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Record of Proceedings

Fayetteville City Council Agenda Session – July 30, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, July 30, 2025
BodyFayetteville, Arkansas
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 30, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Our agenda session on Tuesday for Tuesday, July 29th.

0:05

It'll be for the next week's counseling meeting.

0:09

First off, I'm going to go through the consent agenda.

0:12

The first item on our consent agenda will be approval of the July 15th City Council meeting minutes.

0:20

And the second item that we in place by consent is a resolution to award RFD 25-10.

0:29

And authorize a contract with post-oak preservation solutions.

0:33

It's for 69,335 for a city wide windshield survey of historic properties.

0:40

And there's more information about that in your packet.

0:43

But if anybody would like more of an in-depth staff presentation, please just say because we certainly have staff here that you speak to it.

0:53

Okay.

1:14

And then I know Chris is here and can speak to them in more depth.

1:18

The first is a contract with Garber, and it's for the design phase for North College.

1:24

So this part goes Sycamore to Township.

1:27

And it's 787,660.

1:31

The next one is with I and S group.

1:34

And it's um for the South School Avenue portion of it, and it's for 287,000.

1:41

And the third piece of the Safe Foods for All is a contract with Ken Kenley Horn and Associates.

1:48

And it's for design-based services for East Joyce.

1:52

And it's also for 287,000.

1:58

Yes, that would be great.

2:00

And that's why I wanted to read them all together just so you can talk about them all together that way since they are related.

2:08

All right.

2:10

So the Safe Streets for All program, as you all know, is a 25 million dollar grant that we received last year.

2:22

And that first phase of that is nearing completion.

2:26

These are the design contracts for three additional projects.

2:38

And Garver is the is the designer.

2:41

They also have RDG, which is the subconsultant that did the streetscapes on the current project that's under construction.

2:49

So this will include uh sidewalk improvements.

2:52

Uh does include the waterline improvement as well, uh, like we did on the first phase.

2:58

Uh we have a signal at Poplar Avenue proposed.

3:02

Um, and uh we'll be looking at mediums and strategic locations as well.

3:06

So uh that's kind of the uh the main gist of that project.

3:11

Um Garver again is the designer and and we'll begin work on that.

3:16

Probably take about a year for the design to be completed.

3:21

Questions on that one.

3:24

Uh the next one is school avenue.

3:27

Uh we have a little bit less information on this one.

3:30

So we're we're really just doing some of the preliminary design, the traffic study, uh, trying to conceptualize what this project will be.

3:38

Uh so this is this is not the full design.

3:41

Um, but they will go through a process to to uh uh look at the traffic, look at some of the solutions that have been proposed as part of the programming that's been done on school avenue, and uh then we'll make some once we get those recommendations, we'll have public meetings and uh and be ready to move forward with detailed design.

4:03

Uh similarly on Joyce Boulevard.

4:06

Uh we know what the problems are, we don't know what the solutions may be.

4:10

So this phase of work will be to determine what those solutions are for better safety on Joyce Boulevard.

4:18

Um, so again, traffic studies, um, intersection review, all that sort of thing, and then conceptual design once those solutions are determined.

4:28

Can answer any questions on any of those.

4:32

Is that still situated more towards McCollins area?

4:36

Are we looking at now because of the junior high that those dollars are passing to now stretch further down, which was not what we have specificated?

4:44

Well, the yeah, it's the entire corridor.

4:46

Um so there are uh a range of solutions.

4:51

Uh basically what we've we told the consultant is um we want to look at what all of the solutions may be, what all of the issues are.

5:00

We have a lot of rear-end accidents on that road.

5:02

So uh where those rear end accidents are occurring and what we can do to improve on that uh is kind of the main focus of that project, but uh we're we're not constraining them with budget or anything else under this current phase, really just looking at all of the solutions, and then we'll have to talk about what's uh feasible um under the budget.

5:27

Um, so you're using three different companies.

5:30

Um we're going to make sure that we have a consistency in the design and um, you know, that whole corridor area.

5:38

Yeah.

5:38

Well, um, yeah, they're they're they're really distinct projects.

5:43

They're they're uh not connected to each other.

5:47

Um, really um they're they're not connected end to end.

5:52

Um, but the the safe streets for all approach and the the um best management practices for safety um is kind of defined within the uh the FHWA has a has information on that.

