Council reviews Mayor's FY 2021-22 budget, small cell and Google Fiber franchises, and Garden Lofts loan change
May 11, 2021, 2:00 p.m. · Electronic meeting
The Council spent the day on briefings: Budget Amendment No. 9, franchise agreements with SQF and Google Fiber, a Housing Trust Fund loan amendment, and the Mayor's recommended FY 2021-22 budget and several department budgets. Council Member Andrew Johnston is not listed among those present. The minutes are marked pending and not approved.
From the draft minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Reports covered COVID-19 positivity and vaccinations, shelter occupancy of 1,261 of 1,400 beds, pending federal rental assistance guidance, and police bike and park squad arrests and Project Safe Neighborhoods results (58 defendants charged, 40 firearms recovered, $116,435 seized). Chief Mike Brown told Council Member Ana Valdemoros seized cash goes to an asset forfeiture fund and weapons are destroyed after conviction.
Item 2 · Presentation
Updates on racial equity and policing
Discussed
Staff announced a May 19 listening session focused on the experiences of people of color.
Item 3 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 9 for fiscal year 2020-21
Discussed
Council Members asked how to use the remaining $680,000 of CARES Act money, whether unused funds must be returned and whether eligibility for the Raise Up Salt Lake City cards could widen. The Administration proposed refilling the cards; members asked for a work session with action June 1. Other items include $293,067 for a Fire Emergency Management office build-out, $41,138 for a 911 security platform, an $510,818 police impact fee refund and $8,695,770 to move transportation projects to the CIP fund. Members also discussed a possible east-side police precinct.
- Budget$293,067
- Budget$41,138
- Payment$510,818
- Budget$8.70 million
Item 4 · Contract
SQF, LLC master license agreement for small cell installation in the right-of-way
Discussed
SQF is taking over communication poles now owned by AT&T. Members asked about revenue, the ten-year term required by state law, federal limits on fees and whether the city could encourage but not require pole placement.
- FeeAmount not given to SQF, LLC
Item 5 · Contract
SQF, LLC telecommunications franchise agreement
Discussed
Ten-year franchise with year-to-year extension; SQF would pay a one-time $5,000 and the standard 3.5% franchise fee. It does not allow cable service or small wireless installations. No questions.
- Fee$5,000 to SQF, LLC
Item 6 · Contract
Google Fiber Utah amended and restated broadband franchise
Discussed
Google Fiber is dropping video service. The new 15-year franchise replaces the 5% video fee with 2% on top of the standard 3.5%, plus a one-time $10,000 administrative fee. Members discussed digital equity.
- Fee$10,000 to Google Fiber Utah, LLC
Item 8 · Development
Housing Trust Fund loan amendment, Garden Lofts Holdings, LP
Discussed
The proposal would move to income-averaging rents in a 272-unit affordable development (originally at or below 60% of area median income) and move the city's 2017 loan from second to third position behind a new private construction loan. The developer's representative described the project and members expressed support for opening housing to more people.
Item 9 · Budget
Fiscal year 2021-22 budget: Administration's overview and revenue update
Discussed
Staff projected general revenue about $5.2 million over budget and sales tax $3.4 million above projection, and said 62 new full-time positions are requested, 20 of them grant-funded.
Item 10 · Budget
Fiscal year 2021-22 budget: Council staff overview
Discussed
Council staff outlined Racial Equity in Policing requests (such as $450,000 for six social workers), restoring $2.8 million to the police budget, ARPA-funded Medical Response Team expansion, affordable housing funding of $4.4 million (ARPA) and $4.7 million (Funding Our Future), dropping the Community Land Trust program, and a proposed department reorganization. Members asked about the structural deficit, the 24/7 Crisis Response Team, traffic calming, and the Matrix audit's suggestion of a civil response department.
- Budget$450,000
- Budget$2.80 million
Item 11 · Budget
Fiscal year 2021-22 budget: Governmental Immunity
Discussed
Proposed budget of $2,933,913, up $78,710 (2.75%). The city attorney's office reported 64 claims settled, 127 closed at no cost and 109 open. Members discussed creating a dedicated property tax for the fund.
- Budget$2.93 million
Item 13 · Budget
Fiscal year 2021-22 budget: Justice Court
Discussed
The court requested no additional funds, reported traffic cases 50% above pre-COVID levels and moving to hybrid hearings, and plans to use surplus for audio system updates and homeless outreach kits.
Item 14 · Budget
Fiscal year 2021-22 budget: Metropolitan Water District
Discussed
The district proposes a 3% water charge increase to member cities, a 5% operations cost increase and an 8% capital increase ($8.7 million). A bond refunding saved $9.4 million in present value. No questions.
Item 15 · City code
Electronic meetings ordinance
Discussed
The City Attorney reviewed an ordinance repealing Chapter 2.86 and amending Section 2.06.030.E on electronic meetings of public bodies, with no time limit.
Item 18 · Other
Closed session
Approved · 5-0
The Council voted 5-0 to enter a closed session for collective bargaining, real property purchase and attorney-client matters; Council Member Amy Fowler is recorded as absent for the vote (she joined the session at 2:23 p.m.).
What residents said
Police budgetAffordable housingDigital equity