HDC_05 12 20082
V. Other Matters
a Enforcement items:
424 E 6th Street: scaffolding has been up for some time with no approvals or
COA approved. The stop work order was issued.
b 1301 Scott Street: Tahbi Kahler has taken the roof off and the COC has been
mailed to him.
c 1400 Cumberland Street – Arc Arkansas Mr. Minyard is working with them to
clean up the site and he met with them on site.
d 301 E 7th Street – Tuck-pointing of the brick on site. A stop work order was
requested to be issued. It was established that it was John Bush’s house.
e 500 E 6th St. St Clair apartments. Peggy Ferrara is working to turn them into
condominiums. She talked with Brian on adding a fence and Mr. Minyard issues
a COC for some of the exterior work. Staff is keeping a close eye on this project.
f Chairman Peters mentioned that the commission wanted to know when a COC
was issued. Ms. Gieringer asked to clarify when the commission wanted to see
them – at the meetings or emailed when they happened. Ms. Weldon wanted to
make sure that this notification did not prompt a discussion between the
Commissioners. Chairman Peters stated just to notify the commission that a
COC had been issued.
g Ms. Gieringer added that at 816 Commerce, Mr. Charles Walther, wanted to build
a gazebo in the back yard. She typed out a COC since it was not able to be
seen from the front yard. Chairmen Peters asked since he was elderly, he was
concerned because the contractor was not reputable. Walter Malone stated that
a building permit was necessary and the contractor will have to be bonded. A
property owner can get a building permit instead of the contractor. Ms. Weldon
stated that it might be best if as a neighbor, Mr. Peters convey this message to
Mr. Walther personally. Mr. Peters agreed.
h 1011 Rock - Michelle Bland, next door to applicant Paul Reyes. Her insurance
agent stated that she had to have a handrail with the number of steps going to
the front door. She called staff to check on it. Page 11 of the guidelines state
exceptions for public safety issues. There was a discussion about railings
requiring COA’s but handrails are not noted on page 96 and 97. Chairman
Peters stated he did not agree with the guidelines, because if your porch is so
many feet off of the ground, the codes would require a railing, which would
require a COA, but a handrail the same height does not? Ms. Weldon asked if it
referenced a code. Ms. Gieringer stated it referenced State code and city
ordinance as listed on page 11 of the guidelines.
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i Kay Tatum asked if repointing brick was not considered maintenance. Ms.
Gieringer stated that in the guidelines, it clearly stated that it required a COA.
Chairman Peters stated that it was to make sure the mortar was correct. He
stated it was confusing. Mr. Walter Malone stated that these were guidelines and
it was not ordinance. He said to follow your standard practice. But you cannot
treat your guidelines as ordinance.
j Commissioner Wiedower questioned the handrail, stating it was not the city that
told her to put up a handrail, it was her insurance agent. She worries about a
precedence of all of the steps that are above four steps. Debra Weldon stated
that the ordinance said that the commission could not "prevent" a handrail being
installed. Ms. Gieringer added, but the commission could review it. Ms.
Gieringer stated that the staff had already told her that there would not be a
review. She continued to question how many people applied just for a handrail,
without any other items being constructed. Commissioner Wiedower recalled the
item on 1015 Cumberland Street with the wood handrail. She said it was not
minimal. Commissioner Wiedower said that this merited further discussion and
how the commission wanted staff to handle these items.
There was a discussion on the costs of notification versus the cost of the
improvement. Chairman Peters asked that the commission change notices to
the "City of Little Rock.” On his action last month, the city refused his certified
letter. He did not think it was necessary to notify the city. Ms. Weldon stated that
the notification should go to the department affected. Mr. Malone stated that
Staff could notify the appropriate department if it was flagged on the abstract list.
The Planning department is not the appropriate dept to notify. Ms. Weldon asked
if the list was given to staff in time to notify the separate departments. The
notices have to be mailed 10 days in advance, but the applicants must give them
to staff 5 days in advance, which is not enough time to notify the other
departments. Commissioner Wiedower suggested that there would be a list
started for items for a work session. Handrails and notifications to the city are to
be added to the list.
