Agenda Highlights 5/7/24
The Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting scheduled for 5-7-24 will begin with a vote on whether to approve the allocations for federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships Program grants that were discussed at the 4-23-24 study session.
The Board will vote on two changes to the Unified Development Ordinance. The first is to change the wording regarding required industrial and commercial screening so that it includes requiring screening next to properties that are developed residential. Currently wording only requires screening next to properties that are zoned residential. The second amendment is to add a land use for displaced youth housing. The amendment, inspired by a request from Jessi’s House, would allow for displaced youth housing to be approved as a conditional use in all RM zones, RH, C-2 to C-5, and I-1 (consistent with other congregate housing uses).
The Board will vote on increases to water utility fees including turn on fees and reconnection fees and increases to deposits. The smallest proposed increases to the deposits would be double the current rate and some of the proposed deposit increases are dramatic including industrial deposits increasing from $50 to $1000 and commercial deposits increasing from $50 to $300.
The Board will vote on waiving parking meter fees from May 8, 2024 to January 3, 2025. The matter of discontinuing parking meters was discussed at the 4/23/24 study session.
The Board will vote on multiple contracts for consent decree sewer repairs. One is with Brothers Construction for $7,994,075 for repair of 11,095 feet of sewer pipe and replacement of 139 manholes. One is with Vortex for $4,371,514.10 for repair of 10,630 feet of sewer pipe and replacement of 60 manholes. One is with Humbard Contracting for $3,499,950 for repair of 3,355 feet of sewer pipe. One is with Krapff Reynolds Construction for $840,550 for rehabilitation of 354 manholes.
The Board will vote on whether to purchase a house at 3100 Kinkead for $165,000 through the Flooded Residence Buyout program that is used for the City to purchase homes that are troubled by flooding when it would be cheaper to purchase the property than to perform the drainage improvement project that would fix the flooding issue.
The Board will vote on contracting with Crafton Tull for $226,245 for engineering and construction administration services for modifications to 6th Street near the Bakery District including concrete and landscaped islands, drainage modifications, relocating a traffic signal, and resurfacing 6th from Garland to Parker.
