Council straw polls on budget add-ons including security, Open Streets, Fix the Bricks and traffic calming
June 2, 2022, 1:00 p.m.
The work session covered FY 2022-23 budget briefings for IMS, 911, Economic Development, the Metropolitan Water District and Governmental Immunity, and a briefing on a $150,000 loan for the Liberty Park concessions operator. Late in the day the council held a long series of straw polls on unresolved budget items, with the council still $152,000 out of balance. Judge Jojo Chou Liu was introduced for the Justice Court. The minutes were approved October 18, 2022.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Administration update: COVID-19, water use, engagement, homelessness
Discussed
Council Member Dugan opened by asking for a moment of silence for victims of recent mass shootings and urged reform and public contact with legislators. Chief of Staff Rachel Otto reported COVID-19 cases up 66% in 14 days, with wastewater in the elevated category, and said city water use was below its three-year average while Utah remained in severe drought. Staff covered engagement projects and homelessness updates. Council Member Puy said the 300 North project was not on the engagement list and asked for a map of upcoming engagement projects now that redistricting split many across council districts; staff said information is gathered by district and could be provided at the next briefing.
Item 2 · Contract
Economic Development Loan Fund: $150,000 loan to Buddies, Inc.
Discussed
Staff briefed the council on a $150,000 Economic Development Loan Fund loan to Buddies, Inc. to buy the rides and concessions at Liberty Park so both can keep operating, at 7.25% interest over seven years. Staff said due diligence on the vendor had been done and details of the contract with the city would be given to the council. Council Member Dugan asked for the risk factors used to evaluate loan applicants; the Economic Development staff said the loan was recommended by the loan committee based on scored criteria and would provide the evaluation. Tentative action was set for June 7.
- Contract$150,000 to Buddies, Inc.
Item 3 · Budget
FY 2022-23 budget: Information Management Services
Discussed
IMS leaders said the department has 84 full-time employees and requested eight more, with $627,960 in technical and inflationary increases, $1,262,418 in contractual increases and $2,842,475 for initiatives, plus 10 to 15 part-time apprentices. They gave an update on the Workday ERP rollout: human resources first, payroll next and finance after, with employees using it for timekeeping in December 2022 and finance and payroll live in January 2023.
- Budget$627,960
- Budget$1.26 million
- Budget$2.84 million
Item 4 · Budget
FY 2022-23 budget: 911 Department
Discussed
Staff said the department answered 90% of 911 calls within ten seconds for the fourth year in a row, and described staffing, training and community goals. Council Member Fowler asked about the council-approved 32-hour work week pilot; the deputy director said it would force more mandatory overtime and the department should be fully staffed first, and that it is down 10 positions. The department said it would consider an apprenticeship program. Council Member Fowler asked for a future meeting about first responder status and adding a social worker or mental health employee.
Item 6 · Budget
FY 2022-23 budget: Department of Economic Development
Discussed
Staff presented key changes including $200,000 for construction mitigation grants, $45,000 more for Arts Council operating expenses, $30,000 for the NLC Hispanic Entrepreneurs program and $35,000 for healthcare innovation marketing and placemaking, plus business development and Arts Council programs. Council Member Petro-Eschler thanked the department for linking the arts and economic development.
- Budget$200,000
- Budget$45,000
- Budget$30,000
- Budget$35,000
Item 7 · Budget
FY 2022-23 budget: Metropolitan Water District
Discussed
MWD General Manager Mike Devries and board chair Tom Godfrey said the district proposes a 3% increase in member city water charges for FY23, a 6.8% rise in operations and maintenance expenses, a $12.4 million capital budget and no new debt, with an AA+ bond rating and a final budget expected June 13. Council Member Puy asked about seismic risk to the roughly 72-year-old Salt Lake Aqueduct; Mr. Devries said it is inspected every five years and in good condition but was not designed for a major quake, and facilities are being evaluated for possible FEMA grants. Council Member Dugan asked how rates account for the city's conservation; Mr. Devries said increases are nominal and tied to treatment and delivery costs.
- Budget$12.4 million to Metropolitan Water District
Item 8 · Budget
FY 2022-23 budget: Governmental Immunity
Discussed
Risk Manager Tamra Turpin presented claims history for the city's self-insurance fund. She said the reserve is not enough for some anticipated matters, and that funding through the property tax levy would build the reserve. Council Member Fowler was concerned about using the levy this year because the fund balance is already $10 million above the 13% minimum. Jennifer Bruno said a cap on the city's taxable value would yield only $3.1 million instead of $4 million at current values and it might return to the council.
Item 9 · Appointment
Appointment of Justice Court Judge Jojo Chou Liu
Discussed
Mayor Mendenhall introduced Judge Jojo Chou Liu and described the selection process. Judge Liu briefly described her career. The council recessed the work session to confirm the appointment in a limited formal meeting.
Item 11 · Budget
FY 2022-23 budget: unresolved issues follow-up (straw polls)
Discussed
The council took a series of straw polls on proposals. Tree watering public information campaign ($50,000, through the mayor's engagement team): in favor Wharton, Fowler, Petro-Eschler and Puy; Mano, Valdemoros and Dugan abstained. Historic signs downtown ($30,000, one-time from fund balance): in favor Wharton, Petro-Eschler, Mano and Puy; Dugan opposed; Valdemoros and Fowler abstained. Unanimous support for $30,000 for a general obligation bond election, $30,000 for laser-based celebrations at Jordan Park on July 2 and Liberty Park on July 23, $60,000 for street racing mitigation, $1.2 million from the capital holding account for council meeting security, $84,000 for the Fix the Bricks program, $5,000 for HEART team lunches at resource fairs and Kayak Court, recapturing $586,686 in one-time savings from non-represented salary adjustments, making governmental immunity a property tax line item with the amount to be set June 8, holding $214,000 for EV incentive policy, $300,000 for electrified transportation and $125,000 for a food equity consultant, and a legislative intent to streamline youth programming. All members in attendance supported moving Council Member Dugan's three-month free fare transit idea to a legislative intent. Two traffic engineer positions had support from all but Petro-Eschler, who abstained; $200,000 for temporary traffic calming was supported by Wharton, Valdemoros, Mano, Puy and Dugan with Fowler and Petro-Eschler abstaining; and $2 million from the capital holding account for Livable Streets was supported by Wharton, Mano, Petro-Eschler, Dugan and Puy with Fowler and Valdemoros abstaining. Open Streets 2022 got unanimous support for Fridays and Saturdays for 15 weeks with $150,000 from the RDA, $150,000 from fund balance and a request that the Downtown Alliance raise $50,000. The council was $152,000 out of balance at this point. Council members also asked for an audit of the Youth and Family Division and discussed raising the property tax versus using fund balance.
- Budget$50,000
- Budget$30,000
- Budget$30,000
- Budget$30,000
- Budget$60,000
- Budget$1.20 million
- Budget$84,000
- Budget$300,000
- Budget$200,000
- Budget$2.00 million
Item 14 · Other
Closed session on litigation, security and privileged matters
Approved · 7-0
The council voted to enter closed session from 6:28 to 7:27 p.m. to discuss pending or imminent litigation, deployment of security personnel, devices or systems, and privileged attorney-client matters.
What residents said
Property tax increaseTraffic calmingGovernmental immunity levyWinter overflow shelter