OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Fayetteville City Council Meeting Summary - February 3, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, February 4, 2026
BodyFayetteville, Arkansas
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, February 4, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:10:07

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening, everyone.

0:01

I'd like to welcome you to our uh February 3rd, 2026 City Council meeting.

0:07

Um we have a lot of rezonings tonight.

0:11

First thing I'd like to tell there's not too many people in the audience, but the drill is you turn your phone off.

0:17

That's what I'd like to ask if you turn the turn it to silent or turn the turn it off completely.

0:22

Ums Paxton, would you please call the roll?

0:26

Ms.

0:27

Bunch?

0:28

Here.

0:29

Ms.

0:29

Turk?

0:30

Here.

0:31

Minister Jones?

0:32

President.

0:33

Mr.

0:34

Stafford?

0:34

Present.

0:35

Dr.

0:36

Jones.

0:38

Ms.

0:38

Moore here.

0:40

Mr.

0:40

Wiedaker?

0:41

Here.

0:42

Mr.

0:42

Berna?

0:43

Here.

0:44

Mayor Ron is absent.

0:46

Yes.

0:47

Thank you.

0:48

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:13

Okay, our first item tonight.

1:15

Um we have a presentation for the sales tax and monthly financial report.

1:22

Is that right, Stephen?

1:23

And that will be presented by Stephen Dodson.

1:28

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

1:30

This is the November sales tax report.

1:33

In November, we saw taxable sales in the city totaling approximately 288 million, which was a decrease of nearly 1.3% or $3.7 million compared to November of 2024.

1:46

Retail trade did post a positive gain.

1:49

It was up roughly 2% year over year, representing an increase of 3.1 million, but that was offset by several sectors that were down.

1:57

We saw accommodation and food services that was down roughly 11% or nearly $5 million.

2:05

We also did note we had some significant tax rebates affecting both the construction and education services sectors, which were down 1.2 million and 8.3 million respectively.

2:17

Overall rebates in November of 2025 had increased by over 60% compared to November of 2024, and those rebates totaled roughly 10.3 million.

2:28

This effect was largely due to construction related rebates associated with University of Arkansas projects.

2:35

So we we don't feel like this is necessarily a contraction overall.

2:49

Moving on to the actual tax collection results in November of 2025 compared to 2024, the City 1 penny was down 1.32%.

2:58

The county portion to the city was down 1.88%, resulting in a total combined sales tax collection decrease of 1.57% or roughly $80,000 compared to November of 2024.

3:13

Year to date though, the combined city and county sales taxes are still up approximately 4.9% or 2.8 million compared to November of last year.

3:24

And now to compare uh the tax revenues to what was actually budgeted in November of 2025.

3:30

The City 1 penny was down approximately 0.28% compared to budget or roughly $8,000.

3:36

The county portion was down 2% for a combined total for the month of November, down 1.1% compared to budget or roughly $56,000.

3:47

And as mentioned a few minutes ago, um, even with those negative numbers for the month of November, this is still going to put the city uh on a year-to-date basis compared to budget, up a combined 2.6% or roughly 1.5 million for sales tax.

4:01

So overall, uh, it's been a good year for us.

4:04

So we've been up compared to budget.

4:06

Uh it's just we had uh kind of a rough month there.

4:10

Any any uh questions I can answer for you on the sales tax report?

4:16

I just had one.

4:18

Uh Minister Jones, I'm sorry, I didn't see which one came on first here, but thank you, Vice Mayor.

4:25

Um you said the food services was down five million.

4:29

Was that um one a 30-month 30-day period?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Procedural██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Flood Management███████7%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Public Engagement███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Fayetteville City Council Meeting - February 3, 2026

The Fayetteville City Council convened on February 3, 2026, to review financial reports, approve multiple zoning changes, and address public concerns regarding infrastructure and development. The meeting began with a review of the November 2025 sales tax and December 2025 monthly financial reports, followed by the approval of the consent agenda, a road vacation, and several rezoning petitions. A significant portion of the evening was dedicated to a Planned Zoning District (PCD) amendment at Crossover and Zion Road, which, due to significant public concern regarding flooding, traffic, and walkability, was tabled for further review.

