07-15-97• ,
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Board of Directors Room
City Hall - 500 W. Markham
Little Rock, Arkansas
July 15, 1997 - 6:10 P.M.
The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas met in regular session
with Mayor Jim Dailey presiding. City Clerk Robbie Hancock called the roll with the
following Directors present: Directors Hinton, Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Joyce, Wyrick,
Kumpuris, Kelly, and Adcock - total 9; Absent - Director Wilson - total 1.
With a quorum present, Mayor Dailey declared the Board of Directors in session
and the proceedings of the meeting are recorded as follows.
The Invocation was given by Director Cazort followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance.
(Director Wilson enrolled at 6:12 o'clock P.M.)
Director Willie Hinton and Mr. Jim Hathcock, Neighborhood Programs Manager,
expressed appreciation to 60 youth from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, and
Arkansas, sponsored by the Building Hope in Little Rock - Lutheran Church Synod,
who paid their own way to come to Little Rock to paint and repair 12 homes of elderly,
low income, or handicapped residents.
Mr. George Campbell, an attorney with the Rose Law Firm, made a presentation
to the Board of Directors, regarding Home Rule. Arkansas cities presently cannot enact
ordinances taking new approaches, such as expanding commissions, regulating taxicabs
or setting up special tax districts, unless such areas are covered in state law or the state
constitution. With Home Rule, Little Rock would have more freedom to conduct its own
affairs without consulting state law. Mr. Campbell advised the Board of Directors to
decide if it wanted to pursue the idea, get other cities to join in and provide enough
money to wage a successful statewide campaign. Do you want to deal with tax increment
financing, Texas style improvement districts, etc.? Director Hodges proposed that the
Board take another session to explore the idea of placing a proposed home -rule
amendment to the constitution on the November 1998 ballot. The Board agreed to have
a two hour session on Tuesday, July 22, 1997, for further discussion of the home
rule proposal.
Mr. Alfred Williams and Mr. Aaron Lubin, members of the Little Rock Sister
Cities Commission, gave an update on the 1999 Sister Cities Conference to be held in
Little Rock, Arkansas. Hanam City, South Korea sent representatives to the tae kwon do
tournament held in Little Rock in May, 1997. The agreement with Ragusa, Italy was
signed in May at the Arkansas Arts Center. The Conference Committee meets every
other week and will continue to do so for the next year. Directors Keck and Kumpuris
felt the 1999 Conference would be an ideal opportunity to promote international trade and
encouraged the Sister Cities Commission to invite attendees that would be interested in
international trade. Assistant City Manager Cy Carney said as host city, Little Rock has
considerable power to set the theme for the Conference, and economic development could
be one of the key issues. Mayor Dailey asked that the Board of Directors receive frequent
updates on the Conference. Mr. Williams noted that President Clinton is the honorary
chair of Sister Cities International, and Arkansas Secretary of State Sharon Priest (former
City Director and Mayor) is the state coordinator for Sister Cities International, and is
offering a lot of assistance to the Sister Cities Commission. Director Adcock moved to
add Item 12 to the Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded by Director Hinton and
unanimously adopted. Therefore, the Resolution adopting Volgograd, Russia as a
sister city was presented with the Consent Agenda. (See Resolution No. 10,027
below)
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Consideration was then given to the Consent Agenda which consisted of the
following:
(1) Approve the Minutes of the Board of Directors regular meeting held
September 3, 1996 and the reconvened meeting held September 10, 1996.
(2) Resolution No. 10,025 entitled:
A RESOLUTION TO PERMIT CITY DEPARTMENT HEADS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE MONEY PURCHASE RETIREMENT PLAN
ADMINISTERED BY THE ICMA RETIREMENT CORPORATION; AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
(3) Resolution No. 10,026 described as:
A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A UNITED STATES CONFERENCE
OF MAYORS' 401(a) MONEY PURCHASE RETIREMENT PLAN
ADMINISTERED BY THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BENEFIT SERVICES
CORPORATION; TO AUTHORIZE THE PARTICIPATION OF CITY
DEPARTMENT HEADS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
(12) Added to the Consent Agenda was Resolution No. 10,027, with the title
being:
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA, AS A
SISTER CITY TO LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Upon a motion by Director Adcock, which was seconded by Director Joyce and
unanimously adopted, the Consent Agenda was dispensed with as follows: (1) the
Minutes of the Board of Directors regular meeting held September 3, 1996 and the
reconvened meeting held September 10, 1996 were approved as written and distributed to
the Board of Directors, and (2, 3, and 12) Resolutions No. 10,025, 10,026, and 10,027
were read and unanimously adopted.
