Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I would like to order call to order the September 15th, 2026 Little Rock City Board of Directors meeting like to welcome those in attendance as well as those watching at home or streaming online. Madam Clerk, if you would please call the roll.

Director Miller. Director Richardson. Director Webb. Director Peck. Director Hines. Director Lewis. Director Comperis.

Director Phillips.

Director Adcock. Vice Mayor Weirich. Mayor Scott.

Present. Now we're going to ask City Director Phillips to give a brief prayer.

No problem, Mayor. If we would humble ourselves. Our dear Laura, we come to you always thankful for the blessings you've given to the city. Thank you for everyone who lives and works on behalf of each other in the city. and ask you to give us the wisdom and the knowledge to do the work that you called us to do, so Little Rock can be the city you called it to be. It's in Jesus' name that I pray. Amen.

Amen. Will you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice All right. Members of the city board, I want to I want to take this time to recognize I don't see Professor Edmund Davis. Is he here? All right. I want to take this time to briefly, briefly recognize Professor Edmund Davis, Arkansas Baptist College. You clearly see a number of different young individuals, young individuals. I don't want to say young because they're adults, young adults who are here today with purple on. representing the Buffaloes of Arkansas Baptist College. It's the US government class. They'll be monitoring how city government works from a city board meeting perspective. Just a brief 15 second advertisement, Professor Davis. I know that's kind of hard for you. I'm just joking. Just speak. Yeah.

I just want to make sure- First and foremost, we thank you Mayor Scott and to the distinguished board of directors here. Thank you all for allowing us to partake in this experience. We all know that these young people behind me are future leaders. They will be where you are in the next 10 or 15 years from now, maybe even sooner. And so we want to help encourage them to lead the way, of course, as they watch all lead the way. So again, let's give everybody a round of applause for our board. Thank you Mayor Scott.

Thank you, Professor Davis. Appreciate all that you do. Now we're going to ask our leaders from the Mayor's Youth Council and discuss their briefly discuss their visit to Hanam City, Korea. If you'll share your name and those mayors, you can't counsel come before.

My name is Vishak. I'm the current president of Mayor's Youth Council, and I'm also a junior at Little Rock Central High School. Good evening, Mayor Scott and distinguished board members and distinguished guests. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do speech. And before I begin, I'd like to extend a special acknowledgment to Commissioner Lee for joining us and supporting our delegation in Hannam.

Tonight- Commissioner Lee, if you'll raise your hand.

Tonight, my fellow delegates and I are excited to share key highlights from our sister cities exchange trip to Hannam. During our time abroad, we had an incredible opportunity to explore a different culture, observe unique approaches to urban development and public infrastructure, and gain a first hand perspective on global diplomacy. To give you a complete picture of what we learned and experienced, my fellow student representatives will walk you through specific insights from our journey. I'm going to hand it over to Aisha to share her takeaways on international relationships.

I'm Aisha Ali. I'm a sophomore in Pulaski Academy. This trip shaped my views of international relations as it made me realize that in order to truly understand a country and its functions, it is important to be immersed in its culture and its historic background. Knowing this will play a great role in understanding the country as a whole. Knowing its historic background will not only explain how the country operates, but will discuss the reasoning behind its culture and the citizens' perspectives. as its customs are much different than Arkansas's. One thing I really learned from Hanam is that it utilizes all its resources to the best of its abilities. Like, for example, they have the Han River, and they use that a lot for tourist attractions. And they really utilize all of their resources in order for them to combat against climate change and help benefit their environment. Thank you.

