Board of Directors

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF SILOAM SPRINGS, BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, HELD JULY 5, 2023 The City of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, met in regular session at the City of Siloam Springs Administration Building on July 5, 2023. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Nation. Roll Call: Carroll, Hunt, Allen, Blair, Rissler, Wiles, Smiley— Present. City Representatives Present: Christina Petriches, Acting City Administrator; Renea Ellis, City Clerk; Jay Williams, City Attorney; Chief Jeremey Criner, Fire Department; Captain Scott Miller, Police Department; Captain Derek Spicer, Police Department; and Kevin Moore, City Engineer. Director Smiley led the opening prayer. The mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance. The mayor asked if there were any comments from the audience regarding an item not on the City' s agenda. No one came forward. The next item on the agenda was Presentations. Bryan Minnis from Maxim Golf gave an update on the work done and upgrades made at the city golf course and reported on additional upgrades that were still needed. Allen said the golf course was important to Siloam and Hunt asked if memberships had increased. Minnis responded to both. Chief Criner introduced new firefighters: Ian Austin; Nathaniel Bland; Myles Harvey; Wiley Hill; Charles Jones; Michael James; Joshua Loffelmacher; Braden Bullington; John Salley; Ryan Fiddler; and Dillon Abbott and stated where each were from and military backgrounds. Captain Spicer announced DeAndra Strickland' s promotion to SRO Sergeant and introduced three new school resource officers: Vence Motsinger; Thomas Reed; and Mindy Nading, and gave a brief background of each. Spicer was asked about fireworks calls on the 4th. He indicated 31 calls were received. The mayor announced that the applicant had withdrawn Item H. Consent Agenda: A. Workshop Minutes/ June 20, 2023 B. Regular Meeting Minutes/ June 20, 2023 C. Special- Called Minutes/ June 22, 2023 D. Special- Called Minutes/ June 23, 2023 E. Special- Called Minutes/ June 27, 2023 F. Special- Called Minutes/ June 29, 2023 G. Special- Called Minutes/ July 3, 2023 H. Dedication of Utility Easements/ 3900 Block of Highway 412 East I. Dedication of Utility Easements/ 224& 302 South College Street. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 12 July 5, 2023 A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Smiley and seconded by Carroll. Motion passed unanimously. J. Memorandum of Understanding/ Manna Center. Christina Petriches briefed the item. Allen said he thought the item was tabled until an update on the rec center could be given. Blair stated she believed fund raising could be done regardless of whether the city tied up this land and that she was not in favor of giving away city-owned land. Allen said he now understood that the land would be leased in the same manner ground leases were at the airport, but he didn' t think the city should pay for%2 of the title policy. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Hunt to approve the MOU. Motion passed unanimously. K. Ordinance 23- 13 / 2nd Reading/ Personnel Authority. The mayor announced that Blair had asked that this item be removed. There being no opposition, the item was removed. L. Ordinance 23- 15 / 3rd Reading/ Vacation of Utility Easements/ 224& 302 South College Street. Maegan Thomas briefed the item. A motion to place Ordinance 23- 15 on its third reading, suspending the rules and reading title only, was made by Allen and seconded by Carroll. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Vacating and Abandoning Portions of two Utility Easement Right- of-ways at 224& 302 South College Street; was read on its third reading. A motion to adopt Ordinance 23- 15 was made by Smiley and seconded by Allen. Motion passed unanimously. M. Ordinance 23- 17/ 1st Reading/ Amending Section 102- 21 of the City Municipal Code/ Rezoning from A- 1 to C- 2/ 400 Block of North Progress Avenue. Meagan Thomas briefed the item. Allen said he would abstain due to family involvement. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Wiles to place Ordinance 23- 17 on its Pt reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed 6- 1 with Allen abstaining. An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Section 102- 21 of the Siloam Springs Municipal Code ( city zoning map); Rezoning( from A- 1 to C- 2) Property Located at the 400 Block of North Progress Avenue; was read on its first reading. N. Ordinance 23- 18/ 1st Reading/ Amending Section 102- 21 of the City Municipal Code/ Rezoning from R- 2 to P- D/ 2600 Block of N. Country Club Rd. Meagan Thomas briefed the item. Allen said the executive summary was nice and easy to follow. Smiley said she was interested in this to see affordable housing that people can own. A motion to place Ordinance 23- 18 on its 1st reading, suspending the rules and reading title only was made by Smiley and seconded by Allen. Motion passed unanimously. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 13 July 5, 2023 An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Section 102- 21 of the Siloam Springs Municipal Code/ Rezoning( from R-2 to P- D) Property Located at the 2600 Block of N. Country Club Road; was read on its first reading. O. Resolution 39- 23 / Significant Development Permit/ 420 North Simon Sager Avenue( The Reserves Apts. Revision). Maegan Thomas briefed the item. Allen asked about the street fees. Kevin Moore, City Engineer, explained how street fees were calculated based on traffic impact. A motion to approve the item was made by Smiley and seconded by Rissler. Motion passed unanimously. P. Resolution 40- 23 / Significant Development Permit/ 1700 Block of East Kenwood Street. Maegan Thomas briefed the item. Allen had questions about the" screening" condition; Ron Homeyer, 701 S. Mt. Olive, Civil engineering, on behalf of the applicant, stated the requirement about screening on the adjacent property was not in line with city code and was created because of a request made by staff; Wiles asked if a residence could be built on the property to the West; Rick Long, the developer, stated the original site didn' t include the strip of land which caused the need of the requirement but staff had asked him to extend the residential lot that abuts what he was purchasing; Long said he would agree to purchase four trees; staff was standing on code and he was standing on the fact that code didn' t require him to screen next to commercial property; a motion to approve the item with condition 2 removed was made by Allen and seconded by Smiley, the motion and second were withdrawn to allow for further discussion; a second motion to approve the item, with condition 2 removed, was made by Allen and seconded by Rissler. Motion passed 6- 1 with Wiles voting no. Q. Annual Planning Commission Report. Petriches pointed out copy of the report had been provided with the packet, and additional questions could be directed to Ben Rhoads. R. Discussion/ Assistant City Administrator. Hunt stated she had asked for the discussion with Don Clark resigning, and the timing of revamping divisions, including combining Parks & Rec and the Library divisions as an external services department. The general consensus was to discuss further after a city administrator had been hired to be included in the discussion. S. May Financials. Petriches pointed out that the May financials had been provided and please direct any questions to her. T. Administrator' s Report. Petriches reviewed the report attached hereto. The mayor encouraged everyone to attend the WOKA Trail ribbon cutting; hoped that everyone had a happy Fourth; and that we' re doing a good job. Directors Report: Carroll said he had a wonderful, restful 4th and that he was looking forward to summer and what' s happening in our community. Smiley said she hoped everyone enjoyed the Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 4 July 5, 2023 Fourth; thanked the screening committee for all their work in presenting the applicants that were presented; thanked Minnis for his presentation on the golf course; and said she enjoyed the fireworks display. Allen congratulated the new firefighters; congratulated the new SRO' s and that he appreciates the partnership with the schools; thanked Minnis for the SSCC update; said he would like to see more money for fireworks next year; expressed appreciation to the screening committee; and that the choice for the new administrator would do a great job. Hunt thanked the screening committee; welcomed the new firefighters and SRO' s; asked if we could coordinate with Gentry to have next year' s fireworks displays on different days; Wiles said the fireworks were great and he had a wonderful time; thanked the screening committee for their tireless hours; said he enjoyed the golf course update; and it was great to see the new firefighters and SRO' s. Blair said she liked the idea of different nights; thanked the screening committee; that she visited maintenance, that 3 mechanics took care of 442 city-owned vehicles; that work was needed on their building; and suggested that a bypass be created with two lanes above the lower four lanes. Allen said he had received complaints about the tree line obstructing the view of the fireworks and thanked Petriches for the work she has done. Rissler said she enjoyed getting to know Petriches and appreciated the work she' s done; she too would like to see coordination with Gentry on the fireworks display and" beef it up;" pointed out Colcord' s display was scheduled for this weekend if anyone wanted to go support that; and that she appreciated the screening committee and employee' s feedback on the city administrator applicants. A motion was made by Rissler and seconded by Smiley to go into executive session to discuss the city administrator contract. Motion passed unanimously. The mayor called the meeting back to order at 9: 21 pm. A motion to counter the counteroffer that had been presented by Allen and seconded by Smiley. Motion passed unanimously. The mayor then announced that a Special- Called meeting would be held on July 10, 2023 at 5: 30 pm. With no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Smiley and seconded by Allen. Nation called for a vote. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned. ATTEST: APPROVED: 1111 t-; f pito' : enea Ellis, City Clerk, CAMC/ CMC udy 4atio , CITY L t 2 nennan Cmfi"mmmtn  C1 TY 01 Snoam SjJY'll1g_ S OPP Administrator' s Report July 5, 2023 Expenditures: In excess of$30, 000 36, 900 per year— EMS billing service— Finance d 42, 840— Process chemical 3` quarter— Water Treatment Plant 31, 398. 29— Smith Two- Way Radios— Fire( Act 833 Grant) Per Resolution 61- 21 95, 084— 50kva 240/ 120 1PH Pad Mount Transformer— Electric 90, 516— 25kva 240/ 120 1PH Pad Mount Transformer— Electric 91, 897. 50— 750 URD EPR Primary Wire- Electric 1. There was an administrative correction of clerical error in the landscape plan for Jiffy Trip# 2 by relocating the three trees previously shown on lot 3 to the southeast portion of the landscape buffer within lot 2. The change does not substantially modify the use, character, or density of the approved plans. 2. Last week, in partnership with JBU, we were able to provide a series of videos to the community highlighting cybersecurity and fraud prevention. 3. Parks and Recreation is hosting an art camp for ages 5— 17 beginning the week of July 24t. Campers can register from the City' s website. 4. A Ribbon Cutting ceremony will take place on Friday, July 7 at 9: 30 am, for the WOKA trail.