Local Politics
  1. Home
  2. US
  3. Utah
  4. Salt Lake City
  5. Meetings

2026-05-05 - LBA, CRA and Council Formal Meeting

Summary

Built from the official minutes of the combined Local Building Authority (LBA), Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA) and City Council formal meeting (revised minutes; Council and CRA minutes approved August 18, 2026; the LBA approval line is blank in the document). The minutes are not a full transcript.

  • Called to order at 7:02 p.m. and adjourned at 11:34 p.m.; Puy presided. All seven members were present (Petro, Dugan, Wharton, Puy, Young, Lopez Chavez, Carlsen); Lopez Chavez arrived during the CRA budget item and is recorded absent on the LBA votes.
  • LBA: Resolution 1 of 2026 adopting the tentative Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget for the LBA Capital Projects Fund (bond debt service for the Glendale and Marmalade Libraries only) passed 6-0 (Dugan/Carlsen). Adjournment to the CRA passed 6-0 (Wharton/Petro).
  • CRA: Resolution 5 of 2026 adopting the tentative Fiscal Year 2026-27 CRA budget passed 7-0 (Dugan/Young). Adjournment to the Council passed 7-0 (Wharton/Lopez Chavez).
  • Council minutes of the January 7 retreat, the January 20, February 10 and February 17 work sessions and the January 20 and February 3 formal meetings approved 7-0 (Wharton/Dugan).
  • Mayor Erin Mendenhall presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget: a $498.9 million general fund budget (a 1.57% increase) with a proposed 12.5% property tax increase after $13.2 million in departmental savings; utility and waste rate increases were also proposed.
  • Resolution 9 of 2026 adopting the tentative City budget, including the Library Fund, passed 7-0 (Dugan/Wharton).
  • Four grant applications (police public safety vehicles, a Glendale Park pump track and skatepark, a cemetery records scanner, emergency communications) heard as one hearing and referred to a future Consent Agenda, 7-0 (Young/Dugan).
  • Hearings continued or deferred, each 7-0: Fortune Road partial street vacation, Mansell Manor rezone and the camping ordinance (deferred); the Hardage rezone and master plan amendment (hearing continued).
  • Resolution 2 of 2026 adopted 7-0 (Wharton/Lopez Chavez), honorarily renaming the City-owned portion of 500 South between State Street and 700 East "Dolores Huerta Boulevard".
  • New Business: the Council established a working group (Carlsen, Dugan, Wharton) to retain an independent investigator on allegations concerning Lopez Chavez under the Code of Conduct (passed, recorded as 6-0 with Petro abstaining), and temporarily suspended certain of her duties (5-0 with Petro and Lopez Chavez abstaining).
  • Consent Agenda approved 7-0 except one item: set hearings on the airport lost property ordinance (May 19) and the Jefferson Park alley closure (June 9); the Housing Authority appointment of Deborah Chiquito and the Community Development and Capital Improvement Programs Advisory Board reappointment of Joseph Murphy. The Housing Authority appointment of Turner Bitton was pulled and will return.
  • No potential action items; no questions to the Mayor; five people called for general comment were not present.

Budget and tax items

Mayor Mendenhall cited rising operational costs, inflation, reduced federal funding and growing service demand, with continued investment in affordable housing, streets and sidewalks, and parks; she said proactive infrastructure investment would avoid costlier failures and thanked residents for Capital Improvement Program input, including pedestrian safety improvements near schools. Puy outlined the Council's review process and hearing dates (the public hearing on the budget was set for May 19). Items F-3 and F-4 (the presentation and the required property tax statement) were condensed in the minutes. See Fiscal Year 2026-27 City Budget and Fiscal Year 2026-27 Property Tax Increase.

Grant applications

Introduced by Sylvia Richards. The four applications: a Fiscal Year 2027 COPS Technology and Equipment grant request via Representative Blake Moore's Community Project Funding for three quick response transport vans, one transport van and one operations management center vehicle; a Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (Regional Asset Tier) for a pump track, the state's first fully adaptive pump track, and a skatepark at Glendale Park; a State Historic Preservation Office cemetery grant for a large-format scanner to digitize 179 years of records dating to 1847; and an Emergency Management Performance Grant for backup communications hardware for the Fire Department. Jen Colby and Esiah Rodriguez opposed the police vehicle purchase (alternatives to policing; fear it could support immigration enforcement); David Iltis supported the Glendale Park item and urged opening the nearby Canal Trail. See Grant Application Hearings - Summer 2026.

