Council briefed on Budget Amendment No. 2 and $58 million in bonds; straw poll backs 30-day COVID emergency extension 6-1

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item 1 · Presentation

   Updates from the Administration

   Discussed

   Mayor Mendenhall covered COVID-19 metrics, K-12 mask requirements, west side vaccination rates and a Rose Park Elementary vaccine clinic. Andrew Johnston reported shelter occupancy and upcoming resource fairs. Council Member Valdemoros asked how long the school mask mandate would last; the mayor suggested inviting Dr. Dunn to brief the Council.

2. Item 2 · Presentation

   Racial equity and policing

   Discussed

   Allison Rowland said the Council would vote Sept. 21 on commission members and that the first meeting of the new Racial Equity in Policing Commission would be Sept. 29.

3. Item 3 · Budget

   Budget Amendment No. 2, fiscal year 2021-22

   Discussed

   Ben Luedtke described 18 items, including continued Downtown Ambassador pilots on North Temple and in Rio Grande, a car and RV camping pilot program, $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for Odyssey House's Annex Building renovation, $250,000 for securing a possible contamination site at Fairmont Park and $52,416 for a full-time minutes clerk. Council Member Rogers asked where RVs could park longer than 48 hours; Andrew Johnston said the city lacked a permanent site and that small repairs could keep people in their vehicles. A straw poll supported moving forward with item I7, re-scoping $200,000 for the Community Connection Center to relocate and include utilities.

   • Grant$500,000 to Odyssey House Annex Building renovation. Capital Improvement application. Paid from American Rescue Plan Act
   • Budget$250,000 Securing potential contamination site at Fairmont Park. Paid from Fund balance
   • Budget$52,416 Full-time minutes and records clerk in the Recorder's Office. Paid from Fund balance
   • Budget$200,000 Re-scope Community Connection Center relocation to include utilities

   Follow Capital Improvement Program, fiscal year 2021-22 in the development tracker →

4. Item 4 · Budget

   Sales and excise tax revenue bonds, Series 2021A and 2021B

   Discussed

   Ben Luedtke presented a resolution authorizing up to $58 million in tax-exempt and taxable bonds for community capital projects. Council Member Rogers asked about the Fisher Mansion request for proposals and Council Member Wharton about making the Warm Springs Plunge usable; staff said the administration would follow up. Mayor Mendenhall said the amount reflected a wish not to overspend on new projects. Council Member Valdemoros asked about the accuracy of cost estimates; staff said they came from professional estimators and were affected by construction inflation.

   • Bond$58.0 million Series 2021A (tax-exempt) and 2021B (taxable) sales and excise tax revenue bonds for community capital improvement projects. Authorized up to; final terms delegated. Paid from Sales and excise tax revenue

5. Item 5 · Budget

   Legislative intents for fiscal year 2021-22

   Discussed

   Allison Rowland presented the first of three briefings on the Council's formal requests of the administration. Council Member Valdemoros supported the boarded-building fee intent, Council Member Mano asked for added language on clean-emitting buildings, and Council Member Fowler asked that item G cover all departments. Public Lands Director Kristin Riker asked what 'adequately maintain' meant in item E; Council Member Faris suggested her department propose a manageable definition.

6. Item 6 · Public safety

   Extending the local COVID-19 emergency declaration

   Discussed · 6-1

   Jennifer Bruno explained the Council could extend the mayor's Aug. 20 proclamation, and the related K-12 mask order, for a period it chooses. Mayor Mendenhall said state metrics predated the Delta variant. A straw poll to extend for 30 days to gather information was supported 6-1. Council Member Rogers said the decision should be left to the School Board; Council Members Fowler and Mano cited strong constituent support.

   Vote: Straw poll, 6-1; the minutes do not name the member who opposed, but record Council Member Rogers disagreeing with the Council deciding the matter

7. Item 9 · Other

   Closed session

   Approved · 5-0

   The Council began the work session with a closed session, entering on a motion for advice of counsel. The minutes list the vote as 5-0, with Council Members Ana Valdemoros and Chris Wharton shown absent for the motion; Wharton joined the closed session at 1:11 p.m.

   Moved by Council Member Mano, seconded by Council Member Dugan. Vote: 5-0 as recorded in the minutes

What residents said

COVID-19 school mask orderRV camping