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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-20-01Minutes Board of Directors Room City Hall — 500 W. Markham Little Rock, Arkansas March 20, 2001 6:00 P.M. The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, met in a regular session with Mayor Dailey presiding. City Clerk Nancy Wood called the roll with the following Directors present: Directors: Hinton, Pugh, Lichty, Cazort, Keck, Stewart, Graves, Kumpuris, Wyrick, Adcock. Director Stewart was absent at roll call but enrolled at 6:05 P.M. With a quorum present, Director Keck gave the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and then Mayor Dailey declared the Board of Directors in session and the proceedings of the meeting are recorded as follows. A motion was made by Director Keck to add Items M -1 — M -3 to the agenda. Vice Mayor Cazort seconded the motion, and by unanimous voice vote the modifications were made to the agenda. Items M -1 and M -2 were added to the consent agenda, and Item M- 3 was added to the list of grouped items. M -1. RESOLUTION NO. 11,030- Authorizing the City Manger to enter into a contract with Sterling Trucks of Arkansas, Inc., for the purchase of two (2) 25 Cubic Yard High Compaction Refuse Collections Trucks in the amount for $188,292. M -2. RESOLUTON NO. 11,022- Authorizing a memorandum of intent by and between the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and GSJ Properties, LLC and East End Partners, LLC as lessees and United Systems of Arkansas, Inc. as sublesee, pertaining to the issuance of Industrial Development Revenue Bonds for financing the costs of acquiring, constructing, and equipping industrial facilities; and prescribing other matters relating thereto. M -3. ORDINANCE NO. 18,453- Appropriating funds and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a construction contract in the amount of $613,921 with McV, Inc. for construction of Granite Mountain Public Improvements. Mr. Cy Carney, City Manager presented Mr. Bryan Day, Little Rock Parks and Recreation Director, with a plaque in special recognition of the Southwest Region Conference of the National Park and Recreation Association (five states) who held a competition, and selected Mr. Day as the Outstanding Park and Recreation Professional for the five state region. PRESENTATIONS: Director Genevieve Stewart presented Service Recognition to Dr. Patricia McGraw. Mr. John Swanson, Executive Director, Metropolitan Emergency Services presented a Life Saving Award to Mr. Tom Spencer. Director Keck also made a recognition presentation on behalf of the Mayor and Board of Directors, to Mr. Spencer. Mr. George Mallory, Chair, Zoo Board of Governors presented the Little Rock Zoo Annual Report. Mr. Mallory stated there were significant improvements at the Zoo in the physical facilities, the Children's Farm was completed, a new Trains Station was built, the Cafe was upgraded, a new employee break room was built, and improvements to the elephant exhibit. He stated the Zoo was continuing their efforts to be accredited with AZA, and, an accreditation committee was established to enable the process. H also reported that Ellen the elephant was introduced to Mary, the newest elephant addition to the zoo, and they were getting along really well, no problems were encountered in the introduction. Mayor Dailey asked that Item 1, be held separately, due to a card being presented for discussion on that item. Mayor Dailey asked for the consent agenda to be read, which consisted of Items 2 -10 and Items M -1 and M -2. 2. RESOLUTION NO. 11,020- To authorize local government endorsement of United Systems of Arkansas, located at 1201 S. Main Street, Little Rock, Arkansas to participate in the Advantage Arkansas Program; and for other purposes. ,3q 3. RESOLUTION NO. 11,021- To set the date of Public Hearing for April 3, 2001 regarding the issuance of industrial development revenue bonds for United Systems of Arkansas, Inc. Project. 4. RESOLUTION NO. 11,023- Authorizing use of eminent domain to acquire right -of- way for 6th Street Railroad Underpass Drainage Improvements Project. 5. RESOLUTION NO. 11,024 - To set the date of Public Hearing for April 3, 2001 on a petition to vacate a public utility easement in Block 88 of Original City, in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas. 6. RESOLUTION -NO. 11,025 -To authorize a contract with The Climatic Corporation to purchase air conditioning equipment for The River Market; and for other purposes. 7. RESOLUTION NO. 11,026- To authorize the purchase of three (3) 3/4 ton pickup trucks from Little Rock Dodge in the amount of $56, 806.00 for the Public Works Sanitation Department. 8. RESOLUTION 11,027 - To amend four resolutions on retirement plan administration; to change the plan director from the Finance Director to the Risk Manager, Human Resources Department; and for other purposes. 9. RESOLUTION NO. 11,028 - To set the date of Public Hearing for April 3, 2001 for the abandonment of the right of way of the alleys between Cedar and Elm Streets and between 5th and 6th in Block 2, Reyburn Wright Addition. 