Public-safety need still there, Burbank says

Proposition 1 may have failed, but Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank says that doesn't diminish the need for a new emergency operations center and new fire stations.

"Not a lot has changed," he said Wednesday. "The need has not gone away. It may have even been amplified a little by the vote."

Voters Tuesday rejected the controversial $192 million bond, which would have bought five new public safety structures at three locations, including replacing the department's crumbling 50-year-old headquarters on the corner of 200 South and 300 East. The bond was narrowly rejected, 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent.

Opponents called it the ultimate Christmas wish list. Burbank said he knew the price tag would be a hurdle, but he couldn't point Wednesday to one specific reason why the bond failed. Some believe there even may have been confusion among voters between Proposition 1, the public-safety bond, and Referendum 1, the school voucher issue.

The bond also had several high-profile opponents, including Salt Lake County councilmen Joe Hatch, Jim Bradley and Randy Horiuchi. On Saturday, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson announced he, too, thought the price tag was too much.

"Did (the mayor's opposition) have an impact? No question about it," Burbank said.

The chief noted that, prior to Anderson's comments, a Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll showed 57 percent of voters in favor of the bond. But again, Burbank can't say whether the mayor's comments alone were the deciding factor.

Burbank on Wednesday praised those who worked hard pushing for Proposition 1, saying it wasn't defeated because of a lack of effort from supporters.

Looking to what happens next, Burbank said he already has been in contact with Mayor-elect Ralph Becker, and the two plan to work on a solution to the public safety facilities problem.

"We said, 'This is what the needs are. How are we going to do it?"' Burbank said.

The first step may be to form an advisory committee consisting of representatives from the public, businesses and political offices. Burbank said an ordinance drafting such a committee should be on the next agenda of the Salt Lake City Council. The goal is to get everyone in the city involved, he said.

"This is not just a downtown project," Burbank said.