Loading...
Minutes 2012-12-181 PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2012 6:01 P.M. The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at 6:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, Council President Wood gave the invocation. Roll was called and all were recorded as being present. THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS GENEROSITY: Carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to those in need. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: City Council Meeting December 4, 2012. Councilor Chambliss made a motion to approve the minutes and Councilor Boles seconded the motion. The minutes were approved (7-0). COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA: None MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gillespie reported that the council meeting may not be recorded for the website due to technical difficulties. Mayor Gillespie urged the council to move forward on Item #1 regarding business license issue fee increase. The issue fee will be reviewed every five years by the State and will be adjusted as necessary. During this Christmas season, the Mayor thanked employees for all they do for the City. Mayor Gillespie highlighted each department and the services they provide for the citizens and community. Mayor Gillespie wished all a Merry Christmas. REPORT ON STATUS OF CITY FINANCES: Finance Director Doug Moseley presented the November, 2012 Unaudited Revenue report. With 8.33% of the year complete, the year-to-date revenue is just over $2.7 million. Revenue has increased $480,255 over last year. Lodging taxes have significantly increased for the month. The Tax Breakdown Comparison report itemizes the major tax sources. Lodging tax and restaurant tax have increased. Use tax has also increased as a result of an audit. The November Unaudited Expenses by Department report shows most departments running in line with the budget with routine expenses. 2 The Sanitation Enterprise Fund and Wastewater Enterprise Fund Income Statements show both departments running in line with the budget and in the black. The final report itemized the bank balances as of November 30, 2012. Councilor Striplin asked at what point the bank balance report would show comparative data. Mr. Moseley will add that information to the report. Councilor Boles asked if the gasoline tax funds are in a separate account. Mr. Moseley replied yes and added that each account listed on the bank balance report is a separate bank account. Councilor Chambliss asked if the reports could be provided to council members prior to the meeting. Mr. Moseley explained that expenditures must be posted and bank reconciliations must be completed before reports are compiled. He added that as the finance department gets caught up, it may be easier to provide the reports prior to the meeting. REPORT FROM COUNCIL ON SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Councilor Chambliss reported that the Public Safety, Public Relations, and Judicial Committees have met. Since several committee members are new to the council, the meetings have provided an overview and orientation of each department. The committee has also had an opportunity to look at long-term plans. Councilor Boone reported that the Leisure Services Committee met on December 14, 2012. During the meeting, the splash pad location was discussed. The tennis courts at Newton Park are being resurfaced and the project came in under budget. There continues to be a staff vacancy in the department that will be reviewed after the first of the year. Councilor Boone asked for support of Item #3 to surplus vehicles in the Leisure Services department. AGENDA 1. ORDINANCE: To Amend City Code Chapter 38, Article V. Business Licenses and Taxes, Section 38-303 (3) Issue Fee. (Sponsored By: Council President Wood) ORDINANCE BOOK 2012, PAGE 033 The Ordinance was held from the December 4, 2012 meeting. Council President Pro Tempore Striplin made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Councilor Starnes seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, BROWN, STARNES, WOOD, CHAMBLISS, BOONE 6 NAYS : BOLES 1 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : 2. ORDINANCE: To Surplus Various Items for Scrap Metal from the Wastewater Department. (Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Striplin) 3 ORDINANCE BOOK 2012, PAGE 034 Council President Pro Tempore Striplin made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Councilor Brown seconded the motion. By point of order, it is necessary for the council rules to be suspended if immediate action is to be considered. Councilor Boone made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilor Chambliss seconded the motion. The rules were suspended (7-0). Council President Pro Tempore Striplin explained that during the cleanup at the wastewater plant, it was determined that these items may have value based on their weight. There being no further discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, BROWN, STARNES, WOOD, CHAMBLISS, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : 3. ORDINANCE: To Surplus Two (2) Vehicles from the Leisure Services Department. (Sponsored By: Councilor Boone) ORDINANCE BOOK 2012, PAGE 035 Councilor Boone made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Council President Pro Tempore Striplin seconded the motion. By point of order, it is necessary for the council rules to be suspended if immediate action is to be considered. Councilor Chambliss made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilor Brown seconded the motion. The rules were suspended (7- 0). There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, BROWN, STARNES, WOOD, CHAMBLISS, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : 4. ORDINANCE: To Surplus One (1) 2007 Ford F350 from the Fire Department. (Sponsored By: Councilor Boles) ORDINANCE BOOK 2012, PAGE 036 Councilor Boles made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Councilor Starnes seconded the motion. By point of order, it is necessary for the council rules to be suspended if immediate action is to be considered. Councilor Chambliss made a motion to suspend the rules and Council President Pro Tempore Striplin seconded the motion. The rules were suspended (7- 0). There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, BROWN, STARNES, WOOD, CHAMBLISS, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 4 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : 5. ORDINANCE: To Surplus Various Items from the Wastewater Department. (Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Striplin) ORDINANCE BOOK 2012, PAGE 037 Councilor Starnes made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Councilor Boles seconded the motion. By point of order, it is necessary for the council rules to be suspended if immediate action is to be considered. Councilor Boone made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilor Brown seconded the motion. The rules were suspended (7-0). There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, BROWN, STARNES, WOOD, CHAMBLISS, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : 6. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Release of Funds in an Amount Not to Exceed $13,175.00 for the Purchase of Hach Water Information Management Solution (WIMS) Software for the Wastewater Department. (Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Striplin) RESOLUTION BOOK 2012, PAGE 155 Council President Pro Tempore Striplin made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilor Starnes seconded the motion. Councilor Boles asked if this was a budgeted expense and the Mayor responded that it was. Council President Pro Tempore Striplin added that the cost would increase in January, 2013. There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, BROWN, STARNES, WOOD, CHAMBLISS, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT: John-Paul O’ Driscoll with Autauga County PALS (People Against a Littered State) addressed the council to seek approval and guidance on how to move forward with the grant project to plant trees along Pratt Creek and in Pratt Park. PALS received a $1,000.00 grant from Alabama Power to plant trees in Autauga County. PALS will work closely with the City’s Urban Management and Planning Departments to carry out this project. Labor will be provided by volunteers. To cover the cost of planting some trees, tree memorials will be available for purchase for individuals or businesses. 5 Councilor Wood thanked Mr. O’ Driscoll for bringing this before the council and advised him to get with the Leisure Services and Urban Management Departments to discuss all aspects of this project. CLOSING COMMENTS: Mayor Gillespie wished all employees and citizens a Merry Christmas. Council President Pro Tempore Striplin also wished all employees Merry Christmas. Councilor Starnes wished all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Councilor Boone wished all employees a Merry Christmas. Council President Wood thanked all employees and wished them a Merry Christmas and safe Holidays. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the council, Councilor Chambliss made a motion to adjourn and Councilor Boles seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned (7-0) at 6:37 p.m. APPROVED: ___________________________ Cathy Dickerson City Clerk ___________________________ Willie L. Wood, Jr., President Prattville City Council