Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Texarkana, Arkansas Advertising and Promotion (A&P) Commission met on September 22, 2026. Commissioners Jewel, Dodson, Scott, and Brewer were present; Commissioner Meals was absent. City Manager Tyler led discussions on a downtown cleanup proposal, delinquent A&P tax collections, and the creation of a full-time A&P Executive Director position.
Downtown Cleanup Proposal: Staff presented the sole bid (U.S. Lawns, $32,800.49 annually) received for an RFP to maintain the downtown entertainment district. The proposed scope included mowing, trimming, blowing, litter pickup, edging, and weed control, but at lower frequencies than requested in the RFP. Commissioners debated the primary need: some argued for a focus on general litter pickup and trash can emptying on Broad Street (the main pedestrian corridor), while others stressed the need for comprehensive landscaping of planters, including replacing dead trees and seasonal flowers. City Manager Tyler agreed to have U.S. Lawns provide itemized pricing per frequency and to potentially re-scope the RFP to attract bidders specializing in litter removal versus landscape maintenance.
Delinquent A&P Tax Enforcement: Staff presented an ordinance change that would tie delinquent A&P tax payments to the revocation of a business's Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A review of an Attorney General opinion suggested this link is likely unenforceable, as COs are tied to building safety, not tax status. The alternative of creating a separate "A&P Permit" was discussed, the revocation of which would mandate a legal enforcement mechanism. It was noted that A&P tax collections for the current fiscal year are $65,986 behind the budgeted estimate of $958,966. The commission directed staff to research successful enforcement models in peer Arkansas cities (e.g., Fayetteville, Hot Springs) and recommended inviting delinquent business owners to a meeting as a final good-faith effort before pursuing harsher penalties.
A&P Executive Director Position: City Manager Tyler announced he can no longer manage A&P duties in addition to his city manager role and formally requested the commission hire a dedicated director. Research presented indicated an average salary of $75,000–$80,000 for similar positions in similar-sized Arkansas cities, with a total annual cost (including benefits) estimated at $125,000–$135,000. The commission debated whether to partner with the Chamber of Commerce, but decided the position required full-time dedication to A&P. The commission opted to begin with a standard local advertisement instead of immediately hiring a recruiting firm.
Meals is absent home here. Jewel here. Dodson. Here. Scott. Here. Brewer. Here. We have a prayer. Pledge allegiance. Heavenly Father, we ask that you watch over today as we go about your business to make sure we take care of the needs of the citizens. And Heavenly Father, we ask that you give us the truth, discernment, and the wisdom we need to have to make the right decision. Watch over as we go touring from our destinations. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Our pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which we stand one nation. On the agenda, we will skip the AMP director. We'll move we'll come back to that. Let's move down through the remaining of the agenda, starting with discussion of downtown cleanup. So in the packets that I gave you there with the job announcement on the front, the second to last stapled portion there is a proposal from U.S. Lawns. So we put out a request for proposals for the downtown cleanup, like we spoke about. Ultimately, we only received one bid back, and that was from U.S. Lawns. None of the others decided to give us a proposal on it. So we only received the one. And there's a lot of information in there. They threw in some extra services, prices for extra services. So mow trim, blow, general litter, litter pickup, edging, weed control, and there was a spring cleanup and leaf removal. So the total there for the city's request was $32,800 and 49 cents annually. So to hire a contractor outside that was pretty much the realm that we expected. If AMP chose to do any of that. Now that was an agreement that we had worked out with the cross ties owner previously. But of course, you if A and P desire to do this, you certainly don't have to do that. So that's that's the proposal there. Um we said that we bring you a proposal. I'm sorry, I don't have more than the one for you. Um we just couldn't get any interest from from anyone else, and Adam talked to multiple different companies about it. Um he was actually reaching out to themself rather than some of them just contacting him. He was contacted by some, but he reached out for additionals to try to ensure we uh got as many bids as possible. Y'all have any questions on that or concerns or when I'm looking at this, I'm looking at the first page and Motrim blow, general litter pickup, hard edging and all of that goes to the second page and it says crack weed treatment. What is that and oh in the bottom section there?