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July 7, 2011MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL July 7, 2011 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, July 7, 2011 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 Alderman Herman Coleman. Phillip Para, City Clerk, called the roll. Those present were: Mayor William H. Johnson, City Attorney David Peeples, City Treasurer Frank Martin and Councilors, Willis Mondy, James Holt, Taz Tyrone, Lorraine Robinson, Tracy Catt, Ramona Taylor, Herman Coleman, and Marco McClendon. Absent were: Aldermen: Phillip Caner and James Pulliaum. Quorum being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the meeting. BID OPENINGS Bids for West Memphis Utilities -DIRECTIONAL BORING AND (1) SIX INCH PORTABLE TRAILER MOUNTED TRASH PUMP were opened at 1:00 and copies of the bid tabulation sheet were given to the City Council. Councilor Tyrone made a motion, seconded by Councilor Robinson to refer the bids to the Utility Commission for final disposition. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. (Copy attached) MINUTES Councilor Taylor moved, seconded by Councilor Robinson to dispense with the reading of the minutes of June 23, 2011 City Council meeting, and approve them as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS 3rd Reading of AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2498 KUHN ROAD IN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, CRITTENDEN COUNTY, ARKANSAS, FROM CV-CONSERVATION, TO C-2 OPEN DISPLAY COMMERICAL City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the third and final time. Councilor Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilor Tyrone to approve the Ordinance. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Ordinance was adopted and assigned No. 2279. 3rd Reading of AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 602 MISSOURI STREET IN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, CRITTENDEN COUNTY, ARKANSAS ALLOWING A LANDSCAPE SERVICE IN A C-1, COMMERICAL DISTRICT. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the third and final time. Councilor Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilor Robinson to approve the Ordinance. Mayor Johnson stated this property still has to go before the Design Review Commission regarding the painting of the structure and installing asite-proof fence. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The Ordinance was adopted and assigned No. 2280. NEW BUSINESS Councilor Robinson made a motion, seconded by Councilor Taylor to suspend the rules, and read the title only of Resolution R-1. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. R-1 A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE WILLINGNESS OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS TO UTILIZE FEDERAL-AID ENHANCEMENT FUNDS City Attorney Peeples read the Resolution. Councilor Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilor Holt to approve the Resolution. Councilor Taylor explained this was a Federal Enhancement Grant using 80% federal funds and 20% City Advertising & Promotion funds to continue the streetscape enhancements at the Missouri Street entrance and then eastward toward 7th Street. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 1989. PERMISSION REQUESTS Mayor Johnson requested permission to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the 2011 Justice Assistance Grant. Councilor Taylor moved, seconded by Councilor Tyrone to approve. Mayor Johnson explained this is split 50/50 between Crittenden County and the West Memphis Police Department and can only be used to purchase equipment. Upon voice vote, motion was unanimous. COMMITTEE REPORTS Public Works Committee: Councilor Taylor reported they heard a report from City Engineer Phillip Sorrell. Street Department has been assisting Sanitation with debris removal from the storm. They have also been cleaning out ditches and bayous that have large amounts of trees and debris from the storm. Southland Drive project started and is expected to last 100 days. Ingram Blvd. is in the final design review phase with the Highway Department. They approved a claim for damages to a brick wall which was covered by Arkansas Municipal League insurance, with no deductible. City Engineer Phillip Sorrell came forward and gave a brief report on the status of the debris removal and claims with FEMA. Mr. Sorrell said that they picked up over 15 thousand cubic yards of vegetative debris. He said they hope to be caught up within two weeks and get back to the normal schedule. He said it was taking three to four weeks to make a loop through the city and when they finish more debris has been put out. He commended the Sanitation and Street Department employees for their hard work. Police Commission -Councilor Tyrone reported nine out of ten of the new police vehicles have been delivered. Two officers just graduated from the academy and there are two officers getting ready to leave for the academy. West Memphis Police Department has started advertising for new officers in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and the Jonesboro Sun. Although the advertising costs went up, they had 24 applications submitted. There are currently four openings in the Police Department. The