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09 MAR 05.doc CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2009 7:00 P.M. – 7:23 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, 2009 at the regular meeting place of the Council. Alderman Ray delivered the invocation and Mayor Swaim led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag. ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, Sansing, Ray, Rinker, Fletcher, Stroud, and Twitty answered roll call. Mayor Swaim also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT EIGHT (8), ABSENT (2). Aldermen McCleary and Howard were absent. Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg, Deputy City Clerk Lynette Culpepper, Director of Administration Jay Whisker, Human Resource Director Jill Ross, Finance Director Paul Mushrush, Fire Battalion Chief Joe Bratton, Systems Administrator Barbara Daniel, Police Chief Gary Sipes, Parks and Recreation Director George Biggs, 911 Communications Director Brenda Skinner, CDBG Director Theresa Watson, Mrs. Judy Swaim, Mrs. Edith Smith, Mr. Larry Smith, interested citizens, and members of the press. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Swaim presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of February 19, 2009 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud that the minutes of the Regular City Council meeting of 5 February 2009 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Elliott to approve the Regular Monthly Animal Control Report for February 2009. Said report reflects: ADOPTION/FINES: $1,915.00 CONTRIBUTIONS: $ 25.00 TOTAL: $1,940.00 REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ENGINEERING Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Elliott to approve the Regular Monthly Report for February 2009. Said report reflects: PERMITS/LICENSE ISSUED INSPECTIONS PREFORMED Building Permits 13 Building Inspections 41 Business License 8 Electrical 38 Plumbing 30 HVACR 12 1 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2009 7:00 P.M. – 7:23 P.M. UNSIGHTLY & UNSANITARY VEHICLES Grass Letters 8 Notice of Noncompliance 14 Property Mowed 1 Towed 1 Trash Letters 89 CONDEMNATIONS Trash Removal 10 Structural Maint. Letter 0 Property Maint. Letters 9 Structural repairs made 0 Cost $ 830.49 Demolitions 0 CITATIONS WARRANTS Debris & open storage 1 Arrest 0 Property maintenance 1 Search 0 ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, Sansing, Ray, Rinker, Fletcher, Stroud, and Twitty voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. WATER DEPARTMENT: WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT: FIRE DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT: STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: PLANNING COMMISSION: GENERAL: a. RESOLUTION 623 #2-09) A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS IN EFFORTS TO SECURE AND COMPLETE THE SALE OF THE REAL ESTATE FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE ESTER D. NIXON PUBLIC LIBRARY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Elliott to read Resolution 623 (#2-09). MOTION CARRIED. Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Sansing to approve Resolution 623 (#2-09) in its entirety. Mayor Swaim noted negotiations several months earlier regarding the sale of library property at 308 West Main Street. He stated that the sale was not finalized at that time because the City was still occupying the building. He explained that City Capital Funds were put into the Library Fund, which will now reimburse the Capital Fund. He answered that the property was sold for approximately $347,000 less closing costs. He then answered that the time capsule placed by the Rotary Club was removed. At this time, MOTION CARRIED. b. PRESENTATION: Tornado Warning Procedure 911 Communications Director Brenda Skinner concurred that the tornado season is approaching, informing the City Council that they closely 2 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2009 7:00 P.M. – 7:23 P.M. monitor weather through television, computer, and cooperative efforts with surrounding cities and the Little Rock Air Force Base. She explained that when they receive reports of close rotation they sound the sirens. She recalled an occasion when there were storms in close proximity to Jacksonville but indications were that the storms would go around Jacksonville, so the decision was made not to sound the sirens. She continued saying that this may have caused some confusion among Jacksonville residents regarding the criteria to sound the sirens. She related that the 911 Communications Department, Police Department, and Fire Department were tasked with developing a standard operating policy for the early warning system. She stated that the policy is to help citizens understand what circumstances or events constitute the sounding of the sirens. Alderman Ray noted that the policy states “The system will be activated upon notification of a Tornado Warning when our City is in the projected path of the storm. Once a Tornado Warning has been given, sirens should be activated IMMEDIATELY and run for one (1) minute.” Director Skinner added that as more reports are received, they would continuously sound the sirens until the threat has passed. She stated that when the sirens cease to sound, that will be the ALL CLEAR signal, indicating that Jacksonville is