City of Benton officials will be considering a lengthy ordinance to address several kinds of nuisances. If the ordinance passes through City Council (a meeting on another date), a resident in the city limits of Benton would be fined a minimum of $150 and up to $500 for a first offense. Fines go up from there for subsequent offenses. See the link to the proposed ordinance in the agenda for Thursday night’s meeting.
The Benton Community Services/Animal Control Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 15th, at 5:15 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room at the Benton Municipal Complex. The agenda and minutes from the previous meeting follow.
AGENDA for meeting April 15th, 2021
Committee Members:
- Evelyn Reed, Chair
- Judd Hart
- Jeff Hamm
- Frank Baptist
- Robin Freeman
- Brad Jordan-Staff
- Terry Parsons-Staff
- Establish a Quorum / Call to Order
- Recognition of Attendees
III. Approval of March 11, 2021 meeting minutes
- Animal Control
- Report on Animal Shelter
- Community Services
- Establishing a New Nuisance Abatement Code (Click to see full text of proposed ordinance)
- Adjournment
MINUTES from previous meeting, March 11th, 2021
In Attendance:
Committee Members:
- Council Member Evelyn Reed
- Council Member Jeff Hamm
- Council Member Frank Baptist
- Council Member Judd Hart
- Council Member Robin Freeman
- Brad Jordan, Staff Representative
Council Members present:
- Council Member Jeff Morrow
- Council Member Robin Freeman
- Council Member Shane Knight
- Council Member Steve Brown
- Council Member Evelyn Reed
- Council Member Judd Hart
- Council Member Bill Donnor
- Council Member Jeff Hamm
Guests:
- Mayor Tom Farmer
- Chelsea Matthews
- Terry Parsons
- Brad Jordan
- Baxter Drennon
- Bruce Thomas
- James Helton
- David Vondran
- Mandy Spicer
- Chief Hodges
- John Richey
Council Member Evelyn Reed asks for a motion to amend the agenda and add three additional items under Community Development’s Agenda: A. Discussion of Utilities, H. Franchise Agreement with Comcast, and J. Property Agreements. Council Member Jeff Hamm makes a motion to approve, Shane Knight second. Motion Carried.
Council Member Evelyn Reed asks for a motion to approve the minutes for the meetings for January 4th and January 14th, 2021. Council Member Shane Knight makes a motion to approve, Jeff Hamm second.
Benton Utilities – David Vondran
Mr. Vondran presents information to the council requesting a modification to our net metering ordinance on behalf of a Saline County Solar Project. He gives information about how the City can get power from other sources for less money than current. Mr. Vondran states that we can get our energy from a solar customer instead of from our wholesale contractors. He wants the amendment to the ordinance to implement a grid charge which will be equal to the commercial rate minus the avoided cost. This is recommended so that when solar is not producing, this charge will continue to help pay for other necessary expenses such as poles, building office, support, etc. Discussion is made around the room. There is nothing to vote on as this was just a discussion about what Mr. Vondran plans to present at the Council Meeting the following Monday.
Animal Control Agenda:
Discussion of New Shelter – Terry Parsons
Mr. Parsons presents to the council an update regarding the new shelter. He states that there have been preliminary plans for this project put together by Brian Black and wants to know how the council would like to proceed forward. Terry Parsons states that Mr. Black’s estimated cost for this project would be around 1 million dollars and that this facility can be added onto in the future. Discussion is made around the room regarding what the 1 million dollars will cover and how long it will work at the proposed size. Mr. Parsons states that he can get with Brad Jordan to see how much growth he foresees within the City in the upcoming years. Discussion is made around the room regarding milage or a tax to help fund this project. The CFO, Mandy Spicer contributes financial data regarding how much money the City gets from this milage or taxes. Council Member Bill Donnor suggests that we research a financial gateway in the next 30 days to figure out how to fund this project. Council Member Jeff Hamm makes a motion to move forward aggressively on figuring out the best way to fund this project in the next 30 days and get it started. Council Member Bill Donnor second. A new committee is created to work on this that includes Bill Donnor, Terry Parsons, Jeff Hamm, Mandy Spicer, and Evelyn Reed. Motion carried.
