OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Fayetteville City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, January 13, 2026
BodyFayetteville, Arkansas
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:46:50

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

We are calling to order the agenda session.

0:03

Today is Tuesday, January 13th.

0:07

And this is uh the city council agenda session for next week's meeting.

0:12

We'll be starting off next week.

0:14

I'll be delivering a proclamation to the Fayetteville high school cheerleading team and coaches.

0:21

Um and then we will have an award presentation from our city attorney, Kit Williams, and then a progress report.

0:30

Um Clerk Paxton, will that be from members of the youth advisory?

0:34

Okay, yes, for members of the youth advisory council.

0:37

Um I'm now gonna read the consent agenda.

0:41

So um, and we have staff here to come up and and talk about any of these items.

0:48

So just jump in.

0:50

This can be, you know, less formal than a meeting for sure.

0:53

First, we'll have the meeting minutes.

0:56

And then um next step is um on the consent is an item from Marley.

1:02

It's a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a southern city's economic initiative planning grant in the amount of $55,000 to support a project to inventory vacant residential properties and pilot a workforce development program focused on affordable housing, rehabilitation and repair, and to approve the associated budget adjustment.

1:24

And Marley is here and prepared for questions.

1:26

Miss Moore.

1:27

Or just said present in general.

1:29

Yes, please.

1:30

Absolutely.

1:32

Yeah.

1:44

I don't know if your mic's on.

1:45

I'm sorry.

1:46

Is it I think there's a switch on he's coming to help.

2:01

Thank you.

2:04

So we recently talked about uh this item a few weeks ago before we submitted our grant application.

2:08

So this is a second phase grant um with the National League of Cities with a really cool program called the Southern Cities Economic Initiative, um broadly focused on sort of uh trying to synchronize some work between the housing and community services department and the long-range planning team.

2:23

Um so the first piece uh will really be the focus of 2026, focusing on creating an inventory of vacant properties with sort of a special focus, I think in South Fayetteville, but potentially opportunities to expand beyond that, um, you know, where it makes sense to align for other projects.

2:39

Um, and then the second piece would be the work for 2027, which will be focused on the workforce development program.

2:44

Um so it's some additional work that will be done there in terms of identifying strategic partners to make that piece happen.

2:51

But uh we're we're excited that we've been selected for another grant from this program.

2:56

I think staff that have been involved with it uh sort of in the planning phase really enjoyed a lot of the technical assistance we received.

3:02

We'll also have some opportunities to travel to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and receive some additional training throughout the first and second quarter of this year.

3:12

So happy to answer any questions about this grant.

3:17

Okay, go ahead.

3:18

Um I just wanted uh check and see uh we all define South Fayetteville in different ways, and so I was curious because it looks like we're targeting um uh housing to for preservation, it looks like.

3:31

And I know um into kind of our downtown area, we've really had a lot of pressures on those how uh housing units as well, and so just curious what our South definition is and if that's movable at all.

3:44

Yeah, no, absolutely.

3:44

I I think that's a great question.

3:46

Um, one of the things I've enjoyed most about being involved with this program is they've been pretty flexible with allowing us to kind of alter scope over the course of the engagement.

3:55

So we'll have our first meeting as kind of a cohort on Thursday.

3:59

Um so I'll be on that call as will our long-range planners.

4:02

So that's something that I think is definitely in front of mind for us of thinking about sort of some initial tweaks we might need to make to the timeline answer, the scoping of that project.

4:10

So I think that's definitely something we've been talking about more generally of um, you know, even do we want to keep it just focused on vacant properties?

4:16

Do we want to think about um you know properties you might categorize as underutilized?

4:21

So I think there's definitely some flexibility to make some changes at the margins there and use the analysis um to the best of our um, you know, being able to make that analysis useful for multiple topics.

4:31

And just a follow-up, so would it be fair for us to potentially send you in if there's particular areas that we feel like over time we've kind of seen those pressures that we might might want for consideration, kind of now would be the time to kind of send on your direction then that would be great.

