Central Business Improvement District Board Meeting – September 8, 2026

The Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Board of Commissioners met on September 8, 2026, at 3:30 PM at The Bakery District in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The meeting covered routine approvals, reports from city departments and downtown partners, and discussion of a proposed service agreement with Main Street Fort Smith to fund a shared Downtown Growth and Grants Specialist position. No public comments were recorded.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the minutes of the September 18, 2025 regular meeting. (Note: The date of the prior meeting, as recorded in the agenda, is September 18, 2025; the current meeting date is specified as September 8, 2026.)
• Treasurer’s Report: The financial report for the period ended September 30, 2025 was presented, showing a beginning FY2025 fund balance of $342,803 and a current fund balance of $262,267 after all expenses through September 30. The board unanimously approved the report.

Reports & Presentations

• City Reports: Code enforcement, permits, and parks updates were provided. A memo detailing building permits issued in the CBID during 2025 (through September 18, 2025) was distributed, listing 24 permits for work including demolition, roofing, mechanical, and tenant infill.
• FSPD Downtown Officer/Ambassador Update: No specific report was transcribed, but the agenda included this item.
• Main Street Fort Smith Report: Amanda Hager, Executive Director of Main Street Fort Smith, provided an update on downtown activities, including ongoing sponsorship requests and the proposed service agreement.

Discussion Items

• Service Agreement with Main Street Fort Smith: The board considered a proposed one-year service agreement (with automatic annual renewal) under which CBID would fund 60% ($26,328 per year) of the salary and benefits for a full-time Downtown Growth and Grants Specialist. The specialist would be hired and managed by Main Street Fort Smith and would focus on business outreach, grant research and application, and project management within the CBID district. The agreement included quarterly reporting requirements and a 60-day termination clause. The discussion followed up on a proposal presented at the September 18, 2025 meeting, during which the board had requested a formal agreement for October consideration. The board debated the appropriate use of assessment funds for staffing versus capital projects, and there was interest in developing a policy for event sponsorship requests. No final vote was recorded in the available materials.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of Minutes and Financial Report: Both were approved unanimously.
• Service Agreement: The board discussed the proposed agreement but did not take a recorded vote during the meeting. The item was left pending further consideration or policy development.
• Meeting Schedule: The next regular meeting was scheduled for November 20, 2025 (as per the agenda).

Notes

• The agenda listed a public comments period, but no comments were transcribed.
• The meeting adjourned after approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.