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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-11-11Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting July 11, 2011 5:00 PM Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting July 11, 2011 5:00 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, met in a reconvened session with Director Adcock presiding. City Clerk Susan Langley called the roll with the following Directors present: Hendrix; Richardson; Hurst; Cazort; Hines; Wright; Wyrick; Fortson; Adcock; Vice Mayor Kumpuris; and Mayor Stodola. ITEMS: 1. MOTION: To approve the minutes of the Little Rock City Board of Directors Meeting of June 7, 2011. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Richardson, to approve the motion. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the motion was approved. 2. RESOLUTION NO. 13,342: To authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement with the Downtown Little Rock Redevelopment Corporation and the City of Little Rock to transfer the ownership interest in the Kramer School Art Loft Limited Partnership; and for other purposes. staffrecommends approval. Synopsis: The financing of the Kramer School Apartments will be transferred from the Kramer School Art Loft Limited Partnership to the Downtown Little Rock Redevelopment Corporation. Due to the fact that the City still has a potential interest in the property, its consent to the transfer is required. Director Hendrix asked if Item 2 could be removed from the agenda. Director Hendrix stated that she was not aware of the transfer and that she would like to determine if the property could be transferred to other individuals. City Attorney Tom Carpenter stated that the current occupants, Kramer School Art Loft Limited Partnership, had sought refinancing, and the transfer of ownership was necessary for such action. City Attorney Carpenter stated that the closing was scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Cazort, to approve the resolution. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Hendrix voting present, the resolution was approved. Mayor Stodola stated that he had received several cards from individuals that were interested in speaking regarding the resolution and ordinances related to the proposed sales tax increase. 1 Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting July 11, 2011 5:00 PM Director Wright made the motion to limit citizen's comments to three (3) minutes per individual. The motion failed due to the lack of a second. Director Richardson asked why the projections for operations and expenditures were not included in the resolution and why the projections for operations expenditures based on Year Four. Mayor Stodola stated that the projections were defined by virtue of functions, which would vary over the period of time. City Manager Bruce Moore stated that the projections were based on Year Four in order to ensure the projected expenditures were in line with staffing costs. Director Wyrick stated that there had never been a clear understanding for the citizens regarding what would happen with the economic development projects. Director Wyrick stated that she had spoken with City Attorney Carpenter regarding the possibility of removing the economic development portion from the overall Capital improvement vote and having a separate vote on that item. Director Wyrick reported that City Attorney Carpenter stated that it was possible and had drafted the appropriate language for consideration. City Attorney Carpenter explained that the language could be added as an amendment to the ordinance that called for the election for the 3/8¢ Capital tax. Director Wyrick stated that she wanted to put the item on the table for discussion. Mayor Stodola asked if Director Wyrick would be in agreement with deferring the item until the ordinance was discussed later- in the meeting. Director Wyrick stated that she was fine with deferring the item until later in the meeting. City Attorney Carpenter stated that if the amendment passed, then Section 6 of the resolution that addresses economic development would need to be deleted, as it stated the Board's intent. If the section were not removed, the Board would then be stating intent to do something that they may not be able to do. Director Hendrix stated that she would like to challenge the decision of the Chair, in this case Mayor Stodola, regarding his ruling that the amendment be voted on later in the meeting when the ordinance was discussed. Director Hendrix stated that she thought the amendment needed to be voted up or down before the Board preceded further. Mayor Stodola stated that he would take Director Hendrix's comments as challenging the ruling of the Chair as when to discuss the items. There was no other support for the motion and the ruling of the Chair stood. 3. RESOLUTION NO. 13,343: To state uses of certain Operations and Capital Sales and Compensating Use Tax Funds upon approval of both levies by the voters at an election to be held on September 13, 2011; and for other purposes. staff recommends approval. 0 Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting July 11, 2011 5:00 PM The resolution was read. 4. ORDINANCE NO. 20,449: To provide for the levy of a 3/8% Sales and Compensating Use Tax within the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, to be used for capital improvements of a public nature; to prescribe other matters that pertain to such a levy; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. The ordinance was read the first time. 5. ORDINANCE NO. 20,450: To call a special election in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, on the question of levying a 3/8% Sales and Compensating Use Tax within the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, to be used for capital improvements of a public nature; to provide that the tax will expire no later than December 31, 2021; to prescribe other matters that pertain to the election; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. The ordinance was read the first time. 6. ORDINANCE NO. 20,451: To provide for the levy of a 5/8% Sales and Compensating Use Tax within the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, to be used for general operations; to prescribe other matters that pertain to such a levy; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. The ordinance was read the first time. 7. ORDINANCE NO. 20,452: To call a special election in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, on the question of levying a 5/8% Sales and Compensating Use Tax within the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, to be used for general operations; to prescribe other matters that pertain to the election; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. The ordinance was read the first time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Hurst, to suspend the rules and place Ordinances 4, 5, 6 and 7 on second reading. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Hendrix voting present, the rules were suspended and the ordinances were read a second time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Hurst, to suspend the rules and place the ordinances on third reading. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Hendrix voting present, the rules were suspended and the ordinances were read a third time. Bishop Robert E. Smith, 3300 Asher Avenue: Stated that he was present to clarify his statements from the July 5, 2011, Board of Directors Meeting. Mayor Stodola stated that the current meeting had been reconvened from July 5, 2011, for the purpose of discussing the proposed sales tax increase. Mayor Stodola stated that because the Citizen's 3 Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting July 11, 2011 5:00 PM Communication from the July 5, 2011, Board Meeting had already been held, Bishop Smith would have the opportunity to address the Board at the July 19, 2011, meeting. Annie Abrams, 1925 Wolfe Street: Stated that she had attended most of the Public Safety Forums and that she was in favor of the proposed sales tax increase. Robert Webb, 2209 South Martin Street: Stated that he was in opposition of the proposed sales tax increase and urged the Board to reduce the sunset time for the Capital improvement vote from ten (10) years to four (4) years. Richard Morehead: Stated that he was the President of the Little Rock Firefighters Association and that they were in support of the proposed sales tax. Maudella Morehead - Parham, 1622 South Peyton Street: Voiced her desire that the individuals who might have their land purchased in preparation for the Research Park be treated fairly. Dr. Joel Anderson, 5801 West 28th Street: Voiced his support for the Research Park and for the proposed sales tax increase. Mildred Killingworth, 3317 West 11th Street: Stated that she was opposed to the purchasing of land in the neighborhoods for the Research Park. Paul Latture: Stated that he was the Executive Director of the Little Rock Port Authority and was in support of the proposed sales tax increase. Jody Sonnier, 3301 West 11th Street: Stated that she was opposed to the purchasing of land in the neighborhoods for the Research Park. Dexter Doyne, 5200 Frazier Pike: Stated that he served on the Little Rock Port Authority andwas in support of the proposed sales tax increase. Hugh McDonald, 52 Fontenay Circle: Stated that he worked for Entergy Corporation and that for decades, Entergy had been involved in economic development. Mr. McDonald stated that he was in support of the proposed sales tax increase. Keith Canfield, 308 Rock Street, #304: Voiced his support for the proposed sales tax increase; however, he stated that he was concerned that the funding for park upgrades had been reduced. Michael Douglas, 13216 Fairway Village: Stated that he was the Director of UAMS Bioventures and provided an overview regarding the impact of the Research Park. Jeff Yates, 66 El Dorado Drive: Voiced his support for the proposed sales tax increase. Director Richardson made the motion, seconded by Director Hendrix, for the Board to take a ten (10)- minute recess. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the Board recessed for ten (10)- minutes. Director Wyrick made the motion, seconded by Director Adcock, to amend Ordinance 4; removing the economic development portion from the Capital improvement vote and holding a separate vote on the item. Director Hendrix asked if she would be in order by asking City Manager Moore if he was satisfied with the amendment. City Manager Moore stated that his main concern was the ballot language. II Little Rock Board of Directors Reconvened Meeting July 11, 2011 5:00 PM Director Kumpuris stated that he had concerns regarding the amendment, in that by removing the economic development portion from the Capital improvement tax, a third vote would be required, which might confuse voters. Director Hendrix called for the question to vote. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the question for the vote was called. By voice vote of the Board Members present, the motion to amend Ordinance 4 failed. Director Richardson made the motion to reduce the sunset time for the Capital improvement vote from ten (10) years to four (4) years. The motion failed due to the lack of a second. Director Hurst made the motion, seconded by Director Adcock, to approve the resolution. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Hendrix voting present and Director Richardson voting in opposition, the resolution was approved. Director Adcock called for the question to vote on Ordinance 4, 5, 6 and 7. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Hendrix voting present and Director Richardson voting in opposition, Ordinances 4, 5, 6 and 7 were approved. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Hendrix voting present and Director Richardson voting in opposition, the emergency clause for Ordinance 5 was approved. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Hendrix voting present and Director Richardson voting in opposition, the emergency clause for Ordinance 7 was approved. Director Hurst 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: W APPROVED: Mark Stodola,