4:44

Thank you.

4:45

Teresa.

4:47

Um, so I I guess I just wanted to clarify is it the is it properties that have houses that are run down or vacant, or is it just properties that don't have anything on there at all that are just absent of any structures?

5:00

Yeah, I think you know part of this idea really came from sort of like that resident uh driven pitch that we had in September.

5:06

And I think their initial concept was really focusing on vacant properties that are maybe not in the best shape, maybe good candidates for repair rehab programs like the one that we offer through the city.

5:16

Um I think there's definitely some flexibility though, like we might kind of open up that that aperture to include other properties too.

5:22

So if there's um anything you're particularly interested in, um, but again, can encourage you to send me a note and we can think about what might make sense.

5:29

I mean, I can even think of a property um around Wilson Park that might be of interest.

5:34

So yeah, if they're if you know complaints that we've had or something.

5:37

So uh being able to provide that kind of information, I think will will hopefully help be helpful to you all.

5:43

Excellent.

5:44

Thank you.

5:44

Thanks.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████30%
Public Engagement█████████████████████21%
Community Development Block Grant██████████10%
Public Safety████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Zoning And Land Use█████5%
Historic Preservation████4%
Mental Health Awareness███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Fayetteville City Council Meeting - January 13, 2026

The Fayetteville City Council convened on January 13, 2026, for an agenda session to review and approve various resolutions, ordinances, and reports ahead of the formal city council meeting scheduled for the following week. The session covered routine consent items, deferred zoning rezonings, the adoption of updated council rules of order, and a housing department update, concluding with community announcements.

Consent Calendar

  • Meeting Minutes: Approved by general motion.
  • Grant Acceptance: Resolution to accept a $55,000 grant from the Southern Cities Economic Initiative (National League of Cities) to inventory vacant residential properties (phase 1, 2026) and pilot a workforce development program for affordable housing (phase 2, 2027). Staff noted flexibility to adjust the geographic scope (e.g., South Fayetteville definition) and the inclusion of underutilized properties based on future cohort discussions.
  • Engineering Contract Amendment: Resolution to approve Amendment No. 3 to the professional engineering services contract with Hawkins We Are Engineers (not to exceed $976,480) for utility relocations along Highway 112. Council confirmed the project timeline is pending Department of Transportation schedules but construction is expected to start soon. The funding is 90.74% reimbursable from the DOT.
  • Waste Hauling Agreement: Resolution to approve a two-year agreement with Trash Haulers LLC for solid waste hauling, with automatic two-year renewal options.
  • Recycling Cart Purchase: Resolution to purchase 27,800 recycling carts and related services from Schaefer Plastics of North America ($1,333,274.45) plus a contingency of $133,327.45. Timeline targets cart receipt in early May and program launch in early June; glass collection status remains undefined.
  • ARPA Funds Reallocation: Resolution to commit $3,750 in returned American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Child Care Assistance Program. Staff indicated this is likely the final cleanup allocation, as nonprofits have until December 31, 2026, to spend funds.
  • Fire Department Mental Wellness Program: Resolution to approve a one-year contract ($75,000) with Nikki Penn Counseling and Consulting PLLC for mental awareness programs. The program is voluntary for employees, offering single sessions to prevent crises, with options to renew up to four additional years.
  • Radio Equipment Purchase: Resolution to purchase mission-critical fire and police radio equipment ($2,561,648.79) from Motorola Solutions Inc. This covers 286 radios (177 police portable, 80 fire portable, 29 mobile) and includes seven-year warranties and five years of software services. Staff clarified this is part of a multi-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) with approximately $400,000 remaining to be requested in 2027.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Staff Presentation on Radio Project: Deputy Chief Tad Scott presented details on the radio equipment replacement. He noted that current radios (mostly 2001-2011 models) are obsolete or out of warranty, making repairs costly or impossible. He confirmed that while 286 new radios are being purchased for Fire and Police, the previous 2023 equipment replacement covered other departments (Water, Sewer, Animal Services).
  • Motorola Selection Rationale: Council members inquired about vendor selection. Chief Reynolds and Deputy Chief Scott defended the choice of Motorola, citing 15+ years of proven reliability, advanced features (cellular/Wi-Fi integration), and region-wide compatibility, despite higher initial costs compared to competitors.
  • Budget Terminology Clarification: Council member Teresa Brown and staff member Steven Brown clarified the distinction between "budget adjustments" (routine fund shifting) and "budget amendments" (significant transactions involving fund balance or reserves), noting that adjustments are standard for recognizing grant funds.
  • Zoning Clarifications: Regarding the North Penelope Lane rezoning, residents requested updates; staff confirmed no new formal amendments have been submitted yet. Regarding the South Futural Drive properties, Council member Moore expressed confusion about property access and utility easements; staff clarified that city approval for access across property lines requires consent from all adjoining owners.
  • Rules of Order Debate: Council members debated the proposed changes to the rules of order and procedure, specifically regarding the 15-minute limit on clarifying questions, the requirement for three council members to move an item from consent to new business during the agenda session (versus one at the regular meeting), and the removal of cell phone usage restrictions.