Good evening, everyone. My name is Anushka Tombre and currently I'm a senior at Little Rock Central High School. Out of all the amazing learning opportunities we got to experience in Hanam, Union Tower was one unique one. Union Tower, which is a waste management facility, is the first in the world to have all of its multifunctional systems completely underground. This decision helps eliminate all odor and makes all waste byproduct reusable, such as sending clean water back into the Hanam River and all non-toxic gases back into the atmosphere. All byproduct that cannot be environmentally friendly destroyed is sent to companies as biofuels so they can use it. Of course, along with that, the center itself is also a recreational space. As the top part of the area is completely bare, they've transformed it into a water park for kids to use while elders can walk through the expanse of it. The observational tower is another amenity of the center, as it provides a stunning view of the Hanam River and Hanam itself. I would like to thank Mayor Frank Scott Jr., the esteemed board, and the Sister Cities Commission for this wonderful opportunity that I'm sure none of us will forget. Thank you so much.

Let's give them a round of applause. You guys did a phenomenal job. Just congratulations again. Thank you guys. All right. We have six modifications. There's a motion, is there a second? All those in favor, please say aye. All those opposed, say nay. Ayes have it. I do recognize members of the board, we only have seven members, so we'll only be able to get through the resolutions on the first reading for those that aren't ordinances. And so to those members of the public who are here to hear an ordinance, we will have a first reading on your ordinance and then uh, next Tuesday and actually we won't have a board meeting next Tuesday. Uh, but we will have our next board meeting will be on the 29th and we will have a second reading then. Is that correct? Uh, Madam Clerk?

Yes, that sounds right.

That sounds right.

You make the call.

On the 29th. We're gonna do it on the 29th.

A special called meeting on the 29th.

On the 29th.

Yes, that would be right.

Yeah. Yeah, that too. Actually, City Director Hines made a suggestion of just recessing as well, so we can do that as well. Thank you for that, Director Hines. All right, Madam Clerk.

A resolution to identify expenditures in various wards for capital projects to be funded from the proceeds of the 2026 capital improvement bonds for street and drainage and for other purposes. A resolution authorize the city manager to enter into a one year contract extension with the tree Marshall in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for tree removal and trim tree trimming services on an as needed basis within the city of Little Rock and for other purposes. Resolution authorizes the City Manager to enter into a contract with Neal Schaefer Incorporated an amount not to exceed $53,117.67 for right-of-way and easement surveying and staking services for the Bowman Road Phase 2 project and for other purposes. A resolution authorizing increase to the professional appraisal and acquisition services contract with OR Colon Incorporated in an amount not to exceed $43,700 for a mineral appraisal and related services for the Little Rock Landfill Expansion Project and for other purposes. A resolution to transfer title property to LeBron Phillips Jr. from the City of Little Rock, Arkansas to be used for neighborhood revitalization programs and for other purposes. A resolution authorize the city manager to modify Little Rock, Arkansas resolution number 17,045 March 17th, 2026 to authorize additional funding from the Zoological Foundation for change orders to the contract with Flinko Incorporated for the Little Rock Zoo Front Entry Bond Project to authorize the addition of $34,803.58 plus applicable taxes and fees to the contract amount and for other purposes. A resolution authorizes city manager to enter into a contract with DePaul USA Incorporated and amount not to exceed $200,741.75 for the management and operation of the Little Rock Micro Home Village to authorize the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds and for other purposes. A resolution authorizes city manager to enter into a contract with J.A. Riggs Tractor Company. doing business as RiggsCat in an amount not to exceed $1,177,732.22 plus applicable taxes and fees utilizing future bond funds proceeds supported by the waste disposal fund revenues to purchase one new Caterpillar D6 track bulldozer One new Caterpillar 950 GC wheel loader and one new Caterpillar 265 compact truck loader by the City's Fleet Services Department, Solid Waste Collections Division and for other purposes. A resolution authorizes City Manager to enter into a contract with Arkansas Municipal Equipment in an amount not to exceed $2,084,500 plus applicable taxes and fees utilizing future bond funds for the purchase of five new 2027 Freightliner M2106 New Way Side Loader Refuge Trucks by the City's Fleet Services Department for use by the Public Works Department of Solid Waste Collections Division and for other purposes. A resolution to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Vehicle Services Group LLC in an amount not to exceed $53,294.46 plus applicable taxes and fees to purchase one portable column lift for the use by the fire truck shop division of the City's Fleet Services Department to maintain the City's fire trucks and for other purposes. A resolution authorized the city manager to enter into a contract with MiDOT Services Incorporated doing business as, block by block, an SMS holdings company in an amount not to exceed $1,590,950.10 for the downtown ambassador program and for other purposes. A resolution authorizes city manager to enter into a contract with Sasaki Associates incorporated in the amount of $5 million to prepare a more detailed plan for the 30 crossing area to authorize the city manager to execute such an agreement to request payment from the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce From the Bezos Earth Funds and for other purposes. A resolution is set October 5th, 2026 as a date for a public hearing to consider the issue as of up to $17 million in waste disposal revenue bonds for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the cost acquiring essential vehicles and equipment for the city's waste collection and disposal system and for other purposes. A resolution is set October 20th, 2026 as a date for a public hearing to consider the issuance of a water reclamation system revenue bond for the purpose of financing betterment and improvements to the city's water reclamation system and for other purposes. A resolution authorizes city manager to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Little Rock School District in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for the sustainable implementation of the community school model for the 2026-2027 school year to provide for funding by the City of Little Rock and the Little Rock School District and for other purposes. A resolution authorizes city manager to receive and accept a donation from the Arkansas Zoological Foundation in the amount of $1,243,863.11 for funds obligated toward the completion of the wildly reimagined Zoo Front Injury Project and for other purposes. A resolution to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Verigy Central LLC in an amount not to exceed $812,000 plus applicable taxes and fees for HVAC and roofing improvements at multiple Little Rock Fire Department facilities and for other purposes. A resolution authorized the City Manager to enter into a contract with Siddons Martin Emergency Group in an amount not to exceed $3,191,274.36 plus applicable taxes and fees for the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus, equipment, and related accessories for the Little Rock Fire Department. That concludes your consent agenda.

