Welcome to City of Jonesboro and City Council.

This is July 7th.

Boy, our summer's already going through pretty good.

We're gonna go ahead and start tonight's meeting.

If I would uh have everybody please stand, I'll lead and pledge allegiance, and council member Porter will lead us in invocation.

I pledge allegiance to the flag the United States and America to the Republic.

One nation, another God in the visible liberty.

Please pray with me.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your goodness to us.

We thank you for our dedicated public servants.

We ask that you give us wisdom and understanding as we attend to the people's business.

It is our desire that we be found good and faithful servants.

Help us to act justly, love mercy, and to walk umbly with you.

This we pray in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Ms.

Alright, Council.

We'll move on to item number three.

If you would please go ahead and mark your presence.

And we do have quorum for tonight's meeting.

So next we'll move on to item number four.

These are items on special presentation.

The first item we have this evening is an update on GoJo transit system.

If you would please come forward and give us your update.

Thank you, Lee.

Thank y'all.

I just wanted to come today and talk about our public comment period that we're going to we are in actively right now for our transit system.

So with this, uh we have some route changes that will be being made and some fare changes that will be being made.

Our goals with this, of course, is to improve reliability, expand coverage, and ensure that we have that long-term financial sustainability.

All of this is connected to our growth and what we're wanting to do here in the system.

So with this, we have a couple of items our pilot routes, which specifically is the A state test routes that we have been doing.

We are looking to have those become permanent fixtures in our service.

We have been actively engaged with the college and the different organizations and try to bring awareness to the student population, specifically with the new student orientations that have been going on this year, and we've gotten a lot of positive feedback from this, and we we look for this to continue to be a great benefit for the students and the city as a whole.

Our future route expansions and also our alignment plans.

So with this, we do have some expansions that we are looking to do.

We're hoping to go into the Greensboro Village area at the uh hilltop area.

Uh we're looking to get over into the Highland Drive, Clover House, Southwest Drive Corridor in order to better serve some of those areas.

Uh we're also looking at Matthews and Anne Camp area again to better improve our service area.

And then with the A state integration, we want to tweak the directions and the routes that some of the system was already previously doing.

Um so we did have one route that was participating in that uh A-state loop in order to accommodate the students.

Now, with the introduction of the specific Red Wolf routes, we want to utilize that to go into the hilltop area in order to reduce that wait time for the customers and really overall improve the service for everyone.

Um this is gonna you know help to get the neighbors and the neighborhood that in areas where we haven't been going to uh get them educ or access to education, uh employment, health care, and entertainment opportunities.

Um with this proposal, we are also hoping to do a fair structure adjustment.

So uh to my knowledge, since the service has started, we have not made any form of a fair adjustment.

What we are wanting to do is to realign those adjustments to to better work with rising fuel costs, rising labor costs, rising maintenance costs in order to uh really hope to try to uh keep this service a sustainable service as we continue to grow and expand.

With this proposal, we are also looking at or not looking, we are adding our tap to pay service, which will include a fare card, and that fare card will bring along with it the fare capping, which is something we have not been able to do before.

So previously, what we did is we did uh passes for the riders.

Uh they could do a one-day, a seven day, or a 31 day, but they had to pay for those in advance.

So they had to have the money to be able to buy that pass in advance, come to City Hall, purchase that pass, and then use it on our system.

With this new system that we're doing and the fare capping structure, they will be able to get one of our transit cards, and then they will just ride as normal.

They're paying for every trip as they get on.

However, the system has that smart uh tracking on their usage to know how much they've paid and how that compares to the past structure that we had previously.

So we'll actually be going away from the passes.

There won't be passes to purchase in advance anymore.

There will be tracking that's done when you use your fare card that will keep you from paying more than one of those passes would be.

So while this is an increase of our fare structure, we actually expect a majority of our riders are going to see a savings in what their daily cost is because once they've ridden those four or five trips for a week, the rest of the week they're not going to be charged for.

So that fare structure is going to allow those that have not been able to participate in passes to be able to benefit from that structure, but also to do a better job of allowing those commuters, those daily students, those workers, or those people that are getting to their health care appointments using public transit, a more efficient and effective way of using that system.

So with that fare capping, the key is is that no rider pays more than the cost of what that pass would be, but they're paying that as they go.

So instead of having the 15, 20 dollars that was needed for that pass to have to pay for it up front, keep up with and use, you will now have that pass system that will track your ridership.

So when you get on and you pay that $2 fare for a standard fare, or you pay that $1 fare for a reduced fare, it's going to track your usage.

