City Council - Regular Meeting

[music] [music] Thank you. [music] [music]

[music] [music]

Yeah, I talked about this when I first got

[music] Nobody. Nobody pays attention when I put that up in probably

I just love the color.

That's it. That's yours. This

Oh, this mine. That's yours. I just got to see Tesla. Testing, testing, testing, testing, testing. You got me. There we go. Okay. [music]

All right. Good evening, everybody. Uh we're going to go ahead and start our committee [music] meeting. Uh we have ways and means going to call that to order. Today is Monday, May the 4th, 2026. Uh it's approximately there 526

5:26 p.m. Um tonight we have um one budget adjustment on the agenda. This is a res resolution amending the 2026 municipal budget as regards uh to the parks and recreation department. Um, [music] flip over here. Um, the budget adjustment is for 355,54457. Um, this is coming from miscellaneous revenue and it is going to uh three different line items within the parks and recreation department, repair and maintenance building, purchase machine and equipment, and equipment and supplies. We

have any discussion about this budget adjustment? No, sir. Mr. Chair, I move this to the full council. Second. We have a motion in a second to send this budget adjustment to the full council with the due pass. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, let it be known by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Eyes have it. Motion is approved. Now, there is one other thing. Uh it's on the agenda. It's a resolution authorizing the city clerk to process the billing statement for city mastercard account and for related purposes. Um it's not necessarily a budget adjustment. Um but I guess it's concerning a credit card that we need to get paid as soon as possible. So um are you all have y'all familiar with that one? I believe when the when the statement was issued, there was uh one item that was not that didn't have the documentation um on it, but the rest of this bill we still need to go ahead and take care of it. Did we get the authoriz did we get the documentation?

Not yet. It's it's in the process of Okay. Okay. All right. And so with that, um, you know, not just, like I said, it's not necessarily a budget adjustment, but it is a finance matter. And so we need to go ahead and rectify this so we can get this bill covered. Question. Sure. So with this bill, I see Sam's Club on there. I see uh Walmart.com. I see Home Depot. I saw all those. I mean, uh, the stipulation is that we're not going to pay this until all those we we see what is being brought with that.

Well, I think I think they had the documentations for the it was just the one the one charge that was $40.19 that

council member, if I could just offer some clarity. So without full documentation either by receipt or invoice for every expense um being attached to the bill, we cannot pay it. And this one there were two um expenditures and we could not find the invoice. The and the invoice was sent to a director who is on um FMLA and it also happened at the time where we were having all of this transition for our email going from our previous system to 360 Microsoft. So trying to find it has been a challenge and what we're doing is changing it so that these particular invoices for these small monthly bills will go directly to the finance director

so that this won't happen again. Yeah. Cuz I I know u when I was in transit and and if when I was in the mayor's office, if we needed to use the card, we would call the finance department and have them make the purchase. And once she got the bill, we were given that copy so we could pay the bill. So that's how come I was a little confused that it was coming before city council. It's only becoming coming coming before you because we need to get approval to pay the bill without that one piece of documentation. Okay. So which so it's the IT part that we It's an IT. Yes. Okay. Okay. So all the other ones have All the other ones have doc proper documentation.

Okay. and we and it and again this is an invoice so the documentation is consistent we just can't put our hands on it and since the per since that director is on FMLA and we have changed email systems we're just changing how that particular invoice comes to the city so that it won't get lost in the shuffle again. Okay. Okay. Okay. All right. Any other discussion? All right. Hearing none, I will entertain a motion for this resolution. So move second. All right, we have a motion and a second. We send this to the full council with the due pass. Council member Hog full council with due pass.

Yeah. So move that we send this uh resolution to the full council with due pass. All right, we get a second. Council member Ms. I already have a motion and a second. All those in favor, let it be known by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Eyes have it. Motion is approved. So, we have those two agenda items and agenda item number five and number six will be sent to the full council with a due pass for tonight's agenda. Um, does is there any other business for ways and means? Um, other than um and this is um finance director passed this out just a minute ago. We're not going to be voting on it tonight, but the draft for the 2025 carryover to the 2026 um budget, the carryover for that, everybody should have a a sheet here for that. And so um take a look at that. It won't be voted on tonight. It's just something that we wanted you to be able to see. And council member, can I make a quick comment?

Sure, go right ahead. what we wanted to do. Obviously, um I know that you all um a few of you have been in contact with me and with uh Director Divers and in the midst of um some prolonged issues with New World coupled with illness, there just was an extreme um delay that was beyond our control since we have one person at this time who can configure um input and uh reconcile the final um numbers from 2025. And if you'll remember, we had to come back to get that approved. And um and then once that was done, then um Director DeS had to go through and make sure everything was closed out and then plot the numbers for the things that we have passed. um with carryover funds being the source of revenue as well as other um unfinished business and ongoing business. So I I do want to give her kudos um for getting that done under those um challenges. All with that said, we wanted to pass this out tonight and give you time to look at it, study it, ask questions, and my intent is to uh ask um um Council Member Brown to call a um Ways and Means Committee meeting um next week in conjunction with a full council meeting, a special call meeting to give you an opportunity to review, ask questions, and go through the process next Monday, but you'll hear from myself and madame clerk. I just

wanted to make that known tonight. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Um, do we have any um other business for Ways and Means? No, sir, Mr. Chair. All right. Hearing none, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. So move. Second.

All right. Ways and means is adjourned. Uh ordinance and resolutions number one will be completed on tonight. A note on agenda item number one. Council member Denton has asked to be removed as a sponsor on agenda item number one. Agenda item number two is up for the second reading. Agenda agenda item three, four, five, and six are all resolution. They will be completed on tonight. All of you should have before before you resolutions to be added on if voted by the council. The first one is a resolution authorizing the mayor and chief of police to execute a memorandum of understanding between the city of Pine Police Department and the ambassador of Christ youth ministry. I move that we add this resolution to the agenda.

Oh, wait. You have to hold. Oh, I'm sorry. This I'm sorry. I'm thinking we're in the meeting too. [laughter] If if added to the agenda, this would be agenda item uh number number seven. And then the next one will be a resolution expressing the support of the city pound of Arkansas for the National Guard and Reserve Force of the United States. If added to the agenda, that would be agenda item number eight. Oh, we all on one.

Yeah, I'm going. The next one, a resolution proclaiming the city of town of Arkansas as an as America entrepreneur community and pledging to celebrate the city's entrepreneurs entrepreneurs during the year 2026 would be agenda item number nine. The next one will be a resolution appointing Matt Sodto to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. Agenda item number 10 if added to the agenda. The next one would be a resolution appointing Joel Thomas Anderson to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. That would be agenda item number 11. The next one will be a resolution appointing Latasha Magny Randall to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. That would be agenda item number 12 if added to the agenda. The next one will be a resolution appointing Eric M. Lungsford to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. That would be agenda item number 13 if added to the agenda. And that that concludes

Oh, we have two more. Two more. We have Yeah, we have two more. Okay. I don't have uh the next one. Well, I'll just go ahead and go through it. is a resolution expressing the appreciation of city government to the clerk's office for outstanding work in proclaiming May 3rd through the 7th 2026 professional city clerk's week in the city of Palmluff Arkansas. That's 14 14. Okay.

Uh-huh. And the last one is a resolution to authorize the mayor to execute a retainer agreement with Grant and Eisenhoffer PA and to authorize the city attorney to prosecute affirmative litigation on behalf of the city of Pondluff, Arkansas as a named plaintiff in federal class action proceedings seeking recovery or of cost arising from the purchase of PFAS contaminated firefighter turnout gear and for other purposes. That' be 15. All right. And I do have them all. Thank you, Cler. Clerk Robins. Everybody in one accord.

15 is this one that put the fire department and the

All right. So, this is seven. That's this one. Seven. Yeah, that's seven. All right. And then the National Guard is $8 all

So we guess we'll run back through it real quick. Yes, sir.

All right. Number seven. Seven is a resolution authorizing the mayor and chief a police execute a memorandum of understanding between the city of Paliff police department and the ambassador of Christ youth ministry. Number eight is a resolution expressing the support of the city of Poundouth Arkansas for the national guard and reserve forces of the United States. Number nine is a resolution proclaiming the city of Pound of Arkansas as a as an America the entrepreneur community and pledging to celebrate the city entrepreneurs during the year 2026. Number 10, a resolution appointing Matt Sodto to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. Number 11, a a resolution appointing Joel Thomas Anderson to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. Number 12, a resolution appointing Natasha Magny Randall to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. Number 13, a resolution appointing Eric M. Lungs to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. Number 14, a resolution expressing the appreciation of city government to the city clerk to the clerk's office for outstanding work and proclaiming May 3rd through 7, 2026 professional city clerk week in the city of Pound of Arkansas. And number 15, a resolution to authorize the mayor to execute a retaining agreement with the grant and item offer PA and to authorize the city attorney to prosecute affirmative litigation on behalf of the city of Pine of Arkansas as named plaintiff and federal class action proceeding seeking recovery and of cost arising from the purchase of PF FAS contaminated firefighter turn out gear and for other purposes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. Council member Oh, I'm just trying to get council member Mays situated. Um, I have I don't have anything else. I move we adjourn. Six. So, move. This is 13.

Okay. That's number seven.

Thank you, council members, John and Hulcom. And with the adjournment of our ways and means and administration committee meetings, we are now ready to hear public comments. Thank everyone for coming to our May 4th meeting, city council meeting. Um we will hear from um residents making public comments regarding agenda items. And we will start with Mr. Lloyd Franklin who is first on the list. Mr. Franklin, how y'all doing?

Good evening. Uh, my name is Floyd Franklin the second and I'm speaking against I think it's agenda item one, the landlord ordinance. I just want to start off by saying I support livable housing. Every tenant deserves a clean and decent place to live. But a policymaking body, you have to look at both sides, the tenant and the landlord. And right now, this ordinance is not balanced. Landlords should not have to come down here to deal with ordinances. We have businesses to run, properties to maintain, and responsibilities to manage. But this ordinance, as it's currently written, has serious issues and clearly has legs. So, here we are. We've heard that this particular ordinance is state law. Fel stated that it has a little bit of a disingenuous feel to it because that's not accurate. The state law is combined with additional requirements layered on top of it. And those additions matter because they create new obligations, new exposure for property owners that do not uh exist currently under state law. State law is clear. Tenants must notify landlords of issues and allow time to fix them. This ordinance appears to bypass that safeguard and go straight to city involvement. And basically, it's just another way for tenants to game the system. Landlords here, we've all dealt with tenants. We know they know how to game the system. They know how to respond to court uh filings. It takes about a month to three months to even evict someone out of a house properly. The law is clear. Notify the landlord of the deficiencies. Give them 30 days to fix it. If it's not fixed, you can move. The lease is terminated. You can get your refundable deposit back and you can just move. I've been to court in eviction several times. And the number one thing that the district court judge asks his lieutenant, if it's so bad, why don't you just move? They're not tied down. They have the option to move. It's not necessary to enforce all of these

extra restrictions on landlords. It's a serious concern because it only removes it removes the only protection that landlords have and the opportunity to be notified and fix the problem before penalties are triggered. This ordinance impacts roughly 40% of the housing market. Yet landlords were not meaningly consultated. There was no real outreach, no collaboration, no effort to get input from the very people this affects directly. The organizer of the ordinance is not a homeowner or a landlord. And as a result, the proposal does not reflect with realities landlords face. The new proposal will force a lot of landlords to sell. If we sell, we're going to sell to out of town landlords. And we've all seen how that worked out with the St. John incident. whole complex shutting down, out of town management companies running it. They're not doing what they're supposed to do. That's what we're going to end up with. This ordinance, um, basically, it's not balanced. We all want fair housing, equal housing, safe housing for the residents of Pine Bluff. I'm urging all the council members to either table this, send it back to a committee for further work on it or at the worst case just simply kill it. Again, I support safe housing, but this ordinance is written as one-sided, incomplete, and potentially in conflict with the existing state law. Thank you.

