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Home My WebLink About2013-06-21 - MinutesFayetteville Forward Economic Accountability Action Committee Meeting Steve Smith Facilitator Meeting Scribe Lindsley Smith Meeting Date June 21, 2013 Meeting Start Time 9:OOam Location Fayetteville City Meeting End 10:30am Hall, Room 326 Time Attending Steve Smith, Lindsley Smith, Dede Peters, Phil Stafford, Steve Clark, Angela Wisely, Margo Jackson, Katherine The meeting was called to order by Steve Smith of the Historic Heritage and Resources Action Group at 9:03 a.m. in room 326 of City Hall. Smith noted that FFEAC Chair Susan Norton is out of town and unable to be present and asked him to serve as Chair in her stead. Smith asked if there were any additions to the Committee minutes, with no additions, the agenda was accepted. City of Fayetteville Community Outreach Coordinator Dede Peters informed the Committee that Mayor Lioneld Jordan could not be present because he was representing the City at the annual Municipal League Conference, and that she would be presenting information from the City in the form of coverage of the recent quarterly newsletter and other updates. Smith called for action group reports. University of Arkansas representative Phil Stafford reported that all is going very well at the Arkansas Research and Technology Park. Ozarks at large is doing a three-part series about the ARTP, and Stafford encouraged the committee and public to view those series segments online. Stafford also reported that the ARTP is hosting the Power Electronics and Generation System Conference, and in the upcoming week the entrepreneurship boot camp will be hosted at the ARTP. Steve Clark, representing the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, noted that this year there will be 17 participants in the boot camp, and with this camp, students will bring a business plan of a business they want to launch, they work each day on their business plan and then make a presentation. The boot camp is made up of sophomores and juniors in high school. Clark reported for the Chamber of Commerce that the City Council approved a Resolution to sell about 14.9 acres in the Commerce District (previously called the Industrial Park) to Pacific Vet. Group, USA. Most of this, Clark reported, will be their lab, and they will create about 60 jobs at approximately $65,000 each. Clark noted continual improvements in the Commerce District and that there are still property in the Commerce District available. Smith recognized Angela Wisely from the Green Economy Group for their update presentation. Wisely reported that the Green Economy Group is working on a database to list houses and work with real estate entities to install energy efficiency information on their websites as dropdown boxes. They are also working on an information piece on loans for energy efficiency and looking to host another seminar (looking at November) marketed to those in the real estate industry on topics of energy efficiency. Wisely also reported that the group is working to get more involved in community recycling. Smith recognized Margo Jackson to give the update report for the Inclusion Action Group. Jackson reported that they are involved in the Civil Rights Round Table at the OMNI Center, as well as coordinators and facilitators of the Compassionate Cities project. They are working with Kyle Kellams at KUAF for an Ozarks at Large Compassion Stories segment. They are also working with Alishia Ferguson at the University of Arkansas on the Age Friendly Community through the World Health Organization. Clark added that there was a very productive meeting at the University of Arkansas between himself representing the Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Jordan representing the City of Fayetteville, and Chancellor David Gearhart, each offering support of personnel for the project. Katherine Barnhart was recognized to give the report for the Creative Economy Action Group. The Creative Economy has finalized and submitted the Visual Arts Guide to the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, which the CVB will use the Chicago Public Arts Guide as the model. The Creative Economy is working on an app for the public's finding of art information and is going to get with Christopher Spencer to get needed information from him for their treasurer and other information for moving forward in a 501 status. Smith noted that Teresa Maurer could not be present to report for the Local Foods Action Group because they are working this morning on the final page proofs for the new Local Foods Guide, and she reported through Smith that the next meeting of the Local Foods Action Group is June 25 at the Chamber of Commerce from noon to 1:00 p.m. Steve Smith, Chair of the Historic Heritage and Resources Action Group, provided the report for that group, noting that the HHRAG has developed a strong collaborative relationship with various groups and individuals, with one project being a successful tour of the Fayetteville Downtown Square guided by Gary Coover, Chair of the Fayetteville Historic District Commission and member of HHRAG, which was sponsored by the HHRAG, the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, and the City of Fayetteville. The CVB also developed a self -guided tour of the Square based on Coover's history of the Square, which has QR codes on buildings with information about those locations, as well as on the CVB website and on hard -copy maps that also include a OR code