12/07/2017 MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
December 7, 2017
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 1:30
p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding,West Memphis, Arkansas.
Invocation was given by Brother Mike Seals of Missouri Street Church.of 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 Michael Stephenson, City Clerk Phillip Para, City Treasurer Frank
Martin and Council Members:Melanie Hutchinson, Tracy Catt, James Pulliaum, Ramona Taylor, Marco
McClendon, Willis Mondy, James Holt and Wayne Croom. Council Member Helen Harris(arrived at 1:35)
Absent. Council Member Lorraine Robinson. Quorum being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the
meeting.
BID OPENING:
EUGENE WOODS CIVIC CENTER-INTERIOR RENOVATIONS-MR.JIM JACKSON-WEST MEMPHIS
ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION COMMISSION
No bids were submitted
PROCLAMATION
Ms. Somer Smith presented a proclamation to the West Memphis Christian School Black Knights Football
Team, proclaiming December 8, 2017 as West Memphis Christian Black Knights Day.
MINUTES
Council Member Catt made a motion, seconded by Council Member Pulliaum to dispense with the
reading of the Minutes of November 16, 2017 City Council Meeting and approve them as submitted. Upon j
voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
3'd AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION CODE FOR THE CITY OF
WEST MEMPHIS,ARKANSAS,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Council Member McClendon made a motion, seconded by Council Member Mondy to table until
next Council meeting. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
2ND AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND.SECTION 2.12.010 OF THE WEST MEMPHIS MUNICIPAL
CODE REGARDING AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS,.AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the SECOND time.
2ND AN ORDINANCE WAIVING COMPETITIVE`BIDDING TO REPLACE COMPUTER SOFTWARE
SYSTEM FOR THE WEST MEMPHIS FIRE DEPARTMENT, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the SECOND time. Council Member Pulliaum
made a motion, seconded by Council Member Taylor to suspend the rules and place the
Ordinance on the THIRD reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the THIRD and FINAL time. Council Member
Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Harris to approve the Ordinance. Upon
voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Council Member Taylor moved, seconded by Council
Member Pulliaum to declare an emergency under section Il to approve the emergency clause.
Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The Ordinance was adopted and
assigned No.2447
NEW BUSINESS
Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to suspend the rules and
read R-1, R-2, R-3, 0-1, 0-2, and 0-3 by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
R-1 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REMODELING OF THE ROBERTA JACKSON
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Council Member Pulliaum made motion,
seconded by Council Member Taylor to approve the Resolution. Upon voice vote. The voting was
unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No.2153.,
R-2 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SELECTION OF AN ARCHITECTUAL FIRM TO PROVIDE
DESIGN SERVICES REQUIRED TO PREPARE PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND BID DOCUMENTS
TO ASSIST WITH THE PROPOSED REMODELING AND TO PROVIDE TYPICAL CONSTRUCTION
_ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR THE WEST MEMPHIS DISTRICT COURT BUILDING,AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Council Member Pulliaum made a motion,
seconded by Council Member Taylor to approve the Resolution. Upon voice vote. The voting was.
unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 2154.
R-3 A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE 2017 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF
WEST MEMPHIS,ARKANSAS,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Council Member Catt made a motion,
seconded by Council Member Taylor to table the Resolution indefinitely. Upon voice vote. The
voting was unanimous.(Tabled Indefinitely)
R-4 A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2017 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF
WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Council Member McClendon made a motion, seconded by Council Member Pulliaum to add R-4
to the agenda. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Council Member Taylor made a
motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to make the following amendments to the
Resolution in Exhibit A. Delete full time employees with less than 12 months employment and
strike the 1000.00 dollars. Discussion followed: Council Member McClendon made a motion to
amend the Resolution to,give part time employees that have worked with the City at least one
year a 500.00-dollar bonus. The motion failed for lack of a second. Council Member McClendon
rescinded his motion. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to accept the amendments as
presented. City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution as amended by title only. Council
Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Taylor to approve the Resolution
as presented. Upon voice vote. The voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and
assigned No 2155.
0-1 AN ORDINANCE REPELLING ORDINANCE NO. 815 WHICH CREATED AN AUDITORIUM
COMMISSION AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NO.909 WHICH ENLARGED THE
AUDITORIUM COMMISSION,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance by title only for the First time.
0-2 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE HIRING OF KEITH HOLT D/B/A FIREHOUSE PROPERTY
MAINTENANCE TO DO MAINTENANCE ON BUILDINGS OWNED BY THE CITY OF WEST
MEMPHIS,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the FIRST time. Council Member Pulliaum
made a motion, seconded by Council Member Taylor to suspend the 'rules and place the
Ordinance on the SECOND reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. City Attorney
Stephenson read the Ordinance for the SECOND time. Council Member Pulliaum made a motion,
seconded by Council Member Taylor to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on the THIRD
and FINAL reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous City Attorney Stephenson read
the Ordinance for the THIRD and FINAL time. Council Member Pulliaum made a motion,
seconded by Council Member Taylor to approve the Ordinance. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous. The Ordinance was adopted and assigned No.2448
0-3 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN ADDITIONAL(6) MONTH MORATORIUM ON THE
ENFORCEMENT OF CHAPTER 5.40 SOLICITORS, CHAPTER 5.42,SOLICITORS IN
PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND CHAPTER 6.48, PEDDLING AND SOLICITING ON
PRIVATE RESIDENCE, OF THE WEST MEMPHIS MUNICIPAL CODE; MAKING VARIOUS
FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance by tile only for the FIRST time. Council Member
Catt made a motion, seconded by Council Member Taylor to suspend the rules and place the
Ordinance on its second reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. City Attorney
Stephenson read the Ordinance by title only for the SECOND time.
