Council gives straw-poll support to hospital rezone conditions, CIP funding tweaks and early hiring under Budget Amendment No. 1
August 27, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
In a long work session the Council took a series of straw polls, all supported by every member present: conditions on the proposed urban hospital rezone at 754 South State Street, a restriction on foothill trail funding, and several items in Budget Amendment No. 1. Briefings also covered the R-1 zoning study, a plan to consolidate commercial and mixed-use zones, and a parking-demolition text amendment. A straw poll on Urban Land Institute conference travel passed 6-1.
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 presented community engagement highlights and a homelessness update. Council Members and Andrew Johnston discussed the 50 MicroShelters proposed for 700 West, whether nearby businesses were receptive, and why camping is illegal in public parks.
Item 2 · Budget
Capital Improvement Program follow-up
Discussed
Ben Luedtke reviewed how to use the remaining $595,153. Council preferred to earmark security fencing for the International Peace Garden under the Jordan River revitalization item. At Council Member Lopez Chavez's request, with all present supporting, $30,000 of unallocated funds would go to banner arms on light poles on Harvey Milk Boulevard, and she asked staff to explore a special assessment area there. Council Member Petro asked to raise the art item to $200,000, an increase of $33,000, which all supported. About $52,000 would go to citywide safer crossings. Staff will draft contingency language requiring a management plan for the Green Loop.
Item 3 · Zoning
Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District text amendment
Discussed
Staff reviewed the text amendment and earlier straw poll results on building height, setbacks and signs. Council Member Dugan and staff clarified that the Planning Commission reviews design while Council reviews and approves development agreements. Council Members asked about marking areas where signs would not be allowed; staff said that could be specified in a development agreement.
Item 4 · Presentation
R-1 zoning districts study
Discussed
Planning Director Nick Norris presented a report on simplifying single-family districts, including a Durham, North Carolina study that capped building size. Council Members Mano, Petro, Dugan and Young asked about affordability effects, demolition rates, heat islands and market feasibility. Norris said without a size cap, small homes tend to disappear. Council Member Mano raised changing all R-1 zones to R-1/5,000; Council Member Petro said that did not simplify the code and that missing middle housing was the priority. Council Member Wharton asked for data showing the approach produces missing middle housing. No action was taken.
Item 5 · Presentation
Consolidating commercial and mixed-use zoning districts
Discussed
Planners introduced a proposal to consolidate existing commercial and mixed-use districts into as few as six new districts, touching three titles of city code. Council Members asked about parking near fixed rail, ground-floor commercial activation, minimum ground-floor ceiling heights, MU-11 height rules and artisan businesses. No action was taken; the proposal will return after a Planning Commission recommendation.
Item 6 · City code
Text amendment to prohibit demolition of dwellings for parking
Discussed
Cassie Younger presented a proposal that would bar demolishing dwelling units for stand-alone parking and expanding parking for existing uses unless it adds housing. Council Members asked whether it applies to new structures, the timeline to replace demolished homes, and how housing would be ensured if the property were sold.
Item 8 · Zoning
Zoning map amendment at about 754 South State Street (former Sears site) follow-up
Discussed
Council received a follow-up on rezoning the former Sears site from D-2 to D-1 for an urban hospital, with hospitals and ambulance services added as conditional uses in D-1; the petitioner is Kirton McConkie. Council Member Dugan asked how ground-floor activation is defined and who maintains access for neighbors; staff said existing legal easements must be kept. Council Members Young and Puy said they wanted a development agreement that secures street-level activation; Council Member Lopez Chavez cited the value of mental health services for District 4. Three straw polls were supported by all present: adopting the ordinance subject to Planning Commission review of a development agreement covering ground-floor activation, open space and food truck parking proposed by Intermountain Health; not publishing the ordinances until the agreement is recommended by the Planning Commission and approved by Council; and adding hospitals and ambulance services as D-1 conditional uses.
Item 9 · Parks
Foothill Trails Plan evaluation and request to lift trail funding hold
Discussed
Public Lands staff presented an evaluation of the 2020 Foothills Plan and asked to lift a funding hold in place since 2021. Council Member Wharton wanted a community stakeholder group in place first to rebuild trust after Phase I problems; staff said the group cannot be formed until five landowners agree on its role, and that signage for Phase I is installed. Staff said the funding is for planning and the landowner agreement, with about $200,000 left for later trail construction. A straw poll to restrict funding until the agreement and stakeholder group exist, funding only planning and agreement work, was supported by all present.
Item 10 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 1 for Fiscal Year 2024-25
Discussed
Ben Luedtke reviewed items needing straw polls. All present supported: early hiring for three new Attorney's Office positions ($522,461 ongoing from fund balance, $102,000 one-time) and moving $280,000 of an interlocal agreement budget to lease office space, with a city asset assessment first; reallocating $6,994,737 to the Economic Development Loan Fund for new loans; an impact fee compliance analyst position ($143,258); and a $23,634 claims reimbursement for the tennis bubble. Council Member Petro asked for a detailed prosecutor's office expense report.
- Budget$522,461
- Budget$6.99 million
Item 11-12 · Appointment
Board appointments: Sister Cities Advisory Board, City and County Building Conservation and Use Committee
Discussed
The interview with Jane Kim for the Sister Cities Board was not held. Steven Burt was interviewed for the City and County Building Conservation and Use Committee and placed on the consent agenda.
Item 13 · Other
Council compensation discussion
Discussed
The city attorney gave an overview of the need to discuss Council compensation; further discussion will be held at a future meeting.
Item 15 · Other
Executive Director report: legislative intent, Switchpoint funds, conference travel
Discussed · 6-1
Council Member Young requested a legislative intent to clarify whether Redondo Avenue is a street or an alley. Staff and Council discussed reallocating $60,000 of COVID funding from Switchpoint. Members said they want a travel policy before future travel is approved. A straw poll supported members attending the Urban Land Institute fall conference in late October.
Item 16 · Other
Closed session
Approved · 7-0
Council voted unanimously to enter a closed session for collective bargaining strategy, attorney-client matters and strategy on purchase, exchange or lease of real property. It then voted to exit. The session ran from 5:40 p.m. to 6:43 p.m.
What residents said
Ground-floor activation at hospital siteFoothills trail trust and stakeholder groupCouncil travel policy