Agenda Highlights 4/22/25
At the Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting scheduled for 4-22-25, the Board will discuss the Community Development Advisory Committee’s recommendations for allocations for the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership grant.
For the CDBG funds the Community Development Advisory Committee recommendations include…
Fort Smith Housing Authority $135,625 for utility work at Bailey Hill
Hope Campus $35,00 for HVAC and generator replacement
Hamilton Center $16,912
CSCDC dental clinic $16,000
Next Step $16,112 for case management
Girls Inc. $15,912
Community Rescue Mission $15,712 for case management
ARC for the River Valley $7928
Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs $14,512 for technology for the Stephens Glidewell E-sports lab
Sebastian County Retired Citizens Association $13,912 for Meals on Wheels
$156,00 for administration
For the HOME funds the Community Development Advisory Committee recommendations include…
CSCDC $54,000 for acquiring, rehabilitation, and resale of housing
CSCDC $270,000 for homeowner down payment assistance
Fort Smith Housing rehab assistance $256,875
Fort Smith Housing rehab administration $60,000
$36,000 for administration
The Board will discuss and compare the differences between the ordinance prohibiting homeless camping that was voted down by the Board of Directors at the 12-17-24 meeting that mirrored the one from Grants Pass, Oregon that was upheld by the Supreme Court and the alternative ordinance proposed by Director Kemp discussed at the 3-11-25 study session meeting.
They will also discuss the legal recommendations on Director Kemp’s proposed ordinance from City Attorney Roe. Roe says that the wording of the proposed ordinance “lacks necessary specificity to ensure non-discriminatory application” and expressed his opinion that it would be “unconstitutionally vague.” Some of the main concerns he noted include…
vagueness in the definition of “camping”
lack of clarity about the “obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic”
vagueness about who declares the emergencies on the “declared emergencies” wording
vagueness in the wording about “unattended items” and “city officials” who would remove them
the need for additional wording about the notice before removal of personal property including where it would be stored, for how long, and the procedure to reclaim it
vagueness in the definitions of “unsanitary items”, “medical supplies”, and “essential clothing”
lack of specificity in who decides whether unclaimed property is donated or disposed of
vagueness in the wording regarding “reasonable efforts to engage individuals in outreach”
the need to include the City entering into a services contract with Hope Campus for the City to be able to legally provide the dumpster.
The Board will hear the annual update presentation regarding the Convention Center from Convention Center General Manager Shannon Davis.
The Board will continue its series of reviews of the all of the departments’ 2025 budgets. The Board and Administration have set the goal of departments with one program finding 5% of their budget that can be cut and departments with multiple programs finding 10% of their budget that can be cut. At this week’s meeting, the Board will hear from and discuss the budgets of the Convention Center, Solid Waste, Streets and Traffic Control, Transit, and the Fire Department.
