Fort Smith looks at long-term plans

FORT SMITH — Various departments within the city laid out plans for the future Tuesday.

The Board of Directors was presented with multiple capital improvement plans during a study session. Directors were given the opportunity to ask questions of heads delivering the presentations.

The first capital improvement plan to be discussed was the five-year plan for streets, bridges and associated drainage. Stan Snodgrass, City Engineering Department director, said in a memo work is paid for by the city’s 1% sales tax.

The proposed plan includes neighborhood street improvement, major street projects, drainage improvement and traffic signal/intersection improvement, according to Snodgrass. The plan calls for spending $42,636,400 in 2020, with $142,220,952 in total expenditures planned for 2020 to 2024.

“Determination of projects is based on numerous factors including pavement ratings of streets, interdepartmental requests, economic development, citizen input, and requests from the Board of Directors and the CIP Advisory Committee,” Snodgrass said.

The next plan discussed was for the Parks and Recreation Department. The plan proposes spending $4,869,070 in 2020, with $17,786,570 planned through 2024. It includes money for both projects and capital equipment.

Doug Reinert, Parks and Recreation director, said in a memo the plan will be paid for by the city’s sales and use tax dedicated to park improvement. The tax was approved by residents in 2012 and sunsets in October 2022. As a result, the capital projects identified in 2023 and 2024 will not have enough money in the event the tax isn’t renewed and/or earmarked for parks.

Up next was the 10-year plan for streets and traffic control. Matt Meeker, interim director of streets and traffic control, said in a memo the plan serves as an outline for vehicle and equipment purchases and may be adjusted if needs or priorities change. Vehicle and equipment replacements will be paid for from the department’s capital equipment replacement fund while additional vehicle and equipment purchases will be budgeted as capital outlays from the department’s operating fund.

The plan recommends $424,500 in vehicle and equipment replacements and $202,000 in additional vehicle and equipment purchases for 2020. The proposed capital equipment replacement fund contribution for the year is $519,800.

The last plan to be discussed was one for 10 years for the Fort Smith Convention Center. The only item detailed in the plan for 2020 was three phases of carpeting and flooring replacement priced at $131,000.

The board was also to discuss three 10-year capital improvement plans from the city Utilities Department during Tuesday’s meeting, according to the agenda. The plans for water systems maintenance and improvement, as well as both consent-decree and non-consent decree wastewater systems maintenance and improvements.

However, in the interest of time, Vice Mayor Kevin Settle said he and City Administrator Carl Geffken agreed to skip the presentation of these plans, which will instead be discussed during another study session next week. A session for the board scheduled for Oct. 8 was canceled because of anticipated absences of four directors, according to a news release.

The board will have its next meeting Nov. 5, according to the city website.