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Board of Directors Chamber
Little Rock, Arkansas
January 27, 1993 - 1:35 P.M.
The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas
reconvened from the January 19, 1993 regular meeting with Mayor
Jim Dailey presiding. City Clerk Robbie Hancock called the roll
with the following Directors present: Directors Priest, Roy,
Sharp, Lewellen, Mason and Adcock - total 6; Absent - None.
With a quorum present, Mayor Dailey declared the Board of
Directors in session and announced that the purpose of the
reconvened meeting was to consider two proposed Resolutions
regarding the form of government for the City of Little Rock.
Several citizens were present to address the Board of
Directors regarding the Highway 10 Land Use Plan and Zoning Case
Z -5646 - National Home Center PCD at Highway 10 and Taylor Loop
Road, which was approved on January 19, 1993. (See Minutes of 1-
19-93 for Public Hearing on Zoning Appeal and Ordinance No.
16,337 which approved the PCD.) Mayor Dailey stated he was
uncomfortable with considering the issue that was approved at the
regular meeting on January 19, 1993, without public notification.
Director Priest suggested setting a date for a public hearing on
the Highway 10 Land Use Plan. Responding to Director Mason's
question, City Attorney Tom Carpenter stated the Board could take
public comment, but if the zoning issue was to be reconsidered,
one of the Board Members that voted for the zoning issue would
have to move to reconsider the Ordinance. He also cautioned the
Board that if any action had been taken of any financial
character and there should be any change in the Board of
Director's position, then the Board would probably be responsible
for any financial changes that have occurred as a result of the
Board's actions. Board Members finally agreed to allow Citizens
Communication before considering the proposed Resolutions on the
Agenda.
The first speaker was Mr.
Road, who stated that when he
he relied on the integrity of
Highway 10 Land Use Plan. He
stopple and asked the Board
National Home Center PCD, set
public hearing.
James W. Moore, 4906 S. Katillus
bought his home on Katillus Road,
the City of Little Rock and the
referred to the law of promissory
of Directors to reconsider the
aside the vote, and have a full
Mr. David Jones of Vogel Realty, representing
applicants, spoke in support of the National Home Center PCD.
stated that Land Use Plans are changed every time a piece
property is rezoned, but this time the losers are asking
Board to reconsider.
the
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of
the
Mr. Gene Levy, architect, stated he had spent a great deal
of time working with the City to make this community more
beautiful. He noted that the Board of Directors had voted to
make Highway 10 a scenic corridor and that the Highway 10 Land
Use Plan was designed to provide orderly growth to Highway 10 and
protect property owners along Highway 10. He stated the National
Home Center building would be the size of an industrial building
and should be in an industrial area and asked the Board of
Directors to rescind the vote that approved the National Home
Center PCD. He read excerpts from some letters regarding this
issue.
Director Lewellen moved to reconsider Zoning Case 2-5646
National Home Center PCD. City Attorney Tom Carpenter advised
that a motion to reconsider must come from one of the four
Directors that voted for Ordinance No. 16,337, which approved the
National Home Center PCD.
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January 27, 1993
Mr. Robert Vogel stated he talked to many home owners in the
area that were in favor of the rezoning.
Ms. Barbara Douglas, 4801 Rightsell, Pankey Association,
stated the residents of Pankey wanted assurance that their
properties on Highway 10 will be residential.
Mr. Jim Lynch, 16 Lenon Drive, commented: "Those of us who
live in other parts of Little Rock thought Highway 10 was going
to be a scenic corridor. I was astounded that the Board would
break the Highway 10 Plan for very inconsequential reasons. The �r
Board should represent the public and not a narrow slice of the
economy that wants to buy cheaper land at a site when it could
have gone a quarter mile west and done the same thing."
Mr. Barksdale McKay, owner of a chain of convenience stores
in central Arkansas and Pulaski County, stated he never thought
the Board would overrule the Planning Commission and Staff, and
asked the Board to set aside its decision and reconsider the
National Home Center PCD.
Mr. Mark Hartness, a residential contractor who is building
in Westberry located on Highway 10, stated everyone is concerned
and asking "is our government selling us out ?" He concluded his
statement by saying "Don't sell out the highway."
Mr. Jim Vandenberg, 819 Ash Street, said he moved to Little
Rock last year from south Florida and saw a lot of potential for
Little Rock. He stated this vote went against the Highway 10
Plan and he hoped it wouldn't happen.
Mr. Wayne Woods, who lives on County Farm Road, stated he
didn't want to see another Rodney Parham Road and asked the Board
to reconsider its decision.
Mr. Gene Pfeifer, 16,300 Cantrell Rd urged Director Ro
► anre Road, g Y
to move for reconsideration of this matter.
Director Sharp moved to suspend the open forum and move on
to the Agenda items. The motion was seconded by Director Mason
and adopted by a roll call vote as follows: Ayes: Directors Roy,
Sharp, Mason, Mayor Dailey, and Director Adcock - total 5; Noes -
Directors Priest and Lewellen - total 2.