Um, did any any questions? Okay, I don't think that nobody had any no one had any questions. Thank you, Mr. Franklin. Next up to speak, um, Miss Angela White Smith. She is also speaking on um item number agenda item number one. [clears throat and cough] Good evening, mayor and council members. Um, I also own rental properties here and I support and I actually support the ordinance. I actually think in reality it doesn't actually go far enough in layman's terms because we have such um low to no habitability requirements in Pineluff. People are can essentially be slim lords. And I've been shocked being a realtor um being the executive director of Habit Habitat for Humanity, how many people um purport about the properties that they own and then when I see them I'm like, "Oh my god, so you're a slum lord." Okay, great. Got it. Um this is an opportunity for us to make headway in a way that is unique. We can become the city that actually has the strongest um housing for our residents. And I I believe that our residents and everyone deserves that. Again, I don't think it goes far enough. Um, I actually have lived in other places and owned property in other places where you had to pay a $100 annual fee to register your rental properties. That's how the city would then recover money for um sending their inspectors out to make sure the properties are livable because the conditions do change over time. I also do think that again I do believe in balance and I would like to see us require our tenants some type of financial literacy education so that they could um register, take a class, pay $35, then they're on a list that our landlords who are paying that fee could

access at least these people have gone through some training, they know how to maintain certain things. I think that's a benefit. Third, I would like to see where landlords actually report rent payments to the credit bureaus. That's very easy to do. You can do it for5 or $10 a month per unit and it actually incentivizes people to pay. And a mortgage or a rent payment is the largest portion of your credit score. So now someone is a great renter and they're paying on time. Now, they're actually you're helping them build their credit so that they can um have a better life because we all know if you have a good credit score, your loan rates on everything, your car note and everything is lower. Um fourth, I've always thought this and I don't know why we're not requiring it. I do believe not only just landlords, but all property owners should be required to carry property insurance. This is the easiest way to remove blight here and to reduce it because basically most of these houses are not insurable. And what's going to happen is they're going to be told that. And so that it takes the city out to some degree because either you insure your property or not. When we re-up um our car insurance, I'm sorry, our vehicle registration, you have to show proof of insurance. Why aren't we requiring people to show proof that these properties, residential and commercial, have insurance? You won't see all these leaking roofs and all these things that we see because again, they're not going to be able to pass. So, um, being a landlord is a choice. You do not have to do this. I think I did a rough estimate. I think I'm down like 5K in the last 45 days over different issues related to rental properties. That is not a good 45 days, but I still absolutely support this.

Thank you. Any questions? Any questions for um, Miss Smith? Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Next on the list is Mr. Regginal Johnson who is also speaking on item number one.

How y'all doing? Good. Good evening.

I'm Reginald Johnson, a concerned citizen here in Pine Bluff. I also serve as justice of the peace for district three. Uh I'm here today in opposition of what is it? Agenda item one. Uh the issue I have with this ordinance is how it's developed and what's included in that process. Alderman Fails, I want to speak with you for a moment. This ordinance directly impacts landlords and property owners. Yet there are no meaningful effort to bring the landlords to the table. I I didn't hear of any and I know quite a few landlords in this area. Landlords are a critical part of the housing system in this city and we are a significant part of your tax base. Any policy that affects us should include us. What I'm asking for is simple. Create a committee that includes all stakeholders. That means landlords, tenants, code enforcement, police, and fire. Everyone who plays a role in housing should have a voice in shaping this policy. As it stands today, this policy has serious issues and they need to be addressed. It does not address tenant accountability and that is a major gap. Alman fails. There is nothing in this ordinance that protects the landlords. That's a problem.

Mr. Johnson, I'm gonna ask that you address the full council, not single. Well, I saw his he was the one on the news, that's why. But I I don't have any problem. Right. Okay. Yes, ma'am. All right. Thank you.

Okay. I have concerns about how the ordinance will be enforced. It allows for fines up to $1,000. However, there is no clear framework explaining how those fines are determined, how severity is measured, or how consistency will be ensured across cases. Without standards, enforcement becomes subjective that creates the potential for unfair treatment and how someone's feeling on that particular day. We all agree blight needs to be addressed and housing conditions in this city must improve. If this ordinance move forward as it's correct, if it's currently written, it risk driving poss uh responsible, I'm sorry, landlords away, increasing vacant properties, and making this situation worse than better. And we all know we have too many vacant properties in this city. I would like you to pause or withdraw this ordinance. I would like to work together to build a new ordinance that would be fair and effective. I just do not want to get this wrong because as I said, I know plenty of property owners and many of them have million-dollar portfolios and if they sell to people out of California, it will not be good for any of us. We have seen that. We know that. Matter of fact, those companies call me all the time trying to buy my properties. Hey, you want to sell? And the answer is no. I'm from here. I live here. I'm invested here. And so with this, uh I'll end this uh but I'll say this. I passed out paperwork to all of you all with uh pictures from housing. I would like you to know that was from the last 30 days. That's three different houses that have had issues in the last 30 days and I've had to correct that and spend plenty of money. I showed you the before pictures and I showed you the after pictures and that's why I say landlords need protection here.

Any questions for Mr. Johnson. Okay. Thank you so much, Mr. Johnson. Sure.

And next we have Mr. Ivan Whitfield, who is also here to speak on item number one. [clears throat] Thank you. I didn't know. I need to go back and get my notes so I can be here my whole time. To honorable Mayor Flowers and to the distinguished council, I'm Ivan Whitfield. I want to set the record straight. I'm not here on behalf of the NAACP. So, won't nobody say that I was speaking on their behalf. I'm here as a uh property owner. Um it should not take the whole two or three minutes that you all would allow me to speak. I just want to set the record straight. Um, bad legislation is worse than no legislation because you all are getting ready to vote on an ordinance. It becomes a law. A bad law is worse than a no law. And I said this to Mr. Fails already. He's my council member. I just feel like um I understand the idea. It's workable, but I agree with uh the two gentlemen that came up before me that um it should have been everybody come to the table. You got to hear both sides of this. If you never own property, um it's hard to understand that really when people move in, we take pictures and we video it and everything else when they move out. There's nobody to say that we can't come down here and say we want them to pay for the cleanup, the stuff they leave behind. So, I'm just saying and I can agree with some of the things the lady said, but even if if you take anything that she said, uh 99% of all of my properties that are insured because that's my investment. Uh that's goes without saying. But at the same time, if you wanted to put that in

there, if you pass that law tonight, you can't put it in there. So no matter what you do, I'm just saying you're getting ready to look at a bad piece of legislation that's that's terrible that need to be massaged and clean up. And I'm asking this council to use wisdom and their knowledge and and u um voted down, delay it, whatever you have to do so you can hear from uh the land the homeowners as well. I'm Ivan Whitfield and I approve that message. Any Thank you. Just a second. Um, anyone have any questions for Mr. Whitfield? Okay, no questions. Thank you so much.

And then finally on the public comments for agenda items is uh Mr. Julius Lever who is here to speak on item number four.

Good evening, city council and residents. I'm speaking on the issue number four and it was about six things on there first automatic but four talks about the city wanting to make an agreement with UABB to rent the building a part of the building downtown on Main Street and the parking lot and basically I will just say I have been very concerned about all of the property in that area because as I studied before UAPB own 80% of the property Bruce Lock once said, "I did not know we were going to give all this money to go forward on a building they didn't own." But it was something strange happened. I was watching a video and I saw Mr. Ran Watland make a statement and I don't like to mention names, but his statement was very profound. It wasn't very many African-Americans in the room when he made it, but his video he said, "I did something that I was so happy that I did. I ain't never been that happy before, but one time, and I'm not going to tell y'all when that was, he said, "When I got UAPB to give us that building for $10." Well, that confused me cuz I heard Bruce Lockett say, "Well, we spent all this money, but it doesn't belong to a renewal or go forward." So, I checked and UAPB owned all of it. And as of today, it's listed at the courthouse as of today, 2026, that UAPB still owns all of it. The city owns the park still, according to the records. And I will say this, Urban Renewal had a building in the bank. It was worth $60,000, $69,000, 59 to 60,000. They came once before, ran wildly said this, it's about 40% complete. He said, "We need y'all to approve enough money for us to finish the bank building, drive-in bank. Now, we need a million dollars." And then not too long

from then, I saw you all stand and take pictures with Lynette Frasier said, "Who wouldn't want to take a million dollars?" Go forward was given a million dollars. But it sounds like to me when I check Walmart gave Go forward a million dollars. The federal government gave wall gave uh go forward a million dollars and I don't understand what it is. Does this building that we're renting does it belong to UAPB or not? Because Ryan said I was so happy when I got UAPB to give us that building for $10. Which building? It wasn't at that time the UAP incubator. It was the building in the back with all the money spent on it. So, I'm just asking and I said I was not in support of it, but I'm not supportive of it until somebody helped me to understand what property does UAPB own, what property does go forward own because it could be when they asked for a million dollars to finish the drive-in bank, maybe they were selling it to you. Maybe they said we just sell it to them. Something go wrong, we got they paid paid us a million dollar for that building. We didn't put about 100 $200,000 in it. So, I'm just a little bit confused. And um your 3 minutes is up, but I'll go ahead and answer the question because I'm sponsoring this.

I'm always supportive of anything you'll do. No, no, no. And I I appreciate the Yes, sir. May I listen? Question for clarification. May I listen, please? Sorry. May I listen before I sit? Yes. Yes. Um so the building that in question on item number four is the incubator. It's the business incubator. uh twostory building um that faces Main Street and no other building. So all of what you were just referring to with grants and federal money and uh that is not what this is.

This this this building is owned by UAPB. They had federal dollars in the past to run programming. Um, and eventually that funding went away and the the building currently houses I think right now about four or five tenants, but there are um there's space available for lease and what we are wanting to do. Um I'll I'll explain further when we bring the issue up. But just to answer your question, UAPB owns the building owns the building. Let me say this to you. And this is a measure to lease space.

I do want to say but say this to you. Sometime us residents, especially us that went to University of Arkansas, we bought in on the city and we bought in on UAPB. I have to share something with you. One of the gentlemen, the gentleman that was in charge of the whole complex said this to me. He said the federal government offered to give the chancellor $400,000 so to kick off that building downtown again. He said the chancellor is not businessminded because he refused to accept the money. Well, let me let me interrupt you. That is that's not this either. Yes. And since you exceeded your your three minutes, I'm going to ask that we continue the meeting. However, if at the end of the meeting you have any further question, um I'd be happy to answer. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much, Mr. Weaver. Okay, we are now going to call the meeting to order and um we will begin with um invocation and we will ask um in the Oh, is Mr. Locket here? Did he lock it? Okay. Yes. Not you. [laughter]

Pastor, I'm sorry. Miss Pastor Lockett. Pastor Director Lockett. Um it was the allegian I had to stop myself because madame clerk informed me that the um presentation of colors would not happen today but the invocation will definitely still be delivered by Apostle Patrick Lockett of New Community Church. So if you will come to the front and we can all stand and then I will ask for um council member Lockett. We gonna make it a locket morning, I mean evening to uh lead us in the pledge of allegiance.

