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17 DEC 21 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 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 21, 2017 at the regular meeting place of the City Council. Mayor Fletcher delivered the invocation and led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag. ROLL CALL: City Councilman: Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Fletcher also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. Councilmen Bolden and Ray were absent. Councilman McCleary arrived at approximately 7:14 p.m. PRESENT EIGHT (8) ABSENT TWO (2). Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Fire Chief Alan Laughy, City Engineer Jay Whisker, Professional Administrative Consultant Geoffrey Herweg, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House, IT Director Scott Rothlisberger, CDBG Director Theresa Watson, Director of Public Works Jim Oakley, Rick Kron, Jeannie Herweg, Planning Commission Chairman Jim Moore, Planning Commissioner Patrick Thomas, Glenda Fletcher, Barbie Millinger, Bob and Lori Johnson, Johnny Simpson, Roger Sundermeier, interested citizens, and members of the press. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Fletcher presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of December 7, 2017 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Councilman Sansing moved, seconded by Councilman Elliott that the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of 16 November 2017 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTH REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL Alderman Sansing moved, seconded by Alderman Traylor to approve the regular monthly report for November 2017. ADOPTION FEES/FINES $1,525.00 CONTRIBUTIONS 0.00 TOTALS $1,525.00 REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT Alderman Sansing moved, seconded by Alderman Traylor to approve the regular monthly report for November 2017 from the Jacksonville Fire Department, reflecting a fire loss of $45,800.00 and a savings total of $945,000.00. ROLL CALL: Councilmen: Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. WATER DEPARTMENT: WASTEWATER DEPARTMENTS: FIRE DEPARTMENT: 1 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. POLICE DEPARTMENT: a. RESOLUTION 762 (#15-2017) A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR CANINE OFFICER MAIK UPON HIS RETIREMENT; IN SUPPORT OF TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY OF CANINE OFFICER MAIK TO HIS HANDLER, OFFICER JOSHUA WHEELER; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Councilman Elliott moved, seconded by seconded by Councilman Traylor to read Resolution 762. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Resolution 762 (#15-2017). Councilman Sansing moved, seconded by Councilman Twitty to approve Resolution 761 in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED. b. RESOLUTION 763 (#16-2017) A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR CANINE OFFICER ALEX UPON HIS RETIREMENT; IN SUPPORT OF TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBIITY OF CANINE OFFICER ALEX TO HIS HANDLER OFFICER REGINA BOYD; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Councilman Elliott moved, seconded by seconded by Councilman Twitty to read Resolution 762. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Resolution 762 (#15-2017). Councilman Sansing moved, seconded by Councilman Traylor to approve Resolution 761 in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED. STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: PLANNING COMMISSION: a. ORDINANCE 1576 (#12-2017) AN ORDINANCE RECLASSIFYING PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS (GENERAL LOCATION: 1301 SOUTH HWY. 161, JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS) AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 213 AND 238 AND THE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. City Engineer Whisker related that 1301 South Hwy. 161 is a 4-acre piece of property just north of Trickey Lane and is recommended for rezoning by the Planning Commission. Councilman Twitty moved, seconded by Councilman Traylor to place Ordinance 1576 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1576. Councilman Sansing moved, seconded by Councilman Twitty to APPROVE Ordinance 1576 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND the rules and place Ordinance 1576 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1576. 2 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. Councilman Sansing moved, seconded by Councilman Mashburn to further suspend the rules and place Ordinance 1576 on THIRD AND FINAL READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1576. Councilman Sansing moved, seconded by Councilman Traylor that Ordinance 1576 be APPROVED AND ADOPTED. ROLL CALL: Councilmen Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Councilman Traylor moved, seconded by Councilman Twitty that the EMERGENCY CLAUSE be approved and adopted. MOTION CARRIED. st ORDINANCE 1576 (#12-2017) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 21 DAY OF DECEMBER, 2017. b. ORDINANCE 1577 (#13-2017) AN ORDINANCE RECLASSIFYING PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS (GENERAL LOCATION: 3001 – 3023 HINES DRIVE, JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS) AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 213 AND 238 AND THE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Councilman Traylor moved, seconded by Councilman Twitty to place Ordinance 1577 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1577. Councilman Twitty moved, seconded by Councilman Mashburn to APPROVE Ordinance 1577 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND the rules and place Ordinance 1577 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1577. Councilman Collins moved, seconded by Councilman Traylor to further suspend the rules and place Ordinance 1577 on THIRD AND FINAL READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1577. Councilman Elliott moved, seconded by Councilman Collins that Ordinance 1577 be APPROVED AND ADOPTED. ROLL CALL: Councilmen Elliott, Sansing, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Councilman Mashburn moved, seconded by Councilman Traylor that the EMERGENCY CLAUSE be approved and adopted. MOTION CARRIED. st ORDINANCE 1577 (#13-2017) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 21 DAY OF DECEMBER, 2017. 