There was a motion by Director Keck to add to the Agenda a proposed
Ordinance to abolish the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission. The motion
was seconded by Director Cazort and unanimously adopted. Therefore, the proposed
Ordinance was added to the Agenda as Item 15 -A. (Seepage 7.)
Director Kumpuris moved to add to the Agenda the proposed Resolution
authorizing the sale of Library property in the River Market area to Fred Gray.
The motion was seconded and unanimously adopted. Therefore, the Resolution was
added to the Agenda as Item 15 -B. (See Resolution No. 10,029 on page 7.)
Consideration was then given to Ordinance No. 17,525, entitled:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY MASTER STREET PLAN
(15,519) TO REMOVE FAWN TREE DRIVE AS A COLLECTOR, AND FOR
OTHER MATTERS. (From proposed West Loop to Otter Creek Parkway)
At the request of Director Wyrick, Public Works Director Chandra Russell made a staff
presentation, stating that this is a Master Street Plan modification of Fawn Tree Drive in
Otter Creek. The proposal is to eliminate Fawn Tree Drive as a connector to the future
Outer Loop. At sometime in the future, the street connection to Outer Loop may be
warranted. That is the reason Staff recommends reserving the right -of -way but not
building the street yet. Mr. Tommy Hodges, developer of Otter Creek, stated he felt like
this is a land use issue more than a transportation issue. The extension of Fawn Creek is
an extension into Saline County. The residents of Otter Creek are very concerned about
providing access from the Outer Loop on Fawn Creek Drive to the west, because they
don't want the extra traffic coming through Otter Creek. Mr. Hodges concluded by
asking the Board to remove Fawn Tree Drive from the Master Street Plan. Dr. Galen
Carter, President of Otter Creek Home Owners Association, reiterated Mr. Hodges
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comments. In response to Director Wyrick's question about traffic passing through Otter
Creek, Dr. Carter stated the Association has constructed guard houses at the both
entrances to Otter Creek and has installed surveillance videos; Otter Creek residents have
bumper stickers to help monitor those that are not residents. There is a gate at the back
entrance that closes at 11:00 P.M. so there is only one entrance to Otter Creek the rest of
the night. Mrs. Russell and Mr. Hodges responded to questions by Board Members. Mr.
Hodges felt this was a land use issue, not a traffic issue, and stated he would like to cul-
de -sac Fawn Tree Drive because he was very concerned about what might develop there
if access is provided. Mrs. Russell asked the Board to consider this very seriously
because it could have grave and dire effects in the future. The Ordinance was then read
the first time. There was a motion by Director Adcock, seconded by Director Cazort, to
suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on second reading. The motion was
unanimously adopted by the Board Members present, being eleven in number and two -
thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors. Mr. Sam Raines, who owns
land next door to Otter Creek, asked the Board to do a complete study of that area
because there were probably other landowners that did not know about the Master Street
Plan. Following the second reading of the Ordinance, there was a subsequent motion and
second by Directors Adcock and Cazort, respectively, to again suspend the rules to
provide for the third and final reading of the Ordinance. The motion was unanimously
adopted by the Board Members present, being eleven in number and two- thirds or more
of the members of the Board of Directors, and the Ordinance was read the third and last
time. A roll call vote was taken on the question, Shall the Ordinance Pass, with the vote
recorded as follows: Ayes - Directors Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Joyce, Wyrick, Kumpuris,
Kelly, Adcock, Wilson, Hinton and Mayor Dailey - total 11; Noes - None; Absent -
None. Whereupon, the Ordinance was declared PASSED.
