Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-08 - ReconvenedLittle Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting Minutes —September 9, 2008 MINUTES BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECONVENED MEETING City Hall — 500 W. Markham September 9, 2008 - 4:15 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, met in a regular session with Mayor Stodola presiding. Nancy Wood, City Clerk, called the roll with the following directors present: Hendrix, Richardson, Cazort, Keck, Wright, Wyrick, Fortson, Adcock, Vice Mayor Hurst, and Mayor Stodola. Mayor Stodola called the reconvened meeting to order at 4:15 PM. He indicated that the City Attorney had passed out a revised version of the resolution. He also noted that they had previously received memos from him and the City Manager, Bruce Moore. Mayor Stodola gave a brief overview of the resolution. Bruce Moore, City Manager, made some additional comments regarding the resolution and entertained questions from the Board with the help of Parks Director, Truman Tolefree. He also indicated that the Zoo, Parks, and War Memorial were in support of the bond. The Board had concerns about the additional expense that may be added to the budget, current maintenance on park land and ability to maintain any newly acquired land, the time frame of the presentation of the resolution to the Board and the request for vote, and specificity of projects listed in the resolution. There was also some discussion about allocating or earmarking the money to specific neighborhood park and some concern that the adding of MacArthur Park to the list in such short time may be perceived as unfair. There was a short discussion about money allocated by the State to the City for a specific park. Representative Pam Adcock spoke to the issue. The City Attorney explained that the money was being held because of an illegal exaction lawsuit. Several Board members urged their colleagues to move forward with the process because it was a one time opportunity to do something good for the City parks and that it could only be used for capital improvements; noting that several parks needed improvements, but continued discussion would belabor the process. Director Hendrix asked specifically for Crump Park to be removed from the list and to have those funds expended elsewhere. She also asked about the purchase and maintenance of land outside of the City Limits (Natural Steppes). Tom Carpenter, City Attorney, explained that by law a municipality could purchase and maintain park land with 5 miles of the City limit. Director Hendrix, seconded by Director Richardson, made a motion to defer the resolution until specific projects could be added to the resolution. A roll call vote was taken and recorded as follows: Directors Richardson and Hendrix voted yes; Directors Cazort, Keck, Wright, Wyrick, Fortson, and Vice Mayor Hurst voted no. Director Adcock was not present at the time of the vote. The motion failed. Director Wyrick made a motion to add Union Park, Pecan Lake, Morehart Park, and Thom Park, to Section 4 of the resolution regarding included uses. There being no second, the motion failed. 1 Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting Minutes — September 9, 2008 1. RESOLUTION 12,753 - To refund the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, Parks Revenue M Bonds (Series 1998) and to issue additional Parks Revenue Bonds to fund capital improvements to the parks system of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; to authorize the selection process for bond counsel and for the bond underwriter; to authorize the City to reimburse itself for expenditures incurred from the proceeds of the bonds; to preliminarily identify the public improvements to be financed by a portion of the proceeds received from the additional Parks Revenue Bonds; and for other purposes. Directors Hendrix and Adcock urged the Mayor to allow those citizens present to speak regarding the issue. Troy Laha was present to speak in opposition of the bonds, his major issue being that the City had more now than it could maintain and he was concerned that they should not purchase anymore lands that they would need to maintain. Mitch McSwain was present to speak not in opposition of the issue of the bonds, but against the proposed demolition of Walker Tennis Park. Robert Webb, spoke in opposition of the bond because he felt that it was inclusive of any of the parks in his neighborhood and he asked the Board to consider improving Southside and Centennial Parks. There were several citizens present in favor of the bonds, but did not speak. The Mayor read the name of those citizens Laveta Wills -Hale, Carolyn Newbern, Sharon Priest, and Robert Nelson. James LaBorde was also present and thanked the Board for their efforts with the addition to the Western Hills property to the resolution. Director Cazort, seconded by Director Richardson, made a motion to read and adopt the resolution. A roll call vote was taken and recorded as follows: Directors Richardson and Hendrix voted present; Directors Cazort, Keck, Wright, Wyrick, Fortson, and Vice Mayor Hurst voted yes. The resolution (Item 1) was adopted. Director Kumpuris, seconded by Director Keck, made a motion to send the River Market Design Overlay District item back to the Planning Commission. By unanimous voice vote of the Board members present, the motion was passed. A motion was made by Director Keck, seconded by Director Richardson, to adjourn the meeting. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, being two - thirds in number, the meeting was recessed at 6:45 PM. ATTEST: Nanc Wood, City tlerk 2 APPROVED: Mark Stodola Mayor