OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Central Business Improvement District Regular Meeting – September 6, 2026

Meeting Portal — Sunday, September 6, 2026
BodyFort Smith, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateSunday, September 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:16:11

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

I try.

0:03

All right, we're gonna go ahead and get started.

0:05

We have one here.

0:06

Wonderful treats up here from our friends at Harvest Moon Bakery.

0:10

So please come up here.

0:11

Feel free to move around while we're while we're working here.

0:15

Um call to order here.

0:28

Everyone is here but uh Commissioner Hartness, and he is out of the country.

0:34

So I would entertain a motion to give him an excuse access.

0:42

Aye.

0:46

Okay, the minutes are in your packets.

0:51

Hopefully we've reviewed them.

0:53

If not, take a look at the motion to accept as presented.

1:00

As written second, and all those in favor to approving is written, please say aye.

1:09

Aye.

1:10

All opposed.

1:13

Treasurer's report, Commissioner Seekard.

1:16

Okay.

1:16

Uh on page three.

1:20

Ms.

1:20

Quint.

1:22

Well enough.

1:23

Not y'all can read it.

1:24

Uh I can move it.

1:25

The revenues are uh 11,000 for the year.

1:29

Expendures 43,000.

1:33

And uh so our cash balance has declined from 304,000 to 272.

1:38

That's as in anticipated.

1:39

As you know, we got a more most of revenue.

1:43

The latter half the year with assessment.

1:45

Uh Jeff, I is the fencing or the lighting in the expenditures.

1:50

Have we paid that yet?

1:51

I don't believe that it is now.

1:53

It's not an angle.

1:56

Okay, that's about 5,000.

1:59

$4,777.

2:02

All right, that was your half.

2:04

That's all right.

2:05

And the send the lining that we approved last month will obviously come out as well as our ordinary expenditure supporting uh the uh cleaning green and the uh our partnership as well for our staff person, so and the ambassadors.

2:21

So that should decline, but I think our cash position still should be fine.

2:26

Uh plenty of cushion before we get the next assessment.

2:31

Jeff, anything to add?

2:32

No, sir.

2:33

Okay.

2:36

Okay, thank you.

2:39

Uh for those uh questions about the finances here.

2:48

Motion to approve the finances as presented to us.

2:52

Motion to accept.

2:55

Second, second.

2:56

All those in favor, please say aye.

2:58

Aye.

2:59

Aye.

2:59

Opposed.

3:01

So move.

3:05

All right.

3:06

Uh the next page in your packet will be uh code enforcement here.

3:12

Um if you want to take a look through here.

3:15

I uh took the liberty of writing down where these locations were.

3:20

So if anyone has any questions on what it what they're looking at, I could probably give you some descriptions of where they are.

3:28

So the first one is roosters.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement███████████████████████23%
Tourism Development████████████████16%
Infrastructure and Engineering██████████10%
Public Safety██████6%
Public Engagement██████6%
Code Enforcement████4%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Economic Development████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Central Business Improvement District Regular Meeting – September 6, 2026

The Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Commission held a regular meeting starting at 9:30 a.m. on September 6, 2026 (the agenda listed the meeting date as March 19, 2026, but the provided date for this summary is September 6, 2026). The meeting covered reports on finances, code enforcement, parks, downtown safety, Main Street programs, and presentations on the Steel Horse Rally, Fort Smith Marathon, Butterfield Trail project, and Harvest Moon Cafe. The commission also discussed reducing its membership from eight to seven commissioners and heard public comments on homeless services.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the February 19, 2026 regular meeting were approved unanimously. All commissioners were present except Commissioner Hartness (excused).
  • Treasurer's Report: For the period ended February 28, 2026, revenues were $11,440, expenditures $42,988, and the cash balance declined from $304,535 to $272,987. The report was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Stephanie Nugent (Downtown Business Association): Reported that the St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl on March 14 was well received and that cups featuring Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe sold out quickly. Announced a planned Cinco de Mayo celebration at the 800 Garrison parking lot, the first such event downtown, pending approval.
  • Casey (Executive Director, Hope Campus): Presented Point-in-Time homeless count results showing an approximate 10% increase in homelessness. Reported that during inclement weather, Hope Campus sheltered 54 people over its 143-bed capacity, up from 35 over last year. Announced a May 15 celebration for a new pavilion moved from Fort Smith Park to Hope Campus.

