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MARCH 2023 REGULAR r City of Van Buren,Arkansas Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of the City Council Monday, March 27, 2023 5:30 PM Van Buren Municipal Complex CALL TO ORDER 5:30PM The regular monthly meeting of the Van Buren City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph P. Hurst at 5:30PM. Reverend and City Attorney Jacob Howell led invocation. Mayor Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL 5:31PM Present: Council Member Kenneth Bell, Council Member Matt Dodson, Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member Mike Kneeland, Council Member Tonia Fry, Council Member Tyler Wood, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Attorney Jacob Howell, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds Absent: None AWARDS None Mayor's State of the City Address Mayor Hurst addressed those present with his State of the City presentation. He provided a PowerPoint presentation and discussed the highlights of 2022. He discussed the sales tax revenue being up 11%, Police reaccreditation, awards for police officers and crime rate being down. He discussed how Code Enforcement was performing now that they are in their own department. He mentioned how closely they work with Almost Home Shelter. He discussed the increased calls for the Fire Department and stated this was a result of a growing community. He discussed the future of Van Buren and the new logo of being "perfectly placed". He discussed the possibility of a new community building, the success of the Street Department regarding road improvements and that some items such as the roundabout at Hwy 59 have been pushed out until 2025. L He mentioned-how the community is working together to help those displaced by the closing of Tyson Foods and his gratefulness to the Chamber of Commerce and other businesses for helping in this matter. CONSENT AGENDA 5:55PM 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 February 27, 2023, City Council Meeting o Resolution 03-01-2023 Contract for VBPD Remodel o Resolution 03-02-2023 Contract for Street Department Remodel o Resolution 03-03-2023 Amending City Park Retaining Wall Project o Resolution 03-04-2023 Fixed Asset Disposal Police Department o Financial Statements o Department Reports Motion was seconded by Council Member Kenneth Bell. All in favor. None opposed. Consent Agenda approved. NEW BUSINESS 5:56PM Resolution 03-05-2023 Contract for Parks Department Skate Park Lighting Mayor Hurst stated this was part of the forward movement for the skate park and had been discussed during the public engagement meetings. Council Member Kenneth Bell moved to adopt Resolution 03-05-2023, seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed. Resolution 03-05-2023 passed with a vote of six yeas and no nays. Ordinance 12-2023 Amending Zoning Ordinance Planning Director,Wally Bailey stated that Starbird and Hwy 59 changed to R-1, but the ordinance was listed as C-2. The buyer of the property that faces Hwy 59 also thought the property was C-2. The Planning Commission met as well as most of the residents who live on Starbird. It was determined that as condition to the rezoning there would be no driveway interference. Council Member Kenneth Bell questioned what business was going to be built and it was confirmed that it would be a car dealership that is currently on Hwy 59 that would be moving. Motion to adopt Ordinance 12-2023 made by Council Member Kenneth Bell. Seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed. Ordinance 12-2023 Amending Zoning Ordinance is adopted with six yeas and no nays. r Ordinance 13-2023 Rezone Planning Director,Wally Bailey stated that there will be no retail sales in the industrial district and the new rezone definitions state that it leaves industrial use on most items on the land use map in C2. There were two meetings with the Planning Commission regarding the rezoning changes to the map. It broadens the scope for ability of land owners to use their land and provides more flexibility for land in the city. When Ordinance 07-1963 was written in 1963 it was very structured for what land could be used for. The new definitions in Ordinance 13-2023 allow for more flexibility. Mr. Bailey mentioned that this is simply the evolution of the code as the city grows. Moving from C2 to Industrial allows for more incentive for future growth and will eliminate commercial use in residential neighborhoods. Ordinance 13-2023 has many definitions update. Motion to adopt Ordinance 12-2023 made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed. Ordinance 12-2023 Rezone is adopted with six yeas and no nays. Miscellaneous and General Discussion 6:17PM Mayor Hurst asked if there were any questions or statements from the public. Tyna Barkley,414 S. 7t"stated she wanted to commend Steve Gunter and the Code Enforcement Department for cleaning up 98%of the issues in her neighborhood. No specifics were mentioned except an expression of gratitude. John and Jena Harper 24 Lee Creek Drive stated they were concerned about speeding on their street in the Parkridge Subdivision and asked if there were any plans for sidewalks or possible speed bumps. Discussion ensued with Council Member Tyler Wood, Mayor Hurst and the residents regarding the possible avenues for resolution. The use of speed bumps would not be appropriate as it impedes emergency vehicles going down a street. Mayor Hurst stated he would further check into other options and will reach back out to them. Samantha Meadows, 1710 Emma states she has overgrown trees and debris around her house that appears to be from past storm damage. She stated she has spent$8,000 on pipe repairs and has contacted the Van Buren Municipal Utilities and was told the remainder is on a city easement. Mayor Hurst stated he will research this and will discuss her options further. David Martin with Crawford County Conservation League addressed the City Council regarding rumors about Chick-Fil-A and Seven Brew Coffee being built at Lake Lou Emma. He stated that it is always on the table but as of now, Bank of Oklahoma must sign off on the use of the land as McDonald's has the property. This is considered county and will have to be annexed into the city. There were no further miscellaneous or general discussion items. ADJOURNMENT 6:42PM 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 6:42PM. ATTEST APPROVED: Shawnna R nolds 4JosP. Hurst City Clerk-Tre urer tE i��.�:, �J y �lt� ,�vwr�•y r oerk 7-re ds y r zE"� City of Van Buren 0 IL IL ~°County,F� . .IS, E � rR