HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-05 MinutesAlderman Adella Gray
Ward 1 Position I
Alderman Sarah Marsh
Ward I Position
Alderman Mark Kinion
Ward 2 Position 1
Alderman Matthew Petty
Ward 2 Position 2
Mayor Lioneld Jordan
City Attorney Kit Williams
City Clerk Sondra E. Smith
City of Fayetteville Arkansas
City Council Meeting
August 05, 2014
City Council Meeting Minutes
August 5, 2014
Page 1 of 16
Alderman Justin Tennant
Ward 3 Position 1
Alderman Martin W. Schoppmeyer, Jr
Ward 3 Position 2
Alderman Rhonda Adams
Ward 4 Position 1
Alderman Alan T. Long
Ward 4 Position 2
A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council was held on August 05, 2014 at 5:30 PM in Room
219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville,
Arkansas.
Mayor Jordan called the meeting to order.
PRESENT: Alderman Adella Gray, Sarah Marsh, Mark Kinion, Matthew Petty, Justin
Tennant, Martin Schoppmeyer, Rhonda Adams, Alan Long, Mayor Lioneld Jordan, City
Attorney Kit Williams, City Clerk Sondra Smith, Staff, Press, and Audience.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor's Announcements, Proclamations and Recognitions: None
City Council Meetine Presentations, Reports and Discussion Items:
Bi -Monthly Report on Public Transit in Fayetteville
Joel Gardner, Executive Director of Ozark Regional Transit gave a report on public transit in
Fayetteville. He stated that fixed route ridership and paratransit ridership have increased. He
attributes the increase to the use of the paratransit software and the new routes that have been
instilled in the City of Fayetteville. He stated a service that is being used is a new route that goes
from West Fork to Farmington bringing riders into the Fayetteville area. He stated that the routes
are going very well and appreciates the support from City Council
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August 5, 2014
Page 2 of 16
Agenda Additions: None
Consent:
Approval of the July 15, 2014 City Council meeting minutes.
Approved
Devol Aviation, Inc.: A resolution to approve a five year lease for the airport hangar at 4158
South School Avenue to Devol Aviation, Inc. for a rent of $1,700.00 per month with biennial rent
adjustments to begin retroactively on July 1, 2014.
Resolution 136-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
General Improvement Fund Grant: A resolution to authorize acceptance of a General
Improvement Fund Grant in the amount of $34,500.00 for snow equipment parts and snow plow
replacement, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Resolution 137-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Bid 914-41 Central Salt Company: A resolution to award Bid #14-41 and authorize the purchase
of crushed rock salt from Central Salt Company in the amount of $106.16 per ton, as needed
through July 31, 2015.
Resolution 138-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Bid #14-42 Vance Brothers, Inc.: A resolution to award Bid 414-42 and authorize a contract
with Vance Brothers, Inc. in the amount of $256,480.00 plus a contingency of $25,648.00 for
Asphalt Micro -Surfacing of city streets.
Resolution 139-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Darrell Froud Lease Agreement: A resolution to approve a lease agreement with Darrell Froud
for about 54.5 acres of city park land for the sole purpose of cutting hay for the amount of
$100.00 per year.
Resolution 140-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
2015 Arkansas Outdoor Recreation Grant: A resolution to authorize an application for a 50/50
matching grant, through the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism's Outdoor Recreation
Grant Program, in the amount of $250,000.00 for improvements at the Fayetteville Regional Park.
Resolution 141-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
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August 5, 2014
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Garver, LLC: A resolution to approve a professional engineering services agreement with
Garver, LLC in an amount not to exceed $328,200.00 for engineering design related to the Cato
Springs Trail.
Resolution 142-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Community Development Block Grant: A resolution to approve a budget adjustment in the total
amount of $23,484.00 recognizing a 2014 Community Development Block Grant Revenue
Increase.
Resolution 143-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Change Order No. 14: A
resolution to approve a payment of $104,142.96 to the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation
Department representing the City's portion of construction costs related to Change Order No. 14
for improvements to State Highway 16, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Resolution 144-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
AEP-SWEPCO Agreement: A resolution to grant Mayor Jordan the authority to negotiate and
to approve a utility work agreement with AEP-SWEPCO in an amount not to exceed $86,330.41
for utility relocation and underground installation necessary for public safety and esthetics related
to the Spring Street Parking Deck Project.
