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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC 02-09-1993 (2)The City Beautiful Commission The Little Rock City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 9, 1993 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: Merle Seamon Jim Goodhart Ross McCain Josephine Graham Steve Cato Liz Williams Eldridge Also Present: Truman Tolefree Assistant Director Parks and Recreation Karen Williams Secretary Parks and Recreation Jim Sick Maint. & Development Manager Parks and Recreation Mark Webre Parks Planner II Parks and Recreation Bob Brown Plans Review Specialist Neighborhoods and Planning Richard Wood Zoning & Subdivision Manager Neighborhoods and Planning 1. Roll Call. Six of seven members present. 2. Approval of Minutes. Ross McCain moved that the minutes of the January meeting. Steve Cato seconded. All ayes. 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770 Minutes February 9, 1993 Page 2 3. Reports of Committees. A. City Beautiful Kids - Steve Cato informed the commission that he and Truman Tolefree met with Charles Mobley and Dot Williams of JTPA about the changes they wanted to make in the City Beautiful Kids program. These changes would keep the program within the federal guidelines. Of major concern was the age limit of the City Beautiful Kids. The age limit may have to be raised because of the fact that it is getting harder to get kids in the higher age group. Truman Tolefree explained that the City Beautiful Kids can still operate under the age limit we have now but to be ready for some adjustments. Steve Cato asked Truman Tolefree if a replacement for Rip Rowan has been found. Truman stated that they are still working on locating a replacement. In the meantime letters have been sent out to last years sponsors thanking them for their help and asking if they are going to participate again this year. Truman also stated that if a replacement for Mr. Rowan is not found in the next couple of weeks, that an employee from the Parks Department will follow up on the letters that were sent out. Mrs. Graham asked about the nomination of a new commissioner. Truman Tolefree said that Mr. Rains application was not brought up at the last City Board Meeting. Liz Williams Eldridge stated that she spoke to Bob Bray at KATV and he would like to serve on the commission but he lives in North Little Rock. The by-laws state that a commissioner has to live in Little Rock. Mr. Bray suggested that we ask Richard Allin of the Arkansas Democrat -Gazette. There were several other names, such as Bob Brown, brought up and Liz stated that she would contact these people and see if they would be interested in serving on the City Beautiful Commission and have them send their resumes. Truman Tolefree informed the commission that board appointments will be made again at the March 2nd Board Meeting. The City Board make appointments every other month. B. Winterfest - Merle Seamon stated that he felt that everyone on the commission was in agreement that something different needed to be done this year. Ross McCain informed the commission that there was about $900.00 left in the Winterfest account and approximately eight more bills need to be paid. Minutes February 9, 1993 Page 3 Liz Williams Eldridge suggested that they start working on ideas for Winterfest at this meeting. She felt like the reason that the commission cut back on last years list of committees was so that the commission could work on a few of the major projects as a group at the City Beautiful meetings each month. She feels like the City Beautiful Commission needs to set some goals and guidelines to work on for Winterfest. Ross McCain agreeded that as a group the goals and guidelines need to be set but that it will take more than just monthly meetings to work on Winterfest. There will still have to be additional meetings held. Josephine Graham asked about the suggestions that were made at the last meeting to have Winterfest tie into the Light Up Little Rock contest and or the lighting at the Osbourne's home. Ross McCain also feels the commission should stay away from the carnival like atmosphere and possiblly go with the lighting contest. Merle Seamon stated that he felt like we may need to change from a carnival like atmosphere. He felt it was not the weather which kept people away. Everyone on the committee was in agreement that the emphasis should be shifted from the carnival like atmosphere to coordinating with the Little Rock Christmas Parade and the Osbournes. Truman Tolefree received a call from the representative for the Osbournes and he said that there will be another Light Up Little Rock Contest. Merle Seamon suggested the commission work on fund raising to put more lights up at Riverfront Park. Mrs. Graham suggested contacting the ice skating rinks in the area to help with fund raising. Merle Seamon asked that the commission think about other ideas and bring them to the next meeting. Truman Tolefree will contact the Osbournes representative and inform them that the City Beautiful Commission is interested in working with them this year. Minutes February 9, 1993 Page 4 C. Awards - Merle Seamon suggested that the commission as a group start working on the awards program earlier this year. Liz suggested that we look at the yards in the spring of the year when they are at their peak. A suggestion was made to give the awards out around the end of May. Truman Tolefree was concerned that at that time of the year Riverfest is the big news maker and that it might dilute the media coverage of the awards. Josepkine Graham suggested that a television personality be contacted to promote and give out the awards. Janet Carson was suggested as a possible