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.
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.
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.