Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Why we needed Fayetteville's newly approved streamside ordinance many years ago: A few photos of stream abuse witnessed March 21, 2011

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE views of pollution headed directly to Spout Spring Branch without the polluted water being allowed to soak in and be cleansed before heading to Beaver Lake.
Unpleasant looking runoff from storm drain on north edge of Fifteenth Street. Is it caused by naturally occurring algae or by whatever a homeowner on South College Avenue dumped from a bucket shown in photo below?

Drain entrance still wet two hours after I watched a guy dump a bucket there. Material appeared to be white paint chips and thick plastic-like goo that could be material from a paint can.



Flow from storm drain above enters Spout Spring Branch on north side of 15th Street.


The gel-like material at first glance looked like icicles but the the temperature hadn't been below freezing for more than a week.


Seeds from pod of vine milkweed knocked down by Arkansas Highway Department machines dredging ditch the routes water from a storm drain on the south side of 15th Street directly into Spout Spring Branch. Milkweed plants of all varieties provide foliage to the caterpillars of monarchs and a few other species of butterfly and logically would be protected by a state highway department whose Web site touts its wildflower program.

Back on the northside of 15th Street, which is a state highway at that point, the water polluted by something but at least there is a remnant of vegetation including the same milkvine and a few other native species.

The highway workers dredged out part of the business owner's landscaping and widened and deepened the ditch. And hauled away the good soil to its dump in south Washington County.



Both the dumping of ANYTHING into a storm drain and the dredging of the ditch and allowing erosion violate best-management practices for watershed management and were already illegal before Fayetteville's new streamside ordinance was passed. If the ADEQ and the AHTD and the US Corps of Engineeers won't protect our water supply, maybe this new ordinance will embolden city officials to see that such things don't happen so often in the future.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Agenda for today's 6 p.m. meeting of the Fayetteville City Council discussed last week. See details in video below



Mayor Lioneld Jordan

City Attorney Kit Williams

City Clerk Sondra Smith
Aldermen
Ward 1 Position 1 – Adella Gray
Ward 1 Position 2 – Brenda Thiel
Ward 2 Position 1 – Mark Kinion
Ward 2 Position 2 – Matthew Petty
Ward 3 Position 1 – Justin Tennant
Ward 3 Position 2 – Robert Ferrell
Ward 4 Position 1 – Rhonda Adams
Ward 4 Position 2 – Sarah Lewis
Final Agenda
City of Fayetteville Arkansas
City Council Meeting
March 15, 2011

A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council will be held on March 15, 2011 at 6:00 PM in Room 219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas.


Call to Order

Roll Call

Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor’s Announcements, Proclamations and Recognitions:

City Council Meeting Presentations, Reports and Discussion Items:

Agenda Additions:

A. Consent:

1. Approval of the March 1, 2011 City Council meeting minutes.

2. Bid #11-16 Downing Sales and Service:  A resolution awarding Bid #11-16 and authorizing a contract with Downing Sales and Service in the amount of $166,308.00 for the purchase of one (1) refuse roll off truck for use by the Solid Waste Division, and approving a budget adjustment.


3. Bid #11-18 Sweetser Construction, Inc.:  A resolution awarding Bid #11-18 and authorizing a contract with Sweetser Construction, Inc. in the amount of $1,057,331.00 for the construction of water main interconnections and the Stone Mountain Pump Station for the Canterbury Road Water Tank, approving a project contingency of $53,000.00, and approving a budget adjustment.



4. Insituform Technologies, Inc.:  A resolution approving a contract extension with Insituform Technologies, Inc. in the amount of $330,000.00 for cured-in-place sanitary sewer linings.


5. Bid #11-20 North Point Ford:  A resolution awarding Bid #11-20 and authorizing a contract with North Point Ford in the amount of $90,020.00 for the purchase of two (2) Ford F-250 heavy duty pickup trucks for use by the fire department, and approving a budget adjustment.


6. Lake Sequoyah Lease Agreement with William Keith Shofner, Jr.:  A resolution approving a lease contract with William Keith Shofner, Jr. on 82.55 acres of land adjacent to Lake Sequoyah for purposes of pasturing cattle and horses, and cutting and baling hay.



7. Lake Sequoyah Lease Agreement with Jeff Price:  A resolution approving a lease contract with Jeff Price on 54.55 acres of land adjacent to Lake Sequoyah for purposes of pasturing cattle and horses, and cutting and baling hay.



