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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-15-02at/ MINUTES Board of Directors Room City Hall — 500 W. Markham Little Rock, Arkansas January 15, 2002 6:00 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas met in regular session with Mayor Dailey presiding. The roll was called by City Clerk, Nancy Wood, with the following Directors present: Directors : Hinton, Pugh, Stewart, Graves, Lichty, Kumpuris, Keck, Adcock, Wyrick and Vice Mayor Cazort. The invocation was given by Director Graves, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Dailey asked the board to consider tow modifications to the agenda: (M -1) Presentation: Animal Services Adoptathon (M -2) Resolution: To authorize the City of Little Rock to match their share with TIP Funds for the construction of a bikeway in Boyle Park. Director Lichty made a motion to add the two items to the agenda. Vice Mayor Cazort seconded the motion, and by unanimous voice vote of the board members present, the items were added to the agenda. Mayor Dailey asked if the resolution could be added to the Consent Agenda; all were in favor. Mayor Dailey announced that HUD had announced the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, had received a new Empowerment Zone designation; and that Little Rock was one of seven new empowerment zones across the county. PRESENTATIONS: "Pigs on Safari" was the first presentation. Mr. Mike Blakely, director of the Little Rock Zoo, announced a joint fund raising venture with the Junior League and the Little Rock Zoo, and introduced Ms. Lisa Hawkins, president of the Junior League. Ms. Hawkins stated this campaign was to benefit the Little Rock Zoo, and 60% of the profit from this venture would be donated to the Little Rock Zoo Master Plan. Animal Services Adoptathon was presented by Mr. Jimmy Pritchett, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Programs and Ms. Holly Barrett, with Last Chance Arkansas. They announced this was a partnership with the purpose of keeping citizens informed though a web page and would provide opportunities for citizens to come out and interact with the pets. They announced that January 26, 2002 from 1 OAM to 4PM would be the first adoptathon, and hoped to have these once a month. They announced that pets adopted on January 26d' would be provided with free sterilizations from CARE. Mayor Harry Light, Cammack Village, Arkansas thanked the board and the animal services staff for the help in the spay /neuter clinics. CATA — Response to 9 -11 Crisis was presented by Ms. Betty Wineland. Ms. Wineland overviewed the role CATA played in the events of September 11, 2001. She stated that the American Public Transportation Association sent out a message asking agencies to submit their own stories and experiences of the tragic events of September 11, and to share the impact that the attacks may have had on their transportation systems. Ms. Wineland said in response to that request, CATA's Director and General Manager, Mr. Keith Jones submitted an article, which was published in a special report. She announced that a couple of weeks after that article was published, the Federal Transit Administration formed a communicators working session, which consisted of thirty communicators who were to meet in Washington DC on December 6 to share and evaluate communications and operations strategies and security measures in light of the September 1 lth attacks The Solid Waste Study was presented by Mr. Bob Turner, Public Works Director. Mr. Turner gave an overview of the landfill, stating that the City has a 260 acre landfill located south of Dixon Road and east of Arch Street Pike, in the Southeast part of the city. Currently that landfill brings in an excess of 10,000 tons of trash and garbage per M, year, and average of over 500 tons per day. The life expectancy of the city's landfill is over 60 years at the current rate of garbage collection and filling at the landfill. The landfill originally started in 1993. The design of it was for nine separate cells. As one cell is filled, you go from cell to cell. Cell one is currently filled, Cell 2 will be filled in September of 2002, and that is the reason for the need to move forward, get ready and proceed with the construction of Cell 4. He said they would skip Cell 3, because more could be gained for the dollars with Cell 4. He said the landfill serves over 54,000 customers in the community with garbage collection. Mr. Turner stated that 1.2 million yards of material had been excavated from Cell 4 by city staff, and as a result, comparing that with some bid quantities, staff has saved the city of 1.5 million dollars, and that they were committed to doing the future cells. The last fee increase was for $3.10 per month in March 1998. Since then there have been personnel cost increases, and the contract with Waste management included built in cost of living increase, and have been absorbed in the existing budget without a rate increase. Mr. Turner said one of the other things included