10. RESOLUTION NO. 11,029 - To name Bruce Bennett, Walter Nunnerlly, and Jim Shamburger as new members of the Little Rock Advertising and Promotions Commission; to thank Evette Brady, Linda Joyce and Wally Allen for their service; and for other purposes. The consent agenda was read, and by motion of Director Lichty, a second by Director Keck, and with a unanimous vote of board members present, the consent agenda was adopted. Mayor Dailey asked for consideration of Item 21, as the next item on the agenda, due to Judge Villines having another appointment, and would need to leave by 7 P.M. 21. ORDINANCE NO. 18,452 - To appropriate additional fund for the operational costs of the Pulaski County Regional Detention Center; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. Judge Villines presented an overview of the request for additional funds. He stated that Pulaski County did not have the funds to expand the facility; he stated they had gone from a 4 % million dollar jail budget to general funds now being 15 '/2 million dollars, for operation of the jail. He said that was not counting the 1.9 million dollars the City has put in. He said if you add in other factors, they are now putting in 56% of their general fund into the Criminal Justice System. He said that is their total General Fund, and if you minus those funds that are dedicated for certain things, it's closer to 70 or 80 percent. He said they are at a point they cannot go any further. He said the proposal is based on an 80 -bed increase. He said this would not be enough, and would not solve the problem, but they were trying through other types of programs for diversion intervention, to address these issues. He said the crime rate is not going down in the city. He said he thought this was the last expansion they could do with the existing building. The next step would be to build new buildings. He said they have to, on a daily basis, decide whom they will release because of the lack of beds. There was some discussion regarding permanent funding, the escalating costs the cities are being asked to put into the jail, if the County would work with other organizations in placing some of the lesser offenders in other facilities and programs to help reduce the jail population, such as drug/alcohol treatment programs, and where do the regional jail go once the eighty additional beds fill up. Judge Villines stated that the County receives 19 million dollars, from the 5 mil property tax, P� and 15 %2 million is going to the jail, and if you add in the jail cost, patrol for 60,000 people in the unincorporated areas, that cost plus what is being paid for the courts, prosecutor, and public defender, the county spends over 36 million, actually paying out more than they are collecting from their two major tax sources. He said the County couldn't stretch anymore. He said there are a lot of things the County should be doing in partnership with Little Rock, but do not have the resources. He said they do work with groups to place lesser offenders in programs, such as the home detention, where ankle monitors are used to keep track of the prisoner. He said they are working with Vision Little Rock in looking at other programs that might work in these situations. Judge Villines stated this is the breaking point at the current facility. He said from this point on the community has to decide if they are willing to pay for a drug /alcohol treatment diversion program, or more hard lockdown facilities. Skipper Polk, Chief Deputy, Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, answered questions regarding the prevention/ intervention/treatment programs. He commented that the eighty -bed expansion is the cheaper route to go right now, plus the goal of the prevention/intervention treatment program goal could be met, as they do not have any programs in the Work Center now. Director Keck asked Mr. Carpenter if the interlocal agreement would be amended, and brought back before the board, to reflect the costs the City is actually paying now, as the agreement the City is operating under now states the City is paying less money than what is actually being paid. Mr. Carney stated that he and Mr. Carpenter had conferred, and that would be a step they will formally take to amend the agreement. The board asked for a report on a quarterly basis that gives some information as to the number of prisoners arrested and/or residents arrested from the City of Little Rock, as compared to the other regional entities. Kathy Wells, President of the Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods, said they have long held one their five points to be their concern for public safety for better community policing, and community citizen policing activities, and had been studying on this a long time, and have concluded that tonight's proposal amounts to spitting in the ocean. Se stated the coalition proposed to divert the proposed appropriation toward more productive uses such as faster trials or expansion of the drug court. She stated eight out of every ten prisoners spend nine months waiting on their felony trials, and when they get it, ninety percent of them pled guilty as charged. She stated that more than eight percent of them have drug and alcohol problems and many times this contributes to their criminal history. She stated the addition of more police officers with the equal expansion of the rest of the system. She said that results in an overload of the prosecutors, judges, probation