HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-20 - Minutes -CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSAS
MEETING MINUTES
Meeting of the Black Heritage Preservation Commission
July 20, 2023 6:30 PM
RM 111 City Hall
NOTE: The June 15, 2023 Black Heritage Preservation Commission meeting was held in
person, with commissioners attending in person. Staff were present in person.
Members: Council Member D'Andre Jones, Chair J L Jennings, Vice Chair Lois Bryant,
Veronica Huff, Wendell Huggins, Kaleb Turner, and Shawn Walker
City Staff: Britin Bostick - Long Range Planning & Special Projects Manager
Call to Order: 6:32pm
In Attendance: Council Member D'Andre Jones, Vice Chair Lois Bryant, Veronica Huff,
Wendell Huggins, Shawn Walker, and Britin Bostick
Approval of Minutes from the May 18 and June 15, 2023 Meetings: Motion by Commissioner
Huggins to accept the minutes. Second by Commissioner Huff. A vote of 5-0-0 followed.
Resolution for the Public Good Being Considered by the Council: Council Member Jones
asked Bostick to explain the resolution going back to the Council on September 5 and the steps
taken since the item was tabled by the Council at the June 6 meeting. Council Member Jones
anticipated requesting to further table the item to the September 19 Council meeting as he will
not be able to attend the September 5 meeting. Bostick shared that she had met with Sharon
Killian for additional details and provided the Commissioners with a draft document capturing
Mrs. Killian's vision and goals with some details and assigned roles added by Bostick. Bostick
additionally read an email from Chair J.L. Jennings stating his desire for the Commission to be
fully involved in the work including writing language for proposals or plans if the Commission
were going to be asked to be involved in the project or endeavor. Vice Chair Bryant concurred
with Chair Jennings' statement, and does not want to provide a blanket recommendation.
Commissioner Huggins stated he needed more details going forward. There may need to be a
separate meeting for the vision and goals to drill down into the details. Vice Chair Bryant stated
she supports the rezoning, and that the current zoning was only there to put Willow Heights in.
Council Member Jones asked how the historic part could be elevated and shine a light on past
experiences. Commissioner Huff noted that before starting to vocalize about the Jefferson
School sale and its future, she was involved in discussions about how to revitalize the space,
which could include jazz space creation. The Trail of Tears is an example of a formal
recognition that helps to visualize those footsteps. Commissioner Huff has a lot of questions
about the draft and noted that the Vision Foundation already has ideas based on the Jefferson
School. Commissioner Bryant mentioned another nearby property in the Spout Spring
neighborhood is up for sale. Commissioner Huff noted that restoring homes is important. Vice
Chair Bryant noted pressures to sell over time and that property is family -owned so there would
need to be permissions. There are a lot of things to look at, and with a lot of new people in the
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current residents are last on the list. She is interested in knowing whose names are on the
deeds. People in the neighborhood are passionate about this, but don't know what to do. We
need to get community engagement. Council Member Jones recommended the Commissioners
be ready to share what they would like to see at the next meeting and discuss. Commissioner
Huggins noted he would like to hear more from Mrs. Killian. Vice Chair Bryant would like to hear
more from Mrs. Killian after conferring with the City Attorney. Council Member Jones would like
a Council tour. It is important to be intentional in moving forward with the work and see what is
happening in the neighborhood. He would like to look at times to schedule a Council tour.
Bostick noted that the Council typically schedules tours at the end of agenda sessions and
perhaps this could be discussed at the August 29 agenda session. Commissioner Huggins
suggested the tour have guides. Commissioners and Bostick generally discussed a tour
approach and what information might be needed to be brought to the Council to give an idea of
what is being requested. The question was asked about the aspects of the vision and goals that
included work the City would not be able to perform. Bostick expressed her own concerns about
planning for or acquiring property in the Spout Spring neighborhood without community
awareness and buy -in as that has not been spoken of as a positive aspect in the past.
Budget/Project Planning: Vice Chair Bryant suggested a budget for 2-3 historical
markers/plaques. Commissioner Huff noted that both Bentonville and Rogers have a lot more
spaces for Black people, and shared her goal for a festival or big cookout for "family" at Walker
Park that could include market space like the Black Business Expo, games, music, and other
elements of a beautiful day. Maybe food as well as an area to tell about the history here. This
could also include African drums with an opening ceremony. Will need to get the word out, and
people will donate their time when they get interested. Commissioner Walker said that
something like that had been done about two years ago, and she recalled a donation from City
Attorney Kit Williams. The event had food, music and speakers. It was not a yearly thing but
thought to be held every couple of years. Everyone was invited, but especially people from
Fayetteville. Vice Chair Bryant thought the ideas could be melded together. Commissioner
Walker still has information from the event and a list of people who helped plan it. Bostick
mentioned she thought this would be an excellent opportunity for community engagement.
Bostick asked if the Commissioners would like the Henderson School to be placed back on the
agenda as she had been researching the property history and had an update to share. Vice
Chair Bryant confirmed the agenda addition.
Adjourn: 7:29pm