OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Jonesboro Public Services Committee Meeting - June 16, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, June 16, 2026
BodyJonesboro, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, June 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 37:55

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

All right, I'll call the meeting of the public services committee to order.

0:04

Chairman Gibson's out of town.

0:06

We'll start with our roll call.

0:08

Indicate your presence by hitting the button.

0:14

Like we've got a quorum.

0:16

Moving on to our minutes.

0:17

Looks like we've got a couple sets of minutes.

0:19

Minutes 26019.

0:21

Entertain a motion to approve.

0:23

So moved.

0:25

Got a motion and a second to end to approve minutes 26019.

0:30

All those in favor vote accordingly.

0:36

All right, and that passes.

0:39

Minutes 26039 from the meeting on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026.

0:44

Entertain a motion to approve.

0:58

Okay, and approved.

0:59

Next minutes 26043.

1:02

Minutes for the special call public services committee meeting on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026.

1:08

Entertain a motion to approve.

1:09

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

1:12

I'll second.

1:13

Okay, motion made and seconded.

1:15

If you'll vote on those minutes.

1:22

And motion approved and let the record reflect Dr.

1:24

Anthony Coleman just walked in.

1:27

All right, moving on to new business.

1:29

Any new business for the committee?

1:31

Anyone on the committee have any new business?

1:35

All righty.

1:37

Sorry, Dr.

1:37

Coleman.

1:38

Um, I did have a couple questions.

1:40

Um is it on new on the agenda?

1:48

Yeah, okay.

1:49

Yeah, well, and we'll save it.

1:50

Is it what what departments are for?

1:52

Is it for parks?

1:54

Okay, yeah, he's gonna be up there in a little bit.

1:55

Okay, any other new business?

1:58

Nope.

1:59

See, we have no pending items, so moving on to other business.

2:03

We'll start with Lee.

2:04

There's Lee.

2:05

Start with Lee for a Gojo update.

2:12

How are y'all today?

2:13

Um, did they get this?

2:15

Uh April, did y'all get this attached or printed?

2:19

Okay, good.

2:20

I do have additional copies if anyone does need that.

2:23

Um, so uh a couple of things I wanted to give uh just some updates.

2:29

Uh, but while I am kind of giving some updates, uh there are two documents that you have there.

2:36

Um, one is talking about uh our uh proposal for going to public notice for uh confirming some route changes uh and then also a fair adjustment.

2:51

Uh the standard fares that we operate now have been there since and from my knowledge since the initial starting of the system.

3:00

Um so we're just looking at trying to uh build that into something that's more along the lines for what today's service is.

3:09

The secondary page is going to talk about expanded fare and capping, fair capping, uh, which will give some good definitions on what fare capping is and uh how that um does work.

3:25

Um so um with the fare capping when you have uh uh a pass, which is what we typically do now, so you can buy a one-day pass, a seven-day pass, or a 31-day pass.

3:40

Those passes are bought here.

3:43

It is a physical copy that we have to actually purchase, print, and all of that.

3:48

Um there's cost that is associated with that, but also the uh consumer has to come up with that money up front.

3:56

They come in, they spend that amount for whatever that pass is, they purchase it up front, and that allows them to use it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████33%
Transportation Safety████████████████████████████████32%
Technology and Innovation████████████12%
Procedural███████7%
Public Safety███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Jonesboro Public Services Committee Meeting - June 16, 2026

This Public Services Committee meeting, chaired in the absence of Chairman Gibson, featured updates from the GoJo Transit system and the Parks and Recreation Department. Key discussions included proposed fare changes, route expansions, new fare-capping technology, and a comprehensive review of spring sports and park operations.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes 26019 – Approved by motion and second, with a vote in favor.
  • Minutes 26039 (April 21, 2026) – Approved by motion and second.
  • Minutes 26043 (Special call meeting, May 5, 2026) – Approved by motion and second.

Discussion Items

  • GoJo Transit Update (Lee, Transit Director):

    • Presented two documents: one on route changes and a fare adjustment, and another on expanded fare capping.
    • Fare capping system: Allows riders to use a trackable card that caps charges at $5 per day, $20 per week, and $60 per month. Once a rider reaches the cap, no further charges are applied for that period. The system requires riders to enroll in the pass/ticketing program; standard cash or credit card users pay per ride.
    • Tap-to-pay credit card system: Under development, targeted to go live before the start of the college school year (August 2026).
    • Shelter project: All shelters installed except one, pending electrical boring at six locations. Technology connectivity (by Message Point Media) begins June 22, with a two-week installation timeline.
    • Public notice proposal (required by federal regulations):
      1. Make pilot routes (including A-State campus) permanent.
      2. Adjust current route alignments, including a new special event route to Craighead Forest Park and service expansions into Greensboro Village, Highland Drive, Culber House Drive, Southwest Drive, and the Matthews/Annie Camp area. The Hilltop/Industrial Park route would be split to improve service.
      3. Fare adjustment: Increase standard fare from $1.25 to $2.00 (first change since system start in 2006). Reduced fares for seniors, veterans, youth, and Medicare participants will be adjusted accordingly. Paratransit fare changes also included.
    • Citizens Advisory Board reviewed the fare pricing and recommendations were incorporated.
    • Committee member comment noted that fare revenue is about $80,000 of a $4 million budget (~2%), and expressed support for the adjustment while urging caution about potential ridership impacts.

