City Council Regular Meeting 10/12/2026

The Eureka Springs City Council regular meeting was held October 12, 2026. The council voted unanimously to reject, for now, Big M Ranch’s $164,000 settlement demand related to bulk water sales; the Municipal League attorney recommended declining mediation while the case is in its early stages. The city’s proposed purchase of land for Queen Anne-related access and parking was deferred to the next meeting. Before reconsideration, the city attorney will revise the draft contract to address zoning, title protections, and closing costs; the parties also discussed whether a small boundary adjustment and additional survey work could improve bike-trail access. A public forum on a proposed 1% sales tax for water and sewer infrastructure was announced, but the measure was not acted on at this meeting.

Council members discussed activating a municipal housing authority, including the requirement to estimate and appropriate first-year administrative costs; no activation vote was taken, and members discussed preliminary work to establish needs and costs. The transcript also records approval of renewing a program at $50,000 for next year, though the program’s name and purpose are unclear in the recording. A proposed social-worker position was deferred to the next meeting for discussion with the police chief. Resolution 916, setting an October 26 public hearing on an alley vacation petition, passed unanimously.