Thank you all for uh October meeting uh parks of recreation.

First thing we have is our minutes from our previous meeting.

Everybody had a chance to take a look at that.

Corrections I'll entertain a motion to approve.

Aye aye.

First thing we have on the agenda is the uh Girl Scouts doing a presentation for us.

So I'm just gonna introduce it, and then they have a wonderful presentation with the board and everything.

They'll come and talk about it.

So just for you all's reference, we're talking about the pump house at Woodlawn Park.

You know, I think we all agree it could use a little revamp something.

So these lovely Girl Scouts are a service project, have plans to spruce it up a little.

So I'll spring in.

You guys can come up, introduce yourselves.

Thank you so much for having us today.

My name's Haley.

And this is Zoe.

Um we are part of Girl Scout Troop 4398, and we are seniors.

Um we are here because we are working on our silver project, which is the highest award of our level in Girl Scouts.

The silver award requires us to have an impact on our community.

Haley and I are going to do this by helping our community by painting the pump house to add artistic value to it.

Under oh overlooked parts of the community.

And to also spread kindness.

We hope to get this approved by December 19th.

We hope to get this approved because it's our goal to finish it by December 19th.

Thank you for your time.

Um, this is kind of a visual of what we were like a rough draft of what we were thinking of painting on the splash pad.

Kind of a play on words, splash into kindness.

Just a reminder.

And then this will be on the back.

So it could be questions.

Yes, if you have any questions.

So how are you girls going to fund your project?

Um, our money has I mean, our troop has saved up money over the couple of years, and so we're going to use that.

So will y'all be the two people doing it?

Well, are they people in your creep count?

Um, our parents will obviously help, but we're gonna be the main ones kind of running thought boards.

And what what timeline are you gonna be working on Saturdays or after Spring?

Yeah, probably most weekends.

Who's the artist in the group?

Um, well, like both of us.

Yeah.

Excellent.

Yes.

Do you get a badge for this?

Do you get like a um yeah, we get a pin.

Okay.

Um I don't think if Zoe has uh the bronze award pin, which you get whenever you're a junior, and you also do a community service project, right?

What?

When did you plan to start?

Um as soon as possible, if it gets approved.

What was the uh purpose for having it approved by December 19th?

Um, we hope to have it done by December 19th.

Oh so that just because like that's our timeline.

That's our deadline with the girl scouts.

Okay, perfect.

All right.

Any more questions?

Good dude.

Good job, for all.

Thank you for your time.

So I need a motion from y'all to approve the art as proposed and allow them to proceed.

We our department has already approved it, but is the commission?

We want your approval.

Okay.

I'll make a motion to approve.

Okay.

We've got a motion and a second for approve as presented.

All favor say aye.

All right.

Any opposed.

It passes.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

That's right.

That's cool.

Now we have to get them back to school before.

Well, you're not gonna have a few months.

I want to put y'all first and not nice.

I thought about it.

Alright.

All right, second thing we have is a revisit with our school year 26 through 30 capital improvements plan.

Yes, so if anybody wants to go to school with them now, that's it.

It depends on what's for lunch.

So this it did not change anything on this page from last month.

And as we've done in the few years past, we really what we're focusing on is next year.

Because we know everything beyond that changes.

Sometimes it changes mid year.

But next year's budget, you'll see, and kind of a comment we got is the big 5.1 million dollars for May Branch Greenway, just for everyone in the audience.

I think we all know that's because it's netted with over three million dollars in grants and private contributions.

So it looks like a lot, but it's not.

And then the other main one is redoing the tennis courts up at Creekmoor Park.

I think they have been extremely patient with us.

We did apply for a grant.

We haven't heard that back.

They were supposed to announce an early fall.

I don't know when fall is in the state's time, but I would have thought we would have received an answer.

But kind of meeting with USTA this past week at the ARPA conference, they're going to work with Wada and hopefully get them to apply for another grant.

So hopefully we'll hear back from that, at least with that one.

It's a year-round thing.

You don't have a big pool of applications you're sitting and waiting on.