officers, etc. She said taking earlier guilty pleas, placing felonies in drug treatment programs, and other corrective programs on an outpatient basis cost the tax payers much less money. She asked the board to be frugal with public dollars and spend the dollars elsewhere for maximum effect. Mike Coulson, Chairman of the Little Rock Regional Chambers Public Safety Committee, stated on behalf of the Chamber they support this issue and asked the board to vote for it. He stated they believed it a temporary measure, and more has to be done, but it's an issue of regional cooperation, with emphasis on public safety. Director Kumpuris asked Mr. Polk to comment on Ms. Wells's statements. Mr. Polk stated with no disrespect to Ms. Wells, he didn't know where her numbers came from and could not say 90 percent of the felons stay nine months or more, waiting to go to trial, and wasn't comfortable with any of the numbers she presented. He said it was true the jail was almost a felony jail, but very few are charged with drug offenses, most are charged with serious crimes and drug offenses. He said most, drug offenses do not stay in jail a long time. Director Kumpuris asked Mr. Polk to take a copy of Ms. Wells handout, and give the board some thought on it, as it may be another avenue that needs looked into that may be in fact less expensive than more jail space. Mr. Carney stated that from a police perspective, he and the police chief recommend approval of the initiative before the board. He stated that in the year 2000 the jail was in effect closed down because it was full to capacity, fifty -one different times, during the year. He stated that during these times, the Little Rock officer would -- apprehend, and couldn't not take them to jail, so they would have to sit with the individual at a holding facility, and were pulled off the street, from their regular patrol and duties regularly assigned to them because they had to wait for capacity at the jail to install the prisoner into the jail. He said this is a bad situation related to decreased police protection in the community. He said they feel it important that the initiative move forward, and encouraged the board to support the initiative. The Ordinance was read the first time. The rules were suspended to provide for the second and third readings of the Ordinance by unanimous vote of the Board members present, being ten in number and 41 two - thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors, and by unanimous voice vote of the board members present the ordinance and emergency clause was adopted. Mayor Dailey declared the public hearing open. There was no discussion, as the applicant stated they would not pursue the cemetery project due to the controversy it has caused within the neighborhood. The Public hearing was closed. 17. PUBLIC HEARING & RESOLUTION NO. 11,041- Z -6929 — To rescind the Little Rock Planning Commission's action in approving a Conditional Use Permit for a cemetery to be located on property located at 3200 Roosevelt Road. (Planning Commission: 10 yes, 0 no, 1 absent) Staff recommends denial of the resolution, approval of the Conditional Use Permit. The resolution was read. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Cazort to adopt the resolution, Director Keck seconded the motion, and by unanimous voice vote the resolution was adopted. Mayor Dailey asked for Item 1 to be the next consideration, and recognized Kathy Wells, President of the Coalition of the Little Rock Neighborhoods, for comment on the item. She requested that the Little Rock Ethics Ordinance be upheld and strike the February 20`h vote of Director Joan Adcock in favor of the proposed Union Rescue Mission facility on the grounds there was a conflict of interest that subjected her to recusal under the law. She said the Coalition had attempted to obtain the Statement of Determination that a conflict existed from City Attorney Tom Carpenter, who has not responded to their repeated inquires, and when they checked with the City Clerk, Nancy Wood, they learned that the determination that a conflict existed, had not been attached to the February 20 minutes for proposed adoption as the Ethics Ordinance requires, and in addition a second document, the statement from the City Attorney that the attorneys advise was to recuse because of a conflict, and that advise was not followed and also is absent from the official minutes, and the law does call for these statements to be attached to official minutes. She said there is also a third document, the law calls for the City Attorney to report substantiated violations of the Ethics Ordinance to the board, and that statement is also missing from the official record as it is going forward for the boards official approval. She stated the Coalition requests the board uphold the law and see these determinations are provided to them, and attached to the official minutes. She said this would promote public confidence in the integrity of public service. Mr. Carpenter, City Attorney said he would challenge Ms. Wells statements. He said what happened that night was that Director Adcock brought the issue up, and he had advised her there was nothing in her disclosure that would require her to recuse, that he thought it was something she should disclose, and she made the statement into the record that she had asked him about that, and that he had advised there was no reason to recuse because there was not and "interest" as defined in the ordinance, but that she works for an organization to whom the Union Rescue Mission periodically refers people to work, once they are inside the Rescue Mission, so there was never an opinion that there was a conflict of interest, that she had to recuse, or that she had taken a vote in violation of that and the reason it is not in the minutes is that it does not exist. 