09-30-97MN•
Board of Directors Room
City Hall - 500 W. Markham
Little Rock, Arkansas
September 30, 1997 - 4:05 P.M.
The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, reconvened from the
September 16, 1997 regular meeting and the September 23, 1997 reconvened meeting
with Mayor Jim Dailey presiding. City Clerk Robbie Hancock called the roll with the
following Directors in attendance: Directors Wilson, Cazort, Keck, Kumpuris, Kelly, and
Adcock - total 6; Absent - Directors Hinton, Hodges, Joyce, and Wyrick - total 4.
With a quorum being present, Mayor Dailey declared the Board of Directors in
session and stated the purpose of the reconvened meeting was to consider the Ordinance
providing for the issuance and sale of Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds for the
acquisition of the Second and Main Parking Deck and a Resolution appointing
underwriters for the bonds as well as two Resolutions related to the Central High
neighborhood.
While waiting for other Directors to arrive, Mayor Dailey invited the Arkansas
Division of Volunteerism to make a presentation regarding Youth Service Arkansas,
which was scheduled for the Agenda Meeting. Ms. Jackie Stubblefield explained that
Youth Service Arkansas is a program designed to let the youth give something back to
the community.
(Director Hinton enrolled at 4:10 o'clock P.M. and Directors Hodges and
Wyrick enrolled at 4:15 o'clock P.M.)
Consideration was then given to Resolution No. 10,085, entitled:
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO INITIATE THE PROCESS OF
DESIGNATING CENTRAL HIGH NEIGHBORHOOD AS A TARGETED
NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT AREA.
(The boundaries are I -630 to the north, Martin Luther King Drive to the east,
MOPAC railroad to the west and Wright Avenue to the south.)
Assistant City Manager Cy Carney recommended approval of related Items 1 and 2 and
stated that today is the deadline for submitting the homeownership zone application for
$1,500,000 in HUD funds (see Resolution No. 10,086 below), but this Resolution starts
the process. Board Members had been faxed copies of Mr. Carney's written
communication which included a proposed development budget for sudsidies over a three
(3) year period from 1998 to 2000. Staff is still seeking firm commitments from the
sources of funding. Mr. Carney responded to questions by the Board of Directors. City
Attorney Tom Carpenter stated there would be an additional Resolution at the next
meeting to set forth criteria to be followed in developing a Central High School Targeted
Neighborhood Plan. Following the lengthy discussion and the reading of the Resolution,
Director Keck moved for the adoption of the Resolution. The motion was seconded by
Director Adcock and the Resolution was unanimously adopted.
Introduced next was Resolution No. 10,086, described as:
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CENTRAL HIGH
HOMEOWNERSHIP ZONE APPLICATION.
(See discussion above re: Resolution No. 10, 085.) Following the reading of the
Resolution, Director Keck moved for its adoption. The motion was seconded by Director
Adcock and the Resolution was unanimously adopted.
1
Minutes - Reconvened Meeting
September 30, 1997
29
A public hearing had been scheduled for this time and place by Resolution No.
10,083, adopted September 23, 1997, on the issuance and sale of Capital Improvement
Revenue Bonds for the purpose of funding the acquisition of the Metrocentre North
Parking Deck located at Second and Main Streets. Notice of the public hearing was
published in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette on September 20, 1997. Mayor Dailey
declared the public hearing open at 4:45 o'clock P.M. Assistant City Manager Cy
Carney, City Attorney Tom Carpenter, City Director Dean Kumpuris, and Bond Attorney
Bill Spivey explained the proposal and responded to questions by the Board of Directors.
Director Kumpuris explained the need for additional parking spaces for use by the
Excelsior Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center due to the closing of the parking lot at
the northeast corner of Markham and Main for expansion of the Convention Center, and
the anticipated increase in the number of people coming to this area due to increased
activities. A parking study for the whole downtown area of Little Rock and North Little
Rock identified this area as the number one area in need of additional parking. Mr.
Spivey explained that the Little Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission has
committed to pay from Convention Center revenues all of the costs of the operation of the
parking deck and adjacent parking lot, thereby freeing up gross revenues from operations
to pay debt service. The Advertising and Promotion Commission needs additional
parking facilities and the cost of building a similar deck at today's market would be $3.4
million versus the $2.1 million to purchase this deck. Mayor Dailey declared the public
hearing closed at 5:00 o'clock P.M. and Ordinance No. 17,581 was presented, with the
title being:
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
FUNDING THE ACQUISITION OF PARKING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY
OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS; PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE
PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS; AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A TRUST INDENTURE; AND
PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO; AND DECLARING
AN EMERGENCY;
(Authorizing the issuance of $3,300,000 Revenue Bonds for the Second and Main
Parking Deck.)