But other than that, I'm happy to answer any questions.

2026 and even beyond that.

Sarah, how much of the um how much was Wada and USTA gonna fund of the as it is now?

I don't know of anything grant-wise.

I think there have been some private dollars raised and are being raised, but I do not know that amount.

Oh, go ahead.

No, I will say Wada has been very great to work with us on these improvements, and they've offered to help to be honest with you, they helped us write the narrative for the grant that we applied for for the city.

Oh, okay.

So um the skate and bike park uh money, is that for shape the shade shell.

Finally, the shade.

I did that for you.

Thank you.

As soon as I put it in there, I go, David Roberts is gonna love this.

I did so he loves it too.

You're welcome.

Yeah, yeah.

We're about to do that.

You know, they wait, they were patient with us, they did try to raise money, but you know, we're here, and as we know from the survey we did last year, more shade in our parks was a priority, so I think that's reflected here, and it will be a quality shade material instead of something that you do cheap and quick.

Where's it gonna be located?

That is to be determined.

I think we're gonna look at that and what makes the most sense because with that allocation, and I think there's some other dollars that might be available looking at that to where maybe it functions as a pavilion type setting with some seating area rather than just a cell shade or something like that.

So did did did that uh exercise pad ever turn into an exercise pad, or are we gonna be able to use that space?

We are able to use that space, and I know it's really where the kids congregate anyway in that corner or did I think the skating community would prefer that big half pipe go on there?

I don't I have concerns on whether or not it's safe to do that on that pad, but I think that would be the preference of the skating community, but I am 100% in favor of making that a pavilion.

I think it's just working from them and getting that feedback and then us making sure we're comfortable with putting that on that because to me it should be a bit bigger, but I'm not a skater, so I think using some resources we have with other cities outside of just the skating community, they'll be able to help us.

But the bottom line is they're finally gonna get a shape.

100% yes, as is proposed, unless someone changes something.

Let me clarify that.

Yes.

So it is my recommendation to finally do shape.

Okay.

Um well, if not, I'll take turns.

I appreciate your asking the skate people.

Ignore them.

So that's that's very good.

So I have another question.

You want to say um the second street parking lot, farmers market restrooms.

Do we have to wait another year to get those installed?

I think yes, because we have a plan for it, but with this being what we're proposing to do the Portland Loo, it's a new concept, and I mean I've seen it in person, but I want to have more time to really look at it.

And also kind of with we also need to work with Main Street Fort Smith, Downtown AMP, and also our planning commission to make sure we meet every requirement and then look at where the water is.

So yes.

But I say that.

We all know that sometimes we have money allocated in one year, and there's no way we're going to be spending it all.

So that's one of those smaller projects.

We can work on it this year, and then if we say, hey, we're not going to be able to spend all this money for this project, it's going to carry over into 2027, then we can move it up, but still doing the leg the background work that you don't see money-wise.

Yeah, that makes point of the sense.

Yes, yeah.

Is there is there something that a sign or something that we could put up saying future location of the marketplace restrooms or something?

I would not feel comfortable doing that right now.

There's still some hurdles that if this option is a good option, or if we need to look at something different, because if we do have to look at something different, it's going to increase that price a lot.

Okay.

Are they going to be also furnishing some money?

Have not discussed it with them because we kind of want to get this past you all, and then also the board, so we say, hey, we do have this plan, and then work with planning.

Do we know it?

I know it's not our project, but the seller shade that's going on down there.

Do we know if that's a done deal and when it's expected to it is a done deal.

It was expected this summer and then it was expected this month, but it's not ours, so I don't know where it is now.

End of this year.

End of this year's start.

That's what I was last told.

Okay.

Okay.

It won't take long to finish once they get going on it.

I don't know what their version of install is.

Like if it's installed and they're bringing it in and just putting it up for if it's ground up.

I don't know.

First of all, thank you so much for fixing the lights at Harley Wilson Park.

People wrote me back immediately, and we're so grateful, but you fixed them so quickly.

I mean, I think I messaged you, and the next day you were out there fixing them.

