City Council - Regular Meeting

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for some reason Kansas City and Washington. Good evening everyone. We proceed each council meeting with a word of prayer and pledge of allegiance. If you would like, please feel free to join us. Miss Isby, could I ask you a word of prayer, please? If you'll bow with me. Our gracious heavenly father, we thank you for the abundant blessings that you've given us. We just thank you Lord for how you have blessed this city and blessed us. We just ask Lord that you continue to lead and guide us and at the end any of the decisions that we make that you'll get the glory that you're so deserving of. In your name we pray. Amen.

I pledge algiance to the flag United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

Now call this meeting to order. Miss Herd, would you call the role, please? Mr. Hawkins, here. Mr. Grimes, here. Miss Mill here. Mr. Lead Better here. Mr. Jones, Mr. Hawks here. Mr. Jones here. Here. All right. You should have received copies of the October 14th, 2025 city council minutes. Any corrections, changes, or comments? Make a motion for approval as submitted. Second. Have a motion and a second to approve the October 14th, 2025 minutes as submitted. No further discussion. All in favor say I. Any oppose? Passes seven to zero. First up on the agenda, we have the monthly financial report which ended September 30th, 2025. Mr. Winningham, come give us some good news.

Got all kinds of news. I got good news. I got bad news. We don't want the bad. Do you have anything in between? I'm gonna give you the bad news first because it it tells my story better. If I get It's your story. You tell it like if I give you the good news first, it's not going to mean as much if you don't hear the bad news first. So, so we are looking at September and Well, I'm gonna give you I'm gonna go all over the place. Oh, good news. Hang on. Right. Good. Yes, ma'am. Hang on. Good news. Sales tax was up 8.4%. Oh.

Put us up 1.2 for the year uh this month. I can go ahead and give you those numbers that we'll talk about next time, but we were up 6.6 in October. So, that puts us up about 1.6. Uh, here's the bad news. If we're up 6% each month the rest of the year, that's going to put us at up two and a half. We budgeted three, so we're going to miss our budget. Um, I'm projecting our sales tax revenue at the end of the year is going to be 30,200,000. Our budget's 30,500,000. So I'm projecting we're going to miss it about 300. Here's the good news. State turnback. I think we're going to beat our budget by 400,000. In fact, I Well, I'm not going to I'm not going to jinx myself. Uh we did beat the budget 400,000 in the lop fee portion of turnback. We budgeted 1.4. It brought in 1.8. So if the state turned back generally our turn back budget by 400 and those two items will kind of wash each other out. Um we all know the property taxes were due uh this month in October. November will be the biggest month you see revenue-wise for that. And based on what I'm seeing so far, I think we're going to hit that budget number. I don't think we're going to exceed it. So, we should be at right around $5 million when it's all said and done for that number. Um, and just I'll kind of give you a little insight. I know you guys don't study these every month, but this will give you a little insight as to how this whole thing kind of works. So, if you see right now, our bottom line, we got a net expense of 5.7 million. That number directly correlates to our cash balance. If you go to the balance sheet, uh our

balance at the end of September was 12 million. If you go back and look at January, that number was 177. So, as that bottom line goes, so goes our cash balance or operating balance on the balance sheet. Fun fact. And that's about all I've got, Mr. Al, it's also worth noting on the general fund, if you're looking at year-to dates and trying to make up a little deficit somewhere, interest income is already 282,000 over our budget. So, we've made up close to 300,000 and the year's not over. So, there's there's some makeup there.

Yes, sir. And also franchise fees, we're at 93% uh of our budget in at the end of September. So, we should beat that budget number. Um, and then our parks and recreation, we've already beat the budget number there in revenue. So, we've got some other line items that uh will hopefully help any potential shortfall we see on the sales tax side. Translate a transfer in for me. That's a third from the bottom on the revenue line.

That is uh money from other funds. So uh the budget there 770 is 520,000 of operating overhead from the sanitation fund and then 250,000 reimbursement from the A&P fund for operations at the expo center. So in the year-to- date column, the 260,000, you see that uh after June 30th, we did a transfer for half of the year of the sanitation overhead of 520. And then before the end of the year, we'll move the other 260. And then we'll also get actual operating data from the expo center to see how much we need to move from A&P to cover that.

