Mar 30, 2026 City Council

[ Call to Order]

[00:00:11]

BIG CROWD TONIGHT, WHICH IS EXCITING BECAUSE WE'VE GOT LOTS OF OUTSTANDING YOUNG PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY. SO IT IS 6 P.M. IT IS TIME FOR OUR MARCH 30TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IF I COULD PLEASE HAVE PASTOR LARRY CAMPBELL HERE. THERE HE IS. SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU OVER THERE. ALRIGHT. HE IS WITH VICTORY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH AND HE WILL LEAD US IN PRAYER. LET'S PRAY TOGETHER. FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING US ALL HERE SAFELY TONIGHT. LORD, WE PRAY THAT TONIGHT, AS THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZED AND ALL THE BUSINESS THAT THE CITY HAS TO TAKE CARE OF IS GOING ON. LORD, WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD JUST GUIDE AND DIRECT IT ALL THAT EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON HERE WOULD JUST GIVE YOU HONOR AND GLORY. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS WEEKEND THAT'S COMING UP, REMEMBERING THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS AND KNOWING THAT HE IS THE THE LIVING SAVIOR. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. WE THANK YOU FOR THE HOPE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM. GOD, WE JUST PRAY TONIGHT THAT YOU WOULD JUST GUIDE DIRECTED ALL THAT YOUR WILL WOULD BE DONE HERE IN THE CITY OF SHERWOOD. AND LORD, WE JUST LOVE YOU. WE PRAISE YOU. WE ASK ALL THIS IN THE HOLY AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. PLEASE BE SEATED. ROLL CALL. PLEASE. BROOKS. HERE. WILLIAMS. HERE. BRODERICK HERE. THOMAS. WADE HERE. MCCULLOUGH. HERE. TOWNSEND. HERE. TREAT. HERE. IF I COULD PLEASE HAVE AMERICAN

[4. Recognition of Abundant Life Men’s Varsity Basketball team as State Champions ]

I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US. THANK YOU SO. I ADMIRE THERE'S A WASP ON THAT TV SCREEN RIGHT THERE. OKAY, SO SOMEONE NEEDS TO KILL IT. OH, I'LL THINK ABOUT IT. HERE WE GO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO WHERE

[00:05:12]

WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AT THIS TIME THE ABUNDANT LIFE BASKETBALL VARSITY TEAM. IF YOU GUYS COULD COME FORWARD AND THEIR COACHES. WE HAVE A SPECIAL SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO GIVE TO YOU GUYS. AND AS I CALL YOUR NAMES, IF YOU'LL COME ACROSS, DON'T LEAVE. STAND OVER HERE SO THAT WE CAN GET A PICTURE. SO THESE GUYS WON THE HCA3, A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. AND.

AND SEEING HOW FEW SENIORS YOU HAVE ON THIS TEAM. I EXPECT THIS TO OCCUR YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. IF I COULD HAVE OUR COACHES COME UP FIRST WE HAVE STEWART BERRYHILL. THANK YOU. CHAD CLEMENTS ONE OF OUR VERY OWN SHERWOOD PD. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ASSISTANT COACH, NICK HOLT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ATHLETIC DIRECTOR CHARLIE ROGERS. AND I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE JOSHUA TOWNSEND WHO IS RUNS ABUNDANT LIFE AND AND YES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR HEAD HEAD OF SCHOOL YES DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND FELLOW TEXAS A&M GRADUATE. OKAY, HERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. FIRST UP WE HAVE HAYDEN MITCHELL. CONGRATULATIONS BRANDON WALKER. CONGRATULATIONS. JACOB TOWNSEND. THAT WAS ALL OF THE SENIORS. SO YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY I SAID WE EXPECT THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR. MADDOX ARMOR. CONGRATULATIONS JOSH TICE. HE'S ALSO A REALLY GOOD SWIMMER. JUST SAYING. ANDREW DOLES. CONGRATULATIONS. I THINK THIS IS ALSO THE BASEBALL TEAM. LANDON BARGER. CONGRATULATIONS.

