City Council - Special Meeting

Where's Ch? Edward is what name?

Yes. and she did her thing. It was homemade. And you know, I told my husband, "Go get your go. Oh, yeah. Yeah. All right. Thank you so much.

What's that thing? That's a nice look. I'm telling you.

They got to figure out what Yeah.

I don't know.

I know William won't be here until after.

Hey, cast member locket. He had a procedure Friday. He was in hospital. I didn't know that. Yeah, he was in the hospital Friday. Is Denton coming? I haven't heard from her. And May's in here. That's Haven't heard from that. That was surprising. Okay. Well, we're going to go ahead and just get started. Is it 5:30? Oh, yeah. 5:34.

Yeah. his wife.

Okay. She wanted to come back home.

You said Recording in progress. Okay, everybody. I know that we have a town hall meeting scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in this venue. So, um, while we don't have a quorum, um, I would like to go ahead and go through the, um, roll call and we can, uh, and then I have a statement to make and then we can have discussion or not. We just, um, won't begin depending on who arrives or not. Um, so there are no public comments. There was only one item uh on this agenda and um so I will call the meeting to order and uh again we'll go through the process and um but I will not recognize a quorum unless or until we have one. I'll ask um Council Member Hulcom to deliver the invocation this evening.

Yes, sir. And lead us in the pledge of allegiance.

Let us pray. Dear gracious God, we thank you for all your blessings. Thank you for letting us gather here today. We thank you for watching over us, keeping us from all hurting, harm, and danger. We pray for this nation. We pray for all leaders. We pray that you lead and guide us to do your will. We pray for the safety of our children as they go to school each day. We pray for peace. We pray that we come together as one collectively under your divine leadership. It's in Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen.

I aliance 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. Madame clerk, will you please call the role? Council member Hulcom here. Council member Brown. Council member Lockett, you muted. Council member Frasier here. Council member Brunson

here. Council member Denton. Council member Fails. Madam, no quum.

So, we do not have a quorum and um I mentioned that I would make a statement. Um last uh council meeting which was lengthy um it did not include the carryover and our finance director was just at the cusp of being able to um at least provide a document and an outline uh which we did provide at that meeting. And at that meeting, I also shared that we would uh have a special call meeting on tonight. And I believe on Thursday, the uh last Thursday, the city attorney um's office drafted the resolution. And I emailed um the uh clerk maybe the night before and um my um director uh finance um sent a copy of uh with two slight revisions to council members, but uh we did not uh get that included um of the clerk and the uh city attorney number one and number two the full document uh which is four pages was not shared until this evening and I did not know that. However, it is my fault that I did not know that. I want to take full responsibility that you did not get these four pages on Thursday. And with that said, um even if we have a quorum, uh I believe that what we can and should do is engage in whatever level of discussion that you all would like to this evening. If any of you here have any questions, I'd be happy to answer

them. And uh what we'll do is put the um item for the carryover budget uh on the agenda for next Monday. And uh I do apologize that um we were not adequately prepare prepared this evening. I I do have a question there. Sure. On the contributions uh special projects and

restricted reserve. Well what the who who did those contributions come from? Okay. So, if I'm not mistaken, you are looking at what is it? Special projects contribution. It says contribution. Yeah. At the top. Yes, ma'am. So, that would be um there. It's not contributions like we received a contribution.

It's um a contribution to the special project. So, this would be money basically transferred and I and I would ask uh directors if you'll join us up here just in case I don't say something right, you feel free to dive right in. But based on um our conversation, I believe that that is correct. And then um the contribution for restricted reserve would be a transfer of funds to replenish. I believe that we talked about this when we took the reserve, the million dollars in the reserve to pay the county for the uh jail fees. We are replenishing our reserve to take us back to um just over $8 million um which is where we were before we took the million dollars out um and amended the budget to pay that um at the beginning of last year if I'm not mistaken. That is correct.

One more question back. Sure. Sure. Uh on employee bonuses that it was budgeted for 500,000 and I believe you stated that that that whole total wouldn't be used for employee bonuses. Yes. And if I'm not mistaken, at this point for the amount that is budgeted, that would be for the Christmas bonuses, which is what we did last year as well. Okay. Am I correct? You are correct. Okay. So, the whole 500,000 is used for bonuses. Yes.

