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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-14-10Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting December 14, 2010 4:00 PM Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting December 14, 2010 4:00 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, met in a reconvened session with Vice Mayor Gene Fortson presiding. City Clerk Susan Langley called the roll with the following Directors present: Hendrix; Hurst; Keck; Wright; Wyrick; Kumpuris; Adcock; and Vice Mayor Fortson. Mayor Stodola and Directors Cazort and Richardson were absent. ITEM: 1. ORDINANCE: To provide for and to adopt the 2011 Budget for the City of Little Rock for the period beginning January 1, 2011, and ending December 31, 2011; to appropriate resources and uses for every expenditure item and fund; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. (3`d Reading) (1' & 2"d Reading held on December 7, 2010) Director Keck acknowledged that representative from Central Arkansas Transit Authority (CATA) were present and stated that one of the items that was discussed at the recent Public Budget Hearings was a desire to see a more effective and efficient bus service. Director Keck stated that it was his desire as an outgoing Board Member to see that those needs were met and that a way could be determined to utilize existing service in a better manner. City Manager Bruce Moore introduced CATA Board Chair Nicole Heaps and asked that she address several of the issues raised. Ms. Heaps stated that she understood the concerns and that in November, the CATA Board formed a committee that would work on a Transit Improvement Plan, which would ensure the buses were being routed in the most efficient way possible. Director Wright stated that she was asked on a consistent basis why the larger buses were empty and when a route would be developed down John Barrow Road and out to Pulaski Tech. Director Wright stated that the public didn't understand how CATA could dictate what they were going to do with the money received from the City. Ms. Heaps stated that in 2009, CATA Staff had worked with their planners in regards to possible routes from Doctor's Hospital down John Barrow Road to Colonel Glenn Road and Pulaski Tech south to Metropolitan Vo -Tech via Baseline Road and Otter Creek Road. Ms. Heaps stated that a packet was compiled that included the annual costs associated with the proposed routes and the number of buses and staff that would be needed to implement the routes. Director Wright stated that she had been told that Stimulus Funds could be utilized to implement the two (2) proposed routes; however, CATA chose not to seek those funds due to the fact that they wouldn't be able to sustain the routes. Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting December 14, 2010 4:00 PM CATA Executive Director Betty Wineland stated that when CATA made application for Stimulus Funds there had been no provision made by the Federal Transportation Administration to include operating; the funds were to only be utilized for infrastructure. Ms. Wineland stated that after the application had already been submitted, there was a stipulation added that funds received could be utilized for operating expenses; however, due to the fact that CATA needed to replace aging buses and there were other capital needs, they chose not to implement new service routes. Ms. Wineland stated that the funding would not have completely sustained the costs associated with the proposed new routes for John Barrow Road and Pulaski Tech, and CATA would have had to request additional funds from the City of Little Rock to sustain these routes in the coming years. In response to the larger buses, Ms. Wineland stated that approximately 1/3 of the CATA fleet was made up of the forty (40) -foot buses and on the most productive routes during peak hours, they were full to capacity. Ms. Wineland stated that the larger buses have greater endurance and a longer life than a smaller vehicle. Director Wright stated that in order to move around the John Barrow area, an automobile was needed and that was not fair to the elderly or the individuals that live in the apartments that are located in and around the area. Ms. Wineland stated that she understood the concerns and that CATA had transferred a low - mileage van to the John Barrow Neighborhood Association to assist the elderly in transportation. CATA Operations Director Bill Adcock stated providing service to the Pulaski Tech campus was challenging in that the campus was located on a one (1) -way service road with no other means of potential ridership. Mr. Adcock stated that in order to serve Pulaski Tech, potential ridership could be picked up by the route going along the County Line down Stagecoach Road past the numerous apartment complexes. Mr. Adcock stated that the proposed route would be a very long route with large segments of unproductive area. Director Wyrick asked why the route that went down West Baseline Road that stopped at the old Southwest Hospital could not be altered to travel down the one (1) -lane access road to include the Pulaski Tech campus. Mr. Adcock stated that the route in question was already on an hour and a half headway and that to alter the route would add an additional twenty (20) to twenty -five (25) minutes. Vice Mayor Fortson stated that there were two (2) members of City Staff that were appointed to the CATA Board in addition to a Board Liaison that should be providing updates to the Board to keep them involved. Vice Mayor Fortson stated that the Board needed to be kept better informed so that issues could be addressed throughout the year as they are happening instead of dialogue at the end of the year before adopting the City's Budget. Director Wright stated that she was the CATA Board liaison and had previously reported to the Board that she was not making any headway and in her view there was no attempt on CATA's part to address her concerns. 2 Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting December 14, 2010 4:00 PM Director Wright asked why the bus that traveled on Kanis Road and stops at the Pulaski Tech campus located on Kanis Road could not simply turn the corner and travel down Barrow Road. Mr. Adcock stated that there was already established ridership on 36th Street, east of John Barrow Road, and to alter route would displace established riders for potential riders. City Manager Bruce Moore stated that there was a change in the proposed budget ordinance to include a decrease in $17,000 for the River Rail. City Manager Moore stated that the $17,000 would be designated for Parks Maintenance. Director Richardson made the motion, seconded by Director Keck, to amend the 2011 Budget Ordinance to reflect the change. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the change was approved. Kathy Wells: Stated that she represented the Downtown Neighborhood Association and that she opposed the 2011 Budget due to the fact that there were no provisions to address public safety issues, which included the obsolete twenty (20) -year old Police Communication System. Ms. Wells urged the Board to reconsider approving the additional one (1) -cent hotel tax and the penny hamburger tax, which would be dedicated to Parks. Director Keck made the motion, seconded by Director Hurst, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on third and final reading. The ordinance was read a third time. By roll call vote of the Board Members present, the vote was as follows: No: Wright. Yes: Hendrix; Hurst; Keck; Wyrick; Kumpuris; Adcock and Vice Mayor Fortson. Directors Richardson and Cazort were absent. By a vote of 7 ayes, 1 nay and 2 absent, the ordinance was approved. By a voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Wright voting in opposition, and with Mayor Stodola voting aye, the emergency clause was approved. Director Keck made the motion, seconded by Director Cazort, to adjourn the reconvened meeting. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the reconvened meeting was adjourned. ATTEST: usan a ley, City Clerk N APPROVED: / ,, '4a Mark Stodola, Mayor