City Council

CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 20, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:30 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 December 20, 2018 at the regular meeting place of the City Council. Councilman Bolden delivered the invocation and Mayor Johnson led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag. ROLL CALL: City Councilman: Elliott, Bolden, Sipes, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Fletcher also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT NINE (9) ABSENT ONE (1). Councilman Sansing was absent. Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Stephanie Friedman, Public Works Director Jim Oakley, IT Shawn Sutterfield, CDBG Director Theresa Watson, Fire Chief Alan Laughy, Police Chief John Franklin, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Bob Price, Lida Feller, Human Resource Interim Director Charlette Nelson, Human Resource Specialist Richelle Rice, Craig Friedman, Lloyd Friedman, interested citizens, and members of the press. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Fletcher presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of December 6, 2018 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden that the minutes of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of 15 November 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 November 2018. Code Enforcement for November 2018 Assigned Calls 135 Self-Initiated Calls 276 Follow ups 177 Structures Inspected 0 Meetings/Court Hearings 3 Rentals Inspected 3 Warnings Issued 621 Properties Red Tagged 0 Tickets Issued 0 Search Warrants Served 0 Notice/Letters written 56 Structures Rehabbed 0 Vehicles Tagged 7 Structures Condemned 0 Vehicles Towed 2 Houses Demolished by City 0 Lots posted 0 Houses Demolished by Owner 1 Signs removed 107 Parking Violations 77 Trash cans tagged 18 Grass Letters 0 Basketball Goals 0 Grass Mowed 0 1  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 20, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE DEPARTMENT Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve the regular monthly report for November 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 November 2018 from the Jacksonville Fire Department, reflecting a fire loss of $14,400.00 and a savings total of $937,600.00. REGULAR MONTH REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve the regular monthly report for September 2018. ADOPTION FEES/FINES $2,015.00 CONTRIBUTIONS 0.00 TOTALS $2,015.00 MOTION CARRIED. ROLL CALL: Councilmen: Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. WASTEWATER DEPARTMENTS: FIRE DEPARTMENT: ORDINANCE 1592 (#14-2018) AN ORDINANCE INCREASING THE RATES OF THE JACKSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S EMERGENCY SERVICES; AMENDING JMC §8.48.050; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Sansing to place Ordinance 1592 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1592. Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve Ordinance 1592 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES to place Ordinance 1592 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1592. Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to further SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1592 on THIRD AND FINAL READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1592. Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to APPROVE AND ADOPT Ordinance 1592. ROLL CALL: Councilman Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1592. 2  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 20, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary that the EMERGENCY CLAUSE be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL: Councilman Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1592. At this time Councilman Mashburn addressed an issue regarding bulling. POLICE DEPARTMENT: STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: PLANNING COMMISSION: GENERAL: DEVIATION IN AGENDA: b. RESOLUTION 777 (#14-2018) A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SENIOR HOUSING FACILITY UTILIZING THE FORMER JACKSONVILLE ELEMENTARY BUILDING AND PROPERTY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Mayor Fletcher noted that the City has a 99-year lease on the property so he approached the Housing Authority regarding the development of a senior housing facility. He noted that the City has worked with S.E. Clark & Associates in the past when The Meadows Subdivision was development through this process. He asked that the City Council adopt a supportive stand in redeveloping the Elementary School that served this community for over 50 years into a senior housing facility. Director of Jacksonville Housing Authority David Gates explained that Mayor Fletcher approached them almost a year ago regarding a proposal to redevelop the former school. He noted that the building is vacant and while it has several issues, they feel that it can be redeveloped for housing with vouchers attached. He related that S.E. Clark & Associates have been retained to redevelop the property with the City conveying the lease over to the Jacksonville Housing Authority. Steven Clark of S.E. Clark & Associates related that the property is a challenge because the building has identified environmental issues, adding that he feels it is still able to be accomplished. He then related that typically this type of project requires Federally backed loans which imposes additional regulations. He noted that there will be mitigations regarding the railroad that runs adjacent to this property. He stated that the school is in tremendous shape as far as structure, being concrete block. He reviewed that the project will yield 25 units of housing in the old school building of 23 one-bedroom units and 2 two-bedroom units. He then related that the center of the building will be an open area with plantings, which will make the building unique. He related that the new construction will be similar in nature to the size of the units in the school building with an open corridor in-between the building for an open air walkway. He stated that the new construction would yield 32 one-bedroom units at approximately 765 square 3  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 20, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. feet and 3 two-bedroom units at 968 square feet, offering a total of 60 units of housing on this site. He stated that persons of medium to lower income would be the target