CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY, January 27, 1998
9:00 A. M.
AGENDA
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
DEPARTMENT HEADS COMMENTS:
COMMISSION, COMMITTEE, AND AUTHORITY REPORTS:
Vacancies:
Susan
Storch, Position 5, Planning Commission, term expires 1-1-01
Patty
Porter, Position 1, Planning Commission, term expires 7-1-99
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
McClelland
Engineering, Sewer, Sidewalks, Parks, Grant Work in Progress
Ordinance
No. 1770, amending the sidewalk ordinance.
Old
Police Building--Renovation of some city offices Commission Vacancies
Cemetery Commission: Position 3, expires 2-15-98
ADJOURNMENT
CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27TH,
1998
Mayor Barbara O’Harris called the meeting to order at 9 a.m., on Tuesday, January 27th, 1998, in the Council Room of the Western District Courthouse.
PRESENT:
Mayor OHarris, Alderpersons Zeller, Jeffrey, Christman, Watson, and Freeland. Alderwoman Seratt was absent due to illness.
ALSO
PRESENT:
Bryan
Ukena, Kirby Murray, Earl Hyatt, Kim Dickens, Nikki Salazar, Don Matt, David
Beauchamp, David Dempsey, Dean Matthews, Libby Freeland, Sally Riker, Jay
Miner, Don Young, and Clerk Lee.
PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE:
Mr. Young
led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL
OF THE AGENDA:
The
motion was made and seconded to accept the agenda. All were in favor, 5/010.
Mayor
OHarris said Dean Matthews from McDonalds had come to read the Share a Heart Proclamation for Ronald McDonald House. The idea is for each person to
give a dollar for a red paper heart, and then their names are put on the
hearts, and the hearts are posted in the local McDonalds Restaurant. This fund
raiser for Ronald McDonald House will last until February 14th, 1998.
It was mentioned that the times for the meetings had not been voted on at the January 13th Meeting. The motion had been made and seconded to leave the times the same at the January 13th meeting. By roll call, the vote was taken to leave the meeting times the same, 5/0/0.
APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES:
The motion
was made and seconded to approve the minutes of January 13, 1998. Alderman
Jeffrey and Alderman Freeland mentioned a paragraph toward the bottom of page
four. The vote to approve the minutes
was
CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 1998
5/0/0.
STATE-OF-THE-CITY
ADDRESS:
The
Mayor gave the State-of-the-City Address. It will be printed in the Minute Book
right after these minutes.
OLD
BUSINESS:
1. Ordinance
# 1777, Solid Wastes Management:
Alderwoman
Watson made the motion to place Ordinance #1777 on its first reading in its
entirety. Alderman Christman seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.
Mr.
Young, Ms. Watson, and Ms. Zeller read the ordinance in its entirety. The
motion was made and seconded to approve. With very little discussion, the
unanimous vote was 5/0/0.
Alderman
Jeffrey made the motion to suspend the rules and place Ordinance #1777 on its
second reading by title only. Alderman Christman seconded.
All
were in favor, 5/0/0.
Mr.
Young read the ordinance by title only.
The
motion was made and seconded to approve. The unanimous vote was
5/0/0.
Alderman
Jeffrey made the motion to further suspend the rules and place Ordinance #1777
on its third and final reading by title only. Alderwoman Watson seconded. All
were in favor, 5/0/0.
Mr.
Young read the ordinance by title only.
The
motion was made and seconded to approve. All were in favor, 5/0/0.
Alderman
Jeffrey made the motion and Alderwoman Watson seconded to read the emergency
clause, which Mr. Young did. The vote was unanimous, 5/0/0.
2. Resolution #444, Authorization
for the Mayor to enter into an agreement for Residential and Commercial Solid
Waste collections and Transfer services with the Carroll County Solid Waste
Authority:
Alderwoman Watson made the motion to
read Resolution #444.
Alderman
Jeffrey seconded, and the vote to read was 5/0/0.
Mr.
Young read the resolution.
Alderman Jeffrey made
the motion and Alderwoman Watson seconded to approve the resolution. The roll
call vote was 5/0/0.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Blues
Festival, Ms. Sally Riker:
Ms. Riker had passed
out a letter of request to everyone so that the items
could be considered.