out of the path of the storm. Mayor Swaim noted that it is a misconception that tornado sirens are to be heard inside the home, noting that this is possible only if a resident lives very close to the location of a siren, but clarified that it is mainly an outdoor warning to move to a place of safety and take cover. He noted that high winds could also prevent the sirens from being heard indoors, suggesting that residents monitor their televisions and radios during bad weather. Alderman Smith noted that on occasion the LRAFB sirens are the first to sound, questioning if the Base offers information to the 911 Communications Center. Director Skinner noted that often times the Base will forward weather information to them or the 911 Communications staff will contact the Base regarding weather updates, which has been very helpful in the past. She explained that they additionally monitor the computer and television during bad weather, noting that soon they will not be able to get any local channels without cable. Mayor Swaim related that a proposal to remodel the 911 Communications building would include a consideration for cable. c. UPDATE regarding negotiations to purchase 101 Lakeshore Drive Mayor Swaim noted that at the previous City Council meeting he was authorized to contract another appraisal regarding 101 Lakeshore Drive, 3 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2009 7:00 P.M. – 7:23 P.M. explaining that before moving forward with the appraisal, he spoke with the owner to see if negotiations could be possible. He related that the owner was not receptive to accepting a new appraisal, explaining that the owner feels his appraisals are reasonable. He stated that after further attempts to negotiate, the owner agreed to $42,000.00 for the property. Mayor Swaim reminded the City Council that the property owner’s appraisal was $56,000.00. He added that he feels it would be a waste of money to have another appraisal if the property owner is not going to accept what the appraisal offers. He related that Reed’s Bridge Battlefield group had one appraisal and the owner has had two appraisals. He stated that it is up to the City Council to decide if they are willing to purchase and for how much, reiterating that the lowest he could negotiate was $42,000.00. Alderman Stroud stated that he would not be willing to offer $42,000.00 for the property. In response to a comment from Alderman Smith, it was determined that the property is slightly over half an acre. Mayor Swaim clarified that the site size is 23,501 square feet and an acre is 43,560. Mayor Swaim then noted that there was an earlier appraisal for $33,000.00, then the owner came back with an appraisal for $56,000.00 and it has been negotiated to $42,000.00. Alderman Smith stated that he would support an offer around $30,000.00 but not $42,000.00. Mayor Swaim informed the City Council that $42,000.00 was as low as he could get the owner to agree on. In response to a question posed by Alderman Ray, Mayor Swaim explained that last year the owner was asked to make repairs to the buildings, adding that the property has been inspected since that time. He explained that if the buildings continue to deteriorate there would be further action. He related that the owner did take down the chimney, but he has not completed the other repairs that were required. He stated that the property currently has Code violations that are being worked by Code Enforcement however, that has nothing to do with the sale or purchase of this property. It was the consensus of the City Council not to take any formal action at this time. APPOINTMENT(S): PLANNING COMMISSION Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Elliott to approve the appointment of Glen Keaton to the Planning Commission for a term to expire 1/01/2012. MOTION CARRIED. 4 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 5, 2009 7:00 P.M. – 7:23 P.M. ANNOUNCEMENT(S): Relay For Life Mayor Swaim related that the Relay for Life program would be April 24, encouraging City Council support. 2009 Boy Scout Spring Camporee Mayor Swaim recognized Jack Danielson to address the 2009 Spring Camporee for the Boy Scouts. Mr. Jack Danielson provided the City Council with a tentative program for the Thunderbird District of the Boy Scouts. He related that the Boy Scouts would be camping Friday and Saturday night at the seven acre Civil War site on the south side of Bayou Meto on Highway 61. He encouraged the City Council members to stop by, welcome them to Jacksonville, and encourage them to return making this an annual event. He recognized City Public Works Director Jim Oakley and his staff for helping to clear the site and remove the brush. He then related that the Water Commission has installed a water tap to provide water to the site and both the Fire Chief and Police Chief have offered their service. He noted that Entergy is allowing overflow parking in their parking area at the substation. He related that the Boy Scouts would perform two service projects; firstly, they will be cleaning up litter along the Bayou and Highway, along with helping the Reed’s Bridge reenactment actors clear brush. ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Swaim adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:23 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR TOMMY SWAIM City Clerk-Treasurer 5