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05/01/2025 MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL May 1, 2025, A Regular City Council Meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday May 1,2025, at 1:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 205 S. Redding. The invocation was given by Councilor Helen Harris followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilor Wayne Croom. Mayor Marco McClendon called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Senior Deputy City Clerk, Patricia Lane called the roll. Those present were. Mayor Marco McClendon, City Attorney Michael Stephenson, City Treasurer Charlie Suiter Jr., and Councilors, Gheric Bruce, Tracy Catt, Wayne Croom, Helen Harris, James Holt, Willis Mondy, David Murray, Lorraine Mohammed, and Melanie Hutchinson. Absent were Charles Wheeless., Also present was Finance Director, Tori Perry. Evening Times Reporter, Don Wilbourn was notified but was not present. Quorum, being present Mayor McClendon, proceeded with the meeting. BID OPENING: NONE MINUTES: APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF APRIL 17, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING Councilor Catt made the motion, seconded by Councilor Croom to approve the minutes as submitted. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous to approve. OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: Councilor Mohammed made the motion seconded by Councilor Croom to read R-1, R-2, and 0-1 by title only. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous to approve. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO DONATE A PART OF LOT 12 OF THE TAYLOR -HEMENWAY PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 6, TOWNSHIP 6 NORTH,RANGE 9 EAST,CRITTENDEN COUNTY, ARKANSAS, TO THE ARKANSAS STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CLERK TO SIGN THE WARRANTY DEED DONATION City Attorney Stephenson read the resolution by title only. Councilor Mondy made the motion seconded by Councilor Murray to approve. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous to approve. The resolution was adopted and assigned NO.2320 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING EXECUTION OF AN EQUIPMENT LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH CADENCE EQUIPMENT FINANCE, DIVISION OF CADENCE BANK City Attorney Stephenson read the resolution by title only. Councilor Mohammed made the motion, seconded by Councilor Murray to approve. Mayor McClendon asked for a roll call vote. Senior Deputy City Clerk, Patricia Lane called the roll The roll Call vote was as follows: YES: Bruce, Catt, Croom, Harris, Holt, Hutchinson, Mohammed, Mondy, Murray NO: NONE ABSTENTION: NONE 0. ABSENT: Wheeless With 9 Yes votes 0 No votes, 0 Abstention votes, and 1 Absent the motion to approve passed the resolution was adopted and assigned No. 2321. AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO PURCHASE SERVICES FROM JOSH STOKES D/B/A FISH DADDIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the FIRST time. Councilor Mohammed made the motion, seconded by Councilor Bruce to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its second reading. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous. City Attorney Stevenson said that the ordinance is retroactive back to November 1, 2024. City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the SECOND time. Councilor Harris made the motion, seconded by Councilor Mohammed 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 Councilor Mohammed to approve the ordinance. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous. The ordinance was adopted and assigned NO. 2701 PERMISSION REQUEST: PERMISSION TO ADD THE CHARITY DAY FUNDS TO THE AGENDA. Councilor Mohammed made the motion, seconded by Councilor Bruce to add the Charity Day Funds to the agenda. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous. Councilor Melanie Hutchinson would like to give $500.00 to the Academies of West Memphis for Prom Promise and $250.00 to Bragg Elementary School. Councilor Lorraine Mohammed would like to give $500.00 to the Academies of West Memphis Prom Promise. Councilor Mohammed made the motion, seconded by Councilor Bruce to approve. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous to approve. COMMITTEE REPORTS: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Chamber of Commerce Director, Ms. Stephanie White presented the Chamber Report. Ms. White said that they are continuing to grow they had a ribbon cutting event earlier in the day. They will be starting their 2025-2026 Leadership Class in August. They will also be staring their Lunch 85 Learn events to provide awareness and educating them on issues that could affect them such as the tariffs to the local businesses. They are continuing to raise funds not only from the people who have supported them in the past but also looking for funding on their own. They are currently at 485 Chamber members. Ms. White asked if anyone is having any events or knew of anyone having events that they share the information with the Chamber of Commerce so that they could assist in helping to promote those events on their social media platform. ADVERTISING & PROMOTION: CVB Director, Jim Jackson presented the A85P report. Mr. Jackson said the collections are 4% below this time last year. The A&P Commission had several funding request. TCP Entertainment requested $12,330.00 for the memorial Day Backyard Blues 85 Soul Fest that will be held in Proctor, AR on May 25, 2025. Commissioner Mondy made a motion to award $4,000 on a reimbursement term with receipts or direct billing Commissioner Murray seconded the motion and the commission approved it unanimously. They also received a funding request from Johnny Hylander with Mainstreet Rods/Delta River Cruise-In, for $7,500.00 that will be held at Southland. Commissioner Mondy made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Brisbon to approve the request on a reimbursement term with receipts or direct billing. The Commission approved it unanimously. The Civic Center renovation demolition is half done; footings has been poured. The project has incurred a change order in the amount $10,000.00 so far, but the project is still under 2.3. million They do not have an estimated completion date. The Blues Off Broadway Event will begin tonight at 6:00 p.m. and will be held at the Hightower Park Amphitheatre. MAINSTREET: Mainstreet Director, Mr. Raymond Whiteside said the Mainstreet Broadway Food Truck Fest will be May 17, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at 306 E Broadway West Memphis, AR 