Utah Record
Salt Lake City
EC

Erika Carlsen

District 5 Council Member2026-2030

About

Erika Carlsen's platform centers on addressing critical urban issues, with a primary focus on increasing affordable housing options within Salt Lake City. She also prioritizes enhancing community engagement, aiming to foster greater public participation and transparency in local governance.

Campaign promises (2)

  • governance
    Erika Carlsen pledged to work on community engagement.
    Related votes
  • housing
    Erika Carlsen pledged to work on affordable housing.
    Related votes

At a glance

News mentions
2

Term ending Dec 31, 2030.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
51
Total speaking time
3:35:54
Avg per meeting
4:14
Segments
3141

Want every word Carlsen has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Carlsen said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Voice summary

District 5 Council Member Erika Carlsen on the recordAI-generated · 20 meetings

Council Member Erika Carlsen has consistently focused on fiscal accountability, long-term infrastructure sustainability, and equitable urban development throughout her term. She has frequently questioned the necessity of additional public funding for commercial projects while advocating for expanded wealth-building programs, mixed-income housing, and support for local businesses. Her legislative engagement is marked by a commitment to constitutional principles and civic participation, as evidenced by her opposition to the criminalization of poverty and her proactive efforts to facilitate community working groups. Additionally, Carlsen has pushed for data-driven municipal processes and rigorous budget oversight to ensure the city maintains its fiscal health while meeting the needs of her constituents.

Top issues during term (20)

high↑Apr 2026[32]

Proposed Crude Oil Pipeline Expansion Concerns

Potential environmental cleanup and watershed contamination risks.

critical→May 2026[29]

Police Grant Funding and Surveillance

Federal and state grant funding supporting police personnel, social worker expansion, and traffic safety equipment.

critical↑Sep 2026[24]

Poplar Grove Flood Recovery and Infrastructure Accountability

Impacts include thousands of dollars in uninsured property losses and emergency displacement costs for affected homeowners and renters.

medium→Mar 2026[20]

sports franchise bid

A new team could mean a big boost to the local economy, with jobs and tax revenue from stadiums and tourism.

high↑Oct 2026[20]

Westline Connect Pipeline Proposal

Financial impacts to the city are currently undetermined pending route finalization and engineering reviews.

high↓Jan 2026[18]

Emergency Response Programs

The programs aim to improve efficiency and reduce costs by deploying appropriate, less expensive resources for non-emergency or low-acuity calls.

medium→Apr 2026[16]

police incident

Potential future financial impacts could include investigation costs

high↑Oct 2026[15]

Ballpark Area Zoning and Development Standards

Property value and development potential will shift as parcels transition to mixed-use zoning categories.

critical↑Sep 2026[15]

Airport Wetland Mitigation Property Disposition

Involves a $500,000 appraised value waiver for the conservation easement offsetting the land transaction price.

high↓Jun 2026[14]

Hive Pass Program

Subsidies and administrative costs associated with municipal transit pass programs.

high↑May 2026[14]

Ellerbeck Mansion Zoning and Land Use Amendment

Undetermined contributions to the city's housing fund to mitigate the loss of a residential unit.

critical↓Aug 2026[12]

Non-Residential Maximum Daily Water Use Limits

Helps preserve municipal water resources and infrastructure capacity.

high↓Jun 2026[12]

Short-Term Rental Regulation

Not specified.

high↓Mar 2026[12]

ICE detention center proposal

It's unclear yet how much this will cost taxpayers or if it'll bring any jobs, but residents are worried about the strain on city services.

high↑Mar 2026[11]

Cybersecurity Liability Insurance

Potential adjustments to city risk management coverage levels and administrative review thresholds.

Moved or seconded (30)

Motions Carlsen personally put forward or seconded. Attribution comes from the minutes; where the minutes name somebody we cannot match to the roster we leave it out rather than guess, so this is a floor, not a total.

  • movedpassed 7-02026-08-18

    Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Young to adopt Ordinance 28 of 2026, adopting an ordinance setting the final rate of tax levy, including the final levy fo…

  • secondedpassed 7-02026-08-18

    Moved by Council Member Carlsen, seconded by Council Member Petro to adopt Ordinance 29 of 2026, approving an ordinance amending the Salt Lake City Consolidated Fee Schedule for Fi…

  • secondedpassed 7-02026-08-18

    continue the public hearing to a future Council Meeting.

