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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-29-05Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - November 29, 2005 MINUTES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING City Hall — 500 W. Markham November 29, 2005 - 4:00 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas met in a reconvened session with Mayor Dailey presiding. The meeting was reconvened from November 22, 2005, for the purpose of discussing various items. Nancy Wood, City Clerk called the roll with the following directors present: Pugh, Keck, Wyrick, Stewart, Hurst, Cazort, Hinton, Kumpuris, Vice Mayor Graves, and Mayor Dailey. Director Adcock was absent at roll call, but enrolled at 4:05PM. 1. RESOLUTION 12,146 - To certify property liens to the Pulaski County Treasurer's Office for Collection of tax bills for the following year. A motion was made by Director Adcock, seconded by Director Cazort, to adopt Item 1. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, being two - thirds in number, Item 1 was adopted. City Attorney, Tom Carpenter, stated that the second exhibit to Item 1 will be an attached copy of the minutes from the public hearing that took place during the November 22, 2005 reconvened meeting. Mayor Dailey announced that he would give three minutes to each person that filled out an agenda item card, in order to speak on any item that was before the Board tonight. Ed Jaros, President of Little Rock Fire Fighters Local 34, came to speak against Item 9. He asked the Board to postpone the approval of the budget. He stated that during a meeting yesterday between the fire fighters and City of Little Rock, and was not willing to agree to the final terms that were offered regarding the fire fighter's salaries for 2006. Mr. Jaros said that a mediator has been requested from Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services to provide assistance with negotiations. He hopes that this will only cause a short delay, but can not say for certain the length of time that it will take to resolve the issue. City Manager, Bruce Moore, stated that there has been no set time frame for resolving the impasse between the City and the Fire Fighter's Union. He said that this issue could stretch into 2006; well past the time that the budget should have been approved. He explained that $855,000.00 has been set aside for the employee raises that would affect IAFF and non uniform employees. Mr. Moore stated that this offer has been rejected, so mediation has been requested. He said that even if the budget is passed tonight, the unresolved issue could still be fixed at a later date. Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - November 29, 2005 Mayor Dailey moved forward with the meeting by asking Angela from the Convention Bureau to make an announcement about the City of Little Rock's Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade on December 3rd, beginning at 3:OOPM. She explained the parade route and special events that would take place during the festivities. Lloyd Webre, President of Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas, addressed the Mayor and the Board and asked to speak against Item 3. He explained that this proposal would raise fees for commercial contractors by nearly forty percent. He asked the Board to delay action regarding this item. Mr. Webre stated that he became aware of this proposal today, via mail, and thinks that it is unfortunate that the industry should have time to provide input on the ordinance that would impact their businesses. Jimmy Alessi, representative of the Association of General Contractors of America, asked to speak against the passage of Item 3 as well. He restated everything that Mr. Webre had said earlier. Mr. Moore stated that Chuck Givens notified the group on November 21 st about the recommendation for the fee increase. He explained that he agrees with the assessment that if the Board chose to move forward, he would sit down with Planning Director Tony Bozynski and look at the needs of the department overall. Mr. Alessi explained that it would take one week to notify the people that this ordinance would directly affect, within his corporation. Mr. Givens stated that Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville are some of the few cities to which the City of Little Rock are using as gages on fees for contractors. Mr. Moore said that an additional $350,000.00 is projected in revenue, due to the fee increase that would take place on January 1, 2006. Some of the directors expressed their concern on lack of notification to the parties that would be affected by this ordinance. Mayor Dailey asked that Items 2,4,5,6,7, and 8 be read the first time, after some of the Board members finished with minor questions about technicalities of a few of the items. 2. ORDINANCE 19,439 - To amend Chapter 6 of the Little Rock Arkansas, Rev. Code (1988) to increase the tiered licensing fee for dogs and cats to ten dollars ($10.00) for sterilized animals and thirty -two dollars and fifty cents ($32.50) for un- sterilized animals; and for other purposes. Synopsis: Staff proposes to increase the licensing fees for dogs and cats at the Little Rock Animal Shelter. The ordinance calls for an increase from seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) to ten dollars ($10.00) for sterilized animals and an increase from thirty dollars ($30.00) to thirty -two dollars and fifty cents ($32.50) for un- sterilized animals. The City Board approved this increase in December of 2004. 