Public Comments at the Wednesday, August 23 City Advertising and Promotion Commission meeting ran hot with residents airing concerns about how the department is operating. Due to the large number of people who showed up, commissioners allowed extra time for residents to speak. Multiple times speakers were permitted to finish thoughts rather than strictly following the four-minutes allotted for each comment.
Linda McBride said, “The natives are restless” and that the CAPC in the past has ignored residents. She implored commissioners to learn Robert’s Rules of Order, furnish money to the Parks Department for the springs and gardens, as well as allot money for the arts. She also said that the parking being offered on Saturday of Bikes, Blues, and BBQ in town is the CAPC’s event even if they are getting support from BB&BBQ.
Former mayor Beau Satori questioned if there would be free parking for other car-centric events. He said that commissioners need to ask themselves if a decision will make Eureka Springs “more charming.” He said he was pleased they put money into 4th of July celebrations but contended there was a lack of preparation and signage to help visitors navigate the event.
Satori said there needs to be more preparation for such activities, referencing usage of city parking lots on BB&BBQ weekend. He also lamented the lack of discussion about Christmas plans and maintained that there was not enough money being put into holiday efforts.
Business owner John Rankine voiced concern over how traffic would be managed during the major bike weekend and told commissioners that the noise was scaring people away.
Business owner Jeff Gregory asked if there was a plan for how parking and security would be handled as well as how traffic would be managed.
A letter from Pat Matsukis that echoed Rankine’s concern of the noise was read into the record. She also questioned why the CAPC hired an Auditorium Director when there are promoters who can handle putting shows in the Aud.
After Public Comments, Chair Chris Clifton asked for items to be added to the agenda to discuss including money for the Parks Department and the dog park, money for the art museum going in at the community center, and holiday lighting. Some members of the public attempted to argue the agenda should not have been changed after the meeting started, but they were not allowed to speak since Public Comments was over.
An item that was on the agenda and failed to be discussed was “Recent FOIA & strategy moving forward” brought to the table by commissioner David Avanzino.
Avanzino said he wished to provide documents to the commission that were FOIA’d by the Eureka Springs Times-Echo regarding the hiring of Tommy Sisemore as Auditorium Director. Clifton responded that he was not comfortable discussing it at the meeting and said the commission should “seek legal advice.”
Avanzino motioned to read his statement, Steve Holifield seconded, but the motion failed with Clifton voting No. Clifton repeated that he was not comfortable discussing it and that he would not “let this turn into a political show.” Those in attendance asked for clarification on what Avanzino was talking about and before an explanation could be given Clifton made a point of order that the motion had failed “that’s where we’re at.”
Clifton argued that there are “FOIA laws that we don’t understand.” In an August 29 phone interview, Clifton told this reporter that he was concerned speaking on the FOIAs would lead into discussing personnel, which the commission may not openly discuss.
When Avanzino wanted to discuss structure of the CAPC moving forward, as the commission is down to four members since the resignation of Mark Hicks, that motion also failed with Chris Jones not voting. It may be noted that no other items on the agenda required, or have required in the past, motions to enter discussion.
Other Items
- Funding requests for $5,000 were passed, including Heart of Eureka Springs for holiday advertising, Zombie Crawl, Fiber in the Ozarks, and an Open Studio Tour held by Main Street Eureka Springs. All requests are for marketing only.
- Commissioners agreed to put another $20,000 into holiday lighting in downtown Eureka Springs.
- The commission will invite Parks Director Sam Dudley to discuss the springs and gardens and the dog park, as well as Steve Beacham for the art museum.
So basically Chris Clifton is a new version of Jeff Carter. Making rules up as you go, not caring about the the residents. I wish I was in town so I could of attended. Thank you to those who did and spoke up!!