The Little Rock Board of Directors deferred voting on a complete streets policy Tuesday after some city directors said it contradicts the city's Master Street Plan and complained that private developers weren't informed of the new burdens that would be placed on them under an amendment to that plan.
A "complete street" means the roadway is designed for all possible users. That includes motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, freight-haulers and people with disabilities.
Residents from Ward 2 also used Tuesday's board meeting to express frustrations with their city director, Ken Richardson, who was arrested recently and charged with driving while intoxicated. Supporters of Richardson were also at the meeting.
A vote to adopt the complete streets policy and to amend the Master Street Plan was put off until the April 21 meeting at the request of Ward 5 City Director Lance Hines.
The proposed policy would require the Public Works Department to incorporate a complete streets design for all new construction, reconstruction, retrofitting, repaving or rehabilitation.
A second ordinance, which amends the city's bike plan, would require private developers to build certain types of bike lanes when they are required to make street improvements during development.
Attorney Bill Spivey wrote to the city after talking with developers, saying he was concerned that the proposal progressed without "important property owners, developers, real estate interests and others in our community" having knowledge of it.
While he said the policy was well-intended, he added that there are questions left unanswered.
"Who will pay for additional right-of-way necessary to comply with the Complete Streets policy? Who will maintain additional street improvements made in the name of accomplishing Complete Streets objectives?" Spivey's letter asked.
He goes on to write that the policy doesn't clarify who will bear the cost of bike paths and that because they benefit the entire city, the city should pay to create and maintain them.
Hines said he made the motion to defer voting on the policy for 90 days so the city could answer some of those questions. Planning and Development Director Tony Bozynski had previously told the board that the only cost private developers would have under the amended street plan was to add striping to streets for bike lanes.
"I just do not believe that there's no cost associated with this," Hines said. "We haven't even answered the question of who bears the cost. We barely have enough money to do the capital improvements we've got without adding a whole other layer of improvements."
Ward 7 City Director B.J. Wyrick agreed and said the city needs to look at how the complete streets policy would affect its long-term budget for street improvements. City Director at large Joan Adcock asked that developers be brought into the conversation before the policy comes back to the board for a vote.
Richardson, Ward 3 City Director Kathy Webb and Ward 4 City Director Brad Cazort voted against the deferral, saying they felt the questions could be resolved in a shorter time period.
After the vote Tuesday, people approached the board to express grievances. At least 30 people signed up to speak either against Richardson or in support of him.
Richardson faces charges of driving while intoxicated, driving on a suspended license, and careless and prohibited driving after being arrested by Little Rock police Jan. 10. An officer said he observed Richardson speeding and swerving down South University Avenue and that his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit.
Mayor Mark Stodola told each group at Tuesday's meeting that they could have only one representative speak for three minutes.
Rohn Muse spoke for a group of primarily south-central Little Rock residents, who are in Ward 2, in asking for Richardson's resignation.
"We support you in the process of healing, and we know it will be a long and difficult journey. Meanwhile, the business of the city moves forward and we need a sober representative, with presence of mind, who is attentive to the needs of all for Ward 2, seated in the position you now hold," Muse read from a prepared statement.
The Rev. Benny Johnson with Arkansas Stop the Violence countered that statement with support for the city director, who has issued a letter of apology.
"Director Richardson -- he's not going anywhere. This man has been instrumental not only to Ward 2, but in this whole city," Johnson said, as at least 20 supporters stood around him.
Richardson responded to the comments, apologizing again for his actions and saying that he would take time with his family to recover but that he wouldn't resign from his post.
After the meeting, Richardson's mother got into a heated exchange with KTHV-TV, Channel 11 reporter Kevin Trager when Richardson left without giving Trager an interview.
Metro on 01/21/2015