March/April/May Council Meeting(s) 2024
This year, our agenda and regular meetings are both held in the 2nd floor Chambers of City Hall. They are also both live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Since we are doing a 3-month recap I'll hit the highlights and then get back to the regularly scheduled council updates in June. Quick View:
MARCH
Mayor's Report
Reappointment of Sean Gordon to the A & P Commission.
Appointment of John Baker and Corey Bauer to the Airport Commission.
Finance
Established an Ambulance Fee Schedule for the City to provide a discount to all self-pay patience without insurance if bill is paid in full.
Approved $40,000 from 2021 Parks and Rec Special Fund for design services of 6 new pickleball courts.
Approved $458,026.80 from 2021 Parks and Rec Special Fund for Blackstone Construction to overlay Pleasant View parking lot.
Approved $43,698.27 from Capital Asset Fund 2023 for final payment to complete construction of the Live-Burn Facility for the Fire Department. (Total cost $394,305.20.)
Approved $50,026.42 from Fire Contingency Fund 2020 for purchasing Body Armor and Ballistic Resistant Helmets.
Approved $35,616.00 from Fire Contingency Fund for new engine and aerial.
Authorized the City to apply for and accept a grant for Russellville Municipal Airport Taxiway.
Authorized the City to enter into agreement for engineering services and to apply for all permits for the East Main Street Pedestrian Improvement Project.
Authorized the City to apply for Safe Streets for All Program Grant which would improve the quality of life for citizens, as well as the infrastructure of the city.
Authorized the Finance Director to close Genworth Annuity Account and transfer the principal into the Oakland Cemetery Trust Account Perpetual Fund, as well as transfer the interest to either Cemetery Operating Fund or Perpetual Fund.
Approved increasing the limit of credit cards of the city to fourteen (14) to make paying from different departments more streamlined.
Approved pass through funding of $218.08 to General Fund to RFD Vehicle Maintenance.
Approved $86,193.44 from Economic Development Fund 2023 to allow city to reimburse City Corp for the work performed to extend sanitary sewer for Owens Corning site.
Approved inviting bids for the City's Solid Waste Collection and Transportation Program for Residences Within City Limits.
Authorized the City to execute a Raise Grant Agreement With the FDT to use on Russellville Connected Trail System, to accept and comply with terms and conditions of Raise 2023 Grant, and to provide and report to FDT the performance of used funds.
Old Business
Approved rezoning properties on S Macon + HWY 331 from R-2 and C-2 to M-1.
New Business
Approved adding Juneteenth (June 19th) to the official City Code for allowing fireworks.
Approved updating the Entertainment District boundaries to include new sections. [See below]
APRIL
Mayor's Report
Reappointment of Betsy McGuire, Judy Galloway, and Beverly Hooten to the Russellville Historic District Commission.
Departmental Reports
Planning Commission gave presentation.
Animal Control provided information of past years.
Finance
Authorized the City to execute an Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism Grant to resurvey the Historic District and provide training for staff and commissioners.
Approved Private Club Permit for Buffalo Wild Wings of Russellville, Inc. and allowed for the application of required permits from ABC.
Expressed willingness of the City to utilize federal aid or funds for Downtown Connector to Schoolhouse Project, knowing they are 80% federal participation with 20% local match.
Approved reimbursement request for first quarter expenses for 2024 Alliance Workforce Development for $23,344.00.
Approved $1,000 from Street Fund to pay deductible for accident with public works vehicle.
Reappropriated $101,116.42 from the Latimore Tourist Home Special Fund to implement phase 2 of restoration project.
Repealed inviting bids for the City's Solid Waste Collection and Transportation Program. Amended language in section J to replace Handicap with Disability and Elderly.
Reimbursed $21,489.78 to Boys & Girls Club's first quarter expenses for 2024.
Authorized the City to apply for and accept a grant with USDOT to use for feasibility and constructability study of pedestrian bridge addition to the Arkansas River Bridge connecting Russellville and Dardanelle.
Authorized the City to execute a preliminary engineering agreement with Union Pacific Railroad to allow the city to work within their right of ways.