  • movedpassed 7-02026-08-18

    close the public hearing and adopt Resolution 2 of 2026, honorarily renaming the City-owned portion of 500 South between State Street and 700 East “Dolores Huerta Boulevard.”

  • movedpassed 7-02026-08-18

    adopt Ordinance 13 of 2026, amending the text of Title 11 of the Salt Lake City Code pertaining to nuisance private property.

  • secondedpassed 5-02026-08-18

    Ordinance Zoning Map Amendment at Approximately 256 East 300 South The Council will set the date of Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 7 p.m. to accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance that would amend the zoning of the property at approximately 256 East 300 South from R-MU (Residential/Mixe

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • secondedpassed 6-02026-08-18

    Resolution: Intention to Designate the Sugar House Special Assessment Area The Council will accept public comment on a Resolution of Intention to designate the Sugar House Business District 2027 (SHBD-27), establishing a Special Assessment Area

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • secondedpassed 7-02026-08-18

    Moved by Board Member Young, seconded by Board Member Petro to approve LBA Resolution 2 of 2026, adopting the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 of the Capital Projects Fund of t…

  • secondedpassed 7-02026-08-18

    Resolution: Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with the Salt Lake City Library Related to Tax Increment ~ 3:10 p.m

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 7-02026-08-18

    Resolution: Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with the Salt Lake City Library Related to Tax Increment ~ 3:10 p.m

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Ordinance: Appropriating Necessary Funds to Implement Provisions of the MOU between Salt Lake City and the International Association of Firefighters for Fiscal Year 2026-27 The Council will accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • secondedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Moved by Board Member Wharton, seconded by Board Member Carlsen to adjourn as the Local Building Authority and reconvene as the Community Reinvestment Agency.

  • movedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Ordinance: Text Amendment for Short-Term Rental Business Licenses The Council will accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance that would enact Chapter 5.13 of the Salt Lake City Code pertaining to short-term rental business licenses

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Moved by Council Member Carlsen, seconded by Council Member Petro to adopt Ordinance 40 of 2026, approving an ordinance that would amend various sections of Title 17 of the Salt La…

  • movedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Ordinance: SLC Green Vehicle Program Text Amendment The Council will accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance that would amend section 12.56 of the Salt Lake City Code related to the SLC Green Vehicle Program. The proposal would repeal the SLC Green Vehicle Program as it was found to

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • secondedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Moved by Council Member Napier-Pearce, seconded by Council Member Carlsen to adopt $48,079,733 to be transferred into CIP, including approving $13,355,765 in funding as shown on th…

  • movedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Ordinance: Appropriating Necessary Funds to Implement Provisions of the MOU between Salt Lake City and the Salt Lake City Police Association for Fiscal Year 2026-27 The Council will accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Ordinance: Compensation Plan for All Non-Represented Employees of Salt Lake City for Fiscal Year 2026-27 The Council will accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance approving a compensation plan for all non-represented employees of Salt Lake City

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Ordinance: Appropriating Necessary Funds and Approving the Ratified MOU between Salt Lake City and AFSCME for Fiscal Year 2026-27 The Council will accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance appropriating necessary funds to implement, for Fiscal Year 2026-27, the provisions of

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 7-02026-07-21

    Ordinance: Compensation for Elected and Statutory Officers and Executive Municipal Officers for Fiscal Year 2026-27 The Council will accept public comment and consider adopting an ordinance approving the compensation adjustment for elected and statutory officers and executive municipal

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

Decisions during term (346)

Recorded while Carlsen was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

Voting record (407)

402 yes3 no2 abstained

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Commercial Development Loan Program Funding Allocations

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Motion to Enter Closed Meeting

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Adjourn to Closed Session

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Moved by Council Member Wharton, seconded by Council Member Petro to enter into Closed Meeting for the purposes of strategy sessions to discuss the purchase, exchange, or lease of real property and fo

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Moved by Council Member Wharton, seconded by Council Member Dugan to exit the Closed Meeting.

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Enter into Closed Meeting

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Exit Closed Meeting

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Young to close the public hearing and refer Items B-1 and B-2 to a future Consent Agenda for action.

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Wharton, seconded by Council Member Napier-Pearce to approve the appointment of Nick Stiles to the Salt Lake City Justice Court.

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Young, seconded by Council Member Wharton to adopt Resolution 19 of 2026, authorizing the execution of a local authorization for a proximity to a community location for Silvers

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Carlsen, seconded by Council Member Dugan to adopt Ordinance 51 of 2026, Zoning Map and General Plan Amendment – Wells on 5.