Introduced next was Ordinance No. 17,526, described as:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MASTER STREET PLAN (15,519)
MODIFY THE DESIGN STANDARD FOR PINNACLE VALLEY ROAD, AND
FOR OTHER MATTERS;
and the Ordinance was read the first time. There was a motion by Director Adcock,
seconded by Director Keck, to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on second
reading. The motion was unanimously adopted by the Board Members present, being
eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors, and
the second reading of the Ordinance ensued. There was a subsequent motion and second
by Directors Adcock and Joyce, respectively, to again suspend the rules to provide for the
third and final reading of the Ordinance. The motion was unanimously adopted by the
Board Members present, being eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members
of the Board of Directors, and the Ordinance was read the third and last time. A roll call
vote was taken on the question, Shall the Ordinance Pass, with the vote recorded as
follows: Ayes - Directors Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Joyce, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly,
Adcock, Wilson, Hinton and Mayor Dailey - total 11; Noes - None; Absent - None.
Whereupon, the Ordinance was declared PASSED.
The next presentation was Ordinance No. 17,527, with the title being:
AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL ORDINANCE 15,738 LITTLE ROCK
GENERAL PLAN AND ADOPT THE ELEMENTS FOR THE GENERAL PLAN
FOR LITTLE ROCK, AND FOR OTHER MATTERS;
(Combining the City Land Use Plan, Master Street Plan, Parks System Master Plan,
and the Neighborhood Action Plans into one plan.)
and the Ordinance was read the first time. There was a motion by Director Adcock,
seconded by Director Keck, to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on second
reading. The motion was unanimously adopted by the Board Members present, being
eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors, and
the second reading of the Ordinance ensued. There was a subsequent motion and second
by Directors Adcock and Joyce, respectively, to again suspend the rules to provide for the
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third and final reading of the Ordinance. The motion was unanimously adopted by the
Board Members present, being eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members
of the Board of Directors, and the Ordinance was read the third and last time. A roll call
vote was taken on the question, Shall the Ordinance Pass, with the vote recorded as
follows: Ayes - Directors Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Joyce, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly,
Adcock, Wilson, Hinton and Mayor Dailey - total 11; Noes - None; Absent - None.
Whereupon, the Ordinance was declared PASSED.
Consideration was then given to Ordinance No. 17,528, entitled:
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING MODIFICATION OF A PLANNED
ZONING DISTRICT AND PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
PCD AMENDED SHORT -FORM PCD UNITED PROPERTIES SUBDIVISION
LOT 2, AT 1308 BOWMAN ROAD (Z- 4653 -E) AMENDING ORDINANCE NO.
17,221 AND CHAPTER 36, SECTION 36 -176 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS; AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES;
and the Ordinance was read the first time. There was a motion by Director Adcock,
seconded by Director Keck, to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on second
reading. The motion was unanimously adopted by the Board Members present, being
eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors, and
the second reading of the Ordinance ensued. There was a subsequent motion and second
by Directors Adcock and Joyce, respectively, to again suspend the rules to provide for the
third and final reading of the Ordinance. The motion was unanimously adopted by the
Board Members present, being eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members
of the Board of Directors, and the Ordinance was read the third and last time. A roll call
vote was taken on the question, Shall the Ordinance Pass, with the vote recorded as
follows: Ayes - Directors Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Joyce, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly,
Adcock, Wilson, Hinton and Mayor Dailey - total 11; Noes - None; Absent - None.
Whereupon, the Ordinance was declared PASSED.
Introduced next was Ordinance No. 17,529, described as:
AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S DOWNTOWN AND SOUTHWEST PATROL DIVISIONS
INTO THE NORTHWEST PATROL DIVISION; ($1,643,428)
and the Ordinance was read the first time. There was a motion by Director Adcock,
seconded by Director Keck, to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on second
reading. The motion was unanimously adopted by the Board Members present, being
eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors, and
the second reading of the Ordinance ensued. There was a subsequent motion and second
by Directors Adcock and Joyce, respectively, to again suspend the rules to provide for the
third and final reading of the Ordinance. The motion was unanimously adopted by the
Board Members present, being eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members
of the Board of Directors, and the Ordinance was read the third and last time. A roll call
vote was taken on the question, Shall the Ordinance Pass, with the vote recorded as
follows: Ayes - Directors Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Joyce, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly,
Adcock, Wilson, Hinton and Mayor Dailey - total 11; Noes - None; Absent - None.
