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.
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.