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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-12-07 Minutes58 MINUTES OF AN ANNUAL BOARD RETREAT The Fayetteville City Board of Directors met on Sunday, December 7, 1980 at the Farmer's Daughter, Fayetteville, Arkansas, to discuss long-term goals for the City of Fayetteville. PRESENT: Mayor John Todd, Directors Lancaster, Noland, Osborne, Sharp, Colwell, and Henry; City Manager Grimes, City Attorney McCord, Administrative Assistant McWethy, City Clerk Koettel, Attorney and Director -Elect Ronald Bumpass, and representatives of the press. ABSENT: None CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. BOARD POLICY STATEMENT ON PROCEDURES 58.1 Reviewing the Board Policy Statement on Procedures, Mayor Todd brought up the question of the Board's policy on reconsidering items, noting that occasionally items show up on the agenda after the Board has made a previous decision on the issue. He added that he "hated to see us tackle an issue a second time" when there had been no major changes in the issue. 58.2 City Manager Grimes stated that the staff is often put in an "awkward position" because people have hired alawyer or come in claiming to have new reasons justifying the reconsideration. He said that puts the staff in the position of deciding if the new reasons do justify the reconsideration. 58.3 The Board decided to amend the policy to state, "After the decision of any question, any member of the majority may request a reconsideration of any action at a succeeding meeting." Anyone wanting a rehearing would then have to get a member of the Board who voted in the majority to request that the item be put on a succeeding agenda. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS 58.4 The Board discussed financial considerations, including revenue options and forecasts, budget review, a proposed employee bonus program and general compensation policy, and new staffing needs such as a Personnel Officer. 58.5 After much deliberation these decisions were finally reached: 58.6 The Board approved the hiring of two additional policemen and a part-time typist for the police department in an effort to free police officers to perform their other duties. 58.7 The position of personnel officer was made a full-time position. At present the City Manager's Secretary is also Personnel Officer. 58.8 The Board rejected a proposed full-time budget officer at this time, and also rejected a proposed change in the staffing of the City Prosecutor's Office. 58.9 The Board decided to consider making the City Prosecutor a full-time position with an office in City Hall, when the City possibly remodels and expands the present building. 58.10 After a long discussion of pay raises for City Employees, it was decided that the range for pay raises would be 4 to 12 percent. The Board instructed the City Manager that the average should be about 10 percent. 58.11 In addition to this, the Board approved an employee cash bonus plan. Five employees would be chosen as "employee of the month" each month and receive a $100 bonus. These employees would be eligible to be named "employee of the year" and receive a $1,000 bonus, with two runners-up receiving $500 each. 1 1 59 AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT Mr. J. E. McClelland presented a 14 point work program for a twenty 59.1 year master plan study for Drake Field.III 59 2 Mr. McClelland explained that the west side of the runway is becoming very congested and that available land is dimenishing more and more. McClelland stated that the east side of the runway will have to be used for future development. He told the Board that the next phase would be to determine what the future held in the way of growth for the airport. McClelland pointed out that because of deregulation and desubsidization 59.3 many changes would occur during the next few years. He stated that Skyways is looking to new markets, and he would guess that there would come a time when they would no longer base their operation in Fayetteville. O Mr. McClelland stated he also believed the chances of Frontier 59.4 0) leaving Fayetteville are becoming greater all the time. He explained that G) since they cannot integrate a jet into their system, it would be reasonable to assume they would drop Fayetteville and drop the Cbnvair 580 Aircraft. The 580 Q is getting older and parts are difficult to obtain. Mr.McClelland stated that commuter planes can operate out of smaller cities 59.5 Q because they carry fewer passengers, fuel costs are less, overhead costs are less, and a profit can be made out of smaller cities. Mr. McClelland informed the Board that the final report may indicate 1 59.6 that due to these changes, the best thing to do would be to take another look in five years and another look in ten years. Mr. McClelland presented a preliminary pictorial representation of a 59.7 plan for Drake Field to the Board. The plan showed an access road to the area and possible building sites for maintenance, equipment and storage, offices, and areas for tie -down and parking. p 59 8 He explained that some of the land was in the flood -plain area and could not be built on unless it was built up by some expensive filling. He stated there was 90 acres on the east and 30 acres on the west. Director Lancaster asked if the fuel tanks could be located in the 59.9 flood -plain, and Mr. McClellnad answered they could be located in the flood- plain underground. 