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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-03Minutes: Reconvened Meeting January 28, 2003 MINUTES Board of Directors Room City Hall — 500 W. Markham Little Rock, Arkansas January 28, 2003 4:00 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas met in reconvened session with Mayor Dailey presiding. The roll was called by Assistant City Clerk, Nataki Knight, with the following Directors present: Hurst, Stewart, Kumpuris, Keck, Adcock, Wyrick, Cazort, Vice Mayor Hinton, and Mayor Dailey. Director Pugh and Director Graves were absent. The first consideration was Item 8. 8. ORDINANCE - Establishing the Chenal Valley Municipal Property Owner's Improvement District No. 14 of Little Rock, Arkansas, declaring an emergency, and for other purposes. The ordinance was passed at the February 4, 2003 Board of Directors Meeting; however the Emergency Clause was not passed. Director Adcock, seconded by Director Keck moved for the adoption of the Emergency Clause. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, the emergency clause was passed. Mayor Dailey asked the Board to consider Item 7, as it had been deferred from the previous week. 7. ORDINANCE - To establish guidelines for the Board of Directors to follow before it endorsees a foundation established to support the city, its departments, board, commissions or projects; and for other purposes. Director Cazort stated when he first proposed this ordinance, the intent was not to create — a situation where the city was in any way being uncooperative with organizations who wished to raise money on behalf of any board, commission, or department, but to make sure any fundraising organization that was created was not being uncooperative with the City given past experience that he has had to deal with. He stated Director Hurst has raised some valid concerns, some of which he felt could be resolved and some, in his opinion, was not sure could. The major concern to this point has been the continuing tax - exempt status of financial or fundraising organizations given the parameters outlined in the present ordinance. He stated he was not sure if these were valid concerns. and if they are valid concerns, they defeat the purpose of the intent of this ordinance. He stated this came about because the Zoo is getting ready to re- create a new non - profit fundraising organization and this appeared to be an opportunity to try and ensure that not only the fundraising entity the Zoo creates and any others created for the city, did what they promise to do. He said he could not say this ordinance would do that, and thought the tax situation may need further study. He proposed, because of the inability to answer some of the tax questions tonight, that the ordinance be tabled at this time, with the proviso that while this was intended to be a global solution for a city wide area, and while it may be discussed and moved forward, and a solution found, the Zoo would continue to move forward in creating it's own non - profit entity and work to ensure that it is legally created. Director Cazort made a motion to table the item indefinitely. Director Hurst seconded the motion. Mr. Tom Carpenter, City Attorney, advised this was not proper motion. Director Cazort then moved to table the item for two months; Director Hurst seconded the motion. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, the item was tabled for two months. Mr. Carpenter asked if the Board might be interested in developing protocol for how money is raised on behalf of the city. He stated it seemed to him there was only two interests, that before someone can say they are raising money for the City of Little Rock, the City is aware that they are doing that, and secondly, that the City is in the position they can say yes, but not be in the position of cutting off another entity or another project. Mayor Dailey stated he would ask Director Hurst, and Director Cazort to work on that as part of the discussion in the next sixty days. Mr. Leon Minutes: Reconvened Meeting January 28, 2003 Matthews, representing the Sister Cities Commission, stated his concern was that he felt the ordinance as written stifles the opportunity for non - profits to raise money on behalf of the city. He offered his services in help to re -craft the ordinance. Director Cazort re- stated that the intent was not to stifle any department or commission who wished to help the City. He said there might not be a global solution, and each entity would have to be dealt with on a case -by -case basis. Mr. Odies Wilson, Governmental Relations Manager, state legislative activities are off and running for this session. He stated as of today there have been 266 House Bills, and 152 Senate Bills for a total of 428 Bills. He stated he was present tonight to amend part of the City's official Legislative agenda, and that was support of the Board to remove the cap on sales and use tax. He said there needs to be a consensus of the Board whether to move forward. There was discussion including impact of the removal of the cap, how information on the Bill can be obtained, and established that it would be a statewide initiative. Director Cazort moved to support the removal of the cap. Director Kumpuris seconded the motion; by unanimous voice vote of the board members present, the motion was approved. Director Adcock had several questions regarding the proposed PIT Contracts, including why there was, a rush to approve, when there is a new commission coming board who would look at these before recommendations are made. She questioned why some of the programs that passed review were not funded, and asked particularly about First Tee. Mr. Moore responded that the contracts were renewed only for a period of one year, until the new commission is on board, and felt it important to keep the programs intact until that time. Mr. Moore stated there are certain state laws that have to be followed during the bid process, and it is strictly low bid, but in the case of First Tee, the cap of the bid was $45,000, a request was put out for $45,000, the bid came in and they received a pass from the committee, and have a very viable program, but the bid came in at $48,000 and the City could not consider that bid. Mr. Moore stated in one component there is $100,000 left and there are four or five programs that did receive passing scores, and he would be working with city staff to make some recommendations, hopefully