I am showing 4 30, and I think everyone that's gonna be here is here, so I'm gonna go ahead and call the public services meeting to order.

First item of business is roll call.

Please mark your attendance.

Next item of business is approval of minutes.

I'll give you a moment to review minutes 26008 and 26015.

I'll make a motion to approve unless there's any changes to be noted.

I have a motion, second, all in favor.

Please mark your vote.

Next item of business is new business resolutions to be introduced.

Resolution 26014, a resolution authorizing the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas, to enter into a platform service agreement with Cubic Transportation Systems Inc.

following a competitive request for proposals process sponsored by the Jets.

Lee, do you want to give us a background on this just real quickly?

Absolutely.

So this is something we have talked about and we have been working towards.

What this is is a way for us to be able to collect fares in the buses with uh credit card, debit card, tap to pay, phone payments, things like that, but also it will allow for customers uh to be able to purchase those cards that are refillable, reusable, and to give more formats for them to be able to purchase their fares.

So whereas right now we have a simple ticket that is sold at collections and only at collections, this ability will actually allow retail stores to be able to load your fare so that way someone's at Walmart buying groceries, maybe they use the bus to get there and they realize I need a little bit more money on my card, they can actually put five, ten, twenty dollars on their card there at Walmart.

Have they given you any projections on how much this might increase ridership just out of curiosity?

I I honestly haven't seen any types of projections, but I do know that what this will allow in conjunction with some of the other items that we have that we're gonna be moving forward to is this will allow those that maybe don't normally use the bus system or those that are coming from out of town to have an easier and more convenient way to utilize transit.

So this will in essence allow for that increase, but as far as some raw statistics, I I have not seen anything like that.

Okay, thank you.

Chairman.

Yes, sir.

I had a question if you don't mind.

Lee, I noticed in here in the RFP that they had submitted that on the reloadable transit cards, and I know this is a lot of one-time cost that's coming into effect here, but it was showing that each card costs roughly $14.15.

I just know how easy it is to misplace those things and how expensive the plastic is from the banking industry side of it.

But do we have any plans or anything else as far as our schedule of fees and how we're going to negate five dollars necessarily walking out every day?

Absolutely.

So we have actually considered this.

We have also thought of some processes to put in place.

We've looked at some other transit agencies on what they do.

Um we have some ideas, but we don't have anything fully uh finalized yet.

Um, it will be something that will be in the discussion process once we get this fulfilled and we start this enactment of the cubic process.

Um I'm sure they'll have some feedback on that for uh you know, history standards, things like that that other agencies have done.

Um of the things with that refillable card is what we use now, we actually also pay honestly, and I don't have the numbers, apologies, but I can't get that if anyone is interested.

Those refillable cards or I'm sorry, the one-time use cards that we have, they have to be pre-pan pre-printed and they are proprietary.

We have to order them in like bunches of 5,000 at a time.

They are not cheap either, and they are literally intended to be thrown in the trash.

So there's already a cost for those.

But with this, the the process is what we're thinking anyway, is that will allow a consumer to be able to come in and say, I would like to purchase a refillable card.

There will be a fee for that card that gives them that refillable card.

Then once they have the card, they will be able to put their fares on the card.

So if initially that first time purchased for the card or for a replacement of their card, there is a fee associated already with getting the card, uh, and then the fare would be added to the card after that initial purchase of the card if that makes any sense.

Uh, and then the fare would be added to the card after that initial purchase of the card, if that makes any sense.

It does.

If you want to talk about the GoJo app, the the appeal to your report to do that.

Okay.

Any other questions regarding the resolution?

What's the desire of the committee?

Move department to full council.

Second.

Have a motion and second.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed locked oh, sorry, please cast your vote.

Old habits die really hard.

Three years into this thing, Chris.

This is not the only board meeting I can do.

We took a break for a little while.

I'll give them some slack.

Uh next item of business is pending items.

Uh, I don't believe we have any at this time.

Other business reports of uh jets, communications 2605.

So I just jotted down some quick notes.

Um, I'm gonna go through these pretty quickly, but uh a few of the projects that we have that are ongoing.

Of course, one uh is our A State project project, uh, the partnership that we have done with A State and the trolley routes and service that we've been doing with them.

Um, we have found that those routes that they are working well, they serve the purpose, they function on time.

That's great.

That's exactly what we wanted to do.

What we've found is is that we have some other routes that are also crossing through campus at the same time.

A lot of the students that are riding have realized that they can get on one bus as opposed to the other.

