CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MONDAY October 22, 2007
Mayor Dani Joy called the regular meeting of the Eureka Springs City Council to order at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, in the jury room on the second floor of the Western District Carroll County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Mayor Dani D. Joy, Aldermen Patrick Brammer, Charlotte Buchanan, Rae Hahn, Kathy Harrison, Eric Scheunemann, Joyce Zeller, Building Official Marion Chrysler, Planning Commissioner Ken Pownall, City Advertising and Promotion Commission (CAPC) Director Jim Williams and City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell. City Attorney Tim Weaver was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG:
Mayor Joy led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
APPROVAL OF THE
AGENDA:
Mr. Brammer moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Scheunemann seconded.
Mr. Brammer noted the minutes should
be listed as Oct. 8 not Sept.24.
Mr. Scheunemann asked to postpone
Old Business Item #4 discussion of Highway 62 West.
Ms. Buchanan said she wants to
revisit Ordinance 1022 as New Business Item #4.
Mayor Joy said New Business Item #1
discussion of Ozark Regional Transit funding for 2008 will go to a budget
meeting.
On the motion to approve the agenda
as amended, all voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Oct. 8, 2007
Mr. Scheunemann moved to approve the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of Oct. 8, 2007. Mr. Brammer seconded.
Ms. Hahn said she
wanted to add “Mr. Weaver said the ordinance in the Municipal Code book
is still in effect” to the minutes of Item #6
regarding taxis and limos on Page 5.
On the motion to
approve the minutes as amended, all voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
CAPC – Director Jim Williams brought some examples of stories about Eureka Springs in the San Francisco (Calif.) Chronicle and other publications. He requested up to $3,000 from the city’s state turn back funds to provide additional electrical boxes and power to the Basin Spring Park.
Mr. Scheunemann moved to approve $3,000 from the state turn back funds to upgrade the electrical service in Basin Spring Park. Mr. Brammer seconded.
Pat Matsukis, 5 Mountain St., spoke against the motion, saying funds were needed to start providing sewer service to the west side of town and identifying cross walks. The CAPC needs to pay for holiday decorations and related expenses.
On the motion, five voted aye. Ms. Buchanan opposed. Motion passed 5/1/0
Building – Ms. Chrysler said work is moving ahead on the Harmon Park Community Building. Windows have been donated to replace the broken ones and methods of securing the
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doors have been discussed. Mr. Scheunemann volunteered to provide security bars for the doors.
Ms. Chrysler said the Council needs to look at repairing/resurfacing sidewalks in the city. A committee of Ms. Chrysler, Mr. Brammer and Ms. Zeller was formed to study the situation.
Fire – Eddie Davis, transition director of the Fire Department, said Jimmy Kelley, who has been acting fire chief, wants to get back to his regular job as assistant fire chief and fire marshal.
Mr. Davis asked the Council to authorize the purchase of a new pumper fire truck with all wheel drive. Bids were taken some time ago but the purchase was halted for budget considerations. He said the cost of the truck is approximately $200,000.
Ms. Hahn moved to go ahead with the purchase of the truck. Mr. Brammer seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
Donna
Hinson said she is appalled by the
way the Council has treated Mr. Williams. She wants to see more cooperation
between the city and the CAPC. She wants that to be an agenda item for
discussion.
Alvin Byrd said he wants to see a discussion of the attitude of
the Council toward taxpayers, citizens and business people as an agenda item.
Pat
Matsukis spoke to the taxi and
limousine issues. She said the city needs to develop a master transportation
plan. She agreed to be on a committee for the purpose of developing such a
plan. Ms. Buchanan will work with her.
COMMISSION,
COMMITTEE, AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:
Cemetery - Position 5, expiring 2/15/08
Parks – Position 2, expiring 5/1/08 – Mayor Joy nominated Ruth Hager.
Black Bass Dam Committee – Ms. Hahn said she has called for a detailed plan from the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding the development of the Black Bass Dam area. She is trying to get answers to her questions about the stability of the dam.
Podcast Equipment Committee – Ms. Buchanan said she has talked to courthouse Building Manager Don Matt about the sound and recording equipment.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Discussion of request for election from
referendum petition on Ordinance 2051 regarding taxis/limousines.
Mr. Scheunemann
moved to postpone discussion. Mr. Brammer seconded. All voted aye. Motion
passed 6/0/0
2.
Discussion of annexation
Ms. Hahn moved to open discussion. Mr. Brammer seconded.
Ms. Hahn said the committee is researching the steps to begin the process of annexation. Ms. Hahn, Mr. Brammer, Ms. Harrison and Planning Commissioner Ken Pownall are on the committee.
Mr. Scheunemann said he has gotten calls from residents of Mill Hollow opposed to any annexation.
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3.
Discussion of proposal for removing appointed officials
Mayor Joy said City Attorney Weaver has not sent her a report on the proposal.
Mr. Brammer moved to postpone discussion because Mr. Weaver was not present. Mr. Scheunemann seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
4.
Discussion of impact fees
Mr. Brammer moved to open the discussion of impact fees. Ms. Harrison seconded.
Discussion was brief.
Mr. Brammer moved to take a ten minute recess at 7:52 p.m. Several persons seconded. All voted aye. Meeting resumed at 8:05 p.m.
5.
Discussion of Ordinance 2066 regarding taxis and limousines
Ms. Hahn presented a resolution asking for enforcement of current city ordinances.
After some discussion, Ms. Hahn moved to direct City Attorney Weaver to uphold the Municipal Code, particularly section 4.32.01-06, Ms. Harrison seconded. By roll call, Mr. Brammer, Ms. Buchanan, Ms. Hahn, Mr. Scheunemann, Ms. Harrison voted aye. Ms. Zeller voted no. Motion passed 5/1/0
Ms. Harrison moved to have the City Clerk type Resolution 550 in the proper form with a signature line. Ms. Hahn seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
Ms. Harrison moved to have Ms. Hahn read Resolution 550 aloud. Ms. Buchanan seconded. By roll call, Ms. Harrison, Ms. Zeller, Mr. Scheunemann, Ms. Buchanan, Ms. Hahn voted aye. Mr. Brammer voted no. Motion passed 5/1/0
Ms. Hahn read Resolution 550 aloud.
NEW BUSINESS:
1.
Climate Control Resolution
Mayor Joy explained the resolution indicates the city’s willingness to join a global effort
to protect the earth and the environment, based on the Kyoto Agreement. She said 600 city mayors have signed The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, including the mayors of Fayetteville, North Little Rock and Little Rock.
Ms. Harrison moved to read and adopt Resolution 551 regarding The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Ms. Hahn seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
Ms. Sell read the resolution aloud.
2. Discussion of request for election from
referendum petition on Ordinance 2047
regarding demolition by neglect.
Mr. Brammer moved to postpone discussion to the next meeting. Ms. Hahn seconded. Four voted aye. Ms. Harrison and Ms. Buchanan voted no. Motion passed 4/2/0
3. Discussion of Ordinance 1022.
Ms. Buchanan asked for a review of Ordinance 1022 by Council members with a recommendation for a bigger penalty for demolishing structures without permission.
Ms. Harrison moved to have a workshop on the issue with area contractors. Ms. Hahn seconded. They agreed to meet from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, in City Hall. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0 City Council 10/22/07 3
AGENDA SETTING:
Ms.
Buchanan said she wants a discussion on better identification of street
crosswalks.
Ms. Hahn moved to adjourn at 9:28 p.m. Ms. Buchanan seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 6/0/0
This is the signature page for the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.
______________________________
Mayor Dani D. Joy
_________________________________
City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell
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