Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC 09-14-1993 (2)The City PedutiU Commission The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 1993 in the City Board Conference Room, 2nd Floor of City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Merle Seamon, Chairman. Members Present: Merle Seamon Josephine Graham Joyce Raynor Joe Robbins Also Present: Nancy Norton, Administrative Services Mgr., Parks & Recreation Mark Webre, Project & Design Mgr., Parks & Recreation Becky Switzer, Executive Secretary, Parks & Recreation Emily Hartman, Design Tech., Parks & Recreation Matt Gardner, Work Controller Aide, Parks & Recreation Bob Brown, Plans Review Specialist, Neighborhoods & Planning Richard Wood, zoning & Subdivision Mgr., Neighborhoods & Planning Jim Lawson, Director, Neighborhoods & Planning Nancy Baker, Representative, Sherrill Heights Neighborhood Buddy Villines, Representative, Sherrill Heights Neighborhood 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770 Minutes Sept. 14, 1993 Meeting Page 2 1, Rebsamen Parkway - Buddy Villines made a presentation on behalf of the neighbors that live in the Sherrill Heights area on Rebsamen Park Road. Mr. Frank Lambright has been maintaining an area with the help of the City along Rebsamen Park Road. This group would like to be able to get the City Beautiful Commissions endorsement for help in raising funds to plant and maintain trees along the area maintained by Mr. Lambright. They feel this would make this part of the road a nice entrance way to the Murray Park and Rebsamen Golf Course area. It would also provide an area for people to walk, run, and bicycle. Mr. Lambright estimates that this project will take about $15,000. He would like to also include lighting down the parkway. Mr. Lambright has already raised about $3,000 and the neighbors in the Sherrill Heights addition are attempting to raise another $1,000. Mr. Villines would like to have the commission help acquire the trees and assist in planting. Merle stated that he would try to get the commissions approval. A vote could not be taken because at this time there were not enough members present. Merle said he would like to see a breakdown on the money requested and a detail list of the money they have already. Merle would then consider only for the $5000 dollars that the group is requesting. He informed the Sherrill Heights group that the commission may be able to use the funds donated by the Osborne family toward a tree planting project. However, this is one area that was considered since -it is a high visibility area. Joyce Raynor asked if the Osbornes had designated a location for tree planting. Merle stated that the Osbornes did not care as long as it was in a high visibility area. Joyce would like to see if any other groups and projects they would to be considered for the funds. Also she would like to see the group be able to match the funds offered by the Osbornes. Joe Robbins also felt that other groups should be considered. At this time the group from Sherrill Heights left the meeting. Minutes Sept. 14, 1993 Meeting Page 3 Joe Robbins also asked who would be responsible for the project maintenance following completion. Merle felt the project should be maintained by Parks and Recreation. Mrs. Graham expressed she felt the most important element in maintenance was watering. Mark Webre stated that the project will cost more than requested because of the need for sidewalks, benches, lighting, etc.. This needs to be taken into consideration before requesting additional funds. 2. Jim Lawson - City Sign Ordinance - Jim Lawson briefed the City Beautiful Commissioners on an item regarding the sign ordinance. A request will be presented to the Planning Commission on September 21st. The request is from the car dealers along University Avenue. The dealers are claiming that they cannot compete against dealers outside of the Little Rock area because outside dealers can use certain kinds of signs, flags, pendants, etc. Jim Lawson would like to have the City Beautiful Commission send a letter to the Planning Commission stating -their views on the sign ordinance. Neighborhoods and Planning is against changing the ordinance. Jim Goodhart came into the meeting at this time. There are now five commissioners present. Merle Seamon would like to draft a letter to the Planning Commission from the City Beautiful Commission opposing the ordinance change. Joyce Raynor and Jim Goodhart wanted to read over the information presented by Mr. Lawson before making a decision and writing the letter. The City Beautiful Commissioners are to let Becky Switzer know by Monday, Sept. 20, how their opinion on the ordinance issue. Merle Seamon informed the commissioners that Ross McCain has resigned his position on the City Beautiful Commission. That leaves an open position on the commission. Mrs. Graham would like Janet Carson to fill that position. Minutes Sept. 14, 1993 Meeting Page 4 3. Roll Call. - Five members present. 