23 OCT 19CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2023
6:00 P.M. – 6:27 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 October 19, 2023 at the regular meeting place of the City Council. Council Member Bolden delivered
the invocation and Mayor Elmore led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag.
ROLL CALL: City Council Members: Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Elmore also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT SEVEN (7)
ABSENT THREE (3). Council Member Dietz, Mashburn, and Rains were absent.
Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Stephanie Friedman, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House, Police Chief Brett Hibbs, Fire Chief
Alan Laughy, City Engineer Adam Whitlow, Assistant City Clerk Emilia Vazquez, IT Director Emily Osment, Communications Director Emily Sundermeier, and Johnny Simpson.
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Elmore presented the minutes of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of September 21, 2023 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 Twitty that the minutes of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of September 7,
2023 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED.
CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to approve the regular monthly report for September 2023.
SEPTEMBER
PERMITS/LICENSE ISSUED INSPECTIONS PERFORMED
Building Permits 24 Building Inspections 29
Business License - Electrical 61 Plumbing 59
HVACR 21
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden Ray to approve the regular monthly report for September 2023, reflecting a fire loss of $2,700.00 and a savings total of $209,500.00.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE DEPARTMENT
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to approve the regular monthly report for September 2023 regarding annual crime statistical comparisons.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/CODE ENFORCEMENT
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to approve the regular monthly report as presented for September 2023.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2023
6:00 P.M. – 6:27 P.M.
Assigned Calls 53
Self-Initiated Calls 113
Follow Up Inspections 429 Demolition by City 0
Complied after Notice 205 Demolition by Owner 0
Three Day Notice 39 Parking Violations 0
Seven Day Letter 133 Garbage Cans Tagged 0
Citation Letters Mailed 16 Basketball Goals 0
Citations Issued 5 Structures Inspected 599
Vehicles Tagged 33 Apartment Complexes Inspected 16
Vehicles Towed 8 Red Tags Issued 1
Unsafe Structures Tagged 0 Search Warrants 0
Structures Condemned 0 Grass Mowed 26
Structures Rehabbed 0 Shopping Carts 8
Signs 6
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to approve the regular monthly reports for August and September 2023.
AUGUST: ADOPTION FEES $ 3,135.00
SPAY/NEUTER FOR ADOPTED DOGS 3,135.00
Paid by the City of Jacksonville -
Paid for by JFOTA 3,135.00
FINES 1,110.00
CONTRIBUTIONS 1,507.26
TOTAL $ 4,642.26
Vet Bills paid by City not spay/neuter $ 13,333.14
Vet Bills paid by JFOTA not spay/neuter -
SEPTEMBER: ADOPTION FEES $ 3,355.00
SPAY/NEUTER FOR ADOPTED DOGS 3,355.00
Paid by the City of Jacksonville 50.00
Best Friends Animal Rescue Grant 225.00
Paid for by JFOTA 3,080.00
FINES 969.17
CONTRIBUTIONS 27,865.58
TOTAL $ 28,834.75
ROLL CALL: Council Member: Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
WATER DEPARTMENT:
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT:
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
STREET DEPARTMENT:
SANITATION DEPARTMENT:
PARKS & RECREATION:
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2023
6:00 P.M. – 6:27 P.M.
PLANNING COMMISSION: a. FINAL PLAT Pleasant Oaks Subdivision
This final plat approval was combined with the following item b.
b. FINAL PLAT Northlake Subdivision PH XIIB
Council Member Bolden moved to approve the final plats of Pleasant Oaks Subdivision and Northlake Subdivision Phase XIIB.
City Engineer Adam Whitlow confirmed there are no outstanding issues with these plats.
Council Member Ray seconded the motion to approve. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMITTEE(S):
DEVIATION IN AGENDA:
GENERAL: b. PRESENTATION of 2022 Audit by Forvis
David Coleman, an audit partner with Forvis, presented slides of financial highlights from the 2022 audit. He stated the unassigned fund balance for the General Fund was $9.1 million,
representing about 36% of the budgeted expenditures next year. He explained current year change in unassigned fund balance is $100,000.00. He noted the City has five pension funds;
two Police, two Fire, and APERS (Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System), that will fluctuate based upon market performance. He confirmed they are well-funded, but can still expect
slight variances from year to year. He mentioned the liabilities did go up a bit, but the market was not normal the past few years and should smooth out the next year or two. He brought
up the OPEB (Other Post-Employee Benefits), that includes a health insurance plan for retirees, had a liability of $1.8 million last year and $1.1 million this year. He related that
the plan is not funded, so the City pays as they go; the only way to reduce it is to reduce your benefits or fund a trust, which he does not recommend. He reported a very clean audit
with no issues then brought up that their standard-setting body came up with new rules to implement in the next few years. He related that the GFOA (Government Finance Officers Association)
says 20% is good for unassigned fund balance.
