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CBC 08-05-1999 (2)The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, July 1, 1999, in the Sister Cities Conference Room at City Hall. Meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Dottie Funk. Chairman Frank Riggins presided when he entered the meeting. Members Present: Dottie Funk Frank Riggins Nash Abrams Randall Stocks David Roberts Ralph Desmarais Karol Zoeller Carolyn Lawrence Director Johnnie Pugh Also Present: Gayle Owens, Administrative Asst., Parks & Recreation Richard Wood, Zoning & Subdivision Manager, Planning Bob Brown, Plans Review Specialist, Planning Scott Carter, Arts & Humanities Director Dee White, Concert for Common Ground Director Paul Kelley Approval of Minutes. Minutes of June 3 meeting approved as mailed. Treasurer's Report. Randy Stocks reported no activity since last meeting. Committee Reports. ❑ Land Alteration Task Force — Dottie Funk. Dottie said that the Land Alteration Task Force is taking the summer off. Next meeting will be August 18. Hope to go to the Board before the end of the year. ❑ Neighborhoods — Nash Abrams. Nash reported that he contacted some of the neighborhood associations to encourage them to enter the City Beautiful Pretty and Clean Contest. We now have 26 entries. Nash said that he had met with Gayle and Bryan to discussed plans for the presentation in August. Nash said he had written a letter to the editor asking the citizens of Little Rock to get involved with their neighborhoods. New Business. ❑ David Roberts — Reported that Allsopp Park had been designated as a Medallion Park by the National ASLA as a part of its 100a` year celebration. Allsopp Park is one of four parks selected in the state. Secretary of State Sharon Priest will present a 9" brass medallion to Bryan Day, Director of Parks and Recreation at 11:00 AM at Allsopp Park. Commissioners are invited to attend. ❑ Dee White — Outlined plans for the Concert for Common Ground to be held at the River Market on October 29, 1999. Ms. White stated that a percentage would be City Beautiful Commission + 500 West Markham, Room 108 + Little Rock, AR 72201 + (501) 371-4770 designated to the City Beautiful Commission for its education programs. She asked the Commission for its support and endorsement Ralph Desmarais moved that the Commission support and endorse the Concert for Common Ground with details to be worked our later. Dottie Funk seconded the motion. Motion carried. Director Kelley suggested that perhaps the public access channel could be used for some of the media coverage. ❑ Billboards -Director Kelley —Discussed the use of $1,000,000 set aside for billboard removal on scenic corridors. He outlined three options. 1. Enter into negotiations with billboard companies to remove billboards. Probably would be able to remove only one or two. That would be perceived by the public as a waste of money. 2. Shrink billboards on federal and state highways and remove them through amortization on city streets. Both of which have been upheld in the courts, but would more than likely have to go to court again. 3. The board can just pass an ordinance to shrink all billboards. Miscellaneous Business. ❑ Landscape Awards — Bob Brown reminded commission members that it is once again time for landscape awards. Dottie Funk asked Bob to explain the awards for the new members. Bob explained that the Landscape Awards are for commercial sites that have been in place at least one year and have not previously received an award. Bob said that he would go out and make a couple of hundred inspections and then present the commission with 25 or so sites that he thinks that has gone above and beyond the ordinance. The commission then picks five or six from the list, plus any nominations from the commission. Frank asked Bob to compile the list and then we will look at it at the next meeting. Public Hearing - Bob said we will probably have a public hearing at the next meeting. ❑ Annexation Policy — Frank Riggins asked Director Kelley to update the commission on the Phased Annexation Policy. Director Kelley explained the ordinance and asked the commission for an endorsement of the ordinance. Dottie Funk asked Director Kelley about the cost of annexations to the city. Director Kelley explained possible future expense to the City of Little Rock if annexations are allowed to continue. He said that we should pause and take time to perform studies and impact analysis to determine future impact. Dottie Funk moved to hold a special meeting in two weeks to consider endorsing the Phase Annexation Policy Ordinance. Motion seconded by Dave Roberts. Motion carried. Dave Roberts requested that Jack McRea from Deltic Timber be invited to talk about Deltic's side of the issue. Dottie Funk invited Director Kelley to come back for the special meeting. The meeting will be Thursday, July 15, 1999 at 8:15 a.m. in the Boardroom. ❑ Parks and Recreation Report - In the absence of Bryan Day, Scott Carter gave the Parks Report. He mentioned that the department is very proud of Allsopp Park being selected as a Medallion Park by the ASLA. Scott thanked the Commission members that attended the tree event at the River Market. Scott said that while in Atlanta he learned about the Millennium Trails Project. There are three levels