Donate

City
Council Notes

Regular City Council Meeting – Tuesday, April 9, 2024 – 10am

IN THIS MEETING...

In Attendance

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Chief of Staff Dr. Safiya Omari, and 7 Council Members were Present: Ward-1 Ashby Foote, Ward 2-Angelique Lee, Ward 3-Kenneth Stokes (arrived later), Ward 4-Brian Grizzell, Ward 5-Vernon Hartley, Ward 6-Aaron Banks (Council President), and Ward 7-Virgi Lindsay.

City Stuff

  • Connected JXN – Blue Light Safety Initiative, Councilwoman Angelique Lee (Ward 2) proposed an ordinance for creating regulations for installing digital security cameras at gas stations and convenience stores. The ordinance would require convenience stores and gas stations to have and maintain working video security cameras. The ordinance also requires any installed cameras to be incorporated into the Blue Light Network Safety System, the 24/7 operated Blue Light Camera system adopted by the city in September 2023. If the store/gas station already has cameras, for a fee of $950 on the part of the gas station owner, they will also be incorporated into the Blue Light Network. The purpose of the ordinance is to increase safety at these businesses for customers.

  • Proposal for a Centralized Financial Body for Jackson, Mayor Lumumba motioned to adopt an ordinance to create a centralized financial body. This centralized financial body would be responsible for resolving issues related to finance management, such as paying overdue bills, procuring assets, and filling in when specific departments need to catch up with accounting. The body would consolidate certain positions and add a Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Liaison Officer, Procurement Operations Manager, Fixed Asset Management, Vendor Equity Coordinator, and Fiscal Operations Manager. Councilwoman Angelique Lee (Ward 2) asserted that she was skeptical of its necessity. According to Councilman Ashby Foote (Ward 1), establishing this centralized financial body would cost $600,000. Therefore, it is over budget considering the other things the City Council is considering allocating funds towards.

    The costs for the centralized financial body would include but are not limited to, salaries for staff and costs related to software and training with said software. The software in question wasn’t made privy to attendees. Councilman Ashby Foote (Ward 1) also agreed with Councilwoman Angelique Lee (Ward 2) that it is not clear that there’s a real need to centralize the City of Jackson’s financial activities. Councilman Vernon Hartley (Ward 5) asserted that the council needed additional information about the proposal and that it is not proper to vote on something that isn’t understood fully.

     

    According to the Mayor, the council saw that the city’s finance department required reworking and restructuring. The Mayor pointed out that the proposal was based on the information given to the council; an outside organization (name not disclosed) said the council requested help. He remarked that it didn’t make sense to complain about the problem while rejecting the experts’ proposed solution. He remarked that since there is a learning curve to the new technology (what kind of technology wasn’t made clear), new positions must be created. Extending his point about unnecessary criticism, he pointed out that the finance division had lost staff and was trying to maintain the work on sub-par staffing.

    This action item will be discussed with the finance committee. The date is TBD.

  • In Item 58, Stokes proposed raising the salary of JPD to be higher than that of any other department in the region (including the Capitol Police). He remarked that due to the higher number of calls that JPD answers and that Jackson ought to be the “best,” they deserve the highest pay. Jackson, according to Councilman Stokes, has to be the best, including better than the Capitol Police.

    Councilman Banks proposed that they amend the order into a resolution to include a raise for the fire department and have an objective formula (information from JPD and JFD) to determine how much to give them.

    After some back-and-forth, Stokes removed his proposal.

