OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Springdale City Council Meeting - December 10, 2025

City Council Meetings — Wednesday, December 10, 2025
BodySpringdale, Arkansas
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateWednesday, December 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:25:00

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

We're uh just about to call the meeting to order, but before we do, I'd invite you to stand and join me in the pledge, and then Councilman Mike Overton will bring the invocation under let us pray, dear God, in this time of mirth, merriment, and festivities.

0:43

Let us not re forget the real reason for the season.

0:48

We thank you for the many blessings that you have given us and the forgiveness that allows us to benefit from the fruits of our labor.

0:57

We ask that you help those with mental, physical, and financial difficulties, and us reach out to them to help ease their burdens.

1:08

Ever mindful, but for your grace and your love, we could ball be walking the same path.

1:16

Now, please be with us as we deliberate.

1:20

And your son Jesus' name, the real reason for the season.

1:25

In God's name.

1:26

Amen.

1:27

Thank you, Mike.

1:36

All right.

1:46

And uh I will call the meeting to order, and we'll start with a roll call and sitting in for Sabra, our city clerk tonight, Saber Jeffess is uh Anna McKinney.

1:55

Mayor Sprouse.

1:56

Here.

1:57

Brian Powell?

1:58

Here.

1:59

Amelia Taldo?

2:00

Here.

2:01

Jeff Watson.

2:02

Mike Overton.

2:03

Here.

2:04

Mike Lawson.

2:05

Here.

2:05

Aaron Huntley.

2:06

Here.

2:07

Brandon Harriman.

2:08

Here.

2:09

Mark Fujreus.

2:10

Here.

2:11

And Ernest Kate.

2:12

Here.

2:13

All right.

2:14

We've got a full house tonight.

2:15

Thanks everyone for being here tonight.

2:18

This is it.

2:19

We're at item four on the agenda.

2:21

This is the item that the council puts on the agenda each meeting for to hear comments from our citizens.

2:28

If we have citizens that would like to address the council concerning an item that is not already on tonight's agenda, you're welcome to come to the microphone at this time.

2:37

Please state your name and address and understand that the council won't take action tonight on what you bring forward.

2:43

So is there anyone that would like to speak to an item that is not already on tonight's agenda?

2:49

All right.

2:49

Seeing none, we'll move on then to the approval of minutes.

2:52

Council, you've had an opportunity to look those over.

2:54

If there are no additions or changes, I'd entertain a motion to approve them as presented.

3:00

We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes as presented.

3:03

All those in favor, please say aye.

3:05

Aye.

3:06

Any opposed, same sign.

3:08

All right.

3:09

Thank you.

3:10

And uh I'm going to turn I'm gonna let Ernest speak for a moment about two resolutions that are uh in front of you, and he can explain why those are there that we'll need to add to the meeting tonight.

3:24

Thank you, Mayor.

3:25

We have uh a resolution amending the avalarum tax resolutions we passed in September to revise the numbers.

3:34

Uh we were advised yesterday that that uh the numbers could be adjusted, and this would adjust those accordingly.

3:42

And since this is the last meeting of the year, I think we'd like to get this on the agenda tonight so that we can get it passed before the end of the year.

3:52

So I would request a motion to add these two items to the end of the agenda.

3:56

So move.

3:57

Okay, we have a set motion and a second to uh amend the uh agenda to add these two resolutions.

4:07

If there are no other questions or comments, I will call for the vote.

4:19

Carries eight zero.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████41%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Parks and Recreation█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Affordable Housing██2%
Public Safety██2%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Code Enforcement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Springdale City Council Meeting - December 10, 2025

The Springdale City Council convened on December 10, 2025, for a regular meeting chaired by Mayor Sprouse. The council addressed a full agenda including planning and zoning items, a 2026 budget approval, public works contracts, and multiple resolutions. All council members were present. The meeting opened with a pledge and invocation, followed by roll call.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke on items not on the agenda. Two public hearings were held for utility easement vacations (items 6 and 7) but no public comments were offered.

Discussion Items

Paramount Metals Waiver (W25-44)

The council considered a waiver of street improvements (curb, gutter, drainage, sidewalk, street lights) on Old Wire Road for a large-scale development. After discussion, the developer offered to construct the sidewalk along the property's east side (west side of Old Wire Road) while waiving other improvements. The council amended the motion to approve the full waiver except for the sidewalk requirement. The motion passed 8-0.