k Ms. Gieringer added a third item to the list. Arlene Sullivan at 308 Daisy Bates,
has been going back and forth with Brian Minyard via email on the choice of
windows. Ms. Sullivan wants to go with all vinyl windows on the front. The
commission left it up to staff for the windows choice and there is a $3000
difference between the two. She does not want a patchwork of different
windows. Chairman Peters said that the commission did not approve all vinyl
windows; the commission did discuss vinyl-clad windows. Ms. Gieringer read
form an email sent from Brian Minyard to Arlene Sullivan about the differences of
the types of windows and about the error on the closing of the window under the
stairs. It was discussed that the Commission’s approval was different from the
staff recommendation. Kay Tatum stated that she had driven by the property and
that it was done as the commission had instructed it to be done. Ms. Gieringer
stated that Brian would have to be okay with that decision. She continued that it
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was a weird time with him out of the office. Commissioner Wiedower stated that
with no other properties to the east, it really has two fronts and continuity of
windows is an issue. Commissioner Wiedower suggested that Staff talk to Boyd
on this issue. Chairman Peters stated that it was commissioner Wiedower that
moved to approve item #4 and read the staffs report. Mr. Malone said that it
should be what the tape says, and what is in the staff report. It is irrelevant what
is stated in the guidelines, it was what was in the discussion in the meeting.
There was a question as to whether she could come back within a year. Ms.
Weldon stated that with a substantial change, she could come back.
Commissioner Wiedower stated that she was very agreeable that day on what
the commission desired.
l Grant applications – Staff should hear after May 21, 2008 on the grant requests.
Chairman Peters asked if we spent all of our existing grant money. Ms. Gieringer
answered that she was not sure on that. Mr. Malone said that Mr. Minyard
monitors that closely. Chairman Peters asked if the MacArthur Park survey was
complete. Ms. Gieringer stated that Staff had received a bill on it and that we
may be bale to pay one of the bills but not both.
m Report from Carolyn Newbern about the Audio Political Tour sidewalk decals.
She spoke for the funding of the master plan funding. Some of the group thought
it would be a good idea to submit for a grant to the Department of Heritage. The
theme this year was Arkansas political history. They developed an audio
downloadable “Ipod” “mp3” player audio tour that is similar in route to the
MacArthur Park Museum Art and heritage Trail. There will be 23 stops on the
tour with starting at the "Little Rock". There needs to be a way to acknowledge
where people are to stop along the tour. At first, they worked with the Parks
department to have the logs sandblasted into the sidewalks and colored. The
grant was applied for $5000 and they were granted $1600. They had to regroup.
She presented a medallion that was cost effective that shows a logo developed
by parks and recreation. She described the logo and the colors. The logo will be
used on the brochure also. The Master Plan for the MacArthur Park will include
some logo work and these medallions could be changed at that time to reflect
any changes. They are permanent enough, but changeable enough to adapt.
Steve Stevens is doing the recording and different voices are doing the quotes
and directions. It will be loaded on the LRCVB website. She commented that
she enjoyed the additions to the HDC website and wanted a link to the audio tour
placed there. This is the start of some heritage tourism links on the LRCVB
website. The models used were Walkabout Philly and the Boston Freedom Trial.
Ms. Gieringer asked if they stumbled upon one, how would they know what it
was. She suggested posting the website on the medallion.
Ms. Newbern continued that as a part of the mayor’s commission on tourism, the
training of hotel staff, cabbies, etc. was a major concern. She added that the
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map for the tour was made by Brain Minyard of Staff. Ms. Gieringer asked if it
was downloadable at Curran Hall for ease of tourist.
There was a discussion of the politics involved in the MacArthur Park site.
A discussion on the size was held and the cost was disclosed at $450 for 50 of
them. A second set is being made for replacements.
Carolyn Newbern thanked the Commission for the opportunity to present and a
press conference is scheduled for May 27th and an item is on the Little Rock
Board of Directors for the same night.
n Debra Weldon stated that there is a possibility of a moratorium on demolitions
being on the same agenda.
o Ms. Gieringer is still working on the spreadsheet of actions.
p A draft contract has been submitted by the consultant of the Preservation Plan
and is in the hands of the city attorney’s office. The scope of services and the
fees are in line. Chairman Peters asked about the contract. Mr. Malone stated
that is normal and not to be alarmed.
q Brian Minyard went to a CLG meeting and provided copies of the handouts for
the commission. The topics were on demolition by neglect and economic
hardship.
r Three applications have been filed for the June meeting. She reviewed them
briefly. These are in addition to the deferred item. Ms. Gieringer stated that we
needed all commissioners present at the meeting.
s Dunbar Survey – Lisa Spigner was invited to come to the meeting tonight to
update us. She called Ms. Gieringer to update her. The RFQ are in, the
committee has been selected, and she is delivering the packets today. She is
hoping to have the ranking back by the end of the week. She has money to
survey the entirety of the area.
t No citizens are present for the citizen communication.
VI.Adjournment
There was a motion to adjourn by Commissioner Walls and was seconded by
Commissioner Tatum. The meeting ended at 6:10 p.m.
Attest:
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