1. MOTION - To approve minutes from regular board meeting: February 6, 2001, February 20, 2001 and special meeting February 13, 2001. Director Keck motion to approve the minutes, Vice Mayor Cazort seconded the motion, and by unanimous vote of the board members present the minutes of February 20, 2001 were approved, along with approval of the minutes from February 6, 2001, and the special meeting of February 13, 2001. The next items for consideration were the Grouped Items, which consisted of Items 11 — 15 (The Public Hearing on Item 15 was opened: there was no discussion; and closed, and then included, and read as apart of the list of grouped items) and Item M -3. 11. ORDINANCE NO. 18,446 - Reclassifying property located at David O'Dodd Road, south of Colonel Glenn Road, in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, amending the Official Zoning Map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and for other purposes. (Planning 0 N Z__ Commission 9 yes, 2 absent.) Staff recommends approval. (Deferred from March 6, 200.1) 12. ORDINANCE NO. 18,447 - Amending Chapter 31 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas providing for a deferral of Church of Little Rock located at 19100 Cantrell Road. (Planning Commission: 9 yes, 2 absent.) Staff recommends approval. 13. ORDINANCE NO. 18,448 - Amending Addendum A of Little Rock Ordinance No. 17,690 to add other Zoo improvement projects for bond issue funding. 14. ORDINANCE NO. 18,449 - To declare Environmental Systems Engineers & Suppliers a professional service; to amend Little Rock Revised Code 2 -243 (a) 920 (1988) to include this definition; and for other purposes. (2"d reading.) 15. PUBLIC HEARING & ORDINANCE NO. 18,450 - To confirm the authorization to issue Dillard's Inc., located at 1600 Cantrell Road, Industrial Revenue Bonds; prescribing other matters relating thereto; and declaring an emergency. The Ordinances were read the first time. The rules were suspended to provide for the second and third readings of the Ordinances by unanimous vote of the Board members present, being ten in number and two - thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors, and by unanimous voice vote of board members present the ordinances and emergency clause were adopted. 16. PUBLIC HEARING & RESOLUTION NO. 11,032 - Z -6942 - To rescind the Little Rock Planning Commission's action approving a Conditional Use Permit for an adult day care center to be located in an existing house on property located at 7210 Milford Drive (Planning Commission: 9 yes, 1 no, 1 absent) Staff recommends approval of the resolution, denial of the Conditional Use Permit. Mayor Dailey opened the Public Hearing. There was a lengthy discussion. Mr. Jim Lawson, Planning and Development Director, stated he did not believe there had ever been an application for an adult daycare before the board. He stated the request was to be able to put ten adults in this particular daycare. Mr. Lawson referred to a letter that was passed out to the board earlier in the evening, that asked the question of who was going to beat the daycare, were they in fact going to be persons fifty -five and older, or if they were individuals who might have problems such as a drug or some sort of rehab. The applicant had answered these would not be people from a rehab facility, and they would be above fifty -five years of age. He stated that although the Conditional Use permit was approved for ten adults, the staff was opposed, and recommend the approval of the resolution to rescind the permit. Mr. Lawson showed slides of the proposed site. He stated that one of the main reasons staff was opposed to this was because it is located in a residential area, and the entire house would be the adult daycare, and what has been done in other parts of Little Rock, for children daycares is to make the distinction whether or not the owner still lives in the unit. If the owner lives in the unit and is being used as a single family house, but adding kids to come during the day for childcare, but in this case feel they have gone beyond that. He said there have been cases where childcares have been turned down where there is no established single family resident. He said staff is concerned this is a commercial business operation. There were questions from the board regarding size of building versus the number of clients, the number of bathrooms, the handicapped ramp access. It was established there were two bathrooms, some of the walls had been removed to make a larger living space, and the building had passed inspection from the state health department. The speakers in favor of the adult daycare were: Vera Cole, 5806 Drexel Avenue, Glorice Jones, 7424 Milford Drive, Ana Hernandez, 7325 Milford Drive, Kendra Williams, 10418 