Discussion Items

  • Code Enforcement Report: Shawn Gard reported on several property cases: 801 Garrison (progress, permit obtained); 521 Garrison (no progress, trying to identify responsible party); 400 & 406 Towson Ave (joint foundation repair progressing); 1123 S 6th St (cleanup progress); 15 N 2nd St (new case with violations). A property at 1123 S 6th St was noted to be outside the CBID district and will be disregarded.
  • Parks Department (Sara Deuster): Compass Park fencing came in under budget at just under $10,000 (CBID half reduced accordingly). Cisterna Park pump house will be raised five feet and rebid, saving 37%. Fountain liner replacement estimated at $45,000, searching for lower bids. United Way Day of Caring mulching event set for April 16.
  • Citizen Services/Canopy Project (Joshua Robertson): Construction of the solar canopies at the Farmers Market lot is nearly complete; electrical work and OG&E interconnection are pending. The parking lot fencing will be removed by end of March in time for the Farmers Market kickoff on April 4. Regarding under-canopy lighting ($23,000 total), the CBID previously approved $13,000. Main Street Fort Smith committed $6,00 from a downtown revitalization grant. Two commissioners each offered to split the remaining $6,000, effectively covering the full cost.
  • Police Update (Cpl. Julio Solis): Reported 14 traffic accidents downtown (peak 12 p.m.-2 p.m.), 30 arrests (3 felony), 101 traffic stops (86 warnings, 15 citations). Nighttime activity remains. Pub crawlon March 14 had no major issues. New bar Goat House at 1121 Garrison opened. Parking garage enforcement begins May 1 with new hand tags. A downtown safety video series is being produced.
  • Main Street Fort Smith (Amanda Hager): Applications for the small business incubator (Commerce Collective) are open through April 3. The first participant will occupy 409 Garrison Ave rent-free from May to October. Partners include Chamber of Commerce, University of Arkansas, Regions Bank. Challenge is finding turnkey vacant storefronts for future rounds. Mini-grant program: 8 projects awarded $16,000, with over $100,000 total exterior improvements expected by May. Sign at 524 Garrison nearing installation.
  • Steel Horse Rally (Dennis Snow): Rally scheduled for May 1-2, 2026. Economic impact is significant, but funding has decreased. Seeking donations and sponsorships. A golf tournament fundraiser planned for September. Charities for 2026: Art for the River Valley, Buddy Smith's home for veterans, Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club. Volunteer meeting March 22.
  • Fort Smith Marathon (Chris Wear): Marathon is March 29, 2026 (10 days from meeting). Expecting over 500 runners, goal to return to 900. Partnership with Fort Smith Museum of History; medals feature historic sites.(Immaculate Conception Church in 2026). Proceeds go to Fort Smith Parks for trails. Needs volunteers for intersections and sponsors.
  • Butterfield Trail Project (Phil White): Following Jim Spears' presentation last month, rapid progress has been made. Midwest Automation donated services to create a life-size 36-foot steel stagecoach cutout. Location secured near Marshalls Museum/farmers market. Estimated cost around $10,000 for mounting and signage; most costs donated. Installation expected summer 2026.
  • Harvest Moon Cafe Project (Aaron Mastropaolo, Desirae Mastropaolo, Sarah Higginbotham): Owners are closing on 505 Rogers Ave on March 27. The8,000 sq ft building will house a second location with bakery cafe, production facility, and anticipated drive-thru. Three-phase renovation planned; debt-free approach. Challenges: $250,000 fire suppression system connection issue and need for a drive-thru variance. Seek community support and advice on historical tax credits.

Key Outcomes

  • Canopy Funding: With Main Street's $6,000 and two commissioners splitting the remaining $6,000, the canopy lighting project is fully funded.
  • Butterfield Trail Project: Commission expressed support; Phil White noted the project is largely donated and moving forward.
  • Commission Membership: A motion carried unanimously to recommend to the City Board of Directors that the number of commissioners be reduced from eight to seven. This change will require a city ordinance and is expected to be on the April 16 agenda.
  • Meeting Schedule: The next regular CBID meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

I try. All right, we're gonna go ahead and get started. We have one here. Wonderful treats up here from our friends at Harvest Moon Bakery. So please come up here. Feel free to move around while we're while we're working here. Um call to order here. Everyone is here but uh Commissioner Hartness, and he is out of the country. So I would entertain a motion to give him an excuse access. Aye. Okay, the minutes are in your packets. Hopefully we've reviewed them. If not, take a look at the motion to accept as presented. As written second, and all those in favor to approving is written, please say aye. Aye. All opposed. Treasurer's report, Commissioner Seekard. Okay. Uh on page three. Ms. Quint. Well enough. Not y'all can read it. Uh I can move it. The revenues are uh 11,000 for the year. Expendures 43,000. And uh so our cash balance has declined from 304,000 to 272. That's as in anticipated. As you know, we got a more most of revenue. The latter half the year with assessment. Uh Jeff, I is the fencing or the lighting in the expenditures. Have we paid that yet? I don't believe that it is now. It's not an angle. Okay, that's about 5,000. $4,777. All right, that was your half. That's all right. And the send the lining that we approved last month will obviously come out as well as our ordinary expenditure supporting uh the uh cleaning green and the uh our partnership as well for our staff person, so and the ambassadors. So that should decline, but I think our cash position still should be fine. Uh plenty of cushion before we get the next assessment. Jeff, anything to add? No, sir. Okay. Okay, thank you. Uh for those uh questions about the finances here. Motion to approve the finances as presented to us. Motion to accept. Second, second. All those in favor, please say aye.

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