LIVE UPDATES: Fayetteville City Council recap: Jan. 21, 2020

File photo

On the agenda…

  • A plan to build a parking deck on the Depot Lot near Dickson Street.
  • Adopting City Plan 2040.
  • Adopting a revised Future Land Use Map.
  • Changes to a Commercial Planned Zoning District on Markham Hill.

» Download the full agenda

A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council began at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020 inside room 219 of City Hall, located at 113 W. Mountain St. in Fayetteville.

Listed below are the items up for approval and links to PDF documents with detailed information on each item of business.


Roll Call

Present: Sonia Gutierrez, Sarah Marsh, Mark Kinion, Matthew Petty, Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Sloan Scroggin, Sarah Bunch, Teresa Turk, Kyle Smith
Absent: None

» View current attendance records


City Council Meeting Presentations, Reports and Discussion Items

1. Presentation of the City of Fayetteville Martin Luther King Brotherhood Award

Notes: City Attorney Kit Williams presented the Martin Luther King Jr. Brotherhood award to deputy city clerk Lisa Branson.

2. ORT-Ozark Regional Transit – Periodic report


Items pulled from consent

14. RFQ 19-01 Olsson Inc. (Details): A resolution to approve a professional engineering services agreement with Olsson, Inc., pursuant to RFQ #19- 01, in the amount of $634,100.00 for site selection and design services for a replacement parking deck for the Cultural Arts Corridor Project, to approve a project contingency in the amount of $64,000.00, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Pass 8-0

Notes: Item No. 14, the resolution to approve engineering services for the parking deck, was pulled from Consent at the request of Council Member Sloan Scroggin. After a brief discussion, the resolution passed.

16. Regulation 37 Proposed Nutrient Trading Regulation (Details): A resolution to authorize the City Attorney to respond to and oppose the Springdale Water Utilities’ request before the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission to substitute itself for the Northwest Arkansas Nutrient Trading Research and Advisory Group, and then to pursue adoption of the Regulation 37 proposed nutrient trading regulation rejected by the Fayetteville City Council.
Pass 8-0

Notes: Item No. 16 was also pulled from Consent as requested by Council Member Teresa Turk. City Attorney Kit Williams amended the title of the resolution, and added that he’d received information that Arkansas Rural Water Association, Beaver Water District, and Central Arkansas Water District have come to an agreement, and are working together on a solution. The amended resolution authorizies Williams to respond to and oppose the Springdale Water Utilities’ request before the APCE to possibly substitute itself for the NANTRAG group previously named.

Consent

Consent items are approved in a single, all-inclusive vote unless an item is pulled by a council member at the beginning of the meeting.

1. Approval of the Dec. 17, 2019 City Council Meeting Minutes
Pass 8-0

2. Lewis Ford (Details): A resolution to authorize the purchase of three Ford F250 trucks from Lewis Automotive Group of Fayetteville in the total amount of $82,698.00, pursuant to a state procurement contract, for use by the Parks & Recreation Department and the Water and Sewer Operations Division.
Pass 8-0

3. Bobcat Company (Details): A resolution to authorize the purchase of Bobcat skid steer loader from Bobcat Company of West Fargo, North Dakota for the amount of $61,840.62 plus applicable taxes and freight charges, pursuant to a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract, for use by the Wastewater Treatment Division, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Pass 8-0

4. Vac-Con, Inc. (Details): A resolution to approve the purchase of a VAC-CON Xcavator from Vac-Con, Inc. of Green Cove Springs, Florida in the amount of $414,509.00 plus applicable taxes and freight charges, pursuant to a Houston-Galveston area council cooperative purchasing contract, for use by the Utilities Department.
Pass 8-0

5. Superior Chevrolet (Details): A resolution to approve the purchase of two Dodge Ram 1500 trucks from Superior Chevrolet of Siloam Springs in the total amount of $45,240.00, pursuant to a state procurement contract, for use by the Utilities Department.
Pass 8-0