Resolution 145-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
SWEPCO Utility Easements: A resolution to authorize the transfer of utility easements to
SWEPCO for the relocation of power lines on city owned property near the corner of W. Watson
Street and Campbell Avenue.
Resolution 146-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
2015 Employee Benefits: A resolution to approve the 2015 Employee Benefits Package.
Resolution 147-14 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Alderman Marsh moved to approve the Consent Agenda as read. Alderman Long seconded
the motion. Upon roll call the consent agenda passed unanimously.
Unfinished Business:
RZN 14-4729 (Cato Springs Rd./Chambers Bank): An ordinance rezoning that property
described in rezoning petition RZN 14-4729, for approximately 253.23 acres, located along Cato
Springs Road adjacent to the City's Regional Park property from R-PZD, Residential Planned
Zoning District Southpass 08-2898, to UT, Urban Thoroughfare, CS, Community Services, and
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NC, Neighborhood Conservation. This ordinance was left on the First Reading at the July 15,
2014 City Council meeting.
Alderman Marsh moved to suspend the rules and go to the second reading. Alderman
Tennant seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Jeremy Pate, Director of Development Services stated that the item was presented at the Ward
meeting at the Senior Activity Center and at the Environmental Action Committee meeting.
Alderman Marsh: The Environmental Action Committee voted unanimously to recommend
approval of the rezoning.
Alderman Petty moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading. Alderman
Marsh seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Jordan asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Ordinance 5700 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk
Enact Chapter 119 Civil Rights Administration: An ordinance to amend the Fayetteville Code
by enacting Chapter 119 Civil Rights Administration to protect the Civil Rights of Fayetteville
citizens and visitors and to create the position of Civil Rights Administrator for the City of
Fayetteville. This ordinance was left on the First Reading at the July 15, 2014 City Council
meeting.
Alderman Marsh moved to suspend the rules and go to the second reading. Alderman Petty
seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Alderman Petty: Thank you Council for considering this and for the work from the City Attorney
office. I ask that we leave this on the second reading tonight and vote on this August 19, 2014.
There might be other amendments to present at the next Agenda Session. I brought this forward
because I am against discrimination. Fayetteville has a history of doing the right thing and this is
an opportunity to get a new law passed.
Jeremy Flannigan, Pastor of Pathway Baptist Church, 1736 North Cannondale Drive stated he
has concerns about the language in defining who a business enterprise is and who a place of public
accommodation is. He stated that both sections would include a church. He believes First
Amendment rights could be challenged. He spoke in opposition of the ordinance.
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Duncan Campbell, 2804 Rutledge stated he appreciates the City of Fayetteville and that it is one
of the best communities he has ever been in. He stated he has always been treated fairly and does
not think there is a big problem in the City of Fayetteville with discrimination. He believes enacting
this ordinance will cause a lot of problems. He spoke in opposition of the ordinance.
Andy Wilson, Executive Pastor at Cross Church, 3484 West Wedington Drive believes the
ordinance is dangerous to First Amendment freedoms. He stated it poses a threat to public safety
and to private rights. He stated it offers no protection for people of faith in their individual business
transactions. He spoke in opposition of the ordinance.
Gladys Tiffany, Director of Omni Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology stated she would like to
speak for the amendment and thanked the City Council for agreeing to consider this. She stated
she does not believe it is a necessity to consider the ordinance a First Amendment issue. She stated
the ordinance is intended to address some general issues to allow Fayetteville to take the high road
in a lot of different cases. She stated bringing up issues that have to do with faith doesn't really
cause this ordinance to be called into question.
Alderman Tennant: I don't know the background of the Omni Center. Do you work with people
that bring discrimination to you?
Gladys Tiffany: No, we do group organizing. We do a lot of different projects and activities that
reach across race, class and gender lines. We have the opportunity to work with these people and
they tell us where they are suffering these discrimination issues.
Alderman Tennant: If you hear of a discrimination issue, is there some recourse that you help
them with or is it just between the two of you?
Gladys Tiffany: No one has ever asked me to help them with that. There have been many times
I could give them ideas about where they could take that issue. We give some kind of support, but
we don't actually deal with those ourselves.
Alderman Tennant: Are you saying if this were to pass, this would be a recourse you could use
for those people or help those people somehow?
Gladys Tiffany: I am not entirely sure. I think what I see this ordinance helping with is people
can see their issues are something their city is interested in addressing. They can see they have a
place in our city.
