A resolution supporting an audit of the financial affairs of the Pine Bluff Street Department from 2021 to 2024 will be voted on by City Council members during Tuesday’s meeting, according to the recently released agenda. The meeting, usually held on Monday, has been moved to Tuesday because of Washington’s Birthday.
The audit request is in response to concerns regarding the Street Department’s financial management, according to the resolution.
The resolution authorizes the mayor to engage a qualified forensic accounting firm or accountant.
The audit will cover the financial affairs of the street department for calendar years 2021 through 2024.
The finance director and the Street Department manager are required to cooperate fully with the auditor as requested and each council member and the mayor will receive a copy of the findings.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The resolution said an audit was needed for the following reasons:
Concerns exist regarding the management of the Street Department’s finances.
A four-year audit period is deemed necessary for a comprehensive review.
A qualified, independent forensic accounting firm or accountant should conduct the audit
Other proposed ordinances and resolutions on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting include an ordinance amending Chapter 16 regarding smoke shops and vape shops that will have its final reading. The ordinance is aimed at regulating the location of smoke and vape shops, prohibiting them from operating within 1,500 feet of any public or private school or place of worship. Existing shops within these prohibited zones could continue to operate but could not expand their footprint. Violations would result in fines, potential incarceration and suspension of the business’ occupation license.
Also up for its final reading will be an ordinance amending Article III regarding abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperable motor vehicles. This amendment authorizes the Code Enforcement Department, Street Department or Police Department to have those vehicles removed from city streets, rights-of-way and vacant lots. A notice period would be given before removal, and provisions were included for contesting the determination and documenting the actions taken.
Ordinances up for their second reading include one requiring funding source specification in legislation appropriating funds and one laying out the means for adjustments, amendments or changes to the municipal budget.
The first one would require any ordinance or resolution appropriating funds to specify the funding source within the legislation itself. This change is aimed at increasing transparency and informing the decision-making process in city spending and budgeting.
The second one seeks to codify a more formal procedure for making changes to the municipal budget. It would amend Section 2-144 and stipulate that any adjustments, amendments or changes to the annual budget must be made by a duly adopted resolution (or ordinance, if the original budget was adopted by ordinance).
A resolution to create the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) case manager and credible messenger positions is also on the agenda. This resolution proposes adding these two positions to the Pine Bluff Police Department to support the GVI initiative. The resolution also includes amending the 2025 city budget to allocate funds for these positions, which would be derived from reallocating existing police department uniform positions to non-uniform positions.
Other resolutions include a resolution urging the mayor to appoint new members to the Zip Code Study Committee.
This resolution urges the mayor to appoint three new members to the Zip Code Study Committee, which was created in 2017 to examine the impact of the shared 71602 zip code with White Hall. The committee had been inactive, and the resolution called for new appointees to submit a report on their findings.
A resolution directing that the municipal government take steps to verify and mark the boundaries of the city also directs the mayor to take necessary steps to verify the current boundaries of Pine Bluff and to mark them with appropriate markings or signage. This was intended to assist businesses, residents and potential residents with understanding the city’s limits.