HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-07 Minutes631
' MINUTES OF A MEETING
OF THE
FAYETTEVILLE CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 7,1999
A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council was held on September 7, 1999 at 6:30 p.m. in Room
219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville,
Arkansas.
PRESENT: Mayor Fred Hanna; Aldermen Robert Reynolds, Ron Austin, Bob Davis, Trent
Trumbo, Heather Daniel, Kevin Santos, Cyrus Young, and Kyle Russell; City Attorney Jerry
Rose; City Clerk Heather Woodruff; Public Works Director Charles Venable; City Planner Tim
Conklin; Administrative Services Director Kevin Crosson; Staff, Press; Audience.'
ITEMS
ACTION
TAKEN
Approval of the Minutes
Approved
Benham Group: Water / Sewer Relocation on Dickson Street
Approved
Res.
111-99
Bid 99-66: Williams Ford Tractor
Approved
Res.
112-99
'
#
. Destruction of Records
Approved
Res.
113-99
Sycamore / Leverett: Engineering
Approved
Res.
114-99
Sycamore / Leverett: Construction
Approved
Res.
115-99
Rupple Road: McClinton -Anchor Drainage Improvement
Approved
Res.
116-99
Federal Aviation Lease:'Office Space for System Support Center
Approved
Res.
117-99
RZ 99-16.10: Mid-Southem / Wedington Dr. & Salem Road
Passed
Ord.
4179
VA 99-9: Clary Development / Wedington Place Addition
Passed
Ord.
4180
VA 99-10: McMahon Brothers / Jordan Lane
Passed
Ord.
4181
Planning Commission Appeal: RZ 99-18, 19, 20, 21, 22, & 23
Failed
Bid 99-67: Presto Products / Plastic Trash Bags
Approved
Res.
118-99
Oak Grove Vacations: Water / Sewer Easement Vacations
Passed
Ord.
4182
Bid Waiver: 82 HP Tractor
Passed
Ord.
4183
Greathouse Park: Park Bridge
No Action Taken
Tower Site Lease: Alltel Communciations Cell Tower Lease
Tabled
632
MINUTES OF A MEETING '
OF THE
FAYETTEVILLE CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 7,1999
A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council was held on September 7, 1999 at 6:30 p.m. in Room
219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville,
Arkansas.
PRESENT: Mayor Fred Hanna; Aldermen Robert Reynolds, Ron Austin, Bob Davis, Trent
Trumbo, Heather Daniel, Kevin Santos, Cyrus Young, and Kyle Russell; City Attorney Jerry
Rose; City Clerk Heather Woodruff; Public Works Director Charles Venable; City Planner Tun
Conklin; Administrative Services Director Kevin Crosson; Staff; Press; Audience.
All rose to recite
the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Hanna
announced
that the Cell Tower Site
agenda item had
been removed from the Consent Agenda
and
placed
under New Business.
CONSENT AGENDA
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES '
Approval of the minutes from the August 17, 1999 City Council meeting.
BENHAM GROUP
A resolution approving Amendment No. 2 with the Benham Group for inspections services in
connection with the water and sewer line relocation work on Dickson Street in the amount of
$58,587.00 and a budget adjustment.
RESOLUTION 111-99 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
BID 99-66
A resolution awarding Bid 99-66 to Williams Ford Tractor and Equipment in the amount of
$50,499.00 for the purchase of a heavy-duty skid steer with attachments.
RESOLUTION 112-99 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
DESTRUCTION OF RECORDS
A resolution authorizing the destruction of selected City record originals which have been
maintained for the required length of time and which have been microfilmed.
RESOLUTION 113-99 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
SYCAMORE / LEVERETT-ENGINEERING: '
A resolution approving a contract with Garver Engineers for engineering services for the bidding
and construction phases of the Sycamore / Leverett intersection and drainage improvements in
the not -to -exceed amount of $55,050.00.
RESOL UTION 114-99 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
' City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 3
SYCAMORE / LEVERETT- CONSTRUCTION
A resolution approving.a construction contract for Bid 99-68, Sycamore / Leverett intersection
and drainage improvements to Sweetser Construction in the amount of $552,695.30; a project
contingency of $88,270.00; and a budget adjustment of $136,825.00.
RESOL UTION 115-99 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
RUPPLE ROAD
A resolution approving a construction contract with McClinton Anchor for the Rupple Road
Street and Drainage Improvements in the amount of $658,900.00 and a project contingency of
$983835.00 (15%). The total amount requested is $757,735.00; and approval of a budget
adjustment in the amount of $327,817.00 to increase current available funding from $429,918.00
to $757,735.00.
RESOL UTION 116-99 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
FEDERAL AVIATION LEASE
A resolution approving a lease with the Federal Aviation Administration for office space for their
System Support Center. The lease is for five years with an annual compensation of $25,909.33.
This lease replaces their expired lease for 2,205.05 square foot building at a rate of
approximately $11.75 per square foot annually. The Airport Board approved this lease at their
_ August 1999 meeting.
RESOLUTION 117-99 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
,Alderman Davis moved to approve the consent agenda. Alderman Reynolds seconded the
motion. Upon roll call the motion carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
RZ 99-16,10 ,
An ordinance approving rezoning request RZ 99-16.10 submitted by Marshall Carlisle on behalf
of Mid -Southern Enterprises for property located at the northwest corner of Wedington Drive and
Salem Road. The property is zoned R -O, Residential Office, and contains approximately 5.2
acres. The request is to rezone the property to C-1, Neighborhood Commercial. The request was
left on the second reading at the August 17, 1999 meeting.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the third and final time.
Alderman Young stated the company he worked for was working on this project so he would be
abstaining.
There was no public comment.
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City Council Minutes ,
September 7, 1999
Page 4
Mayor Hanna called for the vote. Upon roll call the motion carried by a vote of 6-1-1,
Russell voting nay and Young abstaining.
ORDINANCE 4179 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
Mayor Hanna asked the council if they wished to place Cell Tower item which had been
removed from the Consent Agenda at the beginning of New Business.
Alderman Russell stated the person he had spoken with was not there yet and suggested they
place it at the end of the agenda.
NEW BUSINESS
VA 99-9
An ordinance approving vacation request VA 99-9 submitted by Roger Trotter of Development
Consultants, Inc. on behalf of Clary Development Corp. for Lots 1 and 3, Wedington Place
Addition. The property is zoned C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial. The request is vacate a 20' ,
utility easement between Lots 1 and 3.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the first time.
