Board of Directors

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF SILOAM SPRINGS, BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, HELD MAY 17, 2022 The City of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, met in regular session at the City of Siloam Springs Administration Building on May 17, 2022. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Judy Nation at 6: 30 pm. Roll Call: Smiley, Burns, Hunt, Rissler, Sappington, Carroll, Allen— Present. City Representatives Present: Phillip Patterson, City Administrator; Judy Toler, Administrative Assistant; Chief Jeremey Criner, Fire Department; Captain Scott Miller, Police Department; Ben Rhoads, Sr. City Planner; Justin Bland, City Engineer; Don Clark, Community Development Director; and Jay Williams, City Attorney. Opening prayer. Director Sappington led the opening prayer. The mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Input: The mayor asked if there was anyone in the audience who would like to address the Board on any item not on the regular agenda. No one came forward. The mayor asked if there were any comments from the audience regarding an item on the Consent agenda. No one came forward. Consent Agenda: A. Regular Meeting Minutes/ May 3, 2022 B. Dedication of Utility Easements and Right- of-Way/ 2700 and 2750 East Kenwood Street C. Dedication of Utility Easements/ 1995 Hwy. 412 East D. Budget Amendment/ Parks and Recreation/ Ventrac Mower/$ 43, 000. 00 E. Budget Amendment/ Police Department/ Salaries and Wages- Overtime/$ 47, 100. 00 F. Resolution 28- 22/ Grant Application/ ArDOT Transportation Alternative Program/ Progress Avenue Sidepath G. Resolution 29- 22/ Grant Application/ ArDOT Transportation Alternative Program/ West Harvard St. Sidepath H. Resolution 30- 22/ Grant Application/ ArDOT Recreational Trails Program/ Dogwood Springs Trail Rehabilitation I. Resolution 31- 22/ Setting Hearing Date for Right- of-Way Vacation/ 900 Block of East Tahlequah Street J. Landowner Agreement/ Community Development/ Illinois River Watershed Partnership/ Sager Creek Streambank Restoration/$ 158, 000 Director Allen asked that items D, F and G be pulled from consent. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Allen to approve the remaining Consent Agenda items. Nation asked for a roll call vote. Motion passed unanimously. Item D: Allen had questions about why an additional mower was being added; why the mower was needed; and why the money could not just be put in city coffers. Directors Sappington and Rissler also had questions. Clark explained the need for the additional mower and budget amendment. A motion to approve the item Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 12 May 17, 2022 was made by Smiley and seconded by Carroll. Motion passed 4/ 3 with Sappington, Rissler and Allen voting no. Items F and G: Allen had questions as to why there was a need for 10- foot side paths as opposed to sidewalks. Bland explained that staff was following the City' s adoption of the 2014 NWA Bike& Pedestrian, and later Master Connectivity Plan. Directors expressed comments both for and against the width of the proposed side paths, and the need for the money that would be spent to go to more pressing issues within the city, including drainage and streets. A Motion was made by Carroll and seconded by Smiley to approve the item. Motion passed unanimously. Item G: A Motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Allen to approve the item. Motion passed unanimously. Item K: Ordinance 22- 12/ 2nd Reading/ Amending Section 102- 21 of the City Municipal Code/ Rezoning from I- 1 to R-2 and C- 2/ 2600 Block of North Country Club Road and the 1900 Block of Brashears Road. Ben Rhodes briefed the item. A motion was made by Hunt and seconded by Allen to place Ordinance 22- 12 on its 2nd and 3rd reading, suspending the rules and reading by title only. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Section 102- 21 of the Siloam Springs Municipal Code city zoning map); Rezoning( from I- 1 to R-2 and C- 2) property located at the 2600 block of North Country Club Road and the 1900 block of Brashears Road; was read on its second and third reading. A Motion was made by Allen and seconded by Smiley to adopt Ordinance 22- 12. Motion passed unanimously. Item L: Ordinance 22- 13 / 1St Reading/ Amending City Code Section 66- 90/ Noise. Capt. Miller briefed the item. Alma Sanchez, 408 Greenwood Place addressed the board with questions including the process for permitting; if permitting could be done for a block of events or if they would need to be applied for individually; and asked if the process could be made less cumbersome and time consuming. Clark addressed the permitting process and he and Patterson further expanded on the ordinance' s requirements. Directors spoke in favor of the ordinance, with the continued availability for citizens to use and enjoy public properties, including the parks, as well as business owners afforded the opportunity to thrive. A motion to place ordinance 22- 13 on its first reading, suspending the rules and reading title only, subject to adding a provision to include parks in the second reading, was made by Hunt and seconded by Allen. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Section 66- 90 of the Siloam Springs Municipal Code with Respect to Prohibited Noise, was read on its first reading. Item T: Administrator' s Report: Patterson reviewed the Administrator' s report attached hereto. Directors Report: Allen expressed appreciation for Ms. Sanchez' input; pointed out various items relating to bike lanes around the City, and said he appreciated all the discussion. Smiley expressed her appreciation for the board discussion tonight; pointed out a comprehensive plan review would be held on the 19th at the library from 6- 8p and would like to hear citizen input; a lot ofjob opportunities listed on the city' s website; that she appreciated the review on the E. Main Street, and that most she spoke with were against the round- a-bout. Carroll pointed out we were finishing another school year; JBU holding its graduation; high school' s upcoming graduation, along with the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday; with much to look forward to with summer on its way. Rissler asked if Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page J 3 May 17, 2022 staff could look into involving citizens more in the decision- making process for the entertainment at the amphitheater; that the city needed to look into drainage issue resolutions; that the Community Prayer would be held on June 4th at 9: 00 am at the CoC; thanked the Levi Douthit Veterans of Foreign War Post 1674 for placing flags at multiple cemeteries on our veteran' s gravesites. Sappington stated up by the Main Street Academy and Powell Feed, the crosswalk traffic is quite dangerous and kids do walk it, so if the East Main Street project moves forward, she believed it should start on the east side of town, and take into consideration that this is an industrial area and not make it difficult for truck use; that a question should be put to a citizen vote; the round- a-bout was not favorable; that business owners input was important and thanked staff for their assistance; and thanked staff for the work on the noise ordinance. Burns pointed out The Main Street Event fundraiser would be held at Park House this Friday; he reminded everyone of the IRWP Low-Impact Development Conference he attended last year and reminded everyone with the growth we are experiencing, conditions with drainage will continue to be problematic; that he would like to see the use of retention ponds done away with and use detention ponds; use GPS gating systems; encouraged the city to use low-impact development practices and remember that we all live downstream; wants to find solutions; he attended another conference MissingMetalHousing. com which addresses duplexes and apartment complexes and encouraged urbanism; and lastly, expressed his LOVE for round- a- bouts. Allen announced that the SSHS Art Department had four( Lorena Erives; Chrystal Mercado; Eliot Posey; and Alayah Roby) students' work recognized at the Governor' s Mansion for the Governor' s Young Artists state- wide competition and honored at a reception. Hunt congratulated the students; thanked those in attendance for their input; thanked staff for the work on the noise ordinance and gathering citizens to get feedback on the E. Main project. With no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Hunt and seconded by Allen A voice vote was called. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned. ATTEST: APPROVED: Ju tion, M R nea Ellis, City Clerk, CAMC/ CMC or SEAL) 00 Zf ..i E ti, r. 1 ` J te; ger, n!®