Board of Directors

MINUTES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2003, AT 7:00 P.M. The regular meeting of the Board of Directors was held on Monday, October 20, 2003, at 7:00 p.m., Board Chambers, City Hall, with Assistant Mayor Carroll Weatherford presiding. The invocation was given by Mr. Roy Murphy, and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Assistant Mayor Carroll Weatherford. Assistant Mayor Weatherford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 1. Roll Call Roll call was as follows: Present: Directors Peggy Maruthur, Elaine Jones, Burt Newell, Carroll Weatherford, Bill Edwards, and Bob Wheeler, total 6. Absent: Mayor Mike Bush. 2. Approval of Agenda A motion was made by Director Wheeler, duly seconded by Director Edwards, that the agenda be approved. Upon discussion, City Manager Kent Myers advised that the bid award for irrigation and landscaping for the final Civic Center park- ing lot needs to be added to the Consent Agenda (Proposed Resolution No. R-03-260 Awarding a Contract for Palm East Parking Lot Irrigation and Landscaping [Hot Springs Civic and Convention Center Expansion Project] to McKissick Landscape and Design). A motion was made by Director Wheeler, duly seconded by Director Edwards, that the agenda be amended by adding Proposed Resolution No. R-03-260 to the Consent Agenda; and upon roll call, the following voted “aye”: Directors Maruthur, Jones, Newell, Edwards, Wheeler, and Weatherford, total 6. Absent and not voting: Mayor Bush; motion unanimously carried. 3. Recognition of Guests No guests were present for recognition. CONSENT AGENDA The Consent Agenda consisted of the following: 4. Public Safety Report (October 8, 2003). 5. Proposed Resolution No. R-03-259Approving Certain Bid Awards (a) manhole rings and lids - Utilities [annual supply contract awarded to Deter Foundry and Hughes Supply]; and (b) Water Meters - Utilities [annual supply contract awarded to National Waterworks]. 6. Proposed Resolution No. R-03-260Awarding a Contract for Palm East Parking Lot Irrigation and Landscaping (Hot Springs Civic and Convention Center Expansion Project) to McKissick Landscape and Design. A motion was made by Director Edwards, duly seconded by Director Maruthur, that the Consent Agenda be approved, as amended; and upon roll call, the following voted “aye”: Directors Maruthur, Jones, Newell, Edwards, Wheeler, and Weatherford, total 6. Absent and not voting: Mayor Bush; motion unanimously carried. NEW BUSINESS 7. Presentation by Ms. Darlene Garrett (Focus Garland County) Ms. Darlene Garrett, Coordinator for Focus Garland County, expressed appreciation to the thousands of Garland County residents who participated with Focus Garland County over the last two years; also, to the 32 Focus facilitators and the EAST Lab students. Also, she expressed appreciation to the restaurants in town that supported many Focus events (Mickey’s BBQ, Pizza Hut), as well as Wal-Mart and Entergy Corporation for their contributions. She thanked the Cooperative Extension Service and Dr. Mark Peterson, as well as to numerous individuals who were involved in Focus Garland County. She said that she is committed to seeing many aspects of this plan through to implementation. She then submitted a final draft of the Focus Garland County plan, which consists of 1,300 Garland County residents and 7,000 visions. She gave a presentation on the following eight categories: (1) cultural issues [expand, educate and coordinate the visual and performing arts are part of the community’s culture, more music venues, educate and develop respect on issues related to racial and cultural diversity]; (2) economic development [focus on bathhouses, higher paying jobs, health sector development, small business development, Information Technology, downtown development and aeronautics industry]; (3) education [paradigm shift to consider education to be a top priority, coordinate or consolidate public school districts, more four-year baccalaureate programs, develop the skilled trades, Information Technology, and the arts] ; (4) environment [enforce current laws and develop a community-based organization to assist in environmental identifying issues and volunteering with the environment; (5) infrastructure [plan for the future infrastructure needs, enforce standards for development in buildings and roads, countywide plan-  ning, expanded communication systems, sustainable funding for emergency services, and safe downtown]; (6) recreation and enter- tainment [countywide Parks Master Plan, inclusive of all park organizations, keep moving toward development of Regional Park]; (7) transportation [cooperative countywide public transportation system, relieve traffic congestion downtown and move toward implementation of Chamber’s transportation road plan]; and (8) youth [youth hangout, employment center, and Teen Help Center]. Also, she stated there is a miscellaneous issue which includes developing alternative health care and focus on services to seniors. OTHER BUSINESS 8. Board of Directors Items Director Jones announced that a district meeting for the Pleasant Civic Street Association will be held on November 7, at Webb Center. On Saturday, November 8, there