Central Business Improvement District Meeting Summary – August 26, 2026

This summary covers the Fort Smith Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Commission meeting. The supplied agenda lists the meeting for Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in The Baker District – Cooler Room, 70 S 7th St., Fort Smith, AR; however, the source metadata date is August 26, 2026 at 15:30 UTC, so this summary uses that date and notes the discrepancy. No transcript or minutes for this specific meeting were provided, so confirmed actions, motions, and public comments cannot be stated. The summary is based on the agenda, the June 18, 2026 regular meeting minutes, and the Treasurer’s Report through July 31, 2026.

Agenda and Scheduled Items

• Call to order by Chair Matthew Holland, roll call, and confirmation of a quorum were scheduled.
• Consideration of approval of the June 18, 2026 regular meeting minutes.
• Treasurer’s Report through July 31, 2026.
• Presentations and reports:
  • Code Enforcement/Permits reports for review.
  • Parks Department update by Sara Deuster.
  • Citizen Services update by Joshua Robertson.
  • Fort Smith Police Department Downtown Officer/Ambassador update by Cpl. Solis.
  • Main Street Fort Smith update by Amanda Hager.
• Discussion items:
  • CBID meeting schedule – Matt Holland.
  • CBID Secretary position – Matt Holland.
  • CBID project updates – Eric Hartness.
• CBID regular meeting date (listed as TBD) and adjournment.

Treasurer’s Report – Through July 31, 2026

• Total amended FY26 revenues: $304,575; year-to-date actual revenues: $71,881.
• Special assessment revenue: $29,925 collected year-to-date, 13.2% of the $226,900 amended budget; prior meeting context indicates assessments are primarily received later in the year.
• Total amended FY26 expenditures: $649,583; year-to-date actual expenditures: $179,869; encumbrances: $30,210.
• The statement reported year-to-date net revenues (expenditures) of $(107,988), with $30,210 in encumbrances and a remaining available net amount of $(206,810).
• Fund balance: $304,535 at the beginning of FY26 and $196,547 at the end of July 2026.

Context from June 18, 2026 Minutes

• The June minutes, whose approval was on the August agenda, recorded prior updates including code enforcement progress at 521 Garrison Avenue; abatement at the former Ferris Wheel property at 15 North 2nd Street; Cisterna Park Pump House restoration rebid at approximately $140,000; Farmers Market Solar Canopy substantial completion; the Arkansas Tri-Region E-Bike Voucher Program with applications opening July 6; increased graffiti activity and mobile surveillance camera deployment; Main Street Fort Smith Mini-Grant Program results (seven projects, approximately $80,000 in private investment leveraged with $11,000 in grants); and a tabled Riverfront Gateway project discussion.

Key Outcomes

• No confirmed decisions, votes, or next steps can be verified for the August 26 meeting because the meeting minutes and transcript were not provided.
• Based on the agenda, the Commission was scheduled to consider approving the June 18 minutes, receive the July 31 Treasurer’s Report and staff updates, and discuss the CBID meeting schedule, secretary position, and project updates. Any outcomes from those items remain unconfirmed.