Council reviews budget amendment, COVID emergency extension and shelter updates
December 14, 2021, 4:00 p.m.
At a work session, the council received administration updates, discussed extending the COVID-19 local emergency and school mask order, and held straw polls on the budget amendment before that night's vote. Council Member Ana Valdemoros was absent.
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 reported on COVID-19 numbers and the Omicron variant. Andrew Johnston covered homelessness statistics, shelter occupancy, 2021 Community Commitment Program activity and the status of the North Temple emergency shelter. Police Chief Mike Brown reported on response times, staffing, recruitment and the diversity of new hires. Members and staff discussed shelter occupancy tracking, geo-tracking, the North Temple shelter and recruiting shelter staff.
Item 3 · Other
Extension of the local COVID-19 emergency declaration
Discussed
Council Member Amy Fowler reviewed a resolution extending the mayor's August 20 local emergency proclamation, which would also extend the K-12 school mask order. Members discussed the importance of the mask order and the length of the extension. In a straw poll, those present unanimously supported extending the mask mandate through March 2022.
Item 4 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 4, fiscal 2021-22: follow-up briefing
Discussed
Ben Luedtke answered questions on the park ranger and Community Commitment programs and described CARES Act money that could be assigned to Fire Department personnel costs; those present unanimously supported that use in a straw poll. Members discussed the formal-meeting motion sheet, earlier straw polls on funding the emergency shelter and surrounding community and businesses, and the risk of waiting until January to allocate. Chief of Staff Rachel Otto said discussions with county and state entities continued and funds should support neighborhoods around homeless services. Andrew Johnston said shelter staffing was a challenge, that waiting until the new year would not close the current funding gap, and that state funds cannot be allocated until then. Council Member Chris Wharton asked the administration to report on police calls at Foothills trailheads.
- BudgetAmount not given
Item 5 · Appointment
Board interviews: Art Design Advisory Board and Business Advisory Board
Discussed
The council interviewed Michael Mejia for the Art Design Advisory Board (term ending December 14, 2024) and Andy Robertson for the Business Advisory Board (term ending December 29, 2025). Each described a work history and a wish to serve.
Item 9 · Other
Executive director's report: 2022 meeting calendar
Discussed
Executive Director Cindy Gust-Jenson reviewed changes to the council's 2022 meeting schedule. Council Chair Amy Fowler also thanked retiring staff member Russell Weeks for his years of service.