Whereupon, the Ordinance was declared PASSED.
The next presentation was Ordinance No. 17,530, with the title being:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 31 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS PROVIDING
FOR VARIANCES OF BUILDING SETBACK, STREET DESIGN, PIPESTEM
LOTS, SIDEWALK REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WOODS AT HINSON ROAD
PRELIMINARY PLAT (S -1138) SOUTH OF PEBBLE BEACH AND WEST OF
HINSON ROAD.
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Mr. Tony Bozynski, Assistant Director of Planning and Development, made the staff
presentation. He stated this is a 40 acre parcel of land located south of Pebble Beach and
west of Hinson Road to be platted into 118 single family residential lots. The issue
before the Board is a variance for several design items: building setbacks, street design,
pipestem lots, and pedestrian trails in lieu of sidewalk requirements. This is a unique
development because of the difficult terrain. Responding to a question by Director
Adcock, Mr. Ron Tyne, developer, stated that the houses will be a minimum of 1800
square feet for single level and 2000 square feet minimum requirement for two story with
a price range of $150,000 to $175,000. Public Works Director Chandra Russell stated
that sometimes sidewalks are more appropriate as trails for connectivity. The Ordinance
was then read the first time. There was a motion by Director Keck, seconded by Director
Adcock, to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on second reading. The motion
was unanimously adopted by the Board Members present, being eleven in number and
two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors, and the second reading of
the Ordinance ensued. There was a subsequent motion and second by Directors Adcock
and Keck, respectively, to again suspend the rules to provide for the third and final
reading of the Ordinance. The motion was unanimously adopted by the Board Members
present, being eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of
Directors, and the Ordinance was read the third and last time. A roll call vote was taken
on the question, Shall the Ordinance Pass, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes -
Directors Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Joyce, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly, Adcock, Wilson,
Hinton and Mayor Dailey - total 11; Noes - None; Absent - None. Whereupon, the
Ordinance was declared PASSED.
Item 9 on the Agenda was a proposed Ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 31 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY
OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, PROVIDING FOR A WAIVER OF THE
BOUNDARY STREET IMPROVEMENTS FOR LOTS 11 AND 12, BLOCK 10,
PFEIFER'S ADDITION, LOCATED AT 5422 WEST MARKHAM STREET FOR
F & F ASSOCIATES, LLC." Public Works Director Chandra Russell explained that F
& F Associates applied for a building permit on September 28, 1995, to construct a office
building with parking and was advised that boundary street improvements were required.
Construction proceeded with the understanding that the boundary street improvements
and right -of -way dedication would follow. On May 7, 1996 the Board of Directors
considered Attorney David Henry's request for a waiver for F & F Associates. However,
the applicant withdrew the waiver request and agreed to an in -lieu contribution. On
September 10, 1996, a check was tendered in the amount of $7,342.50. Public Works
decided the check would not be deposited until immediately prior to construction.
However, construction was delayed and when the check was deposited on June 16, 1997,
it was returned unpaid. Staff then requested re- issuance of the check. Mayor Dailey
explained that the check was returned because if was more than six months old, not
because of insufficient funds. Mayor Dailey then requested that the proposed Ordinance
be withdrawn from the Agenda, and that the City proceed with improvements as soon
as the funds are received from the applicant. Therefore, Director Keck moved to remove
the proposed Ordinance from the Agenda. The motion was seconded by Director
Adcock and unanimously adopted.
At 8:00 o'clock P.M. Mayor Dailey declared a ten minute recess. The Board of
Directors reconvened at 8:20 o'clock P.M., with Mayor Dailey presiding and all Directors
present.
