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Home My WebLink About2013-09-20 - MinutesFayetteville Forward Economic Accountability Action Committee Meeting Susan Norton Facilitator Meeting Scribe Susan Norton Meeting Date September 20, 2013 Meeting Start 9:OOam Time Location Fayetteville City Meeting End 10:30am Hall, Room 326 Time Angela Wisely Katherine Barnhart, Phil Stafford, James Attending Rector, Teresa Mauer, Lioneld Jordan, Dede Peters, Susan Norton The meeting was called to order by Susan Norton in room 326 of City Hall. Norton called for action group reports. James Rector reported for the Inclusion Group about Compassion Games being held the 10' through the 21" of September with a celebration summary scheduled for Saturday the 28`h at Walker Park. This is a function of the Compassionate Cities initiative. Phil Stafford reported that the Technology Park will complete its annual report this month and highlighted successes to include: 39 corporate partners in FY2013 with a total employment impact of 344 jobs and average wages of $80K+. Revenues were 21.5 million; expenditures $34.4 million; total economic impact of $51 million dollars! Since the establishment of the Tech Research Park in 2004, there has been over $200 million in economic development benefits for the city. Teresa Mauer passed out the new Local Food Guide, of which there were 10,000 copies made; they are still working on the web site and mobile app. One of the features of the guide is an educational component on seasonality and products produced in Fayetteville. The coding system in the guide shows where SNAP, WIC, and senior points are taken. Teresa credited the FFEAC for helping to match up the collaborators to get the job done. Also, there is a Task Force working to define an Urban Ag policy for Fayetteville. The goal is to make us a sustainable city. They are looking at barriers that keep food from being produced in our city (small livestock issues, beekeeping within city limits, etc.) and prioritizing issues that should be addressed. They will resume meetings in October. Also, local foods group is working with a Food City Project with the UA; Peter Nerenguard will roll it out to Ward 1 residents next week. The Fayetteville Farmer's Market runs through Halloween on Tuesday/Thursday and the Saturday market continues until Thanksgiving week. They moved the tent market at Botanical Gardens until Sunday and have received 4x the population. This market will be open until Halloween. They are looking for a new location for the winter market; any ideas, please contact Teresa. Katherine Barnhart reported from the Creative Economy group. They are putting together a Creative Directory App to launch during the summer of 2014. They reminded the group that the deadline for applications for grants from the A&P Commission is November 1. They are working on a mural on 71B. Asked for ideas for a float for Last Night celebration; looking for a theme; asking if FFEAC members will dress up as a super -hero! They are still working on 501 c3 status. James Rector is helping them redo their web site. Susan Norton reported on behalf Steve Smith for the Historic and Heritage Resources Action Group from their August 7 report. Mayor Jordan provided an update regarding recent City projects related to Fayetteville's Historic and Heritage Resources. (1) progress on restoration of Lafayette and Maple Street historic bridges; (2) process for selecting consultant for Historic Structure Report on Woolsey Farmstead; (3) approaches to securing historic preservation policy advice for City projects and permitted private development projects; (4) GIS project to create interactive map of National Register Properties, local historical sites and markers. Katherine Magoulick, Haas Hall Academy, discussion regarding her Girl Scout Gold Award project related to Fayetteville women in history. Greg Phillips, Director of Main Street Arkansas, presentation regarding the Arkansas Downtown Network, a program area of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Main Street Arkansas provides technical assistance and design services to help create economic development in the state's downtown areas. The Main Street approach to downtown revitalization focuses on four areas: design, economic restructuring, organization and promotion. Presentation was followed by audience questions and answers. Cities currently involved in Main Street Arkansas are Batesville, Blytheville, Dumas, El Dorado, Eureka Springs, Hardy, Helena, Little Rock's South Main Street (SoMa), Osceola, Ozark, Paragould, Rogers, Russellville, Searcy, Siloam Springs, Texarkana and West Memphis. Members of Main Street's Arkansas Downtown Network are Pine Bluff, Heber Springs, Fort Smith, DeWitt, Morrilton, Rector, Jonesboro, Monticello, Arkadelphia, Clarksville, Warren and Wynne. Learn more about Main Street Arkansas, http://www.MainStrectArkansas.org Future Action Agenda: Coordinate with Historic District Commission and revise City ordinance Inventory of historic properties Local historic marker program Create a non-profit organization for possible Main Street Program and other activities Next meeting October 3 Angela Wisely reported from the Green Economy Group. They have a project with the Arkansas Energy Office to update residential codes for the rest of the state to meet Fayetteville standards. They are working on the "Greening of the MLS" and hope for a January publication. And, they hosted a networking event at Nightbird books with the UA about volunteer opportunities in Fayetteville. Over 80 students participated amidst the 20 organizations who provided information sharing. Mayor Lioneld Jordan updated the group on the city's newest award, the "Rex Hancock Arkansas Wildlife Conservationist of the Year." We are registered as one of 60 wildlife habitats in the United States. Bikes, Blues, and BBQ event is anticipated to be the largest yet if Wednesday night's record participation is any indication. Anticipating 250,000 participants in the city and 400,000 region -wide. Sales tax is up 4% for the year; on top of the 5.8% increase from 2012. Will be breaking ground on the parking deck in February, on schedule. The Flyover by the Mall will be done by next June. Vote yes, yes, yes! For the Bond Election coming up November 12`h. Vote to extend the one cent sales tax that generated the revenue to build the Town Center; $3.2 million for Regional Park (to include 6 soccer fields and 3 baseball fields and $6.5 million for the Walton Arts Center Expansion (Starr Theater expansion and new front fagade). On street and side walk improvements, Van Ashe is slated to hook up with Garland, Rupple Road will become a boulevard, and over 36,000 feet of side will be laid in 3 years. Dede Peters demonstrated progress on the new Community Link web site which is now hosted locally. Thanks to hard work of Christina Campbell in IT, we will have a new FFEAC web site as well and it will be populated with our minutes and source documents. Notes from the July Meeting were accepted and the September meeting adjourned at 10 a.m.