City Council April 21 2009

A pre-game summary of the Council session, from my perspective. In this issue, we have a rezoning, the Fayette Junction plan, a new lobbyist, a resolution about social media, and some other public policy nuggets.

If you can't make it to the meeting, you can watch it and Twitter it.

In unfinished businesses

It's a rezoning - everyone's favorite governmental process (just kidding). This one is for Candlelight Place, located at Ash and Gregg. If approved, the 0.94 acre tract will move from RSF-4 to RSF-24 (that's 4 units per acre to 24 units per acre). I'll probably support this, unless I hear something very surprising at the meeting tonight. Increasing density on property with Gregg St frontage is a good thing, because it's adjacent to our future light rail line.

Up after that is the Fayette Junction Master Plan. At the last meeting, we heard some opposition to the plan and I voted in the minority against tabling the measure until tonight. It's a visionary plan, and we have to remember tonight that's all it is. There are no rezonings or changes to the Master Street Plan associated with the item up for vote tonight.

The last item in unfinished business is an amendment to our code. We're just cleaning things up with new language regarding structures in easements.

In new business

Mayor Jordan is declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month for Fayetteville, and we're going to give the Farminington City Attorney's land back to Farmington so he can continue to serve.

Of course, there are more exciting things than that, like lobbying. (What, you don't think lobbying is exciting?). The City is voting on a recommendation to hire James Lee Witt Associates as our lobby firm. If hired, the firm will replace Van Scoyoc. Even though I'm concerned that the firm represents other Arkansas cities (funding is very competitive), I'll probably support this because their personal connections with Arkansas and Fayetteville are, in my mind, a trump card in their favor.

Then there are more Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds. It seems since former Mayor Coody left, no one seems to care about this stuff any more. I won't be surprised if no one from the public shows up to comment on this, and that's a big change from just six months ago. If approved, the city will sell $8.5M in bonds to make improvements to our infrastructure. We should have already paid for it, and as my former opponent Mark Kinion said during campaign seasons last year "Surprises suck."

And then there's a social media resolution. Finally, something exciting. This is my baby, and it would require the City to include social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) in citizen communications and make a good faith effort to include online discussion and comment in the public record. If you've been following the papers, you know this is something I'm passionate about.

On the consent agenda

We're replacing some trucks for the airport and the water and sewer division. We're adjusting the budget to reflect some extra money, and we're approving a contract to build some sidewalks and improve some drainage ditches. Most of the consent agenda is pretty mundane, but Hershey and Denise Garner donated a bronze manhole cover for the library and the EPA is giving us $250,000 for stream restoration in Sweetbriar Park and surrounding areas.