  • Parks and Recreation Update (Mr. Stearns, Parks Director):

    • Cashless option debuted May 7, 2026, for sports events.
    • Craighead Forest Park: Hosted Iowa Children's Festival (~3,000 attendees) and a benefit concert; Sunset Sessions began May 23.
    • Shooting sports: Youth trap shooting competition set a record with 215 competitors; Big River Seal Trap Contest drew 129 competitors.
    • Joe McCampbell Park: Spring season ended May 16 with 1,550 soccer participants, 375 flag football participants, 90 cheer participants, 13,488 spectators, and an average of 2,248 spectators per Saturday (4,268 including participants). 82% of spectators used cash, 18% credit cards at field sports.
    • Miracle League: Summer season concluded May 23 (65 participants, 195 games); new Miracle League kickball season started with 60 participants.
    • Pools: 32 lifeguards hired; ~600 participants per pool per week.
    • Keyless entry systems installed at community centers using grant funds.
    • Craighead Forest Park improvements: Emergency ATV trail access improved for EMTs (grant funded).
    • Land clearing east of Joe McCampbell Park on Lacey Drive for a walking trail (grant funded).
    • Tree grant: $43,000 received to add 140 trees to the city tree canopy in fall 2026.
    • Gate at Craighead Forest Park: Director reported he received one bid for a swing gate (not preferred) and is now seeking bids for a rolling gate. The gate is part of a capital improvement wish list; goal is to close the park at 10 p.m. to deter after-hours use.
    • Signage: New signs are being designed for parks, including no-smoking reminders (policy passed ~6–7 years ago) and contact information for rangers. Signs will be installed first at Craighead Forest, then at other parks.
    • Committee member requested historical comparison data (2024 vs. 2025 vs. 2026) on participant numbers and revenue from sports events. Director noted that prior revenue accounting was not separated by facility; starting in 2026, data is being tracked per facility. Director agreed to provide what data is available.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar – Three sets of minutes approved unanimously.
  • GoJo transit public notice – The committee will proceed with the public comment period for the proposed route changes, fare adjustment, and route expansions as outlined. No vote was taken; the update was informational.
  • Committee members expressed general support for the fare adjustment but requested monitoring of ridership impacts.
  • Parks data request – Director Stearns will provide available participant and revenue comparison data from 2024–2026.
  • Gate installation – The director will pursue a rolling gate for Craighead Forest Park as part of the top 10 capital improvement list.
  • Signage – Implementation of no-smoking and park rules signage to begin within the next few weeks.
  • Meeting adjourned – Motion and second carried.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made on items not on the agenda.

Meeting Transcript

All right, I'll call the meeting of the public services committee to order. Chairman Gibson's out of town. We'll start with our roll call. Indicate your presence by hitting the button. Like we've got a quorum. Moving on to our minutes. Looks like we've got a couple sets of minutes. Minutes 26019. Entertain a motion to approve. So moved. Got a motion and a second to end to approve minutes 26019. All those in favor vote accordingly. All right, and that passes. Minutes 26039 from the meeting on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026. Entertain a motion to approve. Okay, and approved. Next minutes 26043. Minutes for the special call public services committee meeting on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. Entertain a motion to approve. I'll make a motion to approve unless there's changes to be noted. I'll second. Okay, motion made and seconded. If you'll vote on those minutes. And motion approved and let the record reflect Dr. Anthony Coleman just walked in. All right, moving on to new business. Any new business for the committee? Anyone on the committee have any new business? All righty. Sorry, Dr. Coleman. Um, I did have a couple questions. Um is it on new on the agenda? Yeah, okay. Yeah, well, and we'll save it. Is it what what departments are for? Is it for parks? Okay, yeah, he's gonna be up there in a little bit. Okay, any other new business? Nope. See, we have no pending items, so moving on to other business. We'll start with Lee. There's Lee. Start with Lee for a Gojo update. How are y'all today? Um, did they get this? Uh April, did y'all get this attached or printed? Okay, good. I do have additional copies if anyone does need that. Um, so uh a couple of things I wanted to give uh just some updates.

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