1. Allow the Eureka Blues Festival to use
the parking lot between City Hall and the City Auditorium to put up a tent for
vendors and music beginning on Thursday, May 28th through Sunday, May 31st.
2. Allow the Eureka Blues Festival to sell
beer in the tent and also lobby of the City Auditorium on those dates. 10% of
the proceeds in the Auditorium will be given to the Auditorium. They will apply
to the State for appropriate permits.
3. Revise the City Auditorium user rules to
allow drinks in the Auditorium and not be restricted to the lobby area.
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350 CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 1998
4. Allow
Spring Street to be blocked off from Center Street to
Mountain Street from 7:00PM until 2:30 AM on Friday,
May 29th and
Saturday, May 30th, 1998.
She said
that the tent area worked out really well during the Fall Festival. It allowed
people to leave the Auditorium for fresh air between performances, and the area
was blocked off with fencing so that no one could go out onto the street
without passing security. There were no complaints from security or the Police
Department.
The
Council took each part and voted on it separately.
Libby
Freeland asked that the Council suspend, for the Blues Festival, the rule that
no one can take food or drink out of the lobby section into the Auditorium. She
feels that the rule should be changed, but is asking that it just be suspended
for the duration of the Blues Festival for now. She had written to the Council
with reasons for letting people take food and drink into the Auditorium itself.
Mayor O’Harris read a part of it. Basicly, it said the concessions make a big
difference in the receipts, and that traditionally, people are used to taking
food and drink in when the show starts again. Any extra janitorial work would
be covered in the portion of the contract covering damage/clean-up
responsibilities. Ms. Freeland felt that it should just be done for the Blues
Fesival, for now, and that once a director is hired, the policies can be
changed. She said that now that the lobby and concession area is up to code the
Auditorium would receive 10% of all other concessions, such as T-shirts, and
tapes or C.D’s. This will not be the case for the Blues Festival. There would
just be 10% of the beer sales. If, in the future, the Auditorium sold beer, it
would have to buy its own permit. That was getting into the user policy which
is a whole other thing from the discussion.
Several
of the Council members felt that the Auditorium should get 10% of all of the
beer sold, both in the tent and the lobby of the Auditorium. Ms. Riker said she
had no problem with that.
Item 1:
The motion was made and seconded to approve setting up a tent between City Hall
and the Auditorium: The favorable vote was 5/0/0.
Items 2.
& 3: The motion was made and seconded to let the Blues Festival sell beer
in the Auditorium and the Tent, with 10% of the proceeds from the beverages
sold in the Auditorium to go to the Auditorim. Alderman Jeffrey asked that 10 %
of the beer proceeds sold in the tent should go to the Auditorium also. Ms.
Riker said that would be no problem. Also, Mayor O’Harris said that the
temporary lifting of the ban on drinks and food in the Auditorium proper should
be voted on at the same time. After more discussion, the vote was 4/1/0 to
approve everything including the 10 % of the proceeds from the tent, with
Alderman Freeland voting no.
Item 4:
To close Spring St. as specified days and times: The vote to approve was 5/0/0.
Ms. Riker
thanked the Council for their cooperation.
2. Ordinance
# 1775, adopting the 1998 Budget:
David
Beauchamp explained the draft that he gave to each member of council, the
Mayor, etc.
Alderman
Jeffrey made the motion to approve the budget, and Alderman Christrnan
seconded.
Alderman
Jeffrey made a motion to add $10,000 to the budget for the Parks Commission.
Alderman
Christman seconded it.
Alderwoman
Watson said to wait until the City sees how things are going before giving the
Parks Commission more money.
CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS 351
CITY
COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 1998
Alderwoman Zeller
said that wages are So low in so many departments, they should be brought up to
above the poverty level before giving money to anything else.
Alderwoman Watson
said a director is hired to find ways of raising money, so let’s wait and see
what she can do.
Freeland said that
its asking for superhuman achievement to take a 50% cut in funds.