Mayor, before you vote, the resolution dealing with the 30 crossing was written When I remember greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, it's a Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. And so the actual signed resolution will state that.

Yes. And we also have an acknowledgment from Director Hines.

Mayor, I need to disclose on item seven. I serve on the city's representative on the board of DePaul USA. I have no financial interest in the entity. Tom, is that all you need from me? Right. Thank you. Director Miller.

Thank you, Mayor. I just would like on resolution number two for our Public Works Department to have a real good conversation with Tree Marshall. I've had several residents complain about the way trees are trimmed. And I know we're not looking for landscape type of trimming work. but just a little bit more consciousness about how some of the work is done. I'm certainly in support of this contract, but please have a conversation with them about how trees are trimmed up. Thank you.

There's a motion to the second. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Madam Clerk, if you would read the group items for the first time.

An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned commercial district titled Harper PCD, located at the south side of Mapleville West Road, east of Otter Creek, East Boulevard, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, amending 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 district residential titled Orndorff PDR, located at the southeast corner of East 21st Street and Bragg 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 to establish a planned district industrial titled Arkansas Wine and Spirits PDI located at the southwest corner of Boyce Street and East 15th 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 to establish a planned district residential Hayes Triplex PDR located at 309 Bender 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 to establish a planned district office titled McKenzie PDO located at 401 North Pierce Street, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, Amending the official zoning map for the City of Little Rock, Arkansas and for other purposes. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district residential titled Haddock PDR located at 519 East 18th 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 district residential titled Phillips Duplexes PDR located at the northeast corner of South Martin Street and West 15th Street, City of Little Rock, Arkansas, amending the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and for other purposes.

Could you read item 22 for the first time?

Oh, I still had two for the group.

Sorry. Sorry about that.

