Monday’s Eureka Springs City Council meeting kicked off with alderman Susane Gruning sharing concerns about homeowners being responsible for repair and replacement of sidewalks and suggesting some solutions. Gruning said other cities have implemented programs to help property owners fund sidewalk repairs through grant or lien options, often paying a 60/40 ratio.
Mayor Butch Berry said he had just received a prioritized report from Building Inspector Paul Sutherland and Director of Planning and Community Development Cassie Dishman that he hoped would take care of questions council might have. Alderman Steve Holifield applauded Gruning’s research and noted a history of failed attempts to address deteriorating sidewalks. Alderman Terry McClung suggested rounding up the existing sidewalk ordinance for the next meeting to dig deeper into the discussion.
Alderman Harry Meyer voiced concerns about the lack of sidewalks on East Mountain, saying it’s dangerous. McClung said it would be great if East Mountain had sidewalks on either side of the street, but it’s unlikely that will happen. “I agree with the philosophy, but I just don’t think it’s practical now – it puts the cart in front of the horse.” Holifield told Meyer that where he lives on Hillside the same problem exists.
Alderman Rachael Moyer pointed to the sidewalk debate being a great example of why a city vision plan is needed. She said they had heard from commissioner Susan Harman that there was some movement within the Planning Commission to develop a budget to move the vision plan forward, but that effort stalled. Moyer said she wanted to keep the issue on the agenda so it would not be lost.
“It’s actually not on our agenda; it’s on the Planning commission’s,” Berry responded. McClung told Berry he believed the Planning Commission was already in the process of requesting $50,000 from council to hire a planner to develop a vision plan, but Berry said the funding was not included in the budget.
“I’m all for the Planning Commission – don’t get me wrong,” Berry said. “I’ve been involved with the Planning Commission as long as you have, Mr. McClung, if not longer, and I’ve been professionally involved in planning and worked with planners for a long time. I’m a firm believer in it. But after talking with people around town, I feel our vision plan is already very adequate. It needs work, but it’s good with what we’ve got. I’m not sure we need to spend money on plan development when we already have something workable… Ms. Moyer and I disagree on this,” Berry added. His remark drew a unified chuckle as Berry turned the floor over to Moyer.
“I respectfully disagree – I guess I would ask, if the vision is adequate, how are we growing revenue for the city? If the vision is adequate, what properties do we actually own, and which properties are under question as to what the city owns and what someone else owns? If the plan is sufficient, what is our next area of priority for development? Where is economic development happening?
“These are things that we have to consider, not just next year – we need to consider what’s gonna happen to us over the next twenty years. Do we have an adequate twenty-year vision plan? Does anyone in this room really think we have an adequate twenty-year vision plan?”
McClung said that while Eureka Springs has limited space for economic development and the commission has spent years creating ideas and plans, none of it matters without someone willing to invest. The main problem isn’t the plan itself but finding a person or business willing to commit money and make it happen.
“We’ve not been able to come up with a soul to do anything in that respect, so as far as how you’re gonna make progress, we’ll take anything,” McClung said. “We have tried, as far as doing things in that respect. So, it’s not that the plan’s not adequate, it’s implementing the plan.”
“I hear what you’re saying,” Moyer responded, “and think economic development specifically is complex, and it’s changing for rural and small towns right now, but certainly very specific for rural, small towns like ours with the geographic challenges that we have. Do I think that we are well-suited over Berryville, for example, for a new industry? Maybe not. But economic development also means we can support entrepreneurship.
“There are programs in place in other towns that we could take note of and try to apply that in our place and economic development doesn’t look now like it does for places like us, like it did ten years ago – it looks different. It’s changing. And I’d like for us to be on the forefront of that so that we can take advantage of all the opportunities that we can.
“When you have a plan in place, if an offer doesn’t fit within the larger plan, then it doesn’t happen – or at least you weigh it up against the adopted plan, so that every decision that’s made is moving us in a direction.”
Berry told Moyer that it relates back to Planning and HDC commissions.
“But if it never gets to us then how can you continue to keep pushing that onto the Planning Commission, knowing that the work they’re doing is not going to get to the budget?” Moyer asked. “That’s the next part of creating a plan and holding people accountable to the plan, you have to fund it.”
Holifield said he believed the Planning Commission’s request for $50,000 was “backwards,” explaining that he would prefer to send the issue back to Planning to identify someone capable of developing a vision plan, clearly define expectations, and project results.
Gruning agreed but noted that the Planning Commission operates on such a limited budget that she felt its hands were tied. She said she liked the idea of bringing in someone to help determine what planning could look like for the city but emphasized that the commission needs assistance and city council should consider providing some level of funding.
Moyer agreed with their points but added that, procedurally, if the Planning Commission’s budget request had actually reached council during the budgeting process, aldermen could have asked for more detail, which Planning could then have clarified.
Public comments:
- Ferguson Stewart commended council for doing a great job in taking care of employees, prompting good results such as the new Low-Income Water Assistance Program created by the finance director. Stewart said he would also like to see options for senior rates and a box placed on water bills for donations.
- Scott Price spoke about water and sewage issues around Little Lake Eureka, saying there have been three leaks into the lake over the last 54 days – the most recent on Dec. 3. Price said he struggled to determine who to contact and get a timely response to address the leaks. He expressed concern for the wildlife, families, and fishermen who visit the lake.
- Susan Harman gave council a packet regarding Planning Commission details to preface the commission’s meeting scheduled for the next day, saying the commission voted to present and ask for $50,000 from city council. She hoped the handout would give a better idea of what planning was asking for.
Other Business
- Ord. 2382 for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program passed on its third and final reading.
- Queen Anne Purchase and Hospital Financials discussions were deferred.
- A vacancy on the CAPC was announced and applicant Cory Ohara was approved for Pos. 6 on the HDC.
- Council voted on a resolution to remove city-metered parking fees for the month of December. Holifield motioned for an amendment to include city parking lots, not just street parking. The resolution was amended to encompass all city-metered parking and passed unanimously.
- Gruning pointed out nuanced discrepancies in temporary entertainment district operations. “I know that this may seem inconsequential right now, but I think it’s important before something major happens.” Gruning suggested written notification requirements, city approved containers, and wristbands to prevent underage drinking. Berry suggested she bring a list of her concerns to the mayor’s office to draft an amendment that council could vote on.
- Berry announced a new state law prohibiting city council members from voting or being considered present over Zoom.