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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Fayetteville City Council Meeting - September 2, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, September 2, 2025

BodyFayetteville, Arkansas

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, September 2, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:32:19

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Eager whatever we are.

0:03

Okay, I will now call Tuesday, September 2nd, meeting of the Fateville City Council to order.

0:10

Clerk Paxton, will you please call the roll?

0:13

Mr.

0:13

Weaker.

0:14

Here.

0:15

Mr.

0:16

Berna?

0:17

Here.

0:17

Ms.

0:18

Bunch.

0:19

Here.

0:20

Ms.

0:20

Dark?

0:21

Here.

0:22

Minister Jones.

0:23

Present.

0:24

Mr.

0:24

Stafford?

0:25

Here.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Ms.

0:28

Moore?

0:29

Here.

0:30

Mayor Rowan.

0:31

Here.

0:31

Please join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:55

Okay.

0:56

Our first order of business.

0:57

Actually, but before we get to that, I am going to make an announcement that we have received a request from the applicant relating to item B, B as in Boy, B2, under unfinished business, the PCD on North Devil Springs Road.

1:15

We've received a request to table.

1:17

It is up to council when it gets to that time whether they vote to table or not.

1:22

But just so that you know, if you were here to talk about that item, there's a strong likelihood that it will be it almost certainly will not be uh heard tonight.

1:30

So I want to let you all know that as a courtesy if you all are waiting for that.

1:35

Um, and first up, we have our sales tax and monthly financial report from Chief Financial Officer Steven Dotson.

1:45

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

1:49

This is the uh June sales tax report for taxes received in July of 2025.

1:57

In June, taxable sales in the city totaled approximately 289 million, which was an increase of nearly 4.7 percent or 12.8 million compared to June of 2024.

2:09

This increase was led by the other services sector, where commercial and industrial machinery and equipment was up 3.3 million dollars.

2:18

Transportation and warehousing was up 2.5 million in taxable sales for the month.

2:23

Wholesale trade was up 2.1 million, and retail trade was up 1% in June or around $2 million.

2:31

The food services and accommodation sectors were down around 2% in June, or approximately $632,000 from last year.

2:41

All in all, though, we did note a 4.7% gain in taxable sales compared to 2024.

2:47

And now to move on to the actual tax collection results for Fayetteville, which are June sales taxes received in July of 2025.

2:55

And for a comparison of June 2025 to June 2024, the city one penny was up 4.5 percent.

3:04

The county portion of the city was up 6%.

3:08

This results in a total combined sales tax collection increase of 5.2% or 250,000 compared to June of 2024.

3:17

Year to date, the combined city and county sales tax are up approximately 5.4% or 1.78 million compared to last year at this time.

3:28

In the general fund, the city's up around 5.4% or 204,000 compared to last year.

3:36

Now in comparing June of 2025 to what we budgeted for, uh the city one penny sales tax is up around 1.5% compared to budget, the county portions up around 2.9 percent for a combined total for the month of June up 2.1 percent compared to budget or around 107,000.

3:58

That will put the city on a year-to-date basis compared to budget, up a combined 2.3 percent, or $795,000 for sales tax.

4:08

And can I answer any questions on the sales tax portion of my report?

4:14

Okay, then I will move on to the uh monthly financial report, and this is a report for uh through June of or I'm sorry, through July of 2025.

4:24

Starting off in the general fund, our property tax was up two percent.

4:29

Sales tax was up three percent, our franchise fees, they were down around one percent or around thirty thousand dollars.

4:36

Alcoholic beverage fees, those were flat, but our building permits were way up around 33 percent or 589,000.

4:43

Now that's through the month of July, year to date.

4:47

Uh turn back was up three percent.

4:50

Our charges for services were down around four percent, but all in all, the general fund total, we were up around 2.7 percent compared to budget, or around 557,000.

