Council briefed on Sugar House special assessment area and unresolved budget issues, including two budget scenarios
May 28, 2026, 2:30 p.m.
At the May 28 work session the council heard a proposal to designate a Sugar House Business District special assessment area, briefings on the non-departmental, Fleet and Public Utilities follow-up budgets, and a list of unresolved FY 2026-27 budget issues. The council will consider budget scenarios with and without a property tax increase. Council Member Erika Carlsen was absent. The council voted 5-0 to enter a closed meeting.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Taxes and fees
Resolution of intention to designate the Sugar House Special Assessment Area
Discussed
Business Development Division Director Colin Gibbs and project manager Liz Ward asked the council to adopt a resolution of intention to create the Sugar House Business District 2027 special assessment area in the core commercial area, with a secondary assessment for specialty lighting and signage, active for three years with possible renewal. They reviewed boundaries, tentative budget assumptions, proposed activities, statutory protest requirements and the timeline, with representatives of the Sugar House Chamber and Zions Public Finance present. Staff said the process mirrors the Downtown special assessment area at a smaller scale and that the request is community-driven. Members voiced support for strengthening the district.
- Council action tentatively June 9; protest hearing set August 18 at 7 p.m.
Item 2 · Budget
Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget: Non-Departmental
Discussed
Deputy CFO Lisa Hunt reviewed the Non-Departmental budget, which covers transfers to other funds, contracts, grants, debt service, civic support and police-related transfers. Jennifer Bruno said much of the apparent increase in the Police Department budget reflects existing costs moved out of Non-Departmental. Members asked about removal of one-time conference funding, fire impact fees used for debt service on two fire stations financed through the Local Building Authority, and concern about delaying capital improvement needs, with some capital funding to be considered later under proposed property tax funding and Truth in Taxation rules.
Item 3 · Budget
Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget: Public Utilities follow-up and Utility Bill 101
Discussed
Public Utilities Deputy Director Jesse Stewart presented a video explaining the city utility bill (water, sewer, stormwater, street lighting, waste and recycling and utility franchise fees) and said the website would feature it with a rate estimator tool. Members asked about tracking use of the tool and making bills easier to understand. Council Member Puy asked for a how-to video on the estimator, Council Member Petro for plain-language education on bill measurements and ways to control costs, and Council Member Wharton for exploration of a flat sewer rate for apartment units.
Item 5 · Budget
Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget: Fleet Fund
Discussed
Public Services staff presented the Fleet Fund budget, including the maintenance and replacement funds, fuel budget and replacement backlog. A reduction in General Fund-supported maintenance means some non-cost-effective repairs on older replacement-eligible vehicles would not be done. Members discussed replacement-eligible vehicles versus accident losses, fuel price forecasting uncertainty, and concern that continued underfunding would raise deferred maintenance and affect services.
Item 6 · Appointment
Board appointment: Historic Landmark Commission, Rosemary Stum
Discussed
The council interviewed Rosemary Stum, a District 5 resident, for a term ending June 2, 2030. Council Member Puy said her name would be on the next consent agenda.
Item 7 · Budget
Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget: unresolved issues
Discussed
Jennifer Bruno said the council would consider two budget scenarios, one without and one with a property tax increase. Members discussed the draft list of unresolved issues, including keeping the Hive Pass program, increasing the fuel budget, labor agreement impacts, YouthCity funding, a third Community Health Access Team, Park Ranger reductions, the Information Management Services innovation set-aside, and capital improvement program reductions. Council Member Young asked to add staffing for a third CHAT team; Council Member Puy asked to add Park Ranger reductions, the IMS innovation set-aside, CIP reductions and the cost of administering the Hive Pass.
Item 8 · Taxes and fees
Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget: property tax impact schedule
Discussed
Council Member Puy said the item is on the agenda because state code requires it. No further discussion.
Item 10 · Appointment
Executive Director report: District 4 vacancy
Discussed
Jennifer Bruno and Senior City Attorney David Quealy described a new multi-step process under changed state law for filling the District 4 vacancy, and a prepared resolution on the voting method. Under the law, ties after a second round are resolved by lot, and a coin toss would be needed if the second-round vote ties.
Item 11 · Other
Closed meeting motion
Approved · 5-0
The council voted to enter a closed meeting on strategy for the purchase, exchange or lease of real property, attorney-client matters and a labor negotiations update; it ran from 4:23 to 5:01 p.m.
What residents said
Property tax increase scenariosHive Pass programFleet replacement backlog