CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Dani Joy called the regular meeting of the Eureka Springs City Council to order at 6 p.m. Monday, September 22, 2008, in the jury room on the second floor of the Western District Carroll County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Mayor Dani D. Joy, Aldermen Patrick Brammer, Eric Scheunemann, Rae Hahn, Kathy Harrison, Joyce Zeller, City Attorney Tim Weaver, Finance Director Yvonne Kline, Mayor’s Assistant Diane Wilkerson, City Advertising and Promotion Commission (CAPC) Director Jim Williams.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Joy led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
APPROVAL OF THE
AGENDA:
Mr. Brammer moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Scheunemann seconded.
Ms. Harrison asked for a discussion of the mid-year budget ordinance. Mayor Wilson said a budget meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday Sept. 25. Ms. Hahn seconded the motion for a discussion. Four voted aye. Mr. Scheunemann didn’t vote. Motion passed 4/1/0.
On the motion to approve the agenda, all voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: None were available.
Mayor Wilson read a brief report from the Police Department regarding damage in town over the weekend from Hurricane Ike. She congratulated all of the city departments and employees on a job well done in managing the effects of the storm.
She also read a letter praising the work of Fire Chief Eddie Davis and Firefighter Cody Harp while they were in Louisiana assisting victims of Hurricane Gustav. The city will receive approximately $27,000 from the State of Louisiana for their services. Davis and Cody were asked to return to Louisiana to assist with recovery from Hurricane Ike.
Ms. Hahn asked if an executive session for discipline of a city employee could be added to the agenda. Ms. Harrison seconded. Four voted aye. Ms. Zeller voted no. Motion passed 4/1/0
CAPC – Mr. Williams reported the spring rains and recent storms have caused damage to a portion of the City Auditorium roof and leakage into the theater area. The estimated repair costs total $4,000. He said FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) grant would pay 75 percent, the state of Arkansas will pay 12˝ percent and the CAPC/city would pay 12˝ percent. He asked the Council for $1,500 as the city’s portion of the repair costs.
Ms. Hahn moved to allocate $1,500 from capital improvements for the city’s portion of the repairs to the auditorium roof. Mr. Brammer seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
Kathy Hughes, 140 Spring St., said a large city-owned tree had fallen into her house during the weekend storm. She wants the city to take greater responsibility for removal of potentially dangerous trees and for its forest management.
City Council 9/22/08 1
Beverly Blankenship said the Council should not have approved Ordinance 2090, the clean-up ordinance for the 2007 budget, because it showed more spending than revenue. She wants budget information put on the city’s website.
COMMISSION, COMMITTEE, AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:
Parks and Recreation Commission – Position 6 – expires 5/01/09 Mayor Joy nominated Daniel Jackson. Mr. Brammer moved to approve the nomination of Mr. Jackson. Ms. Zeller seconded. Four voted aye. Mr. Scheunemann voted present. Motion passed 4/1/0
Planning—Position 2 - expires 1/1/11 Position 3 – expires 7/1/10 Position 7 – expires 1/1/09 Mayor Joy nominated Mark Acuff to Position 3.
CAPC –Position 3 lodging – expires 6/30/11
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Discussion of proposal for impact fees. (Harrison, Hahn)
Mr. Brammer moved to refer the issue to the Planning Commission. Ms. Zeller seconded.
Mr. Brammer and Ms. Zeller voted aye. Mr. Scheunemann, Ms. Hahn, Ms. Harrison voted no. Motion failed 2/3/0
Ms. Hahn moved to discuss impact fees. Ms. Harrison seconded. Ms. Hahn, Ms. Harrison, Mr. Scheunemann voted yes. Mr. Brammer and Ms. Zeller voted no. Motion failed 3/2/0
Mr. Brammer moved to have an impact committee meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26. Ms. Harrison seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
2. Resolution for free meter parking for the Holidays (Mayor)
Mr. Brammer moved to discuss the issue. Ms. Zeller seconded. All voted aye. Motion
passed 5/0/0
Ms. Hahn moved to give the resolution a number – 555- and to approve it. Mr. Brammer
seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
Mayor Joy read the resolution aloud, designating free meter parking on Spring Street and Main Street Monday through Thursdays from Nov. 10 and Dec. 31.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Discussion regarding un sewer properties (Mayor)
Mr. Brammer moved to postpone the discussion until Public Works Director Dwayne
Allen returns from a training session. Mr. Scheunemann seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
2. Amending municipal code Chapter 5.08.02 section A. (Mayor)
Mr. Brammer moved to discuss the issue. Ms. Zeller seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
Mr. Weaver said the ordinance would not be added to Chapter 5.08.02 Section A, that another section would have to be designated.
Mr. Brammer
moved to give the ordinance a number – 2091 – and to place it on its first
reading. Ms. Hahn seconded. Four voted aye. Mr. Scheunemann voted present.
Motion passed 4/1/0.
Mayor Wilson read the ordinance regarding the removal of animal feces aloud.
City Council
9/22/08 2
Mr. Brammer moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance 2091. Ms. Harrison seconded. Four voted aye. Mr. Scheunemann voted present. Motion passed 4/1/0.
3. Discussion of mid-year budget review. (Harrison, Hahn)
Ms. Hahn moved to open discussion. Ms. Harrison seconded. All voted aye. Motion
passed 5/0/0
There was some general discussion. Ms. Kline was asked to provide information for the Thursday committee meeting.
Ms. Harrison moved to take a break at 7:18 p.m. Ms. Hahn seconded. All voted aye. Meeting resumed at 7:35 p.m.
4. Executive Session (Hahn, Harrison)
Mr. Brammer moved to go into executive session at 7:35 p.m. Mr. Scheunemann
seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
The meeting resumed at 7:47 p.m. Mr. Brammer moved to postpone any decision until the next regular meeting, Oct. 13, so additional information could be gathered. Mr. Scheunemann seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
AGENDA SETTING:
Ms. Hahn asked about the annual transit
hearing date. She wants Transit Director Lamont Richie to get the date set. Mr.
Scheunemann seconded the request.
Ms. Hahn asked that the engineering
study for Black Bass Dam be put on the agenda. Mr. Scheunemann seconded.
Ms. Hahn asked that a limousine
ordinance be put on the agenda. Ms. Harrison seconded.
Ms. Harrison asked to have a
discussion of tree management on the agenda. Mr. Scheunemann seconded.
Ms. Harrison asked for a mid-year
budget discussion. Ms. Hahn seconded.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
CITY COUNCIL
COMMENTS:
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Ms. Hahn moved to adjourn at 8:11 p.m. Mr. Brammer 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 Sept. 22, 2008.
____________________________________ __________________________________
City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Jean Sell Mayor Dani D. Joy
City Council 9/22/08 3