Central to the two-hour debate was whether to keep the public hearing ongoing as the council prepares to vote on a proposed geological hazards ordinance.

Developers wanted it left open. They said the city should have involved them much earlier in the process, rather than only listen to a handful of geo-technical experts and engineers on an issue that would have massive implications for building in the city of 36,000 at Salt Lake Valley's southeast end.

"It's offensive to assume that we don't care about the value of safe housing, and that's been implied by our exclusion in the process," said Dave Millheim, a partner with Development Associates. "We're going to be asked to comply with something we had no stake in and have to live with it for a long time."

Councilwoman Stephanie Davis disagreed and said it's not the city's process to allow developers to write city ordinances. She said the development community could comment in the public hearings, just like residents, and added that she was "perplexed" by some developers' opposition to the rule.

"If you don't want to spend money for studies, or go through the appropriate processes, then stop building on geo hazards," she told developers. "If you really do care, you won't mind the accountability."

Councilman Bill Colbert said there are people trying to delay the ordinance in hopes the incoming council members will soften it. He wanted to shut down the public hearing and direct the city staff to prepare an action-ready document in time for the council's Dec. 11 meeting.

But Councilmen Pete Larkin and Jeff Stenquist wanted to leave the public hearing open and not push the ordinance through. They got their way.

Larkin chided the previous council for rushing an initial geologic ordinance in December 2003, just days before he was sworn in. He said the council seemed more interested in getting the measure "ramrodded through" than listening to the public.

"For us to say, 'It's close enough, let's go,' that's a mistake," Larkin said. "Contrary to other council members, when the public makes comments, I listen. There's no reason to close public comments other than to shut them up."

David Simon - a geo-technical consultant who works with commercial and residential developers - said his firm would have "no issues" abiding by Draper's proposed ordinance.

"I don't understand what the whole hoo-ha is over this," he said.

sgehrke@sltrib.com

One man's battle

Draper Councilwoman Stephanie Davis pointed out that a home is the single largest investment most consumers will ever make, and she hopes a geologic-hazards ordinance will empower buyers to make better decisions.

One such buyer, Ed Lind, told the City Council earlier this week that he wished the ordinance would have been in place when he bought a SunCrest lot four years ago. That was when the site for the home of his dreams quickly spiraled into a nightmare. Lind had to fork over thousands of dollars for geo-technical digs, which he'd assumed SunCrest had already taken care of.

Lind pleaded with the council to pass the hillside ordinance so residents would know about risks with geological testing, and so they could afford to build homes on the lots they buy.