May we bow. Gracious God, our father, we thank you so much. We thank you for life, health, and the strength that you give unto us. We ask that you would be here tonight as we discuss the matters for the people that you have allowed us to lead. We want to lead the way you want it to. We want our city to be better. We want the richness and the fullness of the joy of it to rain once again. So we ask that you just be with us for every decision. Some may not be favorable, but Lord, you know we thank you in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. All right, everybody ready?

Yeah. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And now, Madame Clerk, will you please call the role? Council member Mains here. Council member Hulcom here. Council member Brown here. Council member Lett here. Council member Frasier here. Council member Bruntton here. Council member Denton here. Council member Fails here.

Thank you. And next, I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes from April 20th, 2026. So moved and second. It's been moved and seconded that the minutes from April 20th, 2026 be approved. Any discussion? With no discussion, all of those who wish to vote for the approval of minutes indicate by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. And next we will enter into um the committee reporting section. And uh we will start with Ways and Means. Council member Brown, if you will please deliver your report on Ways and Means Committee.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Ways and Means met just before this council meeting. Um tonight we had two um items up for discussion. It was agenda items number five and six. Both of those um agenda items were sent to the full council with a due pass. And also I want to remind all council members that um you have a draft carryover budget sheet that should be um in your section in your area. So take a look at that and sometime next week we will have a meeting um to discuss and approve that carryover budget. And that concludes my report. Mayor, thank you so much. And next we will hear um from council member Hok on ordinances and resolutions.

Thank you mayor. We have two ordinance. Uh number one is up for the first reading. I'm excuse me. Number one will be completed on tonight. Number two is up for the second reading. Number three items number three through six are all resolutions. They will be completed on tonight. A resolution authorizing the mayor and chief of police to ex execute a memorandum of understanding between the city of Palmouth police department and the ambassador of Christ youth ministry. I move that this resolution be added to the agenda.

Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number seven be added to the agenda. Any discussion? With no discussion on I have discussion. Yes. Yes. Sure. Now, m we still at the point where we add more things to the agenda tonight of the agenda of the council meeting that's on the agenda. Yes.

And what I'm saying is I'm greatly opposed to that because we as council members don't get chance to read what we are actually voting on this. I've talked to you many times about it, but this is just totally disrespectful because it just assumes that we know without reading it that what we have before us is it's something that um that we can support. It it doesn't give us a chance to to to read it, ask question, make notations to to that kind of thing. And it's it's really disheartening because if you add more or as many things on an agenda as you have on the agenda is no use of having an agenda. Just add everything the night of.

Council member, that is absolutely not true. And I'm I in no way mean to ever be disrespectful. Um I first of all I'll make note of the fact that any of any item that is placed on the agenda whether it is presented new uh and already listed on the agenda or it is presented on the floor is read in full by the city attorney. Secondly, um there is opportunity for discussion. And thirdly, we operate always within the code and within the rules. This is a process to put things on the agenda when timeliness is a factor beyond our control. When this came to us, as soon as we had a discussion between myself and the uh chief, we sent it to the attorney uh city attorney's office and had it put on the uh or asked that it be drafted there. That there there is also a process. And the bottom line is, you know, no one sat on this or any of these other measures and waited to disrespect anyone. I I think that it's a little disingenuous to make it like um this is an effort to bypass anything. This is in an open meeting. Again, we're operating within the rules and within the city code. When things when people

bring things to us, um we have to there's a process, we have to vet it and if there is a way to get it on the agenda because it's timesensitive, then that's what we try to do. This is in conjunction with a grant that is being um uh written and presented. Th this represents jobs and it represents services in an area for our youth as it relates to re-entry and recidivism. And this is a grant that has been successful in uh its operation in the city of Pineluff. And the organization that um has run and presented this grant has put something before this committee before that we have voted on and supported. They are excellent partners just like other nonprofit organizations are excellent pro uh partners. And um there was uh a previous uh supporter that is necessary for the success of this grant that was no longer available. We were contacted and we want this grant. We need these services. So, you know, not putting on a on the agenda means that we will not qualify, which means we will not get the grant money. But there was absolutely no time delay on our part nor nor the organization. They were led to believe that they would get the letter and the letter of support and the M OA that they needed. They didn't in the time that they had. and I received a phone call um I believe it

was on Friday and we did everything to try to get it out before the end of the day and couldn't and we got it out today. So, you know, I understand your frustration, but we are always operating within the rules and the code. If it was not allowed for us to present this on the floor, we wouldn't be able to. So, this is a vote and you can either vote to support a program, a successful program with a successful um longstanding partner of this city so that we can receive these services for re-entry and recidivism, you know, or not on the basis that you could have received it two days prior than when we received it. And I'm I just want to make that clear. There is no disrespect for any of these. There is a reason why they are being presented and and requested um to be placed on the agenda. And I just would ask out of respect for our residents who would be affected, out of respect for the organizations who operate as good faith longstanding partners that you um take that into consideration and vote for it to be on the agenda and there can be a discussion.

Madame Mayor, I have one request now. Sure. only if you stop this. What I'm saying is I just have a problem with all of these measures. What I'm saying appointments can be done anytime. There's no urgency to appoint,

but that's not true. I I got the call from the director and she does need this done as soon as possible. When I came into office, there were numerous um um boards and commissioners commissions where there were need these appointments were needed. If a director is requesting that and needs a a a full board and I ha I have been um um requested on the part of this director directly since our last meeting and got this information. thought we were going to have a uh special call meeting for the carryover and I was going to put it on the agenda with that. When that didn't happen, I put I gave the information and it was after Wednesday that I asked that this be put on the agenda and got the got the uh resumeumés to make sure that you all had the information. I mean, I I really don't understand the accusation of disrespect. I don't understand why it is such a controversy around non-controversial issues. It's not like I'm bringing, you know, an ordinance for a huge policy shift or a huge budget amendment and, you know, pushed it behind something so people couldn't see. That's not what this is. And I can't make a promise that in the interest of um time for the benefit of our city or for the benefit of our citizens or our partners or our boards and commissions that if they ask me to bring something before you because of a grant or because of an

emergency meeting that has to happen or whatever the case that I won't do my due diligence and bring it before you. it. I'm I'm doing my job and then it's your job to vote on the merits, not on you, you know, trying to push me into some kind of false submission as if I'm doing something wrong. I don't even understand why we're having this back and forth. It's before you and you can vote not to pun you're not. It's not punishing me. This doesn't hurt me. If the if you all don't get an opportunity to vote on this, the grant doesn't happen. We lose the grant money. People lose their jobs. The city lose the program. That's it. And you can be the one to keep it from getting on the agenda and keep the rest of your colleagues from voting on something that is important that it matters to the city.

Only thing I'm saying, Madame Mayor, is that as legislators, we need time to read things. And that's the only thing I'm saying is that you should respect us enough. I do respect you. I just explained that this is not a matter of disrespect.

What I'm saying is if we get it a day before, a couple of hours before, but what I'm saying is to get something at your seat in a council meeting and have no time to read it. that the first time you see something that you are making a decision on, whether it's a person for an appointment or whether it's for a grant, that the first time you get to see it is at your desk during the council meeting. Now, the reason that things are allowed to be put on the agenda the night of the council meeting is for emergencies. But if it's not an emergency, then then it should wait till the next council meeting or it should be done in a special meeting when the council have had a chance to at least just read and see to what it is that we're voting on.

May I speak? Council member Mays,

you know, Malaka is my colleague in war four and I agree with you 100%. A lot of these things we get up here. I'm trying to speed read this stuff, you know. I I I can't speed read, you know. And then y'all want me to vote on it, you know. I've been I've been kind of quiet and nice, but this is unnecessary what we do up here sometime. You know, I represent the people in Ward 4. And then I get calls from all over the city of Pine Bluff, you know, and I'm I'm not going to lie to y'all. When you call me, I'm going to tell you the truth, you know, but if we can some of this thing some of this stuff can wait, if we ask a city attorney, you know, it's it's not that much business that's urgent in the city of Pine Bluff. Council member Mays, I just explained that I [snorts] did my due diligence on Friday and sent it to the city attorney's office. And this is an emergency because it's related to a grant. Again, jobs and programming are on the line related to a re-entry program and the program partner did not get what they needed from another entity. So, our police department agreed to do to engage with this organization to ensure that we get the grant, that we keep the jobs, that we keep the programming, which has been successful. Again, this is not about me holding anything till the last minute. [clears throat] Joe, excuse me. Can I see?

Council member M. Sure. Explain what she talking about. You the city attorney. What? Explain that. What is what I just said requiring a legal interpretation? There's no legal interpretation, council member. All right. Proceed. Thank you so much. Any further discussion? With no further discussion, all of those who wish to vote for the adoption of item number seven to the agenda indicate by saying I. I'm sorry.

Madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Mazize. Hi. Council member Hok. Hi. Council member Brown. Hi. Council member Lockett. Hi. Council member Frasier. Hi. Council member Bruntton. Hi. Council member Denton. I council member fails. Hi.

Agenda item number eight, a resolution expressing the support of the city of Pimliff, Arkansas for the National Guard and Reserve Forces of the United States. I move that this resolution be added to the agenda. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number eight be added to the agenda. Any discussion? With no discussion, madame clerk, please call the vote. Call the role. Council member Baz. Hi. Council member Hulcom. I. Council member Brown. Hi. Council member Lanett. Hi. Council member Frasier. Hi. Council member Bruntton. Hi. Council member Denton. Hi.

Council member Fails. Hi. Agenda item number nine. a resolution proclaiming the city of Pimluff, Arkansas as an as an America of the entrepreneurial community and pledging to celebrate the city entrepreneurs during the year 2026. I move that this resolution be added to the agenda. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number nine be added to the agenda. Madame clerk, please call the role. Oh, I'm sorry. Any discussion? With no discussion, madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Mazize. Hi. Council member Hulcom. Hi. Council member Brown. Hi. Council member Lett. Hi. Council member Frasier.

Hi. Council member Bruntton. Hi. Council member Denton. Hi. Council member Fails. Hi. Agenda. Item number 10. A resolution appointing Matt Sodto to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. I move that this resolution be added to the agenda. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number 10 be added to the agenda. Any discussion? With no discussion, madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Mace. Hi. Council member Hulcom. I. Council member Brown. Hi. Council member Lockett. I. Council member Frasier. I. Council member Brunton. Hi. Council member Denton. Hi. Council member Fails.

Hi. Agenda item number 11. A resolution appointing Joel Thomas Anderson to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. I move that this resolution be added to the agenda. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number 11 be added to the agenda. Any discussion? With no discussion, madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Maize. Hi. Council member Hulcom. I. Council member Brown. Hi. Council member Lancet. Hi. Council member Frasier. I. Council member Brenton. I. Council member Denton. Hi. Council member Fails. I.

Agenda item number 12, a resolution appointing Latasha McNeely Randall to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. I move that this resolution be added to the agenda. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number 12 be added to the agenda. Any discussion? With no discussion, madam clerk, please call the role. Council member Maize, hi. Council member Hulcom, I. Council member Brown, I. Council member Lockett, I. Council member Frasier, I. Council member Brenton, I. Council member Denton, I. Council member Fails.

I. Agenda item number 13, a resolution appointing Eric M. Lungsford to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. I move that this resolution be added to the agenda. Um, it's been moved and seconded that item number 13 be added to the Was there a second? Yes. Oh, Frasier. Frasier. Okay. It's been moved and seconded that item number 13 be added to the agenda. Any discussion? With no discussion, Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Mays. Hi. Council member Hulcom. Hi. Council member Brown. Hi. Council member Lockett. Hi. Council member Frasier. I. Council member Brenton.

