CITY COUNCIL
A public hearing was held at 5 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2008, in the jury room of the Western District Carroll County Courthouse, on proposed Ordinance 2080 raising the sewer rates and changing the scale of usage.
No one from the public made any statements in support or opposition to the increased rates. Ms. Hahn moved to close the public hearing at 5:22 p.m. Mr. Brammer seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
Mayor Dani Joy called the regular meeting of the Eureka Springs City Council to order at 6 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2008, in the jury room on the third floor of the Western District Carroll County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Mayor Dani D. Joy, Aldermen Patrick Brammer, Rae Hahn, Kathy Harrison, Eric Scheunemann, Joyce Zeller, Finance Director Yvonne Kline, Parks Director Bruce Levine, City Advertising and Promotion Commission (CAPC) Director Jim Williams and City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell CMC.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG:
Mayor Joy led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
PROCLAMATIONS:
Mayor Joy read aloud a proclamation making Thursday, June 26, “See Arkansas First” Day. The document supports the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism See Arkansas First RV and trailer visit to the Pine Mountain Village June 26. The purpose of the RV tour is to encourage citizens to learn about the recreation opportunities in Arkansas.
Mayor Joy read aloud a proclamation making July as “Green Month” to challenge resident of this community to celebrate and Go Green.
APPROVAL OF THE
AGENDA:
Mr. Brammer moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Scheunemann seconded.
Ms. Hahn asked for a report from those attending the Arkansas Municipal League meeting in Hot Springs June 18-20 as New Business Item #2. She asked about a capacity fee report from the Building Official. She asked for a discussion of the sign ordinance to be added to the July 14 regular agenda.
Mr. Brammer asked if the ordinance from Police Chief Earl Hyatt regarding imposing fuel fees is to be added to tonight’s agenda. Mayor Joy said it would be discussed at the July 14 regular meeting.
Mr. Scheunemann said the discussion of musicians and artists in Basin Park was not on the agenda. Mayor Joy said that could be discussed during department heads reports or on the July 14 agenda.
On the motion to approve the agenda as amended, all voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
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APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: June 9, 2008
Mr. Scheunemann moved to approve the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of June 9, 2008. Mr. Brammer seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
CAPC – Director Jim Williams said the Hemmings Challenge Vintage Car Race will be in town on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The vehicles will be parked near Basin Spring Park.
Parks – Director Bruce Levine started to discuss the artists in the park, but was stopped by Mr. Scheunemann. Mr. Scheunemann did not feel there has been sufficient notice given to citizens who might want to participate in the discussion. He said the matter will be moved to the July 14 agenda.
Vicki Rose spoke about artists in the park. She said they are being discriminated against, regulations for Basin Park use are rarely enforced and she thinks the regulations are unfair.
Building – Ms. Chrysler said she does not collect capacity fees, that is up to the water department. Any fees collected would go into the water department’s budget. The Christmas lights have arrived and she is looking for volunteers to help install them. She said volunteers are needed for the Planning Commission. The group cancelled its last meeting due to lack of a quorum and there are applications waiting on approval. Revenues in her department have tripled since May of 2007.
Laura Carlsen, 5 Paxos, said there are speeding vehicles in her area. She has circulated a petition asking for a speed hump to be installed. She said the Police Department has been unable to catch the speeders.
COMMISSION,
COMMITTEE, AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:
Historic District Commission – Position 6 – expires 3/7/11
Parks and Recreation Commission – Position 6 – expires 5/01/09
Planning Commission – Position 2 - expires 1/1/11 Mayor Joy introduced Greg Hughes who has volunteered to serve on the Planning Commission. He made a brief statement about his qualifications.
CAPC –Position 3 lodging – expires 6/30/11 Position 4 restaurant – expires 6/30/08
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Discussion of Ordinance 2080 raising city sewer rates (Mayor Joy)
The first reading and approval of Ordinance 2080 was May 19, 2008.
Mr. Brammer moved to read Ordinance 2080 in its entirety for the second time. Mr.
Scheunemann seconded. By roll call, all voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
Mayor Joy read Ordinance 2080 aloud.
Mr. Brammer moved to approve Ordinance 2080 on its second reading. Ms. Harrison
seconded. Four voted aye. Mr. Scheunemann voted present. Motion passed 4/1/0
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Mr. Brammer moved to suspend the rules and place Ordinance 2080 on its third reading by title only. Ms. Zeller seconded. By roll call, four voted aye. Mr. Scheunemann voted present. Motion passed 4/1/0
Mayor Joy read the title of Ordinance 2080 aloud.
Ms. Harrison moved to approve the third reading of Ordinance 2080 by title only. Mr. Brammer seconded. Four voted aye. Mr. Scheunemann voted present. Motion passed 4/1/0
Mr. Brammer moved to read the emergency clause. Ms. Harrison seconded. By roll call, four voted aye. Mr. Scheunemann voted present. Motion passed 4/1/0
2.
Discussion of
staggered, four-year City Council terms. (Harrison, Scheunemann)
Ms. Harrison moved to give the two ordinances numbers and postpone the
reading of the
ordinances to the
next regular meeting, July 14. Mr. Scheunemann seconded. All voted aye. Motion
passed 5/0/0
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Discussion regarding cleaning up after animals in public areas. (Hahn)
Ms. Hahn moved to open discussion. Mr. Brammer seconded.
Comments were taken from Kathy Hughes, Melissa Greene, Elise Dilfield and
Mickey Schneider.
No further action was taken.
2.
Municipal League
meeting report.
Those attending the summer Municipal League meeting in Hot Springs June 18-20
reported on the discussion sessions they attended.
Ms. Harrison went to sessions on land use and how not to get sued.
Mr. Brammer reported on the announcement of the Hewlett Packard plant in Conway and a new power plant project under construction by SWEPCO.
Ms. Kline went to sessions dealing with state audits and grants.
Ms. Sell went to sessions dealing with law suits and disaster preparedness. She and Ms. Kline attended a session on the changes in franchises because of changes in the communication industry.
Mayor Joy said she did not go because she did not want to spend the city’s money with the current budget situation.
AGENDA SETTING:
Ms. Hahn asked to schedule a budget
workshop. The group agreed on 8 a.m. Thursday, June 26.
Ms. Harrison said the Impact Fee
Committee is about ready to make its recommendations to the Council.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Comments were taken from Steven Gary and
Amanda Banaszek.
CITY COUNCIL
COMMENTS:
Ms. Harrison said she wanted to make sure the discussion of the musicians and artists in
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Basin Park and Ordinances 2086 and 2087 are on the next agenda.
Mr. Scheunemann read aloud a statement regarding his position as a council member and why he does not vote on all the issues.
Mr. Brammer wished everyone a happy Fourth of July.
Ms. Hahn said she has budget concerns, particularly why the city furnishes a vehicle for department heads at the city’s expense. She is concerned about sign violations, an alleged lack of action from the police department regarding speeders on Paxos Street, and the alleged blocking of a city street by an adjoining property owner.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor Joy said Council members should talk with the department heads and get information together before coming to the table. She read aloud a list of events in town for the month of July.
Mr. Brammer moved to adjourn at 7:40 p.m. Ms. Zeller seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
This is the signature page for the minutes of the regular Eureka Springs City Council meeting of Monday, June 23, 2008.
______________________________
Mayor Dani D. Joy
________________________________
City Clerk-Treas. Mary Jean Sell CMC
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The minutes of the July 23, 2008 regular
Eureka Springs City Council meeting could not be approved by the City Council.
Therefore, we are certifying that these minutes are a record of the meeting.
_________________________________ ________________________________
City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell Mayor Dani D. Joy