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2026-07-21 - City Council Formal Meeting

Summary

Built from the official minutes of the formal meeting (approved September 15, 2026). The minutes are not a full transcript.

  • Formal session, called to order at 7:02 p.m. and adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Present: Petro, Puy (chair, conducting the meeting), Napier-Pearce, Carlsen, Dugan and Young. Absent: Wharton. Every recorded vote was 6-0.
  • Approved the work session minutes of April 21, May 5, May 28 and June 11, 2026 and the formal meeting minutes of June 2, June 9 and June 16, 2026 (moved by Dugan, seconded by Petro; 6-0).
  • Public hearing on a grant application for the My Brother's Keeper Navigator program at East High School (Promise Partnership Utah grant, grant period July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027): no public comments; closed and referred to a future Consent Agenda (Young/Petro; 6-0).
  • Public hearing on the Six-Year Capital Asset Plan: no public comments; closed and action deferred (Dugan/Young; 6-0). Action was tentatively set for August 25.
  • Public hearing on the Capital Improvement Program: nine residents spoke on neighborhood projects; closed and action deferred (Young/Carlsen; 6-0).
  • Adopted Ordinance 43 of 2026, the Alley Vacation Near Warnock Avenue (Young/Dugan; 6-0).
  • Questions to the Mayor: Rachel Otto reported that the State Forester approved the City's request to prohibit personal fireworks around the July 24 holiday, in effect during the authorized discharge dates of July 22 through July 25.
  • General comments: four speakers (Westside infrastructure, Great Salt Lake shoreline protection, short-term rental licensing).
  • Consent Agenda approved 6-0 (Petro/Dugan): set August 18, 2026 at 7 p.m. public hearings for the Ballpark rezoning follow-up, the Silverside Deli proximity waiver, the Maximum Daily Water Use Ordinance and the Northwest Community Plan, and approved a board appointment.

Grant application: My Brother's Keeper

Sylvia Richards gave a brief introduction. The Youth and Family Division of the Community and Neighborhoods Department is applying to Promise Partnership Utah (formerly United Way Salt Lake) for funds for afterschool and academic support, basic needs and technical assistance for the My Brother's Keeper Navigator initiative at East High School, which aims to improve graduation rates for boys and young men of color. No one spoke. Staff recommended closing the hearing and referring the item to a future consent agenda; the motion passed 6-0.

Six-Year Capital Asset Plan

Kate Werrett introduced the ordinance that would approve the six-year Capital Asset Plan for the General Fund, which had been briefed on July 14 (see 2026-07-14 - City Council Work Session). No one spoke. Moved by Dugan, seconded by Young to close the hearing and defer action; 6-0. Details on the Six-Year Capital Asset Plan page.

Capital Improvement Program

Kate Werrett introduced the resolution on project funding allocations in the Capital Improvement Program. Public comments, by project:

  • Barbara Basmadjian supported the Median Conversion to Parklet application (infrastructure upgrades, drought-tolerant landscaping, gathering space).
  • Jim Webster supported the 1300 South California Trail project and asked for alternative City funding if CIP funding was unavailable.
  • Seth Cauman and Nicole Palmer supported the Rose Park Elementary Safe Routes to School project, citing traffic-safety data and long-standing pedestrian-safety concerns on 900 West.
  • Jon Burnett raised traffic and pedestrian safety concerns on Hubbard Avenue and asked for more traffic calming.
  • Kim Paturzo supported extending existing traffic calming to the northern part of the neighborhood bounded by 1700 South, 2100 South, 900 East and 1100 East.
  • Nick Pedersen supported a greenway connection between the Jordan River Parkway and Chapman Library.
  • Aaron Boyce supported pedestrian safety improvements at West Temple and Mead Avenue.
  • Jeff Bair supported the 1700 South Neighborhood Byway Crossing and Slow Down Liberty Wells South applications.
  • Natalie Brooks supported the 1700 South Neighborhood Byway Crossing and related crossings near 400 East and 600 East.
  • Jen Solomon was called but was not present.

Puy thanked participants, noted the City's resident-driven CIP process and acknowledged that limited funding meant not every project could be funded. Moved by Young, seconded by Carlsen to close the hearing and defer action; 6-0.

Alley vacation near Warnock Avenue

Ordinance 43 of 2026 vacates a City-owned alley at approximately 567 East Warnock Avenue and 2434 South 600 East between Warnock Avenue and the Interstate 80 right-of-way. The alley is 16.5 feet wide and 80 feet long, has no public access and holds power poles. It is split in half between the neighboring owners (Council District 7; petitioner Jill Genessy for Gray Willow, LLC; petition PLNPCM2025-01099). Moved by Young, seconded by Dugan; 6-0. See Alley Vacation Near Warnock Avenue.

Questions to the Mayor and general comments

Dugan asked for an update on a recent fire and related restrictions; Rachel Otto gave the fireworks answer above. In the one-hour general comment period: Ibrahim Abdirizak raised pedestrian access and infrastructure, the lack of a high school and the need for trees and shade on the Westside; Soren Simonsen and Heidi Hoven spoke for stronger conservation of the Great Salt Lake shoreline, wetlands and habitat (Hoven asked for tools beyond zoning); Benjamin Fouts raised concerns about how the short-term rental licensing process was implemented and asked whether existing operators had a fair and transparent chance to get a license (see Short-Term Rental Business License Ordinance).

All approved together, Petro/Dugan, 6-0:

  • Date set for the Ballpark rezoning follow-up: August 18 at 7 p.m. hearing on rezoning parcels around 1300 South and West Temple (the former Ballpark property) from Public Lands and RMF-35 to MU-11 and MU-5, with an MU-11 text amendment and removal of Ballpark-specific sign requirements, to match the Ballpark NEXT Community Design Plan (petition PLNPCM2025-01089, Council District 5). Tentative action August 25.
  • Date set for the Silverside Deli proximity waiver: August 18 hearing; tentative action September 22. The restaurant at 2122 South Highland Drive is across from Sprague Library (District 7); state law since May 2026 requires a local waiver before the state issues a liquor license near a library, park or playground, with a hearing at least 30 days before approval.
  • Date set for the Maximum Daily Water Use Ordinance: August 18 hearing; would formally adopt the March 24, 2026 temporary land use regulation limiting non-residential uses to 200,000 gallons per day, with exemptions only for agriculture, schools, government facilities that mainly provide social services, places of worship and hospitals. Tentative action August 25.
  • Date set for the Northwest Community Plan: August 18 hearing on the 15-year plan for Rose Park, Fairpark, Jordan Meadows, Poplar Grove and Westpointe (Districts 1 and 2), including station area plans for four TRAX stations. Tentative action August 25.
  • Appointment of Tyler Thunell (District 6 resident) to the Parks, Natural Lands, Urban Forestry, and Trails (PNUT) Advisory Board for a term ending July 21, 2029.

Sources