I. Council member Denton. Hi. Council member Fails. I. Agenda item 14. A resolution expressing the appreciation of city government to the clerk's office for outstanding work and proclaiming May 3rd through May 7, 2026 professional city clerk week in the city and found of Arkansas. I move this resolution be added to the agenda. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number 14 be added to the agenda. Any discussion? With no discussion, madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Maize. I. Council member Hokum. I. Council member Brown. I. Council member Lockett. I. Council member Fraser.

I. Council member Bruntton. Hi. Council member Denton. Hi. Council member F. Hi. Agenda. Item 15, a resolution to authorize the mayor to execute a retainer agreement with Grant and Isaac Eis and Harford, PA, and to author authorize the city attorney to prosecute affirmative litigation on behalf of the city of Pamouth, Arkansas, as a named pliff in federal class action proceedings seeking recovery of costs arising from the purchase of PFAS contaminated firefighter turnout gear and for other purposes. I move that this resolution be added to the agenda. Second.

It's been moved and seconded that item number 15 be added to the agenda. Any discussion? With no discussion, Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Mazize. Hi. Council member Hok. I. Council member Brown. I. Council member Lockett. Hi. Council member Frasier. I. Council member Brenton. Hi. Council member Denton. Hi. Council member Fails. I. That concludes the ordinance and resolution. Mayor, thank you so much, Council Member Hulcom. And next, uh, Council Member Frasier, will you please deliver your report on economic and community development? Thank you, Mayor. I have no report.

Okay. Thank you so much. Council member Denton, will you please deliver your report on public health and welfare? Madame Mayor, I do not have report. We have not met since the last council meeting. Thank you so much. Council member Lockett, will you please deliver your report on public works? Madame Mayor, the public works committee meets tomorrow at 1:00 in the old city council chambers. Uh, and that concludes my report. Thank you so much, Council Member Lockett. Uh, Council Member Fels, will you please deliver your report on development and planning? We have no update at this time, but we will be announcing our next meeting date and time soon.

Thank you so much, Council Member Fails. Council member Brunson, will you please deliver your report on traffic and aviation? Thank you, Mayor. Uh, traffic and aviation has not met and we do not have a report. Thank you. Thank you. Council member Hulcom, will you please deliver your report on administration committee? Thank you, Mayor. The administration committee is will have a meeting next week, May the 14th, and we have not set a time yet. I'll get with the city clerk's office to confirm that time. That concludes my report. Thank you so much. Uh and Council Member Brown, will you please deliver your report on the public safety committee?

Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Um public safety has not had a meeting since our last council meeting, but we will have our monthly meeting on Wednesday, May the 4th, 1:30 p.m. in the old council chambers. And that concludes my report. May 6th. May 6th. May 6th. May 6th. May 6th. Yes, ma'am. Uh Wednesday. Yes. May 6th. You said the fourth. I said the fourth. Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay. May 6th. We know what you talk. [clears throat and cough] We know what you meant.

Um, okay. Next, we will move on to proposed ordinances and resolutions. Council member Hulcom. Agenda item number one, an ordinance amending chapter 7 of the code of ordinance of the city of Pine, Arkansas to add a new article 12 establishing minimum standards for housing and to protect tenants from hazardous housing conditions and for related purposes. Up for the third and final reading. An ordinance amending chapter 7 of the code of ordinances of the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas to add a new article 12 establishing minimum standards for housing and to protect tenants from hazardous housing conditions and for related purposes. Move for adoption.

Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number one be adopted. Any discussion? Madame Mayor.

Council member Fels. Um, I did want to address some of the concerns that have that have been mentioned around this ordinance and I am grateful for all the landlords who came out today as well as all the citizens who have been calling with questions and comments. Uh, first of all, I just want to give a basic rundown of what this ordinance does. Um, there are some minimum housing conditions that the state has passed that landlords must abide by. So, for example, landlords must provide electricity, plumbing, HBA system, things of that nature. What this ordinance does is basically gives the city the ability to enforce what those state standards are. Now, I know that one of the concerns has been that this does not address the tenant responsibility. Um, it doesn't offer protections for landlords. I do think that that is a legitimate concern, but I also believe that it has been adequately addressed in the state law. So, for example, Arkansas Code 18-17-601 basically lays out all the responsibilities of a tenant living in the state of Arkansas. Um, I won't go through it all, but because there's been, you know, so many questions and concerns about it, I will go through the list. Um, a tenant shall comply with all obligations primarily imposed upon tenants by applicable provisions of building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety. Tenants shall keep the dwelling unit and that part of the premises that he or she uses reasonably safe and reasonably clean. Tenant shall dispose from his or her dwelling unit all ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste in a reasonably clean and safe manner. Keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit or used by the tenant reasonably clean. A tenant shall use in a reasonable manner all

electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators in the premises. Tenant shall not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair, or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any person to do so who is on the premises with the tenants's permission or who is allowed access to the premises by the tenant. And a tenant shall conduct himself or herself and require other persons on the premises with the tenants's permission or who allowed access to the premises by the tenant to conduct themselves in a manner that will not disturb other tenants peaceful enjoyment of the premises. And finally, a tenant shall comply with the lease and rules that are enforcable pursuant to this subchapter. So right there it lays out responsibilities that tenants must abide by and I think that those are significant protections for landlords. Now what happens if a landlord I mean if a tenant does not abide by those standards. Tenants can be penalized and that penalty can include eviction. Arkansas code 1817901. a landlord or his or her agent may commence eviction proceedings against a tenant in district court having jurisdiction over the eviction proceeding. And it lists out several things, several conditions. They include not paying your rent when it is due or when it is demanded. Um it includes u when the term of the teny or occupancy has ended or the terms or conditions of the rental agreement have been violated. So, state law lays out protections for landlords because it lays out responsibilities for tenants and if they violate those standards, there are penalties in place. Now, I've also heard that this ordinance, there's concern

that this ordinance might be used to protect tenants who are negligent or destructive. Well, if we look at Arkansas Act 1052 on which this ordinance is based, there's specific language in this ordinance that addresses that exact concern. And it says a a landlord shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this subsection if and it lists several subsections. And among those it says if damage was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or emission of the tenant, a member of the tenants's family or another occupant or visitor on the property. So that's basically saying that if the electrical system goes out because the tenant, their family member or a visitor destroyed that either through willful disruption or out of negligence, that will not count as a violation against the landlord. So, I think that a lot of the concerns that landlords have been addressing about tenor responsibilities, protections for landlords, it's already codified in Arkansas state law, which means that if this ordinance goes into effect, the city will be bound by those Arkansas statutes. Now, I've also heard that this ordinance is basically bypassing the landlords um and their right to address issues. So, first and foremost, usually any most landlords put provisions in their lease agreements that say if there is a major um mechanical issue, whatever the case may be, that needs to be reported to the landlord first and foremost. Um, however, in this ordinance, we have

specific language and it's on page six that says that landlords, property owners shall be given 30 days to address any violations that may occur. That means no landlord can be cited without being contacted by the city and given 30 days to come into compliance. during which time, if they cooperate and make a reasonable effort to come into compliance with whatever the violation may be, the city is under no obligation to find that property owner. [clears throat] And I have consulted with the city attorney to determine whether or not that language provides land owners with um basically enough coverage legal where we have to notify them. And that does satisfy that. The city attorney's office has said the city will not be able to take action under this ordinance without landlords being notified and given an opportunity to act. And so I am very sympathetic to the concerns that some landlords have been expressing here tonight. And I do I have heard those concerns. I know several of you my other colleagues have heard those concerns as well. And I do think that based on the language in the state law that I've read, based on language in our ordinances, I do think that those concerns have been addressed. There's protections for the landlords and there's accountab account accountability for the tenants. And finally, I would just say that like I said, if we want to move Pine Bluff forward and become a progressive city, not only here in southeast Arkansas, but throughout the state, there has to come a point where we have to start enforcing laws that we have on the books. We have to hold people accountable. And I

believe that this does just that. And I will that'll be my comments for now. Council member Mates.

Yeah. Uh, you know, I was thinking over the weekend, uh, about this ordinance and, uh, what we need for Pine Bluff. I'm all about moving Pine Bluff forward with nobody in the way because we we we spent too much time in the past. Everybody want to run Pine Bluff no matter what city they in. Everybody want to They lived here before but and they got renters here and they got family here but they want to be in charge of Pine Bluff. The city council is in charge of Pine Bluff. You got some good legislation and and and I'm I'm willing I I prayed about it all night this morning yesterday and and I think it's some good legislation. We got to start somewhere. Somebody has to be in charge of Pine Bluff. Somebody has to be in charge of Pine Bluff. We don't only we're we're not a bad city. We're a good city. We're not too far behind. We just got to get on one accord and and and to the to the landlords. We want to we're going to work with you. But you got to work with us and I'm willing to do what I can. Y'all know that. I'm think speaking for myself. And and and what I want you to do, I'm going support William. I think it's good legislation to get better. I want to get better. I'm 64 years old. I I just want to get better every day of my life. I've been that way since I was a little shorty. That's why I'm standing here today next to the mayor.

You know that's real talk. Any further discussion? Madam Mayor, I'm not finished. Don't Don't cut me off like that. I'm Hold up. I'm not cutting you off. I thought you were finished. Okay, no problem. But I just want Please continue. I just want to work with the citizens of Pine Bluff, Arkansas to continue to make Pine Bluff one of the better cities in the state of Arkansas. And we can do it by working together. Thank you, ma'am. Council member Lockett.

Madame Mayor, my my only reservation with supporting this legislation is that the state law when it comes to the tenant landlord uh conversation is balanced. This is not this only supports the tenants and gives the landlords very little leverage to to work uh anything else. And I just want to say, you know, to to Councilman Fails that one of the problems that we have with this legislation is the inability to have a conversation with all factors involved. I'm a task force guy. Now, only thing about task force, they take a while. It you go around and around and around, but you can't say you didn't have the subject matter experts around the table. Now, the easiest thing to do, Madame May, is pass legislation. the hardest thing to do is implement it. And the other part is that the unintended consequences could potentially be that people stop being landlords and that would put a lot of people out of housing period. And only thing I can say, brother Fails, if we could pull this and have a conversation with all parties involved that we could come up with something that everybody could live with. That that's my suggestion. uh uh the the way we create legislation here in Pine Bluff sometimes is not balanced. You know, we we throw a ideal out there and it comes back in a resolution. Sometime it doesn't have everybody's voice in it. Uh so I I just you know would would would ask that if we could pull this and bring all the parties to the table and come up with something that the landlords could live with and the tenants could live with.

Mayor Council member Fails,

I did want to challenge the notion that this ordinance is not balanced towards landlords. First of all, as I've established many times before, Arkansas compared to other state already heavily favors landlords. This is a anybody can go home and do their research. This is a state that is miles behind in terms of rent tenants rights. That being said, the majority of concerns that landlords have been voicing about whether or not they will be cited for issues if a tenant comes in and destroys their property, will that be will they be liable for that? Um, landlords have come out and say, "Okay, but what about the responsibilities of the tenants?" These things are already codified in the state law as I just laid out. And so I do think it would be a little redundant if we were to have a task force to discuss and include language in the ordinance that are already codified within the state law. There are already protections for landlords. The law already spells out what tenants are supposed to be doing. And the law already makes exceptions for instances where damage is caused by tenants negligence. And I don't think it's unreasonable for us to say that if the state says that structures must have electricity, they must have plumbing. They must have HVAC systems. I don't understand why it's so controversial for us as a city to say that we're going to enforce those requirements. It is a safety issue if someone is in a house in the summer without HVAC. It's a safety issue if people don't have hot water and they can't make sanitary decisions. It's a safety issue if they don't have electricity and heating in

the winter. And I think that landlords are covered under what the Arkansas state law says. So I do think there are adequate protections in place. Any further? My question, Council Member Brown. So if those things from the landlord, they're protected under state law. Aren't the things that we're talking about here protected under state law as well? So tenants right now, the list that I just laid out, for example, right, responsibilities of the tenants? No, no, no, no, no, wait, no. I No, no, no. Let me finish. So what you're trying to pass here, you're saying it's already state law, correct? It's state law without penalties, but it's state law. It's state law without penalties.

