During Eureka Springs’s first city council meeting of 2023 on Jan. 9, Bill Lawler, co-owner of the Bridgeford House, said the parking ordinance’s description of “substantial” parking problems on Spring Street was “poppycock.” Lawler referenced the Planning Commission’s questionnaire, given to residents of upper Spring St., saying that a majority had answered that finding parking was not difficult.
Lawler said the ordinance defines residents as anybody but the owner or manager of a Conditional Use Permit tourist lodging, or guests, even if the manager lives on the property. He called the ordinance discriminatory and asked that council “Give it a good burial here tonight.”
On the other side of the spectrum, resident Linda McBride said that Spring Street is a main artery through town, and residents deal with tour vans, trolleys, and parade routes all competing for space on the street, and that double and single occupancy residents do not all have off-street parking. She argued that any CUP tourist lodging should follow the ordinance and not expect residents to give up street parking.
Council read the ordinance by title only for the second time. A motion describing why Planning chose to create the ordinance died at the table, and council took time to discuss parking issues on the street.
Alderman Melissa Greene pointed out that multi-family residences on the street are considered “legally non-conforming” structures, meaning they don’t follow the exact zoning of single-family houses. She also said that whether it’s a multi-family dwelling, tourist lodging or B&B, there must be ample parking, and that B&Bs are required to have at least two parking spots.
This started a back and forth among aldermen as Harry Meyer stated that the parking district ordinance was made for residents, not buildings. Whether or not those living in legally non-conforming, or multi-family structures were residents as per the ordinance, was a matter of debate.
Planning Chair Ann Tandy-Sallee also pointed out the ordinance would help push residents to use their off-street parking and help those without those amenities.
In the end, council approved the second reading unanimously without changes to Ord. 2332. A third reading will be at the Jan. 23 meeting.
CAPC given one new council rep, Slane to remain
In a show of disagreement, council voted in multiple rounds to establish new representative seats for the City Advertising and Promotion Commission with aldermen Autumn Slane, David Avanzino, Steve Holifield, and Meyer all wishing to be on the commission.
Alderman Terry McClung said he wanted to be off the commission now that the seat was available, and asked whether council could simply nominate members and vote as those nominations were given. He also questioned why in the rounds of voting, members were not allowed to vote for themselves. Regarding self-votes, both Greene and Meyer told McClung that council had gotten in trouble with the Municipal League in the past.
With all four candidates available to be voted on by written vote, three rounds of voting were taken with all of them ending the same. Two votes for Meyer, two for Avanzino, one for Slane, and one for Holifield. After the third vote and visible frustration for a failure to come to consensus, aldermen agreed to allow for nominations.
Slane nominated Avanzino to take the seat left by McClung, and that failed 3-2. Greene motioned for Meyer which also failed 3-2, and then motioned for Holifield which succeeded 4-2 with Mayor Butch Berry voting yes. Slane’s seat was next up, but Greene mentioned that without consensus there would be no way to replace her.
With insistence from McClung a motion to nominate Slane for the seat failed 3-2. With no new nomination though, Slane is to keep her seat on the CAPC until council agrees on a replacement. This follows along with CAPC rules that allow a commissioner to stay on until a replacement is found and successfully voted for.
Other Items
Council quickly rifled through procedural matters for the year including:
- McClung is to sit as Mayor pro tem should Berry be unable to attend a meeting.
- Meetings will continue to be the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
- Rules of procedure will remain the same for 2023.