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 ten
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 Hinton, 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 ten 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 Wilson, Hinton, Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Wyrick, Kumpuris,
Kelly, Adcock and Mayor Dailey - total 10; Noes - None; Absent - Director Joyce - total
1.
The Emergency Clause contained in Section 9 of the foregoing Ordinance was
read and adopted by the following roll call vote: Ayes - Directors Wilson, Hinton,
Hodges, Cazort, Keck, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly, Adcock and Mayor Dailey - total 10;
Noes - None; Absent - Director Joyce - total 1. Whereupon, the Ordinance, together
with the Emergency Clause, was declared PASSED.
Consideration was then given to Resolution No. 10,087 entitled:
A RESOLUTION APPOINTING UNDERWRITERS FOR THE CITY OF
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS PARKING SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, SERIES
1997. (T. J. Raney /Morgan Keegan)
we,
Minutes - Reconvened Meeting
September 30, 1997
Following the reading of the Resolution, Director Adcock moved for its adoption. The
motion was seconded by Director Cazort and the Resolution was unanimously adopted.
There was a motion by Director Hodges, seconded by Director Cazort, to add to
the Agenda a Resolution regarding a request from Southwestern Bell Wireless to add
four (4) antenna to an existing structure, which is not allowed under the moratorium
established by Resolution No. 10,074, adopted September 9, 1997. The motion was
unanimously adopted, and Resolution No. 10,087 was presented, with the title being:
A RESOLUTION TO PERMIT THE LOCATION OF CERTAIN
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES DURING THE PERIOD OF
THE MORATORIUM OF TOWER SITES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
(Directors Wilson and Wyrick were excused at 5:03 o'clock P.M. due to a conflict of
interest. Director Wyrick is employed by Southwestern Bell and Director Wilson's
husband is employed by Southwestern Bell. The Resolution does not name Southwestern
Bell, but is in response to the request from Southwestern Bell Wireless to add four (4)
antenna to an existing structure.)
Following the reading of the Resolution, Director Cazort moved for its adoption. The
motion was seconded by Director Hodges, and the Resolution was unanimously adopted
by the Board Members present.
Director Keck questioned City Attorney Tom Carpenter about the City's options
regarding Comcast Cable Company and its franchise to provide cable television to the
citizens of Little Rock. He said he had been inundated with telephone calls from citizens
regarding the rate increase and the incorrect telephone numbers that are listed on the
cable TV statements. Director Keck said he had been advised that the only time the City
can deal with the cable franchise is during the contract renewal. (Director Wyrick re-
enrolled at 5:10 o'clock P.M. and Director Wilson re- enrolled at 5:12 o'clock P.M.)
Director Keck said he wanted this issue to come to a conclusion by the second meeting in
October, or begin the process to find another provider. Mr. Carpenter explained that City
officials had met with Comcast officials in Washington, D.C. in December, 1996. Mr.
Carpenter said he had since instructed the City's Washington counsel to handle the
negotiations with Comcast if they are going to negotiate and to keep him informed. If
Comcast is not going to negotiate, then the City needs to start the formal process which is
essentially a six (6) to eighteen (18) month process. In the rate increase of $2.96, the only
portion the City has any control over is four (4) cents. During the discussion, Director
Hodges moved that Director Keck be appointed as the City's liaison to work on the
contract. City Attorney Tom Carpenter suggested that he prepare a Resolution to be
placed on the Agenda for Tuesday, October 7, 1997, to state that if an agreement is
not reached by October 15, 1997, the City would start the formal process to find
another provider. Therefore, the motion was withdrawn. Director Adcock asked Mayor
Dailey or Mr. Carpenter to write a letter to Comcast regarding the complaints from
citizens.
There being no further business to be presented, the reconvened meeting was
adjourned at 5:18 o'clock P.M. with the Board of Directors to meet again in regular
session on Tuesday, October 7, 1997, at 6:00 o'clock P.M.
ATTEST:
Q.o�G.l•.i- (`��Qu.Coc,�
City Clerk Robbie Hancock
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APPROVED:
layor Jim Dailey