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JANUARY 2023 REGULAR City of Van Buren, Arkansas Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of the City Council Monday,January 23, 2023 5:30 PM Van Buren Municipal Complex CALL TO ORDER 5:30PM The regular monthly meeting of the Van Buren City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph P. Hurst at 5:30PM. Reverend and City Attorney Jacob Howell led invocation. Mayor Hurst led the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL 5:31PM Present: Council Member Kenneth Bell, Council Member Matt Dodson, Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member Mike Kneeland, Council Member Tonia Fry, Council Member Tyler Wood, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Attorney Jacob Howell, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds Absent: None A CONSENT AGENDA After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member Mike Kneeland moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of.: o Minutes from December 19, 2022, City Council Meeting o Organization of governing body 14-43-501 Procedural Rules o Street Closure: The Vault,TOTIVIA, Car Show o Resolution 01-01-2023 Enter into contract with Hawkins-Weir o Resolution 01-02-2023 ARDOT Partnership o Resolution 01-03-2023 Accept Bid for City Parks River Valley Fencing o Financial Statements o Department Reports Motion was seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood. All in favor.•None opposed. Consent Agenda approved. J NEW BUSINESS 5:32PM Resolution 01-04-2023 Almost Home Authorizing Funds for Improvements Connie Martin from Almost Home Shelter made a presentation in which she described what funds would be used for,should the city council vote to approve her donation request of $93,000.00. She states that the shelter is in need of expansion, and this will be needed to ensure all dogs are handled in a safer manner. Council Member Matt Dodson asked that their contractor reach out for lower priced options and if the volunteers of Almost Home Shelter will be reaching out for more donations. He further confirmed that$50,000.00 had been already set aside from ARPA funds and that only $43,000.00 would come from the General Fund. Council Member Tonia Fry asked if there was a contract with Almost Home Shelter and their proposed contractor. Connie Martin stated there was no contract. Council Member Fry further clarified that proper permits will be obtained. Council Member Kenneth Bell moved to adopt Resolution 01-04-2023, seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. Council Member Madison Simmons—Yea Council Member Mike Kneeland—Yea Council Member Tonia Fry—Yea Council Member Tyler Wood—Yea Council Member Kenneth Bell—Yea Council Member Matt Dodson—Nay Resolution 01-04-2023 passed with a vote of five yeas and one nay. Ordinance 01-2023 Amend Competitive Bids Raising Threshold to $35,000 Mayor Hurst stated that the current threshold for competitive bidding is anything in excess $20,000.00 for City Council approved. He mentioned that the state guidelines have been raised to$35,000.00. Motion to adopt Ordinance 01-2023 made by Council Member Kenneth Bell. Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed. Ordinance 01-2023 Amending Competitive Bids Raising Threshold to$35,000.00 adopted. x ! l?T y - y OrdinanceD2-2023,Purchase Police Publicta-etk--bmmun'rcatrons System Police Chief Jamie Hammond made a presentation i;tLt;-City Council-toting that the current communication system is analogue, and the proposed'.e�cam�n cations system would be digital. It would better interact with the Fire Department a's Wdll'as county departments. ARPA funds will be used to purchase this system. Motion to.adopt Ordinance 02-2023 was made by Council Member Kenneth Bell. Seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed. Ordinance 02-2023 Purchase Police Public Safety Communication System adopted. Ordinance 03-2023 Amend Zoning Code for Nonconforming Planning Department Head Wally Bailey presented this ordinance to the council in which he stated that prior to 1963 lots were platted at 50' however going forward the set backs will allow for 30'. This has been approved by the fire marshal. All other lots in the future will be smaller. Motion to adopt Ordinance 03-2023 was made by Council Member Matt Dodson. Seconded by Council Member Kenneth Bell. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed. Ordinance 03-2023 Amend Zoning Code for Nonconforming adopted. Ordinance 04-2023 Abandon Utility Easement Simmons Planning Department Head Wally Bailey presented this ordinance to the council in which he stated no one from the public or Simmons Foods objected to abandoning the utility easement. The service line from Arkansas Oklahoma Gas to building will not be affected. Motion to adopt Ordinance 04-2023 was made by Council Member Matt Dodson. Seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed. Ordinance.04-2023 Abandon Utility Easement Simmons adopted. Ordinance 05-2023 Authorize contract with American Ramp Company Evan Moss with American Ramp Comp made a power point presentation to the City Council in which he was able to show visually the previous public meetings that were held and how the demographics were obtained to determine each item that will be used in the proposed skate park to be built in City Park where the swimming pool was located in the past. It was stated that the city will be financially responsible for the demolition of the current site. The cost is $1,200,000.00. Motion to adopt Ordinance 05-2023 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed. Ordinance 05-2023 Authorize contract with American Ramp Company adopted. PROPOSED Ordinance 06-2023 PZD Rezone Underwood LLC Planning Department Head Wally Bailey stated that this is a proposed ordinance in the City Council packet but he asked that all council members vote against it. The Planning Commission met in December 2022 but did not have a complete set of details for their vote. He is asking that this be presented again in February. Motion to NOT adopt Ordinance 06-2023 was made by Council Member Kenneth Bell. Seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All NOT in favor. None Opposed. Ordinance 06-2023 PZD Rezone Underwood LLC was not approved and the ordinance number will be moved to the next ordinance. Ordinance 06-2023 Approve Purchase of New Vehicle Building Department Proposed vehicle purchase in the amount of$35,000.00 for a vehicle for the Building Department. All documents were presented. Motion to adopt Ordinance 06-2023 was made by Council Member Kenneth Bell. Seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed. Ordinance 06-2023 Approve Purchase of New Vehicle Building Department adopted. Miscellaneous and General Discussion Mayor Hurst stated that Department Heads John Karstens and Paul Dunn have done a great job of Mayor Gene Bell Park and that the Lions Club donated $20,000.00 toward the project. ADJOURNMENT Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn,seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. The motion passed 6-0. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council was adjourned at 6:39PM. ATTESTED: APPROVED: og'� Shawnna M. Reynolds 4ayor P. Hurst City Clerk-Treasurer O\etk Tress City of Van Buren County,P�� ��rf,,;�--�_ sue�ZZ