Authorized the City to apply for and accept a grant for the Municipal Airport reconstruction phase 1, construction only and runway remarking.
Approved the Private Club Permit for Russellville Social Club, dba Venezia's Italian Kitchen and allowed for the application of required permits from ABC.
Approved $120,000.00 from the 2023 Carry Over Balance to be used for citizen awareness, infrastructure items, and preparedness supplies for the 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Old Business
NONE
New Business
1 of 3 readings for submitting the question of annexation to the voters of Russellville on November 5th. See map below:
Approved setting a public hearing for vacation of easement along North Knoxville submitted by Connect Church.
Approved setting a public hearing for portion of West 13th St.
Approved setting a public hearing for the vacation of a portion of West C Street right-of-way.
1 of 3 readings amending the zoning code to reflect additional clarifications for swimming pools, mobile food vendors, off-street parking requirements, and driveways.
1 of 3 readings amending the zoning code to clarify decibel threshold levels for noise complaints.
1 of 3 readings approving the final plat of Scenic Way Village Phase 1 and accepted the dedication to the easements.
MAY
Mayor's Report
Appointment of Seth Boone to the A&P Board.
Departmental Reports
Public Works gave a presentation on projects that have been completed and updates of ongoing projects.
Finance
Accepted bid from and authorizes the City to enter into agreement with Edwards Constructive Solutions for the the 2024 S. Phoenix Ave, E 4th St, and Sequoyah Way sidewalk maintenance project.
Accepted bid from and authorizes the City to enter into agreement with Western Millwright for the 2024 S. Tampa Ave from E. 20th St to E. 16th St Sidewalk connectivity project.
Accepted bid from and authorizes the City to enter into agreement with Pina Gonzalo Landscaping from 4/15/24 to 4/15/25 for landscaping in Downtown Russellville.
Approved $147,429.41 from 2021 Parks and Rec Special Fund for adding ADA parking spaces and pave the gravel road around the community fishing pond.
Accepted bid from and authorizes the City to enter into agreement with Curb Time Solutions dba T&T Asphalt Paving for constructing asphalt access road at Pleasant View Park Fishing Docks.
Approved $3,000 from the General Fund 2023 Year End Carry Over to be used for the community Christmas parade.
Approved $15,000 from the General Fund 2023 Year End Carry Over to be used for the community fireworks display.
Approved $4,089.68 from the General Fund 2023 Year End Carry Over to purchase two AED's for City Offices at Hickey Park.
Amended rules and procedures for 2024 by setting a cutoff date for the submission of agenda subjects or items on City Council committees.
Approved transferring $68,000 from General Fund to Latimore Tourist Home Special Fund to cover invoices incurred during implementation of Phase 2. Once invoices are reimbursed by AHPP, the $68,000 will be returned to the General Fund.
Approved $16,805.42 from General Fund 2023 Year End Carry Over for lane ropes, storage reels, and covers for MJ Hickey Pool.
Accepted bid from CARDS River Valley for the exclusive Citywide Residential Solid Waste Services for five years. (Yes votes: Keller, George, Olson, Bradley, and Westcott. No vote: Barraza)
Rejected bid from LRS for Citywide Residential Solid Waste Services.
Old Business
2 of 3 readings for submitting the question of annexation to the voters of Russellville on November 5th. See map below:
2 of 3 readings amending the zoning code to reflect additional clarifications for swimming pools, mobile food vendors, off-street parking requirements, and driveways.
2 of 3 readings amending the zoning code to clarify decibel threshold levels for noise complaints.
2 of 3 readings approving the final plat of Scenic Way Village Phase 1 and accepted the dedication to the easements.
New Business
Public Hearing. 1 of 3 readings for vacation of easement along North Knoxville submitted by Connect Church.
Public Hearing. 1 of 3 readings for the vacation right-of-way along West 13th St.
Public Hearing. 1 of 3 readings for the vacation of a portion of West C Street right-of-way.
Approved setting a public hearing for the vacation of a 50 ft. right-of-way on Mountain View Street and part of East Fir Street right-of-way.
See full agenda items here:
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