Item 10 on the Agenda was a discussion of the request for funds for Westside
Junior High School, continued from July 1, 1997. Ms. Pam Marshall, Project
Coordinator for the Central Little Rock Community Development Corporation (CDC),
distributed copies of the Executive Summary of the Proposal for Public Support of
Westside School Commercial Project, and explained that Phase I of the project is for
renovation of the building for use as office and program space, and to house community
related public facilities at a cost of $4.6 million. Phase II will involve the historic
restoration and improvement of a 1000 seat auditorium at a cost of $1.8 million. The
CDC is requesting a commitment of $410,000 from the City of Little Rock as a public
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sector contribution to enable the immediate start-up of this restoration initiative. The
balance of the $500,000 gap will be provided from pending grant sources. The CDC has
an option with the School District that expires at the end of August, 1997. Mrs. Marshall
said she was asking for a commitment to find the $410,000 in the 1998 Budget Year and
for a commitment to locate the Park Street Alert Center in the building. (The building for
the Park Street Alert Center was originally designed to be re -sold to a family as a
handicap accessible residence when office space was available for the Alert Center.) Mr.
Jim Mercado, a member of the Project Team, said he considered this as a request for the
City of Little Rock to be partners in an investment. Following the presentation, Assistant
City Manager Cy Carney asked for additional time to review the financing data. There
was a motion by Director Cazort to move this issue to the August 5, 1997 Agenda to
give staff time to prepare a more detailed report. The motion was seconded by
Director Adcock and adopted by a vote of ten ayes and one no (Director Wilson).
Therefore, the request for funds for Westside School will be considered again on
August 5, 1997.
Consideration was then given to Ordinance No. 17,531, entitled:
AN ORDINANCE CONDEMNING CERTAIN STRUCTURES IN THE
CITY OF LITTLE ROCK AS STRUCTURAL, FIRE AND HEALTH HAZARDS;
PROVIDING FOR SUMMARY ABATEMENT PROCEDURES; DIRECTING
THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TAKE SUCH ACTION AS IS NECESSARY TO
RAZE AND REMOVE SAID STRUCTURES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY;
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES;
and the Ordinance was read the first time. There was a motion by Director Adcock,
seconded by Director Hinton, to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on second
reading. The motion was unanimously adopted by the Board Members present, being
eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors, and
the second reading of the Ordinance ensued. There was a subsequent motion and second
by Directors Adcock and Keck, respectively, to again suspend the rules to provide for the
third and final reading of the Ordinance. The motion was unanimously adopted by the
Board Members present, being eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members
of the Board of Directors, and the Ordinance was read the third and last time. Director
Wilson said the structures are mainly in Ward 1 and Ward 2, and she had a problem with
that because both wards are low income areas and she didn't understand why people have
to lose their homes. She said that is a problem the City should deal with because those
people love their homes. A roll call vote was taken on the question, Shall the Ordinance
Pass, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes - Directors Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Joyce,
Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly, Adcock, Wilson, Hinton and Mayor Dailey - total 11; Noes -
None; Absent - None.
The Emergency Clause contained in Section 5 of the foregoing Ordinance was
read and adopted by the following roll call vote: Ayes - Directors Hodges, Cazort, Keck,
Joyce, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly, Adcock, Wilson, Hinton and Mayor Dailey - total 11;
Noes - None; Absent - None. Whereupon, the Ordinance, together with the
Emergency Clause, was declared PASSED.
Introduced next was Ordinance No. 17,532, described as:
AN ORDINANCE TO GRANT A FRANCHISE TO ENTERGY LOCAL
FIBER COMPANY AS A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER
WITHIN THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS; PERMITTING USE OF
CITY RIGHTS -OF -WAY AND AIRSPACE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
City Attorney Tom Carpenter briefly explained the Ordinance, stating that Entergy has
agreed to the five percent (5 %) franchise fee the City recently assessed against Alltel.