of millennium trails: national, state, and local. The state deadline was supposed to be June 30, but that is up in the air. The local deadline has not come to pass; we in the parks department are looking at trying to participate in the Millennium Trails Project. The Environmental Youth Team is working well this summer. The Arts and Humanities Promotion Commission has expressed interest in being kept abreast of the Land Alteration Task Force because we are looking at the beautification of the City and moving toward things such as endorsing public art and the concept of public art. Nash Abrams asked if the Parks Department is trying to get some of Department of Transportation funds. Scott said that the department is looking into these sources. ❑ Ralph Desmarais passed around photographs of tree removal operations taking place in three parks that are either under reconstruction or construction: Boyle Park, Two Rivers and First Tee. He questioned the Parks Department allowing loggers to indiscriminately remove trees for profit. Dottie Funk requested a specific answer to Ralph's questions. Ralph said there is also a wet land problem. You can cut trees in wetlands, but you are not supposed to use heavy machinery. Frank asked if the land in question is a designated delineated wetland by the Corps of Engineers. Ralph said yes. Scott stated that he knew the Parks Department is in contact with the Corps on these projects. Frank Riggins ended discussion at this point. ❑ Carolyn Lawrence asked about barriers that had been put up in Reservoir Park. Scott said he would find out for her. ❑ Communication Towers — Dottie brought up a consideration that is coming up before the Planning Commission regarding communication towers and landscaping around them. Dottie said that currently there is not a requirement for replacement of anything taken down. Richard Wood explained the background of this ordinance. The ordinance goes to the Planning Commission in three weeks. Dottie moved that a letter be sent to the Planning Commission and to the Board endorsing the Wireless Communication Landscape Ordinance. Motion seconded and carried. ❑ Land Alteration Task Force. Dottie said that Commission members would be receiving contact sheets soon. Please make a list of people that you know who are interested in helping get these new ordinances passed. Bob Brown said that these ordinances have been sent to the City Attorney's office for review. ❑ Next Meeting — Thursday, July 15, 1999. ❑ Meeting adjourned. 10:30 a.m. The City Beautiful Commission held a Special Called Meeting on Thursday, July 15, 1999 at 8:30 a.m. in the Board Room at City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Frank Riggins for the purpose of discussing the proposed Phased Annexation Policy Ordinance. Members Present: Dottie Funk Frank Riggins Nash Abrams Randall Stocks David Roberts Ralph Desmarais Karol Zoeller Carolyn Lawrence Also Present: Gayle Owens, Administrative Asst., Parks & Recreation Richard Wood, Zoning & Subdivision Manager, Planning Tony Bozynski, Planning Department Bryan Day, Director, Parks & Recreation Scott Carter, Arts & Humanities Director Hugh Earnest, Chairman, Planning Commission Jack McRea, Deltic Timber Paul Dixon, Deltic Timber Arkansas Democrat Gazette Reporter Commissioner Ralph Desmarais opened the meeting by reporting that Director Kelley is unable to attend this meeting. The revised ordinance is not ready at this time and Director Kelley is not sure when it will be ready. Ralph further stated that there is a possibility that the final vote of the board might be delayed so the urgency is not as great as it was. Chairman Frank Riggins asked the commissioners their pleasure in continuing the meeting and discussing the ordinance in its current form or waiting until the August 5, meeting. Conunissioner David Roberts requested that the Commission go ahead with the meeting. He said that we have heard from Director Kelley at the July 1, meeting, but have not heard the views of the developers. We have guests here that enlighten us on their views and I think we need to hear them. Frank Riggins asked if there were objections to continuing the discussion. There were alone. Frank asked anyone in attendance that wanted to speak to come forward and make a presentation. Mr. Jack McRea of Deltic Timber Corp. addressed the Commission. He explained that their annexation policy is market driven and must be ahead of the market in annexation. He distributed copies of the Deltic Timber Corporation Land Development Plan. At the end of Mr. McRea's presentation, Frank opened the floor to questions. Frank recognized Mr. Hugh Earnest, chairman of the Little Rock Planning Commission. Mr. Earnest stated that the Planning Commission unanimously asked the Board of Directors by formal resolution to defer any consideration of this ordinance and allow the Planning Commission to continue to do its job. The Commission is going to look very carefully at all the complex issues raised in this particular annexation. After Mr. Earnest's statement several City Beautiful Commission members asked questions concerning Smart Growth. City Beautiful Commission + 500 West Markham, Room 108 + Little Rock, AR 72201 * (501) 371-4770 Frank recognized Commission Dottie Funk, vice chair of the City Beautiful