is that Cell 4 construction has to be completed which has added to operation costs. Cell 4 would have a life expectancy of ten years, and upon completion of Cell 4 the bond issue necessary for its construction would be paid off. Mr. Turner stated the administration fees transferred from the solid waste fund to the general fund has added to the need for a rate increase. Mr. Bob Biles, Finance Director, spoke of the importance of the rate study, saying it was important to the issuing of bonds, to do the work at the landfill, the cell, the equipment and other things needed to continue the operations at the landfill and solid waste operations and another reason was to ensure the revenues coming in will help meet the budget; that the bonds and the budget are closely related. Mr. Biles introduced Mr. David Yankee, whose firm (Reed, Stowe, Yankee), was chosen to perform the study. Mr. Yankee stated they specialize in the conduction of solid waste, water, and wastewater cost of service, and rate design for cities. Mr. Yanke covered items such as background in regard to different services provided by the city's solid waste utility, a cost analysis, and budget for solid waste. He discussed such things as tipping fees, encouraging recycling, and increase in garbage collections fees from $16.35 to $19,95. Mr. Yankee recommended the city take over all solid waste collection as opposed to contracting part of it out as is currently being done. He recommended against a pay as you throw program at this time for various reasons, mainly cost in implementing the program, but possibly looking at it in a future time. He recommended the city moving toward the matching of the bond issue, saying the asset life sometimes does not match the life of the bond and possibly entering into some contracts with neighboring cities, as potential customers that may want to dispose waste at the city's landfill. Mr. Yankee stated the city should look at the leaf pickup program that is in place in North Little Rock, but did not recommend it at this time due to it potentially adding another forty to ninety cents per month per household to the collection fees. Lastly, their recommendation was to only issue bonds for what is needed at that particular time. A lengthy discussion, and questions from the board followed the presentation. Mayor Dailey asked the clerk to read the consent agenda, which consisted of Items 1 -4. 1. MOTION — To approve minutes from regular Board of Directors Meeting: November 6, 2001, and November 20, 2001. 2. RESOLUTION NO. 11,219 — Awarding a contract to Coy's Construction Service, Inc. for the construction improvements to Chenal Parkway. 3. RESOLUTION NO. 11,220 — Changing the names of Commercial Center Drive to Colonel Glenn Plaza Drive, Commercial Center Blvd. to Colonel Glenn Court and Health Care Blvd. to Bowman Plaza Drive. 4. RESOLUTION NO. 11,221— Authorizing the City Manager to extend contracts with the Little Rock Housing Authority to provide Youth Intervention Programs (YIP) in targeted neighborhoods. M -2. RESOLUTION NO. 11,222 — Authorizing the City of Little Rock to match their share with TIP Funds for the construction of a bikeway in Boyle Park. 2 al3 The Consent Agenda was read. A motion was made by Director Adcock and seconded by Director Keck to adopt the Consent Agenda. By unanimous voice vote of the board members present, the Consent Agenda was adopted. Mayor Dailey announced there were no citizens present that wished to speak in favor or opposing any of the remaining items, and asked the board to group the remaining items. Director Hinton stated that Item 7 needed to be separate since there was staff denial. Mayor Dailey opened the Public Hearing on Item 6. There were no speakers either for or against the item. It was noted that Mr. Hal Kemp, representing the applicant was present to answer questions. Mayor Dailey closed the Public Hearing. The Clerk read Items 5, 6 and 10 as grouped items. 5. ORDINANCE NO. 18,632 — Reclassifying property located at 7200 Geyer Springs Road from 0-3 to 0-1, in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas amending the Official Zoning Map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and for other purposes. 6. PUBLIC HEARING & ORDINANCE NO. 18,631— On the petition to close, vacate, and abandon the south portion of South Katillus Street, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. 10. ORDINANCE NO. 18,630 — To amend Little Rock Ordinance 18,419 (1- 16 -01) and Little Rock Ordinance No. 18,528 (7- 17 -01) to clarify the procedure for the development and presentation of the plans for City Parks to assure that these plans are consistent with the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Master Plan; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. The ordinances were read the first time. The rules were suspended to provide for the second and third reading of the ordinances by the board members present and by a unanimous voice vote of the board members present. The ordinances and emergency clause were passed. 