6. Bid # 19-51 Hilbilt Sales Corporation (Details): A resolution to award Bid # 19-51 and authorize the purchase of a Clement All-Star dump trailer from Hilbilt sales corporation of Benton for the amount of $41,458.00 for use by the Wastewater Treatment Division.
Pass 8-0

7. Environmental Products Group (Details): A resolution to authorize the purchase of a Elgin Crosswind Street Sweeper from Environmental Products Group of Memphis, Tennessee in the amount of $266,434.39, pursuant to a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract, for use by the Transportation Department. – Pass 8-0

8. Superior Chevrolet (Details): A resolution to approve the purchase of a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 truck from Superior Chevrolet of Siloam Springs in the amount of $30,571.00, pursuant to a state procurement contract, for use by the Fire Department.
Pass 8-0

9. BSN Sports, LLC (Details): A resolution to approve the purchase of a Turf Tank robotic line painter from BSN Sports, LLC of Dallas, Texas in the amount of $49,999.00 plus applicable taxes and freight charges, pursuant to the NIPA/OMNIA Partners cooperative purchasing contract, for use by the Parks and Recreation Department.
Pass 8-0

10. Garver, LLC Task Order 13 (Details): A resolution to approve Task Order No. 13 with Garver, LLC in the amount of $109,800.00 for design and bidding services for the proposed HVAC Replacement in the terminal building at Drake Field, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Pass 8-0

11. Fayetteville Fire Department Donation (Details): A resolution to approve a budget adjustment in the amount of $1,000.00 representing donation revenue to the Fayetteville Fire Department from the Bank of Fayetteville for the annual employee service awards event.
Pass 8-0

12. Presidio Networked Solutions, Inc. (Details): A resolution to authorize the purchase of networking equipment and software from Presidio Networked Solutions, Inc. pursuant to a Tips cooperative purchasing contract on an as needed basis through July 31, 2021 and any future renewal periods, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Pass 8-0

13. Housing Success Funding Distributor Agreement (Details): A resolution to authorize Mayor Jordan to sign a Housing Success Funding Distributor Agreementt with the Endeavor Foundation for the City of Fayetteville to receive initial funding of $25,000.00 to assist individuals and families achieve stable housing.
Pass 8-0

15. Reappropriating Capital Projects (Details): A resolution to amend the 2020 adopted budget by reappropriating $209,810,000.00 in bonded or ongoing capital projects, outstanding obligations and grant funded items.
Pass 8-0


Unfinished Business

1. ADM 19-6649 (City Plan 2040) (Details)

A resolution to approve and adopt City Plan 2040 as the comprehensive land use plan for the City of Fayetteville and its planning area.
Pass 8-0

Background:
This item was first brought forth during the Dec. 17 meeting, but it also included three other items, including the Future Land Use Map, the Master Street Plan, and the Active Transportation Plan Map. Some residents had issues with the other items, so council members separated the four items, and voted on the ATP and MSP at the Jan. 7 meeting. The remaining items are up for vote tonight.

Discussion:
City staff recommended an amendment to the plan to add two short tern action items to the plan; 1. To work to preserve the historic character and integrity of the neighborhoods with ‘Local Regulated Districts’ in neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places and to utilize other preservation tools such as overlay districts to help preserve historic character, and 2. To seek funding to complete a citywide ‘Community Preservation Plan’ to identify resources for future historic survey and registration, assess current preservation efforts, and to plan for new initiatives.

The amendment passed unanimously.

City council member Matthew Petty thanked staff for their work on the plan, and said that while he wished it was more aggressive in areas, he would be voting for it. He was particularly proud of the plans infill elements, and efforts to address climate change.

Council member Sloan Scroggin said he would also be voting for the plan.

Council member Sarah Marsh thanked staff for their work, and said that while she also wished it was more aggressive in areas, she would also be voting for it.

