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CC Minutes 2022.03.011 PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 6:01 P.M. The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 6:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, Councilor Striplin gave the invocation. Roll was called with all Councilors recorded as present with the exception of Council President Starnes. Council President Pro Tempore Boone declared a quorum and called the meeting to order. THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS ENDURANCE: The inner strength to withstand stress and do my best. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Work Session and City Council Meeting February 15, 2022. Councilor Strichik made a motion to adopt the minutes and Councilor Gornto seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the minutes were adopted (6-0). Council President Pro Tempore Boone requested the football team and coaches representing Prattville High School in attendance to stand for public recognition. COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA: Jon Lee Finnegan, 211 Deer Trace, addressed the Council about her concerns regarding funding aspects for agenda items 12 and 13. She also asked where the fitness court would be located for agenda item 14. Tyce Khartri, 342 Sydney Drive South, addressed the Council regarding his support for agenda item 12. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gillespie asked we keep the people of Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers as it has been confirmed that Russia invaded that country. He mentioned the lights in front of City Hall were changed to reflect the colors blue and yellow, signifying support for the people of Ukraine. Mayor Gillespie asked we keep Senator Clyde Chambliss and his family in our thoughts and prayers due to the loss of his mother. Mayor Gillespie thanked Councilors that attended the official groundbreaking for The Mill Apartments on Friday, February 25, 2022. He asked everyone use caution in that area due to construction. He highlighted some other projects in the works including new signage, fencing, sidewalks and movement of power poles on Bridge Street. Mayor Gillespie advised he anticipates another written proposal from Pratt Mill Properties LLC that should arrive before the next City Council meeting. Mayor Gillespie suggested that a work session be scheduled to discuss the topic. 2 Mayor Gillespie continued his report with information on paving projects in the downtown area. If weather permits, some paving should begin on March 21, 2022, and information on specific locations to avoid will be placed on the City’s website. He addressed progress related to Easy Street, mentioning the sewer stormwater pipes were in place. Mayor Gillespie advised item 3 on tonight’s agenda is housekeeping for the City’s current 7 Mills ad valorem tax and was not a tax increase. Mayor Gillespie reported the City’s youth softball would officially begin on March 5, 2022, and youth baseball on March 12, 2022. He encouraged citizens to attend the opening days. Mayor Gillespie ended his report reminding Councilors the month of March marked the middle of the fiscal year with many things completed and many more things to come. REPORT FROM COUNCIL ON SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None. AGENDA 1. ORDINANCE: To Surplus Real Property Located at the South Margin of Wetumpka Street, Prattville, Alabama 36067. (Sponsored By: Councilor Strichik) ORDINANCE BOOK 2022, PAGE 005 This ordinance was introduced at the February 15, 2022, City Council meeting. There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 2. ORDINANCE: To Amend City of Prattville Code of Ordinances, Chapter 62-Traffic and Vehicles, Article III.-Vehicle Operation, Division 2.- Speed Restrictions, Section(s) 62-77 through 62-84. (Sponsored By: Councilor Jackson) ORDINANCE BOOK 2022, PAGE 006 This ordinance was introduced at the February 15, 2022, City Council meeting. There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 3 3. RESOLUTION: To Ratify and Affirm the Renewal of the Levy of 7 Mills Ad Valorem Tax in the City of Prattville. (Sponsored By: Council President Starnes) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 022 Councilor Chambers made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Strichik seconded the motion. Council President Pro Tempore Boone reiterated the resolution would not levy a new tax on citizens and was merely housekeeping. There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 4. RESOLUTION: To Surplus Various Vehicles from the Police Department. (Sponsored By: Council President Starnes) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 023 Councilor Gornto made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Strichik seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 5. ORDINANCE: To Surplus Real Property Located at 553 Mt. Airy Drive, Prattville, Alabama 36067. (Sponsored By: Councilor Jackson) ORDINANCE BOOK 2022, PAGE 007 Councilor Jackson made a motion to adopt the ordinance and Councilor Gornto seconded the motion. By Point-of-Order, it is necessary that Council rules be suspended if immediate action is to be considered. Councilor Gornto made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilor Strichik seconded the