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Minutes 2015-03-17 PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 6:00 P.M. The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at 6:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, Councilor Boone gave the invocation. Roll was called and all Councilors were present. THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS AVAILABILITY: Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I serve. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: City Council Meeting March 3, 2015. Councilor Brown made a motion to adopt the minutes and Councilor Starnes seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the minutes were adopted (7-0). COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA: Jon Lee Finnegan, 211 Deer Trace Street, Prattville AL, addressed the Council regarding Agenda Item # 3. Ms. Finnegan asked if the tax abatements mentioned in Agenda Item # 3 are the exact same as the abatements mentioned in the Industrial Development Board’s Resolution. Ms. Finnegan asked what the City of Prattville was getting in return for said incentive package. Council President Wood informed Ms. Finnegan that the economic development project’s details were confidential at this time. President Wood assured Ms. Finnegan that she would have answers once negotiations have ceased. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gillespie was granted a point of privilege, to invite Chris Neunschwander of Jackson Thornton to give the Council an update regarding City’s audit. Mr. Neunschwander thanked the Council for the opportunity to deliver the audit opinion for the September 30, 2014 financial statement. The opinion was issued at the end of February and Finance Director Doug Moseley will be able to provide the Council with a copy. Mr. Neunschwander appreciated the cooperation received from all who participated in the audit, and especially from the Mayor and Mr. Moseley’s staff. Jackson Thornton issued a clean opinion. In the Audit, behind the Table of Contents there is a Transmittal Letter. This letter was written by Mr. Moseley and is a great overview of the audit. The size of the City on a full accrual basis is about 75 million. This includes all cash, receivables and fixed assets. The City has a positive fund balance or money left over after all liabilities. Mr. Neunschwander stated that the Council should have confidence in their operating team. The size of the City’s expenditures is about $35,000.00 million. Mr. Neunschwander reiterated that Jackson and Thornton had issued a clean opinion. This year a Single Audit or A-1-33 Audit was required. This audit is required to show that federal dollars are being spent appropriately. The Single Audit is virtually complete and there were no findings of non-compliance by the City. The City’s Enterprise Funds ran in the black all year; meaning they were profitable to themselves. Whenever taxes are raised one concern is that the City will grow into the new revenue stream. It is obvious to the auditors that the City did not, and that budget constraint has continued. This is evident by the City ending the year with 7 million in net income on a full accrual year. Council President Wood thanked Mr. Neunschwander for his report and all employees who helped with the audit process. The Mayor also thanked Mr. Neunschwander and all City employees who helped with the audit process. Thanks to City Planner Joel Duke securing grant funds the City was able to replace the roof on the Museum across the street from City Hall. The Mayor thanked the Council for approving the funds for this project and others that will be done there this fiscal year. Repairs and updates will be made to A Child’s Place this week. The Parks & Recreation and Facilities Maintenance Departments have been hard at work prepping the area and painting, while the contractor replaced the walkway surfaces. Fire Sergeant Matt Harden and Captain Travis Rodie volunteered their time to help with the project. City Engineer Robby Anderson and his crews will be working to improve The Grove before the Farmers Market opens for the season. Assistant Chief Diane Hamm has been selected to attend the FBI Academy. She will be the first Prattville officer to have attended. The Fountain City Arts Festival Dinner last Saturday night was a great event honoring “The Swampers” and the “Muscle Shoals Sound Studio”. The Mayor thanked Parks and Recreation Director Kellie Cook and Cultural Arts Coordinator Barbara Simpson for their hard work on this event. The Mayor asked that the Council move forward Consent Agenda Item #3. This item renews the levy of 7 Mills Ad Valorem. This is not an increase, but a renewal of what is currently on the books. Item # 3 supports a project being led by the Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Development Board. The IDB has carefully considered this project and the Mayor concurred that it is in the best interest of the City of Prattville. He asked that the Council move forward with Agenda Item # 3. After the last Council meeting, a team consisting of Council President Pro Tempore Striplin, Economic Developer Amy Brabham, City Planner Joel Duke, Finance Director Doug Moseley and the Mayor traveled to Washington, DC to meet with Senators Shelby and Sessions, as well as Representative Roby regarding projects that serve the community well. They received positive feedback from key personnel and look forward to working with them in the hopes of moving these projects forward. North Highland Fun Day will be held on March 21st. The Fountain City Arts Festival will be held at Pratt Park on March 28th. REPORT FROM COUNCIL ON SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None REPORT ON THE STATUS OF CITY FINANCES: Finance Director Doug Moseley will send the Council an electronic file of the City audit tomorrow. Mr. Moseley presented the finance reports for February 2015. The Unaudited General Fund Revenue report showed that overall revenue was up 5.95% in comparison to prior year. The Tax Breakdown Comparison report showed revenue in-line with the budget. The Unaudited Expenses by Department report showed with 41.67% of the budget year complete department expenses were either under budget or at budget. The Wastewater Enterprise Fund Income Statement showed income in-line with the budget. Expenses on paper are high in comparison to last year. This is due to an early bond repayment. The Sanitation Enterprise Fund Income Statement showed that 33.36% of budgeted revenues have been received and 36.15% of budgeted expenses have been spent. The Judicial Special Revenue Fund Income Statement showed income and expenses in-line with the budget. The suspense account included revenue to be processed. The Bank Balances report showed a total cash balance of $17,642,987.00 as of February 28, 2015. The City Wide Accounts Payable and Debt Balances report show total debt at $41,819,000.00 as of February 28, 2015. Councilor Boles asked if cash is available to make the bond payment due in May. Finance Director Moseley replied funds are on-hand for the bond payment due in May. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. RESOLUTION: To Appoint Eleanor Ballow as a Director to the Autauga County Public Education Cooperative District. (Sponsored By: Council President Wood) RESOLUTION BOOK 2015, Page 022 2. RESOLUTION: To Set a Public Hearing to Declare Various Weeded Lots to be a Public Nuisance and Ordering Their Abatement per Title 11, Chapter 67 of the Code of Alabama, 1975, as Amended. (Sponsored By: Councilor Starnes) RESOLUTION BOOK 2015, Page 023 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 Wood) RESOLUTION BOOK 2015, Page 024 Council President Pro Tempore Striplin made a motion to place Items # 1-3 on a Consent Agenda and Councilor Whiteside seconded the motion. The items were placed on a consent agenda (7-0). Councilor Boles made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda and Councilor Starnes seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Consent Agenda was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE AGENDA 1. RESOLUTION: To Release Funds for the Purchase of One (1) Lone Wolf 25’ Trailer from Prattville Outdoors for the Parks and Recreation Department at a Cost Not to Exceed $3,790.00. (Sponsored By: Councilor Boone) RESOLUTION BOOK 2015, Page 025 Councilor Boone made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Council President Pro Tempore Striplin seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE 2. RESOLUTION: To Release Funds for the Purchase of One (1) John Deere 1200A Bunker and Field Rake from Beard Equipment Company for the Parks and Recreation Department at a Cost Not to Exceed $12,810. 00. (Sponsored By: Councilor Boone) RESOLUTION BOOK 2015, Page 026 Councilor Boone 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: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE 3. RESOLUTION: To Support The Industrial Development Board’s Resolution to Offer Incentives for Project Friction to Attract and Retain Economic Development. (Sponsored By: Council President Wood) RESOLUTION BOOK 2015, Page 027 Councilor Brown made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilor Boles seconded the motion. City Attorney David McDowell suggested that the Resolution be amended to exclude the language “as specified by the attached Industrial Development Board Resolution” on lines 40 and 41. Councilor Boles made a motion to amend lines 40 and 41 of the Resolution, to delete the language “as specified by the attached Industrial Development Board Resolution” and Councilor Brown seconded the motion. The Resolution was amended (7-0). There being no further discussion, the amended Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE 4. ORDINANCE: To Surplus Various Equipment and One (1) Vehicle from the Police Department. (Sponsored By: Councilor Starnes) ORDINANCE BOOK 2015, Page 012 Councilor Starnes made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Councilor Boone seconded the motion. By point of order, it is necessary that the council rules be suspended if immediate action is to be considered. Council President Pro Tempore Striplin made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilor Whiteside seconded the motion. The rules were suspended (7-0). There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE Councilor Starnes introduced the following Resolution from the floor. FROM THE FLOOR: RESOLUTION: To Terminate Client Agreement with Judicial Correction Services, Inc. (Sponsored By: Councilor Starnes) RESOLUTION BOOK 2015, PAGE 028 Councilor Starnes made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilor Brown seconded the motion. By point of order, the council rules must be suspended if immediate action is to be considered. Councilor Boles 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 Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT: Jon Lee Finnegan, 211 Deer Trace Street, Prattville AL, wishes to have the Draft City Council Agenda available online on Friday before the City Council meeting. Council President Wood informed Ms. Finnegan that her wish would be taken into consideration. Council President Wood announced that the Council needed to enter Executive Session to discuss economic development. City Attorney David McDowell had provided the City Clerk with a letter of explanation for the Executive Session. That letter is made part of the official record. Councilor Starnes made a motion to enter Executive Session and Councilor Whiteside seconded the motion. With a vote of (7-0), the Council entered Executive Session at 6:41 p.m. Council President Wood announced the Executive Session was expected to last about one hour and the Council would re-enter Regular Session to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Boles made a motion to adjourn Executive Session and re-enter Regular Session and Councilor Brown seconded the motion. With a vote of (7-0), the Council re-entered Regular Session at 7:25 p.m. CLOSING COMMENTS: Council President Wood invited all to attend the North Highland Fun Day this Saturday. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the council, Councilor Boone made a motion to adjourn and Councilor Whiteside seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned (7-0) at 7:26 p.m. APPROVED: ___________________________ Cathy Dickerson City Clerk ___________________________ Willie L. Wood, Jr., President Prattville City Council SUBMITTED BY: ___________________________ Jamie Ferrari Assistant City Clerk