OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Fort Smith Board of Directors Regular Meeting - August 4, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 4, 2026
BodyFort Smith, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 4, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:52:08
Transcript — Verbatim
3:51

Good evening and welcome to enforcement city border directors meeting this August fourth of twenty twenty-six.

3:58

These meetings are being televised live for the benefit of our residents who can't be with us in person.

4:28

All of us here tonight and watching online, care about this community, and we strive to put our best foot forward, serving it and making decisions for the future of this wonderful place.

5:03

Thank you, gentlemen.

5:08

Madam Clerk, if you would please call the roll.

5:13

Directors Rigo.

5:14

Here.

5:15

Good.

5:16

Here.

5:16

Kemp?

5:17

Here.

5:17

George Kitsavis.

5:18

Christina Kitsavis.

5:20

Settled.

5:21

Here.

5:21

Martin.

5:22

Here.

5:23

Okay.

5:23

Thank you very much.

5:24

Just time I'll ask if there's any presentation by a board member of any item or business not already on the agenda.

5:33

Okay.

5:33

Seeing none.

5:35

We'll ask for approval of the July 21st, 2026.

5:39

Regular meeting and the July 30th, 2026 special meeting.

5:43

So moved.

5:44

Second.

5:44

Thank you.

5:46

All in favor?

5:47

Aye.

5:48

Thank you.

5:54

This time we will go to the first item on the agenda.

6:00

The first item tonight is an ordinance, rezoning properties on North 18th and North 19th Streets and amending an existing planning zoning district.

6:08

Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning, Tyler Miller will address this item.

6:14

Thank you, Mr.

6:15

Dingman and board.

6:16

On July 14th, Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the subject master and land use plan amendment and rezoning applications.

6:25

The three sites are located on North 18th Street, North 19th Street, between Northea and North G Street.

6:31

The proposed master land use plan amendment to mixed use residential and the planned zoning district application facilitates the development of a new transitional dwelling for Harbor House at 604 North 18th Street.

6:45

Approval also allows all four of the Harbor House properties within the vicinity to have consistent zoning.

6:52

A neighborhood meeting was held on June 22nd on site.

6:56

Ten neighboring property owners attend the meeting.

6:59

The neighbors had questions about the intent, timeline, and number of tenants within the proposed dwelling.

7:04

At the planning commission meeting, Chase and Garrett was present to represent these applications.

7:09

Two neighboring property owners were present with concerns regarding increased traffic and parking and parking in number attendants.

7:17

Plan motion uh excuse me.

7:19

The plan commission votes seven in favor and zero opposed to recommend approval to the board.

7:26

Okay.

7:26

Thank you very much.

7:28

Madam Clerk, are there any citizens' comments?

7:31

Uh we have two uh Chason Garrett and Carl Norris only to answer questions.

7:37

Okay, thank you for being here, gentlemen.

7:38

This time we entertained a motion to adopt the ordinance with suspension of the rules.

7:42

So thank you.

7:44

Madam Clerk, please read your ordinance.

7:46

In ordinance amending the master land use plan map and rezoning identified property and amending the zoning map, and this is for properties located at 522 and 604 North 18th Street and 605 and 615 North 19th Street.

8:00

Thank you.

8:01

Are there any comments from the board?

8:03

Director Neil Martin, yeah.

8:05

I think this is a uh a really attractive uh design.

8:09

So good work by uh you guys from the Harvard House.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Public Safety███████████13%
Infrastructure and Engineering███████8%
Public Engagement█████6%
Budget Equity Analysis███4%
Water And Wastewater Management███4%
Zoning Variance███3%
Property Management███3%
Tourism Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Fort Smith Board of Directors Regular Meeting - August 4, 2026

The Fort Smith Board of Directors met on August 4, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Blue Lion (101 North 2nd Street) to consider a range of items including a zoning change for a transitional dwelling, acceptance of a donation for fire department equipment, multiple consent decree sewer infrastructure projects, and authorization to initiate the sale of city-owned properties. The board also held an executive session regarding the city administrator appointment and voted to begin contract negotiations with a candidate.

