Fort Smith City Board of Directors Meeting - July 21, 2026
Fort Smith City Board of Directors Meeting - July 21, 2026
This meeting of the Fort Smith City Board of Directors included a proclamation honoring Officer Cal Newman, a controversial ordinance moving the citizens' forum to study sessions, and several routine approvals. The board also heard extensive public comments on topics ranging from riverfront bathrooms to data center regulations and homeless services, and took action on property, electrical codes, and financial reports.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 6A: Accepted a $2,440,937.55 grant from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnerships program for the May Branch Railroad Trail Phase 1, with a local match requirement. Passed 6-1.
- Resolution 6B: Authorized an engineering services agreement with Hawkins Weir Engineers for design of Spradling Avenue Extension Phase 2 ($83,230). Passed 7-0.
- Resolution 6C: Accepted a bid and awarded a construction contract to Goodwin & Goodwin for an addition to the Solid Waste Services administration building ($934,518). Passed 6-0 with one abstention (Director Kittsavis).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Natalia Deer: Advocated for public restrooms at Riverfront Park, noting the inconvenience of using John Bell Park facilities and the need to serve homeless individuals.
- Wendy Peer: Expressed concerns about data centers, citing electricity, noise, and water usage. Asked the board to develop zoning regulations to prevent large-scale data centers, and to commit to transparency in negotiations.
- Quentin Cunningham: Urged partnership between police and shelters, followed up on a veterinary cost proposal, and called for addressing root causes of homelessness through code enforcement, affordable housing, and community land trusts.
- Jason Skarbitz: Opposed moving the citizens' forum to study sessions, criticized city spending, and questioned the trail grant's cost and the external audit process.
- Shane McKinney: Opposed moving the forum, arguing the board should listen to citizens even if repetitive. Also discussed an incident where he intervened to separate a board member from a verbal confrontation.
- Janie Pugh: (Press secretary for Shane McKinney campaign) Thanked police and prosecutors for handling political threats, emphasized resilience of the democratic process.
- Jamichel Robinson: Thanked police for saving his life in 2021, submitted a proposed ordinance on parliamentary procedures and formal requests.
- Joe Elskin: Supported moving the citizens' forum to study sessions, supported the trail grant, and asked for shade trees to be preserved along Spradling Avenue.
- Joey McCutcheon: Updated on petition drive (3,851 signatures collected, but needs more), criticized the board for not allowing a vote on government change, and called for continued citizen engagement.
- Mitch Minick (Fort Smith Housing Authority): Corrected previous claims that CDBG funds were concentrated on the Housing Authority, showing that 9% of $5.5 million over six years went to the Authority, with many other organizations receiving funds.
- Darren Bircher (Housing Authority): Provided cost breakdowns for streets and drainage work at the Bailey Hill project, and noted the board could add a clawback provision to the funding agreement.
- Chris Connelly: Objected to the Housing Authority funding coming from the streets, bridges, and drainage fund, and requested study sessions on data centers and flock surveillance systems.
- Crystal Cadelli: Criticized CDBG funding for the Housing Authority, noting the city could use those funds for low-income areas directly. Also reported that 2,072 households had water shut off in the last 90 days, and urged prioritizing basic infrastructure over parks and trails.
- Richard Morris: Attempted to clarify a misunderstanding with Director Christina Kittsavis over the word "breakdown" from a previous meeting, and accused her of threatening legal action.
- Kristen Kitchens: Questioned the use of EPA funds for Whirlpool, noted lack of NPDES permits for Parrot Island and Acme Brick, and raised concerns about stormwater compliance.
- Dan Williams: Supported data center regulation, suggested selling excess city properties to fund cemetery maintenance, and questioned the trail grant's name change restriction. Also asked the board to investigate a noise mitigation grant for Cornell School.
- Teresa Jones: Raised an ethics concern about a board member voting on a zoning matter near properties owned by immediate family, and criticized the member for abstaining on the government change vote.
- Lavon Morton: Advocated for a lease arrangement for cemetery maintenance rather than city ownership, to allow flexibility in funding.
- Michaela Gaffney: Spoke about the need for stewardship and community leadership, and promoted a mental health event.
Discussion Items
- Proclamation - Officer Cal Newman Day: The board unanimously recognized Officer Newman for his bravery after being critically wounded in the line of duty on May 1, 2026. The mayor proclaimed July 21, 2026 as Officer Cal Newman Day.
- Ordinance Changing Citizens' Forum: The board adopted an ordinance (6-1) to move the citizens' forum from regular business meetings to the start of study sessions, reversing an April 2026 change. Director Settle argued it would improve meeting efficiency, while opponents said it reduces citizen access.
- Boy Scouts Property Reversionary Interest: The board considered three resolutions regarding the property at 1401 Old Greenwood Road. After discussion, Resolution 2A (removing the reversionary clause entirely) was adopted 6-1. The Boy Scouts attorney stated they have no immediate plans to sell, but want flexibility to lease or sell for scouting-supportive uses.
