Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. I would like to call to order our July 28, 2026 Little Rock City Board of Directors special called meeting. We would like to welcome those in attendance as well as those watching at home or streaming online. Madam Clerk, you will please call the roll.

Director Miller, Director Richardson, Director Webb, Director Peck, Director Hines, Director Lewis, Director Kempiras, Director Phillips. Present. Director Adcock. Present. Vice Mayor Weirich. Present. Mayor Scott.

Here. We'll now have an invocation from City Director Phillips. I know that means you'll be brief. All right.

We'll humble ourselves. Dear Lord, we come to you knowing the responsibility in front of us as members and citizens of the city of Little Rock. We ask you to give us wisdom no matter what our role is in the city to do the work you call for each of us to do to make Little Rock the city that you call for it to be. It's in Jesus name that I pray. Amen.

Amen.

Amen. Please stand for a pledge of allegiance.

One nation.

Members of the City Board, I think we all know the impact that the Department of Community Programs has had and the history behind it, some now 30 years ago. And so today, we want to take this time to acknowledge the 30th anniversary. Michael. And clearly you see his team, Michael Sanders' team, assembled behind us. We wouldn't normally bring them all up, but I think they brought the whole department here. Whereas the city of Little Rock established the Department of Community Programs in 1996 to strengthen public safety, enhance quality of life, and provide coordinated prevention, intervention, and human services that support individuals, families, and neighborhoods throughout the community. And whereas the creation of the department was made possible through years of visionary planning and strategic investment, beginning with the transformative philanthropic support in the late 1980s and the early 1990s that demonstrated the value of collaborative community centered approaches to address local challenges. And whereas the residents of Little Rock affirm their commitment to the long-term success of these efforts by approving dedicated local funding to sustain prevention, intervention, and treatment initiatives, ensuring the essential community programs will continue to serve future generations while reflecting the city's shared values of opportunity, safety, and well-being. And whereas continued public support through subsequent voter approved investments has enabled the department to expand its reach, strengthen partnerships, and respond to the evolving needs of Little Rock residents with innovative programs and services that promote education, health, economic mobility, neighborhood engagement, and community resilience. And whereas over the past three decades, the Department of Community Programs has cultivated lasting partnerships with non-profit organizations, neighborhood leaders, educational institutions, businesses, and public agencies to deliver impactful services that have positively influenced the lives of thousands of children, youth, adults, families, and seniors across the city of Little Rock and beyond. And whereas the department has distinguished itself as a model for municipal investment and prevention and community development through its unique funding structure and unwavering commitment to improve outcomes of residents by addressing challenges before they become crises. And whereas this Department of Community Programs celebrates the 30th anniversary, the city of Little Rock proudly recognizes the dedicated employees, community partners, elected officials, volunteers, and residents whose leadership service and shared vision has helped build stronger neighborhoods and a more vibrant, equitable, and connected city. Now, therefore, I, Frank Scott, Junior Mayor of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, do hereby declare the 30th anniversary of the City of Little Rock Department of Community Programs. Let's give them a round of applause.

Thank you, Mayor, City Board, City Attorney, City Manager, the members of the community, and to DCP. On behalf of the Department of Community Programs, I thank you Mayor for this proclamation recognizing 30 years of prevention, intervention, and treatment services. This milestone reflects three decades of partnership, dedication, and a shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of our residents. We're grateful to the providers, community organizations, and advocates, and the city leaders who have helped make this work possible. We recognize and thank you for recognizing this important anniversary and for your continued support of this vital work as we continue to meet people where they are and help them get to where they want to be. We reaffirm our commitment to building a stronger, healthier Little Rock for everyone. Thank you.

Let's give the team a round of applause again. Thank you again, everyone. Members of the board, we have five modifications for today's agenda. Is there a motion?

Mayor, I make a motion we add resolutions M1, M2, and M3 to the consent agenda, and the ordinance is M4 and M5 to the grouped items.