Discussion Items

  • North Penelope Lane (Old Business): The applicant requested reconsideration of a previous vote. The council tabled the item, waiting for the applicant to submit alternative proposals or assurances before proceeding.
  • Michael Cole Drive Rezoning (Old Business): A rezoning request from RA to RI-12 and CR. Staff confirmed the finalization of a conservation easement to be held by the City (not the developer) and provided an updated exhibit showing the overlay of the split zoning with the floodplain. The Planning Commission and City Staff recommended approval.
  • South Futural Drive Rezonings (Old Business): Two adjacent rezonings (RSF-4 to NSG) were discussed. The council noted the properties are on the slopes of Markham Hill and requested topographical exhibits and easement documentation regarding utility road access, which were provided via email. A site tour was requested, and the council plans to schedule this for Friday afternoon.
  • Oak Grove Historic District (New Business): An ordinance to establish the Oak Grove Historic District and codify the White Hangar at Drink at Drake Field Historic District. Planner Kylie Cole reported zero opposition. The district is a local historic district (requiring review of demolitions and major alterations), distinct from the honorary National Register districts. The boundaries were drawn by neighbors; some homes were excluded because they are newer than 50 years or owners declined participation.
  • UDC Amendment (New Business): An ordinance to repeal regulations on development in the city's planning area, removing references to the non-existent county planning area due to Act 314 of 2025.
  • City Council Rules of Order and Procedure (New Business): Discussion on the annual adoption of rules. Key proposed changes included:
    • A 15-minute timer for clarifying questions before public comment.
    • Requiring a 24-hour deadline for public presentation attachments (preferred as a PDF).
    • Removing smoking and cell phone usage prohibitions.
    • Removing the "orientation of new council members" section (to be handled via separate SOP).
    • Debate: Council member Moore and others expressed concern that rigid time limits might stifle complex questions. Council member Wiediger suggested a trial period with flexibility to extend time if needed. Council member Bunch emphasized the importance of efficiency to attract candidates with full-time jobs. A consensus formed to proceed with the proposed rules but with an understanding that flexibility can be granted for complex topics.

Key Outcomes

  • Adoption of Rules: The proposed Rules of Order and Procedure were discussed; the council will review the final version and vote on adoption in the next meeting to comply with state requirements.
  • Recycling Timeline: Confirmed target for recycling cart deployment is May 2026, with collections starting in early June.
  • Radio Project Funding: Approved the 2026 portion of the $2.5M radio project; remaining costs to be addressed in 2027 CIP.
  • Site Tours Scheduled: A site tour for the South Futural Drive properties is tentatively scheduled for Friday to review topography and access issues.
  • Housing Roadmap Preview: Chief Housing Officer Marley introduced the upcoming 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan and the new Housing Roadmap, noting that the last target area map (1992) is due for an update and that the 2026 Annual Housing Assessment will be released in March.
  • Community Event: Announced a "National Day of Racial Healing" meet-and-greet hosted by Dr. DeAndre Jones on Tuesday, January 20, at 1:00 PM.
  • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned after the housing presentation.

