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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 Mailing Address: 113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov Fayetteville, AR 72701 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