An ordinance to amend Little Rock, Arkansas ordinance number 22,828, August 18th, 2026, which authorizes the issuance of a promissory note under amendment number 78 to the Arkansas Constitution for the purpose of financing the cost of the acquisition of self-contained breathing apparatus for the Little Rock Fire Department to prescribe other matters pertaining thereto to declare an emergency. In order to authorize the execution of a master note purchase and continuing covenant agreement to provide short-term financing under amendment number 78 to the Arkansas Constitution for the acquisition of police vehicles and related equipment for the Little Rock Police Department to authorize the issuance of one or more promissory notes under the master agreement in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $15 million to prescribe other matters pertaining thereto to declare an emergency. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district commercial title Pembroke STR2 PDC located at 13 Oakwood Road, City of Little Rock, Arkansas. Amending the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas and for other purposes.

Thank you. For those in the audience, particularly our young adults, what's just happened is part of the City of Little Rock governing process is, one, you should understand there are 10 city board of directors. And so to have a quorum, all you need is six board members to have a quorum. As mayor, I can help make the quorum. However, as mayor, I cannot vote unless there is a 5-5 tie. uh why do i share that uh resolutions only require a majority vote so only six votes to pass so we when the city clerk went through items one through 14 and we did motion and second and then it passed all 14 of those resolutions uh passed and so when it goes to the group items it has to be read three times and so to be read from the first time to the second time you have what And Robert rules of order call suspend the rules. And so to suspend the rules, you have to have eight members of the voting body. So eight of 10, uh, to vote to send from first reading to second reading today, you only see seven members of the 10 voting bodies. So we can't suspend the rules. And so the second reading will automatically happen at the very next scheduled board meeting. And then hopefully we have more than seven and we have eight And then we can suspend the rules and go from second reading the third reading. However, if there's only seven people here at the next scheduled board meeting, we will read it for a second time and then we still won't have the votes to go from second reading the third reading. And so then you have to wait for the next scheduled meeting to have. And so theoretically, board members, if even they were president, they decide they don't want to vote to suspend the rules. It will take it initially three weeks to get an ordinance passed. It can be done in one day. But technically, it could take three weeks. And we've seen that happen over a period of time over the years. It happened often, but it can happen due to an absence or due to some type of concerning matter the city board may have with the process for suspending the rules. So I'm just explaining the process not only for our young adults that are here from Arkansas Baptist College and our mayor's youth council, but some of the residents as well who may not know the process and so anyone who had a item on group items due to just so you're aware the city when there's a when there's five Tuesdays in the month we normally take off the fourth Tuesday and then restart on the fifth Tuesday and so we will do that and so the second reading will happen on September the 29th. Now, for whatever grave reason, if we need to call a meeting tomorrow, we can do that. But only on extreme circumstances that do we schedule that. So the next board meeting will be September the 29th for that second reading. So I want to make sure you're all aware if you are, particularly if you're on items 15 through 22. Everyone understand? 15.

Oh, we can't hear 22? You can hear any of them that you wish to, but yes, you can hear 22, and you can hold the public hearing through the 24th. No. You expunged the previous vote, so it's a whole new vote. Well, you expunged the vote on 22.

So that resets the clock? That means, yeah, everything's reset. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right.

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An ordinance to authorize the issuance of industrial development revenue bonds to finance certain industrial facilities to authorize the leasing of such facilities to Faymanville Real Estate LLC to authorize a trust indenture securing the bonds to authorize the sale of bonds and authorizing and prescribing other matters pertaining thereto. First reading.

All right.

There's no need for a second. So I'll close the hearing. Does anybody wish to speak?

Does anybody wish to speak on this item 23? I don't have any. Well, we have those are the four, but we're fine. All right. Close the hearing. All right. Citizens communication. Yes, more. Yes.

Directing fears before I go on 22 are the people that we didn't hear from last time here. Would they like to speak tonight or not?

Those on item 22, would you like to speak tonight? We'll go ahead. Well, let me just in order, we'll come back to you just so I, let me get this out the way. It won't take, it'll only take three minutes. Um, no one, uh, life. All right. Yeah. You didn't put your name on it. All right. Thank you.

I know this is an unusual name.

How y'all doing today? Oh, well, yeah. Rollo Robinson. Oh, it didn't say that. Okay. I was looking at this name. Yeah. The program is Life After Affiliation. Gotcha. Gotcha. Yes, sir. Thank you so much, sir.