Another benefit of that is those cards, they will actually get a card that is associated with their usage.

So if, for example, you qualify for a veteran discount or you qualify for a senior adult discount, you can get that pass that will actually only charge you that amount.

With this, it's key.

I I know I I said it a couple of times, but I do want to stress that no one is being charged more for their usage of the vehicle than what they would have if they were using a pass.

So this is going to be a great opportunity for those that were not able to get passes previously because maybe they couldn't get that pass.

It also gives a lot more accessibility with it.

Um so the frequency of their usage will, of course, uh, I think increase uh our ridership over time because they'll be able to use that fare capping.

Um all of this is a part of our public comment period, which is currently open now.

Um our public comment period will run until the end of the month, July 31st.

Um, with this presentation that we are having that's kind of kicking off this information.

Um we are also going to be having a public hearing.

Um, that'll be kind of a town hall setting at the youth center at 1421 West Nettleton on July the 15th, starting at 4 p.m.

Uh we will run that uh, you know, and I think we're we have until 6 30, I think is what we've had that scheduled for.

Uh but of course we'll be available to answer questions to anyone.

You can call, ask questions, uh feel free to stop by our office, uh 2630 Lacey Drive, uh, or you can email us any of your thoughts that are on providing feedback for these items that we're going through.

And that email is going to be at Gojo feedback at Jonesboro AR.gov.

If you would include the subject line of 2026 system updates on your email, we will take a look at every one of those and we will take all of those comments that we receive into consideration as we look forward towards moving these things uh into uh fruition of how our service will run.

Um so we do have, I believe you have uh a map uh that is listed on here, which does show our routes.

Uh we will have a map, a large blow-up map at our town hall meeting.

Uh, and of course, we can provide this to anyone if they need that.

Uh, but we are just looking to be able to strengthen our ability to be able to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable transportation for everyone in the city of Jonesboro.

Um, this is just gonna help connect our community and and make us stronger as the city does continue to grow.

So if anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer.

Yeah, just a minute, Councilman uh Lee, if you would please go ahead and address the updates on the uh stations individually.

Yes, the so that that project is ongoing.

They actually have every one of the uh technology devices in our shelters.

We are still going through the process of getting them all connected.

Um we still have a couple that we're waiting for power to be turned on to.

Uh we have some lighting that we're still trying to get the kinks worked out on to make sure that they all function like they're supposed to, but you should be seeing at our new sheltered stops all of those terminals.

As those are connected and the software is updated, those will be tracking our buses.

So if you are at one of our bus stops uh that has a shelter, you should see one of those display screens.

That display screen will tell you what routes are arriving at that bus stop.

It'll give you an estimated time of when that bus will arrive.

And there is actually an ADA call button that you can press that will read out the information for those that are visually impaired.

Um so that's that's gonna be fantastic, especially once we get the lighting.

I know I've talked about that, but in until you see it, it's it's really impressive.

Number one, they're all lit, uh, which is a huge importance.

Uh, but then that lighting and the RGB lights where they'll change colors, every route is associated with a color.

So when that bus starts to approach, that light will come on to tell you that it's coming.

As that bus gets close that you need to make sure you're at the bus stop, that light will start pulsing to let the passengers know that hey, you need to be right here because if you're not at the bus stop, we don't know if you're walking across the parking lot or if you're just hanging out.

So that's key is to be at the bus stop when the bus arrives so we know to stop and pick you up.

Um we are also currently working through our new signage.

I know all of our signs at all of our bus stops currently still have the old logo and the route information.

We have received all of our signs.

We are currently in the process of getting them labeled for routing, so that way the bus sign will say what routes are going there as well.

That'll be important for the the non-sheltered stops as well as the sheltered stops.

So that way you can quickly identify if this bus stop is going to be utilized by Route 17, or if Route 17 doesn't stop at that one, you'll know quickly, does it have that number on it?

So I'll know if I need to get on that bus.

And all of this coincides with our app that we have, which is actively going.

A lot of people are using it, uh, which does tell you all of that bus routing information in real time with a display of where the bus is, even notifications on if the bus is full, partially full or whatever.

So yeah.

Yeah, councilman Coleman.

Uh I just gonna ask on the uh purchasing of the of the uh I guess tickets uh is there anything online that they're gonna be doing, and they just have to have to come to the city to purchase.

There are some options for online as well.

So you can actually on your smartphone, I believe, you can get the the transit pass basically on your phone where it's not a card, it would just be an app type thing on your phone.

Um, and what you would do is when you load the bus, you would just pull it up.

I actually have a QR code on my phone for my business card.