Woodbridge, Robalaird Johnson, 17, Nandina Circle. The reasons cited were, some of the speakers knew the applicant, and the work she does, the need for a facility of this type, the proximity of the center to where some of them live, they felt the residential setting was perfect for a facility such as this, the feeling that this was an alternative to a nursing home. Other reasons cited was that this residence was formerly a drug house, and this was a much more desirable option, a place where some of the younger children would be exposed to the older generation. Those speaking in opposition to the project were: Clifton Galyean, 17 Caylon Lane, Pam Adcock, Vice 5 �3 President of Southwest Little Rock United for Progress, and Vice President of the Cloverdale Neighborhood Association, and Chairperson for the Committee that prepared the Cloverdale /Watson School neighborhood Action Plan, 6205 Hinkson, Ms. Adcock also represented Mr. Troy Lahay, who sent a prepared statement for her to present to the board. Ms. Adcock disclosed that she was not at the planning Commission when this item was voted on. Janet Berry, President of Southwest Little Rock United for Progress, 8013 Mabelvale Cutoff. The reasons given for opposition were that it would increase the traffic on a narrow road; it went against the Neighborhood Action Plan, which clearly stated no lot would be used except for residential purposes. They considered the project a commercial business, and felt it would be better suited in a commercially zoned area. They a stated they felt there was a need for such a facility but not in a residential neighborhood. Some of those in opposition stated they would help Ms. Deloney locate a facility that was not in a residential neighborhood. Sharla Deloney, the applicant, responded to questions by the board relating to why this site was chosen, her qualifications, if she lived at the residence, if she had an approval from the Department of Human Services, if she planned to install the handicap accessibility if approved, who would operate the facility, what would the hours of operation be. Ms. Deloney stated she chose the site because she thought it would be conducive to the type of business, it was a quiet residential setting, the clients would be able to be a part of the neighborhood, that she had looked at other sites in areas zoned commercial in southwest Little Rock, but due to traffic flow in the areas she looked at, DHS would not approve the sites. She said she had passed the pre- screenings and requirements, required by DHS for licensing, if the project was approved, she said she had received various certifications; that she was a Certified Targeted Case Manager, which included various training throughout the DHS System, and other organizations, which included training at various facilities such as Easter Seals, United Cerebral Palsy, that she was a member of the Geriatric Association, and studied psychology and biology in college, also experience in working with Agency Arkansas Enterprises for Developmentally Disabled, and that her mother was a school teacher, and believed that would qualify for operating and running this type of facility, she said that she did have plans to run a wheelchair ramp off the deck in the back of the building. She stated that she and her mother would operate the facility; the planned hours of operation were from 7 AM to 5:30 PM. Ms. Deloney stated she did not plan to live at the residence. Ms. Deloney stated that all clients coming to the daycare would be fifty -five and over, and that she did not have a Medicare contract, and had turned in a petition with names of neighborhood people in support of the project. The general consensus of the board was that this was a commercial business, and there was no one actually living at the location. The resolution was read; Vice mayor Cazort moved to adopt the resolution, with Director Lichty seconding the motion. By voice vote, Directors Hinton, Lichty, Cazort, Keck, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Graves, Adcock, and Mayor Dailey voted to adopt the resolution. Directors Pugh and Stewart voted no. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 9 yes, 2 no. Director Keck asked Mr. Cy Carney, City Manager if he could work with the applicant in finding other opportunities that might be available, and to ask the city staff to assist them in any way possible. The meeting recessed at 9:55 PM, and reconvened at 10:10 PM. 18. PUBLIC HEARING & ORDINANCE - LU- 01- 08 -01— To amend the Land Use Plan (16,222) in the Central City Planning District located at 2501 Bishop Street, from single family to commercial; and for other purposes. (Planning Commission: 1 yes, 8 no, 2 absent.) Staff recommends denial. Mayor Dailey opened the Public Hearing. Walter Kendrick, Jr., the applicant stated he was trying to turn the building into a barber and beauty salon to provide services for the community. He said it is an abandoned, boarded up building, with trash strewn all around the building, and felt he could bring the property value back up. There were no questions posed by the board, and Mayor Dailey closed the Public Hearing. The Ordinance was read the first time. The rules were suspended to provide for the second and third readings of the Ordinance by unanimous vote of the