There's a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye. I was supposed to say nay. I have it. Madam clerk, if you would, um, read all the resolutions, uh, we'll read everything, read all the resolutions first, and then we'll go to the other items.

A resolution authorize an increase to the professional engineering services contract with Michael Baker international incorporated. An amount not to exceed $25,000 to provide for additional engineering for the Hillaro Springs Bridge Replacement Project and for other purposes. Funding from the $0.38 Capital Improvement Sales Tax and Limited Tax General Obligation Capital Improvement Bonds. A resolution to approve the 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan and the 2026 Annual Action Plan for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to authorize the City Manager to execute agreements with approved applicants and for other purposes. Resolution authorize the city manager to enter into a public agency service agreement to provide fueling services to the housing authority of the City of Little Rock doing business as Metropolitan Housing Authority and for other purposes. A resolution authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with Brown's Dump Bodies Incorporated in an amount not to exceed $148,300 plus applicable taxes and fees for the purchase and installation of two 12-year dump beds and snow hydraulic provisions on two international chassis trucks in the city's fleet for use by the street division of the city's public works department and for other purposes. A resolution authorizes city manager to enter into a lease agreement addendum with Crane Investments LP and Kelly Commercial Realty LLC as assigned a 3FC LLC in an amount not to exceed $812,992 to extend the three financial center lease term for a period of three years through July 2029 and further purposes. A resolution author as a city manager to enter into a contract with Sharp Property Management Services Incorporated doing business as a sharper image in an amount not to exceed sixty three thousand eighty nine dollars and forty cents plus applicable taxes and fees for commercial janitorial services to clean the 12th street substation facility including tenant spaces of southern bank corp and philander smith university three days a week for a term of one year and for other purposes a resolution authorized the city manager to enter into a contract between the city of littorock school district for the school resource officer program agreement for the 2026-2027 school year and the 2027 summer session and for other purposes. A resolution authorizes City Manager to enter into a contract with Rush Truck Centers of Arkansas, Inc. in amount not to exceed $234,901.26 plus applicable taxes and fees for the purchase of two 2027 HV507 SFA International Chassis Trucks for use by the City Street Division of the Public Works Department and for other purposes. A resolution to authorize a city manager to enter into a contract with Genesis Datacom LLC in the amount not to exceed $121,614 plus applicable taxes and fees for the purchase of additional access PTZ long-range public safety cameras, cradle port modems, antennas, mounting equipment, and cables to expand network coverage and the upgrade of refurbished camera units in the LRPD's existing public safety camera network and for other purposes. A resolution authorizes the city manager to enter into a contract with CWG in an amount not to exceed $73,028 for renewal of the city's Adobe software product services, subscriptions, and licensure to support city business processes for a term of one year and for other purposes. A resolution to recognize an emergency situation and to permit Weaver Bailey contractors to immediately begin work to demolish a damaged pedestrian bridge over Markham Street and for other purposes. That concludes the consent agenda.

Second.

There's a motion. Second, all those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, say nay. Ayes have it. Madam Clerk, you will please read the grouped items for the first time.

An ordinance to accept the 14118 Canis Business Park annexation to add certain lands to the city of... One of the items will be read for the second time.

Correct.