It takes them directly to their destination.

That's the way it should work.

That's awesome.

They're finding out these things on their own.

Um, we do want to obviously drive more students to utilize this service.

Um, I think we could increase this ridership, and I think we will increase this ridership, especially with some of the items that we have to come.

Uh, we are looking for obviously a fall semester push.

We are already into the spring semester, so we'll be going and doing a lot of things with the upcoming students of doing presentations with groups and organizations to be able to help drive that.

We also have our shelter project.

I'm sure y'all have to heard us talk about this before.

We do currently have 28 of our 45 shelters placed.

Those are all over town, different locations.

Um, all of the remaining stops and a couple of those stops.

I know of one off the top of my head.

Um, due to ADA standards or various reasonings, we may have to move slightly in order to get them up to the proper standards.

That's going to require some concrete work.

Some of them we knew were going to require some concrete concrete work already.

That concrete work has already begun.

They are doing that, they've already laid concrete in a number of locations, and they're going to continue to do that as long as weather permits.

As soon as that concrete cures, dries, and is ready for a shelter, those shelters will be going up just as quickly.

I think we're on average once we have everything ready, we can get two or three shelters up in a day, which is pretty awesome.

Um we do have uh routes.

Currently, we've been operating on four routes for quite a while now.

Um we did maintain our four route system in order to build our staffing and get the people where we need to be.

We're glad to say that our staffing is increasing, both from new hires and also internal training, that we will be soon able to go to not only our full five route service, but also the two trolley route services through our entire day of business, which is 5 a.m.

to 7 p.m.

Uh, so look for that to be coming up really soon.

Really excited about that.

Our streets project, which is a trip spark-led project, yeah.

That is the software company that we use for our equipment.

Um, we are currently still working with them to nail out a few bugs on the tracking process that this system utilizes.

There are some other features that it has, which uh it has a connectivity to the internet, it allows for real-time tracking, it also does annunciators in the bus, and then also an internal message board that tells where your next stop is.

This will also be connecting to some of our upcoming items that we have to announce.

Um, one of which, in conjunction with both the streets and the shelters project, is our multimedia project.

We do have some message centers that will be going in at our transfer center that will be able to notify the riders of when the next bus will arrive, where that bus is going, what time it should be able to arrive, kind of like when you go into the airport and you look at the board, we'll have a very similar process there at the transfer center.

Kind of like when you go into the airport and you look at the board, we'll have a very similar process there at the transfer center.

Also, we'll be having some message boards in our shelters as well.

So when someone does go to a shelter, they will be able to see what bus stops there and when they can expect that bus.

And that will be utilizing that system, that street system, which gives them real-time information.

We do currently have an app.

We've been talking about needing one.

We've been working towards it behind the scenes.

We are currently right now in the beta process that is being tested not only by myself internally, uh internally in the company that's doing the app, but also with some few select members that we are hoping to be able to get feedback from.

Um so far, everything we've been hearing is great.

I know myself, I've made a few suggestions.

These are just minor tweaks and things.

We'll also have control over it once we get it to be able to maintain it.

Um but this will allow not only for accurate tracking and time notices, it'll also have trip planning, and it should do automatic live updates to both Google and Apple Map programs that are out there.

So any visitors that come in that maybe don't know about the app, they should still be able to look on whatever app program they're using and find out where the bus stops are, where the bus system is, where the buses are going, and what time they should be there, even without the use of the app.

So really really cool stuff that we've got coming.

Um and then obviously we have a lot of other things that we're working on, some things we're just not quite ready to be able to bring to the table yet.

Um just some exciting things to be looking forward to uh in conjunction with these items that we're working on.

And then I I just want to mention that I uh uh about the fact that I'm one of the ones testing the app.

I think it's great.

Well, good.

We're definitely glad to have you testing it.

We've also got some students on campus.

We've got some individuals that utilize our bus system, and then some individuals that are just kind of in the know for apps and and uh processes and technology uh in order to make sure we're getting that feedback.

And uh the last item that I just wanted to mention is I just wanted to give a shout out to our marketing coordinator, the communications department, the engineering department, grants department, and the many more departments that are out there helping us get all these items done.

Any questions for Lee?

I'm just gonna add that uh I had totally this earlier that one of the things I liked about the app was that it can give you alternative trips.

You can uh design your trip based upon whether or not you're willing to walk part of the way, you know, in good weather say, which can in some instances uh you know alter the route you you wish to choose or that you have different options, and if you're willing to walk part of the way, that it sometimes gets you there faster, you know, based upon the route, the breakdown as far as walking and riding that the trip is made up of.

