City discusses property maintenance, budget

After spending the majority of 2016 behind closed doors under staff revision, a proposed code for building maintenance in Siloam Springs returned to public debate Tuesday.

The city held a 30 minute workshop to discuss a proposed 38-page ordinance that would replace the existing nuisance and building management code.

The proposed code is a streamlined version on the International Property Maintenance Code, which was determined in January by the Board of Directors to be too overbearing. Randal Clark, Siloam Springs Building Official, said the new version of the code was developed with five or six property managers or owners in town.

The code itself would add 50 definitions to city code. There are currently three definitions in city nuisance code. Following the definitions are five chapters of codes and standards to which every building in Siloam Springs will be held. Chapter 8 of the ordinance is a revised nuisance code.

The proposed ordinance also would establish an appeals process for people who choose to contest a notification of violation. In addition, fines will not be levied unless a notified violation is not corrected in a minimum of seven days.

In addition to the workshop, the property maintenance code was on Tuesday’s agenda for the regular meeting. During the public comments on the ordinance, Don Bunker applauded the city for its efforts to establish a minimum acceptable housing standard.

There was some discussion among directors about how best to address the problem of vacant properties in town. Clark said the city currently has a budget for boarding up houses that are vacant, though some directors indicated that they would rather avoid boarded up houses altogether.

Director Steve Beers said he appreciated that there is an appeals process included in the code, and the ability to amend the code in the future if needed.

The ordinance was placed on its first reading. Mayor John Mark Turner requested the ordinance run for the full three readings, which will give the public more time to give feedback.

A full text of the ordinance can be found on the city’s website, under the agenda for the Board of Directors meeting on Nov. 15.

The ordinance will also undergo some changes to allow for citations to not count as criminal misdemeanors, said City Attorney Jay Williams.

The other major agenda item at Tuesday’s meeting was the Siloam Springs 2017 budget. The budget arrives on the agenda following three different workshops, during which city officials walked the Board of Directors through the proposal in a line-by-line manner.

Major changes to the budget from last year include the combination of the Animal Control division and Community Development budgets, adding the Cemetery division to Parks and Recreation, separating infrastructure and street budgets, eliminating the maintenance and engineering divisions as internal service funds, a four percent merit-based raise for employees, seven new positions and reduced health care costs.

A grant from the Walton Family Foundation was also added to the budget. City staff applied for a grant through the Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Pro--

Program to have the improvements to Medical Springs Park, near the library, funded. With the grant, the city will have more than 50 design and landscaping firms to choose from for the improvements.

Revenues are budgeted to be just over $58,000,000. Expenses are projected to be $61,693,138, though restricted funds and noncash expenditures result in a budget surplus for unrestricted funds of $1,010,692 and $47,827 for the street fund.

The budget was approved as-is, with the addition of a single amendment. Director Carol Smiley said she wanted to include a proposed expenditure for a proposed dog park on Benton Street to be included in the budget. The expenditure is $100,000 for fencing in the park, which would be followed by a $50,000 refund from a grant.

Director Bob Coleman countered that he would rather see the dog park added as a budget amendment when the property is donated to the city, which hasn’t happened yet. Beers said if the item is added to the budget, and the dog park is delayed or falls through the city would not be compelled to spend the money.

Smiley’s amendment passed 4-2, with Director Frank Johnson and Coleman dissenting. Director Brad Burns was not present. The budget itself passed unanimously shortly after.

The board also:

• Placed ordinances increasing board and mayor pay and pay for the Planning and Zoning Commission on their second readings. No new comments had been received by city staff.

• Approved rezoning for 3948 U.S. Highway 412 from I-1 to C-2. The lot will be used to sell storage sheds.