HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-24-93w
Board of Directors Chamber
Little Rock, Arkansas
February 24, 1993 - 1:45 P.M.
The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas,
met in Special Session 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 the purpose of the special
meeting was to consider a revised recommendation by the Future -
Little Rock Steering Committee regarding the form of government
for the City of Little Rock.
Mr. Gaston Gibson, one of the co- chairs of Future - Little
Rock, stated that the Future - Little Rock Steering Committee is
recommending to the Board of Directors the following: seven (7)
wards, three (3) at -large positions, and one mayor. The seven
wards would be equally divided districts and a Director would be
elected from each ward by a plurality vote. The at -large
positions would also be elected by a plurality vote; however, the
Mayor would be elected by a 40% vote. The Steering Committee
also set a goal of two years for implementation of the proposal
from the date of the referendum election. Enabling legislation
will be required to implement this proposal
Mayor Dailey asked members of the Steering Committee to
stand and be recognized. Those present were: Ruth Bell, Jim
Lynch, Barbara Douglas, Odis Wilson, Joa Humphrey, as well as
Chairman Gaston Gibson and Mayor Dailey. Members of the
Governance Task Force present were Chris McGetrick and Director
Hamp Roy.
Mr. Jim Lynch and Mr. Odis Wilson spoke in support of the
recommendation.
There was a lengthy discussion by the Board of Directors.
Ms. Barbara Douglas said she was not comfortable with the
recommendation of 7 -3 -1 and suggested a breakdown of 8 -2 -1 so
there would be four minority wards.
A copy of Resolution No. 8,859, adopted January 27, 1993,
was distributed to Board Members for discussion purposes.
(Resolution No. 8,859 provides for six wards, two at -large
positions, and Mayor elected at -large [6 -2 -1 proposal]; and
requires cumulative voting and percentage voting.) City Attorney
Tom Carpenter then made suggestions for language to adopt the 7-
3-1 proposal.
There was also some discussion regarding the need for
current Directors to step down if this proposal is approved, in
order to implement it within the recommended 24 months. Director
Lewellen expressed various concerns relating to minority
candidates and implementation of the plan. Also discussed was
the proposal for limited and cumulative voting. Mr. Gibson
stated the Committee had a real problem with that issue and it
was not part of the recommendation. At the request of Director
Lewellen, City Attorney Tom Carpenter explained that limited
voting and cumulative voting are two mechanisms that have been
used to enhance minority voting strengths. Under limited voting
a number of positions are available and voters are only given one
vote and the candidates are ranked according to number of votes
received, with those receiving the highest votes being elected.
1
Minutes
February 24, 1993
269
Under cumulative voting, a number of positions are available and
voters are allowed the number of votes as positions available but
they are not limited to voting for one candidate one time, but
can cast all votes for one candidate, if desired. Ms. Ruth Bell,
a member of the Steering Committee, stated she had a real problem
with both systems because they would be confusing and would
discourage voters. When questioned about leaving the language in
the proposed Resolution, she said "I don't think it is a good
idea. If the need is shown down the road, it will be easy to get
the legislation."
There was a motion by Director Roy, seconded by Director
Mason, that the Board adopt the Resolution as modified by City
Attorney Tom Carpenter. At the request of Mayor Dailey, City
Attorney Tom Carpenter restated the modifications as follows:
Add WHEREAS clauses:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors adopted Res. #8859 on
January 27, 1993, to implement these provisions; and
WHEREAS, after this proposal was accepted, the Steering
Committee moved to reconsider the issue on the selection of the
form of government; and
WHEREAS, on February 23, 1993, the Steering Committee
reported to the Board of Directors and produced a new proposal
calling for seven wards, three at -large positions, and a directly
elected Mayor; and
WHEREAS, this decision was reached only after the most
serious discussion and compromise and consideration by the Board
of Directors; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors wishes to amend Resolution
No. 8859, to adopt this new position and to assure that
implementing legislation be adopted to accomplish these goals;
Next to last WHEREAS clause:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors wishes to implement this
plan within twenty -four months of the date of the election;
Change Section 1 to read:
Section 1: The Board of Directors accepts the amended
report of the Future - Little Rock Steering Committee on the
question of governance as a management - council form of government
with three Directors elected at- large, a Mayor elected at- large,
and seven Directors elected from seven wards.
Section 2: Strike first clause "The report requires
cumulative voting and a percentage voting requirement not
currently allowed by Arkansas law;...." Also insert in last
sentence: "including a provision concerning cumulative and
limited voting as a possibility; .... 11
Director Priest asked: "Is it the intention of this Board
to pass this Resolution making cumulative or limited voting
permissive and then at some point in the future we would decide
whether or not we would put the cumulative or limited voting into
the at -large positions ?" Board Members generally agreed.
Resolution No. 8,870 was then introduced, entitled:
A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE AMENDED REPORT OF THE FUTURE -
LITTLE ROCK STEERING COMMITTEE 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;
2
270
Minutes
February 24, 1993
and there was a motion by Director Roy, seconded by Director
Mason, to adopt the Resolution. The Resolution was adopted
unanimously by a roll call vote as follows: Ayes - Directors
Priest, Roy, Sharp, Lewellen, Mason, Mayor Dailey, and Director
Adcock - total 7; Noes - None; Absent - None.
The next presentation was Resolution No. 8,871, described
as:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SUPPORT THE
MANAGEMENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND TO ENCOURAGE ELECTORS VOTING IN
THE MAYOR- COUNCIL ELECTION TO CONSIDER THE STRENGTHS OF A
MANAGEMENT GOVERNMENT THAT WILL BE LOST IF A CHANGE TO THE
ALDERMANIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT OCCURS;
and after the Resolution was read, there was a motion by Director
Roy, seconded by Director Adcock, to adopt the Resolution.
(Director Priest was excused at 3:10 P.M.)
After a brief discussion in which Director Sharp expressed
concern this would be telling the citizens how to vote and other
Directors said this is only showing support and encouraging
citizens to consider the strengths of the management government,
the Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote as follows: Ayes
- Directors Roy, Lewellen, Mason, Mayor Dailey, and Director
Adcock - total 5; Noes - None; Abstained - Director Sharp - total
1; Absent - Director Priest - total 1.
There being no further business to be presented, the Board
of Directors adjourned at 3:20 o'clock P.M. to meet again in
regular session on Tuesday, March 2, 1993, at 6:00 o'clock P.M.
ATTEST:
6ZdAAAco 14.Ce mac.,.
City Clerk Robbie Hancock
3
A OED:,
M or Jim Dailey