Yeah, when you do the trip planning, it does give you those breakdowns, but it also gives you options as well.

So, you know, maybe you're looking for the fastest, so it'll give you that option.

Maybe you're looking for the most convenient, um, it'll give you that option.

Maybe you just want to do some sightseeing.

It'll, you know, it's gonna give you options.

So, and that's the great thing about it.

It tells you, shows you on a map, gives you the time frames, and like you said, it shows you the walking distances, it actually gives you an estimated time of arrival based upon standard walking speeds, all kinds of things like that.

And then you'll also be able to log into it.

And my understanding is is that it will have some memory processes that may possibly, you know, like look for your standard type of trip and kind of give you those same types of scenarios, kind of like whenever you do a Google search.

You know, if you're doing a Google search from the same computer, it's gonna know and tailor towards your taste.

We've come a long way since we acquired those first buses many many years ago.

You're doing a good job, Lee.

Thank you, sir.

Any other questions for Lee?

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Thanks, Lee.

I don't see anyone from parks here to give a presentation.

Um is there anything else from the committee at this point?

You do you have any additional information?

Yeah, I I wanted to just kind of talk about that as a as a group.

Um, I've had several individual conversations and had another small meeting with some community leaders and people that are have vested interest in in what we discussed at the joint meeting the other day between public services and and the parks advisory group.

Um Jay, did you want to address anything that came up at the meeting?

Okay.

Um I I think um based on the conversations that I've had, what I would like to recommend to this group, and I'm certainly open for deliberation, but I think that the group that we have in place currently, they bring a lot of resources to our parks department.

Um I don't feel that there need to be changes made to that board in any form or fashion.

I think they need to focus on the parks plan the the opportunities that we have for our youth and adults in the area for first and foremost and and our facilities.

And I think we need to consider as a group um possibly appointing a sports tourism advisory council in addition to that.

That being said, ANP and public facilities board have requested um positions on that committee, and at this point we have not heard back from their attorney as of three o'clock this afternoon, so we don't know that we they can actually take voting spots on those groups.

Is that correct, Carol?

I just strongly recommended that that their legal counsel weigh in before I think everybody thinks they need a seat at the table.

I just want their legal counsel to weigh in on what that looks like.

And I I want the input of this group to you know, you guys were all in attendance.

I want to know what your feelings are about that meeting and where your heads go and if I'm on the right train of thought or not.

Um we'll have still the citizens advisory the corrupt commission.

And it will it be committed.

Will there be additional people on there?

I I think I mean we've got three that are rolling off in March, and I feel that they'll all accept their appointment back if if we so choose to go down that path.

Um I don't think there's anyone on that group that we want to actively replace at this point.

I just think we've got to figure out a parallel path for sports tourism and recreational sports in our market.

I I will say I I think that the committee needs to be reviewed because I think there's some people that think they're still on there whose terms had expired, and I didn't see them on in legislators, so that needs to be covered, and maybe you know that they might be you know great members of that committee and can be reappointed.

Um I just think that needs to be cleaned up and as I say during the special meeting, you know, we're I think I agree with the two separate or you know, groups.

Um they're kind of covering two different things, but I just think at some point there's gotta be a coordination to where there's not just one person in charge of allocating the field, you know, the facility time.

And I know the the rack's gonna really change the the scope of you know indoor tournaments, you know, basketball, pickleball, um, whatever you know, whatever, uh volleyball, but just when it comes to using the the soccer field and stuff, there's it's gotta be more than one person kind of helping with that coordination.

Agreed, and I I think that they are working currently on an active calendar that will be accessible to everyone.

Um I don't know what the completion timeline is on that, but my my only thought on the calendar was and I may have misunderstood a little bit of what Jim was saying in the meeting.

That calendar's got to be you know established, you know, more than just a few months in it in in advance because when people are trying to schedule soccer tournaments and you know, whatever, you can't do it the same year.

I mean those got to be scheduled last year, the year before for you know, this year, so so they know they have the field time.

So um, you know, one other point that I think that the other other group really needs to take focus on is um the needs of our facilities moving forward.

Uh we've talked for two or three years now about a rolling renovation of our parks.

We're doing an okay job of that, but I think that it needs to be more stringent.

Yeah.

Especially since we're getting more parks.

Right.

And we're talking about putting in, you know, two or three more, you know, especially the the park out by you know, hilltop.