It would be very similar to that, it will be a little scannable thing.

When you go in, you put your phone, it scans it, it registers, it actually tracks your information to say, hey, this is the fifth time you've been on the bus, so we don't need to charge you today.

Um so that way, but it still tracks that you got on the bus where you got on and things like that.

It's great question.

Any other questions by council?

Just one real quick on the rate adjustments.

How does that comp to cities similar to our size that offer transportation?

It does comp very well with a lot of the other businesses, the other agencies that are in the area.

I have done uh a lot of research looking on their websites.

Um, some of the agencies that are not at the amounts we are at or proposing to go at.

I have actually spoken with those agencies, and they are also looking at adjusting their fares, and these are rates that are kind of across the board.

Now, if you go somewhere like New York or Chicago, you'll obviously you'll see much different, but their transit also includes like the L lines and the subways and things like that.

So just for you know, standard bus transit, this is a pretty typical fare rate that you're looking at, and especially with the fare capping.

Um, some of the agencies and even with us, one of the major reasons why we have not looked in the past of raising rates to meet with the change in the economy has been because of the complication of making that sustainable and accessible to all of the public with this addition of the touch to pay, tap to pay, that is going to make that more accessible to the public.

That it makes it more reasonable for us to look at doing those things now in order to keep our service sustainable as we continue.

Thank you.

Any other questions by council?

Okay, Lee, thank you very much.

We appreciate your team and your efforts.

So keep us updated.

Thank you very much.

All right, councilman move on to item number five.

This is items on consent agenda.

I'll make a motion to adopt the consent agenda with the exception of resolution 26070.

Second, you make a will you also pull 26071.

I'll amend my motion to reflect that.

Second, we do have a motion and a second on the floor on the consent agenda.

Um, and we'll pull off two items 067 and 071.

Um in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Is that 070?

0867.

What was your request?

070 and Mr.

McClain was 071.

70.

I'm sorry.

Can we start with this?

I've got the a resolution by the city council of the city of Jonesburg, Arkansas, to approve the attached proposal for additional services for the park located along Disciple Drive.

Whereas resolution 25027 approved how to provide professional services for the park located along Disciple Drive project, whereas the City of Jonesboro desires to increase the original professional services project scope with the attached proposal and the amount of 136,040 dollars for additional design support services, construction documents, and architectural construction documents, and whereas the funding for the execution of the agreement shall come from capital improvement budget and compensation shall be paid in accordance with the agreement.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Jonesburg, Arkansas Section One.

City of Jonesburg hereby adopt accepts the attached proposal and the amount of 136,040 dollars for additional design support services, construction documents, and architectural construction documents for the park located along Disciple Drive project.

Section two, the funding for the execution of the fee proposal shall come from the capital improvement budget and compensation shall be paid in accordance with the fee proposal.

Section three, the mayor and city clerk are hereby authorized by city council for the city of Jonesboro to accept the fee proposal and direct purchasing financing specialist to increase the purchase order amount.

Move to adopt second.

If you would please come forward, state your name and address.

Thank you.

Patty Lack, 4108 Forrest Hill Road.

Last week at the finance um meeting is that I know that Anthony Coleman raised the issue of that we were paying this company to have meetings with, and I kind of dove into it a little bit more the other day.

And I kind of dove into it a little bit more the other day.

And so here it is $136,000 that's on the agenda for today for the 17 acres.

I know that this was talked about on February 4th of last year, talking about that we had a grant.

But it was the park out there by NEA hospital there.

When I started looking at what the attachment was for back in April, which the price that you guys approved was $243,800, and today it's $143,000, or excuse me, $136,000.

And I compared the two of what the proposal was back then to what it is now.

And I have to tell you, there are 10 significant changes to what was proposed back in April to what is now.

And some of the differences is that if you compare the two of them, the South Entry Driveway no longer exists.

There was a large playground submitted and a small playground submitted, and now there's going to be an adventure playground.

So there's not going to be two separate ones.

The conceptual coordination, the entry archway was not on there.

A hydrogenic hydro there, there was another one on there, and that's not even there.

But that's 10 different changes from what was in April that we paid 243,000 for, and and now we're paying an additional 136.

So we're getting not as much.

Okay.

But what's worrisome, and I think needs to be brought to your attention, and I think this is something that we need to consider before you approve it, is that if you consider the April 20, uh April uh 2025 to today, the meeting that they charged us, or the meetings throughout there is $6,240.

The meetings back in April was $17,900.

So we're still paying for those meetings.

But they have a tree survey that they're charging us today of $4,500.

They have a tree survey back in April of $16,000.

