Council hears airport and library budgets and consultants' draft police audit findings
April 20, 2021, 2:07 p.m. · Electronic meeting
The Council received briefings on the FY 2021-22 Airport and Library budgets and heard consultant Matrix Consulting Group present draft findings of its audit of the Police Department. Five board appointees were interviewed. Several items were not held, including the police training discussion and Budget Amendment No. 8.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
The Mayor and chief of staff reported COVID-19 cases plateauing, a proposal to extend the outdoor dining and retail land use rules for six months, cleanup of the Fleet Block encampment, and Budget Amendment No. 8 funding including $2 million for transitional housing at the Airport Inn, crisis intervention training and a lateral police officer class.
- Budget$2.00 million
Item 2 · Presentation
Updates on racial equity and policing
Discussed
Staff said the April 21 Racial Equity in Policing meeting was canceled and updates would follow.
Item 3 · Budget
Fiscal year 2021-22 proposed budget: Department of Airports
Discussed
Airport staff said the airport is funded by use fees and that pandemic relief let it avoid layoffs. They proposed demolishing the existing terminal at once, advancing the schedule by two years, with construction phased from January 2021 to October 2025 and gates growing from 66 to 78. The FY 2022 operating revenue budget is $252,039,100, with enplanements projected at 11.5 million (13.1 million in 2019). Council staff noted $351,463,000 in airport revenue bonds for the redevelopment would return as a separate resolution. Discussion covered park-and-wait areas, signage and passenger walking distances.
- Budget$252.0 million
- Bond$351.5 million
Item 4 · Budget
Fiscal year 2021-22 proposed budget: Salt Lake City Public Library System
Discussed
The Library Director, at his last budget presentation before leaving on May 3, said new revenue growth is projected at $375,000 and expenditures will stay flat, including the Main Library roof, IT replacement, one new position and a 3.3% compensation increase. Fund balance is projected at $4.6 million (19% of operations). Council Members Fowler, Rogers, Wharton and Valdemoros thanked him for his service.
- Budget$375,000
Item 7 · Presentation
Council audit of the Police Department
Discussed
Matrix Consulting Group presented draft financial and operational findings. It said many Police Department costs were not charged to appropriate cost centers, found a significant unmet need for mental health co-response, and said up to 14,303 calls could be diverted with 20 new community service officer positions. On internal affairs, 44% of complaints were internally generated, but the complaint database is not open to the public; recommendations included a discipline matrix, public posting of complaint and use-of-force statistics, and revisiting a union agreement article that treats verbal counseling as discipline. Body cameras were activated properly 92% of the time but activation was noted only 47% of the time, and the firm recommended mandatory monthly supervisor audits. Council Members Rogers, Mano, Wharton, Dugan and Valdemoros asked about coordination with the Racial Equity in Policing Commission, zero-based budgeting, top concerns, an implementation roadmap and examples of miscoded items.
Item 9 · Appointment
Library Board appointment interview: Ronald McClain
Discussed
The Council interviewed the nominee for a term ending June 30, 2024; his name was on the formal meeting consent agenda.
Item 10 · Appointment
Library Board appointment interview: Daniel Cairo
Discussed
The Council interviewed the nominee for a term ending June 30, 2024; his name was on the formal meeting consent agenda.
Item 11 · Appointment
PNUT Advisory Board appointment interview: Chad Whittaker
Discussed
The Council interviewed the nominee for a term ending April 20, 2024; his name was on the consent agenda.
Item 12 · Appointment
PNUT Advisory Board appointment interview: Melanie Pehrson
Discussed
The Council interviewed the nominee for a term ending April 20, 2024; her name was on the consent agenda.
Item 13 · Appointment
PNUT Advisory Board appointment interview: Philip Carroll
Discussed
The Council interviewed the nominee for a term ending April 20, 2024; his name was on the consent agenda.
Item 14 · Presentation
Central Business Improvement Area 2022 designation
Discussed
Written briefing only on continuing the roughly 50-block downtown improvement area managed by the Downtown Alliance, whose contract expires April 2022. No discussion was held.
Item 15 · Presentation
Cultural Core Action Plan update
Discussed
Written briefing only on year three results and the year-four plan under the city-county cultural core agreement. No discussion was held.
What residents said
Police accountabilityMental health responseAirport redevelopment