04/04/2019 MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
April 4, 2019
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday. April 4,
2019 at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West
Memphis, Arkansas.
Invocation was given by Pastor David Young, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led
L by Council Member Croom. Mayor Marco McClendon called the meeting to order at
1,30 p.m. City Clerk, Joyce Gray, called the roll Those present were: Mayor Marco
McClendon. City Attorney Michael Stephenson, City Treasurer Frank Martin and Council
Members Tracy Catt, Wayne Croom, James Holt, Helen Harris, Melanie Hutchinson,
Lorraine Robinson and Charles Wheeless. Absent were James Puthaum and Willis
Moody Quorum being present, Mayor McClendon proceeded with the meeting.
CITY FAMILY PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor McClendon recognized several City Employees for their outstanding
performance. Police Chief Eddie West acknowledged Detective Amber Kimbrough.
Detective Kimbrough was recognized for her innovative way of communicating with an
artistic child. Detective Kimbrough developed an "I need I feel' effective way of
communication, using laminated cards to express feelings of different emotions when
conducting a phrenetic interview of an artistic child with nonverbal communication
skills. City Treasurer Frank Martin acknowledged Director of Data Processing, Mrs.
Lola Adaway for 50 plus years of outstanding service with the City of West Memphis.
PROCLOMATIONS:
FAIR HOUSING MONTH- MRS, MARIE HEAD
Community Development Coordinator, Mrs. Mane Head read the Fair Housing
Proclamation for the City of West Memphis. Mayor Marco McClendon proclaimed April
2019 as the Fair Housing Month.
WEST MEMPHIS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Council Member Croom presented a proclamation to the 2019 West Memphis
Christian School Black Knights State Championship Basketball Team. Mayor
McClendon proclaimed April 4, 2019 as West Memphis Christian School Black Knights
Day.
MINUTES
Council Member Call moved, seconded by Council Member Croom to dispense with
the reading of the minutes of March 21. 2019 Council Meeting and approve them as
submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve.
OLD BUSINESS:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 1224 SECTION 3 REGARDING
DUTIES OF CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS,
ARKANSAS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,
City Attornev Stephenson read the Ordinance for the SECOND time by title only.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 2403 AND SECTION 34.30 OF THE
WEST MEMPHIS MUNICIPAL CODE, TO SET GARBAGE COLLECTION FEES AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance by title only for the SECOND time.
NEW BUSINESS:
Council Member Robinson made a motion, seconded by Council Member Wheeless to
read R-1, R-2, R-3, O-1, and 0-2 by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous.
A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO ISSUE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT REVENUE
BONDS
City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Council Member Cart made
a motion seconded by Council Member Croom to approve the Resolution. Upon voice
vote, the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 2191
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A REVISION TO THE 2019 BUDGET
Citv Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Council Member Catt made
a motion, seconded by Council Member Hams to approve the Resolution. Upon voice
vote, the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 2192
A RESOLUTION NAMING THE NEW THE NEW WATER TOWER ON BROADWAY,
THE OFFICIAL WAYNE CROOM WATER TOWER FOR THE CITY OF WEST
MEMPHIS
Council Member Croom made a motion, seconded by Council Member Harris to table
the Resolution indefinitely. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to table
indefinitely.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE BUDGET FOR 2019, FOR
THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE
Council Member Harris made a motion, seconded by Council Member Hutchinson to
add the Resolution to the agenda. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only Council Member Harris
made a motion, seconded by Council Member Hutchinson to appoint Dr. Shakeb
Hashmi as Medical Director to the West Memphis Fire Department. Upon voice vote,
the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 2193
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1548 TO ALLOW THE SALE,
CONSUMPTION OR POSESSION OF BEER AND WINE PRODUCTS ON PUBLIC
PROPERTY OWNED AND DESIGNATED BY THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS AND
SUPERVISED BY THE WEST MEMPHIS ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION
COMMISSION.
City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the FIRST time by title only.
AN ORDINANCE TO ABOLISH ORDINANCE 2142, MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING
THE COLLECTION OF MATERIAL, OTHER THAN GARBAGE AND TO ABOLISH
ORDINANCE 1789, REGARDING REMOVAL OF CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS.
Council Member Catt made a motion, seconded by Council Member Wheeless to table
the Ordinance indefinitely.
PERMISSION REQUEST:
PERMISSION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOW FINANCE DIRECTOR FRANK
MARTIN TO DELETE ITEMS AND PUT THEM IN THE ELECTRONIC RECYCLABLE J
BIN
Council Member Croom made a motion, seconded by Council Member Robinson to
give Finance Director, Frank Martin Permission to delete items and put them in the
Electronic Recycle Bin. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
PERMISSION TO DELETE AND REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE INVENTORY ASSET
LIST THAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED, TRADED IN, OR STILL ON THE CITY
PROPERTY LIST OF 2018
Council Member Croom made a motion, seconded by Council Member Robinson to
give Finance Director, Frank Martin permission to remove items from the Inventory
Asset List that has been destroyed, traded in or still on the City Property List of
2018.Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
PERMISSION FOR MAYOR MACCLENDON TO SIGN RUBICON CONTRACT- MRS.