Council Member Sansing stated the City has always tried to keep 160-day reserve balance, recalling it has been down to 47 days previously.
c. ORDINANCE 1741 (#25-2023)
AN ORDINANCE TO SET ADDITIONAL MILLAGE TAX RATES TO BE ESTABLISHED IN 2024 FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Mayor Elmore confirmed this is setting the yearly millage tax rate and the rates are not changing.
Council Member Bolden moved, seconded by Council Member Ray to place Ordinance 1741 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman
voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Ordinance 1741.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2023
6:00 P.M. – 6:27 P.M.
Council Member Bolden moved, seconded by Council Member McCleary to APPROVE Ordinance 1741 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1741 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL:
Council Member Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Bolden moved, seconded by Council Member McCleary to APPROVE Ordinance 1741 on SECOND READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1741 on THIRD AND FINAL READING.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Bolden moved, seconded by Council Member McCleary to APPROVE AND ADOPT Ordinance 1741 in its entirety. ROLL CALL: Council Member Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss,
Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
ORDINANCE 1741 (#25-2023) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 19TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023.
a. PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE 1742 (#26-2023)
AN ORDINANCE CONDEMNING STRUCTURES AND REAL PROPERTY AT THE LOCATION NOTED BELOW IN JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS, FOR STRUCTURAL DEFECTS, DEFICIENCIES, AND PUBLIC HAZARD CONDITIONS; DECLARING
AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Mayor Elmore opened the public hearing at approximately 6:12 p.m.
With no one requesting to speak, Mayor Elmore closed the public hearing at approximately 6:13 p.m.
Mayor Elmore stated there are 23 properties chosen for condemnation.
Council Member Sansing shared that he visited the Code Enforcement Department to look through the property files. He confirmed these need to be demolished, pointing out some look like
they could be rehabbed on the outside, but you go inside, and they are totally trashed.
City Attorney Friedman confirmed the only difference between the ordinance printed and what was in the packet is the ordinance number.
Code Enforcement Supervisor Officer Marissa Barger noted three properties needing removed from the ordinance; 147 Pike Avenue, 108 Marshall Road, and 4 Michelle Lane. She stated 101
Cherry Street is listed third to be demolished, only because 102 East Boulevard keeps having issues with Police calls there. She mentioned a lot of the property owners or descendants
are not responding, saying they have tried to contact a lot for close to a year now.
Mayor Elmore confirmed 4 Michelle Lane is not included in the ordinance.
Officer Barger brought up that the budget for the remaining of this year may demolish 3-5 properties, however, they will carry over and begin with the new budget next year for the remaining.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2023
6:00 P.M. – 6:27 P.M.
Council Member Sansing stressed they need to budget Code the money to get the eyesores out of town, because they are next to good, taxpaying citizens.
Officer Barger noted 122 Pike Avenue should also be removed from the ordinance.
Council Member Bolden moved, seconded by Council Member Ray to place Ordinance 1742 AS AMENDED on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss, Twitty,
and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Ordinance 1742.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to APPROVE Ordinance 1742 AS AMENDED on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1742 AS AMENDED on SECOND
READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member McCleary to APPROVE Ordinance 1742 AS AMENDED on SECOND READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1742 AS AMENDED on THIRD
AND FINAL READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Bolden to APPROVE AND ADOPT Ordinance 1742 AS AMENDED in its entirety. ROLL CALL: Council Member Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray,
Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing that the EMERGENCY CLAUSE be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL: Council Member Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Moss, Twitty,
and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
ORDINANCE 1742 (#26-2023) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 19TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023, AS AMENDED.
APPOINTMENTS:
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Elmore adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:27 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully,
________________________ _________________________
Susan L. Davitt MAYOR JEFF ELMORE
City Clerk-Treasurer