- Aluminum Wiring Ordinance: The board unanimously (7-0) passed an ordinance to allow smaller aluminum wiring (from 1/0 AWG down to #6 AWG) where permitted by national and state codes. A local builder testified it would reduce construction costs and attract projects. No citizen opposition was expressed.
- 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR): The board unanimously accepted the audit report, which received an unmodified (clean) opinion. Highlights included a general fund unassigned balance of $19 million, a net position increase of $38.4 million, and a debt service coverage ratio of 148% (up from 108% in 2023). The audit committee chair noted no material weaknesses.
- Partial Payment to Inliner Solutions: Approved 6-0 for construction progress on project 17-09-C1 (over $750,000).
- Director Forum: Multiple motions passed for future study sessions: (1) Alcohol sales on Sunday; (2) Discussing parliamentary procedures (Mr. Robertson's ideas); (3) Airport and Chamber of Commerce presentations; (4) Data centers (requested by Director Kittsavis); (5) Selling the parking garage; (6) FCRA (Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority) appearance. The board also approved several appointments to city boards.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance O-2026-XX: Passed 6-1, moving citizens' forum to study sessions. Emergency clause also passed 6-1.
- Resolution 2A: Passed 6-1, removing reversionary clause on Boy Scout property.
- Ordinance Amending Section 6-153: Passed 7-0, reducing minimum aluminum wiring size.
- Resolution Accepting 2025 ACFR: Passed 7-0.
- Resolution 5: Passed 6-0, authorizing partial payment to Inliner Solutions.
- Consent Calendar: Items 6A (6-1), 6B (7-0), 6C (6-0, one abstention).
- Future Study Sessions: Scheduled for August to discuss data centers, alcohol sales, city-owned parking garage sale, and airport/chamber presentations.
- Appointments: Approved unanimously for various boards and commissions.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the Fort Smith City Board of Directors meeting on this July twenty first of twenty twenty-six. Uh keep in mind these meetings are being televised live for the benefit of our residents who cannot be with us in person. At this time, I'm going to uh ask uh Director Rigo if he would do the invitation for us, and Director Neil Martin, uh, do the pleasure. Thank you. Please bow your heads and join me in a word of prayer. Lord, we come before you tonight uh grateful, grateful for the sunshine, grateful for the opportunity to be here together tonight. Uh, we ask for your wisdom to come over to our meeting this evening and to continue to bless us and our community and everyone within the sound of our voice with the opportunities that you continue to shower on us. We're so very grateful for those opportunities, and we come before you humbly in prayer tonight. It's in your name we pray. Amen. This time, Madam Clerk, would you please call the role? Directors regarding here. Good. Here, George gets having present. Christina's gets out of it here. Settled. Here, Martin. Here. Okay. Thank you very much. At this time, I would ask if there's any uh presentation by a board member on an item that's not already on the agenda. Okay, seeing none, we will ask for approval of the July seventh. So, thank you. All in favor. Thank you very much. We've got one of our very own that we do want to recognize. And we want to recognize our own police officer, uh, Officer Cal Newman. Uh and if you've been keeping up, you know his story of bravery and commitment to this city and to the work that he's doing with us. So I do have a proclamation. So if I can get the board members just to join me down front. Come on, Joey. Mr. Officer Newman. Go ahead, son. Officer Newman, if you could come down and join us. Thank you. Do you want a microphone? Okay. Thank you very much for for joining us, Officer Newman, and thank you for being with us as well. City Fort Smith proclamation recognizing Officer Cal Newman for his bravery and dedication. Whereas the Fort Smith Police Department stands as an emblem of safety, security, and community engagement, and whereas Officer Cal Newman has faithfully served the City of Fort Smith as a member of the Fort Smith PD since January twenty-seventh of the year 2025. And whereas throughout his tenure, Officer Newman has distinguished himself through his commitment to excellence, community engagement, and public safety, while demonstrating unwavering professionalism and dedication to serving the people of Fort Smith, Arkansas, with integrity, honor, and selfless devotion. And whereas on the morning of May first of 2026, Officer Newman responded to what appeared to be a routine incident. And during the course of driving while intoxicated investicated investigation, he was critically wounded in the line of duty while attempting to protect the public and uphold the law. And whereas despite suffering life-threatening injuries, Officer Newman stands here this evening, demonstrating extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination through how throughout his recovery and inspiring his fellow officers and the Fort Smith community with his unwavering strength and perseverance. And whereas the City of Fort Smith proudly recognize Officer Cal Newman for his selfless service and the bravery and his steadfast devotion to the principles of justice, public safety, and the protection of our community. Qualities that exemplify the highest ideals of law enforcement. Now, therefore, our George B. McGill, the mayor of the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas, do hereby proclaim July the twenty-first of the year 2026 as Officer Cal Newman Day and in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I encourage all citizens to join me in celebrating and acknowledging the outstanding bravery, dedication, and sacrifice of Officer Cal Newman.
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