Agenda Highlights 7/15/25
At the Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting to be held 7-15-25, the Board will discuss a request from Fort Smith Cemeteries Inc., the non-profit organization that currently operates Rose Lawn, Holy Cross, Forest Park, and Washington cemeteries for the City to take over responsibility for those cemeteries. Fort Smith Cemeteries Inc. is making the request because they are financially unable to continue to maintain the cemeteries. The City has been assisting with mowing with costs to be paid back through the clean-up lien program the past couple of years. In 2024, $85,000 was appropriated for the mowing.
The Board will discuss the Fort Smith Parades and Special Events permit ordinance in relation to policies for event organizers to cover for costs including police salaries, equipment use, toilets, and garbage collection. Policies in use by other Arkansas cities have been considered. Financial responsibility for the police protection will be the main focus of the discussion. One recommendation from the Police Department to be discussed is designating several events including the Martin Luther King Day Parade, Antioch Thanksgiving Food Giveaway, Steel Horse Rally, Rodeo Parade, Mayor’s 4th of July, Peacemaker Music Festival, Veterans Day Parade, Fort Smith Marathon, Christmas Parade, and New Year’s Eve Ball Drop as “City Sponsored Events” in which the City will bear the costs of the Police protection, then all other events not deemed “City Sponsored Events” will have to cover the expense themselves.
The Board will discuss the future of the parking meters including discontinuing them permanently. The parking meters have been turned off and parking has been free temporarily, but that moratorium on paid parking is set to expire 8-1-25. In 2022, the meter program collected $61,695 but cost $98,746 to operate. In 2023, the meter program collected $68,481 but cost $103,002 to operate. Chief Financial Officer Richards said that doing away with the meters permanently “will not negatively impact the overall operating budget for the City.”
