The Arkadelphia City Board of Directors began its regular meeting without a full quorum for the regular meeting Thursday, but Vice Mayor Ann Sanders and Director-at-Large James Calhoun arrived in time to hear most of the proposed budget for 2010. Director DeDe Baldwin and Mayor Chuck Hollingshead were present; directors Brenda Hagerich, Don Hager and Anthony Owen were absent.
Hollingshead called the meeting to order with only two voting members present, which meant that no action could be taken on the agenda, but he allowed City Manager Jimmy Bolt to give his PowerPoint presentation on the proposed budget so that those at home viewing the meeting on TV could hear it.
Bolt said his goals for the city’s future include keeping its status as one of the safest places to live in Arkansas, planning for sustainability, working with Henderson and Ouachita, providing a movie theater (“We’re nearing that stage”), and demolishing Fire Station 1 to build a new one.
As he was discussing those goals, Sanders and Calhoun walked in to make a full quorum.

Budget goals
Bolt said his plans for the fire station project and Royal Theatre, as well as the completion of a girls’ softball field at the Youth Sports Complex, include refinancing bonds.
A 2-percent employee cost-of-living increase is also in the plans for 2010 — also providing raises for the “bottom-end” city employees.
There is not expected to be a reduction in services, but rather an increase with the opening of the Royal Theatre.
Also, sustainability efforts will continue to maintain a high-efficiency, “green” city, including capital spending that “focuses on long-term costs ... by using long- and short-term municipal financing to reduce fixed operation costs ... ”
He “cast” the budget differently than in past years, introducing it as a resolution rather than a budget ordinance. The difference: A resolution would require only one board vote rather than hearing an ordinance three times before adopting it. A resolution, he said, will also remain “transparent” for citizens. The proposed budget for 2010 is posted on the city’s Web site, www.cityofarkadelphia.com. The city will not have to publish the resolution in the newspaper once it is passed; an ordinance, however, would require such a purchase legally. Bolt said he spoke with City Attorney Ed McCorkle and the Arkansas Municipal League before arriving at the decision to cast the budget as a resolution.

Projections
The city’s budget came within $571 under budget for revenue in the general fund — a projection so close to the actual amount that Bolt said it would not likely happen again.
Revenue is projected to increase by 3.4 percent for the General Fund, with sales tax based on a 12-month period (with the exception of the Aquatic Park).
A transfer of $210,000 is included in the proposal, which calls for the closing out of the Municipal Judge’s Retirement Fund. The one-time fund, Bolt said, would be spent on capital items, and none of it would go to operating costs.

Capital and other
purchases
Mobile capital purchases expected to be made, if the budget is passed, include a new animal control truck; a new fire station; a Ford Focus to replace the current Crown Victoria used by the code enforcement officer; 10 new hybrid police cars (which directors have already voted in favor of and are expected to arrive by January); a transfer and knuckleboom truck for the sanitation department, as well as a 3/4 ton truck for the department; cooling units for Town Hall; and an administrative vehicle.
For economic development capital items, Bolt proposed funding $8,800 to the Clark County Historical Society to keep the museum open for 40 hours a week. The reason, he said, would be so a sign could be placed on Interstate 30 promoting the history of Clark County. A sign cannot be placed on the interstate if the agency operates under 40 hours. Also, the budget calls for the continuation to support the 2025 Commission and Phase III of the Streetscape project (which is expected to cost about $500,000). In addition to funding the commission, Bolt proposed funding the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance with $40,000 — $15,000 more than in 2009. The additional money will go toward one year’s operation of the Diamond Lakes Regional Visitors Center, which is to be located in the old Elk Horn Bank branch in Caddo Valley. Other governments and foundations in the county have made verbal commitments to fund between $5,000-$10,000, and the Clark County Quorum Court is expected to fund the center as well.

Departments, by
the numbers
The street department was “slightly scaled back” for 2010, with a projected revenue decrease of $28,000 and an expense decrease of $36,000. The focus for next year will be microsealing Caddo Street from 12th to 26th streets and Twin Rivers Drive from 26th Street to the four-way intersection at Baptist Health Medical Center. Bolt said the street department will also focus on “basic maintenance” of streets.
The street department has requested the purchase of a Bobcat to help maintain Feaster Trail and other areas. The Bobcat, which would be equipped with a broom, is budgeted to cost $27,500.
The water and sewer department’s budget, including a depreciation value to reflect the department’s “bottom line” during the budget process, is expected to see a 29 percent increase in revenue compared to 2009 — or $875,000. Expenses for the departments are also expected to increase by $134,000. The transfer from depreciation is budgeted at $231,500, and capital spending is budgeted at $122,200.
The Aquatic Park saw a $22,000 dip in revenue for the 2009 season, and operating and maintenance costs were over by $21,000. Bolt cited the problem with a rainy summer.
His proposal calls for a flat $5 admission charge to everyone at the gate; charging $40 for a 10-person pass; charging $300 for a family pass; and doing away with an individual pass, as he said there are very few individuals who purchase a summer pass.
Currently, the city charges $4 per person younger than 4 and older than 55; and $165 for a family-of-four season pass.
Calhoun asked when the new fees would take effect. Bolt said the change would come beginning Jan. 1. Calhoun suggested that people take advantage of the current rates when considering Christmas gifts.
As for concessions at the park, 2009 saw only $1/hour over expenses in revenue, and the costs were $65 an hour to operate. Concessions, Bolt said, would be adjusted for the 2010 season.
Funding needs include, but are not limited to, money for city streets, drainage, gateway projects, code enforcement, and advertising and promoting the city.

