Council hears COVID, shelter, equity and economic outlook updates
January 18, 2022, 4:00 p.m. · Electronic meeting
At a work session, the council received COVID-19 and homelessness updates, an equity update, a Gardner Institute economic outlook and interviewed three candidates for the CDCIP Advisory Board. No votes were taken.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
In brief
2 items came up for a decision or discussion: 2 discussed.
This write-up links 3 source documents and the meeting video.
7 members were present.
The previous City Council work session meeting was on January 18, 2022: Council names Petro-Eschler to Inland Port board and sets water service area
The next one was on February 1, 2022: Agenda: council to hold public way permit notice hearing and set February 15 hearing dates
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Interviews for the CDCIP Advisory Board | Discussed |
| Chair's report | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
The mayor and Chief of Staff Rachel Otto described record COVID-19 case numbers, limited testing, a citywide vaccination rate of 67.28 percent and state bills that would end local health orders and bar the mayor from issuing public health orders. Andrew Johnston reported on overflow shelters (St. Vincent de Paul, Weigand Center, high-needs temporary housing and Redwood overflow beds), minimal abatement because of low staffing and the January 27-29 Point-in-Time count.
Item 2 · Presentation
Equity update
Discussed
Chief Equity Officer Kaletta Lynch reported on the Racial Equity in Policing Commission meeting that evening, three commission vacancies, two Human Rights Commission vacancies and an accessibility and disability proposal due to the council February 1. Council Member Ana Valdemoros welcomed a new language coordinator and offered help encouraging Spanish-speaking residents to engage in local government.
Item 3 · Presentation
Economic outlook presentation
Discussed
Phil Dean of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute said Utah led the nation in population growth, with a strong jobs recovery, labor shortages, accelerating inflation and rents on new leases up 17.2 percent in the Salt Lake area. He forecast unemployment of 2.1 percent, job growth of 2.7 percent and population growth of 1.8 percent. Valdemoros asked for information on which income groups are most affected.
Item 4-6 · Appointment
Interviews for the CDCIP Advisory Board
Discussed
The council interviewed Richard Nazzaro, Jenny Bonk and Jacob Skog for the Community Development and Capital Improvement Programs Advisory Board, each for a term ending June 2, 2025. Council Member Daniel Dugan said all three were on the formal consent agenda.
Item 7 · Other
Chair's report
Discussed
Council Member Dugan said the redistricting application period ended January 26, 2022, described grim COVID-19 statistics in Utah and urged vaccination and masks to protect first responders and essential workers.