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RESOLUTION NO. 8,870
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A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE AMENDED REPORT OF
THE FUTURE- LITTLE ROCK STEERING COMMITTEE
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CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNANCE
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OF THE CITY BASED UPON THE REPORT OF THE
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GOVERNANCE TASK FORCE; DIRECTING THE CITY
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ATTORNEY TO DRAFT LEGISLATION TO HELP
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IMPLEMENT THE REPORT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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WHEREAS, the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, concluded that
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it would be helpful to undergo a planning process to deal with
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the various issues facing City government; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with this project the Board of
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Directors selected a steering committee named Future- Little Rock
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comprised of citizens from around the City involved in different
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professions and possessing a diversity of views about the future
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of the City; and
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WHEREAS, Future - Little Rock created a group of separate
task forces to study particular problems and to make
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recommendations to the steering committee; and
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WHEREAS, one task force -- the Governance Task Force -- was
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chaired by Director Lottie Shackelford and Director Hamp Roy;
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and studied whether there was a need for a change in the City's
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form of government and, if so, what goals needed to be
accomplished by this change; and
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WHEREAS, the Governance Task Force was also comprised of a
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cross section of the community and represented racial and
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political diversity, business diversity, and other differing
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background characteristics; and
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WHEREAS, the Governance Task Force met for several months
in both individual meetings and in public hearings which invited
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the views of the public; and
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WHEREAS, the Governance Task Force suggested that the City
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maintain the management form of government (also referred to as
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the manager - council government) with some members selected at
large, a directly elected mayor, and some members selected by
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wards, and with a requirement that successful candidates receive
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forty percent (40 %) of the vote, or be one of two persons
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involved in •unoff election; and • 8`5
WHEREAS, this report was gratefully accepted by the
steering committee, but there was considerable debate about the
basic percentage for voting and some concern about the at -large
positions; and
WHEREAS, after careful consideration and considerable
debate at two public meetings held of December 16, 1992 and
January 8, 1993, a compromise position was adopted by at least
two- thirds of the steering committee; and
WHEREAS, after this proposal was accepted by the Board of
Directors on January 27, 1993, as Little Rock, Ark., Resolution
No. 8859; and
WHEREAS, subsequent to this action members of the Steering
Committee expressed concern that the plan may not be properly
representative of the minority community and may not provide
sufficient opportunities to elect members of the community to
the Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, after considerable debate the Steering Committee
appointed a subcommittee to review the proposal and present an
alternative proposal for consideration, and
WHEREAS, on Monday, February 22, 1993, the Steering
Committee adopted a new proposal that called for creation.of an
eleven member board of directors with seven directors elected
from wards, three directors elected at- large, and a directly
elected mayor; and
WHEREAS, on February 24, 1993, the Steering Committee
presented the new proposal to the Board of Directors at a
special meeting of the Board; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors wishes to implement this
proposal within twenty -four months of the date of the election
to accept the proposal; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors wishes to adopt this
amended proposal and to assure that implementing legislation be
adopted to accomplish these goals.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1: The Board of Directors accepts the amended
report of the Future - Little Rock Steering Committee on the
question of governance as a management - council form of
government with three Directors elected at- large, a Mayor
elected at- large, and seven Directors elected from seven wards.
SECTION 2: The report calls for a combination of ward
elections and at -large elections not currently permitted by
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Arkansas law. Because this compromise has been carefully
considered by a diversity of viewpoints represented on the
Governance Task Force and the Future - Little Rock Steering
Committee, the Board believes that it should pursue legislation
that would implement the suggestions of the steering committee.
The City Attorney is therefore directed to proceed forthwith
with the drafting of such legislation, with an added provision
that would make cumulative or limited voting permissible, so
such legislation can be submitted to the General Assembly of the
State of Arkansas at the earliest possible date.
ADOPTED: February 24, 1993
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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APPROVED:
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