HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-96532
Board of Directors Room
City Hall - 500 W. Markham
Little Rock, Arkansas
September 10, 1996 - 4:10 P.M.
The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, reconvened from the
September 3, 1996 regular meeting with Vice Mayor Joan Adcock presiding in the absence of
Mayor Jim Dailey. City Clerk Robbie Hancock called the roll with the following Directors
present: Directors Sharp, Mason, Kumpuris, Hinton, Keck, Joyce, and Wyrick - total 7; Absent -
Directors Wilson and Hodges and Mayor Dailey - total 3.
With a quorum being present, Vice Mayor Adcock declared the Board of Directors in
session and stated the purpose of the reconvened meeting was to consider an Ordinance granting
a franchise to the State of Arkansas for fiber optics cable The proceedings of the meeting are
recorded as follows.
Consideration was then given to a proposed Ordinance entitled:
AN ORDINANCE TO GRANT A FRANCHISE TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS
TO OPERATE FIBER OPTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT IN THE
STREETS OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS; AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
City Attorney Tom Carpenter explained the lengthy franchise agreement which he had just
distributed to the Board of Directors. The franchise will allow the State to bore across Markham
Street for installation of fiber optics cable to connect the State Teacher Retirement System with
other state agencies. The franchise will be for a period of twenty (20) years at no expense as
long as the information is being done in a governmental capacity and not a proprietary capacity
or not for resale. The Ordinance remains on the books effectively for ten days before it actually
can take effect. In that ten days the Ordinance will be prepared for signing. Assistant City
Manager Cy Carney said there are two issues before the Board: (1) the franchise as explained by
Mr. Carpenter, and (2) the nature of the work proposed by the State. There was some confusion
as to what action would be taken. The application was for boring underneath Markham Street,
but the State has indicated it may be necessary to cut the street and alleys in order to complete
the project. Director Wyrick asked why the urgency to grant the franchise. Mr. Ken Hall,
Director of Telecommunications for the Department of Computer Services of State of Arkansas,
explained that plans are to move into the new Teacher Retirement Building at Markham and
Victory Streets in October. If the franchise is delayed, there will be no telephone service for the
building at the time of the move. Director Joyce works for the State Finance Department and has
dealings with the Department of Computer Services, but was advised by City Attorney Tom
Carpenter that she did not need to recuse from this item. Director Hodges enrolled at 4:20
o'clock P.M. and Mr. Carpenter reviewed the franchise again for the benefit of Director Hodges.
He stated there will be no franchise fee for state services, but if the State starts selling service
then the City of Little Rock will be entitled to 5% of the gross revenue. The term of the
franchise is 20 years as opposed to five years because this is a governmental agency. Director
Hodges stated he was not prepared to vote on the Ordinance since he had not seen the franchise
before the meeting and it was to lengthy to read during the meeting. Also, he had requested an
update on where the City is with enforcement of contracts with other fiber optics companies and
wanted an full blown report from Public Works Director Chandra Russell. (Director Wilson
enrolled at 4:25 o'clock P.M.) Director Keck stated he would like to have Mrs. Russell's report
on Tuesday, and asked that the Ordinance be read the first time and left on the calendar for
second reading on Tuesday, September 17, 1996, which would give Board Members opportunity
to read the lengthy franchise. Mr. Carney stated that Board Members were provided a
comprehensive report on the street cut monitoring two weeks ago but will be provided an update.
Mr. Carpenter stated that Mr. Hall has requested the first reading of the Ordinance and he will
make a ten minute presentation on the scope of the work at the Board Meeting on Tuesday. The
Ordinance was then read the first time, and left on the calendar for second reading on
Tuesday, September 17, 1996.
There being no further business to be presented, the reconvened meeting was adjourned
at 4:30 o'clock P.M. with the Board of Directors to meet again in regular session on Tuesday,
September 17, 1995, at 6:00 o'clock P.M.
ATTEST:
City Clerk Robbie Hancock
1
A ROVED:
ice Mayor Joan Adcock