6:07

So things like roundabouts and turn lanes and um you know, all those sorts of uh uh possibilities will be what we included.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing████████████████████20%
Property Tax████████████████16%
Zoning And Land Use█████████████13%
Taxation███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Public Facilities█████5%
Amendment 79█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Fayetteville City Council Agenda Session – July 30, 2025

The city council held an agenda session on July 30, 2025, to review items for the upcoming regular council meeting. The meeting covered consent agenda items, unfinished business, new business, and a presentation from the Washington County Assessor. Key topics included the Safe Streets for All design contracts, a proposed renters council, an appeal of a planning commission denial for a student housing project with new affordable housing commitments, a $200,000 donation to the Fayetteville Housing Authority, and a property tax overview.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of July 15, 2025 City Council meeting minutes.
  • Resolution to award RFD 25-10 to Post-Oak Preservation Solutions for a citywide windshield survey of historic properties ($69,335).
  • Three design contracts for Safe Streets for All program:
    • Garber for North College Avenue (Sycamore to Township) – $787,660.
    • I&S Group for South School Avenue – $287,000.
    • Kenley Horn & Associates for East Joyce Boulevard – $287,000.
  • Purchase of two side-by-sides from Polaris Sales Incorporated ($90,510.26).
  • Purchase of a Ford F-150 hybrid from Randall Ford ($48,156.05).
  • Purchase of a Ford F550 utility body from Oletha Sales Incorporated ($89,407).
  • Approval of four Continuum of Care (COC) program grant renewals from HUD ($352,848 total) for homeless assistance. Staff noted these are HUD grants, not the local COC organization.
  • Water service contract extension with Johnson (pulled from consent and moved to new business for further review).
  • Sanitary sewer contract extension with Johnson (pulled from consent).
  • 20-year lease with Packaging Specialties Inc. for 12,500 sq ft along White River Park boundary for a fire access road and park amenities. No money exchanged; the tenant will construct amenities and maintain the area.
  • 30-year ground lease with Dawson Arrow LLC and Shannon Holmes LLC for a 120x100 ft hangar at the airport.
  • 30-year ground lease with Dawson Air LC for a 125x100 ft hangar at the airport.
  • 4-year lease with Craigner Pilot Services LLC for office and hangar space at the airport ($5,411.30/month first year).
  • Repeal of rule allowing virtual city council meetings (A10) due to state law change (Act 505) requiring in-person attendance for quorum and voting. Agenda sessions and advisory boards are not affected.
  • Approval of 2026 employee benefits package with health insurance (high deductible and PPO), dental, vision, life, and disability. Renewal negotiated from 9% to 2.6% increase. 95% of employees are on the high-deductible plan.

Discussion Items

  • Fayetteville Renters Council (B1): Ordinance to establish a renters council to advise on public policy. Deputy Andrew Jones (sponsor) indicated amendments will be presented. Council member noted the city is hiring a chief housing officer; interviews are underway.
  • Tree Preservation Amendments (B2): Council member More proposed tabling indefinitely, citing cleanup language already addressed. Item will automatically be dismissed at year-end unless brought forward.
  • Appeal of Planning Commission Denial for Rezoning at 7 South University Avenue (B3): The applicant (Core Properties) seeks to rezone 2.83 acres from RMF-40 and BG to MSC for a student housing project. The planning commission denied it 5-2. Since then, staff worked with Core to create a developer’s commitment offering 37 “community units” affordable at 50-80% of regional AMI for 10 years, plus a lease termination agreement with $10,000 per tenant relocation assistance, 90-day notice, and right of first refusal for existing tenants. The city attorney cautioned against negotiating the voluntary bill of assurance; council can only accept or reject. Discussion included concerns about the 10-year affordability period, use of regional vs. local AMI, and the per-tenant relocation amount.
  • Related Vacation of Airspace (B4): Ordinance to vacate a portion of airspace above an alleyway on the same property. If the rezoning appeal fails, the vacation may still proceed.
  • Recycling and Trash Rate Increase (B5): Ordinance to increase rates 9.5% for 2026 and 7.5% for 2027, based on a recent rate study. No questions at this session.
  • Rezoning of 2648 North Campbell Road (Apple Seeds) (C1): Rezone 0.87 acres from RSF-4 to P1 institutional for the nonprofit’s operations. Staff clarified P1 is appropriate for cultural/recreational facilities and nonprofits.
  • Walk-On Item: Low-Income Housing Improvement Agreement with Fayetteville Housing Authority: Mayor proposed donating $200,000 from the $450,000 homelessness resolution fund to help the housing authority clear HUD debt, repair units, and support future redevelopment (e.g., Willow Heights and Lewis Plaza). FHA Executive Director Shonda Tapley described recent improvements: an audit with zero findings after years of disclaimers, installation of mini-split HVAC at Willow Heights, and plans to move residents out within 60 days for demolition/reconstruction. Council members requested detailed timelines, key performance indicators, and assurance of past mismanagement resolution before the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • Items pulled from consent: A10 (water contract) and A11 (sewer contract) with Johnson will be moved to new business. The city attorney will provide original agreements.
  • Tree Preservation Amendments (B2): Tabled indefinitely.
  • Rezoning Appeal (B3): Further discussion and vote will occur at the next regular council meeting. The developer’s commitment and lease termination agreement will be distributed to council.
  • Housing Authority Donation: The $200,000 agreement will be formally presented at the next meeting; council requested additional documentation on FHA’s financial turnaround and project plans.
  • Property Tax Presentation: Washington County Assessor Russell Hill and Chief Deputy William Stevenson presented statistics on reappraisal (70% increase in residential values from 2020-2023), millage rates, Amendment 79 protections (5% cap, homestead credit, freeze for seniors/disabled), and a new online property tax estimator to help buyers avoid sticker shock. No action taken; information only.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comment period was held during this agenda session.

