Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I want to welcome everyone to our August 18, 2026 Little Rock City Board of Directors meeting. We would like to welcome those in attendance as well as those watching at home or streaming online. Madam Clerk, you would please call the roll.

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

Here.

I'm not Mayor Scott. Here. Now I want to ask Vice Mayor Weirich to give our invocation.

Thank you. Will you pray with me, please? Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. We pray for cooler temperatures today. Good weather is helpful to our city workers as they do their work. Please guide and direct us in our meeting this evening. As per your direction, we are here to benefit those that need our support. Be with each of us as we make decisions this evening and that our decisions will be for the direct benefit of our city residents and city workers. A special prayer for our mayor, our police chiefs and our fire chief. I pray you will guide our city attorney in his direction to the board and the mayor. Be with our city manager as he struggles with the details of running our city. Thank you for our city clerk as she provides us data and keeps us on track for our meetings. Thank you for all our employees. Guide and protect them as they perform their duties. We have a large number of senior citizens in our city and in the audience. Please grant our seniors strength for the day, as well as bright hope for tomorrow. Teach us to love, support, and respect the elderly as you do, and to see them as the knowledge keepers and dreamers of our time. Guide our younger citizens as they find their way in life. Guide, direct, and protect them. Thank you to all the citizens that are here tonight and to participate in the city process. Be with each of us as we travel home tonight. These things we ask in your name. Amen.

Amen. Will you please stand for a Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, Board members, we have five modifications today, M1 resolution, M2 resolution, M3, M4, M5. Is there a second?

Motion to move M1 through 5 to the M1 through 4 to the consent agenda and M5 to the group 5.

Is there a motion? Is there a second?

Second.

All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Director Webb, before we say yes.

Mayor, can we have item 10 separate?

Item 10. All those opposed, we say nay. On the other stuff, not Director Webb. Motion passes. Add those to the consent agenda and also to the grouped agenda.

I'll second the motion.

Seeing a separate, there's a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. Ayes have it. Madam Clerk, if you will please read the consent agenda.

A resolution authorizes City Manager to enter into agreements with Oakley Fertilizer Incorporated as primary vendor and Central Salt LLC as secondary vendor and amount not to exceed $400,000 per contract for the purchase of bulk salt materials on an as-needed basis within the City of Little Rock to authorize the City Manager to execute contracts for the purchase of rock salt in bulk for the remainder of 2026 to authorize the City Manager to execute contracts for the purchase of rock salt in bulk for 2027 and for other purposes. A resolution to ratify the purchase of one new 2026 Ford F-550 4x4 with Terex Forestry Aerial Bucket Lift from Custom Truck OneSource LP doing business as Custom Truck and Equipment LLC in an amount not to exceed $165,774.03 plus applicable taxes and fees by the City Parks and Recreation Department and for other purposes. A resolution authorized city manager to enter into a contract with TECO Safety Incorporated and amount not to exceed $209,795.07 plus applicable taxes and fees for the purchase of 164 point blank ballistic vests for issuance to the Little Rock Police Department officers. to replace expired vests and outfit new recruits and for other purposes a resolution authorized city manager to enter into a contract with lighthouse machinery llc in an amount not to exceed eighty seven thousand one hundred twelve dollars and seventy seven cents plus applicable taxes and fees for the purchase of three boss triple edge snow plows and six good roads 120m snow plows for use by the street division of the city's public works department and for other purposes a resolution is set september 1 2026 is the date of public hearing on the appeal of the planning commission action and approving special use permit titled ckm group home special use permit located at 15 brookhaven drive city of little rock arkansas and for other purposes A resolution to extend the district at Breckenridge Temporary Entertainment District for the dates of September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 and for other purposes. A resolution authorized the city manager to enter into agreement amendment with Evolutionary Systems Corp. doing business as Mass Tech Incorporated in amount not to exceed $178,870 plus applicable taxes and fees for a change order to the scope of work for the Oracle Fusion Enterprise Resource Planning ERP system implementation which includes sourcing and inventory management and LRCDB recruiting booster and retiree benefit program and for their purposes. A resolution to authorize city manager to enter into a licensing agreement amendment with Mythix LLC through Evolutionary Systems Corp doing business as Mass Tech Incorporated An amount not to exceed $213,578.43 plus applicable taxes and fees for the Oracle Cloud subscription services expansion change order to provide licensing for Oracle's inventory management, recruiting booster, and guiding learning modules for the Oracle Fusion. enterprise resource planning, ERP system, and for other purposes. A resolution to implement plans for city involvement in the I-30 crossing project to authorize the city manager to execute any necessary grant application and award documents to accept a potential $1 million grant award from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism 2026 outdoor recreational grants program a reimbursable 50 50 grant funding program which would require the city to cover the full project costs up front and be reimbursed only half of the eligible expenses up to the award amount for the cost accrued during budgeted two million dollar future development of the i-30 crossing park area based on the i-30 crossing master plan development or developed by sasaki associates and for other purposes that concludes your consent agenda

