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Minutes 2012-07-171 PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 6:01 P.M. The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 6:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, Councilor Brown gave the invocation. Roll was called and Councilor Miller was recorded as being absent. THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS DECISIVENESS: The ability to recognize key facts and finalize difficult decisions. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: City Council Meeting and Public Hearing July 3, 2012. Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to approve the minutes and Councilor Boles seconded the motion. The minutes were approved (6-0). COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA: None MAYOR’S REPORT: At 6:04 Councilor Miller arrived at the Council meeting. Mayor Gillespie reported that the qualification period to run for Mayor and City Council ended today at 5:00 p.m. A complete list of qualified candidates will be available on the City website. The municipal election will be held on August 28, 2012 and the run-off, if necessary, on October 9, 2012. Mayor Gillespie was pleased with the July 4th events and thanked all the departments and committees that helped to pull the events together. The “No Excuses, Just Results” group has been organized to look for grant monies that the City is eligible to apply for. This group was instrumental in helping the Autauga County Humane Shelter locate a grant contest currently being held. Congratulations to the Prattville Swim League for winning first place in the district finals and moving on to the state. Coach Joe Reynolds’ daughter competed on this team and had the opportunity to qualify for the Olympic tryouts. The National Night Out, sponsored by Target, will be held on August 7, 2012, in the Target parking lot. The Mayor hopes to revitalize the community’s Neighborhood Watch program. Way Off Broadway presents “Patio Porch” from July 26, 2012 until August 12, 2012. Leisure Services Director Drew Peterson is in in the process of creating a sports committee to better determine the citizens’ recreational wants and needs. 2 The department budget hearings will be held on July 31, 2012. Citizens and Council are invited to attend. The Mayor hopes to present the City Council with a budget by late August. The Mayor asked that the Council move forward on Item #2. Councilor Boles congratulated the Mayor for earning his Certified Municipal Officer’s Certification. Councilor Miller requested an update on the Splash Pad for Pratt Park. Mayor Gillespie reported that Coca Cola has to complete an audit before announcing the official winner of the contest. The City was approximately 7 million votes ahead when the contest ended and is likely to receive the first place of $100,000.00 in grant monies. Mayor Gillespie created a committee headed by Battalion Commander Michael Whaley to handle grant writing and search for additional grants for the City. REPORT ON STATUS OF CITY FINANCES: Interim Finance Director Doug Moseley presented the Council with a Revenue & Expense Report through the month of June 2012, as attached. The Revenue Report shows revenue running in-line. Sales tax is almost where it should be and the lodging tax is still down. Budget total is 66.67% through the year; we have received 76.32% of revenue budgeted year- to-date. The Tax Breakdown Comparison compares the major tax accounts to last year. The organic difference is $33,806.03 less than last year; the actual difference is $21,229.82 less than last year. June was the first month to receive the additional one-percent sales tax last year, so the comparison is now apples to apples. The June Unaudited Expenses by Department reports shows that most departments are at or below budget for the year. This is a positive sign that departments are conscious of the budget and spending only where necessary. Year-to-date, the city has spent 63% of budget and is 75% through the year. The Wastewater and Sanitation Enterprise Funds are both continuing to run in the black. The City has been waiting on grant money and $150,000.00 came in and was put back into the Enterprise Funds. Accounts Payable is less than 30 days on all vendors. In the Group Health Account, May has been paid; the city still owes for June and July. The goal is to be completely caught up by the end of the fiscal year. The Debt Service payment is due in November and the City currently has $1.6 million in the debt reserve account. $500,000 is put aside monthly in order to fund this payment. Councilor Wood asked Mr. Moseley how much is the November debt payment and Mr. Moseley responded approximately $3 million. 3 REPORT FROM COUNCIL ON SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Council President Renegar reported that the Finance Committee met yesterday and they support Items # 1, 2 and 3. AGENDA 1. RESOLUTION: To Appoint Honorable Alfred Q. Booth to Deliver Voters List to City Clerk. (Sponsored By: Council President Renegar) RESOLUTION BOOK 2012, PAGE 073 Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilor Boles seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, RENEGAR, MILLER, BOLES, FANK 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE 2. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Hiring of One (1) Firefighter for the Fire Department at an Annual Cost Not to Exceed $51,970.00. (Sponsored By: Councilor Miller) RESOLUTION BOOK 2012, PAGE 074 Councilor Miller made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilor Striplin seconded the motion. Councilor Miller stated the need for an additional fire fighter had been brought to his attention a couple weeks ago, but he had not had the opportunity to hold a Fire Committee Meeting to discuss it. Councilor Miller concurs with the Finance Committee and does support this Resolution. Councilor Boles asked if the salary listed in this Resolution would cover the hiring of a trained fire fighter and Fire Chief Terry Brown responded that it would. There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, RENEGAR, MILLER, BOLES, FANK 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE 3. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into Agreement with Autauga County to Lease Auto Mark Handicap Voting Machines for Use in the 2012 Municipal Elections. (Sponsored By: Council President Renegar) RESOLUTION BOOK 2012, PAGE 075 Councilor Striplin made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilor Brown seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: 4 AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, RENEGAR, MILLER, BOLES, FANK 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT: Lora Lee Boone, 210 Fawn Lane, Prattville, asked if the employee in Item #2 would be earning the same as the employee they are being hired to replace. Human Resources Director Lisa Thrash responded that this employee would be making less because they will start at entry level pay plus medic pay. John Wiggins, 214 Magnolia Drive, Prattville, filed a complaint approximately four months ago regarding an abandoned vehicle in his neighborhood. Since the complaint was filed, the owners of the vehicle have dismembered it, and now have it strewed across their yard. Mr. Wiggins brought this issue before the council in an attempt to raise the standards of the community by having the yard cleaned up. Mr. Wiggins asked to be kept up to date on this issue. Councilor Wood thanked Mr. Wiggins for speaking and informed him that he had spoken with the Planning Department regarding the issue. Mayor Gillespie assured Mr. Wiggins that the City would take action and he would be kept up to date on the progress. Tom Reinhart, 107 Deer Trace, Prattville, spoke before the council to commend the Prattville Police department. Mr. Reinhart has been a resident of Prattville for 40 years and in that time he has only had good experiences with the City’s police officers. Mr. Reinhart also commended the Prattville Fire Department. Both departments have always been kind, courteous and professional. Mayor Gillespie and Councilor Boles thanked Mr. Reinhart for recognizing these departments. Richard Minnick, 105 Asbury Drive, Prattville, addressed the Council regarding the budget that is posted on the City website. Mr. Minnick stated that it would be helpful if the initial budget was posted and then updated by posting any amendments. Mayor Gillespie hopes that by the next budget cycle that will be a possibility. CLOSING COMMENTS: Mayor Gillespie reported that Autauga County schools would begin on August 20, 2012 and on August 18, 2012 a back-to-school event will be held at Pratt Park. Councilor Striplin expressed his appreciation to Mr. Reinhart for his comments and to all departments that helped with the 4th of July events. The contest to win the splash pad pulled the community together. Councilor Striplin thanked Ken Johnson for helping to beautify Prattville. Councilor Wood thanked all of the City employees. Councilor Brown announced that the Street Committee would meet on July 24, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall Annex. 5 Councilor Miller thanked Mr. Reinhart for his comments and reported that his wife was doing well after her surgery earlier today. Councilor Boles thanked all of the City employees for their efforts during the 4th of July events. Council President Pro Tempore Fank thanked Mr. Reinhart and stated that it is always nice to hear positive feedback. Council President Renegar stated that the citizens he has spoken with, including Mr. Reinhart, have been impressed with the job that all of the City employees are doing. He encourages more citizens to speak before the Council and thanked Mr. Reinhart. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the council, Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adjourn and Councilor Boles seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned (7-0) at 6:53 p.m. APPROVED: ___________________________ Cathy Dickerson City Clerk ___________________________ Michael E. Renegar, President Prattville City Council SUBMITTED BY: ___________________________ Jamie F. McClellan Assistant City Clerk