Council member Teresa Turk praised the amendments that addressed historical preservation. She said she wished the plan included a “statistically unbiased survey,” and wanted to add that for the record for the next city plan. She said she would also be voting for the plan.

Council member Mark Kinion also said he would support the plan, even though he agreed it is imperfect.

Decision:
The resolution was approved unanimously.


2. Adopt Revised Future Land Use Map (Details)

A resolution to approve and adopt a revised Future Land Use Map.
Pass 7-0

Background:
This item was first brought forth during the Dec. 17 meeting, but it also included three other items, including City Plan 2040, the Master Street Plan, and the Active Transportation Plan Map. Some residents had issues with the other items, so council members separated the four items, and voted on the ATPM and MSP at the Jan. 7 meeting. The remaining items are up for vote tonight.

Discussion:
Council member Sonia Gutierrez said she’d like to see the plan tabled to allow more time to discuss it.

Council member Matthew Petty said he is ready to vote tonight, and made a motion to vote to approve the Alternative 3 map.

Council member Kyle Smith said he was also ready to take action. He expressed concern over the current lack of an annexation plan to go along with the land use plan, and that that scenario might lead to a lack of annexation requests, thus leaving development decisions to the surrounding county. He said he could support alternative 1 or 3 with some amendments.

Council member Sarah Marsh said she could also support alternatives 1 or 3.

Council member Bunch seconded Petty’s motion to vote to approve alternative 3.

City council member Teresa Turk said she would like to have more time with the plan, and moved to table the resolution for two weeks. Gutierrez seconded the motion to table the plan.

The motion to table the resolution failed 2-6, with only Turk and Gutierrez voting for.

The council then returned to Petty’s motion to vote for alternative 3.

Decision:
The resolution passed 7-0/ Gutierrez was absent during the vote.


3. Sage Partners, LLC (Details)

A resolution to authorize Mayor Jordan to sign letters of intent with Sage Partners, LLC, on behalf of Fayetteville Depot, LLC and Farmers & Merchants Bank (f/k/a The Bank of Fayetteville), for the purchase of approximately 0.6 acres along with necessary permanent access and temporary construction easements at the northwest corner of West Avenue and Dickson Street for the construction of a replacement parking deck for the total amount of $350,000.00, the conveyance of liner building space and approximately 0.2 acres at the north end of the civic plaza.
Pass 5-3

Background:
The Cultural Arts Corridor project calls for removal of the parking lot at West Avenue and Dickson Street across from the Walton Arts Center. Mayor Jordan promised he would replace the 298 parking spaces that would be lost with a new parking deck somewhere in the Dickson Street area.

City staff were presented five locations, but narrowed them to three: The privately-owned parking lot at the northwest corner of Dickson and West Avenue that serves businesses like Arsaga’s at the Depot (Depot Lot); the city-owned parking lot next to Kingfish on School Avenue (East Lot); and the property currently home to Nadine Baum Studios across from TheatreSquared

City staff have since removed the Nadine Baum option from the list (see discussion below)

Mayor Jordan is recommending a deck be built at the 2.4-acre Depot Lot, which is comprised of three parcels with 1.6 acres owned by Greg House’s Fayetteville Depot, LLC and 0.8 acres owned by the Bank of Fayetteville. Both entities have agreed to the sell portions of their property to the city for a combined $350,000 plus a land swap for approximately 0.2 acres on the north end of the planned civic plaza across West Avenue.

Staff said the deck would be built on a footprint that uses 60 existing parking spaces, which would require a 350-space deck to replace the total parking loss. All existing adjacent buildings would remain intact.

Staff said the biggest advantage of the Depot Lot is that it would have the highest redevelopment potential after a deck is built. Multi-story, mixed-use structures, staff said, could be built that could screen the parking deck from the street and provide commercial and residential density with a significant potential for property and sales tax revenue generation.

For more information, see our story from Dec. 16.

