Little Rock, City of - Procurement Division

The regular meeting included employee retirement recognition for two individuals. Several agenda items were deferred, including an ordinance to amend Chapter 8 regarding energy conservation standards for new residential structures, and a zoning ordinance appeal concerning a Planned Commercial Development. The Consent Agenda covered approvals for a contract with Risk Management Resources for workers' compensation services, contracts for sports field lighting and a toddler playground, an annual contract for asphaltic materials, a purchase agreement for a Rotary Lift System, and the purchase of zero-turn mowers. A separate resolution involved relinquishing the City's interest in a parking deck and accepting a sculpture donation, which generated significant discussion regarding ownership upon bond payoff. Grouped items involved the approval of several zoning-related ordinances concerning rezoning and the establishment of Planned Development Districts. Separate ordinances addressed amending competitive bidding requirements, awarding a maintenance agreement to Motorola Solutions for the 800 MHz Radio System Infrastructure, and condemning three commercial structures as hazards, with subsequent amendments to remove specific properties from the condemnation list pending owner updates. Public hearings were held for including code enforcement activities in CDBG/HOME/HOPWA funds and rescinding a Conditional Use Permit for a manufactured home. Other items approved during public hearings included authorizing Hotel Gross Receipts Tax Bonds for capital improvements in MacArthur Park and establishing multiple new Municipal Property Owners' Multipurpose Improvement Districts. A final discussion item concerned whether to appeal a ruling from the Arkansas Ethics Commission regarding campaign finance reform.

The meeting included a presentation on the R.O.C.K. Academy Graduation and the addition of a resolution to set City Ward Boundaries based on the 2020 Federal Decennial Census to the separate agenda items. The Consent Agenda involved setting dates for public hearings regarding the proposed uses of 2022 CDBG, HOME, HOPWA, and HOME-ARP funding; authorizing contracts for the purchase of a Caterpillar Excavator and a Caterpillar Dozer for the Parks & Recreation Department; authorizing contracts for utility carts for the Little Rock Zoo; requiring compliance guidelines for the 2021 Audit; authorizing the use of Omnia Partners and National Purchasing Partners for commodity acquisition; extending a lease agreement with the Little Rock School District; authorizing a five-year contract with Axon Enterprises for Taser devices for the Police Department; and appointing Commissioners for a Business Improvement District. Separate items included approving a Public Service Agreement with Cammack Village for 911 Emergency Dispatch Services and an Intergovernmental Police Services Assistance Agreement for Law Enforcement Services, both with opposition votes. An ordinance was approved to extend a contract with the Arkansas Municipal League for administering self-insurance for motor vehicle liability. The 2022 Budget Ordinance was held on first reading, during which a motion to amend it to include optional Healthcare Coverage for the Board of Directors failed. Ordinances levying Franchise Fees for Entergy Corporation, CenterPoint Energy ARKLA, local access telephone services, and long-distance telecommunication services were read for the first time. A resolution concerning public meeting notification policy was withdrawn by its sponsor. The Ward Boundary modification resolution was approved. Public hearings were held and ordinances were approved to abandon portions of West 2nd Street right-of-way and Polk Street right-of-way. The Board entered Executive Session to discuss and approve various appointments and reappointments to numerous City Boards and Commissions.

The primary agenda item for this Special Called Meeting concerned the possible removal of members from the Metropolitan Housing Alliance Board of Commissioners (Little Rock Housing Authority). Following procedural motions to establish when public speaking would occur and to authorize the City Attorney to ask questions on the Board's behalf, the Board voted on specific personnel actions. The Board voted not to remove Kerry Wright. Subsequently, the Board approved the removal of Leta Anthony and H. Lee Lindsey from the Metropolitan Housing Alliance Board of Commissioners.

The meeting included presentations recognizing a Fire Department Captain and the Hispanic Citizen's Police Academy. Two zoning ordinance requests (Z-6532-G and Z-8989) were deferred until March 3, 2015. The Consent Agenda, approved unanimously, included resolutions for annual purchasing contracts for automobile oils/lubricants and transmission repair, a ground lease agreement for City Employee parking relocation due to bridge construction, a contract to create a Comprehensive Youth Master Plan, equipment allocation for the Fire Department, a contract for an ADA Elevator installation, an agreement to operate the Jericho Way Homeless Day Resource Center, and Board/Mayoral Liaison appointments. During Citizen Communication, public comments were heard on various topics, excluding 'Complete Streets' which was previously deferred. A separate ordinance (No. 20,992; Z-8490-C) to revise a Planned Commercial District to extend operating hours for a private club was approved after extensive debate regarding capacity and parking, despite opposition regarding late-night traffic. Public hearings were held for the abandonment of a utility easement (approved) and an appeal regarding increasing a wireless communication facility tower height from 150 feet to 170 feet (denied by a 5-5 tie vote).

The Little Rock Board of Directors meeting addressed several items. Additions included setting a public hearing date for February 20, 2018, to consider issuing up to $25,000,000.00 in Taxable Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (3M Project), Series 2018. Item 8 regarding an appointment to the Central Arkansas Water Board of Commissioners was deferred until February 20, 2018. The Consent Agenda involved approvals for purchasing a Digger Derrick Truck for Public Works, accepting a grant increase for Storm Water Map Data Development, approving a contract increase for GIS Storm Water Mapping Consulting Services, authorizing agreements with the Arkansas Department of Transportation for pedestrian safety studies on Cantrell Road, authorizing payments for Microsoft Enterprise Licenses, setting a public hearing date for Water Reclamation System Revenue Bonds, and a resolution of intent regarding MacArthur Park Improvements. Grouped Items dealt with multiple zoning amendments, including revisions for residential, office, and commercial districts, the revocation of a Planned Industrial Development, and the approval of a new Planned Residential District. One specific zoning amendment allowed Mosaic Church to host a carnival twice annually, pending verification that it would not conflict with the Arkansas State Fair dates. Separate Items included the approval of an amendment to allow seasonal fireworks sales for ten days per year during the 4th of July holiday for the Highway 10 Storage Center project. A Public Hearing was held regarding the abandonment of a Utility and Drainage Easement at 9101 Kanis Road.