GREATER AVENUES COMMUNITY COUNCIL Minutes
June 5, 2002 Held at the Sweet Library

GACC MONTHLY MEETING

Dick Smiley opened the meeting at 7:00 pm with a welcome and announcements.

Announcements:

Concern and prayers and call for vigilance for the abducted girl, Elizabeth Smart, in Federal Heights.

Scott Fulsom from the SL police dept will make a comment or two. Someone else is also to come and pass out fliers.

Mr. Fulsom: briefing on what the status of the case is: Will not be able to divulge details that would be inappropriate. Searched the area with both bloodhounds and neighbors. Has involved SLC police, sheriff, all-terrain vehicles. Went for ½ mile in each direction. That was completed at about 5:30 this afternoon. Suspect is medium height and weight and white man. Was wearing light colored shirt and slacks. Had on a denim fabric jacket or white ball or painter’s cap. Weapon was seen. Don’t know why this family was targeted. As we speak we have established a national hot line -- 799-3000. if you have info no matter how minor it might be. FBI is heavily involved in the investigation. Currently have about 18 detectives on the case. Q: should we be passive in this kind of situation? Answer: Should make noise, run away, struggle, and don’t go for a ruse. Please call if you find anything at all. What can we do to help? Not a lot to be done. Be observant for anything that would fit this situation.

Mr. Nordstrom is going to be here next month and explain their leaving the downtown area.

Going to upgrade the City Creek water treatment plant in 2003.

Got 6 things from the historic planning commission. One is the case to place Olympic monument in Pioneer Park. Who wants half of Pioneer Park taken by some monument? 8. How many do not want it taken by a monument? 12.

Steven Moss has been appointed the sub committee chairman as the history person for the GACC. 320-0761. Will be gathering that info and the league of women voters will also be helpful. He also does the calendar in the newsletter.

Salt storage pad: Del Cook discussed the request to provide some kind of restroom facility. Families may use that facility as a mini park. There is no sewer anywhere nearby. The suggestion for public utilities is to provide a pre-cast structure that all the material is contained and then pumped out. The liquids that come out from the parking lot and bldg also are pumped out so nothing goes down into the canyon below. Similar ones are in the nature areas in City Creek canyon. Color is the only choice. Location discussed is right by the parking lot. Does the GACC think it’s welcome and does it look acceptable? Is it tip proof? We think so. All in favor—yes. No opposed.

Jim Jenkin: Had a traffic committee last month and attended by several of the major players in the second Avenue area. No serious objections to the traffic calming. Why add the stop sign on A Street when traffic is flowing smoothly? Is not permanent because it’s part of the South Temple reconstruction project. Could they get rid of those curbing so people can turn right or left? 2nd Ave residents formed a proposal about 6 years ago. City has been reviewing it ever since. They are doing a pilot program of it now. Those are up for 30 days. A ballot has been mailed to people affected which mostly means 2nd Ave residents from state street to E street. We can voice our opinions to city traffic. If 2/3 of the voting group approve the calming measures they will become permanent. Whole purpose of the program is to train drivers to use other routes to the university that are faster than the avenues. Contact city traffic division under Craig Timothy, at 535-6630, or Eric Jergensen, 532-4844 with your opinion. Comment: City needs an engineer that studies the overall picture and makes a recommendation. But the city generally functions on the rising up of the population. It’s handled piece-meal. Traffic meeting is the 4th Wed of this month in this room, at 7:30 PM Basic dichotomy between these two parties is: those who want to get where they need to go as fast as they can and those who want to protect their neighborhood. This issue is not going to go away. Your input would be appreciated. This gets done by taking a plan to the city.

Police report: Kim Guess last month we had 3 aggravated assaults one between a gal and her ex-boyfriend. The other one involved a couple arguing and a friend tried to step in and got a knuckle sandwich. Another was a gentleman who reported to LDS hosp to report a shooting in another area of the county. Had 4 auto thefts—one a breach of trust. Others were really stolen and 2 have remained missing. The victim herself found the first car. She got her car back but no arrest was made. 7 burglaries one was Sinclair—a beer run. One was broken window and person knew right where to go. Others were taken from open garages. Two were in apts. When the former renters came back for their own property. Some are about property owned by 2 people and one takes it from the other. All crime is down this year from last year. Was one drive-by shooting. People have been uncooperative with police in these circumstances. Robberies occurred one by someone who is robbed every month at rent payment time. On at ATM but victim was uncooperative. Her personal feeling about predator crimes is not to cooperate. Don’t create a second crime scene. First one is in the home. Second scene is wherever she ended up. Talk about it with your children and grandchildren. Say no—in that demonic voice if necessary. National town watch is in August. Participate in your neighborhood on your street and give crime a holiday. Have a watermelon bust, serve drinks, canines will come out, vice officers. All will be happy to go around and visit you. August 6, give crime a holiday.

Legislative report: Paula Julander was gone during special session because it was called after she left the country. Special session set for the budget beginning June 26. will reconvene on July 8-9 and settle disputes if there are any. Those dates have been firmly set.

City Council: Eric Jergensen: Give me Pioneer park questions quick. Why not the library lot? Where to put the Olympic Legacy park has gone on for about a month. Discussed 4 places. Franklin covey is too far. Library is to small. ONP is . Pioneer Park is answer of least resistance. Issue is that SLOC is pushing a time frame. Why do we need another structure when there are so many people needs? Other places where this money could be put. Pioneer park is not the place for this kind of activity. SLOC has until the end of the month to get the IOC stamp of approval on this place. Initial design is quite nice but where is important.

