Loading...
October 16, 2014 1 MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 16, 2014 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas. Invocation was given by Brother Larry Brown of the Eighth Street Mission for Jesus Christ. Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 1:30p.m. Phillip Para, City Clerk, called the roll. Those present were: Mayor William H. Johnson, City Attorney David Peeples, City Treasurer Frank Martin and Councilors, Ramona Taylor, Herman Coleman, Willis Mondy, James Holt, Melanie Hutchinson, Lorraine Robinson, and Tracy Catt. Absent: Councilors: James Pulliaum, Marco McClendon, and Taz Tyrone. Quorum being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the meeting. BID OPENINGS Bids for West Memphis Fire Department Six Outdoor Early Warning Siren Systems were opened at 1:00 and copies of the bid tabulation were given to the City Council to review. Councilor Robinson made a motion, seconded by Councilor Catt to accept the bids and refer them to the Fire Commission for final disposition. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous, (See attached bid sheet) Fire Commission members were asked to stay immediately after the Council Meeting to award the bid. PRESENTATIONS City Engineer Phillip Sorrell presented a plaque to Mayor Johnson from FEMA Arkansas Natural Resources Department recognizing the city for earning a Class 7 on the Community Rating System. The City of West Memphis citizens who are located in a flood plain area will now receive a 15% discount on their flood insurance due to this ranking. MINUTES Councilor Catt moved, seconded by Councilor Robinson to dispense with the reading of the minutes of October 2, 2014 City Council meeting and approve them as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. OLD BUSINESS 2ND READING AN ORDINANCE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING ON DENTAL INSURANCE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time. 2ND READING AN ORDINANCE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING ON LIFE INSURANCE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES WITH CIGNA LIFE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time. 2ND READING AN ORDINANCE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING ON GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES WITH CIGNA HEALTHCARE,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time. NEW BUSINESS Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to suspend the rules and read 0-1, and 0-2, by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. 0-1 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE HIRING OF WILLIE SAMPLEY D/B/A SAMPLEY TREE SERVICE FOR TREE REMOVAL, CLEAN UP AND STUMP GRINDING FOR THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the first time. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on the second reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the second time. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to further suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on the third and final reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the third time. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to approve the Ordinance. Mayor Johnson explained the reason for adopting this Ordinance was the person who is going to do the work is related to a Utility Department employee. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Ordinance was adopted and assigned No. 2353. 0-2 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 6.72.010 OF THE WEST MEMPHIS MUNICIPLA CODE TO PROHIBIT EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM THE MANIFOLD OR EXHAUST SYSTEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLES IN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the FIRST time. 2 Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to add R-1 and 0-3 to the agenda and read the title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. R-1 A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2014 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Peeples read the Resolution. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to approve the Resolution. Mayor Johnson explained this was to help fund the operation of the Roberta Jackson Community Center for the rest of the year. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No.2065. 0-3 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR EXCAVATION AND THE REMOVAL OF DIRT IN A R-1, RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY IN THE 900 BLOCK OF WALNUT STREET AND PECAN STREET IN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the first time. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on the second reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the second time. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to further suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on the third and final reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the third time. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to approve the Ordinance. Mayor Johnson explained the extension of the stormwater detention basin will add an additional 20,000,000 gallons of storage capacity to the existing basin. The basin will now hold 60,000,000 gallons of water. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Ordinance was adopted and assigned No.2354. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to adopt the Emergency Clause Section III. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Ordinance and the Emergency Clause was adopted. PERMISSION REQUEST Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to approve the payment of$144,236.94 to Leidos. Mayor Johnson explained this was for the engineering firm working on expanding the broad band at West Memphis Utility. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. COMMITTEE REPORTS Public Works Committee—Council Taylor reported that the 2014 Street Overlay bids were awarded to Lehman Roberts for the amount of$259,637.95. They discussed the intersection problems at S. Avalon at Tyler. Mr. Sorrell spoke with Eddie Brewley, MPO Director and reported that he is going to collect data and report the results back to the committee. The recycling facility(RockTenn)that the city has been using closed on October 8, 2014. They are meeting with a new facility(Recommunity)to inspect their site and see if we will be able to get an account set up with them. The total for recycling in August was 10,940 pounds. City Engineer Phillip Sorrell reported on the city receiving a Class 7 rating on CRS and reported West Memphis is one of three cities with the lowest rating in the state. In other business, he reported that significant improvements have been made to Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. by the highway department and that the new district engineer has been thanked. The CDBG Drainage