Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Jonesboro Public Safety Committee Meeting: Lease Proposals Reviewed on March 17, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, March 17, 2026

BodyJonesboro, Arkansas

SessionMeeting Portal

DateTuesday, March 17, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 43:12

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

All right, good afternoon, everybody.

0:02

It is five o'clock, and we are right at time to call to order the City of Jonesboro Public Safety Council committee meeting for the day.

0:10

First on our agenda today, we have roll call.

0:13

If you're on this committee and our attendance, if you will mark your vote on the device in front of you.

0:22

Show seven people in attendance.

0:23

Thank you very much.

0:24

So we do have a quorum and we'll continue to move forward.

0:27

Next on the agenda, we have the approval of minutes from our previous meeting on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026.

0:33

And if you had an opportunity to review those minutes, I will entertain a motion for approval.

0:39

Move to adopt unless changes are noted.

0:41

Second.

0:42

Okay.

0:42

I have a motion and second for approval of minutes from the previous from the previous meeting.

0:47

Everybody that's in favor of approving the minutes as presented, if you will denote your vote on the device in front of you.

0:56

Okay, that item does carry.

0:58

Thank you very much.

0:59

Moving on to the next item on new business is going to be we have three ordinances to be introduced this evening.

1:07

First of all being ordinance 26008.

1:11

An ordinance to amend ordinance 93741 to reinstate the multi-way four-way stop signs at Rains and Wilkins intersections.

1:20

Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Section 1, the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, hereby amends ordinance 93741 to reinstate the multi-way stop sign at the Rains and Wilkins intersection.

1:34

Section two, this ordinance authorizes the City of Jonesboro Street Department to make the above amendment with the passage and approval of this ordinance.

1:41

Section three, this ordinance being necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, and safety.

1:47

There is hereby declared an emergency, and this ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from after the passage and approval.

1:57

Do I have a motion?

2:01

Second.

2:01

Okay.

2:02

I have a motion and a second for approval of this ordinance.

2:04

Do I have any questions from anybody on the committee?

2:06

Uh just one.

2:07

Now I understand it's already a four-way intersection.

2:09

This is just changing the sign.

2:11

Is it gonna be one of those that highlights and flashes?

2:14

Supposed to be more prominent.

2:20

This is really just to clean up the fact that there's an ordinance saying it's supposed to be a two-way stop.

2:24

Uh it's been marked as a four-way.

2:26

Yeah, it's been a four-way stop for a while.

2:28

Since probably I know 97 when I lived at that intersection, it was four-way stop.

2:33

So we just we came across it and went, well, that's it's a four-way stop.

2:38

We probably ought to clean that up.

2:40

Okay.

2:40

All right, thank you.

2:41

Thank you, Craig.

2:42

Any other questions from anybody else on the committee?

2:46

Okay.

2:47

Anything from the administration.

2:50

And anything from the public's in attendance.

2:53

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

3:01

Okay, and that item does pass.

3:03

Thank you, everybody.

3:04

Moving on to the next ordinance on the agenda.

3:07

That will be ordinance 26009.

3:10

An ordinance to the city of Jonesboro to place various traffic signs at designated locations as determined by the traffic control committee.

3:17

Now, therefore, it be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, to make the following changes as recommended by the traffic control committee.

3:25

Establishing a 25 mile an hour speed limit on Hillcrest Drive between Nettleton Avenue and Wilkins Avenue.

3:33

Move to recommend to the full council.

3:35

Second.

3:36

Okay.

3:36

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

3:38

Do you have any questions from anybody on the committee?

3:41

Any from the administration?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████27%

Public Safety█████████████████████████25%

Affordable Housing████████████████16%

Fiscal Sustainability████████████12%

Transportation Safety███████████11%

Procedural█████████9%

Summary of Proceedings

Jonesboro Public Safety Council Committee Meeting – March 17, 2026

The Jonesboro Public Safety Council Committee met on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The committee approved minutes from the previous meeting, introduced three traffic ordinances, and discussed two lease proposals for the Police Department. No public comments were made.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the February 17, 2026, meeting.

Discussion Items

Ordinance 26008 – Reinstatement of Four-Way Stop at Rains and Wilkins: The ordinance amends a previous ordinance to reinstate a multi-way stop sign at the intersection. The item was an emergency measure. A council member noted that the intersection has functioned as a four-way stop for years, and the ordinance cleans up the record. The motion passed unanimously.
Ordinance 26009 – Speed Limit on Hillcrest Drive: Establishes a 25 mph speed limit on Hillcrest Drive between Nettleton Avenue and Wilkins Avenue. The committee voted to recommend this to the full council.
Ordinance 26010 – Speed Limit on Main Street: Establishes a 20 mph speed limit on Main Street from Washington Avenue to Kate Avenue. The committee voted to recommend this to the full council.
Vector Mosquito Control RFP: A council member inquired about the status of the RFP. Tony (staff) reported that the current vendor and one other have expressed interest, and proposals are expected by the deadline the next day. Committee members will receive copies.
Intersection Restriping on Cole Street: A council member raised concerns about pavement markings at the intersection of Cole Street, Wood Street, and Thomas Street. Chief Craig confirmed that markings need to be milled off and will be addressed.