Alderman Santos stated it was his understanding that the development had been replatted and the
easement was no longer needed.
Mr. Conklin replied that was correct.
There was no public comment.
Alderman Daniel moved to suspend the rules and move to the second reading. Alderman
Davis seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the second time.
Alderman
Austin
moved to
suspend the
rules
and
move to
the third and final reading.
Alderman
Young
seconded
the motion.
Upon
roll
call the
motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the third and final time. '
Mayor Hanna called for the vote. Upon roll call the motion carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE 4180 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
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City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 5
VA 99-10
An ordinance approving vacation request VA 99-10 submitted by Tim McMahon on behalf of
McMahon Brothers Construction Inc. for property located at 1603 Jordan Lane. The property is
zoned R-1, Low Density Residential. The request is to vacate the northernmost 2' of the 10'
utility easement along the south property line.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the first time.
Alderman Austin moved to suspend the rules and move to the second reading. Alderman
Reynolds seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the second time.
Alderman
Davis moved to suspend the
rules and move
to the third and final. reading.
Alderman
Santos seconded the motion.
Upon roll call
the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the third and final time.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Hanna called for the vote. Upon roll call the ordinance passed unanimously..
ORDINANCE 4181 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
PLANNING COMMISSION APPEAL
An appeal regarding the decision of the Planning Commission to deny rezoning requests
RZ 99-1.8 RZ 99-19, RZ 99-20, RZ 99-21, RZ 99-22, and RZ 99-23.
Mr. Rose explained each rezoning was entitled to a separate vote.
Mr. Rose read all the ordinances for the first time.
Alderman Austin stated the last time they had discussed this issue the 2020 Plan had been
brought up. He referred to the document and asked for Mr. Rose to explain how the 2020 Plan
had been developed.
Mr. Rose explained that when he arrived as City Attorney in 1989, there had been a group that
' was in the process of developing a 2010 plan for the City. In 1990 or 1991, the City Planner at
the time and the City Council decided they wanted something more personalized. From 1991 to
1993 the City was having public hearings on the matter, and it was discussed before the City
6 3 C
City Council Minutes '
September 7, 1999
Page 6
Council. There had been numerous hearings before the Planning Commission. There had been a
number of drafts of the document that had been changed and amended. There had been a
tremendous amount of public input into the document. In 1995 the plan had been passed. The
reason the plan had been passed was because there was a statute which allowed them to prepare a
planning area map, and the Planning Commission could prepare the plans for all or a portion of
an area encompassed by the map. It provided for a land use plan that the Planning Commission
could prepare and adopt which should include, but not be limited to: the preservation of open
spaces; the preservation of natural and historical features, sites, and monuments; for existing uses
to remain without change; the changes proposed for existing uses; and the areas proposed for
new development. As to the affect of the City's land use plan, he read: a rezoning decision
(which could only be made by the City Council) could not be arbitrary and capricious merely
because the rezoning was contrary to the City's land use plan or contrary to the recommendation
of the City's plan consultants. A land use plan is merely a broad declaration of policy specifying
in a general way the uses to which land in and near the City was now being put in the future.
The plan did not contain exact descriptions so that a property owner may ascertain what
restrictions are being placed upon his land. It was only one of many considerations in arriving at
a rezoning decision. In one case in 1979, the Supreme Court in Arkansas rejected an argument '
that the City's board rezoning decision had been arbitrary and capricious because it did not
follow the recommendations of the City's Planning Commission and staff. It did not follow a
comprehensive development plan. It did not follow a transportation study. The court reasoned
that the appellant seemed to argue that because the board chose not to follow the
recommendation of the various reports, its actions were arbitrary and capricious. However, the
Board was not bound by the recommendations. They were only factors to be considered by the
Board of Directors in arriving at their decision.
Alderman Austin asked if it were true that in the year 2000 they were up for a major revision.
Mr. Conklin explained in the year 2000 they were required to revisit the plan and to update it.
They were not required to make a major revision.
Alderman Daniel thought it was a good idea to respect their plan and to use it. She had read all
the material and she respected and agreed with their decision. She did not see the reason for
more commercial zoning in that area now, and stated that there was a lot of commercial zoning
already in that area. She noted the petitioners had not gone along with the suggestions for a
compromise for R -O zoning along Highway 112. She thought that would be a good
compromise. She noted that through the entire process the applicant had stuck with wanting C-1
along Highway 112. '
Alderman Trumbo noted that four out of the six tracts were close in votes with the exception of
the A-1 to I-1 zoning and the A-1 to C-1 zoning, which had had unanimous denial. He noted the
2020 Plan did not take into account all the growth they had been experiencing. He mentioned
637
City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 7
several developments. He questioned what the Benedicts' property was zoned.
Mr.
Conklin answered there was a small
portion where
the buildings were which was zoned I-1,
the
how that
rest of the
property was zoned
A-1.
if their rezoning
had
Alderman Trumbo
continued. The applicant was also
requesting I-1 zoning on
one of the tracts.
He asked
how that
was different
and
if their rezoning
had
been before the 2020
Plan.
Mr. Conklin explained the Benedicts' rezoning had been before the 2020 Plan.Iin 1995 the City
Council passed a resolution for the staff to update the 2010 Plan, to make the 2020 Plan. At that
time it had been determined that they needed to look at their existing commercial areas and the
land they had recently rezoned commercial near the mall. They needed to encourage use of the
property that was currently zoned commercial. Very little additional commercial land had been
shown at that time.
Alderman Santos added it did not mean that the Plan said that was wrong. They already had
industrial land there. They had industrial land to the south of there where the City Research and
Technology Park was going to go. He noted none of the Planning Commission votes were close.
They were all for denial.
Alderman Daniel stated there were some very good reasons for the denial, other than the fact that
it did not go with the 2020 Plan..
Alderman Trumbo asked why the Nelms' property was rezoned C-2. Why would the property
next to it not be rezoned.
i a
Mr. Conklin explained in 1995 when the City Council passed the resolution for staff to update
the 2010 Plan, they had been asked to look at what additional commercial land would be needed
in Fayetteville. At that time the City Council passed a policy of focusing the commercial
development in the existing areas. During that time, the City Council had rezoned 309 acres of
land to be commercial zoning near the mall. When the City Council had done the future land use
plan, it had been determined that additional commercial land was not needed in this area. When
the staff looked at Nelms Auto Park, they looked at the commercial area that had not been
developed at that time. They did not propose changing the existing land use by down -zoning. If
they had shown the existing C-2 areas as residential, that would have meant they were adopting a
policy that the City Council would down -zone the property. That was not the intent of the 2020
Plan. Its purpose had been to look at the existing commercial zoning they had and what future
commercial areas they needed. That was why they had commercial zoning shown on Highway
' 112. The Nelms' property had been zoned prior to the 2020 Plan.
