PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2007
7:00 P.M.

The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, April 3rd at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall with Council President Dean Argo presiding. Roll was called and all were recorded as being present. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, Councilman Wood gave the invocation.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 20th City Council Minutes. Councilman Renegar made the motion to approve the minutes and Councilman Macready seconded the motion. The minutes were approved (7-0).

COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT:

Ginger Strickland, 113 Sycamore Drive, Prattville, AL 36066, who is a CPA, appeared before the Council as representative of Shabnam Vohra. On February 6, 2007, Ms. Vohra applied for a Retail Beer and Wine Off-Premise License and was turned down by the City Council. Ms. Strickland produced proof of Ms. Vohra’s residency and urged the Council to reconsider Ms. Vohra’s request.

Council President Argo informed Ms. Strickland that Ms. Vohra was denied a license because it wasn’t clear at that time if residency was a requirement. He also stated that no one from the business was present at the February 6th council meeting. He explained that business owners or managers generally attend the meetings to make themselves available to answer any questions that the Council may have, but in this case there was no one present at the meeting, therefore the Council had no way of obtaining pertinent information. He further asked Ms. Strickland to leave the information with the City Clerk so that copies could be made and distributed to the Council and Ms. Vohra’s request may be reconsidered at a future meeting.

Jeremy Arthur, 522 Mossy Oak Ridge, Prattville, AL 36066, appeared before the Council to introduce the Ms. Kaleigh Cheeks who has recently been hired as the new Membership Director for the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Cheeks is originally from Prattville and has recently moved back from Atlanta.

Council President Argo and Councilman Miller welcomed Ms. Cheeks.

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Mayor Byard presented a commendation to Tori Norman who was recently named the 2007 Junior Miss Rodeo Alabama.

Regarding the evening’s agenda, the Mayor urged support on Resolution number 3, which provides level funding for the Chamber of Commerce. He asked for support on Resolution number 7, to award a bid for knuckle boom loader. He further asked the Council to approve Resolution numbers 8, 9, and 10, which declare certain businesses as non-responsible bidders on bid no. 07-006 for a 2007 backhoe. The Mayor stated that the Finance Committee agrees with him that Resolution number 14 should be approved, which allows for the financing of equipment on an as needed basis.

COUNCIL REPORTS:

Councilman Wood agreed with the decision to purchase the knuckle boom loader for the Sanitation Department.

Council President Argo reported that the Finance Committee met with Finance Director Rod Morgan and agreed that the Council should move forward with Resolution numbers 3, 7, 11 and 14. He also thanked everyone for remembering his family with cards, letters, and personal visits during the loss and burial of his mother.

AGENDA

1. RESOLUTION: TO DECLARE 122 E. POPLAR STREET A WEEDED LOT TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND ORDERING ITS ABATEMENT PER TITLE 11, CHAPTER 67 OF THE CODE OF ALAGAMA, 1975, AS AMENDED. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 037).

The Resolution was introduced at the February 20th council meeting and a public hearing was held at 6:00 p.m. this evening. No one appeared in favor or opposition to the Resolution. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following vote:

2. ORDINANCE: TO REZONE PROPERTY LOCATED OFF OLD RIDGE ROAD FROM FAR TO R-2. (ORDINANCE BOOK 2007, PAGE 010).

The Ordinance was introduced at the March 6th council meeting and a public hearing was held at 6:00 p.m. this evening. There was no opposition to the rezoning. However, Mary Mixon appeared before the Council with concerns regarding traffic situations but was satisfied with the answers she received to her questions.
Councilman Renegar commended Bryan Easley, Administration Pastor at East Memorial Baptist Church, for the way in which he and his staff handled what was asked of them to prepare for the rezoning.

Council President Argo stated that he had a large number of constituents who were opposed to the initial rezoning request which included apartments. He echoed Councilman Renegar’s compliments to the church staff for being good neighbors and taking a controversial issue and turning it into a pleasurable one.

There being no further discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following vote:

3. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE FUNDING FOR THE PRATTVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 038).

The Resolution was introduced at the March 20th council meeting and held for two weeks. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following vote:

4. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARCHITECTURAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PRATTVILLE AND WILLIAM BARRY ROBINSON FOR THE PRATTVILLE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB GYMNASIUM. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 039).

Councilman Wood made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Fank seconded the motion. Councilman Renegar stated that because he was on the Board of Directors, it would be necessary to recuse himself from voting on this issue. Councilman Wood stated that he, too, is on the Board of Directors but that he would vote in favor of the Resolution. He also stated that the reason for amending this Resolution is because they were unable to raise enough funds for their original plan.
Mayor Byard reminded those in attendance that the City serves as a pass- through for these CDBG funds. These are not City funds. There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:

5. RESOLUTION: TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A LOUNGE, CLASS II PACKAGE STORE LICENSE TO SUNBELT-CPA, LLC D/B/A COURTYARD PRATTVILLE. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 040).