Charlie Collins, State Representative for East Fayetteville, 3225 Piper Glen stated he thinks the
city does a wonderful job of balancing different points of view in different areas. He stated if we
take a far reaching statement that is based on things like individual perceptions, which could be
different from person to person and make legal situations out of perceptual differences across a
wide range of potential violations, we could have a chilling effect on the employment situation in
our city. He asked the City Council to see if there is a way to accomplish the objective of
reinforcing the commitment to non-discrimination and diversity without putting the city into a
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position where businesses that hire people decide let's not do that in Fayetteville, let's go grow
jobs somewhere else.
Alderman Tennant: At the state level, are you satisfied with the current way citizens in Arkansas
can come forward if they feel discriminated against?
Charlie Collins: Yes I am. The reason I say that is because when people come to me with an
issue or problem, there is some uniqueness to it. People may not know the proper appeal process,
but helping them to discover what the process to appeal is, may be enough often times to help
people solve their problems.
Alderman Tennant: Those resolutions come from agencies that already exist and are paid for by
the taxpayers?
Charlie Collins: Yes sir. If there was something falling through the cracks, I would be ringing a
bell on that.
Valerie Biendara, Fieldstone Avenue stated she was shocked when hearing about the ordinance.
She stated the ordinance impinges on the Christian faith. She stated there will be potential lawsuits
and taxpayers will have to pay for it. She stated there are many other needs in the city and would
rather see money spent on the library, trails and parks. She spoke in opposition of the ordinance.
David Garcia, 257 Thompson Avenue stated the arguments about religious liberty makes him
nervous. He stated he knows what that liberty has been used for in the past and it has not been for
good things. He stated as a Catholic he doesn't feel threatened by the ordinance.
Paul Phaneuf, Aqua Crossing stated Northwest Arkansas is a great place to live. He stated the
ordinance was an assault on individual and religious liberty. He stated he doesn't question the
intention behind the bill and doesn't believe anybody is in favor of discrimination that is intended
to harm. He believes if the ordinance passes, the city will see lawsuits and the city runs the risk of
non-violent civil disobedience. He stated liberty trumps political correctness.
Becky Heppner, Calvary Chapel, 385 Sunbridge stated she is concerned about the proposed
ordinance because it does not protect First Amendment rights.
Michael Collins, 1625 North Giles Road stated he is concerned about the ordinance and the
numerous problems. He stated this is a nightmare of relativism versus natural law. He stated you
are not asking us to change a law or look at an ordinance, you are asking us to change our
fundamental paradigm of an American life. He stated you are asking us to remove the rules of
natural law, place it squarely in relativism and wait for those in elite academia to tell us what's
right tomorrow. He stated this is an abomination as an American citizen who values freedom and
liberty.
Richard Tiffany, 105 North Willow stated Arkansas is one of two states that doesn't have a Civil
Rights Commission at the state level. He stated this bill would show there is a need for one.
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Rosa Edwards, Lee Street believes Fayetteville is one of the most open and tolerant communities.
She stated Fayetteville has a long history of resolving issues peacefully and opposes the ordinance
because it brings up divisiveness. She stated Arkansas may not have a Civil Rights Commission,
but the states that do are facing significant legislation.
Charles Watson, 11 East Davidson Street stated his mission in life is to illustrate compassion as
a pathway to peace and hope. He asked for the ordinance to be passed.
Rick Cochran, 571 North Cedar Ridge Lane stated there is backing coming from outside of our
area for this type of legislation. He stated Fayetteville has been targeted as one of the towns they
wish to try and persuade to enact this type of legislation. He asked for his freedom to be protected.
Debbie Beckerdite, Starr Drive stated the ordinance is dangerous to the First Amendment
freedoms and discriminatory against people of faith. She stated it poses a threat to public safety
and privacy rights. She asked for the ordinance to be withdrawn in its entirety.
Peter Tonnessen, 3500 Hearthstone Drive stated this ordinance appears to be a solution in search
of a problem. He stated he has concerns about the definitions in the ordinance. He believes the
ordinance is incredible overkill that attacks him in some of his most fundamental rights of religion,
association and speech. He doesn't see the need for it in Fayetteville and asked for the ordinance
to be rejected.
Anne Hanna Newell, stated we have a responsibility to our generation that is following us to make
sure their rights are preserved and protected without policing them by an overreaching
governmental official. She stated the City of Fayetteville has always listened to the will of the
people.
