July 30, 2003MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING
JULY 30, 2003
A Special-Called Meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on July 30, 2003 at 12:00
p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas.
Mayor William H. Johnson presided.
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. Phillip Para City Clerk called the roll.
Those present were: Mayor l~lliam H. Johnson, City Attorney David Peeples, City Treasurer
Frank Martin, Councilors: Lorraine Robinson, Clarence Davis, Gheric 6ruce, Ramona Taylor, AI
Felton, Marco McClendon (late 12:15 p.m.), James Holt, Harold Thomas, and James Pulliaum.
Absent: Councilor Rev. Herman Coleman. Mayor Johnson declared a quorum present and
proceeded with the agenda.
Mayor Johnson stated the only item on the agenda would be discussion of the future of the mass
transit system in West Memphis that is being provided by MATA. In review, Mayor Johnson
explained that the West Memphis City Council passed an Ordinance increasing the Advertising 8
Promotion Tax by 1 °~. The Advertising 8 Promotion Commission voted to allocate one half of
this to transportation that was tourism related and the other half to a construction project to be
determined in the future. A petition was filed by the West Memphis Hospitality Organization last
week with the City Clerk's Office who was charged with the responsibility of checking the
signatures. The petition was certified as having the proper number of signatures. Per the City
Attorney, when this petition was certified, the ordinance was held in abeyance, and the increase
in the tax could not be collected.
Mayor Johnson stated there seemed to be some confusion regarding whether this referendum
will do away with the entire A8~P Tax, and quoted an article in the Evening Times which quoted
Mr. Buddy House, "I'm no lawyer but I think it kills the whole thing.° Mayor Johnson stated for
the record, he wanted the people to know before they voted on this, if Mr. House was coned
and if repealing Ordinance 2072 would take away the entire 2°~ A&P tax instead of just the
additional 1 °~, then he wanted the public to know the affects it would have on the City of West
Memphis. The Civic Auditorium and Civic Center would have to be shut down, the Christmas
parade would not continue to exist, the Freedom Festival that is held on the 4"' of July, which
had 6000 people in attendance, would cease to exist, the Fall Festival, the West Memphis
Chamber of Commerce, and the Crittenden Arts Council all would be seriously affected because
A&P contributes to them.
Mayor Johnson stated the reason for the meeting today was to discuss the bus service. The bus
service has been provided under contract with MATA that costs approximately $41,000 a month.
The petition puts the collection of the money on hold and he did not see any way we can
continue the bus service with out funds. He stated we owe MATA for the month of July and he
has a proposal to present to the council for the money to pay for July, but does not see any way
it can continue to operate, as much as he hates to say it. Next week at the regular scheduled
City Council meeting there will be a Resolution setting the date for the special election. Mayor
Johnson stated he could not see signing a contract for the next twelve months with MATA for
$480,000 with no money, and recommended we discontinue the bus service as of tomorrow.
Lengthy discussion was held regarding the affects discontinuing the bus service would have on
the city, including the people who depend on it for transportation to work and school. Councilor
Taylor asked if we would have to notify EPA about the change in the Early Action Compact filed
in early June. Mayor Johnson stated we probably would have to notify them to remove that item.
Councilor Robinson encouraged people to go out and vote if they value the bus service. Mayor
Johnson stated that his recommendation was to suspend the bus service until the time of the
election.
Mayor Johnson explained the City Council approved $35,000 to put a roof on the Municipal
Court Building. That bid came in at $28,000, with our portion being $14,000. Mayor Johnson
proposed using the $21,000 left from the $35,000 appropriation to apply towards paying MATA
for July. Councilor Felton asked if we couldn't come up with the money to continue the bus
service until an election could be held. Mayor Johnson stated the election has to be held within
120 days, but it takes time to notify the Election Commission and get set up for a Special
Election and if we go into August we will owe $41,000 for another month. Discussion continued.
Councilor Taylor asked the $250,000 grant from the Highway Department could be used. Mayor
Johnson said he did not know since it was a matching grant. Councilor Robinson asked what the
fare was to ride the bus. Councilor Taylor said it was $1.10. She asked how they based the
$41,000. Taylor said it was based on the hours of service that the buses run in West Memphis.
Mayor Johnson said they would not provide the service without the payment from the city.
Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Robinson to ask Councilor Taylor to attempt to
negotiate another week with MATA to give the people a little notice to find alternative
transportation to work and school. Councilor Pulliaum withdrew his motion. Councilor Taylor
moved, seconded by Councilor Holt to contact MATA and negotiate keeping the bus service
through August 8"'. Mayor Johnson stated if the negotiation is unsuccessful, the bus service will
stop tomorrow.
PAGE 2 Special Called City Council Meefing July 30, 2003
Upon roll call vote, the voting was:
AYES: Robinson, Davis, Bruce, Taylor, Felton, McClendon, Holt, and Thomas
NAYS: None
Councilor Pulliaum voted as "present". The motion carried.
Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Bruce that the $21,000 not used for the
Municipal Court roof be applied to the July MATA payment. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous.
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Pulliaum moved,
seconded by Councilor Bruce to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The
meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this ~ day of August, 2003.
WILLIAM H. J SON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
PHILLIP P ITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by:
Cindy Green ood, Sr. Deputy Clerk