CBID Commission Meeting Summary – September 8, 2026
Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Commission Meeting – September 8, 2026
The CBID Commission met on September 8, 2026, with Chair Bill presiding. Commissioners present: Trent, Jeff, Phil, Matt, Leanne, and new commissioner Eric Hartness. Sam Seacard was absent. The meeting covered financial reports, city department updates, ambassador program, Main Street Fort Smith contract and initiatives, strategic planning for future capital projects, a discussion of the R Dot traffic study on Garrison Avenue, and a proposal for a public outreach flyer. The board also discussed leadership succession.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved by unanimous vote.
- Treasurer Report (Jeff): Financials through October 31 were presented. The Garrison Courtyard pocket park project is complete; remaining encumbrances include irrigation system repairs. The board approved the financial report.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No separate public comment period was held, but several stakeholders provided updates:
- Sarah (City Staff): Reported that irrigation system repairs are complete; contractor Fred Sharon requested written assurance that CDIB will continue maintenance funding. The board approved a motion to provide such a letter.
- Josh (City Staff): Announced completion of the Garrison Courtyard pocket park and installation of a CDIB recognition sign. Upcoming solar array installation in the farmers market parking lot is expected to be operational by March 2027.
- Ambassador (John?): Provided updates on homeless outreach, noting success in moving a long-term homeless individual (“Squirrel”) into housing. Reported that congregating has shifted from Garrison Avenue to other areas.
- Hope Campus Representative: Reported on rental assistance ($10,000/month) to prevent evictions, a planned fence around the pavilion (county approval pending), and a trash pickup program with homeless residents.
Discussion Items
- Main Street Fort Smith Contract (Amanda): Amanda presented a revised contract for shared services. The board discussed an auto-renewal clause that appeared contradictory; it was agreed to clean up the language. The board approved the contract contingent on the change. Amanda also reported on a $30,000 state revitalization grant, with $15,000 earmarked for a mini-grant program (10 applicants). Cocoa Crawl and tree lighting events were announced for December. The Levitt Amp concert series will shift to a fall series in 2027.
- Strategic Plan and Future Projects: The board revisited the 2024 strategic plan. Chair Bill proposed focusing on the riverfront entrance project on A Street (estimated $160,000+). Other ideas included lighting under the Garrison Avenue Bridge and a sound system for Levitt Amp (cost under $50,000). The board agreed that members should each submit a project proposal with a funding plan (including private donations) by the January meeting.
- R Dot Traffic Study: Discussion of the Garrison Avenue truck traffic study. Commissioners expressed frustration that the study offered no actionable solutions and noted the high cost of alternatives (up to $120 million). The board decided to continue advocacy, including meeting with highway commissioner Keith Gibson to discuss funding and potential replacement for his seat.
- Public Outreach Flyer (Matt): Matt proposed a one-page flyer to communicate CBID achievements and future plans. The board suggested including a district map, photos of completed projects (bike/skate park, splash pads, pocket park), and mention of secured land for expansion (adjacent to skate park). A suggestion was made to create a more comprehensive website.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Provide Letter of Assurance to Fred Sharon: Approved (unanimous) to commit to ongoing maintenance of irrigation system.
- Motion to Approve Main Street Contract: Approved contingent on correction of auto-renewal language (unanimous).
- Direction to Submit Project Proposals: Each commissioner to submit one or two preferred capital projects with a funding plan to Jeff by mid-December for discussion at the January 2027 meeting.
- Leadership Succession: Chair Bill expressed willingness to step down; Matt expressed interest. The board agreed to add a formal discussion item for the next meeting (December 18, 2026).
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for December 18, 2026.
Note: The transcript references upcoming events (e.g., December 1 holiday lights, December 6 event) which are consistent with a late-2026 meeting date, though the provided meeting date of September 8, 2026, would place these events three months in the future.
Meeting Transcript
Appreciate everyone being here. There's a few still trickling in. Yes, my bag. 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. Thanks for being here. No. I well, I bet every but I have a well. I know a lot of people, but I'm Eric Hartness. Jeff. Jeff. So some city uh employees, some uh community folks are here, so we'll we'll get a chance to hear from them. Okay, just uh you know Matt. Leanne, you just met 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 reviewed, and I will make a motion to approve. Thanks, Trent. I think the agenda's on the other side of the top. Okay, see a copy, there's a copy from each one. Uh you got here a second. Yes. Here's the two. Okay. All those in favor say aye. Thank you. Uh moving on. Where is the I think it's on the flip side? Oh, 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 if it's 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. You said bills are being paid. Yes, 45,384, but it's showing available a negative 17,000. Yeah, that's that's related to some of the dollars I was just talking about when the irrigation system have been encumbered to that line line item.
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