FAYETTEVILLE — The City Council approved raises, set a street and sidewalk plan and reviewed urban agriculture measures Tuesday.
The raises will give more than 700 employees an average 3.8 percent bump beginning March 17. The plan, proposed by Mayor Lioneld Jordan, will cost about $1.2 million. It'll be paid for using surplus money from 2013.
At a Glance
Council Action
Fayetteville’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:
• Sell land on the east side of a planned parking deck to the nonprofit group, Partners for Better Housing, for work force housing.
• A $406,000 contract with McGoodwin, Williams and Yates to design improvements to the Recycling and Trash Collection facility on Happy Hollow Road.
• A $83,000 contract with Crafton Tull & Associates to design improvements to the Lake Fayetteville Softball Complex.
Source: Staff Report
Paul Becker, finance director, said year-end sales tax figures must grow 3.6 percent over last year to sustain the compensation package in 2015. Or city officials will have to spend less than what was budgeted this year.
December sales tax collected in January was down about $128,000, or 4.4 percent, compared with what was forecast for the month. "However, I feel that we can still meet our revenue estimate," Becker said.
Alderwoman Sarah Marsh on Tuesday suggested upping City Council members' pay at a rate commensurate with other employees. Marsh said she didn't want people to be discouraged from running for public office because of low pay.
Council members last received a raise in 2013 when their annual compensation went from $8,400 to $12,504.
No aldermen supported Marsh's motion.
Alderman Matthew Petty said he would consider adjusting the council's pay at a later point. He added he didn't want to tie it to salaries for general employees. Petty said he didn't want future council members to have an incentive to give themselves a raise -- along with other employees -- if the city couldn't afford it.
Jordan told the council his administration would review firefighters' salaries in more detail next year.
After a study comparing Fayetteville firefighters' pay with other cities in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas, firefighters last year received 11 percent average raises. Jordan said local firefighters still lag behind peer cities, though.
"We'll be looking at bringing them up to market next session," the mayor said. "That's something that is one of the goals."
The 2014 street paving plan includes 8.2 miles of streets.
The Transportation Division wants to build 6.1 miles of sidewalk this year -- triple the amount in 2013. The increase will be paid for in large part using money from a half-cent sales tax Arkansas voters approved in 2012.
Major projects include Dickson Street east of College Avenue and Sang Avenue, Maple Street, Halsell Road and Cross Avenue west of Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Alderman Mark Kinion requested sidewalks along Park Avenue leading to Washington Elementary School be added to the 2015 plan.
For a second time Tuesday the City Council heard from residents advocating for policies allowing goats, beehives and more chickens and ducks in areas not zoned for agriculture. The policies also would make it easier for gardeners to sell produce from property they own.
Several people said the proposal would encourage more locally grown food, create educational opportunities and foster social cohesion.
Alderman Justin Tennant said more animals in neighborhoods could reduce property value and make it more difficult for people to sell their homes.
Aldermen voted 5-2 to again consider the urban agriculture policies March 18.
NW News on 03/05/2014