How y'all doing? First of all, my name is Rollos Robinson. I'm born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. I'm 51 years old. I served almost 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. I also was a gang member for over 30 years. I changed my life around when I got out of prison in 2015 at the Commons Unit. I've been out 11 years tomorrow. Will be my 11 year anniversary today. I'm here to present you are able I can give you all a copy I'm here to present a gang prevention program mentorship where I speak to the program where I speak to youth about changing their lives because I'm real passionate about me because I understand that not everybody is born with the same situation and I know what it feels like to be that child who wants to defend his mother but not really know how. So he takes on the role of trying to be the man of the house and makes a mistake and still leave her out here to die alone. So at the end of the day, I'm just here to try to help them young people, man, because they need people like me that can truly understand. I don't know if either one of y'all have had a chance to mentor an at-risk child in the last 30 days, but I have. I'm scheduled to speak in Atlanta in two weeks at a panel, a team summit. So I just would like for y'all to take in consideration this program because I know that with the things that I've done around here and the respect that I have, I can be an asset between the community and law and office. I spoke with a law officer today. He told me that it's four gang prevention programs that he know of, and he didn't know a member of either one of them. that says there's not any communication. Me, I'm frontline. I was out there frontline from the beginning. I'm a guy on the frontline trying to save them. So if possible, I would just like to share y'all with one of these programs.

Yes, Mr. Robinson, first, one, thank you for sharing. Two, praise God, about your 11-year anniversary. Yes, sir. I want to connect you with the director of community programs who handles the funding of those type of programs. He'll get you set up with the paperwork that needs to be done. And if you'll share your program with him, he's the man to talk to, Director Michael Sanders. If you'll connect once he steps away.

Thank you.

All right. Thank you. Have a blessed day. Have a blessed day. All right, ma'am. Mr. Robinson, there he is. Right. He's right there by. OK. Oh, that's your auntie. Hey, auntie. She's not my auntie, but I just said, hey, auntie, but I want to invite. We are family, right? Amen. Amen. I just didn't want them to think that you was getting the extra influence because.

Mr. Mayor, before I start, I want to confirm because I know last time because I wasn't present and I'll explain that. But I know that I don't know if they were heard completely, the opposition. So am I able to defer to them and let them speak this time or do you only want to hear from me? I'm happy to proceed however you want.

I think we heard from them. So we want to hear from you.