And how many down months did we have this year? First five were down. So that's pretty strong comeback. Yes, sir. Yeah. First five were all down and every month since then has been up. Any questions for Mr. Winningham? I'll make a motion for approval of the September 30th financials. Second. Have a motion and a second to approve the financials ending September 30th, 2025. Any further discussion? Miss heard. Favor say I.

I. Any opposed? Passes seven to zero. Thank you, Mr. Wing. Yes, sir. Next up, we have a public hearing for the taxable industrial develop revenue bonds for the Exchange Avenue project for West Rock Beverage. Mr. Gordon Wilburn, I think, is here to speak to us. Hey, Gordon. Evening.

Hello. So, these two public hearings are actually kind of related. You may recall you have previously approved not to exceed $300 million of bonds for Westrock. Well, the project just keeps growing. You've already increased it once from 160 to 300. And both of these are kind of the same. Um the exchange avenue is to increase the amount on that site to not to exceed uh 350 million. And they are also going to put a production line in at the Clark Avenue uh facility. So that's the 75 million there. It's all part of, you know, the original project. It's just now in two locations and it's just gotten way bigger. So um that's the purpose of both of these. happy to answer any questions.

And again, these are not obligations of the city of Conway, are they? They are not secured solely. It's it's an internal Westerrock deal where they own their own bonds. So, it's solely to get property tax abatement. I will now before Gordon came up declare the public meeting open. I missed that one little thing there. So, public meeting is open. Would anyone in the audience like to speak for or against this proposal? Corey Parks, 900 Oak Street. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh you may not recognize me, but because the last time I was here, I had less hair like uh it looked less like Mr. Jones over there, but now we're we're we're more kindered spirits.

It's hard with rain. Uh but ah got to get a hat. So, uh, as as Gordon said, and I and I he can explain it better than I can, but just appreciate you all's past support of this project. And I think it's important for anyone who may be watching that it's kind of become a more historical trend where companies are more conservative in their projections. And so, it's not like they've they've missed their mark. It's a matter of them want to be mindful, okay, this is what uh the the project likely is to look like, but then as demand increases and opportunities increase, for instance, there there was previously not plans for the production line to exist where it is. And so that's a good good thing. That's a reflection of the workforce. That's a reflection of the strength of the economy. That's a reflection of of the business of Westerrock and and their sales side of the house. Uh and so would appreciate you all supporting this. Um and and hopefully we'll have the opportunity to continue to increase this because that means more jobs um and more uh investment by this private company into Conway.

Thank you, Cory. Anyone else like to speak for or against? At this time, this public meeting is closed. And Mr. Won, do you speak to another one or I will speak by saying the same thing. It's just the production line at the Clark Avenue is just another piece of this project, but out of room at the Exchange Avenue site, so they're putting it at the site where they have their uh kind of distribution facility. Okay. It's just additional equipment. Okay. And again, public meeting is open. My my bad for our cod up there. Would anyone else like to speak for or against? And what's your name?

Uh Corey Parks, 900 up street. Uh ditto of everything that I just said. appreciate um y'all's long-standing support of businesses and helping uh ensure that people in Conway and the surrounding area surrounding areas have um highquality job opportunities. Thank you, Court. Anyone else like to speak for or against? At this time, I will declare this public hearing closed and we will take it up here shortly in the economic development committee. Next we have the economic develop committee and first we have consideration to approve the waving of all three ordinances and read title only first reading for ordinances C3, C4, C5, C6 on the October 28th city council agenda. Make a motion to wave the three readings.

Second. I have a motion and a second to wave the three readings and first readings tonight. Any further discussion? Missurd. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? passes seven to zero. All right. We now have an ordinance approving the issuance of taxable industrial development revenue improvement bonds for the Exchange Avenue project for Westrock Coffee Company. Mr. Wilmer, would would you please step back up in case the council has any questions? Now we're to the ordinance phase of this. Council, do you have any questions of Mr. Wilbur? I keep waiting to drive by and smell the coffee. So, I know that I know they're just constantly moving out there.