Meeting Transcript

We are calling to order the agenda session. Today is Tuesday, January 13th. And this is uh the city council agenda session for next week's meeting. We'll be starting off next week. I'll be delivering a proclamation to the Fayetteville high school cheerleading team and coaches. Um and then we will have an award presentation from our city attorney, Kit Williams, and then a progress report. Um Clerk Paxton, will that be from members of the youth advisory? Okay, yes, for members of the youth advisory council. Um I'm now gonna read the consent agenda. So um, and we have staff here to come up and and talk about any of these items. So just jump in. This can be, you know, less formal than a meeting for sure. First, we'll have the meeting minutes. And then um next step is um on the consent is an item from Marley. It's a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a southern city's economic initiative planning grant in the amount of $55,000 to support a project to inventory vacant residential properties and pilot a workforce development program focused on affordable housing, rehabilitation and repair, and to approve the associated budget adjustment. And Marley is here and prepared for questions. Miss Moore. Or just said present in general. Yes, please. Absolutely. Yeah. I don't know if your mic's on. I'm sorry. Is it I think there's a switch on he's coming to help. Thank you. So we recently talked about uh this item a few weeks ago before we submitted our grant application. So this is a second phase grant um with the National League of Cities with a really cool program called the Southern Cities Economic Initiative, um broadly focused on sort of uh trying to synchronize some work between the housing and community services department and the long-range planning team. Um so the first piece uh will really be the focus of 2026, focusing on creating an inventory of vacant properties with sort of a special focus, I think in South Fayetteville, but potentially opportunities to expand beyond that, um, you know, where it makes sense to align for other projects. Um, and then the second piece would be the work for 2027, which will be focused on the workforce development program. Um so it's some additional work that will be done there in terms of identifying strategic partners to make that piece happen. But uh we're we're excited that we've been selected for another grant from this program. I think staff that have been involved with it uh sort of in the planning phase really enjoyed a lot of the technical assistance we received. We'll also have some opportunities to travel to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and receive some additional training throughout the first and second quarter of this year. So happy to answer any questions about this grant. Okay, go ahead. Um I just wanted uh check and see uh we all define South Fayetteville in different ways, and so I was curious because it looks like we're targeting um uh housing to for preservation, it looks like. And I know um into kind of our downtown area, we've really had a lot of pressures on those how uh housing units as well, and so just curious what our South definition is and if that's movable at all. Yeah, no, absolutely. I I think that's a great question. Um, one of the things I've enjoyed most about being involved with this program is they've been pretty flexible with allowing us to kind of alter scope over the course of the engagement. So we'll have our first meeting as kind of a cohort on Thursday. Um so I'll be on that call as will our long-range planners. So that's something that I think is definitely in front of mind for us of thinking about sort of some initial tweaks we might need to make to the timeline answer, the scoping of that project. So I think that's definitely something we've been talking about more generally of um, you know, even do we want to keep it just focused on vacant properties? Do we want to think about um you know properties you might categorize as underutilized? So I think there's definitely some flexibility to make some changes at the margins there and use the analysis um to the best of our um, you know, being able to make that analysis useful for multiple topics. And just a follow-up, so would it be fair for us to potentially send you in if there's particular areas that we feel like over time we've kind of seen those pressures that we might might want for consideration, kind of now would be the time to kind of send on your direction then that would be great. Thank you. Teresa. Um, so I I guess I just wanted to clarify is it the is it properties that have houses that are run down or vacant, or is it just properties that don't have anything on there at all that are just absent of any structures?

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