Agenda Highlights 11/29/22 and 12/1/22
The Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting will hold a study session meeting 11/29/22 to discuss the new needs requests portion of the 2023 Fort Smith Operating Budget. New hirings needs requests to be discussed include hiring of a planner ($69,387), a business license specialist ($65,857) a permit officer ($58,626), a plans examiner ($66,887), two property maintenance inspectors ($112,546), two traffic control equipment operators ($102, 379), and two water treatment plant operators ($35,912). New capital spending requests include an elevator upgrade for the public parking deck ($80,000), 5 vehicle replacements for Development Services ($116,000), 4-6 Police vehicle replacements ($150,000), 4 replacement pickup trucks for the Fire Department ($184,000), reconstruction of the dormitory at Fire Station 3 ($550,000), and replacement of damaged panels at Fire Station 1 ($150,000), replacement of an asphalt hot box trailer for the Streets Department ($65,000), a new thermoplastic striping truck ($710,000), a new ride-on pavement marking remover ($25,000), new Water Department software ($94, 280), new and replacement water meters and meter end points ($325,000), new route optimization software for Solid Waste ($196,800), pickup truck replacement for Solid Waste ($23,386), grass growth inhibitor spray for Oak Cemetery ($20,000) and repair of a retaining wall at Oak Cemetery ($50,000). There is a new expense to be incurred for covering the cost of credit card processing fees for utility bills ($550,000). There is also a request for a 5% merit raise for city employees.
The Fort Smith Board of Directors regular business meeting scheduled for 12-1-22 will begin with a vote on a zoning change for 5404 Planters Road to allow for construction of an office building.
The Board will vote on a zoning change for 501, 505, 513, and 515 North 4th Street to allow for the Community Rescue Mission to build 3 duplexes.
The Board will vote on a zoning change for 5106 South 24th that would allow for Cityview Services to continue operating a contractors shop, storage yard, and vehicle storage yard on the property.
The Board will vote on zoning changes to allow for duplexes to be built at 615 North 17th.
The Board will vote on a zoning change for 5115 Towson that would allow for construction of a mini-storage facility.
The Board will vote on whether to approve the 2023 base operating budget. The new needs portion of the budget will be up for separate approval at a future meeting.
The Board will vote on approval of the 2023 Board of Directors meeting calendar.
The Board will vote on approval of the five year capital improvement plans for Streets, Bridges, and Drainage.
The Board will on whether to approve the 10 year water and wastewater capital improvement plans.
The Board will vote on recommendations from the City to be submitted to the State Legislature in the upcoming session.
These recommendations include amending Act 605 to exempt cities under federal consent decrees from the requirements of the act, to increase the water project spending 20% of utility revenue threshold that triggers a mandatory water rate study and possible increases to 50%, and modifying requirements to study water and wastewater issues.
Another recommendation is to change state law to permit red light and speed cameras.
Another recommendation is to refile the 2021 “Made Whole Bill” that would allow liability for medical or indemnity costs to be shifted to the party that caused the injury and would insist that the injured worker receive at least half of the net proceeds from a judgement or settlement.
Another recommendation is to relax the use of perpetual care funds when non-profit organizations assume the responsibility for failing cemeteries and permit counties and cities to help non-profit organizations with the upkeep of cemeteries. Or the alternative recommendation is to permit creation of city or county cemetery districts to assume responsibility for failing cemeteries.
Another recommendation is for a statewide ban on homeless encampments on private property.
Another recommendation is to allow cities to create zoning overlay districts that require all unimproved properties in that district to remove all underbrush and trees with trunks less than 3 inches in diameter.
Another recommendation is to allow cities rather than the state to set hotel/tourism tax rates.
The Board will vote whether to allow street closings on portions of South 8th, Belmont, and R.S. Boreham Jr. Streets to allow ABB to gate the streets for the safety of their employees.
The Board will vote on whether to renew the contract for legal services with Daily and Woods. Daily and Woods has provided legal services to the City since 1968 and been the designated City Attorney since 1973. The contract allows for charges of $180 per hour for attorney services and $60 per hour for paralegal services (rates well below Daily & Woods’s standard billing rates).
The Board will vote on whether to accept a bid from $2,542,891.50 from Township Builders for 1.8 miles of street overlays.
The Board will vote on whether to accept a bid for $1,936,595.57 from Forsgren for 1.7 miles of street overlays.
The Board will vote on whether to pay $300,000 to buy out the lease to be able to keep the Aljon Series 600 Landfill Compactor currently in use at the landfill.
