Springdale City Council Regular Meeting – January 28, 2026

The regular meeting of the Springdale City Council was called to order on January 28, 2026, with Mayor Sprouse presiding and a quorum of six council members present. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Councilmember Mark Fujarus. Mayor Sprouse commended Public Works Director James Smith and his crews for clearing roads in challenging winter weather. The council reviewed and approved minutes from the previous meeting, procedural motions, and addressed seven planning and zoning items, three finance items, a cleanup lien ordinance, and a retirement announcement from the City Attorney.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (Item 5): Approved unanimously.
• Procedural Motions (Item 6, A and B): Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the open comment period for non-agenda items.
• During discussion on the NC2 rezoning (Item 7a), one resident spoke, echoing previous traffic concerns raised at the December meeting.

Discussion Items

• Planning Commission Report (Sharon Tromberg):
  • Item 7a – Ordinance FB 26-01 (Downtown District Form-Based Code): Rezoning a 1.69-acre tract north of Huntsville from NR1 to NC2 (Neighborhood Center Type 2) to allow more diverse housing types (triplex, four-plex, row homes). Planning commission voted 7-0 for approval. Mayor Sprouse expressed concern that the applicant initially sought a less dense zone (NR1) and returned a month later for NC2, putting the city in a difficult position with residents who were told the maximum would be duplexes. He noted support for the zoning itself but urged developers to present their final plan initially. The council adopted the ordinance and the emergency clause with a 6-0 vote.
  • Item 7b – Rezoning R26-01 (Church at 8718 Carry Smith Road): Rezoning 8 acres from A1 to P1 (Institutional) for a historic church site. Planning commission approved 7-0. Council adopted the ordinance and emergency clause 6-0.
  • Item 7c – Rezoning R26-02 (Neighborhood Commercial near 48th Street): Rezoning from A1 to C1 for low-intensity commercial. Planning commission approved 7-0. Council adopted the ordinance and emergency clause 6-0.
  • Item 7d – Rezoning R26-03 (Car Sales at 3161 N. Thompson Street): Rezoning 1.76 acres from C2 to C6 for auto sales. Planning commission approved. Council adopted the ordinance 5-1 and the emergency clause 6-0.
  • Item 7e – Waiver W26-01 (Don Tyson Parkway Street Improvements): Waiver of street improvements (sidewalk, street lights) for the Chester Place preliminary plat, citing future RDOT/city partnership that would affect the frontage. Council approved option one 6-0.
  • Item 7f – Waiver W26-02 (Old Missouri Road Street Improvements for Paramount Metals): Waiver of required 10-foot sidewalk improvements, allowing retention of the existing 5-foot sidewalk, after the applicant agreed to build an 8-foot sidewalk on Old Wire Road. Council approved option one 6-0.
• Finance Committee Report (Chair Jeff Watson):
  • Item 8a – Professional Services Agreement for Sunset Avenue Improvements: Authorizing a construction phase services contract with Garver. Council approved 5-0 with one abstention.
  • Item 8b – Guaranteed Maximum Price for Sunset Avenue Construction: Approving a $22,419,975 construction contract with Nabholz Construction. Council approved 5-0 with one abstention.
  • Item 8c – Engineering Services Amendment for Smart School Connections: Increasing the contract to include $400,000 in additional TAP funding for sidewalk connectivity at three elementary schools. Council approved 6-0.
• Item 9 – Cleanup Lien Ordinance (2753 Lenox Court): Authorizing a lien for overgrown brush and debris removal. Council adopted the ordinance and emergency clause 6-0.
• Item 10 – Council Comments: City Attorney Ernest Kate announced his retirement effective at the end of April 2026 after 28 years with the city (14 as City Attorney). A resolution to fill the vacancy for the remaining eight months of the year will be brought to committee the following week.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items and procedural motions were approved unanimously.
• Six planning and zoning ordinances/resolutions adopted: Items 7a (6-0), 7b (6-0), 7c (6-0), 7d (5-1 on ordinance, 6-0 on emergency), 7e (6-0), 7f (6-0).
• Three finance resolutions adopted: 8a and 8b with one abstention each, 8c unanimously.
• Cleanup lien ordinance adopted with emergency clause (6-0).
• City Attorney’s retirement announced; a resolution to address the vacancy will be considered at the next committee meeting.