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09/02/22: LETS TALK TURKEY ABOUT TAXES; TEMPORARY OVERFLOW SHELTER; GET TO THE RIVER; CODE UPDATE, PROMISE EVENTS; etc. View this email in your browser Announcements PUBLIC MEETINGS City Hall CLOSED on Monday, Sep. 5th for Labor Day NEWS Town Hall Set to Discuss 6% Municipal Energy Sales & Use Tax to Pay for Police Increases MILLCREEK. Let's talk turkey about taxes. You are invited to a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, 7pm at City Hall (3330 S 1300 ---PAGE BREAK--- Mt Olympus Community Council Tues., 9/6/22, 6pm Churchill Jr. (Library) 3450 E Oakview Dr Millcreek Community Council Tues., 9/6/22, 7pm City Hall, 3330 S 1300 E Or join virtually HERE Canyon Rim Citizens Association Wed., 9/7/22, 7pm City Hall, 3330 S 1300 E Or join virtually HERE Historic Preservation Committee Thurs., 9/8/22, 6pm City Hall, 3330 S 1300 E Or join virtually HERE See Agenda Below The City Council requests resident input regarding the potential imposition of a 6% Municipal Energy Sales & Use Tax. What you need to know: WHY? Funds are needed to meet the $2.5M increased costs of the City's contract with the Unified Police Department. A property tax increase of 4.61% was approved in August. The Council has also already approved a one-time transfer of $500,000 from the City's rainy day fund. These measures will assist in providing funding for the police contract. But the transfer from the rainy day fund is not sustainable in the future, and additional funds will be needed to cover the rising costs. HOW? Imposition of a Municipal Energy Sales & Use Tax (commonly known as a franchise fee) would fill the shortfall and help keep property tax increases lower for future years. Note that Millcreek is the only city in the county that has not been collecting this fee. WHO? This tax is paid by everyone—residential and commercial property owners, AND non-profit entities, such as churches, schools, and credit unions, which are exempt from property tax but receive police services nonetheless. WHERE? The 6% tax would appear on gas, electricity and telecommunications services bills. WHEN? Final consideration of the franchise fee will take place at the City Council meeting on September 26, 2002, at 7:00pm at City Hall, 3330 S 1300 E. If approved, the fee will go into effect on January 1, 2023. If you are unable to attend either meeting, send your comments to Rita Lund at [EMAIL REDACTED] or [PHONE REDACTED]. For additional information, visit ---PAGE BREAK--- Temporary Overflow Homeless Shelter for Winter 2022-23 to be Located in Millcreek MILLCREEK. Beginning in October, the building located at 810 E 3300 S, formerly the Salt Lake County Calvin Smith Library, will be repurposed on an emergency basis as a temporary overflow shelter for homeless Utahns during the upcoming winter months. This decision was made by the State of Utah and the mayors of Salt Lake County, with Millcreek’s support, in response to the homelessness crisis being faced in Salt Lake County. As a result of recent state legislation, every city in Salt Lake County is required to submit a homeless shelter overflow plan to the Utah State Office of Homeless Services (OHS) each year. This year, the County Council of Governments (COG) evaluated potential sites submitted and then recommended that the Calvin Smith Library be used to accommodate approximately 100 homeless individuals from October 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. The temporary overflow shelter will supplement beds being added to the The library was chosen because of its relative proximity to transit and social service providers, and because Salt Lake County recently closed the library, and has yet to surplus the property. The temporary overflow shelter will be open daily from approximately 7 pm to 7 am the following morning. No meals will be served at the shelter, and clients will be bused to the shelter every evening, and back to downtown Salt Lake City every morning. ---PAGE BREAK--- existing Homeless Resource Centers in Salt Lake City, Midvale and South Salt Lake. We expect that the OHS will make its announcement in the coming days regarding this year’s overflow plan. Many sites were discussed, but they tended to be either too far from essential social services or were privately owned by entities which were unwilling to lease for this use. A service provider has not been chosen yet, but we will work with them on a management plan to ensure the safety of clients and surrounding residents and businesses. The State will be providing Millcreek with some additional funding to offset any costs associated with the temporary overflow shelter, including additional police presence in nearby neighborhoods. The final decision regarding the placement of the temporary overflow shelter will be made by the State – However, we support the state’s decision to locate a temporary overflow shelter in Millcreek, for the following reasons: Millcreek had a successful experience in the winter of 2020-21, where we supported a temporary winter housing facility at 950 E 3300 S, for 60 adult homeless men. The shelter operated under a management plan approved by Millcreek. Part of the management plan included noise restrictions, regular communication with Unified Police, and the use of a hotline to address any concerns from neighboring residents. The temporary winter housing was a success, resulting in only one police call. A well-managed temporary shelter can be a good neighbor, and we intend to do everything in our power to ensure that this year’s temporary winter homeless shelter will be managed as well as the one we previously hosted. While the old library is close to surrounding neighborhoods and businesses, it is also close to jobs, healthcare, and social services for homeless Utahns. The old library is ready for use as a temporary overflow shelter, with minor modifications. We believe that the mitigation funds will be adequate to support additional first responders to patrol the area, and to support enhancements to the building and site to reduce the potential for nuisances. There is a crisis of homelessness in our region, and we already feel it in Millcreek. We are aware of unsheltered homeless Utahns in each of our neighborhoods. All things being equal, providing emergency shelter to ---PAGE BREAK--- homeless Utahns is a better, more dignified solution than informal camping and property trespass, which is occurring already, and which harms residents and nearby businesses. The burden of providing shelter to homeless Utahns, including Millcreek residents, has been falling primarily on the residents of Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake, and Midvale. This is unfair. Every community needs to contribute its fair share to the problem, and Millcreek is willing to lead in this effort to support overflow shelter space this winter. Our hope is that other communities will step up in future years as we continue