BOARD OF DIRECTORS CITY OF TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS

Transcription

1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CITY OF TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018 Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors City of Texarkana, Arkansas City Hall East Third and Walnut Streets 1. Mayor Ruth Penney Bell called the meeting to order. 2. Present: Mayor Ruth Penney Bell Ward 1 Director Linda Teeters Ward 2 Director Laney J. Harris Ward 4 Director Travis Odom Ward 5 Assistant Mayor Barbara S. Miner Ward 6 Terri Peavy City Manager Dr. Kenny Haskin City Attorney George Matteson City Clerk Heather Soyars Deputy City Clerk Jenny Narens Absent: Director Tim Johnson 3. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Ruth Penny Bell *Director Laney Harris arrived at 6:04 PM. 4. Comments from the Mayor: Welcome Mayor Bell welcomed everyone to tonight s meeting and acknowledged Mike Malone, President/CEO of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce and Allen Wren, former Ward 1 Director. One Street at a Time Mayor Bell said the City s One Street at a Time approach to repair streets was a good one. She said this would allow the City to concentrate on the repairs of one street while still filling potholes in others. She commented Sanderson Lane was a street in desperate need of repair. RailFest - Mayor Bell said RailFest was another success and she thanked Deanna O Malley, Parks Superintendent Ross Cowling and the many other volunteers for their hard work with this festival. SWAPDD - Mayor Bell said she and Assistant Public Works Director Tracie Lee attended the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District meeting which was looking at new ways of promoting economic development in the Southwest Arkansas District s counties and cities. Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony Mayor Bell said she and Assistant Mayor Barbara Miner attended the 10 th Annual Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony. Twelve peace officers in the state of Texas lost their lives in The ceremony paid tribute to those peace officers and their families. 1

2 BKD, LLC Mayor Bell said she met briefly with auditors from BKD, LLC, who were auditing the 2017 City Budget. She thanked the Finance Department for their hard work and cooperation with the auditors. Amtrak Mayor Bell said the downtown Amtrak station would lose its ticket agent and she was working diligently to have the position reinstated. She urged everyone to contact their congressmen. First Responders Day Mayor Bell said she would be attending the 3 rd Annual EMS Appreciation Week, First Responders Day breakfast held at the First Baptist Church and she would be arriving by LifeNet helicopter with Texarkana, Texas Mayor, Bob Bruggerman 5. Presentation(s): Mayor Bell asked if any Board member had any questions or comments. No one came forward. National Small Business Week with Richard and Brenda Carter from B&R Tile and Janell Morton, Center Director for Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. Mayor Bell introduced the Carters and Ms. Morton. Ms. Morton said this free program was offered to help construct business plans for citizens who wanted to start a small business. Mrs. Carter said she and her husband bought Shurtleff Tile Company and they needed a business plan to receive a loan from the bank. She said her loan officer told her about the free program SAU offered small businesses. Mrs. Carter said she called SAU and they helped her get a financial proposal together for the bank, so she could receive a loan. Director Harris requested Item 8. Adopt a Resolution amending the FY2018 Public Works Budget (Resolution No ) accepting grant funds from the 2018 Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism s Outdoor Recreation Matching Grant Fund and Texarkana, Arkansas, Advertising & Promotion Commission, be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion. CONSENT: 6. The minutes of the regular meeting May 7, (CCD) 7. Resolution No : authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract between the City of Texarkana, Arkansas, and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) to carry out Certified Local Government grant activities. (PWD-Planning) 9. Resolution No : authorizing the City Manager to purchase property located at 710 E. 4 th Street, which includes the purchase of a vacant lot located at 320 Pecan Street (TAPD) Motion to adopt Consent Agenda made by: 2