59.10 In answer to Ronald Bumpass' question concerning the access road, Mr. McClelland explained that the preliminary plan showed the access road coming off of Willoby Road, but that it could come off Highway 71, or both. 59.11 Mr. McClelland told the Board that a 3000' runway which could only accomodate very light aircraft could be built across the present taxiway. He stated if this was lengthened to 5000', some land would have to be built up above the flood -plain and the land would have to be purchased. 59 12 Mr. Grimes suggested that a parallel runway might be a solution and Mr. McClelland agreed it was a possibility, but it would not give the crosswind runway for lighter planes. 59.13 Mr. Grimes stated that one of the most pressing matters at the present time is hangar space. 59.14 Mr. McClelland also told the Board a survey of Drake Field had been requested to see if a microwave system could be adapted. 59 15 Mr. McClelland told the Board that radar was desirable because of the conflicts of air space. He pointed out that Fayetteville, Springdale, III Rogers, Bentonville, Decatur, and Siloam Springs all have landing strips. He pointed out that the control tower people cannot see the aircraft on cloudy days and have problems getting all the planes landed. The radar would show the aircraft, but the problem is that in order to have radar you must qualify with a certain number of different kinds of landings. At the present time Fayetteville does not qualify. 59.16 Director Lancaster stated that Northwest Arkansas should have a different set of guidelines to follow than cities in the flatlands. 60 60.1 Mr. McClelland stated that this plea had gone to Washington, but that because they were paying for the system, they required certain standards. 60.2 Director Noland asked if Fayetteville and Springdale landings could be combined in order to qualify for radar control since they are so close together. 60.3 Mr. MdClelland told the Board he would check and see if this was a possibility. CD HOUSING 60.4 Mayor Todd told the Board that Rick Mason was present to answer any 60.5 questions the Board might have on community development. Administrative Assistant McWethy stated he had reviewed the material presented by Mr. Mason and was very pleased with some of the possibilities it offered. 60.6 Mayor Todd asked if the 312 loans were separate from the CD funds the Board was presently working with, and Mr. Mason said that was correct. 60.7 Mr. Mason stated the CD office was doing what it could on the 312 program on a strictly voluntary basis. If someone needs assistance and doesn't qualify for a grant, the CD office tries to get them to use the 312 program. 60.8 Mayor Todd asked if Section 8, Moderate or Substantial rehabilitation commitments from HUD were available now. 60.9 Mr. Mason answered that these are not available at the present time. 60.10 Director Noland asked what the City was not doing that it should 60.11 perhaps be doing in order to take advantage of these programs. Mr. Mason stated there were funds available that are not being used. He stated he saw two proposals last year that he did not feel were in the CD office's scope of operation to do anything about them. He stated the 202 program has to be operated by a nonprofit organization. 60.12 Mr. Mason told the Board that sites could be selected and the property purchased. The property could then be made available to the developer. 60.13 Director Noland stated one area he would like to see cleaned up is the area north of the City shop on the east side. 60.14 Interest subsidy was discussed and Mayor Todd expressed concern about 60.15 people getting different interest rates. Mr. Mason stated there would have to be a set of guidelines by which persons would have to qualify. 60.16 Mayor Todd stated he could see this working with private homes, but did not feel it was a good idea for rental property because you would be getting into rent control and he did not think the City should get involved in that type of action. 60.17 City Manager Grimes stated he would like to see the City stay with simple things and not get involved in long-term arrangements. Director Osborne stated he was against interest subsidy money coming 60.18 from the CD funds. 60.19 Mayor Todd asked Mr. Mason about the loan program which had been suggested. 60.20 Mr. Mason replied that the City would need to continue the grant program for select groups, the elderly and those making less than $5000 or $6000 per year. 60.21 Mayor Todd pointed out that the CD office would be getting into the collection business if loans were given, and Mr. Mason stated that an arrangement rould be made with one of the banks to collect the payments. 60.22 Director Henry stated she felt likeithe City should check into buying some land sites for CD development. Mayor Todd summarized the possibilites as: (1) Acquire blighted property and prepare it for development of new housing, or for rehabilitation of the housing, (2) Assist landlords and developers in tapping other federal funds, (3) Provide interest subsidy for private owners in lieu of grants, (4) Continue grants for very low income and elderly persons, and (5) Seek to make or guarantee loans in lieu of the grants. O Mayor Todd asked each director to give him a percentage of CD money for loans and a percentage of CD money for grants. After all were tabulated, the average for loans was 30%, and the average for grants was 20%. s. CITY HALL PLANS Q a Director Sharp asked if the City was still considering moving into the old First National Bank Building or if it had been decided to renovate the City Administration Building for sure. He stated he did not want to put a lot of hours of work in on plans for the