Councilman Macready made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Gillespie seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following vote:

6. ORDINANCE: TO DECLARE ONE (1) VEHICLE SURPLUS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. (ORDINANCE BOOK 2007, PAGE 011).

Councilman Gillespie made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Councilman Fank seconded the motion. Because Ordinances are generally held for two weeks, it is necessary for the council rules to be suspended. Councilman Renegar made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilman Macready seconded the motion. The rules were suspended (7-0). There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following vote:

At this time, Councilman Wood made a motion to move item number 14 to appear as item number 7 on the agenda. Councilman Fank seconded the motion. All were in favor (7-0).

7. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE A MUNICIPAL LOAN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF PRATTVILLE AND REGIONS EQUIPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 041).

Councilman Miller made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Macready seconded the motion. During discussion, Councilman Gillespie stated that initially he had reservations regarding this approach to cost saving measures but after having been completely informed of the process by Finance Director Rod Morgan, he feels that it is in the City’s best interest to move forward with this Resolution. Councilman Renegar encouraged other councilmembers to vote in favor of the Resolution. There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following vote:

8. RESOLUTION: TO AWARD BID NO. 07-007 TO RAMER MANUFACTURING, INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE (1) TRUCK- MOUNTED SHUTTLE SYSTEM KNUCKLE BOOM LOADER FOR THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 036).

Councilman Wood made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Fank seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following vote:

Councilman Wood made a motion to move item numbers 9, 10, and 11 to a consent agenda. Councilman Fank seconded the motion. The items were moved to a consent agenda (7-0)

9. RESOLUTION: TO DECLARE JOE MONEY MACHINERY A NON- RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR BID NO. 07-006. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 043).

10. RESOLUTION: TO DECLARE TRACTOR AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY A NON-RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR BID NO. 07-006. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 044).

11. RESOLUTION: TO DECLARE SUN SOUTH MONTGOMERY A NON-RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR BID NO. 07-006. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 045).

Councilman Renegar made a motion to adopt the Resolutions and Councilman Macready seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolutions were adopted with the following vote:

12. RESOLUTION: TO AWARD BID NO. 07-006 TO WARRIOR TRACTOR AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE (1) 2007 BACKHOE FOR THE STREET DEPARTMENT. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 046).

Councilman Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Renegar seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following vote:

13. RESOLUTION: TO RE-APPOINT CONNIE DISMUKES TO THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2007, PAGE 047).

Councilman Gillespie made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Wood seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following vote:

14. RESOLUTION: TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING TO REZONE PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF WASHINGTON FERRY ROAD AND MCGRIFF STREET FROM R-2 TO R-5.

Councilman Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Gillespie seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following vote:

15. ORDINANCE: TO AMEND CHAPTER 18, DIVISION 2, SPEED RESTRICTIONS-SECTION 30-35. (ORDINANCE BOOK 2007, PAGE 012).

Councilman Fank made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Councilman Gillespie seconded the motion. Because Ordinances are generally held for two weeks, it is necessary for the council rules to be suspended if immediate action is to be taken. Councilman Renegar made the motion to suspend the rules and Councilman Gillespie seconded the motion. Councilman Wood called for the question. The question was called (6-1) with Councilman Macready opposed. The rules were suspended (7-0). During discussion, Councilman Macready questioned the urgency of passing the Ordinance this evening. Councilman Fank explained that by amending this Ordinance, it enables us to move the speed limit sign from its current location on Highway 14 to just west of the Hunting Ridge Subdivision entrance.

There being no further discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following vote:

CLOSING COMMENTS:

Mayor Byard stated that he had just received word that the Autauga County Commission had passed a Resolution at its meeting tonight to allow the City to manage the home-delivered meals on wheels program at the Gillespie Center, which the City owns and operates. He thanked the City Council and the Autauga County Commission for working together to make this a positive change for the senior citizens of Prattville and Autauga County.

Councilman Macready reminded everyone to attend the program specifically designed to protect our children from internet predators. Sgt. Gary Graves of the Prattville Police Department will conduct the informative meeting that is open to the public on Tuesday, April 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

ADJOURN:

There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilman Gillespie made a motion to adjourn and Councilman Macready seconded the motion. The meeting closed at 7:55 p.m.

APPROVED:

_______________________
Gina P. Smith
City Clerk

_______________________
Dean Argo, President
Prattville City Council