Fortune Road Partial Street Vacation

Brian Fullmer introduced the ordinance to vacate part of Fortune Road (about 2040 West to Wallace Road; petitioner Thatcher Company Inc.). No one spoke (the one name called was absent). Hearing closed and action deferred, 7-0 (Dugan/Wharton). See Fortune Road Partial Street Vacation.

Mansell Manor Zoning Map Amendment

Fullmer introduced the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City petition to rezone property on South Jefferson Street from MU-11 and RMF-35 to MU-8. Amy Hawkins, Chair of the Ballpark Community Council, opposed the MU-8 zoning as inconsistent with surrounding residential areas and lacking an updated neighborhood master plan. Hearing closed and action deferred, 7-0 (Young/Wharton). See Mansell Manor Zoning Map Amendment.

Dolores Huerta Boulevard

Fullmer introduced the resolution. Richard Barnes recalled Salt Lake City's welcoming role during the 2002 Winter Olympics and urged keeping the existing Martin Luther King Jr. honorary designation; his position on the Huerta designation was unclear in the minutes. Puy said he appreciated the proposal. Resolution 2 of 2026 adopted 7-0. See Dolores Huerta Honorary Street Naming.

Camping and public property ordinance

Michael Sanders introduced the text amendment, which updates the definition of camping and consolidates rules on camping on public grounds, streets, parks and playgrounds, park hours, unclaimed property and obstructing sidewalks. The hearing drew dozens of speakers; most opposed it, many people with lived experience of homelessness or vehicle habitation, and several service providers. Supporters, including residents of Liberty Wells and neighborhoods near parks, cited safety, drug activity and encampments; Rob Kertesz of the Downtown Community Council supported it conditionally. Petro, Wharton and Puy spoke; Petro and Wharton raised concerns and wanted more work before advancing it. The hearing closed and action was deferred 7-0 (Dugan/Lopez Chavez). Details on Public Property Camping Ordinance.

Hardage rezone at 800 East

Kate Werrett introduced the master plan and zoning map amendment for properties at about 346, 350 and 354 South 800 East (RMF-35 to MU-5) and the Central Community Plan future land use map for those and 370 South 800 East and 775 East 400 South, for a 109-unit mixed-use building. The Planning Commission recommended approving the zoning change but denying the future land use map change. About fifteen speakers opposed it (scale, loss of naturally occurring affordable housing, spot zoning, the developer's history; a neighbor petition with 48 signatures was cited); the applicant's representative David Dansie and architect Sean Thompson spoke in support. Cindy Cromer asked that the hearing be kept open. Lopez Chavez said the project did not yet fit the neighborhood. The hearing was continued 7-0 (Lopez Chavez/Carlsen). See Hardage upzone at Linden Avenue and 800 East.

Code of Conduct and leadership position

Two motions by Young, seconded by Wharton. First: a working group of Carlsen, Dugan and Wharton to retain an independent investigator to aid in an investigation of allegations regarding Lopez Chavez and any potential Code of Conduct violations, with the investigation expected over the coming months and to conclude before the end of July (AYE Dugan, Wharton, Puy, Young, Lopez Chavez, Carlsen; ABSTAIN Petro; recorded as 6-0). Second: temporarily suspend Lopez Chavez's duties during the investigation: conducting formal meetings, her CRA leadership role, City-related travel, speaking on behalf of the Council, and using the communications budget about the investigation (AYE Dugan, Wharton, Puy, Young, Carlsen; ABSTAIN Petro and Lopez Chavez; 5-0). The minutes describe no discussion. See Council Code of Conduct Review.

Nick Tarbet briefed the airport ordinance (see Airport Lost Property Text Amendment; hearing set for May 19 at 7 p.m.) and the Jefferson Park alley closure (see Jefferson Park Alleyway Closure; hearing set for June 9 at 7 p.m.). The motion by Young and Wharton approved everything except the Turner Bitton appointment, 7-0; Young said the Council had been unable to connect with Bitton and would reconsider at a future meeting. See Housing Authority Board Appointments.

Sources