SPECIAL CALLED RETREAT MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Transcription

1 SPECIAL CALLED RETREAT MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rec Center 9:00 A.M. MEMBERS: OTHERS: Jason Jones, Ward 1Director Dick Rudolph, Ward 2 Director Scott Byrd, Ward 3 Director Roland Gosey, Ward 4 Director, Vice Mayor Julian Jaeger, Ward 5 Director James Calhoun, At Large Director C. T. Hollingshead, Mayor Jimmy Bolt, City Manager Rendi Currey, City Clerk Deborah Sesser, Grants/Research Jennifer Story, City Treasurer (see attached list) CALL TO ORDER Mayor C.T. Hollingshead called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. INVOCATION Director Jones FINANCIAL REVIEW Mr. Bolt went over the revenues and expenses of each fund. Summary: revenue is trending up, expenses are down (sustainability is paying dividends), and reserve funds are increasing. WATER AND SEWER UTILITY: Summary Rolling stock replacement program Capital Funding should impact one of these items to be considered for funding Portion of capital funding budget reserved for ISO fire rating improvements Low cost water for future economic development Invest in sustainability to drive down costs of production The consensus of Board was to fund up to $500,000 for capital improvement projects by following broad guideline listed above. ISSUES TO CONSIDER Mr. Bolt presented several major issues to be discussed: Pine Street/16 th Street Funding Mr. Bolt restated what the Board voted to do during the August 27, 2011 Board meeting. It was the consensus of the Board to consider bundling the projects through a sales tax, pending the outcome of the economic development sales tax that will be placed on the ballot in 2014 for renewal. Truck Route Bypass Funding The Board wishes to bundle this project with the above mentioned project. Girls Softball Field/YSC Completion Mr. Bolt presented figures to complete the Youth Sports Complex. It was the consensus of the Board to extend the current Bond Issue to finish the complex. Directors Byrd and Jones will co-chair a committee to see that the complex is completed. Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Vice Mayor Gosey proposes renaming North 10 th Street pending the acceptance of the majority of land owners. It was the consensus of the Board to move forward with Vice

2 Page 2 of 5 Mayor Gosey s proposal, and Director Calhoun volunteered to co-chair a committee to work on this project. Also, the current bridge signage will be removed once the renaming of 10 th Street is complete. Economic Development Sales Tax renewing issue The Board as a whole has come to the consensus to stay neutral when approached about this issue. Individually, the Board members have different views however, as a group they will remain neutral. LUNCH / SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Mrs. Farrell Ford, {Arkadelphia Arts Center}, gave the Board members a history lesson on how the Arts Center originated and expressed wishes for a longer lease to secure exhibits in the future. The consensus of the Board was to work with the Arts Center to offer them a longer lease time. Officer Burroughs, Arkadelphia Code Enforcement presented to the Board the procedure for code enforcement complaints. Burroughs has developed a database so that habitual offenders will be identified quickly. He stated that by State Law some offenses are given 10 to 30 days to be corrected, so that is why it seems to take so long to correct a problem area. SPECIAL PROJECTS (CONSIDER PRIORITIES) Projects with Commitments Mr. Bolt stated that the projects with commitments at the present time are as follows: Feaster Trail Connector 80% AHTD Grant 20% City Match Engineering Cost Paid by City Estimated $30,000 COA funds committed by resolution in 2012 Take Possession of Hwy 7 Bridge (2015) A grant has been established for 50% of an Engineering Study to specify risks, if any, of taking possession of the bridge. Re-established Code Enforcement Officer, $45,000 School Resource Officer 75% APS 25% City Match Codification of Ordinances Mr. Bolt stated that by allowing the Arkansas Municipal League to codify the city ordinances it would cut down on error and make research more productive to staff and citizens. The total cost would be $6,400. ($3,000 deposit + $3,400 for final product). The consensus of the Board was to proceed with this project and put it on the next agenda for approval. Employee Cost of Living Adjustments Mr. Bolt gave the Board some options with which he and Mrs. Story feel comfortable. The consensus of the Board is to proceed with the 2014 budget to include a 2% raise, with employees taking the responsibility of 50% of any insurance increases. Paperless Board Meetings Mr. Bolt proposed an idea of paperless board meetings by providing Apple ipads to each Board Member who does not have access to a tablet to be used to access Board agenda packets, Budget review, employee policies, etc. This would result in reduction of

3 Page 3 of 5 production supplies and labor. It was the consensus of the Board to proceed with the implementation of paperless Board meetings. Christmas Lights/Decorations Mr. Bolt stated that the public demands beautification, especially at Christmas time. It does increase traffic for businesses and unites the community and their families in celebration, and it would tie in to current efforts with Christmas Parade to create a visible display of holiday spirit. Currently the City has applied for a CCSPF mini-grant to fund 30 LED-lighted pole displays along Pine Street and Downtown, and Downtown Arkadelphia has applied for a CCSPF mini grant to fund LED lights for the Downtown pavilion and a foot (donated) Eastern Red Cedar and related installation expenses. Beautification Projects Mr. Bolt asked the Board how they felt about these types of projects for example: Wayfinding signage - $5,000 Consensus was to continue I-30 ramp area landscaping - $25,000 Consensus was to look into placing another rock as signage as a money savings Invest in equipment, or lease, to clean sidewalks and trails - $35,000 Consensus was to look into lease options for equipment. It was the consensus of the Board to continue to work towards beautification in the city as the budget will allow. Other Needs Rolling Stock needs Grounds Maintenance (Pickup Truck) Code Enforcement and Building Inspection (Electric Vehicle?) Dismantle old River Ball Park Staff recommendation Reduces maintenance and upkeep costs Improved facilities for public use at the Youth Sports Complex It was the consensus of the Board to dismantle old River Ball Park. STREET DEPARTMENT FUNDING (CONSIDER PRIORITIES) Continue to transfer $65,000 from General Fund for day-to-day maintenance needs ($100,000 in 2013) (New) ½ cent sales tax approved by Arkansas voters will provide funding for the next 10 years The AHTD will receive 70 percent of the proceeds from the tax; Arkansas cities and counties will split the renaming 30 percent Estimated new revenue is $191,000 (AHTD Estimate from info provided by ADFA) These funds can only be used on transportation projects: Paving, sidewalks, curb and gutter, and to fund the equipment required to do these jobs. Example Formula: 15% Sidewalk = $24,750 with a cap of $25,000 20% Equipment (capital purchases/rental)=$33,000 with a cap of $35,000 65% Street=$140,250 with cap being revenue from September 31, 2013 to October 1, 2014 (minus 2013 Pine Street sidewalk work) It was the consensus of the Board to proceed with the above example formula to build the 2014 budget. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor closed the meeting at 2:15 p.m.

4 Page 4 of 5 C. T. Hollingshead, Mayor Rendi Currey, City Clerk

5 Page 5 of 5 SPECIAL CALLED RETREAT MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rec Center 9:00 a.m. Llewellyn Terry Carl Johnson Farrell Ford Joey Burroughs