Salt Lake City's Department of Public Lands asked the council Nov. 25 for direction on a second tranche of the 2022 parks, trails and open space general obligation bond and presented three funding scenarios that trade off breadth of projects against near-term property-tax impact.

The mayor urged the council to support a second tranche to keep projects construction-ready and to sustain voter confidence after the 2022 ballot measure won with 71% approval. Department staff said scenario 1 funds primarily Glendale Phase 2 construction and contingency; scenario 2 funds more projects but omits Fairmont Park construction and the Fleet Block open space build-out; scenario 3 is the most comprehensive and would leave only about $11 million for a later tranche.

Staff emphasized that delaying a tranche can pause procurement and construction, increase project costs (construction inflation of roughly 45% per year), jeopardize donor contingencies (for example, a $4.2M University of Utah gift contingent on Sunny Side construction timing) and strain continuity on contracts and staff funded from bond proceeds. Scenario 3 carries a projected median residential property-tax impact of about $2728 per year for the median-valued home, roughly half the maximum tax impact described on the 2022 ballot.

Council members debated trade-offs between maintaining momentum and fiscal caution given economic uncertainty; several members cited concerns about communication and delivery credibility after earlier delays, and requested more rigorous shovel-readiness reporting and improved public updates. After discussion, a councilmember moved a straw poll in favor of Scenario 3 (release tranche amount $52,330,400) with explicit caveats that staff provide: (1) regular updates on any changes of scope or timeline, (2) verification of shovel-readiness steps, (3) a communication plan for residents and stakeholders, and (4) identification of any savings from rescoped phase 1 projects. The straw poll passed 61 in favor.

Staff will prepare transmittal and legislative intent language for a December administrative package and work with finance to time an April/May issuance if the council confirms direction.