Springdale City Council Meeting - October 29, 2025

Note: The meeting transcript indicates the date as Tuesday, October 28, 2025, but the user-provided timestamp is 2025-10-29. This summary uses the provided date.

The Springdale City Council held a regular meeting on October 29, 2025, addressing a wide range of agenda items including a detailed downtown housing and parking study, multiple rezoning requests, the Master Street Plan update, finance approvals, emergency service rate adjustments, and pension-related resolutions. Public comments were limited, with one resident raising concerns about parking at a new mixed-use development.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from previous meeting (unanimous).
• Procedural motions A and B (unanimous).
• Several rezoning ordinances: R25-55 (3681 West Sunset), R25-57 (500 West End Street), R25-58 (2009 North Thompson Street), R25-61 (5993 North Thompson), all passed unanimously with emergency clauses.
• Waiver W25-39 for firebox LLC (Rights Barbecue) on Johnson Avenue – approved 7-0.
• Tabling of item N (waiver request) to November 10, 2025.
• Finance items: Resolution for library vehicle purchase (amended to new vehicle, not to exceed $45,000) – approved 8-0.
• Resolution for payment of bond project invoice ($2,292,562.08) – approved 8-0.
• Resolution for roof repair using insurance proceeds ($70,000) – approved 8-0.
• Ordinance Committee: Amending Section 3858 to increase emergency services (ambulance) rates to 200% of Medicare fee schedule – approved 8-0.
• Police and Fire Committee: Purchase of locution fire station alerting system (8-0); resolution for fireman's pension fund cash flow model (8-0); ordinance for COLA for police pension fund (8-0).
• Committee of Whole: Resolution recognizing Springdale Public Facilities Board's land development and approving retention of funds for Kendrick Avenue improvements – approved 6-2.
• Resolution setting public hearing on utility easement abandonment for November 25, 2025 – approved 8-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Melinda Mason (106 West Allen) voiced strong opposition to parking inadequacy at the new Fitzgerald building (the "Cube"), which has 8 apartments but only 4 designated parking spaces. She noted that nearby angled parking on Holcomb is often occupied by Lisa Academy staff despite the school having its own lot. She urged enforcement and better lighting for safety.
• Pax Roberts (Downtown Springdale Alliance) spoke in favor of the downtown study, arguing that proactive parking planning is essential to avoid problems seen in other cities. He emphasized that without such planning, rising housing costs could displace workers and essential community members.

Discussion Items

• Downtown Housing and Parking Study (H3 Presentation): Sharon Tromberg (Planning Director) and Ted (H3) presented findings from a year-and-a-half study focused on the southeast quadrant of downtown. Key points:
  • The area could accommodate approximately 3,100 new housing units over 15 years, with 2/3 in multifamily apartments and 1/3 in townhomes, duplexes, and ADUs.
  • Proposed two new public-private parking garages: 425 spaces in the 600 block of Emma Avenue and 425 spaces at the former senior center site.
  • Current parking minimum is 0.5 spaces per dwelling unit for multifamily; developers can use shared parking within 1,200 feet.
  • To achieve the density, four-story buildings would be needed, currently not permitted by right; a workforce housing density bonus (25-30% affordable units) would allow one additional story.
  • Infrastructure improvements include extending Strawberry Meadows Place with a new bridge, and completing sidewalk/streetscape on Success Avenue.
  • Total new parking from six garages plus on-street improvements: 5,100-5,650 visitor spaces.
  • Council members raised concerns about traffic, lighting, parking ratios (0.73-0.86 spaces per unit), and the need for enforcement. The mayor noted that downtowns are not designed to be auto-centric.
  • Resolution to adopt the revised downtown master plan (including the addendum) passed 8-0.
• Master Street Plan Update: Engineering department staff presented changes, including removal of extra-jurisdictional planning, connection of Elm Springs Road to Gene George Boulevard, revised downtown street sections, and new interchanges for Highway 612 extension. Ordinance passed 8-0.
• Bluff Cemetery Replat Error: A scrivener's error in the legal description required a new ordinance to correct the replat of Lot 1, Block 1. Passed 8-0 with emergency clause.
• Multiple Rezoning Requests:
  • R25-60 (2083 S 48th St): Approved as O-1 (neighborhood office) after being modified from C2. Passed 8-0.
  • R25-54 (5089 Central Dr): Was not on the agenda per the clerk; deferred to next meeting.
  • R25-56 (2232 Butterfield Coach Rd): Rezone from A1/O1 to C2. Passed 8-0.
  • R25-57 (500 West End St): Rezone from SF2 to MF4. Passed 7-1 (one opposed).
  • R25-58 (2009 N Thompson St): Rezone from C6 to C5 (former Pizza Hut). Passed 8-0.
  • R25-61 (5993 N Thompson St): Rezone from C2 to C5 (Jake's Fireworks). Passed 8-0.
• Appeal of Planning Commission Denial – R25-52: For the southern portion of a tract on S 48th St, the applicant sought MF-16 but after discussion agreed to downgrade to MF-12. The council voted 8-0 to overturn the denial and bring forward an ordinance for MF-12 at the next meeting.
• Finance Committee – Roof Repair: The roof repair at the former senior center (203 Park St) and another building used insurance proceeds from 2022. The council approved after debate about leasing terms.
• Ordinance Committee – Emergency Services Rates: Chief Holt explained the need to raise ambulance billing rates from the 2014 level to 200% of the Medicare fee schedule due to rising costs. The change primarily affects insurance companies, with minimal impact on self-pay patients (2.6% of transports). Approved 8-0.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted the revised Downtown Master Plan (addendum) effectively immediately.
• Approved the Master Street Plan update.
• Approved all rezoning requests as listed, with the exception of the deferred Central Drive item.
• Set a public hearing for November 25, 2025, on utility easement abandonment.
• Authorized purchase of a library vehicle, bond project invoice payment, and roof repairs.
• Increased emergency medical services billing rates.
• Approved pension-related resolutions for fire and police.
• Heard a proposal from Councilman Lawson to freeze water/sewer rates for residents over 65; to be brought to committee later.

Evening adjourned at (approx.) 10:30 PM.