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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC 07-14-1992The City Re�utiU Commission The Little Rock City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 1992 at City Hall in the 2nd Floor Conference Room. The meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M., by chairman, Merle Seamon. Members Present: Also Present: Merle Seamon Jo Rancifer Steve Cato Josephine Graham Bill Bunten Connie Fugedy Jim Sick Bob Brown Becky Switzer Ross McCain Charlene Hardcastle Shalah Brummett Director, Parks and Recreation Design Manager, Parks and Recreation Maint. and Development Parks and Recreation Review Specialist Neighborhoods and Planning Executive Secretary Parks and Recreation 1. Roll Call. Five of nine members present. Ms. Graham asked what kind of action is taken against commissioners who do not attend meetings on a regular basis. Merle Seamon assured her that they would check into the by-laws concerning this matter. 2. Approval of Minutes. Motion to approve minutes from June meeting was made by Ross McCain and seconded by Jo Rancifer. The motion passed with all ayes. Shalah Brummett arrived at this point, bringing the total number of members present to six. 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770 Minutes July 14, 1992 Meeting Page 2 3. Reports of Committees. A. City Beautiful Kids Jim Sick informed the commission that the program is at the halfway point. There have been no major problems this year. The City Beautiful Kids Program has been expanded. A few months ago Pratt Remmell came before the board and requested the commissions backing in name only for an outdoor classroom in which school kids would be able to learn to plant and grow flowers and vegetables. Last week JTPA informed Jim that they could give them a certain number of kids if he could get this project going. The project is being conducted at Dunbar Recreation Center. This was brought in under the umbrella of the City Beautiful Kids Program. This project will be self-sufficient, therefore, money from the City Beautiful Kids account will not be expended. Pratt feels he can raise money for this garden project. Pratt will run this project with the help of some older kids to be used as supervisors. The project will last five weeks with about fourteen kids participating in the project from the hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Charlene Hardcastle arrived at this point, bringing the total number of members present to seven. On July 23rd the City Beautiful Kids will be painting the tunnel behind the Camolet Hotel that leads into Riverfront Park. They will paint this based on a story told by a storyteller. The storyteller will spend about an hour and a half with the kids on July 17th. This is the part of the Arts and Humanities contribution to this years City Beautiful Kids Program. The Commission has been invited to join the kids. The press will be contacted about this and Jim will let the commissioners know what will be the best time for them to be there. Ms. Graham asked the location where City Beautiful Kids have cleaned this year. Jim informed her that he has a master list of where the kids will be working. If she would like to call, or go and visit a site, he will be glad to set that up for her. Bill Bunten congratulated Jim Sick on the fact that there have not been any major problems this year with the City Beautiful Kids Program. Minutes July 14, 1992 Meeting Page 3 B. Winterfest Merle Seamon stated that everything is moving along smoothly with this program. C. Adopt A Block Program Merle has spoken to Sharon Priest and requested that she speak to the Public Works Department to see if they could provide support for this program. D. City -Beautiful Commission Convention No report at this time. E. Litter Awareness Campaign Ross McCain distributed a hand out that consisted of a budget which included a full time position responsible for work on the Little Rock Keep America Beautiful Progam. Ross feels that many of the items he has listed on the budget may be able to be donated. The Litter Awareness Committee would like the City Beautiful Commission to look into passing a resolution supporting the Keep America Beautiful System and encouraging the City of Little Rock Board of Directors to adopt an ordinance appropriating the necessary funds The committee would like to make a presentation to the City Board and others to voice its support of their efforts. Steve Cato supports passage of the resolution at meeting so it, may be presented to the Board of Directors. Charlene Hardcastle asked if this would be a yearly budget. Ross explained that once an office is created a lot of these items would be taken off the list. Again Ross will be asking for sponsorships and donations. Merle Seamon suggested that the committee get a list of other cities of similar in size to Little Rock and see how they are running their program. Charlene agreed that she would like to see this information before this budget goes to the board and vote on the resolution at the next meeting. Merle asked Bill Bunten when the city budget is submitted. Bill stated that the budget goes up in October. That leaves the commission with the August and September meetings to make a decision. Minutes July 14, 1992 Meeting Page 4 Steve Cato feels that if passing the resolution will help Ross McCain and the committee get support from other people in the community, the resolution should be passed at this meeting. Shalah Brummett agreed with Steve. Charlene Hardcastle would like to see some of the wording of the resolution be changed. Possibly this can be worked on before the next meeting, Ross stated that even if the resolution does not pass at this meeting, they will continue to solicit help from other people. He is asking the -commissions support in what the committee is trying to do. Merle asked for a motion. Steve Cato moved that the resolution be adopted as written by Ross McCain (copy of resolution attached) seconded by Shalah Brummett, 6 for, 1 opposed, motion passed. F. Neighborhood Ambassador Program No report. G. Awards Shalah Brummett informed