There's a motion. Is there a second?

Second.

All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. Ayes have it. Madam Clerk, if you would please read the grouped items.

An ordinance to amend the land use plan map in the Chennault Planning District referred to as Law 1RR, Arkansas Systems Office Park, from office to commercial and for other purposes. An ordinance to repeal Little Rock, Arkansas Ordinance No. 18046 and Little Rock, Arkansas Ordinance No. 19426 to revoke a planned office district titled Carter Short Form P.O.D. and Stubblefield Revised P.O.D. to reclassify property located at 1400 Bishop Street, Little Rock, Arkansas and for other purposes. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district residential titled Sanchez Revised PDR located at 1200 South Taylor Street, 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 commercial title Parsley STR2 PDC located at 1904 South Fillmore, 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 office district titled Arkansas Baptist College POD located on the north side of West 17th Street, 1400 block between Martin Luther King Drive and South Pulaski 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 reclassify property located in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas to amend the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas and for other purposes. An ordinance to reclassify property located in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas to amend 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 Ford Properties PDR located on the south side of West 7th Street approximately 107 feet West of South Oak 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 authorize the demolition and removal of 12 unsafe and dilapidated residential structures 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 Peraton Remote Incorporated. for the purchase of replacement parts, controller upgrades, and related services for the Little Rock Fire Department's bomb squad robot to declare an emergency and for other purposes. An ordinance to authorize the issuance of promissory note to provide short-term financing under Arkansas Constitution Amendment Number 78 for the acquisition of self-contained breathing apparatus for the Little Rock Fire Department to declare an emergency. First reading.

Can the bill be placed on second reading?

Does the motion second? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. Ayes have a second reading.

An ordinance to amend the land use plan map in the Chennault Planning District referred to as law 1RR Arkansas Systems Office Park from office to commercial. An ordinance to repeal Little Rock, Arkansas ordinance number 18,046 and Little Rock, Arkansas ordinance number 19,426 to revote a planned office district titled Carter Short Form POD and Stubblefield Revised POD to reclassify property located at 1400 Bishop Street. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district residential titled Sanchez Revised PDR located at 1200 South Taylor Street. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district commercial titled Parsley STR2 PDC located at 1904 South Fillmore. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned office district titled Arkansas Baptist College POD located on the north side of West 17th Street, 1400 block between Martin Luther King Drive and South Pulaski Street. An ordinance to reclassify property located in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. An ordinance to reclassify property located in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district residential titled Ford Properties PDR located on the south side of West 7th Street approximately 170 feet west of South Oak Street. An ordinance to authorize the demolition and removal of 12 unsafe and dilapidated residential structures to declare an emergency. In order to declare it impractical and unfeasible to bid, to authorize the city manager to enter into a sole source contract with Perrotin Remote Incorporated for the purchase of replacement parts, controller upgrades, and related services for the Little Rock Fire Department's bomb squad robot to declare an emergency. An ordinance to authorize the issuance of a promissory note to provide short-term financing under Arkansas Constitution Amendment Number 78 for the acquisition of self-contained breathing apparatus for the Little Rock Fire Department to declare an emergency. Second reading.

Second reading. All those in favor please say aye.

Aye. I need a motion and a second.

There's a motion. Is there a second? All those in favor please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay.

On number 15, Director Webb needs to make a motion.

Make a motion for what reason? I'm confused.

