Hot Springs Board of Directors

February 20, 2024 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board of Directors Tables 106-Lot Subdivision, Authorizes $750K Historic Grant Application and $198K in Other Spending

At its February 20, 2024 meeting, the Hot Springs Board of Directors delayed a decision on a proposed 106-lot subdivision on Burchwood Bay Road after five residents spoke against it, authorized filing for a $750,000 federal historic preservation grant, approved $122,076.85 in Community Development Block Grant reprogramming, and approved a $75,800 airport runway rehabilitation work order.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting February 20, 2024 Confidence: High Independent — not affiliated with the City of Hot Springs

Published: May 17, 2026 · Last updated: May 17, 2026

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The short version

The Board delayed a vote on a 106-lot residential subdivision on Burchwood Bay Road; five residents spoke against the plan and one spoke in favor before the Board tabled it.
The Board authorized the city to apply for and accept a $750,000 National Park Service Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant targeting the Central Avenue and Pleasant Street Historic Districts.
The city approved reprogramming $122,076.85 in existing federal Community Development Block Grant funds across fiscal years 2019–2022.
A $75,800 work order for runway rehabilitation at Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport was approved under an existing master agreement with Garver, LLC.
The City Manager reported that Operation Clean Sweep — a code-enforcement sweep of 528 address points — is scheduled for March 4–22, and that short-term rental licenses not renewed by May 1 will be voided.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$947,877

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$750,000

Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant application

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant application	$750,000	National Park Service	7-0	`item:11`
CDBG Substantial Amendment — reprogramming of prior-year funds budget transfer	$122,077	—	7-0	`item:12`
Runway 5-23 Rehabilitation Work Order	$75,800	Garver, LLC	7-0	`item:10`
Total identified spending	$947,877

Major decisions

Burchwood Bay Road 106-Lot Subdivision — Tabled

Item: The Board considered approving a preliminary plat and subdivision development plan for 106 lots on approximately 25.3 acres at the 900 and 1000 blocks of Burchwood Bay Road. No approval was granted — the Board delayed the decision.
Vote: Tabled
Cost: No cost to the city specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: If ultimately approved, the development would add 106 residential lots to the Burchwood Bay Road area. The tabling means no development may proceed under this plan until the Board takes further action.
What the Board said or did: Planning & Development staff and the city attorney provided information on the development plan. Five residents — identified in the record as Angela Sain, Sergey Polykov, Betty Wood, Smokey Campbell, and Ann Wilson — spoke against the subdivision. One speaker, Jonathan Hope, spoke in favor. The Board tabled the resolution without approving or rejecting it.
What remains unclear: The specific reasons the Board tabled rather than voted, what conditions or information would need to be addressed before reconsideration, and any timeline for the item to return are not explained in the available record.
Source: item:17

HVAC Services at 109 Hobson Avenue

Item: Service authorization — the Board authorized HVAC goods and services from Comfort Systems USA (Arkansas) Inc. for the city facility at 109 Hobson Avenue and approved a related budget adjustment.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No dollar amount is specified in the available record.
Vendor / responsible: Comfort Systems USA (Arkansas) Inc.
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Affects a city facility at 109 Hobson Avenue. The nature of the facility and the extent of the HVAC work are not described in the available record.
What the Board said or did: Staff presented the resolution noting the work falls under an existing term contract and that a budget adjustment was required. The Board approved without extended discussion.
What remains unclear: The dollar amount of the contract and the budget adjustment, what the facility at 109 Hobson Avenue is used for, and the reason the item was moved from the consent agenda to new business are not fully described in the available record.
Source: item:15

Vehicle Purchases

Item: Purchase authorization — the Board authorized the purchase of certain vehicles under Arkansas state procurement law and Hot Springs Code provisions.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No dollar amount is specified in the available record.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Moderate Questions or explanation from board or staff
Resident impact: The record does not specify which departments would receive the vehicles or the number of vehicles involved.
What the Board said or did: Multiple directors discussed fleet needs and procurement during consideration of the item.
What remains unclear: The total cost, the number and type of vehicles, the departments receiving them, and the vendors are not specified in the available record.
Source: item:16

Approved without separate discussion

These items passed without individual debate as part of the consent agenda.

Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Application — $750,000

Vote: 7-0 · $750,000 · National Park Service

item:11
CDBG Substantial Amendment — Reprogramming $122,076.85

Vote: 7-0 · $122,077

item:12
Runway 5-23 Rehabilitation — $75,800 Work Order

Vote: 7-0 · $75,800 · Garver, LLC

item:10

Locations affected

900 and 1000 blocks of Burchwood Bay Road

Burchwood Bay Road

Proposed 106-lot residential subdivision on 25.3 acres

Status: Tabled
Central Avenue and Pleasant Street Historic Districts

Central Avenue and Pleasant Street

Authorized grant application for $750,000 in federal historic preservation funding

Status: Planned
Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport, Runway 5-23

Runway rehabilitation work order approved

Status: Scheduled
109 Hobson Avenue

109 Hobson Avenue

HVAC goods and services authorized

Status: Scheduled
Kimery Park

Bid awarded to Golden Standard Construction, LLC for construction of new dugouts

Status: Confirmed

Watch list

Open follow-up issues we'll check on in future briefings.

Burchwood Bay Road Subdivision — Tabled Status

Open

The Board tabled the Burchwood Bay Road 106-lot subdivision without stating conditions or a timeline for reconsideration.

Why it matters: The next briefing should check whether the item has been re-noticed and what, if anything, changed in the proposal.
Next check: Next Board meeting or upcoming agenda

HVAC Work at 109 Hobson Avenue — Missing Cost Details

Open

The record does not show a dollar amount for the HVAC work at 109 Hobson Avenue or the related budget adjustment.

Why it matters: City budget transparency requires clarity on all spending amounts.
Next check: Review of city budget documents or direct inquiry to Finance Department

Vehicle Purchases — Missing Cost and Vendor Details

Open

The record does not show a total cost or vendor list for the vehicle purchases approved under R-24-30.

Why it matters: A review of the purchase authorization documents would clarify which departments are receiving vehicles and at what cost.
Next check: Review of procurement documents or departmental budget records

Four Agenda Items — No Vote or Outcome Recorded

Open

Resolution R-24-32, Ordinance O-24-09, Ordinance O-24-10, and Ordinance O-24-11 appear on the agenda with no vote or outcome recorded.

Why it matters: The next briefing should confirm whether these were acted on, carried over, or handled at a separate session.
Next check: Next meeting minutes and agenda

CDBG Substantial Amendment — Missing Source and Use Details

Open

The CDBG substantial amendment reprogrammed $122,076.85 across four fiscal years but the record does not describe the source programs or the new uses.

Why it matters: A review of the amended action plans would clarify what changed.
Next check: CDBG action plan documents

Source notes

This briefing is based on the public records below. Every claim above can be traced back to one or more of these sources.

video: February 20, 2024 Board Meeting Video
minutes: February 20, 2024 Meeting Minutes
agenda: February 20, 2024 Board Agenda

Confidence: High

Minutes, agenda, full video transcript, and public comment capture are available. All major decisions and votes are documented.

How we know this

We do not invent facts.
We cite source records.
We distinguish what happened from what remains unclear.
We use neutral language.
We correct errors when found. See corrections.