HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-16 - Minutes -Council Member Robert B. Stafford
Ward 1 Position 1
Council Member D'Andre Jones
Ward 1 Position 2
Council Member Sarah Moore
Ward 2 Position 1
Council Member Mike Wiederkehr
Ward 2 Position 2
Mayor Lioneld Jordan
City Attorney Kit Williams
City Clerk Treasurer Kara Paxton
City of Fayetteville Arkansas
City Council Meeting
April 16, 2024
City Council Meeting Minutes
April 16, 2024
Page 1 of 13
Council Member Scott Berna
Ward 3 Position 1
Council Member Sarah Bunch
Ward 3 Position 2
Council Member Teresa Turk
Ward 4 Position 1
Council Member Holly Hertzberg
Ward 4 Position 2
A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council was held on April 16, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in Room
219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville,
Arkansas.
Mayor Jordan called the meeting to order.
PRESENT: Council Members Robert B. Stafford, D'Andre Jones, Sarah Moore, Mike
Wiederkehr, Scott Berna, Sarah Bunch, Teresa Turk, Holly Hertzberg, Mayor Lioneld
Jordan, City Attorney Kit Williams, Senior Deputy City Clerk Jackson Shelton,
Communications & Marketing Director Lisa Thurber, Chief Financial Officer Paul Becker,
Staff, Press and Audience.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mavor's Announcements, Proclamations and Recognitions: None
City Council Meetiny, Presentations, Reports, and Discussion Items: None
Agenda Additions: None
Consent:
Giving Tree Grant (Grant Acceptance): A resolution to authorize the acceptance of a grant from
the Fayetteville Area Community Foundation in the amount of $1,500.00 to develop a tutoring
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City Council Meeting Minutes
April 16, 2024
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component of the afterschool program at the Yvonne Richardson Community Center, and to
approve a budget adjustment.
Resolution 118-24 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Resolution 62-24 (Amendment / Budget Adjustment): A resolution to amend Resolution No.
62-24 and reduce the amount of re -appropriations to the 2024 Budget by the amount of
$4,571,983.00, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Resolution 119-24 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk
McClelland Consulting Engineers, Inc. (Contract Amendment #2): A resolution to approve
Amendment No. 2 to the contract with McClelland Consulting Engineers, Inc. in the amount of
$20,475.00 to provide additional services associated with the North Street Corridor Project, and to
approve a budget adjustment — 2019 Street Improvements Bond Project.
Resolution 120-24 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Musco Sports Lighting, LLC. (Purchase Agreement): A resolution to approve the purchase of
lights, poles, and controllers from Musco Sports Lighting, LLC. in the total amount of $95,051.18,
pursuant to a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract.
Resolution 121-24 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Fayetteville Fire Department Strategic Plan (Adoption): A resolution to approve and adopt the
Fayetteville Fire Department Strategic Plan.
Resolution 122-24 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Fayetteville Fire Department Administrative Policies (Adoption): A resolution to approve
updates to Fayetteville Fire Department Administrative Policies.
Resolution 123-24 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Fayetteville Fire Department Annual Program Appraisal (Acknowledgement): A resolution
to acknowledge that the Fayetteville Fire Department has completed its annual program appraisal
and presented it to the Fayetteville City Council.
Resolution 124-24 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Council Member Bunch moved to accept the Consent Agenda as read. Council Member
Moore seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
Unfinished Business:
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April 16, 2024
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West Transmission Waterline (Ordinance Approval): An ordinance authorizing the issuance
and sale of a not to exceed $85,000,000 Water and Sewer System Revenue Bond, Series 2024, by
the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of
planning, designing, acquiring, constructing and equipping certain water transmission line
improvements; providing for the payment of the principal of and servicing fee on the bond;
authorizing the execution and delivery of a bond purchase agreement providing for the sale of the
bond; and prescribing other matters relating thereto. At the March 19, 2024 City Council Meeting
this ordinance was tabled to the April 2, 2024 City Council Meeting. At the April 2, 2024 City
Council Meeting this ordinance was tabled to the April 16, 2024 City Council Meeting.