the commission that there has only been three nominations made to date and that maybe the deadlines should be moved up a month. She stated she would contact each neighborhood association president herself. Also, the commission needs to review the list that Bob Brown distrubed at the last meeting. Steve Cato asked that next -month the commissioners bring in their own nominations. Shalah asked if there was any other groups that information be sent. It was suggested that a letter be sent Little Rock Board of Realtors and to the groups from last month informing them of the extended date. The nominations will be brought in at next month's meeting and voted on in September. H. Education No report. I. Development of Environmental Ordinances No report. Minutes July 14, 1992 Meeting Page 5 J. Tree Planting This committee has been combined with the Traffic Island committee and Fund Raising committee. K. Fund Raising This committee has been combined with the Traffic Island committee and the Tree Planting committee. L. Traffic Island Merle Seamon distributed a list of proposed public landscape projects. They have completed application to the Highway Department through Metro Plan for a highway enhancement fund for a three year project dealing with some of the median areas in Little Rock. Listed were the projects that will take place over the next three years. Sharon Priest is on the committee for Highway Enhancement and is aware of what the City Beautiful Commission is trying to accomplish. Merle should find out in August about the first project, South University. M. Capitol Avenue Ross McCain stated that the Capitol Avenue project is moving right along. The Advisory Committee has met and received a presentation on the conceptual design. The first step has been to take an inventory of what is there, traffic and pedestrian counts. Connie Fugedy informed the commission that a citizen has contacted the Parks Department about a fountain that he would like to donate to the project. It is now on Arch Street and Connie is checking on how much it would cost to revitalize this fountain for use on Capitol Avenue. N. Public Relations No report. O. Bylaws and Procedures No report. P. Long Range Planning No report. Minutes July 14, 1992 Meeting Page 6 4. Parks and Recreation Activities - Bill Bunten Bill Bunten invited the commission to the ground breaking of the South West Little Rock Community Complex. The commission members will receive invitations informing them of the date and time of the ground breaking. The Parks Department is ready now to move on to Phase II and Phase III of the War Memorial Fitness Center. This will include the outdoor recreational pool, this will be an upgrade of an recreational environment rather than just a swimming pool. The second one will be the Children's Zoo, or as it is being called, the Arkansas Discovery Area. It will be a seven acre expansion that will be a learning laboratory. Both of these, combined with the Friends of the Carousel project that will put a cover over the carousel, will be part of the Arkansas Discovery Area. Bill wanted the commissioners to be aware of these projects as they talk to the public to let them know of this area. Connie Fugedy thanked the commission for their half of the funding that made it possible for she and Phoebe Stephens to attend the conference in Florida. 5. Miscellaneous Josephine Graham passed along information concerning buttons or pins that she would like to have purchased to present to school groups and also for the commissioners to wear. A copy of the price costs is included in this minutes package, please review it so there can be a vote at the next meeting. Ms. Graham would also like to see certificates of appreciation sent to certain groups in the Brady Station on their work of beautification in their area. Merle Seamon recapped what the commission has done up to to this point. He would like for each commissioner to have a list ready by the next meeting of what they would like to see accomplished the remainder of the year. 6. Adjournment Charlene Hardcastle made a motion to adjoun the meeting, Ross McCain seconded the motion. All ayes. Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.. CITY BEAUTIFUL CONEM[ISSION RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM AND ENCOURAGING THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK BOARD'16F DIRECTORS TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY FUNDS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, The City Beautiful Commission is concerned with the aesthetic qualities of the City of Little Rock, and WHEREAS, The Keep America Beautiful System is a proven educational program designed to change people's habits of littering NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE rgEMMMs OF THE CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION OF LITTLE ROCK, ARK<WSAS. SECTION 1., The City Beautiful Commission hereby endorses the Keep America Beautiful System, and urges the Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock to adopt an Ordinance appropriating the necessary funds -to establish the program as a part of the City of Little Rock. SECTION 2. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption. ADOPTED: APPROVED: Merlin S. Seamon Chairman City Beautiful Commission E� The City PedutiU Commission ETING NOTICE The City Beautiful Commission will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, July 3_ 4 , 1992 in t-he City Board Conference Room, 2 n.d Floor of City Hall at 10.-00 A.M.. r ACaE1k DA 1. boll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of the May meeting. 3. Reports of Committees A. City Beautiful Kids B. Winterfest C. Adopt a Block Program D. City Beautiful Commission C,onventi_on E. Litter Awarness Campaign F. Neighborhood Ambassador Program C. Awards H. Education' I. Development of Environmental.. Ordinances J. Tree Planting K. Fund Raising L. Traffic Island M. Capitol Avenue N. Public Relations 0. Bylaws and Procedures P. bong Rang Planning 4. Parks and Recreation Activities - Bill Bunten 5. Miscellaneous 6. Adjoo.rninent. 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770