City Council dreams of a more livable town

City Council dreams of a more livable town
Retreat » Elected officials to push for fewer cars, more volunteerism.

By Derek P. Jensen, The Salt Lake Tribune

Branding neighborhood identity, creating citywide bicycle lanes, carving pedestrian paths downtown, conducting small-business road trips, and ripping the red tape that restrains volunteers.

All highlight the 2009 vision for the Salt Lake City Council, whose members mulled quality-of-life improvements despite juggling a recession-ravaged budget last week during an annual retreat attended by Mayor Ralph Becker.

For a panel of seven personalities, there was remarkable consensus on the priorities. And there was buy-in from Becker, who said the once-fractious government bodies are "incredibly lucky" to have a healthy relationship (Rocky Anderson, his polarizing predecessor, often sparred with the council).

"Nobody is doing the job for personal gain," Becker said, suggesting the city must be creative during the perilous economic climate and not just "reactive all the time."

The price tag for the projects is unclear, but city leaders agree on their need.

Councilman Soren Simonsen said the city should shelve noncritical road projects and shift that money to public transit and biking instead. He noted a quarter of the city's population doesn't use a car, but the capital doesn't spend a quarter of its transportation budget on alternative modes of transportation.

"We've been deferring these alternative-mobility projects for a long time," he lamented.

Salt Lake City also lacks defined routes or bikeways from its historic neighborhoods to downtown, according to Councilwoman Jill Remington Love. "It's really taking your life into your own hands going down 1300 East or 800 South," she said.

Simonsen argued 2100 South and Sugar House in general are ripe for bike lanes, perhaps the green-painted model that graces downtown's 200 South. Steering several million dollars -- could it come from the federal stimulus? -- toward such paths along with bus access would make a "significant difference," he said, especially if gas prices soar this summer.

On the walkability front, Councilman Luke Garrott maintained too many of the capital's neighborhoods are ill-defined, while some such as his central city neighborhood are "vacuums." Garrott wants the city to consider rezones -- some could usher restaurants, retail or neighborhood business districts -- to help brand the city's patches of bungalows and boost their character.

"That," Garrott said, "increases ownership, helps property values and helps the fiber and roots of the city."

Another specific on the wish list: nurturing better pedestrian access from the Avenues to Memory Grove.

Becker backed the notion of a so-called neighborhood-visioning effort, saying he likes the idea of encouraging commercial hubs that don't currently exist.

Small businesses also could benefit if city officials invest more time there, perhaps through citywide road trips, the group agreed. That means popping into the small manufacturers on the west side as well as the boutiques on 15th & 15th.

"Everybody likes them, but they won't be there unless they are supported," Councilman J.T. Martin said. "They are going away."

Other policy issues pondered at the retreat:

» No longer voting on same nights as public hearings.

» Creation of ethics and communication subcommittees.

» More robust focus on historic preservation.

Finally, the council agreed in principle to eliminate liability roadblocks for volunteers who offer everything from mowing the lawn at park strips to building amenities in public parks. Love said the move makes sense -- particularly during this recession -- to help motivate teenagers with idle time as well as civic-minded adults.

"Instead of complaining to us about the problems," she said, "they can be a part of the solution."

djensen@sltrib.com


Future talk

During February's annual retreat, Salt Lake City's elected captains agreed that neighborhood development, economic development and alternative transportation should be top goals this year. Despite the budget crunch, Mayor Ralph Becker agreed to promote quality-of-life initiatives.