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22 DEC 01 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2022 6:00 P.M. – 7:08 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 December 1, 2022 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: Dietz, Bolden, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Traylor, Twitty, and Rains answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Johnson also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT EIGHT (8) ABSENT (2). Council Members Mashburn and Smith were absent. Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Stephanie Friedman, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Fire Chief Alan Laughy, Police Chief Brett Hibbs, City Engineer Adam Whitlow, Public Works Director Jim Oakley, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House, Human Resource Director Charlette Nelson, Lieutenant Ryan Wright, IT Director Emily Osment, Assistant City Clerk Emilia Vazquez, Dr. Robert Price, Jacksonville NAACP President Barry Jefferson, Jeff Elmore, Jim Moore, Mike Wilson, Larry Wilson, Jason Sanders, Daniel Gray, and Johnny Simpson. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Johnson presented the minutes of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of November 17, 2022 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 Ray that the minutes of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of November 3, 2022 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: WATER DEPARTMENT: WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT: FIRE DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT: Request to accept bid: 2022 Nuisance Property Demolition Lieutenant Ryan Wright stated he had to rebid this project due to previous contractors not being able to get their bonds to conduct the demolitions. He explained this time they had three bidders, listing one for $53,890.00, one for $75,000.00, and one for $90,700.00. He confirmed they would like to award the bid to Manny Construction, adding that they are located out of Bryant and were the bid for $53,890.00. He noted that they contacted North Little Rock Code Enforcement, since they have done work for them before, and he was told they were quick, thorough, and do the job well. He requested to award the bid to them, pointing out that it is for all eight properties. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to accept the low bid of $53,890.00 from Manning Construction. MOTION CARRIED. STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: 1 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2022 6:00 P.M. – 7:08 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSION: COMMITTEE(S): GENERAL: a. Author Phyllis Hodges to address City Council regarding Book Tour International Author Phyllis Hodges stated she is on a statewide book tour speaking to school superintendents and mayors. She related that one of her books is a living history book, titled 8 Years of Unforgettable History, while the other is a self-motivational book for women, titled Girl Power. She shared that Mayor Johnson has bought one for each council member after hearing that the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District agreed to have both books in their media centers. b. Request to accept bid: Managed Service Provider IT Director Emily Osment stated she put the City’s Managed Service Provider out for bid, comparing it to like having a fourth IT employee. She explained that the City was paying a company approximately $82,000.00 to provide things such as Microsoft, networking, and firewall assistance. She related that right now they have just a few devices managed, but there are a couple of companies that can do all. She detailed that one bid came in around $82,000.00, but the one she is requesting to accept is $77,868.00 from Net Gain Technologies. She confirmed this is the same company previously chosen to do the migration of mailbox to Office 365 Cloud. When Council Member Blevins inquired, she replied that both bidders are capable of managing all devices, excluding workstations, and the one the City has now does not do that. She noted that both of these bidders would do all of it at a lower cost, adding it is all based on the number of users managed. She pointed out that the reason for changing companies is because the new one can manage all the City’s devices to where there are no gaps in what they are covering, while also being at a lower cost. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to accept the low bid of $77,868.00 from net gain. MOTION CARRIED. c. RESOLUTION 830 (#15-2022) A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND GRANTING AUTHORIZATION TO THE MAYOR OF JACKSONVILLE AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO ENTER INTO A REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Council Member Rains moved, seconded by Council Member Ray to read Resolution 830 (#15-2022). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Resolution 830 (#15-2022). Dr. Robert Price recalled that about four years ago, Colonel Robert Ator, who is a retired C-130 pilot from the Little Rock Air Force Base, pulled a group together from eight cities and four counties around Central Arkansas. He explained that the purpose of that meeting was to let the group of county judges, mayors, directors of planning, etc. know that the Department of Defense does studies of military installations around the Country to find out its compatibility with its community. He detailed that it helps to determine 2 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2022 6:00 P.M. – 7:08 P.M. whether the base is meeting its training mission, if the community is growing in such a way that is not affected by the base, if the community is friendly towards the base, and to make sure there is nothing going on that would, in some way, handicap the quality of what is going on at the military installation and the potential growth of it. He mentioned that the Little Rock Air Force Base has never had a study like that done; only smaller ones in the past, so it was a very high priority for the Department of Defense. He stated that after some discussion about who was to manage a study like