for each location. There are 31 properties provided on the self -guided walking tour map right now, with more planned to be added in the future. Smith reported that a number of HHRAG members attended the Historic Preservation Alliance meeting in Little Rock in the past month, and the state listed 10 of the most endangered properties in Arkansas, with two of those being located in Fayetteville (one on Fairview, and the architectural features of the properties make them important). Smith also announced plans for the University to level a Warren Seagraves building (a church) located on Maple street, which will soon be a gravel parking lot and then a sorority house. Smith noted that the University is not subject to local ordinances and the building is set to be demolished, but the HHRAG is working on an ordinance that would require that pictures of historically -relevant structures be taken to demonstrate what we did have to preserve it at least in pictures. Smith also noted the Shirkey House on Block Avenue, which is subject to be surrounded closely by a large apartment complex surrounding it if the developer's plans are fulfilled. Smith also stated that the group is still working on a list of national heritage properties, and the City is preparing to prepare a request for qualifications for a historic resources advisor who could bring historic preservation issues to the table. The action group is also focused on the Woolsey Farmstead preservation, and the City Council recently passed a Resolution to pursue research and determination of what it would take to preserve it and to determine uses of the historic property and report back to the City Council. The City is also in the process of restoring the two historic bridges in Fayetteville located at Lafayette and Maple streets. The Historic Heritage and Resources Action Group and the Creative Economy Action Group met together to ponder ideas related to the old Porter produce building on West Avenue by the Walton Arts Center, which is owned by the City and University, but under lease with the Walton Arts Center and used as storage by them right now; however, that lease will soon be up for renewal. The HHRAG is still working on the historic marker program for homes that don't meet National Register status but are at least 50 years old in order to create a city registry of historic properties. Smith reported that Tony Wapple is in the process of writing a book about Highway 71 /College, and that the group is working to revive Campbell's History of Fayetteville since it is coming upon its sentential and also commissioning a couple of chapters as additions. Dede Peters stated that it would be good to have the Wesley Chapel by Seagraves protected and questioned the moveability of it, with Clark noting that the tear -down is already set in stone and Smith noting that while the UA has adopted a historic master plan that property is not in the area of that plan or included in it. Phil Stafford stated that he volunteered to inquire about it with the University. Peters noted that in other cities she has seen impressive reuse of such properties incorporated into intended uses, and such a structure might apply those principles in this case as well and that there is a national group that photographs such structures and could be an option in at least the photographic recording of Seagraves' building. Peters then provided information about the recent City Quarterly Newsletter, as well as hard copies to the members, noting that the newsletter is available online and that it is tailored to online with various links from it that takes readers to online resources and information. Peters noted that she has received feedback from one member of the public to add in future newsletters financial information that is easy -to -read and understand by the public. Peters informed the Committee about the UA Orientation of new students and their parents that the City is participating in through her as Community Outreach Coordinator, encouraging the students to get off campus and explore the city. She also noted that she is going to a conference this afternoon of the meeting to receive an award for the City that she will report about in the next meeting. 3 Margo Jackson then discussed Compassion Fayetteville, with the first phase having begun in February and the planning having begun in May of 2012, with the project going very well. The new video for Compassion Fayetteville was shown, and it received applause and praise from the Committee. Jackson reported that the Inclusion Group is working on its mission, vision and values of Compassion Fayetteville as they work for Fayetteville to receive official Compassionate City status and they are moving forward well with the resource book of examples and resources of compassion in Fayetteville, as well as the awareness stage that is moving now toward action. Clark praised the QR codes on the buildings around the Downtown Square and noted that that program has sparked other ideas at the Chamber of Commerce regarding enhanced business communication with the public through QR codes on their buildings, and the Chamber is now looking at possibilities related to such a concept. Peters encouraged the group and viewing audience to take the neighborhood association survey that the City has out and is seeking public input on until the end of June. Upon motion, Smith adjourned the meeting at 10:55 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lindsley Smith, City Communication Director (6/21/13)