So we're playing for two tree surveys.

So it's costing $20,000 for that.

So we're getting double charge.

So if anything, this proposal needs to be adjusted because I can't imagine paying $20,000 to do a tree survey on this property.

But also, too, on today's, it says that it's an architectural construction document.

But if you look on the April one that we did last year, is that it actually says architectural $13,800, geotech $17,000.

So we paid $31,300 for I don't know what.

So I'm just saying to you guys is that we're doing $136,000 today.

There's nothing that's been done.

The chain the plans have been changed.

I don't know what we're paying for, but I think the bottom line is that to me that's a lot of money.

And if you look at the plans that was back in April, it was this, and here it is right here.

You know, but it still shows four pickleball courts, and there's only one that they're proposing.

So it's not I'm not understanding why we're paying this amount of money, and we're not getting what we really need to be having.

And I look at that money, and you look at how much we can put 136,000 dollars, because if we can't start that park right now, you guys, let's not do things halfway anymore.

If we can't get that park started for our kids because we want it, and I'm totally for the parks.

This is a lot of money paid, but I think what I'm concerned about is that I don't understand why we're getting charged $20,000 twice, or four four thousand and seventeen thousand for a tree survey on that.

It doesn't something's not right with this.

And I hope that you take this and maybe table lit and maybe make a proposal that that gets reduced.

So thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Anyone else in the audience?

I don't see any.

Is that correct?

I guess it's well, Craig, you can come address it, but uh might as well if we the other pool.

If if you want to overall wish list and have everything on this project, it is 14 million dollars.

And so obviously what we're doing is revamping it to get it to where it's feasible, falls in the guidelines of what the requirements are.

And Steve, I mean uh uh Craig, if you would please go ahead.

Yeah.

The original agreement with HAF was to take us to 60 percent plans for the uh ideal park facility at along Disciple Park, and as the mayor said it estimated cost was just shy of 14 million dollars to put all the improvements onto that piece of property that we'd like to see at some point.

Um, right now we have a grant in hand that we need to spend.

Um it's about a million six million seven.

There's some additional funds that we uh have are available for the project, but we're capped at about three point seven million for the project.

And so what this does is take us to sixty percent plans to a hundred percent plans on those items that we feel like we can build for the 3.7 million that we have available to us today, and the clock is ticking on the grant money, so we have um a little bit of time to get it done, but we don't have years to get it done.

Um so um we're hopeful that we can get this contract executed, get those items that are in the original uh parks department grant from the state and get those items that were required to build built, and then we can look at funding for the other pickleball courts and the other amenities that we'd like to see at this facility at some point in the future.

Um it is a you know 17-acre or so site.

Um, so there'll be plenty of opportunities to to add amenities to it as time goes on.

Any other questions?

Yeah, thanks for the explanation.

I think that helps.

All right, thank you, Councilman.

Any other questions?

All right, if you would we have a motion on the floor.

Would please go ahead and cast your ballot.

Okay, and that does carry.

So next, council will move on to resolution 26071 to be discussed.

Resolution to approve Jonesville Police Department terms and conditions for new higher incentives.

Whereas the 2026 City of Jonesboro budget allocated funding for a total of 175 uniformed police officers, and whereas as of 6-1 2026, payroll records identify 151 field positions and 24 vacant positions, whereas the 14 percent staffing shortage has created a surplus in the fiscal year 2026 police personnel budget that will be redirected to incentivize the hiring and recruiting of P1 level patrol officers for the Johnsborough Police Department, whereas hiring recruitment and retention incentives are required to operate within current year police personnel budget, and whereas new hires are required to agree to a multi-year employment agreement to encourage retention, whereas detailed information, incentive amounts, and commitment requirements are included in exhibits one and two attached with this resolution now, therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Section One, Jonesboro City Council endorses the attached terms and conditions of police hiring and recruitment incentives as described in this resolution in the attached exhibits.

Section two, the Jonesboro City Council authorizes the creation of a restricted account consisting of excess Jonesboro Police Department personnel funds necessary to fulfill multi-year hiring and recruitment incentive commitments executed in fiscal year 2026.

Move to adopt a motion on the floor, council.

Is there any discussion?

Real quick um question, comment.

Um I understand the need uh for our recruitment efforts, especially being down 24 officers.

Uh my question, uh the biggest question I have is what are we doing for our officers who are already here who are carrying the load, you know, they're working over time, they're um uh they're running thin.

So what are we doing to help keep them here?

I think the biggest thing is we can recruit, but if we're losing after three years or five or ten, we lose a lot of experience.

We lose a lot of important things that make our community better.

