Alderman Rachael Moyer brought forth discussion of a city vision plan at Monday night’s Eureka Springs City Council meeting. After much effort spent examining the vision for the hospital, Moyer said she was now thinking of the city’s vision for the future. She said the most recent city vision plan she could acquire was the Donaghey Plan, established in 1996.
Mayor Butch Berry told Moyer the matter was under the Planning Commission’s purview, not city council’s and suggested that a more recent plan existed.
Moyer said she was interested in working on broader aspects of the city, not just zoning and transport. “Regional growth strategies, housing and development, transport, sidewalks, sustainability, resilience, economic vitality, abandoned houses and properties.”
Moyer said she has been involved in visioning development in other cities as a policy analyst, and Berry said paying a professional planner would be costly. Alderman Harry Meyer suggested holding a workshop with the Planning Commission, which in the end, was agreed upon.
Alderman Susane Gruning motioned for a discussion of city communications to look at how council could collaborate with commissions and city departments to ensure follow up on public projects. Using Public Works as an example, Gruning noted that while aldermen receive updates on water and sewer, they often lack information on other initiatives such as streets, leaving them unable to answer questions from constituents.
Meyer suggested looking at Facebook, alderman Terry McClung pointed to the Public Works website, and Berry said to call him when questions arise. Gruning said she wasn’t only speaking to Public Works, but used it as an example, and said she simply felt uninformed as a council member.
First amendment rights have gray areas
A crowd that gathered for the meeting, along with additional security, confronted council with concerns regarding a Facebook post made by alderman David Avanzino following the aftermath of political activist Charlie Kirk’s shooting on Sept. 10 in Utah.
That freedom of speech protects citizens from government interference, not other people, got its turn during Public Comments.
Jeff Griffith conveyed concerns regarding Avanzino’s post and shared his opinion that elected officials ought to put their personal views aside and do what’s best for the community. Griffith said he is in support of open conversation, and that “we should and can do better as a community.”
Josh Dugan asked council to reflect on whether Avanzino’s Facebook post was appropriate for an elected official. He emphasized the difficult decisions council faces and acknowledged their positive contributions to the city. “Your words or lack of words will have a lasting impact– ignoring this issue may be seen as consent or evasion and could potentially escalate to the state level if not resolved. Let’s work together to address this and strengthen our community,” Dugan said.
Robert Bruno, owner of the Rowdy Beaver on W. Van Buren, said Avanzino had set a poor example not just as a business owner, but as “a human being who is an integral part of this community that prides itself on human kindness, diversity, and acceptance, especially when using tools such as social media.” Bruno stressed the vast reach of social media and potential visitors to the town.
Jenna Parsons stressed a need for unity in Eureka Springs. “We can’t afford to only focus on one group of us, we need all of us.” She thanked council for all they do but said all she sees is drama and craziness where competence is a requisite. “The world is changing, and we don’t have time anymore for craziness,” Parsons concluded.
Applause accompanied every presentation. A few others spoke up about Avanzino’s post, and it was alleged that Avanzino had banned patrons from his bar due to political differences.
Planning commissioner David Buttecali called on Avanzino to either issue a written letter delivered to the mayor’s office wherein he sincerely apologizes for his “divisive, vile” comments and vows to “do a lot better job in the future,” or resign. Another commenter agreed that Avanzino should resign but offered to meet for a glass of wine or coffee to discuss issues the town is facing should he choose not to.
Avanzino responded saying he was very impressed by the people who showed up to speak for their beliefs, acknowledging it is their first amendment right. “We don’t always say things that are kosher or going to be read the way that we intended them, and that is absolutely what happened with my Facebook post, on my private page.
“What is unfortunate is that I did make an apology, however maybe I need to make that to somebody personally, I don’t know, because no one’s come to me personally and asked me for that, which I would rightfully give.
“As a private business owner, I have the right to decide who is and is not welcome in my establishment. I mean, not gonna call out any names but there is actually a person at this table who I barred from my bar/restaurant. We have since made amends because we had a conversation. And now I consider her a very good friend.”