I mean, that's gonna be a very sizable park, lots of equipment, you know, Beatrice Park is a little bit different, you know, it's more green space type, but I mean, as our inventory grows, we have to, like you said, be on top of it and always have good plans with the master street master parks plan and everything like that.

We just have to follow it and put the money back for the maintenance.

So and much of our I'm sorry, Ms.

Williams, go ahead.

I was just gonna say mo most of our most of our parks from a recreational sports perspective right now are we've got pretty good inventory on those, but I can foresee us out growing much of that in the very near future.

And our pool inventory is very much lacking, as we all know.

And then our one pool on Nettleton needs major repairs or replacement.

So I'm glad to hear you say that because that's a big big issue that I've had, and I'm speaking to parents and people in in the community is the fact our lack of uh swim facilities, and a big concern I have, and this has been echoed by others is that we have a lot of young people going up not learning how to swim, and that is really not good, and uh for health and safety reasons, and uh they need kids need to have access to swim lessons at an early age, and uh we have to have the the pools and the infrastructure to do that and prepare for that, you know.

I think that's also I I just want to say I think it was mentioned at the last meeting about having representation by parents on the citizens advisory committee to to kind of point out and speak up for some activities that where we might need to be beefing up certain activities, and that'd be good.

So I understand that that is gonna be is that was am I right that that was something that was mentioned at the last committee meeting the representation on the citizen?

I know represent representation by you know schools was mentioned, and you know, things like that, but I think a lot of that you know goes back to how big can the committee be and you know it any revisions.

I I don't think you want to make it too big.

I mean you know, I won't say that each person on there is a parent, you know.

Um anyway, right?

But I I I think that well back to this other thing.

I think it I've been thinking of this for a while.

I think we're kind of really at a critical stage as far as swim facilities because it's something you have to plan for in advance, and then uh you know, we're we need to keep in mind, and I've said this before, that we the National Parks Recreation Association recommends one pool there for 25,000 population, and we're way below that in a city that's going toward a hundred thousand, and so we have to think ahead on that.

And in that's another benefit of uh having plenty of swim lessons is that you train lifeguards, and there's always a need for lifeguards if you're gonna increase the number of pools.

So there's a double benefit win-win if we have lessons a lifeguard growing out, you're preaching to the choir.

Okay, well, what do you think?

Mr.

Clevenger, do you want to comment on this?

Jay Clevinger, 4842 Leesburg Drive, Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Um I thought it was a productive meeting that we had.

Uh, and I'm not your chairman of that committee.

Um just uh was a long time member, got off for a little bit, just got back on.

Uh the the one thing I'd ask is uh as Chris, you said that you would share the email from uh jury.

I've I've I haven't seen that in the I apologize.

I've not been in the office, Jay.

I'll get that to you, I can assure you.

Uh but it it I had a couple of questions about the sports commission and and maybe what people are telling you.

I I haven't had the opportunity to speak with you one-on-one, Chris.

But um, you know, we have a vendor in the Jonesboro baseball boosters right now, so uh I was wondering what sports or what activities would this commission oversee.

Would it include baseball?

Would it include everything that's happening at the rec?

And then my uh follow-up question of that, the management group that's been hired to run the rack, are they going to be required to recruit events there, or is that gonna be AMP?

Would that be the sports commission?

How would that work?

I think from a cr recruiting perspective, and Craig, please come up and address this if you would like, but I would think that's gonna be the responsibility of all three groups jointly to fill that facility, Craig.

Uh primarily that will fall on sports facilities companies.

That's what we've contracted them to do.

Um they bring a lot of resources, as we know.

I'll be working, and P will be working with sports facilities, trying to bring tournaments in and things like that, but uh without putting a an accurate number on it, the the lion's share is going to be sports facilities.

Uh A and P signing off on that.

There's I don't see much reason for this uh committee or commission to get uh terribly involved in the happenings at the Ridge Athletic Center.

Okay.

So then my question goes back to baseball.

Will they be overseeing that?

Uh looking at the contract that was approved by city council.

I think last year with the Jonesboro basic baseball boosters, there was an item in there that uh the city uh in the rec league, there would be a break uh for tournaments.

Would that sports commission also be recruiting opportunities for that, or would that be the Jonesboro baseball boosters?

Because the way I read the contract, it implies that it would be the Jo Jonesboro baseball boosters to bring that in.

I I've mentioned several times during the course of conversations with every group that I've talked with, a parallel path.

