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05/16/2019 MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL May 16, 2019 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, May 16, 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 R.M. Faulkner, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led VFW Rep Jim Fiveash. 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, Willis Mondy. James Pulliaum, and Charles Wheeless. Absent uere Helen Harris, Melame Hutchinson and Lorrame Robinson. Quorum being present, Mayor McClendon proceeded with the meeting. BID OPENINGS: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT- ROBERTA JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER- MR. PAUL LUKER Council Member Moody made a motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to table the bid opening for the Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Center Indefinitely Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to Table Indefinitely. PRESENTATIONS: NONE MINUTES Council Member Cart moved, seconded by Council Member Pulliaum to dispense with the reading of the minutes of May 2, 2019 Council Meeting and approve them as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. OLD BUSINESS: 2•d READING AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE HIRING OF KIMBERLY HAMILTON FOR BAKERY SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Council Member Pulliaum made a motion seconded by Council Member Croom to amend the Ordinance to read as follows: An Ordinance to approve doing business with Kimberly Hamilton for bakery services for the City of West Memphis. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the SECOND time as amended. Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on its third and final reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the THIRD and final TIME. Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to approve the Ordinance. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The Ordinance was adopted and assigned No. 2507. NEW BUSINESS: Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Catt to read R-1, R-2. R-3 by title only. Upon voice vote the voting was unanimous. A RESOLUTION APPROVING A REVISION TO THE 2018 BUDGET City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Council Member Croom made a motion, seconded by Council Member Pulliaum to approve the Resolution. Council Member Catt explained that the 2018 year-end adjustments are typically made early in the first quarter but with the State Auditors being here there are usually some amendment that they want made that Frank Martin is not aware of until the completion of the audit, and that is why they are late. Council Member Cart apologized for being late. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted an assigned No. 2198 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2019 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Discussion followed: Council Member Call explained that typically the 2019 budget is approved in December, but with the New Administration transition and many discussions they waited the first 90 days to see what adjustments were going to be made, everything has ran smoothly and to be in compliance with State Audit ,they are wanting to go ahead and get the Resolution approved. At the next Budget Committee meeting they will be discussing any amendments that need to be made and present them to the Council in June and follow them up with a Resolution. There being no further discussion: Council Member Croom made a motion, seconded by Council Member Pulliaum to approve the Resolution. Discussion followed. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 2199 A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE WILLINGNESS OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS TO UTILIZE FEDERAL AID TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM FUNDS City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Planning and Development Director, Paul Luker gave a brief explanation of the Resolution. The Resolution is authorizing them to pursue a grant with the Arkansas Highway Department. The Grant is a Transportation Alternative Program. The Grant would be an 80/20 match and they will be applying for $250.000 dollars. Discussion followed: Council Member Catt made a motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to approve the Resolution. Discussion followed. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve the Resolution. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 2200 PERMISSION REQUEST: PERMISSION FOR MAYOR MCCLENDON TO SIGN A REAL ESTATE AGREEMENT FROM THE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION COMMISSION Council Member Calf made a motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to table the permission request indefinitely. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to table indefinitely. COMMITTEE REPORTS: FIRE COMMITTEE: The Fire Committee met on Tuesday May 14, 2019 The Department has screened two potential employees. The Department is currently conducting psychological, background checks and physicals. If all three exams are passed, they will be offered employment. The New EMS Billing Clerk Ms. Michelle Nelson has been hired and will fill the new role immediately. The Department had two retirements After 26 years of service Driver Bryan Thomas, retired on April 25, 2019. Lieutenant Mike Nelson will retire from the Department after 28 years of service on May 31, 2019. Both retirements will be celebrated at Fire Station # 1 on May 31. 