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Minutes for the City Council meeting on July 20, 1998
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PUBLIC HEARING - 6:15 P.M. - A public hearing was held for the purpose of vacating Broken Hill Road and Queensland Road located in the Outback Second Addition. No opposition was voiced. (Jack Poling)
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - July 20, 1998
The Jonesboro City Council met Monday, July 20, 1998, at 6:30 p.m. A full quorum was in attendance. Present were: Mayor Brodell, City Clerk, Donna K. Jackson, City Attorney, Phillip Crego and 10 council members. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Tate and Councilman Crockett were unable to attend.
The minutes for July 6, 1998, were approved as delivered, by Councilman Davis seconded by Councilman Roddy. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy.
The following ordinance was on second reading:
ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 954 KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR CHANGES IN ZONING BOUNDARIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (Debbie Cossitt)
Councilman Bowers moved, seconded by Councilman Davis to suspend the rules and place on third and final reading. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Davis moved, seconded by Councilman Bowers for the adoption of the ordinance. The ordinance was assigned number 3064.
Councilman Bowers offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE TO VACATE AND ABANDON BROKEN HILL ROAD AND QUEENSLAND ROAD LOCATED IN THE OUTBACK SECOND ADDITION. (Jack Poling)
Councilman Davis moved, seconded by Councilman Pratt to suspend the rules and place on second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Davis moved, seconded by Councilman Rorex to further suspend the rules and place on third and final reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Davis moved, seconded by Councilman Rorex for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned number 3065.
Councilman Kelton offered the following ordinance for the first reading:
ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 954 KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR CHANGES IN ZONING BOUNDARIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (Sage Meadows)
Councilman Kelton moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy to suspend the rules and place on second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy.
Councilman Roddy offered the following ordinance for the first reading:
ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 954 KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR CHANGES IN ZONING BOUNDARIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (Mike Hottel)
Councilman Bowers moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy to suspend the rules and place on second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Davis moved, seconded by Councilman Rorex to suspend the rules and place on third and final reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Rega moved, seconded by Councilman Bowers for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned number 3066.
The following ordinance was on the third and final reading:
ORDINANCE TO REPEAL SECTION 8.44.14, SUBSECTION (F) (2), AND TO ADD SUBSECTION (A) TO SECTION 8.40.14 TO THE JONESBORO CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING FOURTEEN RENTAL PARKING SPACES
Councilman Roddy moved, seconded by Councilman Rorex for the adoption of the ordinance.Councilman Pratt questioned City Attorney, Phillip Crego regarding a requirement for each car parked in a rented parking space to have a windshield sticker for identification purposes. Mr. Crego stated the only parking sticker requirement he was aware of was for the employee parking lot located behind City Hall. The decision was made to have the Parking Committee review the matter at a later date. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned number 3067.
Councilman Rega moved, seconded by Councilman Davis for the adoption of a resolution to proceed with condemnation action on the following Jonesboro properties:
313 S. Madison, Owner, Mike Pryor
805 Hope, Owner, Susie McNutt
1005 Creath, Owner, William Bobbit (Deceased)
117 Arlington, Owner, Maxine Haun
2904 Greensboro, Owner, Jim Stallcup
A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The resolution was assigned number 1998:42.
Councilman Kelton moved, seconded by Councilman Davis for the adoption of a resolution to set a public hearing for August 3, 1998, at 6:15 p.m. in Municipal Court, 410 W. Washington. The hearing is for the purpose of hearing comments on the vacating and abandonment of two easements located in Block D and Block E of Dunwoody-Huntcliff Estates as requested by Mr. Frank (Skip) Macon. The resolution was assigned number 1998:43.
Under new business, Councilman Bowers moved, seconded by Councilman Pratt for the adoption of a resolution placing traffic signs at the following locations:
STOP SIGNS:
On Daviswood at Harrisburg Rd.
On Homewood at Harrisburg Rd. On Zion at Frog Pond
On Limestone Cv. At Limestone
On Colony Park at Colony
On Colony Park Cv. At Colony Park
On Kingspoint at Horseshoe
On Prosperity at Caprice
On Malibu at Caprice
On Breezewood at Landsbrook
On Curtview at Breezewood
On Pine Hill at Craighead Forrest
On Meadowood Cv. At Stonemill
On Damron at Strawfloor
On Piedmont Cv. At Landsbrook
YIELD SIGN:
On Breezewood at Kristal
25 M.P.H.
On Bradley from Main to Culberhouse.
