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January 16, 2003MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 16, 2003 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on January 16, 2003 at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas. Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Bruce that Councilor Ramona Taylor preside over the meeting in the absence of Mayor William H. Johnson. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Councilor Taylor called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Brother William Gatty of the 8th Street Mission offered prayer. Phillip Para, City Clerk called the roll. Those present were: City Attorney David Peeples, City Treasurer Frank Martin, Councilors: Harold Thomas, James Pulliaum, Clarence Davis, Gheric Bruce, Ramona Taylor, Al Felton, Marco McClendon, Herman Coleman and James Holt. Absent: Mayor William H. Johnson and Councilor Lorraine Robinson. Quorum being present, the meeting proceeded. Brother Gatty extended an invitation to all the city council and the general public to attend an open house at the 8th Street Mission, February 1st from 9:00 am until 11:00 am. MINUTES Councilor Thomas moved, seconded by Councilor Pulliaum to dispense with the reading of the minutes of January 2, 2003 and approve as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The motion carried. Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Thomas to approve the minutes of the Special-Called City Council Meeting of January 9, 2003 as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS 3rd reading of an ordinance granting a Special Use Permit in a C-2 Open Display Commercial District, to allow a granite counter top fabricator, at 1011 East Service Road, West Memphis, Arkansas. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the THIRD and FINAL time. Pulliaum moved, seconded by Felton to approve. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Ordinance was adopted and assigned No. 2060 NEW BUSINESS Bruce moved, seconded by Pulliaum to suspend the rules and R-1 and O-1 be read by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. R-1 A Resolution of the City Council of West Memphis, Arkansas, certifying local government endorsement of a company to participate in the Advantage Arkansas Program (formerly the Arkansas Enterprise Zone Program -Act 947 of 1993 as amended). City Attorney Peeples read the Resolution. Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Bruce to approve the Resolution. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 1763. O-1 An Ordinance waiving competitive bidding for the purchase of the property at 503 Auburn Street declaring an emergency and for other purposes. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the FIRST time. Felton moved, seconded by Pulliaum to suspend the rules and the Ordinance be placed on its second reading. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time. Councilor Felton moved, seconded by Councilor Pulliaum to further suspend the rules and the Ordinance be placed on its third and final reading. Upan voice vote, the voting was unanimous. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the THIRD and FINAL time. Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Felton to adopt. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Thomas to adopt the emergency clause, section 3. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Ordinance and its emergency clause, section 3 was adopted and assigned No. 2061. PERMISSION REQUESTS Holt moved, seconded by Davis to approve payment of $50,570.10 to Crisp Contractors, Inc. for Coastal Unilube, Inc. for drainage improvements. Councilor Pulliaum asked if this was an Economic Development Agency project. Councilor Taylor stated it was. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. Felton moved, seconded by Pulliaum to add the distribution of Southland Racing charity funds to the agenda. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Page 2 City Council Minutes 01-16-03 Pulliaum moved, seconded by Bruce to approve the distribution of Southland Racing Charity Day funds in the amount of $16,545.93 to the Good Neighbor/Love Center. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. COMMITTEE REPORTS Councilor Felton reported the Advertising & Promotion Commission met and they were brought up to date on recent events. He also reported that this year's Christmas Tree Lighting at Worthington Park was the largest attended in three year's and it also received many compliments from those who attended. The 2003 budget was presented, but no action was taken. Councilor Coleman brought up three items of concern to the City Council. The first concern was propane vehicles traveling down 7th Street after loading at Williams. His concern was loaded trucks going through a residential street and the possibility of a disaster. He requested the City Council consider trying to find a way for those loaded trucks to use the South Loop. Councilor Bruce agreed with Councilor Coleman and said he would like to see all the truck traffic taken off of 7th Street and rerouted to the South Loop. After discussion, this matter was referred to the Public Works Committee for a recommendation. The second concern he had was that dogs are running in packs the Broadway Trailer Park. He wanted the property owners in Broadway Trailer Park to know that the City Council was working on a solution. City Attorney Peeples stated the Animal Control Commission is responsible for this matter. City Attorney Peeples recommended this matter be referred to them so they can have the animal control officer concentrate in the areas where those problems are. Reverend Coleman's final concern was he wanted the City Council to be aware that the new state requirement of residential builders having to have a State of Arkansas Contractor's License before they can build anything over $20,000. He said this requirement was affecting our local general contractors and could put most of the smaller general contractors in West Memphis out of business. CITIZENS REQUESTS None Reverend Coleman commended Councilor Ramona Taylor on a job well done presiding over the meeting. Councilor Pulliaum and Councilor Felton recommended the newly appointed committees get together in the conference room immediately following the city council meeting to organize. Councilor Coleman moved, seconded by Councilor Holt to adjourn to the conference room. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this ~i day of February, 2003 .-.-- WILLIAM H. JOH ON, MAYOR ATTEST: PHILL ,CITY CLERK Minutes prepared by: Cindy Gree ood, Sr. Deputy Clerk