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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-01-30 MinutesA SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 443 The Board of Directors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, met in special session at 4:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 30, 1979, in the Directors Room, City Administration Building, Fayetteville, Arkansas. PRESENT: Mayor David Malone, Directors Ann Henry, Ernest Lancaster, John Todd, Richard Osborne, and Phil Colwell, City Manager Don Grimes, City Attorney Jim McCord, Administrative Assistant David McWethy, and City Clerk Angie Medlock. ABSENT: Director Paul Noland. OTHERS PRESENT: Members of the audience and respresentatives of the news media. (o CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. After a moment of respectful silence 443.1 U and roll call, the Mayor called for consideration of the first item of business. NORRIS INDUSTRIES / Act 9 Bonds Q The Mayor opened discussion on an ordinance authorizing the issuance of 443.2 $6,000,000 in "Act 9" industrial development revenue bonds, and also the execution of a lease agreement and trust indenture. The City Attorney introduced Jim Shaffer, general counsel and vice- president for Norris Industries, Hans Brosch, vice-president of Norris Industries and president of McIntosh Industries, and Bill Patton, bond counsel. Director Colwell arrived at 4:07 P.M. 443.3 There being no discussion, the City Attorney read the ordinance for the 443.4 first time. Director Osborne, seconded by Henry, moved the rules be sus- pended and the ordinance placed on second reading. The recorded vote was: Ayes: Henry, Lancaster, Todd, Osborne, Malone, Colwell. Nays: None. Absent: Noland. The Mayor declared the motion passed and the ordinance was read the second time. Director Osborne, seconded by Henry, moved the rules be further suspended 443.5 and the ordinance placed on third and final reading. The recorded vote was: Ayes: Henry, Lancaster, Todd, Osborne; Malone, Colwell. Nays: None. Absent: Noland. The Mayor declared the motion passed and the ordinance was read the final time. The City Attorney noted that the lease agreement does contain a payment in 443.6 lieu of taxes. There being no further discussion, the Mayor asked if the ordinance should 443.7 pass. The recorded vote was: Ayes: Henry, Lancaster, Todd, Osborne, Malone, Colwell. Nays: None. Absent: Noland. The Mayor declared the ordinance passed. Director Henry, seconded by Osborne, moved that the emergency clause be 443.8 adopted. The recorded vote was: 1 1-3-79 444.E 4 Ayes: Henry, Lancaster, Todd, Osborne, Malone, Colwell. Nays: None. Absent: Noland. The Mayor declared the emergency clause passed. ORDINANCE NO. 2499 APPEARS ON PAGE OF ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION BOOK VII. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED BUDGETS 444.2 Next was presentation of the recommended 1979, 1980, and 1981 Community Development Block Grant programs. Marcia Mclvor was present representing the Community Development and Housing Assistance Committees. She read a list of the proposed projects for the coming three years. This list is on file in the City Clerk's office. 444.3 Director Henry asked how much money is still unspent in Housing Assistance. Community Development Director Rick Mason said there is about $350,000 still unspent which can be spent when the CD program is cleared up. Todd questioned how long CD would have to spend the money which has been cut off and Mason said he did not think there was a time limit. 444.4 Director Osborne questioned how CD came up with $55,000 to be allotted to Urban Renewal and Rick Mason said CD was instructed by the Regional Office in Dallas to set aside this amount to close the Urban Renewal Program. Mason noted that after the Urban Renewal program is closed out, any assets of Urban Renewal will be turned over to CD, so they might possibly get this money back. 444.5 Director Todd questioned if CD has applications for the Housing Assistance money and Mason said they have 40-50 applicants and when they get a release on the money, they will go back and check those applications to see if they qualify for funding. Director Osborne questioned what the average grant is per applicant and Mason said it is approximately $4,000-$6,000. 444.6 Director Todd questioned what would happen if they wanted to reappropriate some money at a later date and Mason said they could reappropriate less than 10% of the total budget to any other line item. He said if it was more than 10%, it would require HUD approval. 