Randy Alexander lives in Springdale, but part of his legislative district includes portions of
Fayetteville. He stated the Bill of Rights guarantees individual liberties. He stated many of the
issues are being debated over a difference of the idea of fairness and equality. He believes the city
is inviting lawsuits. He asked Council to vote against the ordinance.
Rex Griffin, 2131 Honeysuckle stated Fayetteville is a great place to live. He asked if we are
prepared to watch the mother of a five year old child be prosecuted for trying to protect the values
she holds for her child or watch a pastor and his church be prosecuted for believing differently
than others. He stated much of what we are discussing tonight are not issues of equality, but of
morality. He stated that no one here tonight has said anything about wanting to see people
discriminated against, but no one should be given a special class of rights that would supersede
other people's individual liberties.
Alderman Petty stated everybody feels passionately about this and appreciates that. He stated he
would like to make some amendments to sections 119.02, 119.06 and 119.07. He read the proposed
amendments.
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Alderman Petty moved to amend section 119.02 Definitions, 119.06 City Services, Facilities,
Transactions and Contracts & 119.07 New Subsection (1) of the ordinance. Alderman Long
seconded the motion.
Alderman Petty Amendments:
119.02 Definitions
(E): Revise to read: "Employee" means any individual employed by a covered employer.
119:06 City Services, Facilities, Transactions and Contracts:
(A): Revise to read: The City of Fayetteville and all of its employees are bound by the
provisions of this chapter to the same extent as private individuals and businesses.
119.07 General Exceptions
Add a new subsection I as follows:
(I): Nothing contained in this Chapter shall be deemed to require any religious or
denominational institution to open its sanctuary or chapel to any individual or group for
any ceremony including but not limited to weddings, funerals, confirmations, or
baptisms that do not align with that religious or denominational institutions statement
of faith or beliefs. (This amendment was amended later in the meeting).
Jeremy Flannigan, Pastor of Pathway Baptist Church, 1736 North Cannondale Drive stated there
is not any amendment that will comprehensively fix the major flaws in this ordinance. He stated
you can make as many list and exceptions as you want, but eventually there will be something that
we would be required to do that would go against what we want to do. He believes the amendment
falls short of protecting all people.
Mayor Jordan: The attempt is to make an amendment or it stays like it is.
Jeremy Flannigan: If the Council votes, for the amendment, I still see the Council voting for a
bad law. A vote for an amendment to try and carve out a niche for churches is still a vote for a bad
law and a vote that will infringe on individual liberties of faith.
Mayor Jordan: I want to be sure. You are against the amendments?
Jeremy Flannigan: I am against both.
Alderman Petty: I don't expect anybody who spoke tonight against this to support this ordinance
because of this amendment.
Emile Phaneuf, Fayetteville citizen stated it still is what it is.
Duncan Campbell, stated he appreciated the attempt to fix the ordinance, but nothing is going to
fix it.
Alderman Petty: Mayor, I move we call a vote on the amendment.
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City Attorney Kit Williams: You can move for immediate vote and it requires a two thirds vote
of the Council. It requires a second before you can get to a vote.
Mayor Jordan: So we have any discussion among the Council?
City Attorney Kit Williams: No, it is an immediate vote.
Alderman Petty: May I ask a point of order then? I thought a move to call the vote required a
vote to vote.
City Attorney Kit Williams: That is what it does. It requires a two thirds vote in order to cut
off discussion and get to the vote. What you would be doing is ending discussion. This is what
this initial vote would be.
Alderman Tenant: Matthew, just so I understand you are wanting to end public comment?
Alderman Petty: I think we are hearing that this amendment isn't going to fix it and we are going
to hear that over and over again. I don't think we are having substantial discussion on the
amendments themselves.
Alderman Petty called for a vote on the amendment and end public comment. Alderman
Kinion seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion failed 5-3 Alderman Gray, Marsh,
Kinion, Petty and Long voting yes. Alderman Tennant, Schoppmeyer, and Adams voting
no. (To call for a vote on the amendment and end public comment a vote of two thirds of
the Council was needed, which was not received therefore the motion failed.)
City Attorney Kit Williams: That is five affirmative votes so Mayor you have a right to vote if
you want to break the tie.
Mayor Jordan: I am going to listen to the public.
Michael Collins, 1625 North Giles Road spoke in opposition of the amendments.
Doug Paschal, 18518 Duncan spoke in opposition of the amendments.