5:02

Once again, that's through July of 2025.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning And Land Use████████████████████████████████32%

Public Safety██████████████14%

Stormwater Education█████████9%

Procedural██████6%

Public Engagement██████6%

Flood Management█████5%

Budget Equity Analysis█████5%

Fiscal Sustainability████4%

Homelessness████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Fayetteville City Council Meeting - September 2, 2025

The Fayetteville City Council met on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to discuss financial reports, several rezoning petitions, a cost-share agreement, a stormwater utility credit agreement with the school district, and funding for the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force. The meeting included public comment and multiple votes, with several items passing unanimously and a few drawing dissenting votes.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes of the August 19, 2025 council meeting.
Confirmed mayoral appointments to the Fayetteville Public Facilities Board.
Authorized shared parking lease agreements with the University of Arkansas and HMT at Fayetteville for parking lots within the Dixon Street Entertainment District.
Awarded bids and authorized purchases: concrete construction services (Sweetster Construction), a hydro excavation truck ($733,015.70), a commercial roll-off truck ($251,400), a Spartan aerial fire apparatus ($2,000,386), and compensation/classification consulting services ($171,500) with corresponding budget adjustments.

Public Comments & Testimony

A member of the public spoke in support of increased funding for homeless shelters, sharing personal experiences with homelessness and alleging bias in the community. [Regarding item B1]
For item C3 (1893 N. Rupple Road rezoning), Jeff Conrad (co-owner/applicant) and Gretchen Wilkes (neighbor from Oak Brook subdivision) spoke in support, noting collaboration on design and safety improvements.
For item C6 (380 S. Happy Hollow rezoning), property owner Noah Jones addressed density concerns, stating he plans to build only two single-family homes, not rental units.

Discussion Items

Sales Tax and Financial Report (CFO Steven Dotson): June 2025 taxable sales totaled approx. $289 million, a 4.7% increase over June 2024. Combined city/county sales tax collections for June were up 5.2% ($250,000) compared to June 2024. Year-to-date, collections are up 5.4% ($1.78 million) over last year. General fund revenue through July 2025 is 2.7% above budget ($557,000). Building permits were up 33% ($589,000).
Unfinished Business B1 (Salvation Army Matching Funds): Council expressed intent to provide up to $70,000 in matching funds for an emergency solutions grant, contingent on the Salvation Army receiving the grant.
Unfinished Business B2 (PCD on N. Devil Springs Road): A request to table was granted; the item was tabled to October 7, 2025. An informational session was announced for September 3, 2025, at the Fayetteville Public Library.
New Business C1 (South Cato Springs Cost Share): Devin Howland presented a cost-share agreement for sanitary sewer infrastructure, with the city managing a $3 million HUD grant. The amendment requires 200 housing units within five years and a facility for neurodiverse adults within ten years. Council expressed support for the project.
New Business C2 (Right-of-Way Vacation at 835 W. Cleveland St.): Jonathan Kurth explained the vacation of 0.02 acres of excess right-of-way, which would not impede street design standards. Four non-injury accidents occurred at the intersection from 2020-2024.
New Business C3 (Rezoning 1893 N. Rupple Road to RIU): A rezoning with a bill of assurance limiting density to eight units, requiring single- and two-family dwellings, and mimicking Oak Brook design standards. Public comment supported the plan.
New Business C4 (Rezoning 2135 E. Huntsville Road to UN): A rezoning from RSF-4 to Urban Neighborhood on a 0.81-acre site. Staff found it compatible with the corridor. No public comment.
New Business C5 (Rezoning 261 E. Rock Street to UN): A rezoning from RMF-24 to UN on a 0.40-acre lot. Applicant Wes Bates (via Zoom) noted the change would allow fee-simple sale of townhomes. Staff found it compatible with the historic neighborhood.
New Business C6 (Rezoning 380 S. Happy Hollow Road to RSF-8 – Appeal): An appeal of the planning commission's denial. The 0.7-acre lot would allow up to four single-family lots under RSF-8. Discussion focused on drainage/flooding concerns, with city engineering staff noting a planned study. The applicant stated he intends only two homes.
New Business C7 (Stormwater Utility MOA with Fayetteville Public Schools): Chris Brown presented a memorandum of agreement for a stormwater credit program. The school district receives up to a 50% credit: 20% for existing programs, 10% for future education programming, and up to 20% for physical retrofits. Dr. Julie Williams and Justin Keene detailed existing and planned environmental education initiatives.
New Business C8 & C9 (Drug Task Force Grants): Chief Reynolds presented two items together: C8 ($350,000 from Arkansas Prosecutor Coordinator’s Office for shortfall) and C9 ($226,235 combined federal/state grants for personnel). The total DTF budget is $652,239, with grants covering 76% and general fund 24%. Discussion included asset forfeiture data (2023: $152,998 total, average $6,000; 2024: $136,399, average $4,547; 2025: $63,421, average $2,883) and questions about harm reduction and tracking of non-target individuals. Councilmembers Bunch and Moore expressed concerns about drug enforcement effectiveness and public health impacts.