City Attorney Kit Williams explained how he had read half of the ordinance at the last City
Council Meeting and requested that the City Council make a motion to amend the ordinance to
add sections 7-25, which had not been in the ordinance when it was first read.
Council Member Turk moved to amend to add Sections 7 — 25 to the ordinance. Council
Member Stafford seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the remaining portion of the ordinance.
Paul Becker, Chief Financial Officer gave a brief description of the ordinance. He stated there
was no interest rate attached to the bond, there was only a service fee of three quarters of a percent.
He estimated the bond would save ratepayers up to twenty million dollars and that it would be
structured for twenty years. He stated Bond Council Gordon Wilbourn was present for any
questions and requested the ordinance go through all remaining readings so the City could get the
project underway.
Mayor Jordan opened the floor for public comment. A citizen by the name of William Harris called
for a point of order regarding a Proposed Agenda Addition. It was decided he would speak later
on in the meeting.
Council Member Stafford moved to suspend the rules and go to the second reading. Council
Member Berna seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Council Member Stafford moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading.
Council Member Berna seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
City Attorney Kit Williams thanked the Bond Council for their work on the item.
Mayor Jordan asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Ordinance 6 73 7 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk
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Rezoning-2024-0005: (1510 W. Markham Rd./L&F Construction, 482): An ordinance to
rezone the property described in Rezoning Petition RZN 2024-0005 for approximately 0.30 acres
located at 1510 W. Markham Road in Ward 4 from RSF-4, Residential Single -Family, Four Units
Per Acre to RI-U, Residential Intermediate -Urban. At the April 2, 2024 City Council Meeting this
item was left on the Second Reading.
Council Member Berna moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading.
Council Member Moore seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Jonathan Curth, Development Services Director stated he had no new updates or information on
the request. He stated staff recommended in favor of the request and the Planning Commission
forwarded it to the City Council by a vote of 8-1. He noted Will Kellstrom was present on behalf
of the applicant for the item.
Will Kellstrom, Attorney with Watkins Boyer Gray & Curry PLLC gave a brief description of
what was allowed by right to be built in the RI-U, Residential Intermediate -Urban, zoning district
and presented images of properties in the area. He noted the various nearby properties that had
been purchased by the University of Arkansas, many of which had been demolished. He stated
that at some point in time the area might have been an old, established portion of Markham Hill,
however that was not the case anymore and a lot of the area had newly built homes and had been
redeveloped. He briefly spoke of how the home on the property had already been renovated
multiple times and believed that the historic nature of the home was now gone.
Council Member Turk briefly spoke of how the area had historically been a Residential Single
Family, 4 Units Per Acre neighborhood and pointed out the neighbors that lived near the property
who were still currently in the area. She believed the request would be too dense and spoke of how
the city was unsure of what the University of Arkansas would be doing with the properties they
had acquired. She hoped the other City Council Members had been able to drive by the property
and see how the nearby home owned by Trey Marley had been blocked off by the other properties
and had no relief except to the west, where the property in question was.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Bunch and Jonathan Curth regarding what
could be built on the property if the request were approved. Jonathan Curth clarified that five units
and above classified as Multifamily in the City of Fayetteville, which would not be allowed if the
property were rezoned. He stated approval of the request would allow single two, three and four
family buildings.
Council Member Stafford had reached out to Trey Marley, who lived in the house Council
Member Turk had mentioned, and clarified that Trey Marley expressed more concern about what
the University of Arkansas would do if they had bought this property than he was with the request
currently before the City Council.
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Trey Marley, Nearby Property Owner stated he lived directly to the east of the property in
question. He spoke of how he felt there needed to be more transparency between the University of
Arkansas and the City regarding the university's plans and finding a way to work together.
Mayor Jordan stated the Town and Gown Committee interacted with the University of Arkansas.
Council Member Stafford believed it would be great to have additional interaction, transparency
and a voice in what the University of Arkansas was doing. He questioned if the Town and Gown
Committee gave the City Council reports.
Lisa Thurber, Communications & Marketing Director stated she staffed the Town and Gown
Committee, which met quarterly. She was not aware of any reports being sent to the City Council
and noted that Council Member Turk was also a member of the committee.
