CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS
COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
The
PRESENT:
Mayor Satori, and Alderpersons Jeffrey, Schrader, Freeland,
ALSO
PRESENT: Alan Long, Robert McVey, Diane Murphy, Lisa Liggett, David Reuter, Nikki
Cherry, Kelly Simon, Earl Hyatt, Ed Leswig, David White, Don Matt, Kim Dickens,
Tom Laub, and Clerk Lee.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE: Ms. Dickens led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL
OF THE AGENDA: The motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda. All were in favor, 5/0/0.
APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES: Alderman Jeffrey thanked the Clerk for
the way she had cut down on the length of the minutes. There were two amendments to the minutes duly
noted, Mr. Rew’s name, and Alderman Sumpter’s vote on page one. All were in favor to approve, 5/0/0.
COMMISSION,
COMMITTEE AND AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:
Mayor
Satori said he had several people interested in filling positions but he was
not yet ready to nominate anyone for various reasons, and he thought he would
be ready at the next meeting.
There
was no DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS and no CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
Council
procedures; minutes.
The Mayor reminded the Council that the City Clerk-Treasurer is an
elected official with a handbook to guide her in the writing of the minutes, and
it is really up to her discretion how they are written.
Request for vacating property,
(Frank Green), postpone until
The
request from Frank Green is postponed until
NEW
BUSINESS:
Daffodil planting on the
The
motion was made and seconded to grant him permission to plant daffodils on
public property. After more discussion
the motion was amended and seconded to direct Public Works to help if City
equipment is needed. The vote on the
amendment was 5/0/0. The vote on the
motion was 5/0/0.
Courtesy Ticket (Ed Leswig/Earl Hyatt):
Mr.
Leswig thanked Lisa Liggett, Interim Director of Transit, Kirby Murray,
Director of Public Works and the Chamber of Commerce for their contributions toward the free
shuttle that runs from the Planer Hill parking lot to the North Main St.
Parking lot and back.
Mr.
Leswig then went on to present the idea of Courtesy notices to the visitor who
is parked in a legal space and has let the meter run out. The idea is to leave a courtesy ticket of one
hour grace time. If the meter hasn’t
been fed during that period of time, a regular ticket would be issued. We could do some PR work by issuing these
tickets first. The next step was to get
the Chamber and the CAPC to underwrite the $5000 that it is “guestimated” it
would cost the City in lost revenues. Several
points were made. There is a problem
with business owners parking in the downtown parking and loading zones. There are many letters received by the Mayor’s
Office complaining about the tickets that are issued to people who have spent
money in our motels, restaurants, and shops.
The tickets would be issued to visitors because they are not familiar
with the town. The question was could it
legally be done unless it was a standard for everyone and not just
visitors. Chief Hyatt, Mr. Leswig, and Mr. Laub will study the issue for legality.
Free transit service to
non-profit organizations, (Lisa Liggett):
Ms.
Liggett said that many organizations and schools ask for Transit to give them
free rides, but that there is no policy in place to do so. She wanted Council direction as to what to do
in those instances. The Council decided
to have Ms. Dickens, Mr. Laub and Ms. Liggett work to form a policy for the
Council’s consideration. Alderman Freeland said there is an Attorney General’s
opinion that neither cash nor in kind services can be provided and it is
immaterial if it is non -profit. He said
it is more complicated than one would think. There was a long discussion which
covered many points. One point that was
made was the City of Eureka Springs’ Boys and Girls Club, out of twenty two
clubs in
The
motion was made and seconded to not allow anyone to ride free on the trolley
until a policy is in place.
Then
an amendment was made and seconded to present the policy at the
The
vote on the amendment was 5/0/0.
The
vote on the original motion was
Alderman
Sumpter said he would be happy to work with Ms. Dickens, Ms. Liggett and Mr.
Laub on the policy, and Ms. Dickens suggested that Diane Murphy also have some
input.
Alderman
Freeland reminded them there are specific state and federal considerations to
be looked into.
Permission for funds for
purchases to obtain grant funds, (Earl Hyatt):
Chief
Hyatt was asking permission from the Council to utilize funds which were not
budgeted to the Police Department because the department has been approved and
given a grant for the Smart Moves Program.
This program would be working with the Boys and Girls Club, and the
school. It is one of the top programs in
the country for prevention of drugs, alcohol, and teen pregnancies. The intention is to send several children from
the schools for training. It is a peer
program. Shelly Summers, the school
resource officer, will be leading it. The
grant is a refund grant. The City has to
spend the money and then we are reimbursed.
The Boys and Girls Club will be providing about $4200. The City would be spending $14,087.44.
The
motion was made and seconded transfer the amount of $14,087.44 for the purpose
of the Smart Moves Program. All were in
favor, 5/0/0.
The
motion was made and seconded to recess for ten minutes. All were in favor, 5/0/0.
The
meeting was recessed at
City purchases of bank CD’s via
competitive bidding,(Ernst Schrader/Diane Murphy:
Alderman
Schrader had a resolution drawn up, and Diane Murphy had a policy written
out. Both spoke of their discussions
with Bank Officials, and what they felt needed to be done. Alderman Schrader said his concern was to
make sure each bank in the City had equal opportunities to give the City the
best interest they can on the City’s Certificates of deposit.
The
motion was made and seconded to instruct Ms. Murphy not to renew the two C.D.’s
that are ready to be renewed until she has obtained bids from the four banks
and that she has met with the Mayor and she and the Mayor have picked the
highest bid.
Ms.