total cost for a new hire, including salary and training is around $30,000 a year. According to Assistant Police Chief Donald Oakes, Lester Ditto's contract is verbal between Mayor Johnson and Chief Paudert. The FBI investigation on the two officers is still ongoing with trial dates set for November of this year. Roy Brown, a citizen attended the meeting regarding his arrest which in his opinion was unlawful and asked the commission to consider refunding him for $750.00 he spent due to his arrest. City Attorney Peeples advised that the city has no provisions for reimbursing citizens for expenses incurred due to an arrest. Commissioner Mondy advised Mr. Brown he could file a law suit and go to the local Chapter of the NAACP. Fire Commission - Councilor Catt reported they met after the last City Council meeting and awarded the low bid for the new ambulance. Budget Committee -Councilor Catt reported they did not have a quorum but did go over sales tax figures and they came in less than what they had hoped for. We had a $36,000 credit which gave us a little over $100,000 in credits given this year. Park Commission -Councilor Holt deferred the report to Lorenzo Parker, Park Director. Mr. Parker reported the grant for Horton and Grimsley Parks had some contract issues that have now been dealt with and ready to get the work ordered. The pond at Lakes of Richland continues to be a problem because they are not fountain or pond experts. He met with Robert Rivers, a maintenance manager at Meadowbrook Country Club and he looked at the pond and said it is totally set up wrong. Mr. Rivers is going to look at it and let him know what it will take to get it right and the cost of contracting the job. The overlay is finished at Tilden Rodgers Park. There are still some storm damage issues they are trying to correct. Councilor Robinson asked about the lake at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. Mr. Parker said that lake needs to be dug deeper. They have checked on borrowing a backhoe from Odell Strickland when it is available. He said that sometimes when we put things in, they are not thought out completely and need to include the cost of maintenance and repairs. Councilor Robinson asked the Park Commission to discuss the possibility of covering that lake and putting in something more attractive there. ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilor Taylor announced Delta Market is open today from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m. They have new vendors with fresh vegetables. Mayor Johnson said Freedom Fest was a success this year and thanked all that helped put it together. CITIZENS REQUESTS Shawn McGuire - 1703 Pine Ridge -wanted information on why his grass clippings have not been picked up in five weeks. He said they were finally picked up today. He said he understood why Sanitation was behind after hearing the City Engineer's report. Councilor Robinson made a motion, seconded by Councilor Mondy to allow Corey Brewer five minutes to speak. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. Corey Brewer -Memphis, TN -grew up in West Memphis and asked for the city's support of his basketball camp for kids in West Memphis this summer. It will be from lam to 5:00 pm with breakfast and lunch provided. He said he is also working on other projects to do in West Memphis. He has been overseas for the past eleven years playing basketball and wants to focus on helping the community. Councilor McClendon made a motion, seconded by Councilor Mondy to allow Shabaka Africa five minutes to speak. After discussion, voice vote was held. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. Shabaka Africa -said the NAACP meets the third Monday and this month Donald Oakes, Assistant Police Chief is going to speak. He said they hosted a political forum Monday June 27, for District 54 candidates. They had FEMA and Disaster Relief of ESBA. He asked what he needed to be able to receive charity day funds. City Attorney Peeples and City Treasurer Martin said they have told him before that the local chapter of the NAACP would have to provide a copy of their 501-C-3 status. The Secretary of State should be able to provide that document for them. Councilor McClendon commended the city workers on cleaning up the storm damage and commended his son for being a new model for Hollister's Department Stores. Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Taylor moved, second by Councilor Coleman to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 2:10p.m. PASSED and APPROVED this o"l~l s~ day of July, 2011 WILLIAM H. JOHNS ,MAYOR ATTEST• PH)LLIP PAR ITY CLERK Minutes prepared by: Cindy Greenwood, Sr. Deputy City Clerk J .1 J r~ ~~ ~o 7ni2o~ ~ WEST MEMPHIS UTILITY COMMISSION P O Box 1868 604 East Cooper West Memphis, AR 72303 Phone (870) 732-7509 Fauc (870) 732-7621 6" TRAILER MOUNTED TRASH PUMP FOR SEWER DEPT. ~~ HEARTLAND PUMP RENTAL & SALES INC. -~ ~ ~~ ©OQ ~, T- HORN LAKE, MS 4 INSTRUMENT & SUPPLY, INC. _~31. 3d~2,. HOT SPRINGS, AR WEST MEMPHIS UTILITY COMMISSION P O Box 1868 604 Enst Cooper West Memphis, AR 72303 Phone (870) 732-7509 Fnx (870) 732-7621 7/7/2011 DIRECTIONAL BORING COUNTRY CLUB GARDENS DESOTO COUNTY ELECTRIC, INC HORN LAKE, MS. B ~ B UTILITY CONTRACTORS, INC MARION, AR .~ l z - 1G©~ °~