COLE MINTON. CONGRATULATIONS BRYCE SMITH. CONGRATULATIONS. SAWYER SEATON. JONATHAN PATTERSON. OKAY. LINCOLN ROGERS. AIDEN RICHARDSON. AND WE HAVE MICHAEL WALKER WHO WAS A ASSET TO THIS TEAM AND WAS WITH THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, BUT IF WE COULD HAVE THE SHORTER PEOPLE, MAYBE IN THE FRONT OTHER THAN ME. THAT'S

[00:10:09]

OKAY? CAN YOU CAN YOU GET US ALL IN? CHLOE, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE. OKAY. COME ON. THIS WAY. ALL RIGHT. ONE, TWO. THREE. JAMES. AND THANK YOU, PARENTS, FOR YOUR SUPPORTING THESE KIDS.

DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I LOVE IT. SO PRETTY HAPPY. THOSE ARE THE SHERWOOD CHALLENGE COINS THAT WE ARE HANDING OUT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOT DONE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THE REAL BUSINESS. RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL OF THIS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ALL OF THIS STUFF.

SO ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, AND SOME MIGHT SAY EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. SO IT'S OUR FUTURE BY YOU GUYS.

[5. Recognition of Sylvan Hills High School National Merit Finalists Katie Griffin and Addison Thomas ]

ADDISON WILL BE ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA, AND SHE'S GOING TO BE AN ENGLISH MAJOR WITH PLANS OF GOING TO LAW SCHOOL. SO WE'VE GOT BIG THINGS AHEAD IN OUR CITY. SO I WANT TO GIVE EACH OF YOU A SHERWOOD CHALLENGE COIN. AND THESE ARE NEW. THEY REPRESENT OUR FLAG AND OUR EMBLEM WITH IT. AND WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THEM A ROUSING APPLAUSE BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL. AND ALSO TO THEIR PARENTS, BECAUSE I GOTTA TELL YOU, I DIDN'T GIVE THEM A WHOLE LOT OF NOTICE. AND I WAS CALLING UP ALL MY CONNECTIONS AT SYLVAN HILLS. I WAS STALKING THEM ON FACEBOOK. ANYWAY, THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING THE TIME AND BEING HERE.

AND CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT WAS THE FUN PART. AND NOW WE HAVE TO GET ON TO

[6. Approval of the minutes of the regular called meeting on February 23, 2026, as transcribed ]

THOMAS BROOKS, I WADE I TREAT I MCCULLOUGH ABSTAIN. TOWNSEND I WILLIAMS I BRODERICK I YOU ALL

[7. February 2026 Financials ]

[8. Committees/Commissions ]

[00:15:08]

ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS. WE DID MEET. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE OVERVIEW, COUNCIL MEMBER BROOKS. SURE. ACTUALLY, WE DIDN'T MEET THIS. THE MEETING, THE MINUTES WE HAVE IN OUR PACKET TODAY ARE FROM ARE FROM THE JANUARY MEETING. SO JUST IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ON THE MINUTES FROM OUR JANUARY MEETING, SINCE YOU HAVE THE MINUTES IN TODAY'S PACKET, I'M JUST. DID YOU ALL MEET IN FEBRUARY? NO, NO, MISS BROOKS, MINE SHOWS. IT'S MARCH THE 4TH MEETING MINUTES. YEAH. I'M SORRY. MARCH MEETING. I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE. MARCH MINUTES. WE DO NOT MEET IN APRIL. WE MEET AGAIN IN MAY. RIGHT? SO WE MET IN MARCH. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE MINUTES THAT WERE IN THE PACKET? WE'RE STILL GOING OVER OUR PROPOSED BYLAWS AND WE ANTICIPATE ON VOTING ON THOSE AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS IN MAY. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT BECAUSE I TURNED IT OPEN. I SAW FROM YOUR MINUTES, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING THAT TAX ON THE SHORT TERM RENTALS. IS THAT THAT'S UNDER DISCUSSION. OKAY. WE ACTUALLY YEAH, WE ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING WHEN WE DID THE RESEARCH ON IT IN PLACE. RIGHT? SO NOW WE ARE WORKING WITH SOME OTHER CITIES TO GET A COPY OF THEIR CONTRACTS. NO, WE ALREADY HAVE. THE ORDINANCES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. WE JUST NEED TO GET THE CONTRACTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ADMINISTRATED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. SO ADMINISTERED. EXCUSE ME. ALL RIGHT. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE. SHELBY IS NOT HERE, BUT BLAKE WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW. GOOD EVENING. I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES THAT WERE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING THAT WE HAD BASKETBALL SEASON JUST WRAPPED UP FOR US. OUR CITY LEAGUE. WE HAD TWO 225 KIDS PARTICIPATE FROM FIRST THROUGH SEVENTH. IT WAS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL SEASON. I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WENT WELL. WE HAD A, YOU KNOW, A GOOD TURNOUT AS WE NORMALLY DO REALLY ENJOY SEEING THE YOUNGER KIDS PLAY A COUPLE YEARS BACK. YOU KNOW, WE MADE NOTE THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK, WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION WITHIN OUR OUR TEAM ABOUT HOW WITH THE ONE GYM THAT WE HAD, WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO WITH THE, THE LEAGUES. AND WE'VE ADDED FIRST AND SECOND GRADE AND, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, AND HAD TO CUT OUT THE EIGHTH AND NINTH, WHICH WAS HARD TO MAKE TEAMS. SO I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD DECISION THAT WE MADE IN THE PAST. AND THAT TYPICALLY KIND OF GOES ALONG WITH EVEN BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL. MOST OF THE REGISTRATION IS WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS TOO, AND THEN THEY KIND OF TAPER OFF AS IT GOES. BUT THAT KIND OF ROLLS INTO THE BASEBALL NUMBERS WHERE WE'RE AT 426 KIDS BETWEEN BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL. SO IT'S A IT'S A GOOD TURNOUT THERE AS WELL.

HOPEFULLY, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, YOU SHOULD BE RECEIVING A EMAIL INVITATION FOR OPENING CEREMONIES. SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH AT 9 A.M. IT'S MOVED TO SATURDAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO OUR OPENING SEASON TOURNAMENT THAT MORE, YOU KNOW, BEGINNING THAT MORNING, AND TRY TO KNOCK OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND GET EXHIBITION GAMES FOR THE SOFTBALL TEAMS WITH OTHER CITIES. SO WE'RE STILL COORDINATING WITH OTHER CITIES JUST DUE TO SOME OF THE NUMBERS IN THE LEAGUES. BUT I THINK WE'RE WE'RE MAKING A LOT OF HEADWAY IN GETTING CONSISTENT TEAMS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PLAY IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS. SO. THE SHARK'S REGISTRATION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. THERE'S A5KI BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HIT ON.

