CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS
CITY COUNCIL
Council Chairman Aaron Falotico called the regular meeting of the Eureka Springs City Council to order at 6 p.m. in the jury room of the Western District Carroll County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Chairman Aaron Falotico, Aldermen Robert “Butch” Berry, Beverly Blankenship, Rick Rojek and Terry McClung. Mayor Kathy Harrison, City Attorney Tim Weaver and Alderman Lori Weaver were in Oklahoma City, Okla., for a trial. City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell was on personal leave.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Chairman Falotico led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Chairman Falotico said Old Business Item #, discussion of grease traps and Ordinance 1985, New Business Item #1, city attorney’s report on I-9 forms, and Item #2, clarification on bid limits will be postponed because of the city attorney’s absence. New Business Item #4 will be postponed because the draft of the lease for the Harmon Park Community Building is not ready for review. The items will be carried forward to the July 11 agenda.
Mr. McClung moved to approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Rojek seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: June 13, 2005 Minutes were not available.
COMMISSION, COMMITTEE, AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:
Hospital Commission – Position 6 – Expires 9/7/05
Hospital Commission – Position 3 – Expired 6/1/05 Chairman Falotico said Michael Merry has applied for Position 3.
Historic District Commission – Position 2 – Expired 7/1/05
CAPC – Position 1 – Expired 6/30/05 Chairman Falotico said Steve Roberson has applied to remain on the commission. Mr. McClung said Roberson works well with the Commission and he would like to see him continue. He will urge Mayor Harrison to nominate Mr. Roberson for reappointment.
DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSION REPORTS:
CAPC, Fire/EMS, Finance, Building and Cemetery
CAPC – Marketing Director Lynn Berry reported May collections are up 3 percent over May of 2004. Total collections for the year are up .7 percent over 2004. She presented an activities report highlighting television and radio interviews, hosting of the America In Bloom judges, and the featuring of the Crescent Hotel on Ghost Hunters on
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the Sci Fi Channel Sept. 14. The Public Works Department will start replacing light cords and bulbs on buildings Aug. 1.
Fire/EMS – Mr. Rojek read aloud the report from Fire Chief David Stoppel. The city has been awarded a $38,000 grant from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for a fire education trailer. Plans for the new fire station at 144 W. Van Buren should be ready for presentation to the Council July 11.
Finance – Mr. Berry suggested a mid-year budget review workshop for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 5. Council agreed.
Building – Chairman Falotico read the Building Department report aloud. Ms. Blankenship said she is concerned that there were no grease trap inspections during the month. The City has two persons licensed to do the inspections and they should be doing them.
Cemetery – Chairman Falotico read the report aloud. The EAST Lab students at Eureka Springs High School has been contracted to locate and map the cemetery. A seven-foot-tall water fountain will be installed at the intersection of Eads and Friedhein streets. The fountain is a memorial to W. King Gladden, donated by Community First Bank. The Commission will purchase limestone for the base and Bruce Wright has agreed to donate installation of the stone.
OLD BUSINESS:
1.
Review of sidewalk ordinances, original and new.
Ms. Blankenship moved to place Ordinance 1973 on its first reading. Mr. Berry seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
Chairman Falotico read the ordinance aloud.
Mr. Rojek moved to approve Ordinance 1973 on its first reading. Ms. Blankenship seconded.
Mr. Rojek noted the HDC had asked for “aggregate concrete” to be removed from the draft of the ordinance.
Mr. Berry said the ordinance didn’t address imprinting of concrete.
Chairman Falotico wants to make sure the Municipal Code reference numbers are correct.
Mr. McClung wants the portions to be removed to be indicated either by being crossed out or in italics.
On the motion to approve Ordinance 1973 on the first reading, all voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
2. Discussion of Ordinance
#1991, an ordinance repealing Chapter 8.32 of the Eureka Springs Municipal Code
eliminating the Parking Authority and placing parking matters under the Transit
Department (2nd reading)
Mr. Berry moved to suspend the rules and place Ordinance 1991 on its second reading by title only. Mr. Rojek seconded. By roll call, all voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
Chairman Falotico read the title of the ordinance aloud.
