January 8, 2009MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 8, 2009
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, January 8, 2009 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. Reverend Gary Hair of Calvary Baptist Church
deferred the invocation to Lany Griffin, a student of East Jr. High School. Phillip Para, City Clerk,
called the roll. Those present were: Mayor William H. Johnson, City Attorney David Peeples, City
Treasurer Frank Martin and Councilors:, James Pulliaum, Herman Coleman, Marco McClendon, Willis
Mondy, James Holt, Taz Tyrone, Phillip Carter, Lorraine Robinson, Tracy Catt and Ramona Taylor.
Quorum being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the meeting.
Mayor Johnson welcomed the three newly elected Aldermen, Taz Tyrone of Ward Three, Willis Mondy
of Ward Five and welcomed back Tracy Catt, of Want One, who has been on the City Council before.
Councilor Taylor made a correction to the minutes of December 18, 2008. The correction was under
Permission Requests, third paragraph, to strike the words ,
' ". Alderman Catt also made a
correction, under Announcements, second paragraph, they should read "the second and fourth
Thursday" instead of the second and t#i~. Pulliaum moved, seconded by Robinson to approve the
corrections. Motion carried. Robinson moved, seconded by Pulliaum to approve the minutes as
corrected. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
2nd Reading An Ordinance waiving competitive bidding for aerial spraying, ground spraying and
other mosquito control efforts, and for other purposes
City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time.
NEW BUSINESS
Robinson moved, seconded by Pulliaum to suspend the rules and only read the title only of Ordinance
O-1. Motion carried.
O-1 An Ordinance waiving competitive bidding for consulting services for the City of West Memphis
to be provided by Alt. Consulting, and for other purposes
City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the FIRST time.
Pulliam moved, seconded by Carter to suspend the rules and the Ordinance is placed on the second
reading. The motion carried. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time.
Pulliaum moved, seconded by Robinson to further suspend the rules and the Ordinance is placed on
the third reading. Motion carried. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the THIRD and FINAL
time. Pulliaum moved, seconded by Robinson to approve the Ordinance. Alderwoman Taylor
explained the city applied for and received a grant focusing on youth from the Department of Human
Services, Division of Youth Services. AR.Consulting has been working with Tunica County Mississippi
for the last two years in developing youth entrepreneurship programs that could strengthen the
entrepreneurship in their community. They will work with ten youths for up to forty hours to develop
and implement a business plan. Motion carried. The Ordinance was adopted and assigned No. 2212.
Mayor Johnson explained by state law, the Mayor must present a budget to the City Council by
December 1St which was done on November the 28"', 2008. By State law, the City Council must also
approve a budget by February 1``. Mayor Johnson said 1/12t`' of the budget would have to be adopted
so city employees could get paid January 15"'. Alderman Pulliaum moved, seconded by Alderman
Carter to approve 1/12"' of last year's budget for the operation of January, 2009. The motion carried.
Paul Luker, Director of Planning and Development came forward and invited the City Council, and all
citizens, to attend two meetings to be held Monday, January 12`h, at 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The first
meeting at 1:30 p.m. is a "Stakeholders Meeting" to discuss a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy
Area which is bounded by Seventh Street on the west; Martin Luther King Drive on the east; the South
Loop on the south and up to the commercial property along the Interstate to the north. He said the
Neighborhood Strategy Area will be multifaceted and multipurpose; however, the initial project that is
driving this endeavor is the resolution of the Mayfair Apartments. There will be a consultant present to
listen to comments and suggestions. He asked that if the City Council could not attend, to please
provide him with some written comments that could be put in the record. The meeting at 5:00 p.m. will
be a Public Hearing for Community Development Block Grant Funds.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Budget Committee -McClendon reported the Budget Committee received the December and a year to
date Sales Tax Report from Finance DirectorlCity Treasurer Frank Martin. They discussed ways on
how to deal with the deficit in the General Fund budget. They are to meet Friday at 10:00 to discuss
the Police Department budget and Tuesday at noon to discuss the Fire Department budget. Mr. Martin
is to arrange for other General Fund department's to also be included in the scheduled meetings.
Aldemtan McClendon reported the auditors informed Mr. Martin that there should be Budget Change
Requests to reflect changes in revenue and expenses. Mr. Martin stated that he will be bringing the
changes before the City Councl for approval.
Alderman McClendon introduced a group of young men that are presently students of East Junior High
School. He explained that they came to the PTO wanting to do positive things in hopes of getting more
young men involved in being positive role models for other young men. They formed the group called
Gentlemen's Inc. They each stood and introduced themselves and told what their goals were in the
future. Arthur Quarrels, Principal of East Jr. High School thanked the Mayor and City Council for
allowing them to be there and said how proud he was of these young men and the positive impad they
are bringing to this community.
APPOINTMENTS
Alderman Carter moved, seconded by Alderman Coleman to appoint James Pulliaum to replace Helen
Hams as City Councl representative on the Advertising and Promotion Commission. Motion carried.
Alderman Coleman moved, seconded by Alderman Carter to re-appoint Ramona Taylor as the second
City Council representative on the Advertising and Promotion Commission. Motion carried.
Mayor Johnson asked guest Lany Griffin to come forward and adjourn the meeting. Mr. Griffin asked
for a motion to adjourn. Counclor Davis moved, seconded by Councilor Robinson to adjourn. Upon
voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this a a day of January, 2009.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON YOR
ATTEST:
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PHILL A, CITY CLERK Minutes prepared by Cindy Greenwood, Deputy Clerk