HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-03 - Minutes - City Council Meeting Minutes
June 3, 2025
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113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov
City of Fayetteville Arkansas
City Council Meeting
June 3, 2025
A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council was held on June 3, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in Room
219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville,
Arkansas.
Mayor Rawn called the meeting to order.
PRESENT: Council Members Robert B. Stafford, Doctor D’Andre Jones, Sarah Moore,
Mike Wiederkehr, Scott Berna, Sarah Bunch, Teresa Turk, Mayor Molly Rawn, City
Attorney Kit Williams, Senior Deputy City Clerk Treasurer Courtney Spohn, Chief of Staff
Keith Macedo, Chief Financial Officer Steven Dotson, Staff, Press and Audience. Council
Member Minister Monique Jones arrived to the meeting at 5:32 PM, after roll call had been
taken.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor’s Announcements, Proclamations and Recognitions: None.
City Council Meeting Presentations, Reports, and Discussion Items:
Month Financial Report – Chief Financial Officer Steven Dotson
Steven Dotson, Chief Financial Officer provided a summary of the Sales Tax Report, as well as
the Monthly Financial Report. He gave a brief description of the percentages in each individual
fund and went on to speak of how there had been an increase in taxable sales by 8.3% and that the
General Fund was up 8%.
Council Member Scott Berna
Ward 3 Position 1
Council Member Sarah Bunch
Ward 3 Position 2
Council Member Teresa Turk
Ward 4 Position 1
Council Member Min. Monique Jones
Ward 4 Position 2
Mayor Molly Rawn
City Attorney Kit Williams
City Clerk Treasurer Kara Paxton
Council Member Robert B. Stafford
Ward 1 Position 1
Council Member Dr. D’Andre Jones
Ward 1 Position 2
Council Member Sarah Moore
Ward 2 Position 1
Council Member Mike Wiederkehr
Ward 2 Position 2
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June 3, 2025
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113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Turk, Min. Jones and Steven Dotson
regarding the project budget for 2025, as well as the Parks Development Fund.
Agenda Additions: None
Consent:
Approval of the May 6, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes.
APPROVED.
Olsson, Inc.: A resolution to approve an agreement with Olsson, Inc. in the amount of $380,584.50
for construction phase services for the Maple Street Project, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Resolution 134-25 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Friends of Fayetteville Parks: A resolution to approve a memorandum of agreement between the
City of Fayetteville and the Friends of Fayetteville Parks.
Resolution 135-25 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
NWA OPO, LLC: A resolution to approve a five-year lease agreement with NWA OPO, LLC to
rent the patio area adjacent to the Square Gardens and Old Post Office building with an option to
renew for an additional five years.
Resolution 136-25 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Williams Tractor, Inc.: A resolution to approve the purchase of one Bobcat Excavator from
Williams Tractor Supply in the amount of $110,550.11, plus any additional surcharges, freight
charges, or delivery fees up to 10% of the original purchase price, pursuant to a Sourcewell
Cooperative Purchasing Contract, and to approve a budget adjustment.
Resolution 137-25 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Randall Ford, INC.: A resolution to approve the purchase of two Ford Explorers from Randall
Ford, INC. in the amount of $85,182.00, plus any applicable taxes, surcharges, freight charges,
and delivery fees up to 10% of the original purchase price.
Resolution 138-25 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Council Member Berna moved to accept the Consent Agenda as read. Council Member
Bunch seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
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June 3, 2025
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113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Unfinished Business: None
New Business:
Extension of Sewer Service Outside City Limits: A resolution to allow the extension of the
City’s sewerage system beyond the city limits to 2484 South Dead Horse Mountain Road, the
property of Ryan and Emily Foster, under the same conditions as a citizen of Fayetteville could
receive such sewer services for new construction.
Council Member Berna stated he had been approached by the owners of the property, who had
requested to be able to connect to the City of Fayetteville’s water and sewer. The item was taken
to the Water and Sewer Committee, and they recommended approval. The Utilities Director, Tim
Nyander, noted there were no compatibility or capacity issues with the request.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Moore, Council Member Berna and City
Attorney Kit Williams regarding the location of the property. City Attorney Kit Williams went on
to clarify how the property owners had agreed to annex their property into the City as soon as
possible as part of the agreement.
Mayor Molly Rawn requested clarification on the size of the parcel. Tim Nyander stated the
property contained four large lots.
Council Member Moore asked how the property might be redeveloped, and what potential impact
that would have.
Jonathan Curth, Development Services Director stated County zoning allowed one unit per acre,
anything additional required a conditional use permit approved by County Quorum Court.
Council Member Wiederkehr clarified that the property currently had access to city water.
Council Member Turk moved to approve the resolution. Council Member Berna seconded
the motion. Upon roll call the resolution passed unanimously.
