CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MONDAY MARCH 3, 2003
Postponed from Feb. 24 because of snow
Mayor Kathy Harrison called the regular city council meeting to order at 5 p.m. Monday, March 3, 2003, in the jury room of the Western District Carroll County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Mayor Kathy Harrison,
Aldermen Karen Lindblad, Gayle Money, Earl “Bud” Umland, Bill Ott and David
Wilson, City Administrative Assistant Kim Dickens, Finance Director Diane
Murphy, Fire Chief David Stoppel, Public Works Director Kirby Murray and City
Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell. Alderman Penny Carroll was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Harrison led the
Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Ms. Money moved to approve
the agenda as presented. Ms. Lindblad seconded. All voted aye. Potion passed
5/0/0
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Mr. Ott moved to approve
the minutes of Feb. 10, 2003, as presented. Ms. Lindblad seconded. All voted
aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
Mayor Harrison said she would give the address at the conclusion of regular business.
COMMISSION, COMMITTEE AND
AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:
Planning Commission – Position 6 –
Expires 1/1/06 No action taken.
Planning Commission – Position 7 –
Expires 1/1/06 No action taken
City Advertising and Promotion
Commission Position 1 – Expires 6/30/05
Mayor Harrison asked for a motion on the nomination
of Steve Roberson to Position #1 on the City Advertising and Promotion
Commission (CAPC). Ms. Money moved to postpone action until the next meeting,
Monday, March 10. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS: There were none.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S
REPORT:
Ms. Dickens said the council needs to
set a workshop for the expenditure of capital monies for the 2003 budget. Mr.
Ott moved to have a meeting at 4 p.m. Monday, March 10, ahead of the city
council meeting at 5 p.m. All agreed.
He also reminded the mayor that the council meeting
of March 24 would be the end of the quarter and it would be the meeting in
which public comments would be included. The meeting will start at 5 p.m.,
suspend at 6 p.m. for 30 minutes of public comments, and resume at 6:30 p.m.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1.
Discussion regarding Ordinance 1902, an ordinance adopting the International
Building Code (3rd reading). Ms. Money moved to suspend the rules and read
Ordinance 1902 by title only. Mr. Wilson seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed
6/0/0
Ms. Dickens read the title. Ms. Money moved to
approve the ordinance on its third and final reading. Mr. Umland seconded. All
voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
2.
Discussion regarding City Attorney responsibilities. (Ott/Lindblad).
Ms. Lindblad moved to postpone the discussion to the
March 10 meeting. Mr. Ott seconded. All
voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Discussion regarding countywide women’s/children’s
shelter. (Ed
Robertson)
Carroll County Judge Ed Robertson made a
presentation regarding the need for a shelter for victims of domestic abuse -
women’s/children’s shelter. The shelter, which has been operating in Green
Forest, has lost its funding and has closed. He said for another facility to
open, cities would have to take financial responsibility. He estimates it will
cost approximately $250,000 per year to operate a 14-bed facility.
Robertson was joined in the presentation by Judi
Selle, director of the Washington County Women’s Shelter.
Robertson said he would be able to have additional
facts and figures for the council within a few weeks for presentation. He is
also making presentations to the city councils in Berryville, Green Forest, Oak
Grove, Beaver and the Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District
Commissioners. He was not asking the council for action tonight.
2. Discussion regarding Ordinance 1912, an ordinance waiving the requirements of competitive bidding to the rental and operation of equipment in order to comply with the ADEQ consent administrative order regarding inflow and infiltration.
Ms. Money moved to place the Ordinance 1912 on its
first reading. Ms. Lindblad seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
Ms. Dickens read the ordinance.
Mr. Murray explained he wants to hire a crew and
rent equipment to proceed with the improvements to the sewer system as mandated
by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Equality (ADEQ). He has a
contractor available to oversee the project who has worked with the city on
similar projects since 1988. He believes he will be able to save the city a
considerable amount of money by using this method rather than having to hire an
engineer to draw plans and specifications, putting out bid packages and hiring
a contractor.
