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
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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.
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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.