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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-27-99507 Board of Directors Room City Hall - 500 W. Markham Little Rock, Arkansas July 27, 1999 - 4:15 P.M. The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, reconvened from the July 20, 1999 regular meeting with Mayor Jim Dailey presiding. City Clerk Robbie Hancock called the roll with the following Directors present: Directors Pugh, Hinton, Lichty, Cazort, Keck, Stewart, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly and Adcock - total 10; Absent — None. With a quorum present, Mayor Dailey declared the Board of Directors in session and announced the purpose of the reconvened meeting was to consider an Ordinance changing the name of a portion of East and West Markham Street to President Clinton Avenue, to conduct three public hearings regarding Targeted Neighborhood Enhancement Plans, and to consider a Resolution adopting a new investment policy for the City. Item 1 on the Agenda was an Ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE NAME OF THAT PORTION OF EAST AND WEST MARKHAM STREET, FROM THE UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY STATION TO THE SITE OF THE CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY, TO PRESIDENT CLINTON AVENUE." However, Director Kelly moved to reconsider Director Cazort's Resolution of July 20, 1999, which had failed by a vote of 4 ayes and 7 noes, (see Minutes of July 20, 1999) and Director Keck seconded the motion. In response to a question by Director Lichty, as to the rules for expunging the vote, Deputy City Attorney Bill Mann said that a motion to reconsider has precendence over anything else as long as it was made within the same meeting. With this being a recessed and reconvened meeting of the July 20, 1999 regular meeting, the motion takes precedence and can be discussed and voted on immediately. Director Keck asked Director Cazort to restate the points of his Resolution. Director Cazort explained that his proposed Resolution would do four things: (1) rescind the Board action of November 7, 1997 (Resolution No. 10,122); (2) state the intention of the Board of Directors to rename a section of East Markham Street from Cumberland Street east to the Presidential Library site to President Clinton Avenue; (3) the renaming would be done according to the City's policy for renaming streets by submission to the Planning Commission before action by the Board of Directors; and (4) would delay the renaming until January 20, 2001, when President Clinton leaves office. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to reconsider as follows: Ayes — Directors Cazort, Keck, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly and Mayor Dailey — total 6; Noes — Directors Pugh, Hinton, Lichty, Stewart, and Adcock — total 5. Upon adoption of the motion, Resolution No. 10,608 was then introduced, with the title being: A RESOLUTION TO AMEND LITTLE ROCK, ARK., RESOLUTION NO. 10,122 (NOVEMBER 7, 1997), TO OUTLINE THE PROCESS FOR THE RENAMING A PORTION OF EAST MARKHAM STREET TO PRESIDENT CLINTON AVENUE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Following the reading of the Resolution, Director Cazort moved for its adoption, and Director Keck seconded the motion. Mayor Dailey noted that from his conversations with people involved with the Presidential Library this will not be perceived as a breach of the Board's commitment to rename a portion of Markham Street to President Clinton Avenue. A number of people had registered to speak on Item 1 on the Agenda which was the proposed Ordinance changing the street name. They were given the opportunity to speak on Director Cazort's Resolution which was being considered instead of the Ordinance. The first speaker was Mr. Richard Butler, 36 River Ridge, who spoke in opposition to changing the street name. He referred to the expense involved not only for replacing street signs at a cost to the tax payers, but also the expense to the businesses 1 508 Minutes - Reconvened Meeting July 27, 1999 such as the Doubletree Hotel, Excelsior Hotel, Capitol Hotel, and those businesses in the River Market District. Markham Street has been a part of the history of Little Rock well over 150 years and the Quapaw Quarter Association doesn't want the street name changed primarily from a historical standpoint. He suggested naming one of the new streets leading into the Presidential Library as President Clinton Avenue. He was opposed to renaming an historical street to honor a man who has brought ridicule and dishonor to the State of Arkansas, the City of Little Rock, and the Office of the President. Mr. Steve Lucchi, 923 West Markham Street, said the Board should follow the normal procedure for renaming a street and he thought that one of the new streets leading into the Presidential Library would be more appropriately named President Clinton Avenue. Mr. Stephen V. Karlson, 8101 Cantrell Road, said he did not see what the haste is — let there be a public process with public input. Mr. Bradford