2026-08-25 - City Council Work Session
Summary
Built from official minutes (approved September 22, 2026).
- Work session on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 2:03 to 5:11 p.m.; six of seven members present (Dan Dugan absent).
- Seven briefing items presented, five requiring future formal Council action; straw poll conducted on zoning conditions; Council interviewed a Planning Commission candidate; no votes taken.
- Major briefing on City's four emergency diversified response programs (CHAT, MRT, CCT, CRT) serving behavioral health and crisis calls as alternatives to traditional police and fire responses.
- Zoning briefings included proposed conditions and neighborhood protections; applicants and Council discussed development details.
- Board candidate interview for Planning Commission.
2025 and 2075 West 2670 North zoning amendment
Briefing on proposed rezoning from AG-2 (Agricultural) to M1-A (Northpoint Light Industrial) for three properties in Council District 1. Concerns raised about residential protections (screening, tree buffers, setbacks, access restrictions). Straw poll: all Council members in favor of prohibiting data centers as a rezoning condition.
Liberty Wells Townhome Development
Briefing on proposed rezoning of properties at approximately 1990 and 2002 South 500 East from R-1/5000 (Single Family) to RMF-35 (Moderate Density Multi-Family), with General Plan amendment (Central Community Master Plan Future Land Use Map change from Low to Medium Density Residential). Project: 22 for-sale four-bedroom townhomes with two-car garages and playground, Council District 5. Developer: Castlewood Development. Alejandro Puy requested water-wise landscaping; applicant affirmed.
Alley Vacation at South Main Street
Briefing on proposed vacation of City-owned alley between properties at 750 and 778 South Main Street, 16 West 800 South, and 755 South Richards Street (8.25 feet wide, 248 feet long, 2,042 square feet), Council District 4. Alley would support off-site parking structure for future hospital development (Intermountain Health Services). Council discussed skybridge, separate approval processes, safety considerations, and future behavioral health discussions related to project.
Alley Vacation Near Chadwick Street
Briefing on proposed vacation of portions of two City-owned alleys (one running Chadwick to Dearborn, 12 feet by 262 feet; one along east property line, 12 feet by 51 feet), Council District 7. Accessory buildings encroach on alley; adjacent property owners have long used as their own. Petitioners: Anne and Zach Taylor. Council discussed longstanding lack of usable access and potential benefits to adjacent owners.
Ivory Innovations Affordable Housing Project
Briefing on building permit fee waiver for 66-unit affordable housing development at approximately 707 South 400 East (former Liberty Wells Center), with 75 percent of units affordable at or below 80 percent Area Median Income. Staff (CAN Division) approved application following January 14, 2026 informal public hearing. No further Council discussion.
Administrative Organization Text Amendment for Public Services
Briefing on proposed ordinance amendments to Subsections 2.08.080, 2.08.050, and 2.39.030 of Salt Lake City Code codifying organizational changes: move of Engineering Division from Department of Public Services to Department of Community and Neighborhoods; renaming Compliance Division to Urban Services; updated City Architect description and delegation of duties from City Engineer. Council discussed improved clarity for residents and a separate proposal to rename City and County Building as "City Hall."
Emergency Diversified Response Programs
Comprehensive briefing on City's four emergency diversified response programs serving behavioral health, homelessness, addiction and crisis calls, with alternatives to traditional police and fire responses. Programs presented: Community Connection Team (CCT, Police social workers); Community Health Access Team (CHAT, Fire social workers); Police Civilian Response Team (PCRT); Medical Response Team (MRT, Fire paramedics in smaller vehicles). Discussion included coordination among City and regional response partners, dispatch and deployment, "warm handoffs," responder training, outcome tracking, and public communication. Sarah Young requested clearer public education on team names and roles; Alejandro Puy requested information on Police training beyond academy to help officers identify appropriate response resources.