The Ordinance was then read the first time. There was a motion by Director Adcock,
seconded by Director Keck, to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on second
reading. The motion was unanimously adopted by the Board Members present, being
eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors, and
the second reading of the Ordinance ensued. There was a subsequent motion and second
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by Directors Adcock and Keck, respectively, to again suspend the rules to provide for the
third and final reading of the Ordinance. The motion was unanimously adopted by the
Board Members present, being eleven in number and two- thirds or more of the members
of the Board of Directors, and the Ordinance was read the third and last time. A roll call
vote was taken on the question, Shall the Ordinance Pass, with the vote recorded as
follows: Ayes - Directors Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Joyce, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly,
Adcock, Wilson, Hinton and Mayor Dailey - total 11; Noes - None; Absent - None.
Whereupon, the Ordinance was declared PASSED.
Director Wyrick requested that all new franchise fees collected go into the
Infrastructure Account. City Attorney Tom Carpenter will provide a Resolution for the
August 5, 1997 meeting.
Introduced next was Resolution No. 10,028, described as:
A RESOLUTION TO ASK THE ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF THE LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Director Keck spoke in support of the Resolution. Following the reading of the
Resolution, Director Cazort moved for its adoption. The motion was seconded by
Director Wyrick and the Resolution was unanimously adopted.
The next presentation was Resolution No. 10,029, which had been added to the
Agenda as Item 15(b), with the title being:
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY
OF THE CENTRAL ARKANSAS LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE LIBRARY AND THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK; AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES. (Parts of Lots 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12, Block 36, Original City of Little
Rock, located on East Markham Street between Cumberland and Rock Streets in the
River Market District, to Fred Gray, Tim Heiple, Jim Nosari and Jimmy Moses)
Following the reading of the Resolution, Director Adcock moved for its adoption. The
motion was seconded by Director Hinton, and the Resolution was unanimously adopted.
No one was present to speak at the time allotted for Citizen Communications.
At the request of Director Adcock, Mr. Tim Polk, Director of Housing and
Neighborhood Programs, spoke briefly about the Kramer School development, located
at 715 Sherman Street, and the City's commitment to use CDBG funds to repay the loan.
Director Adcock was concerned because the City is just giving away $46,000 for each
unit in Kramer School, and lining up CDBG funds for 16 years.
Consideration was then given to Item 15(a) which had been added to the Agenda,
being a proposed Ordinance entitled:
AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL LITTLE ROCK, ARK. REV. CODE
SECTION 7 -26 TO 34 (1988) IN ORDER TO ABOLISH THE LITTLE ROCK
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT COMMISSION; TO AMEND PORTIONS OF
CHAPTER 7 OF THE LITTLE ROCK REVISED CODE OF 1988; TO DIRECT
THAT APPROPRIATE STEPS BE TAKEN TO PROPERLY NOTIFY BOND
HOLDERS THAT ALL OBLIGATIONS OF ANY OUTSTANDING BONDS
WILL BE MET; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES;
(See Minutes of July 1, 1997, and July 8, 1997.)
and the Ordinance was read the first time. There was a motion by Director Hodges,
seconded by Director Wyrick, to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on second
reading. The motion was adopted by a voice vote of eight ayes and three noes (Wilson,
Adcock, and Hinton), being two thirds of the members of the Board of Directors. The
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Ordinance was then read the second time. Director Cazort moved to again suspend the
rules to provide for the third and final reading of the Ordinance. The motion was adopted
by a voice vote of eight ayes and three noes (Wilson, Adcock, Hinton), being two thirds
of the members of the Board of Directors, and the third and last reading of the Ordinance
ensued. There was a lengthy discussion before the vote was taken. Director Hodges
stated it was his hope that the Airport Commission would agree to rebid the Airport
concessions contract. They are not going to do so. In his opinion the public has lost
confidence in the Airport Commission's ability to fairly decide this question. Therefore,
the Board has two choices: (1) dismantle the Airport Commission; or (2) do nothing. He
said doing nothing was just not an option with him and he would vote to dismantle the
Commission. Director Cazort said it was his belief that the Board needed to address the
issue of all Boards and Commissions, to see if any need to be consolidated or abolished.