And so I want to make sure we're going to look to take care of them.

You and I both.

Are you in the room?

Yeah, if you would please come forward and you can help um assist in this as well.

The priority right now is to fill positions, obviously, of those positions that would be on our street personnel.

Um the good thing is the positions, uh, sergeants, lieutenants, those positions are relatively full.

Um they any overtime that has been work, they've been paid.

And I I want you to know our officers are being compensated for the work that they're doing.

Um, and I think incentives is another avenue that we're gonna reassess, and that's what Chief and I have discussed uh when it comes up to the next budget cycle is on retention and other avenues that we can provide those additional things at that time.

Now, Steve will be happy to address if there's any funding.

Our concerns are obviously uh on the budgeting concerns uh where we might not be able to meet uh those requests if we were to offer payouts at this point for individuals, but that might be something that we can address in the upcoming budget and doing so for those.

Chief, do you have anything to add?

Uh yeah, in short, uh the topic has been brought up uh by uh councilman uh Emerson in the past.

And uh the first step is uh getting out of this deficit and the shortage.

So this is the first step in this, and we're operating this incentive under the current budget.

So there's money in there to cover these incentives, even if all 24 were filled by certified officers at those numbers.

So the next question is after these 24 or positions are filled, and then we look at our overtime budget, which is gone over.

But we've already inside the city.

So now we're gonna have to pull from the regular salary budget to to cover that.

So it's at the end of the day when we look at the projection on this being filled, what money is left in the salary line item that you have to work with if you're wanting to do as a council do any kind of incentive under this current budget year.

So that's the big question.

What what is if the dollars will allow that or not allow that?

That's a council decision.

Uh the mayor and I have discussed uh, you know, there's a one we're looking at a one-time stipend type incentive, but also we're looking at the one time for who?

Pardon?

One time for who.

That has not been defined yet.

This has been the the talk in the past, just in general discussion.

The council is hey, what look look at doing a one-time stipend.

It didn't say for who, at what what rank level or not, and like you know, if I just hired somebody that got a hiring bonus under this plan, they would not qualify for whatever kind of stipend.

So the question is this formula or this plan would have to be developed and then come back as a separate uh resolution uh by the council because those terms and agreements have not been laid out yet.

Because I don't I mean we we want to do a stipend for just the patrolman only or the whole department.

I don't know what that looks like.

Again, we're talking about dollars and and and then the salary line item that's left.

Um so uh working under those parameters.

I don't know what those numbers look like.

Here we are in July, we're mid-year, you know, right now the the surplus they we have will certainly cover this and probably it may cover the other.

But we have to also look at the money we've spent on overtime that's coming out of that also.

I I think the biggest thing is I like to see um if you and Steve is y'all putting you know working on something to to help us make an informed decision.

Because I don't I don't I mean I don't think any of us um want to see us losing officers, and you know that's the to me that's the biggest thing uh because we lose if we lose, I mean any business or uh government entity, the experience can sometimes you can't put a dollar value on that.

Well, I uh agree a hundred percent and always have and always will on that fact.

I've been stating that for years.

Uh on this last pay pay plan that we did a couple years ago, uh we did institute an incentive plan of three thousand dollars per officer, or they're eligible up to three thousand dollars incentives.

Uh the talk as we were talking over this is hey, do we want to take money that we go for this and do it for the long term every year to maybe increase those incentives to a higher number?

So pay officers more for their their college degrees or some of the other things that we incentivize and boost that number, which would be every year.

I I think relatively speaking, and speaking with finance, it's gonna be hard for us to decipher what the next six months hold until we get to the year end budget.

So with that, obviously, this is our priority is to get boots on the ground.

Um, then we are assessing uh the request of council to see how we can financially move forward.

Steve, is there anything you'd like to add?

Okay, okay.

Appreciate it, council.

I like I said, one of the look nothing else commitment for us to make sure we're gonna come back and address that.

Thank you.

Again, I think you and other members of the council have raised the same question, and that is certainly worth a deeper dive into and start gathering those facts and figures to see what that's actually gonna look like.

Councilman, I think this is true for all of us.

Um let's be involved in the budget.

So this is the importance.

What are your priorities?

What do you want to see?

Uh these are the things that we can then address to you at that time through the budget process, get you engaged so you can see where the numbers are, where we're leading to and everything else.

So we want to see the year-end results, and then but obviously this is a priority in all departments to be able to look to see what we can do to make improvements.

I would like to state that I made a statement during finance meeting that once we kind of announce this incentive out there, our applicant pool went way up, and especially uh certified applicants.

