Dogs, city code and B&Bs got the lion’s share of comments at Monday’s city council meeting:
- Laurel Owen stated there should be an ordinance prohibiting animals being kept in a house with no one there. She called the situation in her neighborhood heartbreaking because of barking, cramped cages, unclean conditions, strong odor and an aggressive dog beating up others. She said there is an ordinance regarding excessive barking, and she urged council to create an ordinance for situations like this one.
Harold Meyer also decried the barking and deplorable smell of that property. He said the owner installed a fan that simply blew the odor toward the neighbor’s house.
- Bob Jasinski claimed the one of the ordinances Planning was trying to amend had been taken directly from Arkansas State Code, which would supersede local laws. He contended the way the 180-day rule was rewritten meant “one strike and you’re out” whereas some communities emphasize voluntary compliance. They give a warning first before revocation.
- Susan Misavage disagreed with those who stated the public had enough opportunity to speak up at the Planning and council workshops. She said three minutes is not enough. She urged aldermen to read the Attorney General’s opinion on open meeting requirements, and wanted the public to be able to speak on each agenda topic.
- Former alderman Ken Pownall submitted his name as a choice for filling the vacant council seat for the rest of the year, saying he did not intend to run for the seat in November.
- Susan Porter spoke against the proliferation of short-term lodging in residential zones. She stated zoning was created for establishing a healthy balance between residential and commercial zones. The city has enough beds for tourists but not enough for residents. She said a CUP should be reserved for the greater good, not for commercial enterprises in residential zones. She proposed that kind of CUP “needs to be done away with entirely.”
- Dave Gallia disagreed with Porter’s points. He owns a B&B and depends on it to earn a living. He said a blanket ban as Porter proposed was inappropriate. Instead, he asked if existing laws were adequate and if they were being enforced. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he commented, and urged Planning and council to know what they are changing and determine if the change will fix the problem.
- Barb Gavron said she was a long-time B&B owner, and it was the tourist lodging owners who through the years moved in and fixed the blighted neighborhoods in town. Eureka Springs has always had lodging properties throughout town because “it’s who we are.” She claimed B&B owners improve their neighborhoods.
Final items
Council voted to seat Margaret “Magi” Hayde to the Historic District Commission and to reseat Carol Wright on the CAPC.
Next meeting will be Monday, August 13, at 6 p.m.