7. ORDINANCE NO. 18,633 - Approving A Planned Zoning Development and establishing a Planned Commercial District titled — Rodgers — Short Form PCD, located at 2408 S. Wolfe Street, in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; and for other purposes. (2 "d Reading) Mr. Jim Lawson, Director of Planning and Development gave an overview of the project stating this was a piece of property located at 2408 S. Wolfe Street that was first rezoned in 1988 for R -4 to PRD, then in 1990 was zoned again to eliminate the residential care, and just have a day care, and in 1995 the property was zoned for the third time from PRD to POD, and in 1999 the POD was revoked and the property went back to R -4 and R -5, then on July 6, 1999 there was another PZD zoned and then that was revoked in 1999. He said the issue in his opinion was that this had gone back and forth so many times. The people in the neighborhood objected because they felt this was a fragile neighborhood, that part of the neighborhood had been destroyed by the storm and the neighbors felt there should not be any commercial use in this particular building. The Planning Commission did agree that there should not be commercial use in the building. Mr. Lawson stated there had been no objection to a child day care in this location, and had been workiu with the applicant on that issue. Mr. Lawson said there was a letter dated January 12 from the applicant where they were asking for approval of a day care, senior citizen residential facility, and beauty and barbershop. Mr. Lawson stated that in speaking with the applicant tonight, they were saying what they wanted is a child day care. The applicant, Ms. Emogene Rodgers stated she was the owner of the property located at 2408 Wolfe Street, and they were not asking for commercial zoning; that what they wanted was a day care and a studio barber/beauty shop and a senior citizen residential facility. She stated she knew she could only have one of these at a time, but was trying to understand why they could not have all three facilities in the one location. Mayor Dailey asked Mr. Lawson what zoning a beauty/barber shop would be; to which Mr. Lawson replied that would be a commercial use. Mayor Dailey indicated that what he was hearing was that there would be no staff or Planning Commission objection to a day care but the other uses are not clearly defined, or may be defined to the point that 3 any people believe it is commercial and this may have brought the denial vote by the Planning Commission. Mayor Dailey told Ms. Rodgers that she would most likely have a good chance of getting the child day care, but not the other uses. Ms. Rogers replied that if they could get the daycare tonight, they would apply for the other uses at a later date. There was some discussion on the type of day care facility Ms. Rodgers was asking for; clarifying that this was a child day care, and that any other use, such as a senior residence or barber/beauty shop would not comply with the Conditional Use Permit, and could be revoked if other uses were implemented at the location. Director Adcock stated that in her opinion some of the issues had not been addressed such as parking, traffic, the number of children who would be in the center, what impact it would have since a school is located across the street, and made a motion to send it back to the Planning Commission. Director Wyrick seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and recorded as follows: Directors: Pugh, yes, Hinton, Abstained, Lichty no, Stewart no, Wyrick yes, Keck, yes, Kumpuris no, Graves no, Adcock, yes, Mayor Dailey no, and Vice Mayor Cazort no. The vote was recorded as 4 yes, 6 no, 1 abstention. The motion failed. Director Lichty made a motion to amend the ordinance to clean up the record, and change the item to read as a PCD, day care only. Director Pugh seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken with 10 yes votes and 1 no. Director Adcock voted no. The motion to amend as stated was passed. The clerk read the ordinance as amended the second time. The rules were suspended to provide for the third reading of the ordinance by two - thirds vote of the board members present and by majority voice vote of the board members present the ordinance did pass. 10 Board members in favor 1 opposed. Director Adcock voted no. CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS: There were two speakers to make presentations during citizen communications. The first speaker was Ms. Raheem, 2015 W. 29`h Street who thanked the City Manager and Board of Directors for re- evaluating the tornado area for the applicants, and increasing the funds for those applicants to the work on their homes. She also presented a plaque to Director Stewart in appreciation for her effort and hard work on behalf of the tornado area residents. Ms. Molly Irvin, spoke of the traffic light situation that is occurring on Barrow Road area, and encourages the board to get a traffic light in that area as there were safety issues, and traffic issues including speeding and volume. 