Consent Calendar

  • Sales Tax & Financial Reports: Vice Mayor Stephen Dodson presented the November 2025 sales tax report, noting a 1.3% decrease compared to November 2024 (totaling nearly $3.7 million less), attributed largely to tax rebates in construction and education sectors. Councilmember Moore requested data on potential floating rebate liabilities; staff confirmed such data is not accessible from the state. The December 2025 monthly financial report showed the General Fund up 2.9% (approximately $2.1 million) against budget. Councilmember Jones inquired about loans between departments; staff clarified a $30,000 loan to the Stormwater Management fund will be repaid in the first half of 2026.
  • Consent Agenda Approval: The Council suspended the rules and unanimously approved the consent agenda. Vote tally: 8-0 (Councilmember Jones voted No on the suspension motion, then Yes on the approval motion).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • PCD Amendment (Crossover/Zion Road): Three residents—Nick Anthony (3301 East Zion), Kelly Stewart (3306 East Zion), and Lisette Robles (3281 East Zion)—addressed the Council regarding the proposed PCD modification.
    • Positions: All three speakers expressed strong opposition and significant concern regarding the project.
    • Key Concerns: Residents argued the project exacerbates flooding due to inadequate stormwater detention history in the area (citing personal experiences of homes flooding multiple times). They expressed opposition to the scale of the proposed 50,000-square-foot grocery store and gas station, arguing it contradicts the walkability goals of the City 2040 plan. They noted that while bicycle racks and trails were proposed, the design still forces users to navigate parking lots or major roads to reach the facilities, and they highlighted traffic safety concerns at the intersection of Zion and Crossover.
  • Food Commission Amendment: Councilmember Moore offered support for the amendment to the Food Commission bylaws, emphasizing the need to address food insecurity locally.

