OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Jonesboro Public Safety Committee Meeting - October 21, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, October 21, 2025
BodyJonesboro, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, October 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:28

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Roll call.

0:04

So if you are on the public safety committee, if you'll go ahead and you will mark your attendance on the device in front of you.

0:17

Okay.

0:17

And I do show seven members present, so we do have a quorum today.

0:20

Thank you, everybody, for marking your attendance.

0:24

Moving up next item on the agenda is the approval of minutes from our previous meeting on Tuesday, September 16th.

0:30

Move to adopt.

0:31

Okay.

0:31

I have a motion second to adopt our minutes from the previous meeting.

0:35

If you agree with these minutes as presented, if you will denote that in a vote on the device in front of you.

0:45

Okay.

0:46

And that item does pass.

0:48

Okay.

0:49

Moving on to the next item on our agenda being new business and ordinances to be introduced.

0:58

First ordinance on the agenda is ordinance 2503.

1:02

An ordinance to amend chapter six of the alcoholic beverages to comply with the changes to the Arkansas law regarding private private club permits.

1:14

Could you give us an explanation of that or tell us the highlights of what's changing?

1:19

I can.

1:20

Essentially, what happened, and I wish I brought the definition with me because I probably won't quote it word for word, but essentially what happened is that the state in the last legislative session changed the wording of what constitutes a private club, and they removed the requirement that it be a nonprofit corporation.

1:41

It can still be a nonprofit corporation, but it can also be just a regular corporation, an LLC, a partnership, a sole proprietorship.

1:49

So they basically removed the requirement that you have a nonprofit corporation involved in forming a private club.

1:57

So what this does is it just changes our definition of a private club to match the state law definition of a private club.

2:05

And then it also took out references that required things be submitted for the nonprofit corporation because it though they may not be applicable.

2:16

Does that make sense?

2:17

So it brings us into compliance or into alignment.

2:20

It changed it changed our definition to match state law definition.

2:23

Yes.

2:24

I'll make a motion we recommend to the full council.

2:29

I have a motion and a second on the item as presented.

2:32

Um if there are no more questions from anybody on the committee, we will go ahead and we will call a vote.

2:44

Okay, and that item does pass.

2:46

Thank you.

2:46

Moving on to the next ordinance on the agenda is ordinance 25036.

2:51

An ordinance to create third party inspection requirements for the passive fire protection.

2:56

Whereas Chapter 34 of the Jonesboro Code of Ordinances addresses fire prevention requirements within the city of Jonesboro, whereas the Arkansas Fire Protection Code adopted under Chapter 34 authorizes the use of expert opinions when addressing unusual, detailed, or complex technical issues.

3:13

Whereas passive fire protection is recognized as an unusual, detailed, and complex system.

3:18

Now therefore it be ordained by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, that section one, any time passive fire protection is used by an architect as part of their design, the owner or owner's authorized agent requesting a building permit shall retain a third-party inspector for passive fire protection.

3:34

Section two, the third party inspector shall inspect all components of the passive fire protection system subject to inspection, including but not limited to those listed in the most current edition of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.

3:47

Provide a written report for the findings to the city.

3:50

Section three, the city hereby adopts the creation of the third-party inspection requirements for passive fire protection based on the building and occupancy type.

4:01

Mr.

4:01

Chair, am I understanding it right that right now the city inspection department does the passive fire protection and it'll remove that from the city inspection requirements and it'll hire a third party?

4:16

Is that I know Chief Hamric's here, but I believe it's the fire marshals that the fire marshals that do that inspection, I believe.

4:23

But maybe they can speak to that, I'm not sure.

4:27

I guess my question is right now who does it is the architect or is it Tim and them?

4:32

Right now it is what is happening is we're having the developers do it as a third party, but it's not a mandated requirement, and so it's it's a a bit arbitrary, and we think by doing this, it'll just make it more consistent across the board that it is a requirement to have third party inspections on them.

4:54

Um because honestly, when without the third party, the inspections are not being done as thorough as they should be, and this will rectify that problem.

5:07

Mr.

5:07

Chairman, if I may, um so this doesn't eliminate the fire marshals going out.

5:11

This just is a the developer has to get a third party come out and they give us the a report to the city and the fire marshals.

5:19

The the fire marshals are going to continue to do sprinkler system inspections.

5:23

Okay.