that, Mayor Johnson volunteered him to direct the project, therefore he put together some grants from the Department of Defense, formed working committees from those eight cities and four counties four years ago, and has been working on it ever since. He noted that there are three phases to this project, detailing that Phase 1 was the first eighteen months where there was a study to look at the situation and come up with recommendations. He related that Phase 2 was implementation of recommendations, adding they are in the process of finishing that up in February. He pointed out that Phase 3 is a strategy for how they manage this long-term, adding that this Resolution is regarding a planning commission that would help do that. He shared that this is a million-dollar project that has received multiple grants from the Department of Defense and from the State. He stated that Colonel Ator represents the Office of Military Affairs and the Governor’s Office. He noted that this Resolution is a summary of a planning commission that was written by the Pulaski County Attorney Adam Fogelman. He explained that County Attorney Fogelman is present in the audience and Tyson Smith from White and Smith Consulting is present via Zoom. He detailed that White and Smith is an expert group in Charleston, South Carolina that has been their consultants throughout the entire Phase 1 and 2 and have done multiple studies around the Country. When Council Member Bolden inquired, he responded that once the commission is formed, they will have to resolve how they would want to fund it, but it is all volunteer-based for the members of each community. He mentioned that if there is clerical support that is necessary, he suggests that each community chip in and fund it. When Council Member Traylor requested clarification, he confirmed that this new commission cannot come in and tell the City’s Planning Commission they cannot do something, but will instead be an aid to them. County Attorney Fogelman added that the structure of the committee is geared so that the cities that are involved have input regarding the decisions and application of the Military Code around the Air Force Base in the unincorporated county, pointing out that the committee could provide a recommendation or analysis on how to apply that Code inside the cities. Dr. Price related that there will be members from each of the participating communities, listing North Little Rock, Maumelle, Beebe, and Ward, since there are landing zones in each of those areas. He noted that the counties involved are Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski, and White. 3 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2022 6:00 P.M. – 7:08 P.M. When Council Member Traylor asked if this commission would have authority in the rural areas, County Attorney Fogelman replied that it would have the authority to make the determination and apply the Code in the unincorporated part of Pulaski County. He explained that in regards to White, Faulkner, and Lonoke Counties, they are envisioning that they would make recommendations and provide assistance in making sure the compatibility of uses in those areas. When Council Member Blevins inquired about the number of members on this committee, Dr. Price responded that they have not determined a number. He shared that he has two committees he works with, detailing that the executive committee is made up of mayors, county judges, and others, and the other is an implementation committee who are the “work horses” of this project. He assured that this new committee would be made up of a combination of those, but it could possibly be forty or fifty volunteers. County Attorney Fogelman clarified that one would be appointed by the executive and confirmed by the governing body of each participating jurisdiction, so if there are cities outside of Pulaski County that do not want to participate on the committee, but they want the feedback, that is okay, but would just mean one less appointee to it. He surmised for it to have fewer than a dozen members on this new committee. Mayor Johnson shared that they have talked about having the Jacksonville Planning Commission chairman being one of the people on this committee since they are involved in planning. When Council Member Blevins inquired, County Attorney Fogelman responded that this committee would be subject to FOIA and the open meetings requirement. He stressed that the benefit is that the municipalities are included and represented in the decisions that affect them with the land uses in the unincorporated area around the Air Force Base. He stated they are working with an eye toward the future to ensure that the areas around the Air Force Base, as this community and as Pulaski County continues to grow, have compatible uses so they do not impair the mission and are subject to a base closure because of it. He shared that they are also working to make sure they have a durable structure, are complimentary to the Air Force Base, and that they do it in a way that it is a regional approach with a formal body to ensure they serve their communities best interests together and individually. Dr. Price surmised there would be new issues to arise, giving an example of him receiving a call from the Base with a concern about the Sig Sauer target range pointed toward them. He detailed that the concern was for possible ricochets into the Base so he called the construction crew and got the layout changed. He noted that is a good example of how something in the community would affect the Base, so they are looking into the future to help resolve new issues as they arise with a representative body. He pointed out that it would be foolish to go forward after this study without any mechanism to deal with things in the future. 