OK, sounds good. Well, Mr. Mayor, members of the board, thank you for your time tonight. First, I want to acknowledge what happened at the previous meeting. I was scheduled to be out of town and unfortunately my email did not reach the appropriate person as it should have because I put an extra A in Ms. Seeger's name. As a result, the board heard the opposition to this application without hearing from me, who is the applicant and the person who actually operates and manages the property. I appreciate the board recognizing the circumstance and giving me the opportunity to be here tonight. In watching the past meeting on YouTube, it was expressed that, I believe by you, Mr. Carpenter, that if the applicant doesn't show up, it must mean that they don't care. I fully understand that opinion, but please know that I do care very much about this application, and I truly appreciate you giving me the opportunity to speak before you tonight. My husband and I own Simplified Hosting, a locally owned property management company here in Little Rock. We've run this business for seven years. I live here, my family's here, and my reputation in the city is the only thing that my business actually runs on. I'm here tonight on behalf of the owner of 13 Oakwood Road, asking for your approval of this application. I want to say one thing at the outset, because I think it frames everything else. The same application went before the planning commission back in July, with opposition present and speaking, and it passed almost unanimously. It was 9 to 1. The professional planning staff reviewed it. The commissioners heard the concerns raised. They asked questions, and they gave an overwhelmingly positive vote. Nothing about the property, the operator, or the plan has changed since that vote. What I'd like to do in the next few minutes is show you why they reached that conclusion. There are two kinds of operators in this industry that I'm in, and I ask that you keep the distinction in mind tonight. There are the out of state owners, the corporate portfolios and absentee investors who buy a house on a spreadsheet, list it and have no presence in the city. If something goes wrong at 11 o'clock at night, there's nobody that they can call. And then there's what we are. We are here. We are seven years into this business in Little Rock and much longer than that in the industry of hospitality. For many years, my husband worked at the Capital Hotel and loved getting to know the guests there, most likely some of you. I'm a super host, which is not a participation trophy. It requires a sustained rating, a response rate, a cancellation record, and a completed stay volume reviewed every quarter. If I slip, I lose that status. But I want to be honest with you about what I think about that title, because being a good host is actually the easier thing to accomplish. Guests are in my houses an average of two to three nights. My neighbors, the neighbors of those properties that I own or manage are there for the next 20 years potentially. So the standard I actually hold my company to is not simply that of great host, it's great neighbor. Those are different jobs and the second one is harder to achieve and I believe it's the one that matters most to this board. So I would like to share with you how we go about accomplishing that. I want to talk through the actual controls we have in place. So number one, we screen who gets in the door. We do not accept every booking. This is a choice that costs us money regularly, and we make it anyway. We decline guests with negative reviews from prior hosts. If another host has documented a problem, that guest will not stay in one of my properties. We do not allow guests with no review history to book instantly. A blank profile is the single biggest predictor of a problem stay in this industry and we treat it that way. We first respond with the rules of our property and then confirm their agreement to them. Every guest is further verified through the platform's identity verification before the booking is confirmed. Number two, we confirm that they know what they're booking and what it is that they are agreeing to. Before a stay is finalized, we communicate directly with the guest. We confirm the purpose of their trip, the number of people, that they understand the property that they are reserving is a house in a residential neighborhood, not an event venue and not a party house. They affirmly agree to our rules in writing. Those rules include, among other things, no parties and no events, period, ever, no smoking, Occupancy is limited to the number on the reservation and it's never more people than the house sleeps. So for example, for 13 Oakwood Road, that house sleeps six people. That is the maximum number. If a guest reaches out and wants to have their grandparents over for dinner, I'm going to verify that it's such and such people for a certain amount of time. And I'm going to make sure that what they say is actually what's happening on the property. A guest who doesn't agree to these terms doesn't get the reservation. In fact, just this afternoon, I had somebody reach out to me. I could tell that they were local. They said they wanted to book one of my properties for their daughter's 18th birthday. They wanted to have about 15 people over, and then afterwards, after everybody left, turn it into a sleepover. Within three minutes, I responded, thank you so much for your interest in our property. Unfortunately, we are not able to allow this. This home only sleeps six people. That's the maximum number that we will allow. I hope you find a place to celebrate your daughter. Number four, neighbors can reach an actual human being, me, quickly. This is the piece that I'd really like the board to hold me to. Our immediate neighbors will have our direct contact information, as they do for all of our other properties. Not a form, not an email address. It's a number that reaches us, either myself or someone on my team, and we answer it. If something is wrong at one of our properties, the neighbor shouldn't be the one to have to figure out what to do. They should be able to call us, and we handle it. Number five, we have a proven track record. In seven years, we have managed 20 properties around the central Arkansas location. All of them are local. According to the records between Airbnb and Vrbo, that equates to over 4,000 guests across my properties. To my awareness, only twice have the police needed to be notified. And one of those times, it was me calling simply because I couldn't reach the guests like I wanted to. Our incentive here is not complicated. One bad neighborhood relationship costs me a permit. One bad review cycle costs me a super host status. One party could cost me a property. I'm not going to risk a seven year business that my family depends on on a single bad weekend booking just to earn a dime. And every control I just described exists because I'm protecting the same thing that the neighbors care about protecting. I'd like to yield just a couple minutes of my time to someone whose opinion is worth considerably more than my own. Andrew Yu lives directly across the street to one of my properties that we manage in the midtown area of Little Rock. He didn't have to be here tonight, but I asked him to come because I do think it's crucial for you to hear not just from myself, but from the firsthand experience of one of our neighbors. Andrew.