3 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. GENERAL: ORDINANCE 1578 (#14-2017) AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A FISCAL BUDGET FOR 2018; 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 Traylor recalled that the Reserves were mentioned at the previous meeting and it was agreed it would be reconsidered. He then related that the email sent to Department heads regarding cell phones had a statement saying “I’m sure you’re not going find anything but would you look”, adding that in his opinion, with that statement no one is going to look if you are telling them that they are not going to find anything. In earlier conversations, he had asked that another $600,000.00 be cut in order to get the Reserves up. He noted that $200,000.00 was cut. He asked if further cuts were researched. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel explained that before anything was brought to the City Council, they got everything that was requested from the Departments and she estimated the revenues. She stated that from there they cut things to get it to a balanced budget before it was brought to the City Council. She stated that they cut almost $300,000.00 before they presented a balanced budget to the City Council to begin with, and then you asked us to cut more, so we went back and cut $214,000.00 more out of that. Councilman Traylor noted of the $214,000.00 that was cut, $200,000.00 of that was cutting monies going to the Shooting Range. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel concurred. Councilman Traylor related that the Shooting Range will require that money in order to operate, adding you did not go back to the Shooting Range and adjust their budget. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel stated that she did go back and adjust the Shooting Range, saying that it shows that their revenues are reduced. She explained that the budget shows that the $200,000.00 is not being transferred over into the Shooting Range anymore. Councilman Traylor questioned where the Shooting Range would now get the money to make up for the $200,000.00. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel stated that the monies would have to come out of the Shooting Range Fund Balance. Councilman Traylor noted that while the Shooting Range shows that it has a Fund Balance it is not actual monies. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel stated that it has to do with cash and their inventory along with the other assets they have. 4 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. Councilman Traylor reasoned that you cannot pay bills with assets, adding that the Shooting Range needs to cut expenses. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel said “correct”, adding that is the Governmental Accounting. Councilman Traylor stated that he did not feel that would work, adding that he feels it was an appeasement to cut $200,000.00 out of the General Budget but it did not accomplish anything if we did not cut those expenses. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel stated that we reallocated one position to a contract services position instead of an employee position; we also reduced the Tourism and Promotion line item, saying that they did cut some expenses. Councilman Traylor said that is not near enough. He then recalled that at the last meeting he had brought up the Parks & Recreation Athletics expenditures, adding that “we don’t want to cut our kids programs”, asking if we can review the Softball Program. He then directed his inquiry to Parks & Recreation Director Kevin House, asking how many fields are used during the week for the adult softball. Parks & Recreation Director Kevin House stated that all five are used. He then answered that three to four games are played per night depending on co- ed or… Councilman Traylor confirmed with Director House that it would be two umpires per game, which is approximately 32 games that the City is paying for. He then questioned how much each umpire is paid per game. Director Kevin House answered that each umpire is paid $17.00 per game. Councilman Traylor stated that he figured $20.00 and came up with approximately $1,800.00 weekly. He then asked how many weeks are played annually. Director Kevin House answered that it is fall and spring seasons, adding that he does not have that information in front of him. Councilman Traylor related that he is trying to point out that it is approximately $60,000.00 annually paid to umpires for adult softball. He then pointed out that the teams are mainly coming from out of town. Director Kevin House stated that it is both in and out of town. He then answered Councilman Traylor that they collect $450.00 per team. Councilman Traylor noted that the whole budget for fees is $38,000.00 which includes volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball and everything. He stated that the City is losing over $100,000.00 annually for people to come from out of town to play softball on a week night, which may be why no other city does it. 5 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. Director House noted that the A&P Commission is also supplementing that this year. Councilman Traylor