Alderman Davis noted there was an abundance of commercial land now in the CMN Park. He
s:�a
City Council Minutes '
September 7, 1999
Page 8
noted the existing buildings in the area. He did not see any reason to penalize the developer from
wanting the highest and best use. He did not believe anyone would place a residential
development there. He did not see any reason why they could not go with C-1 along the west
side of Highway 112 on Tracts 6 and 1. He thought it might be too early to do anything with the
other tracts.
Alderman
Trumbo noted there was
an arterial
street going from the east to the west that would
connect to
Salem Road
and
Deane
Solomon.
Alderman Austin asked if someone could place chicken houses on the property as it existed now.
Mr. Conklin responded they could, however there would be a few restrictions in regards to
setbacks.
Alderman Trumbo stated he had been in favor of rezoning Tract 6 and 1. He thought that would
fit with the property in the area.
Alderman Santos stated he could understand rezoning the property near the highway. The 2020 '
Plan was a guide to be used by both the City and the developers. The developers should have
some faith in the decision that the City made. These rezonings in effect would devalue the other
commercial property in the City by creating more of it. They had a process set up where they
kept a Planning staff on the payroll. The Planning staff had recommended against it. The
Planning Commission had also recommended against it. They were diverting the entire process
and making a quick decision by the City Council. He did not think that was right.
Alderman Trumbo argued that each vote was made by an individual and their values.
Alderman Davis added that real estate values were going to be derived by location and not the
number of commercial parcels.
Alderman Reynolds stated the Planning Commission had spent hours, weeks, and years put on
this. He had spent five years on the Planning Commission. He thought they needed to go with
the Planning Commission's decision. They had made the plan to help them with their future. To
sit here in an hour and change something that the Planning Commission and Planning Staff had
both denied, he thought, would be making a mistake.
Dr. Len Schaper, an area resident and former alderman, stated he was not going to talk about the '
tremendous surplus of commercial land they had all over town, not just in the north, but on the
south part of town. When they had rezoned the Steele Property just south of the mall, it had been
projected that it would take over 20 years to develop. They had approximately 30 years worth of
commercial land for development. He wanted to talk about the Research and Technology Park.
City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 9
One of the things they needed to discuss during a rezoning was the compatibility it had with what
already existed in that neighborhood. What existed in that neighborhood was the Research and
Technology Park. It did not exist on the ground yet, but it existed in the plans the City had spent
a lot of money developing.
Mr. Venable stated they would be spending nearly a million and a half dollars in the park.
Dr. Schaper stated the importance of the Technology Park and why was it different from what
they already had. Their planning consultant had said there was a potential there to develop a
level of quality that did not exist anywhere else in town. It was an opportunity that did not exist
anywhere else that they were going to cease by spending this money. They wanted to attract
high tech jobs to Fayetteville because they were the kinds of jobs that supply a high salary and
primary capital input into their region. The stores generate sales tax, but the Council could not
spend money they did not have. They needed people who had disposable income. It was
important to have a place like the Research and Development Park, where high tech companies
could come and achieve a very high standard of development. The planners had said there were
some conflicting uses in the area. They needed to protect the Route 112 frontage from
inappropriate development. There were two commercial properties there now which would have
to be acquired because they were incompatible with the quality and level of infrastructure of the
Research and Technology. In the view of the people who developed the Research and
Technology Park, these were eyesores. The money to acquire those properties had been
budgeted in the cost of the developing the park. He was worried that if they allowed commercial
development in the neighborhood then they would jeopardize the Park's ability to bring in the
high tech jobs they needed to elevate Fayetteville. There was a lot of competition for those
companies because they demanded the highest standards of quality. He had visited other
r • ; 'technology parks around the country.- To say that they looked like country clubs was an
„ understatement. They ekpected. and demanded it for their employees. The people who worked
there were not going to want apartments, they were going to want single family homes that were
close to. their work: There was a reason they wanted to keep that area for residential zoning. He
thought it would develop as a support area for residents for the Research and Technology Park.
He expressed concern over the rezoning because it was speculative and they would have very
little control over what would Igo in..They.would have to be very careful of what they allowed in
that neighborhood in order to attract the high tech companies. The purpose of the City
developing the park was not for the City to compete with the private sector, but to allow a level
of development with controls that would establish a level of quality they had not seen the private
sector providing. The level of quality was not available in Fayetteville.
Alderman Santos agreed, stating there was a thirty-year supply of commercial property.
' Dr. Schaper added the Research and Technology park would be the focus of the village in this
part of town. They would need the residential land to go with it. It was not going to develop that
640
City Council Minutes ,
September 7, 1999
Page 10
soon, but it was going to be needed.
Mayor Hanna asked Dr. Schaper if there were any other parks in this area.
Dr. Schaper replied there were none. They were it for Arkansas. He had been to several parks in
other states. They were very attractive and had residential areas near them. People want to live
near where they were working.
Ms. Joan Pottinger, representing the Benedicts, explained their property adjoined this property.
She addressed the proposed rezoning from the perspective of the soils and their ability to sustain
the type of development which was proposed. She referred to the 2020 Plan which addressed
soils and their determination of development. She discussed the types of soils in the area and
their inability to sustain this type of development.
Mr. Dave Jorgensen, representative of the applicant, stated that they had brought the request
before the Planning Commission in May of this year. They had initially been interested in a
rezoning along Highway 112. They had brought that before the Planning Commission. The '
Planning Commission had requested to see the overall plan for rezoning. It was their chance to
do a comprehensive rezoning. They had done their best to come up with what the Planning
Commission had requested them to do. They had heard a range of suggestions. They had
proposed an arterial road through the property. They had proposed I-1 zoning on the south
boundary line. On the east boundary line and the southeast comer, they had C-2 zoning, which
was not far from Nelms Auto Park. They thought the C-2 request in the southeast corner was
reasonable. They were going to buffer it by going to the north with C-1 property. If they went to
the west they were going to zone into some residential property. He thought they had a good
plan. The Planning Commission had been split on their votes, with the exception of the
industrial zoning, for which they had all recommended denial. He agreed it was not the most
desirable soil, but he believed that some of the other developments had been on the same type of
soil. He added where there was a will there was a way if there was enough money. He asked the
Council if they believed this was really residential property. He did not believe it was.