THAT WILL COME UP IN THE ANNOUNCEMENTS AS WELL. DAY CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN FIRST THROUGH SEVENTH GRADERS THERE AS WELL. WE ALREADY HAVE FULL GROUPS. WE'RE UP TO 100 EXCUSE ME, 147 KIDS SIGNED UP ALREADY. SO AS WE CONTINUE WITH THAT PROGRAM, IT IS STILL WIDELY SUCCESSFUL AND WE'VE SECOND GRADE IS FULL, FOURTH GRADE IS FULL, SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE IS CLOSE. SO ANYBODY LISTENING OUT THERE JUST WANT TO SIGN UP FOR THE ACCOUNT. YOU MAY WANT TO GIVE THEM A CALL. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS I THINK IT WAS A PARENT I TALKED TO TODAY WAS SCRAMBLING AROUND TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT UP THERE AND SIGNED UP TODAY. THERE WAS 2 OR 3 SPOTS IN THEIR GROUP. SO THAT'S A GOOD, GOOD PROBLEM FOR US TO HAVE. AND THEN THE WAITING LIST WILL BEGIN. SO IN THOSE GROUPS. SO IT'S A GOOD PROBLEM FOR US TO HAVE. THURSDAY WE'RE OPENING THE THE BID ON THE DURAN PARK THAT OPENS UP THURSDAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS OUT AT DURAN PARK, LAKE CHERRYWOOD. WE'RE STILL WAITING ON SOME SOME PERMITTING TOO. WE'RE NOT WAITING ON ANY MORE. IT WE GOT THE CLEARANCE. IT SHOULD BE GOING OUT THIS THIS MONTH. OKAY, SO WE SHOULD BE GOING OUT THIS MONTH TO BID ON THAT. ONE ADDITIONAL SIDE NOTE ON LAKE CHERRYWOOD IS WE HAVE A APRIL A DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATION THAT'S AN INTERNATIONAL ONE. BUT HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE LOCAL INSIDE SHERWOOD THAT'S CALLED TEAM RUBICON. THEY'RE GOING TO DO

[00:20:02]

TRASH IS IN THERE QUITE A BIT. THEY'RE GOING TO COME AND DO SOME CLEANUP AND TRAINING, BRING SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THEY'RE GOING TO KNOCK A LOT OF THAT OUT FOR US. THEY'RE GOING TO BRING SOME CHAINSAWS AND STUFF. AND THEY'VE ALSO I'VE GOT WITH MAYOR AND D A LIST OF THINGS THAT THEY WILL DO FOR LOCAL CITIZENS. SO WE HAVE AN AWESOME ORGANIZATION HERE IN SHERWOOD THAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT'S WILLING TO HELP PEOPLE OUT WHEN THEY HAVE SOMETHING THEY NEED, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S A LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS THEY DO, BUT WE'LL GET THAT LIST OUT THERE AS WELL. SILVER SNEAKERS, WE'RE, WE'RE AS CLOSE AS WE HAVE EVER BEEN TO HAVING SILVER SNEAKERS AT THE REC CENTER. SO WE'VE, I BELIEVE WE'RE, WE'RE THE CONTRACT IS APPROVED. NOW WE'RE JUST WAITING ON SOME THINGS SET UP. WE FOUND OUT WITH OUR REC DESK, WE'LL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IN THERE AND DO THE BILLING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'VE BEEN LISTENING ABOUT TRYING TO GET SENIOR CITIZENS SINCE I WAS RUNNING PROGRAMS. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. AND I THINK WE'RE JUST RIGHT THERE. BUT UNTIL IT HAPPENS, I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THAT WAS PRETTY FAST, SO I THINK I COULD GET IT ALL. I THINK I GOT IT. ANY QUESTIONS? I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CONCESSIONS THROUGH CASH AND CREDIT CARD. I'M NOT SURE WE NEED TO GO INTO ALL THE OTHER OTHER VENUES, BUT I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE NOW THAT JUST HAVE THE CARD. I CAN SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE. HOW? JUST A FEW WEEKS, WE'RE IN A LOCAL CITY FOR BASEBALL AND THERE WAS NO ANNOUNCEMENT. THERE WAS NO SIGNS UP. THERE WAS NO IT WAS THAT DAY WE SHOW UP AND IT WENT CASHLESS. YOU KNOW, THEY WENT CASHLESS. WE HAD THERE WAS KIDS IN LINES. THEY WERE HOLDING A COUPLE BUCKS. I MEAN, I ENDED UP PAYING FOR PEOPLE'S DRINKS. I WAS LIKE, COME ON, YOU KNOW.