5:24

That that is their primary role is to do sprinkler system and hood suppression systems.

5:29

They don't typically do the uh passive fire protections, so it's kind of a combination of massive fire protection.

5:35

Give me a uh instead of using a sprinkler system, they'll use fire corridors, fire doors, fire rated walls, extend uh walls all the way to the ceiling and penetrate through just a bunch of different uh ways to not have to sprinkle a building.

5:53

But if they're done improperly, they're ineffective.

5:55

Um it takes a lot of time for the fire marshals and the building code official, the department to go out there and look at all these different pipe penetrations and wall penetrations and make sure they're all compliant.

6:07

Um this would require the builder if he's gonna use passive fire protection as his source of fire protection for the building to have a third party inspector do that work or use a sprinkler system, which is you know what what would be preferred from the city but is not mandated by the code to do.

6:30

Eric, is this just apply to commercial construction or does it were apply to residential also?

6:36

Uh it applies for anything that requires an architect to design, which would generally be commercial.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████████35%
Zoning Regulations███████████████████19%
Transportation Safety█████████████13%
Personnel Matters█████████████13%
Liquor Licensing██████████10%
Procedural██████████10%
Summary of Proceedings

Jonesboro Public Safety Committee Meeting - October 21, 2025

The Jonesboro Public Safety Committee convened on October 21, 2025, with seven members present to review and vote on several ordinances and resolutions. The meeting opened with the unanimous approval of the September 16th minutes. The committee deliberated on a series of legislative items ranging from alcoholic beverage permits to fire safety inspections and property condemnation, addressing both administrative recommendations and public concerns regarding local vendor availability.

Consent Calendar

  • The committee voted to adopt the minutes from the previous meeting held on September 16, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Carol Caldwell: A local resident expressed concern that the proposed third-party inspection requirements for passive fire protection might necessitate hiring inspectors from out-of-town (specifically Memphis) rather than local professionals. She argued that this could delay Certificates of Occupancy (CO) due to travel time and lack of local knowledge. She requested that the city conduct due diligence to ensure local third-party inspectors are available and identified before the measure is enacted, noting she did not know how to locate a qualified local inspector or what the ballpark price would be.
  • Unnamed Citizen: Suggested that the ordinance required tabling to allow for further discussion with local architects and the city, arguing that the third-party inspection mandate might be overly broad for simple cases (e.g., verifying fire-rated doors) and proposing the item be brought back after cleaning up the specifics.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 2503 (Alcoholic Beverages): Presented for alignment with state law changes that removed the requirement for private clubs to be nonprofit corporations. The ordinance updates the city's definition to match the state statute. The committee noted this ensures compliance and removes obsolete references to nonprofit status.
  • Ordinance 25036 (Passive Fire Protection): Proposed to mandate third-party inspections for passive fire protection systems (e.g., fire-rated walls, doors) designed by architects, rather than relying solely on city/fire marshal inspections. Staff clarified this applies to commercial projects requiring an architect (e.g., multi-story hotels) as an alternative to costly sprinkler systems. The goal is to increase inspection thoroughness and consistency.
  • Ordinance 25037 (Boat/Trailer Registration): Proposed to remove the requirement that boat trailers or recreational vehicles parked on residential lots must have a valid license or registration, aligning with the city's inoperable vehicle ordinance. Staff clarified this does not increase the number of vehicles allowed or permit vehicles in disrepair; it simply removes the registration requirement for stationary, unlicensed vehicles on private property, while law enforcement retains authority to regulate driven vehicles.
  • Ordinance 25038 (Traffic Signs): Recommended to establish a 25 mph speed limit at Whitetail Crossing and install stop signs at multiple intersections, including Young Drive/Wimpy Road, Boone Street/Young Drive, and several locations along Pope Street, Milo Court, and Edgemont Drive.
  • Ordinance 25039 (Firefighter Bill of Rights): Adopted to implement Act 686 of 2025, establishing a formal pre-discipline process for firefighters involving pay-affecting discipline (suspension, demotion, termination). Chief Henry explained the ordinance formalizes existing practices regarding the right to counsel and investigation procedures, similar to the police department's bill of rights.
  • Resolutions 25137 & 25138: Recommended for full council consideration to condemn two specific parcels: 233 South Fisher Street and 505 West Woodrow Street (50 Foot West).