Rezoning FB25-14 (Mill Street – Seed District)

This rezoning of 1.69 acres from SF2 to NR1 (neighborhood residential type one) along the Razorback Greenway sparked discussion about neighborhood concerns. The planning commission had unanimously approved it. The council passed the ordinance 7-1, with one member voting against. The emergency clause passed 8-0.

2026 Budget Approval (Item 10G)

The council approved the 2026 city budget with a vote of 7-1. The budget includes a surplus of approximately $718,000 after adjusting for ad valorem tax revisions that add about $218,000. The lone dissenting vote was not specified.

JB Hunt Park Trail Construction (Item 10B)

A resolution authorizing a contract for 1,200 feet of trail from Cimarron Avenue to Fleming Drive was approved 8-0. During discussion, Councilman Overton raised the possibility of adding lighting. Ben Peters estimated costs at about $5,000 per solar light or $8,000 per electric light, with 6-8 lights needed. A resident noted the park closes at 10 p.m. and concerns about wildlife. The council tabled the lighting decision, directing staff to return with cost estimates.

Allen Building Improvements (Item 10I)

The council approved a resolution waiving competitive bidding and authorizing up to $20,000 for materials to fix a flooding issue at the Allen building. Milestone Construction will donate labor, and the city will pay for a flagger due to railroad requirements. The vote was 8-0.

Soccer Goals and Artificial Turf (Items 11B & 11C)

The council approved purchases for new soccer goals and a contract for artificial turf installation, both funded from the 2023 parks and recreation bond. Staff noted approximately $300,000-$400,000 remains in the bond fund, with interest accruing, and funds must be spent by August 2026. Both items passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved unanimously (8-0): Minutes, procedural motions, agenda amendment, multiple rezoning and plat approvals (R25-66, R25-67, R25-68, R25-69, FB25-14 amended, RP25-13, FP25-08, FP25-10, C25-11, C25-12, W25-46), finance committee items 10A, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F, 10H, 10J, parks items 11A, 11B, 11C, police item 12, easement vacations (items 13 & 14), cleanup liens (items 15 & 16), ad valorem tax resolutions, and cancellation of second December meetings.
  • Approved with amendment (8-0): Paramount Metals waiver (W25-44) – waived street improvements but required sidewalk on Old Wire Road.
  • Approved 7-1: 2026 budget (10G) and rezoning FB25-14.
  • Votes with 7-0: All parks and fire/police items due to one member absent? (Note: The recording shows 7-0 for those items, likely because one council member was not present for that portion? The roll call earlier showed all present, but later votes recorded as 7-0. Possibly a minute discrepancy.)
  • Emergency clauses were adopted for all applicable ordinances, generally by 8-0 or 7-0 votes.

The meeting adjourned after council comments and a motion to adjourn.

Meeting Transcript

We're uh just about to call the meeting to order, but before we do, I'd invite you to stand and join me in the pledge, and then Councilman Mike Overton will bring the invocation under let us pray, dear God, in this time of mirth, merriment, and festivities. Let us not re forget the real reason for the season. We thank you for the many blessings that you have given us and the forgiveness that allows us to benefit from the fruits of our labor. We ask that you help those with mental, physical, and financial difficulties, and us reach out to them to help ease their burdens. Ever mindful, but for your grace and your love, we could ball be walking the same path. Now, please be with us as we deliberate. And your son Jesus' name, the real reason for the season. In God's name. Amen. Thank you, Mike. All right. And uh I will call the meeting to order, and we'll start with a roll call and sitting in for Sabra, our city clerk tonight, Saber Jeffess is uh Anna McKinney. Mayor Sprouse. Here. Brian Powell? Here. Amelia Taldo? Here. Jeff Watson. Mike Overton. Here. Mike Lawson. Here. Aaron Huntley. Here. Brandon Harriman. Here. Mark Fujreus. Here. And Ernest Kate. Here. All right. We've got a full house tonight. Thanks everyone for being here tonight. This is it. We're at item four on the agenda. This is the item that the council puts on the agenda each meeting for to hear comments from our citizens. If we have citizens that would like to address the council concerning an item that is not already on tonight's agenda, you're welcome to come to the microphone at this time. Please state your name and address and understand that the council won't take action tonight on what you bring forward. So is there anyone that would like to speak to an item that is not already on tonight's agenda? All right. Seeing none, we'll move on then to the approval of minutes. Council, you've had an opportunity to look those over. If there are no additions or changes, I'd entertain a motion to approve them as presented. We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes as presented. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed, same sign. All right. Thank you.

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