Council briefed on ARPA spending, Budget Amendment No. 4 and Hunter Stables annexation; picks Victoria Petro-Eschler for District 1

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item 1 · Presentation

   Updates from the Administration

   Discussed

   Staff reviewed COVID-19 statistics, homelessness numbers and the state's search for more overflow beds. Police Chief Mike Brown outlined the crime control plan, hiring incentives, an expanded take-home vehicle policy, the Police Civilian Response Team, call diversion, online reporting and October response times. The Council and staff discussed the budget for the civilian response team.

2. Item 3 · Budget

   American Rescue Plan Act funding proposal

   Discussed

   The Mayor reviewed proposed ARPA programs including a park ranger program, community grants, a West Side community land initiative, a rapid intervention team and revenue loss and salary restoration. The Council and Mayor discussed future park ranger funding, the community grant pool and affordable housing funding. The administration proposed a branded program with a public dashboard, similar to Funding Our Future.

   • GrantAmount not given American Rescue Plan Act recovery programs (amounts not stated in the minutes). Paid from American Rescue Plan Act

3. Item 4 · Budget

   Sorenson Impact Center social investment study (follow-up)

   Discussed

   The Deputy Director reviewed the request and conditions: $150,000 from the General Fund for continued study work to answer Council questions before the $10 million American Rescue Plan Act allocation, with members wanting on the record an assurance that partners' investments would not be affected. The center said outcome tracking and a sustainability plan were central. Members asked why other cities were not investing and about measurement, payout metrics and partnerships for early childhood programs.

   • Contract$150,000 to Sorenson Impact Center Phase II of the social investment study. Paid from General Fund
   • Budget$10.0 million Social investment funds held in a restricted account. Paid from American Rescue Plan Act

4. Item 6 · Budget

   Budget Amendment No. 4 for Fiscal Year 2021-22

   Discussed

   Staff walked through items including risk, excess liability and cyber insurance costs, an air quality lawnmower exchange, COVID-19 safe building improvements, Community Health Access Team vehicles and personnel transfer, a salary survey for non-represented employees, a Sugar House special assessment area analysis, Sorenson Phase II funding, a Rose Park Golf Course water and energy efficiency grant and a park ranger pilot. The Council held unanimous straw polls to approve items A-5 (CHAT vehicles), A-6 (salary survey), A-10 (CHAT personnel transfer) and A-11 (golf course grant). Item A-12, the park ranger pilot, was held for Nov. 16 because of time. A public hearing was planned for Nov. 16 and action for Dec. 7.

   • Unanimous straw polls: A-5, A-6, A-10, A-11

5. Item 7 · Contract

   Master lease agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank for vehicles

   Discussed

   A resolution would approve a Municipal Master Lease Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. for vehicle leasing and purchasing. The City could enter into leases up to $7 million each, not to exceed an aggregate of $35 million over the five-year term. Staff briefed the item; Council action was tentatively planned for Nov. 16.

   • Contract$35.0 million to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Five-year municipal master lease for vehicle leasing and purchasing (up to $7 million per lease)

6. Item 8 · Annexation

   Hunter Stables annexation petition, Rose Park Lane and 2350 North

   Discussed · About Rose Park Lane and 2350 North

   Staff reviewed the annexation petition, which the Council had 14 days to accept or deny; accepting would start notices, a protest period and final Council consideration, and zoning would be set later. The Council and staff discussed utility services and zoning, and the applicant's representative described the purpose and benefit of annexing the property.

   • Applicant representative: the applicant

   Follow Hunter Stables annexation in the development tracker →

7. Item 9-10 · Appointment

   Parks, Natural Lands, Urban Forestry and Trails board interviews

   Discussed

   The Council interviewed Clayton Scrivner and Nathan Manuel for terms ending Nov. 9, 2024; both were placed on the formal consent agenda.

8. Item 11 · Appointment

   Council District 1 vacancy interviews

   Discussed

   The Council interviewed four applicants for the vacant District 1 seat. One applicant asked to be removed from the list. Council members then held a straw poll and selected Victoria Petro-Eschler unanimously, with a resolution to be presented at the formal meeting.

   • Straw poll: unanimous for Victoria Petro-Eschler

9. Item 14 · Other

   Closed session motion

   Approved · 6-0

   The Council voted 6-0 to enter closed session for attorney-client matters and advice of counsel.

   Moved by Council Member Chris Wharton, seconded by Council Member Daniel Dugan. Vote: 6-0

What residents said

American Rescue Plan Act spendingPolice hiringBudget Amendment No. 4