Jonesboro City Council Regular Meeting - May 19, 2026
Jonesboro City Council Regular Meeting - May 19, 2026
The Jonesboro City Council met on May 19, 2026 at 5:30 PM at the Municipal Center. Eleven members were present, one absent. The meeting included a special award presentation, a comprehensive building permitting study presentation, approval of routine items, a public hearing on a bond issue, rezoning ordinances, and various council reports and public comment.
Public Hearing (Bond Issue for InnovAsian Cuisine)
- At 5:25 PM, a public hearing was held regarding the industrial development revenue bonds for InnovAsian Cuisine. No members of the public spoke for or against.
Special Presentations
- ESGR "My Boss is a Patriot" Award: Lt. Col. Retired Gil Fowler presented Fire Chief Marty Hamrick with the "My Boss is a Patriot" award, recognizing his support for National Guard employees. A statement of support for the Jonesboro Fire Department and a patriot pin were also presented. Chief Hamrick was nominated by Spencer Saul of the 1036th Engineer Company.
- Building Code Review and Permitting Process Assessment Study: Allison Brekke of Matrix Consulting Group presented findings and recommendations. Strengths included use of permitting software (ProjectDox and iWorQ), weekly leadership meetings, same-day inspections, and a dedicated construction outreach coordinator. Key weaknesses: no defined performance objectives, fragmented intake (four positions in three departments), outdated fee schedule (since 2017), no upfront plan review fee, and inconsistencies between the two software systems. High-priority recommendations included: centralized permit center (physical and digital), consolidated intake with single completeness check, unified review comments, improved inspection scheduling, designation of Chief Building Official as Certificate of Occupancy signatory, better software integration or replacement, paperless submittals, online inspection scheduling, standardized training, updated job descriptions, cross-departmental management lead, and organizational restructuring into a Development Services Department with a new Commercial Plans Reviewer. Implementation could begin Q3 2026. Budget impacts include modest costs for permit center setup, vendor support, training, and a new full-time Commercial Plans Reviewer (the most significant near-term cost). Councilmembers asked about software standardization, customization, and metrics for success. L.J. Bryant questioned investment justification given slowing growth; Brekke responded recommendations are based on current workload and will help with future growth.
Consent Calendar
The following items were approved en bloc (11-0), except RES-26:043 which was removed for separate discussion:
- MIN-26:042: Minutes of May 5, 2026 meeting.
- RES-26:046: FTA Certifications and Assurances for GOJO transit.
- RES-26:050: AWIN network use and equipment for GOJO.
- RES-26:051: Application for Edward Byrne Memorial JAG grant.
- RES-26:052: Application for STEP grant.
- RES-26:053: Application for Safe Streets and Roads for All grant.
- RES-26:054: Release and withdrawal of petition for Strawfloor Drive property.
- RES-26:055: Appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions.
- RES-26:045: Condemnation of property at 1205 N. Floyd St. (removed from consent, passed 11-0 separately).
Discussion Items
- RES-26:043 (United Way Lease): Removed from consent. Councilmember Anthony Coleman questioned the contract date referencing December 1, 2025. City Attorney Carol Duncan explained the building is currently held over from a previous lease and the discrepancy does not affect the agreement. Councilmember L.J. Bryant asked about demolition contingency; Duncan confirmed there is an out clause. The 10-year lease at $1 per year for space at 407 Union Avenue was approved (11-0).
- ORD-26:016 (InnovAsian Cuisine Bonds): On first reading, council suspended rules and waived second reading. The ordinance authorizes issuance of industrial development revenue bonds for InnovAsian Cuisine, including associated agreements. Passed without opposition.
- ORD-26:014 (Rezoning at 5925 E. Johnson Ave): Ordinance to change zoning from I-1 to C-3, LUO. Passed on third reading (11-0).
- ORD-26:015 (Rezoning at 1601 Granger Dr): Ordinance to change zoning from RM-8 to RS-5. Councilmember Kevin Miller requested postponement because it needs to be referred back to the zoning board. Postponed temporarily to the next meeting.
- Shooting Range Financial Losses (Council Report): Councilmember David McClain questioned the annual losses at the city shooting range. Parks Director Jim Stearns reported losses: $412,000 (2023), $506,000 (2024), $497,000 (2025). Options discussed include attracting more tournaments (needs a conference/clubhouse), adding a camera system to reduce staffing, constructing a clubhouse (estimated ~$3 million), and outsourcing management. CAO Brian Richardson noted that outsourcing is an option but would require facility completion or funding agreement. Discussions with Arkansas Game and Fish for supportive funding are ongoing. Councilmember McClain encouraged further discussions with A&P and the sports facilities group.
- Blue Envelope Program (Council Report): Councilmember Brian Emison invited Police Chief Rick Elliott to present the Blue Envelope Program for traffic stops involving individuals with autism. Chief Elliott stated that Jonesboro PD was the first agency in Arkansas to conduct mock traffic stop drills for this initiative, in partnership with ASU and the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. The program allows drivers with autism to present a blue envelope containing their documents, reducing miscommunication. A real incident occurred two days later where the program was successfully used. The department is working with state legislators on improvements.
Mayor's Reports
- Mayor's report read by Mayor Pro-Tempore Chris Moore. Highlights: Plan Jonesboro comprehensive planning (community survey open, public meetings in June and July); Youth Advancement Council applications (grades 9-12, through July 1); recognition of Specialty Court Month in May (saving approx. $6,000 per individual served); Salvation Army 125th anniversary; various conferences attended; community events including Fisher Street Fish Fry (hosted by Dr. Coleman); Skirmish Delta Gravel Festival (May 28-31); neighborhood cleanup June 6; Memorial Day closures; and discussions on police recruitment incentives with Chief Elliott.