PERMISSION REQUEST
NONE.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Public Works Committee- Council Member Taylor said that Council Member Pulliaum
recommended that the Committee should look at the efficiency of sanitation curbside pickup over the next
year. The total recycling report for the month of November was 13,620 pounds. There was 1 load of e-
waste pick up. Construction bids have been advertised for the Hino Bridge. The bids will be opened on
January 17, 2018.A work order is expected to be issued in mid to late February with construction to start
around the first of April. They have received the contract on the South Loop and have made changes that
were recommended and will be resubmitting the contract. The City Engineer Department is still working
v
e
with the Department of Transportation on the Lehr Street Bridge. Code Enforcement has printed the
grass lien list and will be submitting the list to the County soon. They are currently working on cars, litter
and debris. Council Member Pulliaum suggested that he would like to focus on cleaning up the avenues
more often now that grass season is over.
Keep West Memphis Beautiful—Council Member Taylor reported that Council Member Robinson had a
cleanup day with 4 court appointed workers and picked up 137 bags of leaves.
Advertising and Promotion - Council Member Taylor reported that the Commission met on November
19, 2017. The Commission approved funding for 2 Fix it Shop stations with one to be located at the
Arkansas Big River and one to be located at the Trail Head on Martin Luther King Drive. The Commission
also approved funding to assist the West Memphis Police Department with three Sky Cop cameras that
will be placed along the Tourist Corridor and service road. Council Member Taylor reported on building
usage for the Civic Auditorium and Civic Center. Due to the Auditorium being remodeled, there were no
activates held at the Auditorium in the month of October. The Civic Center had 4 activities for a total of
482 visitors.
Budget Committee- Council Member Catt reported that most of the items discussed in the last Budget
meeting regarding employee bonus have already been addressed by Council. The budget Committee will
be meeting next week to set up a schedule for budget hearings and will post the schedule for the budget
hearings. Plans are to begin the hearings some time in the next week. Frank Martin, City Treasurer stated
that he has made a request to postpone the budget hearings until the first week in January. Council
Member Catt agreed to wait until the first week in January to schedule budget hearings.
Personnel Committee-Council Member.Hutchinson reported that the Personnel Committee met on
December 6, 2017. The Committee discussed follow up on open enrollment. Open enrollment will begin
December'11, 2017 through December 17, 2017. AETNA packets will be distributed to employees next
week. A meeting with Aetna representatives, Department Heads and Supervisors will be on December
13, 2017 at the Eugene Woods Civic Center at 11:00 a.m. The Committee also discussed longevity check
follow up, Incentives and cost of living raises. The Personnel Committee is in the process of considering
some other alternatives that involve budgeting for annual incentives and determining an annual basis for
a cost of living raise. Ms. Janice Coleman, Personnel Director will reach out to other cities to compare
what incentives are available to employee's. They also discussed setting up a Catastrophic Leave
Program that would allow employees an opportunity to donate unused sick leave to a bank for eligible
employees.
Utility Commission- Council Member Croom reported that the Utility Commission met on December
5, 2017. Budget was approved by the Committee and will be submitted to the Budget Committee.
APPOINTMENTS
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS -
Council Member Taylor thanked everyone that worked to help make the Christmas Parade a success,
particularly the Chamber of Commerce that coordinated everything. Council Member Taylor congratulated
the West Memphis Police Department who received a second-place award for best float. The West
Memphis Public Library will be hosting two events in December. On Saturday December 9, 2017 they will
be showing the movie Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them at 12:00 noon the event is free to the
public and popcorn will be provided. On December 19, 2017 the Library will be having their annual open
house from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Council Member McClendon said that the City Shop building needs some minor repairs. Frank Martin,
City Treasurer suggested that they reach out to the City Purchasing agent to address the issues and put
out a bid for repairs. Council Member Taylor also suggested that they contact the City Engineer, Amanda
Hicks to make her aware of the situation since she is over the City Shop.
Council Member Holt thanked the Utility Department and First Responders for their hard work in clearing
up an accident on Missouri Street on December 2, 2017. Due to their efforts the local businesses were
able to return to their buildings right away with little interruption to their work day.
Mayor Johnson spoke on behalf of the employees and thanked the Council for what they did for the
employees.
CITIZEN REQUEST
NONE
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Council Member Pulliaum moved, second by '
Council Member Taylor to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned
at 2:10 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this 21St day of December 2017.
e-
ATTEST: WILLIAM H. JCMNSOiT, tAYOR
PHIL L PARA, CITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by:Patricia Lane,Jr. Deputy City Clerk