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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-21-21 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting September 21, 2021 6:00 PM Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting September 21, 2021 6:00 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, met in a regular meeting with Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., presiding. City Clerk Susan Langley called the roll with the following Directors present: Richardson (via WebEx Teleconferencing); Webb (via WebEx Teleconferencing); Peck (via WebEx Teleconferencing); Wright; Wyrick; Kumpuris; Phillips; Adcock; Vice-Mayor Hines; and Mayor Scott. Open Position: Ward 1. Vice-Mayor Lance Hines delivered the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATIONS Hunger Action Month Proclamation Downtown Little Rock Partnership Update — Gabe Holmstrom, Executive Director CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1 — 3) Director Adcock asked that Item 4 be held separately. Mayor Scott stated that Item 4 would be held separately. Director Phillips asked if a Board Member, other than the one who sponsored the item, was able to ask that it be removed from the Consent Agenda. City Attorney Tom Carpenter stated that it was a point of personal privilege for a Board member to ask that an item be read separately. Mayor Scott stated that out of courtesy to Director Phillips, the Chair would rule that the item would remain on the Consent Agenda. Vice-Mayor Hines stated that he objected to the Mayor changing his opinion and asked that Item 4 be held separately. Mayor Scott stated that as a result of two (2) Board Members asking for the item to be read separately, Item 4 would be held separately. 1. RESOLUTION NO. 15,537: To authorize the City Manager to approve a contract increase with James A. Rogers Excavating, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $400,000.00, for the Final Cover System of Cell 4 for the Little Rock Class 1 Landfill; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: A resolution to authorize the City Manager to increase the contract amount for the construction of the Final Cover System of Cell 4 for the Little Rock Class 1 Landfill. 2. RESOLUTION NO. 15,538: To authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Hasty Awards, in an amount not to exceed $80,215.50, to provide the 2022 Little Rock Marathon Finisher's Medals; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: A resolution to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Hasty Awards for the purchase of the 2022 Little Rock Marathon Finisher's Medals. 3. RESOLUTION NO. 15,539: To authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with U.S. Bank, in an amount not to exceed $700,000.00, to provide Prepaid VISA Rewards Cards in varying denominations of $50.00 and $100.00, for COVID-19 Vaccination Incentives; and for other purposes. 1 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting September 21, 2021 6:00 PM Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Webb, to approve the Consent Agenda. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Richardson voting in opposition, the Consent Agenda was approved. GROUPED ITEMS (Items 5—6) 5. ORDINANCE NO. 22,037: To authorize the City Manager to enter into a sole-source contract with Motorola, in an amount not to exceed $1,598,390.60, for the purchase of Motorola APX6000 Series Radios for the Little Rock Police Department and Little Rock Fire Department; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: An ordinance to authorize the City Manager to enter into a sole-source agreement with Motorola for the purchase of Motorola APX6000 Series Radios for the Little Rock Police Department and Little Rock Fire Department. 6. ORDINANCE NO. 22,038: To condemn certain structures in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, as structural, fire and health hazards; to provide for summary abatement procedures; to direct City Staff to take such action as is necessary to raze and remove said structures; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: Six (6) residential structures are in a severely dilapidated, deteriorated and/or burned condition causing a negative environmental impact on the residential neighborhoods in which they are located. All Notices have been mailed in accordance with Arkansas State Law. The ordinances were read the first time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Vice-Mayor Hines, to suspend the rules and place the ordinances on second reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the rules were suspended and the ordinances were read a second time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Vice-Mayor Hines, to suspend the rules and place the ordinances on third reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the rules were suspended and the ordinances were read a third time. Director Wright asked if there was any historical significance to the structure located at 3509 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive. Housing & Neighborhood Programs Director Kevin Howard stated that staff had completed a review of the structure, and met with Planning & Development Staff; however, it had been determined that the structure was not historical in nature. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Wright voting in opposition of Item 6, the ordinances were approved. By voice vote of the Board Members present, the emergency clause for item 6 was approved. SEPARATE ITEMS (Items 7 — 8 and Item 4) 7. ORDINANCE; Z-9480-A: To approve a Planned Zoning Development and establish a Revised Planned Office District titled Integrated Psych Solutions Revised POD, located at 218 North McKinley Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, amending the Official Zoning Map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; and for other purposes. (Planning Commission: 10 ayes;0 nays;and 1 open position) Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: The applicant proposes to revise the previously-approved POD, Planned Office District, zoning for this property to construct a larger two(2)-story building addition to the existing structure. (Located in Ward 3) 2 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting September 21, 2021 6:00 PM The ordinance was read the first time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on second reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the rules were suspended and the ordinance was read a second time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Vice-Mayor Hines, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on third reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the rules were suspended and the ordinance was read a third time. By roll call vote, the vote was as follows: Ayes: Richardson. Nays: Webb; Peck; Wright; Wyrick; Kumpuris; Phillips; Adcock; and Vice- Mayor Hines. Open Position: Ward 1. By a vote of one (1) aye, eight (8) nays and one (1) open position, the ordinance failed. 