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2026-05-21 - City Council Work Session

Summary

Built from the official minutes of the work session (approved August 18, 2026). The minutes are not a full transcript. Meeting materials are posted at data.slc.gov.

  • Work session on Thursday, May 21, called to order at 1:16 p.m. Present: Petro, Puy (Chair), Wharton, Carlsen, Dugan and Young. Puy left during the first item and returned during the Public Services item; Young left during the Golf item and returned during the Fire item. Mayor Erin Mendenhall attended.
  • All items were Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget briefings: Public Lands, Golf Fund, Public Services and the Fire Department; the Fleet Fund briefing was moved to a future agenda (it was held May 28). See Fiscal Year 2026-27 Department Budget Briefings.
  • Public Lands: proposed reductions to administrative costs, operations, park security and Park Ranger staffing. Puy asked about the Folsom Trail, Park Ranger outreach, North Temple tree losses, 300 West plantings and the Thousand Trees Program; Wharton asked about a Foothills subcommittee of the PNUT advisory board (follow-up expected in June); Petro asked for objective Park Ranger performance measures.
  • Golf: six years of financial improvement, a request for one full-time position, and a goal of self-sufficiency.
  • Public Services: an overall proposed reduction, a proposed public electric vehicle charging fee, and taking over the Ballpark and Old Library (The Leonardo) building.
  • Fire: a request for 10 new full-time positions, including nine firefighters for a fourth truck at Station 3 in Sugar House, funded partly by proposed property tax revenue. Puy asked staff to explore reducing University of Utah related calls and recouping costs.
  • The Property Tax Impact Schedule was posted because State law requires it; no discussion (Fiscal Year 2026-27 Property Tax Increase).
  • Chair and Executive Director reports: none.
  • Closed meeting 4:05 p.m. to 4:57 p.m.: Moved by Wharton, seconded by Dugan to enter closed meeting for collective bargaining strategy and advice of counsel, 6-0 (Petro, Puy, Wharton, Carlsen, Dugan, Young). Moved by Dugan, seconded by Wharton to exit, 6-0. Adjourned 4:57 p.m.

Department of Public Lands

Allison Rowland said that excluding the Golf Fund the budget would rise modestly while absorbing utility, contract and personnel increases. Kim Shelley and Tyler Murdock presented accomplishments, requested increases and reductions. Members asked whether reductions would delay 2022 general obligation bond projects, about sycamore trees hurt by a late frost, irrigation upgrades, the effect of fewer Park Rangers, native plant propagation and the Regional Athletic Complex fee structure. Park Ranger measures were later settled in Fiscal Year 2026-27 City Budget and discussed in Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Unresolved Items.

Golf Fund

Rowland said revenues were projected to keep rising, funding a larger capital program with less General Fund support. Matt Kammeyer described golf path repairs, continued design of the Rose Park irrigation project and simulators at Forest Dale. Members discussed utilization, drought measures such as reduced cart washing, and praised the turnaround.

Department of Public Services

Kate Werrett raised staffing changes, street maintenance funding and the proposed EV charging fee. Jorge Chamorro, Julie Crookston and JP Goates described reductions to contracted cleanup and vacant crossing guard positions, consolidation of cleaning in the Urban Services Division and faster response on bioclean and occupied recreational vehicle requests. Members discussed metered charging, the Overall Condition Index after the Mill and Overlay Program, a proposed Ballpark administrator position and whether mill and overlay investment prevents costlier reconstruction.

Fire Department

Michael Sanders introduced the increase and the 10 new positions. Chief Karl Lieb and Alicea Caccavo cited the Station 1 bay extension, a memorandum of understanding with the Salt Lake City School District and elimination of toxic aircraft firefighting foam. Members discussed data-driven deployment, a possible additional Community Health Access Team, density and high-rise growth in Sugar House, overtime, inspection and permitting, and call volumes in the Avenues and near the University of Utah.

Sources