City Council

CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 19, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:14 P.M. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - CITY HALL - #1 MUNICIPAL DRIVE The City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in regular session on July 19, 2018 at the regular meeting place of the City Council. Councilman Bishop delivered the invocation and Mayor Fletcher led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag. ROLL CALL: City Councilman: Elliott, Bolden, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Fletcher also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. Councilman McCleary arrived at approximately 7:03 p.m. PRESENT TEN (10) ABSENT (0). Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Public Works Director Jim Oakley, IT Director Scott Rothlisberger, Fire Chief Alan Laughy, Police Chief John Franklin, CDBG Director Theresa Watson, Planning Commission Chairman Jim Moore, Sgt. Apollos and Lauren Bolden, Addie Gibson, Lida Feller, Rick Kron, Johnny Simpson, Chase Walker, interested citizens, and members of the press. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Fletcher presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of June 21, 2018 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Councilman Bolden moved, seconded by Councilman Twitty that the minutes of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of 07 June 2018 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/CODE ENFORCEMENT Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve the Regular Monthly Report for June 2018. Code Enforcement for June 2018 Assigned Calls 115 Self-Initiated Calls 365 Follow ups 319 Structures Inspected 1 Meetings/Court Hearings 0 Rentals Inspected 3 Warnings Issued 102 Properties Red Tagged 0 Tickets Issued 0 Search Warrants Served 0 Notice/Letters written 148 Structures Rehabbed 0 Vehicles Tagged 1 Structures Condemned 0 Vehicles Towed 0 Houses Demolished by City 0 Lots posted 0 Houses Demolished by Owner 0 Signs removed 73 Parking Violations 52 Trash cans tagged 22 Grass Letters 75 Basketball Goals 0 Grass Mowed 54 1  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 19, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:14 P.M. REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE DEPARTMENT Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve the regular monthly report for June 2018 regarding annual crime statistical comparisons. REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve the regular monthly report for June 2018 from the Jacksonville Fire Department, reflecting a fire loss of $66,500.00 and a savings total of $1,498,500.00. REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve the regular monthly report for June 2018. PERMITS/LICENSE ISSUED INSPECTIONS PERFORMED Building Permits 12 Building Inspections 19 Business Licenses 6 Electrical 39 Plumbing 41 HVACR 17 REGULAR MONTH REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve the regular monthly report for June 2018. ADOPTION FEES/FINES $720.00 CONTRIBUTIONS 0.00 TOTALS $720.00 ROLL CALL: Councilmen: Elliott, Bolden, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. WATER DEPARTMENT: WASTEWATER DEPARTMENTS: FIRE DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT: STREET DEPARTMENT: Request to accept bid Pinewood Safe Routes to School Public Works Director Jim Oakley related that this would be phase II for the Pinewood Elementary School, explaining that phase I started at Madden Road and continued on to Red Fox. He stated that phase II would pick up at Red Fox and go down to Foxdell. He added that the recommended bidder, Barger Excavating, was also the contractor for phase I, noting that they had done a very good job. Councilman Elliott moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve the low bid of $151,000.00 from Barger Excavating with funds to be drawn from the Street Fund. MOTION CARRIED. Mayor Fletcher noted that the next sidewalk bid would be for Toneyville and North First Street. 2  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 19, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:14 P.M. Public Works Director Jim Oakley concurred, explaining that they are going to bid another sidewalk grant for North First from Dale Drive to the Pulaski County Health Department. He added that those bids would be opened on August 9th. He then noted that there are a couple of other sidewalk grants; one for Military Road, which is going to be more expensive because they are now requesting curb and gutter as well as a berm between the curb and sidewalk which will make the project more costly. He related that $350,000 had been allotted for the project but the aforementioned improvements have run project cost up to approximately 1.5 million. He stated that a meeting with the Highway Department has been called to renegotiate the project design. He offered to bring updates back to the City Council. Mayor Fletcher stated that it is difficult to believe sidewalk projects would be that expensive, noting that the difficulty for this project is because there are ditches on both sides so there is mitigation for the drainage. He explained that tile would have to be laid in order to get a level surface, adding that he is trying to argue that the City is not responsible for curb and guttering. He pointed out that the City is trying to get people off the streets because the area is dark and hilly; so therefore dangerous to be walking in the road. He stated that there will be