But it is state law. So the same thing you're saying on the landlord end. If you're saying it's state law on the landlord end, then it's state law on the tenant end. It's there's there's still it's still state law regardless to whether you're saying that well there's not a penalty for this or there's not a penalty for that. But if both of these things are already state law, all we're doing right now is just what exactly are you saying? We just going to go after the landlords and just So right now, not the tenant? Yeah. What this legislation is saying tenants have certain responsibilities that they must abide by? If they do not abide by that, as I [music] laid out, there are penalties, but there's that's not Wait, let me just finish my statement.

Yeah. The penalties for a tenant not following their lease agreements, not abiding by what their responsibilities are, they can be evicted. Tenants have penalties. Right now, we have a state law that says landlords must provide electricity, plumbing, HBAC, etc. But we don't have penalties in place to actually enforce those things. So to me that's like saying we're going to set a speed limit on Olive, but we're going to tell our police officers that they don't have any power to pull anybody over. They don't have any power to issue a citation. This is like us saying that um we are going to have laws that say you cannot go into a convenience store and steal property. However, if the cops show up, the police officers show up, they are not allowed to issue any warnings. They're not allowed to make any arrests. they are not allowed to issue any tickets. If you have a law, but you do not have penalties in place, it's not going to be effective. You you're just suggesting what these people should be doing. But landlords who have no intention of doing right by their tenants, they're not going to feel any incentive to actually follow the law if there aren't penalties in place. Now, like I said, the point of this legislation is not just to be punitive and to go out and issue fines. That's why we have language in this that says you have 30 days to come into compliance if you make a reasonable effort to do so. We're willing to work with you. We're not out here just to throw the book at people. But if you have ten if you have landlords who are just blatantly refusing to follow the law. They're blatantly refusing to provide safe habitable conditions. This gives us a mechanism to put some fines in place.

Understood. Um, I still I I feel that what Council Member Lock has suggested is pulling this back, sitting down, meeting with everyone, and then bringing it back. I don't have a problem with what you're saying. I just have a problem the way it's written. And right now, it's written to where fines up to $1,000, $500 per day after that. It's It's not clear to define it. It It kind of puts the landlord at risk. Not and I'm not saying that a person should be in a house without AC or without hot water, but I think that we're going to do this. Let's do it right. There's no harm in pulling it back, sitting down with the landlords that are here and other council members and saying, "How can we make this better so everybody feels great about it." That's all I'm saying. I'm not saying I'm against it. Just saying let's sit down and fix it. Let's just fix it.

I agree. And I just want May I say something? Council member, um, yes. Um, Frasier,

there's a few things that I want to say. Um, but the first thing is, um, I was asked, uh, if it's state law, then why are we doing something? Well, there's a lot of state laws that's in place and we bring it to the municipal to the city level and we pass legislation here in reference to those state laws. We do it with fire, we do it with police, we do it with a whole bunch of other state laws. So, it's not unusual for us to do that to make sure that it's enforced in our city. Uh, second, this legislation was not a target for the landlords that's doing what they're supposed to do. We have a serious problem here in Pine Bluff with slum lords. And it's not just our city. It's it's a lot of other cities, too. But we have to do something about it. Now, if if uh William Council member Fels wants to pull it and do that then and have a conversation with other landlords, then I'm for that. If you want to continue on with it, I'm for that, too. But we have to do something because right now there are so many tenants that are being mistreated by landlords in the dwellings that they're in. We're not talking about the great landlords. We have a lot of great landlords up in here with us right now. Some on a council. So, it's not targeting anyone that's trying to do what is right, but it's also just making sure that we take care of the citizens. We talk about our citizens all the time. We want to make sure that they have housing, great housing. I mean, we're not talking about you have to have it a a five-star marble and all that stuff in your house, but just clean living. And right now, we don't have that. We have some tenants staying in houses where the floors are about to cave in where I don't even know

why they living there because I wouldn't want to live there and and as what's m said I do I asked the question why you still here cuz I would want to leave you know but we have to on our responsibility as the city council we need to put some legislation in place to protect the landlord and to protect the tenant. Now, we're looking at this and we're saying that there's nothing in there uh in regards to the tenant, but we're t we got Acts 1051 52 there. We got other legislation that's in here. We can't put all of that in this packet and be able to go through it. So, it's our due diligence to go look up those laws and see what the tenants responsibility is, what the landlord's responsibility is. He just read off some of the things to let you know that it's not just about the landlords, but it's also about the tenants. We both have to come together and do what is right when it comes to housing. Thank you, Mayor, Madame Mayor.

Uh, well, hold on. Um, thank you, Council Member Frasier. Um, Council Member Fails, and then Council Member Maize.

I did want to mention one thing. I know Council Member, um, Brown mentioned the fines. As a city, we have to determine whether or not we are willing to issue fines. That's a yes or no question. And if we are willing to issue fines, there are certain parameters around what fines the cities can issue. This is a state requirement that they cannot exceed $1,000. So, this isn't an arbitrary number. Even if we were to have a task force or a committee and we were to come back to the table with um with this draft, if there's language in that draft regarding fines, it's still going to say that the fines shall not exceed $1,000 because that's just that's the limit of what a city can find. So, I'm not seeing how a task force or a committee would basically be needed to address that language when it's already just the president in in the state.

Council member Mays. Yeah. You know, real talk, a landlord should or shall take care of the tenants. That's the main thing. property.

That's That's the main objective of of having rental property. Mr. Grant Williams back there, he's a great landlord. I give him a A+. When his tenants ask him to do something, they does it. That's what a landlord is supposed to do. There's quite a few more landlords in there that take care of business like like they're supposed to. We're going to make Pine Bluff better. I'm I'm going to make it better. We got to make it better. I'm not used to being in last place. I never have been in last place. And we got to make Pine Bluff a great city again. All y'all live here. come down the street, stuff all in the street, man. Stop and pick some move out the way if you can. You got to you got to show some some concern back to the the residents of our great our great city. You know, because we're on the city council, I still pick up paper, you know, always have from the north side, you know. We got to drop our our boundaries and just let's work together and let's fix this stuff. Y'all ride. I got to y'all like y'all trying to act like you don't see that stuff. about to run over stuff. Kids all the street, dogs running around. Come on now. Am I only on the only one to decide to fix this mess?

Thank you, Mayor. Council member Brown.

And I'll say this again. I still did not see the harm in pulling this ordinance, sitting down, and making sure that everyone's concerns are met here. I mean, I it's already state law. So, if there's an issue, then the tenant has the state law on their side at this point, but if we're going to pass something, let's pass something to make sure that everybody is on the same page with it. I I don't really see why we're having to rush into it at this point, you know. Um, and now you ready to you're ready to fire back. You're ready. You're ready. But the thing about it is is that this is going to affect the tenants and it's also going to affect landlords and property owners and and I think it's fair if we can sit down with those individuals, figure out what their concerns are with this. And if it comes back in the exact same form, it comes back in the same form. But I think we should at least hear the landlords out and not just, oh, we're just going to pass. We're not going to listen to them. We're just going to we're just going to go. And that there may be something they can add. It may be one line. It may be two. It may be a paragraph, but I I I still feel that it it deserves those individuals deserve to be heard and not just coming to the council meeting right before we make the vote. I feel like we can pull this. You have a meeting. You can have one meeting if you want, but I think those individuals need to be heard and I think the legislation should reflect that and make sure that everybody is working together. Like council member Mays just said, make sure we're all working together because right now we have people here that are not happy with this, but we're just going to roll on and and say, "Oh, well, you know, their opinions don't matter." When they do, they do matter. So, I think it's worth at least having a conversation with those individuals. And like I said, if this comes back in the exact same form because everything is great, fine. But if there's some changes to be made,

let's go ahead and make them before we pass something and then later on we find out, oh, we shouldn't have we should have added something. We should have added this, we should added that. Let's make it right the first time. May I council member Frasier?

My question is and comment. If we do a task force, we need to set a time limit for it because let me tell you, we have done task force. We have approved task force and I haven't seen no legislation come across this desk in reference to a couple of those task force that we supposedly had put together. Am I correct, Angela? Okay. And so, so my question is what's the time frame if if it's pulled? What's the time frame of that you want to set for everybody to come to the table so that it could come back? because I myself have witnessed task force being approved through this legis through this body but nothing has come back in reference to legislation in regards to dealing with it.

Can I make just one statement council member Brunson? Um now I will say it task force can be lengthy but I will say on the event center task force we do have legislation and it has it will I don't know has it came it's going to come to the next meeting William got to handle oh okay I just want to put that on the record now we are making progress with task force and the event task force just want to let the the city the people [laughter] know council member locket

well we don't have to have task force. We could have a public hearing or or maybe about two of them. Uh a task force is just one instrument, but the only thing that I'm advocating is is to have a conversation. I mean, it it could be a series of committee meetings through uh Mr. Fails committee itself. But I think we all some of us are saying that to pass the legislation when many people feel their voice have not been heard is just not fair. Um, I I'm going to go ahead and say something. I was going to hold until after the vote. Um, and I I want to just point out something that the legislation outlines. Almost half of the people in Pineluff are renters. And and also, you know, most people pay their rent and pay it on time. In Arkansas, 80% in Arkansas, 80% of the people pay their rent on time. That that doesn't mean that every landlord has that experience. Um, and I think that depends on, you know, the vetting process and um the type of housing that you're providing. But the bottom line is, you know, I think most landlords are good and provide decent quality, safe housing, and I think most renters pay their rent and pay it on time. Um, and some tenants are tied down whether they are middle, middle income, lower middle income, or indigent. Um people in this economy where most people are two paychecks away from being homeless um

you know cannot just pick up and move on a dime because they have an issue with their landlord particularly if that landlord doesn't return their security deposit. And I think as and but I I'll say this and this is the thing that I hope can bridge this issue for the council and the community. Um I think it's good legislation. We are not the only city that would be providing local measures to enforce state housing standards. Little Rock has um standards that feature landlord tenant commission um targeted rental inspections and mandatory carbon monoxide detectors. Fagatville has mandates move-in checklist and provides dispute mediation. Jonesboro utilizes a rental property registration program with required inspections. And North Little Rock enforces local codes requiring safe and habitable housing. So, this would not be a first. Um, and there are often unintended consequences that come with legislation um that I think you have to work out. Um, and you can't think of everything on the front end. But this is what I'll say. We um passed legislation, for example, to pay our bills electronically. We still aren't doing it yet, but that's because we had to work out some kinks. We had to put together between our clerk, treasurer, and finance director um work out the what the standard operating procedures are going to be, which will have to come back before the council. I think that um and I think that's the right way.

