A vote by a Senate committee Tuesday may be a sign that looser restrictions are coming for Utah’s billboard companies. One senator wants cities and counties to have less control over billboard regulations, including electronic billboards. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports on what this means for Salt Lake City, which is looking to pass billboard restrictions of its own.
A Utah lawmaker hoping to overturn Salt Lake City’s new anti-idling ordinance presented his case to a House committee yesterday. Representative Wayne Harper says the new policy is hard on businesses and has too many exemptions to make it enforceable. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports on the fate of his legislation.
The issue of forming a historic district in Salt Lake City’s Yalecrest neighborhood hit the State Capitol once again yesterday. This is the second year in a row Senate Majority Whip Wayne Niederhauser has sponsored a bill that intervenes in the dispute over larger remodels being built in the area, but as KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports, Salt Lake City leaders say they want to try and work it out on their own before the state gets involved.
Despite 36 years in the Senate, Republican Utah Senator Orrin Hatch is far from invincible this election year. He might have gotten lucky when Congressman Jason Chaffetz declined to take him on, but now a new challenger has stepped up. Former Republican State Senator Dan Liljenquist made a name for himself in the legislature by tackling public pension and Medicaid reform, no small task for a freshman lawmaker.
Salt Lake City’s new council chair, Soren Simonsen, says he’ll be guiding the city council this year with a new focus. Simonsen, who was first elected in 2005 and is taking on the position for the first time, says he plans to give much greater autonomy to council members.
The city of South Jordan ushered in a new Mayor Tuesday night. The council voted unanimously to select area businessman Scott Osborne to replace former Mayor Kent Money, who stepped down to accept an assignment from the LDS Church in New Zealand. Osborne, who was one of 19 applicants, says he was chosen in part because he brings a strong business background.
Today is a new day for Salt Lake City government. At noon on the steps of the city-county building, newly elected city council members Charlie Luke and Kyle LaMalfa will take their first oath of office. Joining them will be Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and City Councilman Luke Garrott, who will be sworn in for a second four-year term to represent the downtown area.
An area of Salt Lake City scornfully referred to by many residents as the “Sugar hole” will finally get the facelift it was intended to have before the economy took a nosedive. Mecham Management is moving forward with a $53 million retail and residential project with the help of a loan the Salt Lake City Council approved on Tuesday, acting as the Redevelopment Agency. But as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, bitterness still lingers over the demolition of historic buildings that made way for the venture.
Outdated way-finding signs in downtown Salt Lake City will likely get a facelift before the City Creek Development opens its doors this spring. The Salt Lake City Council will vote Tuesday to allocate funding for the project.
More food options may be coming to Salt Lake City beginning next year. Over the next few weeks the City Council will be discussing whether to change regulations on mobile food businesses that could make it easier for vendors to do business in downtown. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports on the proposed changes and why vendors say they are so important.
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