City Council to consider bond package that could go before voters

FAYETTEVILLE — The City Council will hold a work session on the bond package it plans to put before voters.

The session will be after the council’s meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. The work session means the meeting will be open, but the council won’t take public comment. Public comment will be accepted during the council’s meeting Dec. 18. The council will read the bond ordinance for the second time then.

Pending voter approval, the bond package would generate $226 million for capital projects. The debt could be paid off in 10 to 12 years, according to city administrators.

A special election is tentatively scheduled for April 9. Voters will be asked to renew the city’s 1 percent sales tax. The tax previously gained approval in 2006.

More than 20 people spoke about the bond package when the council considered it for the first time last week. Most comments focused on parking downtown or the need for an aquatics center.

Council member Justin Tennant said he wanted to make sure the ballot language is as precise and easy-to-understand as possible. Certain pieces, such as a proposed arts corridor downtown, may get the most attention, but the entire package has massive implications for the next several years, he said.

“We’ve got some practical things in this bond that are very important,” Tennant said.

Total cost of all the projects is $202.5 million. Refinancing about $12.2 million in sales tax bonds is also included in the package. All 10 bond issues will appear as separate ballot measures for voters to consider.

The largest portion, $70 million, would be devoted to road improvements. Projects include building a segment of Rupple Road and implementing the recommendations of the ongoing U.S. 71B corridor study.

Additionally, $35 million would go to police for a new headquarters, and $15 million for three new fire stations on the west, south and central parts of town.

Also, $30 million has been proposed to build the arts corridor. Focal points would be replacing the parking lot west of the Walton Arts Center with a civic space and putting in boardwalks and low-impact features at the Fay Jones Parkland just west of the Fayetteville Public Library.

More information can be found at bit.ly/faybond2019.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Mike Rush, race director, high-fives Cielito Brown of Gravette during the Back 40 Trail Run & Ride on Saturday at the Blowing Springs Trailhead in Bella Vista. The event is the second largest trail event in the state behind the War Eagle Festival, 50k at Hobbs State Park, said Rush. Saturday’s race was for runners, and today’s race will be for bikers. More than 600 people will participate in the two-day event with 130 participating in both.