Council Member Stafford spoke briefly of how it would be nice to know the University of
Arkansas plans for the future. He requested that Trey Marley let the City Council know whether
or not he liked the proposal currently being discussed.
Trey Marley believed it was a lesser of two evils, with the University of Arkansas being the
greater evil. He felt as though four units was too dense for the area and briefly spoke of how the
neighborhood had been torn apart by redevelopment.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Bunch and City Attorney Kit Williams
regarding the University of Arkansas. City Attorney Kit Williams stated that since the university
was a state agency, they did not have to follow the City of Fayetteville's zoning rules and could
build what they wanted on the properties they purchased.
Council Member Turk briefly spoke of how she currently served on the Town and Gown
Committee and expressed disappointment in the transparency between the committee and the
University of Arkansas. She hoped that could change in the future and believed the university and
City needed to work hand in hand in order to solve the housing crisis and other issues.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Stafford, Will Kellstrom and Jonathn Curth
regarding what would be developed on the property. Will Kellstrom stated they were looking to
develop four single family homes on the lot.
Council Member Moore thanked Trey Marley for sharing his thoughts and expressed
appreciation to Council Member Turk for having sensitivity toward the neighbors in the area. She
hoped the City could forge a stronger partnership with the University of Arkansas as it related to
issues within the community.
Mayor Jordan asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed 7-1.
Council Member Moore, Wiederkehr, Berna, Bunch, Hertzberg, Stafford and Jones voted
yes. Council Member Turk voted no.
Ordinance 6738 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk
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New Business:
Alcoholic Beverage Permit (Fee Cap Removal): An ordinance to amend § 111.30 Retail in
Chapter 111 Alcoholic Beverages of the City Code to remove the permit fee cap of $500.00 for
certain retail alcohol permits.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Paul Becker, Chief Financial Officer gave a brief description of the ordinance and stated he was
available for questions.
Council Member Stafford moved to suspend the rules and go to the second reading. Council
Member Wiederkehr seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Council Member Wiederkehr moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final
reading. Council Member Stafford seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed
unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Jordan asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Ordinance 6739 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Vacation-2024-0003: (1722 N. Starr Dr./St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 373): An ordinance to
approve VAC-24-03 for property located at 1722 North Starr Drive in Ward 3 to vacate a 0.18 acre
portion of general utility easement.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Jonathan Curth, Development Services Director gave a brief description of the ordinance. He
stated that when reviewing the request, staff found there to be an existing waterline within the
easement and recommended approval based on the requirement that a new waterline be permitted,
constructed and accepted by the City before the vacation request was formalized. He stated
Caroline Gardner was present as the applicant for the item.
Caroline Gardner, Project Engineer with Crafton Tull stated she had nothing further to add.
Council Member Berna moved to suspend the rules and go to the second reading. Council
Member Stafford seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
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April 16, 2024
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Council Member Berna moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading.
Council Member Moore seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Jordan asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Ordinance 6740 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Rezoning-2024-0006: (5916 W. Wedington Dr./Legacy Ventures NWA, Inc., 397): An
ordinance to rezone the property described in Rezoning Petition RZN 2024-0006 for
approximately 1.28 acres located at 5916 West Wedington Drive in Ward 4 from RSF-4,
Residential Single -Family, Four Units Per Acre to NS-G, Neighborhood Services General.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Jonathan Curth, Development Services Director gave a brief description of the ordinance. He
stated staff found the request to be compatible and consistent with the City's Future Land Use Map
and the City Plan 2040 goals. He noted the tree canopy would reduce by 5% if the request were
approved. He briefly spoke of how Community Services was the original proposal for the property
to be rezoned to, however staff had not supported that request. He stated there had been public
comment expressed in opposition to the original request and that the item had been tabled at a
Planning Commission Meeting, and then brought forward at the March 25t' Planning Commission
meeting as an amended proposal to NSG, Neighborhood Services General, which staff supported,
and the Planning Commission forwarded to the City Council unanimously in favor. He stated
Daniel Stewart or Tim Brisiel were the applicants for the item.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Hertzberg and Jonathan Curth comparing
Neighborhood Services General zoning district to Neighborhood Services Limited zoning district.