444.7 There was discussion about obtaining a structure for the Battered Women's shelter and Beverly Maddox said it would be operated by the Northwest Arkansas Project to Aid Battered Women and Children. She explained that they have not yet located a structure. Marcia Mclvor noted that under the system they are presently working with, after the structure is acquired and rehabilitated, it could be sold, leased, or given to a non-profit organization. Todd questioned if the City could at some time change the use of the building and Mason said this could possibly get the City in trouble with HUD. Mason also stated that the City could be held liable to HUD for obtaining funds for the shelter rehabili- tation, if it was found that they did not obtain the benefits which the money had been appropriated for. He said this could happen if the City retains title to the building and gives a free lease or fee simple title to the Battered Women's Shelter and then finds the shelter does not use the facility for at least 51% low and moderate income families. Todd questioned who would be responsible for keeping these records and Beverly Maddox said there is a monthly report sent in which tells what income range families use the facility. She stated that at the present time there is almost 90% low income use. Director Henry said she feels the project will serve the low and moderate income families. 444.8 CD Director Mason stated that he was not aware that EOA had anything to do with the Battered Women's Shelter and said CD has had discussions with 1 1-30-79 HUD in the past on conflict of interest between committee members and their organization and said this could possibly fall into that category. Marcia 445.1 Mclvor suggested Rick Mason find out if there could be a possible problem. 111 Director Todd stated that he feels it inappropriate for this to get this far without the CD Director being aware that there may be a conflict. Director Todd asked for information concerning the percentage of low 445.2 income, high income, rental, and owner occupied homes on those streets CD is proposing improvements for. Steve Anderson said they have this information for the 1979 budget but he did not have it with him and Todd requested it be furnished to the Board members before the next meeting. Director Todd questioned if the Asbell school area is eligible for 445.3 CD funding. Rick Mason said they could use the 1970 census figures to determine if that area is eligible, but they would not be as accurate as a physical survey to try to establish who uses the existing facilities. He pointed out that the Asbell gym is not eligible for funding because it is not open to the public CO all day. Todd said he feels CD should pursue the funding of facilities at 10 Asbell. (� Marcia McIvor requested an amendment to the Citizen Participation plan 445.4 which would provide them with advance notice when meetings are scheduled. She explained that members of the committee are responsible for talking to members of the community in their areas to find out what the needs are. In response to Todd's question, Mclvor said no specific suggestions for 445.6 CD funding on Dickson Street were made and said she understood the merchants in that area have commissioned a study but CD was not asked to look at particular aspects of what the merchants would like to do. Director Todd questioned if there is anything they could do in approving 445.7 the 1980 and 1981 budgets which would prohibit allowing funds for Dickson Street if they determine it is eligible and Mason said not that he is aware of. Ish Benton said he has a hard time seeing Dickson Street as low and moderate income when there are 35 miles of unpaved streets in Fayetteville. Mayor Malone said he would like to leave more money in the contingency 445.8 fund but Mclvor said they could only leave 10% of the entire budget. Director Todd expressed appreciation to the CD Committee for what 445.9 they are doing to try to improve Fayetteville. Mayor Malone said they would consider this item again at the next Board 445.10 meeting. 445 WARNER CABLE FRANCHISE RATE ADJUSTMENT Attorney Lynn Wade, counsel for Warner Cable Corporation, said Warner 445.11 Cable is of the opinion they have given sufficient evidence to show that Warner Cable should be given a rate increase of $ .50 for the primary connection and $.25 for the secondary connection. He said they would like this increase to go into effect March 1, 1979. He stated that Warner Cable would be in a position almost immediately to add Channel 17 and Wade said in addition to the rate increase, they would request that a second ordinance which would deregulate cable rates be approved. He said Warner Cable would agree that if they receive the rate increase effective March 1, 1979, they would not increase rates again prior to August 1, 1980, and thereafter the increases would be no more frequently than every 14 months and all increases implemented would be limited to 80% of the cost of living increase since the previous