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October 4, 2007MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 4, 2007 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, October 4, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas. Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Invocation was given by Reverend Jim Mattson with the Ministerial Alliance. Phillip Para, City Clerk, called the roll. Those present were: Mayor William H. Johnson, City Attorney David Peep/es, City Treasurer Frank Martin and Councilors, Ramona Taylor, Herman Co/eman, Marco McC/endon, James Ho/t, Chester Peep/es, Lorraine Robinson, C/arence Davis and James Pulliaum. Absent. Councilors Phillip Carterand He%n Harris. Quorum being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the meeting. BIDS PROCLAMATION A proclamation was presented to Families in Transition regarding domestic violence. The proclamation was received by Debbie Holmes, Marla Peden and Lee Hammett. MINUTES Councilor Peeples moved, seconded by Councilor Taylor to dispense with the reading of the minutes of September 20, 2007, and approve them as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS 2'd Reading An Ordinance to re-designate 1~h Street to Earnest Co%man, Sr Street, and for other purposes. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time. NEW BUSINESS Councilor Robinson moved, seconded by Councilor Coleman to suspend the rules and read R-1 and O-1 by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. R-> A reso/ution certifying the condemnation and removal of houses, bui/dings and/or residential structures constituting a nuisance within the City of West Memphis Corporate Limits. Councilor Coleman made a motion to amend the resolution to delete the properties at 330 South 10'n 626 South 16'n and 320 South 17~'. Motion was seconded by Councilor Robinson. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Councilor Peeples made a motion to approve R-1 as amended, motion was seconded by Councilor Coleman. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The resolution was approved and assigned number 1877. O- 7 An Ordinance to amend section 3.04.010 of the West Memphis Municipal Code to define the term "Prepared Food'; and for other purposes. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the FIRST time. Before the next meeting, Council will be provided with a copy of the state regulations regarding this subject. PERMISSION REQUESTS Permission to pay APAC $133, 325. >0 for Ross Street from Braw/ey Consulting Engineers Permission to pay Ford of West Memphis $89, 899 for four (4J police vehic%s. Permission to pay John WrightAssociates, lnc. $119, 877.76, for cameras forcars-(Ordinance 2161 Dated June 7, 2007). Mayor Johnson reported that this was for 23 cameras. Five more cameras are on order and will be placed in the narcotic vehicles. Not all cars will have cameras. The detective cars will not have cameras, but all of the patrol cars, street cars, narcotic cars, the police chief and the assistant chief cars will have cameras. Permission to pay B&B Utility Contractors $166, 500.00 to rehab Pump Stations #26 and #27. Permission to pay Red Deluxe, LLC $52, 505.43 forA & PAdvertisements. Councilor Davis inquired about the payment to Red Deluxe. Mayor Johnson said we contract with this company and they contract for our larger advertisements in order to get us a better price. This fee covers this year. Motion was made by Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Robinson to approve all of the above permission requests. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. A motion was made by Councilor Holt and seconded by Councilor Taylor to approve the Planning Commission Recommendations. This packet included approval for a new hotel on 7m Street at the interstate. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. COMMITTEE REPORTS Po/ice Commission -Councilor McClendon stated seven new officers were hired for the department. The new recruits were asked to attend the Police Commission meeting. A few were unable to attend. Paul Luker came to the meeting and discussed some issues that were going on, on the South side of town. The problems included grass liens and posting of signs throughout town. A suggestion was made about an Environmental Court. We will have to check to see if that is feasible to do. Councilman Pulliaum came by the meeting with a state ordinance that talked about offences for tampering with police cameras and wanted something added to the policy manual regard tampering. There was also discussion on implementing a program for nonviolent offenders with outstanding warrants to turn themselves in. A program in Memphis called Safe Surrender was observed and sounded like a good idea for West Memphis. There was also talk of a second chance program. The Commission also viewed one of the new cameras that had been installed in one of the police units. Pub/ic Works- Councilor Robinson stated the Committee approved the West Memphis 2007 Municipal Improvements Projects and the Rich Road Street overlay. Due to the increased fees on the landfill, a possible increase, on garbage fees, were discussed. Uti/ity Commission -Councilor Davis reported on the special called meeting from September 