If you walk close enough, you'll smell it. Okay. Good. Then this is going obviously is going better than they had anticipated. Would that be a safe statement to make? I think it's a combination of that and everything costs more than they thought it would, too. So, yeah, that's understandable. Council, back to you. I'll make a motion for adoption of the ordinance and I have it as 02583. Miss herd. Thank you. I have a motion and second to approve the ordinance approving the issuance of taxable industrial development revenue improvement bonds for the Exchange Avenue project for Westerrock Beverage Company. Any further discussion? Missurd. Smell. Hi. Mr. Jones.

Yes. Mr. Hawks. Yes. Mr. Grimes. Hi. Mr. Led Better. Yes. Mr. Hawkins. Yes. Mississippi. Yes, that passes 70. Oh, just hold your spot there, Gordon. And finally, an ordinance approving the issuance of taxable industrial develop revenue improvement bonds for the Clark Drive project for West Rock Coffee Company. Second. Have a motion and a second to approve this ordinance approving the issuance of taxable industrial de development revenue improvement bonds for the Clark Drive project for Westerrock Coffee. Any further discussion? Missurd. Mr. Grimes. Hi. Miss Mill. Hi. Mr. Hawkins. Yes. Missy. Yes. Mr. Lead Better. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Mr. Hawks.

Yes. That passes seven to zero. I thank you. And Westrock. Thanks you. Thank you, Gordon. And finally, then we'll turn it over to Mr. Hawkins. Is an ordinance approving the agreement for the Independence Combined Cycle Gas Plant for Comet Corporation. We have Mr. Carol here tonight. We also have Mr. Carter.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor Council. Thank you for this opportunity this evening. You guys have seen a lot of me this year. Uh which I think is an indication of how busy we have been at Common Court planning for the future. Uh this is the third time we visited on this particular project. You might remember back in April, April 22nd, we had a council meeting that really sort of uh settled the development rights for us and the other co-owners about how we're going to develop this project. There were, I think, 10 separate agreements that were involved in that discussion. And then we came back uh in late August to to get a reimbursement resolution so that we we could get paid back for expenses that we might make in anticipation of building this plant. And we're here tonight to talk about the ownership agreement. Um, and that is really the the agreement that stipulates the the equity positions that each coowner will have related to this combined cycle natural gas plant, which is very very important. As you as you recall, uh those those coal plants will cease burning coal White Bluff in 2028 and Independence in 2030. And this natural gas plant is just the next step in making sure we have a base load, reliable generation for our community uh in in the years to come. So anyway, with that, I will turn over to Mr. Carter and and I'll stay here uh close in case you guys have questions. Oh, and I should say Jason's our outside counsel. He's been intimately involved in the negotiations on this project and I think it's appropriate for him to tell you about what's going on there. So with that, I'll turn over to Jason.

Also a proud president of the city of Conway. So uh Jason Carter, attorney for Conway Corporation. I think you've been uh distributed some uh what I call key points related to the agreement. I'll just run down those key points, just things that you should be aware of in the agreement, things I would want to be aware of if I were in your shoes. And just to make sure you have a complete understanding of the of the document, first of all, as uh Mr. Carroll mentioned, this continues the previous uh agreements that consolidated Conway's future development rights uh in that exist in White Bluff and Independence. 2% in each PL. That's why I'm not Richard Nixon. 2% in each plant consolidated right to four% interest in in the independence facility for future development. a plant to come online as Mr. Carroll was saying on January 1st of 2031. It changes project development responsibility that currently is held by Energy. Energy developed White Bluff and Independence coal plants. This plant is being developed by uh Arkansas Electric Cooperatives. We are shifting our use of fuel from coal to natural gas. It's a combined cycle facility. It's a very efficient, clean natural gas burning uh plant. So uh uh that mitigates environmental uh risks. Uh we uh like all other participants, we will share our development costs, our de our rights from the project. Everything is just based on percentage of ownership. So we'll pay 4% of the cost of building the facility. We will come back to you at some point with uh an ownership or I'm sorry an operation and and marketing agreement where we will get 4% of the benefit from the facility. Uh and u and we'll pay 4% of the of the operation. Everything is

