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August 20, 2009MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL August 20, 2009 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 South Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas. Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Reverend David Mosley with the First Methodist Church offered prayer. Cindy Greenwood, Senior Deputy City Clerk, called the roll. Those present were, Mayor William H. Johnson, City Attorney David Peeples, City Treasurer Frank Martin, and Councilors, Lorraine Robinson, Tracy Catt, James Pulliaum, Ramona Taylor, Herman Coleman, Marco McClendon, Willis Mondy, James Holt, and Taz Tyrone. Absent: Alderman Phillip Carter. Quorum being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the meeting. BID OPENINGS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY - ADFA Neighborhood Stabilization Program -Mayfair Apartments - Demolition -Mayor Johnson referred the bids to the Community Development Agency for disposition and said there will not be any bids awarded unless they receive the grant. MINUTES Councilor Catt moved, seconded by Councilor Robinson to dispense with the reading of the minutes of August 6, 2009, and approve them as submitted. The motion passed by unanimous vote. OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Councilor Robinson moved, seconded by Councilor Pulliaum to suspend the rules and read R-1 by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. R-1 A Resolution declaring the intent of the City of West Memphis, Arkansas to make certain expenditures toward public utility improvements and to reimburse itself for such expenditures from the proceeds of revenue bonds of the city; and prescribing other matters relating thereto City Attorney Peeples read the Resolution. Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Taylor to approve the Resolution. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 1928. Councilor McClendon moved, seconded by Robinson to add Resolution R-2 to the agenda. Motion approved by unanimous vote. R-2 A Resolution authoring the Mayor to make application to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for assistance to develop recreational facilities for the City by obtaining a 50/50 matching grant. City Attorney Peeples read the Resolution. Councilor McClendon moved, seconded by Councilor Taylor to approve the Resolution. Motion approved by a unanimous vote. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 1929. COMMITTEE REPORTS Airport Commission -Councilor Robinson reported Finance Director Frank Martin gave the Commission an overview of the Airport's financial standing and even with the difficult economy, the Airport is operating in the black. They are $35,000 ahead of June 2008. Jackson Howell 8~ Associates is completing the 2008 audit for the Airport. According to the State System Plan, the West Memphis Airport ranks 8th out of 91 airports in the State for revenue generated. Airport Engineer Stacey Morris reported that a GIS Survey will be needed in order to obtain a night time GPS approach on runway 35. The land acquisition project that was 100% funded by grant monies generated by aviation tax is now closed. Fire Commission -Councilor Coleman reported the turnouts purchase and replacement project is complete. Personnel Committee -Councilor Mondy reported they held their first meeting this year and the employees are asking when the Mayor is going to give them a raise. Utility Commission -Councilor Tyrone said he had two meeting to report on. The first meeting, held July 9th ,they approved the bids on (2) 2009 pickup trucks and approved the hiring of Sorrell Engineering to do some utility work in connection with the I-40 ramp relocation. The next meeting, held on August 13t ,they approved bids to replace headworks influent valves and he said that the bids for (1) new 2009 roll-off truck/hoist are going to be re-bid due to the specs were incorrect that they sent out. They also discussed the bond issue. Mayor Johnson requested permission to sign a bill of sale to Northside Redevelopment Corporation for two mobile homes at $1.00 each. Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Robinson to approve. The motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Johnson explained these were two mobile homes that were donated to the city in 1987 after the tornado. The Northside Redevelopment Corporation has been using them for over twenty years, but this will allow them to "legally" get them in their name. Mayor Johnson requested permission to release a demolition lien on a piece of property at 120 S. 7th in the amount of $853.38. He explained that this lien was put on the property by the city several years ago. Wolfe Brothers has recently purchased the property and are hard surfacing and putting parking lines on the lot to help get the vehicles off of 7th Street. Councilor McClendon moved, seconded by Councilor Robinson to approve. The motion was approved by unanimous vote. CITIZENS REQUESTS Lawrence Brown - 614 Rainer Road spoke concerning the recent reports of unlawful and overaggressive policing in West Memphis. He said that no one here was anti-police, they are anti- police brutality and just want to make sure our police protect and serve and not engage in a radical form of abuse. He said they want action and it is time for a change. He suggested we make Internal Affairs independent from the Police Department; institute a Citizens Police Review Board, implement community oriented policing, and said we need video cameras and body microphones in every car. ..r Councilor Coleman addressed a grass problem on the vacant lots in his ward. He said the contractors the city is using to cut grass are just knocking it down because after they cut it, the Johnson grass is popping back up and is over 18" high. He also said there is grass on Tyler Circle that has not been cut this year. Mayor Johnson said the grass cutting is not being done properly and after this grass season is over, he is going to add what the city has spent so far on grass cutting and he is going to look into a better solution. Councilor Catt reported when the Park Department grass cutting crew is cutting around the Lakes of Richland, they are letting the grass blow back into the lake and it is jamming up the pumps. He said none of the pumps are working, the fountains don't work, and the water is low in all three lakes. He also reported there is still an issue with people letting their limbs and shrubs grow over the sidewalk and asked that Mayor Johnson assist him with this and have citations issued. Councilor Robinson thanked Mr. Brown and agreed that not only all of the police vehicles need cameras and microphones in them, but they need to make sure they are turned on. She also said the lake at Martin Luther King Park right on the interstate also needs repairing and cleaning out. Councilor Catt said he was going to address this at the next Park Commission meeting. Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Taylor moved, seconded by Councilor Catt to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this ~rd day of September, 2009. ~~~~ ~ WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, MAYOR ATTEST: PHILLIP ,CITY CLERK Minutes prepared by Cindy Greenwood, Senior Deputy City Clerk ,~ ...~ ADFA Neighborhood Stabilization Program Mayfair Apartments -Demolition Bidder Bid Shannon Kee Construction `~~ ~~~ Fowler Construction ~~~ x'00 Curtis Cleaning & Concrete ~ ~~, g'y~ Craig Construction ~~~ ~.-c~i SEG, Inc. `~p .c~i Goolsby, Inc. ~ ~ ~ ,~,~' Patton Construction ~~~t ~y~ EPA Demolition ~~~` ©~, ~ Stoney Development w ~~ ,~~ ~ Recycle Materials w ~ ~„~ Robinson Construction ~~ ~~~ Howard Construction ~`~ ,~,,~ ~,- DRC Emergency ~(. ~? ~..~~~ Young Construction ~~ !I Wards Asbestos ~~~ ~.,,~ ~ Bidder Bid Control Environment , /~` ~ ~/ Y' Mondy's Construction .~ ~~ Johnson Construction ~a B~ ~ K & Associates ~ed~ ~,~ p Walkers Contractors ~ ~~ Jones Wrecking ~j ~~o QSF & Associates t~ ~~ ~ Crisp Contractors ~ ~~'~ Roy's Trucking ~8~~ ~ Snyder Environmental ~p ,~,~,~ Falcon Construction ~ ,~,~~ T. Brown Construct. ~ ~ ~~ o~~ B & W Excavating a~$~ OAd ~- ~ ~p~ 2t s ~~b, ~