Resolution 139-25 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Donation Recognition in Parks: An ordinance to simplify and provide more flexibility in
recognizing donors by amending §97.088 of the Fayetteville Code of Ordinances.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Alison Jumper, Director of Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs provided a brief
presentation over the item. She went on to explain how the proposed amendments had been
developed along with the City Attorney’s office and was approved in May of 2025. She went on
to give further details of the ordinance. She would be available for any questions.
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June 3, 2025
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113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Mayor Molly Rawn recognized the work that had went into the item and welcomed the changes.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Bunch and Alison Jumper regarding the
different options for the memorial bench program.
The City Council received 1 public comment regarding this ordinance.
Council Member Stafford thanked staff for their work.
Council Member Turk moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading.
Council Member Moore seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams stated that a sentence had been left out of the original exhibit, and he
sent out a memo detailing what the City Council needed to do to amend the ordinance.
Council Member Stafford motioned to amend the ordinance to match the City Attorney’s
memo. Council Member Berna seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed
unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Rawn asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Ordinance 6880 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
Expansion of Arts Council Membership: An ordinance to add a member of the Parks, Natural
Resources and Cultural Affairs Advisory Board to the Fayetteville Arts Council by amending §
33.340 of the Fayetteville Code of Ordinances.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Joanna Bell, Arts & Culture Director gave a brief description of the ordinance. She stated the
ordinance would increase the membership of the Fayetteville Arts Council by one.
Council Member Berna moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading.
Council Member Turk seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Rawn asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Ordinance 6881 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
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June 3, 2025
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113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Increasing the Amount Requiring Competitive Bids for City Contracts of $40,000: An
ordinance to increase the competitive bidding threshold to $40,000.00 by amending § 34.23 of the
Fayetteville Code of Ordinances.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Molly Rawn spoke of how the ordinance was for the City to fall in line and be more in
accordance with state policy. She stated it was something staff recommended.
Council Member Min. Jones asked if the amount increase was something that changed within
the current calendar year.
City Attorney Kit Williams clarified that the State increased the amount that can be spent without
competitive bidding to $40,000. He stated that all cities in Arkansas could make the change.
Council Member Stafford moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading.
Council Member Berna seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed unanimously.
City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance.
Mayor Rawn asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Ordinance 6882 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk.
2026-2030 Capital Improvements Plan: A resolution to adopt the 2026-2030 Five-Year Capital
Improvements Plan.
Steven Dotson, Chief Financial Officer gave a brief description of the item. He stated the Capital
Improvements Plan identified what city departments prioritized over the next five years. He went
on to give different percentages listed in the Capital Improvements Plan. He provided information
requested at the May 27, 2025 Agenda Session that regarded prescribed burns in Civic Clerk. He
would be available for questions.
Council Member Turk thanked Steven Dotson for his hard work on the Capital Improvements
Plan and for making the requested adjustments.
Steven Dotson thanked staff for their work on the item.
Council Member Moore stated there were additional questions that staff and administration had
been discussing and wanted to table the item to the June 17, 2025 City Council Meeting.
Council Member Moore moved to table the resolution to the June 17, 2025 City Council
meeting. Council Member Min. Jones seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed
unanimously.
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June 3, 2025
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113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov
This resolution was tabled to the June 17, 2025 City Council meeting.
Appeal: Large Scale Development-2024-0038: (151 W. Dickson St./Trinitas Ventures, 484):
A resolution to grant the appeal of Trinitas Ventures and approve Large Scale Development LSD-
2024-0038 located at 151 West Dickson Street in Ward 2. This item failed at the previous City
Council meeting. Council Member Moore requested that it be heard again to reconsider the
previous vote.
Council Member Moore stated she would like to make a motion to reconsider the vote on the
appeal for 151 W Dickson from the May 20, 2025 City Council Meeting. She stated she stood by
the Councils’ decision due to the dangerous situation the building would create. She stated there
was concern regarding the vote and wanted to remedy it.
There was a brief discussion between Council Member Turk and City Attorney Kit Williams on
whether they were voting on the appeal or to reconsider the vote.
Council Member Moore moved to reconsider voting ‘No’ at the previous City Council
Meeting on Appeal: LSD-2024-0038. Council Member Dr. Jones seconded the motion. Upon
roll call the motion passed unanimously.
Council Member Stafford and City Attorney Kit Williams discussed the options Council could
take on the item.
Council Member Stafford motioned to table the item to the June 17, 2025 City Council
Meeting. This motion died due to lack of a second.
Mayor Rawn asked shall the resolution pass. Upon roll call the resolution failed 3-5. Council
Member Bunch, Dr. Jones and Berna voted yes. Council Member Turk, Min. Jones,
Stafford, Moore and Wiederkehr voted no.
This resolution failed.
Announcements: None
City Council Agenda Session Presentations: None
City Council Tour: None
Adjournment: 6:29 p.m.
_____________________________ __________________________________
Molly Rawn, Mayor Kara Paxton, City Clerk Treasurer