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Home My WebLink About1974-01-02 MinutesIL 1 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS JANUARY 2, 1974 The Board of Directors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas met in regular Session on Wednesday, January 2, 1974 in the Directors Room of the City Administration Building at 7:30 P.M. Present:. City Manager Donald L. Grimes; Administrative Aide David McWethy; City Attorney Jim McCord; City Clerk Helen Young; and Directors Orton, Purdy, Noland, Utley, Murray, Carlson and Stanton. Directors Absent: None. Others Present: Representatives of the news media and members of the audience. Approval of the minutes of the December 18, 1973 meeting was delayed until the next regular meeting of the Board since the minutes were received by the Directors only a short time before this meeting. There was some discussion regarding the length of the minutes. Some Directors felt that the minutes have been too lengthy and detailed; other Directors felt that the minutes should be in great detail. Former City Attorney Malone said that in his experience, the courts are concerned only with the action of the total Board, and not with the feelings of individual Directors. Detailed minutes are of some value to legislative history, Mr. Malone said No action was taken on the matter. PUBLIC HEARING ON REVENUE BOND ORDINANCE #1965 Carl Yates, engineer, was present at the meeting to summarize for the audience the water and sewer projects for which this issuance of revenue bonds is proposed. Mr. Yates answered questions of the Board members and the audience. The Board heard discussion from three members of the audience, two of those opposing the issuance of the revenue bonds and requesting that the question be put to the voters, one person asking that a comprehensive report on this issue be made to the public. Director Carlson announced that a petition for referendum will be filed on Friday, January 4, to place Ordinances #1965 and #1966 to the public referendum. PROPOSAL FOR FARMER'S MARKET Paul Lewis, representing Downtown Fayetteville, asked the Board to approve the idea of a Farmer's Market in Downtown Fayetteville. Ben Hinds of the Economic Opportunity Agency was also present at the meeting to support the idea of a Farmer's Market. There was a lengthy discussion regarding possible locations for such a market, who would be allowed to sell at the Farmer's Market, and what products could be sold at such a market. Director Murray moved that the City provide, by lease agreement or otherwise, an area on or near the square to be used each Saturday by Arkansas farmers and craftsmen as a Farmer's Market. Director Orton seconded the motion. Upon roll call the following vote was recorded: "Ayes" Orton, Noland, Murray, Carlson and Stanton. "Nays" Purdy and Utley. There being five Ayes and two Nays the motion passed. 1974 GENERAL FUND BUDGET City Attorney McCord read a proposed resolution approving the 1974 General Fund Budget. 1 2 Director Noland moved the resolution be adopted. Director Murray seconded the motion. City Manager Grimes called attention to a $100 error which appears on several pages of the proposed budget. Director Carlson moved that the correction of that error be left to the City Manager's staff. Director Orton seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. The Board discussed the manner in which franchise taxes are levied upon the utility companies. Some Directors questioned why the rate is computed in a different manner for different utility companies. Director Noland moved that the City Attorney be authorized to investigate the basis for the franchise taxes for the various utility companies and report to the Board. Director Orton seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote the motion passed unanimously Director Utley moved that once each quarter, an agenda item be scheduled at which time the City Manager will discuss the budget and point out where we are going and what funds we have to go with. Director Stanton seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. After a lengthy discussion regarding whether membership dues to civic clubs and to the Chamber of Commerce shall be paid from the City budget, Director Orton moved that the dues for civic clubs and for the Chamber of Commerce be deleted from the Budget. Director Murray seconded the motion. Upon roll call the following vote was recorded: "Ayes" Orton, Murray and Carlson. "Nays" Purdy, Noland, Utley and Stanton. There being three Ayes and four Nays, the motion failed. City Attorney McCord advised that he would pursue the question of the legality of paying dues to civic organizations from City funds, and if he finds it is illegal, he will recommend that