Alderman Jeffrey
withdrew his motion to add $10,000 at this time. He made the motion that the
line item corresponding to the Ad Valorem Tax Receipts be adjusted by changing
it from $170,000 to $180,000. Alderman Freeland seconded. By roll call the vote
was 2/3/0, with Alderpersons Watson, Zeller, and Freeland voting no. The
motion failed.
Alderman Jeffrey then
made the motion to increase the line item associated with the Ambulance Service
by $5000, to increase the line item associated with taxes on beverages by $3000
and increase the line item associated with franchise taxes by $2000 to add up
to another $10,000. The motion failed for want of a second.
Mr. Beauchamp said
that the City has received its largest sales and use check in its history in
January for the month of November 1997. If the City keeps breaking records,
later in the year, his suggestions would be more liberal.
Alderwoman Zeller
made the motion to withdraw the $10,000 from the budget that the City had added
to the Parks and Recreation Commission’s budget, giving them $40,000, instead
of $30,000.
The motion failed for
lack of a second.
There was much
discussion and commentary, but finally the Council voted knowing that the
budget can be amended at any time, including the traditional look at the
budget. The vote to accept was 5/0/0.
Alderman Christman
made the motion to suspend the rules and place Ordinance #1775 on its second
reading by title only. Alderman Jeffrey seconded. The vote was unanimous,
5/0/0.
Mr. Young read the
ordinance by title only.
Alderman Jeffrey made
the motion to approve and Alderman Christman seconded. All were in favor,
5/0/0.
Alderman Jeffrey made
the motion and Alderman Christman seconded to further suspend the rules and
place Ordinance #1755 on its third and final reading by title only. All were in
favor, 5/0/0.
Mr. Young read the
ordinance by title only.
Alderman Christman
made the motion to approve and Alderman Jeffrey seconded. All were in favor,
5/0/0.
Alderman Jeffrey made the motion to
read the emergency clause, with Alderman Christman seconding. All were in
favor, 5/0/0.
Mr. Young read the emergency clause.
Alderman Jeffrey made the motion to
approve and Alderman Christman seconded.
The vote was unanimous, 5/0/0.
3. Share a Heart Proclamation: It was read at the
beginning of the meeting.
4. Moped Committee Appointment:
Alderwoman Seratt was absent, but
had said she wanted to be on the Moped Committee, and the other two were
Alderman Jeffrey and City Attorney Jay Miner.
CITY
OF EUREKA SPRINGS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 1998
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANTS REPORT:
The
construction company that did the work 0n the roof of the Auditorium came back
and fixed it. It had some water bubbles that had occurred. There was no charge.
The parapets are being repaired and as soon as they are finished, the roofing
company will come back and check over the roof again.
The
ambulance bid has been accepted, $62,000 plus.
Eureka
Springs is now a recognized weather recording site according to Mike Teague
with the weather service. It is also on the internet. It has been a long
process. It is a lot of free advertising for Eureka Springs, and it lets people
know how the weather is before they come.
COMMISSIONS:
Susan Storch has agreed to serve in position #5 for another term on the Planning Commission. The term would last until January first, of the year 2001. The Council had no objections.
Patty
Porter has been appointed to position #1 of the Planning Commission, finishing
a term that expires July 1, 1999. The Council had no objections.
The
motion was made and seconded to adjourn. All were in favor, 5/0/0. The meeting
was adjourned at 11:45 am.
APPROVED:
BA BARA A. O’HARRIS,MAYOR
ATTEST:
Leaving
1997 and entering 1998, our work at the City continues to be improving the
quality of life for our citizens and tourists alike.
ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
Water
Office: 11 new water taps, 8 new sewer taps
Wastewater
Treatment Plant: Capacity fee collections provided almost $13,600 for repairs
and improvements at the plant.
Occupation
Licenses: 803 issued for more than $48,816 into the general fund.
This year
the Administration Department converted the accounting system from a Mac to a
Windows 95 one. This brought new computers along with a new printer and copy
machine that everyone seems to appreciate. These changes created challenges to
learn the new accounting software, but we have adapted and are moving ahead. We
are now networked and can now use the flexibility to increase productivity.