8. RESOLUTION NO. 11,217 — To authorize the City manager to enter into a contract with McGeorge Contracting Company, Inc. for the Construction Project: Cell 4 of Class I Landfill, and for other purposes. 9. RESOLUTION NO. 11,218 — To authorize the City manager to enter into a contract with Genesis Environment Consulting, Inc. to provide quality assurance for the construction of Cell 4, Class I Landfill and for other purposes. Mr. Guy Lowes, Assistant Public Works Director, gave an overview of the Cell 4 Project. There was a brief discussion by the board. The resolutions were read. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Cazort, seconded by Director Keck for the adoption of the two resolutions. By a unanimous voice vote of the board members present, the resolutions were adopted. Mayor Dailey reopened the discussion on the Solid Waste Study. There was a lengthy discussion which included topics such as the inter -fund transfer allocation, which was explained as an equivalency fee such as those paid by the other utility companies. Another topic of discussion was the recommended $2.80 per ton pass - through fee, mandated by the state, ($2.50 going to the state, and $30 going to the Pulaski County Waste District) to be paid by each department that generates waste and deposits at the landfill. Tipping fees were discussed, and the recommendation was to base the fees on the market in order to stay competitive. The "pay as you throw "variable collection system was discussed in some detail, with Mr. Yanke recommending that the city not go in that direction at this time due to possible billing problems, such as converting the billing system for accomodation, cost involved in converting trucks to pick up the various sizes, additional time intensive administrative billing costs, and cost for an educational program. Director Keck and Vice Mayor Cazort stated they were advocates of this type program and felt the current system was inequitable for those who had very little garbage pickup on a consistent basis, as opposed to those who have large quantities on a consistent basis. Director Lichty suggested 4 another way of possible having variable rates and that was to provide customers another cart at a discounted rate. Mr. Turner stated the problem with this approach is they have difficultly keeping up with the containers. He said sometimes when people move, the carts are taken and used by another customer. Director Keck asked Mr. Yankee to discuss their recommendation in getting the city to the point of completely taking over the solid waste operation as proposed in the study. Mr. Yanke explained that his recommendation would be that the city just takes over the operation when the current contract expires. Director Keck stated he would like to provide the city the opportunity to show in a competitive manner, by an RFP being crafted and the city staff responding to it just as the city would require any other competitive bidder to do and asked the city attorney if it would be an RFQ or an RFP process. Mr. Tom Carpenter, City Attorney, responded that it would be an RFP process. Director Keck stated he felt the city had to provide the most cost effective manner out there, and had no problem with city staff competing against anyone for any service the city offers. Mayor Dailey stated he believed there needed to be more public discussion to even consider a bid option and a policy directive would need to be give to management whether "pay as you throw" would even be considered as a bid option and a policy directive and to give that policy directive. He also stated that the leaf pickup was only briefly discussed, and the board would want to hear more from the public on that issue due to the cost figure attached to it. Mr. Cy Carney, City Manager asked the board, since there are a number of issues the board has raised, to give staff an additional two weeks to follow up and get the board some data, and to follow up on the "pay as you throw" issue. Director Kumpuris proposed setting the date for the Public Hearing for February 5th. The board agreed to another discussion on January 29th, and then to set the date of hearing for February 5th. Director Kumpuris asked Mr. Carpenter to look into and bring back to the board some recommendations regarding aspects of the assembly laws, parade laws, and whether the city wanted to allow people to picket in neighborhoods at nighttime. Director Adcock announced that the Parks and Recreation Department was having a public meeting on Saturday at 3:00 PM, January 19th at 5509 65th Street. 10. REPORT: City Manager's Activity Report. Mr. Carney announced that the Little Rock School Board had voted to close Badget Elementary School at the end of the semester (May). He stated they took no action to close any other schools at this time. Director Keck made the motion to recess until January 29,2002; Vice Mayor Cazort seconded the motion; by unanimous voice vote of the board members present the meeting was recessed at 9:50 PM. ATTEST: Nan 00K, City lerk APPROVED: -* WA Jim Dailey, mayor ass