The meeting can be seen in its entirety just below this story. 

After the invocation, pledge of allegiance and approval of the last meeting’s minutes, Mayor Don Still called for the consideration of an ordinance to continue the firemen’s pension millage. City Manager J.R. Wilson explained that though the Local Police and Fire Retirement System (LOPFI) has taken over retirement benefits for police and fire personnel, there are still unfunded liabilities the city must cover. 

Wilson cited an additional reason for keeping the millage. “If we end up creating a large amount of money in there at some point, we could also use it to offset current LOPFI pension costs.” 

From the one mill property tax, the city collects about $80,000 to $90,000 per year. Under state law, the city board must approve the millage, which was approved by Hope voters in 2002, every year. 

Wilson said David Clark, the director of LOPFI had recommended the millage be continued for the reasons Wilson listed.  He also said that in the event of a stock market downturn the millage funds could be used to fill in the shortfall and continue paying pensions. 

Vice-mayor Kiffinea Talley asked if the millage should be continued in future years. Wilson said he recommended it be continued because of the likelihood of unfunded liabilities. 

City Attorney Randal Wright, weighing in through a Zoom connection, called approving the millage again to be a prudent idea.  Mayor Still then asked him to read the ordinance aloud as required by law. The board approved the ordinance unanimously after suspending the rules, and enacting an emergency clause. 

After its passage, Director Steve Montgomery said about 3,000 households and businesses pay the millage, averaging out to about $30 per year per payer. 

The board also approved, as must be done every year in accordance with state law, the city’s five mill property tax. Its proceeds go into the general fund.  Before the vote, Director Trevor Coffee asked whether the board could reduce the millage without prior approval from the city’s voters.  Wilson said he was sure the board could reduce the millage on its own. He asked Wright whether the board could raise the millage again without an election. 

Wright said he thought that raising the millage again would require an election, but was not absolutely sure.  Wilson said he would also consult with John about it.  The Arkansas Municipal League’s General Counsel and Legislative Director is John Wilkerson. 

The unanimous approval of the ordinance by the board came after motions were passed to suspend the rules and adopt an emergency clause. 

Next, Police Chief Kim Tomlin brought the news that the Hope Police Department will be receiving $39,300 from a STEP grant funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Arkansas Highway Safety Office which will support enforcement of DWI/DUI, speeding, distracted driving and seat belt enforcement.  The purchase of a moving radar speed detector will be made possible by the award, Tomlin said.  The required in-kind match from the city is $17,100. 

The board approved accepting the grant. 

During City Manager’s Report, Wilson deferred to Assistant City Manager Daniel Shelman who spoke on the marketing effort for the city’s Hope for the Future. The proposal would use a one-cent sales tax to fund the building of a new fire department headquarters and a new aquatic and recreation center as well as many park improvements.  For the entire plan to be started, residents of Hope on November 5th must vote yes to approve three ballot items.  

The three ballot items are as follows, 1) a 7/8 cent tax for the construction of a new fire station, 2) a 7/8 cent tax for the approval of a new recreation facility and a wide array of park and recreation improvements and 3) a 1/8 cent parks and recreation operating expense support tax.  The three ballot items have a maximum increase of 1 cent per dollar. The fire station and recreation facility will share the 7/8 cent sales tax until it sunsets at the time both are paid off. The 1/8 cent tax would only be levied if the recreation center and parks improvement items are approved. 

Shelman discussed upcoming community meetings to take place Thursday, October 3rd at Fair Park Community Center and Thursday October 10th at Northside Park’s Washington-Douglas Community Center. Both begin at 7:00 p.m.  He described the plans for both meetings. There will also be presentations at the meetings of the city’s civic clubs.  

Posters will be placed at consenting local businesses and provided to those who wish to promote the proposal. 

Tables and tents will be set up this week on the sidewalk outside the Hope Bobcats Homecoming Game Friday and at Taste of Hope Saturday evening. 

Backpack flyers will be distributed to children at Hope’s public schools at the end of this week. Those driving around town may see fire trucks decked out with material promoting Hope for the Future. Six large signs explaining the proposal will be rotated at various places in town, as well. About 50 yard signs will be distributed. 

Shelman said his marketing committee has spent what was budgeted, but that if more funding is needed he would approach the board to request it. The greatest expense so far has been on mailers. There are plans to send mailers to Hope residents in two rounds. 

Director Mark Ross asked whether the feedback received on the city’s social media campaign was positive or negative Shelman said he could not yet assess that, since only a few comments had been offered from viewers and these usually were requests for information, which were quickly answered. He said these tended to ask the location of the proposed fire department headquarters or similar things. 

Wilson asked board members to help present information at meetings and to help occupy the information tables at local events. “We hope that you'll go in your wards, maybe door-to-door to some extent. I know you can't make it to all the doors, but we hope you'll take flyers like this, and in your ward you can also shake the hands of your members, do some politicking for yourself, but also maybe talk about this,” he said. 

Shelman added that the election is five weeks away and that he had learned that in the two weeks prior to the election “that's the time when you really need to be shaking the hands and getting out in the community.” 

Volunteers, who are being called champions, who wish to help promote the Hope for the Future plan are invited to come to City Hall October 9th at 5:30 p.m. 

Wilson announced the striping on Sixth Street is complete except for the symbols that will be placed in the bicycle path.  The city will also be undertaking a repair project at Southwest Arkansas Regional Hospital that will cost $5,000 for concrete panel repair.  A location at 405 West 16th Street the city and the county now jointly own will also need some mowing.  Mayor Still brought up the need for the county to help with the work and costs, but also noted the county has been an ideal partner throughout the process of the hospital being steered to local ownership. 

Director Coffee suggested residents along Sixth Street be informed about the need to avoid placing debris in the bicycle path. Wilson explained the procedure by which sanitation or street department workers warn residents with door hangers, then with a conversation before issuing tickets for infractions. The door hangers, he said, could be edited to include material on keeping the bicycle path clear. 

A suggestion was made by Director Ross to provide surface markings on Mockingbird Lane as well and then to other streets in the area. Wilson said the city’s Street Committee could be given the idea to discuss. 

Mayor Still opened the discussion to suggestions for what sites could be included in the directors’ field trip this year.  The East Water Treatment Plant and the hospital were suggested and Still told the directors to look at their personal calendars for a good date. 

Still also mentioned the celebration at the Pocket Park of the project winning a state award for projects under $200,000 in cost, crediting former City Manager Catherine Cook for her work in bringing beauty and function to the location as well as the Hope Downtown Network nonprofit. 

There being no citizens’ comments, the meeting adjourned.