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08/15/2019 MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL August 15, 2019 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, August 15, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Mohammed to appoint Council Member Croom to preside over the August 15, 2019 Council Meeting. Upon Cvoice vote, the motion was unanimous Invocation was given by Pastor John Rech, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by VFW Representative Jim Fweash, Council Member Croom called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Deputy City Clerk, Patricia Lane, called the roll. Those present were, City Attorney Michael Stephenson, City Treasurer Frank Martin and Council Members: Tracy Cott, Wayne Croom, Helen Harris, Melanie Hutchinson,James Holt, Lorraine Mohammed, David Murray, Willis Mandy,lames Pulliaum and Charles Wheeless. Absent were Mayor Marco McClendon. Quorum being present Council Member Croom proceeded with the meeting. BID OPENING: NONE PRESENTATIONS: NONE MINUTES: Council Member Pulliaum moved, seconded by Council Member Wheeless to dispense with the reading of the minutes of August 1, 2019 City Council Meeting and approve them as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve OLD BUSINESS: 3RD READING AN ORDINANCE MAKING THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS FULL TIME AND ESTABLISHING A SALARY FOR THE POSITION THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the THIRD time by title only. Council Member Croom made the motion, seconded by Council Member Pulliaum to amend the Ordinance setting the Mayor's salary at $85,000 dollars instead of$85,500 dollars Discussion followed Council Member Croom asked for a roll call vote Deputy City Clerk, Patricia Lane called roll.The vote was as follows: YES: Council Members Croom and Pulliaum NO: Council Members Catt, Holt, Hutchinson, Harris, Mohammed, Mandy, Murray, Wheeless Abstentions: None Absent: None Upon roll call vote, the vote was 2 Yes votes, 8 No votes 0 Abstentions and 0 Absent votes,the motion to Amend the Ordinance failed. Council Member Catt made a motion,to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Council Member Mohammed. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve The Ordinance was Adopted and assigned No. 2514 3"d Reading AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH COMPENSATION FOR ALDERMAN OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the THIRD and FINAL time by title only. Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Harris to amend the Ordinance to read Council Member instead of Alderman Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to Amend the Ordinance. Council Member Hutchinson made a motion, seconded by Council Member Mohammed to approve the Ordinance as presented. Council Member Croom asked for a roll call vote. The vote was as follows: Yes: Council Member: Harris, Halt, Hutchinson, Pulliaum, Mohammed, Wheeless, Murray and Mondy No: Council Member Catt and Croom Abstention: None Absent None Upon roll call vote,the vote was 8 yes votes, 2 No votes, 0 Abstentions and 0 Absent votes the motion to approve the Ordinance was approved. The Ordinance was Adopted and assigned No. 2515. 3rd READING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS OF ORDINANCE 2361 AND SECTION 1 OF ORDINANCE 2402 REGARDING THE SALARY FOR THE OFFICE OF CITY CLERK AND TO AMEND THE SALARY FOR THE OFFICE OF CITY TREASURER FOR THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance by title only for the THIRD and FINAL time. Council Member Catt made a motion, seconded by Council Member Harris to approve the Ordinance Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The Ordinance was Adopted and assigned No. 2516 NEW BUSINESS: Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Mondy to read 0-1 and R-1 by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR SETTNG THE AGENDA FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS,ARKANSAS,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance by title only for the FIRST time A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE AND FINANCING OF TWO (2)TRUCKS FOR THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Mohammed to approve the Resolution. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No 2207 RECCOMENDATIONS: PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS(SEE MATERIAL IN PACKETS) Council Member Pulliam made a motion, seconded by Council Member Catt to accept the Planning Commission Recommendations as presented. Planning and Development Director, Paul Luker provided a brief explanation. Mr Luker said that the recommendation is an actual live item and is a routine recommendation to accept a sub-division street right away. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to Accept the recommendations. COMMITTEE REPORTS: POLICE COMMITTEE REPORT Council Member Mondy reported that the Police Committee met on Wednesday August 14, 2019,the Committee discussed the National Night Out Name. The Chief of Police, Eddie West said the name National Night Out is a trademark name and they are in the process of selecting a new name for the West Memphis National Night Out Activity, they will present the new name later Sponsors are needed to sponsor the event.The next Citizens Academy class will begin on Tuesday, September 23, 2019, from 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm and will last six weeks, anyone interested in signing up for the class can contact the West Memphis Police Department. There will be an Active Shooters Training on Tuesday,August 20, 2019 from 12:00 pm to 100 pm at the Eugene Woods Civic Center. UTILITY COMMISSION: Council Member Pulhaum presented the Utility Commission report. The West Memphis Utility Commission met on August 8, 2019 at 8:30 am. There were five new hires for the month of July. The Utility Department currently has 13 open positions. The Commission discussed the write offs for year 2017 in the amount of$220,341.90 dollars, the motion to approve the write offs, passed unanimously. The Except State Bid for Unit 14 for bids was presented by General Manager Todd Pedersen. Mr. Pedersen recommended Lewis Ford Sales; Inc bid, in the amount of$37,517 00 dollars. The motion to accept the bid, passed. Finance Director, Frank Martin presented the 2018 Audit Report. prepared by Jackson Howell Associates. The Commission moved to approve the 2018 Audit, the motion passed unanimously. The Final Report for Pump Station#1 was presented by the Engineering Department ANNOUNCEMENTS: Council Member Croom recognized State Representative Mrs. Deborah Ferguson. r Pastor John Rech announced that Families in Transition is a local nonprofit Community Based L organization,that provides housing and mentoring to domestic violence victims. They are a finalist in the State Farm Neighbors Assist Grant. Mr. Rech asked for everyone to visit their Facebook page and vote for Families In Transition (FIT)they can vote each day for the next nine days. If they end up in the top twenty, they will receive $25,000 dollars. Mr Rech asked everyone to share the information with everyone in the community and social media and asked them to vote. Council Member Pulliaum announced that on October 24, 2019, they will be hosting a Government 101 class that will bring together the City Council Members, Department Heads and County Government and officials such as the City and County Clerks, Court Clerks and other Departments. They will be presenting information about the functions of the Governmental Departments and what Governmental functions they offer. The event will be held at the Eugene Wood Civic Center. Assistant Chief Langston announced that the second week in October would be National Night out.The Department is in the process of finalizing all the information and expects to have all the information available to the public in the upcoming weeks Police Community Coordinator, Ms. Tawana Butler will be the contact for anyone needing information They have not decided on what the event will be called,they are waiting for an update from the National Night Out Organization and will share the information on Facebook and other social media when everything is finalized. Assistant Chief Langston also announced that the Department would be conducting an active shooter class on August 20, 2019 from 12.00 pm to 1:00 pm at the Civic Center Council Member Catt clarified that the City Council Meeting will begin at 1:00 pm on the first Thursday of the month and at 5:00 pm on the second Thursday of the month. Council Member Harris recognized the NAACP President Shabaka Afrika. Council Member Mohammed announced that she was recently married, and her name has changed to Mrs. Lorraine Mohammed, Council Member Holt thanked Utility Manager Todd Pederson and the Street Department for all their hard work and rapid response in restoring power to the community during the recent inclement weather. PERMISSION REQUEST: City Treasurer Frank Martin asked for permission to add the distributions of Charitable Funds and the two Council distributions to the agenda in the following amounts: Crittenden County Boys and Girls Club $18,968.28 dollars,J.W Rich Girls Club $18,968.29 dollars, Wonder City Boys and Girls Club $18,968.29 dollars, LR Jackson Girls Club 18,968.29 dollars, Delta Arts $6000.00 dollars, Council Member Holt $1,101.20 dollars to Missouri Street Church of God and Christ and Council Member Hutchinson $450.00 dollars to Safe Way Baptist Church Council Member Catt made a motion, seconded by Council Member Harris to add the permission request to distribute the Charitable Funds to the agenda. Upon voice vote. The voting was unanimous Discussion followed. Council Member Mondy asked had anyone spoken with anyone from Delta Arts regarding their needs or if they had presented a presentation to the Council for consideration, as required of the other organizations. Council Member Catt asked if it would be possible to reduce the amount of$1,000 dollars from each of the four Charities for a total amount of$4,000 dollars and allow Delta Arts to submit a presentation to the Council, the release of the money would be contingent upon the Council accepting Delta Arts presentation. If the Council does not accept the presentation the money would be given back to the four Charities. Council Member Mohammed and Council Member Mondy were opposed to the recommendation. Council Member Catt made a motion, seconded by Council Member Pulliaum to withhold the$1,000 00 dollars from the four Charities to allow Delta Arts the opportunity to present a presentation Council Member Croom asked for a roll call vote. Deputy City Clerk, Patricia Lane called roll. The vote was as follows: Yes: Council Members: Catt, Pulhaum, Wheeless and Holt No Council Members: Harris, Hutchinson, Mondy, Murray and Mohammed Abstention. Council Members: Croom Absent Council Members: Upon roll call vote, the vote was 4 Yes votes, 5 No votes, 1 Abstention and 0 Absent votes, the motion to Amend the Permission request Failed Council Member Hutchinson asked what the distribution amount would be without Delta Arts. City Treasurer, Frank Martin said the amount to be distributed would be$ 20,468.28 dollars to the Crittenden County Boys and Girls Club, $20,468.29 dollars to the 1W Rich Girls Club, $20,468.29 dollars to the Wonder City Boys and Girls Club and $20,468.29 dollars to LR Jackson Girls Club. The two Council Member Distributions would remain the same. Council Member Holt $ 1,101.20 dollars to the Missouri Church of Christ and $450 00 dollars to Safe Way Baptist Church. Council Member Catt made a motion, seconded by Council Member Mohammed to approve the request with the revisions of amount. Upon voice vote,the voting was unanimous to Approve. Council Member Mohammed said that she was looking forward to reviewing Delta Arts presentation for consideration in the future. Council Member Hutchinson said that it is the goal of the Council to promote the Arts to the youth in the community and is equally looking forward to pursuing programs and activities that help expose youth to Art. CITIZEN REQUEST: NONE Having no further business to come before the City Council, Council Member Pulliaum moved, seconded by Council Member Harris to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this 15`h day of August 2019. MARCO MCCLENDON, MAYOR ATTEST: ` C GRAY, CITY CLER Minutes prepared by, Patricia Lane, Sr. Deputy City Clerk