Okay. Cuz last time when we had $500,000 on there, it we were told it wasn't for the bonuses. So, that's why I asked you that question. It was for the bonuses, but there I forget what else it was for. And we what we did in that case is um distinguished the Christmas bonus from the other bonuses. We ended up splitting it out to clarify, but this is all going to be for Christmas bonus, so there's no need to distinguish it.

And then I know I I don't know if you can fix this or or do something to help with this. I know on inspection and zoning on the office supplies the the invoice that they had got was the 169 one,698 was the quote that they got, but once they got the quote with the taxes, it was a little more than that. Um, and I think it's like a $300 more than that. So, I don't know if that's something that we can fix what we can do to fix that. So, they could cover the fee. Yeah. So, we can just make that a straight $2,000. Yes. I was not aware that the amount had changed. Okay. That's all right.

And we can pull that out of the um what page is that? Oh, on the second page, uh the um contribution to special projects. We'll pull that out of that. Okay. Okay. Okay. Yeah. And make that a straight 2000. That's all I know. And so this we're going to put this on the next meeting, council meeting. Yes. And this doesn't have to go through a ways and means.

It does not. I clarified that with uh council member Brown, which is why we didn't schedule a ways and means committee meeting. He said that we could just since it's a resolution, we would just engage the discussion that we're having now and that we will have next Monday. May I do have one more question? Sure. Um and it's it's not time so um I know that uh economic and community development lost a a truck a vehicle and I don't know if there's a way that we can replace that vehicle. Um am I right Larry?

Yes. Director uh Matthews, you can come up. I'm sorry. Yeah, come on up. Come on down. I'm lazy today. We had had a good Good evening. First, excuse my hat. We had a conversation, Mayor. Uh we lost a vehicle in accident.

Uh the mun municipal league has has received the claim. We're looking for a check, but we hadn't got the check. We had about $24,000 left in that account line. We were going to put the six with it and give us 30, but we have not gotten the check yet. We really need the vehicle as soon as we can get it. So, we have about $25,000 and we were hoping that we can get the city to give us 15 to get us to 40 to get a vehicle. And if the check came, we'll get back to the city. We just we're down to one vehicle. And when the check comes, whenever it comes. It's been in the mail, had it, Gina, forever. It's been in the mail forever. So, they have the claim. We just hadn't got the money yet.

Okay. So, um, so you're saying you need 15? Yes. Uh, the the 40,000 seems to be the threshold on a new vehicle. Okay. So, that's that's the threshold we were trying to get. If we can find one less, we will, but that seems to be the threshold. Okay. So, let's um also take the 15 out of the special projects contribution. So, it'll be $32 less 302 and then less 15,000. So, less $18,02. Okay. Right. It's 302 $32,000

for inspection. Oh, three. I'm sorry. I was turning that into 3,000. I can add. I promise. Yes. So, $15,32

and that's all I had, Mayor. Yeah. Um, that's all I have. Where was that? What line is that on for um economic and community development? It's not on It's not on here. It would It would need to be added to go to them. Okay. Okay. So, you would add a line item for a vehicle purchase. Yes. ECD line. Do y'all usually do that from the capital? Where do you take the uh for vehicles? When what line item do you usually put them on? We have a line already line item already there where we had a balance of I'm not sure what Okay. We'll just add it to that line item. Okay.

Yes. Okay. Thank you, council. The department thanks you. I thank you. We don't want you walking. Oh, don't worry about me.

You're right on time. Right on. Council member, I'm amazed to see. Let me go over here. There we go.

Okay. So before you came um I had acknowledged and apologized about some of the um information that wasn't shared uh appropriately with the attorney's office, the city attorney's office and the city clerk's office on Thursday when you all were sent this agenda and when the press was sent the agenda and even though um I think you received a slightly amended um outline line similar to the one that you received on Monday at the last council meeting via email from um the finance director. This was passed out tonight.

Okay. And uh shortly before. So, we're just you know there there um I guess there's a quorum now, but it doesn't matter. We're going to put it on the agenda. It doesn't matter for the vote. Okay. We're going to put it on the agenda for the next council meeting, but we went on and opened up the meeting so that we could go ahead and answer questions. Gotcha.

