REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS APRIL 1, 2002

Transcription

1 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS APRIL 1, 2002 MEMBERS PRESENT: The Board of Directors of the City of Texarkana, Arkansas, convened in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on April 1, 2002 with the following members present: Mayor Danny Gray, Assistant Mayor Horace Shipp, and Directors Kathy Dunphy, Laney Harris, Sue Johnson, Thomas Potter, and Londell Williams. Also present were City Manager Robert W. Wright, City Attorney Ned Stewart, and City Clerk Patti Scott Grey. INVOCATION: The invocation was given by Director Johnson. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK PROCLAMATION: Mayor Gray read a proclamation declaring April 1-7, 2002, Texarkana, USA Community Development Week. CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Gray announced that a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract for curb and gutter section at the Farmers Market would be removed from the consent agenda for further discussion, at the request of Director Williams. Director Johnson moved to approve the revised consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Assistant Mayor Shipp and carried unanimously. The items approved by consent were: MINUTES: minutes 1

2 The minutes approved were of the regular meeting of March 18, RESOLUTION NO. 4766: Resolution No makes the following appointments: Board of Adjustment Charles Jackson 02/17/2005 Electrical Board of Review Chesley Walker SWEPCO Rep. 03/06/2004 Randy Pressnell 03/06/2004 Asst. Mayor Horace Shipp 03/06/2003 **Note only a 1 year term RESOLUTION NO. 4767: Resolution No sets the date for a public hearing to receive comments regarding a petition to abandon the dedicated, unimproved 50-0 Chapel Lane right-ofway between Lot 2 of Block 2 and Lot 1 of Block 3 in the 6000 block of Trinity Drive, TRINITY HEIGHTS ADDITION, Texarkana, Miller County, Arkansas. RESOLUTION NO. 4768: Resolution No declares the following Police Department vehicles surplus and authorizes their disposition in accordance with Arkansas law: 1992 Ford Taurus 1FACP50U7NA Ford Crown Victoria 2FAFP71W3WX Ford Crown Victoria 2FALP71WXVX Chevrolet Lumina 2G1WL52MOS Ford Crown Victoria 2 FALP71W8VX Ford Crown Victoria 2 FALP71W7TX Ford Crown Victoria 2FALP71W7WX RESOLUTION NO. 4769: minutes 2

3 Resolution No approves the Texarkana Museums System request to conduct the 21 st annual Quadrangle Festival on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8, 2002, and grants the exclusive use of certain downtown rights-of-way during the festival. RESOLUTION NO. 4770: Resolution No authorizes submission of an application for the 2002 Narcotics Grant, which has federal funding available through the Edward Byrne State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Formula Grant. The Bi-State Narcotics Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force is a joint operation between Texarkana, Arkansas Police Department, the Texarkana, Texas Police Department and the Bowie County District Attorney's Office. The federal share of the total budget is $205,210, and the local match will be $78,749 with $10,000 being offset by program income. REGULAR AGENDA: RESOLUTION NO. 4771: Local Grant Match 78,749 Program Income 10,000 Total $ 88,749 Mayor Gray announced that the Board would now consider Item D, a resolution awarding and authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract for curb and gutter section at the Farmers Market. The Mayor stated this item was removed from the consent agenda at Director Williams request. Director Williams stated he was concerned that this resolution was authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract for curb and gutter at the Farmers Market when he had requested curbs and gutters at Preston and Seibert and other areas. He stated that every time it rains these areas have standing water. Director Williams said this area was part of minutes 3

4 the infrastructure also and he would like to know when they would get curbs and gutters. Mayor Gray said the staff and Board could certainly take a look at the availability of funds for Director Williams request, but these funds were already dedicated to the Farmers Market by the A & P Commission over a year ago. Resolution No was read in its entirety. Said resolution authorizes the City Manager to enter into a contract with J. R. Pope Construction, Inc. to construct 951 feet of curb and gutter section at the Farmers Market for an amount not to exceed $14, This project is recommended by the Gateway Commission and was approved for Advertising and Promotion (A & P) funding. Director Williams, seconded by Director Johnson, moved to adopt the resolution. The Clerk called the roll and the following vote resulted: Directors Dunphy, Harris, Johnson, Potter, Shipp, Williams and Gray voted aye. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted, as there were seven ayes and no nays. ORDINANCE NO. L-80: An ordinance was introduced to be entitled, "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEMS (TAPERS) PLAN TO ALLOW CERTAIN EMPLOYEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE SERVICE CREDITS IN THE PLAN". Said ordinance amends the city retirement plan to allow three employees to purchase service credits in the plan. Director Williams moved to have the ordinance read in abbreviated form. The motion was seconded by Director Potter and carried unanimously. The ordinance was read the first time. Director Potter moved that the rules be suspended and the ordinance be placed on its second reading. The motion was seconded by Director Williams. The Clerk called the minutes 4

