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09/01/2022 • • MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL . September 1, 2022 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, September 1, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas. Invocation was given by Councilor Harris, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilor Croom. Mayor Marco McClendon called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. City Clerk, James Pulliaum called the roll. Those present were Mayor Marco McClendon, City Treasurer Charlie Suiter Jr., City Attorney Michael Stephenson, City Clerk, James Pulliaum, and Councilors: Gheric Bruce, Tracy Catt, Wayne Croom, Helen Harris,James Holt, Melanie Hutchinson, David Murray, Willis Mondy, and Charles Wheeless.Absent was Councilor Lorraine Mohammed. Also present was Finance Director, Tori Perry. Evening Times Reporter, David Wilbur was not present. Quorum being present Mayor, Marco McClendon proceeded with the meeting. BID OPEINING: 2022 PAVEMENT MARKETING PROJECTS(STREETS)-AMANDA HICKS-CITY ENGINEER/MPO DIRECTOR Councilor Catt made the motion, seconded.by Councilor Hutchinson to approve the bids as submitted and refer them back to administration for distribution.'Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous. MINUTES: APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF AUGUST 18,2022 Councilor Murray made the motion, seconded by Councilor Harris to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the August 18, 2022, council meeting and to approve them as submitted. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous. . OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: Councilor Catt made the motion;seconded by Councilor Bruce to read 0-1, 0-2, by title only. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous. 0-1 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE, 2567 INCREASING THE MILEAGE TO THE STANDARD RATE FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL TO MATCH THE CURRENT IRS RATE Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by Councilor Murray to table 0-1 Indefinitely. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous to Table Indefinitely. 0-2 AN ORDIDINANCE WAIVING COMPETTITIVE BIDDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF A SPECIALIZED POLICE VEHICLE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the FIRST time. Councilor Bruce made the motion,seconded by Councilor Wheeless to suspend the rules, and place the ordinance on its second reading, upon voice vote,voting was unanimous. City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the SECOND time. Councilor Bruce made the motion,seconded by Councilor Mondy to further suspend the rules, and place the ordinance on its third reading. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous. City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the THIRD and FINAL time. Councilor Bruce made the motion,seconded by Councilor Wheeless to approve the ordinance.There being no discussion. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve.The ordinance was adopted and assigned No. 2612. Councilor Lorraine Mohammed came into council at 1:05 p.m. • •PERMISSION REQUEST: ' • PERMISSION TO ADD THE DISTRIBUTION OF COUNCILOR JAMES HOLT SOUTHLAND CHARITY DAY MONEY TO THE AGENDA, Councilor Murray made the: motion, seconded by Councilor Hutchinson to add the distribution of Councilor Holts Southland Charity Day Money to the agenda. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous. Councilor Holt is wanting to distribute $1,14 .20 of Southland Charity Day money to the West Memphis Church of Christ. Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by Councilor Wheeless to approve the distribution of Councilor Holts Charity Day money in the amount of$1,146.20 to the West Memphis Church of Christ. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous COMMITTEE REPORTS: • ADVERTISING &PROMOTION: Councilor Melanie Hutchinson presented the Advertising and Promotion report. A & P met on August 17,2022, at 4:00 p.m. CVB Director,Jim Jackson presented the financial report. Ms.Stacy Allen submitted a funding request for$5,000 to the A&P commission for a 5K fundraiser to generate scholarships for local college students on behalf of the Staff Sergeant, Drain Taylor Hoover Memorial Commissioner Mondy made a motion to sponsor the event up to $2,000 on a re-imbursement or direct billing agreement Commissioner Hutchinson seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously.Big River Update: Dow McVean gave the Commissioners an update on the Big River Crossing. He explained the.next phase of the project is to make a big loop around the entire park area. Dow stated they currently have 2.2 million in CMAQ money committed from MPO. He reported that it requires 20% match money, and he asked the A&P Commission to put up the match money of$550,000.00. Both Dow Mc Vean and Paul Luker agreed that the funds will not be needed for at least a year from now. Dow stated that they think construction will begin late next spring post flood season.After brief discussion, Commissioner Scott Ferguson made a motion to commit the match funds of$550,000.00 and set them aside as needed. Commissioner Melanie Hutchinson seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. West Memphis Festival Jim Jackson reported that he has a meeting set for next week with Dow Mc Vean and Doug Carpenter to go over some concepts and ideas.West Memphis Transit/MATA Proposal Amanda Hicks addressed the Commissioners and passed out a breakdown of the CMAQ program funds and a Fetter about the MATA transit proposal. She also explained that the money that A&P would need to pay without the CMAQ money would be substantially more than previously discussed. She concluded by saying she just wanted to make the Commissioners aware of what it would now cost for them to do public transit in West Memphis. She stated she was trying to supplement it with CMAQ money, and they would have funded it up to three years and after that time we would have figured out.a way to•actually fund it. ADA Compliance Audit Jim Jackson told Commissioners Roddy Geary has shared the report with a contractor and will work on a budget to get the work done.Amend Jim Jackson Truck Reimbursement Jim Jackson turned in an updated receipt for repairs of his personal vehicle. Commissioner Shawna Rhinehart made a motion to reimburse Jim Jackson for the total of $4,591.29 for his truck repair. Commissioner Scott Ferguson seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS Cash Payout for Steak Contest Jim Jackson submitted a request for funding for the 2022 Mid-South Great Steak Cook Off Payout.Jim noted that all totals are the same as previous years and this year the ancillary contest will be catfish. Commissioner Scott Ferguson made a motion to approve the funding for the payout. Commissioner Shawna Rhinehart seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Cash Payout for Rhythm and Ribs Contest Jim Jackson reported to Commissioners about an inaugural Rhythm and Ribs Contest.Jim outlined the contest, date, and the payout request. After brief discussion, Commissioner Shawna Rhinehart made a motion to approve funding for the payout. Commissioner Mike Patel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Jim Jackson submitted the application from William Maxwell owner of Williams BBQ. The Commissioners were shown the completed application and Jim discussed items that the business needed help with. Commissioner Willis Mondy made a.motion to approve up to$5,000.00 grant to Williams BBQ. Commissioner Melanie Hutchinson seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Outdoor Inc Gravel Grinder Sponsorship Jim Jackson presented.a sponsorship request from Outdoors Inc. Grit&Grind Gravel Grinder to be held Sunday, November 6, 2022.Request died on the floor for lack of a motion. Christmas Decorations Bid Jim Jackson reported that bids were opened earlier in the day for Christmas Decorations at Worthington Park and other locations.Only one bid was submitted by Randy Hill of Festive Designs. The bid is for$59,850.00. Commissioner Scott Ferguson stated that next year he would like to see more than one bid submitted.After brief discussion, Commissioner Scott Ferguson made a motion to accept the bid from Festive Designs. Commissioner Melanie Hutchinson seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Civic Complex Work Truck Jim Jackson submitted a request for funding for a different model of work truck. He requested a crew cab,with 4-wheel drive,which would be roomer than the single cab that we currently have. Commissioner Scott Ferguson made a motion to find up to $50,000.00 for the purchase of a nice used truck ., Commissioner Mondy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. CITY TREASURER/CITY CLERKS FINANCIAL REPORT: City Clerk, James Pulliaum said that Finance Director,Tori Perry passed out the Financial Report for the City the Mayor and Council for them to review. The figures are through August 2022. City Treasurer, Charlie Suiter Jr. said the figures look good, but that he would like to review everything and report on it at the next council meeting. APPOINTMENTS: NONE PRESENTATIONS: MR. MATTHEW GLASS ON CIGNA'S INSURANCE FOR THE CITY Mr. Glass came,before council to give them an explanation on the Cigna,Insurance for the city. Mr. Glass said last year they bid the insurance out and received quotes from every health insurance carrier that provides plans to groups of the cities size and the cheapest bid was a 7% increase from the year before which is why they choose CIGN.A. He went to Cigna and requested a rate hold they reviewed it and offered a 2% increase, so he went to Morgan'White which is the other plan and told them the same thing and they offered to not increase the rate at all. Mr.Glass said the city will receive as 1.9%rate increase holding. Mr. Glass said the cities claims are good and are significantly lower than what they paid in premiums. some of the rates are still out but the last time the city received a $300,000dollar rebate and if the claims 111 continue to.track like they are now and Cigna's business in Arkansas continues to track like it is now he would expect the city to get a rebate. Mr.Glass said something they did last year was give employees that were 65 and older the opportunity to go off the cities plan and enroll in Medicare and the city at no cost to the induvial would pay the Medicare supplement for those people, he believes it was around 15 people To enroll in the plan. They are;looking to have a meeting with the additional people that meet that age criteria that are not on the plan to try and convince them to enroll. Mr.Glass said that nothing will change in the current plan,they will just get,a new card.Councilor Catt said the only thing that he would like done is for them to look at how they;handle the prescription card, and he is aware that it has some limitations, but if Cigna can handle prescriptions why can't they. Councilor Catt said he would like some more information and that might make,a difference in convincing the additional people to sign up for Medicare. Mr. Glass said he would look into it. There being no further discussion. Councilor Catt made the motion, seconded by Councilor Mohammed to approve the insurance plan. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous to approve. , ANNOUNCEMENTS: • • Mayor McClendon announced that the Staff Sergeant Hoover 5K race will be Saturday September 3,2022. The race will start at Worthington Park. Mayor McClendon recognized:the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce Junior Leadership Group that were in attendance. For Junior Leadership Day. The youth had the opportunity to learn how Municipal Government Works and to meet the city Department Heads and participate in the election of Junior Leadership Mayor for the Day. Ms. Leora Maufas was elected as Junior leadership mayor for the Day. Mayor McClendon said these young people are 50%of our population but 100%of our future. City Clerk, James Pulliaum announced that on November 11, 2022, they will be having the Veterans Parade, anybody interested in:wanting to volunteer or participate in the parade can contact Ms. Emily • Scarborough at the Chamber of Commerce or contact the clerks in the city clerk's office to sign up. CITIZEN REQUEST: • Ms. Fannie Thomas a resident of 701 Holiday West Memphis, Arkansas signed up for citizen request to speak on the fire hydrants in West Memphis but was not present at the time of council. Having no further business to come before the city, Junior.Leadership Councilor Laniya Brow made the motion, seconded by Junior Leadership Councilor Kaliyah Wilson to adjourn. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to adjourn.The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this 15th day of September 2022. • • MA CO MCCLENDON, MAYOR ATTEST: , . a ..,• . • . JAME ULLIAUM,C LERK • Minutes prepared by, Patricia Lane,Sr. Deputy City Clerk