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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC 07-13-1993The City Redutiful Commission The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 13, 1993 in the City Board Conference Room, 2nd Floor, City Hall. The Commission met at 9:30 a.m. for a pre -agenda meeting to discuss a variance request. The meeting was called to order for public hearing at 10:00 a.m. by Chairman Merle Seamon. Members Present: Merle Seamon, Chairman Steve Cato Jim Goodhart Josephine Graham Also Present: Jo Rancifer Joyce Raynor Joe Robbins Nancy Norton, Administrative Services Mgr., Parks and Recreation Mark Webre, Project and Design Mgr., Parks and Recreation Becky Switzer, Executive Secretary, Parks and Recreation Bob Brown, Plans Review Specialist, Neighborhoods and Planning Tom Russell, Representative for Outreach Christian Academy 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770 Minutes July 13, 1993 Meeting Page 2 1. Roll Call. Five members present. 2. Pre -agenda Meeting. Item No. 1 - CBC 548 - James Washington/Tom Russell Word of Outreach Christian Academy Variance Requested: A. Deletion of the required perimeter trees and shrubs/vines of the southern half of the property. Bob Brown presented the case with staff recommendation as followq! A. Since the applicant has agreed to fully landscape the existing nonconforming northern half of property; which is the only area visible from the street, and provided the applicant will install three interior trees within the new vehicular use area, staff recommends approval of this request. Josephine Graham stated that she would approve if the applicant agreed to maintain the landscape. Mr. Russell stated that the Outreach Academy is growing and that there will be people living on the campus at all times that will maintain the landscape. Joyce Raynor entered the meeting at this time. Six commission members present. Merle Seamon closed the Public Hearing and opened the regular meeting at 10:00 a.m.. Steve Cato came into the meeting at this time. Seven commission members present. Merle Seamon asked that if there were no further comments on the variance that he would need a motion. Minutes June 13, 1993 Meeting Page 3 Jim Goodhart made the motion that the City Beautiful Commission approve the request to delete the requirement on the southern perimeter of the property per their honoring their proposal to add the additional interior trees and the shrubery and trees in the front of the road as well. Jo Rancifer seconded. All voted in favor. 3. Approval of Minutes.- Steve Cato moved that the minutes from the June meeting be adopted. Jim Goodhart seconded. All in favor. Bob Brown suggested that we do away with the pre -agenda hearings at 9:30 when a variance comes before the committiee and just go into the regular meeting. 4. Reports of the Committees. A. Adopt A Park - Jim Goodhart passed out information on the Adopt A Park program. Jim and Joyce Raynor met with the Parks and Recreation representatives twice to get their response. Jim Goodhart feels like the commission needs to look at this program again after meeting with Parks and Recreation. At the June meeting Joyce and Jim met with Truman Tolefree, Nancy Norton and Bill Bunten. After that Joyce and Jim met with the Arkansas Highway Department and they were very helpful in helping them with material on their Adopt A Highway Program and informed them that there are Adopt A Park programs in Pine Bluff and Fort Smith. Joyce and Jim met with the Parks and Recreation Department again yesterday, July 12th and after that meeting Jim feels like the commission needs to decide what the commissions role would be in the Adopt A Park program. The Parks Department informed Joyce and Jim that Parks had planned on doing this type of program but not in a duel roll with the commission. Jim feels like that this committiee has been working on this since March and it was not until the June Minutes July 13, 1993 Meeting Page 4 Joyce and Jim feel that they are at a standstill until their role can be worked out with Parks and Recreation. The commission would like to work hand and hand with Parks. The commissions decision needs to be made to either put the project on hold or turn it over to Parks and Recreation. The commission envisioned their role differnely from expectations of this role. Jo Rancifer stated that she feels like the Adopt of Park project needs to be put on hold until the commissions role has been clearly defined by the Parks and Recreation Department. Nancy Norton spoke on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Department. She stated that she was at the City Beautiful Meeting in April when