2 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - November 29, 2005 3. ORDINANCE — (Held on 1St reading until December S, 2005)To amend Ordinance 18,617 that establishes permit fee schedules for building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and related work performed in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; which repeals all technical code ordinance and Code of Ordinance provisions in conflict therewith, declaring an emergency; and for other purposes. Synopsis: The Department of Planning and Development is recommending across the board increases for construction related permits. In addition, staff is also recommending new fees for residential plan review and for temporary certificates of occupancy. Director Cazort purposed that the items concerning the budget be read one time tonight and be held until December 5t ". Mr. Moore explained that a pool of money has been allotted for raises, but beyond this money funds are extremely tight. More questions were asked about budget specifics for CATA, the River Rail Project, the jail, and street projects for 2006. Mayor Dailey stated that a meeting had been held between a few of the participating parties involving the jail issue, and a 900 bed minimum had been agreed upon, with 880 set aside for felons. He explained that in addition, the County will provide up to $150,000.00 to help with funding for a period of time. Mr. Moore answered Director Wyrick's questions briefly about CATA's route assessment and the River Rail cost for 2006. Director Adcock expressed concern in the ability for students within Little Rock to be shuttled to the Expo Center, which will become a new school in 2006. City Attorney, Tom Carpenter, stated that the Board can not vote for part of the purposed budget, but not all. Director Cazort, seconded by Director Hurst made the motion to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on second reading. A roll call vote was taken and recorded as follows: Directors Stewart, Hurst, Cazort, Kumpuris, Vice Mayor Graves, and Mayor Dailey voted aye. Directors Pugh, Keck, Wyrick, Hinton, and Adcock voted nay. There were not enough votes to suspend the rules and place on second reading. Item 3 will be held on 1St reading and moved to the December 5, 2005 Board meeting. 4. ORDINANCE 19,440 - Fixing and imposing the aggregate amount of fees and charges to be paid to the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, by Entergy and the method of payment thereof beginning in 2006; amending Section 9 of Ordinance No. 11,683, and for other purposes. Synopsis: Approval of an ordinance levying a franchise fee to be paid by Entergy during 2006. 5. ORDINANCE 19,441 - Fixing and imposing the amount of fees and charges to be paid to the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, by all companies that provide interstate or intrastate long distance telecommunication service, and all business incidental to or connected with the conducting of such telephone business in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; amending Section 3 of Ordinance No. 15,706; and for other purposes. Synopsis: Approval of an ordinance levying a franchise fee for companies providing long distance telephone service in Little Rock for 2006. 3 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - November 29, 2005 6. ORDINANCE 19,442 - Levying franchise fees to be paid for the year 2005 by all carriers providing local access telephone service; providing for the payment thereof, and for other purposes. Synopsis: Approval of an ordinance levying a franchise fee to be paid by all carriers providing local access telephone service during 2006. 7. ORDINANCE 19,443 - Amending in part, Ordinance No. 11,366, to provide for levying a franchise fee to be paid by Center Point Energy Arkla for the year 2006; providing for the payment thereof. Synopsis: Approval of an ordinance levying a franchise fee to be paid by Center Point Energy Arkla during 2006. 8. ORDINANCE 19,444 - To amend Chapter 12 of the 1988 Revised Little Rock Code of Ordinances; to provide for the regulation of open burning and a fee schedule for the issuance of open burning permits; and for other purposes. Director Adcock, seconded by Director Cazort, made a motion to suspend the rules and place the Items 2, 4,5,6,7, and 8 on second reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, being two - thirds in number, the rules were suspended and the ordinances were read the second time. Director Adcock, seconded by Director Cazort, made a motion to suspend the rules and place the Items 2, 4,5,6,7, and 8 on third reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, being two - thirds in number, the rules were suspended and the ordinances were read the third time. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, being two thirds in number, the ordinances (Items 2, 4,5,6,7, and 8) were passed. 9. ORDINANCE - Providing for and adopting the 2006 Budget for the City of Little Rock for the period beginning January 1, 2006, and ending December 31, 2006; appropriating resources and uses for every expenditure item and fund; declaring an emergency: and for other purposes. Director Cazort, seconded by Vice Mayor Graves made the motion to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on second reading. A roll call vote was taken and recorded as follows: Directors Pugh, Hurst, Cazort, Hinton, Kumpuris, Vice Mayor Graves, and Mayor Dailey voted aye. Directors Keck, Wyrick, Stewart, and Adcock voted nay. There were not enough votes to suspend the rules and place on second reading. Item 3 will be held on 1St reading and moved to the December 5, 2005 Board meeting. Director Kumpuris took a moment to talk about the County Jail issue. He suggested that the UALR Law School be asked to come in and mediate. He urged the Mayor to consider bringing in a third party so that a speedy and appropriate decision can be made. Director Adcock made a motion seconded by Director Hurst to adjourn the meeting. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, the meeting was recessed at 5:10 PM. ll Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - November 29, 2005 ATTEST: a cy W00 CM Ci Clerk APPROVED: Ji ailey M r