Council agrees in straw poll to release $3 million for Green Loop planning, civic campus design and public‑space guidelines

Salt Lake City administration asked the City Council to release $3 million in fiscal‑year 2024–25 capital improvement project (CIP) funds to advance Green Loop work, and council members indicated unanimous support by straw poll.

Blake Thomas, the mayor’s senior advisor for real estate and capital projects, and Public Lands staff said the $3 million request would be allocated roughly as: 10% for citywide public‑space management guidelines applicable to Green Loop project development; 50% for conceptual planning and construction documents for the Civic Campus (Washington Square, Library Square and the 200 East right‑of‑way); 20% for concept design work on 500 West from North Temple to 900 South; and 20% contingency.

Nancy Monteith, senior landscape architect in Public Lands, described the Civic Campus work as complementary to prior Library Square visioning and Washington Square safety enhancements. Thomas said the administration will coordinate Green Loop planning with Transportation, Engineering, Public Utilities and the Community Reinvestment Agency. He noted the project supports Vision Zero safety goals, road reconstruction of poorly rated streets and stormwater/green‑infrastructure objectives.

Council members asked for clarity on how the recently released Public Safety Plan would influence Green Loop design and for stronger linkage to park security and camera strategies. Administration staff said the requested funds will be used to produce the public‑space management and safety guidance the council asked for and to create the 30% concept designs for Civic Campus and 500 West so future reconstruction and private development align with public‑realm goals.

A council member noted reservations about advancing the 500 West concept design without committed financing for construction; others said producing 30% design documents now would reduce future rework by private developers and public projects. The chair proposed a straw poll to release the funding so the administration can begin the work; the poll passed unanimously.

Ending: The straw poll clears the way for design and management guidelines work; the administration also submitted an updated attachment listing public lands projects to the council.