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 2503: Passed; recommended to the full council to amend Chapter 6 regarding private club permits.
  • Ordinance 25036: Tabled indefinitely following a motion and vote (Ayes: 3, Noes: 0). The item was killed temporarily to address concerns about local vendor availability and scope.
  • Ordinance 25037: Passed; recommended to the full council to remove registration requirements for boat trailers and RVs on residential lots.
  • Ordinance 25038: Passed; recommended to the full council to install traffic signs and speed limits at designated locations.
  • Ordinance 25039: Passed; enacted to add Section 2-289 (Firefighter Bill of Rights) to the Jonesboro Code of Ordinances.
  • Resolutions 25137 & 25138: Both passed; moved forward to the full council for condemnation of properties at 233 South Fisher Street and 505 West Woodrow Street.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned with no further public comments on the agenda items.

Meeting Transcript

Roll call. So if you are on the public safety committee, if you'll go ahead and you will mark your attendance on the device in front of you. Okay. And I do show seven members present, so we do have a quorum today. Thank you, everybody, for marking your attendance. Moving up next item on the agenda is the approval of minutes from our previous meeting on Tuesday, September 16th. Move to adopt. Okay. I have a motion second to adopt our minutes from the previous meeting. If you agree with these minutes as presented, if you will denote that in a vote on the device in front of you. Okay. And that item does pass. Okay. Moving on to the next item on our agenda being new business and ordinances to be introduced. First ordinance on the agenda is ordinance 2503. An ordinance to amend chapter six of the alcoholic beverages to comply with the changes to the Arkansas law regarding private private club permits. Could you give us an explanation of that or tell us the highlights of what's changing? I can. Essentially, what happened, and I wish I brought the definition with me because I probably won't quote it word for word, but essentially what happened is that the state in the last legislative session changed the wording of what constitutes a private club, and they removed the requirement that it be a nonprofit corporation. It can still be a nonprofit corporation, but it can also be just a regular corporation, an LLC, a partnership, a sole proprietorship. So they basically removed the requirement that you have a nonprofit corporation involved in forming a private club. So what this does is it just changes our definition of a private club to match the state law definition of a private club. And then it also took out references that required things be submitted for the nonprofit corporation because it though they may not be applicable. Does that make sense? So it brings us into compliance or into alignment. It changed it changed our definition to match state law definition. Yes. I'll make a motion we recommend to the full council. I have a motion and a second on the item as presented. Um if there are no more questions from anybody on the committee, we will go ahead and we will call a vote. Okay, and that item does pass. Thank you. Moving on to the next ordinance on the agenda is ordinance 25036. An ordinance to create third party inspection requirements for the passive fire protection. Whereas Chapter 34 of the Jonesboro Code of Ordinances addresses fire prevention requirements within the city of Jonesboro, whereas the Arkansas Fire Protection Code adopted under Chapter 34 authorizes the use of expert opinions when addressing unusual, detailed, or complex technical issues. Whereas passive fire protection is recognized as an unusual, detailed, and complex system. Now therefore it be ordained by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, that section one, any time passive fire protection is used by an architect as part of their design, the owner or owner's authorized agent requesting a building permit shall retain a third-party inspector for passive fire protection. Section two, the third party inspector shall inspect all components of the passive fire protection system subject to inspection, including but not limited to those listed in the most current edition of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. Provide a written report for the findings to the city. Section three, the city hereby adopts the creation of the third-party inspection requirements for passive fire protection based on the building and occupancy type. Mr. Chair, am I understanding it right that right now the city inspection department does the passive fire protection and it'll remove that from the city inspection requirements and it'll hire a third party? Is that I know Chief Hamric's here, but I believe it's the fire marshals that the fire marshals that do that inspection, I believe. But maybe they can speak to that, I'm not sure. I guess my question is right now who does it is the architect or is it Tim and them? Right now it is what is happening is we're having the developers do it as a third party, but it's not a mandated requirement, and so it's it's a a bit arbitrary, and we think by doing this, it'll just make it more consistent across the board that it is a requirement to have third party inspections on them. Um because honestly, when without the third party, the inspections are not being done as thorough as they should be, and this will rectify that problem. Mr. Chairman, if I may, um so this doesn't eliminate the fire marshals going out. This just is a the developer has to get a third party come out and they give us the a report to the city and the fire marshals.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com