Council briefed on Delta Center garage deal, Public Utilities bonds and Main Street fire aid
September 2, 2025, 2:00 p.m. · Salt Lake City and County Building
At a work session on Sept. 2, the Council heard briefings on the Delta Center parking garage development agreement, up to $100 million in Public Utilities bonds and notes, and a budget amendment for the Aug. 11 Main Street fire. Members also reviewed legislative intents and took straw polls on utility exemption language and $80,000 for pedestrian safety barriers.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Planning Director Nick Norris said the mixed-use zoning consolidation text and map amendment takes effect Oct. 8, 2025, that Planning is working with owners along the 700 West and 900 West corridors to verify existing uses, and that the Northwest Pipeline reuse project (the former Public Safety building) would not be blocked by the consolidation. Mayor's adviser Weston Clark gave project, event and metered parking updates. Andrew Johnston reported that all Homeless Resource Centers were at capacity and described the Sept. 12 resource fair, winter emergency services, the Transformative Campus, a mobile hygiene pilot and the Community Corner program.
Item 2 · Development
Delta Center parking garage development agreement (briefing)
Discussed
Planning staff said they recommended approval with conditions, in line with the Planning Commission. The applicant (Jazz Arena Investors LLC), represented by its attorney and by Utah Jazz and CAA ICON officials, asked that the Council approve the agreement with the conditions to be met before a certificate of occupancy for the garage rather than before the vote. Discussion covered options for meeting the conditions, limits on ground-level activation and an expanded landscape buffer on the site, and further meetings between city staff and the arena owners to finalize the agreement before a Sept. 9 vote.
- Seven-story garage, about 452 stalls, southwest corner of the arena site
- Applicant: Jazz Arena Investors LLC
- Petition: PLNPCM2025-00619
Item 3 · Other
Partial street vacation near 1100 West and 400 South (briefing)
Discussed
A property owner asked to buy about five feet of right-of-way on both 1100 West and 400 South to include in a lot where a new single-family house would be built; the sidewalk would not change. The Planning Commission recommended approving the 1100 West portion and denying the 400 South portion. Council Members and staff discussed how the land would be transferred, and the applicant described why the house would be rebuilt rather than remodeled. Council Member Young left during this item.
- Petition: PLNPCM2025-00178
- Planning Commission: approve 1100 West portion, deny 400 South portion
Item 4 · City code
Residential buffer prohibitions text amendment (briefing)
Discussed
Planners described a proposal to review which land uses are barred within 1,000 feet of residential zones and how that distance is measured; the Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation. Staff said it would not affect mixed-use zones. Council Member Dugan asked for a graphic showing the new mixed-use zones within the buffer.
- Petition: PLNPCM2024-01357
Item 5 · City code
Utility installation exemptions text amendment (briefing)
Discussed
Planners described new exemptions and an administrative approval process, with public notice, for new public utility structures, including in historic districts, where Historic Landmark Commission standards would still be considered. In a straw poll all Council Members present supported adding language that exempt government antennas must be critical infrastructure providing utility or public safety service, and footnotes keeping antennas out of the Eco-Industrial Buffer Area overlay. Council Member Wharton asked for a small group meeting on remaining questions.
- Petition: PLNPCM2024-01352
- Straw poll support: all present (Council Member Young absent for the poll)
Item 7 · Taxes and fees
Public Utilities bond anticipation notes and refunding bonds (briefing)
Discussed
Staff described a parameters resolution authorizing up to $50 million in bond anticipation notes (Series 2025B) to buy and improve a campus for Public Utilities, and up to $50 million in revenue refunding bonds (Series 2025C) to refund Series 2017 bonds early. Staff said the note financing allows the property purchase without raising utility rates, and that revenue from the recent rate increase would not pay for the campus or the notes.
- Bond$50.0 million
- Bond$50.0 million
Item 8 · Budget
Legislative intents for fiscal 2025-26 (first discussion)
Discussed
The Council went through open legislative intents by department with staff. It agreed to close several (including the FY23 open meetings item, the FY26 Consolidated Fee Schedule, the FY23 grants item, FY21 police role and FY24 golf fees), consolidate the police camera and drone privacy intent with the police reporting ordinance intent, and update the Jordan River water quality intent to convene partners on action steps. Council Member Puy asked for study of the effects of removing fluoride from water on underserved communities.
Item 9 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 1, fiscal 2025-26: Main Street fire response (briefing)
Discussed
The Mayor presented a proposed amendment that includes an emergency loan program for businesses hurt by the Aug. 11 Main Street fire, $100,000 in rental assistance from the Funding Our Future Relocation Assistance Fund for Tenants (RAFT), and barriers for pedestrian passage in front of the burned buildings. Five directly damaged businesses would be offered loans, which are gap financing and require staying in Salt Lake City. Council Member Young asked for policy discussion on future emergencies, Council Member Lopez Chavez wanted language limiting help to businesses directly and indirectly affected, and Council Member Puy had concerns about redirecting RAFT funds from their original purpose. In a straw poll all members present supported up to $80,000 from the General Fund for the right-of-way safety item (Council Member Petro absent for the poll).
- Budget$80,000
- Budget$100,000
Item 10-11 · Appointment
Public Utilities Advisory Committee interviews
Discussed
The Council interviewed Sean McKelvie and Kamiron Anderson for terms ending Jan. 15, 2029. Both names were slated for the consent agenda.
What residents said
Delta Center garage conditionsSewer and utility ratesMain Street fire assistance