stated that his point is that the A&P Commission could be subsidizing other things if we did not have those expenses. Mayor Fletcher stated that Director House went to the A&P Commission approximately one month ago and asked, adding that it is not an issue that we are not trying to do it that way too; we are. He related that the people that come here from out of town, they eat here. He stated that it is evident in the A&P revenues when we have tournaments. Councilman Traylor stated that he would like to believe that but I have trouble believing that when it’s a Tuesday night, they are going to go to the ballpark, play their games and then go home; while the City spends $600.00 on umpires. Mayor Fletcher stated that they are going to stop and eat before going home late. Councilman Sansing questioned how much of the budget is “completely locked down” for salaries, benefits, and various retirement funds. He then added how much is actually left for discretionary funds. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel stated that the total personnel cost is $14,785,452.00, which leaves a balance of $5,153,592.00 to cover everything else. She added that the majority of that goes toward contract services. Mayor Fletcher stated that he believes it is a good budget, saying that we are not going to make up all this time regarding the Reserves in one budget. He said we are moving in the right direction, adding that it was budgeted very conservatively and in fact it was cut even more so. He stated that anything that comes in above that can go into the ending balance to build back up the Reserves. He related that he got the sales tax today and the County was up, City was down, but the County was up. Councilman Smith asked before the budget is voted, there is an officer that has requested to speak to the City Council, will you allow them to be heard. Mayor Fletcher replied no. He added that we do not recognize the F.O.P. Councilman Smith related that it is not F.O.P. related. Mayor Fletcher stated that this is not a public hearing. He clarified that we did not advertise a public hearing for the budget, adding that he has people on the other side that would like to speak too. He related that once we do that, we did not advertise to be a public hearing. 6 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. Councilman Mashburn moved, seconded by Councilman Sansing to place Ordinance 1578 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Councilman Elliott, McCleary, Sansing, Mashburn, and Collins voted AYE. Councilman Traylor, Twitty, and Smith voted NAY. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1577. Councilman Sansing moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to APPROVE Ordinance 1578 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND the rules and place Ordinance 1578 on SECOND READING. Councilman Sansing stated that in the information that was sent by Finance Director Cheryl Erkel there was information about the Reserves. He related that it was stated that the Reserves had come down over a period of three to four years, adding that it is going tournament to take three to four years to build the Reserves back up. He stated that we cannot get back all the Reserves back in one big jump and keep the City doing as we have been doing. Councilman Traylor stated that he agrees with that, but this is moving the Reserves from 15 days to 18 days. He said to get to the 60 day recommendation it is going to take a lot more than three or four years. He related that he believes the City needs a bigger jump this year. Mayor Fletcher stated that if you want to make the cuts, tell me what you want to cut. Councilman Traylor related that he has made recommendations, adding that each one knows their Departments, saying that he doesn’t and it is his job to… Mayor Fletcher interjected that because we know it, we gave you a budget based off sustaining our programs. Councilman Sansing added that we all know what the economic situation has been in Jacksonville and in the Country for the last number of years; just as things start turning around we have the Highway Department shutting down our Main Street for three times longer than originally planned. It is going to take some time for revenue to come back in, saying that the last he heard it would be March maybe before they would be opening Main Street. He pointed out that Main Street businesses are hurting and therefore tax revenues are down so we have to be prudent with what we do and we cannot do everything now based on what I see as an economic situation and the reality of the way it is in the town right now. Councilman Mashburn concurred with Councilman Sansing, saying that it is going to take a lot longer to get the Reserves built up. ROLL CALL: Councilman Elliott, McCleary, Sansing, Mashburn, and Collins voted AYE. Councilman Traylor, Twitty, Smith voted NAY. MOTION CARRIED to approve on FIRST READING. MOTION FAILED to SUSPEND the rules and place on SECOND READING. 7 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. Mayor Fletcher asked the City Council what night they would like to come back to meet. Councilman Collins asked for confirmation, stating doesn’t State law allow us st to have the budget approved by February 1. st Mayor Fletcher confirmed that it is the 1 of February but it creates a financial “nightmare” for the Finance Department because they would have to go back and retrofit a lot of stuff between the first of the year and the time that the City Council passes the budget. Discussion ensued regarding meeting before or after the year’s end. Councilman Traylor asked Finance Director Cheryl Erkel what would happen if st the City Council does not meet before January 1. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel related that the fiscal year runs from January stst 1 thru December 31, saying that if the budget is not passed by December st 31 then you are not technically in the 2017 budget anymore. She added that you are actually operating on the 2018 budget but if you do not have a 2018 budget already approved then we have to make allowances and extend the 2017 budget to cover the 2018 expenditures. Councilman Traylor questioned if this would be a headache. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel answered very much so. She then answered that she had never had to go beyond the fiscal year before. Councilman Mashburn questioned how much money would be involved in going past st the December 31 date. Finance Director Cheryl Erkel answered that a lot of the contract services for printers, copiers and vehicle insurance are due in January, which are large expenditures. th It was the general consensus of the City Council to meet on December 26 at 7:00 p.m. to readdress the budget. APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Fletcher announced that garbage pickup will run one day later due to the Christmas holiday. thth City Hall will be closed December 25 and 26. Councilman Traylor questioned what the procedure is for someone to speak at City Council. He stated that he is not referring to the F.O.P. or any union representative. He clarified that he is addressing just an individual in the City wanting to address the City Council. Mayor Fletcher stated that it is what has been done for years, when he asked at the City Council meeting if there is anything to be brought to the body. 8 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. Councilman Traylor questioned to clarify if the Officer could not speak because we were in the middle of the budget discussion. Mayor Fletcher concurred. Councilman Smith questioned if Mayor Fletcher is going to open up for public comment tonight before adjournment. She clarified that it was for comment not the budget. City Attorney Bamburg stated that the budget is already past as an agenda item. He added that the City Council’s vote declared that. Councilman Traylor questioned what vote. City Attorney Bamburg noted that the rules were not suspended for the budget. Councilman Traylor stated that he is just addressing letting someone speak at a Council meeting. Mayor Fletcher stated that it is a policy that if someone wants to address Council at the end of the meeting we have always done that. He added that if the difference between when we have public hearings and when we don’t, saying that not every item warrants a public hearing. He then asked if there was anyone wanting to address the City Council. Officer Kimberly Lett expressed appreciation for the opportunity to address the City Council. She stated that she has been employed with the Police Department since September 2000. She related that she is one of four Patrol Shift Commanders, adding that she has held a position in all three divisions within the Police Department since her tenure. She stated that she is here to address their concerns regarding the Police Department’s budget, mainly the numbers being cut and the affect it will have on the Department as a whole and the citizens of Jacksonville. She read from a prepared statement saying that “most people live within a budget and understand the need for priorities; first you make sure your house payment is made, then your food, your utilities and your clothing, after that other expenses. I liken these to the priorities to public safety; Police, your Fire, your 9-1-1 communications, because if people do not feel safe or don’t believe their property is going to be protected; they will not move here and they will not conduct business here. At the last City Council, the reason given for the positions being cut was that one of the previous chiefs was going for an accreditation that mandated staffing; and now since that is not occurring, not under that mandate. Let me clarify, neither CALEA nor ALEA mandates staffing levels. Jacksonville Police Department policy 10-1 dictates the number of officers that have to be on the streets at a given time. From 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., we are required 6 officers; from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 is 7 officers to include the supervisors. Let’s talk about the $585,152.00 being cut from the Police Department salary budget and how it will affect the 9 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. City. This equates to about 15 officers; Mayor Fletcher stated to the media that it was 10 positions. So using his figures, we are going to reduce our Police Department from an 80-man to 70-man Department. There are times that the Department has inactive officers due to various reasons; FMLA, military leave, light duty, administrative leave, and other various reasons such as officers on vacation or attending training. To lose this many positions puts officers’ and citizens’ safety at risk even more. We all know that it is difficult to fill an officer position for several reasons; police are being targeted and killed at higher rates than ever, lack of pay, and overall people do not want to enter into this career field. When you cut these positions that means that officers are having to respond to violent call without backup; putting them in a dangerous situation increasingly. Any call we go to can turn bad in a moment’s notice. Have you forgot about what happened on August 25, 2008; a call that appeared to be just a man shooting fireworks off, turned out to be a man with a gun who shot at officers for over five hours. It took every man and woman from all the divisions within the Police Department to handle that call and the other calls for service that came in that day. Along with officer’s safety issue, let’s talk about the effect the budget will have on work production