Director Priest stated she felt it was important to have a
public hearing on the Highway 10 Land Use Plan because there are
a lot of issues that need to be brought out. Director Lewellen
stated he thought the Board should continue discussion on the
Highway 10 Plan. Mayor Dailey felt the Board and Staff needs to
look at the intersection of Highway 10 and Taylor Loop Road and
decide whether or not there are any considerations the City would
want to give to possible modifications of the plan as it relates
to that intersection. Board Members finally agreed to hold a
public hearing on Tuesday, February 16, 1993, from 5:30 to 6:30
and to delay the regular Board Meeting thirty (30) minutes to
begin at 6:30 P.M. Mrs. Ruth Bell, League of Women Voters of
Pulaski County, asked for the perimeters of the public hearing on
the Highway 10 Plan. Mayor Dailey said the public hearing would
be an opportunity for anyone to ask questions or make suggestions
about the plan.
Mr. Keith Jones, Executive Director of the Central Arkansas
Transit Authority (CATA), addressed the Board of Directors
regarding funding for the bus system. He stated he had a request
before the Board of Directors for an additional $80,800 in local
matching money from the City of Little Rock in order to match
funds from the Federal Transit Administration to enable CAT to
purchase paratransit vans and some spare engines and
transmissions. He pointed out that if the Board does intend to
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January 27, 1993
247
appropriate the $80,800, the deadline for that action is February
15, 1993. Mr. Jones then introduced Mr. Searcy Ewell, a member
of the Central Arkansas Transit Authority Board, who stated:
"Anything you can do to facilitate upgrading our system will be
an investment well worth taking."
Mayor Dailey then asked City Manager Charles Nickerson to
provide a report to the Board of Directors on available funds
should the Board of Directors decide to act on the appropriation
on February 2, 1993. If necessary, the Board could recess and
reconvene on February 10, 1993, to consider the CAT
appropriation.
At 2:55 o'clock P.M. the Board of Directors began discussion
of the two proposed Resolutions regarding the form of government
for the City of Little Rock. The first proposed Resolution [Item
1(a)] was entitled: A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT OF FUTURE -
LITTLE ROCK CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF THE
CITY BASED UPON THE REPORT OF THE GOVERNANCE TASK FORCE;
DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT LEGISLATION TO HELP
IMPLEMENT THE REPORT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." (Providing for a
management - council form of government with two Directors elected
at- large, a Mayor elected at- large, and six Directors elected
from six wards.)
The second Resolution [Item 1(b)], sponsored by Director
Lewellen, was entitled: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A PROCEDURE FOR THE
ELECTION OF THE COUNCIL - MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT. (Providing
for six Directors elected by wards, two Directors elected at-
large, and a Mayor elected at- large. The two at -large Directors
shall be single term positions wherein the elected directors
cannot succeed themselves. This shall prevent the African -
American community from being disadvantaged by the factor of
incumbency.)
(NOTE: The two proposed Resolutions were on the Agenda for
the January 19, 1993 Board of Directors Meeting, but were
deferred until January 27, 1993, due to the absence of Director
John Lewellen, who sponsored the second Resolution.)
To begin the discussion Director Roy stated the Governance
Task Force has worked long and hard on the proposal that was
recommended to the Board and he urged the Board of Directors to
seriously consider acting on the proposed Resolution. This
proposal will need some enabling legislation to allow the City of
Little Rock to implement it.
Director Lewellen explained that his proposal was not
entirely in conflict with the recommendation of the Governance
Task Force, but the limited voting system would enable African -
Americans to potentially elect a representative of their own
choice to the at -large positions. Other City Directors expressed
concern for the term limitations placed on the two at -large
positions, stating they could not support limited terms for two
positions and unlimited terms for the other seven positions.
Director Lewellen then proposed increasing the membership by one
to provide for three (3) at -large positions without term limits,
a Mayor elected at- large, and six (6) Directors elected by wards.
Following the lengthy discussion, Director Adcock moved that
Resolution (A) be adopted. The motion was seconded by Director
Priest. Mrs. Ruth Bell, a member of the Steering Committee,
spoke in support of the Governance Task Force proposal
(Resolution A). After further discussion, Director Lewellen
withdrew Resolution (B). Resolution No. 8,859 was then
presented, with the title being:
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248
Minutes
January 27, 1993
A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT OF FUTURE- LITTLE ROCK
CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF THE CITY BASED
UPON THE REPORT OF THE GOVERNANCE TASK FORCE; DIRECTING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO DRAFT LEGISLATION TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE REPORT; AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES;
and the Resolution was read in full. Upon motion and second by
Directors Adcock and Priest, respectively, the Resolution was
unanimously adopted by the Board members present.
There being no further
of Directors adjourned at
regular session on Tuesday,
P.M.
ATTEST:
(�Z"AA
1.
City Clerk Robbie Hancock
business to be presented, the Board
3:30 o'clock P.M. to meet again in
February 2, 1993, at 6:00 o'clock
4
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1
APPROVED:
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Mayor Jim Dailey