Carter, 7221 West 65" Street, said only the portion of Markham Street from LaHarpe Boulevard/Cumberland Street to the easternmost end of the street should be considered for renaming to President Clinton Avenue. Ms. Kathleen Oleson, representing the League of Women Voters of Pulaski County, asked the Board to go through the process of public hearings and Planning Commission review before renaming a portion of Markham Street. Mr. Don Darnell, 7007 E. Wakefield Drive, said the issue is how the Board is handling this controversial proposal. There is no need to rush into doing this. He suggested that at the next election the Board allow the people to vote on the issue. Mr. Howard. A. Moum, 518 Cambridge Place, said he took an informal poll and found 34 of the 35 people contacted were against changing the name of Markham Street. Mr. Mat Hessen, 518 East 7d' Street, Apt. 3, said it seemed to him that no one really knows where the name of Markham Street came from. He didn't think the family Markham has anything to do with the street name. His idea was that the first Mayor of Little Rock, Matthew Cunningham, perhaps had a child named Markham, so he named the first street Markham Street. Since the Presidential Library is going to be situated east of Interstate 30, his suggestion was to name the main street coming off Interstate 30 as Clinton Parkway and forget about renaming Markham Street. Ms. Ruth Wilson, 8100 Cantrell #1207, spoke in support of naming Markham Street from the Train Station all the way to the east end as President Clinton Avenue. Ms. Lyric Thompson, 211 N. Summit, said she was horrified when she realized the Board was actually considering naming a street after President Clinton. When we name a street after someone it is honoring that person. The actions of President Clinton have not brought honor to the City of Little Rock. He has dishonored himself and the rest of the nation. Ms. Diane Davis, 3000 Chester Street, read a letter from the President of the Little Rock Branch of NAACP, Mr. Dale Charles, in support of renaming a portion of Markham Street to Clinton Avenue. Mr. Charles stated that as a native son of the State of Arkansas, a long time resident of Little Rock, and the only Arkansan to serve as President of the United States, President Clinton has earned this honor and recognition. Lt. Col. B. L. Magness, USMC Retired, 6 Sunset Circle, said that four weeks ago his rights were violated (referring to the Board of Directors meeting on May 18, 1999, when Mayor Dailey had the TV cameras turned off because of the language in the letter Col. Magness read to the Board regarding President Clinton) Col. Magness said the Board is about to make a very serious mistake. He urged the Board of Directors to put this issue to a vote. Ms. Rebecca H. Terrien, 12 Poydras Drive, was opposed to naming a street after a person that has dishonored our city, our state, and the Office of the Presidency. The most vandalized signs are the Bill Clinton signs coming into the state. She urged the Board to leave Markham Street alone, and find another street if you have to have a Bill Clinton Avenue. Ms. Patty Wingfield, 17 Portland Road, said her family has owned property on Markham Street in the River Market for over fifty years, and changing the name of Markham Street would generate a lot of business for the family printing company. However, she was opposed to the street name change because the proper procedure has not been followed. She felt it should be put to a vote of the citizens of Little Rock. The conduct of the President does not warrant the honor of having a street named after him. Attorney Ginger Atkinson, 721 West 2nd Street, spoke in support of renaming Markham Street to President Clinton Avenue, stating she could not believe this tempest in a teapot. She said this is most ridiculous thing she has ever witnessed. Bill Clinton was not elected to be our moral leader — he has done a wonderful job for this state. (Ms. Atkinson was interrupted by a lady in the back of the Board Room, who continued speaking even 2 Minutes - Reconvened Meeting July 27, 1999 509 though Mayor Dailey declared her out of order.) Following citizens comments, Mayor Dailey asked for comments by Board Members. Director Wyrick asked since the Resolution says "intent" and the idea is to refer this to the Planning Commission to go through the process, if the Planning Commission does not recommend the street name change, does "intent" bind us to naming the street Clinton Avenue. Director Cazort said in order to go through the process, there has to be an applicant and his intent was to make the City of Little Rock the applicant to start the process. Director Wyrick asked if the applicant pays the cost to the people of changing stationary, etc. City Manager Cy Carney said his understanding is that in previous street name changes there has been no costs paid by the applicant. The City will pay for the public street signs. Director Kelly said he was the one that made the motion to reconsider. His belief now is that this is a reasonable