Location:

Dec. 17 Discussion:
City staff gave their pitch for choosing the Depot Lot.

Staff said without support from the UA, the Nadine Baum site isn’t possible. Staff said even with the university’s support, the Nadine Baum campus would have to be replaced before a deck could be built, which would push the total estimated cost to over $15 million and the bond issue only includes $10 million for the deck project.

Jordan said from the beginning he’s tried to listen to everyone who had any concerns or ideas about this project. He said it was demanded that the deck be built in close proximity to the Walton Arts Center, so he drew a 1,000-foot-radius around the WAC and limited his options to that area. He said he liked the Nadine Baum site, but the university rejected the idea of a deck being built there. When considering the Depot Lot, he said he promised the Arsaga family early on that he would not support any plan that would remove their business. He said people demanded the Train Bank stay, so he included that to the list of requirements as well. He said with an offer on the table to develop the lot without taking any buildings, and with a bond issue passed that requires funding be spent within three years, he thought he had a solid plan that was in everyone’s best interest. He said that’s been his only goal throughout the entirety of this project.

He invited Melissa Terry to speak about the Fayetteville Housing Authority’s offer to partner with the city to develop the Nadine Baum site. He asked how the FHA could help overcome the estimated $8 million cost required to replace the Nadine Baum building if a deck were built there. Terry said sitting down with all interested parties would be the first step in coming up with a solution. That collaborative conversation, she said, has not happened.

The first person to speak said a parking deck in front of Arsaga’s would block its view from West Avenue and potentially damage the business, which is owned and operated by artists, and is exactly the type of establishment that should compliment the Cultural Arts Corridor. Another person said the Depot Lot plan seems to be manufacturing culture by sacrificing the city’s existing organic culture that emanates from Arsaga’s.

Cary Arsaga spoke and he questioned why the city would spend taxpayer money to purchase private land for a parking deck when there’s public land already available in one of the other options (the East Lot on School Avenue). He said he knows the administration’s answer is because the Depot Lot has the highest potential for redevelopment with additional buildings, but he believes that lot will eventually be developed no matter what. “Why subsidize a private developer?” he asked.

Five other people spoke in favor of exploring the Nadine Baum site, including several members of the Fayetteville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

Barbara Putman, executive director of the Community Creative Center at Nadine Baum Studios, said her organization would suffer if the Nadine Baum site was chosen. She said the arts center, which offers year-round art events, art camps, professional development and in-school residencies, is right in the heart of the Cultural Arts Corridor and implored the council not to consider a plan that would take their building in exchange for a parking deck.

The council voted 8-0 to table both resolutions until Jan. 7.


Jan. 7 Discussion:
Peter Nierengarten, the city’s director of sustainability, said he wanted to remind the council of the bond language requirements concerning a new parking deck. Those requirements state that:

  • No more than 25 spaces from the West Avenue lot could be removed before replacement parking is online
  • Replacement parking must fully replace the West Avenue lot plus any lost spaces on the deck site
  • All new spaces must be within 1,000 feet of the Walton Arts Center’s west public entrance

Nierengarten said choosing a location quickly is important to ensure the city doesn’t incur added costs.

Sterling Hamilton with Sage Partners showed a conceptual plan for the Depot Lot, which shows a 400-space parking deck, a 9,600-square-foot liner building, and a 100-room hotel with a bank (see below).

Marsh said she has concerns with the process the city used to get to this point, but she likes the conceptual plan and the fact that it allocates space for a future transit hub. She said she hopes the council will table this issue tonight to allow more time to consider the proposal. Scroggin agreed.

Turk said she’d like a lot more details before making a decision. City staff said this resolution is just to express the council’s intent to move forward with the proposal, and that any actual development plans would be up for consideration later. Those plans would include all the specific details about the project.

