HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-28 - Minutes -
TOWN AND GOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Oct. 28, 2024 | 3:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Via Zoom
Members:
CITY COUNCIL & COMMUNITY
MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVES
• Teresa Turk
City Council Member
• Vacant
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
• Jeremy Battjes
Vice Chancellor for Student
Affairs/Committee Co-Chair
• Mark Rushing
Associate Vice Chancellor,
University Relations
• Scott Turley
Associate Vice Chancellor,
Facilities
• Mason Berres
President, Associated Student
Government
• Kolade Olatunde
President, Graduate
Professional Student Congress
Meeting Video:
https://reflect-fayetteville-ar.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/8617?site=1
1. Call to Order
Susan called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m.
2. Roll Call
In attendance: Teresa Turk, Max Emery, Jack Avery, Annie Dowling, Alan Wilbourn, Susan
Norton, Lisa Thurber, Jonathan Curth, Jeremy Battjes, Mark Rushing, Mason Berres, Kolade
Olatunde
Absent: Scott Turley
3. Approval of Minutes
Curth moved and Turk seconded approval of the July 2024 meeting minutes. The minutes
were unanimously approved.
4. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Turk moved and Curth seconded approval of the October meeting agenda.
5. Old Business:
None
MEETING MINUTES
6. New Business
a. Welcome and introduction to Jeremy Battjes, new Committee co-chair
Norton welcomed Jeremy Battjes, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and new co-chair
replacing Laura Jacobs for the Town and Gown Advisory Committee. Battjes gave a
brief overview of his role at the University.
b. Welcome to new and returning Committee appointees
Norton welcomed one new committee member (Emerson) and one returning committee
member (Avery). Both members briefly addressed the group. At Norton’s request, all
committee members introduced themselves.
c. University of Arkansas Natural Gas Pipeline
Drew Watzke, Communications Manager for Facilities Management – University of
Arkansas, shared an overview of the natural gas pipeline and reviewed the annual
process for communicating this information to the University and larger Fayetteville
community. Turk inquired on how much of the University’s energy needs are met by the
pipeline; Watzke said that a large portion of its needs are met by the pipeline.
d. Rescheduling Q1 2025 (January) meeting
Thurber advised that the January 2025 meeting will be scheduled two weeks earlier than
normal because of several scheduling conflicts.
7. Public Comment/Other Discussion
Turk requested that the January agenda include an update on the number of incoming first
year students at the University. Dowling asked for updates on a new sorority house being
built at the corner of Wilson and Maple. Avery asked for an update on the Mayor’s Housing
Task Force findings; Emerson added that the housing topic was a factor in his interest in
joining this committee.
8. Next Meeting and Adjourn:
The Q1 2025 Town and Gown Committee meeting will take place on Jan. 13, 2025, via
Zoom. The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.