So okay, Brian, thanks.

Uh they emailed me or Facebook maybe as a thing.

And then I just can't remember.

And I had a question about uh Creekmore Park, the pump.

Yes.

Yeah, where I mean that's a disaster, right?

Because you need a new one.

Yes.

So that wasn't budgeted into this part that we just finished.

So is that in this budget or what has to happen?

It is what we are going to do.

It worked out well because ARPA's conference was last week, and a vendor was here, and we toured the site before they left Friday to kind of get have them do an assessment.

Of course, we had I don't know if you were here.

I don't think you were on the commission whenever we had a complete full-blown assessment done of the pool.

No.

And kind of talking with them, we we and the swim community didn't agree with what they said because they were trying to make it a like a true Olympic type pool, and that's not how we operate.

So we met with this company, and what they're going to do of note free of charge is take that assessment, and then all the photos they've taken and meeting with us and what our needs are, kind of do a draft proposal of what they think happens or should happen, and then we'll kind of review that and discuss with the administration if we can go ahead and engage with the preliminary design contract with them and get that in progress to design.

But it's it's gonna be a big big project.

It is that has to be done.

Okay, so it's not us just fixable pump.

It's complete system.

And then I think won't be done by next time.

No, no, and then there's I know kind of like with our playgrounds, whenever you touch something, you're no longer grandfathered in.

Right, and that's kind of they were hesitant, they go now.

If you go doing this, and I'm like, hey, we know it's gonna we have to get up to normal codes where we are, you touch it, we know we're in it to win it.

So is it your opinion that it's okay until all that happens?

It's okay for this year, we think we might have to replace something significant, but it's okay.

When at what point do you think you feel comfortable um adding a I know the line item was a placeholder, but then at what point do you feel comfortable adding another placeholder, which would be uh a dollar amount or pick a year and have I think that would ultimately be up to the board.

I know we're working through the master planning process now.

We have a very, very, very draft rough sketch that Madeline's on the steering committee that got to see yesterday, and I know they're nearing RDG is nearing their completion of when their current contract is they have their deliverable so once we get that it will be presented to the board, and you all are absolutely welcome to make a recommendation, but I do think the board will decide if we stop here or if we continue to proceed, and that's not to say the board doesn't want to proceed with the development.

That's not what I mean.

I think the city right now is in a very tight financial situation, and it's ultimately gonna be up to them kind of recognizing where we are because the master planning payment for that does not come out of cannot come out of our sales tax, it has to come out of the general fund.

So we're kind of relying on that.

Do we want to continue with this or do we want to use it for I don't know what else?

So that's kind of the difference, but just leave it up to the board.

I think their support, but I think there's also the we have to fund essential services to where this is an extra.

I think to be the one I I hate saying that, but from a financial perspective, I also understand it.

Sorry, that wasn't a positive answer, but we're in a tough situation right now.

Right, it's understandable.

Um, does the steering committee have an is there any indication as to what kind of uh maybe number of phases that this would they are not so this first agreement that we're under with under with RDG is not to phase it out that way, it's to pretty much have a conceptual plan with some cost estimates, some return on investment.

So I do not know, but for each piece of the development, whatever that may be at this point, we'll have a cost to do it, and then I think for us it's really citizens.

What do you prioritize and if your priority aligns with the funding available?

But the benefit of once you get the plan, then the funding to construct actually can come from this.

Okay.

I just want to be wary of of uh post-2026 adding things uh to the list because I know that's gonna be a big chunk of the next five years, probably if and it's through.

So I think we'll have a better idea of how it's gonna roll after the initial master plan concept plan.

I don't want to call it is presented both here and to the board.

Timeline for that we hopefully in the next four to six, I'm gonna say four to eight weeks, we'll have something that we can present here to the commission, and kind of with the holidays, I would expect probably January and not a hope for December.

I know I know there has been a lot, a lot of coordination between the engineering and our master planning.

A lot more than I want to know.

So I think every party is happy with the direction.

But again, priority stormwater mitigation.