8. Amend Resolution No. 05-07:  A resolution amending Resolution No. 05-07 to reduce the payment guarantee required of Meadows Enterprises, Inc. for the Dead Horse Mountain Road Bridge from $36,668.92 to $7,703.00.


B. Unfinished Business:

1. Huntingdon Heights Appeal:  An appeal of the City Engineer’s determination regarding the driveway approach at 3172 Warwick Dr.  This item was tabled at the February 3, 2011 City Council meeting to the February 15, 2011 City Council meeting.  This item was tabled at the February 15, 2011 City Council meeting to the March 15, 2011 City Council meeting.


C. New Business:

1. 2011 Employee Service Award Program & Merit-based Pay Increases:  A resolution amending the 2011 City budget by appropriating $629,900.00 for the implementation of an Employee Service Award Program for 2011 and for Merit-based Pay Increases not given during the last half of 2009.


2. CH2M Hill Engineers, Inc.:  A resolution approving an out of scope agreement with CH2M Hill Engineers, Inc. in the amount of $265,000.00 for development of a Use Attainability Analysis (UAA) on the White River, approving a $50,000.00 contingency, and approving a budget adjustment.



3. Arkansas Western Gas Company:  An ordinance waiving the requirements of formal competitive bidding and approving a contract with Arkansas Western Gas Company in the minimum amount of $715,560.00 for the provision of natural gas service and the construction of necessary piping and infrastructure extensions for biosolids drying operations at the Noland Wastewater Treatment Facility.


4. Amend §114.03 First Thursday Fayetteville:  An ordinance amending subsection (B) of §114.03 First Thursday Fayetteville of Chapter 114: Food Sales of the Code of Fayetteville to add additional locations for the event.


5. Amend §117.102 Pedicab Permitted Zone of Operation and Approved Fixed Routes:  An ordinance to amend §117.102 Pedicab Permitted Zone of Operation and Approved Fixed Routes (B) Route Approval and (F) of the Fayetteville Code to allow use of pedicabs on streets with a posted speed limit of thirty-five (35) miles per hour or higher if authorized by the Transportation Services Director and (D) to allow pedicabs to operate on Scull Creek Trail, Mud Creek Trail and Frisco Trail.



6. Amend §174.03 Exemptions:  An ordinance to amend §174.03 Exemptions of Chapter 174 Signs of the Fayetteville Code to allow advertising on pedicabs.


7. Amend §117.47 Advertising:  An ordinance to amend §117.47 Advertising of the Fayetteville Code to remove authorization to place advertising signs on taxicabs.


Announcements:

Adjournment:

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Council of Neighborhoods elects officers and discusses topics of interest for 2011 monthly meetings

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of all but two neighborhood representatives who attended on Thursday night, February 24, 2011. Many more neighborhoods in our city have never organized an association, but many have but do not send a representative except when they feel a threat. It is good to be there and speak up a bit and LISTEN to other representatives of neighborhoods with problems or exciting events to report or promote.





Video of February 17, 2011, meeting of Telecom Board

Telecommunication Board meeting February 17, 2011.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Information for residents of Fayetteville: Diverse and important


Monday, February 7
2:00 PM  --  Bid Opening: Bid 11-18, Construction Water Main & Pump for Canterbury Rd. Water Tank  --  Room 326
3:45 PM  --   Board of Adjustments *  --   Room 111
5:30 PM  --   Parks and Recreation Advisory Board *  --   Room 111
6:30 PM  --   Animal Services Advisory Board *  --   Room 219
 
Tuesday, February 8
8:30 AM   --  FFEAC Transportation Group  --   Room 111
4:00 PM   --  Walton Arts Center Council Board Meeting  --   McBride Studio-Walton
Arts Center
4:30 PM   --  City Council Agenda Session*  --   Room 326
5:15 PM or Immediately following Agenda Session  --   Water and Sewer Committee *  --   Room 326
 
Wednesday, February 9
2:00 PM   --  Bid Opening: Bid 11-21, Rock for Niokaska Stream Restoration  --  Room 326
3:30 PM  --   Fayetteville Board of Health *   --  Room 326
4:00 PM   --  Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee *  --   Room 111
6:00 PM  --   Fayetteville Arts Council *  --   Room 111
 
