Hot Springs Board of Directors Agenda Meeting

August 26, 2025 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Reviews $750K Historic Housing Grant Application, $68K Budget Amendments, and Pedicab Rate Increase

At its August 26 agenda meeting, the Hot Springs Board of Directors reviewed five items totaling $818,000 in identified spending — a $750,000 National Park Service grant application for historic housing rehabilitation and $68,000 in mid-year budget amendments covering district court automation, police animal services overtime, airport fire truck repair, and employee wellness services — while also extending a nuisance condemnation deadline, previewing a pedicab rate increase, and reviewing a temporary dwelling renewal.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Agenda Meeting Agenda Meeting August 26, 2025 Confidence: Medium 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 reviewed an application for a $750,000 National Park Service grant to help rehabilitate historic structures for affordable housing, building on a $750,000 grant the city received in 2024.
Mid-year budget amendments totaling $68,000 were presented across four city accounts: $25,000 for district court automation, $8,000 for police animal services overtime, $15,000 for airport fire truck repair, and $20,000 for employee wellness services.
A condemnation action against the property at 302 Lincoln Street was extended to October 4th after the estate retained new legal counsel following the death of the original attorney.
A proposed rate increase for JJ's Pedicabs — from $2 to $5 per ride within the downtown and Oakland area — was previewed after the Transportation Advisory Committee voted 4-0 to recommend approval.
A temporary dwelling placement at 221 Ida Street, first approved in January, was reviewed under city code provisions for structures made uninhabitable by emergency circumstances.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$818,000

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$750,000

National Park Service Paul Bruin Historic Revitalization Grant Application

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
District court automation emergency budget transfer	$25,000	City of Hot Springs	—	`item:1`
Police animal services overtime emergency budget transfer	$8,000	City of Hot Springs	—	`item:1`
Airport fire truck repair emergency budget transfer	$15,000	City of Hot Springs	—	`item:1`
Employee wellness professional services emergency budget transfer	$20,000	City of Hot Springs	—	`item:1`
NPS Paul Bruin Historic Revitalization Grant Application	$750,000	National Park Service	—	`item:2`
Total identified spending	$818,000

Major decisions

2025 Mid-Year Budget Amendments (R25160)

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Four mid-year budget amendments totaling $68,000 across city funds, categorized as a budget adjustment ratifying identified spending needs.
Vote: —
Cost: $68,000 total — $25,000 district court automation, $8,000 police animal services overtime, $15,000 airport fire truck repair, $20,000 employee wellness professional services.
Vendor / responsible: Various city departments
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The amendments address operating needs across multiple city services. The airport fire truck item, at $15,000, is part of a larger repair situation: the truck is approximately 18 years old and faces estimated total repair costs exceeding $100,000, plus $9,000–$10,000 for foam removal and replacement. Staff is also evaluating a short-term lease option of approximately $85,000–$86,000 per year while a replacement truck is sought through a federal FAA grant.
What the Board said or did: Finance Director Scott presented the amendments and explained the mid-year analysis that identified each need. The airport fire truck situation received the most detailed explanation, including the lease-vs.-repair evaluation and the anticipated FAA grant pathway.
What remains unclear: The vote outcome is not recorded in the available record. It is also unclear whether the board took separate action on the airport fire truck lease evaluation or whether that remains a staff-level decision pending future action.
Source: item:1

NPS Paul Bruin Historic Revitalization Grant Application (R25161)

Item: Authorization to file an annual application for the National Park Service Paul Bruin Historic Revitalization Grant, which supports rehabilitation of historic structures for affordable housing. This is a grant application; the record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
Vote: —
Cost: Up to $750,000 in grant funds requested; the record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
Vendor / responsible: National Park Service
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The 2024 round received 12 applications, 8 from the downtown Central Avenue or Pleasant Street historic districts. The program targets rehabilitation of structures among the 525 individually listed or contributing historic buildings across 18 city historic districts. Future rounds of the program are intended to expand to benefit income-qualified homeowners earning up to $87,750 for a four-person household. The city's housing strategy identifies 4,000 vacant structures and a need for 5,000 additional housing units.
What the Board said or did: Director Selman explained the program structure, the 2024 grant history, the application evaluation process, and the connection to the Hot Springs Housing Strategy.
What remains unclear: The vote outcome is not recorded in the available record. It is also not shown which specific properties or applicants would be considered in the current round, or when an award decision from the National Park Service is expected.
Source: item:2

Condemnation of 302 Lincoln Street Extended to October 4 (R25124)

Item: The Board delayed a decision on declaring the structure at 302 Lincoln Street a public nuisance and condemning it under city code. The matter was previously tabled to allow the Woodfork estate to address the property's condition.
Vote: —
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: Woodfork estate (property owner); new legal counsel retained and court-approved.
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The property at 302 Lincoln Street remains under a pending condemnation action. No enforcement action will be taken before October 4, 2025, while new legal counsel works to resolve the matter.
What the Board said or did: The city attorney reported the death of the original estate attorney, Terry Diggs, and confirmed that the estate has retained and received court approval for new counsel. The attorney recommended extending the table to October 4th to give the new attorney time to act.
What remains unclear: What specific steps the new attorney must take before October 4th, and what action the Board would take if the matter remains unresolved at that date, are not specified in the available record.
Source: item:3