Mr. Kit Williams, representing Mr. and Mrs. Benedict, noted that the Benedicts had been
required to change their zoning of the property in order to place vitamins into bottles. The
property had been a restaurant; what they did was sell vitamins. He referred to the 2020 Plan and
the soil analysis, noting that the soil was the most restrictive of soils. It was even difficult to
construct roads on such soil. He thought it might need to be left as agricultural zoning. He
thought that they had made one mistake in the 2020 Plan. They had not put any place in the plan '
for agricultural because it would be too difficult to develop. The 2020 Plan was a guide. He
thought the Council should give support to the staff and Planning Commission. He thought they
had plenty of commercial property. He did not believe this was a good place to develop a node.
He thought they already had nodes in place, and they worked very well. One of the things they
641
City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 11
had tried to do in the plans was to avoid strip commercial zoning. He thought in this case they
needed to do what had been recommended to them by the Planning Department and the Planning
Commission. He noted the property was over a hundred acres. He added they still did not have
a new sewer plant. He thought they needed to very careful with any major rezoning that would
place an additional stress on the sewer plant.
Alderman Austin recognized that one of the aspects of the Plan was that they could make
exceptions. He reserved the right to make a judgment on it according to the law. It was a normal
procedure to vote on an exception to the Plan. ---
Mr. Williams agreed that the developer did have the right to appeal a Planning Commission
decision. However, he thought it would be wise to listen to their advisors, unless there had been
a clear mistake.
Alderman Young added -there had been a rezoning on Wedington and Salem. He had pointed out
then that he was voting contrary to the 2020. Land Use Plan. He explained the reason he had
done that was because there was a little node out there. He had not been paying attention to that
' area during the land use plan development. He had looked at it from the point of view that there
had been an oversight. This was a different thing than a small change in the land use plan. He
LL felt this was a major change.
Mr. Sam Thornton, an area resident, explained he had lived north of this property for
approximately 20 years. His speciality was geotechnical. He had taught at the University for 25
years. He did agree with Mr. Jorgensen in that money could fix the problems. He believed that
the Council needed to be looking out for the public interest and not the developer's interest. He
asked if it was better for the City that the land be developed in a certain way, because he did not
believe it was in the City's best interest to develop it this way.
Mr. Tr umbo asked him if it should always stay as A-1 zoning.
Mr. Thornton responded he thought it needed to be some low impact use. He did not believe it
needed to be multi-famify and it did not need heavy trucks in that area. The current highway
needed to be improved. There had been several people killed while walking down the highway
while leaving the county fair.
Alderman Daniel noted that the proposed land showed a collector street in the middle of the
property. However, in order for it to line up with the Master Street Plan it would have to be at
the top of the property.
' Mr. Conklin agreed that the collector street shown on the Master Street Plan did connect to West
Salem Road. At the time of development, the Planning Commission planned to look at how that
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City Council Minutes '
September 7, 1999
Page 12
street would be connected. In the past they had worked with the developer to make sure that the
street did connect, but the street could be adjusted in either direction to accommodate the
development.
Alderman Daniel added that the City had to put a lot of money into the park in that area to get it
ready to use because of the poor soil conditions. `.
Mr. Rose advised the Council that they could place all of the ordinance on the second and third
readings, then vote on each one separately.
Alderman Santos moved to suspend the rules and move to the second reading on all the
ordinances. Alderman Trumbo seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion carried
unanimously.
Alderman Santo moved to suspend the rules and move to the third and final reading on all
the ordinances. Alderman Trumbo seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion carried
unanimously. '
Mayor Hanna called for the vote. Upon roll call:
RZ 99-18: failed by a vote of 3-5-0, Santos, Young, Russell, Reynolds, and Daniel voted nay.
RZ
99-19:
failed
by a vote
of 0-8-0.
RZ
99-20:
failed
by a vote
of 048-0.
RZ
99-21:
failed
by a vote
of 0-8-0.
RZ
99-22:
failed
by a vote
of 0-8-0.
RZ 99-23: failed by a vote of 3-5-0, Santos, Young, Russell, Reynolds, and Daniel voted nay.
BID "-67
A resolution awarding Bid 99-67 to the lowest bidder, Presto Products Co., for the purchase of
plastic trash bags to be used in our volume -based sanitation rate program in the amount of
$165,935 and a budget adjustment in the amount of $34,945.
Mr. Willie Newman, Waste Reduction Coordinator of the Solid Waste Division, explained the
volume based sanitation rates had been approved last fall. There had been a mandate by the
Four -County Solid Waste Management District that compelled all membership communities to
have a volume -based sanitation rate program in place by January 1, 2003. ,
Alderman Trumbo thought that was important for people to know because a lot of people thought
that the City had just thought this up.
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' City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 13
Mr. Newman added the staff was trying to anticipate the implementation of this mandate. This
rate structure would be very similar to other utilities. It would be based on the amount of service
the consumer used. The more they used the more they paid. The current flat rate was $9.25 per
month. They did not have any plans to increase that rate. They had decided to distribute 104
bags per household, which was an average of two bags per week. They were not limited to the
number of bags they wanted to use each week., Once their allotment had been used, they would
have to purchase additional bags from the Environmental Concerns Committee. The first year
plan would be to implement the new rates and to gather data. They had planned on doing a City-
wide waste audit this spring. They were also requesting an updated rate study. This will cause
people who use more to pay more. The second thing this program would do would be to reduce
the volume of trash by encouraging recycling. The citizens had done a great job recently in
recycling. On an average day they were collecting 11.5 tons of recycling program. The Four -
County Solid Waste could enforce the implementation in three ways: they would not be eligible
for grant funding, or for a DEQ Permit, and the Four -County operations could take over the .
operations of the City. He explained that the districts were organized by county and every
municipality with a population over 5,000 was required to belong to a district.
Alderman Trumbo asked if there were other cities in our district that had implemented this
program. Mr. Newman stated Eureka Springs had implemented it for the past four years.
Springdale offered an option with a limit. Rogers only had an option for senior citizens.
Alderman Reynolds asked about the smaller towns which did not have these services, such as
Farmington. Mr. Newman replied they collected privately. He was not sure if the small private
haulers were offering curbside recycling in the rural area. If the town had a population over
5,000 people, they would have to implement a volume -based program, and it would affect the
private sector.
Alderman Trumbo expressed concern about the limitations on the amount of trash.
e AldermanRussell stated he would like to look at dropping the base rate after a couple of years
and having options for residents based on their personal use.