going to be it is purely percentagebased with no markup uh no ROI to other participants in the facility. Uh uh one of the a point of advantage to us is that even though that some of the purchases are being made in stride right now, uh we have time to get our bonds put in place and financing without financial penalty. Uh so it gives us that. Uh, and there are some off-ramps that if costs were to like uh blow out all of a sudden and things, unexpected things would happen, we would have a an off-ramp to avoid paying those increased costs without jeopardizing the investment that we'd already made. We have audit rights. We have reasonable asurances that the plant should operate for 30 years. These were all important points for us in negotiations. We leverage our existing contracts. or I'm sorry, the existing contracts between Arkansas Electric and their uh contractors, their EPC contractors, their engineers, they just got done building a natural gas facility like this elsewhere. So, we're able to leverage kind of their relationships, which is handy. And we're uh using our rights that we have in the in the land and in the interconnection that is going to be there. those are valuable and we're leveraging those in in the construction of this plant. So, it's going to end up with a with a very efficient facility uh costwise and and performance-wise. And with that, uh I'd answer any questions you might have.

Got a question. Talked about an off-ramp should something goofy happen. Yes.

What does that look like? So, what that would look like is uh it within the document you'll find uh this the the call of an inability to finance, right? So, it's it's basically an election that says, "Hey, I don't want to pay that." If there's a portion that you don't if you just say, "Hey, we're not paying that. We've paid all we're going to pay and we're not going to pay anymore." Then the other co-owners have the the uh first the right to step in and pick up what share of payment that you don't have. Just like Conway Corp would have that right. If some other member said, "Hey, this is getting too rich for my blood could step in right within within the financial authority that we've been given. We would be able to step in and increase that percentage of ownership." uh if if we don't ACC acts as a fail safe. So ACC would uh you know everyone else has the right to step in if they want to. If they don't ACC is going to assume that percentage of ownership

what would that do to Conway Corps ownership position if we had to hit that off frame?

That's a great question. So uh uh the the amount that has been contributed to the to the project is not forfeited. That's holds on to your right. But if you think about the end result of the plant, if the costs increase where really you only end up paying 3% of the cost of building the facility instead of four, then your ownership rights would be 3%, your benefits would be 3%, your cost share would be 3%. It would decrease that number along the way. I do have a question for Brett and and I could have probably asked you this as well, Jason. Um, if is this going to produce as much power as the coal fire plant will? What where does that

Well, it's a smaller facility. So, um, we have we have 67 megawws currently. Now, because it's a coal plant, it doesn't run all the time. It doesn't have a great load factor. So, we don't get as much energy out of our coal plants. I think we'll, even though we'll have a, you know, I think this equates to about 60 megawatts, but I do believe the energy that we get out of this combined cycle natural gas plant will be more will be more electricity. That's what I believe. Jason, is that a fair is that fair?

I I believe that I believe that's a fair statement. So even though the total megawws are smaller, because it's a more efficient plant, it will be dispatched more into the marketplace. So we'll be able to receive more energy and it'll act as a better hedge against fluctuating energy prices. That makes sense to me. I don't know whether that makes sense.

And and doesn't ask that question. And in the mso market, the the way to think about it, if you're seeing coal plants close right now, it's really not because some in some cases, but not primarily because of the carbon emissions. They're closing because they're not economically viable. I mean, they're really closing for that reason. So, when what MSO tries to do in a nutshell, the mid mid midcon independent system operator, they manage the transmission grid. What they try to do is is they look at everybody's day ahead forecast to see how much load we're going to need tomorrow. And then they tell which plants to generate. They dispatch plants that are most cost effective. And so in a lot of those cases, the coal plants are left out because they're just not not as efficient. They're not as cost effective as a natural gas plant. And so it's more likely to run more often. If that helps maybe further give a little more context.

