Council briefed on Cannon Greens lease, capital program and $25.5 million parks bond
June 6, 2023, 1:00 p.m. · City & County Building, 451 South State Street, Salt Lake City
At its June 6 work session the Council received briefings on the Cannon Greens garden lease, the Capital Improvement Program, the first issuance of the parks, trails and open space general obligation bond, and unresolved budget items. It also approved a timeline for filling the District 7 vacancy. All seven Council Members attended.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 3 · Parks
Cannon Greens Community Garden lease at 1300 South and 800 West
Discussed
Public Lands staff presented the public benefits analysis for leasing City parcels to Wasatch Community Gardens (for a Green Team job training program) and the International Rescue Committee. The lease would allow renewal and be reevaluated after five years; the site was identified in the 2022 Mayor's plan. Council Members discussed the resolution and lease terms.
- Lessees: Wasatch Community Gardens; International Rescue Committee
- Lease reevaluated after five years
Item 4 · Budget
Capital Improvement Program overview
Discussed
Staff said about $11 million, or 44% of available money, goes to debt service and that there were 59 applications for projects. They described a planned public dashboard of project funding and spending. Council Member Petro raised inflation and rising project costs; Council Member Mano asked for a report on internal versus constituent applications that were funded.
Item 5 · Budget
Fiscal year 2023-24 budget: Information Management Services
Discussed
The department has nine full-time employees, two part-time and 16 apprentices, and asked for more positions because of rising consulting requests, higher software costs, cybersecurity improvements and a state mandate to move public websites to .gov. Council Member Mano asked about the Communications Engineer and Innovation Change Manager position, which Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Shaffer said serves the whole City. Council Member Puy asked about free WiFi hotspots.
Item 6 · Other
Prior years' legislative intents and interim study items
Discussed
Staff reviewed the status of open, closed and completed legislative intent statements across departments. Council Members discussed them with staff, and changes will appear in the next report.
Item 8 · Parks
General obligation bond for parks, trails and open space, Series 2023
Discussed
Staff briefed the first issuance of the bond that voters authorized at $85 million in November 2022. The par amount is $24,855,000 with an interest rate not to exceed 6% and an expected closing of August 23, 2023; it funds projects, three positions, contingency and public art.
- Bond$24.9 million
Item 9 · Budget
Fiscal year 2023-24 budget: unresolved issues follow-up
Discussed
Council staff presented a tracking sheet. Council Members discussed Funding Our Future items, new positions, using remaining money for housing, keeping city events funded, and sanctioned campgrounds, including a proposal to treat that money as a one-time grant. They set aside time to revisit sanctioned campgrounds when Council Member Chris Wharton, who was not present for part of the discussion, could take part. Listed priorities included construction mitigation, black water tank vouchers, traffic calming, bus passes and train crossing safety signs.
Item 11-12 · Appointment
Board interviews: Sister Cities Board and Human Rights Commission
Discussed
The Council interviewed Melissa Greis (Sister Cities Board, term to July 6, 2027) and Jennifer Mayer-Glenn (Human Rights Commission, term to December 31, 2027). Their names were placed on the consent agenda for the formal meeting.
Item 14 · Other
Filling the District 7 vacancy
Approved
The Executive Director said the vacancy takes effect July 3, 2023. The proposed timeline has applications from June 26 to July 10, interviews on July 13 and a state deadline of August 2. Council Members approved the timeline; Council Member Puy asked for a question on English not being an applicant's first language and Council Member Mano asked that the application be made public soon.