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Home My WebLink About07-03-12Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting July 3, 2012 5:00 PM Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting July 3, 2012 5:00 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, met in a regular meeting with Mayor Mark Stodola 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. Vice Mayor Dean Kumpuris delivered the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ADDITIONS: M -1 RESOLUTION: To authorize the City Manager to renew the policy for Workers' Compensation Stop -Loss Coverage with Midwest Employers Casualty Company for one (1) -year effective July 1, 2012; and for other purposes. staff recommends approval. Synopsis: The City's self- funded Workers' Compensation Program is required to purchase Stop - Loss Coverage for individual claims. The incumbent provider has submitted a renewal effective July 1, 2012. M -2 RESOLUTION: To make appointments to the Arkansas Arts Center Board of Trustees; and for other purposes. Synopsis: Reappointment of Rush Harding to serve his second four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Appointment of Howard Hurst to serve his first four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Reappointment of Wilson Jones to serve his second four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Appointment of Michael Maulden to serve his first four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Appointment of J. Shepherd Russell to serve his first four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Appointment of Charlotte Brown to fill the unexpired term of John Meyer, said term expiring on June 30, 2013. Appointment of Robert Burnett to fill the unexpired term of Marla Johnson, said term expiring on June 30, 2013. Appointment of Matt Reddin to serve his first four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. M -3 RESOLUTION: To approve HOPWA Funding to the Arkansas Aids Foundation in the amount of $234,000 for a twelve (12) -month period; and for other purposes. staff recommends approval. Synopsis: Approval of Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) funding to the Arkansas AIDS Foundation in an amount not to exceed $234,000 for a twelve (12) -month period. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Cazort, to add Items M -1, M -2 and M -3 to the Consent Agenda. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, Items M -1, M -2 and M -3 were added to the Consent Agenda. CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1 — 3 and Items M -1 - M -3) 1. RESOLUTION NO. 13.525; G -23 -432: To set July 17, 2012, as the date of hearing on the petition to abandon a portion of the Patrick Country Road right -of -way north of Tract E, The Ranch Subdivision, in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; and for other purposes. Planning Commission: 10 ayes; 0 nays; and 1 absent. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: The adjacent property owners are requesting to abandon approximately 1,100 linear -feet of the fifty -five (55) -foot wide Patrick Country Road right -of -way north of Tract E, The Ranch Subdivision. Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting July 3, 2012 5:00 PM 2. RESOLUTION NO. 13.526: To authorize the City Manager to accept title to Lot 8; Block 1 of the French's Addition to the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, for the property needed to construct the Allis Street Drainage System Improvements; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. (Funding from the 2012 318 -Cent Sales Tax) Synopsis: Authorizes the City Manager to acquire title to Lot 8, Block 1 of the French's Addition to the City of Little Rock for the construction of drainage improvements on the Allis Street Drainage project. 3. RESOLUTION NO. 13.527: To authorize the City Manager to accept permanent and temporary construction easements as needed to complete the 2012 3/8 -Cent Drainage System Improvements located at various locations throughout the City of Little Rock, Arkansas; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. (Funding from the 2012 318 -cent Sales Tax) Synopsis: Authorizes the City Manager to accept permanent and temporary construction easements as needed to complete the 2012 3/8 -Cent Drainage System Improvements. M -1 RESOLUTION NO. 13.528: To authorize the City Manager to renew the policy for Workers' Compensation Stop -Loss Coverage with Midwest Employers Casualty Company for one (1) -year effective July 1, 2012; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: The City's self- funded Workers' Compensation Program is required to purchase Stop - Loss Coverage for individual claims. The incumbent provider has submitted a renewal effective July 1, 2012. M -2 RESOLUTION NO. 13,529: To make appointments to the Arkansas Arts Center Board of Trustees; and for other purposes. Synopsis: Reappointment of Rush Harding to serve his second four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Appointment of Howard Hurst to serve his first four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Reappointment of Wilson Jones to serve his second four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Appointment of Michael Maulden to serve his first four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Appointment of J. Shepherd Russell to serve his first four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. Appointment of Charlotte Brown to fill the unexpired term of John Meyer, said tern expiring on June 30, 2013. Appointment of Robert Burnett to fill the unexpired term of Marla Johnson, said term expiring on June 30, 2013. Appointment of Matt Reddin to serve his first four (4) -year term, said term expiring on June 30, 2016. M -3 RESOLUTION NO. 13.530: To approve HOPWA Funding to the Arkansas Aids Foundation in the amount of $234,000 for a twelve (12) -month period; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: Approval of Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) funding to the Arkansas AIDS Foundation in an amount not to exceed $234,000 for a twelve (12) -month period. In regards to Item 2, Director Hendrix asked what portion of Allis Street would be improved. Public Works Department Director Steve Beck stated that a drain that ran across a lot had collapsed and the proposal was to relay the drain around the perimeter of the lot. Mr. Beck stated that the City would receive the lot at no cost in return for the waiver of the back taxes. Director Hurst stated that her husband was one of the individuals to be appointed to the Arkansas Arts Center Board of Trustees in Item M -1 and asked if she would need to recuse from voting on the appointment. City Attorney Tom Carpenter stated that Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting July 3, 2012 5:00 PM because there was no financial interest involved, she would not have to recuse from voting on the appointment. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Richardson, to approve the Consent Agenda. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the Consent Agenda was approved. SEPARATE ITEMS (Item 4) 4. ORDINANCE NO. 20.603: To call a Special Election in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, for the purpose of submitting to the electors of the City, the questions of issuing bonds for various capital improvements; and for other purposes. staff recommends approval. City Manager Bruce Moore stated that based on the projections, the City would pay the existing bond issue off in early 2013. City Manager Moore stated that the bond issue had been in place since 1958 and the highest rate had been 3.75 mills, with the current rate at 3.3 mills. City Manager Moore stated that in the State of the City Address, Mayor Stodola had recommended that the mills be reduced to 3.0, which would generate approximately $105 million in capital improvements. City Manager Moore stated that the median house in Little Rock had a market value of $54,200, with an assessed value of $30,840. The current property tax for the median house at 3.3 mills was $101.77; however, a reduction to 3 mills would place the property tax at $92.52; with the owner realizing a $9.25 savings. In 2003, the City's Public Works Department identified approximately $700 million in infrastructure needs; however, the estimates needed to be updated to reflect current conditions and cost increases due to inflation. City Manager Moore stated that as a result of the sales tax increase, $72 million in public works dollars would be generated over the course of ten (10) years, which would be able to address some of the critical needs in the City; however, it wouldn't make a dent in the overall infrastructure needs. City Manager Moore stated that the recommendation was to split the bond issue with 70% designated for Street Projects and the remaining 30% designated for Drainage Projects. Of those totals, 10% would be designated for City -wide projects and the remaining 90% would be divided evenly between the City's seven (7) Wards. Director Richardson asked why the City would call a Special Election and not wait until the General Election. City Manager Moore stated that the General Election would include items larger than local issues, and he felt it was important to educate the citizens regarding the City's infrastructure needs. State law dictated that Special Elections must occur on the second Tuesday of the month and could not occur on the same day as a School Board Election. City Manager Moore stated that a School Board Election was scheduled for the second Tuesday in October; leaving September as the only month that the Special Election could be held after the proper notification was given. Director Richardson asked how much it cost to hold a Special Election. City Manager Moore stated that the cost would be between $65,000 - $75,000 dollars and that the cost would be included in the bond issue. 3 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting July 3, 2012 5:00 PM Director Cazort stated that property taxes were assessed by Pulaski County and a taxing ordinance had to be passed in November by the Quorum Court. Director Cazort stated that any entity that had an approved millage rate had to report that to the County in October for it to be included in the November taxing ordinance. If the millage rate was not approved in October, it would not be included in November and one (1) -year would pass before the rate was allowed to be collected. Dr. Anika Whitfield. 4501 West 16th Street: Stated that she was against holding a Special Election and urged the Board to consider including the bond issue in the General Election. Rohn Muse, 822 Lewis Street: Stated that he represented the Forest Hills Neighborhood Association and they were supportive of the bond issue. Robert Webb: Stated that he felt that the City did not have a vision regarding how the monies would be spent. The ordinance was read a first time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Hurst, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on second reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the rules were suspended and the ordinance was read a second time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Hurst, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on third reading. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the rules were suspended and the ordinance was read a third time. Director Cazort stated that he agreed that there was an urgency in addressing the backlog of the City's infrastructure needs; however, the proposal was not the one that he would like to move forward with. Director Cazort stated that he did not support limiting the options or choices of the citizens regarding how they spend the bond monies. Director Cazort stated that he would not seek to amend the ordinance because he was aware that the support was not there to include Parks or the Little Rock Zoo in the bond issue. Director Cazort stated that he would not oppose the ordinance and urged the citizens to support the bond issue; however, he could not in good conscious ignore the other pressing capital needs and therefore; would not vote for or against the passage of the ordinance. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Cazort and Richardson voting Present, the ordinance was approved. CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATION Dr. Anika Whitfield, 4501 West 16th Street: Little Rock Technology Park Robert Webb: Sewer Raymond C. Tucker, 3024 Marshall Street: Hither to We the People Luke Skrable: Public Safety Vice Mayor Kumpuris made the motion, seconded by Director Fortson, to adjourn the meeting. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the meeting adjourned. 4 Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting July 3, 2012 5:00 PM APPROVED: Dean Kqpi&fis,"Vice Mayor