Discussion followed with Councilman Bowers inquiring about the procedure for placement of traffic signs. Mayor Brodell stated requests are sent to Captain Rainey, and explained the average traffic speed is 30 M.P.H. Mayor Brodell opened the floor to Captain Rainey for the purpose of addressing Council regarding the procedure for placement of traffic signs. Captain Rainey explained his first consideration when determining the placement of a traffic sign is safety. He explained if a request is made for a lower speed other than 30 M.P.H. it is forwarded to the City Clerk, Donna Jackson who then forwards it on to MATA (Aubrey Scott). Captain Rainey stressed he does not arbitrarily send lower speed limits to the Council, only requests made by the public. He stated residents living on a two to four block street should have a say in what the speed limit is, not people using the street as a means to speed. Captain Rainey addressed the issue of speed limits on school grounds compared to speed limits in residential areas. He explained school grounds are designated, controlled areas, unlike residential streets where young children are allowed to play. Councilman Bowers asked Captain Rainey how he would like the Council to make requests for lower speed limits. Captain Rainey stated when he receives a request, he physically checks the area before sending in a recommendation for a resolution. Councilman Bowers asked if a petition was necessary when making a request. Captain Rainey stated he has instructed residents to get a petition together so when the resolution reaches Council it won’t be knocked down. Councilman Bowers asked Captain Rainey if he follows up once a traffic resolution has been adopted. Captain Rainey stated he works closely with Tracy Clayton, making sure traffic signs are up once he receives notification from Mrs. Jackson. City Clerk, Donna Jackson asked Captain Rainey about an email message she had received from Captain Rainey in which he had stated he preferred to deal directly with Aubrey Scott. Captain Rainey stated City Clerk, Donna Jackson misunderstood his message. Mayor Brodell stated in the future if there is a problem with regard to traffic resolutions the City Clerk’s Office should refer the requests to him or to his assistant, Larry Johnson. Alderman Pratt asked who receives approval from MATA. Mayor Brodell stated it is suppose to come back to his office, but does not. Councilman Rorex disagreed with Captain Rainey’s earlier remark in where Captain Rainey states his first consideration when determining the placement of a traffic sign is safety. Councilman Rorex referred to a request for a “STOP” sign at the Stroud and Greenbrier area. He explained residents in the area are elderly and even though vehicles travel at a speed of 75 MPH through the area, a “STOP” sign (on Stroud) has been denied. Captain Rainey responded by stating Stroud Street is a through-way street covering many blocks, and is not a safety issue, but rather a failure to obey the laws of Jonesboro. Captain Rainey explained Stroud has fewer accidents than other Jonesboro streets. He stated he will not be responsible for putting a four-way “STOP” sign in the Stroud area, because it would create more accidents. Councilman Rorex stated if a “STOP” sign was placed in the area, then motorists would have to slow down for the “STOP” sign. Captain Rainey responded by saying motorist would run through the “STOP” sign. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye for the motion to adopt the traffic signs. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The resolution was assigned number 1998:44.
Councilman Rega opened discussion on Jonesboro’s Defined Benefit Retirement Program, by requesting Mr. Michael Beeman, Human Resource Director, to address the provisions of the plan. Mr. Beeman stated a majority of cities and counties within Arkansas have a defined benefit program supplemented by a 457 Plan. He reviewed the following recommendations of the Personnel Committee: 1) Eliminate the mandatory 1% of salary contribution by employees and include all non-uniformed employees in the Defined Benefit Plan without Past Credit Service. 2) Increase the multiplier by 25% to 1.50%. 3) Base retirement benefit on the employee’s salary for the last 10 years of employment. Councilman Rega moved, seconded by Councilman Kelton to adopt the recommendations of the Human Resources Department and of the Personnel Committee. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy.
Councilman Fletcher stated he was moving to Bay, Arkansas and turned in his resignation effective July 31, 1998.
With no further business the meeting was adjourned.