Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Bye. So, Thank you. Have you here? Whatever...

whether you are joining us in person or online. We hope you continue to participate in whichever manner you feel the most comfortable. Now we're gonna go to item A2, which is the Pledge of Allegiance. Join me. Okay, thank you. Before we move through the agenda, I want to quickly go through the registration information and share the reasoning about how and why we chair these meetings the way we do. We welcome everyone, regardless of your opinion or your side of an issue. Because we will have people with varying opinions on important issues, the council's goal is to make the meetings a place where people feel safe and comfortable participating. This is the most local level of government, and it is a key value of ours to ensure that we have created a respectful and safe environment so no one is intimidated out of free participation. This also allows us to ensure that the meetings can continue and that we can conduct a scheduled city business. We invite each of you to contribute to this space, to speak your mind, and to welcome others to do the same. In order to create this welcoming and safe space, we'll pause the meeting at any action that causes a disruption to our ability to conduct the meeting, or any safety concern involving threats or unprotected speech. If there are repeated actions or comments, it may result in removal from the meeting. To avoid intimidating others, please avoid the use of threatening and discriminatory language. Do not insult others based on religion, ethnicity, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, or physical ability. Whether you agree or disagree with someone's comment, clapping, cheering, shouting, booing, snapping, gesturing, obstructing, or discouraging others from commenting is not allowed. As a reminder, as council members, we refrain from reacting or responding to allow everyone to share their opinions freely. This is to keep our reactions from affecting your ability to share your opinion freely. If you would like to follow up with any of us, please see our council staff, or if you are online, you can chat and ask for contact information. When making your comments, please address the body and not any individual elected official. If you have a handout for the council, you can raise your hand and council staff can assist you and make that handout available to us. Council staff are available during and after the meeting to help with any questions or information sharing. The full meeting rules are listed at the door and our staff will post them and the link on Zoom. As a reminder, our public comment registration process, individuals may register to comment on scheduled city business on a scheduled public hearing item, sorry, until the hearing is closed. For the general comment sections, we'll accept sign-ups until 7.30 p.m. The general comment section is limited to a maximum of one hour. I would only include commenters who register before 7.30 p.m. So if you are here to give general comments, please sign up and remember that it's possible not everyone who sign up may be able to speak. Now we're gonna move to item A4, which is approving the meeting minutes for the Truth and Taxation meeting on August 11, 2026. I need a motion. Second. I have a motion by Councilmember Wharton and a second by Councilmember Pietro. Any questions or comments? All of those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? Any abstentions? This motion carries unanimously with one council member absent. There is no scheduled public hearings today, and we're gonna move to items on the C agenda, potential action items, and item C1 has been moved to a future agenda, so we have pulled that item. So item C2 is the ordinance for a six-year capital asset plan, and I need a motion.

Mr. Chair? I move that the council adopt an ordinance adopting a capital asset plan for Salt Lake City General Fund. Second.

So I have a motion by Councilmember Young and a second by Councilmember Carlson. I'm gonna call the question. All of those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? This motion carries unanimously with one council member absent. Item C3 is a resolution for the capital improvement program and I need a motion.

Mr. Chair, I move that the council approve a resolution adopting the capital improvement program project specific allocations for fiscal year 2027 as shown on the attached exhibit A funding log.

Motion by Councilmember Young and seconded by Councilmember Pietro. Is there any discussion? I'm gonna call the question. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Abstentions? Okay, this motion carries unanimously with one councilmember absent. There is no new or unfinished business items. There is consent agenda, so I need a motion.

Move for approval.

Councilmember Wharton and Petro for the second. To approve the consent agenda, any discussion? I'm gonna call the question. All of those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any oppose or abstentions? This motion carries unanimously. Now that brings us to section G. Are there any questions for the mayor? Any questions for the mayor? Thank you, Rachel, for being on behalf of the mayor.

Thank you.

