HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-16 - Minutes -CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSAS
MEETING MINUTES
Meeting of the Black Heritage Preservation Commission
March 16, 2023 6:30 PM
RM 111 City Hall & Zoom
NOTE: The March 16, 2023 Black Heritage Preservation Commission meeting was held
virtually and in person, with commissioners attending remotely or in person. Staff were
present in person.
Members: Council Member D'Andre Jones, Chair J.L. Jennings, Vice Chair Lois Bryant, Kaleb
Turner, and Shawn Walker
City Staff: Britin Bostick - Long Range Planning & Special Projects Manager
In Attendance: Council Member D'Andre Jones, Vice Chair Lois Bryant, Kaleb Turner,
Shawn Walker, Wendell Huggins, and Britin Bostick
Call to Order: 6:35pm
Approval/Acceptance of Minutes from the January & February Meetings: Motion to
approve the January and February minutes by Commissioner Turner, second my Commissioner
Walker. Motion approved 4-0-0.
Reading of Martin Luther King Jr. Letter in April: Council Member Jones described this
event. April is the 601h anniversary of Dr. King writing the letter from the Birmingham, Alabama
jail. Noted a correction needed to the agenda/minutes from "letters" to "letter". The letter is to be
read by individuals from this Commission, the City, and the U of A. The idea would be to
schedule time to record a video. There is a challenge to putting the format together, as reading
parts need to be assigned and coordination with Media Services. Participants would be
scheduled for a time to read at the recording studio and then when the video is complete there
would be a showing with panelists to talk about what it means to our community. There would
be 50-60 readers, but this item will be postponed indefinitely until a better time for scheduling
and coordinating the interested parties.
Nelson Hackett Blvd. Mural Wall: Bostick reported there is no update but please be thinking
about a prompt to artists. Council Member Jones had spoken to Arts & Culture Director Joanna
Bell and Wendell Huggins is to send a list of names to Bell. Vice Chair Bryant noted that Otis
Parker was in one mural and she would like to see pictures of the old murals that staff found.
When he was alive he rode horses and she would like to see how he was represented. He had
talents no longer seen.
Nelson Hackett Marker Update & Sykes Grant Six Month Report: Bostick noted that this
report will be due by May 16 and once the grant is complete and all requirements have been
met the City would be eligible to apply for another grant.
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Juneteenth Planning: Council Member Jones asked about a press release for the grant and
the Nelson Hackett Marker and whether it could include a photo of the Commissioners.
Commissioner Turner offered to help with planning and organizing ideas. Goal to remind people
of the renaming of the street, perhaps there could be a duplicate of the marker that does not
weigh 50 lbs. and that could be held for photos or reading. Photo of the location could be taken.
The question was asked how to best coordinate the schedule with other groups? May need to
be a subcommittee meeting to discuss and coordinate logistics. Commissioner Turner offered to
send out an email next week to recap the current discussions and try to organize a
subcommittee meeting. Council Member Jones had spoken with Anthony Ball and the
Springdale Juneteenth event is to be held on Saturday the 17th. Commissioner Turner to
coordinate any meeting details with Bostick.
Citywide Historic Preservation Master Plan Draft Review & Update: Bostick shared an early
draft of the plan and requested any feedback from the Commissioners before the draft goes to
the community for input. Specific request for feedback from the Commissioners was for the
photos used in the plan document and the project work plan.
Council Member Jones asked about a bus tour through the historic Black Fayetteville
Community and whether we can place markers in those historic places and define and better
understand their locations. Vice Chair Bryant noted that the historic neighborhood started at the
corner of E. Center and Willow Streets — this area was a major hub in the community and there
was a natural spring for drinking. Council Member Jones asked where people congregated and
Vice Chair Bryant replied that people congregated at church, and that there was mutual support
between the Baptist and Methodist churches. Council Member Jones asked about social clubs
like Sherman's Tavern and what was at the current Yvonne Richardson Center location.
Commissioner Walker noted a night club on Huntsville Road and Commissioner Bryant noted
that Ms. Leonie's used to be a night club in her home down the street from the church. Council
Member Jones noted that we do not hear much about the actual life of African Americans and
proposed it as a topic for the next meeting to give people time to think.
Commissioner Turner asked about establishing a formal program for historic markers and asked
if the consultant could include this or resources for this in the plan.
Update from Historic District Commission: Bostick reported HDC is considering historic
marker designs and showed the three design drafts being discussed.
Adjourn: 7:36pm