By a vote of 8-0, the Pine Bluff City Council on Monday approved a resolution to provide funding for the Delta Rhythm and Bayou’s Cultural District.

According to the resolution, the city will provide $2 million to the Economic and Community Development Department to develop and construct an initial site the Delta Rhythm & Blues Cultural District.

Although the initial resolution did not specify the source of he money, Council Member Ivan Whitfield made a motion to stipulate that the funds will be pulled from the five-eights cent sales tax, commonly known as the Go Forward Sales Tax and the motion was also adopted 8-0.

After the meeting, Whitfield talked about his motion and about using the sales tax money.

Also approved was a revolution increasing the costs of residential garbage pickup from $18.48 pick up per unit per month to $19.40 per unit per month. The commercial rate will; increase a maximum of 5-percent from the 2021 rate.

A resolution sponsored by Whitfield directing Mayor Shirley Washington  to negotiate a 15-year lease with Debra Allen, D/b/a First Ward Living Grace Food Pantry for the old fires station on Commerce Road was pulled from the agenda and will be considered at the next meeting.

Whitfield agreed to pull it because a draft of the proposed lease agreement was presented to the council only a few minutes before the meeting.

A resolution appointing Danny Walker to the Planning Commission to replace Gordon Reese was also approved, as were resolutions allowing the city clerk to destroy outdated checks, invoices, bid documents and monthly accounts payable reports.