JJ's Pedicabs Rate Increase Preview (R25144)

Item: Review of a proposed amendment to the non-exclusive franchise agreement for JJ's Pedicabs, following a Transportation Advisory Committee recommendation. The item was previewed at this agenda meeting; final action is expected at the regular board meeting.
Vote: —
Cost: No city cost specified in the record. The rate increase affects customers: proposed rates are $5 per ride within the downtown business district and Oakland area (up from $2), plus $1 per person per minute for downtown sightseeing tours.
Vendor / responsible: JJ's Pedicabs
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Visitors and residents using pedicab service downtown would see base fares increase from $2 to $5. Sightseeing tour pricing would shift to a per-person, per-minute structure.
What the Board said or did: City Clerk Morsy explained the August 5th referral (voted 4-3 at that meeting) to the Transportation Advisory Committee, Bennett's subsequent submission of cost-increase documentation, and the TAC's 4-0 recommendation on August 18th to approve the new rates. Bennett was expected to appear at the board meeting.
What remains unclear: The final board vote outcome is not in the available record, as this was an agenda preview meeting. The record does not specify the geographic boundaries of the 'Oakland area' covered by the new base rate.
Source: item:4

Temporary Dwelling at 221 Ida Street (R25162)

Item: Review of a temporary zoning waiver and conditional placement of a temporary dwelling unit at 221 Ida Street under city code provisions for structures rendered uninhabitable by emergency circumstances.
Vote: —
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: Debbie Kohl (resident).
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The occupant at 221 Ida Street has been living in a temporary dwelling since January 2025. The original approval set conditions including a building permit within 30 days, a certificate of occupancy by July 21, 2025, code-compliant utility connections, and removal of the recreational vehicle from the site.
What the Board said or did: Director Selman reviewed the conditions set in the January 21st approval. The available record does not show whether all conditions have been met or what outcome the Board reached.
What remains unclear: Whether the July 21, 2025 certificate of occupancy deadline was met, whether the RV was removed, and what action — if any — the Board took at the subsequent meeting are not shown in the available record.
Source: item:5

Locations affected

302 Lincoln Street

302 Lincoln Street, Hot Springs

Pending condemnation and nuisance declaration; extended to October 4, 2025.

Status: Tabled
221 Ida Street

221 Ida Street, Hot Springs

Temporary dwelling unit placement under city emergency-circumstances code.

Status: Scheduled
Downtown Central Avenue / Pleasant Street historic districts

Downtown Central Avenue / Pleasant Street

Eight of 12 applications in the 2024 NPS grant round came from these areas; the 2025 application targets similar eligible historic structures.

Status: Planned
Hot Springs Regional Airport

Airport fire truck repair and potential short-term lease under evaluation pending FAA grant for replacement vehicle.

Status: Planned

Watch list

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

Airport fire truck repair and lease pathway

Open

The airport fire truck is approximately 18 years old and faces estimated total repair costs exceeding $100,000, plus $9,000–$10,000 for foam removal and replacement. Staff is evaluating a short-term lease option of approximately $85,000–$86,000 per year while a replacement truck is sought through a federal FAA grant. The Board has not yet committed to a path forward.

Why it matters: The repair vs. lease decision will significantly impact the airport's operational budget and long-term capital planning. A future agenda item on the lease option or FAA grant application should be expected.
Next check: Monitor upcoming board agendas for follow-up action on airport fire truck lease or FAA grant pathway.

NPS grant award decision timeline

Open

The Board authorized filing a $750,000 National Park Service Paul Bruin Historic Revitalization Grant application. The award decision has no announced timeline in the available record.

Why it matters: The grant funds historic housing rehabilitation across the city's 18 historic districts, addressing the city's identified need for 5,000 additional housing units. Award timing affects planning and resource allocation.
Next check: Check for NPS award announcement and board action on grant funds allocation when received.

221 Ida Street temporary dwelling conditions compliance

Open

The temporary dwelling at 221 Ida Street was approved in January 2025 with conditions including a building permit within 30 days, certificate of occupancy by July 21, 2025, code-compliant utility connections, and removal of the recreational vehicle. The outcome of these conditions is not resolved in the available record.

Why it matters: The July 21, 2025 deadline has passed. Verification of whether the certificate of occupancy was obtained and the RV was removed is needed to understand the current status and whether the board imposed extensions or enforcement actions.
Next check: Follow up on July 21 deadline compliance and any board enforcement or renewal action on the temporary dwelling.

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: August 26, 2025 Board Meeting Video
transcript: Transcript 00:01:00 - 2025 Mid-Year Budget Amendments
transcript: Transcript 00:07:10 - NPS Grant Application
transcript: Transcript 00:15:10 - 302 Lincoln Street Condemnation
transcript: Transcript 00:16:30 - JJ's Pedicabs Rate Increase
transcript: Transcript 00:20:10 - 221 Ida Street Temporary Dwelling

Confidence: Medium

Transcript and 5 parsed agenda items available. Vote outcomes and procedural details are not fully documented in the available record.

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.