8. ORDINANCE NO. 22,039; Z-9595: To approve a Planned Zoning Development and establish a Planned District — Residential titled The Octonary PD-R, located at the southeast corner of East 16th Street and Barber Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, amending the Official Zoning Map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; and for other purposes. (Planning Commission: 10 ayes;0 nays;and 1 open position) Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: The applicant proposes to rezone the 0.32-acre property from R-4, Two-Family District, to PD-R, Planned District—Residential, to allow an eight(8) lot, zero (0) lot line single-family residential development. (Located in Ward 1) The ordinance was read the first time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on second reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the rules were suspended and the ordinance was read a second time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on third reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the rules were suspended and the ordinance was read a third time. Robert Hanson: Stated that he grew up in the neighborhood and he couldn't help but think that the houses in the adjacent neighborhood would go down in property value as a result of the proposed development. William Hanson, Jr.: Stated that he had lived next door to the proposed development since 1959 and he felt that it was far too excessive for the property in question. Director Adcock stated that the property used to be a gas station and asked if the three (3) underground gas tanks had been removed. Planning & Development Director Jamie Collins stated that the inquiry had been sent to the Arkansas Development of Environmental Quality (ADEQ); however, he had not heard back. Mr. Collins stated that should the application pass, before a Building Permit was issued, he would verify the status of the underground gas tanks. Director Wyrick asked if the applicant was present. Mr. Collins stated that the applicant was present; however, he had not filled out a card to speak. Mike Orndorff: Stated that he was the applicant and that the lots were 1,800 square-feet in size. Mr. Orndorff stated that the thought was to build owner-occupied homes, smaller in size and more affordable in nature for first-time home buyers. Mr. Orndorff stated that each of the homes would have a front porch, and there would be centralized courtyard included within the development. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Adcock voting in opposition, the ordinance was approved. 3 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting September 21, 2021 6:00 PM 4. RESOLUTION: To direct that in September 2021, a Small Business Advisory Council will be formed to advise the Little Rock City Board of Directors on policies affecting small businesses in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; and for other purposes. Director Phillips stated that he had brought the resolution forward as a result of being contacted over the previous year by small business owners about the growth of their business. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Kumpuris, to table action on the item until October 5, 2021. By roll call vote, the vote was as follows: Ayes: Webb; Peck, Wright; Wyrick; Kumpuris; Adcock; and Vice-Mayor Hines. Nays: Richardson and Phillips. Open Position: Ward 1. By a vote of seven (7) ayes, two (2) nays and one (1) Open Position, the motion to table Item 4 until October 5, 2021, was approved. Director Phillips asked Director Adcock to explain her reasoning for requesting that the item be tabled. City Attorney Tom Carpenter stated that the questioning was out of order since a vote had already been taken and the item was no longer on the agenda. Director Phillips stated that he wasn't asking for Director Adcock to change her vote, he just wanted an explanation for her reasoning behind tabling the vote. Director Phillips stated that he would defer to the Chair on the ruling of the City Attorney. Mayor Scott stated that as a point of personal privilege to Director Phillips, he would allow him to make a comment. Director Phillips stated that he wanted to ask his colleagues that voted for the deferral why the vote to table was taken. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Item 9) Vice-Mayor Hines made the motion, seconded by Director Wyrick, for the Board to go into Executive Session for the purpose of Board & Commission appointments. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the Board went into Executive Session for the purpose of Board & Commission Appointments. 9. RESOLUTION NO. 15,540: A resolution to make appointments and reappointments to various City of Little Rock Boards and Commissions; and for other purposes. Synopsis: Central Arkansas Library System Board of Directors (1 position); and the Children Youth and Families Commission (3 positions). Central Arkansas Library System Board of Directors: Appointment of Esperanza Massana to fill the unexpired term of Susana O'Daniel, said term to expire on December 20, 2023. Commission on Children Youth and Families: Appointment of Caleb Conrad to serve his first three (3)-year At-Large Term, said term to expire on May 31, 2204. Appointment of Dr. Chenia Eubanks to fill the unexpired At-Large Term of Matt Price, said term to expire on May 31, 2023. Appointment of Jennifer Ferguson to serve her first three (3)-year At- Large Term, said term to expire on May 31, 224. Mayor Scott stated that in accordance with Arkansas Code §14-47-113, which laid out the process of filling a vacancy within the Governing Body, as Chair it was his responsibility to announce the process for filling the vacant Ward 1 Representative Position. Mayor Scott stated that interested individuals, who must be residents of Ward 4 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting September 21, 2021 6:00 PM 1, were invited to apply through the City of Little Rock website, www.littlerock.gov, between September 23, 2021, and September 30, 2021. On October 1, 2021, all applications will be submitted to members of the Board of Directors for review. At the October 5, 2021, Board of Directors Meeting, the Board will review those applications in Executive Session and rank the top seven (7) finalists. The seven (7) finalists will be invited to a Special Called Board Meeting to be held on October 12, 2021, at which they will each have ten (10) minutes allotted to make both a presentation and answer questions. The Board will then go into Executive Session to discuss the applications and will return to public session to vote on a selection. The selected applicant will serve the remainder of the current term, which expires December 31, 2022, and will be eligible for re-election to the position. The position will be on the ballot in the November 2022 General Election. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION Sen. Linda Poindexter Chesterfield: Racial Separation within the City. Natalie Janes: Misuse of Elected Power. Stephen Mann: No Confidence Vote. King Supreme: Mayor Standing up for the People. Shaun Johnson: Vote of No Confidence. Pastor C. Dennis Edwards: Support of Mayor. Lt. Zack Farley: View from the Inside of the Little Rock Police Department. Pastor C.E. McAdoo: Leadership of Mayor and Police Chief. Judge Marion Humphrey: Support of Mayor and Police Chief. Loretta Hendrix: Ward 1 Position. Rev. Anika Whitfield: Ward 1 Open Position. Rev. Johnny Hussein: Director Wyrick made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, to adjourn the meeting. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the meeting was adjourned. Ar7APPROVED: V11 y, City Clerk Frank Scott, Jr., May• 5