rate adjustment. Mayor Malone questioned if they have facilities for putting in Channel 17 445.12 and a representative for Warner Cable said the facilities are in place and Warner Cable has received approval from the FCC. Malone asked if there would 1-3-79 446 be any other changes planned for the cable services and a representative of Warner Cable said they could not commit to anything else at the present time. 446.1 Director Henry said she would still like to receive Little Rock stations for their news coverage and Rip Lindsey said the local television stations are moving toward giving a more complete news coverage of legislative actions than they have in the past. Lindsey stated that due to competitive pressure he felt the local stations will have as good of coverage as Little Rock stations in a short time. Director Henry said she is concerned about getting a state-wide picture and said she objects to not being able to see interviews with state officials on issues which affect the entire state. 446.2 Ish Benton asked on what basis Warner Cable decided to add Channel 17 and a representative for Warner Cable said when they decided to add another channel this was the oily one they could bring in because it was an independent station. Benton stated that just because something is there doesn't necessarily mean people want it. Henry said that Atlanta is the only station Warner Cable can bring to Fayetteville at the present time because of FCC regulations which prohibit them from bringing Little Rock in. 446.3 Ish Benton stated that he doesn't know how they can let the "market place" determine cable rates when there is only one cable system in Fayetteville. He also questioned why Warner Cable took the Joplin station off the cable and Rip Lindsey explained that the cable system can only use a certain number of channels and they had to take one station off to put a new Fort Smith station on. He further explained that they are required to carry all local stations, Channels 5, 24, and 29, and in addition, the Arkansas Educational Channel and Channels 6 and 8, Tulsa and 12, Joplin. He said any remaining vacant channels are optional. 446.4 Mr. Allebach said he doesn't see how Warner Cable can Justify the high cable rates which they already have. He said he doesn't feel they have many employees or great expenses to warrant an increase in rate, or the rates which they presently have. 446.5 Someone in the audience questioned why they can't make a frequency on the satelite where people could receive a signal directly and not have to be on the cable system. He said the reason for the satellite was to put t.v. in the reachof everyone and he felt signals should be transmitted so people could receive a signal without going to a cable system. Rip Lindsey said the reason this is not possible is that the lowest cost an earth receiving station can be built is 530,000. Lindsey said the receiving station which Warner uses was built by RCA. 446.6 Doug Wilson, director of Northwest Arkansas Legal Services noted that he had sent the Board members a letter in connection with the proposed rate increase. He said Legal Services is proposing that the FCC public access requirement which is presently required of all cable systems with more than 3,500 subscribers be incorporated into the Fayetteville cable franchise as a condition of the rate increase. He said this is presently before the U.S. Supreme Court and if the Supreme Court nullifies the public access rules then there will be no guarantee procedure for the public to have access to local programming through cable facilities. He said Legal Services is interested in this because they have an obligation to provide for community legal educational services for low-income persons. Wilson said they have initiated contacts with a number of groups in the city, and have talked with Rip Lindsey, and he doesn't feel they will have any trouble in getting a ooarlition set up. He said it would be desirable for the City to incorporate by reference the FCC rules as they are at the present time. He said if this is then nullified at the federal level, it would stay in the franchise. Wade questioned if 1 1 1-30-79 447 this should be brought up at the hearing for the rate increase. He said he 447.1 has some concern over the City of Fayetteville saying they are going to make legal something which another court has already said is illegal and is now on appeal. He felt it might be better to wait until the appeal is decided and said Warner Cable would be willing to discuss public access at a later date. Director Todd questioned if there would be any added cost for the public 447.2 access and Rip Lindsey said, as he understands it, they propose to furnish their own origination equipment and all they expect Warner Cable to do is furnish a channel to put it on. Lindsey