City Council

CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 20, 2025 6:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - CITY HALL - #1 MUNICIPAL DRIVE The City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in a regular session on March 20, 2025 at their regular meeting place. Council Member Ray delivered the invocation and Mayor Elmore led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance.” ROLL CALL: City Council Members: Dietz, Ruple, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Twitty, Kinman, and Mimms answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Elmore also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT EIGHT (8) ABSENT TWO (2). Council Members McCleary and Moss were absent. Others present for the meeting were: Police Chief Brett Hibbs, Assistant Fire Chief Dewan Laws, Finance Director Laura Collie, Assistant City Clerk Emilia Vazquez, IT Specialist Andrew Browder, Officer Ernesto Ortiz, Chris Erkel, Kathy Perez, Tina Hibbs, and Morgan Allen. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Elmore presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of March 6, 2025 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Council Member Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member LaBron that the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of February 20, 2025 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty to approve the consent agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED. FIRE DEPARTMENT REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FEBRUARY Estimated fire loss for the month: $ 6,000.00 Savings total for the month: $ 120,000.00 POLICE DEPARTMENT REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FEBRUARY Topic 2025 2024 2025 2024 Total Complaint Calls 2889 2251 Homicide Reported 0 1 Theft Reported 42 52 Homicide Cleared 0 1 Theft Cleared 15 29 Rape/Sex Assault Reported 5 1 Vehicle Theft Reported 7 13 Rape/Sex Assault Cleared 0 1 Vehicle Theft Cleared 2 4 Robbery Reported 2 2 Felony Cases Reported 101 116 Robbery Cleared 0 1 Felony Cases Closed 105 110 Felony Assaults Reported 6 13 Misd Cases Reported 209 245 Felony Assaults Cleared 1 6 Misd Cases Closed 153 176 Burglary Reported 16 15 Burglary Cleared 7 4 CODE ENFORCEMENT REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FEBRUARY Assigned Calls 54 Demolition by City 0 Self-Initiated Calls 141 Demolition by Owner 1 Follow Up Inspections 240 Parking Violations 3 1  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 20, 2025 6:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. Complied after Notice 103 Garbage Cans Tagged 4 Three Day Notice 46 Basketball Goals 0 Seven Day Letter 162 Structures Inspected 435 Citation Letters Mailed 23 Apartment Complexes Inspected 0 Citations Issued 6 Red Tags Issued 0 Vehicles Tagged 50 Search Warrants 0 Vehicles Towed 3 Grass Mowed 0 Unsafe Structures Tagged 1 Signs Removed 26 Structures Condemned 0 Shopping Carts 1 Structures Rehabbed 0 ANIMAL SERVICES REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FEBRUARY ADOPTION FEES $ 2,310.00 SPAY/NEUTER FOR ADOPTED DOGS 2,310.00 Paid by the City of Jacksonville 2,310.00 Best Friends Animal Rescue Grant - Paid for by Best Friends - FINES 2,141.58 CONTRIBUTIONS 1,831.99 TOTAL $ 3,973.57 FINANCE DEPARTMENT INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT/FEBRUARY Total Revenues Total Expenditures General Fund $ 471,313 $ 4,100,329 Street Fund $ 210,466 $ 277,126 Sanitation Services Fund $ 390,684 $ 355,186 AG&F Shooting Sports Complex $ 17,088 $ 67,433 EMS Fund $ 387,987 $ 466,867 WATER DEPARTMENT: WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT: FIRE DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT: STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: PLANNING COMMISSION: a. ORDINANCE 1780 (#09-2025) AN ORDINANCE RECLASSIFYING PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS (PARCEL LOCATED AT 1808 NORTH BAILEY); AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 213 AND 238 AND THE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty to place Ordinance 1780 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Twitty, Kinman, and Mimms voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Clerk Davitt read the heading of Ordinance 1780. Mayor Elmore stated there is no real need for the emergency clause, therefore, it will not be voted on. 2  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 20, 2025 6:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty to APPROVE Ordinance 1780 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1780 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Twitty, Kinman, and Mimms voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Kinman to APPROVE Ordinance 1780 on SECOND READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1780 on THIRD AND FINAL READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Twitty, Kinman, and Mimms voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Council Member Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member Ray to APPROVE AND ADOPT Ordinance 1780 in its entirety. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Twitty, Kinman, and Mimms voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. ORDINANCE 1780 (#09-2025) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. COMMITTEE(S): GENERAL: a. PUBLIC HEARING Approval of CDBG 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER) Mayor Elmore opened the public hearing at approximately 6:04 p.m. CDBG Director Michelle Spencer stated the Community Development Block Grant is a federally funded program provided to local governments to focus on at least one of the three national objectives, which are benefitting low to moderate income individuals/families, eliminating slum and blight, and addressing a need posing an immediate threat to the community’s health and welfare. She explained our funds are allocated to meet the low to moderate income objective and target the Sunnyside area. She listed eligible activities as housing rehab, public facility improvements, economic development, public services, and program administration. She related we are on the 4th cycle of the 5-year consolidated plan and just got allocated for 2024 in January 2025. She noted this has put them a year behind starting into the 5th year and another allocation will be awarded around May for the same $230,739.00. She listed the following expended in 2024: Rehab Admin- $7,734.76, Public Service-$7,263.86, General Admin-$45,594.00, CDBG Contract under Public Service (water bills and temporary housing)-$12,116.38, and CDBG/CV Public Service (rent/house payment, utilities, and food assistance)- $16,854.94, noting CDBG/CV Total Expended through 2024 was $157,628.45. She detailed how the $643,332.00 Total Resources for PY24 equal the PY24 Allocation of $230,739.00 plus the Prior Years Reallocation (2018-2023) of $412,593.00. She confirmed funds will be used for housing, economic development, creating a suitable living environment, public facility improvements (repairs to Johnson and Excell Parks, the Boys and Girls Club, Senior Center, Jacksonville Towers, and Martin Street Youth Center (MSYC)), public service, and administration. When Council Member Twitty inquired, she listed the repairs as benches and playground equipment at Excell Park, restrooms, playground equipment, and pavilions at Johnson Park, awning, door, flooring, and gym ducting at the Boys and Girls Club, flooring at the Senior Center, freezer and stove at Jacksonville Towers, and a roof at the MSYC. 3  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 20, 2025 6:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. Mayor Elmore closed the public hearing at approximately 6:20 p.m. By general consensus, Council approved the CDBG 2024 CAPER. b. INFORMATIONAL ITEM: Volunteer appointment process Council Member McCoy recalled having discussions with constituents regarding the appointment process and how there is no online submission form. She mentioned a lack of transparency being a continued concern presented to her, so to ensure fairness and accessibility, she confirmed with IT that a form can be submitted on the City’s website. She revised the current form to include questions and add a requirement for appointees to attend the meeting when they are on the agenda. She brought up this is not only for Council, but also the residents to see who serves. She recalled when she initially submitted this, it had the City Clerk’s email address for record keeping purposes and transparency. She told how some citizens would like to serve, but do not feel they would be selected, noting she knows some who mailed in the current form and have not heard anything back for over a year. c. ORDINANCE 1781 (#10-2025) AN ORDINANCE AMENDING JACKSONVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE § 8.03.018; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Ordinance 1781 was tabled per the sponsor, Council Member Twitty. APPOINTMENTS: CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member LaBron to approve the reappointment of Bob Baker for a term to expire 04/01/2031. When Council Member McCoy inquired, Mr. Baker summarized that the Civil Service Commission monitors the fire and police departments by certifying entry-level test scores, certifying one year and six month probationary periods for new hires and promotions, and also decides whether to uphold disciplinary actions or not when appeals are requested. MOTION CARRIED at this time. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS: ANNOUNCEMENTS: ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Elmore adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:30 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR JEFF ELMORE City Clerk-Treasurer 4