By Rick Harvey
Eureka Springs Times-Echo
Eureka Springs needs to take a more proactive approach on an up-to-date vision plan laying out goals for the future of the city.
That’s the message city council member Rachael Moyer delivered at the regular council meeting held Monday, Sept. 22.
“Where are we on a vision plan for the community long term?” Moyer asked. “A lot of surrounding communities have … visions like 2040, 2050, thinking about residents and sustainability and economic development, and all kinds of things.”
The topic of a vision plan for the city has been on her mind for some time, Moyer said, leading her to discussions with Mayor Butch Berry about a possible “visionary committee.”
Berry said he directed Moyer to Cassie Dishman, the city’s planning director, since it’s the purview of the planning commission to develop such a visionary plan.
“Thanks, Mr. Mayor, for putting me in contact with Cassie, who was able to provide me with what she said was the latest version of a plan for the city that she knew of, and I was able to read through that,” Moyer said.
The problem, however, was that the plan provided, the Donaghey Plan, was from 1996, Moyer said.
“The concern that I had with that is that my daughter was born in 1995, and she now has a 5-year-old,” Moyer said. “So, I’m thinking that maybe it’s time to update, or maybe there have been updates that we’re not aware of. Maybe it’s just me, and I’m alone here, and I am not aware of a larger vision plan for the community.”
Berry said he was aware that the vision plan had been updated in recent years, stressing it’s not the council’s duties to get involved in such a study.
If there is something more recent, or updated, since 1996, she wants to see it, Moyer said.
“If there was something done a couple of years ago, that didn’t get passed to me,” she said. “But, I would love to see that. I would like to see the data. I’m thinking we all would like to see the data and see where we stand now and what kind of updates have been done to the 1996 plan.”
Berry continued to stress that the council table was not the appropriate place to bring up the topic. Instead, addressing the planning commission is the proper route to go, he said.
“I’m just asking: Can we move forward on a new vision for Eureka Springs and where we’re going?” Moyer responded, adding she has been involved in vision plans for other cities in her role as a policy analyst. “I’m not sure I’m convinced that there’s not a way to set up an ad hoc committee through the council to take on something like this. Not just about zoning and typical planning, but many aspects. … Regional growth strategies, housing and development, transportation, sidewalks, sustainability, resilience, economic vitality, workforce development, downtown improvement, many other things.
“Abandoned housing and properties and many, many other things are included in a vision that doesn’t just deal with transportation, which is primarily what the Donaghey study dealt with. ….”
Berry responded: “Actually, we’re stepping out of our sandbox. … You’re stepping out of your sandbox.”
Moyer said she knew other cities have had similar committees.
“You’re looking for a solution where there might not be a problem,” Berry said.
Moyer replied: “There’s not a problem that the last vision done for the city was 1996?”
Council member Harry Meyer suggested a workshop with the council and members of the planning commission to discuss a vision plan.
First, the mayor should check with the planning commission to see what updated documents they have, and provide those to Moyer, council member Terry McClung urged.
“Maybe that will help in what she’s asking for,” McClung said. “I know there’s more than just the plan itself. There’s been supplements that have been done to that over the years.”
Berry agreed.
“I will be glad to get with the planning commission and get whatever updates they have to you, Ms. Moyer,” the mayor said. “And, I don’t mean to be contentious, either. I think what you’re asking for is not invalid. I’m just stating that it’s the planning commission’s responsibility to provide that information, not city council.”
OTHER ITEMS
The council approved the first and second readings of a revised ordinance raising ambulance rates.
The increase, which is similar to measures being enacted by other cities in the state after new legislation was put in place, is aimed at allowing the collection of more money from private insurance companies for services.
Only individuals without any type of insurance will be impacted by the increase, council members have been told.
The proposed increase would raise the rate to 325 percent of the rural Medicare rate.
The council also approved ordinances vacating sections of Alpena Avenue, Lone Street and an unnamed alley.
MOYER COMMENDS HOSPITAL CHANGES
Moyer had positive words for an “obvious redirection with regard to the hospital’s financial situation.”
“This table has questioned previous financial reporting, and the council now receives regular and comprehensive financial reporting. I think that’s a win,” Moyer said during council member comments. “We questioned the efficiency of contract labor, and the current CEO appears to be moving away from relying on contract labor and that’s a win. We questioned gaps in reporting bad debt, and the current CEO has announced that they’ve developed a policy and are working to address this gap, and I think that’s a win.
“This table has said all along that it was prudent to work with a budget, and while it’s obvious that the hospital still has some real financial challenges moving forward, the CEO announced a zero-sum budget for the remainder of the year, and that is a win. I want to publicly acknowledge what I consider to be a remarkable and positive redirection in the management of the hospital’s finances by Ms. [Tiffany] Means, and I continue to voice my support for that.”
