CBC 04-01-1999The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, April 1, 1999, in the
Sister Cities Conference Room. Chair Frank Riggins presided.
Members Present: Frank Riggins Dottie Funk
Nash Abrams David Roberts
Karol Zoeller Ralph Desmaris
Director Johnnie Pugh
Also Present: Gayle Owens, Administrative Asst., Parks & Recreation
Scott Carter, Arts & Humanities Program Administrator
Robert Phelps, Director, Keep Arkansas Beautiful
Walter Malone, Planning & Development
Dee White, Common Ground
Welcome: Chairman Riggins welcomed new member Ralph Desmaris to the City
Beautiful Commission. Gayle introduced Scott Carter who is the new Program
Administrator for Arts and Humanities. Frank also welcomed Director Pugh to the
meeting.
Approval of Minutes. Minutes were approved as written.
Treasurer's Report. Our balance is $1,953.59. There is no change except for a little
interest.
Special Presentation 1. Frank Riggins introduced Dee White of Common Ground.
Dee presented a proposal for an environmental festival. Dee requested support from the
City Beautiful Commission. The dates are June 4, 11, 18 and 19. Partially the Audubon
Society will benefit from the festival. Frank said this sounds like a good project and
possibly something we could support. He wanted to speak to Bryan Day about the
project.
Special Presentation 2. Nash Abrams introduced Robert Phelps the new director of
Keep Arkansas Beautiful. Keep Arkansas Beautiful is a division of Arkansas Parks and
Tourism. The mission is to help keep Arkansas Clean and Beautiful through education
and activities involving litter control and removal, recycling education as well as
beautification issues. Volunteer participation is essential to the program. The KAB goal
is to work with cities and organizations within cities to support and help and direct as
needed. We hope to be the "yellow pages" for environmental and ecological clean and
beautiful activities. Keep Arkansas Beautiful has no legislative powers, no authority, and
City Beautiful Commission + 500 West Markham, Room 108 + Little Rock, AR 72201 + (501) 371-4770
City Beautiful Commission Minutes
April 1, 1999 Meeting
Page 2
no control of any type. Mr. Phelps said that he is also the State Director of Keep America
Beautiful in Arkansas.
Committee Reports:
■ Education Committee — No education report.
Task Force — Dottie Funk. The task force is very close to having the tree
preservation ordinance ready to go to the City Attorney for their review. After the
City Attorney is finished, the ordinance will be then be presented to the Planning
Commission and City Beautiful Commission for recommendation. She distributed
copies and once again reminded commissioners that the copy is only a draft. Dottie
said that there are two other ordinances that are partially complete, the excavation
ordinance and the landscape ordinance. Dave Roberts is working on the sub-
committee for the landscape ordinance with Bob Callans and Bob Brown. Dave said
we are very close and will bring a rough draft to the next meeting.
• Disaster Rebuild Task Force — Frank Riggins said the committee had been working
to develop guidelines for replanting the area hit by the tornado. Also, the Parks and
Recreation Department received a $50,000 grant and have made application for
additional grants for the planning, planting, and for maintenance of trees not only
along the street rights -of way, but also MacArthur Park. The Parks and Recreation
Department is going to make a public plea soon to receive funds for Trees for
Tomorrow which is an account they already have set up. There is a mechanism in
place for the receiving funds for the planting of trees.
■ Neighborhood Associations —Nash Abrams. We sent copies of the PAC program to
the Board of Directors with a note asking them to encourage neighborhoods in their
wards to participate in the program. Next Neighborhood Connection meeting will be
April 17 at the Adult Leisure Center.
Capitol Avenue — Nash reported that he had attended a meeting regarding the Capitol
Avenue project with Cy Carney a couple of weeks ago. Representatives from several
entities attended. Nash said that Cy wondered if there might be a group of people who
would push toward forming a metrocenter where we could have a bond issue. Nash
said he had hoped to get the Capitol Avenue project included in the sales tax, but he
didn't think that would happen.
City Beautiful Commission Minutes
April 1, 1999 Meeting
Page 3
NEW BUSINESS
1. Dottie Funk said that she thinks the Kanis Road design might be in peril. Dottie asked
that the City Beautiful Commission submit a letter to the Planning Commission
endorsing the Mehlburger Plan. Frank said that we would draft a letter this afternoon.
2. Frank Riggins mentioned the memorandum that he sent out earlier stating that Dottie
Funk is the designated spokesperson for the Commission. "Anyone can certainly
speak on behalf of the City Beautiful Commission, but I wanted some coordination",
said Frank. If you are speaking to a group, just let Dottie or myself know.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Frank introduced Walter Malone from the Planning & Development Department. Walter
discussed the proposed plan for the Downtown Overlay.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
From: Randy Stocks Fax: 501-370-9208 {To: Gayle Owens - Parks & REDate: 411199 Time: 08:15:51
Page 2 of 2
City Beautiful Commission
Treasurer's Report
Checking
account balance:
Less con
ributions for fountain:
Ark
opolis
Arkansas
State Questers
Wildflowers
Ant
que Club
Net bala
e
April 1, 1999
$ (200.00)
$ (838.50)
$ (50.00)
$ (10.00)
$ 1,953.59
$ (1,098.50)
$ 855.09
MEETING NOTICE
The City Beautiful Commission will hold its regular meeting at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday,
April 1, 1999 in the Sister Cities Conference Room on the second floor at City Hall.
AGENDA
Call to Order - Frank Riggins, Chairman
Roll Call
Approval of the Minutes -March, 1999 Meeting.
Treasurer's Report - Randy Stocks
Committee Reports
Education —Molly Satterfield
a Task Force - Dottie Funk
• Neighborhood Association Liaison Committee - Nash Abrams
New Business
Miscellaneous Business
• Special Guest: Walter Malone, Planning & Development to discuss the proposed
Downtown Overlay.
• Parks & Recreation Report - Bryan Day
Adjourn
City Beautiful Commission + 500 West Markham, Room 108 + Little Rock, AR 72201 + (501) 371-4770