by this _- Friday, on additional programs that did receive passing scores for funding. Director Adcock questioned the cost of a copy machine and consultants listed on one of the requests, and had problems with some of the budgets proposed by the organizations. She asked that all PIT items be held until February 4, 2003 Board of Directors Meeting, or hold Items 1, 2, 4 and 5 until the new commission is available. Mr. Carpenter stated if these items are held, they would have to be re -bids. Mayor Dailey stated he would imagine it would take several months after appointments are made for the commission to get to the point of processing the applications. Mr. Moore stated he had several conversations with Director Adcock over the past several days regarding these issues. He stated that the Community Program staff and Legal staff negotiate each one of these contracts. and all those items are negotiated. The resolutions before the Board tonight does not sign the contract, they authorize the City Manager to move forward with contract negotiations with each one of these. Mr. Moore recommended that the Board hear the resolutions next week and planned to have the additional dollars of recommendation to the Board that did pass. Mayor Dailey stated since Director Adcock is the Board appointment to the Children Youth and Families Commission and felt she should be kept updated as the information becomes available. Director Keck stated since there is an RFP out now, and perhaps if that comes in next week, all the items could be considered then. Ms. Dorothy Nayles, Director of Community Programs, stated there are two bids out now. One is anticipated to be closed on Feb. 7th and the other on February 10. They would be brought before the Board the Tuesdays following these dates. Director Keck made the motion to defer the items until February 18th. Director Cazort asked if those Items were 1 -5 and if they would vote on Item 6. Director Keck stated that was his motion. Director Cazort seconded the motion. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, the items were deferred to February 18, 2003. Mayor Dailey asked the clerk to read Item 6. Director Adcock asked for a vote to be considered on Item 3 because those centers need the contract to continue with their program, and moved to adopt Item 3. Director Keck stated then he would withdraw his motion of deferral. Mayor Dailey stated he thought it would be proper procedure just to 2 Minutes: Reconvened Meeting January 28, 2003 have a motion to put Item 3 back on the agenda for consideration. Director Adcock moved to do so. Director Keck seconded the motion, and by unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, Item 3 was added back to the agenda. Mayor Dailey asked the clerk to read Items 3 and 6. 3. RESOLUTION NO. 11,437- To authorize the City Manager to enter into contract to provide Neighborhood Support Services; and for other purposes. 6. RESOLUTION NO. 11,438 - To authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Little Rock Community Health Center, Inc. for the use of United States Department of Health and Human Services Funds regarding grant activities and services to the Jail Diversion, Crisis Intervention Training Program; and for other purposes. The resolution was read. A motion was made by Director Adcock, seconded by Director Cazort for the adoption of the resolutions. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, the resolutions (Items 3 and 6) were adopted. 1. RESOLUTION - -To authorize the City Manager to enter into contract to provide Adult Substance Abuse Treatment Services for Little Rock Residents; and for other purposes. 2. RESOLUTION NO. - To authorize the City Manager to enter into contracts to provide Neighborhood -based Prevention Programs; and for other purposes. 4. RESOLUTION - To authorize the City manager to enter into contracts to provide Youth Intervention Programs (YIP); and for other purposes. 5. RESOLUTION - To authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract to provide Youth Employability, Evaluation, Technical Assistance and Violence Prevention coordination; and for other purposes. (Items 1,2,4,5 were deferred to February 18, 2003) Vice Mayor Hinton asked where the City is as far as legal issues on the items that were deferred.. Mr. Tom Carpenter, City Attorney, stated there would be a presentation in two weeks to answer questions that have been raised tonight. The option for the Board at that time is to approve the resolutions or to scrap all the bids and start with a new bidding process. There was some discussion regarding telephonic meetings for Director Pugh, who had an accident and is in the recovery period and not able to attend some of the Board meetings. Mr. Carpenter stated regular meetings, reconvened and special would be the meetings where votes are taken; agenda meetings would be allowable, as they are general information sessions. Mayor Dailey stated he was not closed to the idea, but it presents a lot of complications, even the logistics of it, and attempting to make the connection and be sure there is city staff on hand with the individual, and right now staff is spread thin, and would personally recommend that Director Pugh attend the February 4th meeting and see how things work out. He said at that point the Board could decide if the Board wished to universally do this, or that if there is a real need the ordinance could be enacted. He stated he wanted to be sure a precedence is not set up that is too easy to accommodate members that may have a conflict and find it easy to just call in. Director Keck stated there needed to be a policy established to deal with situations such as this. Director Hinton asked for citizens to participate in the upcoming public meetings regarding the Arson and Gang hotline. He stated there will be meetings January 301h,at (Holy Cross) February 3rd at (Tyler Street) and February 6th at (East End). Mr. Carpenter announced that Matt Stoffer completed his requirements and has been recognized as an Eagle Scout. He stated that his mother is one of the City's interpreters, and she is downstairs interpreting right now, and thought the Board would have a special interest in his accomplishments. 3 Minutes: Reconvened Meeting January 28, 2003 Director Keck made the motion to adjourn; seconded by Vice Mayor Hinton. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, the meeting was adjourned at 6:10 P.M. ATTEST; %f CITY CLERK APPROVED: MAYOR M