CBC 01-13-1994GLCity of Little Rock
Department of
Parks and Recreation
January 13, 1994
City Hall
500 West Markham -Room 108
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1495
Mr. Steve Cato
Garver & Garver
P.O. Box C-50
Little Rock, AR 72203-0050
Dear Steve:
C(DPY
501-3714770 / Fax 501-371-6832
As requested in your letter dated January 11, 1994, we have
forwarded the Adopt -A -Park resolution to the appropriate City
officials.
It is my understanding that Mark Webre, Karen Reilly, Joyce
Raynor and Jim Goodhart are meeting on January 20, 1994 to
discuss -the items concerning the program, noted in your letter.
We look forward to working with the Commission on this project,
as we endeavor to beautify our City.
Sincerely,
William J. Bunten
Director
cc: Mark Webre
Karen Reilly
Joyce Raynor
.,Jim Goodhart
RECEIVED
JAN 18 1994
3arik_q. T�„ l��n r Goodhar
Thy City PewiU Commission
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting on
Tuesday, January 11, 1994 in the City Board Conference Room,
2nd Floor of City Hall. The meeting was called to order by
Steve Cato, Chairman.
Members Present:
Steve Cato
Jim Goodhart
Joyce Raynor
Also Present:
Lin Blair
Josephine Graham
Jo Rancifer
Karen Reilly, Parks and Recreation
Becky Switzer, Executive Secretary, Parks and Recreation
Mark Webre, Project & Design Manager, Parks and Recreation
Bob Brown, Plans Review Specialist, Neighborhoods & Planning
Richard Wood, Zoning & Subdivision Mgr., Neighborhoods &
Planning
Brian Wray, Landscape Architect Student, Merle Seamon &
Associates
I. Roll Call - Five members present. Chairman
Cato stated that he would like to start
meetings promptly at 10:00 A.M.
II. Approval of the Minutes - Steve asked that
everyone read over the minutes from the October
and November meetings and stated they would vote
on them later in the meeting.
500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770
Minutes January 11, 1994 Meeting
Page 2
III. Commission Liability - Jim Goodhart passed out a
copy of a letter that he had written to Peggy
Johnson from the City Attorneys Office asking
her to attend the Commissions next meeting to
address her findings regarding the City
Beautiful Commission and the issue of liability.
Joe Robbins came into the meeting at this time
making six Commissioners present.
Peggy Johnson stated that the City Attorney's
Office would represent the City Beautiful
Commission as well as the Commissioners in cases
of legal liability. The Commission enjoys the
same tort immunity as the Parks and Recreation
Department if any act is one officially. A
determination would have to be made by the City
Attorneys Office.
Peggy Johnson will generate a letter explaining
what she has presented to the Commission.
Karen Reilly stated that the Adopt -A -Park
Project would be administered on a day to day
basis by the Parks and Recreation Department and
wondered if that would lessen the liability to
the Commissioners. Peggy responded that it
would.
Mark Webre asked how it is determined what is an
official act? Peggy said she would have to look
into the background of the Commission.
Joyce Raynor questioned if during the City
Beautiful Kids interviews if the Commissioners
should explain that the applicant would possibly
be using certain kinds of equipment. If one of
the children should get hurt could that come
back to the Commission?
Peggy suggest that during the interview held
with the candidate the interviewer should
explain what roles the Commission and the Parks
Department play.
Minutes January 11, 1994 Meeting
Page 3
Steve Cato stated that the Commission has to go
by federal guidelines on age limit for using
equipment.
IV. Light Display - Jim Goodhart and Steve Cato
passed out information that they gathered on two
out-of-town visits during the Christmas Season.
Steve Cato went to Ashdown, Arkansas near the
Texas borderline. They have an event in
conjunction with towns in Texas called the
"Twinkling Tour of Lights". It is put on by a
non-profit group and the money that is made from
the sale of Christmas Cards with the courthouse
pictured on it goes toward the next years
event.
Jim Goodhart showed a short video from New
Orleans. The event is called "Celebration in
the Oaks" and is held in the New Orleans City
Park. It was started seven years ago by the
Botanical Gardens. There are walking and drive
thru tours of the display. The group works with
schools and church groups. There is a
performance event of some type every day
starting before Thanksgiving and lasting through
the New Years Holiday. Tickets are sold for
either of the two tours. Schools are given
tickets to sell; they keep a $1.00 off of each
ticket sold. The additional money from the sell
of tickets goes into the gardens and the park.