Mr. Wilson said he was against waiving competitive
bidding on any project.
Ms. Lindblad wanted assurance this was the “best
deal.”
Mr. Umland said he was concerned that other
contractors in the area might not be considered for the project.
Ms. Money was concerned about possible delays in
starting the project costing the city fines from ADEQ.
Mr. Ott moved to approve Ordinance 1912 on its first
reading. Ms. Money seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
Ms. Money moved to suspend the rules
and read Ordinance 1912 by title only. Mr. Wilson seconded.
Discussion on the feasibility of the
proposal continued.
By a roll call vote, all voted aye
to read the ordinance by title only.
Ms. Dickens read the title of the
ordinance.
Mayor Harrison called for a vote on
the second reading. All voted aye. 6/0/0
3.
Discussion regarding offer to purchase the building located at 144 E. Van
Buren.
The building is owned by Joe
McClung. It was rented by the city for use as the police department for several
years and vacated approximately two years ago when the department moved into
new city-owned quarters on Passion Play Road.
Ms. Money moved to discuss the
proposal. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
Mr. Stoppel said an appraisal had
been done on the building, an offer made and accepted. He did not want to
reveal the amount offered to purchase the building or the amount proposed for
renovations.
Ms. Murphy said the approximate cost
of loan payments annually over a five-year period would be $70,000, depending
on the interest rate.
Ms. Money moved to accept the offer
to purchase the building. Mr. Wilson seconded. In answer to a specific question
about the price of the building, Ms. Dickens answered $235,000. All voted aye.
Motion passed 6/0/0
4.
Discussion regarding blocking off the parking meters for the St. Patrick’s Day
Parade.
A letter from Jill Niblack of the
Special Events staff of the CAPC was read. The letter asked that the meters be
blocked along Spring St. on Saturday, March 15, to keep the parade route clear
of parked vehicles.
Ms. Money moved to block the meters
for the parade. Ms. Lindblad seconded. All voted aye.
There was a general discussion about
blocking the meters, downtown parking, blocking the street from Center to
Mountain on parade days, and whether or not the Municipal Code allows for
ticketing and towing.
Mr. Ott moved to amend the prior
motion to block the parking meters one hour prior to the start of the parade
and to removed the blocks as soon as the parade ends. Mr. Umland seconded the
amendment. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Ms. Lindblad expressed her concern
at how fast the parking meter item had come up and been dealt with, without
public input. She suggested suspending the use of parking meters during the
winter season as an encouragement to visitors during that time. She asked for
the discussion to be on the agenda for the next meeting. Ms. Money agreed to
sponsor the agenda item with her.
Ms. Money said she would like to
begin discussions on developing a format for an application for commissions and
committee volunteers or appointees so the council could get standard
information on each candidate. She suggested the form be on the city’s website.
Mr. Ott agreed to sponsor the agenda item with her.
She also suggested a change in the
city’s fireworks ordinance to specifically prohibit the use of “pyrotechnics”
in the city limits and in bars and nightclubs. Ms. Lindblad agreed to sponsor
the agenda item with her.
Mr. Ott thanked members of the city
street crews for the diligence in snow removal and street care during the
recent snowstorms. He thanked Building Manager Don Matt for putting wheels on
the chairs at the council table.
He said he had been visiting with
people from Little Rock and was getting good comments on Mayor Harrison’s
leadership, her ability to communicate and her ability to bring unity to the
community.
He reminded everyone of the annual
Governor’s Conference in Ft. Smith March 14-16 and of the seminar with members
of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) with the Eureka Springs
Historic District Commission (HDC) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor Harrison presented the “short
version” of her State of the City address for 2002. A copy will be attached
when it is available.
ADOURNMENT: Mr. Ott moved to adjourn at
7:07 p.m. Mr. Wilson seconded.
All
voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
This is the signature page for the
March 3, 2003, City Council minutes.
APPROVED:
________________________________
Mayor Kathy Harrison
ATTEST:
______________________________
City Clerk Mary Jean Sell