The bill was returned to the Senate by committee Feb. 21 with the recommendation that it Do Pass.
The Senate is scheduled vote on SB 197 on Feb. 22. If they pass it, it goes to a House committee for a vote, then to the full House. If passed it would go to the governor’s desk. The House can stop or amend this.
This bill is designed to make the rich richer (by calling it “infringement on property rights”) at the expense of workers and town residents.
Eureka Springs passed a Short Term Rentals ordinance that protects our residential neighborhoods. The State of Arkansas is saying our city government ordinances don’t matter. State government is comfortable with invalidating the laws of our city council.
We are saying let us govern our unusually tight and hilly city so it works for the people who live here and the people who work here, can live here.
This is about money. Again. Not money generated by those who live here, but outside money that wants a return on investment at the expense of residential neighborhoods and local workers.
Contact Rep. Harlan Breaux, harlan.breaux@arkansashouse.org (479) 981-3170. He has said publicly that he will vote the way his constituents want him to.
Contact Sen. Bryan King, bryan.king@senate.ar.gov, (870) 480-3155. As of Tuesday, he was still waffling on this.
Contact Sen. Joshua Bryant, Joshua.bryant@senate.ar.gov (501) 500-2206
Contact Rep. Brit McKenzie, brit.mckenzie@arkansashouse.gov (479) 644-9001.
No one loves Eureka Springs as much as those who live here.
Two examples of letters, short and sweet, to our representatives in the Arkansas legislature:
Dear Senators and Representatives,
The proposed bill oversteps cities’ rights to zone and restrict where certain businesses may operate. Here in Eureka Springs, we have a housing shortage. Home rentals for employees of local businesses have nearly disappeared. Citizens demand preservation of residential neighborhoods.
In response the City Council enacted an ordinance to exclude further use of residential homes as overnight lodging.
And it is more than a money issue. Some of our residential streets have little parking. If residents cannot park near their homes (which likely do not have driveways) they would be unduly burdened.
We have zoning laws that have been working for the citizens and businesses of Eureka Springs since the 1960s. Cities’ needs are different based on population, housing, and long-term plans.
Please do not allow SB 197 to proceed to a vote. If it does; vote No in reflection of your district’s will. Local control is what the people want and should be able to maintain.
LauraJo Smole
Eureka Springs
Gentlemen:
It is wholly unacceptable to have our little tourist town’s housing and planning needs legislated from Little Rock. If our service workers have no place to live, tourists will not come because of lack of service. And state revenues will be impacted as well as the enormous impact here. We already have major parking, noise and congestion issues.
The current SB 197 proposal would do nothing good in this village. I, as well as everyone I know here, am counting on you to vote against this bill. I thought the new administration was all about getting out of people’s lives, not gaining more control. Please leave Eureka Springs’ planning and housing needs to the experts here. Vote against SB 197.
Paula Koch
Eureka Springs
We need regulations on rentals in garland co.