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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-02-21 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting November 2, 2021 6:00 PM Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting November 2, 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: Miller; Richardson; Webb; Peck; Wright; Wyrick; Kumpuris; Phillips; Adcock; Vice-Mayor Hines; and Mayor Scott. Director Antwan Phillips delivered the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. DEFERRALS: 4. ORDINANCE; Z-9610: To approve a Planned Zoning Development and establish a Planned District — Commercial, titled The Kum and Go PD-C, located at the southeast corner of Cantrell Road and Chenonceau Boulevard, Little Rock, Arkansas, amending the Official Zoning Map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; and for other purposes. (Planning Commission: 6 ayes; 3 nays; 1 absent;and 1 open position) (Deferred until November 16, 2021,at the request of the applicant) Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: The applicant is requesting that the 1.51-acre property, located at the southeast corner of Cantrell Road and Chenonceau Boulevard, be rezoned from C-3, General Commercial District, to PD- C, Planned District— Commercial, to allow for a convenience store development. (Located in Ward 5) Vice-Mayor Hines made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, to defer Item 4 until November 16, 2021. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, Item 4 was deferred until November 16, 2021. CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1 — 3) 1. RESOLUTION NO. 15,556: To extend the Third Street Temporary Entertainment District, for approximately thirteen (13) consecutive weeks, starting on November 3, 2021, and ending on January 31, 2022; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: The Third Street Merchants Association of Downtown Little Rock is seeking Board approval to extend a Temporary Entertainment District. 2. RESOLUTION NO. 15,557: To authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Redstone Construction Group, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $1,111,041.00, for Kanis Road improvement, from Business Park Drive to Michael Drive; and for other purposes. (Funding from the 3/8-Cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax and the Limited Tax General Obligation Capital Improvement Bonds) Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: A resolution to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Redstone Construction Group, Inc., for Kanis Road Improvements, Business Park Drive to Michael Drive, Project No. 06-17-ST-222B, Bid No. 1363. (Located in Ward 6) 3. RESOLUTION NO. 15,558: To express support for a millage increase for the Central Arkansas Library System, within the corporate limits of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. 1 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting November 2, 2021 6:00 PM Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, to approve the Consent Agenda. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the Consent Agenda was approved. Director Kumpuris stated that the previous week he had sent out a suggested amendment to an action that had been taken by the Board on October 19, 2021, in regards to the recent legal settlement (Walls vs. Starks). Director Kumpuris stated that United States District Judge D. Price Marshall had released the settlement information beforehand and that the City should have been informed prior to the release of any information. Director Kumpuris stated that he had contacted Arkansas Municipal League Staff and asked who their designated contact was within the City for notification, and they stated that the (Executive) Administration should have been responsible for disseminating the information to the Board. In addition, Director Kumpuris asked who within the City decided on the extra monetary items and he was told the Mayor and his Administration, along with Little Rock Police Chief Keith Humphrey. Director Kumpuris stated that the Board should have been informed regarding the potential settlement; however, he felt that the City had no recourse but to move on at that point. Director Kumpuris stated that he would not be offering the suggested amendment that he had mentioned the previous week. Director Wyrick asked for clarification regarding the City Manager's spending authority in regards to legal settlements. City Manager Bruce Moore stated that in his nineteen (19) years as City Manager, he had always operated under the policy that the position had the spending authority of $50,000.00, regardless of the nature. City Attorney Tom Carpenter stated that it was his opinion that even though some legal settlements were under $50,000.00, the City Manager did not have authority to approve those settlements as they were not a bidding or Request for Proposal process. City Manager Moore stated that he had executed the legal settlement the week prior and that if City Attorney was of that opinion, he felt that there needed to be a motion or resolution passed that would authorize the execution. Director Richardson made the motion, seconded by Director Kumpuris, to authorize the execution of the settlement by the City Manager. Vice-Mayor Hines asked for a Point of Order stating that a resolution could not be placed on the Agenda without eight (8) Aye votes from the Board. Mayor Scott stated that as Chair, he could place an item on the agenda without the Board voting. Vice-Mayor Hines stated that the motion was called to the floor from sitting Board Member and the Mayor did not have that right. Mayor Scott asked the City Attorney to remind the Board what the Chair could or could not do. Vice-Mayor Hines asked for a Point of Order and Mayor Scott stated that he would not recognize the Point of Order. Vice-Mayor Hines made a Motion to Overrule the Chair. City Attorney Carpenter stated that Vice-Mayor Hines had made a Point of Order and the Mayor would have to recognize that Point of Order. By voice vote of the Board Member present, with Vice-Mayor Hines voting in opposition, the Board approved that City Manager Moore could execute the settlement agreement. 