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11/21/2019 MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL November 21,2019 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis. Arkansas. LInvocation was given by Council Member, Helen Harris followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Retired Lt. Colonel Wayne Fuller. Council Member Lorraine Mohammed called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Sr. Deputy City Clerk. Patricia Lane, called the roll. Those present were, City Attorney Michael Stephenson, City Treasurer Frank Martin and Council Member, Tracy Can. Wayne Croom, Helen Harris. James Holt, Lorraine Mohammed, David Murray. Willis Moody, and Charles Wheeless. Absent were: Mayor Marco McClendon, Melanie Hutchinson and James Pullinum. Quorum being present Council Member Lorraine Mohammed proceeded with the meeting. Council Member Catt made the motion, seconded by Council Member Harris to appoint Council Member Lorraine Mohammed as chair for the November 21, 2019 Council Meeting in the absence of Mayor Marco McClendon. Upon voice vote. The voting was unanimous. BID OPENINGS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT- DEMOLITION MARIE HEAD Council Member Catt made a motion, seconded by Council Member Harris to Table the bids until the next Council Meeting on December 5, 2019. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. MINUTES: Council Member Cart moved, seconded by Council Member Croom to dispense with the reading of the minutes of November 7. 2019 City Council Meeting and approve them as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. OLD BUSINESS: 0-1 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR 806 AUBURN AVE, PERMITTING A GREENHOUSE IN A R-1 FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the SECOND time. 0-2 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR 1105 BALFOUR, PERMITTING A COMMUNICATION TOWER IN A R-1 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. Council Member Moody made the motion, seconded by Council Member Wheeless to table the Ordinance Indefinitely. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to Table Indefinitely. 0-3 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED ON BILL'S GRILL RD., PERMITTING A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER IN A C-2 OPEN DISPLAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the SECOND time by title only NEW BUSINESS: Council Member Catt made the motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to read R-1 and 0-2 by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. R-1 A RESOLUTION APPROVING MATTERS PERTAINING TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BONDS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED City Attorney Stephenson read the Resolution by title only. Council Member Catt made the motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to approve the Resolution. Discussion followed: Council Member Mohammed asked for Economic Development Director, Phillip Sorrell to give a brief explanation. Mr. Sorrell said that the resolution and agreement pertained to Bosch Power Tool a facility which is one of our top business in the community. Bosch has been at the same location on Airport road since 2001 and employs over 380 people. What Bosch is asking for in this resolution and attachment is for a 15-year extension of the pilot agreement. This is a supplemental agreement that will allow for the 15-year extension of abided tax at 65%. Presently the property is under the Act 9 Industrial Revenue Bonds and is on the books at no taxes. This resolution and agreement will move it to 35% of what the tax would be as payment in lieu of taxes. There being no further discussion, Council Member Mohammed asked Sr. Deputy City Clerk, Patricia Lane to call role the roll. The vote was as follows: YES: Council Members: Catt, Croom, Harris, Holt, Mondy, Murray Mohammed and Wheeless NO: Council Members None ABSTAIN: Council Member None ABSENT: Council Members Hutchinson, Pulliaum With 8 yes votes, 0 No votes 0 Abstentions and 2 absent votes the motion to approve the Resolution passed. The Resolution was ADOPTED and assigned NO. 2211 0-1 AN ORDINANCE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR REPAIRS TO FLUSH TRUCK FOR STREET DEPARTMENT, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance for the First time by title only. Council Member Catt made the motion, seconded by Council Member Mondy to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its second reading. Upon voice vote, the motion was unanimous. City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance for the SECOND time by title only. Council Member Croom made the motion, seconded by Council Member Harris to further suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its 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 Catt made the 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 2525 Council Member Catt made the motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to adopt the Emergency Clause in Section 2. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to adopt the Emergency Clause. PERMISSION REQUEST: PERMISSION TO AWARD THE BID FOR ROBERTA JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER FOR FLOORING AND ASBESTOS Council Member Croom made a motion, seconded by Council Member Catt to accept the bid. Discussion followed: Council Member Mondy was opposed to awarding the bids as presented. Council Member Mandy said that Planning & Development Director, Paul Luker informed him that all bidders were not given all the necessary information in which to submit their bids. Council Member Mondy felt that this was not fair. Council Member Catt said that it was a two- part project and he would like to see Council approve the asbestos removal and get that done immediately and then come back in two weeks and address the flooring issue. Council Member Mandy agreed with Council Member Calls recommendations. Planning & Development Director, Paul Luker said the asbestos removal was specialized work and they would have a 10-day notice before work could start, it would take approximately 3 weeks to complete. The lowest bid was $22,560.00 dollars Council Member Cart made a motion, seconded by Council Member Mondy to amend the permission request to read to approve the awarding of the bid for the asbestos removal to SEG Incorporated only. The bid for the flooring will be addressed at the December 5. 2019 council meeting. There being no further discussion. Council Member Lorraine Mohammed asked for a roll call vote: Sr Deputy City Clerk Patricia Lane called roll. The roll call vote was as follows: YES: Council Members: Catt, Croom, Harris, Holt, Mandy. Murray Mohammed and Wheeless NO: Council Members None ABSTAIN: Council Member None ABSENT: Council Members Hutchinson, Pulliaum With 8 yes votes 0 no votes 0 Abstentions, and 2 absent votes Permission to amend the resolution and award the bid for the Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Center asbestos removal only to SEG incorporated passed. PERMISSION FOR MAYOR MCCLENDON TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS AND THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Council Member Catt made the motion, seconded by Council Member Wheeless to give permission to Mayor McClendon to sign an agreement of understanding between the City of West Memphis and the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Discussion followed: Council Member Croom said that he felt the council needed more time to look over the request to make an informed decision. There being no further discussion. Council Member Mohammed asked for a roll call vote. Sr. Deputy City Clerk, Patricia Lane called roll. The roll call vote was as follows: YES: Council Members: Catt, Harris, Holt, Mondy, Murray Mohammed and Wheeless NO: Council Members Croom ABSTAIN: Council Member None ABSENT: Council Members Hutchinson, Pulliaum With 7 Yes votes, 1 No vote, 0 Abstentions, 2 Absent votes the permission to give the Mayor permission to sign the agreement of understanding between the City of West Memphis and the Arkansas Department of Transportation passed PERMISSION FOR MAYOR MCCLENDON TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT FOR SCOPE OF WORK AND FEE PROPOSAL FOR PROVIDING PLANNING AND PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TEN MILE BAYOU TRAIL PHASE 1 WEST MEMPHIS TO PICKERING Due to the lack of motion the permission request was not approved. It will be J put back on the December 5, 2019 Agenda for further consideration. - COMMITTEE REPORTS: FIRE COMMITTEE: The Fire Committee report was presented by Council Member Tracy Cart. The Fire Commission met on November 12, 2019. The Fire Department had two trainees resign from the academy. The trainees were struggling in training and opted to resign to allow them time to continue their studies and then reapply later. At the time of the meeting there were six open positions in the Fire Department they are going through the process of hiring five and it will leave one open position. The Paramedics currently have three open positions with one person going through the hiring process that will leave two open positions. The department has ordered turnout gear for the year. Over the next four years the department will order twelve turnouts per year they are good for approximately ten years. The face mask is ordered every year. The West Memphis Utilities mechanics are doing an incredible job servicing the fire department fleet. Engine E4 needs to be replace E7, which is a 1961 engine that has served its purpose and needs to be replaced. In order to do that they need to look at replacing E4 with a new pumper. The Committee is looking at some options and the estimated cost would be around $600,000 dollars, so they are doing further research. One of the staff vehicles unit #118 needs to be replaced. The Commission approved the purchase for a new vehicle the cost would be $38,324.63 dollars. It will not be purchased until 2020 and will have to be a certain color through the State procurement contract that does not come up that often. The Commission is asking council for approval to go ahead and get it ordered. Council Member Catt made the motion, seconded by Council Member Helen Harris to give the Fire Commission permission to order the vehicles. Discussion followed: Council Member Croom questioned why the vehicle had to be a Tahoe. City Treasurer, Frank Martin said that it is much easier for the city mechanics to work on the Tahoe's because they are familiar with them, since those are the types of vehicles, they already have in the City fleet. There being no further discussion. Council Member Mohammed asked for a roll call vote. Sr Deputy City Clerk Patricia Lane called roll. The roll call vote was as follows: YES: Council Members: Cart, Croom, Harris, Holt. Mondy, Murray Mohammed and Wheeless NO: Council Members ABSTAIN: Council Member None ABSENT: Council Members Hutchinson, Pulliaum With 8 Yes votes, 0 No Votes, 0 Abstention Votes, 2 Absent Votes the permission to allow the Fire Department to purchase a new Tahoe truck passed. The Fire Department currently have three personnel at the AFA training at this time and will be sending more at the first of the year. As of September 30. 2019, trial balance the Fire Department is at 69.21% of their annual budget. That concluded the Fire Commission report. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Council Member Charles Wheeless presented the Chamber of Commerce Committee Report. The Chamber Committee met on November 13, 2019. Council Member Wheeles said the Chamber of Commerce diplomat Christmas party would be on November 26. 2019 at 5:00 pm. The West Memphis Christmas Tree Lighting is also scheduled for Tuesday November 26. 2019 at 6:00 pm at Worthington Park. The Christmas Parade will be December 3, 2019 and will begin at 7:00 pm. Council Member Croom also announced that the Chamber Banquet would be on February 20, 2020 and the guest speaker will be Mr. Ray Brown. Mr. Brown went to school in Marion and played professional football in the NFL for 28 years. The banquet will be at the Civic Center. UTILITY COMMISSION: The Utility Commission met on November 14, 2019 at 8:30 am. Council Member Lorraine Mohammed presented the Utility report. Safety Director Brett Sims reported that there were 22 days since the last recordable injury. 22 days since the lost time injury and 5 recordable injuries vear to date. General Manager Todd Pedersen presented the personnel update. There have been two new hires for the month of October. The Utilities department currently has 9 open positions. Accountant, Tori Perry presented the financial update. Mrs. Perry presented a statement of cash activities for the months of January through September 2019. General Manager Todd Pedersen presented the 2020 Budget for the Commission's approval. The Commission unanimously approved the budget as presented. APPOINTMENTS:NONE LPRESENTATIONS: NONE ANNOUNCEMENTS City Treasurer, Frank Marlin announced that the West Memphis Blue Devils would be playing Lake Hamilton in the second round of the play offs Friday November 22, 2019 at 7:00 pm. CITIZEN REQUEST: NONE Having no further business to come before the City Council, Council Member Catt moved, seconded by Council Member Croom to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm. PASSED and APPROVED this 5 day of December 2019. da CO C uY fir^ MARCO MCCLE DON, MAYOR S ATTEST: JOYCE GRAY, CITY CLERK Minutes prepared by, Patricia Lane, Sr. Deputy City Clerk