a lot more sidewalk projects coming before City Council. Public Works Director Jim Oakley stated that the North First Street Project would start in the next few weeks. He then added that there is one more grant on the asphalt overlay, informing the City Council that it would be done on Main Street from Second Street down to Firestone and then from School Drive off James Street to Redmond Road which will also begin in the next two to three weeks. SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: PLANNING COMMISSION: GENERAL: APPOINTMENTS: ANNOUNCMENTS: Mayor Fletcher announced that the Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a fundraiser “Soaring Summer Concert” featuring Farewell Angelina, Barrett Baber, and TJ Ashley at the Jacksonville School Stadium August 18th. He noted that tickets are available online. He then announced that Jacksonville has a really good community theater, featuring the comedy production of “Doublewide, Texas” July 27th and 28th starting at 7:00 p.m. and then another showing July 29th starting at 2:00 p.m. He encouraged everyone to attend. Ms. Nancy Sims of Free Cell Phones requested permission to offer the cell phones in the City of Jacksonville. She related difficulties with the City of Jacksonville Code Enforcement Department, asking the City Council if they would allow her offer the free phones. She stated that her services are in 3  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 19, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:14 P.M. demand, especially for the elderly, and even very young people. She stated that she would be willing to work with the Code Enforcement Department in order to be allowed to offer the phones. She stated that she does not solicit, she has been setup outside the same store for two years and her customers come to her. She added that she feels she is helping the community and has a lot of customers that depend on her. She then answered Councilman Twitty that she is setup at CITGO at 1521 South Highway 161. She responded that she is an independent contractor for Olar Marking who has a contract through Assurance Wireless. She stated that the phones are free with 350 minutes, unlimited text messaging, and 1 GB of data for Internet, free WiFi, Bluetooth, hotspot and voice mail. She added that customers are able to purchase additional but it is not a requirement. She stated that this goes on for 1 year, she then answered that she provides at least 5 to 10 cell phones a day at her current location. Councilman Traylor questioned City Attorney Bamburg if the difficulty is because she does not have a business license. City Attorney Bamburg stated that this is the first he has heard of the circumstance, assuming that a business license would be required. He added that he would also assume that the give-aways are tied to some kind of business operation. Mayor Fletcher stated that there were complaints that once customers had used their free minutes, they began receiving really high bills for additional minutes. He stated that the City received complaints, especially from older citizens, that there was no way to pay the bills. He stated that the then City Engineer Jay Whisker had made it a policy that the City would not allow the distribution any longer. He went on to say that the City Council could look at this further. Councilman Traylor stated that he did not feel it would be the City Council’s job to do that as long as she is allowed to get a business license. Discussion ensued as to a business license being the remedy to her being able to distribute free cell phones. City Attorney Bamburg suggested that she check with the Code Enforcement Department regarding requirements. Ms. Sims stated that her in her dealing with the Code Enforcement Department she was told that this activity is not allowed in the City of Jacksonville. She stated that she had asked for a permit not a business license. Mayor Fletcher asked Ms. Sims to return tomorrow to his office and he would help her get things straightened out with the Code Enforcement. 4  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 19, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:14 P.M. Brother Stephen Geared Sidlovesky related that he travels the Country doing petitions throughout the United States. He stated that he is a 3rd Order of Saint Francis, providing his address and contact information. He related that he speaks on the possibility for cities all over the Country to move in a new direction. He stated that it was originally call “Life, Peace Zones”, adding that he is captivated with more positive tones of where we are in society, so he has elevated the name to “Prolife Sanctuary Cities”. He stated that he believes cities can move in the new direction, where we could add a new chapter in the zoning law where cities could become “Prolife Sanctuary Cities”; where fatherhood, motherhood and childhood matter 365 days a year. He asked that anyone interested contact him about the possibility. He noted that he is working on two petitions for the November ballot concern the casino petition and the minimum wage petition, adding that his deadline to get the petitions on the ballot is August 15th. He stated that he would prefer any meetings to be within the next week. Councilman Bolden welcomed his son and daughter-in-law from Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Fletcher adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:14 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR GARY FLETCHER City Clerk-Treasurer 5