4 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2022 6:00 P.M. – 7:08 P.M. Council Member Bolden showed his support since it would help prevent a potential base closure. County Attorney Fogelman admitted he is not an expert on planning around military bases around the Country, but it is his understanding that they would be the first multi-jurisdictional area to combine together and do this voluntarily. He brought up that it would set them apart, adding that is the type of thing the Department of Defense looks for. Dr. Price confirmed this is a very important strategy for longevity of the Little Rock Air Force Base and is also a good model for the other military bases in Arkansas. Council Member Bolden moved, seconded by Council Member Traylor to adopt Resolution 830 (#15-2022) in its entirety. Tyson Smith with White and Smith consulting shared that since this is done around the Country, what is being proposed here is not particularly radical, except that it is taking a framework they have been working up in an informal way and really solidifying it to take it to a level of commitment from the governing bodies. He stated that what they have been working on with the committees for the last year or so are the memorandum of understanding and an informal committee called the Military Planning and Cooperation Committee. He explained that this Resolution would be taking that and formalizing it even further to be less of an informal committee that lacks commitment to representing a formal commitment at the governing body level. He believes it would be more solid than what they usually see in most communities and will set participating communities apart, in terms of what the Department of Defense expects out of these types of studies. Dr. Price shared that they are speaking before the Cabot City Council in two weeks since they requested to wait to see what Jacksonville’s decision was. Citizen Larry Wilson showed his support, mentioning that in Phoenix, Arizona at Luke Air Force Base, the town grew around the base and now they can only take off in one direction due to the population density at the other end of the runway, which hampers their mission. He stressed that they want to be ahead of similar situations that could develop here. Jacksonville Planning Commission Chairman Jim Moore showed his support, noting that they are restricted to one mile outside of city limits, so it will help with enforcement for the Base to have this regional planning commission. Citizen Bart Gray, via Zoom, showed his support for Resolution 830 (#15- 2022). 5 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2022 6:00 P.M. – 7:08 P.M. When Council Member Blevins brought up attendance requirements and the diversity of the commission, Dr. Price replied that the management and function of it will still need to be resolved by the membership, but all those considerations will have to be made. When Council Member Bolden showed concern with having too many members, Dr. Price responded that it has to be a good, solid, representation of all of these communities, while still being a functional group, so he surmised more than twelve members, but less than fifty. MOTION CARRIED at this time. d. ORDINANCE 1714 (#33-2022) AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A FISCAL BUDGET FOR 2023; 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. Council Member Bolden moved, seconded by Council Member Ray to place Ordinance 1714 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Bolden, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Traylor, Twitty, and Rains voted AYE. (0) voted NAY. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Ordinance 1714. When Council Member Blevins inquired about the Director of Administration position, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel replied that it was taken out of the budget when they did cuts. Council Member Blevins mentioned there is a proposed 5% raise for full-time employees, but there is nothing regarding part-time employees. He stated they have been overlooked ever since Covid, even though they were working the whole time and did not receive Hazard Pay like the full-time employees did. He believes 5% raises are way too much, and although Director Erkel assured him the City can sustain it, he does not know how that can happen, especially with businesses leaving the City. He pointed out that the City has a 20% poverty rate and almost a 20-30% unemployment rate. He noted that the City is already going to lose a business next year, adding there is also the bus plan to cover the next three years. He thinks $520,000.00 added to the budget is a lot and that it should be relooked at. Director Erkel related that all part-time employees are at $12.50 an hour, adding that the City expects more from their full-time employees than their part-time. She assured that is why there needs to be a difference between the full-time and the part-time. She noted that $12.50 an hour is more than the State minimum wage. 6 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2022 6:00 P.M. – 7:08 P.M. Council Member Blevins brought up that a majority of City employees do not even live in the City because the people here that need the jobs need more than $12.50 an hour. Director Erkel pointed out that the part-time employees still got paid during Covid, even though they were not physically working. Human Resource Director Charlette Nelson noted that most cities, such as Cabot and Sherwood, laid their part-time employees off, but the City of Jacksonville did not. She explained that they agreed to pay the part-time employees for 20 hours a week the entire time Covid caused the City to shut down, approximately an entire year, in order to keep them. When Council Member Bolden requested clarification on costs the City absorbs for their employees, she detailed that the health insurance rate for employees is $150 per month for family coverage with the City paying $984.56. She shared that single coverage costs employees $72 per month with the City paying $446.78. She confirmed that they are asking that amount to be raised to $90, even though the City’s portion will still be approximately $470 per month for single coverage. She stated at the same time they raised full-time minimum wage to $15 an hour, they raised the part-time employees to $12.50 an hour. She reiterated that they tried to keep the part-time employees and that is why they decided, during the year the City shut down due to Covid, that they would be paid 20 hours a week, even though some did not fully work those hours. She related that the City pays 81-82% of its employees’ insurance, where Sherwood