Event Services and Funding ( vendors and supplies):

  • VOTE-Passed-4-2-(4-Yes, 2- Abstain)- Order authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with crunchtime concessions to book a 360 photo booth during the community arts festival on October 16, 2022. 
  • Vote- Passed-4-2-(4-Yes, 2-Abstain)- Order Authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with the Crunchtime Concessions to book a 360 photo booth and classic photo booth for the Tech JXN 2022 Conference and Festival on Nov 18, 2022.
  • Vote-Passed-4-2-(4-Yes, 2- Abstain)- Order authorizing the Mayor to execute an event rental agreement with We Marquee, LLC to install and setup Marquee Letters for doing business with the city to be held on Dec 8, 2022.
  • Vote-Passed-4-2-(4-Yes, 2- Abstain)- Order Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an event rental agreement with We Marquee, LLC to install and setup Marquee Letters During the Tech JXN 2022 Conference and festival on November 17 and 18, 2022
  • Vote-Passed-4-2-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Execute An Event Rental Agreement With We Marquee, Llc To Install And Setup Marquee Letters During The Tech Jxn 2022 Conference And Festival On November 17 And 18, 2022
  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Enter Into a professional Services Agreement Between The Jackson Police Department And Daigle Law Group For The Reviewing And Revising Of The Jackson Police Department General Orders

Policing

  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Ratify And Execute The Application For Order Authorizing The Mayor To Ratify And Execute The Application For Order Authorizing The Mayor To Ratify And Execute The Fy22 United States Department Of Justice Microgrants-Community Policing Development (Cops) Application To Receive Grant Funds For Officer Recruitment And Retention. 
  • Won Grey rep for JPD moves to approve funding for JPD vehicle for the amount of 30k and Police assisting and programs
  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Ratify And Execute An Application For The Bja Fy22 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative Competitive Grant Application And Execute Documents To Accept All Awarded Grant Funds. 

Water: 

  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Granting A Variance From The City Of Jackson Subdivision Ordinance For Water Pipe Material Standards. (Hillman, Lumumba) 
  • Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Of The City Council Of Jackson, Mississippi Authorizing Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars Grant To Visit Jackson To Help Jackson Businesses Because Of Water Crisis. (Stokes) 

Trash Updates:

  • Vote-Passed-6-0- Order Of The City Council Of Jackson, Mississippi Authorizing The Mayor To Continue And Complete The Request For Proposal Process To Allow An Opportunity For A Garbage Contract Approved By The Affirmative Vote Of The Jackson City council(Stokes)

Building and Sites:

  • Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Ratify The Payment To Integrated Pest Contro lmaintenance (Ipcm) For Providing Pest Control Services At Five Facilities Managed By The Department Of Human And Cultural Services For The 2021- 2022 Fiscal Year And Authorizing Payment In The Amount Of One Thousand Three Hundred And Twenty-Four Dollars (Kidd, Lumumba) 
  • Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Amend One Antenna Site License Agreement With Alltel Corporation D/B/A Verizon Wireless To Modify Equipment And Increase Licensee Fees At One Tower Site Within The City Of Jackson. (Reid, Lumumba) 
  • Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Amend One Antenna Site License Agreement With Cellco Partnership D/B/A Verizon Wireless To Modify Equipment And Increase Licensee Fees At One Tower Site Within The City Of Jackson. (Reid, Lumumba) 6-0 Approval
  • Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Amend Two Antenna Site License Agreements With Alltel Corporation D/B/A Verizon Wireless To Modify Equipment And Increase Licensee Fees At Two Tower Sites Within The City Of Jackson. (Reid, Lumumba) 6-0 Approval
  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing An The Mayor To Execute A Service Agreement And Related Documents With Environmental Analytical Services, Llc To Conduct Asbestos Testing Of Dilapidated Structures For Demolition Purposes. (Dotson, Lumumba) 
    • Question From Hartley About The Demolition Of Hwy 80 Hotel. Litigation Pursuing Hotel Is Raised And This Hotel Has Been Found In Contempt And Will Either Pay Fines Owed Or Hotel Will Be Demolished. 6-0 Approval
  • Vote-Passed-5-1( Stokes Abstain)Order Authorizing The Mayor To Execute Supplemental Agreement #1 To The Contract Of Hemphill Construction Company, Inc. For Construction Of The Mill Street Town Creek Bridge Project, Federalaid Project Number Stp-7261- 00(002)Lpa/108070-701000. (Hillman, Lumumba) 5-1 (Abstain-Stokes)
  • Vote-Passed-5-1( Stokes Abstain)Order Authorizing Change Order No. 1/Final To The Contract With Hemphill Construction Company, Inc., Authorizing Release Of Retainage, Publication Of Notice Of Completion, And Commencement Of One-Year Warranty For The Hawthorn Drive Bridge Replacement. (Hillman, Lumumba) 5-1 (Abstain-Stokes)
  • Vote-Passed-5-1( Stokes Abstain) Order Authorizing Change Order No. 1/Final To The Contract With Hemphill Construction Company, Inc., Authorizing Release Of Retainage, Publication Of Notice Of Completion, And Commencement Of One-Year Warranty For The Meadow Road Bridge Replacement. (Hillman, Lumumba) 5-1 (Abstain-Stokes)
  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Resolution Of The City Council Of Jackson, Mississippi Supporting A New Football Stadium For Jackson State University. (Stokes) 6-0 Approval
  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Of The City Council Of Jackson, Mississippi Authorizing The Immediate Clean-Up Of The Recently Burned Site And Long-Standing Public Health Hazard At The Intersection Of Palmyra Street And Monument Street. (Stokes) 
  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing An The Mayor To Execute A Service Agreement And Related Documents With Environmental Analytical Services, Llc To Conduct Asbestos Testing Of Dilapidated Structures For Demolition Purposes. (Dotson, Lumumba) 
    • Question from Hartley about the demolition of HWY 80 hotel. Litigation pursuing hotel is raised and this hotel has been found in contempt and will either pay fines owed or hotel will be demolished. 6-0 approval
  • Discussion: Code Enforcement (Lumumba)-Plan for equity- Code enforcement initiative . Has made progress in sending out notice to properties that could be demolished or pursued. May need additional funds to continue to carry out work and legal planning to have greater success.