In response to questions, Mr. Newman stated there was a fifty -pound weight limit on the bags.
The trash workers had to be able to pick up the bags. He stated they would need the support of
the governing body for when people called because their trash had not been picked up because
they did not have -the right bags. '
Alderman Russell moved to approve the resolution. Alderman Daniel seconded the motion.
' Upon roll call the motion carried by a vote of 7-1-0. Alderman Austin voted nay.
RESOL UTION 118-99 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
64.2
City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 14
OAK GROVE VACATION:
An ordinance approving the vacation of three 1988 water/sewer easements across Lots 1, 5, and 6
all in Block 4 of Drake's Replat of Block 4 of Gates Subdivision of Oak Grove Addition. The
vacated easements will be replaced with new easements associated with the actual line location.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the first time.
Mayor Hanna explained the City had an easement, but the line had not been put in the easement.
This would correct the problem.
Alderman Davis moved to suspend the rules and move to the second reading. Alderman
Russell seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the second time.
Alderman
Davis moved to suspend the
rules and move
to the third and final reading.
Alderman
Santos seconded the motion.
Upon roll call
the motion
carried unanimously.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the third and final time.
Mayor Hanna called for the vote. Upon roll call the ordinance passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE 4182 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
BID WAVIER
An ordinance approving a bid waiver to purchase one "Test Release" diesel -powered 4 -wheel
drive 82 HP tractor with full new unit factory supported warranty provided. This will allow the
Mayor to approve for purchase the unit recommended by the Fleet Operations Division, Park
Maintenance Division, and the Equipment Committee. This unit will be utilized by the City of
Fayetteville Parks Maintenance Division.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the first time.
Alderman Trumbo stated this equipment would be a great help to the Parks Department.
Alderman Reynolds clarified it was an 82 HP Tractor.
Alderman Austin
moved to suspend
the
rules and move
to the second reading. Alderman
Russell seconded
the motion. Upon
roll
call, the motion
carried unanimously.
City Council Minutes
' September 7, 1999
Page 15
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the second time.
Alderman
Daniel moved to suspend the rules
and
move to the third and final reading.
Alderman
Davis seconded the motion. Upon
roll
call, the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Rose read the ordinance for the third and final time.
Mayor Hanna called for the vote. Upon roll call the ordinance passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE 4183 AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
GREATHOUSE PARK BRIDGE
Discussion and possible action regarding the Greathouse Park Bridge and the tree removal
required due to flood prevention for its construction.
Alderman Santos stated there had been a lot of complaints of the channelizing of the creek and
' removal of the trees which was necessary for the bridge. He want to make sure the Parks.
Department had looked at every option. One of the options he had considered was a prescriptive
easement to the property. They had been accessing the park through the Levi Strauss property
for more than seven years. He thought they would have a prescriptive easement. He suggested
they try and acquire an easement for that. The argument made by the Parks Department had been
that the parking lot was not located at that point.. He thought they could still have people park on
the north side of the park and provide handicapped access and mower access without having to
channelize the creek or build a bridge.
Mayor Hanna asked if that would solve the problem of getting the children from the
neighborhood across the creek.
Alderman Santos replied they could use the handicapped and mower access or they could climb
across the creek like'they did now.
Alderman Russell stated they needed to be clear on what they were required to do and what they
were choosing to do. If they constructed anything in the flood plain, then the FEMA regulation
stated they could not do anything that would raise the level to that of the 100 -year flood. He
asked if they were required to make all of the park accessible to the handicapped or if it was a
choice. t
' Ms. Brenda Thiel, Parks Board Chairman, read a prepared statement that she had sent to all the
Council members. In regards to children entering the park, they had always entered the park
across a sewer drain pipe or through the creek. If they did not have a bridge there, they would.
64C
City Council Minutes ,
September 7, 1999
Page 16
continue to enter the park that way. Generally, there was water in the creek, and it was often
dangerous for them to cross the creek. It was not a safe entrance into the park. If they could gain
access through the Levi Strauss property, they would use their parking lot.
Alderman Davis asked if they were to take an easement from the Levi Strauss property could
they make the City pay for the easement.
Mr. Rose stated he did not believe the, City had prescriptive easements. One of the elements of a
prescriptive easement was that it could not be a permissive use. It had to be hostile and open.
He did not believe this was a hostile situation.
Mr. Venable added the City was still allowed to use it to get their equipment in. The Levi
Strauss property was currently for sale. The problem was that there was not much room between
the building and creek. They would need more than the footage existing there to have
handicapped access. Then they would have to fence the property off. They had talked with the
owners before, and the current owner had the property for sale. There were currently two gates
there. I
Mayor Hanna stated the owners had been kind enough to allow them to use the access for years.
He would never consider forcing them to give the City the easement.
Ms. Thiel explained the tree removal did not affect the trees between the sewer pipe and the
Levis Strauss property or around the back of the park. It did not encompass the entire stream
bed. There would still be a lot left. The Parks Board was convinced the replanting would look
good. Many of the residents that wanted to be at the meeting could not be here because they had
to work or they could not get out. The neighborhood people needed access to the park. The
owners of the Levi Strauss property were not going to give the Parks Department their parking
lot.
Alderman Trumbo stated it
had been his
understanding,
based on the deed from the Greathouse
Family,
that the land could
only be used
for a municipal
park
or the
land
was to go to the
heir.
Ms. Thiel confirmed that the property would revert back to the heirs if it was not used as a park.
She added there were a lot of trees in the park. They would have to remove several trees, but
they were working with the engineers to save as many trees as necessary.
Alderman Trumbo pointed out this was the only park in the area. They should make it accessible I and utilize it to its full extent.
Ms. Thiel agreed this was the only park in the area and the children needed a park and deserved a
bridge. They had considered other bridges, but for a low water bridge to be accessible it would
647
' City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 17
have to have a 3:12 slope which would require it to begin outside the park's property all the way
into the center of the park and it would have water in it. Everyone now had observed the creek
with only two or three inches of water. Normally there was a lot of water running through the
creek. There were a lot of times they could not get into the park. She herself did not use the pipe
to get into the park.
Mayor Hanna stated he had received a letter from a man who practiced there with his Little
League ball team. Some of the parents would allow the boys to cross the -pipe.
