Springdale Council Cuts Off Criticism Of Ordinance

— The City Council cut off criticism of a proposal Tuesday in the middle of a speaker’s comments.

The council approved 5-3 to end debate and public comment for a vote to revise the city’s animal ordinance.

Heather Grant was telling the council more work was needed after the changes brought attention to problems in the ordinance. Alderman Brad Bruns called for the question while Grant was still at the microphone.

Bruns, Mike Overton, Eric Ford, Mike Lawson and Rick Evans voted for the call to end debate. Jim Reed, Kathy Jaycox and Jeff Watson voted against.

At A Glance

Council Action

Springdale’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:

Using federal Transportation Alternatives Program money for the Lake Springdale trailhead on the Razorback Greenway and a contract with CEI Engineering Associations for construction management of the project.

A contract with USI Engineers for construction management on the Sanders Avenue trailhead on the greenway.

A contract with Engineering Services Inc. for design and construction management for improvements on 56th Street between Watkins Avenue and Bleaux Avenue.

Source: Staff Report

“It was frustrating and disrespectful,” Grant said.

The revisions were approved 6-2 with the council taking no further comment. Reed and Jaycox voted against the revisions.

“I took off work early to come here and talk,” said Jenny Swearingen. “Now they told us they don’t want to hear our words.”

Bruns, before he called for the question, said the council had listened to eight and a half hours of comments from people in three committee meetings. He said he received no phone calls about the revisions until he got 20 calls Tuesday.

Bruns said he thought the calls were staged.

During earlier discussion, Mayor Doug Sprouse said he didn’t think the changes were that big. Most of the criticism wasn’t about what was in the revisions but in the original ordinance, he said.

“This was some tweaking to an ordinance that had been in place for years,” Sprouse said. “This has been blown out of proportion.”

The revisions could send more animal owners to court, said Vivi Haney, resident.

The city district judge would have to determine if the animal is dangerous or vicious, according to the code. While any animal may be ruled dangerous, the law has only been applied to dogs, said Ernest Cate, city attorney.

“We wanted to protect our citizens,” said Mike Overton, alderman. “We’ve has some instances where their safety was threatened.”

The new ordinance includes four changes, Cate said. It better defines potentially dangerous animals, adds restraints for animals in the back of open trucks, requires insurance for a person who wants to keep a potentially dangerous animal in the city and allows the city to hold animals until the district judge rules if it's vicious or dangerous, he said.

The revisions could lead to disputes between neighbors, said Michelle Windell, a veterinarian who works in Springdale.

A clause stating an animal cannot be impounded unless there's probable cause to issue a citation was added, Cate said. That would address the concern a person could complain about an animal just because they disliked the owner, Cate said.

Charlotte Venable with Northwest Arkansas Pet Alliance said the revisions were vague and open to interpretation.

“We’re afraid a dog could unjustly be put to death,” Venable said.

The council also approved an emergency clause, putting the changes in effect immediately.

Anyone with concerns about the revisions could see or call him, Cate said.

The council also approved creating a Community Engagement Division in the Public Works Department that would move Code Enforcement from the Buildings Department. The new division would also include Bulky Waste Collection, Graffiti Abatement and Recycling Center.

The new division will be based at 206 Blair St., which was used by the police's Criminal Investigation Division, before they moved to a building on Spring Street.

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