09 SEP 17.docCITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 17, 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 September 17, 2009 at the regular meeting place of the Council. Alderman Smith delivered the invocation
and Mayor Fletcher led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag.
ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Rinker, Ferrell, Stroud, Twitty, and Howard answered roll call. Mayor Fletcher also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum.
PRESENT TEN (10), ABSENT (0).
Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg, Acting Deputy City Clerk Jennifer Martin, Director of Administration Jim Durham, City Engineer Jay Whisker, CDBG Director
Theresa Watson, Parks and Recreation Director Kristen Griggs, Public Works Director Jim Oakley, Human Resource Director Jill Ross, Police Chief Gary Sipes, Fire Chief John Vanderhoof,
Finance Director Paul Mushrush, Assistant Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Systems Administrator Barbara Daniel, City Planner Chip McCulley, Glenda Fletcher, Nola Ferrell, Becky Brooks,
Mike Wilson, Rizelle Aaron, Jim Moore, interested citizens, and members of the press.
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES:
Mayor Fletcher presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of September 3, 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 Ray that the minutes of the Regular City Council meeting of 20 August 2009 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED.
CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE DEPARTMENT
Alderman Elliott moved, seconded by Alderman Ray to approve the Regular Monthly Report for August 2009 regarding 2009/2008 yearly crime statistical comparison.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT
Alderman Elliott moved, seconded by Alderman Ray to approve the Regular Monthly Report for August 2009 from the Jacksonville Fire Department, which reflects a fire loss of $500.00 and
a savings total of $84,000.00.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL
Alderman Elliott moved, seconded by Alderman Ray to approve the Regular Monthly Animal Control Report for August 2009. Said report reflects:
ADOPTION/FINES: $2,590.00
CONTRIBUTIONS: $ 302.50
TOTAL: $2,892.50
ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Rinker, Ferrell, Stroud, Twitty, and Howard voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
7:00 P.M. – 7:23 P.M.
WATER DEPARTMENT:
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT:
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
STREET DEPARTMENT:
SANITATION DEPARTMENT:
PARKS & RECREATION:
PLANNING COMMISSION:
GENERAL: a. Request to set public hearing for Ordinance 1381 (#24-09) Creating a Nuisance and Abatement Policy
Alderman Stroud requested and Mayor Fletcher concurred that the Ordinance would be made available at least one week prior to the public hearing.
Mayor Fletcher then asked the City Council to consider the Ordinance over the course of three meetings as opposed to suspending the rules regarding one meeting adoption for the benefit
of public input.
City Attorney Bamburg clarified with Mayor Fletcher that the Ordinance is thirty-five (35) legal sized pages.
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to set a public hearing October 1, 2009 to begin promptly following the start of the 7:00 p.m. regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
MOTION CARRIED.
b. POWERPOINT PRESENTATION by Finance Director Paul Mushrush
Mayor Fletcher related a misconception stemming from the presentation of the audit and the conception that the City has an over abundance of money that is not being spent. He stated
that he has asked Finance Director Paul Mushrush to offer a brief overview of the revenue and expenditure streams regarding the 2% tax for a clearer understanding of the City’s financial
fiscal ability going into the future.
Finance Director Mushrush related that the second penny sales tax was enacted and collection began as of January 2004, explaining that the directed use of monies collected was by ballot
title. He stated that $2,461,221 was collected for the Splash Zone Construction, $500,000 for the Joint Education Center and $400,000 has been put aside for the Police and Fire Training
Facility totaling $11,461,221. He then explained that the ballot title states “and for other purposes”, noting other infrastructure projects and the operations and maintenance of completed
projects.
He reviewed a graph depicting years between 2008 and 2014 regarding the calculated change for the anticipated revenue on a cash basis at the current growth rate. He noted that he only
projected forward seven years because of the lack of detail going further out. He then reviewed a graph projecting cost of operations and maintenance within the same years. He stated
that there is a 3% projected growth for revenues and a 7% growth projected for operations & maintenance costs. He stated that
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
7:00 P.M. – 7:23 P.M.
projected revenues for 2009 are anticipated to be $335,000 below originally anticipated. He stated that the difference between revenues collected and operation and maintenance costs
is the difference used to fund the Capital Improvement Plan. He reiterated that those funds not consumed by operation & maintenance are designated to fund the Capital Improvement Plan.
He related that the majority of elements in the Capital Improvement Plan came directly from the City’s Comprehensive Development Plan. He explained that the operation and maintenance
expense is for the General Fund while infrastructure costs are associated with the Capital Improvement Plan. He stated that the Capital Improvement Plan quantifies revenue needs by
prioritizing Capital Improvement projects. He then reiterated that all projects selected for funding were chosen through a public input survey. He noted that budget management keeps
the two lines from intersecting over time and that allowances for change orders and unfunded items have to be taken into account.
He then answered a question from Alderman Stroud, saying that the projections include cost of living increases regarding payroll. He theorized that all things remaining equal (ceteris
paribus) these projections will hold to be valid.
He explained that the budget adjusts annually, noting that currently the City is in its budget cycle. He reviewed the budget process, noting that all budget requests are scrutinized
with Department heads. He then stated that often items are cut from requested budgets but services to the citizens are never cut. He noted that items chosen for funding, including
the Capital Improvement Plan, are approved by the City Council.
He related that during the presentation of the audit, it was pointed out that the City had an excess of over 17 million dollars that can be used for ongoing operations. He explained
that included in that amount is a 60-day cash reserve for the General Fund, over 2 million dollars in the Street Fund that can only be used for street purposes, and Enterprise Funds
meaning Sanitation and Emergency Medical Services that can only be used for their specific purposes. He stated that the majority of the balance is the funding allocated for the Capital
Improvement Plan.
Discussion ensued regarding projected operation and maintenance costs for the new Police and Fire Training Facility. Finance Director Mushrush informed the City Council that estimates
regarding operation and maintenance costs are not firm as yet. He then explained the cost saving with the Library regarding the decision to install a deep well geo-thermal heating and
cooling system.
He stated that the City of Jacksonville is far better off than surrounding cities that are experiencing unfortunate economic hardships. He reiterated that monies in the Capital Improvement
fund are committed to publicly chosen projects approved for funding by the City Council.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
7:00 P.M. – 7:23 P.M.
APPOINTMENT(S):
ANNOUNCEMENT(S):
ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Fletcher adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:23 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully,
________________________ _________________________
Susan L. Davitt MAYOR GARY FLETCHER
City Clerk-Treasurer