noted that Doug Wilson had said it might be desirable for the City to administer the public access channel and Lindsey said he is in favor of this because there is a problem with censoring the public access channel, and noted that the cable company is held CO responsible for administering to the fairness doctrine, obscenity rules, etc. He said the problem in setting up an access channel is deciding who determines LO what they can put on and who has access to the channel. Doug Wilson stated (.) that the FCC rules provide that there be some kind of reasonable system to Q control access, and it is contemplated the channel should be under the supervision of someone to avoid the type of problems Lindsey referred to. Wilson said they are contemplating that the primary use of the channel should be through video tape, and the idea is that a system would be set up under the advice and direction of the City and soliciting volunteers to assist people in using the equipment. He said they are hoping to get grants to buy the equipment. Wilson stated that they have made contact with the University and there are many students who would be willing to volunteer their time in editing the tape. Steve Anderson noted that Community Development has allocated 111 money for the acquisition of video equipment. Director Lancaster said he would abstain from voting on this request 447.3 because he works for a utility company and doesn't want it to be said there is a conflict ofinterest. Director Todd noted that the Board of Directors had received some letters 447.4 complaining about Warner Cable's service. Todd questioned if Warner has considered going to a two-tiered system, where people could pay less for a fewer amount.ofchannels. Dave Hamilton said they have considered this, but it depends largely on what will be available in the future and Rip Lindsey said they would have to add converters to do this. Hamilton also stated that Warner Cable does not have any systems on the two-tiered system at the present time. Director Todd referred to a publication from the National League of 447.5 Cities which says the average cost for cable service is $6.25 per month and also noted that Springdale cable service is $6.25 per month. Lynn Wade said he doesn't feel Warner Cable's requested increase is out of line and a representative of Warner Cable said he does not agree that the average rate is $6.25 per month. Director Tddd also referred back to when the previous rate adjustment 447.6 was granted and Warner Cable said it would yield them a 13% return and it actually brought them an 18% return for that year Todd stated that Mr. Hardin had projected $109,600 for 1979 and using $750,000 equity you are talking about a 15% return on equity for 1979. Todd said he feels a 15% return on equity is adequate and he has not seen anything which would justify a rate increase. 448 1-3-79 448.1 Dr. Hardin said they have evidence from the capital market that 15% is adequate for an electrical utility company but the risk for a cable t.v. company is somewhat greater than the risk for an electrical utility company. Director Todd said he did not feel the cable company in Fayetteville is very risky. Phil Taylor pointed out that the number of homes per miles in Fayetteville is much lesser than the number of homes per mile in Little Rock and when you classify cities, there are many variables to be taken into consideration. Jon Schader said that many people in Fayetteville do not have cable now because it is over priced and if there is an increase in rates, Warner Cable would loose additional customers and would have to come back with another increase. 448.2 In response to a question from Director Osborne, Phil Taylor said they would be putting Channel 17 on in the immediate future, and noted that Channel 17 will cost Warner Cable $17,000 per year. 448.3 Richard Osborne stated that Phil Taylor had told him a reasonable return on equity would be 18%. Taylor said there had been a study done in California of t.v. cable companies and they found a reasonable return on equity to be 22- 24% and in Canada a study was done which found even a higher rate but they had scaled down this return on equity needed for Fayetteville to 18-19%. 448.4 Osborne questioned on what basis the fair access rule has been taken to the Supreme Court and Doug Wilson said the Circuit Court agreed that it was in excess of the statutory jurisdiction conferred by Congress to promulgate the rules. Osborne said this wouldn't necessarily prohibit the City Board from enacting this rule and Wilson said if the Supreme Court denies the appeal, it would become meaningful for the City to impose the fair access rule as a requirement. 