So now we're going to move into the general comment portion of our agenda. This section is for the public to comment on any city business not scheduled for a public hearing and is limited to a maximum of one hour for those individuals who register before 7.30. our meeting rules apply to the general comments just avoid disruptions or threats and Reminder just as a reminder the You're gonna have two minute to speak and when the two-minute staff will say time and your microphone will be muted. If you haven't finished your comment on those two minutes, you can reach out to us and make sure that we can receive the rest of your comments. If you're having technical issues and you're online, you can message staff support and Akshay from our staff can assist you. So, again, if you haven't finished your comment, you can find our contact information at slc.gov slash council. Taylor, can you begin with our first general comment?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have about six people registered. The first will be Alex Wonder, followed by Keiko Jones, and then Nadja Mataya. Alex, you may now unmute.

Hi, can you guys hear me okay?

Yes, we can hear you.

Awesome. So my name is Alex Wonder. I'm the founder of Rose Park Bee Club. I'm a second year awardee. All of my work is supported through the Community Food Micro Grant. We primarily serve the west side, but our members are all throughout the valley. I work with the Village Co-op, the Krishna Temple, Hivekind, UPC, Food Not Bombs, SLC Mutual Aid, The public library, and my program was featured on the mayor's Instagram last year. Last year, we also distributed 7.5 gallons of honey for free to the community, 250 peppers and tomatoes. About 100 people attended our annual honey giveaway, and we hosted 22 free beekeeping classes while increasing access to high quality local food. I have 3 concerns for the city council today. 1, I, I'm concerned about protecting agricultural sites on the West side. And the fact that we only have 2 protected sites, I'm not sure who manages them, but I know 1 is Wheeler farm. New industry on the West side is a loss of agricultural lands and reduced food choices and independence for the West side. And specifically cutting the funding to the community food micro grant impacts my program and not just me, but there's so many really cool projects impacted by the loss of this micro grant for next year. And I personally cannot operate without it. For some context, bees pollinate one in three bites of food, and they need about two to five acres of continuously flowering plants for optimal health and surplus honey. And the West Side deserves beautiful spaces and reduced pollution exposure and food access that industry projects might bring to us. And this would also support local pollinators as well. I ask the council make an effort to please protect our agricultural spaces and food production on the west side, increase and ensure the longevity.

And that Jones followed by Nadja Mattia and then Kurt goes here in person.

Hi council members, my name is Keiko Jones. I live on the west side and I love my community. And so I go to senior centers maybe twice, three times a week. And today was one of the special days at Rivers Bend because advisory committee provided a free pancake breakfast. And you should have seen people's faces. It's not fancy, but I saw a lot of happy faces. and it was made possible by Poplar Grove Community Council. Earlier I reached out to some community councils on the west side to either co-sponsor or adopt. a couple of events at the senior center. And so far, Poplar Grove and Fair Park Community Councils granted my requests. So that was one of the events today. We may not have enough, but we do not lack generosity. People brought, you know, juice, peaches to share with people. So I emailed all of you a couple of weeks ago and I got two responses and I thought the email was largely ignored but then one of the liaisons emailed me on behalf of all of you and I really appreciate your attention regardless of the outcome. I really want to say thank you for your attention and consideration. Thank you.

Next will be Nadja Mataya followed by Kurt Mittelstadt and then Brett Crane. Nadja is here in person.

Hello, Salt Lake City Council. My name is Nadja Mattia, and I'm from the Wasatch Assembly, and I'm back to continue to talk about ICE and immigration policy in Utah. Again, I want to ask that we appreciate Chris for responding to our policy survey, but we still have not heard from most of you. And we just want to know, are you committed to continue the fight against ICE? Do you want the community involved in local politics in this fight? We are actively dedicated to supporting this in any way, and we would love to talk to you more about it. We're prepared to support those who are aligned with this. We the people just need to know where you stand with small steps and symbolic action or with real progress and sustained movements. People can see right now that the state government is not really addressing the material needs of the conditions of the people who call the state home. There's a lot of issues. support for the legislators dropping a little bit right now. So this is the time to be bold. Tell your constituents where you stand on key policy items that make real change and actually have effects in people's lives. Just to reiterate our top policies that we agreed on responding to immigration and ICE. Stop ICE facilities from being constructed. No 287 agreements. or municipal resources to ICE, which I know you agree with, and then the free services for constitutional rights violations. The rest of the policies are in the handout, and you can contact us at wasatchassembly.org. We're happy to meet with you to talk more about this.

