item 4 · Zoning
Zoning text amendment to increase building height limits in a portion of the G-MU zone
Discussed
Russell Weeks reviewed a request to raise the maximum height from 120 to 190 feet on portions of two blocks near the Salt Lake Central Station; the Planning Commission forwarded a negative recommendation and an ordinance was added for council consideration. Council Members Mano and Johnston wanted affordable housing in the development and questioned the negative recommendation. Council Member Rogers said the project does not involve affordable housing, asked how to incentivize it, and said he was comfortable moving forward given how long the petition had been under review. Petitioner the applicant said the development is for office space, not housing.
- Current maximum height: 120 feet; requested: 190 feet
- Planning Commission recommendation: negative
Item 5 · City code
Percent for Art ordinance revision follow-up
Discussed
Staff presented the ordinance and its required funding and said it would take effect except for a delayed reporting requirement. No discussion was held; action was tentatively set for April 6.
Item 6 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 7 follow-up
Discussed
Staff reviewed the amendment, including federal American Rescue Plan funds, and discussed the condition and repair funding of the boiler that heats the Library and the City and County Building and projects that would be delayed by the repair. Council Member Mano asked how delayed projects would be funded, and Council Member Johnston asked what the federal funds can be used for; the public services director said the city was researching it. A straw poll to approve funding for the boiler was supported by all council members present.
Item 8 · Presentation
Citizens' Compensation Advisory Committee 2021 annual report
Discussed
City staff and a pay scale consultant reviewed a pay equity audit and said no policy changes were needed at this time; Council Member Johnston asked about pay gaps flagged for three employees and Council Member Mano asked whether the analysis looked at overpayment as well as underpayment. Committee members reported on COVID-19's impact on salary budgets, recruitment, the city living wage and local market pay comparisons.
Item 9 · Budget
One-year action plan for CDBG and other federal grants, fiscal year 2021-22
Discussed
Staff briefed the council on the mayor's funding recommendations, including about $6.7 million in HUD program funds. Council Member Johnston asked about differences between Redevelopment Agency board and mayor recommendations; staff said they involve unspent prior-year CDBG funds. Council Member Valdemoros asked about the Geraldine King Resource Center's two applications, and Council Member Mano asked about the low score for the Journey of Hope application. Council Member Fowler asked where American Rescue Plan funds could be allocated.
- Grant$6.70 million to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Public hearing: April 6, 2021
- Tentative council action: April 20, 2021
Item 11 · Other
Report of the Executive Director
Discussed
The executive director updated the council on ranked-choice voting.
What residents said
Shared housing impacts and enforcementHeight limits in Gateway Mixed Use zoneBoiler repairPay equity