The Water
Department has undertaken the task of adding the commercial trash billing to
their workload. Their input has been instrumental in allowing the transition
from our current provider to our new one to be as smooth as can be imagined, as
well as enhancing our opportunity to be of service to the community.
1998 City of Eureka Springs 353
The
staff has demonstrated an increasing desire to cross-train and come to the
support of their co-workers when called upon. This is all in an effort to be
able to handle the needs of the citizens as efficiently as possible.
We
feel that City Hall is a friendlier and more helpful place than ever.
Municipal
Court: 689 Dockets plus 71 civil and small claims for a total of more than
$36,650
into the general fund. Linda Clark, Municipal Court Clerk will be attending the
National
Association of Court Management in San Antonio, Texas in 1998.
Building
Inspector’s Office: 154 permits for over $13,000 into the general fund.
Sales
Tax Receipts: Largest revenue source for a total of 1 million 4 hundred 67
thousand.
Parking
Revenues: Approximately 125,000 came into the General Fund from this.
EUREKA
SPRINGS qualified for TREE CITY USA for the 15th consecutive
year! More than any other city in Arkansas!
26
Ordinances passed and 4 Resolutions.
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY
SERVICES
Emergency
medical calls were down less than 1%, Fire calls were up 25%.
Approximately
250 hours were spent on extended fire training for all paid and volunteer
firefighters. Training consisted of ladder, safety contained breathing
apparatus, introduction to firefighting, fire streams, hoses, pumping
apparatus, attic fires and new technology in firefighting.
Approximately
160 hours were spent on extended emergency medical training for all paid
Paramedics and EMTs. Training consisted of Paramedic & EMT refresher
courses, advanced cardiac life support, 12 lead electrical cardiogram,
extrication, violence against responders, civil disturbance tactical, pediatric
life support, and new medication education.
Approximately
150 hours were spent on other types of rescue such as, swiftwater rescue, high
and low angle rope rescue, and search and rescue. This rescue is known as the
Carroll County Special Operations Rescue Team.
The
Eureka Springs Fire Department Bucket Brigade has worked on several fund
raising events this year to raise money for the volunteer firefighters. These
activities included a car wash, held at the Texaco station, and a Halloween
spook house at Fire Station One across from City Hall, a chili lest in the
Harts parking lot and vehicle parking at the lots downtown for total earned of
over $1200.
The
new 911 re-addressing throughout the City is still under way and should be up
to date
within
the next few months. The major changes at this time are on East & West Van
Buren,
Huntsville Road, Deer Lane, Hayes, Stadium Drive, Passion Play Road, Shelton
Drive
and several others.
Paramedic
Brent Updegraff joined the fire department this year and EMT Tim Collins
went
to 24 hour shift work to help reduce the amount of call time.
Other
activities include CPR classes for the local schools, fire extinguisher classes
for the hospital, daycares and EFMC, Fire prevention at all Eureka Springs
schools, combined extrication classes with Holiday Island fire department,
Automatic External Defibrillator training provided for Inspiration Point,
Grassy Knob, and Beaver Volunteer Fire Departments.
Medical-Protocols
written for Inspiration Point, Grassy Knob, and Beaver Volunteer Fire
Departments.
With
all the new and advanced medical and fire training provided, all the western
district fire department personnel can now work together as one large team. We
look forward to 1998 as being an even bigger year for county wide team work.
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354 1998 City of Eureka Springs State of the City Address |
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The police department has made great strides in the area of improving
productivity and efficiency during 1997. Records of all traffic citations,
parking citations, traffic accident reports and incident/offense reports are
fully automated so that any incident or citation can be referenced in a matter
of moments. This automation allows the department to track records and maintain
a closer watch on the status of citations and reports. For example, the
collection of parking citation fines totaled near $28,000 for 1997 which is
almost a 100% increase over 1996.
The police department is also utilizing the Internet as a link to
hundreds of law enforcement sites which are utilized for training, legal
questions and other law enforcement related subjects. This is sure to aid in
our constant efforts to improve the professionalism and effectiveness of the
police department.
