Summer Changes for PARD Discussed at Jacksonville City Council Work Session and Meeting

March 26, 2019
Lee Fuller

Work Session

• Call to order
• Roll call 
- Sandra Sudduth and Jimmy Harrell not present
• Acceptance of minutes 
- Accepted
• Resolution regarding Back to School Sales Tax holiday 
- Discussion in support of containing this holiday
• Gadsden State Community College Agreement for Fire Department
 – Discussion of potential liability issues. The current agreement has been modified to limit liability.
• Vehicle Purchase for PARD – Janis Burns spoke regarding the need of a new vehicle. The vehicle that has been chosen is a Chevy Trax. It comes from the State bid list. Councilman Taylor questioned if  there would be a risk of spending money this early in the year and potentially being vulnerable to potential financial issues.  Burns agreed, but stated the current vehicle has been deemed unsafe so waiting may not be an option.  Councilman Taylor commended Ms. Burns on the frugality and “penny pinching” to stay within her budget.   Mayor Smith shared his support for this purchase as well.  Councilman Galloway asked what specific issues were areas of concern for the vehicle safety.  Ms. Burns didn’t know.  Mayor Smith mentioned that perhaps it could be put on the next council meeting and that would give time to do a bit of research.  Ms. Burns did express concern with waiting as the purchasing process is about a 12 weeks.  A decision was made if Ms. Sudduth arrived prior to the meeting starting the council would vote on it tonight.  If she was not there then the vote will be added to the next meeting’s agenda.
• Swimming Pool Rates Discussion 
- Ms. Burns has been asked to increase revenue and to increase pool usage.  To due this she feels adjusting the pool rates is the answer.  $3 has been pool admission since 2014.  A possibility is $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.  Sunday could be advertised as a half price day.  The family pool pass could increase from $90 to $100 for a family of four. For individual pool passes the price has been $40 since 2013.  The new price could be $45.  Concessions are adding revenue.   This item will be added to the next council meeting agenda.
• Street Department Equipment Operator I-A 
- The Mayor made an appeal to discuss this issue.Councilmen Taylor and Galloway expressed concern that this same position was just approved last month and is still unfilled. They questioned the need for a second position.  The determination was that additional research from the last meeting and from the budget notes would need to be reviewed before more portions could be approved or discussed.  This issue can be added to the next council meeting agenda with Stanley present.
• Municipal Court Credit Card System 
- The current system doesn’t import data correctly and driver’s license are being suspended due to accounting and clerical issues. Additionally the system is charging individuals 7% on top of court fees to process payments themselves.  The new system is a five point system that automatically integrates with the court system. This would eliminate input errors.  Everything is automatically input and fee charges 4% regardless of if the individual or court uses the system.  There would also be a kiosk system so payments could be taken even if court personnel was not present.  There is no additional cost to the courts or city.   This would be a large help for time management for the court staff. Chief Wood did not have concerns with the security of a kiosk.
• First Net Phone System 
- The city is considering changing the phone system for first responders. The current system is with Verizon.  Two presenters from First Net presented the services and cost breakdown.  Chief Wood spake as he has used this service with the County.  He felt very strongly that this was a better system and would allow better communication. Chief Wood also stated that the cost to upgrade is minimum and the monthly charge would actually be $2 cheaper.
• Bid No. 19-02 – Weapon Equipment Purchase for Police Department 
- Chief Wood would like each officer to have his or her own weapon and holster. This has been budgeted already.
• Lot Clearing 
- 11^thStreet lot needs to be cleared. Coucilman Jimmy Harrell requested that JSU review the property and give recommendations.   The recommendation is to not clear it and instead downed trees rot.  Specifically the report said to cut the leaning trees, but leave the fallen trees. The concern that was discussed is that the residents near the two lots feel the value of their own property is decreasing because of the state of the lots.  Councilman Taylor suggested having a public hearing meeting with residents and JSU specifically invited.  The next meeting is April 8^th, 2019.  Resident Klaus Duncan spoke to the importance to the residents of having this land cleaned up.  Ollie Noles spoke and stated that he felt that bringing in equipment would do more damage.  He stated that no plans are currently pending and the land should be left as is. He also stated that a JSU biology professor would like to make a presentation for leaving the cleaning as is at the next meeting. Councilwoman Sudduth stated that she didn’t think there should be a public hearing.  She felt it should just be a regular work session agenda item and allow people to speak if they choose to.
• Recapping of items discussed prior to Councilwoman Sudduth arrival.
  • Vehicle purchase for PARD
  • Municipal Court Credit Card System
• Any Other Business
  • Moratorium revision to pertain to owners who owned the property prior to the tornado.

