Okay.

Good evening, everybody.

It's 5 o'clock.

So we're gonna go ahead and we are gonna call to order the public safety council committee for the city of Jonesboro.

First of all, we have our roll call.

So if you will denote your presence by marking the device in front of you.

We do have six members present, and that's a quorum.

Thank you, everybody, for being here tonight, which brings us to the next item on our agenda being the approval of minutes from the public safety committee meeting on Tuesday, November 18th.

Move to adopt unless changes are noted.

Second.

Okay, I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes as presented from the previous meeting.

Do we have any questions or any comments from anybody on the committee?

Okay.

And if everybody agrees on the presented minutes, if you will denote your approval on the device in front of you.

And that does carry.

Thank you, everybody.

Which brings us to the next item on our agenda, new business.

First, we have resolution 25167.

And it's been requested that we walk that on to the full council agenda this evening.

Um I'll just go ahead and I'll read it by title and I'll hand it over to Miss Carroll for some further clarification on this as we've seen this on our agenda before.

Resolution 25167, a resolution by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas to condemn property located at 233 South Fisher Street, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401.

Parcel number 0144 181470.

Okay.

You want to have a motion to approve before we discuss, or do y'all want me to tell you what's going on?

I'll move to adopt.

And I'll second.

Okay, I have a motion and a second to adopt.

Okay.

So what this is is a resolution that was approved at the last council meeting to condemn the property.

And we realized after the council meeting that there was a typo on the parcel number that nobody caught, and um, including me who read it twice.

It was the same parcel number I read on the next one that we had on the agenda, but I didn't catch it.

Um and nobody else did either except someone listening.

And so what happened is we checked the notices and we checked everything that was sent out on the actual notifications, and it was correct on all of that.

The only typo was in that was in our resolution.

So it is a property that's been deemed dangerous.

Um they're ready to move forward with taking the building down.

People are entering it knowing that he's deceased and that nobody's there, and it's and it's a safety hazard.

We've got a I think you have a report attached from the fire marshal and from building inspections saying that it needs to come down.

So they would like to get that down this week because of the safety concerns, and that's why we're asking to walk it on to tonight's meeting.

Thank you, Miss Carroll.

Is there any questions or comments from anybody on the committee?

Okay, any questions or comments from anybody on administration?

And anything from the public in attendance.

Okay, seeing none, we'll go ahead and we will take a vote on that item.

I think we'll need a separate motion to walk it on.

So moved.

Okay, I have a motion.

I'll second that.

Okay, I have a motion and a second to walk on.

All in favor?

I aye.

Any opposed?

Okay.

So we will be seeing that a little bit later tonight on the full city council agenda.

Which brings us to our next item on the resolution to be introduced being resolution 25168.

A resolution by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas to condemn property located at 3806 School Street, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401.

Parcel number 0144-27250.

Do I have a motion?

Moved forward to full council.

Okay, I have a motion and a second to forward to full council.

Do I have any questions or comments from anybody on committee regarding this item?

Okay.

Any from the administration?

Okay.

And any from the public in attendance.

Okay.

Seeing none.

That'll take us to a vote on this item.

And that motion does carry.

Thank you, everybody.

Okay.

Next item on resolutions to be introduced is resolution 25169.

A resolution by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas to condemn property located at 2410 West Matthews Avenue.

Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401.

Parcel number 0143 143 01900.

Moved forward to full counsel.

Second.

Okay.

I have a motion and a second to forward to full council.

Do I have any questions or comments from anybody on the committee?

Okay.

Any from the administration?

And any from the public.

Okay.

Seeing none, we'll go ahead and we'll take a vote on this item.

Okay.

And that item does carry.

Thank you, everybody.

That'll bring us to our next item on resolutions to be introduced, and that is resolution 25199.

A resolution authorizing the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas grants and community development department to apply for the FY 2026 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant through the U.S.

Department of Justice.

Move forward to full counsel.

Second.

Okay, I have a motion and a second to forward to full counsel.

Do I have any questions or comments from anybody on the committee?

Okay.

Anything from the administration?

Okay, and anything from the public in attendance.

Okay.

Seeing no questions, we'll go ahead and we will take a vote on this item.

And that item does carry.

Thank you, everybody.

Which brings us to our final item on the agenda tonight, and that is resolution 25200.

This one's um a little bit different, so I'm gonna go ahead and I'm gonna read this one in its entirety.