compromise for both acknowledging the value we hold for Markham Street and also the value we should hold for an Arkansan who was twice elected as leader of the free world. Director Adcock wanted to know if this could go to the Planning Commission without stating what portion of Markham Street would be renamed. Director Cazort felt that, as the applicant, we would have to be specific and he felt the portion east of Cumberland Street is the appropriate section. Director Keck said he had received a lot of phone calls and he wanted to go on record thanking the people for their interest in their local government. The City needs their help and input in other issues also. Director Lichty said one of the specific provisions of Resolution No. 10,122 directed that the appropriate ordinances be brought forward to accomplish the street name change and he wondered what happened to the appropriate ordinances. Deputy City Attorney Bill Mann said Section 2 of Resolution No. 10,122 does direct the City Manager and the City Attorney to begin the process, but he did not have an answer as to why that was not done. City Manager Cy Carney said the plan was to begin the process this fall for the change to be effective January 1, 2000. Director Lichty felt that if the Ordinance had been presented at that time, in all likelihood it would have passed and we would not be having this discussion. Mayor Dailey commented briefly on why he had changed his position from last week. He referred to the commitment made in 1997, and said even though he was not proud of the actions of President Clinton that relate to the impeachment process, the President has done good in many ways. Mayor Dailey said he had truly wrestled with this issue and tried to be sensitive to what the public is saying. He said he would vote for Director Cazort's Resolution because it does allow the public process. Mayor Dailey also publicly apologized to Col. Magness for cutting him off at the last meeting. A roll call vote was then taken on the motion to adopt the Resolution as follows: Ayes — Directors Pugh, Cazort, Keck, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly, Adcock and Mayor Dailey — total 8; Noes — Directors Hinton, Lichty, and Stewart — total 3. Whereupon, Mayor Dailey announced that the Resolution was adopted. (Note: Due to the adoption of Resolution No. 10,608, no action was taken on the Ordinance listed as Item I on the Agenda) At 5:20 o'clock P.M. Mayor Dailey declared a ten minute recess. The Board of Directors reconvened at 5:30 o'clock P.M. with Mayor Dailey presiding and nine Directors present. (Director Stewart was absent.) Items 2, 3 and 4 on the Agenda were public hearings and Ordinances establishing Targeted Neighborhood Enhancement Plans (TNEP) for the Philander Smith, Central High, and Downtown areas, which had been deferred from July 20, 1999. Director of Housing and Neighborhood Programs Margi Gant gave a brief overview of the TNEP program, which allows local (city) money to be used to revitalize housing in specific areas. The maximum amount of assistance is up to 20% of the construction or rehabilitation cost for each project. That is legislatively enacted and cannot be changed or modified by the City. Following the presentation, Ms. Gant responded to questions by the Board. Director Kumpuris asked the Board to consider taking the most ravaged area devastated by the January 21, 1999 tornado and come back with a targeted neighborhood that fits that area and asked City Manager Cy Carney to come back next week with a way of allocating funds between four districts. This would not preclude the Board from acting on these three areas tonight. He asked for an unofficial agreement to expedite some district that encompasses the most ravished area in Director Pugh's Ward 1. City 3 510 Minutes - Reconvened Meeting July 27, 1999 Manager Cy Carney said there is a very limited amount of money available for these targeted areas. He asked the Board to move forward with these three and he would bring forward a recommendation for the fourth one next week with recommended funding. Responding to a question by Director Hinton, Ms. Gant stated this is gap financing that requires other funding to be used. It is not for everyone. It does not meet the needs for the low and very low income. Neighborhood revitalization requires a number of components. Deputy City Attorney Bill Mann stated that if it is the wish of the Board to have a new targeted area, that process is initiated with adoption of a Resolution containing a map of the area. Director Lichty was concerned that we would end up with not enough money and a strong demand for it, which would be very frustrating experience for those home owners we are trying to help. Director Adcock expressed frustration, stating this came out of FUTURE Little Rock. The Land Bank and Housing Task Force studied targeted neighborhoods for five years. What came from the long process was the Central High Neighborhood in 1997. Then last year we added Downtown and Philander Smith without going through the process like