It's a broad piece of legislation that says the city can now pay its bills electronically, but there are some other things that we had to do first. I think that this could pass and bear in mind that enforcement of this happens under the mayor's leadership, under the mayor's um uh departments on the dayto-day. There are no standard operating procedures in place and there really does need to be a resolution that lays out these particulars because I also think that um Mr. Franklin made several important valid points, but I think all of those things can and should be fleshed out after a couple of town hall meetings, which I think once this passes would be incumbent upon um the executive to do in order to flesh out the uh standard operation. operating procedures that the um code enforcement, inspection and zoning and any other related um entities that might be involved in this process would adhere to. So what I'm saying is if this passes tonight, it would not go into effect tomorrow. We would have to outline what the scale of penalties would be, what kind of appeals process would exist, how that would work, what the what some other parameters and issues behind those dynamics would come

into play. And I I would commit to having the conversations that are necessary in order to spell out the specifics before this could move forward, including the capacity for the engaged departments um to move forward with this. So that's my statement on this.

So mayor, let's just do that on the front end instead of on the back end. I I mean I'm counting I'm counting. I've heard what everybody said. I'm counting the votes and I think that we have demonstrated that we've done it um passed the broad ranging legislation on the front end and then passed the resolution on the on the back end. And I think and and this is the thing that you know I think when we talk about working together and respect this has been read three times

but nothing's ch nothing is changing. Well, I but I'm I I guess what I'm saying is I think that there is a way to support the the the tenants um of the measure by saying that Pine Bluff is a city that recognizes tenants rights as well as tenants responsibilities and property owners rights and responsibilities. And what I'm I mean I'm I'm I'm a landlord and I've done it from a longtime renter. I've done it through Airbnb and you know it's a lot of issues and responsibilities and challenges and just like um you know Miss Smith said earlier I don't have to do it

right

you know. So I I think that at the end and beginning of the day, we can be a city that says we like other progressive cities recognize that there are minimum standards to housing that we are going to enforce. And I think we can follow that with a good faith, strong resolution and a body of standard operating procedures that address all of the concerns that um I think our responsible um property owners want to see put in place. And what I'm saying is because I hear um the concerns and the issues which I think need to be in a more flexible instrument like a resolution anyway so that as we move forward if there are changes that need to be made that can be made right away without having to do it over the course of a month or two months by changing the ordinance. And I think that we also need to again I mean we're we as a city are operating right now and working on standard operating procedures throughout the city in all of our departments anyway. So I'm saying that you know what I hope is what I'm offering is assurance that nothing would or could be implemented without these measures and without actually doing what I think all of you want to see done and that is meeting with um property owners and and with each other really to figure out how to move this forward in a responsible um and and respectful way to all involved. So

So why not do all that at the same time rather than put this out there and then come back later on and say, "Oh, now we'll add this and we'll add that." I think it's a step. I mean, I don't think

but let me answer let me answer I think I think it's a step. I think that and I gave an example. The same way that we moved forward and said and kind of got it out of the way without belaboring the point that we need to do it, we passed legislation and said, "Hey, we're going to pay our bills electronically." I think the same way that when we saw a previous tax and and even this thing and then you have the resolution that spells out the particulars I don't think that that's new to us and I think passing the measure understanding that it can't be implemented without the particulars and understanding that your mayor is saying she won't implement it without addressing ing the very issues that Mr. Franklin and others brought forth.

So why not have all of that at the same time? So I I would just ask if that is the case, can that not um be tabled not to move, you know, stop it or not have it, but table to put that in the ordinance that okay, the resolution and the standard of operating procedures would have to be included or

I'm not married to either thing. I'm I I'm I am putting this forward to bridge the divide and and to answer the question, I think you have a colleague that has worked diligently on this issue and brought it before you all and it's been read three times and I just what I'm trying to do is bridge the divide. That's all. Council member um Bronson, did you make a motion to table? That's what I was There's a motion. She didn't make a motion. not asking. I was Go ahead. Go ahead, Council Member Hulcom. [clears throat]

Mr. Fez, I I appreciate your hard work on this uh legislation. I' I've heard from numerous uh landlords across the city. Are are you willing to pull this legislation to discuss it with the property owners?

Um the only reason I would say I'm not willing to pull it at this moment, and this kind of addresses what Mr. Brown was saying is number one I don't believe that this process was rushed. Our state ordinance I mean our ordinances lay out things have to have three readings. These have gone before the council for three readings. People have had the opportunity to read it online. They've had an opportunity to call us. They've had an opportunity to come to the meeting and to speak which people have done here today. Right.

And I've definitely heard those concerns. And the reason that I was able to lay out what the state has in their state citations is because I did take those concerns seriously. I researched to see what existing protections there are in the state law to determine if they were insufficient. And based on the research, I see that there are protections for landlords in place. And so I do believe that that concern has been addressed. and that I also confer with the city attorney's office about the not about the um property owners being notified and the language in our ordinance is sufficient. So I don't think it's accurate to say that we're hearing concerns that I'm hearing concerns and just shoving them away because that's not the case. I'm hearing the concerns. I'm doing the research and I'm providing the answers and the answers that I have provided everyone here, it's already in the law. We can have task force meetings. We can have committee meetings. We can have town hall meetings, but that's not going to change what the state has already put into place, the protections that the state has already put in place for landlords.

Okay. Uh hearing that and after much discussion we've we've had, I I call for the vote. I just had one council member Frasier. I just had one statement. Um, and listening to the mayor and we've done this plenty of times um, previously when we had legislation and we uh, wanted to make sure that there were procedures in place. We can do an amendment to add on to this legislation that nothing will take place uh, until the standard operation procedures is put in place. Um, so that's something that we that can be considered too. Can that be done? city madam city attorney

to add that language. We have amended lang uh um we have amended legislation before from the floor or we can just pull it send it back to committee and discuss it all there. [laughter] I don't understand why why it's such so difficult to do that. Well, I would like to since the question has been raised, I would like to hear from the attorney's office if we could add language in the ordinance tonight about the city will lay out the operating procedures. Someone can make a motion to do that to to add that language. Well, I make a motion that we amend this ordinance.

Second. It has it. Hold on. You got to put You have to clear what the amendment is. So, council member Fels, can you finish your amendment?

We'll wait.

Well, I'll go ahead and make a motion. I move that we table this and send this back to committee. Second. Okay. But y'all, he No, no, no. You didn't make a motion, but I was I just said we'll wait now. Come on, be fair. But the motion is on the You all can vote. You all Hold on. You all can vote against his motion and then make one. I don't have any problem with it. Again, I'm not married to either outcome. Well, this motion in a second, but he had but I had already Council Member Brown. I had recognized him and I was waiting on him and I just said we'll wait and if he don't and he and he did council member fails but he didn't spell it out.

Are you going to make a motion? He did have a second by Maze. Okay. Council member Brown. Are you ready for me now? Yes, I am. I move that we uh table this ordinance, send it back to committee for further review. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number one be tabled and sent back to committee. Any discussion? With no discussion, all of those who wish to vote. Roll call. Answer the clerk when she calls the role. What do we do?

Council member Brown just made a motion. Council member Hulcom just seconded that the measure be tabled and sent back to committee. So there was no discussion. I just asked Madame Clerk to please call the role. Madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Mazize. Yes or no? No. Council member Hul. Hi. Council member Brown. Hi. Council member Lockett. Hi. Council member Frasier. No. Council member Bruntton. I. Council member Denton. Hi. Council member fail. No.

Three. Okay. Motion passes. Okay. Well, we're on number two. Agenda item number two, an ordinance amending policy number 550 of the Pine Bluff Police Department policy and procedures manual respecting use of force and for related purposes. Up for the second reading. An ordinance amending policy number 550 of the Pine Bluff Police Department's policy and procedures man manual respecting use of force and for related purposes.

Place it on the calendar. Agenda item number three, a resolution of the city of Cliff of Arkansas adopting the Jefferson County multi multidisal hazard mitigation plan. Whereas the resol I'm sorry. Whereas the city of Pineluff recognizes the threat that natural hazards pose to people and property within Pineluff, Arkansas. And whereas the city of Pineluff has prepared a multi-hazard mitigation plan hereby known as the Jefferson County multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan in accordance with federal laws including Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as amended, the National Flood Insurance Act of 1986 as amended, and the National Dam Safety Program Act as amended. And whereas the Jefferson County multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan identifies mitigation goals and actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property of the city of Pineluff from the impacts of future hazards and disasters. And whereas adoption by the city of Pine Bluff demonstrates its commitment to hazard mitigation and achieving the goals outlined in the Jeff Jefferson County multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan. Now therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Pineel, Arkansas that section one in accordance with the PLLO code of ordinances section 2-54 and 2-55 the city of Palmluff adopts the Jefferson County multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan section two. While content related to the pal city of Palmluff may require revisions to the to meet the plan approval requirements, changes occurring after adoption will not require the city of Palmuff to readt any further reiterations of the plan. Section three, subsequent plan updates following the approval period for this plan will require section separate adoption resolutions.

Move for adoption. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number three uh be adopted. Any discussion? With no discussion on this resolution, all those who wish to vote for Can we have a roll call? Cuz I think at the end of this they're asking for the number of people who voted in favor. Okay. For sure. Um Madame Clerk, will you please call the role? Council member Ms. Yes. Council member Hok. I. Council member Brown. Hi. Council member Lockett. Hi. Council member Frasier. Hi. Council member Bruntton. I council member Denton. Council member Fail. I

and also Council Member Maize would like to be added as a sponsor. Okay. Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir.

Agenda. Agenda item number four, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a general space and rental agreement with the University of Arkansas Pine Love for lease of space in the building located at 615 Main Street, Pine Love, Arkansas. Whereas it is desired to lease space in the economic research and development center located at 615 Main Street in the city. And whereas the property is owned by the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. And whereas negotiations with the university have yielded a proposed general space and rental agreement which is attached here to and incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. And whereas the mayor should be authorized to execute a rental agreement consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the attachment. Now therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas that the mayor is authorized to execute a rental agreement with the University of Arkansas Pineluff to lease the space described in the attached general space and rental agreement for the consideration and on the terms specified therein. The full the funds to pay the monthly rental utilities and other expenses associated with the lease will come from the economic and community development department budget.

Move for adoption. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number four be adopted. Any discussion? With no discussion, all of those who wish to vote for item the adoption of item number four indicate by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Agenda item number five, a resolution authorizing the city clerk to process the billing statement for city masterard account and for related purposes. Whereas the city of Pinluff routinely avails itself of the convenience of using a charge card to pay for certain purchases before an invoice is paid, each expense must be verified with supporting documentation for it to be processed. And whereas in this instance, the attached billing statement uh has been reconciled with supporting documentation except uh one expense and that expense is for $40.19. Whereas the clerk should be authorized to process the Mastercard invoice in anticipation that supporting documentation will be provided within the next 10 working days. And whereas it is in the best interest of the city of Pine Bluff that the city clerk be authorized to process the attached billing statement. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council, the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the city clerk is authorized and directed to process the master card statement and expedite payment of the current balance.

Move for adoption. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number five be adopted. Any discussion? I have a question. Council member Lockett. No. No. Why are we doing this?

Because in order for us to um pay the bill, every um transaction must be supported by a receipt or a an invoice. in on um one of these items for I think on the last page you'll see for $40. that is a um recurring charge where the invoice was sent to a director who is on um FMLA and we because this happened at a time we were transitioning from one email system to another we could not find it and so what we're working to do um is with this vendor um change how that's done so this won't happen again as and we have to go through some processes to actually access the um invoice and so that we want to go ahead and pay the bill so it won't be late any further than what it already is since we have the money to pay the bill.

So what I'm saying is we don't have to do this every month every statement. I'm just saying no this $40 the one that we cannot find is the reason we're doing this. Correct. Okay. Yes. I guess I want to say in the future we just need to make sure if there is something like that that we see this a little sooner. Um because you know now at this point we've let $40 cost us a lot more than $4.