Discussion Items

  • Rezoning (West Michael Cole Drive - RCN 2025-050): The applicant requested to table the item. Council unanimously voted to table the rezoning of 7.67 acres from RA to RI-12/CCR to the next meeting (February 17).
  • Vacation (West Cato Springs Road - VAC 25-28): The Council approved the vacation of 0.01 acres of right-of-way. The item was reviewed with staff clarifying that previous errors regarding utility easements were corrected. The Council unanimously voted in favor of the vacation.
  • Vacation (South School Avenue - VAC 25-32): The Council approved the vacation of 0.36 acres of utility easement to facilitate a large-scale development project. Staff and applicants confirmed that the developer is dedicating additional right-of-way (3-17 feet) and improving infrastructure to accommodate the South School improvements and street design. The Council unanimously voted in favor.
  • Rezoning (North Double Springs Road - RZN 2025-66): Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approving the rezoning of 1.18 acres from RA to RI-12. Councilmember Jones expressed concern that this development continues sprawl and lacks high infill scores (noting low transit access). Councilmember Whitaker noted the area has existing paved infrastructure and services. Councilmember Moore expressed support for the project, stating that while the Council must continue weighing development at the edges, the existing infrastructure (roads, water, sewer) supports this density.
  • Rezoning (South Washington Avenue - RZN 2025-63): The Council approved the rezoning of 0.40 acres from NC to RIU (Residential Intermediate Urban). Staff noted the property is consistent with the Will of Bidd subdivision plan. Councilmember Moore expressed support for increasing density in the city center.
  • Rezoning (North Garland Avenue - RZN 2025-65): The Council approved the rezoning of 0.40 acres from RSF-4 to RIU. Staff addressed concerns about stormwater capacity and access, confirming the utility department had no significant concerns despite a known wet weather sewer issue nearby.
  • Rezoning (East Huntsville Road - RZN 2025-68): The Council approved the rezoning of 0.83 acres from a split zone (RSF-4, RMF-24, C1) to CS (Community Services). Councilmember Berna expressed full support, viewing the development as an appropriate node for the neighborhood.
  • Rezoning (North Addington Avenue - RZN 2025-64): The Council approved the rezoning of 0.33 acres from RSF-4 to RSF-18 subject to a Bill of Assurance limiting the property to two homes. Staff recommended denial fearing the Bill of Assurance might artificially suppress future development, but the Planning Commission recommended approval to address density concerns. Councilmember Turk expressed concern about the tight site and potential future density increases if the assurance is removed, but ultimately expressed comfort with the current request given infrastructure limitations in the area.
  • Rezoning (North Rupel Road - RZN 2025-62): The Council approved the rezoning of 4.8 acres from a triple-zone (C1, RSF-4, RMF-12, RSF-8) to CS (Community Services). Staff and applicants highlighted the lot's compatibility with the Weddington Corridor Plan and surrounding mixed-use neighborhood. The Council unanimously voted in favor.
  • Food Commission Bylaw Amendment: The Council approved an amendment to provide staggered three-year terms for the Food Commission to ensure continuity. Councilmember Minister Jones facilitated the item, noting it was necessary to address missing term definitions.
  • PCD Amendment (Crossover and Zion Road - PCD 2025-05): The Council considered amending the Planned Zoning District to allow a 50,000-square-foot grocery store and gas station.
    • Staff Position: Staff recommended approval, citing compatibility with the surrounding auto-oriented area and the ability to incorporate supplemental pedestrian elements (wall, plaza, trail connection) to offset the lack of a building-to-front.
    • Applicant Position: Will Kelstrom (applicant) stated the 50,000-square-foot store size was necessary to meet customer expectations and that the site layout prioritizes safety for pedestrians and vehicular traffic. He expressed support for the pedestrian improvements and noted the convenience store is flipped to engage the trail.
    • Council Deliberation: Councilmembers Turk, Berna, Moore, and Stafford expressed significant concern and opposition to the current proposal. Key concerns included flooding/stormwater impacts (citing historical flooding in the area and legacy drainage issues), traffic safety without a new study, and the contradiction of a large-box retail format with Vision Zero and walkability goals. Councilmember Turk noted she would not have approved the original annexation with this type of project. Councilmember Moore emphasized the need to honor the original compact neighborhood vision. The Council agreed to hold the item pending a new traffic study, clarification on stormwater flow paths, and better integration with the adjacent Chandler Crossing development.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted: November 2025 Sales Tax Report and December 2025 Monthly Financial Report.
  • Adopted: Consent Agenda (Suspended rules approved 8-0; Final approval 8-0).
  • Adopted: Vacation of Right-of-Way at West Cato Springs Road (VAC 25-28) - Unanimous.
  • Adopted: Vacation of Utility Easement at South School Avenue (VAC 25-32) - Unanimous.
  • Adopted: Rezoning of West Michael Cole Drive to Table the item to February 17.
  • Adopted: Rezoning of North Double Springs Road (RA to RI-12) - Vote: 6-2 (Ms. Turk and Minister Jones voted No).
  • Adopted: Rezoning of South Washington Avenue (NC to RIU) - Unanimous.
  • Adopted: Rezoning of North Garland Avenue (RSF-4 to RIU) - Vote: 6-2 (Ms. Turk and Minister Jones voted No).
  • Adopted: Rezoning of East Huntsville Road (RSF-4/RMF-24/C1 to CS) - Unanimous.
  • Adopted: Rezoning of North Addington Avenue (RSF-4 to RSF-18) Subject to Bill of Assurance - Vote: 7-1 (Ms. Moore voted No).
  • Adopted: Rezoning of North Rupel Road (Multiple zones to CS) - Unanimous.
  • Adopted: Amendment to Food Commission Bylaws (Three-year staggered terms) - Unanimous.
  • Tabled: Planned Zoning District Amendment (PCD 2025-05) at Crossover and Zion Road. The item was not voted on and will be revisited at the next meeting to address public concerns regarding flooding, traffic safety, and walkability. Council members requested a new traffic study and clarification on drainage flow paths.
  • Adjourned: Meeting concluded with announcements for the State of the City address and a public input session on the animal shelter bond question.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. I'd like to welcome you to our uh February 3rd, 2026 City Council meeting. Um we have a lot of rezonings tonight. First thing I'd like to tell there's not too many people in the audience, but the drill is you turn your phone off. That's what I'd like to ask if you turn the turn it to silent or turn the turn it off completely. Ums Paxton, would you please call the roll? Ms. Bunch? Here. Ms. Turk? Here. Minister Jones? President. Mr. Stafford? Present. Dr. Jones. Ms. Moore here. Mr. Wiedaker? Here. Mr. Berna? Here. Mayor Ron is absent. Yes. Thank you. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Okay, our first item tonight. Um we have a presentation for the sales tax and monthly financial report. Is that right, Stephen? And that will be presented by Stephen Dodson. Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is the November sales tax report. In November, we saw taxable sales in the city totaling approximately 288 million, which was a decrease of nearly 1.3% or $3.7 million compared to November of 2024. Retail trade did post a positive gain. It was up roughly 2% year over year, representing an increase of 3.1 million, but that was offset by several sectors that were down. We saw accommodation and food services that was down roughly 11% or nearly $5 million. We also did note we had some significant tax rebates affecting both the construction and education services sectors, which were down 1.2 million and 8.3 million respectively. Overall rebates in November of 2025 had increased by over 60% compared to November of 2024, and those rebates totaled roughly 10.3 million. This effect was largely due to construction related rebates associated with University of Arkansas projects. So we we don't feel like this is necessarily a contraction overall. Moving on to the actual tax collection results in November of 2025 compared to 2024, the City 1 penny was down 1.32%. The county portion to the city was down 1.88%, resulting in a total combined sales tax collection decrease of 1.57% or roughly $80,000 compared to November of 2024. Year to date though, the combined city and county sales taxes are still up approximately 4.9% or 2.8 million compared to November of last year. And now to compare uh the tax revenues to what was actually budgeted in November of 2025. The City 1 penny was down approximately 0.28% compared to budget or roughly $8,000.

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