OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Fort Smith CBID Board Meeting – September 6, 2026

Meeting Portal — Sunday, September 6, 2026
BodyFort Smith, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateSunday, September 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:18:05

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Appreciate everyone in here.

0:03

There's a few still trickling in.

0:05

Yes, nobody.

0:06

We'll call the meeting to order.

0:08

Sam Seacard is not going to make it today, and he's the only one, I think.

0:13

Is that right?

0:13

Everyone else is here.

0:16

Eric Hartness is our new commissioner.

0:19

Thanks for uh wanting to do this.

0:21

Uh it's good work.

0:24

We have good purpose, and I think you'll be a great addition.

0:27

So I'm glad you're here.

0:28

Chris, thanks for being here.

0:31

No.

0:32

I bet every but I have a well.

0:34

I know a lot of people.

0:36

I'm Eric Hartness.

0:37

Jeff.

0:37

Jeff C.

0:39

So some city uh employees, some uh community folks are here, so we'll we'll get a chance to hear from them.

0:48

Okay, uh you know Matt.

0:51

Leanne, you just know.

0:53

No, no, we've not known each other.

0:55

Oh, one of those.

0:56

Okay.

0:58

Uh well the minutes are in your packet.

1:01

You didn't get an agenda, so you've not seen them, but that's okay.

1:04

Um we need to approve the minutes.

1:08

I have previewed, and I will make a motion to approve.

1:11

Thanks, Trent.

1:11

I think the agenda is on the other side of the top.

1:13

Okay, I see a copy.

1:14

There's a copy.

1:16

Uh here a second.

1:18

Yes.

1:18

Here's the agenda too.

1:20

Okay.

1:20

All those in favor say aye.

1:22

Thank you.

1:24

Uh moving on.

1:27

Where is the I think it was on the flip side of the okay, thank you.

1:34

Uh Treasurer report.

1:35

Sam is not here.

1:36

Jeff, you want to just have a page five of this packet has the uh financials through October 31st.

1:45

Um we'll be filed, you know, working to the end of the year to finalize the city's budget, so there'll be uh some adjustment to um really the outside services line item here.

1:58

Um if you remember the original 77,000 is budgeted, uh that's the portion of the garrison the pocket park, the courtyard park there that has been completed, that project is done, and all of the all of the bills are getting paid and that's been filed out.

2:16

So um but there is there is still a um portion of it that we've got in here.

2:22

We'll probably end up putting in a different line item regarding the um repair and correction to the issues with the irrigation system that um is downtown, and so that is uh that is something that's in this encumbered line item that we'll end up putting in a in the correct one for wherever that needs to be, but that that'll be expensed also.

2:47

Um but that'll show um probably in the next the next month's report where that falls.

2:53

Hey Jeff, so if I'm looking at this right, it's showing 77,000.

2:58

You said bills are being paid.

3:00

Yes, 45,384, but it's showing available a negative 17,000.

3:06

Yeah, that's that's related to some of the dollars I was just talking about when the irrigation system had been encumbered to that line line item.

3:13

Um and also is reflecting the whole amount I think paid to um paid on that uh garrison courtyard project, which some of that will be assigned to a different city department than this, and so that that number will change.

3:26

So it's not necessarily a true deficit, right?

3:36

Other comments.

3:41

That's a pretty easy one to read.

3:44

Questions agree.

3:47

Uh need a motion to approve the financial seconded.

3:53

Uh all those verse aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Transportation Safety█████████████13%
Public Works Planning███████████11%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Homelessness███████7%
Community Development███████7%
Procedural█████5%
Legal Representation█████5%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Fort Smith CBID Board Meeting – September 6, 2026

The Central Business Improvement District (CBID) board met to discuss financial reports, project updates, and strategic planning. Key topics included completion of the Garrison Courtyard park, a letter of assurance for irrigation maintenance, a new Main Street contract, and a long-term traffic study for Garrison Avenue.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of previous meeting.
  • Approved treasurer's report showing financials through October 31, 2026, with adjustments for Garrison Courtyard park expenses and irrigation system costs. The report showed a negative $17,000 balance, attributed to encumbered irrigation funds, but not a true deficit.
  • Authorized a letter of assurance to Fred Sharon, who donated materials and labor for irrigation, confirming CBID's commitment to ongoing maintenance.

Public Comments & Testimony

(No separate public comments section; however, Amanda presented on behalf of Main Street Fort Smith.)