What's what's our lifespan of this facility? Well, at least 30 years. At least 30 years, but it very well could be. It very well could be longer. We've got about 45 years out of the coal plants. Um, but but at least 30 years. Uh, but but hopefully hopefully longer, Andy. Yeah. Yeah. Good questions. We're talking. Yeah. Been read. Yeah. I appreciate Corporation staying on top of this, looking out for the city's future. Yes, sir. All right. Did we have a motion? I'm sorry. No. I'll make a motion for the adoption of the ordinance 02585 along with the emergency clause.

I have a motion in a second to adopt this ordinance approving the agreement for independence combined combined cycle gas plant for Conway Corporation with the emergency clause. Any further discussion? Missurd. Mr. Hawkins. Yes. Better. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Missy. Yes. Mr. Hawks. Yes. Miss Mill. Hi. Mr. Grimes. Hi. and the emergency clause. Mr. Hawkins, yes. Mr. Lead Better, yes. Mr. Jones, yes. Missby, yes. Mr. Hawks, yes. Miss Mill, hi. Mr. Grimes, hi. Those both pass seven to zero. Thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you. And and if I could, I want to take just a moment and I want to be respectful of everybody's time. This is on a really another topic. I just want to say thank you not for this, but I want to say thank you to you guys that are public servants. Uh there's been a lot discussed on social media recently about city government and I know each of you personally and I know that you get up every day and we won't always agree on every issue, but I know you guys get up every day trying to do what's best for our community, not because of the money or for the popularity, because you you care about this community. And so I just want to say thank you for that. You know, I I saw an article in the paper the other day that talked about how they had barred uh cell phones in public schools or some some public schools and the results had been tremendous in terms of engagement. Uh kids being more engaged in the classroom, more engaged with one another at lunchtime. And I think we all I think it's a lesson that we could learn that a lot of the issues that we have would be much better off if we had these kind of discussions than than the things that we see on social media. So I just want to say thank you guys. That's really all that I wanted to do. So

thank you. Thank you. Appreciate your time today, Jason. Mr. Hawkins, next up we have community development. It's all you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First item is consideration to approve the nomination of Lindseay French to the Conway Housing Authority Board to fill a vacancy on that board. The expiration date of this um this position is October 31st of 2029. So, it's not a full five-year term. Uh, it is a replacement on the board and I'd take a motion to that effect. Move. I have a motion and a second to approve Lindsey French at the Conway Housing Authority Board. Any further discussion? Heard.

All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? This is seven to zero. Mr. Hawkins. Next item, Mr. Mayors, an ordinance to approve the private club permit location at 104 Oak Street for JTJ Nonprofit, Inc. DBA Big Bad Breakfast. I'm digging that. You got any samples? Anything? I'm sorry. Do we have samples? Uh, you'd have to ask the ownership. I'm just

We do have We We have samples. There we go. Uh, I've I've eaten at Big Bad Breakfast in other local before. It's a dandy. It's a dandy. We have an ordinance to read for this item. It's ordinance 02586. Is that right? Yes. 086. I'll take a motion for this. So moved. Second. I have a motion, a second to adopt this ordinance to approve a private club permit for Big Bad Breakfast. We'll just cut it down to that. Any further discussion? And would you like to say something?

Yeah. It could be somebody against it. So, if I were to show up tomorrow, what what do I need to order? Now, tomorrow you'd be pretty disappointed, but November 18th, you'll be you'll be uh my name is Ben Brainard. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor, and council members for your time. Um we uh we're a breakfast joint. We want to serve some mimosas and some uh some bloody maryries on the weekend to you, and uh we'd sure like to

sure sure like to to to open a nice restaurant for you. This will be number three in the state. Uh, we're also working on bringing a Waldo up here from Little Rock as well. So, it's uh it's it's an honor to stand in front of you. I certainly entertain any questions if you have any. My wife's birthday tomorrow or the 18th. 18th. I bet I bet you know a guy now that could help you out. I bet I'm coming to see you. Good morning. If I if I can get it some inside information on parking, I'll tell you. Thank you for your time, Mr. Okay, we have a motion and second to adopt this ordinance. I think we've been Missurd. Mr. Led Better. Yes. Miss Mill. Hi. Mr. Grimes. Hi.