Valerie Biendara, Fieldstone Avenue spoke in opposition of the amendments.
Gladys Tiffany, Director of Omni Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology spoke in favor of the
amendments.
Wendy Campbell, 1208 West Rutledge Lane requested to hear the amendments again.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the proposed amendments.
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Wendy Campbell: Did this proposed amendment come forth because of the problems with the
ordinance that we first discussed?
City Attorney Kit Williams: Yes, this was an extremely long ordinance. You wouldn't believe
how long it was when it first entered my office. It was a model ordinance drafted by the Human
Rights Commission and it had many pages and sections, some of which we needed to remove
because they were not properly legal or constitutional in my opinion. Being as long as it is, there
are still refinements that need to be made. There were some good points made tonight and that is
one of the reasons I am going to propose to the City Council another amendment once this one is
voted on.
City Council, whether you approve this law overall or not, it should be made as constitutional and
legal as you can make it, even if you eventually are going to vote it down. It makes no sense to say
it's a bad law, let's keep it bad because then we will have to vote it down. The overall tenor of this
is you can vote it down if you want too or vote it up. I am not a proponent of this or an opponent
of it, I am just the attorney. I do recommend it be made as good as possible before you actually
come to a final vote.
Wendy Campbell stated she wanted to make sure when talking about religious institutions that it
included mosque, synagogues and churches and that all these people have a constitutional right to
decide how their facilities will be utilized.
City Attorney Kit Williams: You might ask our representatives of the state whether they ever
have amendments to any of their bills that come forward. At the city level we amend ordinances
frequently because we look at them, hear from the public, react and try to make the ordinances
better.
Wendy Campbell spoke in opposition of the amendments.
Larry Little, Pastor Westridge Freewill Baptist Church, 4596 West Wedington spoke in
opposition of the ordinance and the amendments.
Alderman Long: I didn't really understand. Did you think the amendment is a good idea or do
you think that the ordinance is better without it?
Larry Little: I think the ordinance as it's currently written is one of the most horrible ideas
devised by political officials. The amendments as they are currently written are just as bad an idea.
Becky Heppner, Calvary Chapel, 385 Sunbridge spoke in opposition of the amendments.
Tony Blansett, Grove Avenue spoke in opposition of the amendments.
David Garcia, 257 Thompson Avenue spoke in favor of the amendments.
Bob Ballinger, Hindsville resident and State Representative for the Eastern part of Washington
County spoke in opposition of the amendments.
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Alderman Adams: What is a statement of faith to an administrator that is administrating this law
if it was to pass? Having been in several denominations, I kind of know what the statement of faith
is.
City Attorney Kit Williams: A statement of faith or beliefs is a term that was intended to be very
broad. It would be something the church or synagogue would basically have a disagreement with.
When an ordinance is drawn that is potentially called a penal ordinance, if you violate it then you
can be prosecuted by the City Prosecutor and face a big fine. It is always construed in favor of the
individual and against the government. This was intentionally drafted to be very broad so we
wouldn't have the kind of problems that you are thinking about.
Bob Ballinger: Any time you are taking away some sort of thing that would be interpreted as
civil liberties, they tend to interpret those new laws in favor of more liberty. You would be forced
into the situation as a church trying to demonstrate what our statement of faith is. If you don't have
a written statement of faith, then at that point how do we demonstrate what our statement of faith
is?
City Attorney Kit Williams: This is something that would actually never come up. The only
time this could possibly come up is if the group came to your church and said they wanted to use
your chapel and your congregation felt like that was not appropriate. They could potentially come
and complain to the Civil Rights Administrator who will try to mediate and see if there is any issue
on that. I think it would be very easy for your church to say that it is beyond our statement of faith
and beliefs to have them using our chapel. That's as far as it would go.
Bob Ballinger: I understand that is your point. If you were the administrator you would probably
be very reasonable. We don't know who we are granting that power and authority too. You have
to define what statement of faith is before you move forward.
City Attorney Kit Williams: It says statement of faith or beliefs. It would be pretty easy for the
church to say our beliefs are not that this group should use our chapel. The Civil Rights
Administrator has no power. The Civil Rights Administrator has power to investigate and
potentially say you have a good claim to go to the City Prosecutor. The City Prosecutor has
complete discretion about whether or not he can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone
has violated this.