Thursday, February 10
8:00 AM  --   Lean Workshop  --   Room 111
12:00 PM  --   FFEAC Inclusion Group  --   Room 111
1:30 PM  --   Airport Board *   --  Airport Conference Room
3:00 PM   --  Transportation Bonds Meeting  --   Room 326
4:00 PM  --   Planning Agenda Session and Tour *  --   Room 111
5:30 PM   --  Environmental Action Committee *  --   Room 111
5:30 PM  --   Historic District Commission *  --   Room 326
6:00 PM   --   Partners for Better Housing  --  Room 219
 
Friday, February 11
No Meetings Listed
 
Saturday, February 12
9:00 AM  --   Police Officer Written Examination  --   Woodland Jr. High Cafeteria, 7 West Poplar Street
 

Information in this week’s email - details listed below:
·       Fayetteville’s Waste Collection schedule for Monday, February 7th
·       CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE BOARD AND COMMITTEE OPENINGS
·       HOW IS Your Neighborhood Connected?
·       FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
·       CITY PLAN 2030 PRESENTATION
·       FAYETTEVILLE COMMUNITY SEED SWAP
·       INCLEMENT WEATHER DRIVING
·       Energy Efficiency: The” New” Year’s Resolution
 
To subscribe to these weekly email announcements go to http://www.accessfayetteville.org/subscriptions/index.cfm and select “Neighborhood Resources News”.  For comments or questions contact Julie McQuade, Community Outreach Coordinator at jmcquade@ci.fayetteville.ar.us or (479) 575-8302
 

Fayetteville’s Waste Collection schedule for Monday, February 7th

 
The Solid Waste and Recycling Division is operating commercial and residential trash and recycling today despite poor road conditions on side streets and some parking lots.  If at all possible, Monday routes will be collected today.  There are some areas where neighborhood streets are iced over and impassable for our Solid Waste and Recycling vehicles but every attempt will be made to service Monday routes.   
 
Commercial collections have resumed and should be caught up today.  Some parking lots have snow piled in front of enclosures and dumpsters making collections impossible for those in question, but most collections should be made today as we attempt to resume to a normal schedule.
 
We will post daily press releases with updates on our web site:  www.accessfayetteville.org.  All residents are encouraged to place their trash carts and recycling bins out on their normal collection day.  Wednesday’s schedule is in question due to another expected round of winter weather; however, we will plan to make all pickups on their normal days unless and until weather conditions make roads dangerous and unsafe for collections to occur.
 
For the week of February 7th, there will be no extra bag charges applied for those routes that were missed the previous week, and customers do not need to use extra bag stickers.
 
For commercial dumpsters, any overflow should be placed to the side of the container rather than in front of the container.  This greatly facilitates faster and more tidy pickup.
 
The Transfer Station and Solid Waste and Recycling Office are open today, Monday, February 7, 2011.
 
Due to the increased trash collection required, the Compost Facility will be closed and there will be no yard waste collection the week of February 7th.   These employees will be assisting in basic trash collection.
 
If you have any questions about your solid waste and recycling services please view information posted on the City’s website at www.accessfayetteville.org. 

CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE BOARD AND COMMITTEE OPENINGS    
This is your chance to get involved in Fayetteville. There are several City of Fayetteville Board, Committee and Commission openings for the 1st quarter of 2011. All applications must be received in the City Clerk's office by 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2011.
 
One Term Ending 03/31/15 
 
One Unexpired Pilot Term Ending 12/31/13 
 
One Unexpired Term Ending 06/30/14 
 
One Unexpired Term Ending 03/31/12
Two Terms Ending 03/31/16 
 
Two Terms Ending 03/31/17 
 
Three Unexpired Terms Ending 03/31/15
Two Unexpired Alternate Member Terms Ending 03/31/12 
 
One Unexpired Term Ending 06/30/13 
 
One Term Ending 04/01/16 
 
Three Terms Ending 03/31/14 
 
One Unexpired Utility Representative Term Ending 12/31/11 
 
One Unexpired Term Ending 06/30/13 
 
FEBRUARY 28, 2011– APPLICATION DEADLINE
All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2011. 
 
All volunteers must reside within the Fayetteville City Limits and be a Fayetteville Registered Voter. 
 
All applicants must submit a new application for each board, committee, or commission. 
 