market, adding that not all of the units would be subsidized. He offered that they are trying to make sure the housing is available to all stratums of income in the City of Jacksonville. He noted that the market study has revealed that this area is below its needs for senior housing. He related that ownership of the property will be a partnership, explaining that they will look to secure low-income housing tax credits, which requires a partnership. He stated that the general partner will be Jacksonville Housing Solutions (501 C-3) non-profit that is controlled by the Jacksonville Housing Authority. He stated that there would also be a limited partner that would also be the equity partner that will purchase the credits. He stated that they are looking at a 9% credits which will pay for approximately 70% of the building costs that does not have to be repaid. He added that he feels the uniqueness of this being the repurposing of the school as well as new construction will garner some support by the Arkansas Development Finance Authority. He explained that currently they are in the process of putting together total cost and the application for the credits to see if they can get this project worked out. Mayor Fletcher stated that he has been talking with the Superintendent of Pulaski County School District, explaining that while the City has a 99-year lease the property is owned by the Pulaski County. He stated that the ownership needs to be changed because the liability is greater than the asset. He stated this is a positive for the City of Jacksonville and the need is there, adding that the location is great when you consider that the Senior Center is across the street. Councilman Sansing confirmed that this project will not cost the citizens of Jacksonville in any way. Mr. Clark then answered Mayor Fletcher that the decision should be finalized around June or July 2019. He then demonstrated that the units are actually small apartments. He then answered Councilman Traylor that rather than tear the building completely down there had been a push to keep the bones of the building and have it repurposed. He also related that the asbestos report is not that bad. Mayor Fletcher noted that there was a partial abatement done right before the school closed. Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to read Resolution 777 (#14-2018). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Resolution 777 (#14-2018). Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to approve Resolution 777 (#14-2018) in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED. 4  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 20, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. RESUME AGENDA: a. SECOND READING ORDINANCE 1591 (#13-2018) AN ORDINANCE TO MODIFY JACKSONVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE § 2.06.010 (MINIMUM SALARY – MAYOR, JACKSONVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE § 2.08.020 (MINIMUM SALARY – CITY CLERK), AND JACKSONVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE § 2.10.010 (MINIMUM SALARY – CITY ATTORNEY); AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Councilman Bolden moved, seconded by Councilman Smith to table Ordinance 1591 (#13-2018) to the second meeting in January. MOTION CARRIED with Councilman Collins voting NAY. c. ORDINANCE 1593 (#15-2018) AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A FISCAL BUDGET FOR 2019; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS AND AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES FOR OPERATION OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF CITY GOVERNMENT; FOR THE PURCHASE OF MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES COVERING GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS, STREET FUND, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUND, SHOOTING RANGE FUND, AND SANITATION FUND, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Councilman Bolden moved, seconded by Councilman Mashburn to table Ordinance 1593 (#15-2018) to the second meeting in January 2019. Councilman Traylor asked that the motion be amended to the first meeting in January so that there could be discussion at that meeting. Councilman Bolden moved, seconded by Councilman Mashburn to amend the prior motion and table Ordinance 1593 (#15-2018) to the first meeting in January 2019. MOTION CARRIED with Councilman Ray voting NAY. d. Request to accept bid for Janitorial Services Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to accept the low bid from Veteran Cleaning Services, LLC. in the annual amount of $40,000.00 for Parks and Recreation Community Center and the Martin Street building. In response to a question from Councilman Traylor, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel stated that Kleene Team II is the current vendor for Parks and Recreation, adding that currently we are paying $40,524.00 annually. She went on to say that the services were not at the level they once were so the service was bid. She then answered Councilman Twitty that she was not sure if Veteran Cleaning Services was local, adding that we did have references that were checked. She added that she was not really in the middle of that, one of her employees was working with Kevin on that. At this time, MOTION CARRIED. 5  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 20, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. APPOINTMENTS: PLANNING COMMISSION Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden to approve the appointments of Jeff Twitty and Mark Stroud for terms to expire 01/01/2022. MOTION CARRIED with Councilman Traylor voting NAY. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to approve the appointment of Tanner Ruple to fill the unexpired term of Jeff Twitty for a term to expire 02/05/2020. MOTION CARRIED. ANNOUNCEMENTS: City Hall will be closed December 24th and 25th for the Christmas Holiday Sanitation routes will run two days late January 1st City Hall will be closed for New Year’s Day and sanitation route will run one day late. Councilman Ray announced that on behalf of the A&P Commission he would like to thank City Attorney Bamburg for his service to the Commission. Councilman Sansing noted that City Attorney Bamburg has served the citizens of Jacksonville for 28 years. ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Fletcher adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:54 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR GARY FLETCHER City Clerk-Treasurer 6