Alderman Reynolds stated he was an elected official for the neighborhood. He had walked the
neighborhood. The people there wanted the park and they wanted it to be handicapped
accessible. He added there had been a lot of meetings down there that he and Alderman Austin
had not been invited to. People need to talk to the neighbors. They did not need people in
different wards telling them what they wanted or needed. They needed to be their own boss
down there and they should get what they wanted. The people who live there wanted the park
accessible and they wanted the creek channeled to stop some of the flooding problems.
Alderman Santos commented they were not discussing any possiblility of stopping any flooding
problems. They were just trying not to make it worse. He did not believe they were seriously
considering access from the west for handicapped accessibility.
Alderman Reynolds replied he did not believe they could make kids walk two blocks around
from the parking lot to get into the park from the west side.
Alderman Santos thought they would walk two blocks around to go through the fun way --
through the creek bed.
Alderman Austin asked how long the Parks Board had worked on the project and what kind of
meetings they had held. .
Ms. Thiel stated she had been working on the Parks Board for two years and they had been
working on this project since the bridge had washed away. They had been looking for a solution
' for over five years for the kids to have a safe way to get into the park. There had been a lot of
obstacles, such as the expense of trying to buy, the right-of-way through all the house or the right-
of-way through Levi Strauss. The property had not been for sale. They had been approached
and asked if they would like to sell the City right-of-way. They had replied no.
.Alderman Austin -stated there was no question that they had gone through all the procedures and
' had had the opportunity for public input.1 d'
Alderman Russell agreed it had gone through the proper procedures, but they had not realized the
648
City Council Minutes ,
September 7, 1999
Page 18
magnitude of the tree removal. He thought at first it had sounded very reasonable, but now that
they knew all the information they needed to revisit it.
Alderman Austin established the fact that they had gone through the proper procedure.
Ms. Thiel stated that all of their meetings were open to the public. She added they had seen the
letters which had been written to the Parks Department from children requesting a bridge. They
had trusted the staff to explore the different types of bridges. Any bridge which was put in there
would require something to done with the channel. It had been her understanding that the width
of the bridge was not a large factor. It was the fact that it was a rigid bridge.
Ms. Terry Easton, an area resident, asked if an environmental study had been completed to
determine the impact of the project downstream. Was there a rendering available for the public
that showed how the finished project would look. Were there other bridge options which would
meet their needs without damaging the corridor. Were there permits from the Corp of Engineers
and DEQ that were required. Had they considered giving up the park site since it was in the
flood way. Could they clean up the corridor without removing the embankment. Could the '
Ozark Regional Land Trust be of assistance. And would continuing to use the existing easement
be a viable solution.
Ms. Kim Rogers of the Parks Department stated the Levi Strauss property had been for sale for
four million dollars and the owner of the property was unwilling to continue to let the easement
be used because it might impede the sale of the property.
A representative for Friends for Fayetteville had contacted the property owner who had faxed the
Parks Department a letter expressing a willingness to provide easements. She thought there
might be options which had not been addressed.
Alderman Trumbo replied he did not have time to micro -manage every little project that came
through the City. He had a lot of respect for the Parks staff and Board. They had gone through
the proper procedures and he believed there had been a great deal of time and effort put into this
project.
Mayor Hanna explained the condition of the previous bridge. He had looked at the alternatives.
He stated that the people in that area deserved to have a good park. He thought the City had used
due diligence in this project. He thought they were blowing the entire issue up into a bigger
problem than it really was. That creek ran a long way. The beavers had killed more big trees '
along the creek than they would take down to build the bridge. No one had been out there killing
beavers. That was nature. He thought people were more important to them. One of these days
the entire creek bank would have to cleared out and a better drainage structure made, just like
they had had to do in Springdale and Rogers to handle all the runoff they had from all the
f.s�' 10649
' City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 19
development. The existing sewer pipe was underwater during major rains. It was a big problem.
It bothered the staff and Board when they worked on something for such a long period of time,
then to have someone come in and on one week's notice start pointing out all the things they
could have done differently. They all had 20/20 hindsight.
Alderman Russell stated they did not have to go ahead if something could have been done
differently.
Ms. Easton asked if they had considered any break -away bridges which might be an option.
Alderman Srantos thought the letter from the property owner was a good idea. They had three
weeks that they had to wait for a permit so they would not have any problems with the
contractor. He thought they should explore other options.
Mr. Venable questioned the access Mr. Santos was considering. There was only 18 feet between
the building and their fence.
Alderman Santos stated there would have to be one handicapped parking space.
Mr. Venable replied there was not a parking place there.
Mr. Crosson stated they had explored the option of the easement when he had been the Public
Works Director. At that time, the property owner had told them that they would not allow them
to have permanent access.
Mr.
Venable
added the
fax letter was not saying they could have
permanent handicapped access.
He
added no
one from
the City had
spoken to them
in regards to
this fax.
Ms. Connie Edmonston, Parks Department Superintendent, stated she had a documented
conversation between Kim Rogers and the property owner in April of 1998. She had also talked
with them about an easement. The owner had not been interested in granting an easement. She
had tried to talk with the owner after receiving the fax, but had not been able to. She.added there
had been two faxes. She was concerned about what had been told to Mr. Towers, the property
owner. She still had several questions. She was convinced the proposed bridge was what the
people wanted. ° She did not believe people would use the west access.
Alderman Trumbo added even if the easement was given for free, he wasstill in favor of the
bridge exactly as'it was drawn.
' Ms. 'Paula Marinoni, an area resident, expressed concern about the use of the HMR tax to
purchase more greenspace. She expressed concern about having to fight the Parks Board to save
650
City Council Minutes '
September 7, 1999
Page 20
their parks.
Mr. Mark Curtis, an area resident, presented photos of the trees and the shade that the existing
trees provided. He stated they had had a bridge at one time, but it had washed away. He
expressed concern about losing all of their shade. He questioned who would want to use the park
without shade.
Alderman Santos suggested replacing it with a bridge that was not handicapped accessible and
provided access from the west side.
Mr. David Todd, CEI Engineering, stated there were three large trees that he thought they might
be able to save by adjusting the slope and bank. He was going to try a few more flood models to
see if they could save a few more trees. The City had originally asked them to design a bridge
for them. They had discovered it was cheaper to purchase a prefabricated bridge. During the
flood plain calculations, it was discovered that the flood was raised a couple of inches by placing
this obstruction in the middle of the channel. To give the magnitude of the depth of the channel,
the average was approximately twelve feet deep. The flood would go approximately six feet '
above the bank, which would be above the Council chambers. If they were to improve the
channel then the next affect would be zero. They had tried to keep the creek as crooked as it is
now. They had taken out most of the trees that were in the creek. It was not going to look like a
natural creek. It was going to look more like a ditch. They had done their best to keep it as close
to what it is now. It was not going to look the same.