AMANDA HICKS
Mayor McClendon said the Rubicon contract would be tabled until the nest Council
meeting on April 18, 2019
Council Member Cart asked for permission from the Council to pay the Automobile
Insurance that was already a budgeted item and was approved in January. the
amount of$115,702.62. Council Member Croom made a motion seconded by Council
Member Robinson to give permission to Frank Martin to pay the $115,702.62 for
Automobile Insurance. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
STATE OF THE CITY MESSAGE-
Mayor McClendon announced that he will be giving his State of the City Message on
Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at the Eugene Wood Auditorium.
Council Member Catt made a motion seconded by Council Member Croom to add the
Mayor's State of the City Message to the agenda and Council Minutes. Council
received a copy a of the Mayor's State of the City Message at Pre-Council; a copy is on
file and available in the Citv Clerk's office and it will be posted on the City Web-site.
Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
AIRPORT COMMITTEE: Council Member Croom presented the Airport Committee
report. The Airport Committee met on Monday March 25, 2019. City Treasure Frank
Martin recommended that they refinance the Airport Revenue Bond due to a 1%
decrease that would save the City of West Memphis $300.000 .00 dollars. It was voted
on and passed unanimously. Susanna Cook with the Garber Engineers reported that
the bid openings for the runway marking rehab will be done and they will accept the
lowest bid. Ms. Cook also plans on applying for an 80/20 or 90/10 State Grant with
the Arkansas Aeronautics Department.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Council Member Robinson presented the Public Works
report. Public Works met on Tuesday April 2. 2019. MPO Director Eddie Brawley
presented the options for speed control. Three options were discussed at the meeting.
Speed bumps can not be used on public streets only on private streets such as malls
and hospital areas, speed humps were the second option and can only be used on
public streets with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour the third was speed tables that
can be used on public streets with a speed limit of 25 to 35 miles per hour. Mr.
Brawlev discussed another option of mini round about. Mr. Brawley said that three
way and four way stop signs are not designed by State Statue to reduce speed. The
Committee will continue to do research and determine what will work best for the City.
Sanitation Department had two promotions Ms. Robbie Amos and Mr. Charles Clark.
Mr. Charles Clark will be over residential and solid waste and Ms. Robbie Amos will be
over Commercial and environmental litter and debris. They will work together
collectively to improve the quality of the Sanitation department and appearance of the
City. City Engineer Ms. Amanda Hicks reported that a front-end loader is needed and
she is currently looking into several options in order to secure one. Petro Cove is
completed all bridges have been completed or are near completion. There were two
citizens' complaints. One was the resolved by Ms. Amos the other complaint was a Mr
Dennis Morris who lives at 506 Lois Marie Cove. Mr. Morris was concerned about
Commercial trucks parking on his street. The Committee suggested that he come to
the Police Commission meeting so that they could address his concern.
BUDGET COMMITTEE: Council Member Tracy Cott presented the Budget
Committee report. Council Member Catt said most of the items discussed by the
Committee had already been addressed. The one item that still needed to be addressed
by Council that was already approved was the purchase of 3 police vehicles for the
police detectives to replace some vehicles that were no longer reliable Council Member
Catt asked the Council for permission to purchase the vehicles. Council Member Catt
said that one of the vehicles could possibly be brought back to City Hall to be used by
one of the City Inspectors. City Treasurer Frank Martin checked the State Bid
Contract the cost for a four-door sedan would be approximately $20,646.00 dollars
each plus an additional $5000.00 dollars to $7,000.00 dollars for equipment, license
and tae. Council Member Croom made a motion, seconded by Council Member J
Robinson to approve the purchase of the vehicles. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Mayor announced that the City Clerk's office is asking all Committee Chairman to
provide the schedule, date, time and list of Committee Members on that Committee to
the City Clerk's office, so that it can be posted on the City's social media for the public.
The City Clerk's office is also asking that all Committee Chairman provide a hard copy
of their Committee minutes, so that they can be archived in the City Clerk's office and
that anything that is circulated at pre council or added to the agenda be given to the
City Clerk's office prior to Council.
CITIZENS REQUEST:
Ms. June Simmons of 421 S. 14th Street West Memphis, Arkansas came before
Council to address the Roberta Neighborhood Center. Ms. Simmons came before
Council to again express her strong objections to the Neighborhood Center being used
as a Senior Citizen building. Ms. Simmons reviewed the Minutes from January 2019
through March 2019 and could not find where it was substantiated that a contract
had already been agreed upon between the Senior Citizen group. Ms. Simmons is ]
asking that no agreement be agreed upon until at such time the Citizens of West J
Memphis could come before council to express their concerns. Ms. Simmons also
thanked the Council for their concern for Council Member Willis who was not feeling
well at pre-council. -
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Council Member Harris
moved, second by Council Member Catt to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this 18th day of April 2019.
MARCO MCCLENDON, MAYOR
A ST:
Y E GRAY, CITY C ERK
Minutes prepared by Patricia Lane. Sr. Deputy City Clerk