Council settles on federal housing grant straw polls and supports ranked choice voting without a primary
March 25, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
In a work session, the Council took straw polls on how to allocate about $7.7 million in federal housing and community development grants, backing the Mayor's recommendation for the public services budget with several adjustments. Members also supported participating in ranked choice voting for the 2025 municipal election without a primary and continuing the interlocal agreement with Salt Lake County, and heard the 2025 compensation committee report.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Budget
Citizens' Compensation Advisory Committee 2025 annual report
Discussed
The committee's chair and the City's compensation manager presented market comparisons of City employee salaries and compensation strategies, and answered questions on data not in the report. The report is presented each year before budget review.
Item 2 · Budget
FY2025-26 federal grant allocations (CDBG, HOME, ESG, HOPWA): follow-up
Discussed
Housing staff discussed recommendations for about $7.7 million in HUD funds. All members present supported, in straw polls: staying at $30,000 for the current round and then raising to $50,000 (item as stated in the minutes); tabling line item 7 (CDBG) for later discussion; awarding $600,000 to line item 10 and moving $50,000 to line item 11, the Utah Film Center; moving $30,000 from South Valley Services (line 24) to the YWCA (line 32); and moving forward with the Mayor's recommendation for the public services budget. Council Member Eva Lopez Chavez withdrew a proposed straw poll to add other neighborhoods to line 7 after Council Member Victoria Petro asked to table it. Discussion also covered Wasatch Community Gardens funding, program ratings and the need for public service funding.
- Grant$7.70 million
Item 4 · Other
Ranked choice voting for the 2025 municipal election and interlocal agreement
Discussed
The City Recorder and a communications analyst described an interlocal agreement with the Salt Lake County Elections Division for the 2025 municipal election. The County will run ranked choice voting without a primary election. In straw polls, all members present supported participating in ranked choice voting without a primary and continuing the interlocal agreement. Council Member Alejandro Puy asked for information on the new process.
Item 5-7 · Appointment
Interviews: Arts Council nominees Ignacio Rosenberg, Eugenie Jaffe and Ryan Canter
Discussed
Each nominee was interviewed for a term ending March 25, 2028; Council Member Chris Wharton said each name would go on the consent agenda.
Other
Closed session on procurement
No action · 7-0
The Council voted 7-0 to enter a closed session to discuss information provided during a procurement process and later voted 7-0 to exit and adjourn. No action was recorded.
What residents said
Federal housing grant prioritiesRanked choice voting