Community Services Agenda:
Tax Back Program – Coorstek – Brad Jordan
Mr. Jordan presents to the Council an application made by Coorstek for the Tax Back Program. He states that this is for an expansion of their facility. Coorstek states that they will bring in 58 new jobs to the City and a 2.2-million-dollar payroll. The Tax Back Program is for sales and use tax refunds for building materials, machinery, and equipment from both state and local levels. In order to get into this program, there is certain criteria a facility has to meet. Discussion is made around the room. Brad Jordan is asking for a resolution for the City to give their endorsement for participation in this program. Council Member Shane Knight makes a motion to approve this resolution. Council Member Judd Hart second. Motion Carried.
Clarifying Penalty for Zoning Ordinance Violations – Baxter Drennon
Mr. Drennon wants to clarify the penalty for someone who is violating the zoning ordinance. He wants to clarify that it is $50 per day for everyday that a violation is in place. He states that this is comparable to what the other cities are requiring. Discussion is made around the room. He asks that we amend Ordinance 14 of 2017 to specifically state this penalty. Council Member Evelyn Reed makes a motion to amend this Ordinance. Council Member Jeff Hamm approved – Council Member Shane Knight second. Motion Carried.
Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Procuring EMS – Chief Hodges
Chief Hodges asks the council for an Ordinance for an agreement between the City of Benton, Saline County, all incorporated as well as unincorporated cities of Saline County to procure an Emergency Medical Services agreement. He is asking for permission to meet with these entities to provide a PFQ to see what is best for our cities as it comes to EMS. Chief Hodges clarifies that this is just for research purposes. Council Member Evelyn Reed makes a motion to move forward with this. Robin Freeman second. Motion carried.
Procedure for Creating Arts & Entertainment District – Baxter Drennon
Mr. Drennon brings to the Council information that he and Mayor Farmer had discussed about creating an Arts & Entertainment District in the downtown area of Benton. Mr. Drennon goes over the types of establishments that would make up an Entertainment District that falls under State of Arkansas code. He discusses what an Arts & Entertainment District would ultimately look like within the City, what the rules and regulations would have to be in place, for example, signage that distinguishes where the district is, and what it is like in surrounding cities. Discussion is made around the room regarding where a good place to put this within the City of Benton would be, a suggestion of Downtown Benton is presented, and what kind of rules or regulations would be included at a place like this. Mr. Drennon states that this would allow us to enhance the overall nightlife within the Downtown area. He states that he was asked to present this information to the council and see if they would like to vote to move forward with an Arts & Entertainment District. Council Member Jeff Hamm makes a motion to approve and present this as an ordinance and make the public aware that we are doing something for the entire community. Council Member Shane Knight second. Mayor Farmer clarifies that this is only a vote to create the procedures for creating this district. Motion carried.
Discussion of Zoning Map Issues – Brad Jordan
Mr. Jordan wants to bring to the Council’s attention that the Community Development Department is always reviewing our zoning within the City. In doing this, some issues have been brought forward regarding some oversight in the zoning after the 2017 updated map was created. He discusses how some areas within the City have been historically zoned as residential property and has been changed to commercial or vice versa. He states that he just wanted to bring this to the Council’s attention so that if there were situations in the future that needed to be fixed, they would be aware as to why. Nothing to approve as this is just for future reference.
Discussion of Terms for City Council – Mayor Farmer
Mayor Farmer asks the Council to look at possibly changing the current Council Member terms to be alternating terms for City Council Members. He says that some members would be voted on every 2 years and others could have 4-year terms. He wants to know what the Council Members think about doing this. Mr. Drennon clarifies laws regarding term limits and provides clarification on which positions would be 2- and 4-year terms. He states that this is something that will have to be voted on by the Citizens of Benton. Discussion is made around the room. Mayor Farmer asks that a vote be made to move forward with an Ordinance that supports this so that they can move forward with a City vote. Council Member Jeff Hamm makes a motion to take this to the people to vote on terms for Council Members. Council Member Shane Knight second. Motion carried.
