Bentonville City Council & Committee of the Whole Meeting Summary – August 25, 2026

The City Council of Bentonville met on August 25, 2026, convening first as a Committee of the Whole for informational discussion, followed by the formal City Council meeting. The main topic of the evening was the passage of an amended noise ordinance after extensive public comment and council deliberation. The council also approved a large consent agenda encompassing numerous grants, surplus declarations, construction bids, and property donations, alongside several utility easement vacations and rezonings.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved a consent agenda for new business items 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, Utility Board item 2, and Planning item 3. These included: a $22,500 grant from Fidelity for the Great Neighborhoods Partnership Tree Program; resolutions setting public hearings for utility easement vacations; recognizing a $563 donation from Harps Food Stores, Inc.; accepting a $12,824 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant; surplus declarations for a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, two 2016 Ford ambulances, and a 2013 GMC Traverse; a $2,066,933 bid award to Milestone Construction for Phillips Park Phase III; accepting the donation of the historic Morningstar Schoolhouse and adjacent 18 acres for parks; accepting grant funds totalling $6,416,920 for Greenhouse Road, I-49/J Street Interchange, and Vaughn Road improvements; authorizing a Recycling Partnership Grant Agreement; and amending the Future Land Use Map (FLUM).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Noise Ordinance (Item 3):
  • Supporters: Brad Caballero, Michael Spivey, Toby Teeter, Craig Seuss, Roland Smith, Bethany Culpepper, and Tom Hone spoke in favor of the ordinance, citing excessive low-frequency noise and the need for an enforceable set of guidelines. Tom Hone suggested changing the decibel measurement specification from 'dBA' to a generic 'decibel level' to better target low-frequency noise, an issue Police Chief Bertrand noted would require new equipment.
  • Opposition/Concerns: Damon Epps, Jordan Rivera, Sean Curtis (Hub Bike Lounge), and Justin Aguilera (The Barber) expressed concerns. They argued the 11:30 PM cutoff could harm the growing nightlife scene and deter visitors. Mr. Aguilera stated his establishment has never received a citation. Mr. Curtis requested a permit system for special events.
  • Construction Amendment: Leon Fletcher requested the preservation of the 500-foot residential buffer for construction noise instead of a simplified district-based schedule, which prompted a successful council amendment.
• Non-Agenda Items:
  • Jason McCorry spoke against the expansion of Flock cameras, citing a recent misuse case in Springdale and Fourth Amendment concerns, urging the council to evaluate alternatives.
  • A speaker praised Officer Trevor Mitchell for a kind and diligent response to a welfare check on their 90-year-old grandmother.

Discussion Items

• Committee of the Whole: Council members discussed the need for a comprehensive parking study, requesting data on supply, requirements, and existing management agreements for a formal discussion at the next meeting.
• Noise Ordinance Deliberation:
  • Staff presented the ordinance as the result of months of work, aiming for a balance between a vibrant nightlife and quiet enjoyment. It introduced shutoff times for outdoor amplified sound to address low-frequency base issues.
  • Council debated the fairness of new restrictions, the need for proper enforcement equipment, and specific clauses. A motion to amend the construction section (adding a 500-foot buffer from residential zoning) passed. A motion to remove the 'unreasonably loud' unenforceable clause failed 3-4. Councilmember Grover expressed strong support for the ordinance as a long-overdue solution. The amended ordinance was approved.
• Rezonings (Planning Items 1 & 2): Council discussed the Recchia rezoning (RZ26-0039) extensively, calling the applicant's representative for clarification. The council approved the rezoning 6-1. The CC Curated Collections rezoning (RZ26-0040) was approved unanimously.
• Utility Easement Vacations (Items 5, 6, 7): Public hearings were held with no speakers; all three easements were unanimously vacated.

Key Outcomes

• Noise Ordinance Passed (6-1 vote): The council passed the amended noise ordinance. It includes an 11:30 PM shutoff time for outdoor amplified sound, updated decibel tables, and a construction noise buffer requiring a 7 PM shutoff within 500 feet of residential zoning. The city will research equipment for measuring low-frequency base.
• Rezonings Approved: 301 SE B Street (to T3.2) and 404 SW 2nd Street (to T3.1) were rezoned.
• Utility Easements Vacated: Three utility easement vacations were approved.
• Library Report: The Summer Meals program provided 57,735 meals to children in the summer of 2026.