Alderman Austin asked if he would recommend that the City keep the banks clean or if they
should allow some underbrush.
Mr. Todd replied the Corp of Engineers had come in several years ago and had dredged the
creek. If they were to go out there now they could not see any evidence of them being there.
They could let some brush grow and the grasses get tall. This would be more easily maintained.
The calculations allowed for some of that to occur.
Alderman Austin asked him to comment on the possibilities of the break -away bridge.
Mr. Todd stated he was not familiar with it. He did know that the engineer that had designed this
project had worked for the Forest Service for approximately ten years. It was his understanding
that that type of bridge was used by them. He would be happy to research it to see if it was
feasible. He noted every two or so years this creek did come up out of its banks. He thought I there was a fifty percent chance that the creek would come out of its bank every year. They did
not want something they had to replace every two years.
Alderman Santos asked him to look at that alternative, and at the alternative of taking out the
65i
City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 21
handicapped accessibility and maintenance access requirements. He thought it would be easier
on everyone if they had renderings showing how this would look with all of the replantings.
Alderman Young asked if they had applied for permits.
Mr. Todd stated the Corp of Engineers had jurisdiction over the waters of the United States.
There were two permits. One for wetlands and one for the protection of water. They stated a
permit was required.. They were in the process of getting the permit. He thought it would take a
minimum of three weeks to get the permit possibly longer.
Mr. Gary Galbraith, Ozark Regional Land Trust, explained they were a conservation group.
They would like to see the property stay a park. They felt it was the best use for the piece of
land. The park had very poor access now. Any changes would impact the environment. He
suggested the City look carefully at whatever options they had and take into account some of the
issues that had been brought up.
Mr. Bill Ackerman, Parks Board, stated they had worked on this project for more than two years.
' He had been on the Board for five years. They tried to serve all quadrants of the City. This
quadrant of the City had suffered for a long time. They had not had the funding. The Board had
a responsibility to serve the people. They had to make a decision on whether or not to serve the
citizens in this area who had waited for so long. They had an impossible situation. They did not
create the problem. They had not had the funds. Had it not been for the HMR tax they still
would not have the funds needed to do these projects. They had properties now that they needed
to improve. They now had a large enough staff to get projects done. As citizens of the
communitythey needed to address the needs of the people they were trying to serve. In his
opinion this was a short term inconvenience for a long term gain. They needed to build a bridge.
The possibility for an easement was open ended. It had not been an option in the past. He was
not sure that it was a long term solution for what they were trying to do to access their own park.
It would not be convenient for the constituents in the ward. He did not believe the community
would ever use it. In his opinion they were wasting their time in not solving the problem of
building a bridge in one of their own parks. He added they worked with the professionals.They
had tried to turn over every possible rock in this project. He thought they could reengineer and
redesign, but it was only money and they were not going to get there if they did not go ahead and
build a project that would serve the people in that community.
Alderman Santos stated the goal was not to build a bridge, the goal was provide recreation while
E -preserving a natural resource. F ,
3 Y
,
Ms. Carol Tarvin, Green Party of Arkansas, stated she did not live in Fayetteville, but had lived
in that area. They were concerned about the preservation of the environment and grass roots
a democracy and social justice issues. She asked them not to rush into something. She felt open -
WA -
652
City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 22
mindedness was a spiritual principle.
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
CELL TOWER SITE:
A resolution approving an agreement with MSA Limited Partnership (Alltel Communications)
for lease of tower space on the Gulley Road Water Tank for the purpose of installing radio
communication equipment and appurtenances (building and antenna).
Alderman Trumbo stated he had requested this be removed from the Consent Agenda because he
had received several calls about it. He explained there was a water tower on Highway 45 outside
the City limits. They had needed it for water pressure. There had been no plans for cells towers,
but now they were considering a lease to Alltel Communications.
Alderman Daniel stated she had seen the drawing for the tower and it was not what she had
thought at all.
Ms. Alyssa Colefield, Alltel Communications, stated the application they were discussing was
any sort of a free-standing antenna. There were attaching antennas to the top of the structure.
The antenna was called a metowave application. Each antenna was 4' by 6', and there would
only be three attached - one per face like a triangle.
Mayor Hanna asked if they would be constructing a building on the ground near the water tower.
Ms. Colefield replied they would be putting a prefabricated equipment shelter on the north side
near the base of the tower. It was a 12'x 28' shelter. It would be air-conditioned which was not
any louder than any normal residential unit. She stated they had addressed most of the
environmental concerns. They had been working with the City since February. The existing
tower was not high enough or far enough south for their needs. They were trying to offload
some existing towers with capacity problems.
Alderman Trumbo noted the people leasing the other tower were getting $1,600 per month.
Ms. Colefield stated they had an acquisition agent. She thought that fee was over what they were
accustomed to paying. The owners of the tower would be able to generate money from leasing
part of their tower to other companies. They would not have that opportunity leasing the water
tower.
Alderman Trumbo stated the only thing the City had to do with the tower location was the fact
that it was their water tank. It was located in the county. Alltel would have to go to the county
_:
for approval of the tower.
City Council Minutes
September 7, 1999
Page 23
Ms. Colleen Gaston, anarea resident, presented a petition with signatures of people who were
opposed to the City approving the lease agreement. The signatures had been collected this
afternoon. The people out there were concerned. Their concern had started with the construction
of the water tower. There had not been any public notice or opportunity for public input on that
project, which was in violation of a state statute which required public notification and required it
to go through the County Planning Commission. This should have beeri considered by the
county as a large scale development. They had asked that the City commit that there would not
be further development on the property. At that time a number of people had been told that there
would not be other plans for further development. She commented on how unclear the
agreement was. The lease referred to four exhibits. None of those exhibits were attached to the
document presented to the City Council. There was no legal description of the easement. There
was no description of the notification. She questioned how they could comment of the lease if it
was not complete. How could they recommend the lease to be signed when those attachments
were not there because they did not know what they were getting or bargaining for. She added
some of the structures for cell towers made quite a bit of noise. She questioned if they could
further degrade the vista with these cell towers. She thought they would also require additional
lighting. She recommended that the City Council not approve the lease at this time.. She would
like to see a commitment that there would not be anything further done to the property or added
to the tower. She recommended that they get a better description that would be made available to
the public and that there would be further opportunity for the public on the agreement.
Alderman Trumbo asked why a lot of the attachments were not in the agenda packet.