The City Council received 1 public comment regarding this ordinance.
Council Member Wiederkehr moved to suspend the rules and go to the second reading.
Council Member Berna seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Council Member Berna moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading.
Council Member Moore seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Jordan asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
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City Council Meeting Minutes
April 16, 2024
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Ordinance 6741 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Planned Zoning District-2024-0001: (3568 W. Mount Comfort Road/Holt Village, 323): An
ordinance to approve a Residential Planned Zoning District entitled PZD-2024-001 for
approximately 16.72 acres located at 3568 West Mount Comfort Road in Ward 4.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Jonathan Curth, Development Services Director gave a brief description of the ordinance. He
stated the property was currently undeveloped and had no indications of any floodplains, protected
streams or identified hydric soils. He stated staff found the request compatible when reviewing it
from a land use compatibility standpoint and from a long range planning standpoint. He stated
staff had received several public comments in the form of inquiries regarding the request, as well
as a member of the public speaking at a Planning Commission meeting in favor of the item. He
stated staff recommended in favor of the request and the Planning Commission forwarded it to the
City Council unanimously, with one member recusing. He stated Allison Quinlan was present as
the applicant for the item.
Allison Quinlan, Principal Architect and Landscape Architect with Flintlock Lab gave a brief
description of the request and the proposed development. She stated the development would create
the ability for families to be able to walk their kids to school and would create a mixed use
neighborhood that had various housing types and price points. She was available for any questions.
Council Member Hertzberg asked what the estimated number of units would be on the property.
Allison Quinlan stated she did not currently have that information available.
Council Member Hertzberg requested information regarding the point of access to the property.
Allison Quinlan briefly explained how the full development plan included a shared connection
with the two nearby lots and that they were attempting to get one shared curb cut. She then went
on to describe the pedestrian path and how it allowed access to Holt Elementary School and the
Goddard School.
Council Member Hertzberg liked the development, however she had concerns regarding school
traffic and making a lefthand turn when exiting the property in question.
Council Member Moore spoke of her experience with navigating school traffic and appreciated
that there would be less access and hoped it would encourage individuals nearby to walk or bike
to the school.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Hertzberg and Allison Quinlan regarding
there being another secondary connection available for the property in the form of an alley access
through the nearby gas station.
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Jonathan Curth stated the PZD booklet proposed approximately 125 units.
The City Council received 1 public comment regarding this ordinance.
Council Member Stafford moved to suspend the rules and go to the second reading. Council
Member Moore seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Council Member Stafford moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading.
Council Member Moore seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Jordan asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Ordinance 6742 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Appeal: Rezoning-2024-0002: (740 W. Stone St./Apex Property Ventures, LLC, 522): An
ordinance to rezone the property described in Rezoning Petition RZN-2024-0002 for
approximately 0.24 acres located at 740 West Stone Street in Ward 2 from RI-U, Residential
Intermediate -Urban to DG, Downtown General.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Jonathan Curth, Development Services Director gave a brief description of the ordinance. He
stated staff did not take issue with the proposed uses of the request and from a compatibility
standpoint found it to be compatible. He stated the proposed zoning district would reduce the tree
canopy requirement down to 10% and that staff had received public comments expressing concerns
regarding parking in the area. He briefly spoke of the Bill of Assurance that had been proposed
with the request and clarified that staff did not take issue with the proposed land use entitlement,
their concern was largely to do with encumbering the property with a Bill of Assurance that
effectively replicated many of the allowances already found in the current zoning district for the
property as either by right or conditional use. He stated the Planning Commission felt similarly
and denied the request by a vote of 3-6. He briefly spoke of the process a developer would have to
go through for a Conditional Use Permit on a development and acknowledged that it sometimes
represented a bit more of a burden on the front end for an applicant. He requested the City Council
ask the applicant which Bill of Assurance they were offering, as the City had received two Bill of
Assurances that were identical but dated different days. He stated Brian Teague was available as
the applicant for the item.