Lease Proposals for Police Department Facilities

Assistant Chief Lynn Waterworth and Chief Craig presented two lease options to consolidate police services currently spread across multiple parks buildings. The goal is to move into two facilities: one main location and the existing Caraway Road building.

Option 1: First United Methodist Church Youth Building (Union Street)

Lessor: First United Methodist Church, represented by Don Parker.
Size: 36,000 square feet (three floors, third floor unfinished).
Lease Terms: 10-year proposal; first year cost $375,000 (approximately $10.30/sq ft), escalating to $422,000 by year five. No purchase option initially, but Mr. Parker indicated the church is open to negotiation.
Renovation Cost: Estimated $1 million or more (city pays). Parking across the street (72 spots) with overflow on church lot.
Position (Chief/Asst. Chief): Would accommodate all police services except patrol and evidence. Adequate for 30–40 years. Concerns include security retrofitting (building not designed for law enforcement), parking logistics, and higher renovation costs.

Option 2: Carroll Road Property (Former Park Place Inn)

Lessor: Carl Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell stated the building is for sale (asking price over $2 million) and offered a 5-year lease at $196,528 annually ($16/sq ft, flat).
Size: 12,000 square feet (half already built out with offices, bathrooms, firewalls; city can move in immediately).
Renovation Cost: $200,000 (city pays for build-out of the other half). Owner covers most other costs.
Parking: 32 spaces in front, 82 on side, plus room for expansion on 5-acre lot.
Position (Chief/Asst. Chief): Would move patrol services and displaced units to this site, keeping evidence and patrol at Caraway. Adequate for 10+ years, with room to expand. More cost-effective for short-term; purchase option provides investment for future.

Council Discussion: Council members weighed the financial trade-offs. The church building offers more space for growth but requires significant upfront investment. The Caraway property is cheaper to lease and renovate, and the city could potentially own it. The Chief stated that a new police station from scratch is still the long-term goal, so the lease decision is about a 10-year solution. Mr. Caldwell confirmed the 30-day deadline on his proposal. The committee did not make a final decision; members will gather additional information and may call a special meeting.

Key Outcomes

Ordinance 26008 passed unanimously (emergency ordinance, effective immediately).
Ordinances 26009 and 26010 were recommended to the full council.
The committee will continue to evaluate the two lease proposals. A special meeting within two weeks is possible to decide.
No public comments were received.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:00 PM (city council session to follow).

Meeting Transcript

All right, good afternoon, everybody. It is five o'clock, and we are right at time to call to order the City of Jonesboro Public Safety Council committee meeting for the day. First on our agenda today, we have roll call. If you're on this committee and our attendance, if you will mark your vote on the device in front of you. Show seven people in attendance. Thank you very much. So we do have a quorum and we'll continue to move forward. Next on the agenda, we have the approval of minutes from our previous meeting on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026. And if you had an opportunity to review those minutes, I will entertain a motion for approval. Move to adopt unless changes are noted. Second. Okay. I have a motion and second for approval of minutes from the previous from the previous meeting. Everybody that's in favor of approving the minutes as presented, if you will denote your vote on the device in front of you. Okay, that item does carry. Thank you very much. Moving on to the next item on new business is going to be we have three ordinances to be introduced this evening. First of all being ordinance 26008. An ordinance to amend ordinance 93741 to reinstate the multi-way four-way stop signs at Rains and Wilkins intersections. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Section 1, the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, hereby amends ordinance 93741 to reinstate the multi-way stop sign at the Rains and Wilkins intersection. Section two, this ordinance authorizes the City of Jonesboro Street Department to make the above amendment with the passage and approval of this ordinance. Section three, this ordinance being necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, and safety. There is hereby declared an emergency, and this ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from after the passage and approval. Do I have a motion? Second. Okay. I have a motion and a second for approval of this ordinance. Do I have any questions from anybody on the committee? Uh just one. Now I understand it's already a four-way intersection. This is just changing the sign. Is it gonna be one of those that highlights and flashes? Supposed to be more prominent. This is really just to clean up the fact that there's an ordinance saying it's supposed to be a two-way stop. Uh it's been marked as a four-way. Yeah, it's been a four-way stop for a while. Since probably I know 97 when I lived at that intersection, it was four-way stop. So we just we came across it and went, well, that's it's a four-way stop. We probably ought to clean that up. Okay. All right, thank you. Thank you, Craig. Any other questions from anybody else on the committee? Okay. Anything from the administration. And anything from the public's in attendance. Okay, seeing none, we'll go ahead and we will call a vote on this item. Okay, and that item does pass. Thank you, everybody. Moving on to the next ordinance on the agenda.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com