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Minutes for the City Council meeting on February 3, 2003
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PUBLIC HEARING - 6:15 PM - A public hearing was conducted for the purpose of abandoning a portion of (Pardew Street) Keith Drive lying south of E. Matthews of Stallings 5th Addition, as requested by Earnest and Herbert Stallings. No opposition was voiced.
PUBLIC HEARING - 6:20 PM - A public hearing was conducted for the purpose of abandoning the right of way of Blackberry Lane of Wilderness Run Subdivision, as requested by John Carter. No opposition was voiced.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - February 3, 2003
The Jonesboro City Council met Monday, February 3, 2003, at 6:30 p.m. A full quorum was in attendance. Present were: City Clerk, Donna K. Jackson, City Attorney, Phillip Crego and eleven council members. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. Councilman Copeland was out sick and unable to attend. President Pro Tempore, Harold Perrin presided over the meeting for Mayor Brodell who was unable to attend.
Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Street to approve the minutes of January 20, 2003, as previously delivered. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy.
Mr. Larry Flowers, Finance Director addressed the City Council regarding the monthly financial report. Mr. Flowers explained a monthly summary shall be provided the first Monday of every month, covering the month proceeding the previous month. In other words the financial report for January would be reviewed the first Monday in March and so on. The purpose of the presentation is to inform the Council and public of significant information related to the City's finances on a regular basis. Mr. Flowers reported on the finances of the City of Jonesboro for the year 2002, explaining fines did not meet the budgeted amount, but he and Mayor Brodell were working to resolve the matter. He reported interest earnings were $ 500,000 more than expected, because in 2001 we ended the year with more cash than budgeted, and because the 2002 expenditures were less than what was appropriated. He explained the 2002 city sales tax and the city's share of county sales tax revenue exceeded the amounts received in 2001, and the MATA Bond fund had $ 5,008,609 remaining at the end of 2002. Three additional reports were provided, as requested by the Jonesboro City Council. They were: Schedule A - Expenditures for Drainage and Ditch Projects; Schedule B - Payments to Vendors exceeding $10,000; and Purchase Orders Issued in excess of $10,000. Councilman Young requested the budgeted amounts be included on Schedule B. Mr. Flowers responded saying in some cases it would be payments charged against an overall line item, but he would attempt to include a budgeted amount.
Councilman Moore offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE TO ABANDON A PORTION OF (PARDEW STREET) KEITH DRIVE LYING SOUTH OF E. MATTHEWS OF STALLINGS 5TH ADDITION. (Earnest and Herbert Stallings)
Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman Moore to suspend the rules and place on second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy 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: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman Moore for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned ordinance number 3397.
Councilman Moore offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE TO ABANDON THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF BLACKBERRY LANE OF THE WILDERNESS RUN SUBDIVISION. (John Carter)
Councilman Moore 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: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy 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: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Street for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned ordinance number 3398.
Councilman Farmer offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2002 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF JONESBORO.
Councilman Farmer moved, seconded by Councilman Moore to suspend the rules and place on second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Street 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: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Farmer for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Street for the adoption of the emergency clause. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned ordinance number 3399.
Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Street for the adoption of a resolution to precede with condemnation action for property located at 219 E. Cherry, Tim Thrasher, owner. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. The resolution was assigned number 2003:07.
Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman McCall for the adoption of a resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the following MATA contract and right-of-way agreement: Anjanette Smith, 412 W. Nettleton Avenue, Parcel Number 5. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. The resolution was assigned number 2003:08.
Under new business by the Council, Councilman Farmer announced an Infrastructure Committee Meeting for 5:15 p.m. Thursday, January 6, 2003. He explained the Drainage Subcommittee had been selected to serve as the Professional Services Committee, and would meet for the purpose of accepting the ranking of engineering firms as recommended by the Citizens Drainage Committee in December of 2002.
Councilman Moore reported the Nomination and Rules Committee had selected the following subcommittees to serve as Professional Services:
PROJECT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
Comprehensive Drainage
& Storm Water Drainage Subcommittee (Infrastructure)
Salary Survey Personnel Subcommittee (Finance & Admin)
Independent Audit Audit Subcommittee (Finance & Admin)
Parks Construction Parks Subcommittee (Public Services)
Traffic & Street Planning Planning Subcommittee (Infrastructure)
Councilman Young requested a Parks Committee meeting to be set for Friday, February 7, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. He also informed the Council of a resolution that would be on the agenda for the next council meeting revising the Parks and Tourism's Outdoor Recreation Grant Program and entering into a binding agreement based on the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants Manual.
Councilman McCall, Chairman of the Public Services Committee offered a resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a Federal Grant for Airport Improvement Project No. AIP 3-05-0033-2003 (Homeland Security) in the amount of $82,212.83 with the remaining $9,134.75 to be divided between the Jonesboro Airport Commission and the State of Arkansas for a total of $91,347.58. Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman for the adoption of the resolution. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy. The resolution was assigned number 2003:09.
Under new business by the Mayor, Councilman Perrin provided documentation from the Mayor's Office explaining Mr. John DeLuca, developer and owner of the cell tower on East Washington, had contracted with Barber Concrete to reconstruct the driveway, repair the sidewalk and install curbing and parking at the cell tower site. Other documentation provided by Councilman Perrin, in the absence of Mayor Brodell, was a memorandum pertaining to recent clean-up efforts of the Kaffka property located at 1407 S. Main Street.
Under new business by the Public, Mr. Jim Pinson addressed the City Council, requesting an update on the situation with Bill's Fresh Market. City Attorney, Phillip Crego responded saying the attorney for Phillip's Investments, Mr. Jim Lyons, had been advised of the amended site plans, approved by Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and endorsed by the Jonesboro City Council. Mr. Lyons requested changes to the amended site plans, but was informed that Attorney Crego did not have the authority to make those changes. Attorney Lyons was then informed of the terms and conditions for the issuance of a "Certificate of Occupancy" which are to comply with the amended site plan stipulations and have new inspections of the building. Attorney Crego stated he has not heard from Attorney Lyons since provided this information.
Next to address the Jonesboro City Council was Mr. Reginald Prunty who requested the Council consider the issue of ward voting. He reported on four Arkansas cities that vote by ward, Pine Bluff, Monticello, Fayetteville, and Texarkana. Mr. Prunty stated there are advantages and disadvantages to ward voting, citing accountability as an advantage. He mentioned representation as a disadvantage to not having a spokesperson that would be held accountable for bringing concerns to the elected body. Mr. Prunty reported that in the last election one candidate received 78% of the vote in their ward, but lost the election. He stated the Ward demonstrated who they wanted, but because it was elected at large they lost, and argued this was not the proper way to hold elections. Mr. Prunty requested Council to consider changing the laws and explained with the adoption of an ordinance by the City Council, one position could be elected by ward, while the other would remain elected at large.
With no further discussion, Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman McCall to adjourn. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye, with the exception of Councilman Farmer who left the meeting early. Those members voting aye were: Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Perrin, Street, Young, Dover, McCall, and Roddy.