The enhanced 911 system which is located at the police department and
serves the Western District of Carroll County is expected to be fully
operational in January, 1998. We at the police department are very excited
about this and feel that it will aid us in providing the rapid response of
medical or police assistance to those who need them. All of the dispatchers at
the police department are certified in emergency medical dispatch and, by
utilizing the medical card set, can give limited but critical medical advice to
callers while the ambulance is in route. They will also be able to assess the
situation better and provide valuable information to the responding medical
personnel.
The police department received 2,189 calls for law enforcement service
in which police officers were dispatched, 724 dispatches for the Eureka Springs
Ambulance and 114 dispatches for the Eureka Springs Fire Department with a
total of 3,027 dispatches or calls for service from the police dispatch office.
A total of 181 traffic accidents were investigated and 644
incident/offense reports were written.
$98,543.07 worth of stolen property was recovered by the police
department and returned to its rightful owners.
PUBLIC WORKS
DEPARTMENT
As of January 1, 1997, the recycling department became a part of the
Public Works Department. Carolyn Loper was promoted to supervisor position of
this department and is doing an outstanding job. Ms. Loper has six employees on
her crew. She is responsible for the collection, processing, and marketing of
recyclables, the drop-off center and manages the leaf and yard waste and
biosolids Composting Facility.
The Carroll County Solid Waste Authority advertised for bids concerning
the operation of the processing portion of the recycling department. Upon their
receiving no response to this advertisement, the City of Eureka Springs entered
into an agreement to run the entire operation. To date this agreement is
working very well.
The recycling department received $50,000 in grant money, the City added
$10,000 to this and purchased a 13 yard packer truck for recyclables
collection. This addition saves the backs of the crew members and has added to
the efficiency of the department in a big way.
The City of Eureka Springs,in cooperation with the Carroll County Solid
Waste Authority and the Four County Regional Solid Waste District, sponsored a
celebration of the first annual “America Recycles Day”. This turned into quite
an affair with a huge tent in Harts’ parking lot, dozens of donations from
local businesses, games, food and prizes. A real community event.
Two solid waste operator’s licenses were earned by employees in 1997.
In the water department, the final phase of the water plan was completed
in 1997. Storage tanks, main lines, and fire hydrants are in place. Looping of
the majority of the main lines has brought about significant improvements in
flows for fire fighting purposes as well as residents and businesses. One of
the major goals of this plan was to bring every structure in the City limits
within a 500’ radius of a fire hydrant. The City’s fire rating is now greatly
improved resulting in reduced insurance rates.
1998 City of Eureka Springs
State of the City Address
The next task
concerning the Water System is to perform a leak detection survey. This
activity is planned for 1998.
Nine residential
water service connections and two irrigation taps were made in 1997.
In the wastewater
department, although significant improvements were made to the sewer system in
1997, the majority of the effort has been in planning. The City is currently
awaiting information on grant possibilities before making a decision on which
funding route to take to implement these plans.
Plans include
extensive restructuring of the Waste Treatment Facility in order to meet new
permit limitations, sewering the unsewered areas, expanding the cocomposting
facility, and an inflow/infiltration reduction campaign.
Mike Dixon and his
crew, as always, are keeping the plant perking along. We are very proud of the
performance as well as the appearance of this facility. Consistently meeting
nationally mandated permit limits and surviving periodic visits by State
inspectors is more a function of operators than equipment. The City is
fortunate to have employees such as these who take such a personal interest in
their duties.
Three residential
sewer service connections were made in 1997.
Three wastewater
operator’s licenses were earned by employees in 1997.
In the street
department, the 1997 street paving program included re-paving Midway and
Crockett around the High School, Greenwood Road to the Elementary/Middle
School, a portion of Hillside Avenue, and two roads in the Cemetery. Dogwood
Ridge, formerly a dirt street, was also paved.
Surveying a new route
from Grand Avenue to Hillside was also completed. Possibilities for acquisition
of private property still need to be explored before the route can be
finalized.
Some downtown
beautification projects were the relocation of a portion of the large concrete
wall on Benton Street for widening purposes and the reconstruction of that wall
with limestone. What a beautiful job!
Four more Victorian
style street name sign posts and limestone bases were completed.
Eight more wrought
iron trash receptacles were purchased and placed.
