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20 MAR 05 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2020 6:00 P.M. – 6:18 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 March 5, 2020 at the regular meeting place of the City Council. Council Member Bolden delivered the invocation and Mayor Johnson led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag. ROLL CALL: City Council Members: Bolden, Sipes, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Johnson also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT NINE (9) ABSENT (0) ONE SEAT VACANT. Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Stephanie Friedman, Public Works Director Jim Oakley, IT Director Scott Roethlisberger, CDBG Director Theresa Watson, Human Resource Director Charlette Nelson, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Parks and Recreation Director Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House, Fire Chief Alan Laughy, Interim Police Chief Joseph McCollough, Addie Gibson, Director of Economic Development & Cultural Alliance Bob Price, Jeff Elmore, Dejuana Sipes, Johnny Simpson, Jeff Twitty, interested citizens, and members of the press. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Johnson presented the minutes of the special City Council meeting of January 31, 2020 and the regular City Council meeting of February 20, 2020 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Council Member Bolden moved, seconded by Council Member Sipes that the minutes of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of 06 February 2020 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to approve the regular monthly report for February 2020. PERMITS/LICENSE ISSUED INSPECTIONS PERFORMED Building Permits 7 Building Inspections 16 Business Licenses Electrical 38 Plumbing 38 HVACR 19 REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to approve the regular monthly report for February 2020. ADOPTION FEES/FINES $ 1,185.00 CONTRIBUTIONS 0.00 TOTALS $ 1,185.00 ROLL CALL: Council Member: Bolden, Sipes, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. 1 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2020 6:00 P.M. – 6:18 P.M. WATER DEPARTMENT: WASTEWATER DEPARTMENTS: FIRE DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT: STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: Request to accept bid for Sanitation Baler Public Works Director Jim Oakley related that the Recycling Department uses a baler for the plastics which are baled for resale. He noted that the current baler is over twenty years old; adding that they are receiving a grant through the Solid Waste District to fund approximately 80% of the cost for a new baler. He then answered Council Member Mashburn that the current baler was purchased new twenty years ago and it has been repair many times. In response to a question from Council Member Traylor, Public Works Director Jim Oakley stated that the weight available for baling plastic bottles is around 900 to 1100 pounds. He then stated that cardboard paper is about 2000 pounds. He stated that they bale aluminum cans, plastic bottles, newspaper, and cardboard. Public Works Director Jim Oakley then answered Mayor Johnson that the new baler would probably exceed the life expectancy of 20 years. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to accept the low bid of $75,049.01 from JV Manufacturing, Inc. MOTION CARRIED. PARKS & RECREATION: a. Request to accept bid for Splash Zone Waterslides Repair Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House stated that the is asking City Council to accept the low bid for slide repairs at Splash Zone. He then pointed out that the low bid, luckily enough, was the only bid that met specifications regarding the insurance and bid bonds requirements. He then answered that while he has not used this Company before, he has verified their references. He then answered that the Company is out of Texas. He added that he had spoken with some people locally who had worked with them and Slide Experts were highly recommended. He then answered Council Member Mashburn that a new slide for replacement would cost approximately $250,000.00 plus installation, noting it could be as high as $350,000.00. He then answered Council Member Mashburn that the slides are fifteen years old, explaining that they have had small repairs up till now. He stated that the repairs would have a two-year warranty on materials and labor. Council Member Bolden noted that it is more proficient to make repairs than replacement citing the time the park would have to be closed. Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House then answered that the repairs are scheduled to be completed by the time Splash Zone opens for the summer. 2 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2020 6:00 P.M. – 6:18 P.M. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to accept the low bid of $45,000.00 from The Slide Experts, Inc. MOTION CARRIED. b. DISCUSSION requested by Council Member Sansing Council Member Sansing stated that all the Council Members have recently met with Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House, adding that they were given a 2019 Parks Overview. He said that he was quite impressed with what our Parks Department has accomplished in the last year; adding that even Kevin said that being down there every day, looking at the trees, he couldn’t see the entire forest for what they did. He cited highlights as being 74,909 Daily check-ins over a year, 304 events held in the North Hall, 28 group fitness classes taught weekly. Aquatics, Martin Street pool, the shooting complex, special events, 152 total league teams in the youth/adult program, 14 sports leagues managed, 26 Diamond sports tournaments, 761 Diamond sport teams attended tournaments. He stated that these are people that are coming to our town and seeing how great Jacksonville is, spending their money in our town, and this City reaps the tax benefit of all these people coming to town. He continued saying “I want everybody to look at just how much our Parks and Rec. accomplishes during a year, very quietly, not to mention every time you see somebody mowing anywhere around town - those are Parks and Rec. personnel in the summer. When you see somebody out weed eating a ballfield on a Sunday morning – those are Parks and Rec. personnel. So, Parks and Rec. does a lot in this town that the regular people in this town, and even us, do not realize how momentous a job they are doing. So, I want to thank Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House, the Parks & Rec. Commission, and all the people that are members and work for the City in the Parks and Rec. program. They do an awesome job and the evidence is right here, just what happened 2019. When you start thinking about 5,400 youth for the youth shooting association, 16 different States represented during shooting tournaments; people from 16 different States in here, enjoying the fruits of our Parks and Rec. program, and spending their money and paying their taxes, and going back home and having a good view of the time they had here. So, I just think that all the citizens need to understand what a good job our Parks and Rec. program are doing at selling the City of Jacksonville and brining in tax revenue. Kevin thank you very much.” Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House stated that he would give that thanks to his staff, adding that we have the best employees. Council Member Ray stated that being on the Executive Committee with the Arkansas Municipal League, Jacksonville stands in the top 10 throughout the State of Arkansas. PLANNING COMMISSION: COMMITTEE(S): a. Used Car Lot Committee (Council Member Mashburn) Council Member Mashburn stated that they have had some issues with the Committee, so until they can be resolved, we will not be able to bring anything to City Council. She added that hopefully they will try to bring it to the next Council meeting if we can get those issues resolved. 3 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2020 6:00 P.M. – 6:18 P.M. b. Committee for Stonewall bike lanes (Council Member Bolden) Council Member Bolden stated that they are still working on specifics, explaining that they currently have a speed monitor located in the Stonewall area. c. Nature Zone Committee (Council Member Collins) Council Member Collins stated that as far as what we would have to do to have this Nature Zone; we would have to do three items that are currently prohibited, two of them prohibited in our City Code. Hunting wild animals is prohibited according to 6.12.010, discharge of fire arms, through no exception for hunting 9.12.010 and in order for us to do those items, we would also have to work through and add an additional agricultural zone to the zoning Code. So, as far as the easy items to say no to, I could probably go around this table and get a vote on hunting wild animals in the City limits, especially after the reaction that the City Attorney got from her peers. They all laughed and scoffed and said this was a very bad idea. Council Member Collins moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to dissolve the Nature Zone Committee. MOTION CARRIED. Mayor Johnson stated that he has received lots of phone calls saying that it is a bad idea, adding that he believes other Council Members have as well. He added that he has heard from several neighborhoods and they even wanted to discuss maybe getting a petition in Western Hills and North Lake and presenting it to the Council. GENERAL: APPOINTMENTS: Citizenry comment: ANNOUNCEMENTS: Council Member Twitty thanked Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House and Council Member Ray, saying that the Father/Daughter Dance th went wonderfully for the 10 year. She noted that the Police Department and the Fire Department were there to represent. She stated that it was one of the best Dances to date, adding that there were a lot of great comments regarding the event. She expressed her appreciation. Mayor Johnson commended the event, noting that a lot of hard work went into the event and the pictures were great. Council Member Twitty noted that with the funds from the event, Sertoma was able to fund four scholarships this year. Council Member Ray announced that the Jacksonville Boys and Girls have won the first round of tournaments in Russellville. He encouraged everyone to attend and support Jacksonville. 4 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2020 6:00 P.M. – 6:18 P.M. Council Member Bolden announced that there is a fundraiser for the Veteran’s th Museum, tickets are on sale for “Dinner at the Canteen” on March 14 @ 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.00. Update for the microbrewery Mayor Johnson explained that they have turned in their plans, but he is unaware of how far along they are yet. He added that they are working with the landlord regarding the buildout. ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:18 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR BOB JOHNSON City Clerk-Treasurer 5