Meeting Transcript

Our agenda session on Tuesday for Tuesday, July 29th. It'll be for the next week's counseling meeting. First off, I'm going to go through the consent agenda. The first item on our consent agenda will be approval of the July 15th City Council meeting minutes. And the second item that we in place by consent is a resolution to award RFD 25-10. And authorize a contract with post-oak preservation solutions. It's for 69,335 for a city wide windshield survey of historic properties. And there's more information about that in your packet. But if anybody would like more of an in-depth staff presentation, please just say because we certainly have staff here that you speak to it. Okay. And then I know Chris is here and can speak to them in more depth. The first is a contract with Garber, and it's for the design phase for North College. So this part goes Sycamore to Township. And it's 787,660. The next one is with I and S group. And it's um for the South School Avenue portion of it, and it's for 287,000. And the third piece of the Safe Foods for All is a contract with Ken Kenley Horn and Associates. And it's for design-based services for East Joyce. And it's also for 287,000. Yes, that would be great. And that's why I wanted to read them all together just so you can talk about them all together that way since they are related. All right. So the Safe Streets for All program, as you all know, is a 25 million dollar grant that we received last year. And that first phase of that is nearing completion. These are the design contracts for three additional projects. And Garver is the is the designer. They also have RDG, which is the subconsultant that did the streetscapes on the current project that's under construction. So this will include uh sidewalk improvements. Uh does include the waterline improvement as well, uh, like we did on the first phase. Uh we have a signal at Poplar Avenue proposed. Um, and uh we'll be looking at mediums and strategic locations as well. So uh that's kind of the uh the main gist of that project. Um Garver again is the designer and and we'll begin work on that. Probably take about a year for the design to be completed. Questions on that one. Uh the next one is school avenue. Uh we have a little bit less information on this one. So we're we're really just doing some of the preliminary design, the traffic study, uh, trying to conceptualize what this project will be. Uh so this is this is not the full design. Um, but they will go through a process to to uh uh look at the traffic, look at some of the solutions that have been proposed as part of the programming that's been done on school avenue, and uh then we'll make some once we get those recommendations, we'll have public meetings and uh and be ready to move forward with detailed design. Uh similarly on Joyce Boulevard. Uh we know what the problems are, we don't know what the solutions may be. So this phase of work will be to determine what those solutions are for better safety on Joyce Boulevard. Um, so again, traffic studies, um, intersection review, all that sort of thing, and then conceptual design once those solutions are determined. Can answer any questions on any of those. Is that still situated more towards McCollins area? Are we looking at now because of the junior high that those dollars are passing to now stretch further down, which was not what we have specificated? Well, the yeah, it's the entire corridor. Um so there are uh a range of solutions. Uh basically what we've we told the consultant is um we want to look at what all of the solutions may be, what all of the issues are.

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