and manning. The City is made up of seven distinct districts that officers patrol during a shift; due to the manning issues that we already have, we already have officers covering two areas, which means less police protection for our citizens. There will be less opportunity for officers to alleviate traffic complaints, work traffic enforcements, which will help decrease accidents because, they will only have time to answer the calls that come in, the pressing calls. There will be less property checks on businesses, residence, and vehicles. They will be getting broken into because officers will be too busy, tied up, there will be only enough officers to handle the calls that are coming in. Which also means less community policing, which is instrumental when it comes to solving crimes? So where will the officers come from to cover these areas – our criminal investigation division, they were at seven detectives to investigate crimes; as of right now they are at five with one soon to leave, another one out on FMLA, so that leaves you with three detectives to work cases. Right now they are so covered up; they can’t work them in a timely manner which in turn decreases the solvability factor. There is only one detective and one sergeant in narcotics; they don’t have the time right now to work new drug complaints because they are so covered up with having to do the case files for the people that have already been arrested. We can’t take them out of School Resource; because the job they do there is invaluable. They are tapped into our schools; they are able to deal with issues before they become even bigger problems that spill out onto the streets. Officers have built a rapport with the students and the staff and have many times stopped situations from occurring because a student has come to them and let them know of an issue that was being talked about or dealt with. On top of cutting our salary budget; our overtime budget for the Police Department was cut by $39,400.00. We are already required to manage any overtime that an officer acquires during their time; that means court cases that are set during their day off, if they are required to come in and work FestiVille, Christmas parade, or any other community gathering that we have going that 10 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. requires police presents, also along with any late calls which require a report and arrest. So what this means now is that even more areas are not being covered and the officers are required to do more with less time to do it, you are asking officers to do more with less. All of these issues affect the morale of officers; we feel that City Hall does not have our best interest at heart nor the citizens that we are sworn to protect. We are constantly worried about what else is going to be taken away, waiting for that next shoe to drop. As one who deals with scheduling on a daily basis, I fear the next thing will go is that officers will lose vacation time because there will not be enough manpower for them to take it. I know supervisors at the Police Department are continuously telling officers that things are going to get better, just hold on a little while longer. When in fact things are worse, so why should they stay, especially when they can get paid more money, have better benefits, longevity, certification, overtime for court, take home cars, the other off-duty that is offered at other departments. Why do they stay, because they are loyal? On top of all of this officers are being criticized for not volunteering their time for special events on their days off. So officers who have been loyal to the City and stayed during the rough and lean years, are now being told that there is less chance for advancement. For the entire time I have been here and even before, I have researched it back to around 1982, there have been three police captains at the Department. One over patrol, one over CID, and one over support. It is now being said that the recently retired captain’s position, possibly the lieutenant’s position may not be filled, which means one more lieutenant, two more lieutenants and two sergeant and a captain will not be provided. So why do they stay? Why stay? I was asked today by a couple of officers, why I was doing this? I looked at them and said I owe it to you; you put your life on the line everyday for your fellow officers and for the citizens. And, if I called for help, you would put your life on the line for me, I owe it to you. I want this Department to be what it was when I got here. I want this to be the best place to be, Jacksonville was, I have been told for so many years, Jacksonville is nothing but family. This is not family right now. The majority of this budget was cut on the back of officers and I have to say in closing, the people I work with at the Jacksonville Police Department are some of the best people I know. They will give the citizens of Jacksonville everything they have, they will leave nothing on the table, they are selfless individuals, they believe in what they do, and they will continue to strive. Let me make sure you understand, my department will continue to strive to provide the citizens of Jacksonville with the utmost customer service, while keeping their values high, service, courage, respect, innovation, accountability, teamwork, empowerment, leadership, and most of all integrity.” City Attorney Bamburg stated that since it has been addressed as a budget matter, and public comment has been allowed, he would like the opportunity to make some comments as well. He stated that “while Lieutenant Lett has mentioned a number of things, I would like to point out that I do not believe, out of the things she mentioned, that they were factual to work with it. While yes she has worked here, yes she is a patrol commander (one 11 