Next will be Kurt Mittelstadt, followed by Brett Crane, and then Jason Hogu. Kurt is here in person.

Hey, Council. Good to see you again. Kurt Middlestad with the Wasatch Assembly. You know, just back again to talk about ICE, so thanks for your time again. You know, I just reiterate, I believe we as a community, including Salt Lake City Council, have a responsibility to protect the people who live here. You know, while ICE is a federal agency, it has local effects. They affect our neighbours, our families, our friends. our workplaces, our schools, and our communities. And I think, you know, local government has choices about whether it helps ICE, ignores ICE, or actively protects its residents. We continue to hear many horrifying stories around the country of people being unlawfully detained, separated from their families, with no apparent recourse, no accountability for those at fault. In fact, this happened to one of our close family friends. a little bit of time ago, just to see the devastation that brought was heartbreaking. And that's just one instance. So just urge you to please take action and to not forget about these innocent people. Their friends and family certainly won't. We, their community, certainly won't. And we'll continue to show up until we see some real action and real results. Thanks for your time.

Next will be Brett Crane, followed by Jason Hoku. Brett is here in person.

Hello Salt Lake City Council. My name is Brett Crane. I am a student at the University of Utah who moved here three years ago. I'm here today because I'm concerned for the safety, well-being, and belonging of immigrants in this city. As a student watching others in my position face removal from educational institutions and having their educations disrupted because of their immigration status is unfair and discriminatory. No student should have to fear the abrupt end of their education No student should have to worry about their parents, grandparents, or families being sent away from their homes without just warning. No student should feel afraid to trust their local authority. Salt Lake City already has demonstrated its opposition to ICE expansion. I'm asking you as a member of a community to represent our opposition. The Wasatch Assembly has brought you a clear set of demands developed by people in this community. Salt Lake City has a responsibility to protect the people who live here. ICE's status as a federal agency does not negate the profound impact it has on local communities. Our neighbors, families, friends, and coworkers, our schools, and our communities are all affected by ICE. Local government has choices about whether it helps ICE, ignores ICE, or actively protects its residents from ICE's abuse. My top priorities, my priority policies representing the Wasatch Assembly's agenda are providing free legal services for Salt Lake City residents whose constitutional rights are violated by federal immigration enforcement, require judicial warrants before facilities, records, databases, or other city resources are accessed for federal immigration enforcement, except for access or disclosure is otherwise legally required, and ultimately passing a resolution calling for the abolition of ICE. Thank you.

and next will be jason hoku jason is here in person hello salt lake city council members my name is jason i've lived in salt lake city all my life and i'm also here today because i believe no one should have to worry if they to their next immigration appointment or are pulled over for a broken brake flight they might be dragged off to a detainment center it's unconstitutional It's unconscionable, and it's happening in our backyard. I want you to see the 30-plus people who are forcibly flown out of our very own Salt Lake City, or Salt Lake Airport, every single day. I want you to see our senator, Luz Escamilla, telling reporters that I told a detained mother to, quote, drink out of the toilet. I want you to see the scared, lonely dog I saw at Best Friends Animal Society who understood Spanish and had a little sticker that said bilingual king. I want you to see the community gathering I attended this summer calling for the father of one of my high school classmates. to be freed. He was not given his critical diabetes treatment while in ICE custody. And I've seen the work that this council and Salt Lake City have done to resist ICE expansion in our community, including helping to stop the ICE warehouse. Your work so far has not gone unnoticed. But especially as ICE ramps up its attacks, we need more action to keep everyone in our community safe. The Wasatch Assembly has created a clear and actionable list of next steps developed by people in the community. I want to voice my support for requiring judicial warrants before Salt Lake City facilities, records, databases, or other city resources are accessed by immigration enforcement. I want to express my support for requiring Salt Lake City departments to publicly report their interactions with ICE and other federal authorities, and also providing free legal services for Salt Lake City residents whose constitutional rights have been violated by ICE. When the federal government tries to take away our neighbors' rights to justice, it's up to us to fill in the rest. Thank you.

And that was the final register commentary.

Thank you, all of you, to share your thoughts. This really concludes the Salt Lake City Council meeting for today. This formal meeting stands adjourned.