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Home My WebLink About05-14-19 Reconvened Meeting Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting May 14,2019 4:00 PM Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting May 14, 2019 4:00 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, met in a reconvened meeting with Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., presiding. City Clerk Susan Langley called the roll with the following Directors present: Hendrix; Richardson (enrolled at 4:05 PM); Webb; Peck; Hines; Wright; Fortson; Kumpuris; Adcock (enrolled at 4:07 PM); Vice-Mayor Wyrick; and Mayor Scott. ORDINANCE NO. 21,728: To amend Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No. 21,683 (December 18, 2018), adjust the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Ordinance to reflect revenue and expenditure adjustments for the General and Street Funds; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: Five (5) adjustments need to be made to the 2019 Budget to adjust for changes in anticipated revenues and expenditures. The ordinance was read the first time. Director Wright made the motion, seconded by Director Hendrix, to read the ordinance a second time. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the ordinance was read a second time. Director Hendrix made the motion, seconded by Director Kumpuris, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on third reading. Director Hines made the motion, seconded by Director Richardson, to hear from individuals present that wanted to address the Board. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the motion was approved. Luke Kramer, 321 Ash Street: Stated that he was a member of the Hillcrest Neighborhood Association and that they were concerned about the potential impact on the Parks & Recreation Department as a result of the proposed budget reductions. Clarence Elliot: Stated that he was a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Union and they were concerned about the potential layoffs. Jay Chesshir, 1 Chamber Plaza: Spoke about the importance of successful economic development and urged the Board to not reduce the funding for the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. Director Fortson asked what changes in the economic development area would be made if the funding was in fact reduced. Mr. Chesshir stated that in addition to personnel, equipment & data services and marketing would have to be cut. Mr. John Ball: Stated that he was the AFSCME Union Representative. Mr. Ball stated that several of the Departments were already bare-boned and asked the Board to do everything possible to not lay-off any of the AFSCME members. Carla Hines Coleman: Stated that there was a great amount of history at War Memorial Golf Course and asked the Board to reconsider the potential closing of the course. Gordon Brown, 9020 West 30th Street: Stated that he understood the need for budget reductions; however, layoffs would cripple the City. 1 Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting May 14, 2019 4:00 PM John McCarty, 4115 Old Oak Drive: Asked the Board to reconsider the potential closing of War Memorial Golf Course. Finance Director Sara Lenehan stated that based on the feedback from the Board during the May 7, 2019, Budget discussion, the following revisions had been made to the Budget Recommendation A: D The annual reduction to the Museum of Discovery was decreased from $115,000 (50%)to $38,000 (17%). D The annual reduction to the Chamber of Commerce Contract was decreased from $150,000 (50%) to $100,000 (33%). D One additional position from the City Manager's Office was eliminated. D The annual reduction to Parks & Recreation was decreased by $305,000 from $1,028,263 to $723,263, and five (5) positions were restored. > Cities of Service Funding was reduced by an additional $37,000 to $97,000. Increased Sales Tax Forecast for Act 822 $780,000 Increase Revenues at Jim Daile Fitness &A.uatics Center $118,000 Total Revenue Increases $898,000 Reclassification of a portion of the Rock Region Metro $500,000 allocation to the Street Fund Reduction of fundin• to the Museum of Discove $38,000 R-• t • . i • • • T - s." .., p, - MEM. $50,000 jy ` Total $588,000 mm+&� General Administration - Chamber of Commerce $100,000 Cit Mana•er's Office $58,147 Communit Pro•rams De•artment $68,420 Cit Attorne 's Office $232,566 Finance De•artment $79,100 Human Resources De•artment $55,597 Plannin• & Develo•ment De•artment $46,229 Housin• & Nei•hborhood Pro•rams De•artment $347,572 Parks & Recreation De•artment $1,365,727 Little Rock Zoo $92,000 Little Rock Fire De•artment $107,287 Little Rock Police De•artment $114,355 Total Decreases in De•artment Ex•enditures $2,667,000 Transfers Out $847,000 Total Increases in Revenue and Decreases in Ex•enditures $5,000,000 Revised Budget Recommendation A Summary: > The net impact to the annual General Fund Budget would be $5,000,000, or approximately 2.4%. D The net pro-rated impact to the 2019 General Fund Budget included in the proposed Amendment will be $2,299,095, or 11%. > The pro-rated impact to the Museum of Discovery for 2019 will be $19,000 (8.3%), reducing the funding from $230,000 to $211,000. 2 Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting May 14, 2019 4:00 PM D The pro-rated impact to the Chamber of Commerce for 2019 will be $50,000 (16.7%), reducing the funding from $300,000 to $250,000. D The pro-rated impact to Parks & Recreation for 2019 will be $361,635. D Utilizes the Golf Study results and repurposes two (2) golf courses. D No anticipated impact to the accreditation of Parks, Zoo, Fire or Police. D The annual overall net reduction will be approximately $337,000 less than Budget Recommendation A which was presented on May 7, 2019. Parks & Recreation Director John Eckart stated that throughout the process, staff had to focus on core services and decisions were made that focused on what could be done to maintain service levels. Mr. Eckart stated that the majority of their proposal focused on the Construction & Maintenance Division; not the Grounds Maintenance Division. Director Adcock asked what services would be impacted at the Centre at University Park and Stephens Community Center. Mr. Eckart stated that currently several of the morning classes would be closed at both facilities. Mr. Eckart stated that there was low participation at both of the facilities and it was the hope that the current participants would transition to Dunbar Community Center and/or West Central Community Center. Director Peck asked Mr. Eckart if he felt that the Department's accreditation would be safe as a result of the budget cuts and reduction in work force. Mr. Eckart stated that he felt that the accreditation of the Department was secure. Director Richardson made the motion, seconded by Director Adcock, for the Board to take a ten (10)-minute recess. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the motion was approved. Director Richardson made the motion, seconded by Director Hendrix, to call the question on the vote. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Directors Webb, Peck, Hines, Wright, Kumpuris, Fortson, Adcock and Vice-Mayor Wyrick voting in opposition, the motion to call the question on the vote failed. Director Webb made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, to table action on the ordinance for two (2) weeks. By roll call vote, the vote was as follows: Ayes: Webb; Peck; Hines; Wright; Fortson; Adcock; and Vice-Mayor Wyrick. Nays: Hendrix; Richardson; and Kumpuris. By a vote of seven (7) ayes and three (3) nays, the motion was approved. Director Richardson made the motion, seconded by Director Hendrix, to adjourn the meeting. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the meeting was adjourned. k401APPROVED: • 1' •ley, City Clerk Frank Scott, Jr., M-k or 3