Jonesboro City Council Meeting – September 1, 2026

The Jonesboro City Council met on September 1, 2026, with a council member presiding in the mayor's absence. The meeting covered the consent agenda, new ordinances for a citywide sales tax and special election, zoning changes, private club permits, and extensive discussion on pedestrian safety.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was adopted, including Resolution 26103 requesting free utility services from City Water and Light for city-owned property.

Public Comments & Testimony

• James Owen Hines spoke on the special election ordinance (26035), confirming it would coincide with the November general election.
• Patty Latt questioned the city's reserve funds, stating the budget shows nearly $10 million in surplus, and questioned the need for a new tax without addressing immediate needs.
• Debbie Haas described her daughter Katie being hit by a vehicle in a downtown crosswalk while having the walk signal. She called for public service announcements, lower speed limits, speed bumps, higher fines, and increased police presence in the downtown pedestrian area.
• Matt Garrett (Safety First Jonesboro) thanked the council for advancing the 5/8-cent public safety sales tax ballot initiative, noting over 4,200 signatures from registered voters.
• Haley Knight Brock (friend of Katie) criticized the police report for concluding "nothing further" regarding the driver who struck her. She called for a clear and consistent process for investigating pedestrian collisions and driver accountability.
• Jeb Spencer questioned why the driver who struck the pedestrian was not more thoroughly evaluated at the scene.
• James Elwin Hines (later in the meeting) raised concerns about traffic confusion on Main Street, noting drivers parking across crosswalks and uncertainty about when to proceed through intersections.

Discussion Items

• Citywide Sales Tax & Special Election (Ordinances 26034 & 26035): The council suspended rules and approved an ordinance levying a citywide 5/8 of 1% (0.625%) sales and use tax and a corresponding ordinance calling a special election for the measure. The election is planned to coincide with the November general election.
• Ordinances on First Reading:
  • Ordinance 26031 (Sponsoring Legislation): Councilmember Hafner questioned whether a 5-day timeline for the mayor's office to process legislation was sufficient. The council noted the timeline would be reviewed with the administration before final passage.
  • Ordinance 26032 (Opening Invocation Procedure): Read without comment.
  • Ordinance 26033 (Correcting Outdated Language): Read without comment.
• Zoning Change (Second Reading): An ordinance to change zoning boundaries from PDM multifamily to PDM commercial at 1411 Southern Ridge Boulevard was presented without comment.
• Private Club Permits (Third Reading):
  • Ordinance 26026 (Blazing Buffalo Sports Grill): Resident James Hines spoke in opposition, arguing the permit would negatively impact the nearby neighborhood. The ordinance still passed.
  • Ordinance 26027 (My Place Hotel): The applicant clarified the permit was a private club application, not a hotel/motel permit. The council passed the ordinance.
• Pedestrian Safety & Infrastructure (Mayor's Report):
  • City Administrator Brian reported on the Johnson Avenue HAWK signal, stating an average of 115-125 people use it daily, with 74.67% of people crossing within camera view using the crosswalk correctly. He noted that prior to the signal's installation in May 2024, two pedestrian fatalities had occurred on Johnson; since its installation, there have been zero pedestrian fatalities on that street.
  • Brian reported that final plans are being developed for the Safe Streets for All grant, which will add further pedestrian infrastructure on Johnson, including LED lighting, speed limit reductions, and additional HAWK beacons.
  • In response to council questions, Brian stated the Johnson HAWK signal cost approximately $200,000 to construct. He also stated the city is awaiting cost estimates for converting downtown traffic signals to an "all-stop" configuration to eliminate left-turn greens during pedestrian walk intervals, a project expected to be in the six-figure range.

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda was adopted.
• Ordinances 26034 and 26035 (citywide sales tax levy and special election) were approved, placing the question of a 5/8 cent sales tax on the November ballot.
• Ordinances 26026 and 26027 (private club permits for Blazing Buffalo Sports Grill and My Place Hotel) were approved on third reading.
• Ordinances on third reading for an alley abandonment (Henry Street) and a traffic sign designation (26024) were adopted.
• First readings were successfully held for ordinances 26031, 26032, and 26033.
• Council voted to reschedule the October 6th City Council and Public Works meetings to October 8th, noting the date coincides with an Arkansas State University home football game.
• No formal policy changes were enacted regarding pedestrian accident investigation procedures, but the council committed to reviewing pedestrian safety issues, exploring the all-stop signal configuration downtown, and continuing public outreach.