Hi District Five,

With Fall here, remember that Salt Lake City and much of our state is still experiencing a drought. The average household loses as much as 13% of their water use to leaks amounting to 17.8 gallons per day. Please visit epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week for helpful tips to prevent leaks in your home plumbing system.

For more information about the ongoing drought and additional helpful tips to reduce your water use, please visit slc.gov/mayor/drought.

Best,

What is the Council Doing?

Local Emergency Declaration Extension

In September, the Council voted on a resolution extending the Mayor’s August 20 proclamation that declared a local emergency related to COVID-19, rising cases, and resurgence of the Delta variant. The proclamation authorizes relevant emergency orders, like the one for masks in Salt Lake City School District K-12 schools.

The Council's discussion included the length of the extension and how to determine when to end the extension by using metrics or some other measures while consulting with health officials, such as County and State health officials. The Council concluded that a 30-day extension made sense as a starting point and approved the resolution with a vote of 6-1. The Council can rescind this extension prior to the 30-day mark if data warrants. Watch the meeting video.

Racial Equity Update

Recently, the Council received an informational update on the City's equity plan. The City has asked Keen Independent Research Team to develop an Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Plan to guide the City as it begins to deepen its efforts to support a more inclusive community. As part of this process, Keen will host stakeholder focus groups and virtual workshops to get feedback.
Learn more.

Upcoming 2021 General Election

Election Day is almost here! Ballots for the Tuesday, November 2 General Election will be mailed out the second week of October. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 1. You can also drop your ballot in a ballot drop box or vote in person on Election Day.

You may notice, the ballots look different from years past. This is due to the City's participation in the Ranked Choice Voting pilot program. Learn more about Ranked Choice Voting and other election information on the City Recorder's website.

Not registered to vote? There is still time! The online voter registration deadline for this election is 5 p.m. on Friday, October 22. Register online. Voter registration is available in-person at the county clerk's office, early voting locations, and Election Day polling places. Learn how to register to vote.

Social Service Worker and Licensed Substance Use Disorder Counselor Opportunities 

Salt Lake City is looking for Social Service Workers/Licensed Substance Use Disorder Counselors to provide immediate crisis intervention and case management services to assist residents and/or their families. Learn more and apply here. 

Utah Rent Relief

Are you struggling to pay rent? You may qualify for help through the Emergency Rental Assistance program. This program helps renters who are unable to pay their rent and utilities due to circumstances related to COVID-19. Visit RentRelief.utah.gov for more information.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Join Salt Lake City in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. Local Hispanic and Latino Leaders collaborated with Salt Lake City to recognize and honor the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Read more.

UTA Reduced Fare FAREPAY Card

UTA's Reduced Fare FAREPAY Card now offers a 50% discount off public transit fare to low-income individuals, seniors, youth, and persons with disabilities. Find out if you qualify and apply on UTA's website. If you are a City resident and do not qualify for UTA's program, you can take advantage of monthly discounted fares with the City's Hive Pass. Learn how.

Liberty Wells Alleyway Project

The City's first Alleyway Pilot Program project is underway in the Liberty Wells neighborhood! The City recently began work on the Liberty Wells alleyway which runs west of 300 East between Browning and Kensington avenues. Through the program, the City will clear vegetation and rejuvenate the pavement of alleyways, while the community will help maintain improvements, install and maintain art, and tend to flowerbeds. Watch the program kick-off announcement.

Housing Stability Department Survey

Salt Lake City’s Housing Stability Department needs your feedback to best determine how federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) should be spent. Answer a quick survey and share your thoughts!

SLC Resident Food Equity Advisors (RFEA) Pilot Program

In 2020, the City's Sustainability Department launched the RFEA pilot program to shed light on food insecurity and equity issues in the City. Over the past year, 13 residents from diverse backgrounds gathered monthly to analyze these issues and identify solutions.

Read their findings and learn more about the program.

Fall Composting

Fall is upon us and with its beautiful sunsets and palette of colors in an ocean of leaves. Don’t let all that organic matter go to waste! The waste is processed at Salt Lake City’s compost facility and turned into wood chips, mulch, and compost, which is then available for purchase at the Salt Lake Valley Landfill. Learn more. 

Need extra brown yard waste cans? Request up to two extra cans for temporary placement by filling out this form or calling 801-535-6999. Learn more.

Halloween Safety Tips

Whether you choose to celebrate Halloween out and about or from the comfort of your home this year, please ensure that you and those around you stay safe and healthy. Learn how to celebrate safely with tips from the National Safety Council (NSC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).