Commission. Dottie read from the Little Rock Code the role, duties, and responsibilities of the City Beautiful Commission and asked Bryan Day, director of Parks and Recreation, if the commission is really supposed to be concerned with this issue. Bryan said, " to answer your question, while it may not be clearly spelled out, and it may not be what the intent is, I do not think there is anything wrong with speaking on the issue. Bryan reminded the commissioners that even though they heard a lot about Deltic, it is not about Deltic. "You cannot vote on this issue thinking about Deltic. You need to think about it as a whole. It is a policy issue as Mr. Earnest has addressed and that is the issue you need to consider." Frank Riggins made his own comments regarding the Phased Annexation Policy. He told the commissioners that their options are (1) vote today, (2) table discussion until the August 5 when at such time we can consider a more fully developed ordinance and Director Kelley can come before us and explain the issues. At this point, I am open to the pleasure of the commission. Ralph Desmarais moved to take this matter up at our next meeting should we have the revised version of the ordinance at that point. Nash Abrams seconded the motion. (Note: the above is the final motion after several revisions.) Motion failed on a four - four vote. Members voting for the motion were Ralph Desmarais, Nash Abrams, Dottie Funk, Karol Zoeller. Members voting against the motion were David Roberts, Randy Stocks, Frank Riggins and Carolyn Lawrence. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m. City of Little Rock Department of City Hall -Room 108 501-371-4770 / Fax 501-371-6832 Parks and Recreation 500 West Markham Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1495 TO: CITY BEAUTIFUL COM I ION FROM: BRYAN DAY, DIRECTOR - SUBJECT: TREE CUTTING IN PARKS DATE: DULY 8, 1999 In the spring of 1999, the Department of Parks and Recreation solicited proposals to remove timber from Boyle Park, Two Rivers Park and the planned First Tee Golf Course. These proposals were solicited through established city procedures which included advertisement in the local paper. The proposal asked for a bonded company to remove timber from the three parks in question as part of planned development. In return the provider of these services would reimburse the city for the sale of the timber removed from these parks. Staff determined that using a private contractor to remove this timber would not only expedite the project, but would free up manpower to address other needs within the department. Additionally, funds could be reinvested into each of the park's projects. All of the projects involved carefully planned clearing as a result of meetings with neighborhood associations, the city horticulturist, and forestry experts from across the state. Whenever staff decides to clear timber within an existing park's facility, they follow a comprehensive process to ensure that their actions are not only the best thing for the facility in question, but will result in an improved park facility. For example, the clearing that has occurred at Boyle Park is a result of over four years of meetings with the neighborhood association. At all meetings, the majority of the participants thought that clearing and thinning of timber in Boyle Park would help the City reclaim this resource and make the park a facility that families and children can once again feel safe when visiting. The Two Rivers Park will have minimum clearing within its boundaries to complete a planned two-mile barrier free pedestrian pathway. This project is also the result of a comprehensive master plan that involved representatives from the neighborhood and other community groups. Finally, the First Tee Golf Course clearing is part of a planned development that will allow the city to build a golf learning center at this facility. As the timber contractor removes timber from these parks, staff is on -hand to ensure that the company adheres to parameters established according to the plan. Should the company exceed these parameters, staff will have the ability to revoke the bond and correct any areas of deficiency. While this method of timber removal is relatively new to the department, it is a practice that has been well thought out. By having a company remove timber for resale, it allows the department to take those proceeds and reinvest into the project. This method offers a chance to recycle this timber instead of cutting it and letting it go to waste. The Boyle Park clearing resulted in approximately $36,000 for reinvestment into the project. Once these three projects are complete, staff has no immediate plans for future clearing or timber removal. If you have questions, please feel free to call. MEETING NOTICE The City Beautiful Commission will have its regular meeting Thursday, July 1, 1999 at 8:13 a.-m. in the Sister Cities Conference Room. AGENDA 1. Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes 3. Treasurer's Report 4. Reports of Committees o Land Alteration Task Force - Dottie Funk ■ Neighborhood Liaison - Nash Abrams 5. New Business 6. Miscellaneous Business + Parks and Recreation Report 7. Adjournment City Beautiful Commission + 500 West Markham, Room 108 + Little Rock, AR 72201 + (501) 371-4770