motion. Council President Pro Tempore Boone ordered a Roll Call Vote for the suspension of rules. ROLL CALL VOTE: Councilor Striplin Aye Councilor Jackson Aye Councilor Chambers Aye Councilor Gornto Aye Councilor Strichik Aye Councilor Boone Aye 4 The rules were suspended (6-0). The ordinance now being properly before the Council, Council President Pro Tempore Boone invited questions and comments from the Council. There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 6. RESOLUTION: To Amend the FY2022 Budget and to Authorize the Release of Funds for the Purchase of Ten (10) P25 Hand-Held Radios through State Contract T3004020005 from Communications International, Inc. for the Police Department at a Net Cost Not to Exceed $24,215.10. (Sponsored By: Council President Starnes) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 024 Councilor Gornto made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Strichik seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 7. RESOLUTION: To Award Bid No. 022-004 to Pyro Productions, Inc. for the July 4th Fireworks Display Program for the Performing and Creative Arts Division at a Total Cost of $28,600.00. (Sponsored By: Councilor Strichik) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 025 Councilor Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Gornto seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 5 8. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into a Land Lease Agreement with Verizon Wireless of the East d/b/a Verizon Wireless for the Installation, Maintenance and Operation of Communications Equipment at the Property Located at 290 Echlin Boulevard (Prattville Fire Department Training Facility). (Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Boone) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 026 Councilor Chambers made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Gornto seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 9. RESOLUTION: To Set a Public Hearing to Rezone Property Located Inside the City Limits at 1089 South Memorial Drive from B-2 (General Business) and R-2 (Single Family Residential) to B-2 (General Business) (Owner: Coosa Property Holdings LLC) (Petitioners: James H. and Sandra H. Ray). (Sponsored By: Councilor Strichik) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 027 Councilor Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Gornto seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 Councilor Strichik read in the ordinance and by Point-of-Order, the ordinance will be held until after the public hearing on April 5, 2022. 10. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Release of Funds for the Purchase of One (1) Rotary Slope Mower through the H-GAC Purchasing Cooperative, Contract Number GR01-20, from Embankscape Equipment LLC d/b/a RC Mowers for the Urban Management Division of the Public Works Department at a Net Cost Not to Exceed $59,952.00. (Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Boone) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 028 Councilor Jackson made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Gornto seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: 6 AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 11. RESOLUTION: To Amend the FY2022 Budget and to Authorize the Release of Funds for the Purchase of Two (2) Mobile Mounted License Plate Reader Systems through the NCPA Purchasing Cooperative, Contract No. 12-10, from Vigilant Solutions for the Police Department at a Net Cost Not to Exceed $22,580.00 (Net Cost to the City Not to Exceed $752.50). (Sponsored By: Council President Starnes) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 029 Councilor Gornto made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Strichik seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 12. RESOLUTION: To Support Project Parks. (Sponsored By: Councilor Strichik) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 030 Councilor Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Chambers seconded the motion. Councilor Gornto requested City Attorney Andrew Odom explain the intent of the resolution. Mr. Odom stated the resolution was an expression of intent for the Council to support Project Parks moving forward. Councilor Striplin requested clarification the resolution was for support and not a resolution committing funds. Finance Director Daniel Oakley advised the resolution laid out the estimated cost and proposed means to fund Project Parks and if adopted, would stand for Council consensus to move forward with the scope of work. Councilor Jackson stated he was in favor of Project Parks, but was not comfortable committing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money as part of the funding stream since there had not been any public forums to gauge ideas from citizens on how to spend said money. Councilor Strichik advised that he favored using $2 million in ARPA money and advised it was allocated specifically to park improvements, not Stanley Jensen Stadium. Mr. Oakley advised there would need to be additional Council action to obligate funds and if the $2 million were removed, then an amendment to increase the bond amount would be required in this resolution and the next resolution on the agenda. Mr. Oakley reiterated the $2 million was not going to fund any portion