448.5 Mayor Malone said he believes the market place should determine the rates and pointed out that people will quit the cable system and buy an antenna if rates get too high. He noted that if rates get too high and people stop subscribing, Warner Cable would need to lower the rate if they wanted to continue in operation. Malone said he personally would favor deregulation, however, he felt it should be limited deregulation. 448.6 The City Attorney read an ordinance authorizing the requested rate increase and limited deregulation for the first time. 448.7 Director Colwell, seconded by Henry, moved the rules be suspended and the ordinance placed on second reading. The recorded vote was: Ayes: Henry, Todd, Osborne, Malone, Colwell. Nays: None. Absent: Noland. Abstain: Lancaster. The Mayor declared the motion passed. 448.8 Director Todd said he can see some merit in the deregulation proposal, but was concerned that they hadn't incorporated any safeguards on service and other things. Lynn Wade stated that these things are included in the original ordinance which would still be in effect. 448.9 The City Attorney read the ordinance for the second time. 448.10 Director Henry, seconded by Osborne, moved the rules be further suspended and the ordinance placed on third and final reading. 448.11 Director Todd said he doesn't see a justification for a rate increase this year, but realizes that with inflation, a rate increase would almost, without question, be justified next year. He suggested the deregulation could begin January 1, 1980, with the increase at that point based on the 1979 inflation factor. 1 1 1 N CO ID U a Q 1 1-30-79 Director Henry, seconded by Osborne, moved the rules be further sus- pended and the ordinance placed on third and final reading. The recorded vote was: Ayes: Henry, Todd, Osborne, Malone, Colwell. Nays: None. Abstain: Lancaster. Absent: Noland. The Mayor declared the motion passed.and the City Attorney read the ordinance for the third time. Director Osborne moved that the ordinance proposed by Lynn Wade be amended to reflect " any rate increase shall be limited to a percentage amount equal to not more than 80% of the percentage increase in the consumer price index as computed by the U. S. Department of Labor since the last rate adjustment". Director Henry seconded the motion. The recorded vote was: Ayes: Henry, Osborne, Todd, Malone, Colwell. Nays: None. Abstain: Lancaster Absent: Noland. The Mayor declared the motion passed. Director Todd stated that the second sentence of Section 1 on Wade's proposed ordinance is somewhat contradictory to the concept the Board is talking about in that it says that the rates shall be maintained with the cost, when the Board is saying by concept that they will let the market determine the cost, and said it seems this would become a discretionary thing. Todd then moved the following amendment "the company shall not increase subscriber rates prior to January 1, 1980 and thereafter no more frequently than every 14 months and no increase shall be more than 80% of the cost of living increase except that the January 1, 1980 increase shall be based on the cost of living increase since January 1, 1979." The motion died for lack of a seocnd. After discussion Director Osborne moved that Section 1 of the ordinance proposed by Wade be amended to read The company is hereby authorized to establish rates. shall not increase subscriber rates prior to August and thereafter no more frequent than every fourteen months and any rate increase shall be limited to no eighty percent (80%) of the cost of living increase the last rate adjustment. Company 1, 1980 (14) more than since Director Henry seconded the motion. The recorded vote was: Ayes: Henry, Osborne[,.Malone, Colwel],.Todd. Nays: None. Abstain: Lancaster. Absent Noland. - The Mayor declared the motion passed. • Director. Todd said he feels` the rate adjustment is not justified and Fayetteville citizens will be paying an unfair rate and the cable company will be receiving far beyond what is a fair rate of return. There being no further discussion, the Mayor asked if the ordinance should pass. The recorded vote was: Ayes: Henry, Osborne, Malone, Colwell. Nays: Todd. Abstain: Lancaster. Absent: Noland. The Mayor declared the amended ordinance passed. ORDINANCE NO.12500 APPEARS ON PAGE OF ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION BOOK VII. 449 449.1 449.2 449.3 449.4 449.5 449.6 449.7 449.8 449.9'. 450 1-30-79 FLETCHER STREET DISCUSSION 450.1 Mayor Malone opened discussion on a request by the Fletcher Street residents for an opportunity to express their views concerning the proposed extension of Fletcher Street from its present location to East Huntsville Road. 450.2 The Mayor acknowledged two letters in opposition from Ernie Deane and a copy of a petition signed by persons in opposition, which were included in the Director's agendas. These are on file in the City Clerk's office. 