Royal Theatre
Bolt reminded directors of the need for a downtown theater. The Royal, he said, is expected to create a college-town atmosphere and revitalize downtown Arkadelphia.
When moviegoers are not at the Royal, the city will lease the building to Dawson Education Cooperative, and a live theater will be available for rent. The board has budgeted $1.25 million to get the theater up and running.
Bolt clarified some misconceptions about the project, noting that G-rated movies are not the only flicks that will be shown at the Royal. He said the manager will be responsible for bringing in the most desirable movies that would bring in the biggest number of movie-goers, and a majority of those types of movies are rated PG-13. “You’re going to hear complaints,” Bolt told directors. “Just get ready for it.” Using an example of some of the most-viewed movies of the past decade, Bolt showed a list of movies that included “Dark Knight,” “Titanic,” and “Forrest Gump.” He also showed a list of recent movies that drew large crowds to the theaters, including “Sex and the City,” “Gran Torino” and “Spider Man 3.” Those movies, Bolt said, are all types that could be shown at the Royal.
Another falsity, he said, is that the theater will only show movies just before they are released on DVD. The manager will also be responsible for acquiring the rights to movies as soon as they become available to a small operator.
The next steps in the project are securing financing, hiring an architect, preparing construction, promoting the theater and opening its doors in fall 2010.

Other business
Directors unanimously voted in favor of giving city employees a $250 “compensation” bonus. “Employees are our most important asset,” Bolt said. “We would like to give a larger raise.” Calhoun moved to accept the compensation, followed by a second from Baldwin.
Calhoun asked Bolt when the budget would be proposed to the full city board. Bolt said it would be ready for the board’s approval or disapproval for the first December meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3, at 5:30 p.m. Calhoun said the holiday schedule for city employees “looks good,” and added that the $250 compensation is “not a Christmas bonus” because such a bonus cannot be given legally. The total cost to the city will be about $18,000 from the general fund; about $2,250 from the street department; and about $6,000 from the water and utilities department.
In the city manger’s report, Bolt said a visit from Santa Clause has been secured on Friday, Dec. 4, from 5-10 p.m. at the Recreation Center “to allow him the opportunity to update his Christmas list.” There are activities planned for children of all ages. “After parents have gone shopping I would like to encourage them to bring presents back to the center, because the Arkadelphia Relay for Life Team, the City Slickers, will be present to wrap gifts for a small fee as one of their fundraisers for the 2010 Relay for Life event.” Fundraisers are asking for a minimum donation of $5 for giftwrapping, but will not turn down other donations. Children will also be able to have their picture taken with Saint Nicholas. For more information, call the center at 246-5499.
A group of downtown merchants have been working together to decorate and to promote the holidays in Arkadelphia, “and the city will participate. I would like to continue to encourage shoppers to take another look at Arkadelphia merchants for their shopping needs.” To research the impact of shopping local, Bolt provided a Web site: www.the350project.net.
He said he has “been in conversations” with Owen and Arkadelphia Superintendent Donnie Whitten about how the city could improve the Pine Street crossing at Goza Middle School. “The end proposal will most likely be funded through the Safe Route to School grant program.”
The annual employee Christmas luncheon is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the recreation center, where the 2009 Service Awards will be given.
In routine business, Baldwin emphasized that Christmas shoppers look locally before considering out-of-town businesses.
Calhoun said, “Rumors — they just keep floating around.” Though he did not disclose what rumor to which he was referring, he said, “If you hear one, call Mr. Bolt. Don’t repeat it if you hear about a business closing ... It is better to find out the truth before you repeat it.” He also reminded people of the 2009 Annual Christmas Parade, which is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3, before the next board meeting.
Hollingshead thanked Bolt and city officials for the “hard work and patience” they put into the budget. He said the employee compensation is a “very small” token of appreciation, and added that he has talked to officials in other cities who “wish they could be as in as good of shape as we are,” noting that some city governments have been faced with the decision of laying off their employees.