Hot Springs Board of Directors

December 3, 2024 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Awards $699K Greenway Trail Contract, Approves $311K Crosswalk Work and $159K Plaza Art Base

The Hot Springs Board of Directors approved $1,168,886.89 in identified spending at its December 3 meeting, including a $698,684.89 contract to build Phase 1 of the Stokes Creek Greenway Trail, a $310,956 contract for downtown crosswalk improvements, and a $159,246 work order for an art base at Hill Wheatley Plaza — plus authorized filing for two federal RAISE grants and a FEMA firefighters grant, with two items drawing split votes.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting December 3, 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 awarded a $698,684.89 contract to Cate Inc. for Phase 1 of the Stokes Creek Greenway Trail Project.
The Board approved a $310,956 contract with Time Striping, Inc. for decorative crosswalk improvements in downtown Hot Springs.
The Board authorized a $159,246 work order with Hill and Cox Corporation to construct an art base at Hill Wheatley Plaza.
Two items were decided by a 6-1 vote rather than unanimously: the solar site locations purchase (Director Webb voted no) and a services contract with Hot Springs Metro Partnership for Majestic Hotel site marketing (Director Beard voted no).
The Board set a public hearing on proposed wastewater rate changes and passed an ordinance fixing those rates — meaning residents may see changes to their wastewater bills.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$1,168,887

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$698,685

Stokes Creek Greenway Trail Phase 1 Contract

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Stokes Creek Greenway Trail Phase 1 Contract	$698,685	Cate Inc.	7-0	`item:12`
Downtown Street Imprint Crosswalk Improvements	$310,956	Time Striping, Inc.	7-0	`item:9`
Art Base at Hill Wheatley Plaza	$159,246	Hill and Cox Corporation	7-0	`item:14`
Total identified spending	$1,168,887

Major decisions

Solar Site Locations Purchase — Solar Power Program

Item: The Board authorized an offer and acceptance for the purchase of solar site locations as part of the city's Solar Power Program, with an accompanying budget adjustment.
Vote: 6-1
Cost: The record does not show the purchase price or budget adjustment amount.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: None Approved without separate discussion
Resident impact: The city will acquire land for solar energy generation as part of its Solar Power Program. Potential effects on city utility costs or rates are not described in the available record.
What the Board said or did: Director Webb voted against the item. No explanation for that vote appears in the available record. The item was moved from the consent agenda to new business at Webb's request, but no discussion is captured.
What remains unclear: The purchase price, the specific site locations, and the reason for Director Webb's no vote are not in the available record.
Source: item:17

Hot Springs Metro Partnership Services Contract — Majestic Hotel Site Marketing

Item: The Board authorized a services contract with Hot Springs Metro Partnership for ongoing economic development work, specifically marketing the historic Majestic Hotel site.
Vote: 6-1
Cost: The record does not show the contract amount.
Vendor / responsible: Hot Springs Metro Partnership
Discussion level: Moderate Questions or explanation from board or staff
Resident impact: The city will fund continued efforts to attract a developer or buyer for the Majestic Hotel site, a historic downtown property.
What the Board said or did: Gary Troutman and Vince Signorelli presented the Metro Partnership's marketing work for the Majestic site. One member of the public, John Cooksey, spoke against the resolution. Director Beard voted no; no explanation for that vote appears in the available record.
What remains unclear: The contract dollar amount, contract term, and the basis for Director Beard's no vote are not in the available record.
Source: item:18

Approved without separate discussion

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

Stokes Creek Greenway Trail Phase 1 — Contract Award

Vote: 7-0 · $698,685 · Cate Inc.

item:12
Downtown Street Imprint Crosswalk Improvements — Contract Award

Vote: 7-0 · $310,956 · Time Striping, Inc.

item:9
Art Base at Hill Wheatley Plaza — Work Order

Vote: 7-0 · $159,246 · Hill and Cox Corporation

item:14
FEMA Firefighters Grant — Class A Pumper/Rescue Vehicle

Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.

item:19
Two RAISE Grants — Multi-Use Trails

Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step for either grant.

item:15
Wastewater System Rates — Ordinance and Public Hearing

Vote: 7-0 · No spending was authorized; this sets fees charged to customers.

item:21
Zoning Change at 2822 Malvern Avenue

Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record.

item:20
Hope Works Job Experience Program — Agreement Extension

Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record. · Hope Works Job Experience Program

item:8
Surplus Fire Engine Donation to Fountain Lake Fire Department

Vote: 7-0 · No cost to the city; this is a disposal of surplus equipment.

item:11
Parking Regulations and Enforcement — Code Amendment

Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record.

item:22

Locations affected

Stokes Creek Greenway corridor

Phase 1 trail construction awarded to Cate Inc.