Sponsors are obtained at the amount of about
$500 each.
Steve and Jim stated that in both areas there
was an individual working with the program that
had alot of enthusiasm and believed in the
project.
Steve Cato asked that a committee be formed to
start working on our lighting program for this
year. If any one is interested in being on that
committee they need to contact Steve before the
next Commission meeting.
Minutes January 11, 1994 Meeting
Page 4
V. Lighting Contest- Steve Cato feels that the
rules of the contest need to be tightened up and
he has asked that Joe Robbins head up a
committee to look into the contest for 1994.
The committee will need to work on rules for
judging and entry, publicity (it needs to be
started earlier), and possibly working with
neighborhood associations. Lin Blair and Jo
Rancifer will be serving on this committee with
Joe.
VI. Presentation - At this time Steve Cato
introduced Brian Wray, a Senior Landscape
Student who has been working with Merle Seamon.
Brian presented his senior project on ways to
make certain areas of entry into Little Rock
more presentable. The three different areas
that he presented are the Markham Street
Interchange, South Terminal Interchange (Fourche
Creek) and the Highway 10 Interchange on
Cantrell Road.
VII. Landscape Award Presentation - Karen Reilly
stated that she would be willing to work with
any committee that may be formed for this
project. At this time a committee was not
formed.
VIII. Adopt -A -Park Update - Karen Reilly informed the
Commission that they have received four more
potential sites. She also presented the Adopt -
A -Park sign for those who may have not been
present at the last meeting.
Karen stated that at the Rebsamen Parkway site
there has been a sign put up stating Adopt -A -
Park , at Work.
Karen informed the Commission that the Parks
Department has been approached by the Central
High Neighborhood Association regarding a grant
from the Forestry Commission in the amount of
$1000 that they will be getting. They will use
this grant to do work on Summit Street between
14th an 17th.
Minutes January 11, 1994 Meeting
Page 5
Karen would like to know if the Commission would
like to be a part of this project. The
Commission can let her know at the next meeting.
Jim Goodhart passed out a letter that Joyce
Raynor and he have drafted to go to Bill Bunten,
Director of Parks and Recreation. Attached to
the letter was the Joint Resolution between the
Parks Department and the City Beautiful
Commission concerning the formation of the
Adopt -A -Park Program.
Jim Goodhart made the motion that the letter be
approved for Chairman Cato's signature so that
it could be passed on to Bill Bunten. Lin Blair
seconded the motion. It passed all in favor.
Karen Reilly asked if the subcommittee could
meet next week to go over the PSA, brochures and
a date for a Kick -Off Program.
IX. Miscellaneous - Steve Cato informed the
Commission that one of his goals for this year
is for the City Beautiful Commission to only
meet for an hour and a half.
Steve asked if Bob Brown could present his part
of today's meeting next month. Bob passed out
information on City Beautiful Bylaws and asked
that everyone to over them before the next
meeting.
A motion was made by Lin Blair to accept the
minutes of the last meetings and it was
seconded by Joyce Raynor. All in favor.
Brain Wray reminded Steve Cato that he was to
be paid for his project he presented today.
After some discussion of when that motion was
passed, Brain was told he would be receiving a
check for $500.
Minutes January 11, 1994 Meeting
Page 6
Josephine Graham showed the Commission a picture
from the paper from the Southwest Little Rock
Clean Up. She encouraged everyone to become
more involved with work against litter.
X. Adjournment - Joyce Raynor made a motion to
adjourn the meeting.. Lin Blair seconded. All
were in favor. Meeting adjourned at 11:35 A.M.
The City Pedu4ul Commission
The City Beautiful Commission will held its regular meeting
Tuesday, January 11, 19'94 in the City Board Conference Room,
2nd Floor of City Hall at 10:00 A.M.
AGENDA
I. Roll Call
II. Approval of Minutes
III. Commission Liability
IV. By -Law Revision
V. Light Display
VI. Lighting Contest
VII. Landscape Award Presentation
VIII. Adopt -A -Park Update
IX. Adjournment
500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770