Council briefed on affordable housing zoning incentives, a $24.8 million bond budget amendment and a Justice Court ordinance
September 19, 2023, 2:00 p.m. · City & County Building, Salt Lake City
The council reviewed citywide affordable housing incentives, a residential parking permit change for Central Ninth, Budget Amendment No. 2 (including $24.8 million from the first parks bond issuance), ARPA nonprofit pass-through grants, and an ordinance making the Justice Court a separate branch of city government. Members voiced frustration at how long ARPA money has taken to reach recipients. A Goltz Avenue rezone briefing was moved to a future agenda.
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 gave the regular updates; the September 22 Kayak Court event was canceled for weather. On homelessness, staff covered winter overflow and temporary shelter work, the cost of running non-congregate shelter and service programs, outreach teams telling people about shelter availability, and the Central Intake line for shelter information.
Item 2 · Zoning
Rezone and master plan amendments at 135, 159 and 163 West Goltz Avenue and 1036 South Jefferson Street
No action
The proposal would rezone the parcels from RMF-35 to R-MU and change the Ballpark Station Area future land use from medium-density residential to high-density residential mixed use to accommodate several multifamily developments. The item was moved to a future agenda and not discussed.
- Petitioner: TAG SLC, LLC
- RMF-35 to R-MU
- Council District 5
Item 3 · Zoning
Zoning map amendment at 1018 East 900 South
Discussed
Planners described a request to rezone a property from RMF-35 to RMF-30 to give the owner more flexibility in housing types if redeveloped; no development plans were submitted. They compared the two zones' standards and noted the planning commission forwarded a positive recommendation. A hearing was planned for October 17.
- RMF-35 to RMF-30
- Council District 5
- Planning commission: positive recommendation
Item 4 · City code
Affordable housing incentives (citywide zoning text amendment)
Discussed
Planners described incentive-based, income-restricted rules that would add administrative design review, extra building height, planned development modifications, removal of density limits in RMF zones and additional dwelling types in various zones, with design standards, historic preservation considerations, administration, enforcement penalties and incentives to preserve existing housing. Council Member Victoria Petro asked for a future work session considering this alongside the Thriving in Place program. A hearing was planned for October 17.
Item 6 · City code
Residential parking permit program waiver
Discussed
The ordinance would let the transportation director waive the eight-block-face minimum for a permit area where parking impacts come from a hospital or medical building, university building or TRAX station, which could allow a program in the Central Ninth neighborhood. Transportation Director Jon Larsen said the change does not guarantee a new zone and staffing is adequate. Council Member Petro said it would address repeated requests from the Fairpark community; Council Member Alejandro Puy asked about enforcement capacity and costs, and Public Services Director Jorge Chamorro said more areas could require more resources.
Item 7 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 2 for fiscal year 2023-24
Discussed
The amendment includes $24.8 million from the first parks, trails and open space bond issuance, a new Planning & Design Division in Public Lands, $2 million from the Treasury's Emergency Rental Assistance Program and a position to help create business-district special assessment areas, plus an amendment to the compensation plan for non-represented employees. Straw polls with all members present in favor backed two TANF capacity-building grants ($1,229,681 and $1,391,672), $1 million for sanctioned camping held in a holding account subject to council approval, and funding all proposed bond projects ($24,885,893 from the first General Obligation Series 2023 issuance). A $1 million clean energy and air roadmap grant would cover four years of one new position.
- Bond$24.9 million
- Grant$1.23 million
- Grant$1.39 million
- Grant$1.00 million
- Budget$1.00 million
Item 8 · Budget
ARPA local nonprofit pass-through grant awards
Discussed
The ordinance would disburse $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money to seven nonprofit applicants, which pass it to small businesses and artists; staff described the scoring process and the phasing of the program. Members voiced concern and frustration about how long it has taken to disburse the funds and the administrative time involved. Economic development staff said Phase II for small businesses had been completed and a deputy director said the two phases were meant to give businesses more time to apply. Council Member Petro asked for more information on the prompts applicants answered.
- Grant$500,000 to Seven local nonprofit applicants
Item 9 · City code
Ordinance establishing the Justice Court as a third branch of government
Discussed
The city attorney, chief of staff and a Justice Court judge explained that a 2023 state law (HB210) requires justice courts to be independent of the executive and legislative branches. Court employees would remain city employees; the presiding judge and justice court judges would appoint a court administrator; judges would be paid at 90 percent of district court judges (state law allows 70 to 90 percent); and the presiding judge would report annually in a public meeting.
Item 10 · Appointment
Board appointment: Arts Council Board (Caitlin Tursic)
Discussed
The council interviewed Caitlin Tursic for a term ending September 19, 2026; her name was placed on the consent agenda.