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OCTOBER 2024 REGULAR MEETING City of Van Buren, Arkansas Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council Monday, October 28, 2024 Van Buren Municipal Complex CALL TO ORDER 5:30M The regular meeting of the Van Buren City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph P. Hurst at 5:30PM. Chief of Police Jonathan Wear led the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Joseph P. Hurst. ROLL CALL 5:31PM Present: Council Member Tyler Wood, Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson, Council Member Tonia Fry, Council Member Kneeland, Council Member Dodson, City Attorney Jacob Howell, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds Absent: None PRESENTATIONS - AWARDS None CONSENT AGENDA 5:32PM After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member Tyler Wood moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of: o Minutes from September 23, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting o Street Closure—New Year's Eve Event Old Town Merchant's Association o Resolution 10-01-2024 Disposal and Destruction of Records o Resolution 10-02-2024 Remove and Dispose of Fixed Assets o Financial Statements o Department Reports Motion was seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. All in favor. None opposed. Consent Agenda approved. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed. NEW BUSINESS 5:32PM Ordinance 21-2024 Allocating and Appropriating Insurance Proceeds City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member Madison Simmons moved that the rules be suspended, and the ordinance be placed on its second reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland, followed by a unanimous vote by the council. The Clerk read the ordinance the second time by title only. Council Member Madison Simmons moved that the rules be further suspended, and the ordinance p►aced on the third and final reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland, followed by a unanimous vote by the council. The clerk then read the ordinance for the third and final time by title only. Mayor Hurst addressed the council and explained that because of the storm damage across the city on August 16, 2024, there were several locations with damage to the roof's. The city filed insurance claims and have now received the revenue to move forward with repairing the damage. Estimates were submitted to the council. Library Elite Roofing $45,198.71 Senior Inn Elite Roofing $45,428.42 Motion to adopt Ordinance 21-2024 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by Council Member Madison Simmons. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed. Appropriating Insurance Proceeds is adopted with six yeas Ordinance 21-2024 Allocating and p and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the ordinance passed and signed same in open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds. Motion to approve the emergency clause made by Council Member Madison Simmons, seconded by Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed. The Emergency Clause passed with a vote of six yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the emergency clause passed. Ordinance 22-2024 Mobile Food Vendors City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member Mike Kneeland moved that the rules be suspended, and the ordinance be placed on its second reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood, followed by a unanimous vote by the council. The Clerk read the ordinance the second time by title only. Council Member Mike Kneeland moved that the rules be further suspended, and the ordinance placed on the third and final reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood, followed by a unanimous vote by the council. The clerk then read the ordinance for the third and final time by title only. Planning Director, Wally Bailey addressed the City Council and stated that the current vendor rules for mobile vending were very out of date and do not currently apply to 2024 standards of business. For example, mobile vendors were only granted business licenses for 120 days and could not remain for an extended period. Additionally, there was no provision for what has become popular with mobile food courts. He stated that this is an attempt to serve business and property owners who have stated they would like the 120-day time period extended. The current zoning ordinance did not allow mobile vendors on industrial properties. Mr. Bailey stated that he researched the proposed ordinance with Department Heads, A&P Commission and presented it to the Planning Commission. Some of the changes include expanding the business license from four months to one year and it will follow the same model as a brick-and-mortar business that will be from January 15t- December 31". All mobile vendors will have to apply with the Planning Department and will be expected to present, as part of their application, their Sales & Use Tax paperwork, A&P Commission registration and that all State and Local regulations must be followed as well as Arkansas Sanitary Laws. Mr. Bailey stated that these permits will be revokable if vendors are not following the rules. A business license will not be issued annually until a new application is approved by the Planning Department, first. Motion to adopt Ordinance 22-2024 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed. Ordinance 22-2024 Mobile Food Vendors is adopted with six yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the ordinance passed and signed same in open council, duly attested by City Clerk- Treasurer Reynolds. MISCELLANOUS and GENERAL DISCUSSION 5:51PM Connie Martin with Almost Home Animal Shelter presented the quarterly report of progress to the council. There have been twenty-nine intakes this quarter, two claimed, two adopted and twenty-two transported to the Northeastern United States. Transports are down because of the hurricanes that occurred in the South Eastern United States because those animals had to be relocated as well. They held a fundraiser at the Alma Farmer's Market in July, as well as a fundraiser with ArcBest and the Fall Festival. There will be a fund raiser on November 16, 2024, at the Senior Center"Bag Lady Brunch". There will be a silent auction and various purses, wallets etc. being sold. Connie requested a meeting with Code Enforcement and the Mayor to discuss a grant for spay/neuters as has been done in the past. Steve Nichols and his wife Laura addressed the city council regarding their business (a bed and breakfast) in a historic home built in the 1800's. He stated that when he began the renovations former Fire Marshall Stanley Clark approved the updates that were in place in 2018 but since the renovations began, fire codes have changed and the current Fire Marshall Mickey Landers is unable to sign off on the updates because the codes have been changed. Mr. Nichols states he was unaware of the changes that had taken place and that he has spent approximately $500,000 and is at a standstill. He was asking the city council for special permission to move forward and open for business. The mayor stated that there would be further discussion and that he would be reaching out to them in the future. Rick Wilkens addressed the council regarding the bus depot located in Industrial Park. He stated that it is a danger to passengers and businesses in the area. He mentioned that it could be days before connecting buses arrive and there are no facilities for the passengers that sometimes have no other option but to wait. Passengers have been known to ask to use restrooms, ask for money, a place to sleep, charge a telephone, a ride to another location from area businesses. Even prisoners and pregnant women have been dropped off with no where to go until the next bus arrives. He asked the council to review the issue and hopefully decide on a proper course of action for the health and safety of everyone involved. There was no further miscellaneous and general discussion. ADJOURNMENT 6:04PM Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. The motion passed 6-0. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council was adjourned at 6:04PM. ATTESTED: APPROVED: 1: 9 Shawnna M. Rey Ids Jos h P. Hurst City Clerk-Treasurer Mayor