He went on to say that “not everything is political,” and that he has thrown people out for discussing politics at his establishment. He listed examples of behavior that would get one exiled from his bar, including groping his employees or likening LGBTQIA+ people to terrorists.
“If you’ve been banned from my bar, you know exactly why,” Avanzino said. “If offense was taken, I do apologize. My focus and my desire and the reason why I do what I do for this city and for the people of this city, is always about keeping Eureka Springs vibrant, diverse, and above all, safe.” He welcomed the audience to approach him for a conversation after the meeting.
Other business
- Ordinances were passed vacating Alpena Ave., Lone St., and an unnamed alley. Ordinance numbers are 2373, 2374, 2375.
- Ordinance 2372, which increases ambulance rates as allowed in Arkansas State Act 867 passed first and second reading.
Mr Sandoval you running to the defense of a vile, hateful, man (Kirk) and demanding a resignation from a man that spoke out on his personal social media and the target of the hateful, vile, man reveals more about you than me but please keep spewing nonsense in this very small local town.. Go back to being a youtuber and leave local politics to those that can actually vote here..
I just think the mayor should have cut off comment about David Avanzino’s post. It was on his private page and should not have been a topic of discussion before the council.
What a bunch of snowflakes.. Kirk was a hateful man who preached hate. I don`t support what happened to Kirk, but Kirk supported what happened to Kirk. I miss the days when Eureka was a blue island in a sea of red with more artists and musicians, less bikers and right wingers.
100% spot on. These hypocrites want to sit there and act like they haven’t said worse about political figures and politicians on the other side. Hell, one business owner needs to worry about his own legal troubles given he’s out on $50k bond after stealing a truck and fleeing from cops earlier this month. It’s just pathetic.
No conservative friends of mine have said anything close to hateful. If they did, I’d call them out. It’s shameful when we condone divisive and repulsive language.
No one is saying you have to like Kirk. But if you say you don’t support what happened to him than you agree with what we are saying ♂️
Spewing insults and hate at a man that was assassinated publicly in front of a ton of children is inappropriate for any city official.
If you can argued that it does not matter if your blue or red, what you are is mentally challenged.
Personally I like having the blue and red because level is somewhere in the middle to me. But both sides do have a small portion of mentally unstable people and they have become a major problem to society.
Could you please be more condescending? What I hear is “Kirk was a champion of free speech! Anyone who says otherwise will be fired or asked to resign!”
Odd that’s what you would hear from what I wrote… Because I said nothing like that. In fact I literally said the exact opposite.
Seems you have gotten to the point where you have no tolerance for anyone different from yourself. Ironically you have become the very people that treated you poorly.
Anyhow I love everyone on both sides, only thing I dislike is people who insight
Boy have the rolls reversed.
Just be kind, speak kind , and understand that it’s okay to have different opinions as long as they are not hateful.
That wasn`t you calling for him to resign because he said something you didn`t like? Weird..
Curious but are you a registered voter in Eureka Springs? Yes or no question..
I would be happy to explain for you, although I think it’s common sense. . . But here you go, Because while I feel many on the left and right are good people who have the mental capacity to accept that diversity is okay or even a good thing (even in politics) . There are people with mental illness on both sides and that illness can be very dangerous when charged. . . Examples of this mental illness would be the man who murdered those innocent in MN, the man who just assisted Kirk and people who celebrated either death without empathy.
Now if you want to have further dialogue stop hiding behind a fake account, in fact it show that you know what your about to do is wrong. Thinking that’s acceptable and people don’t see through it starts to look a lot like the mental illness we just described.
I did call for a public apology or resignation. But I did not say anything about Kirk being a champion or anything about anyone disagreeing with him as you accused. Hell, he said things I don’t agree with.
In fact what I said was spewing politically charged insults publicly about a man that was just assisted (right or left) in front of children shows a level of incompetence and instability that has no place in our city council.
Maybe you should look up the Council Code of Ethics because that is where the problem lies. Chapter 20 section 2-101
And possibly State Law ACA 21-8-802.