And um you know, so we made a few changes and if um you have any questions, uh have at it because we do have a 6:30 um Oh, uh Director De said all four pages were sent. So, you all did get all four pages when you were sent the email, but it was at the uh it was not um to the clerk,

right? It wasn't sent to the clerk or the attorney. So, I didn't know that. So, since you ha Thank you for that. So, since you've had the meeting then and we have a quorum, we could still pass it tonight. um if you unless there are any issues or unless you have a preference to go ahead and put on the agenda for Monday, I'm open either way. It it doesn't I rather get it over with um personally. Yeah. I mean, now that I know that you all have had the information

um unless there are any um concerns, we could do it tonight. And we do still have some time. I would like for us to be finished and there's nothing else on the agenda. There are no speakers. Um we have another meeting at 6:30 and it's 5:52. So we could continue to look this over, answer any questions and um do our due diligence. There was just only one other question. The 27th payroll. So this year we have 27 pay paychecks versus the Yes. Like every 11 or 12 years. Okay. the calendar falls that way because we get paid every other week and this is that year. So, praise the Lord. Okay.

And we've been setting money aside, but I think we That's all I had, ma'am. I didn't have anything else. Anything else? Let me give uh Council Member Brown just a couple minutes to look at it in case he has any questions. What changes did you Oh, okay. So on the first page down toward the end where it says inspection and office supplies 300. Um and it says uh $1698. We changed that to 2,000 to reflect the full amount that they will have to pay right here. The the inspection right here. Yes. Okay. So that's going to be

that's the tax 2,000. And then um 2,000 Uhhuh. So that's a difference of $32. Okay. And then um Director Matthews indicated that they needed an additional $15,000 for new vehicle that they have I think um I guess $25,000 for. So, um, and we'll take both of those amounts out of, if you go to the top of page two, special projects contribution, okay,

where it's $223,000, we that will be two, that will be that amount less $15,32. So, those are the changes we've made thus far. Okay. All righty. See, and the 15,000 went to it. It's going to be added on there because it's not on here at all. Right. It's not on here at all. So, it's going to be added to their budget for currently vehicle. You said 25,000 already set aside for the vehicle and correct through a claim. That's right. Okay.

A little over, but yeah, essentially. And while we're at it, what were the two Oh, the two changes we made last week are reflected in here already, correct? Yes. Okay. Yes.

Okay. And what that change was is we added a little bit more to the um internships uh which we are going to uh maintain um centralized in HR and afford other departments to be able to secure a uh an intern. And did we do something else? We put more in trying to remember. Um um I think we put a little more in the blight removal or no we talked about it. I don't know that we decided for sure. Okay.

Um Okay. But it's in here. I know that's that's the one thing I remember. There were two slight changes. I think when we did the internship it changed the amount in the special projects. Okay. Okay.

I don't have anything. No one else has a question. Council member Brenson. Okay. All right. Well, um I'll entertain a motion. So move. Second. It's been moved and seconded to adopt the uh You want to read the resolution? Oh yes. You you wouldn't need to do that, please. Before I entertain the motion, I will stop talking and ask the the city attorney to read the resolution.

The resolution amending the 2026 municipal budget to allocate funds carried over from the 2025 budget. Whereas city ordinance requires that an adjustment to the municipal budget be memorialized by ordinance or resolution depending upon which form was used to approve the annual budget. And whereas the 2026 municipal budget was adopted by resolution. Whereas is necessary to make amendments to the 2026 municipal budget to allocate funds carried over from the 2025 municipal budget as described and detailed in the attachment regarding the various departments and divisions of city government. Now therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, section one, the adjustments to the 2026 municipal budget set out in the attachment representing carryover funds from the 2025 municipal budget are approved. The particulars thereof as detailed in the attachment and incorporated herein as if fully set forth word for word and number for number. Uh section two that the 2026 municipal budget adopted is amended to incorporate the adjustments and the changes set out in the attachment which the attachment are the four pages that we've been referencing during this uh meeting. Section three, the finance department will ensure that the budget is implemented as amended.

Second. It's been moved and seconded that the budget adjustment resolution of the general fund, the carryover budget be adopted. Any discussion? With no discussion, all of those wishing to vote for um item number one, indicate by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Great work everybody. Thank you. Yeah, you have to vote with them, right? We have move one, two, three. Yeah, you guys. Did you vote? Oh, I unanimous for those who are here. Yes. Uh motion pass. And um there's been a motion to adjurnn.

Second. It's been motioned and seconded. Um motion made and seconded. All of those wishing to adjurnn indicate by saying I. I. Okay. Without objection, we are adjourned. Thank you. Okay.