Agenda Highlights 1/28/25

At the Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting scheduled for 1-28-25, the Board will discuss the appeal of the zoning changes for 5300 Heather Ridge that would allow for the 43 acre property to be developed into the Treetops of Fort Smith with a 5.78 acre mixed-use section in the interior of the property and the rest to be developed with residential (a mix of single family houses and multi-family dwellings). The entire plan for the property would include 46,000 sq ft of commercial space and 385 apartment units. A traffic impact study that was conducted indicated that the intersection at South 58th and Boston would likely need to be upgraded to a 3-way stop in the future to accommodate the added traffic from the development. The vote at the Planning Commission meeting regarding the property was tied.

The Board will discuss the results of the third-party cost allocation plan. The study was conducted and the resulting plan was crafted to ensure the costs benefiting multiple departments and funds are distributed fairly among each department based on the benefits received. The biggest changes recommended from the current plan are that the Mayor’s budget have a 22% decrease from the General Fund a 1% decrease from the Streets Maintenance Fund and an increase of 10% from the Streets Sales Tax and a 13% increase from the Water and Sewer operating fund, and for the City Attorney’s budget to have a 32% decrease from the General Fund, a 16% decrease from the Sanitation Operating Fund, and a 21% decrease from the Streets Maintenance Fund, and a 22% increase from the Street Sales Tax, and a 47% increase from the Water and Sewer Operating Fund.

The Board will discuss plans to hold the first study session meeting of the month for 4 consecutive months at locations in each of the 4 different wards instead of in the Blue Lion Building downtown where they are typically held. The meetings held in the wards could possibly start as early as February.

The Board will also discuss moving the study session meetings to the back room in the Blue Lion building as soon as the A/V capabilities are ready in the back room. The Planning Commission meetings could be held in the big room where the Board meetings are held currently and could be recorded and streamed/broadcast like the Board meetings are currently.