CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR
MEETING MONDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2004
Mayor Kathy Harrison called the
regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:13 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23,
2004, in the jury room of the Western District Carroll County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Mayor Kathy Harrison,
Aldermen Penny Carroll, Karen Lindblad, Gayle Money, Bill Ott, Earl “Bud”
Umland, Finance Director Diane Murphy, Chief of Emergency Services David
Stoppel, Building Official Randy Mills, City Advertising and Promotion
Commission (CAPC) Executive Director LeRoy Gorrell, Parks Director Bruce
Levine, Carroll County Solid Waste (CCSW) Director Roger Miner, Administrative
Assistant Brenda Spencer, City Attorney Tim Weaver and City Clerk Mary Jean
Sell. Alderman Robert “Butch” Berry was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Harrison led the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Ms. Money moved to approve the
agenda. Ms. Lindblad seconded.
Mr. Ott asked to add the resetting
of the March 8 meeting at item #4 under new business.
Mr. Umland asked to postpone the
Festival Committee report to the next meeting.
Ms. Carroll asked to add discussion
of the Auditorium to the Old Business portion of the next meeting.
Ms. Money moved to approve the
agenda as amended. Ms Lindblad seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES:
Ms. Money moved to approve the minutes of Feb. 9 with the correction of one typing mistake on Page 3, top line. Ms. Lindblad seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
COMMISSION, COMMITTEE AND AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:
Ms. Sell reminded Mayor Harrison of
a vacancy in Position #5 on the Planning
Commission/Board of Zoning Adjustment.
DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS:
CAPC, Hospital, Fire/EMS, Finance and Building, CCSW Report
CAPC
Executive Director LeRoy Gorrell reported the 2 percent gross sales tax
collections are up 3.9 percent for January (actually collected in December0. An
amendment will have to be made to the CAPC budget adjusting for overspending the
budget in expenses. Planning and organizing for 2003 events is well ahead of
schedule.
City
Council 2/23/04 1
Work is going forward to enter the city in the America in Bloom competition. Eureka Springs has had several television features in the past month on news programs, on weddings and local architecture.
There was no one present from the hospital and no report was submitted. Ms. Lindblad asked that someone from the hospital or hospital commission be asked to bring a report or send one in writing.
Fire/EMS
Chief David Stoppel reported his department has joined with
Springdale/Washington County to form a group to bid on equipment through the
FEMA grant in order to get lower prices. Work needs to start soon on renovating
the fire station at 146 E. Van Buren so it can be completed before cold weather
starts again. Chief Stoppel said he had been named “EMT (Emergency Medical
Technician) of the Year” by the Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Finance
Director Diane Murphy reported she is finishing up the year end books for
2003. She asked the council to set another capital budget workshop as soon as
possible since several projects and grant applications are waiting on capital
funding. Mr. Umland suggested setting a
workshop at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, followed by a special council meeting at
6 p.m. to approve the capital budget. Mr. Ott congratulated Ms. Murphy on being
named “Municipal Employee of the Year” by the Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of
Commerce.
Building
Official Randy Mills reported 55 building permits issued in January for
$2,005 in revenue and in February, to date, 27 permits have been issued
bringing in $1,396.50. He has issued 1 citation, written 16 violation notices
and 133 on-going permits in process. He is in his office in City Hall from 8 to
10 a.m. Monday through Friday.
CCSW
Director Roger Miner presented information and a proposal to increase rates
for trash pickup 8 percent. He said the city’s contract with CCSW includes a
formula for increasing rates each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
increases. The rates have not been increased in three years. He was to present
the proposal to the CCSW Board of Directors on Wednesday, Feb. 11, for
consideration.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Vision
– Ott, Lindblad & Harrison – Mr. Ott reported the group had met once. Mayor
Harrison will review several studies, the Harbin Plan (the city’s master plan),
the Donaghey Vision Plan and the Robert Meyers study to formulate a list of
projects to propose to the community for work in the coming year or two. Mayor
Harrison said she has asked Transit Director Lamont Richie to join the group.
He was on the planning commission when the Donaghey Vision Plan was developed
and adopted.
Festival
–Umland, Buchannan, Farthing & Harrison – The report will be made during
the next meeting.
Salary
& Personnel – Money, Murphy, Spencer & Harrison – Ms. Money said
the consulting firm will pick up the employee questionnaires and will return
March 9 to begin developing the rating system.
City Council 2/23/04 2
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Discussion regarding Ordinance #1944, an ordinance amending the 2003 budget.
Mayor Harrison said the ordinance
has not been prepared, but it should be ready for the next meeting.
Ms. Money moved to postpone the
discussion of Ordinance #1944. Ms. Lindblad seconded. All voted aye. Motion
passed 5/0/0.