Discussion Items

  • City Reports (Sarah & Josh):
    • Holiday lights and events: Holiday Express opening December 1, 2026; Paint Pace December 6, 2026.
    • Garrison Courtyard park completed; sign installed; final payment approved by board on November 4, 2026. Park is connecting Garrison and Rogers, with increased foot traffic.
    • Solar arrays to be installed in farmer's market parking lot starting next month, expected completion by March 2027.
    • Code enforcement issue at 801 Garrison Avenue (deteriorated building); new owner identified but no action taken yet. Discussion on CBID potentially acquiring properties but lacking resources.
  • Ambassador Updates:
    • Homeless prevention program spending $10,000/month; success story of "Squirrel" housed after 8–9 years of homelessness.
    • Hope Campus pavilion: county may approve fence; trash pickup program proposed. CBID prefers to focus resources on capital projects rather than direct funding.
  • Main Street Fort Smith (Amanda):
    • Contract for contracting services approved with amendment to clarify auto-renewal language.
    • Job posting for new position received quality candidates; aim to start in January 2027.
    • Small business incubator partnership with UAFS CED and ASBTDC.
    • $30,000 revitalization grant allocated $15,000 for mini grants; 10 applicants; grants range $1,500–$7,500; announcement expected in December 2026.
    • Coco Crawl event scheduled for Small Business Saturday (November 29, 2026), expecting 400+ participants; tree lighting at Cisterna Park follows at 5–6 p.m.
  • Strategic Plan Review:
    • Discussed next projects: riverfront entrance on A Street (approx. $160,000 plus design), lighting under Harrison Avenue Bridge, sound system for Levitt Amp (under $50,000). Board requested members submit project proposals with financing plans by December 18, 2026 meeting.
  • R DOT Traffic Study:
    • Study completed but offered no new solutions; total alternatives estimated at $120 million or $70 million. Board agreed to continue advocacy with highway commissioner Keith Gilbert and consider city-level discussions despite funding challenges.
  • CBID Flyer Update:
    • Matt to update one-pager with completed projects (splash pad, bike skate park, land acquisitions) and include district map and photos; to be sent to city for graphic design.
  • Leadership Transition:
    • Chairman Bill expressed desire to step down; Matt expressed interest. Discussion to be on December 18, 2026 agenda.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes, financials, and letter of assurance (all unanimous).
  • Approved Main Street contract with amendment (unanimous).
  • Directed staff to issue letter of assurance for irrigation maintenance.
  • Set December 18, 2026 meeting as deadline for members to submit project ideas and plans for strategic plan next steps.
  • Will continue advocacy on Garrison Avenue truck traffic with highway commissioner Keith Gilbert.
  • Matt will produce updated flyer for board review.
  • Leadership change to be discussed at next meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Appreciate everyone in here. There's a few still trickling in. Yes, nobody. We'll call the meeting to order. Sam Seacard is not going to make it today, and he's the only one, I think. Is that right? Everyone else is here. Eric Hartness is our new commissioner. Thanks for uh wanting to do this. Uh it's good work. We have good purpose, and I think you'll be a great addition. So I'm glad you're here. Chris, thanks for being here. No. I bet every but I have a well. I know a lot of people. I'm Eric Hartness. Jeff. Jeff C. So some city uh employees, some uh community folks are here, so we'll we'll get a chance to hear from them. Okay, uh you know Matt. Leanne, you just know. No, no, we've not known each other. Oh, one of those. Okay. Uh well the minutes are in your packet. You didn't get an agenda, so you've not seen them, but that's okay. Um we need to approve the minutes. I have previewed, and I will make a motion to approve. Thanks, Trent. I think the agenda is on the other side of the top. Okay, I see a copy. There's a copy. Uh here a second. Yes. Here's the agenda too. Okay. All those in favor say aye. Thank you. Uh moving on. Where is the I think it was on the flip side of the okay, thank you. Uh Treasurer report. Sam is not here. Jeff, you want to just have a page five of this packet has the uh financials through October 31st. Um we'll be filed, you know, working to the end of the year to finalize the city's budget, so there'll be uh some adjustment to um really the outside services line item here. Um if you remember the original 77,000 is budgeted, uh that's the portion of the garrison the pocket park, the courtyard park there that has been completed, that project is done, and all of the all of the bills are getting paid and that's been filed out. So um but there is there is still a um portion of it that we've got in here. We'll probably end up putting in a different line item regarding the um repair and correction to the issues with the irrigation system that um is downtown, and so that is uh that is something that's in this encumbered line item that we'll end up putting in a in the correct one for wherever that needs to be, but that that'll be expensed also. Um but that'll show um probably in the next the next month's report where that falls. Hey Jeff, so if I'm looking at this right, it's showing 77,000.

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