EUREKA SPRINGS (KFSM) – The Eureka Springs City Council unanimously passed an anti-discrimination ordinance on Monday evening (Feb. 9), according to Mayor Robert Berry.
In a 5-0 vote, the council passed a policy that bans discrimination against others based on sexual orientation when it comes to issues like employment, business, public accommodations and housing, Berry said.
The mayor described the policy as a “time of the essence” ordinance due to a bill, filed by Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, that would ban future civil rights ordinances. That bill passed in the Arkansas Senate on Monday afternoon.
The ordinance passed in Eureka Springs is similar to Fayetteville’s own defeated Ordinance 119, which also prevented discrimination against others based on sexual orientation, according to Berry. Fayetteville’s Civil Rights Ordinance was defeated by area voters in a special election on Dec. 9, 2014.
Eureka Springs’ ordinance allows the mayor to appoint investigators to look into situations where the ordinance is violated, according to Berry. He also said if no mediation is reached between the parties involved in the ordinance violation, the mayor then hands the case to the Eureka Springs City Attorney. If parties involved still fail to reach mediation, a citation is issued to the violating individuals, and they are taken to court.
The Eureka Springs City Council also adopted a resolution against Hester’s bill and plans to send the resolution to legislators in Little Rock, Berry said.
Hester released the following statement on the ordinance passing:
“The City of Eureka Springs currently has the option to implement civil rights ordinances. The city can spend time and resources on this ordinance that will be invalid in a matter of days. Eureka is currently not known for making pro-economic decisions. This is evident by the vacant hotels, retail and entertainment buildings. Eureka used to be a thriving town, and I hope one day it can return to the success of its past.”