discussion was held regarding the Adopt A Park project. At that time she was unaware that a similar program by Parks was underway. She complimented Jim and Joyce on the hard work that they had done and feels like after the meeting yesterday held with Truman Tolefree that the project is not a closed issue and that Jim and Joyce made a strong point of the contributions that the City Beautiful Commission could make. There may be a number of alternatives that could be considered. Steve Cato asked who was in charge of this project in Parks and Recreation? Nancy stated that it is Truman Tolefree and Steve asked why Truman was not at this meeting. He was told that Truman had to attend another meeting. Nancy explained that the Parks Department is short handed as far as Administrative staff at this peak time of the year for Parks programs. Minutes July 13, 1993 Meeting Page 5 Bill Bunten has been appointed Acting Assistant City Manager and Truman Tolefree has taken over some of Bill's duties serving as Acting Director of Parks and Recreation. Nancy said that she will take back all the information from todays meeting to Truman. Steve Cato felt like Truman should know of the frustration that is felt by the commission by the lack of communication from the Parks Department on this project, especially since Jim Goodhart and Joyce Raynor have put in such hard work. Steve Cato also stated that he would like to hear an updated on the Capitol Avenue project since that project is in the Parks Department hands. Jim Goodhart would like to put the program on hold until he and Joyce can meet again with Truman Tolefree to see where the, commission can fit into the project. B. City Beautiful Kids -- Nancy Norton, representing Jim Sick, informed the commissioners that the City Beautiful Kids program had received additional funding in the amount of $9,140. As of yesterday, Monday, July 12th, the kids were contacted and already in training. Now, there are ninty-seven kids in the program. There has been a lot of positive press, several things have been in the newspaper. August 6th will be the date of the brunch and closing program. Nancy is looking for a place to donate the food for the brunch. Last year the Camelot donated the food and she will try and get them again this year. She is also looking for a speaker and asked if anyone has any suggestions to please contact her. Mrs. Graham suggested Curtis Tate and Joyce Raynor suggested Wendell Griffin. Minutes July 13, 1993 Meeting Page 6 Nancy informed the commissioners that the Dunbar Garden Project did not receive any funding this year but that has not stopped Pratt Remmel from getting donations from private individuals. He has three kids working with him this year. There was a an article in the newspaper "Free Press" and from that Nancy has had a lot of calls requesting information on how to donate to the garden project. Merle Seamon was contacted by Channel 7 about doing to do a promo on the City Beautiful Commission. The Dodge Dealers are sponsoring the promo for the local service organizations. The promo of the City Beautiful Kids working was filmed about two weeks ago and it will air the week of July 21st.. Jim Sick is also looking for a place for the City Beautiful Kids to paint a mural. This project was a great success last year. C. Winterfest - A committee has be formed to meet with the Osbournes, their representatives, and some of the people who object to the lighting to see if they can work an agreement can be worked out on how to handle the lighting problem at the Osbournes. Merle needs an ok from the commission to be able to help the Osbounes. One of the solutions has been to use buses to bring people to tour the grounds from different parking lots around the city. Another suggestion has been to have the lights turned on just at certain times so that the neighbors can have a break. There are many suggestions, but it is all in the early planning stages. Minutes July 13, 1993 Meeting Page 7 Steve Cato asked what the commissions role is in all of this, since last year the Osbournes were the ones that gave the commission the money to have a lighting contest. Merle said that if they go with the buses that they will have to have tickets and the commission may be asked to help distribute these tickets. They may even let us sell tickets and return it to the commission funds. Jim Goodhart would like to see what our role is before we put the commissions name on it because of the problem with the lighting. Nancy asked if the Osbornes have agreed to back the lighting contest again. Merle stated that he had brought up the idea that if buses are used they may included the whole city in the tour such"a5 State Capitol, Riverfront