Mr. Venable replied there were 180 days from the execution of the contract. The legal
description would be the top of the tank.
Ms. Alyssa Colefield explained there was a caveat that they would put the legal description that
was available to them when they were negotiating. Once the lease agreement was signed they
would go in and attach the exact legal for only what they were leasing and the site plan.
Alderman
Austin commented that the
City Council decision
was whether or
not they wanted to
enter into
a business agreement. The
County had
to approve
of the location..
Ms. Colefreld stated they would not apply for approval from the County until they had.an
agreement with the City or`a landowner.
Ms. Gaston stated it was her understanding that with the new Washington County cell ordinance,
since this was going onto an existing structure, there would basically be no opportunity for
public comment during the County process.
653
6561
City Council Minutes '
September 7, 1999
Page 24
Mr. Scott Jones, an area resident, stated he was opposed to the water tower. He had tried to
accept the tower because people needed water. The tower was approximately 75 yards from his
front door. He noted all the antennae that had been added to the water tower on Mt. Sequoyah
and now there were also cell towers next to it.
Mr. Bunn, Assistant Public Works Director, stated the City had acquired enough property so
depending on the growth in the area. At some future date that they could consider another water
tower up there. They had the room. But it was not within the next five years.
Anglea Laren, an area resident, stated she was disappointed in the City. They had moved out to
the County and the City had followed them. She asked the Council to think about the affect of
adding three more ugly structures out there that would put more light in the woods.
Susan Hoye, an area resident, stated the water tower was ugly. She had added the planted trees
around the area. She was wondering if she would live long enough to see the trees cover the
water tower. She asked the Council not to add insult to injury by putting more on the top of the
tower. ,
Dr. Darrell Ginger, an area resident, reiterated that there had not been any notification for the
water tower. He did not protest the water tower because it would benefit the City as a whole.
But to add a tower to the top of this would make it uglier. It devalued his property. He objected
to the towers. The City had extended itself out into the County. This area was still in the growth
area. He thought this was a violation of trust for $1000 per month. He thought they should leave
well enough alone. He objected to any further structures. He did not believe it would add very
much to the City coffers.
Alderman Austin did not know what the County ordinance said. But he thought Alltel could
locate a tower out there in the County if they did not locate on the tower. He asked Dr. Ginger if
he would prefer a structure on the water tower or would he like a separate structure. He did not
want to offend anyone in the area. He questioned if they were solving the problem by not
signing the lease.
Dr. Ginger stated the people in the County were objecting to the unsightly eyesores just like the
people in the City. He thought they were intruding themselves onto City property which was
located in the County. He questioned what these towers were doing to his property values. He
added that even though there was a water tower next to him, he still had problems with his water
supply. He personally requested that they not add another structure on top of the tower to mar I the skyline.
In response to comments from the public, Ms. Colefield stated the antennae would not require
any additional lighting. The water tower did not even require additional lighting. The City had
City Council Minutes
' September 7, 1999
Page 25
A
voluntarily added the lighting to the tower. The only reason they would have a generator on the
property would be for an emergency. They did not keep a backup generator there. Generators
would only be permitted in an emergency case.
Alderman Daniel asked if their lease request was turned down, what would they do.
Ms. Colefield stated their alternative would be to look for another site. They were originally
going to do that. A moratorium had been issued in both the City and County. They had to get
real creative. This was not the best option for them, in the spirit of co -location and the fact that
they were trying to co -locate to different sectors and to minimize additional towers in the area.
This was their option they were proposing. They had designed it to go onto this water tank. If
they had to locate another tower it would be a little further to the north. There would only be one
light on the shelter to light the entrance to the building. They typically painted the antennae the
same color as the tank.
Alderman Santos explained in the spirit of the ordinance they were trying to encourage co -
locations so they would not have to have another tower built. He thought the people who lived in
this area would prefer to have the antennae on the tower rather than have a tower constructed.
He thought it was preferable to have the addition to the tower rather than have another 150 -foot
tower constructed. He stated they were trying to have fewer towers built. If they did not approve
the lease they were encouraging more towers to be constructed in the area.
Ms. Gaston stated generally co -location was preferable, however, when they were usually talking
about co -location they were talking about. structures that had gone through some sort of process,
which was not the case here. She was skeptical of any landowners in the area that would be
willing to lease any land for a tower to be constructed. She thought it would be very difficult for
a communications company to find a lease in the vicinity of the existing tower. She thought they
could say that they preferred that there would be nothing additional added to the water tower.
She did not believe another tower would be located there and if it did, it would have to go
through a hearing process even though it would be minimal at the County level, which would
allow for some sort of public input.
Alderman Davis cautioned that one of her neighbors, for $12,000, would let them put up a tower.
The City was looking at putting up antennae on top of the water tower.
Alderman Austin stated he was willing to vote for her request to be a good neighbor. This was a
business decision. In his eyes, he was not willing to offend those people for a thousand dollars a
month. It was the County issue whether or not it met their ordinances.
' Alderman Santos stated the spirit of the City's ordinance was to encourage co -location.
656
City Council Minutes '
September 7, 1999
Page 26
Alderman Davis replied the City had never notified these people of the water tower. If they had
told these people that nothing else would be put on this tower, then they needed to keep their
word.
Alderman Trumbo stated he was willing to vote against the resolution, because of the mistakes
that had been made, but he wanted everyone to know that there would probably be a tower
somewhere out there. He thought it would be better on top of the tank. But the lease money
could be a lot of money to some land owner.
Ms. Gaston stated she did not know what the best answer was, but the information they had been
provided was inadequate. They had been given some oral representation of what Alltel was
going to do, but they did not have that in writing. And the public had not had an opportunity to
look at it. She thought they needed to ask for additional information. She thought the City
should make them show their plans. How many cell towers did they need. Where are the best
location for those. They had the opportunity to control the situation somewhat. She was not
convinced that there needed to be an additional tower.
Alderman Young thought they should wait two weeks to give them time to think about it and to '
notify more people.
Ms. Colefield stated they were not trying to come into their neighborhood. They were trying to
work in the spirit of co -location. They were trying to do what the ordinances were directing
them to do.
Alderman Davis and Trumbo requested the additional information be included.
Ms. Colefield stated it could be provided without a problem.
Ms. Gaston asked if they did not approve this, then what would the alternative be. Why did they
need another location. She thought they might be positioning against other companies.
Alderman Trumbo moved to table the resolution. Alderman Davis seconded the motion.
Upon roll call the motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 11:05 p. m.