Yes, and that is 100% happening, and kind of the proposals that RDG did actually increases the it makes it better.

So their coordination was 100% necessary on the front end.

Yeah, question.

Okay, um, so uh are we done with that topic because I don't want to change the subject.

Okay.

Um so this outdoor exercise is center line.

Um I know it's like way down the road.

But what is that?

What is that?

Not that so Creek Moore, you remember nothing like that.

So remember at Creekmore, they had little areas throughout the walking path.

That is something we've heard people want to have bring back.

Yes, so that's how I envision this.

Now, closer to time, 100% we need to get more input.

But I think people really benefited from that because I mean you also had something to get off the walking, but sometimes people are elderly and they can't walk long, so it was a little break.

So I think that's what we're looking to do.

Do that along like our walking paths.

It in all of our more major parks in all of the major parks right here, just here.

I think we would listen to what citizens most want, but I do think here would be nice, but I also don't know we have room to do as many here, but I think Tillis is an opportunity, and you know, even Martin Luther King Junior Park with May Branch cutting through it, so it's something maybe we can do and hit a lot of parks instead of focusing on one.

Yeah, yeah.

But not a consolidated parking lot.

Yeah, not a consolidated exercise station.

Right.

Okay, because that's what popped into my mind.

Sorry.

So that's okay.

And and the my last question though, my last question more about this page is why are why are we waiting until 2029 to do something with the pickleball foods?

There's no money.

And it they had for the first time ever, they had a permitted court tournament out there this weekend, and there were no issues.

I there's been Garrettville, a brand new courts, Greenwood has the four, and we're not seeing the need right now because we were gonna expand some, and the courts at Ben Garren are not being used that much.

So it's because it's been part of the blue blazes and nobody wants to play outside.

Yeah, so I just there's there's not really a need in what because those courts were never built to be tournament quality courts, they were something we want, won't want.

Boom, we have this, and we did it.

That's just kind of where it was, and I think Ben Garren and Greenwood, they both invested a lot of money to make very, very nice courts to where ours are recreational and recreational.

They're working, we've done some repairs, but they're nowhere in the vicinity of being an immediate need, like our other stuff.

Okay, well, I just you know, every now and then I hear about it.

So yes, every time a tennis net just gets off one bit, they have to be replaced.

So yeah, I think we were kind of waiting and seeing what big gear ideas and that kind of built again.

Yes, for sure.

And I do know they are thinking about, but I don't know where they are adding more courts at Ben Garren, but again, right now the usage isn't there.

Yep, so I'm kind of glad we were somewhat forced to hit pause on building those at John Bell to be honest.

Okay, thank you.

Um what is if any uh just parks and rec on the hook for the water slides out of it here?

I can't remember.

Is that I have not been given any direction or directive from administration that I should allocate any money, but I will what I do know is the installation part of the slides is currently out for bid, and my only involvement was that at NRPA, I got someone's business card and sent it to purchasing to say hey they might be interested, but I have not been given any direction that any money is coming from my sales tax.

I say mine, that sounds really bad.

Actually, parks and recreation has nothing to do with it, right?

Yes, Ben Garen.

The water park is not our departments.

Did we fund some of it?

Yes, but those water slides we currently have no affiliation with.

Okay, so no, there's no maintenance or anything that'll come up.

No, no.

I think the commission speaking up last year was very helpful.

So that uh actually reminds me of another question.

Um, if the city takes on the maintenance of the cemeteries, will that be a mercy?

I've heard you I I can elaborate or we can just let that we don't need it.

So we'll be honest, I don't I am not because of where we are financially, and something for us is we need vehicles, and we haven't even been able to get vehicles, so it's very difficult.

I mean, I think we understand it is an emotional thing, it's history, and we want to preserve that, but for our department, we would have to have a lot more funding.

I can't remember the exact number, but we were asked to present a budget for those.

It was something.

I mean, it was a lot, and we presented that based on if those cemeteries were to be maintained to the same level that we have established at Oak Cemetery.

And I know there was a rebuttal budget, submit or discussed, and then also the possibility of contracting that.