City Hall and then have it all lost because the City decided to move into the bank instead of renovating. Advantages and disadvantages of the two buildings were discussed. One major factor was that all the furniture of the First National Bank would be included in the purchase price. City Manager Grimes was instructed to try and get a price for the First National Bank Building and report back to the Board members. DOWNTOWN PARKING City Attorney McCord stated that he had requested Finance Director Scott Linebaugh to give him a calculation of the parking meter revenue from all of the on -street and off-street meters, along with net parking meter fines. This information would then be provided to Powell & Satterfield so they could make a determination on whether or not a revenue bond issue is a feasible possibility. After further discussion, City Manager Grimes was instructed to go ahead and get proposals from engineering firms for a parking deck across from Hatfield Motor Company. GROWTH MANAGEMENT Mayor Todd stated that the minutes of last year reflected that in -town growth was not a problem, but that the major concern was that the county should be encouraged to set higher standards. Mayor Todd stated he felt this was still the case. One of the questions discussed was whether or not the City should have some restrictions on the water supply for the growth area outside the City. Director Noland asked City Attorney McCord if he would be willing to work with citizen groups who wanted to be annexed to the City, and Mr. McCord replied that he would. Director Noland asked the Board if they still felt that fire hydrants should not be provided outside the City limits because this would take away the incentive for communities to annex to the City. There was agreement on the Board that this should still be the case. W 'c t L / 6161 .1 61.2 61.3 61.4 61.5 61.6 61.7 61.8 61.9 61.10 61.11 61.12 r 62 62.1 PARKS AND GREEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS City Attorney McCord outlined the program which would probably be recommended to the Board: 62.2 (1) Proposed park districts would be officially adopted by an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Land Use and Community Facilities Plan. 62.3 (2) An ordinance would be recommended for City adoption to provide that when a subdivider fails to provide a park site indicated on a master plan, the subdivider would be required to make a cash contribution in lieu of dedication equivalent to a figure to be designated per dwelling unit, based upon actual density proposed provided the developer legally limits the density. If not, it would be based upon density per minute under the zoning regulations. Any dedication of land would not be accepted unless the topography was suitable for park purposes as determined by the Planning Commission upon recommendation of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. 62.4 If no park site was shown on the master plan, the subdivider would be required to make a contribution which would be payable at the time of final plat approval, and the final plat would not be released until the contribution was received. 62.5 In the event a PUD developer provides park areas in which recreation equipment is provided, the developer would be given credit on a dollar to dollar basis on the amount spent for development and equipment in the park area, excluding land cost and site preparation costs. All money received would be deposited in an interest bearing account and used for park facilities that served that subdivision. CITY APPEARANCE 62.6 Director Henry asked if money would be set aside for the Clean Community project she and David McWethy were working on. 62.7 Mayor Todd asked what amount would be needed, and Director Henry stated that probably $12,000 per year for a two-year period. She explained that someone would have to receive a salary for work on the program. This person would have to be trained. 62.8 Director Henry told the Board she did not want to pursue this matter if it was not the consensus of the Board to do so. 62.9 After further discussion, Mayor Todd suggested that the Board matching individual and business contribution dollar for dollar up amount of $6,000 for the next year, and that as much of the $6,000 be taken from CD funds. The Board was in agreement on this possibi instructed Director Henry, Administrative Assistant McWethy, and Ci Grimes to get together and work out the funding process and bring i the Board for ratification. consider to the as possible lity, and ty Manager t back to TREE PRESERVATION 62.10 The Board discussed the preservation of the City's trees and it was determined that developers be encouraged to save all the trees possible, and that perhaps the City check and see how other cities are working with tree preservation. NOISE ORDINANCE 62.11 McCord stated that a meeting had been held with EPA, Police Chief Jones, and Maureen Anderson and a procedure was agreed upon to be followed in enforcing the noise ordinance. McCord stated he was trying to schedule a meeting with the -EPA after the first of the year for a training session. IN 1 1 SIGIJ ORDINANCE City Attorney Jim McCord briefed the Board on the lawsuits which were pending concerning certain signs which were not in conformance with the ordinance. He told the Board the Highway Department was in charge of enforcing the state laws regarding signs, and that he would stay updated on their progress. SEWAGE COLLECTION & DISPOSAL Director Noland gave a brief up -date on the Water & Sewer Committee discussions of a private bond package. 63 63.1 63.2