Brian Teague, Owner of Community By Design stated he was representing the property owner,
Sasi Sundaram, who was present via zoom. He requested the ability to review a piece of
information that had been included in Jonathan Curth's report and then proceeded to give a
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slideshow presentation that outlined the details regarding the proposal. He presented depictions of
nearby buildings and spoke of their scale, some being two stories and some being up to three stories
and of how that was the scale they would try to match with their five plex. He then went on to
describe the type of development they were proposing for the area, which would be a two and a
half story five plex, which would require a Conditional Use Permit under the current zoning
district. He explained how their issue with a Conditional Use Permit was that it would be subject
to appeal, and briefly spoke of his history in having projects appealed, and that it would cost the
project extra time. He stated that the rezoning request would offer the benefits of a by right
development and would cost everyone involved less time on the project. He cited the City Plan
and its goals as well as the City's Future Land Use Map, which highlighted the property as a City
Neighborhood. He stated their proposal with the Bill of Assurance was compatible with the
neighborhood and would not create any measurable increases in traffic. He believed a five plex in
the location was in accordance with the City Plan and would be available for any questions.
City Attorney Kit Williams requested clarification regarding which Bill of Assurance was being
offered to the City Council.
Brian Teague stated they were offering the Bill of Assurance that had been most recently dated.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Wiederkehr and Jonathan Curth regarding
the deadline for items to be placed on the March 1ltt' Planning Commission Meeting agenda.
Jonathan Curth stated the submittal deadline for that meeting had been January 31 St of 2024.
Council Member Berna requested that the applicant come forward to provide clarification
regarding the Bill of Assurance.
Brian Teague stated the two Bill of Assurances were intended to be the same thing and clarified
that they both contained the same information. He reiterated that he would like to examine a
depiction Jonathan Curth had displayed of the property before continuing with the request.
There was a brief discussion between Mayor Jordan, Brian Teague and City Attorney Kit Williams
regarding the item needing to be left on the current reading and further discussion continuing at
the next City Council Meeting.
This ordinance was left on the First Reading.
Housing Coordinator (FTE Position): A resolution to establish a new FTE for a Housing
Coordinator to focus efforts towards the housing crisis declaration of April 2, 2024.
Council Member Moore gave a brief description of the resolution and stated it would be a position
that would be part of the Long Range Planning Department. She stated there had been members
from the community that had requested a position specific around housing and explained that if
the request were approved, the Human Resources Department would then grade the position and
create the job description. She went on to describe how the position could be funded with leftover
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies. She was open to any suggestions on the request and
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believed the role would have great potential in assisting the Housing Task Force, being a liaison
to community organizations and city staff in housing matters and assisting in facilitating
community and stakeholder engagement.
Council Member Stafford thanked Council Member Moore for her work on the resolution. He
briefly spoke of how he had thought the item had already been dealt with, but he had heard from
many constituents that this was something they wanted and so he was willing to listen to more
discussion on the item.
Council Member Jones appreciated Council Member Moore's efforts on the proposal and
believed that it would be to the City's advantage to hire someone to do the work outlined in the
resolution. He briefly spoke of cities that had hired a similar position to address the complex issues
of housing. He would be in support of the resolution.
The City Council received 4 public comments regarding this resolution.
Council Member Berna moved to end the discussion and vote immediately. Council Member
Hertzberg seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion failed 4-4. Council Member
Wiederkehr, Berna, Turk and Hertzberg voted yes. Council Member Moore, Bunch,
Stafford and Jones voted no.
There was a brief discussion amongst the City Council and Paul Becker regarding the position
being funded by ARPA monies. Paul Becker explained how the position could be funded until the
end of the current fiscal year, and after that an alternative for funding would have to be found.
Council Member Stafford questioned what the intent of the longevity of the position was.
Council Member Moore briefly spoke of her experience traveling to different cities that had
focused their resources around housing and had created similar positions as was being proposed.
She briefly spoke of how the position could be piloted for the first year to further detail out what
the role could look like and see how the position could be helpful to the City. She hoped the
position could be formed as soon as possible to assist the Task Force that would be created from
the passage of the Housing Crisis Resolution.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Stafford and Council Member Moore
regarding the cities that had similar positions to the Housing Coordinator role.
Council Member Jones briefly spoke of how important it was for the City to financially invest in
the challenges that housing created.