An ordinance to accept the 14118 Canis Business Park annexation to add certain lands to the City of Little Rock, Arkansas to zone said land to PCD, plunket, mixed use, and for other purposes. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development and to establish a planned development commercial titled Valley Oaks Court, lots 1R through 4R, conceptual PEDC, located at the northwest corner of Mapleville West Road and Angel Court, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, amending the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and for other purposes. In order to approve a planned zoning development and to establish a planned development residential titled Orndorff No. 5 PDR located at 1609 Geyer Street, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, amending the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas and for other purposes. In order to approve a planned zoning development and to establish a planned development commercial titled Big Rock Plaza Revised PCD located at the southwest corner of Vimy Ridge Road and Village Run Parkway, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, amending the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas. An ordinance to reclassify property located in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, admitting the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned residential district titled Village at Whispering Valley, the Beverly Revised PRD, located at west of Village Run Parkway, south of Alexander Road, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, admitting the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas. And for other purposes, an ordinance to approve a plain zoning development to establish a plain development residential title common grounds property PDR located at 2020 or 22 19 and 22 23 South Karma Street, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, admitting the official zoning map of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, aimed for other purposes. An ordinance reclassifying property located in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, admitting the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and for other purposes. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned development residential titled Orndorff No. 1 PDR located at the southeast corner of East 10th Street and College Street, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, admitting the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and for other purposes. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned development residential titled Orndorff No. 2 PDR located at 1012 College Street, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, omitting the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and for other purposes. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned development residential titled Orndorff No. 3 PDR located at 1022 College Street, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, emitting the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and for other purposes. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned development residential titled Orndorff No. 4 PDR located at 2324 Rock Street, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, emitting the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and for other purposes. In order to declare it impractical and unfeasible to bid to authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with Infra Solutions LLC and its affiliates in an amount not to exceed $40 million net of Infra's discount associated with utilizing the most favorable tax structure to perform the associated design, handle engineering, procurement installation, interconnection, and city energy assets improvements commissioning to allow the city to participate in the Clinton Sustainability Energy District with Bill Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Clinton Foundation Incorporated and for other purposes. An ordinance to declare it impractical and unfeasible to bid to authorize the city manager to enter into agreement with Sasaki Associates Incorporated to complete the final design on 30 Crossing utilizing funds from Bezos Earth Fund to declare an emergency and for other purposes. An ordinance to declare it impractical and unfeasible to bid to authorize the city manager to enter into a sole source contract with Weaver Bailey Contractors and amount not to exceed $102,185 to complete an emergency demolition of the Markham Street Pedestrian Bridge to declare an emergency. An ordinance to approve the action of Meechee's Private Club and Lounge located at 617-619 Spring Street, Little Rock, Arkansas and filing an application for operation as a private club permitted as defined by the Arkansas Alcohol Beverage Control Division of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to comply with Arkansas Code Section 3-9-222 to declared emergency and for other purposes. First reading.

We don't have enough for a second reading. Um, for the group items we don't have for those in the audience, we have to have eight, uh, sitting city board members to suspend the rules to go to a second reading and a third reading. So we, uh, just had the first reading on those, uh, grouped items will now have the second reading because at the last meeting we did open the public hearing to my, uh, to the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority. We'll do the second reading today. I'm told by our city attorney that we will still beat the deadline for the bonds because we'll have another special meeting on August the 4th to get the third reading and vote on that. Madam Clerk, well, we just added to that. We'll add it to that August 4th agenda and not have a special meeting.

Can you open the public hearing?

Public hearing is open on item number 23. Madam Clerk, could you do the second reading, please?

An ordinance to authorize the issuance and sale of water reclamation system revenue bonds to provide for the payment of the principal and or principal of an interest on the bonds to prescribe other matters related thereto and for other purposes. Second reading.

Thank you again for the audience. What we've done today was a special meeting. If you recall last week, we did not have enough board members uh, to conduct business from a voting perspective. So we pushed forward to this meeting to have a special call meeting to have the first reading. We still do not have the adequate number of board members and the read. You have to have eight. We don't. We clearly we have seven here today. Um, and so we don't have the eighth number to suspend the rules to go to the second and or third reading to have a vote today. And so the all these items that have had experienced the first reading and Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority item number 23 experienced a second reading will experience those additional readings on the August 4th agenda. Is there a motion to close the public hearing? Public hearing is closed for that second reading.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

And everyone, we're going to adjourn and go to the agenda meeting, so we're not necessarily done. Is there a motion? Is there a second?

