HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-15 MinutesCITY OF FAYETTEVILLE
TOWN AND GOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 15, 2012, MEETING
The first meeting of the City of Fayetteville Town and Gown Advisory Committee was called to
order by Mayor Lioneld Jordan at 3:00 p.m. on October 15, 2012, at the Genesis Technology
Incubator of the Arkansas Research and Technology Park in the AT&T Conference Room at 700
Research Center Boulevard in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Members present were Don Marr, Jeremy
Pate, Yolanda Fields, Greg Tabor, David Dayringer, David Jurgens (designated by member
Sharon Waters to fill position), Terry Gulley, Danny Pugh, Richard Hudson, Melissa Harwood -
Rom, Gary Smith, Bev Lewis, Mike Johnson, Tori Pohlner, Mark Kinion, Barry Herzog, Diane
Warren, Tommy Deweese, Ryan Miller, and Steve Clark. Absent were Sharon Waters and
Joseph Kieklak (who delivered a resignation notice to the City Clerk on October 15, 2012, due to
a professional conflict of interest).
Mayor Jordan congratulated each member on their appointments to the committee and
introduced Chancellor G. David Gearhart who also welcomed the Committee. Chancellor
Gearhart spoke of the close working relationship between the City of Fayetteville and the
University of Arkansas and how this new committee will be instrumental in advising about
issues of growth, on -campus and off -campus issues, and other topics that the committee can
assist with as the University enrollment will reach 28,000 by the next three years. Chancellor
Gearhart congratulated the members and thanked them for their service on the committee.
Mayor Jordan praised the job Chancellor Gearhart has done at the University of Arkansas and
echoed the statement that there exists a strong working partnership between the University of
Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville, which he believes will grow stronger with the work and
advice of this committee. Mayor Jordan provided an overview of the committee and called it a
historic day because it was the first meeting of the City of Fayetteville Town and Gown
Committee, a committee enacted by the Fayetteville City Council in July of 2012. Mayor Jordan
spoke of his deep connection with the University of Arkansas, where he worked in the Facilities
Management Department for 27 years.
Mayor Jordan than reviewed the charge of this Advisory Committee and referenced tab three in
the committee book where a copy of the Ordinance is located that passed through the
Fayetteville City Council. Jordan stated the general charge from the Ordinance: "There is hereby
established the Town and Gown Advisory Committee. This Committee shall be a forum for
collaboration between the City of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas on mutually -
relevant issues including, but not limited to, campus expansions, the need for student housing
both on and off campus, and parking and noise in areas adjacent to or nearby the campus. The
Committee is empowered only to advise and make recommendations on a periodic basis to both
the City Council and the University of Arkansas on such issues, and to adopt rules for the
conduct of its own business"
Mayor Jordan then directed Committee members to tab two in their committee books for the
names and contact information of each appointed Committee member and asked the members to
introduce themselves and briefly state their interest and anticipated contribution to this
Committee.
Mayor Jordan reviewed the role of the Town and Gown Advisory Committee's Chair and
directed the Committee to tab one in their Committee books for these general duties and
discussed the need to elect two required offices for this Committee as established in the
Ordinance, a Chair and a Vice Chair/Secretary. Mayor Jordan stated that the Chair is to assure
that the committee sets meeting agendas and works with City staff to get the agendas and
meeting times and locations out to the public and runs the meetings. Mayor Jordan stated that
the Vice Chair/Secretary of the Committee serves as the official recorder of the votes on each
item as passing or failing and works with the Chair on setting agendas as determined by the
Committee, with each Committee agenda being set by the Committee.
With the assistance of Committee staff Lindsley Smith and City Clerk Sondra Smith, Mayor
Jordan administered the election for Chair by asking for nominations, including self -
nominations. David Jurgens nominated Tommy Deweese for Chair, which was seconded by
Barry Herzog. Diane Warren nominated herself for Chair, which was seconded by Mark Kinion
Mayor Jordan asked each candidate for Chair to speak, and each made a presentation. By a vote
of 12 for Deweese and 8 for Warren, Mayor Jordan announced Tommy Deweese as the Chair of
the Committee and turned the meeting over to Chair Deweese.
