Mayor Ralph Becker is touting his controversial police headquarters proposal as the first real test of his goal for transparency in government.
On Thursday, in response to swelling criticism against a cop shop at Library Square, the Salt Lake City mayor penned a letter to the City Council stating that open government can be "messy" and requires officials and residents to take a "leap of faith."
"For the public, they must be more patient when they are consulted early in a project, as in the case of the public safety complex, because, as might be expected ... all of the potential issues have not yet been fully explored and the final decision has not been made."
Becker said he remains committed to an open process to determine the best location for a five-story police headquarters and a three-story emergency-operations center along the 300 East corridor. Public meetings regarding the plan are set for Saturday and Monday.
The mayor also released a "briefing paper" that outlined 10 sites the administration initially considered. They range from the Chamber of Commerce parking lot and Ken Garff dealership bordering City Hall to Earl Holding's parking lot west of the state courthouse and the Youth City building by Fairmont Park in Sugar House.
Becker notes the sensitive nature of the real estate negotiations prevented public disclosure of the options, which narrowed to the 300 East corridor after an engineering and architecture firm's recommendation.
However, Councilman Eric Jergensen said support on the council for a cop shop on Library Square -- Becker's "preferred" option -- is fading fast. "We're moving away from that," he said. "There are other locations that work just as efficiently. I hope [Becker's team] will be open to all of the locations and perhaps look at others during this public input process."
Becker, who could make his recommendation as soon as June 3, said Saturday's session at the Main Library is a design workshop that will focus on the 300 East sites. But on Monday "everything is on the table" during a 7 p.m. meeting at the west-side Pioneer Precinct.
Even so, Councilman Luke Garrott has his doubts, saying "many in the public perceive that most of the process is done already."
"This is not the right way," Garrott added, "to build political will among the electorate."