Good evening. My name is Andrew Yu. I'm here to speak to the board of directors and mayor to support Becca's application. I live directly across the street from one of her Airbnbs, and I moved in about 2020, and she's been managing the Airbnb since about 2021, 2022. Throughout the years, I've become good friends with her and her husband, Kyle. and I can speak from my first-hand experience, they are very hands-on, they are very experienced, and they really care about the guests, and they really care about the neighbors. And throughout the years that they've been managing the properties across the street, I've never ever had an issue. There was no cops were being called. There was never noise complaint, although we did have noise, like noise coming out from other neighbors, which is the homeowners. It was overall was just a very pleasant experience and I know running Airbnb is not easy matter. It requires a lot of attentions to because a lot there's a lot of parties you have to making sure they're they're happy and it is a business and so they take care of that business really well making sure The trash are collected in time. So my experience is they are very, very good neighbors and friends and they take care of their property and they take care of the neighborhoods.

Thank you, Andrew. I'd like to take just a final moment to address just a couple of the typical concerns that neighbors might have. One of them is that this is a commercial business in a residential neighborhood. The use of this property, however, will continue to be residential. People sleep there, they cook there, they stay there. The same activities as every other house on the street. What's different is who holds the lease and for how long. Unlike a long-term rental where a bad tenant can be there for a year and can be rather difficult to remove, I can end a problematic stay tonight. I have more control over who is in that house than just about any other property owner on the block. The people staying in our homes stay for a variety of reasons. Many are en route to or from vacation. Some come to visit family or friends in town. Many are business teams that come to town during the week. And an increasing number of guests are in town for medical reasons. A guest that just checked out on Sunday was staying at one of my properties because their daughter required immediate surgery at Arkansas Children's Hospital. And five nights into the stay, they reached out to me and said that their daughter was recovering well, but they had one specific request. They had spoken so much to their daughter about how much they had enjoyed the short-term rental, the Airbnb, that the daughter had gotten jealous. And so they were reaching out to ask if they could extend by one night so that after she was released, she was also able to go and enjoy the house. Fortunately, the house was available, and I was able to honor their request. Another concern is that it brings noise and parties. That's the risk the entire system I described earlier is built to eliminate. We have cameras on the exterior of our properties. Nothing is inside ever. That's a violation on so many different levels. That being said, we do have noise monitoring things inside. It does not record conversations. It simply monitors decibel levels. It's called a minute alarm. I have those in place at my properties so that if people start to get loud for more than 10 minutes of the time, I'm getting a notification on my phone saying it's been loud. If it continues to, then I'm able to reach out to them. Otherwise, the alarm is going to tell me all is quiet. And then the last concern is it will hurt property values. And to that, I'd simply note that all of my properties are maintained. They're professionally cleaned. They're insured. They're inspected between every single stay. That's a higher maintenance standard than most houses on the blocks of any city will receive. And it's certainly cleaner than my house is right now, I guarantee you, with my three children running around at home. So in closing, I want to be very clear about what I'm asking tonight. We're not asking you to approve an unrestricted party house. We're not asking you to allow commercial events in a residential neighborhood. We are not asking for an exception to the city's rules. We're asking for the ability to operate this property as a properly regulated short-term rental subject to the city's requirements and the standards that apply to these properties. Little Rock has already established a regulatory framework for short-term rentals. I have several of them in town. That framework requires that the properties can operate while establishing standards intended to protect neighborhoods. Those standards address issues including parties, parking, safety, insurance, and responsible party information. We are always willing to comply with those requirements. Beyond complying with the city's requirements, we have our own operational standards that are designed to prevent the exact problems that neighbors would be concerned about. We do not believe that being a successful short-term rental operator and being a good neighbor are mutually exclusive. We absolutely believe that they go together. So tonight, I respectfully ask that you consider the facts of this application, our seven years of experience, our local presence, our guest screening procedures, our technology and monitoring, our responsiveness to neighbors and the testimony of someone who actually lives next door to one of our existing properties. We are not asking you to take a leap of faith. We're asking you to look at our track record and allow us to operate under the rules and safeguards that the city has established. The Planning Commission heard this case with opposition present and still voted to approve. I'm asking this board to do the same with whatever conditions you believe are appropriate. Thank you for your time, and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

All right, we'll go to those who are against. I mean, not against against. Stacey Fletcher.