And I I think that it's going to take everyone pulling on the same end of the rope to get as much sports tourism into our community as possible, whether that be baseball, whether it be softball, whether it be volleyball, whether it be swim, um cheer, uh bago was mentioned the other day at our meetings.

So there are a lot of opportunities out there that we just need to have, we need to cast a wider net.

And so I I think what I'm getting is the sports commission would be involved with everything that is correct.

And if we if you even events at the RAC, if we decide, if we decide to look at an outside contractor for softball or swim or whatever it may be, I mean, there's gonna be there's gonna be sports outside of the rack as well that we need to continue to focus on.

I think that that group needs to look at every opportunity to bring people into Jonesboro to put them in our restaurants, put them on our in our beds, in our hotels, and we just need to we've got to cast, as I said, a larger net, and everybody's got to be pulling in the same direction.

And if it comes to us outsourcing any of those other sports, I think that that committee needs to vet those can those individuals that would be coming in, check their credentials, see what they can offer the city of Jonesboro, see if they're the right fit for our people in Jonesboro, and then we can choose to move down that path or not as it comes to this group.

And I too just a little my thoughts.

I think some of this is very fluid right now.

Um like the sports commission may be kind of just the coordinator, you know, like okay, baseball boosters, what tournaments are you planning on bringing in this year.

They may not just may not be the sports commission going out and recruiting the tournaments, but just going, okay, baseball boosters, what have what have y'all got lined up for 2026 or 2027?

You know, just something like that.

I mean, and then fill those spots that we don't have filled internally.

Well, uh, and I'll make a final comment.

I know you're running out of time here, and I know Craig wants to say something.

Uh I would I would ask that one thing be considered.

We do have the AMP commission that promotes and uh tourism in our city.

And reading through some of the AMP minutes, uh, I know that we're looking to hire director of finance, marketing, business development.

I don't know if that was AMP themselves or this or the committee or the uh company hired to run it.

Uh but one thing that I think we should consider is hiring one individual that works for the AMP that will report to Craig that that is their job, and it could be performance-based and have some requirements that they report to Craig that they get the information from the vendors and and uh attempt to vet them and bring them to the public uh services committee for you guys to approve that vendor.

Uh I I don't know if that's a step that would be uh required or not, but I think it would be in the best interest of the public that we put something in place.

I have some other things here, and I'd be glad to visit visit with you individually about that.

But I feel like that's one thing.

I I'm afraid if we get a committee, it's going to get bogged down, and not everybody may have a uh have their opportunity to come to Jonesboro to bring their product here.

And that's my opinion.

And uh I I would like I would love to have that considered and all Craig.

Thank you, Jay.

Craig?

I just want to clarify one thing I said briefly, that uh input from that committee will always be considered and you know well thought of and and wanted, but every event that will be in the Ridge Athletics Center will go through sports facilities companies to book it to do all that, whether it's a vendor model, rights holder, whatever that's gonna be.

I just want to make sure I clear that up.

And those positions Jay's discussed, those are people be hired by sports facilities companies, uh employees of those companies.

But I just want to make sure not that I'm not saying we don't want any help.

We certainly do.

This is a community project, but all that stuff will go through sports facilities, whether it's you know a local project or a group out of a major metro from somewhere else in the country.

It uh all goes through SFC.

And one thing I failed to say is if you went to an individual, that person could serve on the parks planning and advisory committee and work in conjunction with the parks department as well.

I think that that's a good fit.

That's something that should be considered instead of having 10 people on a board making it the decisions.

You guys be the ones that make the decisions on who we're having into this community after the vetting from one individual that works for Craig and promotes the uh uh promotes the city and the tourism here.

Thank you.

Thank you, Joe.

I have a little um there can be a uh sort of confusion as far as when we talk about boards and commissions as far as which particular put which body we're talking about as far as citizens and then the facilities board.

And um is there some clarification as far as that or how are they referred to in board commission or committee is what you're talking about?

I'll defer to you that on that girl.

You're talking about the one that Jay is talking about.

I think it's a committee right now.

It was a commission when it started, but I think it's counted as a committee right now.

They changed the name.

Right.

And I don't know how to move forward.

I think I just thought we might have some clarification as far as what particular body we're referring to when we discuss the issues.

Of course, that's all subject to change moving forward if if that's the decision that's made, but right now I think it serves as a committee.

Anything else by this committee?

Anything else from the public?

Last item of business is public comment.

Anything from the public there?

I'll call for a motion to adjourn.

So moved all in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Thank you.