2019 at 10:00 am. The Department is requesting the purchase of new turnout gear over a 5- year plan to be implemented immediately. The total cost would be approximately $150,000 dollars over a 5-year period. They are wanting to purchase 12 sets a year over a 5-year period at approximately $ 30,000 dollars. The Committee feels this plan would better fit the budget. They would also like to use the same company to furnish the turn outs rather than going with different suppliers in order to keep the gear J compatible during the 5-year transition. They will get with the City Attorney and see what options they have and will bring it back before Council later but would like to begin the process as soon as possible. The E7 did not pass its pump test it is a 1961 reserve pumper. The pumper is 58 years old and has served the City of West Memphis well but the cost to repair is far more costly than the City should invest. The pumper will be used for Special functions The E4 pumper is a 1998 and is 21 years old and is at the end of its life span as a front-line pumper. The department would like to consider replacing E4 with a new front-line pumper and move E4 into the reserve role being vacated by E7. A front-line pumper will cost approximately $550,000. In July the Committee will prepare the specs and try and get the information to Council by September by then they will have a better knowledge of the revenue available and try and get it ordered, since it could take up to a year to get it in. The Department is considering looking into a Capital Improvement Plan for the aging fleet. Engine 2 has been repaired and they will be re-testing the pump in the nest week to make sure it will pass the annual pump test. The agility test will be Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 9:OOam at the Academy of West Memphis High School. They are still in need of Paramedics. Meeting next week to present short term and long-term plans to Stabilize EMS Services EBUDGET COMMITTEE: Council Member Tracy Call said the Budget Committee will meet next Thursday. They finished the 1,( quarter numbers and are putting them on a spread sheet and will present them to Council. They will also update the month end sales taxes at that time. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor McClendon announced that Blues Off Broadway will begin Thursday May 23. 2019 at 5:00 p.m. and will be every Thursday in May. CVBC Director, Jim Jackson announced the line up of musicians that will be performing throughout May. The event is free. Blues off Broadway will be in the parking lot behind the Civic Center located at 228 W, Polk West Memphis, Arkansas. Council Member Pulliaum announced that the Crittenden County Memorial Celebration will take place on May 21, 2019 at 6:00 p.m., anyone interested in submitting a loved one's name that has transitioned to be recognized at the event should contact Mrs. Rhonda Standridge or Mrs. Patricia Lane at Citv Hall located at 205 S. Redding. Applications are also available at the American Legion, Crye-Leike Reality, 40 and 8 and VFW. CITIZEN REQUEST: Ora Breckenridge Came before Council representing the Wonder School Alumni Group to speak about the End -of-an- Era (seventy years) Commemorative Celebration that will take place Memorial Weekend Friday May 24, and Saturday, May 25, 2019. One of the main events of this celebration is a Grand Black and Gold parade to be led by former students of Wonder motor cvcle riders. The Wonder Alumni Group came before Council to request permission to follow the planned route. The Parade step-off will start promptly at 10:00 a.m. from the New Saint Paul Church on S. Eighth Street (where many Wonder Students started School), and go North to Broadwav, and East to fourteenth Street and South onto the Wonder Football Field. The Committee is asking for the Assistance of all necessary City Personnel to ensure the success of the End of the Era for Wonder School Larry Brewer of 614 Alexander Street Lepanto, Arkansas came before Council to voice his dissatisfaction with the Code Enforcement Staff and Department procedures. City Attorney Stephenson informed Mr. Brewer that any concerns he had regarding a City employee should be addressed in closed session or with his office directly and not with the Council. June Simmons of West Memphis Arkansas came before Council to again express her objections to the Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Center being used by the East Arkansas Area of Aging Program. Ms. Simmons is requesting a copy of the memorandum agreement, if there is one. Ms. Simmons is asking the Council to hold a Public Meeting to allow the Community to have a voice in the decision on who should occupy the building and how the building should be used. Having no further business to come before the City Council, Council Member Pulhaum moved, second by Council Member Cart to adjourn, Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this 6t" day of Jame 2019. MARCO MCCLENDO YMAN OR ATTEST: C GRAY, CITY CLE Minutes prepared by Patricia Lane, Sr. Deputy City Clerk