He had hoped that that type of review would not be intertwined with the largely political
overtones of something as contentious as the Airport concessions contract, but the
contract has made this the appropriate time to discuss the future of the Airport
Commission. He referred to the number of telephone calls he had received on this issue,
and said he had determined there was an overwhelming number of citizens who expect
the Board to do something about it. He explained why he felt the concession bid process
was flawed, and stated that on a bigger scale than the contract is the fact that the citizens
of the City have overwhelmingly lost confidence in the management and administration
of the Airport and expect the Board of Directors to do something about it. Therefore, he
would vote to abolish the Airport Commission. Director Wilson stated this action is not
fair. She felt like these people have done their best, and this is all about one person who
happened to sit on that Commission at one time. She would vote against abolishing the
Airport Commission. In response to questions by Director Adcock, City Attorney Tom
Carpenter said that if the Airport Commission should be abolished, then an Aviation
Department of the City would be created with an Aviation Manager and Deborah Ledwell
(Airport Manager) would become a City employee, rather than an employee of the
Airport Commission. Director Hinton felt the Board should stand behind the Airport
Commission. At the request of Director Kumpuris, Mr. Mark Stodola, attorney for the
Airport Commission, responded to questions and comments, noting that the contract is
still to be negotiated. Director Kumpuris felt the Airport Commission had been
responsive to the needs of the City, they have done what the Board has asked, and the
RFP was very aggressive. He could not support abolishing a Commission that has made
significant improvements to the Airport. A roll call vote was then taken on the question,
Shall the Ordinance Pass, which is recorded as follows: Ayes - Directors Cazort, Wyrick,
and Hodges - total 3; Noes - Directors Keck, Joyce, Kumpuris, Kelly, Adcock, Wilson,
Hinton, and Mayor Dailey - total 8; Absent - None. Whereupon, Mayor Dailey
announced that the Ordinance had FAILED. (Director Keck stated he expected Mr.
Stodola and the Airport Commission to establish service benchmarks in negotiating the
contract.)
At 10:05 o'clock P.M. the Board of Directors recessed to Executive Session to
discuss appointments to various Boards and Commissions. The Board of Directors
reconvened at 10:50 o'clock P.M. with Mayor Dailey presiding and seven Directors
present (Directors Kumpuris, Keck, and Wyrick were absent). Mayor Dailey announced
that the Board had discussed a personnel matter in the City Manager's Office, as well
as made appointments to various Boards and Commissions.
Resolution No. 10,030 was introduced, with the title being:
A RESOLUTION MAKING APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS
TO THE CENTRAL ARKANSAS TRANSIT AUTHORITY; COMMUNITY
POLICING ADVISORY COUNCIL, COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, INFORMATION COMMUNICATION AND ENTERTAINMENT
COMMISSION, MACARTHUR MILITARY HISTORY MUSEUM
COMMISSION, LITTLE ROCK PORT AUTHORITY, RIVER MARKET
DISTRICT DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND THE LITTE ROCK
SANITARY SEWER COMMITTEE.
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Minutes
July 15, 1997
(CATA - Doug Hardin and Charles Nickerson reappointed; CPAC - Dr. Michael
Daugherty appointed; Domestic Violence - Doyle Bailey, Jena McDonnell
appointed; ICE - appointed Kaye Risser and Rusty Sparks and reappointed Bill
Asti and Bill Williamson; MacArthur Military History - appointed Wendell Jones,
Robert Leonard, Michael Lewis, Walter Lee Sims, and City Director Linda Joyce;
Port - appointed Mike Mauldin; River Market - reappointed Shannon Torbett and
Larry Jacimore; Sewer - appointed Dale Wintroath and James Pender.)
Following the reading of the Resolution, Director Adcock moved for its adoption. The
motion was seconded by Director Kelly, and the Resolution was unanimously adopted.
There being no further business to be presented, the Board of Directors adjourned
at 10:52 o'clock P.M. to meet again in regular session on Tuesday, August 5, 1997, at
6:00 o'clock P.M.
ATTEST:
Q i A&IL,c.�ex.,
City Clerk Robbie Hancock
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APPROVED
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Mayor Jim Dailey