CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 24, 1996

Mayor Barbara O’Harris called the regularly scheduled meeting to order at

9:10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24, 1996, in the Western District

Courthouse.

PRESENT:

Mayor Barbara A. O’Harris; Aldermen David Jeffrey, Chris Riker, and Bill

Rubley;, and Alderwoman Sheila Seratt. Alderwoman Kim Dickens was

absent and Alderwoman Watson was late.

ALSO PRESENT:

Alan Epley, David McNeal, Sandi Slaton, Jay Miner, and Clerk Lee.

Administrative Assistant, Don Young, was absent.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGLANCE:

Alderwoman Seratt led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor O’Harris said that the new flag that is flying here at the City Hall was obtained from Tim Hutchison’s Office and was flown over the United States Capitol on July 4th, 1996. There is a flag downstairs at the front desk that tells about it.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:

Alderman Riker made the motion to approve the agenda. Alderman Rubley seconded. All were in favor, 4/0/0.

Mr. Rubley asked that the Council discuss downtown signage at the next agenda-setting meeting, on October 1st.

Alderwoman Seratt said she could not be at the October 1st Agenda-Setting Meeting.

Mayor O’Harris said that plans are being made to meter all of the parking places around the Court House and also that on weekends, bags would be placed over the sigps so people would park there.

She also mentioned the beautiful street signs that are being put up.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

Alderman Rubley made the motion to approve the September 10th Council

Meeting Minutes. Alderman Jeffrey seconded. All were in favor, 6/0/0.

OLD BUSINESS:

There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Set a date for Public Hearing, Petition to Vacate part of First Street, next to lots 1 through 6 in block 179, all in R & A Survey. Alderman Rubley made the motion to set the public hearing for October 8th at 9 a.m. with the regular Council Meeting to begin immediately after the hearing. Alderman Riker seconded. All were in favor, 4/0/0.

2. Ordinance #1732, to re-zone lots 1 through 7 and part of Lot 8, Block

179, R & A Survey from R-1 Victorian Residential to C-i Victorian Commercial, First Reading:

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to place Ordinance #1732 on its first reading. Alderman Riker seconded. All were in favor to read, 4/0/0. Alderman. Jeffrey read the ordinance. Alderwoman Watson came in as he was reading.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve. Alderman Riker seconded. By roll call, the vote was 5/0/0.

CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 24, 1996

3. Ordinance #1733, Vacating part of First Street south of Main Street next to lots 1 through 6 in block 179, all in A & A Survey, First Reading:

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to place Ordinance #1733 on its first reading. Alderman Riker seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0. Mr. Epley pointed out that the ordinance should not be read before the public hearing, so Alderwoman Seratt withdrew her motion and Alderman Riker withdrew his second.

It was then pointed out that the agenda needed correcting; item one and item three should have the same description.

4. Ordinance #1731, Amending Ordinance 1708-A, to correct a clerical error in the Ordinance, First Reading.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to place Ordinance #1731 on its first reading. Alderman Jeffrey seconded the motion. All were in favor, 5/0/0. Alderman Rubley read the ordinance in its entirety.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve. Alderwoman Watson seconded. By roll call, the vote was 5/0/0.

Alderman Rubley made the motion to suspend the rules and place Ordinance #1731 on its second reading by title only. Alderwoman Watson seconded. By roll call, the vote was 5/0/0.

Alderman Rubley read the ordinance by title only.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve. Alderwoman Watson seconded. By roll call, the ordinance passed on its seconde reading, 5/0/0.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to further suspend the rules and place Ordinance #1731 on its third and final reading by. title only. Alderman Riker seconded. By roll call, the vote was 5/0/0. Alderman Rubley read the ordinance by title only.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve. Alderwoman Watson seconded. By roll call, the vote was 5/0/0, and the ordinance was passed on its third reading.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to read the Emergency Clause.

Alderman Jeffrey seconded. By roll call, the vote was 5/0/0.