Key Outcomes

Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
B1 (Salvation Army Matching Funds): Adopted 7-0-1 (Minister Jones abstained).
B2 (PCD on N. Devil Springs Road): Tabled to October 7, 2025, by unanimous vote.
C1 (South Cato Springs Cost Share): Passed unanimously.
C2 (Vacation at 835 W. Cleveland St.): Passed 7-1 (Councilmember Turk voted no).
C3 (Rezoning 1893 N. Rupple Road): Passed unanimously.
C4 (Rezoning 2135 E. Huntsville Road): Passed unanimously.
C5 (Rezoning 261 E. Rock Street): Passed unanimously.
C6 (Rezoning 380 S. Happy Hollow Road): Passed 7-1 (Councilmember Jones voted no).
C7 (MOA with Fayetteville Public Schools): Passed unanimously.
C8 (Arkansas Prosecutor Coordinator Grant): Passed 7-1 (Councilmember Moore voted no).
C9 (Drug Task Force Federal/State Grant): Passed 6-2 (Councilmembers Jones and Moore voted no).

Meeting Transcript

Eager whatever we are. Okay, I will now call Tuesday, September 2nd, meeting of the Fateville City Council to order. Clerk Paxton, will you please call the roll? Mr. Weaker. Here. Mr. Berna? Here. Ms. Bunch. Here. Ms. Dark? Here. Minister Jones. Present. Mr. Stafford? Here. Here. Ms. Moore? Here. Mayor Rowan. Here. Please join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Okay. Our first order of business. Actually, but before we get to that, I am going to make an announcement that we have received a request from the applicant relating to item B, B as in Boy, B2, under unfinished business, the PCD on North Devil Springs Road. We've received a request to table. It is up to council when it gets to that time whether they vote to table or not. But just so that you know, if you were here to talk about that item, there's a strong likelihood that it will be it almost certainly will not be uh heard tonight. So I want to let you all know that as a courtesy if you all are waiting for that. Um, and first up, we have our sales tax and monthly financial report from Chief Financial Officer Steven Dotson. Good evening, Mayor and Council. This is the uh June sales tax report for taxes received in July of 2025. In June, taxable sales in the city totaled approximately 289 million, which was an increase of nearly 4.7 percent or 12.8 million compared to June of 2024. This increase was led by the other services sector, where commercial and industrial machinery and equipment was up 3.3 million dollars. Transportation and warehousing was up 2.5 million in taxable sales for the month. Wholesale trade was up 2.1 million, and retail trade was up 1% in June or around $2 million. The food services and accommodation sectors were down around 2% in June, or approximately $632,000 from last year. All in all, though, we did note a 4.7% gain in taxable sales compared to 2024. And now to move on to the actual tax collection results for Fayetteville, which are June sales taxes received in July of 2025. And for a comparison of June 2025 to June 2024, the city one penny was up 4.5 percent. The county portion of the city was up 6%. This results in a total combined sales tax collection increase of 5.2% or 250,000 compared to June of 2024. Year to date, the combined city and county sales tax are up approximately 5.4% or 1.78 million compared to last year at this time. In the general fund, the city's up around 5.4% or 204,000 compared to last year. Now in comparing June of 2025 to what we budgeted for, uh the city one penny sales tax is up around 1.5% compared to budget, the county portions up around 2.9 percent for a combined total for the month of June up 2.1 percent compared to budget or around 107,000.

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