And if we stay on the projected path that we're on right now, and if the majority of these pass the background, uh we we stand to be fully staffed by November, December.

That's good.

Okay, so it this concept has had the desired effect, so getting people in the door, then the second problem is yes, I want to keep people that's already in the door, and that's always a work in progress.

Uh we started the 11 hour shift a couple years ago.

That's a been a big factor.

Our mental health and wellness program, that's been a huge factor in helping us retain officers because we're having them leave at that three to five year burnout.

Well, it's due to all the stress and trauma that they have seen in those short few years of their career, and many just can't process that and get out of the business.

And that's not only here, that's cross-country.

This this what we see in Jonesboro and recruiting retention is the same problem every chief and sheriff in the United States is currently having.

Nothing new, but we're all trying to look for the magic number of affixing that.

And we've we have taken those first two steps.

This is the third big step of getting people in the door.

Thank you.

So yes, sir.

Any other questions by council?

I don't see any.

All right.

Anyone in council chambers?

I don't see any as well.

Council, if you would please go ahead and cast your ballot.

And that does carry.

So next we'll move on to item number six.

New business.

These are ordinances on the first reading.

We have ordinance 26017.

Move to suspend the rules and offer by title only.

We do have a motion and a second.

All in favor say aye.

Any opposed?

An ordinance modifying ordinance 24037, which established and consolidated special traffic patterns near Jonesboro Public School campuses.

Any questions by council?

Anyone in the council chambers?

I don't see any, so that item will move on to the next reading.

Now I'm gonna move on to ordinance 26019.

Moving to suspend the rules and offer by title only.

Second.

Any opposed?

Any questions by council?

Okay.

See none.

Anyone in council chambers?

I see none as well.

That reading will now move on to its second.

We'll now move on to ordinance 26021.

Move suspend the rules and offer by title only.

Do we have a motion on the floor?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

An ordinance to amend chapter 117, Article 3, known as zoning ordinance of the city of Jones for Arkansas, providing for changes in zoning boundaries from R3 to C3 for property located at 2911 Browns Lane.

Any questions by council?

I see none.

Anyone in council chambers?

I see none as well.

Now that ordinance will move on to its second reading.

Now we move on to unfinished business.

These are ordinances on the second reading.

We have ordinance 26018.

Ordinance to amend chapter 117, known as the zoning ordinance providing for changes in zoning boundaries from R1 to PD plan development for property located at 1004 North Caraway Road as requested by David Tapp.

All right.

Do we have an oh go ahead?

We have any questions by council.

Anyone in Council Chambers?

I don't see any.

That item will now move on to its third reading.

So next we'll move on to items that have been held in council.

This is ordinance 26013.

Ordinance to establish a sports tourism committee providing for membership purpose and duties and for other purposes.

Yes.

Um public services and parks advisory board met yesterday.

I think it was a very productive meeting on both both sides.

I think we've come to a conclusion that we're going to try to move forward in a different direction.

So I would like to make a motion to table this indefinitely.

Aye.

Any opposed.

All right.

Next we'll move on to item number eight, Mayor's reports.

Um I just want to begin this evening.

Uh before I oh, somebody say something.

Okay.

Before I get uh going in tonight's, I want to make everyone aware of changes for the delivery of the mayor's monthly reports.

After a couple of months of evaluating, we've decided to provide those at the second city council meeting of the month.

The reports will be for the month prior.

This will allow all numbers from the prior month to be accounted for and adequate at the time of the reports to be created.

So expect the next report to be July 21st council meeting.

I'd like to take a few moments to share some updates on what's been happening throughout the city since the last three weeks ago on June 16th.

First of all, I want to encourage everyone to participate in the Plan Jonesboro, our community's comprehensive planning initiative.

The summer public survey is now open at PlanJonesboro.com and we want to hear from as many residents as possible.

This is a new survey that's been updated since the input of our original meetings and first survey.

Every voice matters as we work together to shape Jonesboro's future.

In addition, I encourage anyone interested in our city's growth to attend the upcoming market analysis webinar, where Sharon Woods, President of Land Use USA Urban Strategies, will present findings from the residential target market analysis and housing study.

This information will help guide future planning and development decisions for our community.

Sign up for the webinar now on the city's website.

Construction continues to move forward at the Jonesboro Municipal Airport.

The new terminal is now approximately 40 percent complete with crews installing climate control systems and electrical infrastructure.

While recent weather has delayed some of the project, significant progress continues.

The new aircraft hangars are approximately 50 percent complete and remain on schedule for completion in the fall.

Our primary runway also entered the next phase of reconstruction.

