Andrew Logan

Dr. Cleo Allen

MAC 305
March 24, 2020
Zoning

Who: Peter Carmel, Mayor/ Charles Browser, 1st District Councilman/ Johnny Peterson, 2nd
district councilman/ Raymond F Bond, 3rd District Councilman/ Martha Putry, Councilwomen at
large.
What: City Council meeting
When: March 25, 2020 at 7 p.m.
Where: Council Chambers
How:

In the regular city council meeting held at 7pm today in Council Chambers, four

important items were discussed for approval.

The first item on the agenda passed with 5-0 of the vote to rezone the 1100 block of

University Ave from R3 to C1, it received little rejection and was advanced by Johnny Peterson

2nd District Councilman. When agenda item two was introduced it received opposition from the

residents in the area. The agenda item called for the rezoning of residential areas in the 600

block of Brooks street at Dunn Avenue. Gallery visitors who objected to this notion say the

rezoning will drive down residential property values. Debate went on for an hour ultimately the

item was denied 3-2 with Mayor Peter Carmel and Raymond Bond 3rd District Councilman

voting in favor. Councilwoman at lage Martha Puntry sided with the residents.

Next proposal discussed was for the raising of salaries for police and fire department

employees. While Mayor Carmel said the move would cost the city an upwards of $735,000 a

year for these raises all members of the council agreed it would be beneficial. After reading

budget reports they urged that this move would not be good in the budget for the upcoming

year. The final vote was against the pay raise 4-1, but the mayor promised that a revised salary
increase will be on the agenda for the next meeting. The fourth and final item was to appoint

Henry Macias as City Manager. The members voted unanimously to appoint Macias, he will

earn a salary of $81,000 a year.