City Council Reports (Additional Discussion)
- L.J. Bryant: Requested public education on the Park Ranger Program and urged reallocation of funds to support police recruitment.
- Dr. Anthony Coleman: Recognized Mental Health Awareness Month and thanked health professionals.
- Chris Gibson: Announced A&P Commission's reappointment of Jerry Morgan (passed as RES-26:057). Also noted Parks Advisory Committee will meet with Public Services Committee on June 16 at 3:30 PM.
- Dr. Charles Coleman: Updated that Ronnie Shaver is recovering; thanked DARE program for fish fry success (365-375 plates, 300 hot dogs).
- Brian Emison: Supported police benefit discussions; set meeting with Chief Elliott on recruitment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jonathan Carvell (4474 Highway 163): Speaking for the SWAT swim club, expressed concern that the club's pool lane allocation was reduced from an expected 4 lanes to 3 lanes, while the other team received 7 lanes based on safety claims. He argued this is a space issue, not safety, and that safety arguments create a perverse incentive. He requested council's assistance in ensuring fair access to the city pool for both teams.
Key Outcomes and Next Steps
- All consent items and separate resolutions passed unanimously (11-0).
- ORD-26:014 (rezoning at 5925 E. Johnson) passed.
- ORD-26:015 (rezoning at 1601 Granger) postponed to next meeting.
- ORD-26:016 (InnovAsian bonds) advanced to final passage after waiver of second reading.
- The Matrix Consulting report and recommendations will be considered for implementation, with priority actions in Q3 2026.
- Continued discussions on shooting range cost reduction and potential external management.
- The pool allocation issue will be addressed by city staff/council.
- Police recruitment incentives and the Blue Envelope Program to be further developed.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, everybody. We'll go ahead and start uh City Council. This is Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, and we're gonna go ahead and call the that to order. I'll begin with the uh Pledge Allegiance, and then Dr. Anthony Coleman will lead us in prayer. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and the Republic for Nation and Liberty and Justice. Yes, if you would, Lord, we thank you for this day and this time that you've given us. Thank you for your grace that is new every morning. And so as we come together as one on tonight, I pray and thank you for the safety of our city. Thank you for those men and women who put their themselves on the line for us. Thank you for the administration and others that continue to lead and guide the city. Well, Father, your word declares in Psalms accept the Lord keep the city. Watchmen waited, but in vain. And Father, we thank you that you are watcher, watching over our city, and we appreciate you for it in Jesus' name. Amen. All right, counsel. If you would please go ahead and mark your attendance. All right, and we do have 11 members present this evening. So next we'll move on to item number four, and these are items under special presentation. And Mr. Fowler, if you would uh please come forward, he's um uh support of the guard and reserve. I'll meet you down front with uh Marty Hamrick. He does have an award and presentation to provide good afternoon. It's uh my pleasure to be with you this evening. I'm Lieutenant Colonel Retired Gil Fowler, also known as Santa Gill. And uh tonight I want to make a special presentation to the Golden Helmet, I guess, division organization here in Jonesboro, their fire department. Uh basically I represent a group called the Employee Support of the Garden Reserve. We're a group of uh most of us veterans whose job it is working under the Secretary of I think it's defense, but maybe a secretary of war, nonetheless, to uh address the importance that our citizen soldiers bring to the local community. Uh ESGR has chapters in all 50 states in Australia and Europe throughout the world, and our job again is to basically help support our men and women in uniform and recognize the importance and value that they bring to the local community. Our all-volunteer force today basically has a lot of challenges. Being away from home, being away from family, being away from community, and doing the things that are necessary for our society to exist and continue. Since 9-11, over a million citizen soldiers have served our country. In addition to, of course, the regular force, 24-hour all purpose uh soldiers. Today I want to pay special attention to Chief Marty Hamrick and present him with what we call my boss is a patriot award. He was nominated by Spencer Saul, one of his uh employees who serves with the 1036th Engineer Company here in Jonesboro. Basically, in his nomination that goes forward to the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of War's office, and it takes several months to, in essence, be evaluated to ensure that one he's a legitimate person, and at the same time, Spencer Saul is a legitimate soldier. We want to ensure that both of those components fit together in making that nomination. But he says Chief Hamric ensures that all rules and regulations pertaining to service members are followed, and is very supportive of the employees who serve in the Arkansas Army National Guard. They recognize the work with me when I have a military commitment. The chief is a one-of-a-kind manager who goes above and beyond. He helps facilitate times that I have to be away, and is fully supportive of my service. Having a supervisor like that makes being a military member easy. He's done a fantastic job making guardsmen and their families feel welcome and appreciated. He's a true patriot, an outstanding supervisor, a professional at what he does, and yet he gets he takes the time to get to know you and your family as a person. Our workplace is both a team and the family. So tonight it's my pleasure to recognize Chief Hamric with what we call my bosses of Patriot Award. Now it's a three-part award. The first part is basically a certificate specifying that he has been recognized by the Secretary of War and by the state of Arkansas and our soldiers as being one who truly respects and understands and works with our citizen soldiers when they're not here. Secondly, we have a what we call statement of support for the Jonesboro Fire Department that we hope he will put up in a prominent place so that when soldiers and guardsmen and their families come in, they will see the seals of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, etc. And say this must be a good place to be.
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