Alderman. Rubley read the emergency clause.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve. Alderwoman Watson

seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

Mayor O’Harris complimented the police department for their job over the weekend. She also said that the music in the park was great, Sunday, and some people stayed another night, so it was good for business. She said everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves.

Alderman Rubley asked that if the musicians park their trucks across the street, could they park where it doesn’t block the businesses from watching too.

5. Closing of Portion of Spring Street for Folk Festival, Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce:

Sandi Slaton came to represent the Chamber and ask that the street between Spring and Main and Spring and Center be closed from 8 p.m. to 10

p.m. Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve, and Alderwoman Watson seconded. It was unanimously approved, 5/0/0.

Sandi said that it had been okayed by the Police Chief. Also, when parking is to be curtailed for any length of time in a spot, they will be notified 48 hours in advance.

6. Ordinance #--------, City Drug Fund, Chief Hyatt.

The Chief was unable to be at the meeting. Alderman Serrat made the motion to postpone this item until the Agenda-setting Meeting on October 1, 1996. Alderman Rubley seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 24, 1996

Mayor O’Harris mentioned that the Schenks from 14 Washington Street wanted a red curb in front of their house. There have been several complaints from public works, and it is a real bottle-neck. The Council decided to put it on the agenda for October 1, 1996.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS REPORT:

Mr. Young was out of town.

DEPARTMENTS:

1. Administration Department, Alderwoman Dickens: Absent.

2. Emergency Services Department: Alderman Rubley. None.

3. Police Department, Alderwoman Seratt: Just the ordinance to form the Drug Fund.

4. Public Works Department, Alderman Jeffrey: The Public Works Building is about 40% complete. The roof is on and the windows are defined but the walls haven’t been filled in as yet. Everything is going well.

5. Solid-Waste Management Department, Alderman Riker: None.

6. Transit Department, Alderwoman Watson: Authorization to purchase Transtar~ Weather Enclosures:

Alderwoman Watson explained that Chance Coach is ready to order the parts to build our coaches and they want to know if the City wants the foul weather curtains. They have to be ordered at the same time that other equipment is ordered and they have to be installed when the are built. They pull down to about a foot above the floor on each side. Alderman Rubley said he thought he remembered Charles Fargo saying that you can’t see through the curtains.

Nobody else thought that he said that.

Alderwoman Watson called Mr. Fargo on the phone and when she came back to the table, she said that the visibility is like looking through glass. She said that the cost for each tram is $8000, and that the City should go ahead and put them on both of the trams and do it right. She said that Mr. Fargo has money in the fund for that purpose.

After more discussion, Alderwoman Watson made the motion to purchase the foul weather curtains for $16,000. Alderwoman Seratt seconded. Alderman Rubley said he did not want to vote today. Alderwoman Watson said that the company needs to know right away.

Alderwoman Seratt said that the City is trying to encourage people to use the trams and we should do it right.

Mayor O’Harris said that the City has committed to the Group Tour Franchises, and that we need to make those people as comfortable as possible, also.

The roll was called. Alderwomen Seratt and Watson, and Alderman Jeffrey voted yes. Aldermen Rubley and Riker abstaineds, so the vote was 3/0/2. Mayor O’Harris voted yes, and so the vote was 4/0/2.

COMMISSIONS:

1. Auditorium: Vacancy on Position 5.

6. Parking Authority: Vacancy on Position 2. Mayor O’Harris said that it would be nice to have someone on there that has some experience with landscaping.

8. Planning Commission: Appointment of Jack Dozier, Position 7, Term expires 1-1-97. Alderman Rubley made the motion to approve Jack Dozier for position #7 on the Planning Commission, with his term to expire on 1-

1-97. Alderwoman Seratt seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

Alderman Jeffrey said that the last three meetings of the Tourism

Advisory Committee didn’t have a quorum, so those that attended said they

wouldn’t have any meetings for the time being. Mayor O’Harris said that

James DeVito resigned. and Mr. Jeffrey said that he was one of the ones that attended the meetings on a regular basis.

CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 24, 1996

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to adjourn. Alderwoman Watson seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 10:03 a.m.