Joe Fennel, who owns Bordinos, said he prefers the Depot Lot. He said he knows the proposal makes the Arsaga family uncomfortable, and as a fellow business owner, he understands those concerns. But, he said he trusts the mayor and Sterling Hamilton when they say their plan is to ensure the best possible outcome for Arsaga’s.

Several residents have spoken against the proposal. Some cited concerns about having a parking deck overshadowing Arsaga’s. Others said they’re uncomfortable with buying land using public money and then conveying some of that to a private developer.

Steve Clark, president of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, said he favors the Depot Lot because it presents more opportunity for economic development.

Cary Arsaga said he can’t possibly be objective about where a parking deck should be built because he doesn’t want it in front of his business and that’s a personal reason. However, he said the vision for his restaurant has always been to create a place that is truly Fayetteville – one that embodies the spirit of the city and that everyone would one day agree is a must-visit for anyone who spends time here. He said after only eight years, it’s too early to declare that a success, but the potential is there and he hopes the council takes that into consideration when thinking about the impact a parking deck would have on that vision.

Public comment ended at 12:23 a.m. Wednesday.

The council voted 8-0 to table the resolution for another two weeks. The discussion will continue Jan. 21.


Jan. 21 Discussion:
Since the last meeting, Greg House wrote a letter to the mayor and council explaining that the plan has always been to develop the Depot Lot. He said the current proposal is the only option that guarantees the preservation of the historic structures on the site. He said the Arsagas have known about those plans since first signing the lease in 2011, and he included a copy of that lease with his letter.

New future concept drawings were also submitted since the last meeting that include two new perspectives and a clearer view of the height of the proposed structures:


Peter Nierengarten, the city’s sustainability and parking director who has been heading up the project, said city staff recommends the Depot Lot.

Council Member Sarah Marsh expressed disappointment that public comment gathered during an input session held last Thursday hadn’t been incorporated in the proposal.

Chief of staff Susan Norton pointed out that the public input collected at last Thursday’s input session has been organized, and has been made available tonight for council members to consider as they make their decision.

Council Member Mark Kinion said he is concerned about traffic that would be created if the Depot Lot is developed. He said the presentation on the Depot Lot was biased, and he wished there had been more exploration of the East Lot.

During the discussion, the meeting was interrupted by protestors holding a banner that read “Fayetteville deports artists of color.”

The protesters were calling for an end to the federal 287(g) program which places a hold on inmates by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Their actions were in response to a local man who was recently arrested in connection with spray painting infrastructure at Gordon Long Park.

The council meeting went into a brief recess, and the protestors left the building. The meeting later resumed.

City Attorney Kit Williams said he was concerned about using the liner buildings build in association with the parking deck project for commercial purposes because of the project’s connection with the voter-approved bond issue.

Council member Sarah Bunch said she attended the public input session on Thursday, and said a common misconception among attendees was that the city was going to build a hotel, and/or tear down the Depot building, which is not the case.

During public comment, Walton Arts Center president and CEO Peter Lane was first to speak. He said the WAC is supporting construction on the Depot Lot. He said multiple entrances being available, and the opportunity for a larger garage on the lot that could add parking to the district is attractive to his organization.

Arsaga’s at the Depot owner Cary Arsaga was next to speak. He thanked all the residents who have come out to speak on behalf of his business during the council meetings and public input sessions, and also told the council that he has reached a satisfactory agreement with Houses, Inc., owner of the Depot building and would-be seller of the property should the council decide to locate the parking deck on the Depot Lot, that would help him to take care of his employees during construction, etc.

Bordinos owner and Dickson Street Merchants Association president Joe Fennel also spoke in favor of the Depot Lot, citing economic opportunities, proximity, and the opportunity for additional parking as reasons he favors the location. He said the only drawback before was concern for the Arsagas, but he said it sounds like those concerns have been worked out.

Local artist J. Ward said she hoped the city would chose the East Lot over concerns that the construction of the deck on the Depot Lot could negatively affect Arsaga’s.

Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce president Steve Clark said the chamber likes the Depot Lot, but said more importantly, he wants to see the council make a decision so that the Arts Corridor project can move forward.

A couple speakers expressed concerns about the public-private partnership that would come with the proposal for the Depot Lot.

One speaker was uncomfortable with some of the uncertainties around the Depot Lot, and the fact that the final terms of the deal were not done. As an example, he listed the possibility that the liner building wouldn’t be allowed because of the bond as a potential deal killer. Mayor Lioneld Jordan said that city attorney Kit Williams would negotiate the final terms of the deal, and would bring it back to the council. If the council didn’t approve, the city would move on to working on the East Lot.

Local resident Melissa Terry expressed concern over the city negotiating the deal without a real estate professional.

Public comment ended at 9:54 p.m.

Council member Matthew Petty said he is prepared to vote tonight for the letter of intent on the Depot Lot, but he could also support a deck on the East Lot. He also said he doesn’t like the land swap associated with the Depot Lot deal, but he is willing to overlook it if the city can get a few things in return. He mentioned the possibility of a transit hub that had been shown in renderings as one of the things he’d like to see. He also expressed concerns over the possibility of cost overruns due to design decisions, and wanted the final contract to address those.

Council member Sloan Scroggin also said he plans to vote for the Letter of Intent. He expressed concern over traffic on the East Lot as one of the reasons, though he said he would be ok with that site as a fallback.

Council member Sarah Marsh said she isn’t prepared to vote on the proposal until she’s had time to read the public comments from the input session. She also expressed discomfort with the land swap, and thinks a better deal could be reached with more negotiation.

Council member Sonia Gutierrez said she still has concerns over the Depot Lot, and feels the East Lot is a simpler option. She also expressed concern over the land swap element of the Depot Lot deal.

Council member Mark Kinion said he is skeptical about the public-private partnership element of the deal, as well as with the land swap. He favors the East Lot because the city already owns the property, and believes it is a more fiscally responsible choice. He said he won’t support the Letter of Intent.

Council member Kyle Smith said he is ready to vote for the Letter of Intent to move forward with real contract negotiations. He also said if the contract that comes back isn’t satisfactory, he is prepared to look for another solution. Some of the things he hopes to get out of the negotiations is, he’d like to try to see the parking in the existing East Lot accounted for in the deck to free up that lot for future projects, and he’d like to see eventual public ownership of the old train depot buildings.

Council member Sarah Bunch said she is ready to vote for the Letter of Intent tonight. She also said if an agreement couldn’t be reached, she would be fine to move on to the East Lot. She expressed concern over the land swap as well, and also is intrigued by the possibility of a future transit hub.

Council member Teresa Turk said most of the letter she has received have been against the Depot Lot, and she feels she is elected to represent the people. She also feels the city is not getting a good deal with the Depot proposal.

Petty made a motion to approve the resolution, and to finalize the negotiation process. Bunch seconded.

City Attorney Kit Williams pointed to his more than 40 years experience in negotiating, including in real estate. He also said there is another option, which is to locate the deck on a portion of the existing West Avenue lot along West Avenue.

Council members Marsh and Turk said they’d like to explore the possibility more of using a portion of the West Avenue lot for a deck.

Mayor Lioneld Jordan reminded the council that what is on the table is not a final deal, it is a letter of intent to pursue a contract. He also urged the council to go ahead and make a decision tonight.

Decision:
During the final vote, the resolution passed 5-3. Kinion, Turk, and Gutierrez voted against.



New Business

1. Superior Chevrolet (Details)

An ordinance to waive the requirements of formal competitive bidding and authorize the purchase of 10 Police Pursuit Chevrolet Tahoes from Superior Chevrolet of Siloam Springs in the total amount of $342,180.00 for use by the Police Department.
Pass 8-0

Background:
Staff said these vehicles could not be purchase through the standard bidding process because there is a national issue this year with Police Pursuit Tahoes. Staff said Chevrolet shut off production for 2020 in September of 2019. In anticipation of this being a major issue, Superior of Siloam purchased six Police Pursuit Tahoes and ear marked them for the City of Fayetteville in case the city needed them. These cannot be ordered from the manufacturer, so therefore, they are not on any contracts. Apparently, no other dealers have done what Superior did and purchased the Pursuit Tahoes ahead of time either.