72301. Mr. Whiteside said they have 12 food trucks already signed up and some other vendors. There will be live musical entertainment by Lamar & The Get Up Band and The Infinity Band. They will also have giveaways and games. Mr. Whiteside said each food truck will have a specialty item on their menu for $5.00 and that way it will be affordable for the people to be able to sample food from various food trucks. The event is free to the public. BUDGET: Councilor Catt said only 4 of the Council Members were able to attend the budget meeting last week, so he would like to schedule a meeting for Tuesday May 6, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., and would like to have some of the Department Heads to come in to address some of the issues that have transpired through 2024. Councilor Catt said with the new system now in place these issues should be corrected and not occur again, but he feels that there is still a need to do some modifications to the process and will help to ensure that everyone is kept informed. Councilor Catt said that he would send out a notification. WEST MEMPHIS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: WMSD Board Member, Dr. Kimberly Wolfe gave the mayor and council an update on the school district activities. Dr. Wolfe thanked the council members who donated Charity Day Money to the prom promise. Dr. Wolfe said the pre- prom event for the prom promise will be Friday May 2, 2025, from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and they have done an amazing job transforming the cafeteria into a beautiful event center to host the prom and invited the mayor/council to attend the pre- prom event. Dr. Wolfe said Graduation for West Memphis Academy will be Friday May 16, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Hamilton- Schultz Stadium. Dr. Wolfe said earlier in the week they had a celebration to honor all of the Seniors that will be entering College, Trade School, Work Force and Armed Services and-students who received athletic or academic scholarships. Dr. Wolfe said this is the first time that they had a combined celebration to honor all the students entering to into those different ventures 66 students were recognized. Dr. Wolfe said the school district has a new school superintendent Mr. Eric Foister, who joined them on December 2, 2024, and he is doing an amazing job in going out into the community and getting to know all the parents and stakeholders. Dr. Wolfe is asking for the mayor and council's continued support and prayers for the students and parents and most of all the school board members and people who support the them. Dr. Wolfe on May 13, 2025, some board members will be seeking re-election, and some will not in the upcoming election and asked everyone to be in prayer that the Lord will lead the right individuals into the School Board Positions that will be truly vested in our students to truly maximize the potential of our students POLICE DEPARTMENT: Mayor McClendon said the Police Department Narcotics Division wrecked their truck. The insurance company gave them $21,000 dollars. They are wanting to purchase another truck that cost approximately $42,000. The department is wanting to take $22,000 out of their Narcotic Seizure fund to make up the difference to purchase the truck. The mayor is asking councils permission to approve the purchase. Councilor Catt made the motion, seconded by Councilor Bruce to add it to the agenda. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous to add it to the agenda. Councilor Bruce made the motion, seconded by Councilor Mohammed to approve the request to allow the Police Department to take $22,000 from the Narcotic Seizure Fund to purchase the truck. KEEP WEST MEMPHIS BEAUTIFUL: Councilor Lorraine Mohammed said the Keep West Memphis Beautiful event is scheduled for May 10, 2025, from 8:00 to 12:00 p.m. anyone that would like to volunteer can sign up and she is hoping that all council members will choose to participate. Mayor McClendon asked the council for consideration to move the salary for a security personnel position for the City of West Memphis City Hall Office from the Police Department Budget to the Mayor's budget should the existing employee that holds that position and is paid out of the Police Budget be unable to return to work. The mayor said this would allow him to be able to get adequate security for City Hall. The mayor said that this is not something they need to approve today but wanted council to keep it under consideration, should they need to fill that position. Councilor Mohammed asked would it be a private security company or a Police Officer. Mayor McClendon said it would be a Police Officer or possibly a retired Police Officer. ANNOUNCEMENT: Mayor McClendon announced that the Academy of West Memphis is having a pre-prom event from 5:45 to 6:45 on Friday May 2, 2025, and are asking Mayor McClendon and City Council members to stop in and meet with the students to offer words of encouragement. Please RSVP to sbird(cr�,WMSD.net. Mayor McClendon said at 2:30 the West Memphis Fire Department will be having their ribbon cutting for the New Fire Academy at station 2 and asked all Council Members and Department Heads to be present to show their support. Mayor McClendon said the Blues off Broadway will start tonight at 6:00 at -Hightower Park. Mayor McClendon said the Legislative Auditors are in West Memphis conducting the 2024 audit. Mayor McClendon asked everyone to keep the family of Mr. Tim White and Mr. George Broadway and Reverand SJ Parker in their Prayer. Councilor Harris asked that everyone continue to lift Councilor Charles Wheeless up and keep him in their prayers. Councilor.Bruce said he would like to thank Planning 85 Development Director, Chad Bowman, and his staff for the work that they are doing to clean up the city with the removal of wrecked and broken-down vehicles, litter 85 debris, and the removal of old appliances out of people's yards. APPOINTMENTS: NONE PRESENTATION: NONE CITIZENS RQUEST: Dodges Store Manager ,Ms. Veronica Williams came before council to make them aware of the new services that Dodges Store has and to market and promote their business. Ms. Williams said one of the new services that they offer is check cashing as well as they have one of the lowest prices in gas. • • ADJOURNMENT: Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Harris made the motion, seconded by Councilor Mondy, to adjourn. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED on the 15th day of May 2025. MA CO MCCLENDON, MAYOR ATTEST: PATRICIA JOPLI , ITY CLERK Minutes prepared by Sr. Deputy City Clerk, Patricia Lane