So resolution 25200, a resolution by the City of Jonesboro to realign the Jonesboro Fire Department staffing to include two assistant chief positions, whereas the City of Jonesboro is committed to ensuring the highest level of public safety and effective emergency response for its citizens, and whereas the Jonesboro Fire Department has experienced substantial growth in call volume and complexity of operations due to the city's population and commercial expansion, and whereas the Jonesboro Fire Department staffing model lacks non-uniform administrative positions to help with many daily clerical and management tasks.

And whereas the current fire chief and single assistant fire chief are increasingly burdened by administrative, operational, and strategic planning responsibilities, necessitating additional high level support.

And whereas the recently completed long-range fire plan included various recommendations to increase efficiency and productivity to the department, including the recommendation to create an additional assistant chief position.

And whereas the establishment of a second assistant fire chief position would allow for a more effective division of duties, such as separating operational command from training, safety, and administrative functions, thereby enhancing the department's overall readiness and long-term strategic effectiveness.

And whereas a second assistant chief would provide necessary depth in the Ownsboro Fire Department's command structure, ensuring continuity of leadership and immediate succession readiness during periods of absent injury or major emergencies.

And whereas funding to support the staffing model adjustments are included for the proposed FY 2026 budget, and no headcount increase for the department will be necessary.

Now, therefore it be resolved by the City of Council of Jones that almost made the whole thing.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Section 1.

A second position of assistant fire chief is hereby created within the organizational structure of the Jonesboro Fire Department.

Section two, the duties of the two assistant fire chiefs shall be allocated by fire chief, but may include but not be limited to the following functional areas to ensure comprehensive coverage and leadership.

Assistant fire chief one, operations, direct command of emergency operations, supervision of on-shift personnel, apparatus, and facility maintenance and immediate incident management.

Number two, assistant fire chief, oversight of the training division and fire marshals division, safety compliance and budget preparation and management, payroll, employee issues, and policy development.

Section three, the new position shall be classified as assistant fire chief and shall be placed within the appropriate pay grade as determined by the city's current compensation plan for executive staff positions effective upon the passage of this resolution and inclusion in the next physical year budget cycle.

Section four, the fire chief is authorized to fill this new position in accordance to the city of Jonesboro's hiring and promotion procedures.

The financial impact of this position is included and accounted for in the upcoming fiscal year 2026 city budget.

Do I have a motion?

Move to forward full council.

Okay, I have a motion and a second to forward to full council.

Um do I have any questions or comments from anybody on the committee?

Chairman, just one question.

I was trying to process it in my brain just a little bit here.

It said no head count increase for the department.

Am I I was just confused how we're adding somebody but not increasing head count.

Am I missing something?

Yes, sir.

Chief Hammerett.

Yeah, I'll be happy to answer that.

So throughout the last few years, we have been able to add on the bottom end of our staffing levels.

With that, we've got it built into where we can add this position and not have we've already got the people on the bottom end to fill it.

So with that, we're not having to traditionally if we create a new high level position, you would promote all the way down, and you have an opening in the firefighter rank.

We won't with this.

We are just reorganizing that just a little to make it work.

So there's not a need to hire that person.

Got it.

Thanks, Chief.

So I'm gonna ask ask the same question in a little bit different way.

So from a financial perspective and a public safety perspective, there's really not going to be that much impact to the city and this administration, other than filling the position.

Right.

So with those promotions, we were looking rough estimate $30,000 to $40,000 to make all the necessary promotions.

That's the second assistant chief, the battalion chief that would be open, the captain, then the driver would take care of all that.

Thank you.

Just to make sure for further clarification on that, that $251,000 line item that we see in salaries underneath the fire budget for 2026.

That 35 to 40,000 is built into that number.

That's already built into that number.

Okay, good deal.

Any other questions or comments for Chief?

Okay.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate you.

Okay.

Any other comments from administration?

And anything from the public in attendance.

Okay.

Seeing none, we'll go ahead and we will take a vote on this item and um approval to forward to full council.

Okay.

That item does carry.

Thank you, everybody.

That brings um us to the end of all resolutions to be introduced and be considered for full counsel, which will bring us to the next item on our agenda being pending items.

I know of none for the committee.

Um other business that the committee has to discuss tonight.

Okay.

Seeing none, that brings us to our next item on the agenda being public comments.

And this is for the public safety division.

This is an opportunity for anybody that um wants to address the committee about any concerns that you have related to public safety.

Okay.

Seeing none, that brings us to our last item on the agenda being adjournment.

So moved.

I have a motion to adjourn.

Um, all in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

We do stand adjourned.

Thank you, everybody.