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07/06/2023 PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES AGENDA WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL CALLED MEETING JULY 6, 2023 PRAYER: PASTOR DARRYL LEVY FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: MRS. PATRICIA LANE SENIOR DEPUTY CLERK-CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL: BID OPENINGS: MINUTES: APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF JUNE 22, 2023 APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF CALLED MEETING ON JUNE 27, 2023 OLD BUSINESS: 2ND READING OF AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 514 SOUTH 4TH STREET, PERMITTING A VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP IN A 1-1-C LIGHT INDUSTRIAL CORE ZONING DISTRICT NEW BUSINESS: 0-1 A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING THE CONDEMNATION AND REMOVAL OF HOUSES, BUILDINGS AND/OR RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES CONSTITUTING A NUISANCE WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS CORPORATE LIMITS PERMISSION REQUEST: COMMITTEE REPORTS: APPOINTMENTS: PRESENTATION BY MAYOR MCCLENDON: ANNOUNCEMENTS: A SPECIAL "THANK YOU" TO ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE MAYOR'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM"- THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS PROUD TO HAVE SHARON (EMILY) BOOKER, AN "A" STUDENT AT ACADEMIES OF WEST MEMPHIS CITIZENS REQUEST: ADJOURNMENT: • MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL July 6,2023 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday,July 6,2023,at 1:00 p.m.in the City Council Chambers at City Hall,205 S. Redding,West Memphis,Arkansas. Invocation was given by Councilor Helen Harris followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Sr. Deputy City Clerk,Patricia Lane. Mayor Marco McClendon called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Senior Deputy City Clerk City,Patricia Lane called the roll.Those present were City Attorney Michael Stephenson,and Council Members: Gheric Bruce Tracy Catt, Wayne Croom,Helen Harris,James Holt,Melanie Hutchinson,Lorraine Mohammed, Willis Mondy, David Murray. and Charles Wheeless.Absent was City Clerk,Patricia Joplin,City Treasurer,Charlie Suiter Jr and Finance Director,Tori Perry. Evening Times Reporter Donald Wilburn was present.Quorum being present Mayor McClendon,proceeded with the meeting. BID OPENING: NONE MINUTES: APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF JUNE 22,2023,COUNCIL MEETING.APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF JUNE 27,2023, SPECIAL CALLED COUNCIL MEETING. Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by Councilor Croom to dispense with the reading of the minutes of June 22,2023,and June 27,2023,Council Meeting,and to approve them as submitted.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve. OLD BUSINESS: 2ND-READING OF AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 514 SOUTH 4TH STREET,PERMITTING A VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP IN A I-1-C LIGHT INDUSTRIAL CORE ZONING DISTRICT City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the SECOND time.The ordinance will be placed back on the agenda for the third reading at the July 20,2023 Council Meeting. NEW BUSINESS: Councilor Mohammed made a motion,seconded by Councilor Wheeless to read R-1 by title only.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve. R-1 A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING THE CONDEMNATION AND REMOVAL OF HOUSES,BUILDINGS AND/OR RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES CONSTITUTING A NUISANCE WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS CORPORATE LIMITS City Attorney Stephenson read the resolution by title only. Mayor McClendon asked for permission to remove 1605 E Barton and 728 S. 10th Street from the condemnation list.He also is wanting to temporarily put 520 S. 11th Street on hold,they have been informed that the property was sold. They will need to verify who is the new owner of the property and send them notification to see if they plan to bring the property up to code before moving forward with demolition.There being no further discussion. Councilor Hutchinson made the motion, seconded by Councilor Bruce to remove 1605 E Barton and 728 S 10th Street from the demolition list and to hold off on demoing 520 S. 10th Street.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve the amendments. Councilor Mohammed made the motion,seconded by Councilor Hutchinson to approve the resolution as amended. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve.The resolution was adopted and assigned No. 2285. PRESENTATIONS: NONE PERMISSION REQUEST: PERMISSION TO ADD THE DISTRIBUTION OF CHARITY DAY MONEY TO THE AGENDA Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by Councilor Croom to add the distribution of Charity Day money to the agenda.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous. Councilor Hutchinson would like to give$500.00 to the Creative Strategies Community Development Prostrate Cancer 5-K event.Councilor Croom would like to give Family in Transition$564.35 and Creative Strategies Community Development Prostrate Cancer 5-K event $564.37. Councilor Mohammed would like to give$1,000.00 to Creative Strategies Community Development Prostrate Cancer 5-K event.Mayor McClendon would like to give$500.00 to Creative Strategies Community Development Prostrate Cancer 5-K event.Councilor Croom made the motion,seconded by Councilor Wheeless to approve the distribution of Charity Day Funds as presented.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve. COMMITTEE REPORTS: POLICE COMMISSION: Councilor Mohammed presented a summary of the Special Called Police Commission meeting on Tuesday June 27,2023.The commission discussed the purchase of Two 2023 Dodge Charger Pursuit Sedan V8 vehicles purchased through State Federal seizures the funds will not come out of the general funds. The commission also discussed installation and operation of the police cameras that will not go into effect until September 1, 2023,instead of the projected July 1st date.Mayor McClendon said he,City Attorney,Michael Stephenson,Chief Campbell,Assistant Chief Bradley,Captain Johnson,and other police staff met to discuss the following technicalities regarding the use of the cameras. Sgt Garrett will continue to do FOI request,redaction of images,hiring of a crime analyst to focus strictly on redaction.Captain Johnson will order two new computers,specifically for the use of the cameras and redaction and additional training and education for new officers.Captain Johnson said that a$100,000.00 dollar grant was received through this grant,and the 2 computers will cost$8,000.00 dollars and will not cost the city any money. The commission also discussed the Directive Policy used by Arkansas Police Departments.The purpose of the directive is to guide officers and supervisors in the proper use and maintenance of body worn video.Councilor Bruce made a request that Police Chief Campbell attend the Police Commission meeting to be available to answer any questions that they might have. The commission approved the purchase of the two 2023 Dodge Charger Pursuit Sedans,V8 vehicles from the Arkansas State Vehicle contract for$34,700.00 plus$950.00 for an installed Havas console for a total of $35,650.00 for each vehicle,and the Police Department Directives.Councilor Mohammed also gave a report on the July 3,2023,Police Commission meeting. Chief Robin Campbell and Inspector Queen McMahon were both present at the Police Commission meeting.Councilor Bruce asked about the Sky Cops at the utility plant that are not working. Chief Campbell expressed his concerns with the new law that was passed by the Governor's office prohibiting the purchase and use of Chinese manufactured cameras that they needed to be concerned about.They had one citizen's request.Mr.Weast,a citizen,complained about a police dog scratching his car.After discussion,it was stated by Chief Campbell,that the complaint has been investigated and no police officer was found to be negligent. AIRPORT COMMISSION: Councilor Croom presented the Airport Commission report. Susana Cook with Garver Engineers reported that Rebel Services will start on the Jet Fuel Rehab on July 12,2023,they will perform as much work as they can now because the tank will not be delivered until the beginning of next year. It was brought to the attention of the commission that there was some spalling on the taxi way.They plan to try and get that repaired with a State Grant. Advertising&Promotion: Councilor Murray presented the Advertising&Promotion report. The A&P commission met on June 1,2023. The commission approved the minutes from the May 24,2023,commission meeting. CVB Director,Jim Jackson presented the Financial Report. There was one funding request made by James Pulliaum and Kenneth Johnson for$3,000.00 for sponsorship for the Arkansas Prostrate Awareness 5 K MANUFACTURED HOUSING: Councilor Catt said Manufactured Housing has been a standing item on the agenda for a 90-day period for council to look at what their options are for manufactured housing the mayor and council have each been given a copy of the guidelines for manufactured housing that he received from a class that he recently attended. He is asking for council to review the information and suggested that they schedule a time for an HUD representative,Fannie May representative to speak to them about the advantages of this type of lending. Councilor Catt said he felt this would add value and be beneficial to the community.It is also a little bit more cost affordable than a stick framed house and would be a viable option for them to consider. Mayor McClendon said the new Planning Director,Chad Bowman is working on the 90-day study to present to the council on how they want to move forward with manufactured housing. Councilor Croom asked if the Introduction to Manufactured Housing apply only to prefabricated housing,or would it be considered like tiny houses that they manufacture and they just bring them in and set them up. Councilor Catt said that there are three types of components. One is a manufactured house that people refer to as a mobile home.The second one would be manufactured homes which are built off sight brought in and erected on sight. The third would be traditional stick frame which most people are accustomed to seeing,and all three have advantages,it just depends on establishing the right locations for each component. APPOINTMENTS: NONE PRESENTATIONS: NONE ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilor Mohammed thanked all the volunteers that participated in the Keep West Memphis Beautiful Cleanup Day,they had 30-35 volunteers to participate,and they did a wonderful job. Mayor McClendon asked everyone to continue to keep the Hutchinson family in their prayers. Councilor Melanie Hutchinson recently lost her mother Ms. Clovesia Hutchinson who was a pillar in our community. Mayor McClendon also asked that everyone keep Councilor Catt and his family in their prayers,he said Councilor Catt is a very private person,but wanted him to know that we are all praying for him after the recent loss of his sister. Mayor McClendon asked everyone to also be in prayer for West Memphis Police Officer, Taurus Harvell who is at Baptist Desoto hospital recovering,he said that they are not sure if it was heat stroke or dehydration as a result of the extreme heat,but after visiting him earlier in the day it is serious and they expect him to be in the hospital for another week.Mayor McClendon said the extreme temperatures and the body gear that police officers are required to ware in order to protect themselves and the citizens make them susceptible to heat exhaustion and asked everyone to pray for them as well as our Fire Department,Sanitation and Street Department,Grass and Demolition Department,Utility Department and Parks Department that provide a valuable service to the city that work outside in these extreme conditions. Mayor McClendon announced that the city's Fire Department Training Center will soon be announcing the grand opening date and thanked Councilor Catt who was essential in getting a crane for them that was a big saving to the city. Bridges & Streets :Mayor McClendon announced that the Rich Road bridge will be at 90% on July 20,2023,after that they will put it out for bid for construction,he thanked ARDOT and Senator Murdock for their continued efforts to try and get this project done.The mayor said he does not know why it takes so long to get a bridge repaired but he is thankful that it appears that that they are near the end of this journey. Mayor McClendon said MLK Blvd will also be overlayed that is the part around the Hopefield area,the Service road is getting overlayed and restriped.They will also start repaving and stripping Broadway and Missouri Street and he knows that is going to make a lot of citizens happy. Parks: They are also working on Hightower Park on 14th street. They are doing a tree protection plan and they are in the process of relocating electrical lines underground. Ladd Gary Engineers will be meeting with them next week to present the plans to council and to discuss the cost to move forward with the improvements to Tilden Rogers Park. Planning: Mayor McClendon invited the council members to attend the upcoming Planning Commission Meeting.He said they will be discussing plans for more restaurants, hotels,housing,and Planned Unit Development(PUD).The Planning commission meets the last Wednesday in the month. • Grass Program: Mayor McClendon gave an update on the grass program has greatly improved,and they have implemented several things to try and get it under control,such as spraying a lot of the vacant lots that are constantly overgrown to reduce the number of times that they have to cut them.They will also be cutting the Bayous as soon as possible.he said there is still room for improvement,and they will continue to look for ways to do so. The mayor said the citizens have shown a lot of initiative in getting out and cutting their own yards and that has been a great help to the city,and he is appreciative,he is continuing to ask for the citizens help in disposing of trash properly in order to keep the city clean. Commercial Containers: Mayor McClendon said he also met with Public Works Director Mr. Danny Montgomery and Supervisor,Ms.Robbie Amos who is over the commercial dumpsters to discuss how they can improve upon the commercial dumpster service and convince commercial business to use city services rather than outside commercial business such as Waste Management and Republic. They plan to send out a survey to ask the customers what they feel the city could improve on,as well as Mr.Montgomery will be visiting the business in person to see how they can convince them to use city services,since their rate is cheaper than the competitor.The mayor said they will also be changing the Sanitation schedule to have a floating schedule where someone will be available Monday through Saturday for pick up and there will be someone working until 10:00 p.m.at night,so that someone will be available to pick up anything that was overlooked. They will also be looking at ways to improve the Grapple service and getting information out to the citizens to educate them on what the city will or will not pick up,as well as ways to improve back yard trash service and residential trash. The mayor said they have taken steps to ensure that they have enough drivers by ensuring that every CDL driver is trained to drive a Grapple Truck,Front End Loader,and Rear End Loader, so there will be no excuse if someone is out on vacation or sick.The litter department will be going out,picking up trash around the cans in residential and commercial areas and informing the citizens and business the correct way to bag trash to prevent spillage. Mayor McClendon asked council what they thought about getting roll off dumpsters and placing them in the wards for people to be able to take litter and debris to the dumpsters. Councilor Mohammed applauded the mayor for the great job that he is doing in her ward to clean up,but was concerned that contractors would take advantage by putting construction debris in the dumpsters,which is not allowed. City Attorney Stephenson agreed with Ms. Mohammed and said that they would probably have to put up cameras to catch people for illegally dumping tires and other unauthorized material in the dumpsters. Councilor Bruce said people should call the Sanitation Department and find out what they can and can not put out and try and work something out to help keep the city clean. Councilor Croom asked about the plans for splash pads.Mayor McClendon said there will be three splash pads. 1 Large one at Tilden Rogers Park and 2 small ones at Franklin and Worthington Park. Councilor Bruce said he would like them to think about collaborating with the City of West Memphis,ASU Mid-South,and the West Memphis School District to get a public swimming pool in West Memphis,that way one entity would not be solely responsible for the cost and responsibility of maintaining and operating the pool.He has also heard that the State is looking into requiring that all schools as part of their curriculum require students to take swimming lessons.Mayor McClendon said he is in 100%agreement,when he was running for office he tried to get a swim park and it makes him think about the West Memphis Academy swim team and Patriot swim team and thinks it an excellent idea and agrees that every child should know how to swim. Councilor Mohammed asked if they were still installing speed bumps and the mayor said yes. Councilor Hutchinson recognized Chief Mabe for the excellent job he did with the Prom Promise event. Mayor McClendon said he met with Finance Director,Tori Perry and Human Resource Director,Janice Coleman to brainstorm ideas on how to produce more monetary incentives for city employees that do not involve the council having to come up with more money to cover it. One of the things that they looked at is the retirement plan,the city pays 6%towards the retirement plan,but reality is for those that are not invested and looking to retire from the city not planning to be with the city long term,they might be interested in seeing the money in their paycheck now.This would mean they would get 5%and the city would save 1%.The other thing they were looking at is insurance tiers if their spouse or partner is able to cover the . insurance,he would rather just give the employe the$26.00 per pay period in their check each pay period,which would be a savings to city of$640.00 per employee that opted out of insurance. Mayor McClendon said he would be getting with council to brainstorm some other ideas on how they could find savings for the city. Mayor McClendon wanted to send a big shout to the students that have participated in the Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program this year.They have done a wonderful job. CITIZENS REQUEST: NONE Having no further business to come before the City Council,Councilor Croom made the motion,seconded by Councilor Wheeless,to adjourn. Upon voice vote,the voting was unanimous.The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this 20th DAY OF JULY 2023. Y1-'444 GO ' t(t'ef‹.-N ao", MARCO MCCLENDON, MAYOR ATTEST: 2aL4.14::„ PATRICIA JOPLIN, I CLERK Minutes prepared by,Patricia Lane,Sr. Deputy City Clerk