2 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting November 2, 2021 6:00 PM Mayor Scott stated that for the record, the Board had just set a precedent that the Board would vote on every legal settlement. Director Miller stated that it his understanding that City Manager Moore had the Board for approval to execute the current legal settlement and was not setting a precedent moving forward. Director Wright stated that it was her understanding that the vote only applied to the current legal settlement. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION Rick Campbell: Little Rock Governance Study Group. Marq Golden: Kensington Neighborhood Association. Rohn Muse: At-Large Directors. Daniel Hopwood: Need for At-Large Directors. SEPARATE ITEMS (Item 5) 5. ORDINANCE: To establish residency within the boundaries of Pulaski County, Arkansas, as a requirement for employment of emergency personnel in the Little Rock Police Department and Little Rock Fire Department, to provide for a ninety (90)-day period for new hires to establish their residence within the boundaries of Pulaski County, Arkansas; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. (Sponsored by Director Richardson) The ordinance was read the first time. Director Richardson made the motion, seconded by Vice-Mayor Hines, 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 Richardson, 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. Rohn Muse: Stated that he was against the item due to the fact that there was not adequate information regarding the status of where current personnel lived. Officer Ronny Morgan: Stated that he represented the Fraternal Order of the Police, which represented 95% of the Officers within the Little Rock Police Department. Officer Morgan stated that the organization, as well as the last three (3) Police Chiefs were against the residency requirement. By roll call vote, the vote was as follows: Ayes: Richardson and Phillips. Nays: Miller; Webb; Peck; Wright; Wyrick; Kumpuris; Adcock; and Vice-Mayor Hines. By a vote of two (2) ayes and eight (8) nays, the ordinance failed. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Item 6) Director Kumpuris asked if while in Executive Session, the Board could discuss employment matters regarding the City Attorney and City Manager. Vice-Mayor Hines made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, for the Board to go into Executive Session for the purpose of making Board & Commission Appointments and to discuss personnel matters related to the City Attorney and City Manager. By unanimous voice 3 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting November 2, 2021 6:00 PM vote of the Board Members present, the Board went into Executive Session for the purpose of Board & Commission Appointments and to discuss personnel matters related to the City Attorney and City Manager. Mayor Scott stated that while in Executive Session, the Board discussed personnel matters regarding the City Attorney and City Manager; however, no action was taken. 6. RESOLUTION NO. 15,559: A resolution to make appointments and reappointments to various City of Little Rock Boards and Commissions; and for other purposes. Synopsis: Arts & Culture Commission (2 positions; City Beautiful Commission (3 positions); Little Rock Parks & Recreation Commission (2 positions); Little Rock Planning Commission (5 positions); Little Rock Sustainability Commission (2 positions); and Oakland & Fraternal Historic Cemetery Park Board (4 positions). Arts & Culture Commission: Appointment of Lillie Peterson to serve her first three (3)- year Cultural Institution term, said term to expire on April 2, 2024. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the appointment was approved. City Beautiful Commission: Appointment of Kristen Barre to fill the unexpired At-Large term of Phillis Anderson, said term to expire on October 19, 2022. Appointment of Kimberly Glover to serve her first three (3)-year At-Large term, said term to expire on October 19, 2024. Appointment of Beverly Palmer to serve her first three (3)-year At- Large term, said term to expire on October 19, 2024. Appointment of Robert Walker to serve his second three (3)-year At-Large term, said term to expire on October 19, 2024. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the appointments were approved. Historic District Commission: Appointment of Tom Fennell to serve his first three (3)- year Architect term, said term to expire on June 15, 2024. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the appointment was approved. Little Rock Parks & Recreation Commission: Appointment of Ashley Martinez to fill the unexpired term of Corey Biggs, said term to expire on January 31, 2023. Appointment of Linda K. Smith to fill the unexpired term of Michael Nichols, said term to expire on January 31, 2024. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the appointments were approved. Little Rock Planning Commission: Appointment of William Cheatham to serve his first three (3)-year term, said term to expire on November 1, 2024. Appointment of Kat Guest to serve her first three (3)-year term, said term to expire on November 1, 2024. Appointment of Paul Latture to serve his first three (3)-year term, said term to expire on November 1, 2024. Appointment of Alicia McDonald to serve her first three (3)-year term, said term to expire on November 1, 2024. Reappointment of Robby Vogel to serve his second three (3)-year term, said term to expire on November 1, 2024. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the appointments were approved. Little Rock Sustainability Commission: Appointment of Scott Hamilton to fill the unexpired term of Linda Bell, said term to expire on February 5, 2023. Appointment of Ann Owen to fill the unexpired term of Malik Saafir, said term to expire on February 5, 2023. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the appointments were approved. Director Wright made the motion, seconded by Director Peck, to adjourn the meeting. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the meeting was adjourned. 4 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting November 2, 2021 6:00 PM lot. 04. APPROVED: Sus- I I- City Clerk rank Sco ., ayor 5