BUT I THINK DOING IT THE WAY WE ARE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE TOTALLY GO CASHLESS, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HEADING. HOWEVER, HAVING IT A MIXTURE IS HAS BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL FOR US BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE DON'T CARRY CASH, SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE CARDS, RIGHT. BUT THOSE KIDS BEING ABLE TO GO THROUGH A LINE WITH A COUPLE OF DOLLARS THEY'RE ABLE TO BRING TO THE GAME WAS WAS PRETTY BIG. SO THAT'S THE REASON I LIKE IT.

A LOT OF STUFF. WE ARE PARING DOWN THE MENU AS WE NEEDED TO DO, MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE CONVENIENT FOR OUR STAFF AND A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENT. HOWEVER, I DO THINK WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH THAT REC DESK. SO AND JUST TO REITERATE, TEAM RUBICON, WE ACTUALLY MET THEM AT A COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR EVENT. SO KUDOS FOR THOSE WHO COME TO THOSE EVENTS AND THEY ARE DOING THIS COMPLETELY. VOLUNTEER DOESN'T COST THE CITY A PENNY. AND WE REALLY THEY NEED THEY SAID, HEY, WE NEED A PLACE TO TRAIN. AND I'M LIKE, BOY, DO I HAVE A PLACE FOR CHAINSAWS. SO TO GET THE UNDERBRUSH. SO ANYWAY, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF IT. AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MADE THEM AWARE. OUR CITIZENS AWARE KNOW THAT THEY ARE THERE TO HELP THEM AS WELL. SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOME STUFF OUT, I BELIEVE, ON SOCIAL MEDIA. ABSOLUTELY. THAT LETS PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DO AND COME HELP. SO WE IT'S A GOOD DEAL. WE DON'T NEED THEM TO BE CLEARING EVERYTHING. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, WE'RE KEEPING ALL THE GOOD TREES. WE'RE JUST CLEARING THE UNDERBRUSH AND THERE'S SOME DEAD TREES. YES. WE CAN'T YOU CAN'T GET IN THERE AND DO ANYTHING. SO WE'RE HOPING UNDERSTAND THAT US OUT. YEAH. IT'S GOOD TRAINING FOR THEM.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT WE DON'T WANT THEM STAYING SO HAPPY. YOU KNOW THEY THEY THEY KNOW THEY. AUSTIN AND BLAKE BOTH SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM AND SHOWED THEM KIND OF WHAT WE WANTED DONE AND SO FORTH. SO IT'S GOING TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL. NEXT UP IS ITEM NINE.

[9. A resolution certifying that the City of Sherwood Arkansas agrees to provide civil rights assurances which are a condition for receiving assistance under the Federal Transit Act, and for other purposes (Mayor Heye-Townsell)]

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE BOXES YOU HAVE TO CHECK. SO WHICH, OF COURSE, WE DO EVERYTHING WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ANYWAY. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION MOVE FOR THE PASSING OF THE RESOLUTION? SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE PASSAGE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS IN A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRODERICK. ROLL CALL PLEASE. THOMAS BROOKS I WADE I TREAT I MCCULLOUGH I TOWNSEND I WILLIAMS I BRODERICK I THE MOTION PASSES SEVEN. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. ABSENT.

[10. An ordinance sunsetting the benefit granted to certain elected officials and amending ordinances 840, 1014, 2001 and 2236 (Council Member Brooks) ]

[00:25:04]

