Brown accused Council Chairman Jesse Garcia, Vice Chairwoman Amy Wicks and council member Dorrene Jeske of leaking confidential city business to news reporters. Among his accusations in a rambling tirade were that Garcia had privately disparaged Jeske's intellect and memory.

Brown also said Garcia had "illegally" offered him a top job in the city in exchange for Brown's support for Garcia in a possible mayoral bid.

Garcia later rejected Brown's allegations and said he did not know where Brown "came up with" the job-offer claim.

Mayor Matthew Godfrey and Brown's boss, Dave Harmer, director of community development, said they were surprised Brown took the microphone in the public comment section of the council meeting. Neither knew it was coming.

Godfrey, however, echoed Brown's comments in defense of Harmer, calling him one of the most honorable people he has met.

Harmer said he plans to tell Brown the tirade was inappropriate.

The focus of Brown's comments, some of which were unintelligible because he spoke closely to the microphone, was a City Council news release he considered an insult to Harmer.

The release announced plans for the council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency Board, to revise procedures for selling property, a move that took the shape of a resolution passed unanimously Tuesday night.

The changes were prompted by an incident in which some council members believe Harmer rebuffed their attempt to learn the identity of a property buyer.

Council members were surprised to learn in January that during the previous month they had approved the sale of options on three downtown parcels to a company that turned out to be owned by Chris Peterson, a Sandy entrepreneur who wants to develop the city's east bench.

The parcels are on Wall Avenue, next to the parking lot being built for FrontRunner commuter rail and a block away from the terminus of a proposed urban gondola. The total price for the parcels: $270,000. The sale is expected to close this spring.

The gondola would extend to Peterson's hillside development and link up with a mountain gondola to a resort he plans in Malan's Basin. Godfrey is actively advocating Peterson's project and an urban gondola.

Harmer said Tuesday that in hindsight, he should have disclosed Peterson's connection to Bootjack LLC, the property buyer, when asked by council members in December.

The resolution passed Tuesday requires the administration to tell the council the names of all principals involved in companies or partnerships buying city property and also the intended use of the property.

In the future, board members said, they want to explore better ways for the city to advertise properties so more potential buyers are aware of what's for sale.

kmoulton@sltrib.com