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Carlsen to close the public hearing and confirm the additional public hearing scheduled for October 6, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Petro to approve Items 1-4 of the Consent Agenda, excluding Item 5.

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Wharton to approve the work session meeting minutes of August 25, 2026.

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Petro, seconded by Council Member Dugan to close the public hearing and defer action to a future Council meeting.

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Napier-Pearce, seconded by Council Member Young to close the public hearing and refer the item to a future date for action.

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Moved by Council Member Young, seconded by Council Member Petro to adopt Ordinance 50 of 2026, Alley Vacation Near 2553 South Chadwick Street.

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Approval of August 25, 2026 Work Session Minutes

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Close Public Hearings and Refer Items B-1 and B-2 to Future Consent Agenda

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Close Public Hearing and Defer Action on Zoning Map Amendment (2025/2075 West 2670 North)

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Close Public Hearing and Refer Budget Amendment No. 1

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Close Public Hearing and Confirm Hearing Date for Public Utilities Impact Fees

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Adoption of Resolution 19 of 2026: Waiver of Proximity for Silverside Deli

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance 50 of 2026: Alley Vacation Near 2553 South Chadwick Street

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance 51 of 2026: Zoning Map and General Plan Amendment at 1990 and 2002 South 500 East

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Approval of Appointment: Salt Lake City Justice Court – Nick Stiles

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Approval of Consent Agenda Items 1 through 4

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

adopt Joint Resolution 9 of 2026, recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Month in Salt Lake City.

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Moved by Council Member Young, seconded by Council Member Puy to continue the public hearing and refer the item for a future date for action.

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

approve the Consent Agenda

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Moved by Council Member Young, seconded by Council Member Carlsen to close the public hearing and defer action to a future Council Meeting.

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

approve the work session meeting minutes of July 14, 2026, as well as the formal meeting minutes of July 21, 2026.

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Moved by Council Member Young, seconded by Council Member Carlsen to adopt Ordinance 49 of 2026 amending the Title 2 Administrative Organization for Public Services.

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Moved by Council Member Petro, seconded by Council Member Napier-Pearce to adopt Ordinance 48 of 2026 – Text Amendment – Maximum Daily Water Use, and adopt a legislative action requesting the Administ

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

adopt Joint Resolution 10 of 2026, declaring the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day in Salt Lake City.

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Moved by Council Member Young, seconded by Council Member Petro to close the public hearing and refer items B-1 through B-3 to a future Consent Agenda for action.

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Moved by Council Member Petro, seconded by Council Member Napier-Pearce to adopt Resolution 18 of 2026, Fee Waiver – Non-profit Affordable Housing Developer

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Wharton to approve the Consent agenda.

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Petro to adopt Resolution 17 of 2026, extending the time period for satisfying the conditions set forth in Ordinance 56 of 2025 by one year, t

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Moved by Council Member Petro, seconded by Council Member Wharton to exit the Closed Meeting.

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Moved by Council Member Wharton, seconded by Council Member Petro to recess from Work Session, go into a limited formal meeting, and then into Closed Meeting for the purposes of for attorney-client ma

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Motion to Recess Work Session, Enter Limited Formal Meeting, and Convene Closed Session

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Moved by Council Member Dugan, seconded by Council Member Petro to close the public hearing and adopt Ordinance 44 of 2026, approving the final rate of tax levy for all City funds, including the Libra

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Moved by Council Member Wharton, seconded by Council Member Dugan to close the public hearing and adopt Ordinance 45 of 2026, approving the final budget for Salt Lake City for Fiscal Year 2026-27, inc

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Moved by Council Member Wharton, seconded by Council Member Petro to approve the Consent Agenda.

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Moved by Council Member Wharton, seconded by Council Member Petro to approve the Truth-In-Taxation meeting minutes of August 11, 2026.

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Moved by Council Member Young, seconded by Council Member Petro to approve Resolution 16 of 2026, adopting the Capital Improvement Program project-specific allocations for Fiscal Year 2027 as shown on

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Moved by Council Member Young, seconded by Council Member Carlsen to approve Ordinance 47 of 2026, adopting a Capital Asset Plan for the Salt Lake City General Fund.

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Approval of Truth-In-Taxation Meeting Minutes

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Ordinance: Six-Year Capital Asset Plan

In the news (2)