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Minutes for the Public Works Committee meeting on January 4, 2005.
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Public Works Committee Minutes
Monday, January 4, 2005
4:30 p.m.
Members Present: Farmer, Street, Province, Dover, and Moore.
MINUTES - Councilman Street moved, seconded by Councilman Moore to approve the minutes for December 6, 2004. All voted aye. Copies were made available to all in attendance.
ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
Resolution - 2005 Property Insurance - APERMA - Councilman Dover moved, seconded by Councilman Street to place on the agenda a resolution accepting the low bid meeting bid specifications of Gallagher & Company for the total premium price of $264,995.00 to be paid from the 2005 Budget Departmental Insurance Accounts. All voted aye. There was discussion regarding the bidding process being initiated earlier in the year allowing for more bids to be taken. Councilman Street moved, seconded by Councilman Moore to set a bid deadline of October 1st for the completion of the property insurance bidding process. All voted aye.
Resolution - Harry Hardwick - Councilman Dover moved, seconded by Councilman Moore to place on the agenda for the January 4th council meeting a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Mr. Harry Hardwick as an independent contractor for services for the acquisition of property rights and right of ways for street improvements and other construction. Mr. Brian Wadley provided the resolution to the committee as a recommendation from the Mayor’s Office. All voted aye.
Zoning Ordinance - City Attorney Crego stated he would have the ordinance available for the next council meeting, scheduled for January 18, 2005.
Abandonment for Union Pacific RR - Mr. Martin explained he had spoken with officials with the Union Pacific RR and they would not grant an easement. The recommendation was made to table the ordinance for further study.
Resolution - Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan - Councilman Dover moved, seconded by Councilman Street recommending a resolution be placed on the next city council agenda adopting a pre-disaster mitigation plan. The Mayor’s Office was asked to have the resolution drafted. All voted aye.
Downtown Association - Councilman Province reported the Downtown Association had provided a letter breaking their proposal in to a three phase project. Councilman Province stated he had explained to the group that no commitment could be made on their proposal until after the budgeting process, and recommended consideration of the parking money. Councilman Moore requested a copy of the proposal. Mr. Royce Leonard, Sanitation Director stated they were having difficulty getting garbage trucks down the east and west alley ways due to parking by tenants from the loft apartments. The Downtown Association had requested lighting for the parking lot across from Piero’s, and while City Water and Light has additional lamp posts, they are in reserve for replacement only. Mr. Hooton stated their original request was for the paving of the parking lot only, but additional work was added later.
CWODNA Lease Agreement: City Attorney Crego stated they had submitted a proposed lease and he had made recommended changes, but had not received the revised lease. Councilman Moore stated he had requested any renovations be approved in advance. Discussion was held on how long the lease should be and if a buy out option should be included. Mayor Formon was asked to research the matter and have a recommendation by the next committee meting.
PLANNING
City Planner - Councilman Street announced the new City Planner, David Harris would begin January 17, 2005, but nothing to report on the Traffic Study.
MATA Ordinance - Councilman Dover moved, seconded by Councilman Moore for a recommendation to repeal Ordinance No. 2461 in its entirety which established the MATA Committee. It was explained after the Matthews Project the only project left was Fox Meadow Lane with $672,000.00 left the MATA account could be closed. All voted aye.
STREETS & SIDEWALKS
Marshall Estates - It was reported there were concerns by local residents that the wall was too close to the street, even though the original plans called for the wall and slope to be further from the street. The residents did not want to go with the original plans because of removal of trees, landscaping and the buffer area. Councilman Moore stated he had been opposed to doing away with the original plan, and letting a private group be responsible for city right-of-way. He recommended going back to the original plan or something similar. Mr. Teddy Hooton explained the MATA Director had changed the original design. It was determined that the problem had to be fixed for safety reasons regardless of the landscaping or loss of trees.
Sidewalks - Previously, the decision was made to hold off on Frierson sidewalks until the Nettleton Project was complete in order to determine pedestrian flow.
Street Policy - Mr. Hooton reported no changes had been made, and wanted to allow Mayor Formon to review it and make any recommendations.
Ridgepoint Intersection - Councilman Street recommended having Captain Baggett to look at an intersection located in Ridgepoint and one at Twin Oaks. He explained there had been a fatal accident in the area and local residents wanted speed bumps installed. Councilman Moore stated he was opposed to speed bumps because they set precedence and create liability for the city. Councilman Farmer suggested they may want to consider the Property Owners Association when making a recommendation. Mayor Formon was asked to get with Captain Baggett in order to provide a recommendation to the committee by their next meeting.
DRAINAGE
Quail Ridge - Mayor Formon questioned if the house is torn down will it not damage homes further down. Mr. Hooton stated they would have to build a berm to prevent damage until the retention pond could be constructed. Mayor Formon stated the construction crew needed to be ready to build the berm the same day the house was torn down.
Completed Projects - It was reported that progress was being made, naming Franklin Street, Layman Crest, Cherry Street, Pine Apartments (Engineering approved) Farm Creek Subdivision and the Culberhouse Project.
Projects still in progress - The following areas were still needing work: Owens & Valley Street; Kitchen and Nettleton; West Washington & Puryear.
Ditch 26 - Mr. Wadley stated there was one hold out for right of way on Moore Road, and Mr. Hardwick was not involved with it. Mr. Hooton explained Mayor Brodell had been in negotiations with Mr. Dwayne Winters of Nettleton Concrete who owned the property. It was recommended they contact NRCS to find out the status of the right-of-way. Mr. Hooton reported they had met with Judge Dale Haas who had agreed to extend the bridge for the City of Jonesboro.
Ron Worley - It was recommended that a survey crew mark off how much right-of-way is needed in order to put in an eight foot ditch and a 100 ft buffer as called for by the original subdivision plans and the Wal-Mart plans. It was further recommended once the survey was obtained the Mayor get an appraisal as quickly as possible so the committee could make an informed decision regarding condemnation.
Storm Water Phase II - It was explained a letter requesting an extension had been sent to ADEQ, but no response had been provided. It was further stated the Mayor Brodell had not appointed an ad hoc committee which is needed to review proposed ordinances pertaining to federal mandates for water quantity and water quality. Mayor Formon was asked to make recommendations
St. Bernard’s Drainage - It was explained that a Letter of Agreement had been provided to City Attorney Phillip Crego for review and it was tied to the ASU Overpass project that would not take affect for two or three years.
LANDFILL & SANITATION
Councilman Moore questioned the time frame for negotiations. It was explained Mayor Formon and Councilman Farmer were meeting next week with members of the Solid Waste Authority and an agreement must be reached by March or April.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Street to adjourn. All voted aye.