Consent Calendar

  • Meeting Minutes: Approved minutes of the July 21, 2026 Regular Meeting and July 30, 2026 Special Meeting.
  • Consent Agenda (Items 12A-12J): Approved as a block with revision (Item 12E revised):
    • 12A: Resolution authorizing initiation of sale of City-owned parking garage at 715 Rogers Avenue.
    • 12B: Resolution authorizing initiation of sale of City-owned property at 8200 Highway 71 South (Crain Kia property).
    • 12C-12F: Resolutions authorizing grant applications to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program for Lake Fort Smith pump replacement, Lee Creek filter media, Massard biosolids dewatering, and 4th & I lift station.
    • 12G: Resolution authorizing grant application to Arkansas Economic Development Commission for Fort Smith Regional Airport special mission complex design.
    • 12H: Resolution authorizing grant application to Arkansas Economic Development Commission for Miss Laura's Brothel Museum human trafficking educational programming.
    • 12I: Resolution authorizing application to FY26 Model Cities Initiative Grant Program (DOJ) for regional radio communications upgrade.
    • 12J: Resolution authorizing architectural and engineering services agreement with MAHG Architecture for Creekmore Park Pool pump house renovation ($145,520).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Levon Morton (Items 12A & 12B): Expressed concerns about parking garage sale complicating existing parking agreements for city employees and state office workers; noted that details need to be resolved before sale. On the Crain Kia property, he supported the sale but urged consideration of a future south-side police precinct, noting police department spending was down $1.3 million year-over-year.
  • Shane McKinney (Items 12B & 12H): Supported selling Crain Kia but encouraged future reinvestment in a south-side precinct using older, retrofitted buildings. Praised Miss Laura's Brothel Museum as a unique and high-value tourist attraction and supported the grant application for human trafficking programming.
  • Dan Williams (Item 12I): Raised concerns about data retention policies for existing flock cameras and asked about access by federal or out-of-state entities; clarified that the Model Cities grant was for radio equipment. Staff noted data retention is on the 2026 internal audit plan.
  • Larry Yancey (Engineer) and Lavon Morton (Items 5-7): Larry Yancey and Lavon Morton were present to answer questions. Lavon Morton commended the board for tabling and rebidding consent decree projects, noting a $3.3 million savings on the phase II sewer contract.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1 (Ordinance – Harbor House Rezoning): Proposed amendment of Master Land Use Plan from Residential Detached/Attached to Mixed-Use Residential and rezoning to Planned Zoning District at 522, 604 N 18th St and 605, 615 N 19th St to allow a transitional dwelling for Harbor House. Planning Commission recommended 7-0. Director Martin expressed support for transitional housing. Approved 6-0 (with emergency clause).
  • Item 2 (Ordinance – Fire Department Donation): Accepted $5,568 donation from Harps and 10 Box Food Stores for swift water rescue equipment. Approved 6-0.
  • Items 3-11 (Consent Decree Resolutions): Included change orders, final payments, contract awards, and easement acquisitions for sewer remedial measures. All approved 6-0.
    • Item 3: Change Order No. 3 with Forsgren, Inc. for $250,336.19 (total contract $8,812,088.94).
    • Item 4: Final payment to Forsgren, Inc. ($507,657.44) – project completed 7% over original amount and 41 days early.
    • Item 5: Contract award to Crawford Construction Company for $7,581,600 (Phase II, Sub-Basin P008).
    • Item 6: Engineering services agreement with Hawkins-Weir Engineers ($627,800).
    • Item 7: Contract award to Steep Creek, LLC for $2,976,486.06 (Phase I, Sub-Basin FL02).
    • Item 8: This item was withdrawn.
    • Items 9-11: Easement acquisitions for Sub-Basin Z003; Item 9 corrected property owner name; Item 10 added a sewer utility easement ($340.50); Item 11 authorized acquisition of an additional easement ($219.00).
  • Officials Forum:
    • Director Rigo requested a study session update on police and fire pay study before budget season.
    • Director George Catsavis raised concerns about unpaid vendors for Parrot Island (e.g., Barton Bull $16,000) and called for new management; also requested update on FCRA golf course property (119 acres).
    • Director Christina Catsavis criticized FCRA's refusal to appear publicly and suggested pursuing state legislation change.
    • Director Good encouraged moving strategic goals to appropriate entities (e.g., Chamber of Commerce).
    • Staff announced City Play Day on Friday, August 7 at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and recognized the passing of Dr. Sandy Sanders.
  • Executive Session: Board entered executive session to discuss city administrator appointment.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Harbor House rezoning (Item 1): Vote 6-0.
  • Approved Fire Department donation (Item 2): Vote 6-0.
  • Approved all consent decree resolutions (Items 3-11): Each passed 6-0.
  • Approved consent agenda (Items 12A-12J): Vote 7-0 (revised Item 12E).
  • Directed staff: To initiate sale processes for parking garage and Crain Kia property; to prepare for budget season with public safety pay study update; to investigate Parrot Island vendor payments.
  • City Administrator Appointment: Motion to begin contract negotiations with Colin Bisinger (replacing Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman) passed 4-3 (Rego, Good, Kemp, Settle in favor; George Catsavis, Christina Catsavis, Martin opposed).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to enforcement city border directors meeting this August fourth of twenty twenty-six. These meetings are being televised live for the benefit of our residents who can't be with us in person. All of us here tonight and watching online, care about this community, and we strive to put our best foot forward, serving it and making decisions for the future of this wonderful place. Thank you, gentlemen. Madam Clerk, if you would please call the roll. Directors Rigo. Here. Good. Here. Kemp? Here. George Kitsavis. Christina Kitsavis. Settled. Here. Martin. Here. Okay. Thank you very much. Just time I'll ask if there's any presentation by a board member of any item or business not already on the agenda. Okay. Seeing none. We'll ask for approval of the July 21st, 2026. Regular meeting and the July 30th, 2026 special meeting. So moved. Second. Thank you. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. This time we will go to the first item on the agenda. The first item tonight is an ordinance, rezoning properties on North 18th and North 19th Streets and amending an existing planning zoning district. Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning, Tyler Miller will address this item. Thank you, Mr. Dingman and board. On July 14th, Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the subject master and land use plan amendment and rezoning applications. The three sites are located on North 18th Street, North 19th Street, between Northea and North G Street. The proposed master land use plan amendment to mixed use residential and the planned zoning district application facilitates the development of a new transitional dwelling for Harbor House at 604 North 18th Street. Approval also allows all four of the Harbor House properties within the vicinity to have consistent zoning. A neighborhood meeting was held on June 22nd on site. Ten neighboring property owners attend the meeting. The neighbors had questions about the intent, timeline, and number of tenants within the proposed dwelling. At the planning commission meeting, Chase and Garrett was present to represent these applications. Two neighboring property owners were present with concerns regarding increased traffic and parking and parking in number attendants. Plan motion uh excuse me. The plan commission votes seven in favor and zero opposed to recommend approval to the board. Okay. Thank you very much. Madam Clerk, are there any citizens' comments? Uh we have two uh Chason Garrett and Carl Norris only to answer questions.

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