Applications may be emailed to city_clerk@ci.fayetteville.ar.us or mailed to the City Clerk’s office at 113 West Mountain, Fayetteville, AR 72701. 
 
Please contact the City Clerk’s office at (479)575-8323 for more information or go to http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/city_clerk/boards_and_commissions/vacancies.cfm for application forms.
 

HOW IS Your Neighborhood Connected?
Neighbors,
 
Do you know if your neighborhood association is registered with the City of Fayetteville? Do you even have a neighborhood association?
 
Having a registered neighborhood association, property owners association, or homeowners association does have its benefits. Here are just some of the many benefits:
1.  Registered neighborhoods (RNAs) are voting members of the Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods.
2.  RNAs have a “voice” and are asked to give input on City decisions that impact the neighborhood.
3.  RNAs act as a conduit for getting important information about City decisions, projects, and events in Fayetteville.
4.   RNAs help neighbors make improvements to their neighborhood, make needed changes, and assist in getting issues resolved for your neighborhood. There are more than 37,000 households in Fayetteville. Having a direct connection to the City helps.
5.  They provide a mechanism for additional safety and security through involved neighbors and communication.
6.   Communities with involved neighborhood groups and neighbors that work together are proven safer and healthier places to live.
 
If you aren’t involved in your neighborhood association, if your neighborhood association isn’t “connected” to the City of Fayetteville, or if you don’t have a neighborhood association – NOW is the time to get connected. It’s one of the greatest investments you can make for your home and your family.
 
For more information about neighborhood associations or the Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods contact Julie McQuade at jmcquade@ci.fayetteville.ar.us or 9479) 575-8302.

 

FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

 
Find It and Fund It: Grant Seeking Basics
Wednesday, February 9, 10 to 11:30 am, Fayetteville Public Library’s Ann Henry Board Room: This workshop will introduce basic and advance search tips to maximize searching in the Foundation Directory Online, a database available to Northwest Arkansas as part of FPL’s Foundation Center Cooperating Collection. The online directory includes more than 98,000 grant makers and a half a million grants, updated weekly. Participants will be taught to search for compatible grant-makers, grants, charitable companies and 990 forms. Registration is required. To sign up or for more information, call 856.7250.
 
Valentine’s Day Storytime
Saturday, February 12, 10:30 am, Fayetteville Public Library’s Wal-Mart Storytime Room: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with stories, songs, crafts and sweets. For families. Registration is required. For more information or to sign up, call 856.7170.

CITY PLAN 2030 PRESENTATION
The City is pleased to present a final draft and presentation of City Plan 2030, the Future Land Use Map and the Master Transportation Plan on Thursday, February 24 at 6:00 p.m. in the Genesis Building at the Arkansas Research and Technology Park.
 
Light refreshments will be provided. Please mark your calendars and invite friends, family and colleagues. We look forward to seeing you!
For more information contact: Karen Minkel, Strategic Planning and Internal Consulting Director, City of Fayetteville, at (479) 575-8271

FAYETTEVILLE COMMUNITY SEED SWAP
Sponsored by the Fayetteville Community Garden Coalition (FCGC), the University of Central Arkansas’ Conserving Arkansas’ Agricultural Heritage (CAAH!) Project, and the Washington County Cooperative Extension, the second annual Fayetteville Community Seed Swap will be on Sunday, February 20, 2011, from 1:00-4:00 pm at the Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center. 
 
Anyone may attend to trade and distribute open-pollinated seeds of food crops, herbs, or ornamentals.  Hybrid seeds will also be traded and distributed during the last thirty minutes of the event.  If you have no seeds to swap but want to learn more, come mingle with gardeners, farmers, and seed savers.  There will be an informational presentation about seed saving at the beginning of the event, followed by a seed savers exchange and seed distribution.  Help us conserve the heritage of Arkansas while we share good stories, beautify our yards, and, of course, save seeds.
 
