The council refused to fund a similar position last spring. Now the price tag has grown - $83,000 instead of $60,000 - and the position would last three years instead of one. The employee also would work on retaining business throughout the city.

Council members were skeptical Tuesday night. They won't vote until later this month.

The new employee would coordinate the city's role in approving construction plans, as well as create a public relations plan to keep the public informed about construction.

"Is the city so difficult to work with we need to hire an ombudsman?" asked Councilman Dave Buhler.

No, said Alison McFarlane, Anderson's senior adviser on economic development. But, "we need a point person in the city."

The Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance plan to hire someone to address construction concerns for the business community. Both groups urged the council to approve Anderson's plan.

The upcoming construction projects include the overhaul of the malls on Main Street, the renovation of Triad Center into a college campus, the construction of a new federal courthouse and the extension of TRAX from the Delta Center to the city's new transit hub.

McFarlane says construction on the malls could start this fall, though the LDS Church, which owns Crossroads Plaza and ZCMI Center malls, has not announced a construction timeline.

- Heather May