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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-24 - Minutes - TOWN AND GOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE April 24, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting Via Zoom Members: CITY COUNCIL & COMMUNITY MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVES • Teresa Turk City Council Member • Brandon Gibbons U of A Student - Off Campus • Jack Avery 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 Associate 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: http://reflect-fayetteville-ar.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/6257?site=1 1. Call to Order Susan Norton called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. 2. Roll Call In attendance: Teresa Turk, Brandon Gibbons, Annie Dowling, Megan Duncan, Susan Norton, Lisa Thurber, Jonathan Curth, Scott Turley, Lauren Loften, Dana McGee Absent: Jack Avery 3. Approval of Minutes Curth moved and Jacobs seconded approval of the Jan. 23, 2023 meeting minutes. The minutes were unanimously approved. 4. Approval of Meeting Agenda Turley moved and Duncan seconded approval of the April 24, 2023 meeting agenda. Gibbons requested adding a discussion on increasing frequency of committee meetings. With that addition, the agenda was unanimously approved. MEETING MINUTES 2 5. Old Business: None 6. New Business a. Introduce Brandon Gibbons, new committee member Jacobs invited Gibbons to introduce himself to the committee and noted that this meeting would be the last for Loften and McGee, U of A student government representatives. Gibbons moved to Fayetteville in 2017 and is in his junior year at the U of A, where he is pursuing a degree in Political Science and Government. Gibbons provided background on his decision to move to Northwest Arkansas as well as his motivation for representing U of A students within City government. b. Childcare Assistance Program Yolanda Fields, City of Fayetteville Community Resources Director and Equity Officer, said that approximately 200 children and 135 households ha ve received assistance as a result of the $2 million program allocation from the City’s ARPA funding. Recipients must live, work or go to school in Fayetteville. c. Spring commencement planning Rushing said that U of A commencement would take place on May 11 and 12, with a Law School ceremony set for May 20 th. Information is available at http://www.commencement.uark.edu. Duncan said that Fayetteville Public Schools would hold ceremonies on May 18. With the combination of these events and several sports events, parking around the University, FPS and generally around downtown Fayetteville is expected to be in high demand. d. City/U of A collaboration on trails clean up Norton highlighted joint efforts to clean up public and private property along Town Branch Trail in south Fayetteville. A standard operating procedure (SOP) was developed to guide how City, U of A, FPD and UAPD will work together to address this issue and prevent recurrence. So far this spring, approximately 20,000 pounds of trash have been collected from Town Branch Trail and surrounding areas. Turley added that having an SOP will be beneficial for a sustained, continuous effort. Norton noted that residents may report areas of concern through See Click Fix on the City’s website. Turk asked if a process is in place to regularly check the SOPs; Norton said that the existing SOP relies on regularly reporting and patrol. Duncan said that FPS students participating in related volunteer groups would be open to helping with cleanup efforts. Gibbons asked how unsanctioned campers are being handled through this process; Norton said that campers are given notice to move (48 hours) and are provided information on support services availab le to them. e. Frequency of committee meetings Jacobs and Norton discussed whether frequency of meetings is set by ordinance; Curth said the requirement by ordinance is to meet a minimum of twice per year. Norton said the committee changed its membership structure and meeting schedule several years ago, and additional/special meetings can be called as needed. 3 7. Public Comment/Other Discussion: Norton mentioned the “Weekend Starts” performance program, a joint effort between the City and the U of A Music Department, taking place through June at The Ramble. Turley noted several construction projects on campus that may impact traffic and/or neighbors. Turk asked about potential off-campus student housing expansions into neighborhoods surrounding campus; Jacobs and Curth indicate being unaware of such projects. Gibbons asked about available listservs; Dowling shared several neighborhood Facebook groups that may be of interest. 8. Next Meeting and Adjourn The Q3 2023 Town and Gown Committee meeting will take place on July 24, 2023, via Zoom. The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.