CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING                                    MONDAY                  AUGUST 2, 2004

 

            Mayor Kathy Harrison called the special City Council meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2, in the jury room of the Western District Carroll County Courthouse.

 

PRESENT: Mayor Kathy Harrison, Aldermen Robert “Butch” Berry, Karen Lindblad, Bill Ott and Earl “Bud” Umland, City Attorney Tim Weaver, Transit Director Lamont Richie, Mayor’s Assistant Brenda Spencer and City Clerk Mary Jean Sell. Alderman Gayle Money was absent. There is one vacancy.

 

            The purpose of the special meeting was to consider Ordinance #1964, an ordinance directing the Transit Department to eliminate trolley stop #83, at 99 Spring St., until Dec. 31, 2004, and declaring an emergency.

 

            Mr. Ott moved to place Ordinance1964 on its first reading. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 4/0/0

            Ms. Sell read the ordinance aloud.

            Mr. Ott moved to approve Ordinance1964 on its first reading. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 4/0/0

            Mr. Ott moved to suspend the rules and place Ordinance 1964 on its second reading by title only. Mr. Umland seconded. By roll call, all voted aye. Motion passed 4/0/0

            Mayor Harrison read the title aloud.

Mr. Ott moved to approve Ordinance1964 on its second reading by title only. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 4/0/0

Mr. Ott moved to suspend the rules and place Ordinance 1964 on its third reading by title only. Mr. Umland seconded. By roll call, all voted aye. Motion passed 4/0/0

Mayor Harrison read the title aloud.

Mr. Ott moved to approve Ordinance1964 on its third reading by title only. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 4/0/0

Joe Zickmund wanted to know why the fourth section of the ordinance had not been read.

Mayor Harrison explained it was the emergency clause and would not be read until the ordinance had been approved on its third reading.

Mr. Zickmund said he hoped the transit department would pass out statistical questionnaires to determine the ridership of the trolleys. He said the purpose of the trolleys was not to assist shop owners.

Mr. Richie said he thought it is “the height of micromanagement and a ludicrous

 

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action” for the council to remove the trolley stop. He said he would provide postcards to riders and the addresses of council members so riders could send their comments directly to council members.

Mr. Berry said he agreed with Mr. Richie that the purpose of the trolley system was not for the convenience of shopping but for moving people around town. He agreed with Mr. Richie’s intent to have negative comments sent to the council.

Mr. Ott said the tax collections from the shops in the area would be seen if there was a spike in business to merit permanently changing the trolley stop.

Ms. Lindblad said she did not want to see the trolley system used to increase business for individual shops. She said it was not her intention to micromanage the transit system.

James DeVito said changing the trolley stop would make the available maps incorrect.

 

On the motion to approve the ordinance, all voted aye. Motion passed 4/0/0

Mr. Ott moved to read the emergency clause. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye.

Mayor Harrison read the emergency clause aloud.

 

Mr. Ott moved to adjourn at 6:20 p.m. Mr. Umland seconded. All voted aye. Motion passed 4/0/0

 

 

This is the signature page for the minutes of the second special City Council meeting Aug. 2, 2004.

 

 

 

                                                __________________________________

                                                            Mayor Kathy Harrison

 

 

 

__________________________________

City Clerk Mary Jean Sell

 

 

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