Is Salt Lake dragging feet on payday lenders?

Opponents of payday lenders say it's time for Salt Lake City leaders to quit dragging their feet and pass an ordinance to slow the growth of the industry.

Linda Hilton, director of the Coalition of Religious Communities, has been trying for the past 3 1/2 years to get Utah's capital city to limit the number of payday lenders and their practices that she says are predatory against low-income people, seniors and minorities.

"It's so frustrating," Hilton said. "Why can't Salt Lake City (leaders) get their act together and pass an ordinance?"

Ten cities in Salt Lake County have density or zoning restrictions on payday lenders. The companies offer small cash advances — usually between $100 and $500 — with no credit checks. The loans carry high annual interest rates that in Utah average 521 percent, about $20 on the biweekly payments on a $100 loan. At least 22 such payday lenders operate in Salt Lake City.

"It's a debt trap," Hilton said.

Discussion about putting limits on payday lenders resulted in the City Council's March 2007 request to the city's legal and planning staffs to draft an ordinance and bring it forward for consideration.

That still hasn't happened, spurring Hilton and other payday loan critics to revive the issue during the public-comment portions of recent City Council meetings.

The council has responded to those dozen or so comments from residents and advocates by reiterating its commitment to the issue and requesting from planning staff an update on the ordinance.

"Hopefully this is going to be something we can address fairly quickly," said Jill Remington Love, council chairwoman. "There are so many cities in the county that have already done it. The model and template is out there for us."

Mayor Ralph Becker said he's "as anxious as anyone" to address payday lending, though he's more focused on finding an effective solution than a quick one.

"On the surface, everyone would agree we don't like the concept of payday lenders who take advantage unduly of people who are vulnerable in our community," Becker said. "What we do about it that's effective and responsive is not always as easy as identifying the problem."

Hilton wonders why Salt Lake City doesn't at least follow Salt Lake County's lead and pass a moratorium banning new payday lenders from opening until an ordinance can be put in place.

The county moratorium has ended, but an ordinance is expected within the next two months.

"Salt Lake County is dragging its feet on the ordinance, but at least it had a moratorium in place," she said. "But Salt Lake City, we can't get them to do anything."