will be a large yard sale; and anyone interested may call Webb Center. Director Edwards stated that the District 5 tour will be held on October 27. He asked that citizens in District 5 submit in writing issues they want to be considered and call him at 321-2291, Deputy City Manager Lance Hudnell at 321-6815, or City Manager Kent Myers at 321-6810. Director Maruthur announced that a District 1 meeting for the east side of District 1 will be held on Thursday, October 23, 7:00 p.m., at the Bates Community Church on McClendon Road. If anyone has any questions, they may call her at 624-1965. She also men- tioned if there are problems with light outages, upgrades on the lights, paving requests, drainage problems, or problems with animals, residents need to make a list and bring it to the meeting. She stated there will be another meeting in two months with a follow-up of the results. Also, there is a fund at Regions Bank for Paul Anthony Nagey, who is in need of a prosthesis and rehabilitation (Account No. 81-45-23-0306). 9. City Manager’s ReportCity Manager Kent Myers gave the following report: 1. He expressed appreciation to the Directors who went on the trip to Washington, DC, last week (Mayor Bush, Directors Maruthur and Newell). He spoke of the Director of the National Park Service’s commitment to Hot Springs and enthusiasm for the bath- houses. There has been follow-up contact from the Park Service, and he received a call Friday from the regional staff member that is devoted to the leasing program. She will be in Hot Springs this week, and he will be setting up a meeting with her and the local staff. This morning he received a call from Mr. Quintana, Regional Director for the National Park Service, to confirm what was discussed at the meeting. 2. There will be a public hearing on Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at the Transportation Depot, to discuss the CBID No. 3 traffic improve - ments. This is the area along Central Avenue from Prospect to Market Street. There are a number of traffic improvements that the consultant has recommended for that area. 3. Final cost estimates for Higdon Ferry Road were distributed to the Board last week. City staff is meeting with various transporta- tion groups in the community to see what direction to go in terms of the Higdon Ferry Road widening project. The first project on Higdon Ferry Road at the intersection of the Expressway is set for bid letting by the Highway Department in March. There is some funding committed by the Highway Department to widen Higdon Ferry Road from one end to the other if the City and State can acquire the right-of-way and relocate the utilities. However, that will be very expensive; and he has provided the Board with some final cost numbers ($5 million for the part south of the Expressway). The City and County does not have that money in place so the City is looking at some financing options. 4. The City was recently contacted by the Highway Department regarding Gulpha Gorge Road. The Highway Department is inter- ested in converting that from a State road to a City road and taking it out of the State system. The City will meet with the Highway Department next week, but he believes that should wait until the expressway is completed around Highways 5 and 7. The National Park Service is also involved in those meetings. Director Edwards questioned why they would want Gulpha Gorge Road as the City’s responsibility, and City Manager Kent Myers advised that they feel it is primarily a local road serving a local purpose. It does not meet their criteria for a State road serving a regional statewide purpose. He noted that many people continue to cut through from Highway 70 to Highway 7 using that road to access Hot Springs Village. In addition, they are cutting through the other direction to get from Hot Springs Village to Little Rock, Malvern or Arkadelphia. Director Edwards asked if the bathhouses will be leased to any individual who has the funds City Manager Kent Myers advised that leasing activity has begun; and there are several lease proposals underway, which include a variety of different uses. He said that the National Park Service makes the final decision. He added that a museum is one of the proposed uses, the bathhouses and other similar uses. He stated if anyone is interested, the focus point at this time is GCEDC through Mr. Jay Chesshir; and they may contact him at 624-6807. City Manager’s Report continued Director Maruthur commented that on the issue of the City taking over the Gulpha Gorge Road, that would give the City control over the lighting and signs and some needed repairs. City Manager Kent Myers pointed out that in regard to lighting the area, the Board needs to keep in mind that it is national park and would want to limit the lighting because of the scenery. Director Maruthur stated that she was referring to the sharp turns where people have problem negotiating the turns. She said that she has put in sev- eral requests for reflectors and lights. City Manager Kent Myers stated that would be one of the benefits of the City taking it over. 10. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m, to meet again on Monday, November 3, 2003, at 7:00 p.m.