Motion to adjourn.

All those favorably say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Meeting adjourned. We're now starting the agenda meeting. Board members, any questions on any agenda items?

Director Phillips. Thank you, Mayor. I had a question about number seven, and I'm not sure that directed to you, the city manager or the city attorney. I understand that this is, I guess, kind of in response to what we did at MacArthur Park a couple of weeks ago. Will we receive the gift not in response to that? Well, anyway, whether there's a response to it or not, I just want to make sure I understand it. So someone for land, a philanthropist decides to give money to the city. We will now vote whether to accept it. That's all essentially this is doing right.

Well, let's just have Lynette tell us. Yeah. And she also

So the policy again defines what a major gift is.

Right, above 50.

Above 50 and anything having to do with real estate would come before this body.

Okay.

Yes.

And I guess I'm just

Is this something other cities do?

I'm not sure why we need to do this.

Yes, it is something other cities do because with tight budgets, philanthropic giving is something that many citizens actually want to contribute. And we have, even before this major gift, it's very common that from the parks department or the zoo, Even two weeks ago, someone called to donate a horse trailer to the Mounted Police Unit. And so we wanted to establish, similar to other cities, the rule book so that all departments would know if their approach, what the process and what the procedure will be. And so we wanted to take it from being just a random everyone flying by the seat approach to having a policy that department directors know what things they can approve, what things that the city manager can approve, and what things have to come to this body to approve. And the type of vetting that will we will embark upon to ensure that the types of gifts, first of all, if it's a naming opportunity, comply with state law. Because there's laws in this state as to who can have a structure or park or something named after them. That's a statutory thing in this state. But also we want to ensure that anything that we receive that there's proper vetting. We don't want to ever accept something where the person is on the post office wall. We want to be able to clear and vet any prospective donor. And like I said, this is something that's very common. Other municipalities where I've worked have been recipients of major gifts and also have denied gifts based on the vetting that has transpired.

Okay. That's exactly what I needed. So thank you for that, Lynette. Thank you. That's all I have, Mayor.

Mayor, I think we need to thank Lynette's mother for donating her since today is her birthday.

Thank you so much.

And just to add again, This was not a response to MacArthur. Actually, the legal team and Office of the Executive Administration have been working on this since late last year, early part of this year.

Yes.

Thank you, Lynette. Happy birthday again. All right. Any questions? We've seen the questions on the consent agenda. Any questions on the separate items? Any questions, concerns on separate items? Vice Mayor Warrick.

Do we have ordinance number 10? That's the one on the moratorium.

Director Warrick, I've got with me today an ordinance to pass out that is a modification of what we had prepared that was requested by Director Webb. I'm going to hand it out to everybody and also email it out to everybody at the end of the meeting.

At the end of the meeting? Right. Okay. Is it going to stay on the agenda for next week? Yes. Okay. All right. Thank you.

Director Lewis?

Yes, my question is regarding item 10 also. I was wondering if we could get like a brief description because can we?

You want to pass it out now?

I can pass it out now, but I don't have the other one to pass out with it also. And there's another ordinance that gives a moratorium. This is an ordinance that sets one for 18 months. There's another one. that was drafted that sets it for six months. This one has a number of provisions in it. The other one doesn't have. So, I mean, well, they're both kind of going to be there.

So was out. I'll clear it up. It's my understanding. And first and foremost, what you see on the agenda, what was the original ordinance presented by City Director Kathy Webb, which has six months and an exemption to the previous MOU with Google. That's what's what you see before. If you go click online, that's what you have before you. If you recall that we were supposed to vote on that. three weeks ago, three or four weeks ago, and City Director Kathy Webb asked for that ordinance to be forwarded to August the 4th. Since that time, she's met with different staff and things of that nature, and she has elected to change that ordinance from six months, and at one point it was from six months to 12 months, then it changed again from 12 months to 18 months, and 18 months without the exemption of the MOU of Google. So that is the storyline, timeline rather. So now what you'll have before you what's going to be passed out is going to be 18 months without the MOU exemption for Google. That's number one. Number two, city director Webb has also asked for a NDA ordinance. But I believe the city attorney is still working through that because nobody on the city board has ever signed the NDA. We can't because of FOIA laws from that standpoint. But I believe that's something that's being prepared as well. Is that correct? But I do not believe that will be on August 4th unless the city manager, myself, elect to push it on there. But I believe Director Webb would want to go through the processes just like the moratorium process has gone through. So I believe that's all the information.