24th, bids for 2 projects were reviewed. Four (4) bids were received on a fueling station located at the Utility Department. The low bid was awarded to Cobb Environmental and Tech Services from Tupelo, MS. Four (4) bids were received on the upgrade for pump station #8. This bid was awarded to Crittco Cable and Fiber Inc. out of Jonesboro, AR. Rev. Leroy Turner, Sanitation Superintendent, spoke about the increased fees at the landfill. Beginning October 1, all Crittenden County users of the landfill will see an increase. Crittenden County users will pay $25 per ton and out of county users will pay $28 per ton. There will be no free dumping at the landfill for anyone. We will need to be real diligent and keep an open eye for people who may dump within the City. This may prove to be a real problem for the City. Rev. Tumer said the landfill will allow four tires per year, per family to be brought for free. Councilor Taylor asked about reinstituting the recycling program, she had received a few calls. She would like for the program to be evaluated. Mayor Johnson stated the increase is $6 per ton, that is a 31.6% increase in the landfill costs. Based on last years' usage of 20,000 tons, that would be an increase of $120,000. From the looks of this year, it will be more than that. Last month the City dumped approximately 856,000 pounds of trash. Councilor Robinson announced that the memorial sign for Britney Sitzes has been erected at Rich Road. Mayor Johnson stated it wasn't in the paper and did not have any publicity because of a request by her father. APPOINTMENTS CITIZENS REQUESTS Claude "Shorty" Stee% Veteran Service Officer for Crittenden County and the I/ice-President of the Arkansas Department of I/eteran Affairs (616 Ba/fou~j -reported that the 216th MP Battalion part of the 39th Brigade will be deployed this year. He is trying to get a committee together to show them they we are behind them 100%. He is trying to get a meal together for them and their immediate family. Mr. Steele has sent out many letters asking for donations. There will be anywhere from 60 to 100 men and women deployed. They will be starting an "Adopt a Family" program, for support to the families of the men and women who are being deployed. Mr. Steele also announced that he was awarded the outstanding service officer for the state of Arkansas, which covers 75 counties. Mayor Johnson suggested the council make a recommendation to the A & P Commission to make a financial contribution of around $1000 to this dinner. Councilor Taylor said she would bring it up at the next A & P Commission meeting. Councilor McClendon motioned, seconded by Councilor Pulliaum to make the recommendation to the A & P Commission. Upon voice vote, motion was unanimous Councilor Pulliaum asked for everyone to say a prayer for our soldiers, both the local people and all the others. ANNOUNCEMENTS Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor McClendon to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 1:58 p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this _ day of October, 2007. WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, MAYOR ATTEST: PH ARA, CITY CLERK Minutes prepared by Rhonda Standridge, Jr. Deputy City Clerk f y,~eer Mf u; CITY OF WEcST MEMPII[cS PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ZOS S. Redding • P.O. Box 1728 • Wast Memphis, Arkansas 72303 • (870) 732-7520 • Fax (870) 732-7650 MEMO TO: Mayor William H. Johnson and City Council Members FROM: Christine Byrd, Planning Commission Coordinator DATE: September 27, 2007 RE: Recommendations from the regular scheduled Planning Commission meeting held on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, to the Mayor and City Council, on Thursday, October 4, 2007. I. Final_Plat Lowell's Landing Application Case# SD-09-07 - The City of West Memphis Planning Commission recommended to approve Final Plat Lowell's Landing, Application Case#SD-09-07, for the property owner, represented by Mr. Dennis Sorrell, Sorrell Consulting Engineers, for the property located at approximately 1333 N. 7th Street. This property contains 16.42 acres and is Zoned C-2, Commercial District. (See attached a copy of plat.) Approval is subject to the following criteria: 1. Proper execution of all Certificates; 2. Installation of grading and drainage improvements as required by the Department of Public Works; 3. Approval of the improvement plans by the West Memphis Utility Department, as to easements; 4. Installation of improvements as required by the City Engineer; 5. Adjustments to be made to align the street, subject to the City Engineer; 6. Set up Property Owners Association to maintain common open space. An Equ¢l Opportunity Employer S ° ° M N m ~ m ~ P1 ,a f9 ~ ~ w O ~ 7 Q a O O ~' ~, a a g c 0 rn ~ ~' oo "l ~ ~ M ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ L~ O .. y bU 6 „] ~ Q Q O F „' ~ O ~ ~ U eA 04 G W ~ L C G 7 u O ;, 3 U ~ o i L° q m U y y v ~ ~ ~ ~~ u e~ ~ ~ ~ n Q oa °o a ~ -- ~ o o z w s " m m z ~ > o m o ~ a a z ~ " r ~ o a A O p z q H Q !LL/1 Z Z ~ :L Z N ~,.. W Z N Q ~ a N ~ F ~ Q S ~ W U~ C: ,'F y`~ Q O = ~ U C C Z N a Q Z U ~ g S g g o ° Z ~ ~ o oo , ~ g o$ Z O m M m 0 v u~ M Oi (~i o o m N ~ N W ~ ~ sf ~ r. 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