only pays 59%. She recalled that the City has taken on the costs the last four times it has increased, but are now asking for the employees’ portion to go up a small amount; from $36 to $45 for single coverage, and $75 to $100 for family coverage, per paycheck, which still leaves the City paying 81-82%. When Council Member Blevins inquired, she brought up that APERS, which is just for civilian employees, will eventually be going up to 7.5% employee contribution, increasing by .25% each year. She explained how it went up to 5.25% last July and will go up to 5.5% this July, therefore, she believes 5% is a very nice raise for the little bit they are trying to go up. She confirmed that if the City did not give a raise, the employees would actually have a decrease in pay, adding that they cannot opt out of that contribution. She noted that the City puts in 23.5% for Police and Fire, with Police employees contributing 2.5%, and Fire employees contributing 8.5% since they elected to have no Social Security coming out of their paychecks in order to have more going into their retirement. She added that the City puts in 15.32% for everyone else’s retirement. When Council Member Traylor inquired, she replied that the good part-time employees are the first to be eligible for any full-time positions that become available. She stated that the part-time employees also get half of whatever the longevity check is, detailing that a full-time employee gets $700 for being with the City 3-5 years, so a part-time employee with that longevity would get half of that. She related that five of the part-time employees have received longevity checks for the first time this year. 7 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2022 6:00 P.M. – 7:08 P.M. Council Member Dietz believes a 5% raise is fair based on all of the work the employees have been doing and how they go above and beyond, from what he has seen. He affirmed that if the City wants to retain employees, they are going to have to pay them well, adding that it is better to keep who they have, that know the job, rather than train new ones. He noted that people do not realize how much of a benefit it is for employees to have most of their insurance paid, adding that at one time, he was paying $1700 a month for it. Director Nelson pointed out that other companies have it where employees pay medical, dental, and vision separate, but the City’s is all included; plus, you get a life insurance policy tied to it. Council Member Twitty agreed that the City has some amazing employees but shared her concern that they have had to add six EMT positions to the budget that did not exist before, along with three other positions that are not currently filled. She brought up that some employees are at, or above, mid salary while others are below that mid, therefore, if you do a 5% raise across the board, the ones already above mid are even higher above that mid. Director Nelson replied that she does not think they have any employees that are above mid, but she can double check and give Council Member Twitty a call. She related that the mid changes every year, and when they think they are getting close to mid, other cities bump their employees up, with some giving 6-7% increases. Council Member Bolden moved, seconded by Council Member Ray to APPROVE Ordinance 1714 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1714 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Bolden, Sansing, Ray, Traylor, Twitty, and Rains voted AYE. Council Member Blevins voted NAY. MOTION CARRIED. Council Member Blevins moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty to TABLE Ordinance 1714. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Bolden, Ray, and Traylor voted NAY. Council Member Blevins, Sansing, Twitty, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED with Mayor Johnson abstaining. ADDITION TO AGENDA: Council Member Rains moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to SUSPEND THE RULES to ADD RESOLUTION 831 (#16-2022) to the agenda. MOTION CARRIED. e. RESOLUTION 831 (#16-2022) A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE WILLINGNESS OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE TO UTILIZE FEDERAL-AID SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FUNDS. Council Member Rains moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to read Resolution 831 (#16-2022). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Resolution 831 (#16-2022). 8 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2022 6:00 P.M. – 7:08 P.M. City Engineer Adam Whitlow stated this Resolution is part of a grant application his Department has put forth to Metroplan for the Main Street one-lane bridge. He explained it is an 80/20 grant for engineering only and is a requirement as part of the package. Mayor Johnson clarified that this bridge floods, stopping people, Fire, and Garbage trucks from going over it and can strand people in emergencies. He shared that before the City receives an 80/20 grant to build it, they need an 80/20 grant to study it. City Engineer Whitlow confirmed that this is not the big fee for construction, but is for the smaller fee to get it designed. When Council Member Traylor inquired, he responded that the bridge needs to be elevated and widened, so they are wanting a full reconstruction of it. Council Member Traylor moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty to adopt Resolution 831 (#16-2022) in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED. RESUME AGENDA: APPOINTMENTS: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: ANNOUNCEMENTS: City Service Awards Mayor Johnson stated that service awards for City employees will be given on th December 8 at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. He explained that they will be recognizing Jimmy Oakley and Hal Toney’s retirement at that time. Christmas Parade rd Mayor Johnson reminded that the Christmas Parade will be on December 3 at 3:00 p.m. Assistant City Clerk City Clerk Susan Davitt introduced Assistant City Clerk Emilia Vazquez. ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:08 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR BOB JOHNSON City Clerk-Treasurer 9