Bob Ballinger: As soon as a person is brought to court and they have chosen to decide whether
this is going to proceed to the point where a City Prosecutor can bring it to court, you will have
already had to retain an attorney. You would have to come up with some way to demonstrate this
is not within your belief system. You put the burden on an institution of worship.
Alderman Long: Do you think the amendment would be better if it left out statement of faith and
just said beliefs?
Bob Ballinger: I think the amendment would be better if it left out statement of faith and beliefs.
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Rosa Edwards, Lee Street spoke in opposition of the amendments.
Alderman Adams: What designates or what requirement constitutes a religious or
denominational institution?
City Attorney Kit Williams: We chose the broadest terms we could for any religious institution
so that all of them would be protected. If you can think of a broader term, you could suggest it and
we will make it an even broader term. We tried to choose a term that would be understandable.
Alderman Tennant: A lot of times on amendments like this, whether I agree with a lot of them
or not, it is good to get to a final document to vote on. For us to get to a final thing to vote on, I
think we need to write it in a final way. It may take weeks or months of fixing it.
Alderman Long: As Chair of the Ordinance Review Committee we see ordinances that are all
over the place and we try to bring them together to where we think we can reach some kind of
consensus, no matter if it passes or not.
Alderman Marsh: I think the amendment is good and addresses a lot of the concerns. It is put
forth in the spirit of getting along and trying to respect each other's beliefs while also protecting
the rights of people to employment, housing and public accommodation. I will be voting in support
of the amendment.
Alderman Adams: There are three sections of amendments. In 119.06 (B), would you explain all .
contractors doing business with the City of Fayetteville shall comply. All contractors doing
business in the City of Fayetteville are not all City of Fayetteville businesses. How will this be
managed?
Alderman Petty: I don't know how it will be managed. I don't run the city. We have explicit
authority over who we choose to do business with and requiring them to comply with some of our
laws is something very typical of other cities of all level of governments.
Alderman Adams: You would add some type of sentence to the process as we select contractors
to see that they comply with this new law.
Alderman Petty: I presume so.
Alderman Gray: It seems like to me that it would just be complaint driven.
A discussion followed about a non-discrimination statement for contractors to comply with
Don Marr, Chief of Staff. The topic you are talking about is actually not within the current
amendments. Either you need to make an amendment that talks about changing that contractors
section or you need to do that as a next amendment to maintain point of order.
A discussion followed regarding an amendment to section 119.07 of the ordinance and adding this
additional amendment to the current amendment on the floor.
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Alderman Adams moved to amend the amendment to section 119.07 (1) that was on the floor
and add an additional amendment to section 119.07 (I) to add "or association" and remove
"that do not align with that religious or denominational institutions statement of faith or
beliefs". Alderman Long seconded the motion.
City Attorney Kit Williams: How about or association so you can include them both?
Alderman Adams: I don't like the word institution. I think if a group of people associate together
and call themselves a religious or denominational group, I am suggesting association as a change.
A discussion followed regarding the terminology of the amendment.
Michael Collins spoke in opposition of the amendment.
Paul Phaneuf spoke in opposition of the amendment.
Alderman Marsh stated she thought the amendment was getting too broad.
Revised Amendment
119.07 General Exceptions
Add a new subsection I as follows:
(1): Nothing contained in this Chapter shall be deemed to require any religious or
denominational institution or association to open its sanctuary or chapel to any
individual or group for any ceremony including but not limited to weddings, funerals,
confirmations, or baptisms.
Upon roll call the motion to amend the amendment passed 7-1. Alderman Marsh voting no
Alderman Petty's motion to amend section 119.02 Definitions, 119.06 City Services,
Facilities, Transactions and Contracts & 119.07 New Subsection (I) of the ordinance as
amended by Alderman Adams passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams: Thank you to Reverend Flannigan who emailed Alderman Long,
who forwarded the email to me. I read his email and I looked back at section 119.05 (A.2) and the
concerns Reverend Flannigan had were well taken. I want to confirm to him that churches are
covered by many parts of this ordinance through public accommodations section. This particular
subsection two goes too far in the way it is like a prior restraint on freedom of expression which is
always frowned upon by the courts. I would recommend this subsection two be removed in full
and 119.05 would have no sections, but have the remaining language that is now in (A.1).