Yes, sir. All right. I had a whole speech prepared, but I think I'm going to cut to the chase. I understand. She says that these are people who are coming in and using it for a residential purpose, but they're not our neighbors. Okay. Our street is a tight knit community. We know each other. We help each other out. We take care of each other, check on each other. and people that are coming in. This is the third short term rental on our street. Y'all are changing the the nature of our community. It's not enough. That's just people coming in and maybe they behave. That's great. But you're bringing in strangers that have no connection to who we are. This city just put a lot of money into also park. We're three minutes away. That is part of our community. We all in our neighborhood enjoy that park. When you allow these short term rentals, it starts to become just nothing but a big rental unit. This would be the third. Then I know she said she's not worried about property values going down. Guess what? Pretty soon families aren't going to want to buy into a neighborhood that has three, four, five, six short term rentals. It's no longer a neighborhood. We bought the house that Mildred Cobb originally developed. She developed that neighborhood, Cedar Hill Terrace in 1968. It has been part of the community since then, and we want to continue to do that. So what I'm saying is don't let them change the nature of our community. Please do not allow them this permit. Thank you.

Tammy Johnson.

Oh, I'm sorry. I was speaking for Miss Johnson also. Awesome.

Thank you.

Uh, and I do have a copy of that petition.

Uh, we'll get it if you'll get it to the clerk. Uh, case in Jules.

He's not here.

All right. Ivelina Holmes. Miss Holmes. So I'm assuming, um, Jared Jewell is not here.

Gerard.

Gerard. Would you have it be Ken, the former state senator, Jared Jewell?

Yes.

Oh, wow.

This is my oldest sister, Abelina Holmes, my younger brother, Gerard Amu Jewell. Kason is not here right now. And I'm Sharon Ann Jewell. And we are four of the five siblings of the honorable Jerry D. Jewell. Governor and State Senator and Dennis. And so we are here because I guess the first reading of. Ordinance number 16.

Yes. And oh, yes. Yes.

Ordinance. So I understand that this is the first reading. Yes. And the second reading is going to take place on the 29th of September.

If you want to wait, you can. Clearly you can because we allow item 22, but also we're going to have a second and third, so there'll be other times. But if you want to go now, we can go now.

OK, so I just have a quick question because I was here last year to speak out against the individual wanting to build five or six units next to property that we own on East 21st Street. So I'll be back on the 29th to speak against it. And if there's a third reading, I'll be back then. to let you know that we're definitely against honoring or changing the zoning for that one quarter of a block to put up multiple units. This is not the District of Columbia and we don't need row houses like that.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, sir.

Sharon and Jewel.

Sharon and Jewel. That's me.

That's okay. You had two of them. Sorry. No problem. Stan Phillips? Stan Phillips. All right. I believe we have all of our cards, and of course we will adjourn. Is there a motion?

We need to have another meeting, correct, Tom? We can't recess. We need to adjourn if we're going to have a special call. Or can we continue the same meeting?

If you want to recess the meeting to another date, you can do that. If we don't have eight, we can't do that. But we can take six to recess. I mean, the date, the motion to recess to another date, it only takes six votes. How many people you have at that, it would still take eight to be able to second the third meeting. Okay.

And we'll still have, and then the 29th will be the agenda meeting anyway, as well. So we'll recess this meeting and also have the agenda meeting.

Motion to recess the meeting until September 29th.

Is there a motion? Is there a second?

Second.

All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. Aye. Meeting is going into recess.