Board members present, being ten in number and two - thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors. With a unanimous voice vote by board members present, the ordinance failed to pass. 2 44 Mr. Carpenter, City Attorney, asked in light of the issue raised at tonight's meeting, if the minutes of February 20, 2001 could be amended, to read that Ms. Adcock stated she had consulted with the City Attorney and was informed that she did not have to recuse, but that she should disclose this information, which would note the information in the minutes, and reflect what actually happened. Director Keck made a motion to amend the minutes to reflect this statement, Director Lichty seconded the motion, and by unanimous voice vote of board members present the minutes were amended. Director Adcock recused on this vote. 19. RESOLUTION NO. 11,031 - To authorize the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Discovery, Inc., to decide if and when to cancel a lease with Little Rock Newspapers, Inc. to declare the Board's intent to include this authority within the terms of the lease; to authorize city officials to execute any necessary documents to effect this authorization; and for other purposes. The resolution was read. There was brief discussion. Director Lichty stated there was a policy issue related to this matter, and raised an issue. He said in reading the material on the leases and subleases, etc. that created the Museum, nothing in that material suggests that it is prohibited from soliciting funds from outside sources, and in fact have been effective in doing that, and there is an eight million dollar grant that someone wants to give the Museum. He asked, regarding that specific funding what the money would be used for. Elijah Harris, President of the Board of Trustees for the Museum, answered that it would be used for enlarging the Museum. Director Lichty stated that in substance what the board is being asked to do, is transfer the responsibilities of this city board to another board, strictly for the purposes of appeasing a benefactor, and he had a problem with that from a policy standpoint but as a matter of practicality that raises the question of what if another benefactor comes along and wants to do something else. Does this board then accede to the request of that benefactor to placate their desires? Mr. Harris stated that if you look at it from the Museum point of view, the current lease does not include the Museum anywhere. He said the lease only specifies there is a museum of science. He said when they applied for this grant that was a sore thumb, and would stop the process unless they apply not only from this foundation, but any foundation, if they could not show some responsibility for the lease they could not be considered. He said they have not been promised this grant, but feel comfortable if this moves forward tonight they would receive consideration. He said as an organization they would like to have their name included in the lease somewhere. He said if the City of Little Rock decided tomorrow that the museum could not use that building, there is nothing they could do about it. Director Lichty stated that by the same token if the sublease is adopted, and the board's responsibility is transferred as a tenant to the museum as a subtenant, the very next day, the Museum's board could be abolished. Director Lichty said he has a problem understanding why this is so necessary. Mr. Harris stated in this case it's necessary because without it, they could not be considered for the grant, the process would stop immediately. Director Adcock moved for the adoption of the resolution; Director Kumpuris seconded the motion, and by voice vote Directors Hinton, Pugh, Cazort, Keck, Stewart, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Graves, Adcock, Mayor Dailey voted to adopt the resolution. Director Lichty was opposed. The vote being 10 yes, l no, the resolution was adopted. Director Lichty stated he was opposed for policy reasons only. 20. ORDINANCE NO. 18,451 - To amend certain sections of the Little Rock Transportation Code, codified at Little Rock, Arkansas. Rev. Code 34 -1 to 34 -97 (1988), declaring and emergency; and for other purposes. The Ordinance was read the first time. The rules were suspended to provide for the second and third readings of the Ordinance by unanimous vote of the Board members present, being ten in number and two - thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors. With a unanimous voice vote of the board members present, the ordinance and emergency clause was adopted. Citizens Communication was the next item for consideration. Ms. Ouida Clark, 2615 Allis Street, spoke on city procedures. She stated that the more she became involved in the appeals process for the proposed cemetery on Roosevelt Road, the more difficult it became. She said the concerned citizens hired lawyers, and she ended up doing the work voluntarily. She said there is a need for procedures that can help to organize communities so they will know if there is business or commercial unit wanting to come in to the community, they need to know A -Z, so they will know how to handles these 7 1i SJ appropriately. She said the second thing she wanted to talk about was Clark Productions. She stated that children from Little