Loading...
CBC 01-04-2010January .2010 The Honorable Mark Stodola, Mayor of Little Rock Distinguished Little Rock Board of Directors City Hall, 500 West Markham, City Clerk's Office, Room 203 Little Rock, AR 72201-1427 Phone 371-4510/ Fax 371-4498 / Email mavor(cDlittlerock.orc RE: PeRdiRg GGRtFaGt renewal with Waste MaRagemeAtExpanding Recycling Efforts in Little Rock Dear Honorable Mayor Stodola and City Directors: One of the duties of the Little Rock City Beautiful Commission (CBC) is to promote a greater public interest in the improvement of the appearance of the city of Little Rock. To this end, CBC has been involved in beautification projects around the city through the years, such as the Bicentennial Carillon/Bell Tower by the Zoo (1977), the Belvedere Pavilion, Riverfront Park (1986), and the City Hall North Entrance Beautification Project (2007-09). CBC has also taken the lead as an anti -litter advocate in promoting the City's Adopt -a -street program to other groups as well as adopting a street itself. In addition, another duty of our commission is the responsibility for reviewing all commercial development plans requesting variances to the required Landscape Ordinance in an effort to maintain a beautiful landscape for our city. Both of these first two duties of the commission reflect concrete attempts to promote a city that cares about its environment. This environmental mandate as well as requests from city staff and city directors spurred the commission to help organize and establish the Keep Little Rock Beautiful group in 2004 which promotes beautification, litter control and recycling in our city. The other two charter duties of our commission are to provide environmental policy and aesthetic improvement guidelines to the Mayor and Board of Directors. tn-regardsRelative to these latter duties, CBC felt obligated to express our concern and our position on promoting recycling in our city_ Waste MaRag-FneRt. First of all, the commission would like to thank you for your city leadership on improving recycling and environmental issues. The Little Rock City Beautiful Commission sees the clear evidence of your commitment to these issues as demonstrated by adding a recycling coordinator, initiatives with the median beautification projects and through the organization of the Mayor's Sustainability Committee. Your efforts are appreciated and making a positive impact in our community! Our City has the opportunity to make a major step that will dramatically improve recycling in Little Rock. The Waste Management recycling contract expires at midnight on May 5 2010. that recyclinq_in the Cif of Little Rock needs to be expanded beyond residential to include recycling for our schools, apartment complexes, hospitals, and businesses. Unless we can make these changes, our city is severely limited in our recycling efforts. While the CBC is we are sensitive to the city's budget difficulties The-- - City Little Rock City Beautiful Commission Department of Planning and Development + 723 West Markham + Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Phone: (501) 371-4864/ Fax: (501) 371-6863/ Email: cmarvelp_littlerock.org Website: www.Ircitybeautifu[commission.og should explore additional areas or options that would allow expanded recycling services beyond residential. We mighta An option would ; :_ to do this in phases by adding the multi -unit housing and recycling at businesses the Another consideration is to research and provide financial incentives to our citizens to recycle (i.e., a reduction in our citizen's bills related to a reduction in their waste). With your leadership, we can make progress io expand the City recycling efforts. and negotiate a ,,,,:ch unproved aFraRgeMeRt with WAM While timing with the city budget might lead others to say let's stay with the status quo, the CBC believes We Reed the City needs to_address th ,­3212i important issues_ The commission stands ready to assist you in whatever way possible to achieve this for our city and we are confident that with your leadership this can become a reality,happeR. Again, we appreciate what you are doing for our city and your willingness to listen to us and other citizens ea regarding this issue. And on behalf of the Little Rock City Beautiful Commission, thank you for your time and consideration of this request. We hope that you will join us in our efforts to promote and demonstrate a higher level of aesthetics for our community. Sincerely, Steve Homeyer, Chair Little Rock City Beautiful Commission eCc Little Rock City Beautiful Commission (CBC), Commission City Director Liaison, Dr. Dean Kumpuris Robert Phelps, Director, Keep Arkansas Beautiful Nash Abrams, Board Chair, Keep Little Rock Beautiful Associated city staff: Planning and Development Department -Tony Bozynski, Dana Carney, Christy Marvel; City Attorney Office -Beth Carpenter, Deputy City Attorney; Public Relations -Meg Matthews; City Manager - Bruce Moore; Assistant City Manager -Brian Day 'Ook-anUavy � A� oo (vik ,00 y� C� 7lim.L�,� �'i2 �J-;Ixaz 1 a 'Cola ot'd 37 a� Rik,. m 6 W/�� 2kq 6v,�Aa�� d� �re LITTLE ROCK CITY BEAUTIFUL C 0 M M [S S TO _.N' The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, January 14", 2010, at 11: 3 0 a.m. at Curran Hall. Chair Homeyer called the meeting to order. MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Homeyer Walter Jennings Kay Tatum Lynn Warren Linda Bell Jennie Cole Bill Wiedower Herb Dicker MEMBERS ABSENT: Betsy Luten vacancy ALSO PRESENT: Dana Carney, Zoning and Subdivision Manager, Department