We weren't involved in either of those discussions.

All I know is we submitted the budget to where that's what it would take if you want them to look like Oak Cemetery.

But there's been no formal direction.

I don't know when it'll get brought back up again.

But it will it will be a major undertaking if it goes to us.

Yes.

The I I get information from the city of Appalachia Cola in Florida, which is a very small town, but still they just put out bids for having your cemeteries maintained.

Well, we tried that at Oak Cemetery.

Zero people wanted it.

Oh yeah, we tried.

It would be too piecemeal and all of that would be way too difficult.

Yeah.

Because even if it's contracted, you still have to have someone do the burials.

You have to have someone go help them pick out the plot, process all the deeds.

I think I think it's just a discussion that the board's having, you know, they have a few options.

What though what ultimately happens, I don't if they sell that.

I am do not know that part.

I do not know private cemetery business.

That's going to be done.

Yeah.

Do not know.

I guess bottom line, it would not affect this because this is capital improvements only.

It's not maintenance.

Correct.

Yeah.

And I I mean, just to be honest with you, there was a comment made during one, and someone asked if some of this sales tax could be used for the cemetery capital.

The initial answer was yes, but I am in disagreement.

So if that does come up, I think we would ultimately defer to legal on that.

If it's acceptable, because it was sold as a parks and recreation tax and not cemeteries.

So just so you all know that comment was made.

So I think it's fair that you all know that.

Okay.

Any other questions about the CIP.

So we need to do a uh vote to recommend that to move forward.

So move.

All right.

We've got a motion to accept.

Okay.

And a second.

Any other discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

We opposed.

And the board, this will be presented to the board during their October 28th study session.

So our November meeting, I will have an update on how that went.

Okay.

Project updates.

Alright, Tillis Park.

So we hosted the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association annual conference this past week.

And Tillis Park was one of the tour sites.

They did Tillis, Caroline, and Creekmoor.

And it's all finished.

The sod got laid and our wonderful staff that Brian will talk about later finish the seating.

But I mean, it's just it's an awesome project, very much needed.

Um this was taken Monday.

And you know, there are leaves on the turf, but you know what?

That's the price you pay for using natural shade.

I think it's 100% worth it.

We can blow them off whenever it gets bad.

But nothing but positive feedback from the public about this.

I got a text this weekend saying it was dope all the way around.

So I was like, you know what, it is.

This is just awesome.

It's it's a great.

I think someone who's in this office kids might be featured here in some of them.

You take such good photos, guys.

But it's complete, completely open for the public.

I think they're enjoying it for sure.

And I know it's in the CIP, but that parking lot in that area, we are going to resurface, provided that doesn't change after the board reviews it.

I'm gonna go ahead and get an engineering agreement, so hopefully we can bid it in early next year and it'd be ready for summer.

So that's my plan.

So there is grave use too.

It's really the since those improvements, they that park is the attendance there, wow.

And it's it's great.

Basketball courts that it's very nice.

We love it whenever we get to see people enjoy the parks.

So the Creekmore Park tennis courts, I know I'm not pointer.

Man, so we have the preliminary design.

I don't think I said it last week.

I think it's in the summary.

But the bottom four courts, that's where they put that rubber pad over the asphalt base.

We're going to completely do a concrete overlay.

We're not doing getting into that mess.

It's much more sustainable, and it's gonna be there much longer than if we just do a pad.

I think it lasted 10 years.

And the tennis players, they don't like it.

I don't like stepping on it.

So that's gonna be a concrete overlay.

The upper four courts are just gonna be a straight resurfacing, repairing the cracks, and we did talk, you'll see to the Wada and get their input.

That red X in between the courts, that is those stairs that I'm scared of.

They are in agreement that we can get rid of those stairs because you'll see the little red semi-circle to the east of that.

We can put gates there and have a little walking path to where they can go from one to the other without those steps.

They I don't I don't know who did them, but did you do it?

Okay, we didn't do it.

I think we've repaired it.

You have to access the crossover from the courts, or do you access it from the middle?

