CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

AUGUST 6, 2001

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Mayor Beau Z. Satori called the August 6th, 2001, meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. in the Jury Room of the Carroll County Courthouse.

 

PRESENT:

Mayor Satori, and Aldermen DeVito, Simon, Dozier, Stoppel, Harrison, and Sumpter.

 

ALSO PRESENT: Mary Jean Sell, John Mitchell, Ed Leswig, Ray Dilfield, Dan Bennett, Mr. & Mrs. Ron Morrison, Mike Bishop, Pat Matsukis, Lisa Liggett, Mendy Rose, Joe Zickmund, David White, John Mitchell, Jerry Ballinger, Bill Ames, Kim Dickens, Sherry Wilson and Clerk Lee.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Mayor Satori led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:

Mayor Satori said that two new firefighters would be sworn in by Judge Alan Epley.  He added that to the agenda just before the commission report.  Also,he said Mike Bishop was there to speak to the Council and the Community.  He was put in after the swearing in.  The motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda.  The vote was 6/0/0.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

The motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of July 16th, 2001. An amendment was noted and the minutes were approved 6/0/0.

 

Fire Chief Robert McVey introduced Gary Smith and Jason Morris, the two employees, who completed the Fire Academy and are certified to be professional firefighters.  This brings the fire department to 100% certification. He said it has taken three years to accomplish this.  He then read the Firefighter’s Prayer.

He explained the meaning of the badge they wear.  Then Judge Epley swore the two men in, and Chief McVey pinned their badges on them.

 

Mike Bishop came to introduce himself and his matinee show to the Council and the Community.  His show is affiliated with the Ozark Mountain Hoedown, and is held at 3 p.m. everyday.  He invited everyone to come and see the show.  He said he was happy to be in Eureka Springs, and to create another daytime activity here.

 

COMMISSION, COMMITTEE: AND AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:

Mayor Satori said  the motion had been made and postponed at the last meeting to approve Linda Hager for Position 4 on the CAPC.  The Mayor said the petition he had carried now contained 63 signatures in support of Ms. Hager.

There was a long discussion. 

Alderman Dozier said he didn’t like the way the whole thing had been done and said he didn’t not appreciate the game playing.

Aldermen Simon, Stoppel, and Sumpter had received a few phone calls, and they were all negative.

Alderman DeVito said he had known Linda for 15 years, and he thought she was eminently qualified.

Alderman Harrison said she had known Linda for a long time. Ms. Hager had taken it upon herself to organize the two food and wine tasting weekends that fall on weekends during the year when absolutely nothing is going on.  Alderman Harrison thought she would be a good commissioner.

 

John Mitchell spoke in favor of Linda Hager.

Joe Zickmund  spoke against her being on the commission.

Mary Ann Lee, the City Clerk, who never has endorsed a candidate, spoke in favor of Linda for the commission.

 

In a roll call vote, the vote was 2/4/0, with Harrison and DeVito for, and Simon, Sumpter, Stoppel, and Dozier voting against.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS:

There were none.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

There was none.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1878, amending the zoning ordinance, (12 Months):

The motion was made and seconded to suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1878 on its second reading by title only.  The vote was 5/1/0, with Alderman Dozier voting no. 

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  The vote was 5/1/0, with Alderman Dozier voting no.

 

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1879, amending the zoning ordinance, (200 ft.):

The motion was made and seconded to suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1879 on its second reading by title only.  The vote was 4/2/0, with Aldermen Dozier and Stoppel voting no.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  The vote was 4/2/0, with Aldermen Dozier and Stoppel voting no.

 

 

 

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1880, amending zoning ordinance (Tourist Lodging):

The motion was made and seconded to suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1880 on its second reading by title only.  The vote was 4/2/0, with Aldermen Dozier and Stoppel voting no.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  The vote was 4/2/0, with Aldermen Dozier and Stoppel voting no.

 

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1881, amending the tree ordinance:

The motion was made and seconded to suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1881 on its second reading by title only.  The vote was 5/1/0, with Alderman Dozier voting no.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  The vote was 5/1/0, with Alderman Dozier voting no.

 

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1874, amending the 2001 budgets:

The motion was made and seconded to suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1874 on its second reading by title only.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  The vote was 5/1/0, with Alderman Dozier voting no.

 

Alderman Dozier said the Police Department has doubled  in the last few years and we are spending too much money for attorneys.  He believes we need to cut back.

 

The motion was made and seconded to further suspend the rules and place Ordinance 1874 on its third and final reading by title only.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  The vote was 5/1/0, with Alderman Dozier voting no.

 

The motion was made and seconded to read the emergency clause.  The vote was 5/1/0, with Alderman Dozier voting no.

Ms. Dickens read the emergency clause.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  The vote was 5/1/0, with Alderman Dozier voting no.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Discussion regarding Parking Loop Proposal:

Ed Leswig presented the Parking Loop Proposal devised by the Community Development Partnership.  There would be signs, “Parking Loop”, for example, all along the route to the parking lots.  They would go from the top of Planer Hill to the train station, then up Hillside and across Bridge Street and Center Street to connect with Spring St. and down Spring Street.  A copy of the proposal will be included with these minutes.  There was quite a lot of discussion but no action was taken.  The signs would be obvious but not intrusive.  The point was made that there are some folks who will not ride transit but insist on using their cars.

Jerry Ballinger commented on how many people don’t know there is a downtown.

Alderman Harrison said the Parking Loop should be coordinated with the Transit System.

 

Discussion Regarding Transit fares, routes, and hours of operation:

Alderman Dozier said the City needs to keep the Transit Committee in operation.

After some discussion, the Council decided they were not ready to vote on fares, routes and hours of operation.  They decided to hold a special meeting in a week to vote on them.  The motion was made and seconded to hold a Special Meeting, Monday, August 13th, 2001 at 7 p.m. for the purpose of voting on fares, routes, and hours of operation.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.

The Council asked that some of the Transit people and drivers be there for their input.

 

Alderman Stoppel made the motion and Alderman Dozier seconded to move the first meeting in September from the 3rd, which is Labor Day, to Tuesday, September 4th, 2001 at 7 p.m.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS:

Alderman Harrison said she was so shocked at the recent death of a visitor on a moped.  She asked how many accidents do we have to have before they are banned?  She said it is not fair to our tourists.

 

Alderman Dozier said that the point in the road is not banked well and he described what could be done to change the road to make it safer.

Alderman Stoppel said he hates to think of all of the accidents that have happened there over the years.

 

MAYOR’S COMMENTS:

Mayor Satori said he couldn’t think of a better candidate for the CAPC than Linda Hager.  He said he was embarrassed for the Council.

 

 

 

The motion was made and seconded to adjourn.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

This is the signature sheet for the minutes of August 6th, 2001.

 

APPROVED:

 

                                                                        ____________________________

Mayor Beau Z. Satori          

 

ATTEST:

 

_______________________________

Mary Ann Lee, City Clerk-Treasurer