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Record of Proceedings

CBID Board Meeting Summary: September 6, 2026

Meeting Portal — Sunday, September 6, 2026
BodyFort Smith, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateSunday, September 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 59:08

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:01

Let's do a roll call here.

0:04

You can make two.

0:07

Let's do Mr.

0:08

Hannah.

0:09

I'm here.

0:10

Okay.

0:11

Mr.

0:12

White.

0:14

Mrs.

0:14

Vic.

0:17

Present.

0:18

Right.

0:18

Mr.

0:20

Card.

0:22

And Mr.

0:23

Dan.

0:24

We're on recording.

0:25

So responsible.

0:27

All right.

0:28

So we do have quorums.

0:29

We can do official business here.

0:32

Uh first of all, please take a look at the minutes from the previous meeting.

0:36

Uh page two, three.

0:41

And four.

0:43

Um approval, Mr.

0:48

Chairman.

0:49

All second.

0:50

All right.

0:51

All those in favor to approve the missing minutes as presented, please say aye.

0:57

The ayes have it.

0:59

All right.

0:59

Treasury report.

1:01

So we it looks like we have here in financials here.

1:03

Um you can see the uh we spent uh the actuals.

1:09

I guess I'll just go down this the fourth column.

1:12

We collected 288,000 revenue and we spent uh 308,000, which is fine because we had some accessory services we've talked about.

1:21

So our cash positions down slightly from year over year from 342 to 323,423.

1:30

I don't really have anything else to report.

1:32

Obviously, we collect our revenue for the year now.

1:35

We're gonna spin that down uh throughout 26 until we collect assessments again later this year.

1:45

And then when does our um participation in the shared employee that we have with uh mainture enforcement?

1:56

When is that start?

1:57

When does that start?

1:57

I don't know if she's here.

1:58

I don't know how I don't know.

2:01

Okay.

2:02

I think she's starting.

2:04

So she started the new person.

2:10

Yeah, so it started back in.

2:12

Okay, so that'll add to our salaries piece there, right?

2:16

Absolutely.

2:18

So um of that, do we have money committed?

2:29

Well, you've got the ongoing expenses for 26 until we collect the assessment.

2:34

So we determined last that we've got about 150,000 roughly, I think is the number we said by the time we spend because we will spin down this 323 throughout the year until on salary that's completely about 150 is what we have in the very format.

2:55

Do we have a move?

2:57

Have we started our new employees starting?

2:59

Yes, this is Becca.

3:00

Oh, she's heard.

3:01

I hear it.

3:02

Yes, yes, okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Property Management██████████████████████████26%
Community Development██████████10%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Financial Oversight███████7%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Infrastructure and Engineering█████5%
Public Engagement█████5%
Code Enforcement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

CBID Board Meeting Summary: September 6, 2026

The Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Board met on September 6, 2026, to review routine financials, receive updates from code enforcement and Main Street Fort Smith, and discuss several projects including a fence cost-share, the riverfront archway, and potential property acquisition. The meeting also included public comments from a downtown business representative and the new superintendent of the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

Consent Calendar

  • The board unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
  • The treasurer reported that revenue collections totaled $288,000 and expenditures were $308,000, resulting in a cash position of $323,423, down from $342,000 year-over-year. The board approved the financials as presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • A representative from the Downtown Fort Smith Business Alliance (self-identified as part of the Main Street board) reported that a recent event was a success, with 2,000–3,000 attendees and busy food trucks and vendors. The speaker noted the goal of building a stronger board and relationships with businesses.
  • Adam Nico, the new superintendent of the Fort Smith National Historic Site (arrived early December 2025), introduced himself and expressed interest in learning about the CBID’s work.

Discussion Items

  • Code Enforcement – Fence Cost-Share: The board discussed a proposed rod iron fence project at the Compass Park splash pad. The total cost is approximately $11,150 ($9,700 for the fence plus $1,500 for installation in existing concrete). The CBID agreed to cover 50% of the cost, not to exceed $6,000, subject to the city’s approval of carryover funds in February/March 2026. The vendor is requested to lock in the price until March 15, 2026.
  • Riverfront Archway Project: The board reviewed a memo from Jeff indicating that the project would need to be included in the city’s 2027 budget, with a proposal due in February 2026. The board discussed the need to first hold preliminary conversations with the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and city engineering to assess feasibility. Josh (the city administrator) volunteered to lead these discussions and report back to the board. The board noted that the city and CBID would likely share costs, with the CBID potentially paying 60% if a higher match is needed.
  • Property Sales – Main Street Fort Smith: The board discussed the upcoming auction of properties formerly owned by Main Street Fort Smith, including the former theater (11th Street) and adjacent buildings. The theater has a reserve of $70,000; the other buildings have no reserve. Proceeds from the non-theater buildings will go to Wingate to repay a grant, while theater proceeds will be placed in a savings account. The board considered the possibility of the CBID acquiring such properties to facilitate development, but no formal motion was made. The board discussed the need for property management, insurance, and maintenance costs if the CBID were to become a property owner.
  • Potential Property Acquisition Concept: The board debated the merits of the CBID acquiring vacant properties to incentivize development. No vote was taken; the discussion was exploratory.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Motion to cover up to $6,000 (50% of cost) for the Compass Park splash pad rod iron fence, contingent on city approval of carryover funds.
  • Directed: Josh to initiate contact with ARDOT and city departments to assess feasibility of the riverfront archway project and report back.
  • Informational: The farmer’s market canopy construction is underway (steel and panels arriving next week); construction expected to take four weeks, with wiring and interconnection an additional two to three weeks. The board will consider lighting options (artistic and security) at the next meeting.
  • Next Meeting: Scheduled for February 19, 2026.

Note: The meeting date is September 6, 2026, per the provided timestamp, but several references (e.g., "happy new year," "2026 budget already approved") suggest the transcript may be from an earlier meeting. The summary reflects the transcript content as given.

Meeting Transcript

Let's do a roll call here. You can make two. Let's do Mr. Hannah. I'm here. Okay. Mr. White. Mrs. Vic. Present. Right. Mr. Card. And Mr. Dan. We're on recording. So responsible. All right. So we do have quorums. We can do official business here. Uh first of all, please take a look at the minutes from the previous meeting. Uh page two, three. And four. Um approval, Mr. Chairman. All second. All right. All those in favor to approve the missing minutes as presented, please say aye. The ayes have it. All right. Treasury report. So we it looks like we have here in financials here. Um you can see the uh we spent uh the actuals. I guess I'll just go down this the fourth column. We collected 288,000 revenue and we spent uh 308,000, which is fine because we had some accessory services we've talked about. So our cash positions down slightly from year over year from 342 to 323,423. I don't really have anything else to report. Obviously, we collect our revenue for the year now. We're gonna spin that down uh throughout 26 until we collect assessments again later this year. And then when does our um participation in the shared employee that we have with uh mainture enforcement? When is that start? When does that start? I don't know if she's here. I don't know how I don't know. Okay. I think she's starting. So she started the new person. Yeah, so it started back in. Okay, so that'll add to our salaries piece there, right?

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