Several pieces of major legislation will be up for the first reading Monday before the Pine Bluff City Council.
The council agenda includes proposed legislation concerning the city’s exclusive ambulance service franchise agreement, Police Department policy, employee alcohol and drug-testing policy and the Review Committee that hears appeals from uniformed employees of disciplinary matters.
The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers at the civic complex. The Public Safety Committee meets at 4 p.m. The Ways and Means and Ordinances and Resolutions committees meet at 5 p.m. in the conference room adjoining council chambers.
Ambulance franchise
The council will consider a proposed ordinance, up for its first reading, that would amend the city ordinance that grants an exclusive ambulance franchise agreement with Emergency Ambulance Service Inc. and Ambulance Transport Service. The proposed amendment would delete language that allows the agreement to self-renew every three years.
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It would add language to hold a competitive bid process 90 days before the expiration of the franchise period, which ends on Sept. 20, 2013. The city will solicit bids, which will be reviewed by the City Council Public Safety Committee and sent to the full council for final approval.
PBPD policies
The council will also consider a proposed ordinance, up for its first reading, that would adopt amendments to the Pine Bluff Police Department Police and Procedures Manual.
One of the policies is new and relates to establishing guidelines for inspections of police personnel and equipment.
The other is an amended version of existing policies to change the standard uniform guidelines. Alderman Thelma Walker had pointed out at recent council meetings that Police Chief Brenda Davis-Jones had changed the uniform hats without getting prior approval from the council. This proposed amended policy would address that change.
The proposed ordinance includes an emergency clause, which — if approved by the council — would cause the policies to go into immediate effect.
Drug/alcohol policies
The council will also consider a proposed ordinance, up for its first reading, that would amend city policy related to alcohol and drug use testing.
The proposal includes five pages of changes, which include amendments to include uniformed employees in the phrasing of two passages and adds two subsections. One of the subsections sets up guidelines for when drug and alcohol testing may be required of all employees and the second for when drug and alcohol testing may be required of employees holding safety and security-sensitive positions.
Review Committee
The council will also consider a proposed ordinance, up for its first reading, that would amend city policy related to the Review Committee that hears appeals of disciplinary matters from uniformed police and fire employees. The proposal would make several changes, including changing it from a three-member committee composed of city employees to a 10-member committee made up of members of the public and divided into two panels.
Other business
In other business, the council will consider:
• A proposed budget adjustment that would accept $15,000 in Arkansas Legislature General Improvement Fund monies obtained through the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development and put them in the correct city budget account so they can be spent on the intended project, which is signage around Lake Saracen.
• A proposed ordinance, up for its first reading, that would close a portion of an alley at near 11th Avenue and Walnut Street.