Mr. Berry moved to approve Ordinance 1991 on its second reading by title only. Mr. McClung seconded.
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Ms. Blankenship said Transit Director Lamont Richie had asked for a change in Section 3 d, to have the Planning Commission review proposed new parking lots or changes to existing ones, but adding a public hearing created a review process that did not exist for other processes.
Mr. Berry and Chairman Falotico agreed that the Planning Commission could review parking lot plans or changes, but a public hearing by the Planning Commission is not necessary and that should be removed.
Mr. Berry moved to amend Ordinance 1991, Section 3 d, to say “review and approval by Planning Commission for any new parking lots or before changes are made by the City Council or Mayor.” Ms. Blankenship seconded. Four voted aye. Mr. McClung voted nay. Motion passed 4/1/0
On the motion to approve Ordinance 1991 as amended on its second reading, four voted aye. Chairman Falotico voted nay. Motion passed 4/1/0
3. Discussion of Ordinance
#1992, an ordinance amending Chapter 7.92.03 Application A of the Eureka
Springs Municipal Code, requiring flagging tape to be used to mark trees to be
removed. (2nd reading)
Mr. Berry moved to suspend the rules and place Ordinance 1992 on its second reading by title only. Mr. Rojek seconded. By roll call, all voted aye.
Chairman Falotico read the title of the ordinance aloud.
Mr. McClung moved to approve Ordinance 1992 on its second reading by title only. Mr. Rojek seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
NEW BUSINESS:
1.
Discussion of eliminating loading zones in hazardous areas.
Mr. McClung said the current loading zone at Pendergrass Corner that goes from “the bend up the street on the right hand side” in front of Quicksilver Gallery, 73 Spring St., should be removed.
Mr. Berry said stripes should be painted on the street to mark two parking spaces in front of Zarks and the New Orleans Hotel, leaving the loading zone as it is.
Mr. Berry moved to direct the Mayor to have the curb in front of Quicksilver painted red for no parking and the loading zone in front of Zarks and the New Orleans Hotel to remain yellow, with stripes added to mark two parking spaces. Mr. Rojek seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
2. Discussion of lease of Harmon Park Community Building.
The lease document was not available. There was some general discussion about Eureka Kids going forward with interior improvements. Eureka Kids Director Barbara Dunnam said her program is prepared to pay for the installation of a vent hood and fire suppression system over the existing stove.
Dunnam said she had e-mailed Building Official Justin Fuson some information regarding grease traps suitable for installation in historic districts with space limitations.
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Mr. Rojek moved to direct the Parks and Recreation Commission to go ahead with necessary repairs to the kitchen and stairs in the Harmon Park building, with the exception of the installation of a grease trap. Mr. Berry seconded.
Ms. Blankenship moved to amend the motion to have the Commission provide information/costs of the inside repairs, including the kitchen and stairs, to the Council by the July 11 meeting. Mr. Rojek seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
On the amended motion, all voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
3.
Discussion of hiring accounting supervisor.
Blankenship, Falotico.
Ms. Blankenship said the city’s accounting technology is not capable of handling all of the accounts, water billing, payroll and payables in one system. She talked with representatives of Computer Systems of Arkansas of North Little Rock during the Arkansas Municipal League summer conference in Hot Springs. The company does accounting services for cities and towns in almost every county in the state. She said the representative offered to come to Eureka Springs and evaluate the city’s current system and needs at no charge.
Mr. Rojek moved to have a representative come to evaluate the city’s accounting systems and make recommendations. Mr. McClung seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0 Ms. Blankenship asked to have the discussion item on the July 11 agenda.
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Ms. Blankenship wished her husband a happy birthday.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Clung moved to adjourn at 7:42 p.m. Mr. Rojek seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
This is the signature page for the minutes of the regular City Council meeting June 27, 2005.
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Council Chairman Aaron Falotico
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City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell
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