450.3 Glenna Hart, 933 Arlington Terrace stated that she was present represent- ing her mother, Mary Kennedy, 321 Fletcher, and other residents of Fletcher Street, and read a prepared statement expressing her opposition to the extension, particulary to any increase in traffic flow. 450.4 Steve Anderson, 415 E. Spring Street also read a prepared statement expressing his opposition to the extension. His major argument was that many of the major thoroughfares in Fayetteville are near schools, and he proposed that the City could find alternative routes for the major thoroughfares. A copy of his letter is also on file in the City Clerk's office. Anderson said he believes twenty years from now Fletcher Street will be four-laned even though at the present time the City does not have this planned. He stated that there will be additional noise pollution, air pollution, degradation of the quality of life for the people in the area, and the historical significance of the land will be forgotten. Anderson also noted that the property immediately west of Fletcher Street is zoned R-2, thus making it prime land for the development of multi -family dwellings. Anderson said new families moving to Fayetteville will either be heading to the University or the Square rather than Drake Field, as proposed by one justification of the extension, and questioned if the benefits derived would be worth what they would cost the Fletcher Street residents. Anderson proposed that they extend Highway 265 rather than Fletcher Street and Mayor Malone pointed out that you would have to relocate a number of homes on Highway 265 and in addition, there is a subdivision there whose residents would probably object to a thoroughfare passing so close to their homes. Mayor Malone further noted that the highway department has recommended closing the intersection at Highway 16 where it exists because they feel it is too close to the Highway 71 Bypass. Malone noted that Anderson's article in the "Grapevine" pointed out that there are developersowning land adjoining Fletcher but if they improved Joyce Street as recommended by Anderson, they could have the same argument because many developers own land in the Joyce Street area. 450.5 Ernie Deane, 910 Arlington Terrace stated that he had written a letter in opposition. This letter is on file in the City Clerk's office. Georgia Brooks, 144 Fletcher, questioned if there would be any provisions 450.6 made for pedestrians with the street extension. She also pointed out that Fletcher Street residents would have trouble getting out of their driveways because of the increase in traffic. In response to her question, City Manager Don Grimes said there are no sidewalks proposed for Fletcher Street at the present time. 450.8 Jon Schader said he feels the Board should give consideration to this area being one of the last wooded areas in the City. He noted the estimated value of a tree is $25 per square inch of the base and said the Board should consider the trees and not the street. 450.9 Scott Sutton, 216 Connor Street, said he is concerned about what happens to Fletcher Street during the winter months. He stated that the City is not prepared to take care of the streets they already have and said they are setting up for another problem by extending Fletcher. 1 1 r N LO U Q Q 1 1-30-79 Ms. Verna Thompson, 333 E. 6th Street, was present representing the Willow Heights Community residents who are concerned about the traffic flow on Willow. She asked what the Board could do to alleviate the heavy traffic on Willow Street. The City Manager replied that the Master Street Plan is an attempt to try to find a solution for the problem of there not being enough through streets in Fayetteville. Mayor Malone said he felt past Boards had wanted to open Fletcher Street to help solve the traffic problem on Willow Street. Jon Schader suggested that a one-way street be considered for Willow Street. Helen Garst said she feels a need to get a loop around Fayetteville and stop the tearing down of the inner city. Mary Alice Kennedy, 321 Fletcher, said she opposes the extension of Fletcher Street and read a prepared statement whichis also on file in the Clerk's office. Janelle Postere said she is also very concerned about the loss of natural beauty and said people need to consider the seriousness of the problem on Willow Street. She stated that, as narrow as Willow Street is, it is very dangerous forthe children. Ms. Thompson questioned what the residents can do to get police protection in keeping trucks from using Willow Street. Grace Polly read a prepared statement, which is on file in the Clerk's office, stating that one reason she is opposed to the extension is that it will lower the property value of property in the area. She asked the Board if they can assure her that Fletcher will not