Central High. This one million dollars was supposed to go into one neighborhood to see what it could do for revitalization, and now we are dividing it into three neighborhoods, and proposing another one. If we keep watering it down it will not be any more than a Model Block project. We need to look at other monies for the tornado areas. Director Pugh said we need some money right now. (Director Cazort was excused at 6:05 o'clock P.M.) At 6:05 o'clock P.M. Mayor Dailey declared the public hearing open on the Philander Smith Targeted Neighborhood Enhancement Plan (TNEP). The public hearing had been scheduled for July 20, 1999, by Resolution No. 10,590 adopted July 6, 1999, and rescheduled to July 27, 1999. Mr. Vance Simelton, representing Philander Smith Community Development Corporation, spoke in support of the Ordinance and welcomed the opportunity to work with the City. Mayor Dailey declared the public hearing closed and Ordinance No. 18,071 was presented, described as: AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE PHILANDER SMITH TARGETED NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT PLAN (TNEP); and the Ordinance was read the first time. (See the preceding discussion of Items 2, 3, and 4) The rules were suspended to provide for the second and third readings of the Ordinance by unanimous vote of the Board Members present, being nine in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors. A roll call vote was taken on passage of the Ordinance as follows: Ayes — Directors Pugh, Hinton, Lichty, Keck, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly, Adcock and Mayor Dailey - total 9; Absent — Directors Cazort and Stewart — total 2. Whereupon, the Ordinance was declared PASSED.¶ A public hearing had been scheduled for July 20, 1999, by Resolution No. 10,590 adopted July 6, 1999, and rescheduled to July 27, 1999, on the Central High Targeted Neighborhood Enhancement Plan (TNEP). At 6:06 o'clock P.M. Mayor Dailey declared the public hearing open. No one was present who wished to speak on the issue. Mayor Dailey declared the public hearing closed and Ordinance No. 18,072 was presented, described as: AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE CENTRAL HIGH TARGETED NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT PLAN (TNEP); and the Ordinance was read the first time. (See discussion of Items 2, 3, and 4 preceding Ordinance No. 18, 071). The rules were suspended to provide for the second and third readings of the Ordinance by unanimous vote of the Board Members present, being nine in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors. A roll call vote was taken on passage of the Ordinance as follows: Ayes — Directors Pugh, Hinton, Lichty, Keck, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly, Adcock and Mayor Dailey - total 9; Absent — Directors Cazort and Stewart — total 2. Whereupon, the Ordinance was declared PASSED. n Minutes - Reconvened Meeting July 27, 1999 511 A public hearing had been scheduled for July 20, 1999, by Resolution No. 10,590 adopted July 6, 1999, and rescheduled to July 27, 1999, on the Downtown Targeted Neighborhood Enhancement Plan (TNEP). At 6:07 o'clock P.M. Mayor Dailey declared the public hearing open. Mr. Bob East, President of the Downtown Partnership, spoke in support of the Ordinance, stating this is a way to get money to individuals for housing and will go for viable economic projects in all three TNEP areas. Mayor Dailey declared the public hearing closed and Ordinance No. 18,073 was presented, described as: AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE DOWNTOWN TARGETED NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT PLAN (TNEP); and the Ordinance was read the first time. (See discussion of Items 2, 3, and 4 preceding Ordinance No. 18, 071). The rules were suspended to provide for the second and third readings of the Ordinance by unanimous vote of the Board Members present, being nine in number and two- thirds or more of the members of the Board of Directors. A roll call vote was taken on passage of the Ordinance as follows: Ayes — Directors Pugh, Hinton, Lichty, Keck, Wyrick, Kumpuris, Kelly, Adcock and Mayor Dailey - total 9; Absent — Directors Cazort and Stewart — total 2. Whereupon, the Ordinance was declared PASSED. The last presentation was Resolution No. 10,609, entitled: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A NEW INVESTMENT POLICY FOR THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANAS; REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 9,404; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Following the reading of the Resolution, Director Adcock moved for its adoption. The motion was seconded by Director Keck, and the Resolution was unanimously adopted by the Board Members present. There being no further business to be presented the reconvened meeting was adjourned at 6:15 o'clock P.M. to meet again in regular session on Tuesday, August 3, 1999, at 6:00 o'clock P.M. ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Robbie Hancock Mayor Jim Dailey 5