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ORDINANCE NO. 15,912
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 15,295
SETTING AN INCREASE IN THE 9 -1 -1 SERVICE
CHARGE BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF BASIC
TELEPHONE TARIFF RATES TO BE USED FOR
IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF A 9 -1 -1
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM; AND ACQUISITION
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE; AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, the Arkansas Legislature has established a funding
method for emergency telephone systems and related radio
communications systems by passing Act 683 of 1985; and
WHEREAS, this Act requires the approval of the majority vote
of persons voting on the issue in order to charge up to 5% of the
tariff rate approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission to
be billed by telephone service providers to local users; and
WHEREAS, City of Little Rock Ordinance No. 15,155 called for
a vote of the electorate on the question of levying up to 5% of
the basic telephone tariff to be used for funding of an emergency
telephone system and radio communication center; and
WHEREAS, the electorate approved that levy of up to 5% at
the general election of November 4, 1986; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 15,295 established a service charge
of 2.7% of the basic tariff rate approved by the Public Service
Commission of all telephone access lines of any telephone system
within the corporate limits of the City of Little Rock to be used
for the 9 -1 -1 public safety communications center; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined that
communications system presently in use by
inadequate to serve the present and fores,
dispatching and communicating with Public
exposing officers, and public and private
property to hazardous situations; and
the radio
the City has become
aeable needs of
Safety Officers, thus
individuals and
WHEREAS, Arkansas Act 683 of 1985 specifically allows the
use of the telephone surcharge for acquisition, installation, and
implementation of radio communication systems to support the
City's public safety mission.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. Effective October 1, 1990, the service charge
levied pursuant to Ordinance No. 15,295 on the basic tariff rate
approved by the Public Service Commission on all telephone access
lines of any telephone system within the corporate limits of the
City of Little Rock shall be increased from 2.7% to 5.0 %.
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SECTION 2. Revenues resulting from this 5.0% levy may be
expended for only such items as are authorized by Arkansas Act
683 of 1985. These expenditures shall be recommended and
budgeted by the City Manager in accordance with normal finance,
budgetary, and purchasing procedures.
SECTION 3. Commencing with receipt by the City of amounts
collected based on the new levy percentage provided for in
Section 1 hereof, the Finance Director of the City of Little Rock
shall cause 58% of said amounts received by the City to be
deposited in a separate account within the City's Books of
Account to be entitled "Radio Communications System Fund
Account." The balance of monies received pursuant hereto shall
continue to be accounted for as set forth by Ordinance No.
15,295.
SECTION 4. Amounts held in the Radio Communications System
Fund Account, together with interest earned thereon shall be used
exclusively for the design, acquisition, and installation of
hardware and software necessary to implement a new radio
communications system for the City of Little Rock. Radio
Communications System Fund Account balances may also be expended
as permitted by Act 683, to pay principal, interest, and issuance
costs attaching to special obligation bonds issued by the City to
finance a new radio communications system; provided however, no
such bonds shall be issued without the approval, by ordinance, of
this Board.
SECTION 5. Intent to reduce future service charge rate. It
is hereby acknowledged that the City intends to repeal this
ordinance and thereby reduce the service charge rate from 5.0% to
2.7% at such time as the purchase of a new radio communication
system is complete, and all related debt incurred therefor has
been extinguished.
SECTION 6. Declaring an emergency. This hereby
acknowledges that the health, safety, and welfare of the public,
and the City's public safety officers, are endangered by the
incapacities of the present radio communication system. It is,
therefore, hereby declared that an emergency exists and this
ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its
passage.
PASSED: August 7, 1990
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Ci Clerk Jan Czech Mayo F d Villines, III
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