Well, for sure. And and let me say this um part it was just a lot of moving parts because the reason that this was discovered was because another employee was in a car accident and is on FMLA who is in charge of doing this and the reconciliation. And so we had to have um someone who was floating come in and try to find it and reach out for other transactions. and this was the one that we couldn't find it for. So it just was kind of a imperfect perfect storm that put us in this position. But we are operating making some operational changes as it relates to that and possibly other recurring invoices so that it doesn't just go to one person.

Okay. Thank you. Sure. Oh. Um any further discussion? All of those who wish to vote for um the adoption of item number five indicate by saying I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Agenda item number six, a resolution amending the 2026 municipal budget as regards the parks and recreation department. Whereas city ordinance requires that an adjustment to the municipal budget requires to be more memorialized by ordinance or resolution depending upon which form was used to approve the annual budget. And whereas in 2020 the 2026 municipal budget was adopted by resolution and whereas it is necessary to make an amendment to the 2026 municipal budget as described and detailed in the attachment for the parks and recreation department. Now therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, section one, that the adjustments to the 2026 municipal budget set out in the attachment are approved. The particulars thereof as as detailed in the attachment are incorporated herein as if fully set forth word for word and number for number. Section two that the 2026 municipal budget adopted is amended to incorporate the adjustments and changes set out in the attachments. Section three, the finance department will ensure that the budget is implemented as amended. Move for adoption. Second.

It's been moved and seconded that item number six uh be adopted. Any discussion? With no discussion, all of those who wish to vote for the adoption of item number six, indicate by saying I.

I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Agenda item number seven, a resolution authorizing the mayor and chief of police to execute a memorandum of understanding between the city of Pine Police Department and the Ambassador of Christ Youth Ministry. Whereas to reduce criminal activity perpetrated, I'm sorry, perpetrated by youth in the city and to promote the public safety and welfare early intervention with at risk at risk youth which aims to inspire hope, foster transformation and builds a foundation for a brighter future. It is pro it is a proven approach to achieve these objectives. And whereas the police department desires to collaborate with the ambassadors for Christ youth ministries uh for their services to achieve these goals. And whereas the parties have prepared a memorandum of understanding setting out the particulars of their collaborative arrangement which is presented to the council with the recommendation of the chief of police. And whereas the collaborative effort will not require the transfer of any funds between the department and the ambassadors for Christ. Now therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Palms of Arkansas. Section one, that the memorandum of understanding presented to the council has been reviewed and is hereby approved. Section two, that the mayor and the chief of police are hereby authorized to execute the memorandum of understanding with the ambassadors for Christ and to undertake and perform the tasks necessary, I'm sorry, task and carry out the obligations outlined therein.

Move for adoption. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number seven be adopted. Any discussion? Could you ex is anyone from the ambassadors from Christ here? No. Could you explain exactly what is this? What is what what are we what is the nature of the memorandum? I know it's in it's in collaboration with the police chief, right? That some some sense of re-entry, but I'm just saying how does it work? I mean, where are the clients to be? What services are they be offered? I mean who's working it? Now they say there's no money involved but there is a grant attached to the memorandum. Yes.

Okay. So the grant employs how many people? I don't know.

And they operate from what location? So they operate within the city and I know they do um pre and post incarceration providing services to um uh provide re-entry services and um prevent recetivism. I uh know they deal uh with people who have been incarcerated, juveniles as well as uh adults. That's what I know. Now, what is the police chief to do?

So, um my understanding is that the police department will um be of assistance whether it's uh based on a referral nature and I think that hold on just a second. It's on page two. Yeah. And I mean if you look at the preamles and you can see why but the services um are outlined on page two. Thank you. You're welcome. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, if I had time to read this, Madam Mayor, I I can understand it. Well, I This is the thing, though. Somebody's talked to you about this.

I hear what you're saying, and somebody did talk to me about it, and I know they have a long history, and I know that we have worked with them, and you yourself have voted to um engage in uh a relationship of this nature with them before. And so, I'm not going to, you know, pretend like I know all the nuances. And I'm just being very clear. I don't know how many people are employed, but I know that there are several people employed um by the organization that work in Pineel Bluff in service of some of our most vulnerable people. And I also know that we um don't have very many organizations um in Pineluff providing um the kind of services that uh assist around re-entry particularly for juveniles but across the board. Mayor

Council Member Frasier.

Well, I'm definitely in support of this legislation. Um, Ambassadors for Christ has a great history uh with our city. Um, they helped us in regards to uh sex trafficking. And when they first came to our city, they uh came here in support of helping and making aware awareness to sex trafficking. And now we have an opportunity to work with them in reference to re-entry when people get out. when they get out, in order to keep them from doing something, destroying your property, coming after you, doing something crazy, you know, we have to give them services. When they come out, they they need housing, they need health care, they need all kind of things. And so, uh, having an organization in our midst that is able to work alongside our police department in order to make sure that when they come out that they have a a study um, um, circle that can support them and make sure that they stay on track and not end up back in jail. Um that is something positive and we need to definitely uh have it in our city where um we could do our part, you know, to help people have a better life cuz we talk about quality of life, quality of work, quality of play. Well, in order to have that, people need support systems, especially if they're coming back into society and trying to get reaclimated. We don't want them to go back into their old habits and their old places and their old situations. So, we have to have some services here in the city that can help them so that they won't end up being on another police report. Thank you, mayor.

And thank you. And I and and let me apologize for not having those kinds of specifics. I just um really maybe incorrectly made an assumption that because they have had such a long-standing relationship over the years with numerous grants and in the millions of dollars um with um positive results

that it really was a matter of getting this through so that they could um be successful in their um application for the grant. funds to continue these services. But what I can say, I can give you a couple of anecdotal um pieces of information. I do know that they work with a great many partners um to ensure that the clients that they engage can get a job and not only get a job but get job training and they work with youth and they work with adult clients. Um, I had an a a situation where um I got a call with a couple of young people who didn't have parents anymore. and um who were in need of services and who had been in the juvenile system. And because they run the program in the way that they do, very hands-on, this isn't just let's go find them and give them some food

and um hand them a book or hand them a worksheet and check a box. They actually provide housing that they assign people to who are in need and then help them find the services that they need. Help them get transportation to and from school, to and from work, help them get food when no one else is there. When we are at home warm in our beds and bellies full. Any further discussion? With no further discussion, all of those who wish to vote for resolution number seven, indicate by saying I. I. Any opposed?

Motion passes. May I would like to be added on to this legislation? Me too. Ambassador. Yeah. Okay. Yes. So to everybody. Okay. Everybody wish to be inv uh added. Anybody not wish to be added? Okay. Thank you. Agenda item number eight, a resolution expressing the support of the city of fine, Arkansas for the national guard and reserve forces of the United States. Yes. Military.

Whereas the city of Pondluff recognizes the National Guard and Reserve Forces are essential to the strength of the nation and the well-being of our communities. And whereas in the highest American tradition, the patriotic men and women of the guard and reserve serve voluntarily in an honorable and vital profession. They train to respond to their community and to their country in a time of need and deserve the support of every segment of our society. And whereas if these voluntary forces are to continue to serve our nation, increased public understanding is required of the essential role of the guard and reserve in preserving our national security. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Pineluff, Arkansas, the city of Pineluff would join other employers in pledging that number one, the city will fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniform Services Employment Reemployment Act. Two, the city will provide its managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the guard and the reserve. Three, the city it will appreciate the values, leadership, and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to employ guardsmen, reserves, and transitioning service members and veterans. Four, we will continually recognize and support our country's service members and their families in peace, in crisis, and in war. The mayor will sign the statement of support for the guard and reserve on behalf of the city.

Move for adoption. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number eight be adopted. Any discussion? I'd like to be added, Mr. Sponsor. Me, too. I'm a bit Is there anyone who would wishes not to be added? Is everyone wanting to be added? Okay. Okay. Um any further discussion? Okay. Um all of those who wish to vote for uh the um passage of item number eight indicate by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. And I would also ask for Miss Sandra Jackson to stand. And if you wish to make any remarks. Hey, Missra. My DAB member, she is with the Southeast. She is the Southeast Area Chair of ESGR. Good afternoon.

My name is Sandra Jackson, as the mayor said, and council members, uh, ESGR. I've um chair over the southeast area which is 14 counties here in in the state of Arkansas. And with the ESGR, our mission is we don't give you all people that's in the Guard and Reserve listings or jobs or people. What we do is the people that's already enrolled or assigned to the guard and reserve, we make you aware of what their rights are as them being the employee and you being the employer.

And like I said, we are a DoD. Uh when I usually go in places and I say I'm from the DoD and we have seals and all this on, they think it's something bad, but it's not anything bad. And I thank the mayor for this time doing this and bringing this before this forum because maybe when now I go around Pine Bluff and I show up in there and I ask them about a statement of support, they will understand what it is. And I just want you to know that almost over half of your military forces resides in the National Guard and reserves. And when they go off, they are getting paid. But when they come back, they need their jobs back. They need to be reaclimated to the society that they came from and they need that help in those issues. And what we are here, it's not a bad thing. It's a two for two or a win for win. We recognize the employees and we recognize the employer. We have awards that we do give. So we do have the reserve member to put them in because sometime I have to tell them, hey, if you don't get along with your supervisor or your boss, put them in for an award. I said when they get this award comes in this cover and this certificate and it has DoD or when we add them to a boss lift to go see what their troops are doing when they're away from work then the light bulb kind of comes on. So thank you mayor for bringing this forward this form.

Absolutely. Question I do have um the um signed statement of support but it's in my car. Okay. So, if we can get through the rest of the resolutions and I'll ask for uh Mr. Proctor to get it out while we finish these and then we can um do the picture. Okay. If that's okay. Thank you so much for your patience. Okay. [snorts] Um Okay. So, Okay. We already passed that. Yes.

Council member Hul. Agenda item number nine, a resolution proclaiming the city of Pine, Arkansas as America of the entrepreneurial community and pleasure to celebrate the city's entrepreneurs during the year 2026. Whereas, as America marks its 250th startup birthday in 2026, we must celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that built our nation, states, and cities forged by starters, makers, doers, and dreamers who pursued a better future. And whereas the American dream is at risk because America belongs to the living generation in its turn to renew the nation's entrepreneurial spirit. And whereas the entrepreneurs are essential to fostering economic prosperity, creating homegrown jobs, raising incomes, generating wealth, building stronger communities, diversifying goods and services, and reducing inequality and poverty. poverty. And whereas each of us has the power to be a founder of our nation's future, and we encourage every resident to take action that builds a more perfect union. And whereas entrepreneurs have played a critical role in revitalizing the city of Pine Bluff and it is fitting to publicly recognize and celebrate the vital contributions of entrepreneurs to the prosperity and the and well-being of our community. Now therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, section one, the city of Pine Bluff will join America the entrepreneurial and take actions to encourage more entrepreneurship across the city. Section two that the city of Pinluff shall celebrate its entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial spirit

throughout 2026 as city of Palmuff, Arkansas, the entrepreneur during our nation's 250th startup birthday year. Move adopt second. It's been moved and seconded that item number nine um be adopted. Any discussion? Council member Frasier. Um with this uh legislation, are we planning to do something to highlight uh entrepreneurs throughout the city or is it just to name our city entrepreneur? It's both.

