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Home My WebLink About2022-07-25 - Minutes - MEETING MINUTES TOWN AND GOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE July 25, 2022 | 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 • Lauren Loften President, Associated Student Government • Dana McGee President, Graduate Professional Student Congress Meeting Video: https://accessfayetteville.granicus.com/player/clip/8177?view_id=14&redirect=true&h=bc487c9f 2c325591f1d476b83ac2ac95 1. Call to Order Laura Jacobs called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. 2. Roll Call In attendance: Mark Kinion, Zane Colvin, Alexandria Howland, Annie Dowling, Susan Norton, Lisa Thurber, Jonathan Curth, Laura Jacobs, Scott Turley, Lauren Loften Absent: Mark Rushing, Dana McGee, Megan Duncan 3. Approval of Minutes Jonathan Curth moved and Scott Turley seconded approval of the April 25, 2022 meeting minutes. The minutes were unanimously approved. 4. Approval of Meeting’s Agenda Curth moved and Turley seconded approval of the July 25, 2022 meeting agenda. 2 5. Old Business a. Pedestrian safety within Town and Gown Boundaries – Annie Dowling Dowling reported progress in connecting with University, Public School and City contacts in advance of Pedestrian Safety Month in October. 6. New Business a. Introduce Lauren Loften – ASG President and new committee member Jacobs invited Loften to introduce herself to the group. Loften is a Senior political science and public health major who is originally from Fayetteville. b. Upcoming committee member term expirations Norton reminded the Committee that Alexandria Howland’s term ends in September and her position will be open for applications this summer. Norton referenced quarterly processes for filling these seats and the ability for a current member with expiring term to reapply for a committee appointment c. Center/Harmon Intersection Improvements Matt Casey, City of Fayetteville Engineering Design Manager, shared design plans for improvements currently underway on the Center, Harmon and Clinton intersection. Casey noted that traffic and topography create safety issues for this intersection and improvements are designed to improve safety and navigability. Signalization will help move traffic more efficiently and better protect pedestrians. Construction is anticipated to be complete in mid-January, 2023. Casey noted that the contractor is required to submit a traffic control plan for all phases of the project, and they are expected to keep traffic moving. Norton indicated that this might be a good place for pedestrian safety information during Pedestrian Safety Month in October. d. U of A Natural Gas Pipeline update Turley shared an update on the U of A Natural Gas Pipeline, which is approximately one mile in length. As a pipeline operator, the U of A is required to inform the public of the pipeline. More information is available at pipelinesafety.uark.edu. Turley is available and willing to speak to other groups to share this information. e. 2022/23 enrollment and student Housing update Jacobs indicated that official numbers are not announced until the 11th day of classes, but shared that overall enrollment is expected to exceed 30,000, with approximately 7,000 first year students expected for orientation activities. She reported a record number of Arkansans expected for this first year / “freshman” class. The Student Success Center has launched, offering wrap-around services to support students and improve retention. Additional instructors have been added to help manage growth. Housing units are expected to be full; new first-year students are no longer required to live on campus; the University is accommodating additional bed needs by working with several campus-adjacent apartment complexes that can be easily serviced by bus routes. Jacobs noted the University does not anticipate continuing to grow and referenced a “right size” committee for future enrollment planning. Enrollment for 2023/24 school year are already coming in. 3 Howland asked how this year’s enrollment number compares to previous years, pre- COVID. Jacobs responded that pre-COVID, first year enrollment numbers were closer to 6,500 and requirements were slightly different. Councilmember Mike Wiederkehr asked if 25% of students are still able to be housed on campus. Jacobs responded that between housing in University-owned structures and those in apartments contracted by the University, around 7,000 students in on-campus housing. f. Review Town and Gown boundaries map Norton reviewed the existing Town and Gown boundaries map with the Committee and shared some history on the map. The Group discussed several possibilities for updating the boundaries, including what would qualify for inclusion. Kinion shared historical information about the purpose of the committee and its set boundaries, indicating that neighborhoods and improving neighbor relations between town and university were driving factors. 7. Public Comment/Other Discussion Loften shared that she recently attended a SEC student government conference where representatives shared information about safety resources developed in conjunction with community groups and businesses. She requested a point of contact for developing similar approaches for student safety resources. Kinion indicated that the Dickson Street Merchant’s Association might be an appropriate contact for Loften. Norton added that she would reach out to Experience Fayetteville for the best contact to begin this conversation. Dowling noted an issue last year with Wilson Park parking during back to school/Rush for U of A; she reported that contacting Greek Life rather than Fayetteville PD was a very efficient approach for neighbors impacted by the increase in parking. Dowling also referenced a recently-announced gift for trail construction and connectivity to the Greenway. 8. Next Meeting and Adjourn The Q3 Town and Gown Committee meeting will take place on Oct. 24, 2022. Jacobs adjourned the meeting at approximately 3:52 p.m.