18803ORDINANCE NO.
18,803
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AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE THE LITTLE ROCK PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSION; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY;
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, the City of Little Rock currently maintains an efficient parks and recreation
system which includes, among other things, parks, open space, athletic fields, tennis facilities,
swimming pools, golf courses, recreation centers, and other facilities, and
WHEREAS, Tattle Rock Parks and Recreation staff, working with the community, has
developed a comprehensive Master Parks Plan that establishes a number of objectives for
improving the efficiency of the department and the overall quality of life within the
community, and
WHEREAS, the Little Rock City Board of Directors adopted the Master Parks Plan in July
of 2001, and
WHEREAS, the Vision Little Rock process reaffirmed the importance of the Master Parks
Plan and recommended to the Little Rock City Board of Directors that the plan be
implemented in full, and
WHEREAS, citizen support is a crucial component of the Master Parks Plan and a quality
recreation and parks department.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
Section 1. Statement of Policy. The City of Little Rock shall maintain an efficient parks
and recreation system which includes, among other things, parks, open space, athletic fields,
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tennis facilities, swimming pools, golf courses, recreation centers, and other facilities
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens and visitors to the city. The City of
Little Rock will work to fully implement the Master Parks Plan to achieve "A City in a Park ".
Section 2. Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission. A Little Rock Parks and
Recreation Commission is created to review, consult and advise the City on matters
concerning the operation and maintenance of the parks and recreation department and on
matters pertaining to the implementation of the Master Parks Plan, and significant issues
involving or affecting these matters shall be referred to and considered by this Commission
prior to consideration by the Board of Directors. It shall consist of no less than five (5) and
no more than nine (9) residents of Little Rock, Arkansas whom will serve a term of three (3)
years. The initial membership of the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission will
include the citizens already serving on the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Advisory
Commission. The Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation will serve as an ex- officio
member of the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission. The said Commission may
from time to time elect honorary life members, as it deems necessary.
Section 3. Compensation. Members of the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission
shall serve without pay. Members of the Commission may be reimbursed for expenses
necessarily incurred in the performance of Commission business in accordance with city
policy and State Statute.
Section 4. Authority and Duties of the Commission. The Little Rock Parks and
Recreation Commission shall have the following authority and duties:
(A) To hold periodic meetings not less than once a month, which are open to the
public and for which minutes shall be maintained, to perform the other
duties required by this ordinance;
(B) To consult with and advise the Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation,
and to recommend policies and plans for the operation, maintenance and
expansion of the park system, facilities and programs;
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(C) To consult with and advise the Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation,
and to recommend to the Board of Directors park land and facility
acquisitions based on standards established by the commission;
(D) To consult with and advise the Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation,
and to recommend fees, rates, tolls, and charges for the services, facilities and
commodities rendered by the properties and programs of the park system;
(F) To consult with and advise the Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation,
and to recommend rules and regulations governing the use and protection of
the park system and property therein;
(1) To consult with and advise the Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation
on the Master Parks Plan and the best approach for implementation,
including but not limited to prioritizing projects and recommending capital
funding allocations;
(G) To consult with and advise the Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation
annually to determine financial needs for the department and to report these
budget need for the next year to the city manager for inclusion in the City's
budget process, provided that any budget recommendation will assure that
the city's covenants pursuant to any outstanding parks and recreation
revenue bonds are met;
(H) To consider, and if desired to interview, applicants for the position of
Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation, whenever there is a vacancy in
that position, and to recommend a Est of three finalists to the City Manager,
from which a new Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation shall be
hired;
(I) To authorize the expenditure of monies donated to Little Rock Parks and
Recreation, for the use and benefit of the department, provided these
expenditures shall be for the operation, maintenance, enhancement of the
park system or capital improvements to the park system;
(J) To submit an annual report to the Little Rock Board of Directors that
addresses the state of the operations, facilities and programs in Little Rock
Parks and Recreation;
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(K) To cooperate with counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions of
the state on matters relating to planning, establishing, developing, improving
or maintaining any park, parkway or recreational area that has an impact
beyond the city limits;
(L) To have all authority, subordinate to the City Board of Directors, or the City
Manager, which is not specifically enumerated in this ordinance to operate
and improve the city's park system, facilities and programs, provided that
such authority does not violate or conflict with state law, subject the City or
any of its employees to liability, or is contrary to the covenants of any
outstanding bond issues.
Section 5. Severability. In the event any title, subtitle, section, subsection,
subdivision, paragraph, subparagraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this
ordinance is declared to adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration
or adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance which shall
remain in full force and effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or
unconstitutional was not originally a part of this ordinance.
Section 6. Repealer. All ordinances, resolutions, or regulations, or any pats of such
documents, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby
repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
PASSED: 1 -7 -03
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Na cyy
City Clerk