become a four -lane highway. Mayor Malone stated that the present Board members could not tell the residents what will happen 20 years from now. He said they cannot predict or have any more ,judgment on that possibility than the residents can. Harry Marsh.said he is impressed with the way the older neighborhoods have been kept up and said he would hate to see them deteriorate. Ernie Deane asked that the Board consider deleting Fletcher Street from the Master Street Plan. Walter Franke, 625 Rogers, said they are not trying to shove the traffic proposed for Fletcher onto anyone else, but when you consider the population density of Highway 265 as compared to Fletcher, there is a great deal of difference. Ron Foldvary asked if an environmental study for the proposed extension is underway and City Manager Grimes said it is. Foldvary was concerned if the Highway Department is fully informed on the historical and natural features of the area. Mr. Grimes stated that people who conduct the studies are environmental engineers, some of them trained at the University of Arkansas, and said they have certain procedures to follow. He noted that some people from the Historical Preservation group are also involved in the project and noted that there is an environmental department of the highway department which people could address questions to. In response to a question, Mayor Malone explained that the Board could call a public hearing to amend the Master Street Plan to consider deleting the Fletcher Street extension. Ginger Parker said she doesn't understand how Fayetteville can plan for a new street with no sidewalks being provided. Parker stated that sidewalks should be built on the existing portion of Fletcher Street as soon as possible. Ms. Garst's son was concerned that the children would no longer be able to play in the streets as they do now, if the street was extended, because of the additional traffic. 451 451.1 451.2 451.3 451.4 451.5 451.6 451.7 451.8 451.9 451.10 451.11 451.12 452 1-30-79 Jon Schader said the City Board has an opportunity to set a precedent 452.1 of taking the needs of the people in an area first before taking the needs of transient motorists. Director Henry said she felt most of the traffic would be local traffic. 452.2 Alan Beauchamp said people could allow themselves more time to get from one place to another. He stated that "there is an assumption in our society that an improved flow of traffic automatically improves the City, but it is possible that improved traffic flow is not as important as scenery, beauty and things like that within the City and if it means that it takes longer to get from one place to another, so be it". 452.3 Mr. A1leback Skyline Drive, said the area used to be very beautiful but now there is so much industry and traffic that there has been a great increase in pollution. He said people could bypass the City by using Highway 265 and said you could force people to use alternative routes by not fixing some of the streets in the City. 452.4 Jenny Huenefeld, Dogwood Lane, agreed that she doesn't want to see the Fletcher Street extension and said she would not use Fletcher Street if it were extended. 452.5 Director Henry noted that the extension of Fletcher would help alleviate the traffic flow on Willow. Ms. Garst said she felt people would still use Willow Street to get the right-of-way. 452.6 Director Osborne suggested the residents contact the highway department about their concerns. 452.7 Glenna Hart said the money spent for the extension should be spent for the benefit of the residents and not the detriment. 452.8 In response to a question from Ms. Garst, Mayor Malone said he would be opposed to the Ad Hoc Committee which was recommended. He stated that he feels the entire Board of Directors should be looking at the advisability of the Master Street Plan and will have to decide whether to live with it as it is or amend it. 452.9 Someone questioned if the Highway Department would allow the City to spend money on an extension which exceeds the maximum allowable grade of 71/2% and the City Manager said in cities such as Fayetteville they can, and further noted that there are severalstreets in Fayetteville with grades which exceed what the grade of the Fletcher Street extension will be. 452.10 The Mayor acknowledged a letter of opposition from Dawn Dunnuck which is on file in the Clerk's office. 452.11 Mayor Malone said the Board would have to make some decisions on Fletcher Street in the future and said after getting the Environmental Impact Study they will call a public hearing and make a decision at that time, or if any Board member wanted to place it on the agenda before that time, they could discuss it then. 452.12 There being no further discussion, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:03 P.M. 1 1