CERT program is not going to be taken away. City Council added money to it last night. No more full-time people from fire dept to do the training. MOBILE WATCH is the same thing. Get rid of flume police officer that coordinated the watch. We have no thoroughfare East to West on the Avenues let alone town. Terry Borman is on the 2nd Ave traffic calming committee.

June 15 is the cleanup at Lindsay Gardens and Memory Grove. Will be working until noon and have a barbeque lunch at Memory Grove. If you bring tools make sure you put your name on it.

Dick needs 4 volunteers to be supervisors to walk through and be able to give instruction to the workers on the 15. Judith Locke, Dick Coleman at Lindsay Gardens, Karen Derrick, Todd Ridgeway.

Karen Derrick: School Board Elizabeth Smart was a student at Bryant. Graduation is this week: West, East, Highland and Horizonte. Will have to review the budget again after we see how much money the legislature will be cutting from us. Karen wants to be on the agenda for a piece next month. www.slc.k12.ut.us web site has info on boundaries you can comment on. Most of lower Aves will be going to Wasatch and upper Aves will be going to Ensign. Call Karen with questions.

Fair Vote Utah: Mike and Keith Ridgeway came to introduce instant run-off voting that can be used in various organizations including this one. We recommend that the city and state implement it as well. Instant run off voting is a way of eliminating problem when more than 2 candidates are running for the same office. This plan was used in a primary and it was very statistically sound. Deseret News ran a story regarding it. San Francisco just adopted this in a valid system. Are hoping SLC will become second. Need legislature to make the change. Would like us help promote this with the city council. Showed video about how to vote for as many candidates as you choose—done in priority order. If anyone would like to help and support this program, please pick up literature and volunteer cards in the back. The Ridgways live between J & K on 6th Ave so you can contact them easily. Thank you.

Laura Sanger is not here from the Memory Grove foundation.

Beverly Sorenson phoned Dick and announced the problem has been solved with the house on K Street.

Phil Carroll’s wife was here to present info regarding the Clean up project but she said that had already been taken care of.

Cancer Wellness House: Linda Kelly is an Avenues community council member. Here to discuss a very preliminary proposal. This does not require a decision tonight. House is on 30 C Street. Home belong to Don Strongquist and his late wife Jane. Has been on the market for 3 years. No buyers who would choose to use this home as a residence. Has historical value for its architecture as well as for its interior finishes. The inside is adorned with some beautiful murals original to the home that have been restored. Should be preserved and available to the community at large. Idea at hand is that Cancer wellness would purchase the Culmer house. Property would be rented out to small groups of people for functions such as lectures, business meetings, small receptions, parties, and concerts. Would require changes in zoning. Rest of block there includes cathedral of Madeline are all zoned institutional. Would require requesting a conditional use permit. In this regard the property would remain unchanged from its current state. Would need a donor to partner with CWH to acquire the property. Could be financially self-sustaining. Would require approval from the zoning board. Purpose this evening was to present this potential proposal. Take any questions: What size groups are you talking about and what is parking like? Groups under 50. Parking is a serious issue. Needs to be researched. There is a large parking lot across street from Cathedral owned by Mr. Howa. He seemed interested in working with CWH. Traffic would be a concern. Comment: Heavy use and wear and tear would naturally occur with people coming and going. Manager on site at all times during events and when events didn’t occur. Linda is chair of the fundraising committee. Has a great affection for this home and would like to see it taken care of. Profits would go to cancer wellness house. Could diocese be a potential partner in such a venture. Have had interest in that property in the past. Jaynie wouldn’t let the Catholics have it. What is value of home --$1.1,000,000, selling price. Business plan would be written. Would have nothing to do with properties on 1100 East. They are repaired and continually upgraded. Issue of past behavior is an indication of future behavior. Comment to Involve neighbors in the process.

South Temple Project: Pat Peterson handouts with phone numbers on the back. Want people to stay out of the Avenues. KUER sent people through the Avenues. They have corrected that. Doing this between 5 different sections. Where does funding come from? A lot came from Federal Highway funds. Concrete is the material and it’s been noisier in the past but they are putting a different finish on it that hopefully will quiet it down. Web page is www.southtempleconstruction.com.

Open Forum: Roger Carrier been on radio and TV about city creek canyon issue. This canyon has been preserved for 150 years –20 miles of no houses visible. No place like that in the world. Proposing if we can convince Mr. Simmons to lower his house. He could see into city creek and no one could see him. He could write it off. Everybody is a winner. Mr. Simmons becomes a hero of the state. Send Roger an email and he will send you the 4 pictures. Roger Carrier’s email is farcity101@hotmail.com. City planning dropped the ball. Somebody has to stand up and say I don’t care how much money you have there are things that are not for sale.

Chris Hoffenbeck from other Capitol CC Utah arts festival will be coming to the Gallivan Center June20-23. Bought grocery store west of the Capitol and restoring and it will be open in the fall.

Jeff Short, manager of Smith’s in the Avenues, reported on their remodeling project. Store will close on Oct. 9. Reconstuction will be a trying time. True Value will be going downstairs and will not open until Oct 23. Lost half of the parking today. Please call the store with problems. For sure will have the liquor store and true value back. But will also have a video store there. Smith’s won’t have a video store inside anymore.

Meeting adjourned. 9 pm.

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