of Planning & Development, City of Little Rock Christy Marvel, Plans Development Administrator, Department of Planning & Development, City of Little Rock Beth Blevins Carpenter, Deputy City Attorney, City of Little Rock BYLAW CHANGES: Deputy City Attorney, Beth Carpenter, presented the By-law changes. Motion: Commissioner Warren made a motion to accept the bylaws as changed. ZD Second: Vice -chair Wiedower seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mrs. Carpenter presented the letter to the Mayor regarding the contract for waste, refuse removal. The changes proposed were in red. Review the changes. It was decided the letter could be voted upon and discussed later in the meeting. TREASURER'S REPORT: Per Treasurer: no report, treasurer absent. APPROVAL OF THE MINTUES: no report. Motion: Commissioner Warren made a motion to review Decembers CBC meeting minutes at the next CBC meeting. Second: Vice -chair Wiedower seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The CBC inquired about CBC 2010 funding. Staff noted they would check on the funding and whom has been designated as the CBC Liaison for the upcoming year and report back to the commission. Introductions commenced for two (2) new CBC members; Linda Bell and Herb Dicker COMMITTEE REPORTS: UPDATES: Landscape Awards -Chair Homeyer announced the Landscape Award signs for this years Landscape Awards are ready and presented one of awards for an example. Eve of the Beholder(Tatum)- Commissioner Warren explained and showed the new CBC members the Eye of the Beholder Award. Community Projects City Hall Rear Entry Garden —no report. I-630 Trees -Commissioner Jennings noted that he and Ms. Marvel were continuing to work on a design location for the first attempt of the project. City staff will try and present more information at the annual CBC retreat for discussion. Website(Lvnn)-Commissioner Warren noted the site is being updated. Commissioner Warren also presented examples of biographies for a different commission and ask the CBC to give some thought to the idea and it can be discussed further at the retreat. Chair Homeyer explained the role of the CBC in variance requests to the City of Little Rock's, Landscape Ordinance. Library Exhibit -(Tatum) -Commissioner Warren noted she had put up the exhibit at Thompson Library at the beginning of the month. It was noted that an additional frame was needed. Motion: Commissioner Tatum made a motion to allow Commissioner Warren to spend up to twenty dollars ($20.00) on a frame. Second: Commissioner Dicker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Dana Carney suggested the CBC plan to display the exhibit in City Hall during the month of March. KLRB(Walter)- Commissioner Jennings reported the KLRB annual retreat is later this same day. The median project has been quite successful. The next location is Fair Park and 121h Street then next will be Cedar Hill on Cantrell. There will be five (5) cleanups this year. There is one pickup on Earth day, April the 241h. KLRB is looking for partners on this endeavor. Recycling is KLRB primary role in the city. More information to follow after today's retreat and Commissioner Jennings is looking for a co-chair to help him organize, PR, and advertising. Adopt-A-Street-(Weedower) Vice -chair Wiedower explained the Adopt -A -Street program. The next pickup date is this upcoming Saturday. Carden Show 2010-(Luten) —The 2010 Garden Show is coming up, February the 26`" through the 277 The CBC and the Iris Society are sharing a booth this year. Commissioner Bell noted that she would help with the manning of the booth. Communications -(Cole)- Commissioner Cole noted that she would coordinate with Central Arkansas Iris and any PR for the show. NEW BUSINESS: New CBC signage for Curran Hall: Vice -chair Wiedower presented a framed, matted, sign for placement within the building. The sign lets visitors know the CBC meets here in the building, on a regular basis. 2010 CBC Annual Retreat: The retreat is scheduled for January the 271" at 3:00 p.m. Chair Homeyer noted that he would take care of the food. Commissioner Warren noted that in the past the CBC has purchased the facilitator a ($75.00) gift certificate to a spa of sorts. It was noted that would need to be taken care of prior to the retreat and must come from the CBC funding. Motion: Commissioner Warren made a motion to purchase the gift certificate, valued at ($75.00) at the Rejuvenation Clinic. Second: Commissioner Dicker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Recycling Letter to Mayor- Discussion commenced on whom should be included in receipt of the letter. It was decided to add the recycling individual at Region 6 Highway Department. Staff noted the letters could be delivered via inner office mail to save on postage. Motion: Commissioner Warren made a motion to send out the letter, with the changes. Second: Chair Wiedower seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Chair Homeyer noted he would make the revisions and get it sent. Chair Homeyer signed the contract permitting Aristotle to upgrade the CBC website. Commissioner Warren noted she would check with Mrs. Carpenter prior to it being sent. Mr. Dana Carney reminded all Commissioners the maximum absences allowed per calendar year is three (3). Otherwise, a Commissioner is removed from the board. Therefore, be cognitive of your attendance. Motion: Vice -chair Wiedower made a motion to adjourn. Second: Commissioner Warren seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Adjournment: 1:02 p.m.