the budget be revised. After further discussion regarding various items in the budget, Mayor Purdy' called for a vote on the proposed resolution. Upon roll call the following vote was recorded: ".Ayes" Orton, Purdy, Noland, Utley, Murray and Stanton. "Nays" Carlson. There being six Ayes and one Nay, the Mayor declared the resolution passed. *Resolution No. 1-74 appears on page q of Ordinance and Resolution Book IV. SPECIAL ELECTION DATE DISCUSSED The City Attorney expressed his opinion, and the City Manager agreed, that since the County Clerk is in the process of re -aligning voter registration cards according to the new precinct alignments, the Board should defer setting an election date until the County Clerk is ready. C)irector Noland moved that action on this matter be deferred until the l oard knows when the County Clerk will have the voter registration cards order. Director Utley seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. Director Utley suggested that the City Attorney be instructed to determine and report to the Board on the matter of the legality of holding a special City election on the same date as the date of the Primary Election. 1973-74 WATER/SEWER BUDGET AMENDED City Manager Grimes reported that when the 1973-74 Water/Sewer Budget was prepared, a 5.5 percent pay increase for all employees was anticipated. Since the Board has approved a 10 percent pay increase in the 1974 Pay Plan, Mr. Grimes said that the 1973-74 Water/Sewer Budget should be amended to allocate additional funds for personnel salaries. 2 1 1, 11 i 1 1 1 1 • City Attorney McCord read a proposed resolution to appropriate $18,100 from the Water and Sewer Surplus Revenue Fund to the 1973-74 Water and Sewer Operations and Maintenance Fund. Director Carlson explained that she would abstain from voting because of the technicality regarding surplus funds. Director Noland moved the proposed resolution be adopted. Director Murray seconded the motion. Upon roll call the following vote was recorded: !Ayes" Orton, Purdy, Noland, Utley, Murray and Stanton. "Nays" None. Director Carlson abstained from voting. There being six Ayes, no Nays, and one abstaining vote, the Mayor declared the resolution adopted. *Resolution No. 2-74 appears on page/0 of Ordinance and Resolution Book IV. SANITATION RATES AMENDED City Attorney McCord read a proposed ordinance to establish the rate for commercial sanitation service. Director Murray moved the rules be suspended and the proposed ordinance be placed on second reading. Director Orton seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. City Attorney McCord read the proposed ordinance the second time. Director Orton moved the rules be further suspended and the proposed ordinance be placed on third and final reading. Director Murray seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. Director Carlson moved that the proposed ordinance be amended so that it will reflect a monthly increase per extra can and per extra pick-up Director .Stanton seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. City Attorney McCord read the proposed ordinance as amended the third and final time. Mayor Purdy then asked the question, "Shall the Ordinance pass'?" Upon roll call the following vote was recorded: "Ayes" Orton, Purdy, Noland, Utley, Murray, Carlson and Stanton. "Nays" None. There being seven Ayes and no Nays the Mayor declared the Ordinance passed. *Ordinance No. 1975 appears on pages 59 and 60 of Ordinance and Resolution Book IV. AMEND LEGAL DESCRIPTION IN REZONING ORDINANCE City Attorney McCord read a proposed ordinance to correct the legal description of the property designated in Ordinance No. 1962. Director Murray moved the rules be suspended and the proposed ordinance be placed on second reading. Director Orton seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. The City Attorney read the proposed ordinance the second time. Director Orton moved the rules be further suspended and the proposed ordinance be placed on third and final reading. Director Murray seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. The City Attorney read the proposed ordinance the third and final time, after which the Mayor asked the question, "Shall the Ordinance pass?" Upon roll call the following vote was recorded: "Ayes" Orton, Purdy, Noland, Utley, Murray, Carlson and Stanton. "Nays" None. There being seven Ayes and no Nays, the Mayor declared the Ordinance passed. 'Ordinance No. 1976 appears on pages 61 and 62 of Ordinance and Resolution Book IV. • z ADJOURNMENT There being adjourned. Mayor Purdy ATTEST: no further business, Director Stanton moved the meeting be Director Orton seconded the motion which passed unanimously. declared the meeting adjourned. • City Clerk APPROVED: 4 Mayor 1 1