Housing:

  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Resolution Of The Governing Authority For The City Of Jackson, Mississippi Recognizing and Agreeing That There Is A Need For Mississippi Regional Housing Authority No. Vi To Exercise Its Powers In The City Of Jackson, Mississippi By Providing Housing For Low To Moderate Income Families In The City of Jackson, Mississippi. (Stokes) 
  • Housing Expansion Project For An Estimated 50 Million Profit Potential In Downtown Jackson. 

Internet and Phone Services:

  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Ratifying And Authorizing The Mayor To Renew The City works License And Maintenance Agreement With Azteca Systems, Llc And Execute An Agreement With Axim Geospatial, Llc To Provide Professional Services To Assist With The City works (3-1-1) Software Upgrade 
  •  Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Amending The Contractual Start Date Of The Antenna Site License Agreement In The December 22, 2020, Order Authorizing The Mayor To Execute An Agreement With Alltel Corporation D/B/A Verizon Wireless To Improve Broadband Coverage Within The City Of Jackson. (Reid, Lumumba) 
  • Concern from the council lifted about the aesthetics of city’s phone antennas and microphone repairs. 
  • Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Amend One Antenna Site License Agreement With Alltel Corporation D/B/A Verizon Wireless To Modify Equipment And Increase Licensee Fees At One Tower Site Within The City Of Jackson. 
  • Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Amend One Antenna Site License Agreement With Cellco Partnership D/B/A Verizon Wireless To Modify Equipment And Increase Licensee Fees At One Tower Site Within The City Of Jackson. 
  • Vote- Passed-6-0-Order Authorizing The Mayor To Amend Two Antenna Site License Agreements With Alltel Corporation D/B/A Verizon Wireless To Modify Equipment And Increase Licensee Fees At Two Tower Sites Within The City Of Jackson. 