Well, the the you can still walk in between them, but to get from one court to the other, let's say you're playing on I don't know the court names, but the either of the two furthest east, you would just have to come out.

We're gonna add gates on that, and a brand new walking path.

Right now, it's just little little new walking path, so where they can go to both courts paved, and that one change with wada being agreeable to getting rid of those stairs and letting us do a path, it solves a big drainage issue.

So that was a win-win.

We didn't really know if they used those stairs.

Luckily, they're open to that, and then also having a bleacher pads, that's that light light gray area was for some spectator seating, and then an actual paved path to the two pavilions that are there, and then something that will change.

The fence is currently is it eight feet or ten?

There's two ten feet all the way around, talking with Wada on this east side where they expect a lot of spectators.

We're gonna do a four-foot fence in the middle of the courts so spectators can see it better, and it won't just be like, oh, it stops here four foot, and then you have this fence, it's gonna be to where the balls don't go everywhere.

So when I say that, but that's where that is.

Everything's looking like we're gonna bid by the end of the year for this, and another part of that is we're keeping the poles of the lights, going to paint them black to match everything, but getting new LED fixtures, and that's something they've needed as well.

And it's not on this site plan, but the uh how many are at the pool is it?

Two or four, four.

There's four poles that go to the competition pool, those are also going to be included in this project.

So everything is going to be LED finally.

So it'll have some cost savings on utilities.

That's where we are.

Are you guys doing anything else to address the drainage issue on the yes?

This has drainage in it, it's just not shown to the best we can without having because it's not our place to do that big stormwater drain, but we are doing everything we can to because right now there's not a crown on those four, and so there's gonna be talking with Wada.

We're gonna we got permission to do kind of a grate, a drain around in between those two furthest courts to the west and let that water drain there, and also do that for the other ones.

Yes, because it is a big issue.

So we're excited.

Awesome.

I think they're excited.

They again they've been very helpful in this whole process.

Are you gonna do upper and lower separately?

So there's always cords or we talked to them, Wada, and they were okay with us doing it all in one, and I said, listen, things happen, so we are going to phase it out because things happen.

So, yes.

I think the quickest one was to do the upper four cords, and then they have those surfaced, and then yeah.

Thank you.

Yep, and then Hillcrest Park improvements.

That redesign is complete after our residential four people, foreman foremans that were out there.

We did a redesign because they didn't like some things, and that's okay.

And that's okay.

So we caught it early enough to accommodate that, so it'll be better for them.

And it wasn't a major change, but it took a while to redesign it.

So those improvements are going along.

May branch greenway phase one B, those plans.

We got we received comments back from R Dot, and there's some changes that we have to make, not big, not big deal changes, that half is in the process of making, and then we'll be submitting those plans back to R Dot for this quarter's report.

So that's where that is.

And I know a question was asked about the grant funding last meeting, right?

It was last meeting.

So while I was at NRPA a few weeks ago, there was I purposely selected a session to go to with the outdoor recreation legacy program people submitting it, and I talked to them, and I said, Hey, this is the situation I know federal government doesn't like to talk to local, they like to talk to state.

And I said, Can you get us some contact information?

So we have that, and Chris Hoover and I are gonna kind of work that route.

But ARPA last week, our state guy was here that had not been returning calls, and there was a reason outside of their control, but there has been turnover in the ORLP.

I feel like this is the same song and that's we've been through.

But they're making progress for the ORLP grant portion, but he said the governor's funding, the additional funding from the state that came directly from the desk of the governor, her letter head.

So that is not an issue.

It's the federal issue.

So they're working through that, but I think we have some good contacts now.

I got permission to tackle the federal people.

Didn't have to do that though.

Tell me more than one B is one B is short North Seventh Street back to Greg Smith River Trail.

Thank you.

Yes.

Did uh is that the Hawklight um crossing ever get uh started or honestly, I do not know.

I do not know, but I can find out.

The audience is okay.

I'm sorry.

Okay, great.

That's one of those I trust street department.

There you go.

I don't know.

Thanks, Michael.

Yeah.