Park, etc. The Osbournes have shown the interest again this year in the light contest and Merle will keep the commission posted on the meetings. D. Awards - Nothing to report at this time. Jim Goodhart did ask if the forms have been worked up to give to Bob Brown to pass out to people who come into his office for applications. Also, we may try to have applications at the Garden Show in February. Jim Goodhart asked if we could discuss this at the July 29th retreat at Allsopp Park. E. Litter Awareness - Nothing to discuss at this time. F. Long Range Planning - Nothing to discuss. G. Miscellaneous - Merle Seamon passed out copies of the Gateways of Little Rock that an intern in his office this summer has drafted. The Osbournes have offered to donate money for tree planting to be done at entryways in the city. Minutes July 13, 1993 Meeting Page 9 Josephine Graham asked if the retreat could be held at the War Memorial Fitness Center and changed to August 1st and if there is a pavilion that is available for the retreat. Nancy explained that the holdup on the War Memorial pavilion is construction of a fence to prevent golf balls from coming into the pavilion area. Jim Goodhart expressed the feeling that it was difficult getting everyone together on the 29th of July and that changing the data would be difficult. It was decided to leave it on the 29th of July. I. Adjournment - Steve Cato made the motion to adjourn. Joyce Raynor seconded. Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.. Minutes July 13, 1993 Meeting Page 8 Merle asked that the commission pay the intern five hundred dollars for his expense on this project and for the city to provide copies of copies of the final report. Steve Cato made the motion that the commission support the project, pay the intern's expenses, and ask the Parks Department to help with copying. Joyce Raynor seconded. All voted in favor. H. Parks and Recreation - Nancy Norton reported for Truman Tolefree and informed the commission about activities going on in Parks and Recreation. War Memorial Fitness Center outdoor Pool - August 1st is the date set for the opening of the pool. A radio station has agreed to pay the fees for children and adults that cannot afford daily fees. Dinomation - This will take place at the Little Rock Zoo. It is the largest single exhibit ever to be held at the Zoo. This exhibit will consist of twelve life -like dinosaurs. The Parks Department is working to make sure the exhibit reflects the dinosaurs era. The tents will be coming in next week. The Friends of the Zoo are committed to this project and are working on getting finicial resources to pay for the project. It will be located near the Zoo Cafe. Riverfront Park - This year for festivals and In the month of August every weekend. One of Rhythm on the River. year has been a banner concerts in Riverfront. there will be something the major events is July 13, 1993 ;.x;TEM NO. 1 - C.B.C. 548 - NEW MATTERS Applicant: Location: James Washington/Tom Russell Word of Outreach Christian Academy 3300 Asher Avenue Description: Long Legal ORDINANCE REQUIREMENT One (1) tree and four (4) shrubs or vines for every forty (40) linear feet shall be planted in the perimeter planting strip. ®ARIANCE RE OESTED: Deletion of the required perimeter trees and shrubs/vines of the southern half of the property. FINDINGS: Word of Outreach Christian Academy is located in a predominately industrial area. The site in question has recently been rezoned from industrial to office in order to expand the school and associated parking areas. This expansion is currently in progress. Perimeter landscaping would not be a requirement if the property were still zoned industrial. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Since the applicant has agreed to fully landscape the existing nonconforming northern half of property, which is the only area visible from the streets, and provided the applicant will install three interior trees within the new vehicular use area, staff recommends approval of this request. I F- J 0 W z 0 N The City Pec%tiU Commission MEETING NOTICE The City Beautiful Commission will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, July 13, 1993 in the City Board Conference Room, 2nd Floor of City Hall at 10:00 A.M. A pre agenda meeting will be held at 9:30 p.m.. AGENDA 1. Roll Call 2. Public Hearing (See attached) 3. Approval of Minutes of June meeting. 4. Reports of Committees A. City Beautiful Kids B. Winterfest C. Awards D. Litter Awareness Campaign E. Adopt A Park F. Long Range Planning 5. Parks and Recreation Activites - Truman Tolefree 6. Miscellaneous ;. Adjournment 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770