We wanted to pull one of the houses out. I think everybody got an email about it earlier today, and I spoke to Lynette. I hope I'm not saying another term, but I spoke to Lynette and Tom, and I think we had all agreed that we would, and Kevin, that we would like to pull the one house out of the demolition on South Pine.

I don't have a problem with this one.

Procedurally, what do we need? Because we've already read them. Procedurally, what do we need?

If you amend now to exclude it, the third reading will be the last reading.

So we move forward with the third reading. No, no. Do the motion to exclude it now.

If that passes, then you just go to the third reading.

Now, Director Webb, if you'll give a motion.

like to move that we exclude the North Pine property from the demolition list for tonight.

South Pine. 100 South Pine.

There's a motion. Second. All those favorably say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Third reading.

Move to suspend the rules in place on third and final reading.

I thought that was it. Okay. There's a motion. Is there a second on the third reading? As amended through the previous motion, all those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, say nay. Ayes have it. Madam Clerk, if you would please read the third reading.

An ordinance to amend the land use plan map in the Chenal Planning District referred to as Law 1RR, Arkansas System Office, part from office to commercial. An ordinance to repeal Little Rock, Arkansas Ordinance Number 18046 and Little Rock, Arkansas Ordinance Number 19426, to revoke a planned office district titled Carter Short Form P.O.D. in Stubblefield Revised P.O.D. to reclassify property located at 1400 Bishop Street. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development and to establish a Pelland District residential titled Sanchez Revised P.D.R. located at 1200 South Taylor Street. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development and to establish a planned district commercial titled Parsley S.T.R. 2 P.D.C. located at 1904 South Fillmore Street. An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned office district titled Arkansas Baptist College, POD, located on the north side of West 17th Street, 1400 block between Martin Luther King Drive and South Pulaski Street. An ordinance to reclassify property located in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. In order to reclassify property located in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, in order to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district residential titled Four Properties PDR located on the south side of West 7th Street, approximately 170 feet west of South Oak Street, city of... Oh, I don't even say that. in order to authorize the demolition and removal of 12 unsafe dilapidated residential structures to declare an emergency in order to declare it impractical and unfeasible to bid to authorize the city manager to enter into a sole source contract with periton remote incorporated for the purchase of replacement parts controller upgrades and related services for the little rock fire department's bomb squad robot to declare an emergency An ordinance to authorize the issuance of a promissory note to provide short-term financing under Arkansas Constitution Amendment Number 78 for the acquisition of self-contained breathing apparatus for the Little Rock Fire Department to declare an emergency third and final reading.

Members of the board, we've had three readings. Are there any questions? Director Adcock?

Mayor, I would like to vote no on item 10, so I would like to have that recorded. We didn't read item 10.

We didn't read item 10. Oh, okay.

Thank you.

All those faithfully say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it.

And we have two emergency clauses.

Emergency clauses. All those faithfully say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Madam Clerk, if you'll please read item number 10. And for those who are here for item 15, we're not taking that up today, so you don't have to remain here. And those who have already had their grouped items passed, you don't have to remain either.

An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district commercial title Benbrook STR2 PDC located at 13 Oakwood Road, City of Little Rock, Arkansas. Emitting the official zoning map of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas and for other purposes. First reading.

Mrs. Penneville is in place on second reading.

There's a motion. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor please say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Second reading.

An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district commercial title, Pembroke, STR2, PDC, located at 13 Oakwood Road. Second reading.

Move to suspend the rules in place on third and final reading. Second.

There's a motion to second. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Third and final reading.

An ordinance to approve a planned zoning development to establish a planned district commercial title, Pembroke, STR2, PDC, located at 13 Oakwood Road. Third and final reading.

Members of the board, we've had three readings. Are there any questions?

There's cards.

Yes. All against? None for? We can, Ms. Fletcher? Yes. You want to hear everyone? We will.

Thank you.

Is the applicant here? Applicant's not here. Okay. Thank you. We are, for the record, we did ask to see if the applicant was here.

I am speaking today for our neighborhood in general and also for Tammy Johnson and Mary Lou Cash, your president. I also have a petition signed by my neighbors. I think I may not have quite enough copies. I thought there were 10 of y'all. I think I have 11.

