Vote set on status of city task force
The city plans to move the Little Rock Sustainability Commission from a mayoral task force to a formal commission.
The commission focuses on environmental stewardship, energy consumption, community design, food access and green building standards.
Vice Mayor and Ward 3 City Director Kathy Webb said the move would elevate the commission's importance and make it easier for constituents to find information about it on the city website. The city Board of Directors will vote on whether to formalize the commission at the board's regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Little Rock boards and commissions are made up of members appointed by the city's Board of Directors who serve on a volunteer basis and give recommendations to the board. The sustainability commission will have 15 members, according to the proposed ordinance.
Utility backs study of low-water dams
Central Arkansas Water and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to study the consequences of existing low-water dams in the Maumelle River.
The utility's board of commissioners approved the resolution at its regular meeting on Thursday.
The utility and Corps of Engineers will share the cost, which is projected to be $555,000. The water agency's share would be $227,500 over two years. The study will also look into the feasibility of removing the dams and restoring environmental habitats to pre-construction conditions.
Class to focus on food businesses
A University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture workshop series geared toward entrepreneurs starting their own local foods products and businesses will hold a Little Rock class on Oct. 4.
The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service State Office, 2301 S. University Ave.
Registration is required and limited to 50 participants at each location. A $10 registration fee covers all materials and lunch. Online registration and more information is available at https://bit.ly/2NiHEMj.
Lecture spotlights urban design work
A lecture titled "City Leaders as Urban Designers: Planning for Rapid Change" will be held at the Arkansas Arts Center from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 25.
The Architecture and Design Network, a Little Rock nonprofit, is the event's sponsor. Trinity Simons, the executive director of the Mayors' Institute on City Design, will talk about and lead a conversation on the mayor's role as chief urban designer and the relevance of planning in the 21st century, according to the Architecture and Design Network. Simons is an El Dorado native.
The Arkansas Arts Center is located at 501 E. Ninth St. Architecture and Design Network lectures are free and open to the public.
Dog park will host vendors, contests
MacArthur Dog Park in downtown Little Rock will have food, contests, prizes, demos, vendors and fun for canines and humans alike at its "Paws in the Park" event on Thursday.
The "Yappy Hour" will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., according to the city website. The dog park is located at 601 E. Ninth St.
The event is hosted by the city's Parks and Recreation Department.
Metro on 09/17/2018