Three trees were
planted.
James Clark is the
immediate supervisor of the Water, Wastewater, and Street Departments. Mr.
Clark and the various crew members of these departments really are the unsung
heroes. They are the ones who keep the water running out of your faucets, the
sanitary and storm sewers flowing, and the street patched, plowed and graveled.
They work with home and business owners, contractors and utility companies.
Plus they keep all of the Public Works equipment functioning in order to fix
what breaks as quietly and efficiently as possible.
TRANSIT DEPARTMENT
This year will be the
15th season for the Eureka Springs Transit. This will be the 2nd
season for Eureka’s newest attraction, the guided Historic District Tour, which
has been very successful and well received by Group Tour Operators and
visitors.
Starting out in 1984,
we had assets that consisted of one trolley and one bus. The transit department
has expanded to a fleet of eight trolleys, four trams, and two buses, with
current assets in excess of two million dollars.
In fourteen years of
operation, the transit department has transported over 5 ˝ million miles.
Excess revenue in the past has provided us with the opportunity to make several
capital improvements which include the purchase of two trams, and expansion of
the trolley garage twice. We are also able to provide curb-service
transportation to the grocery store, city offices, post office, medical
facilities etc. for our local residents throughout the year. The Department of
Human Concern reported that the Eureka Springs Transit operated the best small
transit service in the State of Arkansas for local
Residents throughout
the year. The Department of Human
Concern reported that the Eureka Springs Transit operated the best small
transit service in the State of Arkansas for local residents.
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1998
City of Eureka Springs
State of the City
Address
With the sale of an
older tram, the Transit Department paid back a $15,000 loan to the City’s
General Fund. They have $14,700 to replace a needed vehicle and $14,000 to set
aside for a new tram fund.
The transit
department is very proud to announce that within fourteen years, we have not
had any major accidents or injuries which resulted in a judgment against us. We
owe this long standing record to all the excellent employees that dedicate
their lime in making the transit department so safe and successful.
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
This commission
serves as a Certified Local Government (CLG) Commission. It schedules 24
meetings per year. In 1997, it reviewed 94 Level I applications: of these 18
were for painting, 25 were for signs and 51 were for maintenance. In addition,
the Commission reviewed 21 Level II applications and 23 Level ifi applications,
for a total of
138. The HDC
responsibilities continue each year as our historic properties become more rare
within the Historic District. No building can be erected, altered, restored,
moved or demolished until the Commission has approved a Certificate of
Appropriateness. This includes buildings, structures, stone walls, fences,
light fixtures, steps, paving and other appurtenant fixtures.
Our goals for 1998
are to develop a procedures and guidelines handbook, to procure a CLG grant for
sidewalk preservation, to develop and implement a minimum maintenance ordinance
and to attend joint workshops with the Planning and Zoning Commission.
PLANNING COMMISSION/BOARD OF ZONING
ADJUSTMENT
During 1997, the
Planning Commission tackled many controversial issues, The major issues at hand
were the tree ordinance, Lake Leatherwood annexation, re-zoning of several
areas of the City, sign ordinance and the on-going battle of conditional use
Out of these issues
arose the adoption of Ordinance No. 1762, Preservation of Trees, passed and
approved October 14, 1997. The Lake Leatherwood annexation had not come to
completion at the end of 1997, but should be adopted during the 1st quarter of
1998.
The Vision Plan was
formally adopted as a guideline. It is imperative to remember that this plan is
a starting point and not meant to be gospel. Change is the future and the
future is change.
Kim Dickens was hired
as the City Planner. Her addition to the City staff will have a large impact on
all phases of planning, zoning and historic preservation. Given time and
support, her leadership and guidance will be beneficial to all agencies of the
City.
Several re-zoning
issues were discussed during 1997. One, the re-zoning of the east side of 23
South off Gretna Green Lane and the moving of the West Liberty School was
passed. The other re-zoning issue involving Hillside Avenue was denied.
The Commission was
also present with the usual array of variances, tree cuts and
Conditional Use
Permits.