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. of four), the items that she surmised were being cut or the changes that she is surmising that will occur, have not been changes that have been presented to the Department or changes that are going to occur at this point. What was cut, and as was explained, were unmanned, funded positions that had not been funded for a number of years. As the former chief requested, when he pursued CALEA standards, he increased the number of manned positions, but that only got filled one year for a very short time period and then it dropped back down. Yes, we have nights when there are calls that overwhelm our shifts, that is going to occur for any police department in any city in this Country or around the world. What is also going to occur is when you have a department where the manpower is not spread as it should be, in a more efficient manner; there are going to be circumstances where they need to be reallocated or changed, but none of those have been approved or put forward at this point. There also has been no declaration or determination that there would or would not be promotions, would or would not be changes, would or would not be circumstances. Yes, as Lieutenant mentioned, overtime was addressed; it sure was, when I got into that Department, I found out that they were far in excess of what the overtime budget was for the time period of the year. The overtime in the perspective of my review had been abused, I changed that and I told them that they had to start time managing overtime. That was something that had not been done in 2017, prior to the time of me getting there. In doing so, I reallocated where money should go and cut the overtime budget. You should not build a schedule, I do not believe, that promotes a use of and a constant regular part as overtime because the City cannot afford to pay their employees that rate. While we may all wish that we could, because i believe police officers deserve that, the reality is we cannot pay that rate and we never will be able to pay that. Society has made that a part of the circumstances. We pay ridiculous salaries to people who, in my mind, are nowhere near the level of heroes and needed personalities such as police, fire, teachers, and medical staff. Look at society, don’t look at us. We are doing what we need to stay within the budget. The frustration that the people in the Department feel, are the same frustrations that I feel. I am trying to address it in a manner as best I can in the temporary circumstance I am in, because of the situation that has been created not to our doing. I am there doing the best I can do. If they have budget questions or concerns, they could have come to me, they have not done so. Doing so in a public forum, not necessarily the best method of doing it, but if they wish to address them that way, that’s fine. I am here to address them, I am trying to do the best I can with the money that is there, because I know what the financial constraints are. And, I approach it differently than how a police officer or a law enforcement person would; I’m trying to do it as an administrator and a manager. If you like what has been presented, you know what needs to be done and if you don’t like what has been presented, come and address it with Finance Director Cheryl Erkel and I, we will try and do what you want, you all are the ones that approve and don’t approve budgets for the City.” 12 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2017 7:00 P.M. – 7:52 P.M. Gary Sipes approached the podium, identifying himself as the former police chief that Mr. Bamburg is referring to. “Never have I asked for additional officers because of CALEA. I am the one that started CALEA and nowhere in the book does it say anything about boosting positions. I never asked for positions for CALEA, I did get positions for grants. In fact there was probably about four or five positions that I got for grants, not because of CALEA. The City deserves a better manager over the Jacksonville Police Department than what they have currently. Mr. Bamburg has managed an office assistant; he has never managed a group of police officers. He knows nothing about law enforcement, he should not be in there and as a citizen of Jacksonville; I totally am astonished that you put Mr. Bamburg in that position. I am ashamed, we are the laughing stock of the State of Arkansas; I go across the State of Arkansas and they talk to me about Bamburg being our Director of police operations. It’s unbelievable. Mayor Fletcher asked Mr. Sipes not to make it personal. Gary Sipes stated that “it’s not personal, I am a citizen of Jacksonville and I should be able to make the comments that I want to in a public forum. Nor should he be threatening police officers on here and on the budget, I can tell you how to save money, cut the shooting range out. That is about $600,000 that you are spending on the shooting range. I hear every shot that comes in through the shooting range; there is not enough shooting going on to support that shooting range. Mr. Mayor if you would have shown an intent or some remorse or some little bit of remorse, rather than telling the citizens that we just need to get use to it, I would have understood it a whole lot better. I understood what you were trying to do but… Mayor Fletcher stated “I am not going to relive the campaign three years ago.” Gary Sipes responded “This is not a campaign, buddy. You need to recognize what you do, you need to listen to the citizens and that is all I have got to say.” Mayor Fletcher stated “I do listen to the citizens.” ANNOUNCMENTS: ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Fletcher adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:52 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR GARY FLETCHER City Clerk-Treasurer 13