CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Dani Wilson called the special meeting of the Eureka Springs City Council to order at 9:10 a.m. Friday, June 29, 2007, in the jury room on the second floor of the Western District Carroll County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Mayor Dani D. Wilson, Aldermen Patrick Brammer, Charlotte Buchanan, Rae Hahn, Kathy Harrison, Eric Scheunemann, Joyce Zeller, City Attorney Tim Weaver, Chief of Emergency Services David Stoppel, Transit Director Lamont Richie, Police Chief Earl Hyatt, President of the Greater Eureka Springs Area Chamber of Commerce Jeff Feldman, representatives of the Carroll County Newspapers, Lovely County Citizen, Patriots’ Herald and City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell.
The
purpose of the meeting was to discuss the original version of Ordinance 2053,
creating a new City Advertising and Promotion Commission and setting the
collection rate for the gross receipts tax at 2%.
Mr. Brammer moved to place Ordinance 2053 on its second reading. Mr. Scheunemann seconded. By roll call, all voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
Ms. Sell read the entire ordinance aloud.
Mr. Brammer moved to approve Ordinance 2053 on its second reading. Ms. Zeller seconded.
There was discussion at the table.
Public comments:
Kathy Hughes said the citizens want the ordinance passed.
Karen Lindblad said the town is going to be mad if the tax is placed on all retail businesses across the board. She said the Council should wait until the state’s legislative committee cleans up the language of Act 464 before taking action on a local ordinance. The gross receipts tax is supposed to be a tax paid by visitors, not locals.
Carol Friesen said she agreed with Ms. Lindblad that all retail businesses should not have to collect the tax
Jeff Feldman said he had talked with State Rep. Bryan King about the legislation and the changes that were made at the state level in the proposal sent from Eureka Springs. He read aloud comments from Mr. King taken from his telephone conversation. (Copy attached to original minutes.)
Tom Tharp said the state legislation is screwed up. He wants the Council to make sure the local ordinance is right before it is adopted.
Jack Moyer said the CAPC is the vehicle to use to keep Eureka Springs vibrant and to share our message with the world. He doesn’t want the Council to fail to adopt the ordinance and put the CAPC out of business. He wants the CAPC to get back to advertising and promotion.
Discussion at the table continued.
Mr. Scheunemann moved to postpone any action until the next regular meeting, July 9. Ms. Buchanan seconded. Four voted aye. Mr. Brammer voted no. Ms. Zeller recused herself. Motion passed 4/1/1
City
Council 6/29/07 1
This is the signature page for the special Eureka Springs City Council meeting Friday, June 29, 2007.
________________________________
Mayor Dani D. Wilson
________________________________
City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell
City Council 6/29/07
2