3 REGULAR: Motion carried unanimously Director Peavy 8. Resolution No : amending the FY2018 Public Works Budget (Resolution No ) accepting grant funds from the 2018 Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism s Outdoor Recreation Matching Grant Fund and Texarkana, Arkansas, Advertising & Promotion Commission. (PWD) Director Harris requested this agenda item be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on the Regular Agenda for discussion. He said everyone was concerned with the bathroom at Ernest Hill Park costing $75,000. He asked how much would the bathrooms at Hobo Jungle Park Cost? Public Works Director Tyler Richards said the bathrooms at Hobo Jungle were built in the 1970s and they constantly had to call plumbers to fix the problems they were having. He said the money was not only being used towards larger bathrooms but also concession stand, and an umpire room. Mayor Bell said with all the baseball tournaments our City was hosting, this was an investment for future income for our City. Director Harris said he just wanted to hear the concept behind the plan. said she was Director of Ward 1, and she did not have a flush toilet in her ward, but she did not want to condemn the other parks if they had a chance for improvements that would benefit the entire City. Motion to adopt the resolution made by: Motion carried unanimously. Director Odom 10. First Reading: Adopt an Ordinance amending Chapter 13 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Texarkana, Arkansas, adding Section to establish the operation, permitting and scheduling of Food Trucks within the city limits. (PWD) Chief Building Official Shawn Maxey said April 26, 2018, there was a workshop regarding the Food Trucks and the two locations decided on were Bobby Ferguson Park and Front Street Plaza. He said the vendors would be allowed to use their homes as a commissary. Mr. Maxey said they could wash the dishes and clean the truck at their home but could not do any food prep inside their home. He said the vendors would be allowed to set up seven days a week from 7:00AM until 10:00PM. Mr. Maxey said the proposed vendor fee would be $ annually. asked if the pavilion at Bobby Ferguson Park could be used as a commissary with an additional fee. Chief Building Official Shawn Maxey said yes. Director Harris asked what were the Texas-side fees for food trucks. 3

4 Mr. Maxey said the Texas-side permit fees were around $ annually. Assistant Mayor Miner asked what the time frame of the permit would be. Chief Building Official Shawn Maxey said the permit would be issued from June 30, through July 1. Motion to place the ordinance on its first reading in abbreviated form made by: Director Peavy The ordinance was read the first time in abbreviated form. 11. Citizen Communication Theodora Gates, 411 East 12 th Street, said her neighbor installed a fence and she could no longer access the side of her house. She said the neighbor had blocked her plumbing, the masonry on her house and one of her basements. Ms. Gates was told by a lawyer the structures were not up to code and she would need to come speak with the City. Director Laney Harris asked the City Attorney what the Board s rules were concerning presentations at Board Meetings and where were such rules located. He also asked the City Attorney what the rules were concerning removing an item from the Consent Agenda and placing it on the Regular Agenda for discussion. His last question to the City Attorney was how amendments were made to the Board s rules regarding the Consent Agenda. 11. Executive Session The Board entered Executive Session at 6:49 PM *Director Harris left the Board Room at 6:49 PM. The Board reconvened at 7:06 PM. *Director Harris returned to the Board Room at 7:06 PM. The following action was taken: Resolution No : making appointments to various boards, commissions, and committees: BOARD/COMMISSION APPOINTEE TERM Airport Authority Ray Abernathy 5/14/ Board of Adjustment Bonnie Auck 2/17/ I. Don Nelson 2/17/ Electric Board of Review Roger Douglas 3/6/ Director Travis Odom *Note only 1-year term 3/6/2019 Housing Authority Kecia Wolf 11/29/ Jewell Shoptaw s unexpired term 4

5 Planning Commission George Coker 5/6/ Jason Dupree 5/6/ Adjourn Motion to adopt the resolution made by: Director Odom Directors Miner, Odom, Peavy, Teeters and Bell voted aye. Director Harris abstained. The motion passed with 5 ayes and 1 abstention. Motion to adjourn made by: Director Odom Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM. ATTEST: Ruth Penney Bell, Mayor Jenny Narens, Deputy City Clerk 5