Status: Scheduled
Downtown Hot Springs (crosswalks)

Downtown

Street imprint crosswalk improvements contracted with Time Striping, Inc. Specific crosswalk locations not identified in the available record.

Status: Scheduled
Hill Wheatley Plaza

Art base construction work order approved for Hill and Cox Corporation.

Status: Scheduled
2822 Malvern Avenue

2822 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs, AR

Approximately one acre rezoned from R-2 Suburban Residential to C-3 Office/Neighborhood Commercial.

Status: Confirmed
Solar site locations

Purchase authorized as part of the Solar Power Program. Specific locations not identified in the available record.

Status: Planned
324 Malvern Avenue

324 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs, AR

Elevator maintenance scheduled to begin December 9, 2024.

Status: Scheduled

Watch list

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

Solar Site Purchase — Director Webb's No Vote

Open

Resolution R-24-218 passed 6-1 with Director Webb — who requested it be pulled from the consent agenda — voting no. The purchase price and site locations have not been disclosed in the available record.

Why it matters: Split vote suggests potential board disagreement on the Solar Power Program. Cost and scope remain unclear, raising questions about transparency and decision-making rationale.
Next check: A follow-up inquiry to the City Manager's office would clarify both the purchase price and site locations.

Metro Partnership Services Contract — Director Beard's No Vote and Public Opposition

Open

Resolution R-24-224 passed 6-1 with Director Beard voting no and one member of the public (John Cooksey) speaking against it. The contract dollar amount and term are not in the available record.

Why it matters: Split vote combined with public opposition suggests contested use of city funds. Contract terms and financial commitment remain undisclosed.
Next check: Asking the City Clerk for the executed contract would provide contract dollar amount and term details.

Wastewater Rate Ordinance — Rate Amounts Not Disclosed

Open

Ordinance O-24-38 was passed at this meeting. The new rates and effective date were not described in the available record.

Why it matters: Rate changes directly affect resident utility bills. Residents have not been informed of the specific dollar amounts they will pay.
Next check: Reviewing the ordinance text would show what customers will pay and when rates take effect.

RAISE Grant Applications — Scope and Match Requirements Unknown

Open

Resolutions R-24-222 and R-24-223 were authorized for filing for multi-use trail capital construction and planning grants. The grant amounts sought, specific trail corridors, and any required local match have not been disclosed.

Why it matters: Federal grants may require local cost-sharing; residents should know if future city spending is committed. Trail corridors affect which neighborhoods benefit.
Next check: Checking back after filing would confirm grant amounts sought, specific corridors, and any local match requirements.

FEMA Firefighters Grant Application — Award Timing and Local Match Unknown

Open

Resolution R-24-225 authorized filing for a Class A Pumper/Rescue Vehicle grant. Award timing and any local match requirement are not yet in the record.

Why it matters: Grant success could result in new equipment for fire services. Any required local match represents future city spending commitment.
Next check: Monitor for grant award notification and confirm any local match requirement.

Parking Regulations Ordinance — Specific Changes and Penalties Not Disclosed

Open

Ordinance O-24-39 was passed without discussion. The specific rule changes and new penalty amounts are not described in the available record.

Why it matters: Parking enforcement directly affects residents and drivers. New penalties and rules should be clearly communicated before they take effect.
Next check: Reviewing the amended ordinance text would show what changed for drivers and what new penalties apply.

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.

agenda: Meeting Agenda
minutes: Meeting Minutes
video: Meeting Video
transcript: Video Transcript

Confidence: High

Complete inputs available: minutes, agenda, transcript, public-comment capture, and 26 parsed agenda items with detailed source references.

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.