Council Member Wiederkehr briefly spoke of his concerns with the proposal and stated he had
believed the City Council had come to and voted on a joint resolution that had removed the position
from that resolution as a compromised agreement between the City Council Members. He believed
the best money to spend would be to fund positions that reviewed and approved housing projects.
He also expressed concerns procedurally of the position request not coming from the Task Force
that had been created with the Housing Crisis Resolution.
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There was a brief discussion between Council Member Bunch and Paul Becker regarding
American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Council Member Bunch briefly spoke of her concerns regarding funding the position. She
believed the position needed more time and finessing before the City Council committed to it. She
briefly spoke of the extra ARPA funding and how it could be put into other programs that had
already been effective.
Council Member Berna stated he had the same concerns as Council Member Wiederkehr and
Bunch. He had felt as though the City Council had spent a lot of time working collaboratively on
the Housing Crisis Resolution that had been agreed upon. He would also be opposed to funding
the position with ARPA funds due to other programs showing signification contribution to their
groups.
Council Member Moore appreciated everyone's feedback and acknowledged that the Housing
Crisis had been agreed upon but believed it would benefit the city to consider the potential of an
investment into the position. She stated the programs that ARPA monies had funded were great
and had helped members in the community, but a Housing Crisis was something that affected the
entire population of the City of Fayetteville. She understood everyone's hesitations regarding the
proposal and had stuck with the one year timeline due to the Task Force being only for one year
and believed that the position would show itself to be necessary and a huge benefit to the City.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Jones and City Attorney Kit Williams
regarding the previous motion to vote immediately.
Council Member Turk believed the City Council had worked hard to come to a compromise
between the two resolutions and did not believe there would have been a compromise if the
Housing Coordinator position had stayed in the combined, final resolution. She wanted to give the
Task Force a chance to come up with ideas and work together on the issue. She briefly spoke of
how the City had asked for innovative ideas on housing solutions when the ARPA funds had been
available, and only two applications had come forward, with no Housing Coordinator position in
either. She would not be in support of the resolution and believed the City Council needed to give
the Task Force time to come up with ideas and also believed it was important for positions to go
through the budget review process before coming to the City Council.
Council Member Stafford understood everyone's concerns and had shared the same ones. He did
not believe Council Member Moore had acted in bad faith and felt she had done her research on
the proposal. He believed the ARPA funding for the position could help the City Council fund the
position through the fiscal year to see how effective it was and then make a decision on continuing
that position. He believed it could assist the Task Force in daily duties and needs.
Council Member Jones believed Council Member Moore had done nothing wrong in bringing
the position forth and that the community appreciated her advocacy.
Council Member Moore stated she had brought the Housing Coordination position forward due
to feedback she had heard from professionals in the community that had shown interest in joining
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the Task Force. She described how the position would allow the Housing Coordinator to assist the
Task Force in their duties such as writing reports and doing daily research.
Mayor Jordan stated he had received roughly 50 applications from individuals who had wanted
to be part of the Task Force, which would then elect a Chairperson that would begin meeting with
city staff. He felt as though everyone had worked together over the course of three meetings and
had believed the Housing Crisis Resolution had been worked through already. He stated it would
take him a while to put together the Task Force and that it would also take a while for the Human
Resources Department to define the Housing Coordination position before hiring someone. He
briefly spoke of the departments in the city that needed additional staffing and of how the ARPA
monies could fund other things like workforce training and childcare. He stated he would not be
voting on the item tonight if he had to.
Council Member Moore moved to approve the resolution. Council Member Stafford
seconded the motion. Upon roll call the resolution failed 3-5. Council Member Moore,
Stafford and Jones voted yes. Council Member Wiederkehr, Berna, Bunch, Turk and
Hertzberg voted no.
This resolution failed.
Announcements: None
After Announcements were over, Mayor Jordan let a member of the public by the name of William
Harris, 258 S. Church, come forward to speak briefly regarding a proposal he had left for the City
Council Members as well as the Mayors Office that consisted of a hope for the City to develop a
system of collective housing for peer groups.
Citv Council Agenda Session Presentations: None
City Council Tour: None
Adiournment: 8:20 p.m.
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113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www fayetteville-ar gov