Mr. Jones. Yes. Mr. Hawkins. A resounding yes. Mr. Hawks. Yes. Missby? Yes. That passes seven to zero. Welcome to Conway. Welcome. Next up, I'm sorry, Mr. Hawkins. You're up. Let's see. What I've got here is an ordinance amending the Conway zoning code for the purposes of building and lot coverage and for the planning and development department. And uh we're just going to read this one the first time. Is that right? Yes, that's right.

She's going to read the uh heading there. And uh this is a technical code issue, so we want to give the public time to respond to it. That's why we're going to have a first reading tonight. Tara. Yes, sir. I'll turn it over to you, ma'am. This is an ordinance amending the Conway zoning code 09454 as amended for the purposes of distinguishing between building coverage and lot coverage. Remove duplicative requirements addressed through other code sections and for other purposes. And do we make a motion for an adoption of this or we No, we just we go to the next go to the next item. Yes, sir. Yep. Should I go ahead and go through? Sure.

Yes, ma'am. Next one is an ordinance amending the Conway zoning code as amended for the purposes of eliminating conflicts between article 4 and article 10, switching the contents of article 4 with the contents of article 9 for ease of reference. Providing flexibility in parking requirements, simplification of language and for other purposes. Okay, before we move to the next one, Miss Herd wants to give you guys the uh numbers of ordinances on these. That fir the first one that she read was 02587 and this one she just read was 02588. And you're up again, Tara.

All right. Next, an ordinance amending the Conway zoning code as amended for the purposes of clarifying site development, review scope, process, and fee schedule, providing flexibility and diversity in building material requirements, simplified language, and for other purposes. That one is 02589 and Miss Terra. All right, one more. An ordinance amending the Conway zoning code as amended for the purpose uh purposes of defining or redefining terms. Okay. Thank you, Tara.

02590. Mayor sir, before Tara leaves, I just want to make sure is this what we've had meetings for and it's been discussed and Yes, sir. So, continue the process with multiple readings. Wonderful. Y you're gonna be I'm assuming you're speaking to the next one, Mr. Hawkins. Next item uh is an ordinance to repeal the city's territorial jurisdiction for compliance with act 314 of 2025. And Terry, you want to talk about this? You're still with us?

Yes. So, um the last legislative session, um they repealed municipal municipalities um oversight of the territorial jurisdiction, which is the area right outside of city limits. Currently, uh we or before that this was repealed, we had subdivision oversight for anything outside of in the county one mile outside of city limits. We also had a territorial jurisdiction zone and now we cannot have that anymore. And so this is just bringing our zoning code and our subdivision ordinance into compliance with state law. Thank you, Terra. Questions?

I just have a comment. This to me seems like another very shortsighted um dictate from our state legislature, but it is what it is. I would just caution this city and other cities as future annexations happen, you better watch out your annexing. If it's not built up to city codes, then you're going to annex in things that you're going to be responsible for that you may not want to be responsible for as far as maintenance and fixing things. We've seen that previously with some old old things annexed in. So, just uh keep that in mind for those who stick around. Comment, Mr. Grimes. Thank you, Mr. Grimes. Council, I'll take a motion.

I'll make a motion for the adoption of the ordinance 02591. Second. I have a motion and a second to adopt this ordinance to repeal the territorial jurisdiction to move us into compliance with Act 8, I'm sorry, act 314 for 2025. Any further discussion? Yes. Heard. Miss. Mr. Le Better. Yes. Mr. Grimes. No. Mr. Hawks? Yes. Mr. Hawkins? Yes. Mr. Jones? Yes. Yes. That passes six to one. Mr. Hawkins. Next item. Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Tara. Thank you, Tara. Appreciate it. Are you stay? Yeah, I'm the next. I wasn't trying to dismiss you or anything.

This is an ordinance to reszone property at 554 Ingram Street from R2A to R2. Uh, this was reviewed by the planning commission at their meeting on looking for the date, October 20th. And at that time, the uh commission voted 8 to zero to forward this to city council with a recommendation of approval. And now, Tara, I'll hush.