Discussion:
There was no public comment.

Decision:
The ordinance was advanced to the third reading, and unanimously approved.


2. ADM 19-6927 (NE of North Cross Avenue & West markham Road/Markham Hill PZD amend) (Details)

An ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 6096 which enacted Commercial Planned Zoning District 18-6318, Pratt Place Inn & Barn, at 2231 W. Markham Road to reduce the front setbacks for Planning Area 2 along Cross Avenue.
Left on the first reading

Background:
Both the Planning Commission and staff are in favor with the following conditions of approval:

  1. All conditions of approval from the previously-approved Pratt Place Inn C-PZD 05-1670 apply;
  2. Approval of this C-PZD modification does not grant development approval for the property. The proposed preliminary plat will be required to be reviewed for compliance with the Unified Development Code as a part of the standard review process; and
  3. The attached zoning requirements will be in addition to all previous regulations on the subject property.

Location:

Discussion:
Four residents spoke against the ordinance.

Council member Teresa Turk requested that the council hold the resolution for two weeks.

Marsh voted to advance the issue to the second reading. The vote failed, with Turk and Gutierrez voting against. Bunch was absent for the vote, which required six votes to advance. The mayor declined to cast a vote.

The discussion will continue on Feb. 4.


3. Economic Development Administration (Details)

A resolution to authorize an application for an 80/20 matching grant from the Economic Development Administration in the amount of $2,084,720.00 for the construction of a road from Industrial Drive to City Lake Road, and to authorize Mayor Jordan to sign a funding commitment letter confirming that the city has matching funds available in the amount of $521,180.00.
Pass 6-1

Background:
City staff said Fayetteville needs more “shovel ready” parcels to attract businesses to the Commerce District.

The grant request is to construct a road that would travel south off the cul-de-sac on Industrial Drive for roughly 1,250 feet, then turn west and gos roughly 1,100 feet to connect with City Lake Road. Staff reviewed eight different alignment options and chose the proposed alignment for the following reasons:

  1. Primarily benefits city-owned Commerce Park Land;
  2. Does not go near environmentally sensitive areas to the east;
  3. Opens roughly 46 acres of city-owned Commerce Park Land.

The city will also be conducting an environmental impact analysis before applying for the grant- given the proximity to environmentally sensitive areas and to meet guidelines set forth by the Economic Development Administration.

Location:

Discussion:
Devin Howland, the city’s Director of Economic Vitality, offered an amendment to add a sidewalk which would require an increase of $35,137. Sidewalks on the west side of the road would still be required by the developer as a condition of the sale of the land. The amendment passed 8-0.

Decision:
The resolution passed 6-1. Petty voted against. Bunch was absent during the vote.


4. Amend §34.08 Parking Revenue Fund (Details)

An ordinance to amend §34.08 Parking Revenue Fund to create a new Residential District Parking Fund, to approve a loan in the amount of $20,000.00 from the General Fund to the new Residential District Parking Fund, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Pass 7-0

Background:
The City Council last year established the Wilson Park South Neighborhood Permit Parking district. Staff said establishing a separate fund for this new district will ensure that the funds collected within the neighborhood parking district are used for the benefit of that district and are not commingled with general parking revenue that can be used for other purposes.

Discussion:
There was no public comment.

Decision
The ordinance was advanced to the third reading and approved 7-1. Bunch was absent during the vote.


Announcements

The city’s Animal Services division is offering Puppy Grams for Valentine’s Day.


Adjourned

This meeting was adjourned at 12:07 a.m.