Okay. and we will be working with a national organization that is working with cities to first draw attention um to the importance of entrepreneurs to the economy and um and so we will definitely be doing that. There are lots of stats. I'm not going to go into a couple long time. I would like to make a suggestion since we're doing entrepreneurship which is basically um not just small business but big business but we know November is like small business month so maybe we could do something to you know highlight during that month. Absolutely. Uh council member Brown you said what ad is responsible.

Oh okay. Okay. Council member anybody else would anybody else like to be added or anybody not like to be added? Okay, here's another one. Madam clerk. Okay. Um, did we Oh, I didn't call a vote, did I? [laughter] All those who wish to vote for the adoption of item number nine, indicate by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Madame Mayor, on resolution 10 through 13, they all are vacancies. Each term expires on April 30th, 2029. So, I'm going to read them all at the same time. Yes.

Okay. A resolution appointing Matt Sodto, Joel Thomas Anderson, Latasha Magny Randall, Eric M. Lungsford to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. Whereas vacancies exist on the board of trustees of the arts and science center for southeast Arkansas and whereas the mayor has elected to appoint Matt Sto, Joel Thomas Anderson, Latasha McNeely Randall, and Eric M. Lunsford to the vacancy subject to council approval. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Pine Love, Arkansas, that the mayor's appointment of Matt Sto, Joel Thomas Anderson, Latasha McNeely Randall, and Eric M. Lunsford to the board of trustees for the arts and science center for southeast center southeast Arkansas to [music] per to serve a term to expire April 30th 2029 is hereby approved and confirmed.

Move for adoption. Second. It's been moved and seconded that res items uh 10 through 13. We all can we do that? Can we vote on them as a batch? Adopt them. Yes. Okay. That items 10 through 13 be adopted. Any discussion? With no discussion, all of those who wish to vote for the adoption of items 10 through 13. Indicate by saying I. I. Any opposed?

Motion passes. Agenda item number 14, a resolution expressing the appreciation of city government to the clerk's office for it outstanding work and proclaiming May 3rd through 7, 2026 professional city clerk week in the city of Pine, Arkansas. Whereas the city of Pine Love is blessed with a professional city clerk's office consisting of the elected clerk, the honorable Janice L. robbers as well as an outstanding and dedicated staff of deputy clerks. And whereas the work of the city clerk's office is essential to the effective administration of city government and providing necessary services to the residents of the city as well as city officials, officers, and employees. And whereas the week of May 3rd through 7th, 2026 has been designated a period to recognize the value valuable and essential role of the city clerks in public administration. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Fine Bluff, Arkansas, that we the mayor and members of the city council hereby express our appreciation and respect for the work of the elected city clerk and her dedicated staff of deputy clerks. We further declare the week of May 3rd through 7th, 2026 as professional city clerk's week in the city of Pine Bluff and encourage all persons to take the opportunity to express their appreciation and thanks to the members of the city clerk of the clerk's office for their service.

Move for adoption. Second. It's been moved and seconded that item number 14 be adopted. Any discussion? Um I I will I believe madame clerk your staff is here and I would ask them to stand.

Team members, [applause] [laughter] Queen Linda. Okay. Um, and I'll just say that there is a lot of work that gets done that makes our job easier and the um storage and the filing and the drafting and the correction um just to staff city council meetings, making sure that the meetings are public um and the many other um duties of the clerk's office. We do appreciate you, madame clerk, and your team and um thank you for your service. With that said, um it has been moved and seconded that um item number 14 be adopted. All of those who wish to vote for the adoption indicate by saying I

I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Agenda item number 15, a resolution to authorize the mayor I'm sorry, real quick. Uh, Council Member Brown wish to be added. Anybody else wish to be added? Council member Maize. City Clerk, your office doing a great job. I just want to commend you all. Uh, just don't stop. Doing a great job. I want to be added to, okay? And add me on. Every Okay. Add me. Anybody who doesn't wish to be added.

Sound like everybody. Okay. All right. Um, council member Hulcom. Agenda item number 15, a resolution to authorize the mayor to execute a retainer agreement with Grant Ice Hoffer, PA, and to authorize the city attorney to prose prosecute affirmative litigation on behalf of the city of Pine, Arkansas, as a named plaintiff in federal class action proceeding seeking recovery of costs arising from the purchase of PFAS contaminated firefighter turnout. out gear and for other purposes. Whereas the firefighter turnout gear was manufactured for decades using perurr and poly I don't know how to say that substances p all right pax a class of synthetic chemicals commonly referred to as forever chemicals due to their persistence in the environment and the human body and whereas the city of palmluff has purchased firefighter turnout gear for the palmluff fire department over a mult multi-year period and a substantial portion of that gear gear contained PAS materials incorporated by the gears manufacturers and whereas the defendants in the reference litigation Globe Manufacturing Corp, Fire Decks LLC, Morning Pride Manufacturing LLC, Lion Apparel Incorporated, WLG Gore and Associates Incorporated, 3M Company, and EI Dupont. de Neores and company uh are the manufacturers and sellers of PAS contaminated turnout gear and the litigation seeks recovery of replacement costs incurred by municipal purchasers

and whereas a purchaser class action caption city and county of boot uh but silver bow at all versus 3M company at all uh is currently pending before the United States District Court District of Montana but division seeking economic recovery on behalf of municipalities that purchase PAS contaminated turnout gear and whereas Grant and Eisenhoffer PA serves as lead plaintiffs council in the reference litigation G&E will bear all litigation costs and the city of Pine Bluff will incur no attorney's fees, costs, or expenses unless and until a recovery is obtained, at which time fees are paid from the proceeds. And whereas to date, the only other Arkansas municipality which has elected to be named a plaintiff in the reference litigation is the city of Little Rock. And as the first it will appear it will anchor Arkansas state subclass expanding the benefit of this litigation to all to other aran Arkansas municipalities. And whereas the court has established a deadline of May 5th, 2026 for the addition of new named plaintiffs to the complaint and timely action by this council is required to the city's right to participate in the class level. And whereas the office of the city attorney will approve and the proposed retainer agreement with Grant and Eisenhoffer before it is executed by the mayor. And whereas the city council finds that participation in this litigation is in the public interest and serves the fiscal interest of the city of Pine Bluff and its re residents. Now therefore be resolved by the city

council of the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas that section one, authorization to prosecute affirmative litigation. The city attorney is hereby authorized to prosecute affirmative litigation on behalf of the city of Palm Bluff as the named plaintiff in the city and county of but silver bow at all versus 3M company pending in the United States District Court District of Montana but division for the purpose of recovering cost incurred by the city in purchasing PAS contaminated firefighter turnout gear. The city attorney shall exercise supervisory oversight of this litigation at all stages. Section two, authorization to execute retainer agreement. The mayor is hereby authorized to execute a retainer agreement with Grant and Eisenhoffer for its representation in the lawsuit and any settlement negotiations including a contingency fee arrangement under the city under which the city incurs no upfront fees, costs or expenses provided that the said retainer agreement is approved by the city attorney and in uh any settlement of the city's claim shall require prior prior approval of the city council. Section three, authority to take necessary action. The mayor and city attorney and such other city officers and employees as they may direct are authorized to take all actions necessary to appropriate to effectuate this resolution, including executing such documents, providing such records and making such filings as lead plaintiff councils may require to add the city of Pine Bluff as a name plif in the reference litigation on or before May 5th, the the court deadline. Uh section four, this resolution shall be in full force in effect from from and after its adoption. Section five, in the event any portion of this resolution is

declared or judged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of this resolution, which shall remain in full force and effect as if the portion so declared or judged invalid or unconstitutional was not originally part of this resolution. Section six, all ordinances or parts of ordinances, all ordinances and resolutions and parts thereof which are in conflict with this or any um provision of this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict. Move for adoption. [laughter] Y'all won't follow along. Second,

I will. Okay, it's been moved. It's been moved and seconded. That item that what is that? Number 15. 15. Item number 15 be adopted. Any discussion? I just have council member Fraser.

Back in in January of 2023 uh after I went to the Arkansas Municipal League uh meeting, I came back and reported at a city council meeting in reference to PFAS and some of the damage that it could do to citizens in reference to their health and their livelihood. uh kidney disease, breast cancer. I mean, all kinds of things that can happen because of PA PFAS. And so, um I'm thankful that we doing this legislation to be a part of it. And if anybody would like to have what is PFAS, I have the PowerPoint uh presentation that I can submit to you and I'll send it to the mayor.

Thank you so much, Council Member Frasier. Any further discussion? Uh, I'll just add that um Chief Compton has been in in um lengthy discussions um with the um attorney who brought this to us and um she represented the the um I guess the firm and and was aware of what Little Rock was doing. So, I want to thank Chief Compton for being so diligent and very quickly. This came to us kind of last minute and before the deadline and I think today is the deadline or tomorrow. Tomorrow is the deadline.

So, um thank you so much. Okay. Yes. Okay. Cuz they've been in litigation for a long time and started in in it's been a long time in coming. So, I'm glad that we might be able to generate some resources and um provide some protections for our people and our firefighters. Um with that said, uh all of those who wish to vote for the adoption of item number 15, indicate by saying I. Any opposed? Motion passes. And before I start reading the announcements, Miss Jackson could join us on stage and we'll take a quick quick pick. I got this brace.

Got my brace. Oh, well maybe she just gone. Oh, no. She just presented. Okay. Oh, everybody come. Okay.

The military All right, here we go. All together. [laughter]

Okay. Okay. Uhhuh. Our announcements are as follows. I'm going try to get through this quickly. The Dollar Area Neighborhood Watch will meet on Tuesday, May 5th at 6 p.m. at St. Luke Methodist Church located at 32 School Street. They we invite neighbors in the Dollar community to attend and get involved. For more information, contact Ly Aman at 870-6928255. Um, number two, enjoy the soulful sounds of live music featured and featured soloists along with the beautiful shores of Lake Sar every Thursday in May from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. during Park and Recreations Jazz on the Lake. Bring your lawn chairs, gather the family, and relax by the water while great music fills the evening air. Food vendors will be on site with delicious options available for purchase. Number three, ignite your business dreams. Join this Saturday, May 9th, for capital readiness training. Prepare your business for funding and discover how to become financially ready and attract the capital you need for growth. This event will take place at the UAPB business incubator located at 6:15 South Main Street from 9:00 a.m. to 400 pm. To register, visit www. communitiesu.org

uh sltraining. Item number four, join US Centers on Aging for Tai Chi. Oh, I'm going to do this at the Jefferson Regional Wellness Center. Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. for 45 minute sessions through July 2nd, 2026. This program helps improve balance, strength, and overall wellness. For more information or to enroll, contact Charlotte Clawson at 870-879-140 or you can email Miss Clawson at cm cmclawson clausen atams.edu. Item number five, business expo 2026 on May 7th at the Pimlo Convention Center. Breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m. at the VIP hour at 9:00 a.m. and a public expo from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Booths and networking opportunities are available through the Jefferson County Alliance. And I just wanted to also add congratulations. Today the Warrior the um Donna Terrell Warrior Lodge was opened uh over near JRMC uh which will provide hope and uh services um and support to cancer clients uh in the city from those who are coming from long distances for cancer treatment here in Pineluff. Um, also I want to recognize Luke Mat who uh has joined the Pineluff commercial as a reporter and a writer [applause] and he is here standing in the back. And um, Mr. Harris, I also want to

congratulate you on a very successful Arbor Day celebration last week and you did it with the babies this year and I hate that I had to miss it, but I heard that it was awesome and the pictures were incredible. So, thank you for your work. And with that, we have one person who signed up to speak and she's not here. So um we I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. Move to adjurnn. Been moved and seconded. Without objection, we are

adjourned. I saw that.