During 1998, our
goals are to continue to be supportive of Eureka Springs while being sensitive
to the people and the effects on the people and the City. Workshops are planned
to discuss and learn about the ordinances that affect this Commission and the
citizens of Eureka Springs. Hopefully, with education, the decision-making
process will become easier.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
This year has shown
many improvements for the City Parks of Eureka Springs. The Gadd Spring project
has been partially completed. It still lacks a water fountain and some landscaping.
Onyx Spring had new walls and flowerbeds built this year. There were numerous
trees planted throughout the parks. New playground equipment and a new fence
were completed at Harmon Park. The Commission also hired its first Director,
Nikki Salazar, because we are trying to meet all the recreational needs of the
community.
1998 City of Eureka Springs 357
The Parks &
Recreation Commission hopes to continue their efforts to improve all City
Park facilities in 1998 with the help of our new director.
CEMETERY COMMISSION
The cemetery has looked better, neater, cleaner and better
mowed this past season than anytime in many years. A new lawn mower was
purchased making mowing easier and faster. The Cemetery sold 24 lots for $7,200.
The City and Public Works did some blocks of paving in the
Cemetery and more will be done in the future. Other improvements are planned
for 1998.
HOSPITAL COMMISSION
Hospital Improvements for the year 1997 were the replacement
of the power control system for the fire/smoke system and the renovation of the
X-ray room. Also, two new awnings were added to the hospital building.
The Eureka Springs hospital is showing a good profit and has
plans to build a new hospital on Passion Play Road next to the new clinic where
they would share a common laboratory and radiology services.
PARKING AUTHORITY
The parking authority has as its main objective parking for
the many tourists who visit Eureka Springs and its historical, commercial
district. The ease with which our visitors access parking, especially on the
high trafficked times of the year, weighs heavy into whether or not a visitor
returns.
An ongoing goal for the parking authority is the proper
placement of signage, directing
traffic to existing parking areas around the historic area.
The proposed North Main parking lot symbolizes a step in the
direction of dealing with the parking problem. Though not in the main hub of
the downtown shopping district, these spaces will be free for those who wish to
use this lot, visitors as well as residents. To encourage use by downtown
employees, morning trolley shuttle runs as well as late afternoon runs to this
area and back to the downtown area will be made on a punctual schedule. In
addition, this land offers a visitor coming into Eureka Springs by way of Hwy
23 an opportunity to stop and park as well. In the future an unmanned visitor
center can be placed encouraging people to stop and plan a day in Eureka
Springs. Further, this area is quite large extending from Main Street up to
Hillside. The land’s configuration and stately trees make an ideal park-like
setting. Verla, Eureka Springs’ gardener, has been consulted on the development
of this land and sees many possibilities for picnicking and walking trails. The
initial improvement for parking spaces is but one objective for this area and
is balanced with the proposed esthetic improvements that will make this site an
attraction along Main Street.
Future topics of discussion will be the placement of trolley
shelters along the trolley route. A simple construction providing shelter from
the elements can be constructed in different sizes but with one main theme of
design to help a trolley rider identify trolley stops and a chance to stand in
the shade or out of the rain. If this shelter were in a historical spot, a silk
screened plaque could be mounted on the inside reviewing information about
Eureka Springs with an historical footnote.
Another idea to alleviate the downtown parking problem is
valet parking, currently utilized by Park City, Utah. A Spring Street location
with a designated sign would offer a car to be driven to a location and brought
back when the owner was ready to depart. In theory, this would offer a chance
for perimeter parking and the convenience for the visitor.
In conclusion, the Parking Authority’s main focus will be to
brainstorm ideas and hone these into practical improvements to address the
parking and traffic flow problems in the downtown area. Needless to say, the
objective of the Parking Authority is to get the tourist into our downtown
historical area so that they can shop, eat, and enjoy themselves and return to
their vehicles with the least amount of concern and effort.
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1998 City of Eureka Springs
State of the City Address
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT REPORT
Our City
Administrative Assistant has updated and revised the employee handbook and is
responsible for the
new Council and Commissions handbook.
He has served as the
City’s representative for the Four County Solid Waste District, Carroll County
Solid Waste Authority and the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District
and has worked diligently on the new Community Center which will house the new
Boys and Girls Club and Senior Citizens, Eureka Elders.