 

City Council Meeting

• Call to order
• Invocation: Deacon Fred Williams
 St. James Catholic Church
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Roll call 
- Councilman Jimmy Harrell not present
• Adoption of minutes 
- March 11, 2019 work session and meeting Unanimously Accepted
• Adoption of agenda 
- Unanimously Accepted with additional items
  • Addition – Consider Action to allow Mayor to consider action to sign a contract between Five Point Systems and the Jacksonville Municipal Court System
  • Addition – Consider Action to allow Mayor to cancel the 0ne Million dollar line of credit at Farmers merchants Bank. This account was opened to have access to after then March 2018 tornado event.
  • Addition – Consent Agent 19,991. 85 2019 Chevrolet Trax from the Alabama State bid list.
• Proclamation
  • Parental Alienation Prevention Week – April 21-27, 2019
  • Parental Alienation Awareness “Bubbles For Love” Day – April 25, 2019 at noon on the Square.
• Public comments concerning agenda items – No comments
• Consideration of Resolution Imposing a Moratorium on the Limitations for Reconstructing Nonconforming Residential Structures Damaged or Destroyed in the March 19, 2018 Tornado Affected Area in the City of Jacksonville, Alabama 
- Unanimously Accepted
• Consideration of Resolution Approving the City of Jacksonville’s Participation in the State of Alabama Sales and Use Tax Holiday as Authorized by Alabama Act No. 2017-120 for the Year 2019 – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to accept the Bid Report for Bid No. 19-02, Weapon and Equipment Bid for the Police Department and approve a Resolution awarding same to GT Distributors
 – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to approve the application of Nabhat, LLC, d/b/a/ Quick Mart 3 for Retail Off- Premise Malt Brewed Beverage License and Off-Premise Table Wine License for the business located at 395 Greenleaf Street, SW, Jacksonville, AL 36265. (formerly Express Mart 5)) – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to authorize the Mayor, on behalf of the Water Works, Gas and Sewer Board, to sign the Annual End User License Agreement with Local Government Corporation for Payroll Software 
- Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the two year Contract for Services with ByWater Solutions for Library Automation System – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Pyrotecnico Agreement, Option #1, for a total cost of $7,250.00 for the 2019 JaxFest Celebration to be held on July 3, 2019 
- Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Educational Agreement between Gadsden State Community College and the City of Jacksonville Fire Department – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider Action to allow Mayor to sign a memorandum of understanding between Five Point Systems LLC and the Jacksonville Municipal Court System – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the FY2020 LSTA Technology Grant Application
- Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to approve the Water Works, Gas and Sewer Board Charged Off Accounts for the period August 10, 2018 through January 10, 2019 
- Unanimously Accepted
• Consider Action to allow Mayor to cancel the 0ne Million dollar line of credit at Farmers merchants Bank. This account was opened to have access to after then March 2018 tornado event – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to approve the appointments of Mayor Johnny L. Smith, Voting Delegate, Council President Sandra Fox Sudduth, 1st Alternate and Council Member Jerry Parris as the Proxy for the AMIC Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at 1:00 pm 
- Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to approve the appointments of Mayor Johnny L. Smith, Voting Delegate, Council President Sandra Fox Sudduth, 1st Alternate and Council Member Jerry Parris, 2nd Alternate, for the Annual Business Session of the Alabama League of Municipalities on Monday, May 6, 2019, at 3:45 pm – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to approve the current list of Volunteer Firefighters
 – Unanimously Accepted
• Consent Items – Unanimously Accepted
  • Purchases Over $5,000.00
    • Consent Agent $19,991. 85 2019 Chevrolet Trax from the Alabama State bid list.
  • Disposition of Surplus Property
  • Other Personnel Items
• Public comments for general items
  • Nancy Gillespie spoke for the Arts Council regarding the Fair on the Square Event April 27 9:00 -3:00 pm.  She expects all the council members to show up to support the Arts council.
• Council Member Remarks
  • The Eastwood Preservation Committee will have a Blood Drive 3/26/19 2:30-6:30 pm at 309 Band Street.
• Mayor’s report
  • New Restaurant on the square. They mayor is hearing good things.
  • Saturday April 27, 2019 is the Take Pride in Jacksonville Day 7:30 – 11:30 am
  • Fair of the Square April 27, 2019 will be held from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.
• Any Other Business 
- No other business
• Consider a motion to adjourn into an Executive Session under the provisions of the Code of Alabama Section 36-25A-7(a)(3) to discuss with the City Attorney a certain matter not yet being litigated but imminently likely to be litigated and under Section 36-25A-7(a)(6) to discuss consideration for the sale, lease and/or purchase of real property 
- Unanimously Accepted