JT Martin and Luke Garrott took their places on the Salt Lake City Council dais for the first time Tuesday night, joining their new council colleagues in tackling a mostly uneventful city agenda of housekeeping issues and procedural briefings.

New Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker also was in attendance to observe the proceedings.

"I would like to say to both the mayor and the new council members, we welcome you and are delighted to have you engaged in public service," Councilman Soren Simonsen said. "Thank you for taking on this challenge."

The first vote of the new council was to unanimously elect Jill Remington Love as chairwoman of the City Council for 2008, with Carlton Christensen serving as vice chairman.

Love, who served as vice chairwoman in 2007, takes over duties of conducting City Council meetings and setting the council agenda from Van Turner. Love previously served as council chairwoman in 2004 and vice chairwoman in 2003. She is serving her second term as the District 5 council representative.

Christensen, now in his third term representing District 1, previously served as council chairman in 2000 and 2003, and vice chairman in 1998 and 2002.

During a work session Tuesday afternoon, council members received a briefing on upcoming city issues, as well as the state's open meetings laws.