That project is now about halfway complete and expected to reopen in the fall.

We've got a lot going on, folks.

During construction, airport operations continue safely along the secondary runway, allowing businesses to continue as usual.

Now, Cricket Forest Park, improvements to the ATV trail are entering the final stages.

This project was made possible through the Arkansas Recreational Trails Program with 80% funded through the Federal Recreational Trails Program grant administered by RDOT and the remaining 20% by the City of Jonesboro.

Craig, when is that uh did we sign off on that this week?

Friday.

So if anybody wants to go out and take a ride around the trail, you're more than welcome to on Friday.

In addition to improving the trail system, this project enhances emergency access for first responders through newly established access points throughout the park.

We're looking forward to announcing the project's completion through the final walkthrough this Friday.

Also, I'd like to recognize our July employee of the month, Travis Williams, our outstanding radio technician.

Travis dedication and professionalism helps keep our public safety communications operating efficiently every day.

Congratulations, Travis, and thank you for the service to the City of Jonesboro.

We also extend our appreciation to First Security Bank for continuing to sponsor that.

Since our last meeting, our community has been incredibly active.

City employees and city council attended the Arkansas Municipal League Convention.

Celebrated Juneteenth with our community parade and fireworks events, hosted first aid, CPR, AED training for our city employees.

Hosted first aid, CPR, AED training for our city employees, celebrated the topping off ceremony of the first community bank sportsplex, gathered to honor in the life of Ben Owens, enjoyed a National Guard C 130 flyover, welcome thousands of people for Meet Me on Maine and Match on Maine World Cup festivities and broke ground on our new E911 Center, which has been long awaited.

A monumental day for the community and celebrated Independence Day with America's 250th festivities and included a car show, Delta Symphony, Orchestra, Co-O Tournament, and Fireworks.

First of all, I'd like to also give a personal thank you to Katie Dorton because she spearheaded headed two events within the last week for watching the World Cup downtown.

I really appreciate her efforts in doing that, and that's what it takes.

And I appreciate the uptick for our downtown businesses.

I know they appreciated it as well.

Jonesboro was thrilled to host a NASA astronaut, aerospace engineer and retired U.S.

Navy Officer Commander Susan Kilrain.

She's the youngest person and one of only three women to pilot the space shuttle.

Susan spoke at a free event hosted by the Steam AI Verse at Valley View Middle School, inspiring many.

Looking ahead, uh listen, this this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet a true pioneer among women in the field of aviation and aeronautics.

She was truly amazing.

It was a blessing to have her in our community, but it was uh really uh uh set you back to understand and see uh what uh individuals can strive and do if they set their mind to it, and she's one leading by example.

Our community cleanup will take place on July 11th from 8 a.m.

to noon at 2650 Lacey Drive.

We encourage everyone to come drop off your bulky trash and help keep Jonesboro beautiful.

The next next Gen Cadets program begins July 13th for students entering grades three through five with grades six through eight participating on July 20th.

This is a free program presented through DAIRE, which gives young people the opportunity to interact with our law enforcement officers, participate in on hands activities, enjoy lunch, go swimming, and build leadership skills in a positive environment.

As always, thank you to our city employees, community partners, volunteers, and residents for making Jonesboro stronger, safer, and more vibrant to live.

Together we continue to build a city that we can all be proud of to call home.

In closing, I would like to make two statements.

I want to take a moment to honor the Mark Tree Police Officer Trevor Howard, whose funeral procession passed through Jonesboro today.

We pause in honor for a young officer who gave his life in service to others.

May Officer Howard rest in peace.

May his family, friends, and fellow officers find strength and love and support surrounding them.

Also, I would like to close with an honor to another public servant whose contributions to this community will be greatly seen for many lifetimes.

A leader who helped build a legacy that saves them, and that was Ben Owens Sr.

And if you notice Ben Junior is in the room with us tonight.

He was a friend, he was a friend to our city.

He was a pillar to this community.

His many accomplishments helped shape St.

Bernard's Medical Center into the regional lifeline and health care force that it is today.

He served on various City of Jonesboro committees and served as a personal advisor to civic leaders across Northeast Arkansas.

Mr.

Owens lived to put our community first.

Being one thing that I really took from the service was when Chris Barber said he stood behind his employees.

He also stood behind this community, and that is a true public servant.

He always looked for what was good in people, and he looked at what was good in our community.

Our condolences are extended to his wife Dixie, Ben, Nancy, and all the Owens family as they grieve his loss.

We as a community are grateful for his many contributions.

Mr.