Community Programming And Cares Funding:

  • Vote- Passed-6-0-Order Amending The December 31, 2021 Amended Order Which Authorized Stewpot Community Services, Inc. To Use Cares Act Funds Received From The Department Of Housing And Urban Development (Hud) To Prepare, Prevent, And Respond To The Coronavirus For Emergency Solutions Grant (Esg) In The City Of Jackson, And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Amendment And Related Documents Extending The Completion Date To September 30, 2023. (All Wards) 
  • Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Amending The December 7, 2021 Order Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Contract And Related Documents With Stewpot Community Services, Inc. To Use Cares Act Funds Received From The Department Of Housing And Urban Development (Hud) To Prepare, Prevent, And Respond To The Coronavirus For Emergency Solutions Grant (Esg) In The City Of Jackson To Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Amendment And Related Documents Extending The Completion Date To September 30, 2023. (All Wards) 
  • Vote-Passed-6-0-Order Ratifying And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute A Memorandum Of Understanding With Tangent Solution Llc For The Launch Of The 2022 Virtual Summer Steam Camp And Nasa Astro Camp And Payment In The Amount Of Nine Thousand Seven Hundred And Fifty dollars.  
  • 23. Vote- Passed-6-0–Order Ratifying And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute A Memorandum Of Understanding With Tangent Solution Llc For The Launch Of The 2022 Virtual Summer Steam Camp And Nasa Astro Camp And Payment In The Amount Of Nine Thousand Seven Hundred And Fifty dollars. 

To view upcoming City of Jackson Events go to: https://www.jacksonms.gov/events

        • Monday, October 31st–Harvest Carnival/Trunk or Treat: Location: V A Legion Softball Complex, 4500 Officer Thomas Catchings Sr. Dr.; Time: 4:00 p.m.; Free Admission
          • Patrons will have the opportunity to visit and receive a variety of treats from numerous decorated “Trunk (vehicles) or Tents”. Our fun filled event promotes public safety for our patrons with exciting activities for the entire family including games, food trucks, and live entertainment. Costumes are welcomed.
          • Please contact us at 601-960-0471 if you would like to be a “Trunk or Tent” vendor passing out treats. Last day to register is October 14th.
      • Distribution Days for Water: Water will be distributed in each Ward. Check for announcements on the City’s website: https://www.jacksonms.gov/residents/ Also each Council Member will have information.
        • Elderly Residents can have water delivered, please call Constituent Services: Wanda Smith (601) 960-2324; (601) 960-1835.

       

Watch the full meeting and agenda here.
Read the full agenda here

More on the City Council

The Jackson City Council acts as the legislative branch of the city government. Meaning, they have the power to create new laws that apply to just the city of Jackson. For example in 2010, after a series of unjust stops of young black men by JPD and unjust stops of people in the Spanish-speaking immigrant community, the Jackson  City Council created a law known as the “Human Rights Ordinance” that bans racial profiling based on race and nationality.  The Jackson City Council is also responsible for approving the City Budget. This is one if it’s biggest functions.

Jackson City Council is also your direct representative for your neighborhood, so if you have a problem with something in your neighborhood, your City Councilperson is the government representative that is responsible for helping you to improve that.

Does the Mayor have a say on the Jackson City Council? 

Jackson has a Mayor-Council form of government, meaning it’s a check and balance type of system. The Mayor has the power to create laws via executive order, has authority over all city departments, and drafts the City Budget. The City Council also has the power to approve or disapprove of the City Budget. It can also create laws, but the mayor has the power to veto those laws if she/he deems that necessary. For example, in 2019 the Office of the Mayor engaged in Participatory Budgeting process fo include residents in setting the priorities for the City budget. The City Council then voted on the budget, with four of the Council people voting to pass the “People’s Budget” and three of the Council people voting against passage. 

Council Members

Ward 1 – Ashby Foote

Ward 2 – Angelique C. Lee

Ward 3 – Kenneth I. Stokes

Ward 4 – Brian Grizzell

Ward 5 – Vernon W. Hartley, Sr. 

Ward 6 – Aaron Banks

Ward 7 – Virgi Lindsay 

Stay In the know! Sign up to get updates:

Jackson People's Assembly © All rights reserved

Twitter Facebook