of the Stanley Jensen Stadium improvements. Council President Boone disagreed with Councilor Jackson’s assessment that no public input had been garnered for the use of ARPA money and noted that there have been at least five public meetings regarding Tier 1 Parks and Recreation Department projects, where citizens could comment or make suggestions. Council President Pro Tempore Boone stated that she supported using ARPA money for Pratt Park and Newton Park as the scope of work fell in line with the stipulations of the Act. Councilor 7 Jackson restated that there had not been any public work sessions or forums dedicated to discussing ARPA money. Council President Pro Tempore Boone asked if any Councilor wanted to bring an amendment from the floor. Councilor Jackson offered an amendment to take out the two million dollars in ARPA funds and inquired to Mr. Odom for the procedures to follow. Mr. Odom advised that if there was a move to bring an amendment or substitute from the floor, it must be distributed in writing to the Council for review, discussion and vote. However, Mr. Odom stated that alternatively, Councilor Jackson could make a motion to amend certain line numbers of the resolution, which would have to be voted on first. Councilor Jackson made a motion to amend line 53 to $0 (ARPA funds) and amend line 55 to $15 million (general obligation bonds). Councilor Striplin seconded the motion. Council President Pro Tempore Boone ordered a Roll Call Vote to accept the motion to amend lines 53 and 55 of the resolution. ROLL CALL VOTE: Councilor Striplin Aye Councilor Jackson Aye Councilor Chambers Nay Councilor Gornto Nay Councilor Strichik Nay Councilor Boone Nay The motion to amend failed (2-4). There being no further discussion, the original Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 4 NAYS : STRIPLIN, JACKSON 2 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 13. RESOLUTION: To Authorize Certain Actions with Respect to General Obligation Warrants, Series 2022-A, of the City of Prattville. (Sponsored By: Councilor Strichik) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 031 Councilor Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Chambers seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 4 NAYS : STRIPLIN, JACKSON 2 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : STARNES 1 8 14. RESOLUTION: To Support the City of Prattville in their Application for a Non-Binding Grant through the National Fitness Campaign and 2022 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Campaign for a Fitness Court® in Prattville. (Sponsored By: Councilor Strichik) RESOLUTION BOOK 2022, PAGE 032 Councilor Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Gornto seconded the motion. Councilor Jackson asked if $50,000.00 in ARPA money would be allocated to this project. Councilor Strichik stated no. Councilor Striplin stated he had concerns with the cost and did not feel expending $125,000.00 on this project was in the best interest of the City and he would abstain from voting. Councilor Jackson noted that an email circulated to the Council and some City staff mentioned this project did qualify for funding through rescue funds. Councilor Strichik reiterated that the scope of the project qualified for use of rescue funds, but there was no request to use rescue funds. There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : CHAMBERS, GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 4 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : STRIPLIN, JACKSON 2 ABSENT : STARNES 1 COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT: Jon Lee Finnegan, 211 Deer Trace, asked for the tallied vote on Councilor Jackson’s motion to amend line items from agenda item 12 and the timeframe of the bond mentioned in agenda item 13. Ms. Finnegan asked for clarification on the grant amount and the City’s cost of the Fitness Court if the grant was awarded from agenda item 14. El White, 621 West 4th Street, asked where the proceeds of the sale of property from agenda items 1 and 5 would go. Mr. White stated he was opposed to allocating rescue plan money to stadium upgrades and did not think all parks were being treated fairly. He recommended that the Council ask for a forensic audit of all concession stands the Parks and Recreation Department operates. CLOSING COMMENTS: Councilor Jackson recognized the month of March as Women’s History Month and thanked the women in roles of leadership and support that keep the community strong. Councilor Strichik commented that tonight was a historical night in the City because of the passage of agenda items pertaining to Project Parks and congratulated the high school students in attendance. He mentioned that City concession stands generate an approximate $350,000.00, which goes back into the Parks and Recreation budget. 9 Council President Pro Tempore Boone thanked students for coming this evening. She advised the next City Council meeting would be held Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilor Gornto made a motion to adjourn and Councilor Strichik seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m. (6-0). APPROVED: ___________________________ Paula G. Barlow City Clerk ___________________________ Gerald “Jerry” Starnes, President Prattville City Council SUBMITTED BY: Dawn Russell Assistant City Clerk