Project preliminary design is almost complete and construction plans are being worked on. They hope to bid the project by the end of the year. Estimated cost for the project is$100,000 per year for three years. Councilor Pulliaum asked if the Street Department can clean the drainage ditch on Jackson around 21st Street to Ingram. Mr. Sorrell reported Southland Drive Phase ll-job is complete and road is open. Due to the steep roadway and it being adjacent to the railroad we have been having problems with embankment erosion ON Mound City Road and the Street Department is trying to repair it. The Civic Complex is having damaged pine trees removed from the site and the sanitation department has agreed to dispose of trees. Mr. Sorrell also reported have the annual tire cleanup has begun. Sanitation is storing tires at the City Shop until they can be hauled to the county shop. He reported they have to work closely with the County Shop to schedule times for tire disposal. Councilor Robinson asked about cutting the weeds behind WE Catt because she has received numerous complaints from residents there. AIRPORT COMMISSION—Councilor Robinson reported work has begun on the North Apron Rehabilitation Project. It is a 60 day project. A Warranty Inspection was conducted on the Runway Project with representatives from APAC, ETI, and the Airport. The prime contractor is working on the punch list. The Airport Commission voted to renew their Liability Insurance Policy withy Phoenix Aviation Managers, Inc. through EBCO Aviation Underwriters. The premium, deductible and coverage remained unchanged from the previous year. Commissioner Mel Bearden and Airport Manager Lynda Avery attended the annual AR Airport Operators Conference in Ft. Smith this month. FIRE COMMISSION -Councilor Catt reported there were no dismissals, suspensions, promotions or citizen complaints. There was one hiring. The new EMS Billing Clerk started September 15, 2014. The computer and software has been set up and she has begun billing. This is Fire Prevention Month and our Firefighters are busy going into the schools and teaching kids about fire prevention. The WMFD recently hosted three Fire Academy Classes here in West Memphis. The Bi-Racial Committee met September 2, 2014. EMS Collections as of September 30, 2014 are$251,768.25. POLICE COMMISSION—Councilor Mondy reported that Mr. Parks from Westwood Apartments attended the meeting and had concerns about loitering and stray dogs on their property. 3 Councilor Mondy asked about the possibility of the Old Bridge closing down. Mayor Johnson said that was the plans of the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the project of redoing the flyover calls for closing the bridge for 1 to 2 years. He said we cannot live with the closing of the bridge and handle all the traffic. He said the Arkansas Department of Transportation and Senator Keith Ingram are opposing this plan and are setting up Public Hearings. Councilor Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilor Catt to add Southland allocations to the agenda. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Coleman to divide the$63,630.49 equally four ways to West Memphis Boys/Girls Club, JW Rich Girls Club, and LR Jackson Girls Club if they have complied with turning their financial information in as required. Discussion was held. Councilor Mondy said he had issues with the LR Jackson Girls Club. Frank Martin, Financial Director said all the clubs had turned in their financial reports with the exception of Wonder City Boys Club and LR Jackson Girls Club. He said however, 3`d Quarter financials were not actually due yet. Discussion continued. Councilor Mondy said his issues with Wonder City Boys Club have been resolved but not LR Jackson Girls Club. Councilor Mondy made a motion, seconded by Councilor Hutchinson to amend the motion, to hold the funds for the LR Jackson Girls Club until their financial reports are turned in and their Board of Directors meet with the City Council. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Councilor Mondy made a motion, seconded by Councilor Hutchinson to approve the motion as amended. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Councilor Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to distribute the Charity Day funds from Southland in the amount of$3,879.61 with 60% going to the Good Neighbor Center and 40% going to the Delta Neighborhood Action Council. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. ANNOUNCEMENTS None CITIZENS REQUESTS Kyle Watkins, 867 Proctor Road—said the business at LR Jackson Girls Club needs to be straightened out. He said the sidewalk needs repairing in front of the club. Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Catt moved, second by Councilor Taylor to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this 6th day of November, 2014. WILLIAM H. JOHNS N, MAYOR ATTEST: P "ARA, CITY CLERK Minutes prepared by Cindy Greenwood, Sr. Deputy City Clerk 4E145V, •....... CITY Of WEST MEMPFIIc 205 S.Redding• P.O.Box 1728•West Memphis,Arkansas 72303-1728 •(870)732-7500 OCTOBER 16, 2014 RID TART TT,ATION SHEET FOR WEST MEMPHIS FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR SIX(6) OUTDOOR EARLY WARNING SIREN SYSTEMS VENDOR TOTAL AMOITNT American Signal corp. $ 1,3Z, 039.01 Syr GJ4e 4 Pais lisle D H Marketing $ No OA 1 3,'*?F.oo 51..14 hJ.•e,r.v.4 Federal Signal $__.,_l.f.9,_/Sti.,&2_47f. $40.4 A, Storms Sirens,Inc. $ / Q Q , An Equal Opportunity Employer ��,�, � ..,•ten �hY CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS West Memphis, Arkansas 72301 Planning and Development Ph.#(870)732-7520 MEMO TO: Mayor William H. Johnson and City Council Members FROM: Christine Byrd, Planning Commission Coordinator DATE: October 15, 2014 RE: Recommendations from the Special Called Planning Commission meeting held on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, to the Mayor and City Council, on Thursday, October 16, 2014. I. PUBLIC HEARING: Special Use Permit,Lowrance Services,LLC,Approximately 900 Block of Walnut Street and Pecan Street-Application,Case#SUP-05-14—The City of West Memphis Planning Commission held a Special Called Meeting and Public Hearing on Wednesday,October 15,2014, at 11:30 A M,to hear and consider a Special Use Permit request, presented by the property owners,to klito allow excavation and removal of soil, in a R-1, Residential District,for the property located at approximately 900 Block of Walnut Street and Pecan Street, in the City of West Memphis, Arkansas. After discussion and review of the request,the Planning Commission recommended approval of the Special Use Permit request, Case#SUP-05-14. (Ordinance Prepared.) Approval is subject to the following criteria: 1. Final site plan, development criteria, ingress/egress and construction time frame shall be subject to the approval of the City Engineer prior to beginning operations. L L