Owens life legacy is one that should challenge all of us to carry on.

May we honor his life by continuing to apply many of the values he held dear by working hard, taking care of our neighbors and community, and planning not for tomorrow, but for the next generation.

May we live as a true public servant.

Thank you, Ben, and we're here to honor your father tonight.

We appreciate that.

Next, we'll move on to item number nine.

This is City Council reports.

Mr.

Street.

I just like to say I'm very excited with the progress that uh our transportation system is achieving.

It's taken a while, but nothing's fast, but it's uh I think it's gonna be great.

Lee and his team do a great job.

Lee's done a great job in Higginship and then so thank you, Councilman.

Mr.

Miller.

Oh, thank you.

Mr.

Bryant.

I saw Jeff Bezos gave 30 million little rock today.

It'd be nice if we got 30 million dollars from somebody.

But I will say I I guess the county net net gave Monette 500,000.

So on proportion, if you take their 2,000 people and take our 82,000 people, I think they owe us five or six million.

So Mr.

McLean.

The only thing I had someone uh want to give kudos to uh Nathan from our street department.

Um he mentioned how uh they fixed an issue, fixed his yard and was very prompt and uh got back to them pretty quick without them having to uh really reach out more than once.

So kudos to Nathan.

That's all Mr.

Gibson.

Nothing at this time.

Miss Williams, no thanks.

Mr.

Moore.

I just want to mention Harold, you might have to call Mayor Mandami in New York.

I noticed right before I came down, they had a 38-story building that bricks were starting to fall off, and they think it's in danger of collapse and done.

Right downtown Manhattan with about this much room between nine under the nine other buildings.

So it's funny that some of the problems we have are the same problems you have in a big city.

So I I appreciate you getting our building down.

I hope they get theirs down safely.

So 38 floors.

Wow.

Dr.

Charles Coleman.

I'd like to offer a shout out to our churches, the public library, the parks department, and other organizations that are offering free and low cost enrichment activities to our children over the summer.

I'm thankful that our community values our children and demonstrates that in such a tangible way.

Thank you, Councilman.

Next, we'll move on to public comment, and those in the public can make comments for five minutes.

Uh, we do limit that to three individuals.

If you would please come forward, state your name and address.

Good evening.

I'm Marilyn Copeland.

I live at 1602 Honeysuckle Lane.

And I guess I'm gonna give a shout out to the work that's been done by Mr.

Gibson, Parks and Rec, Jim Stern, A and P on working on this tourism committee.

Because what I've seen is that we've kind of been in satellites, and it's helped a lot for us the communication to come together.

We don't know what other people are seeing.

Yesterday we all those of us who worked on this got an email from Jerry Morgan that explained things that I knew nothing about.

Yet I've been very active in this committee.

So I'm just here to stress that I think the new direction, and I apologize for missing the meeting yesterday.

I've been out of town and got here this afternoon, but that the ideas of maybe us sharing membership on these different committees to be able to work together.

And hear what I mean.

There were a lot of things that came up.

I wish A and P could have heard, and I wish that public service could have heard.

And I think it's vice versa.

I sometimes we make assumptions because the communication is not there.

And I look forward to seeing what we can do as far as increasing that communication by maybe having mixed membership, like public service, having some AMP on it, maybe parks and rec, parking rec, have an AMP and maybe some public service on it, and see what we can do to move this forward to make this very successful sports tourism committee because that's what we want.

We want that to be success, and we don't want our parks and rec with local to be a success.

And I think it's very possible to do both.

I just think it's going to be working together.

And then a minute ago you talked about grants.

I've been very fortunate.

I've lived off of grants my since the 70s with my jobs.

And I know when you write a grant, if you can show partnerships, and you can show partnerships within the city, your chances of getting those partners, those grants accepted are tenfold, then if just parks just goes for it.

I can see a future of an A and P and Parks uh grant going forward that would just be magnificent.

And so I want to thank those who have worked so hard on this, and I want to encourage that we integrate this communication and we work together to move this forward.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Anyone else in the audience?

Yes, sir.

If you would please come forward and state your name and address.

First, let me say I have nothing against sports tourism.

I think there's some goods to be said for that.

However, I want to emphasize whenever it comes to parks and recreation and all that, the thing that ought to be sent front and center is not money we can make off of people visiting our city.

You know, for these sports teams are great, but you know they're they constitute a very small portion of our children that are involved in that.

And anything that is done along parks and recreation, all that, the kids need to come first.

Anyone else in the audience?

Okay, I don't see any.

We'll move on to item number 11.

We have a motion.

So moved.

We do have a motion to second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

No.