Thank you. Yes. Um, as stated, planning commission recommended approval of this. The applicant is wishing to reszone from R2A to R2. The reason for this is because um they are interested in potentially putting up a duplex and the R2A standards require a minimum lot um square footage of 10,000 square ft and the applicant has an 8,712 ft lot. This is it's not in Old Conway overlay. However, it is adjacent and it is a lot that was originally um 10,000 square ft but then was deed to a smaller area over time. And as an being in an R2A zone, there are other duplexes in the area and there no one spoke at the planning commission meeting in opposition.

Is there anyone in the public tonight that would like to speak for or against this? Okay, council. Back to you. Make a motion for adoption of the ordinance. Second. I have a motion and a second to adopt this ordinance to approve the reszoning of proper property located at 554 Ingram Street from R28R2. Any further discussion? Heard. Miss Zby. Yes. Mr. Le Better. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Miss Mill. Hi. Mr. Hawks. Yes. Mr. Grimes. Hi. Mr. Hawkins. Yes. That passes seven to zero. Well, Terara. All right. One more.

Mr. Hawkins. Consideration to approve a conditional use approval to allow up to 24 dwelling units per acre on a single lot in the C3 zone for property at 2760 Garden Grove Drive. Tara,

yes. So, this is um there the applicant is intending to do this project in three phases. It's currently zone C3, which is our higher intensity commercial district. Um, but does require a conditional use permit for up to 24 dwelling units per acre. They'll be doing the three phases, two buildings with eight units each, so 16 units per phase, and then after the cup, they will need to go through the site development review process. um the no unspoke in opposition of this project at planning commission and the commission voted eight to zero to forward this with a recommendation of approval.

Would anyone like to speak for or against council? Back to you. And they have how many see conditions? nine conditions. Yes, there's

I'll make a motion that we grant the conditional use. Have a motion, a second to approve a conditional use permit to allow up to 24 dwelling units per acre for a single lot in C3 and C3 zone for property located at 2760 Garden Grove Drive. Any further discussion? Heard. All in favor say I. Any opposed? Passes seven to zero. Thank you, Tara. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Hawkins. Yes, sir.

Okay. Council item D1, ordinance appropriating funds for legal representation with Conway Police Department. I'm going to ask you to pull that and I will tell you why. Uh, bidding to procure legal services is expressly prohibited. It's Arkansas law 1911 802 C1. Uh there are procurement methods. First of all, competing bidditive competitive bidding which is legal services exempt from competitive bidding process. The RFQ process. This is a result of this request for qualification of services. This process varies but due to the urgent and time-sensitive nature of the civil service commission hearing and statutory requirements of the civil service hearing. Even if we could could time would have been an issue. But the main thing is we have what you call a cooperative purchasing agreement with the Arkansas Municipal League who recommended that we use FUA Campbell. Uh and they also negotiated a $100 per hour less price for us when we signed on with them. So if you guys are okay with that, we're going to take the money from the Conway Police Department's uh budget. So there will not be any budget appropriations. So if you guys are okay with it, I just say we pull it and move on. Good. Okay. All right. Finally, we have some new business. Uh, we need to consider Let me I didn't of course I left my phone at home with calendars on. Consider to confirm the November city council schedule. I know the first meeting we have in the month is uh Veterans Day and the second one is during uh Thanksgiving week. So, if y'all would like to scoot those up or scoot each of them forward a week or we can leave them as is. It is entirely up to this council.

But I'm employer. So, I'm kind of up for whatever we got to say. What would those dates be, Felicia? 4th and the 18th. If we move them up a week, I'm out of state on the fourth. The 18th is election day. Yeah. And I'll be out of state on the 4th as well. Okay. I'm okay with the 11th. I mean, yeah, I'm fine with Yeah, I'm fine with the 11th. Be too. All right, Mr. Hawkins, you you jump right on over here.

I think I'm out of town that day, too. Okay. So, everyone other than Mr. Lead Better and I can be here the 11th. Okay. What about the uh week of Thanksgiving? Okay, I'm fine. So, we will leave the council meetings as is here. All right. With that, I will take a motion to adjurnn. Second. Our journey