Council weighs $33 million budget amendment and ARPA business grant options; Mayor opposes dropping ADU owner-occupancy
March 7, 2023, 2:00 p.m.
Council members were briefed on Budget Amendment No. 5, took straw polls supporting three items and $4 million in federal rental assistance funds, and compared four funding options for the first round of ARPA local business grants. Mayor Erin Mendenhall told the Council she opposes removing the owner-occupancy requirement from the ADU ordinance. Members also heard briefings on a rezone at 865 South 500 East, the Glendale Regional Park Plan and language access services.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Staff said the draft Housing SLC plan was open for comment through April 16, announced a March 10 resource fair and Operation Homeless Connect on March 24, and described House Bill 499, which adds $5 million to the state homeless mitigation fund and ties it to enforcing no-camping ordinances when shelter beds are unavailable.
Item 2 · Presentation
Equity update: language access services
Discussed
Staff said the Language Access Policy was approved in September 2022 and its implementation plan is in its final phase. Spanish is the priority language, with Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic and Korean available on request, and Public Lands, Public Utilities and the Justice Court will be trained first. Council Member Puy asked about goals and staffing; staff said by the end of 2023 they aim to have departments trained, City and County Building signage in Spanish and a discrimination complaint process.
Item 3 · Zoning
Rezone and master plan amendment at 865 South 500 East
Discussed
The petition would rezone the property from RMF-30 low-density multifamily to CN neighborhood commercial and amend the Central Community Master Plan so the existing single-family house can convert to a commercial use. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation, and public feedback was a mix of support and concern. The owner proposed a rear accessory dwelling unit to offset the loss of the house.
- Petitioner: the applicant
- Petition Nos.: PLNPCM2022-00301 and PLNPCM2022-00302
- Current zone → proposed: RMF-30 → CN
- Council District 5
Item 4 · City code
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) text amendment follow-up
Discussed
Mayor Mendenhall said she does not support removing owner occupancy, arguing the proposed updates already expand access to building ADUs and use of home equity, and that removing it would encourage corporate investment in neighborhoods and weaken ADUs as a wealth-building tool. Staff and attorneys discussed how owner-occupancy applies to commercial versus residential uses, enforcement of ADUs and short-term rentals, and restrictive covenants in the proposed code.
Item 5 · Parks
Glendale Regional Park Plan
Discussed
Public Lands staff presented the plan for the 17-acre former Raging Waters site, including park goals, Phase I-A and I-B site plans, a market potential study, sustainability certification, pool operations, and traffic calming and access across 1700 South. Council Member Dugan asked that policy questions be taken up at a future meeting.
Item 6 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 5 for fiscal year 2022-23
Discussed
Staff reviewed the amendment items. In straw polls, all six members present supported the $2.65 million City Hall earthquake repair transfer (A-2), $242,000 for fiber conduit during the 200 South reconstruction (A-3) and $2.5 million for public safety radio cost increases (A-5), with Council Member Fowler absent for those polls; all seven supported moving ahead with the $4 million Treasury emergency rental assistance item (E-1), split $2 million for rental assistance and $2 million for Housing Stability services. Other items included $25,000 for a second Rapid Intervention Team trailer, $250,000 for a utilities billing system consultant, $459,000 for Lindsey Gardens, a $1 million anonymous donation for the Avenues City Cemetery, police retention and hiring bonuses, $825,000 for real property acquisition and $100,000 for a downtown Main Street pedestrian mall study. Council Member Puy proposed $200,000 for two code enforcement officers, to be discussed at the next meeting.
- Budget$2.65 million
- Budget$242,000
- Budget$2.50 million
- Grant$4.00 million
Item 8 · Budget
$3.5 million HOME-ARPA grant funding
Discussed
Staff noted a March 31, 2023 HUD deadline to submit the allocation plan. They said the funding split followed a needs assessment and Council feedback, tenant-based rental assistance would be distributed through a competitive application for nonprofit partners, and HUD limits the funds to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, veterans and domestic violence survivors.
- Grant$3.50 million
Item 9 · Budget
Local business assistance ARPA grant awards follow-up
Discussed
Staff presented four options: A, $1,017,397 for 42 applicants; B, $755,718 for 31 applicants with Phase 2 bonus points for those scoring 70 or more; C, $1,452,093 for 57 applicants; and D, the Community Recovery Committee's original $755,718 for 31 applicants. Council Member Puy stressed a two-phase approach so businesses that missed the first round could apply, and Council Member Petro suggested reviewing citywide grant processes. All members supported rounding awards up to the nearest $100. A straw poll on Option D had Members Puy and Dugan in favor and Fowler, Valdemoros, Mano, Petro and Wharton opposed; a straw poll on Option A without bonus points had Members Dugan, Mano, Petro, Puy and Wharton in favor and Fowler and Valdemoros opposed.
- Grant$1.02 million
Item 10-12 · Appointment
Board appointment interviews
Discussed
The Council interviewed Hannah Nielsen (Arts Council, term ending March 7, 2026) and Pamela Silberman and Will Terry (Human Rights Commission, terms ending December 27, 2027); all three were on the consent agenda.
What residents said
Housing affordabilityADU owner occupancyHomelessness policy (HB 499)