So Google, we're basically saying now with approving Google at first, we're now going to go back and vote to say they are not allowed?

No. What I would say is based on my understanding, which city? Well, first and foremost, let's go back with timeline. This city board passed regulations for all data centers to comply as we move forward. The moratorium basically state and but also mind you. Willow being, which is now, as we know, is Google. Bought land at the port Google has not submitted to any permits within the city of Little Rock today and the state of Arkansas and so They would have to go through that same permitting process Because we've already as a city board we've passed regulations for hyperscale data centers accessory dwelling data centers and and Not accessory data centers So that's over there now The moratorium states that there would be no application for any permit during that 18-month period. The new ordinance. The previous ordinance says that the MOU of Willow Bend could proceed. All others could not. So that's what's changed.

And it's still a drawn-out process, because from my understanding with Google, with all the permits, with the city and so forth, this still could be an 18-month cycle.

Two years and 36 months. Even longer.

OK. Thank you.

All right. Director Weirich, Vice Mayor Weirich, your hand's still up.

I had, yeah.

I'm sorry.

This question for Tom. I know you've been working on an ordinance to shore up the original ordinance that we passed for data centers, hyperscale data centers. Have you made any progress on that?

We have two of the people that have been essential to that process have been out of the city or the state. And so our next meeting is tomorrow. We're hoping to bring the final one back by the end of August if we can get it fully vetted.

So we're not close to getting to an ordinance being brought before us?

I would say the end of August is close, but we're not ready. We don't have anything to put on the agenda yet. OK, thank you.

Director Adcock.

Yes, Tom, this is getting very, very confusing. At one point, we were told that we could not stop Google without maybe getting a lawsuit. And now we're talking about 18 months. We're talking about 22 months. We're talking about all this other stuff as our attorney. Tell me where we are on this and what we need to do.

Director Adcock. There is a six-month moratorium that exempted Google so it wouldn't create any problems for the city. There is an 18-month ordinance that would not exempt Google. And Google obviously took certain actions based upon your 2025 ordinance to move forward. So if they can show damages, and we've done a regulatory taking a property after that, then the city would be responsible for what those damages are. Now. There's a lot into what the damages would be, so we're not really in any position to speculate. But. That's the ordinance that you've been asked to pass.

By Director Webb, we've been asked to pass the 18 months one that could lead us to a lawsuit.

I think that's a potential.

Yes. OK, thank you.

Director Hines.

Tom, and I just want to clarify that the times I've sat on this board, I only think of maybe twice we put a moratorium on something. One was multifamily development on a section of. South Shackleford, and I don't recall the other one, but I do remember your caution saying uh had to be time specific and the shorter the time period the better and uh going from six to 12 months i've never heard you suggest doing an 18 month or longer uh does that the and i know there's a reasoning that that puts us in jeopardy and this is very broad as it covers you know the whole city versus a specific area for development what you're am i misremembering that or am i

No, the courts no longer really favor moratorium unless there's some real reason for it. I do think that there is a legitimate reason to stop permitting for other than what's the Google website because there are some things we're trying to get addressed right now. I'm not a big fan of them because of the damages that it can create for the city.

Thank you.

All right. Any more questions, concerns? Questions, concerns before we adjourn? Questions, concerns going once, going twice. Three times. Meeting adjourned.