Mendenhall claims victory on 52 of 60 goals in 2023 ahead of Tuesday’s State of the City address

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Ahead of her fifth State of the City address, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall released the city’s 2023 report, which details the city’s progress toward goals set last year.

The 2024 State of the City address is scheduled to take place in the Eccles Theater Grand Lobby at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30. The address is set to be livestreamed via Facebook and YouTube and will also be streamed live on ABC4.com.

According to the mayor’s office, city officials were able to accomplish 52 of the 60 goals that were laid out for 2023.

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“The 2023 report provides valuable insight into some of the City’s incredible achievements and the momentum that continues to uplift our communities and environment,” Mendenhall said.

“Communities” and “environment” are stated as two of the four core pillars of Mendenhall’s administration, with the other pillars being “growth” and “city family.” The goals listed in the annual reports all tie into those four core pillars.

According to the 2023 report, all the objectives set in the “growth” and “city family” categories have been achieved.

Some notable goals that Mendenhall said were accomplished include the adoption of a five-year plan to address housing affordability, called Housing SLC; the launch of a “temporary microshelter community” to help fight housing insecurity and homelessness; and the adoption of a plan to address displacement and gentrification, called Thriving in Place.

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Some environment-related goals that the mayor said are still in progress include updating and adopting a new Drought and Water Shortage Contingency Plan; finalizing the application of the Community Renewable Energy Program, as well as supporting its passage through the Public Services Commission; and completing evaluation of the Foothills Trails Master Plan.

Other goals that are reported as ‘in progress’ are community goals, including the implementation of a Commission on Racial Equity in Policing training on the history of policing and diversity, equity and inclusion; streamlining the permitting of special events; and eliminating City Code barriers to siting childcare centers.

“Accountability and transparency are central to the priorities of my administration and the thoughtful work carried out by the City’s teams of dedicated public servants,” Mendenhall said.

The goals for 2024 have not yet been posted, with the city’s website noting they were “coming soon.”

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