AUDITORIUM COMMISSION
The Auditorium
Commission voted to dissolve in 1997 and a new Auditorium Department was
formed. The plan is to hire a Marketing Director Department Head. The
application ad is in the newspaper now. This person will market and promote the
auditorium for festivals and other events from all over Carroll County.
Restoration of the facility structure continued with the completion of the
window restoration begun in 1995. Partial funding of this effort was obtained
through the Arkansas Historic Preservation Project. At this time, all windows
have been restored. As required by the American’s with Disabilities Act, the
Auditorium has been fitted with a wheelchair lift. Access through the southeast
entrance was provided by adding a concrete ramp, new doors and frame and the
lift itself which brings the disabled individual to the theater level. An
intercom was provided to allow persons to call from that entrance should they
require assistance operating the mechanism. The lobby floor was patched and
refinished following the removal of the concession stand with increased floor
space an immediate and unanticipated bonus. The new concession area with three
compartment sink, refrigeration space, hand sink and storage for a portable
concession stand and product was completed. Additionally, the floor in the
exterior access public restrooms was shored up and following the break-in in
July, the entire building was re-keyed. In 1997, a system was installed to
permit the stage and sound booth to communicate. Also, a fax machine was purchased
for the office.
The City Auditorium
was a finalist in the search for the Arkansas Music Hall of Fame. The
Commission and staff did an outstanding job on the presentation and had plans
drawn up for the completion of the restoration of the auditorium by phases over
the next 5 years.
Earned income was 38%
over budget due to an increased number of events from fourteen in 1996 to
eighteen in 1997 for a total of over $24,000. The Auditorium produced three
events this year, the Spring Concert, The Cajun Festival, and The Missoula
Children’s Theatre and co-produced the Eureka Theatre Company’s You Can’t
Take It With You. New clients included The Good Shepherd Animal Shelter,
The Lane House, May Fine Arts Festival, and the Autumn Blues Festival. 1997
also saw the increased use of the Auditorium’s facilities by the Original Ozark
Folk Festival with the return to a two night schedule of concerts. Paid
attendance was 10,000 as compared with 1996’s 5700 due in large part to the
very successful Ozark Folk Festival and the Blues Festival. Auditorium produced
events saw an increase from 584 in attendance in 1996 to 1178 in 1997. In
addition, 2500 people this year attended non-ticketed events such as school
concerts and High School graduation.
This year the
Auditorium was host to everything from lecturers to musical-comedy to
graduation ceremonies. Proof once again of the tremendous potential of this
City asset.
I wish to thank all
the many citizens who have served as Commissioners on the Auditorium through
the years.
CITY ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION
COMMISSION
The 1997 C.A.P.C. tax
receipts of $948,124 were $41,219 greater than the 1996 receipts.
This is a 4.5%
increase for the year.
Advertising
expenditures during 1997 were $434,611, and special -event funding totaled
$93,713.
The Commission’s
community service expenditures were: Auditorium Maintenance, $20,000;
Auditorium Bonds, $19,452; Transit Bonds, $40,008 and Public Restrooms, $6,000.
359
1998 City of Eureka Springs
State of the City Address
The Commissioners went to Hot Springs to visit with their Commission and
gleen from their experiences and share ours. Then they held a joint
retreat with the Chamber of Commerce to discuss misunderstanding and iron out
differences which was very beneficial to all parties.
The Commission ended 1997 with a fund balance of $107,000, which is 245%
greater than the balance forecasted in the beginning of the year, largely
attributed to an increase in tax collections and conservative spending.
Everyone around the Council table is first of all—citizens, residents
and property owners in this City. Second, community minded business people. We
are working at making this City beneficial for home and business. The words
every Eurekan speaks affects the world around our City. Speak positive
words—think positive thoughts. It does not take talent or effort to find fault
but it does take effort to keep yourself positively focused. Be part of the
solutions for Eureka Springs, not part of the problem.
As we look ahead at 1998, we are optimistic about our tourist season for
this year. Every indication is for increase in tourists and business.
REMEMBER...
When
everyone works
together,
extraordinary
things
happen.