Franchise Agreements – Baxter Drennon
Mr. Drennon brings to the Council Members that Comcast is wanting to provide cable and internet services to the citizens within the City of Benton. They would have to get a licensing agreement to put these services on utility poles and the City would have to sign this agreement. Comcast would have to pay an annual fee of $15 per pole. Mr. Drennon would like to get this done as soon as possible as Comcast has been trying to get this approved for a while. Council Member Jeff Hamm wants to look at our other franchise agreements to make sure they are comparable to this one. Baxter Drennon wants to entertain two separate motions today. He asks the council to vote to put Comcast’s contract on the Council Members agenda for approval. He also asks the Council Members to authorize work with the Utility Department on franchise agreements to make sure they are all comparable. Council Member Jeff Hamm makes a motion to approve city personnel to work with Benton Utilities on franchise agreements. Council Member Shane Knight second. Motion carried. Council Member Evelyn Reed asks for a motion to approve a contract with Comcast. Council Member Shane Knight makes a motion to approve. Council Member Jeff Hamm second. Motion carried.
Discussion of A&P Tax – Baxter Drennon
Mayor Farmer brings to the Council Members that our A&P tax is in route for payoff in 2022. Baxter Drennon clarifies that once this tax sunsets, the tax and the A&P commission both seize to exist. He wants to know if the Council Members would like to continue this tax and commission. The council would have to create an Ordinance to continue this. Discussion is made around the room about what the A&P tax can legally be spent on and how much the tax could be – it can be up to 3% and it has to be used for advertising and promotion. Council Member Steve Brown would like the other Council Members to consider funds that goes to the Event Center and other facilities for promotional purposes, operations, and maintenance. Council Member Judd Hart makes a motion to draft an Ordinance for a new A&P Tax at the current rate once the old one sunsets. Council Member Shane Knight second. Motion carried.
Property Discussion – Mayor Farmer
Mayor Farmer wants to know how the Council would like to move forward with purchasing property at UALR for the use of a city building. He states that Chief Hodges thinks that the current City Hall will be a great opportunity for growth within the Police Department. This means the current City Hall would move to the UALR building in downtown Benton. Discussion is made around the room regarding how much this would cost along with how we could pay for it. Council Member Jeff Hamm voices concern on purchasing an older building. He states that he would prefer the City of Benton to build a new facility. Mayor Farmer states that the contractor, Brian Black thinks that the building is a sound and stable building and is favorable for a City Hall. Council Member Robin Freeman states that updating an older building would help our vision of developing a vibrant downtown area, which is essential to economic development. Member Shane Knight moves to approve a motion to move forward with obtaining proposals for financial viability to remodel City Hall as a full Police Department and UALR as a City Hall. Council Member Robin Freeman second. Motion carried.
Discussion of Property at Sunset Lake – Mayor Farmer
Mayor Farmer discusses with the Council Members about using the property that the City owns at Sunset Lake as an expansion for the Parks Department. Discussion is made around the room about purchasing the trailer park that is beside this property. Stephanie, the Director of the Parks Department states that having this property would be a great opportunity for growth and the Parks Department would love to pursue this. Mayor Farmer states that the current owner of this property has stated previously that he would entertain selling this property for 1.2 million dollars, this price has increased from previous discussions with the owner. Council Member Evelyn Reed asks if there is another place within the City that could be used for a trailer park – Brad Jordan states that there is not anymore available space for trailers within the City limits per the rules as it stands right now. Mayor Farmer says that he wants to discuss things again with the property owner and will bring back any information that he gets to the Council. Nothing to vote on at this time.
Meeting adjourned.