2.
Discussion regarding Ordinance #1945, an ordinance repealing Chapters A, B, C,
E, F, G, H, I and J of the Appendix to the International Building Code. (2nd
reading.)
Ms. Money moved to suspend the rules
and read Ordinance #1945 by title only. Ms. Carroll seconded. By roll call, all
voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0.
Ms. Sell read the title of the
ordinance aloud.
Mr. Money moved to approve Ordinance
#1945 on its second reading by title only. Mr. Umland seconded.
Mr. Mills explained Ms. Lindblad had
reviewed the sections with him and they had agreed that Chapter B is the only
one, which needs to be repealed. It deals with the qualifications of members of
a Board of Appeals.
Ms. Lindblad moved to amend
Ordinance #1945, repealing only Chapter B. Ms. Money seconded. All voted aye.
Motion passed 5/0/0
On the vote to approve the second
reading of Ordinance #1945, as amended, all voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0.
3.
Citizen request to vacate or purchase Greenspace – Betty Zaboly – Progress
report
Parks Director Bruce Levine
explained that Ms. Zaboly’s garage at 44 Owen sits across Dunlap St., a platted
but unopened street. There is a sewer line, without an easement, under one
corner of her house. The Parks’ Green Zone Committee recommends trading 1 foot
around the perimeter of the garage on Dunlap St. for a permanent easement for
the sewer line.
City Attorney Weaver cautioned the
council to move slowly on the matter, will have to determine exactly what
property is involved, and to distribute the Green Zone property evenly with
adjoining property owners, if possible. He said the council will have to vacate
the Green Zone, then vacate Dunlap St. He said David Schoen, attorney with the
Arkansas Municipal League, wants the particulars of the dispute so he may study
the situation and provide a recommendation for action.
The council agreed to a break at
7:40 p.m. and resumed the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
City Council 2/23/04 3
NEW BUSINESS:
1.
Discussion regarding Ordinance #1946, an ordinance on fill and excavation.
Ms. Money moved to place Ordinance #1946 on its first reading. Ms. Lindblad seconded.
Mayor Harrison, Ms. Money, Mr.
Umland and Mr. Ott read the ordinance aloud.
Ms. Money moved to approve Ordinance
#1946 on its first reading. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed
5/0/0
2.
Discussion requesting city’s notification:
a)
For professional services
regarding skate park project.
Mayor Harrison said some of the grants that could
help fund the skate park must have professional designers/planners involved.
She wants to be able to ask for professional qualifications from companies for
the work.
Mr. Ott moved to put out requests for professional
services for the skate park. Ms. Lindblad seconded. All voted aye. Motion
passed 5/0/0
b)
reading of resolution
supporting the skate park project.
Skate Park Committee Chairman Bill King withdrew the resolution which would have supported a particular grant application. He said Barbara Deschner Dunnam was applying for the same grant on behalf of Eureka Kids.
3. Discussion regarding Ordinance #1947, an ordinance regarding permitted events during city festivals and repealing sections of city code prohibiting sales, banners and signs.
This item is postponed until the next meeting.
4. Discussion setting new date for March 8 regular meeting.
Mayor Harrison said the majority of the council
would be attending the annual Governor’s Conference and would not be in town
for the meeting.
Ms. Money moved to reschedule the meeting to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 10. Mr. Ott seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Ms.
Lindblad invited everyone to the grand re-opening of the City Auditorium at
7 p.m. Friday, March 12.
Ms.
Carroll said she is concerned about the number of fliers and newspapers on
the streets and would like to have the city ordinance regarding litter
enforced. Mr. Umland joined in her request.
Mr.
Ott commented on the walk-through of the Auditorium prior to the meeting.
He said he appreciated “those who have a true passion for the auditorium to
make it as good as it can be.” He said he feels the auditorium is in good
hands.
Mr.
Umland asked the mayor to find council projects or ordinances started but
not yet finished and to bring them to the council for completion. He said “I
was not sent here (to the council) to side with anybody, I vote for what is
best for the city.”
City
Council 2/23/04 4
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor Harrison congratulated the
Eureka Springs High School EAST Lab students on winning the Founder’s Award at
the fifth annual EAST Lab conference in Little Rock.
She said she had gotten several
comments about the courthouse being closed for President’s Day, Feb. 16, and
the county offices closed on Feb. 17 for the late Judge Tex Coxsey’s funeral.
She asked that efforts be made to contact persons in the local wedding business
whenever the court clerk’s office is going to be closed.
Ms. Money moved to adjourn at 8:30
p.m. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 5/0/0
This is the signature page for the
minutes of the regular City Council meeting Feb. 23, 2004.
________________________________
Mayor
Kathy Harrison
___________________________________
City Clerk Mary Jean Sell