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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-18 - MinutesCITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSAS
MEETING AGENDA
TOWN AND GOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
October 18, 2021 1 3:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Via Zoom
The public is invited to provide comment on Committee agenda items and during general public comment as well.
Members:
CITY COUNCIL & COMMUNITY
MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVES
• Mark Kinion
City Council Member
• Zane Colvin
U of A Student - Off Campus
• Alexandria Howland
Community Citizen at Large
• Annie Dowling
Community Citizen at Large
• Megan Duncan
Associate Superintendent of
Schools
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE STAFF
REPRESENTATIVES
• Susan Norton
Chief of Staff
Committee Co -Chair
Lisa Thurber
Director of Communications
and Marketing
Jonathan Curth
Director of Development
Services
STAFF RESOURCES WILL BE
CALLED UPON AS NEEDED
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
REPRESENTATIVES
• Laura Jacobs
Chief of Staff/Committee Co -
Chair
• Mark Rushing
Assistant Vice Chancellor,
University Relations
• Scott Turley
Associate Vice Chancellor,
Facilities
• Coleman Warren
President, Associated Student
Government
• Katherine Dzurilla
President, Graduate
Professional Student Congress
Meeting Video:
https://accessfavetteviIIe.granicus.com/plaver/clip/7808?view id=14&redirect=true
Presentations and additional materials:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rxegImbfbavzpig/AADttfBf-o7BePdZETtoZaiga?dI=0
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:01 p.m. by Laura Jacobs
2. Roll Call
In attendance: Mark Kinion, Zane Colvin, Annie Dowling, Megan Duncan, Susan Norton,
Lisa Thurber, Jonathan Curth, Laura Jacobs, Coleman Warren, Katherine Dzurilla
Absent: Alexandria Howland, Mark Rushing, Scott Turley
3. Approval of Minutes
Jonathan Curth moved and Coleman Warren seconded approval of the July 26, 2021
meeting minutes. The minutes were unanimously approved.
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
4. Approval of Meeting's Agenda
Curth moved and Megan Duncan seconded approval of the Oct. 18 meeting agenda. The
agenda was unanimously approved.
5. Old Business
No old business was presented for discussion.
6. New Business
a. Welcome new committee members Colvin and Dowling:
Jacobs welcomed two new members filling the off -campus student position (Colvin)
and community citizen at large position (Dowling). Colvin and Dowling introduced
themselves and shared their motivations for joining Town and Gown Committee along
with areas in which they hope to contribute.
b. Public Transit Update:
Peter Nierengarten (City of Fayetteville Environmental Director) advised the committee
that the pandemic has had a significant impact on public transit ridership, and he
introduced three presenters for different public transit providers in the region: Tim
Conklin, NWA Regional Planning Commission; Adam Waddell, Razorback Transit; and
Joel Gardner, Ozark Regional Transit. All three reviewed routes, ridership, funding
details and projections for coming years. Nierengarten summed up the presentations
by noting that while Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas has perhaps the best transit
in the state, more resources and dedicated local funding will be needed to continue
this level of service and meet growing needs in the future. Presenters' slides are
available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rxegImbfbavzpig/AADttfBf-
o7BePdZETtoZalga?dl=0
c. Changes to Default Speed Limits:
Chris Brown (City of Fayetteville Public Works Director) shared details on a recent City
Council ordinance amendment changing default speed limits to 20 MPH in areas that
do not otherwise have a speed limit posted. Brown discussed the safety benefits of
reducing overall driver speed, and the City's intention to help drive awareness and
education for the speed limit change. Eric Boles (University of Arkansas Sustainability
Office) and Amman Jordan (University of Arkansas Active Transportation Coordinator)
discussed similar speed limit reductions on UA campus streets in response to safety
concerns by the University community. Boles noted that in cases of vehicle/pedestrian
impact, a reduction from 25 to 20 MPH has been shown to reduce chance of death by
45%. Boles said that with the City's ordinance amendment just passing last week, the
University is vetting campus speed reductions through its shared governance model.
He identified several campus groups that support the change, including Student
Government, Facilities Management, Transit and Parking and more. Dowling asked
about "no cell phone zones" around schools, whether this applies on UA campus
streets and any plans for education campaigns. Megan Duncan indicated that parents
arrive early to pick up kids at school, making enforcement of no cell phones in these
instances a bit challenging. Warren asked about time frames for implementation of
campus speed limit changes; Boles indicated there isn't a firm time frame set at this
point.
d. Vaccine Incentive Program Update:
Norton gave an update on application numbers, payouts and denials for the City's
vaccine incentive, which allows people who live or work in Fayetteville who have
become fully vaccinated between Aug. 17 and Oct. 15 to apply for a $100 payment
through Nov. 1, 2021. As of the meeting date 2,104 applications had been received
and 1,252 have been paid out.
7. Public Comment/Other Discussion
Curth noted that public notice signs will be going up along several streets surrounding
campus because of a U of A request for the City to vacate right of way on those streets.
Warren said he has received many comments regarding scooters being parked or left in
ways that negatively affect accessibility/mobility across campus. Nierengarten indicated
that the City's upcoming mobile app See -Click -Fix will help with reporting scooter issues
to the City and operating companies. Boles encouraged Warren to send complaints and
concerns on campus to the Sustainability Office for follow up; action planning will begin
soon with scooter companies to address concerns like parking, riding on certain
sidewalks, etc. Dowling noted that October is Crosswalk Safety Month and suggested
that planning for next year should begin now. Warren asked about the City's lighting rules
and how that applies to campus lighting. Curth said that the City has a "dark sky"
ordinance but it does not apply to campus, which is state property. Brown included that
the City is regularly working on lighting for improved pedestrian safety in areas of high
foot traffic. Norton suggested recirculating existing Town and Gown maps indicating
boundaries, lighting and pedestrian safety projects to help orient new committee
members. Those maps are available here:
https://www.d ropbox.com/sh/rxeglmbfbavzpig/AADttfBf-o7BePdZETtoZamga?dl=0
8. Adjourn
Jacobs adjourned the meeting at 4:26 p.m.