5 roll and the following vote resulted: Directors Dunphy, Harris, Johnson, Potter, Shipp, Williams and Gray voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried as there were seven ayes and no nays. The ordinance was read the second time and the Mayor declared the ordinance open for discussion. Director Potter then moved that the rules be further suspended and the ordinance be placed on its third and final reading. The motion was seconded by Director Johnson. The Clerk called the roll and the following vote resulted: Directors Dunphy, Harris, Johnson, Potter, Shipp, Williams and Gray voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried as there were seven ayes and no nays. The ordinance was then read the third and final time and the Mayor declared the ordinance open for discussion. The Mayor then put the question, "Shall the Ordinance pass?" The Clerk called the roll and the following vote resulted: Directors Dunphy, Harris, Johnson, Potter, Shipp, Williams and Gray voted aye. The Mayor declared the ordinance passed, as there were seven ayes and no nays. ADDENDUM: Director Johnson moved to add to the agenda a resolution approving the request by Business Organization for a New Downtown s (B.O.N.D.) to conduct two events in conjunction with TRAHC s Jump, Jive and Jam Fest celebration. The motion was seconded by Assistant Mayor Shipp and carried unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 4772: Resolution No was read in its entirety. Said resolution approves the Business Organization for a New Downtown s (B.O.N.D.) request to conduct the first inaugural Party in the Park and the Jump, Jive and Jam Fest s Stomp Off on Saturday, April 13, minutes 5

6 2002, and grants the exclusive use of certain downtown rights-of-way in accordance with the request. Director Potter, seconded by Director Johnson, moved to adopt the resolution. The motion carried unanimously. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION TIME: Mark Holman, 40 Meadowview Drive, and Jean Snodgrass, 44 Meadowview Drive, stated they had flooding and drainage problems. They commented that each time it rained their homes and backyards were flooded, as a result of the overflowing pond located adjacent to their property. Mr. Holman said he felt the Castleridge residential area shed water into the pond located on a vacant lot between the Castleridge properties, and his and Ms. Snodgrass property, causing their properties to flood. Mayor Gray said Public Works Director Carl Conley had discussed the problem with one of the engineers with NRS Consulting Engineers. He asked that Mr. Conley come forward and give an overview of where the project was headed. Public Works Director Carl Conley commented that the drainage consultant had developed a plan to catch the water running off the adjacent subdivision to the east. He said the plan would place a ditch behind their houses, tying into an existing ditch south of their property. He stated he had given the title company a plat to research property owners in that area to determine ownership of the property before proceeding. City Attorney Ned Stewart explained the process by which the City must research, through a title company, and verify as a matter of record the current record fee title owner of the property before acquiring right-of-way for the ditch. Mr. Conley said as soon as he verifies the property owner information he knows what needs to be done. So, shortly there after receiving the easement, work will begin minutes 6

7 Bonnie Heflin, 2304 E. 42 nd Street, said she was also having flooding problems. She stated she felt the relocation of a creek path running adjacent to her property was causing her backyard to flood every time it rained. Public Works Director Carl Conley stated part of the problem was due to a small bridge a property owner down stream constructed. Mr. Conley stated the property owner had put two pipes under the bridge to help the flow of the water and the city came back about a year ago and added additional pipe to help relieve some of the problem. Ms. Heflin said the extra pipe did not seem to help her situation and commented that she did not feel the creek, after being diverted, was as deep as it once was. She asked if it was possible to make the creek deeper to help the water flow. Mayor Gray asked Mr. Conley to evaluate the problem and give the Board and update at the next board meeting. OTHER BUSINESS: Director Williams asked for an update on the individual and locations he requested attention for at the March 18 th Board of Directors meeting. The Mayor gave Director Williams a brief update on some of his concerns. City Manager Robert Wright asked that Director Williams visit with him to verify certain locations to make sure he and other staff members have the correct locations on his request list. Director Johnson asked Mr. Wright to compile an update on all the streets that were identified in the Bond Election program for the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Board, on motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously carried, the meeting adjourned minutes 7

8 ATTEST: Danny Gray, Mayor Patti Scott Grey, City Clerk minutes 8