All objecting to the permitting of this short-term rental.

Our neighborhoods in Hillcrest is actually Cedar Hill Terrace and has quite a history. The house that I bought was actually Mildred Cobb's house. She had a famous dress shop in Hillcrest, or in Heights, I think. And she lived there until she was 96 years old. I don't know if y'all know this, but in 1960, there was a B-47 bomber that exploded over that area. And we actually dig up some of the parts from that bomb to this day. So the vibe of our neighborhood is really friendly. It's a community. Our neighbors know each other. We look out for each other. And Ms. Cash, when we first moved in, we kept noticing that we would take our trash down to the bottom of the hill and when we'd come back home, they'd be back at the top of our hill. And Ms. Cash was the one that was bringing them up there for her exercise. It's just those kinds of things that people have done for each other over the years that make this a very special neighborhood.

Excuse me. Your ward director instructed me to let you know that she has the votes to make sure you're happy.

Okay. Then I will be quiet. Thank you very much. I didn't say that.

All those in favor, please say aye. Okay. All those opposed, say nay.

Nay.

Nays have it.

All right. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. Director Kapuris.

Just a question for the planning staff. It seems like if we're being asked to change something like this, we ought to have to have the applicant here. I mean, it's just not it's silly to go through this and the applicant not be here.

The applicant was notified, and so we'll bring Brad just to make sure.

My point is if they're not going to be here, I'm not sure what we ought to do about it, but this is pretty silly.

Yes, sir, I agree as well. If you're going to have a project, you want to see it through to the end. We do let the applicant know. when they're going to be on the board's agenda. And usually at the agenda meeting, if something's pulled off, we'll usually contact them and say, hey, yours is on separate. You might want to show up. But they are aware that they are on this agenda cycle.

Well, look around and see if there's anything we ought to do. not to consider this and not to have the people that are against it have to come down here again. But it's just it's a little bit silly to say we're discussing something and we hear your point of view. We don't hear the other point of view. We're supposed to make a judgment.

I mean, it's director computers. The problem we've got is which ordinances are important enough to use a rule like that, because there are all kinds of things that get brought up that aren't necessarily brought by staff. If somebody's not here, I think it's proper for the board to take the position they don't care, we don't care, if that's what you wish to do. But to go through the process of setting an agenda one week and then having the meeting the next week and then deciding because they're not there that we just don't vote on it kind of messes up the rest of the agenda.

It's a real, it's a conundrum, but it's just a little silly to have this. And I'm glad we cut the debate short and y'all can go home now.

All right. Is there a motion to, uh, for, uh, to recess for communication? Oh, this is communicate. Well, we don't have any citizen communication. Is there a motion to, uh, recess for executive?

So move for appointments.

There's a motion there. Second, I'll favorably please say aye. Opposed to say nay. I have it will recess for executive session. We're now returning back from our executive session where we discussed appointments. Age Friendly Commission, Karen Guthrie, Sally Fitz, all those in favor please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Arts and Cultural Commission, Lakeisha Harris, Brandon Newell, Sylvia Tyler, all those in favor please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. City Beautiful Commission, Sam McGuire, Avinash Thombree. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Community Housing Advisory Board. Tyrone Haney. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Land Bank Commission. Bridget Youngblood. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission. Bill Betty and Roger Jarnell. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Little Rock Port Authority, Tamika Edwards and Keith Harvey. All those in favor, please say aye. All those opposed, say nay. Ayes have it. Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority, Molly McNulty and Jonathan Siemens. All those in favor, please say aye. All those opposed, say nay. Ayes have it. McArthur Military Museum, Chip Culpepper, Tim Heupel, Brandon Mazander, Harrison Mitchell, Kevin Lee, Kristen Mann, David McDaniel. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Aye. I thought I said that. Oh, you're right. I thought I did. Maziel Rajandan, Racial Culture Diversity Commission. Maziel Rajandran, Beatrice Varela, Emily Kearns, Mary Parham, Deidre Sheed. All those in favor, please say aye. All those opposed, say nay. Ayes have it. Is there a motion or is the motion a second? I was about to say aye. Aye. I was about to say nay. Aye. Let's have it. Meet and join.