WHAT:                     Second Annual Fayetteville Community Seed Swap
WHEN:                     Sunday, February 20, 2010, 1:00-4:00pm
SCHEDULE:           1:00pm – 1:30pm Seed Saving Presentation
                                   1:30pm – 3:30pm Heirloom Seed Swap
                                    3:30pm – 4:00pm Leftover Seed Distribution
WHERE:                  Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center, 945 S. College
WHO:                        The Fayetteville Community Gardening Coalition (FCGC), the University of Central Arkansas’s (UCA) Conserving Arkansas’s Agricultural Heritage (CAAH!) Project, the Washington County Cooperative Extension Service…and of course--any interested farmers, gardeners, and community members. 
WHY:                          Arkansas farmers and gardeners have a long legacy of using heirloom seeds. These plants are in danger of being lost. Sharing seeds encourages the production and longevity of diverse varieties for posterity, and increased sustainable living in the present. 
HOW IT WORKS:   Anyone can bring seeds to swap or share. If you don’t have seeds, you can donate envelopes, garden tools, or knowledge to FCGC.
COST:                       FREE!
 
For more detailed information, you may also contact Katy Deaton at 479-409-4431 kathleenhdeaton@gmail.com or Dr. Brian Campbell at 501-450 3178 brianc@uca.edu

From the Fayetteville Police Department:

INCLEMENT WEATHER DRIVING

With the inclement weather season upon us, the Fayetteville Police Department wants to remind motorists to prepare for driving in inclement weather and encourage driver caution in an effort to avoid potential crashes. 
 
The Fayetteville Police Department investigates numerous crashes during times of inclement weather and many of these crashes are avoidable.  Some of the contributing factors include driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, failure to yield and careless driving.  The Fayetteville Police Department offers the following safety reminders to motorist:
·                 Allow a safe driving distance, at least three seconds of space between vehicles.
·                 Make arrangements for alternate routes and allow additional travel time in inclement weather.
·                 Make sure windshield wipers are in proper working order.
·                 External lighting is operating properly and vehicle glass is free of obstruction.
·                 Give 100 percent attention to driving.  Inattention is a common contributor to crashes. 
·                 Don’t take unnecessary risks.  Only venture out if it is absolutely necessary.

Energy Efficiency: The” New” Year’s Resolution
 
Dear Fayetteville Neighborhood Associations:
 
Every year, Fayetteville residents spend on average $2,250,000 a month on electricity, and we are also responsible for consuming around 88% of the water in our community. The solution for these issues is going to be energy efficiency, and Eco-Logical Communities would like to extend our invitation to each and every Neighborhood Association to learn more about what their group can do to become more energy efficient. Eco-Logical Communities, an outreach program through the University of Arkansas, features a city dashboard that shows our energy, water, and waste consumption all in one place, at one time. It is possibly the first of its kind, and will offer valuable information about our community and our resources. Their partner, EarthAID, enables you to track your utilities at a personal level, and offers rewards and incentives for cutting consumption. (You may have seen an insert about this in your bill from Fayetteville Water, SWEPCO, or Arkansas Western Gas, because they have partnered with EcoLogical Communities to help reach out to the public about energy efficiency). The two tools combined make energy efficiency simple and fun. EcoLogical Communities, which started back in April of 2010, currently has 660 households enrolled, and collectively they have saved $12,000 on their utility bills. Recently, an article ran in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that featured our Mayor, Lioneld Jordan, resolving to save energy:
 
“ I am resolving this New Year, to get a home energy assessment for my own home and to implement one or more of the recommended energy upgrades to my house.  I’d like to see if I can save 10% or more on my utility bills this year, and I’d like to encourage others to do the same. It just makes sense.” –Mayor Jordan
 
Energy efficiency is not just about “saving the planet…” It is a matter of personal health, comfort in your home, economical and social impacts, and protecting one of your biggest investments, your home.
 
For more information, please visit www.ecologicalcommunities.org. If you are interested in having us come to your Neighborhood Association’s meeting and giving a more thorough presentation, and/or helping you sign up into the program, please contact Becky Roark at 479-575-3917 or blroark@uark.edu. Perhaps we could start a contest to see which neighborhood could reduce the most! Thank you, and we look forward to meeting with you all!
 
Becky Roark, EnergyCorps Member
Outreach Coordinator
Applied Sustainability Center
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
(479) 575-3917
www.asc.uark.edu

Make your personal sustainability pledge: http://eco.walton.uark.edu
Set up your personal dashboard: www.earthaid.net

 
Want to know about events going on in Fayetteville? Check out these websites:
http://calendar.accessfayetteville.org/               City Event Calendar
http://www.experiencefayetteville.com/             Fayetteville Visitors’ Bureau Calendar

 

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