October 21, 2004MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 21, 2004
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, October 21, 2004 at
1:30 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 1:30 p.m. City Treasurer Frank Martin offered
prayer. Phillip Para, City Clerk called the roll. Those present were: Mayor William H. Johnson,
City Attorney David Peeples and Treasurer Frank Martin; Councilors: Harold Thomas, Clarence
Davis, AI Felton, Marco McClendon, and James Holt Absent Councilor's James Pulliaum,
Lorraine Robinson, Gheric Bruce, Ramona Taylor, anti Herman Coleman. Mayor Johnson stated
the current law allows for the mayor to count as the sixth vote necessary for quorum purposes
and proceeded with the meeting.
BID OPENINGS
PLANNING 8 DEVELOPMENT -DEMOLITION Councilor Davis moved, seconded by
Councilor Holt to accept the bids and refer to Planning & Development for disposition, with the
exception of 3108 Church. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. (Copy attached)
MINUTES
Councilor Felton moved, seconded by Councilor Thomas to dispense with the reading of the
minutes of October 7, 2004 and approve as presented. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
2nd Reading of an Ordinance attaching and incorporating certain described annexed territory to
Ward 1 of the City of West Memphis and for other purposes.
City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND TIME. Mayor Johnson said the final
reading of this ordinance and the companion resolution would be on the next council agenda.
NEW BUSINESS None
PERMISSION REQUESTS
Councilor Felton moved, seconded by Councilor McClendon to approve the budget change
requests. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. (Copies attached)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilor Holt reported the Park Commission is looking at doing some infrastructure work at
Tilden Rogers Park. They are to do bathroom renovations, fence work, purchase portable
pitching mounds, and playground equipment.
Councilor Thomas reported the Utility Commission met and discussed the new state mandates
for the sewer treatment plant. Public Works Committee had no quorum.
City Attorney Peeples reported the Airport Commission met and reviewed the Master Plan being
prepared by the engineers.
Councilor Felton reported the Budget Committee discussed the possibility of giving bonus's to city
employees in December. They do not know the exact amount; however, he said it does look
positive that they will receive a bonus.
APPOINTMENTS
Mayor Johnson submitted rrsum~'s for the re-appointment of Lynn Allen to the Library Board, the
reappointment of Marion °Mikki° Hooper and Issac Christopher to the Park Commission, and new
appointments of Tracy Catt and Basil Joiner to the DRC. He will ask for City Council confirmation
at the next meeting. Mayor Johnson asked if any of the council had any questions about his
appointments, that they contact him prior to the next meeting.
CITIZENS REQUESTS
Buddy House, who has been a resident of West Memphis and a local business man since 1964,
was present to appeal the decision of the Design Review Commission. Mr. House stated he
owns several businesses that rely on the interstate tremendously. He asked the City Council to
consider over-riding the DRC's decision of denying him two sign permit's for billboards on the
Service Road. One request was to erect a new billboard sign on a piece of property he recently
cleared on the east bound service road, and the other request was to move an existing billboard
sign a little over 100 feet. Paul Luker, Director of Planning & Development addressed the matter.
Mr. Luker stated Section 9 of the Sign Ordinance dealing with Freestanding Signs, section 6,
paragraph (1) states that only one (1) freestanding sign shall be permitted on a lot with a building
and paragraph (5) states special provisions for signs on property abutting an Interstate Highway
may have a maximum height of eighty (80) feet and a display surtace area of two hundred feet
and a maximum additional display surtace area of two hundred (200) square feet where the gross
floor area of such building is twelve hundred square feet or more. Mr. Luker also quoted Section
12.68.150 of the West Memphis Municipal Code which states that requests for variances require
an extreme hardship due to the arcumstances unique to the property and the individual sign
under consideration. Mr. Luker stated Mr. House is requesting to put a sign on a lot that does not
have a building and also that that sign be larger than allowed, if there was a building of at least
1200 sq. ft. on the lot. The sign that he is requesting to move, is anon-conforming sign under the
new sign ordinance, which means it can stay there as long as it stays there in its same form and
shape. Once the sign is taken down, it loses its non-conforming status. After lengthy discussion,
Councilor McClendon moved to over-ride the decision of the DRC. The motion failed due to lack
of a second.
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor McClendon moved,
seconded by Councilor Felton, to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The
meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this -~ day of November, 2004.
WILLIAM H. JOHN ,MAYOR
ATTEST:
__- ~
.-
PHILLI ITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by:
Cindy Gree ood, Senior Deputy City Clerk
Request For Budget Change
City Of West Memphis
1
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REASON FOR REQUEST:
IOW WOULD EXPENDITURE BE FUNDED?
APPROVED:
CHAIRMAN -BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR
DATE
DISAPPROVED:
CHAIRMAN -BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR
DATE
REMARKS:
1. WHITE -Accounting
2. PINK -Department 3. YELLOW -Committee Minutes
Request For Budget Change
City Of West Memphis
1.
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REASON FOR REQUEST:
HOW WOULD EXPENDITURE BE FUNDED?
APPROVED:
CHAIRMAN -BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR DATE
DISAPPROVED:
CHAIRMAN -BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR DATE
REMARKS:
1. WHITE -Accounting 2. PINK -Department 3. YELLOW -Committee Minutes
Request For Budget Change
City Of West Memphis
l
L
DEPART NT DATE REQUESTED BY:
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REASON FOR REQUEST:
#10W WOULD EXPENDITURE BE FUNDED?
APPROVED:
CHAIRMAN -BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR DATE
DISAPPROVED:
CHAIRMAN -BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR DATE
REMARKS:
1. WHITE -Accounting 2. PINK -Department 3. YELLOW -Committee Minutes
Request For Budget Change
City Of West Memphis
L
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DEP TMENT
G1//I ATE REQUESTED BY:
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REASON FOR REQUEST:
HOW WOULD EXPENDITURE BE FUNDED?
APPROVED:
CHAIRMAN-BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR DATE
DISAPPROVED:
CHAIRMAN -BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR DATE
REMARKS:
1. WHITE -Accounting
2. PINK -Department 3. YELLOW -Committee Minutes
Request For Budget Change
City Of West Memphis
t
DEPARTMEN
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REASON FOR REQUEST
HOW WOULD EXPENDITURE BE FUNDED?
APPROVED:
CHAIRMAN -BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR DATE
DISAPPROVED:
CHAIRMAN -BUDGET COMM.
DATE
MAYOR DATE
REMARKS:
1. WHITE -Accounting 2. PINK -Department 3. YELLOW -Committee Minutes