Then again, thank you to Josh and his team.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for Caroline Cross Park will be next Friday while the kids are on fall break at 10 a.m.

Come on out.

There might be a new addition to the parks department there.

J.R.

Tundra Frost, the new parks doll.

I pick her up Saturday.

So I'll be on paternity leave next week.

But yes.

Very excited for that.

That photographer that missed the opportunity because it was so uh nasty weather.

He should come for the ribbon cutting to look at the picture.

I think we have a pretty good photographer in this city.

But I meant oh I know, but I meant remember who's gonna do it for advertising for this company.

Yes.

The cute people adults and kids.

And then Caroline Croft Park.

We did receive for the boardwalk, Greenway and Boardwalk, the 2025 Hard Surface Trail of the Year.

ARPA.

So very excited about that.

Definitely a very worthy project.

Yes.

We did submit the bathhouse, but Jonesboro had to go and build their indoor complex, so we lost.

But very another well-deserved project, 100% in support of them getting that award.

But next year we plan to do Tillis Park, all those improvements, and then I'm sure something else will pop up that we'll submit.

And it's in Fort Smith again next year.

Anyone wants to come?

What?

The ARPA conference, Arkansas, the state parks and right.

Well, come on.

We you know Josh Josh's team and parks department are gonna run the show next year.

So we might be calling on y'all for some.

Is that the same one that was here when Doug was still here?

That none of us went to?

Yes.

Oh, that was awesome.

That was a live listen.

We go now.

Amber was wonderful and attended the banquet because I don't like recognition.

I don't like the awards thing.

I don't, I'd rather someone else do it, but Amber went with me.

So very excited.

Alright.

You're up.

Well, I think everybody's familiar with what we do this time of year.

We finish up the moment and get the holiday lights started.

So you can see we got the lift out there.

Well, at this time it was right out back.

I think they're over here now.

So just about done with all the big displays.

Got James and Vern, they're plotting out a grave up there.

I think they may actually be getting ready to set a headstone on that one.

So down here in the bottom left, we got a couple guys that are we're putting some seed out around the new Christmas tree after that playground.

It's kind of been a kind of muddy mess.

So sole temperatures are right, so we're throwing out some seed here.

Hopefully, it takes hold in about seven days.

We'll have some nice annual rye grass out there, so it won't be as muddy on the sidewalks.

And I like to say I think his maintenance staff and everything, they've done a little extra that it's not reflected in our capital improvement plan because it's not a big, but they're really gone above and doing extra that we see that I think the public sees, but they just don't realize that it's extra because they're just used to it by now.

So our maintenance staff have done a really really good job.

I know with the Christmas lights we have a lot of new people and talking to them earlier, it's going well.

It's slow and steady, but you know what?

You have to train people unless you want to live out the rest of your days here doing it.

And I'll be the only one to do it.

So hey, it's true.

I'm fine with living out the rest of my days, but some things, things I want to pass on.

Oh, I forgot one thing.

So you'll notice Linda is no longer with us.

What?

Should have said that a different way.

Um sorry, that's not that's not how I meant that to come out.

She retired, gonna spend some time with the new grandbaby, kind of suddenly retired, but Amber is the new Linda.

Very excited to have her in that position.

So she said she wouldn't stand up, and I said I'm not gonna make you do that.

Very excited.

Forgot that part, sorry.

Alright.

That's all we have, unless you guys have any questions if we miss something.

Yeah, they two things uh enforcement beautiful related.

Uh the fall cramp is uh 25th of this month.

It'll be across from Farmers Market.

We'll be there from 9 to 12.

We'll give you bags and gloves and some pickup sticks and reflective visors and head out in the city and pick up trash.

And I noticed today that's areas that keep Fort Smith beautiful arranged on the northeast corner.

Or both.

We arranged for it to be replanted and then the hard scrabble garden club came through and donated on the entire costume.

So it's real nice.

And then Brian's got system, the irrigation system up and work and kind of think we're gonna check.

There you go.

Uh also right down there, there's a little garden with squash plants in it.

Yeah, right there where that where that tree was.

