Becker closes book on Library Square plan

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker on Wednesday backed off a proposal to build a $125 million public-safety complex on the downtown library block.

"What I've heard loud and clear this past month is that this is of such value to the community that we should not be touching Library Square," Becker said.

Last month, the mayor presented a pair of options — both east of the library, on either side of 300 East — for the site of a five-story police and fire headquarters and a three-story emergency-operations center.

But intense public opposition pushed Becker off Library Square, he said.

"The response was overwhelming," said Deeda Seed, a former Salt Lake City councilwoman and one of the most vocal opponents of building on the library block. "We can move on now and find a good location" for the complex.

The east side of the street remains an option, Becker said, and city leaders will continue pursuing property there. But after evaluating some 400 comments from residents, officials are revisiting a number of other site options, including the Chamber of Commerce block just north of Washington Square.

As the city looks at alternate locations, Becker said he wants to involve the public more in a process some felt had happened too quickly and behind closed doors.

The City Council will hold a public hearing June 16 on the building's location.

"We've got a lot more discussion to go," said Councilman JT Martin. "Every citizen needs to have their fingerprint on this decision."

The city has been evaluating sites for the public-safety complex since a $192 million bond measure was narrowly defeated in 2007. And officials considered renewing the bond issue last year, Becker said.

"We desperately need to have a new public-safety building," he said.

The current building on 200 South has been described as dilapidated. Water leaks through the ceiling of the evidence room, sewage has spilled into the basement, and officers often get stuck inside the building's elevators.

Even as he slowed the decision-making process Wednesday, Becker said there is enough time to settle on a site and place the bond issue on the November ballot.

During a pair of public workshops, some people voiced concerns that Becker had jeopardized the bond by involving Library Square in the matter.

Becker, however, said the initial outcry was "part of the planning process."

He shrugged off suggestions that the process had shaken the public's trust in him.

"It's his job to put forth proposals," Seed said. "It's also his job to make course corrections as necessary. He did that. He did it in a timely fashion. He heard us."

E-mail: afalk@desnews.com