Chair Deweese opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chair/Secretary. Don Marr nominated
Diane Warren, which was seconded by Steve Clark. The Committee voted to close nominations,
and Warren was elected as Vice Chair/Secretary by unanimous acclamation.
Chair Deweese provided the floor to City Clerk Sondra Smith to conduct the drawing of lots for
citizen -appointees for the determination of staggered terms. City Clerk Smith first announced
the resignation of one citizen -appointee, Joseph M. Kieklak, who was appointed by the
Fayetteville City Council after an application and nominating process through the City of
Fayetteville. Mr Kieklak stated that his resignation was due to his service on The Arkansas
Traveler and the determination that there would be "an appearance of impropriety, and therefore
forbidden" by the The Arkansas Traveler to also serve on this committee while being in a paid
position with The Arkansas Traveler. A copy of Kieklak's letter was provided to each
Committee member. Diane Warren (Ward 2), Ryan Miller (Ward 4), and Steve Clark (Business
representative) drew two-year terms; and Barry Herzog (Ward 1) and Tommy Deweese (Ward 3)
drew one-year terms.
Chair Deweese then opened the discussion and vote for the determination of the frequency of
meeting dates. The Ordinance states that the Committee must meet at least quarterly. Mike
Johnson made a motion, which was seconded by Don Marr and Mark Kinion, to meet monthly
for a few months before going quarterly since there are several things for this committee to
discuss, determine, and advise about as soon as possible. The 3`a Monday of each month was the
date set for the monthly meetings (November 19, December 17, and January 21). After a
discussion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day being on January 21, the committee decided to keep
that date as the meeting date. The motion passed.
Chair Deweese opened the floor for a motion for the procedure by which the committee would
call a special meeting if and when necessary. Upon a motion by Steve Clark for the Chair to be
able to call a meeting, an amendment to the motion was added that a meeting could also be
called by 5 members, which was accepted, and there was the acceptance of another amendment
by Mike Johnson for the Chair or 5 members to be able to call a special meeting within 72 hours
of the date of the special meeting. The motion was seconded by Diane Warren, and the motion
passed. Upon motion by Mike Johnson, seconded by Steve Clark, when the Chair and Vice
Chair/Secretary are not available to attend a meeting, the Chair can appoint a temporary Chair to
run the meeting. The motion passed.
Chair Deweese opened the floor to a discussion that could identify issues for possible review
within the next six months by asking Mayor Jordan his thoughts. Mayor Jordan responded that
he hears often about growth of the University of Arkansas and inquiries whether enough housing
will be available on campus or off campus and his review of a possible overlay plan. Mark
Kinion stated an interest in the streamside ordinance and hillside overlay. Mike Johnson asked
for more information about overlay districts and what they do, as well as planned zoning districts
(PZDs), and recommended a presentation at the next meeting to assure all members are
knowledgeable about them, stating "what we are doing to educate each other will also educate
the public." Don Marr recommended a presentation of each others Master plans, pedestrian
street design, Maple Street as a safe pedestrian -designed street, access management plan, and
event planning. Mark Kinion recommended plans for Walker park, Fayette Junction, and
Wedington Corridor Plan, as well as ideas and visions for looking at development plans. Don
Marr recommended the issue of the operational control of Dickson Street. Chancellor Gearhart
stated that was a critical issue at the top of Dickson Street with thousands of students crossing at
that point. Gearhart stated there is no current plan for a new dormitory, the University of
Arkansas would be growing to 28,000 by the next three years, the addition of approximately 500
spaces by Razorback Road, the issue of parking problems, and aesthetics of the University and
surrounding areas. Mike Johnson mentioned the widening of Razorback Road. Danny Pugh
stated that students find friendliness of the community, and recommended discussion of the off -
campus connections program and landlord issues. Chancellor Gearhart remarked about the
excellent relationship of the University and City and how the University of Arkansas feels very
good about the services they receive, growing pains, and the surge of students has caught them
by surprise with some classes taught in athletic facilities.
Chair Deweese recommended the setting of the agenda for the next meeting. After motion and
approval of each, the agenda for the next meeting was set for New Business as follows:
Operational control of Dickson Street, Brainstorming a list of items to vote on and prioritize
them, and Master Plan discussion.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Respectively, Lindsley Smith, Town and Gown Advisory Committee Staff
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