Rock have been involved in this project since 1987 when the program moved from local humanities to the national endowment for the humanities, for funding, and they are holding at the scripting level with a five part series, she stated that children have voluntarily come out learning, as Children of the Twenty First Century music in Spanish French and German, working on plays, and have given the city five years of a broadcast Children of the Twenty First Century and have moved in to 33 states across the United States; that the program has reached children in seven foreign countries and recently visited Vienna, Austria, where they received a partner school in 1997. She said they still have to worry about locations for culture to meet in this city, and said she was appalled and asked the board for help. Annie Abrams, 1925 Wolfe Street, was the final speaker during citizen communication. Ms. Abrams stated that community is growing in a community unity that she did not think the board knew. She stated that one of the things she thought the board needed to know, is the greatest resources for unifying this community is the "camera" in the board room. She said it has helped the board be more accountable, she stated she remembered the days when there was no camera and the board didn't function as well as now, and as a citizen she wanted the board to know was that some citizens hold class, and the thing Ms. Clark expressed to you is that there are still a lot of people who feel so powerless that they don't feel they have the right to come in to this building, when their interest and needs are at stake in their community. Ms. Abrams stated that the issue in Item 17 would continue to come up. She asked the board to provide more information so people do not have to blunder because they don't know the legal procedures. She said somewhere along the line there might need to be a handbook, that teaches people what they need to do for applications, appeals, etc. Director Adcock announced they were taking applications to NUSA, Neighborhoods USA, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and it would be May 23- 27, 2001, and anyone interested in going and learning more about the subject Ms. Abrams just presented, to please call Neighborhoods and Planning and get your name on the list. Director Keck ask if there may not be opportunities related to city issue debt, due to the interest rate cuts for refunding or re- issuance of bonds, for saving some money, and asked for a report. He asked for an update re staff and Union Rescue Mission. He stated that on Kanis Road, trash pickup collection was taking place, and it made people late for work and school. 22. REPORT - City Manager's Activity Report. Mr. Carney, City Manager outlined three memos that were handed out to the board. He stated that Friday was the board's monthly opportunity to fieldtrip with staff members. He stated that the second memo was the board's retreat schedule for Tuesday, March 27th. The third memo was related to a request from a few weeks ago that requested tracking systems, and a more efficient way to be certain that individual board requests are followed up on in an appropriate way, and thought a good system had been developed. Director Lichty asked if this should be integrated into the board's policy and procedures manual as a formal addendum. Mr. Carney said he thought that was appropriate, but asked to see if works as well as anticipated. Vice Mayor Cazort told the City Manger that he had received a large number of phone call complaints regarding Comcast installation of fiber optics citywide, and asked to have Public Works look into it, as apparently they are not complying with the street cut ordinance, in how they are supposed to put it back, and if not, to get in touch with them to have it done correctly. Director Kumpuris asked Mr. Carney, if by next week for the retreat could all the parties to the Summit Mall project be contacted and, if there is any additional information, that it be presented at that meeting, and asked for the -°� actual ordinance could be completed by that same time. Mr. Carpenter stated that Mr. Vosper had called today and internally the city is meeting, and what he would like, if he couldn't get it ready by Monday, if it was alright to present a draft of that ordinance at the retreat meeting Tuesday, as he would be coordinating with staff and the people in Indiana. Director Hinton said he had had a lot of complaints about Asher and Roosevelt Streets. He said there is a leakage on that street that has been causing a lot of accidents, or near accidents, and asked staff to check it out. Director Hinton's other issue was an ordinance, or look at the ordinance already in place, regarding people dumping such 8 things as mattresses, chairs, etc, on streets and in front of properties, and would like to see what could be done to get the problem solved. Mr. Carpenter stated that the city already had ordinances, and all that was needed is the names of the people doing the dumping, and would be happy to prosecute them very quickly. Vice Mayor Cazort made a motion to adjourn, Director Hinton seconded the motion, and by unanimous voice vote the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 P.M. ATTEST: City Clerk ancy Wood W APPROVED: M or, Jim Dailey q&