All I’m saying is if you sit on that seat you have a duty.
I hope some day you can find a way out of your echo chamber and accept that diversity is a good thing.
You can not just make things up, anyone can read what’s wrote here. I am done debating when you can’t even show your real name (because you know what your doing here is wrong)
Why are you so afraid to post who you are? Is this another whistle pig thing. Hiding behind some fake name because you’re to afraid to say something for yourself. You know the world would be a better place if people stop hiding, and taking accountability for the things that they say and do. Maybe if you were forced to be your true self and let people know who you are then you might have some decency or class.
I don’t know what whistle pig is, but isn’t your husband the one who got arrested earlier this month for stealing a truck and fleeing? Out on $50k bond? Those in glass houses, Nikki…
Actually no my husband is not the one who got arrested for stealing a truck and fleeing from the police. So again know what the hell you’re talking about before you say it. Also, if you’re gonna run your mouth, why don’t you say who you are instead of hiding behind a fake profile. So once again, no Jeff is not the one who stole a truck and is out on bail. Get your facts straight
Isn’t Griffith out on $50k bond and just arrested? DO better? Yeah… DO BETTER.
No Griffith is not out on bond and wasn’t just arrested. Maybe you should fact check before commenting. Idiot.
Really? So I guess the paper with his mugshot lied? Nikki, I’d be careful to remember that people do fact check. And there are a lot more facts about you…
You are literally talking about something from long ago in the past, not a month ago. Again, get your fax straight. My husband doesn’t hide his past. We don’t hide things. You can look me up all day, you’re not gonna find one thing. I don’t have a criminal history And there isn’t anything to find on me. And again, what are you spending all your time concerned about what we’re doing anyways? You’re totally irrelevant in my opinion because you’re not even brave enough to stand behind your own words, you have to hide behind a Fake profile. I’m done speaking to you. You are irrelevant. And you don’t even have your facts straight.
Unfortunately his “apology on fb” was more of a deflection post. In this post he again showed his incompetence of the situation by stating I quote “it’s says more about the people that got upset than it does me” & “where were you when the democratic leaders in Mn were murdered” ? To this I would answer. We were was quite not publicly calling them insults. His inability to see there is no room for favoritism in city rolls is concerning. His unhinged and ill moral public displays of politics puts our entire community in a safety risk.
Adam, if the people who are so against what Mr. Avanzino wrote are for peace and the community coming together and “doing better” – then why is there a safety risk? Could you please elaborate?
I would be happy to explain for you, although I think it’s common sense. . . But here you go, Because while I feel many on the left and right are good people who have the mental capacity to accept that diversity is okay or even a good thing (even in politics) . There are people with mental illness on both sides and that illness can be very dangerous when charged. . . Examples of this mental illness would be the man who murdered those innocent in MN, the man who just assisted Kirk and people who celebrated either death without empathy.
Now if you want to have further dialogue stop hiding behind a fake account, in fact it show that you know what your about to do is wrong. Thinking that’s acceptable and people don’t see through it starts to look a lot like the mental illness we just described.
Adam, no… I am too worried about my safety.
What this is actually is, is a town with a minority who have small brains and big mouths, upset about a gay business owner who targeted him for stating something about a political figure no worse than what any of you have said about politicians on the opposite side. As long as the lot of you exist, no one is safe.
Do better.
I think any rational person can read through this discussion and see where the “small brain and big mouth” is. . .
Someone here is filled with hate and entitlement.
Sorry me telling you to “do better” struck such a nerve that your going on these Ridiculous rants and Accusations. It was ment to get you to open your eyes and show the disappointment your community feels, not hurt your feelings.
You can stop playing victim, no-one invests in Eureka Springs who is going to dislike people for being Gay or left. . In fact like I said, stable minded people understand the value of diversity, I am most definitely one of them.
However Your replies suggest you are struggling with a mental illness yourself. I will pray for you.
You’re right. This town has a very small minority with big mouths. I think we all know who they are.