Work session: Other Side Village lease, landscaping rules and budget intents discussed
September 6, 2022, 2:00 p.m. · City & County Building, 451 South State Street, Salt Lake City
The Council heard briefings on a proposed $1-a-year, 40-year lease for The Other Side Village tiny-home pilot, water-conserving landscaping rules, legislative intents for fiscal 2023 and a $50,000 loan to Kahve Cafe. No votes were taken. Council Member Ana Valdemoros disclosed a personal connection to the cafe's owner.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Administration staff gave COVID-19, engagement and homelessness updates. Utah cases were reported down 17% over two weeks and updated boosters were authorized. Engagement is starting for three neighborhood byways (Sugar House to University, Kensington, Westpointe); the State Street waterline is complete. Resource centers were at 97% occupancy, cooling centers are open county-wide, and a resource fair was set for Sept. 9 in Pioneer Park. Council Member Petro-Eschler asked about scheduling of the rapid intervention team, and staff said it works with County officials on weekday cleaning at places where people congregate.
Item 2 · Presentation
Equity update
Discussed
The Office of Equity and Inclusion said the Human Rights Commission and Racial Equity in Policing Commission are working on recommendations to fill vacancies, that an intersectional gender equity analysis framework is in development, that annual reports are due by year end, and that language access, ADA and equity plan updates will come to the Council in October.
Item 3 · Budget
Initial discussion of legislative intents for fiscal year 2022-23
Discussed
In the first of three planned briefings, the Council and staff reviewed requests the Council has made of the Administration. Topics included the boarded building fee, which the City Attorney said would be a stand-alone ordinance; decriminalization review of city code, for which the Attorney's office will give staff a report this fall; free transit fare in winter months; faster traffic calming; the tenant ombudsman; a review of the consolidated fee schedule; recouping fire department costs from the University of Utah; response team efficiencies; water use by the City; and rotating outside audits of departments.
Item 4 · Contract
Economic Development Loan Fund loan to Kahve Cafe
Discussed
The Council was briefed on a $50,000 loan to Kahve Cafe, LLC from the Economic Development Loan Fund, expected to create five jobs and retain five. Staff said the funding would increase production. Council Member Valdemoros noted a personal connection with the cafe's owner and expressed confidence in its ability to grow.
- Payment$50,000 to Kahve Cafe, LLC
Item 6 · City code
Water conservation and landscaping regulations report
Discussed
Planning staff outlined current landscaping rules, including 33% vegetation coverage in park strips and front yards, buffer and parking lot landscaping requirements, and hydro-zone requirements for larger projects. Staff noted places where goals and code do not align and asked for direction on priorities, minimum coverage, artificial turf and simplifying the code. Council Members discussed reducing grass in park strips in favor of trees and drought-tolerant plants, allowing tree canopy to count toward coverage, getting more information on artificial turf, and using maximums rather than minimums. Staff hope to have an ordinance before next spring.
Item 7 · Development
Public benefit analysis and lease for The Other Side Village pilot project
Discussed
Staff described a proposed 40-year ground lease at $1 a year to The Other Side Academy for a tiny-home village of about 54 units at 1850 West Indiana Avenue, including part of a former landfill the nonprofit would remediate. The village would serve chronically homeless people at or below 30% of area median income, with maximum rents of 25% of area median income (currently $448 a month). Staff said $2.2 million in cash had been received and $3.1 million pledged, with most costs covered by in-kind work and donations. The administration's commitments include up to $5,000,000 for a development cost shortfall and up to $1,000,000 a year for operating shortfalls. Council Members asked about default remedies, ADA compliance, success benchmarks, infrastructure, lease length and security of surrounding parcels. Council Member Mano said public feedback would be critical and that a shorter lease and rezoning only the pilot area would make a yes vote more likely. Council Member Puy wanted multiple reviews but not to halt the process for community council presentations; Council Member Valdemoros stressed transparency; Council Member Dugan noted the Council could hold off on decisions.
- Land deal$1 to The Other Side Academy
- Guarantee released$5.00 million to The Other Side Academy
Item 8 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 1 follow-up
Discussed
Staff said two items were adopted Aug. 16 and the rest remain open. The state set the Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation grant at $2.75 million in one-time money, to fund 13 new full-time employees. The Council added two new items: a $2 million adjustment to the governmental immunity fund and creation of an Outdoor Business Activity Grant.
- Grant$2.75 million to State of Utah
- Budget$2.00 million
Item 9 · Other
Outdoor Business Activity Grant Program
Discussed
Written briefing only on a resolution creating the grant program and its guidelines.
Item 10-12 · Appointment
Board interviews: PNUT Advisory Board and Police Civilian Review Board
Discussed
The Council interviewed Meridith Benally (parks board), Kelbe Goupil and Stephanie Finley (Police Civilian Review Board). Their appointments were placed on the consent agenda for the formal meeting. A fourth interview, Annie Barton, was not held.
What residents said
Length of Other Side Village leaseLandscaping and water conservationSecurity of surrounding parcels