Murphy said it was never the City’s intention to only deal with one bank in town. It is only in the last few years that the
City has had more than one bank.
Ms.
Dickens made it clear that she and Ms. Murphy cannot make policy making
decisions. They are not part of the
governing body. Their only concern is
that the City have a clear written down policy to
follow in these instances.
Alderman
Schrader withdrew his motion.
The
motion was made and seconded to accept Ms. Murphy’s draft of a policy in which
she used policies from the City of
Alderman
Schrader made a procedural motion to go over Ms. Murphy’s policy, paragraph by
paragraph and vote on each amendment, which was seconded by Alderwoman
Taylor. The vote was
Mayor
Satori read the policy paragraph by paragraph.
On the second paragraph under Policy, a motion was made.
Alderman
Schrader made the motion to strike the word only in the first line and in the
third line, after the period, add “unless the Mayor shall decide also to invite
banks authorized to do business in the state of
Alderman
Jeffrey called the question. Alderman
Freeland seconded. That vote was
5/0/0.
The
vote on the motion was Schrader and Taylor, yes, and Jeffrey, Freeland and
Sumpter, no,
Alderman
Freeland made the motion to call the question.
There was no second.
Mayor
Satori read on. When he reached
paragraph two under “Procedures”, more action was taken. Alderwoman Taylor made the motion to strike
the word “verbal” and insert the word “written”. Alderman Freeland seconded. After discussion, Ms. Taylor withdrew her
motion to amend.
Alderman
Schrader made the motion that the Finance Department will notify all banks with
branches located within the City of Eureka Springs at least one week in advance
to say that they will telephone the bank on a specified date to ask for a bid
on CD’s, and that a report go out to all of the banks every six months to let
them know what will be coming due. This
motion got lost in the discussion and had no second.
Alderwoman
Taylor said to add to the policy that the City give banks 6 months notice and ten
days notice of maturity. She then
amended her motion to say that the City will give fax notification to all of
the banks in town on a monthly basis and seven to ten days notice of maturity
of any CD. There was no second.
Then
Alderman Freeland simplified her motion to delete the word review, and substitute
the word “report” At the end add “Reports will be distributed to all eligible
banks”. Alderman Sumpter seconded. All
were in favor, 5/0/0. (This
simplification is worded totally different than Ms. Taylor’s motion as stated
in the above paragraph, but she said “that is my motion”).
Mayor
Satori then began to read the second paragraph under Procedures.
Alderman
Freeland made the motion that “an officer of” be added after “from” in the
first line. Alderman Sumpter seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.
The
next paragraph deals with what happens in the case of a tie.
Alderman
Schrader insisted that the banks would rather the City flip a coin in the case
of a tie bid.
Alderman
Schrader made the motion that the City flip a coin in
the case of a tie bid.
The
motion died for lack of a second.
Alderwoman
Taylor made the motion that tie bids be decided by the rotation method. She then withdrew her motion. Alderman Schrader seconded after the motion
had been withdrawn.
Ms.
Murphy used
The
vote on the original motion was to approve the Investment Policy as it is
amended. It does not cover any other
vehicle than the two allowable investments, which are Treasury Bills and Certificates
of deposit. The vote was 5/0/0.
Choose Council representative for
Sportscomplex citizens Advisory Committee:
Alderwoman
Taylor made the motion to appoint Alderman Schrader for the Sportscomplex
Citizens Advisory Committee. Alderman
Freeland seconded. All were in favor, 4/0/1,
with Alderman Schrader abstaining.
May Arts and Crafts Show, May 13th
and 14th, 2000, utilizing the City Hall Parking Lot:
The
motion was made and seconded to approve the May Arts and Crafts Show utilizing
the parking lot between the City Hall and the Auditorium. All were in favor, 5/0/0.
CITY COUNCIL
COMMENTS:
Alderman
Sumpter said that at a recent Eureka Springs Resort Association meeting, they
discussed whether or not they would be ready if power went down, and there was
no electricity or water. He said it
might be good if the City interacted with the town at large to come up with
ideas in case anything does happen. Are
our businesses prepared to take care of their customers? The Mayor appointed Alderman Sumpter to head
a committee to discuss
this. Alderman Sumpter did say that he
had discussed the subject with the Police Chief and was assured that all
precautions had been taken. City Hall is
also prepared.
Alderman
Jeffrey said he had been trying to get the Wastewater Task Force together to
meet and asked for information on the members.
Alderman
Schrader asked that speed bumps on Flint Street be put on the agenda for the
August 19th.
He also said
that at a future time Commissions CD’s should be discussed so that they follow
the same policy.
Alderman
Freeland said that the CAPC had interviewed the first candidate for executive
director.
Ms. Dickens
said that as soon as she can, Ms. Murphy will be going to Fayetteville to spend
some time with their financial director.
They have an award-winning audit each year and even though the City is a
lot smaller, a lot can be learned from them.
MAYOR’S
COMMENTS:
Mayor Satori
announced that the Blues Festival Task Force would meet Monday, August 9th,
at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
With regard to
the ruling on the CAPC removals, he said the City Council followed the code
completely. Unfortunately the clause for
removal in the ordinance was ruled to be in conflict with the law. This will have to be addressed.
The motion was
made and seconded to adjourn. All were
in favor, 5/0/0. The meeting was adjourned
at 10:35 p.m.
\
Signature page for August 5th,
1999, City Council Meeting minutes.
APPROVED:
_____________________________________
Beau
Zar Satori, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Mary
Ann Lee, City Clerk-Treasurer