4. Approval of Minutes. - Changes need to be made page three under Parks and Recreation activities. Jim Goodhart made the motion to accept the minutes with changes to be made. Joe Robbins seconded the motion. All commissioners voted in favor. Capitol Avenue. - Merle Seamon informed the commissioners that the Capitol Avenue project has been put on hold until January 15th. Mark Webre stated that an attempt is being made to bid and purchase lights for Capitol Avenue for comparision purposes with the Post Office consultants. Construction of Capitol Avenue will begin in the spring and coincide with the completion of the Post Office. 6. City Beautiful Kids - Progam ended for the year. 7. Winterfest & Lighting - The committee is attempting to negotiate a settlement between the Osbornes and the neighbors relating to the lighting problems. A report should be out regarding this issue. Joan Adcock is gathering the information. One of the items discussed is a bus tour of the lights. The lighting awards will take place again this year with some changes from last year. There is a need to start on this event soon so it will not be a last minute event as last year. Winterfest as it has been in years past is not being considered. However, the Power Squadron still is in favor of a boat parade. 8. Awards No report. 9. Litter Awareness No report. 10. Adopt A Park Jim Goodhart would like to know the statis of the Adopt A Park program. At the last meeting the City Beautiful Commission had agreed to put their involvement on this project on hold until they heard from Parks and Recreation. Joyce Raynor would like for the Parks Department to have a report for the commmission at the next meeting. She would like to have Parks and Recreation define the City Beautiful Commissions role in the project. Minutes Sept. 14, 1993 Meeting Page 5 11. Long Range Planning - Merle Seamon still feels a separate meeting is needed to discuss long range planning. Jim Goodhart suggested that instead of having a regular meeting next month the commissioners have an extended meeting to discuss long range planning. He recommended meeting somewhere other than City Hall. Merle Seamon stated that he is discouraged about the fact that commissioners are not showing up for meetings. Jim Goodhart feels like that one of the reasons the commission should have the long range planning meeting is to look at the committees in place and find some directions for these committees. Merle felt that since we have new people on the commission that there are a lot of different ideas and directions that the commission could take. Josephine Graham suggested that if a commissioner will not be able to attend a meeting to call and let Becky know before the date of the commission meeting. Nancy Norton suggested that the commission meet next month at the University Park Adult Center and lunch would be served. She also suggested that Merle Seamon write the commissioners a letter expressing how he feels about the attendance at previous meetings and events. He could also tell them that the next meeting will be held at the University Park Adult Center with lunch. They also need to let Merle know whether they are still interested in serving on the commission. Jim Goodhart made a motion that the next regular City Beautiful Commission Meeting be held at the University Park Adult Center. Between now and then the commissioners need to prepare a list of items to be discussed. They need to provide Becky this list for development of an agenda. Merle feels like some of the old items on the agenda need to be reprioritized. Joyce Raynor seconded the motion. All commissioners present were in favor of the motion. Merle Seamon stated that he would draft a letter and send it to all commissioners. Minutes Sept. 14, 1993 Meeting Page 6 12. Parks and Recreation Activities - Josephine Graham asked Nancy Norton the statis of the Dinos Alive Exhibit. Nancy informed her that the attendance was slow because of the heat but that after the Labor Day weekend, the attendance picked up with the cool weather moving into the state. The admission cost is $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for kids, and 3 years and under are free. The admission to the Zoo is separate from the admission to Dinos Alive. There is a activity tent for the children and a gift shop. 13. Miscellaneous - Nancy Norton informed the commission of the changes that have taken place on the city staff. Bob Lane and Brenda Donald have been named Assistant City Managers. Bill Bunten is back as the Director,of Parks and Recreation. Nancy will now be reporting to Bill Bunten. 14. Adjournment - Joyce Raynor made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Joe Robbins seconded that motion. All voted in favor of the motion. The City Beautiful Commission MEETING NOTICE The City Beautiful Commission will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, September 14, 1993 in the City Board Conference Room, 2nd Floor of City Hall at 10:00 A.M. AGENDA 1. Jim Lawson, Director, Neighborhoods & Planning City Sign Ordinance 2. Nancy Baker and Buddy Villines Rebsamen Park 3. Roll Call 4. Approval of Minutes of August meeting. 5. Reports of Committees r1ov� r1 A. B. C. D. E. F . City Beautiful Kids Winterfest Awards (L�Vt-o&>A"A) Litter Awareness Campaign Adopt A Park Long Range Planning 6. Parks and Recreation Activities - Truman Tolefree 7. Miscellaneous 8. Adjournment 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770