Alderman Adams moved to amend the ordinance to remove 119.05 (A)(2). Alderman Long
seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
Amendment to Remove 119.05 (A) (2): To print, publish, circulate, post or mail, directly or
indirectly, a statement, advertisement or sign which indicates that the full and equal
enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations of a
business establishment or place of public accommodation will be unlawfully refused,
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City Council Meeting Minutes
August 5, 2014
Page 14 of 16
withheld from or denied an individual, or which indicates that an individual's patronage of,
or presence at, the business establishment or place of public accommodation is
objectionable, unwelcome, unacceptable or undesirable, unless the denial of the goods or
services is required by state or federal law.
Alderman Petty: I have a deep respect for our City Attorney's opinion. I appreciate him bringing
these things to our attention and I always try to follow his advice.
Emile Phaneuf: It is still lipstick and still a pig.
Jeremy Flannigan spoke in favor of the amendment, but is against the whole ordinance.
City Attorney Kit Williams: The intent of the ordinance was to be very broad, but it's actually
been narrowed.
Alderman Petty: There is this idea there isn't discrimination or because I as a sponsor of the
ordinance won't point to something specific, that it is not needed. This idea that I am going to
either disclose someone who has lodged a complaint and expose them to public scrutiny or expose
a business or another association that has had an alleged complaint to public scrutiny is a farce. I
would not do that. I think this ordinance is needed because there is discrimination here and I am
against it.
Alderman Marsh: I am ashamed there is so much darkness in the hearts of this community. I had
no idea there were so many people eager to discriminate or protect their right to discriminate. What
I saw were young people that were sitting at these first two seats, people of color, people from
different religions, different cultures and different genders and they left after hearing the hateful
statements from people in this community. I want to let the citizens of Fayetteville know that your
elected representatives want to hear from you and we need to speak out for compassion, tolerance
and against discrimination.
This ordinance was amended and left on the Second Reading.
New Business:
RZN 14-4763: Rezone (Southeast Corner Gregg Ave. & Ash St./Candlelight Place Apts.):
An ordinance rezoning that property described in Rezoning Petition RZN 14-4763, for
approximately 0.94 acres, located at the southeast corner of Gregg Ave. and Ash St. from RSF-4,
Residential Single Family, 4 units per acre, to RMF -24, Residential Multi Family, 24 units per
acre.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Jeremy Pate, Director of Development Services gave a brief description of the ordinance. The
Planning Commission voted unanimously in support of the request. Staff is recommending
approval of the request.
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City Council Meeting Minutes
August 5, 2014
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Alderman Petty moved to suspend the rules and go to the second reading. Alderman
Marsh seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Alderman Petty moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading. Alderman
Adams seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Jordan asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Ordinance 5701 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
ADM 14-4720 (Updates to the Drainage Criteria Manual and UDC Amendments): An
ordinance to amend §156.04 Stormwater Drainage and Erosion Control; Chapter 169 Physical
Alteration of Land; Chapter 170 Stormwater Management, Drainage and Erosion Control, and
Chapter 179 Low Impact Development of the Unified Development Code.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Sarah Wrede, Staff Engineer gave a brief description of the ordinance. The manual and ordinance
revisions were recommended unanimously by the Planning Commission and the Environmental
Action Committee.
Alderman Gray: This is a very large problem in our city. All of us get calls about this all the
time. I appreciate that staff is trying to make it better.
Mayor Jordan: They have done an excellent job on this. It is something we have wanted to do
for a while.
Alderman Gray moved to suspend the rules and go to the second reading. Alderman Marsh
seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Alderman Gray moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading. Alderman
Marsh seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Jordan asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov
City Council Meeting Minutes
August 5, 2014
Page 16 of 16
Ordinance 5702 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk
2015-2019 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP): A resolution to adopt the 2015-2019 five-year
Capital Improvement Plan.
Paul Becker, Finance Director gave a brief description of the resolution.
Alderman Long: I have emailed several different department heads about different things in the
budget and I haven't heard back yet. I would like to ask Council to table this until August 19th.
Alderman Long moved to table the resolution to the August 19, 2014 City Council meeting.
Alderman Tennant seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
This resolution was tabled to the August 19, 2014 City Council meeting.
City Council Agenda Session Presentations:
Discussion of the Capital Improvement Plan — Paul Becker, Finance Director
City Council Tour: None
Announcements:
Don Marr, Chief of Staff: The last Gulley Park concert is Thursday, August 7, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
It is the Ben Miller band.
Adjour ent: 8:40 p.m.
L' neld Jor ayor Sondra E. Smith, City Clerk/Treasurer
113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov