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07/18/24 MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL July 18,2024 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday July 18,2024,at 5:00 p.m.in the City Council Chamber at City Hall,205 S. Redding,West Memphis,Arkansas.Invocation was given by Pastor Anthony King of Faith International Church followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilor Wayne Croom. Mayor Marco McClendon called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Junior Deputy City Clerk, Danielle Glenn called the roll.Those present were. Mayor Marco McClendon,CityAttorney Michael Stephenson,Councilors Gheric Bruce Tracy Catt,Wayne Croom, Helen Harris,James Holt, Melanie Hutchinson,Lorraine Mohammed,Willis Mondy, David Murray, and Charles Wheeless. Evening Times Reporter Don Wilburn was also present.Quorum, being present Mayor McClendon,proceeded with the meeting. BID OPENINGS: WEST MEMPHIS UTILITIES-WARD WIMBISH-2024 OVERLAY PROGRAM Councilor Croom made the motion,seconded Councilor Catt to accept the 2024 Overlay Program Bids as presented.Crisp Contractor was awarded the bid. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve. MINUTES: APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF JULY 11,2024,COUNCIL MEETING Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by Councilor Croom to dispense with the reading of July 11,2024,minutes and to approve them as submitted.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve. OLD BUSINESS: 3RD READING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO.2426 AUTHORIZING ALDERMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO PURCHASE SERVICES FROM MAYOR MARCO MCCLENDON,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES • City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by tile only for the THIRD AND FINAL time by title only.Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by Councilor Bruce to approve the ordinance. Discussion Followed:Councilor Catt asked that council consider an amendment in Section 1 of the ordinance. He said that he would like to strike Marco McClendon Properties, Marco McClendon Transportation and Wonder City Legacy&Investments from the ordinance because they do not do business with the City of West Memphis. He said the two businesses that are currently doing business or have done business with the City of West Memphis are Marco McClendon Vision and Blackberry Molasses and that they be allowed to remain in good standing and allowed to do so. Councilor Mohammed asked if the three businesses being stricken from the ordinance were no longer doing business with the city.The mayor said that the businesses that were stricken from the ordinance have never done business with the City of West Memphis.There being no further discussion.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve.The ordinance was adopted and • assigned No.2675. NEW BUSINESS: Councilor Mohammed made the motion,seconded by Councilor Catt to read 0-1 by title only.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve. 0-1 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO.2420,SECTION 1,SUBSECTION 2, GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT LOCATED AT 1299 KUHN ROAD,ALLOWING FUTURE EXPANSION OF A SANITARY LANDFILL AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES,IN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS,CVE,CONSERVATION EXTRA-TERRITORIAL ZONING DISTRICT OF THE E CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS,CRITTENDEN COUNTY,ARKANSAS City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the FIRST time.Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by Councilor Hutchinson 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. Mayor Mc McClendon said that he will have his secretary,Ms.DorthyTaylor to contact the Airport Commission,Representativesfrom Republic and notifythe Council Members of the meeting date,so that they discuss this matter.The ordinance will be read for the third time at the 08/01/2024 council meeting for council's decision. PERMISSION REQUEST: PERMISSION TO ADD MID SOUTH GAS CO.ENABLE GAS TRANSMISSION COST REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT TO THE AGENDA Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by Councilor Bruce to add the agreement to the agenda, Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to add. Mayor McClendon said this agreement is part of the Rich Road Bridge. He said that the City Attorney found something in paragraph 7 of the agreement that he needs to make changes to. Mayor McClendon said this is a Utility Easement Agreement that the gas line is in. Mr.Ward Wimbish provided an explanation of the reimbursement agreement to council. Mr.Wimbish said the gas company has there own easement that runs up Rich Road across the diversion ditch.The line is in the way of construction and has to be moved the city will have to pay for it. He said it is along the side of the bridge now and it has to be moved and bored under the ditch.The work does not have to be completed;they just have to show ARDOT that they have this agreement in place for moving it than they can put the project out for bid. Discussion Followed:Councilor Holt asked if there was no wayto negotiate on the price. Mr.Wimbish said they have no control on the price. It is their line,and they are going to move it. He said they could get an itemized cost and break down of the cost and there is a price-cap,but they cannot bid it themselves.Councilor Holt asked if there was a timeline. Mr.Wimbish said it would be sometime this year, but they are ready to get started. They want to do it this quarter.He said it is not a budgeted item and asked if they could pay for it next year,so that they can budget it next year and that has been included in the agreement.City Attorney Stephenson said the change that he is suggesting is not something that should be difficult so long as he can get in touch with the right person he is going to try and get it done by tomorrow,so that it does not hold anything up. Mayor McClendon said the estimated cost is$582,000 and they would need to take that into consideration when doing the 2025 budget. Councilor Croom asked once they get the agreement if they would be able to start bidding.Mr.Wimbish said they would once the engineers certifythat they have the agreement.Councilor Croom asked if they would see some activity this year. Mr.Wimbish said they would see activity behind the scenes once the job is bid and awarded. It is prefabricated culverts that are built in a factory.They will then deliver them and start putting them in. Mayor McClendon said it is important to know that this project is not being held up because of the mayor and council or the engineers and said it is important when council is sharing information with their constituents that they let them know the delay is not due to the mayor and council.There being no further discussion:Councilor Catt made the motion, seconded by Councilor Mohammed to approve subject to City Attorney Stephenson's revisions. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve COMMITTEE REPORTS: AIRPORT: Councilor Croom presented the Airport Commission report.The North Apron project is on schedule.The lime has been placed and they are waiting on it to cure.The Jet Fuel Rehab Project is underway the tank has been placed and Rebel Services will be back next week to do the electrical work and finish the project.Crisp Contractors was approved to do the taxi way repair which will be done with a 90/10 split.The cities portion will be approximately$19,000. Design Review Committee: Councilor Mohammed asked about the Design Review Committee and if they still met.Councilor Catt said that they have streamlined that committee,and they meet when something falls within the guidelines of DRC.The Planning and Department has been handling the Day-to-Day requirements very efficiently.Councilor Mohammed said in the past new businesses were required to come before DRC to ensure that they were compliant with parking, landscaping, and other building requirements for DRC approval.Councilor Catt said the staff have been handling it on a day-to day.The applications that have been submitted have fallen in the guidelines of the staff,if something does not fall within the guidelines then it is submitted to the Design Review Committee for approval.Councilor Catt said this process has allowed them to move expeditiously through the DRC process to open new businesses.Councilor Mohammed asked who was on the DRC committee.Councilor Catt said himself,Gheric Bruce, Basil Joiner, Charlie Suiter Jr.are all on the committee.Councilor Mohammed asked if the council could receive a report of businesses that were coming to West Memphis,so that they could be better informed.Councilor Catt said in previous years they had provided a report to council on building permits issued for new construction industrial,commercial,and residential and he will get with Planning Director,Chad Bowman to discuss providing monthly or quarterly reports to the council going forward. Mayor McClendon said he would also get with Mr. Bowman to have him give council an update at the first council meeting every month. APPOINTMENTS: NONE PRESENTATION BY THE MAYOR: NONE ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor McClendon asked everyone to keep Ms.Patricia Lane in their prayers who underwent surgery this morning. The mayor asked anyone who has not had the opportunityto visitthe All-Inclusive Park to go by and see it.He said it is the most utilized park by the children in the community. Mayor McClendon said he had a great meeting earlier in the day with Judge Woody Wheeless and though he was unable to speak on it today he would be bringing back information tothe council and people later on. Mayor McClendon said he met with council to discuss some potential items to put on the ballot in November and it was a productive meeting. Mayor McClendon said he also spoke at the meeting at the Metal museum at 10:30 a.m.to discuss the plans for the New Bridge.He said it is going to be a great addition to our region and our country. It will help commerce, Infrastructure.It should be completed by 2030. Councilor Mondy said he was contacted by Ms. Hightower to let him know that the only surviving son of Mr.Hightower lives in Illinois. Ms.Hightower said she plans to try and get him to West Memphis so that he can see the park. He said he spoke with the engineers,and they said the park should be completed by August. CITIZENS REQUEST: ADJOURNMENT: Having no further business to come before the City Council,Councilor Catt made the motion, seconded by Councilor Mondy to adjourn.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous.The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this 1ST day of AUGUST 2024. M 7 CO MCCL r ON, MAYOR ATTEST: C2Oit.;:t" PATRICIAJOPLIN,CI CLERK Minutes prepared by Patricia Lane Sr, Deputy City Clerk