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Home My WebLink About2024-04-22 - Minutes - TOWN AND GOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE April 22, 2024 | 3:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting Via Zoom Members: CITY COUNCIL & COMMUNITY MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVES • Teresa Turk City Council Member • Brandon Gibbons U of A Student - Off Campus • Jack Avery Community Citizen at Large • Annie Dowling Community Citizen at Large • Alan Wilbourn Exec. Dir. Of Communications, Fayetteville Public Schools CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE STAFF REPRESENTATIVES • Susan Norton Chief of Staff Committee Co-Chair • Lisa Thurber Director of Communications and Marketing • Jonathan Curth Director of Development Services STAFF RESOURCES WILL BE CALLED UPON AS NEEDED UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS REPRESENTATIVES • Laura Jacobs Chief of Staff/Committee Co- Chair • Mark Rushing Associate Vice Chancellor, University Relations • Scott Turley Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities • Cael Losenegger President, Associated Student Government • Kolade Olatunde President, Graduate Professional Student Congress Meeting Video: https://reflect-fayetteville-ar.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/8361?site=1 1. Call to Order Jacobs called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call In attendance: Teresa Turk, Brandon Gibbons, Jack Avery, Alan Wilbourn, Susan Norton, Lisa Thurber, Jonathan Curth, Laura Jacobs, Cale Losenegger, Kolade Olatunde Absent: Annie Dowling, Mark Rushing, Scott Turley 3. Approval of Minutes Curth moved and Turk seconded approval of the Jan. 22 meeting minutes. The minutes were unanimously approved. 4. Approval of Meeting Agenda Norton moved and Wilbourn seconded approval of the April 22 meeting agenda. The agenda was unanimously approved. 5. Old Business: None MEETING MINUTES 2 6. New Business a. University housing study Jeremy Battjes, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs - University of Arkansas, shared highlights of a housing growth study completed in March 2024. He noted that housing type is a factor in student success as measured through retention numbers. On- campus residence halls help create a sense of community that supports student success. For the Fall 2024, UA has secured 7,278 beds, which includes on-campus housing and off-campus spaces leased by UA. A student satisfaction poll showed that students living on campus are more satisfied than those living off-campus, and those living in Greek housing expressed the greatest satisfaction. The housing study also identified several potential sites for new residence halls in the Maple Hill area. An RFP was issued in February, and Battjes anticipates the Board will approve two architects and two construction managers for the residence hall projects. Construction should begin around Summer 2025, with completion in Summer 2027. Turk noted that University Heights residents are pleased with the new residence hall site selections and asked to share the presentation with her neighborhood contacts. Turk also asked about building height for the new halls; Battjes said there are no designs developed yet, but he expects the new buildings’ aesthetics to fit with existing/surrounding buildings. Turk also asked if any incentives could be offered to students who do not bring a car to campus; Battjes noted that the UA Sustainability Team works to educate and encourage students, faculty and staff regarding alternative transportation options. Jacobs added that for many out-of-state students, opting out of bringing a car can be challenging. Curth asked if there are projections and/or limits for the number of off- campus leases the UA is willing to undertake; Battjes said that ideally, they’d like zero master leases, but that will take time to achieve through projects such as the new residence halls. Curth asked for clarification on the difference between “off-campus” and “apartment”; Battjes indicated that students prefer a UA-managed option on- or off-campus rather than being in an off-campus option they must secure on their own. Losenegger expressed his appreciation to the student affairs division for creating a strong on-campus student living experience; he added that this experience feeds into increased demand for on-campus living options. Gibbons noted that sense of community for students is important and likely contributes to happier students. Link to presentation: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yk4l8efm71nsre0ufhpx0/VCSA-HGStudy-Update-Next- Steps_Town-and-Gown.pdf?rlkey=si8lzxl9mllbyceq4b89vaqqt&st=evuyt4vc&dl=0 b. Update on 15th Street and Razorback Road intersection improvements project Chris Brown, Public Works Director – City of Fayetteville, gave an update on construction progress and time frames for intersection improvements. These include a signalized intersection, westbound lane, sidewalks/sidepaths across the railroad tracks. Intermittent lane closures take place as needed for worker safety, and closures are scheduled around high-traffic events such as baseball games. The project should be mostly complete by mid-July 2024. Wilbourn expressed appreciation for the improvement work. 3 c. Weekend Starts series Joanna Bell, Arts and Culture Director – City of Fayetteville, gave a preview of this year’s Weekend Starts series, which takes place Friday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Lower Ramble, through Oct. 25. Events offer a variety of art-infused experiences that are free to the public. Gibbons expressed his support for the Weekend Starts series. Norton thanked the UA for its partnership with Bell in developing the series. d. Upper Ramble construction update Wade Abernathy, Bond Projects and Construction Director – City of Fayetteville, reviewed progress on Upper Ramble construction, also known as the Civic Plaza, and shared views of design features planned for the space. He also gave an update on the North and South buildings that will anchor the plaza, and how they integrate with the Razorback Greenway and other features of the plaza and surrounding buildings. At Norton’s request, Abernathy clarified that the North and South buildings are a public- private partnership. Wilbourn asked for the project end-date; Abernathy noted that the city’s work will be complete this fall, while the two privately owned buildings will continue to see work beyond that time frame. e. 2024 commencement planning Wilbourn said that FHS celebrations will take place on Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena. He expects about 800 graduation students. Jacobs said that ceremonies will take place across several days, with more than 4,400 expected to graduate. U of A commencement schedule and details can be found at https://commencement.uark.edu/spring- 2024/index.php#:~:text=Spring%202024%20commencement%20ceremonies%20will,b eing%20honored%20in%20multiple%20ceremonies f. 71B project outreach plans Curth shared an overview of a City project to consider rezonings along the 71B corridor. He reviewed current and planned street improvement projects along 71B, highlighting the Nelson Hackett intersection safety improvements completed about one year ago. Next, the City will address land use along the corridor, focusing on how to make the best use of this space to meet Fayetteville’s needs as a growing community. The project timeline includes a series of public meetings in the second and third quarter of 2024, with a proposal going to Planning Commission later this year. Curth clarified that the goal of this project is to increase residential zonings along this corridor. Avery asked if 71B’s status as a state highway impacts the City’s ability to pursue this project; Curth said that the City has taken control of 71B from the state, which allows for greater opportunities to make changes. 7. Public Comment/Other Discussion a. Potential impact to trees on north side of Maple St. during sidewalk/senior walk construction: item tabled to Old Business at July 22 meeting. b. Gibbons offered some personal thoughts and insights as a graduating UA student and advisory committee member. 4 c. Losenegger, also a graduating UA student, thanked the advisory committee for its collaboration and contributions to the community. 8. Next Meeting and Adjourn The Q3 2024 Town and Gown Committee meeting will take place on July 22, 2024, via Zoom. The meeting was adjourned at 4:07 p.m.