I think somebody had a picnic and threw the seeds out of us.

Yeah, I guess that's it.

There's a whole butt, but maybe tomorrow it's squash.

It's right there, yes.

Hey, and so uh October 24th.

No, I'm not there yet.

No, that's commissioning staff's on it.

I got you a slide.

Yes.

Okay.

Public comments.

Hi, I'm Joe Elliskin.

I uh I don't represent a group right here.

I just represent my own opinion, but I was with a group where they were talking about reviving a tree ordinance that kind of developed and then went away.

Um I was just wondering if y'all could give me like feedback about the concept of a tree ordinance, constraints, concerns, yeah.

So I can answer that.

So we the city has a tree ordinance, but it is only specific to public property and mainly parks.

And I think that correct me if I'm wrong.

They're wanting to do a citywide ordinance for trees.

No, this is just an idea.

Okay.

This is this has I let me get you contact information from the state organization for Arbor Day Foundation.

Let me get you their contact information because I guarantee you they eat more easily than me can get you templates and stuff.

Okay.

So before you leave, let me get you that.

Sure.

Thank you.

Yep.

And anybody else.

Yes.

Commission and stuff.

Oh, yes.

You can go now.

Well, October 20.

Look, it's she's got the beautiful.

I have it for you.

This is a new idea that we have this year to light up the train track.

Train tracks and the cool tunnel so that we can be spooky.

Halloween express.

And it's gonna be free.

And Madeline needs volunteer for craft.

Yeah.

That evening will be good things in here and outside.

If someone wants to help with the punch cup again, the what?

Punch cup.

That's David.

Roberts is it's that is that time again.

Yeah, yeah, definitely.

And Christmas.

And uh sadly I have nothing to screw that back in there.

I was gonna say, I will text your wife.

So we'll have lots of games and things for kids to do, and we need the humans to stand by the games and make sure they're letting you know.

And then people will be on the train doing the express.

It's different than the little carnival type event.

So this year will be a learning experience, but I think we get better every year we do the same thing.

It's gonna be here.

I think that's pretty cool.

So spooky tube.

And the big pixel tree is going to be Halloween program.

Did I tell you all that we got our own radio station?

Did I tell you okay?

So whenever I say that, I don't exactly mean a real real one.

But we're using it's called Neptune Radio, and then next year we're gonna have real audio at the pool, the train shed, and put putting, and it's custom to us all clean songs that have been screened for everything, and you can customize messages so whenever like we have events in the park, it'll play and have that, and then community events kind of like peacemaker or something we can do, just plugs in for that, and at the pool it'll be nice to say, hey, 30 minutes we're closing, hey, 10 minutes, and it's all programmed.

We just didn't get to launch it yet.

But we do have that, and we're using revenue from Putt Hutt to pay for it.

And then also revenue from the concession to pay for it because we have two different radio stations.

So did you have a good summer wise?

Oh, yeah.

For sure, absolutely.

And staffing was okay.

Yes, we had the best worker ever.

We had a couple, but there was one we really really liked.

And she'll be back for Christmas, right?

She's for Christmas.

Yes.

It doesn't oh and put putt will be open on this event, but it is going to be you pay to play.

Great.

Not everything can be free or people bombard you.

But for five bucks, a game of golf, a snow cone, and a snack, you can't really beat that.

And we also talked about uh maybe having some hours that people could rent it for individual things.

I need to talk to legal to see what we need to do and how we revise it.

But that is something we plan to bring to you all because you all recommend the rates that we charge people for all of our facilities, so I think there's interest in that by a couple organizations, so we'll need to do that.

We I mean we want to make it affordable, of course, but we also need to think about staff time and if you want to do it just outside of operating hours or if you want to do it within, and honestly, I would be against that because you're gonna make a lot of people mad that came to play.

We do.

I think it's definitely whenever we have that, and we'll work through it, give it a proposal.

I think it'll be some good discussion that we need to have that I think it's ours to keep and maintain, and I'm happy about that.

Talk to that.

Yep.

Anything else?

Alright.