to work to ensure homeless Utahns have access to shelter and resources. We will hold a neighborhood meeting to further discuss the temporary overflow shelter at the site of the former Calvin Smith Library, 810 East 3300 South, on Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. We will be posting notice of this meeting on the property, and we will mail notice of the meeting to all property owners within 600 feet of the proposed temporary overflow shelter. In the meantime, we welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how to support the temporary overflow shelter and surrounding businesses and residents this winter. Please send your thoughts to Francis Lilly at [EMAIL REDACTED]. Get to the River Festival Has Begun! The Get To The River Festival brings together the community, businesses and local governments to celebrate, restore, explore and recreate in the Jordan ---PAGE BREAK--- River corridor. The 2022 festival includes 30 days of river-focused celebrations and conservation activities hosted by the cities and partner organizations along the Jordan River. Thousands of people each year turn out to celebrate the many wonderful things the river has to offer as well as volunteer to help clean up and restore the river to make it a destination for all to enjoy for generations to come. The festival kicked off September 1st with a press event and tour of an exciting collaboration project the Salt lake City Department of Public Utilities and many other stakeholders and experts have been working on known as the Rose Park – Jordan River Watershed Project on 1000 North and Cornell Street. The facility aims to improve the quality of water being discharged into the Jordan River through green infrastructure improvements that serve a storm water treatment function while also enhancing the existing open space for the surrounding community. Learn more at informational tours on September 20 & 22. Don't miss out on returning community favorites including the Seven Canyons Trust's Range 2 River Relay where participants run, boat, and bike from the Wasatch Range to the Jordan River on September 24th (register HERE) and South Salt Lake's Paint the Parkway event on September 10th with a rockin' river story time, bird walks, seed swap, and more at Tracy Aviary's Jordan River Nature Center. For a full schedule of events, visit GetToTheRiver.org ---PAGE BREAK--- The Land Use Code (LUC) is the primary regulatory document that Millcreek uses to ensure quality development with guidance from the General Plan. The LUC includes regulations and standards that address zoning, land uses, natural resource protections, subdivisions, building setbacks, building height, parking, landscaping, neighborhood character, and application procedures. We will be updating the LUC with these goals in mind: to reflect sustainability and health goals, smart growth, and emerging trends in the community; simplify, graphic heavy, and use friendly; consistent with other relevant standards and policies set forth by the City Your input is crucial to this process. Please take 10-15 minutes to complete this questionnaire and share your experiences with the current Land Use Code and how the new Land Use Code can better serve the community. Know that your involvement means that you'll have regulations that are shaped by you and for you. SATURDAY Take the Survey HERE ---PAGE BREAK--- THURSDAY ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Vote HERE! ---PAGE BREAK--- The Promise Program is Here for YOU! Check out all the Promise events coming up ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- The Mid-Autumn Chinese Art Show Artists’ Statement ---PAGE BREAK--- Presented by the Salt Lake Eastern Art Club September 9 is this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, also called Mooncake Festival or Moon Festival. It is the second most important festival in China after Chinese New Year. It is also celebrated by many other northeast and southeast Asian countries. In China, it's a celebrating time for harvest and a reunion time for families, a little like Thanksgiving. September 9th is also the reception date for the art show. At 5 pm, artists will be offering free Chinese calligraphy. A reception will be held from 6-7 pm with artists, music by Paul Boruff, and light refreshments. Art will remain in the Millcreek library through the entire month of September. The Salt Lake Eastern Art Club, a non-profit cultural and art community, presents this Mid-Autumn Chinese Art Show at the Millcreek Library to share traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting artworks and celebrate prosperous lives and families in Utah, as well as express our good wishes to all Utahns and communities. Traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting are both fine arts and folk arts. Students in China learn these art forms at young ages; some of them practice it continuously into their adult lives; many seniors enjoy writing calligraphy and/or Chinese painting as their daily healthy activities. The authors for this exhibit are diverse. There are few professional artists, many amature artists, and students as well. Their ages range from 8 years to 90 years old. The contents of Chinese calligraphy include a single character of “True”, “Kind” and “Beauty” and ancient poems, such as “Thinking of Hometown at the Mid-Autumn Night.” ---PAGE BREAK--- Chinese painting artists use their brushes, ink and colors to depict lovely animals, beautiful flowers and plants, and harmonious scenarios. We wish that our artworks can offer peaceful, beautiful and meaningful presentations to reviewers and visitors. Thank you for your appreciation, enjoyment and support. For more information on the Salt Lake Eastern Art Club, please visit: easternartsl.org or email to First Utah Bank and IRC Volunteers Improve Community Garden to Help Refugees The International Rescue Committee had been rebuilding and improving its Canyon Rim Garden. The IRC operates the Garden for refugees who are given garden plots that the IRC waters. Rocks were removed from the site, twenty-six large garden boxes were constructed and filled with topsoil and compost, and weed stop was placed between the boxes and on paths. The project was made possible by a generous donation by First Utah Bank located in Millcreek on 23rd East. First Utah Bank funded a substantial portion of the cost of the project, but just as important, they provided employee volunteers at six work events this summer. Pictured below are some of the First Utah Bank employees in the IRC Garden. ---PAGE BREAK--- Meetings with the Mayor Fridays from 2-4pm have been set aside for citizens to meet with Mayor Silvestrini. Please call [PHONE REDACTED] to schedule a slot. ---PAGE BREAK--- VISIT us at Click here to subscribe to this weekly newsletter Copyright © 2022 Millcreek, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Click here to subscribe to this weekly newsletter Forward Share Tweet