Council finalizes budget legislative intents and hears Harvard students on public-private partnerships at the ballpark
June 14, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Council members reviewed the motion sheets for that evening's budget votes and straw-polled changes to legislative intents, including a new one for rotating department audits that Council Member Amy Fowler opposed. They discussed the timing of decisions on the parks general obligation bond and capital projects, and heard Harvard Kennedy School students present research on public-private partnerships in the Ballpark area. Five board appointees were interviewed.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Mayor Erin Mendenhall gave COVID-19 and lawn-watering updates, noting wastewater data showed no coming spikes. Homelessness policy staff reported shelter occupancy, a rapid intervention team working at seven targeted camps, a June 10 resource fair and a June 17 event on the Jordan River.
Item 2 · Budget
Fiscal year 2022-23 budget: unresolved issues follow-up
Discussed
The council reviewed the motion sheets for the formal City Council and Redevelopment Agency meetings that evening. Changes included a new intent to replace the city's donation ordinance with a more streamlined one, a new intent for rotating audits of each department, adding the Department of Economic Development to intent K, adding water-saving opportunities to intent J, and softening RDA intents B and C. Straw polls: rotating audits supported 6-1 (Council Member Fowler not in favor); the other four changes supported unanimously.
Item 3 · Budget
Fiscal year 2022-23 budget: Capital Improvement Program overview follow-up
Discussed
Staff said the sales tax bond has no deadline, but the general obligation bond decision and the September 1 capital program deadline both make the August 16, 2022 meeting the last regularly scheduled chance to decide. Council Member Fowler asked to delay in-depth changes to the bonds because of the volume of budget work. Council Member Chris Wharton stressed finalizing the GO bond quickly so residents have time to learn about it before the vote. Fowler, Council Member Victoria Petro-Eschler and Council Member Alejandro Puy proposed meeting in the coming weeks on possible changes. Council Member Darin Mano asked about the minimum needed to advance Glendale Park if the GO bond fails and about future plans for Allen Park; staff said Glendale Park already has funding and an Allen Park reuse plan could return for a check-in.
Item 5 · Presentation
Harvard Kennedy School presentation on public-private partnerships in the Ballpark area
Discussed
Finance staff and a Harvard Kennedy School student presented research on using public-private partnerships to finance redevelopment around Smith's Ballpark, covering guiding principles, success factors, and considerations such as site selection, land use and secondary effects. A Finance Department fellow said she would use the research to build a financial model for future city projects, and noted that outcomes in other cities have been mixed. Council Member Mano said he saw high potential in the Ballpark area; Council Members Daniel Dugan and Fowler asked about similar projects elsewhere.
Item 6 · Appointment
Board appointment interviews: Business Advisory Board and Board of Appeals and Examiners
Discussed
The council interviewed Vinay Cardwell for the Business Advisory Board (term ending December 28, 2026) and Lawrence Suggars, George Reid, Paul Hayward and Tyson James Bell for the Board of Appeals and Examiners (terms ending June 14, 2027). All names were on that evening's consent agenda.
What residents said
Bond timingRotating department audits