commissioner. Liz Williams Eldridge stated that she would contact her. Merle Seamon suggested that the awards be given out at the spring of the year at a time which did not conflict with Riverfest. Bob Brown will be providing a list of the new commercial sites so that commissioners can begin reviewing them. He will have the list ready by the next meeting. Merle Seamon informed the group that a new new committee needs to be formed to work on the awards this year. Liz Williams Eldridge said she would work with Becky Switzer and Jo Rancifer on the awards. Josephine Graham made a motion that the City Beautiful Commission write a letter to Sen. Bill Walters endorsing his bill on higher fines for littering. Liz Williams Eldridge seconded. All in favor. Jim Goodhart agreeded to write the letter. D. Litter Awareness Campaign - Ross McCain stated that he has written a letter to Gov. Tucker asking that he keep the Keep America Beautiful position as part of the governors office. He wrote the letter as a personal one and not on behalf of the City Beautiful Commission. Several ways were discussed on how to become a part of the Keep America Beautiful Program. The paarticipant cost is $4000.00. Ross McCain stated that he would gather all of the notes on this program and have them ready for the next meeting. Minutes February 9, 1993 Page 5 Liz Williams Eldridge expressed concern that during the city budget process certain divisions that help keep the city clean had been cut. She wanted the commission to write a letter to the Board of Directors informing them of the importance of these divisions. Truman Tolefree assured her that the Hprticulture Division had been targeted but was not cut from the budget. E. Long Range Planning - Steve Cato suggested that the commission meet at other times to go over issues which concern the group, such as the Keep America Beautiful Program. Merle Seamon suggested that the commissioners consider a day, or a half a day retreat in a relaxed setting to discuss what the commission would like to see accomplished. This would also give the commissioners a chance to socialize and get to know each other better, especially the new commissioners. Josephine Graham asked about the progress of the Capitol Ave. Project. Ross McCain informed her and the rest of the commission that the presentation was in the hands of the City Board of Directors. The The overall plans of the streets are finished and the the streets are finished and awaiting the Board's approval. Pending approval construction drawings for the first two or three blocks will begin. Mrs. Graham asked if there were going to be brick streets and Ross stated that he did not believe so. -Liz Williams Eldridge asked that once the drawings were completed the if the City Beautiful Commission could see them. Mark Webre said that it could be arranged. Jim Goodhart suggested that the commission start networking with other people to bette market the City Beautiful Commission. Merle Seamon informed the commission that there has been a request made from the Garden Club for the Spring Flower Tour. This year they are asking for the help of one staff person and a truck to put up the signs on April 2nd and the use of a copy machine to make copies of the map and someone to help with the press releases. Liz Williams Eldridge suggested that the awards be a part of the tour next year. Minutes February 9, 1994 Page 6 Ross McCain stated that he helped with the last tour and was not very impressed with it. He would like to know from the Garden Club what kind of response they have gotten from this tour, whether many people are taking these tours. He wanted to know if the commission should be spending its time on this type of thing. Joesphine Graham asked that the commission research how the Garden Club might reciprocate for the assistance received from the City Beautiful Commission. Merle Seamon stated that he will contact the Garden Club and request that they have a representative at the next City Beautiful Commission meeting to answer questions that the commissioners may have. Merle Seamon suggested that the committee committee on media or pulic awareness should be added back to the list of committees to be reported on at each meeting. 4. Parks and Recreation Activities Truman Tolefree informed the commission that the Friends of the Zoo will be bringing to the Little Rock Zoo a display known as Dinamation. This is a display regarding information on dinasours. It will start in mid August. Mark W"ebre also informed the commission about the Flower and Garden Show that is being held this weekend at the Little Rock Convention Center starting this Friday thru Sunday. The Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department will be have a display. 5. Miscellaneous Truman Tolefree stated that the resumes for the positions on the City Beautiful Commission should be in no later than Monday Feb. 15th in order to be reviewed by the City Board at its agenda meeting. 6. Adjournment Ross McCain made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Liz Williams Eldridge. All in favor. The City Redutifd Commission MEETING NOTICE The City Beautiful Commission will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, February 9, 1993 in the City Board Conference Room, 2nd Floor of City Hall at 10:00 A.M. AGENDA 1. Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of the January meeting. 3. Reports of Committees c•�C� A. �t B . City Beautiful Kids Winterfest Awards(LsMS GLOP (L Litter Awareness Campaign Long Range Planning C zwo" ` tACCLkA__ t-A4_0_� 4. Parks and Recreation Activities - Truman Tolefree 5. Miscellaneous 6. Adjournment 00 &ff-L LO M ire c a n ctI" c SQC 7:�r 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770