HOWEVER, I DO NOT KNOW THAT ORDINANCE NUMBER BECAUSE IT WAS JUST PASSED LAST MONTH AND IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THIS SECTION. DID YOU HAPPEN TO. SO WE MAY NEED TO JUST READ THIS ONE TIME TONIGHT AND WAIT TILL NEXT MONTH. YOU CAN DO THAT OR I OR I CAN, YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO PASS AN AMENDMENT TONIGHT THAT I CAN GET THE NUMBER, I CAN GET IT FIRST. I MEAN, I CAN GET IT AFTER THE MEETING TONIGHT. IT'S UP TO YOU THOUGH. SO IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS. YOU WANT TO READ IT ONE TIME TONIGHT OR DO YOU WANT TO JUST SOMEONE PASS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND INSERT THAT ORDINANCE NUMBER BLANK? I MOVE THAT WE AMEND THIS. SO THE SECTION ONE TO HAVE THE FOUR LISTED ORDINANCES AND ORDINANCE X, WHATEVER IT'S NUMBER IS NUMBERS ON X THAT ARE HANDY DUTY. SECOND CLERK WILL HAVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO ADD ORDINANCE AND WE'LL LEAVE FOR X RIGHT NOW. BUT TO CLARIFY, IT'S THE ORDINANCE THAT PASSED IN THE FEBRUARY COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRODERICK. ROLL CALL ON THE AMENDMENT, PLEASE. THOMAS BROOKS, I WADE I TREAT I MCCULLOUGH I TOWNSEND I WILLIAMS I BRODERICK I THE MOTION PASSES SEVEN YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ABSENT. AND NOW WE NEED TO REREAD THE ORDINANCE AS AMENDED. AN ORDINANCE SUNSETTING THE BENEFIT GRANTED TO CERTAIN ELECTED OFFICIALS AND AMENDING ORDINANCES 840, 1014, 2001 AND 2236, AS AMENDED. FIRST READING AND AND ORDINANCE AND ORDINANCE, AS AMENDED. FIRST READING. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS WILL SUNSET THE RETIREMENT, WHICH IS NOT A RETIREMENT. THIS ACTUALLY STEMMED FROM ORDINANCE 840 AND THE TITLE OF ORDINANCE 840. IF YOU LOOK BACK AND I THINK EVERYBODY'S RECEIVED A COPY IN FRONT OF THEM. ORDINANCE 840 STATES AN ORDINANCE ALLOWING A RETIRED ELECTED OFFICIAL TO RECEIVE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF CITY PAYMENT OF THE CITY, PAYING MEDICAL, DENTAL AND LIFE INSURANCE. THIS ORDINANCE REALLY STEMMED FROM THE FACT THAT WHEN A CITY OFFICIAL RETIRED, THEY WERE GETTING PAID BENEFITS FOR FOR THEIR INSURANCE. THE CITY JUST CONTINUED PAYING THEIR INSURANCE UNTIL THEY FOUND OUT THEY COULDN'T DO THAT THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. SO AT THAT TIME, THE MAYOR SAID, WELL, WE'LL JUST PAY. HOW ABOUT WE JUST PAY THEIR INSURANCE X NUMBER OF DOLLARS FOR THEIR INSURANCE? AND THAT'S HOW THAT CAME ABOUT. IN ORDINANCE 840, THERE'S NOT EVEN AN AMOUNT IN THERE. AND THEN IN SUBSEQUENT ORDINANCES AN AMOUNT IS LISTED.

SO THIS WHAT THIS WILL DO IS JUST SUNSET THE WHOLE THING AFTER THIS COUNCIL IS GONE, THIS MAYOR, THIS CITY CLERK, THIS CITY ATTORNEY, THIS ADMINISTRATION IS GONE. NO OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL COULD GET THIS BECAUSE IT HAS COME TO MIND THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T THINK ENOUGH OF US THAT ARE UP HERE. I KNOW WHEN I RAN, I HAD ANY I DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE THAT THIS WAS EVEN A THING, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US RAN THINKING THIS WAS EVEN A THING.

WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. AND I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF US RAN THINKING THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF RETIREMENT. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL OR ANYTHING, WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT. WE'RE JUST RUNNING TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF SHERWOOD. WE'RE RUNNING TO HELP THE PEOPLE. WE'RE NOT RUNNING FOR RETIREMENT. SO EVEN THOUGH THIS WASN'T MEANT FOR RETIREMENT, THIS WAS MEANT TO HELP PAY OUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS FOR IS TO SUNSET THIS ORDINANCE. WHEN WE ALL ARE DONE, THIS WILL GO AWAY. MARINA, I HAVE A QUESTION.

I'M SORRY. WELL, AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY REALLY QUICK THAT THE IT HAS TO BE THIS WAY BECAUSE ALL OF EVERYBODY UP HERE, WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED, IT WAS IN THERE. SO IT'S IT'S NOT TO, YOU KNOW, HURT ANYBODY ELSE. BUT YOU ALL HAVE TO BE A PART OF THIS BY LAW BY APRIL. RIGHT.

AND THERE'S A LAW THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT TAKE AWAY TAKE AWAY A BENEFIT THAT SOMEONE HAD WHEN THEY WERE ELECTED. RIGHT. SO THAT'S PARTLY MY QUESTION FOR SECTION THREE. IS THE CURRENT AGE 55? THE CURRENT AGE IS 55, AND THIS IS GOING TO RAISE IT TO 60, WHICH JUST MEANS THAT IF, FOR INSTANCE, I LOOK AT THIS YOUNG LADY RIGHT HERE, THIS YOUNG LADY RIGHT HERE. SO NOW WHEN SHE SERVES HER 12 YEARS, FOR INSTANCE, SHE'S JUST GOING TO WAIT TILL SHE TURNS 60 TO

[00:30:05]

SO I GUESS I WOULD ASK THAT WE LEAVE THAT AT 55, BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE, IN BETWEEN, LIKE THEY, THEY MIGHT BE RECEIVING IT. I DID SPEAK TO ONE PERSON TODAY, AND THAT PERSON ASSURED ME THAT THAT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I JUST HAVE I MEAN, WE, WE HAD SOMETHING IN PLACE AND THEY ARE NO LONGER HERE AND NOW WE MOVED THAT FIVE MORE. I JUST I DON'T LIKE THAT. I WOULD RATHER IT STAY 55 WOULD BE MY, MY ASK FOR SOMEONE THAT'S ALREADY RETIRED IS THE INTENT FOR IT TO REMAIN FOR COUNCIL OR IS IT GOING TO BE COMPLETELY DONE AWAY WITH? THE INTENT IS FOR US TO COMPLETELY DO AWAY WITH THE WHOLE THING. SO THEN DOES IT MATTER IF IT'S 55 OR 60? IF NONE OF IT'S GOING TO EXIST? I DON'T THINK IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, REALLY. IT'S NOT THAT IT WON'T EXIST THOUGH, RIGHT? THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN, MARINA, IF YOU LOOK IN THE. WHEREAS THE SECOND. WHEREAS IT SAYS THEY WILL NOT. IT TALKS ABOUT YOU CAN'T, IT CAN'T BE RETROACTIVE. AND I'M TRYING TO FIND THE LANGUAGE. IT'S SAYING ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT QUALIFY FOR IT WILL NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR IT. BUT THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL ARE AN EXCEPTION. SO THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN NOW, IT CONTINUES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, IT JUST WILL NOT BE A BENEFIT FOR A FUTURE MAYOR, A FUTURE CLERK OR A FUTURE CITY ATTORNEY. RIGHT. THAT'S WE KNOW THAT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THERE IS A PAST PERSON CURRENTLY RETIRED, CURRENTLY RETIRED. THERE'S ONE, BUT IT DOESN'T AFFECT THEM. YOU CAN'T GO BACK INTO TIME. JUST LIKE RIGHT NOW, IT'S 55 FOR ALL OF YOU. IT'S JUST THE NET FROM WHOEVER GETS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER. IF IT'S NEW, THAT'S WHEN THE I THINK THERE MIGHT BE ONE CITY COUNCIL PERSON, MAYBE. NO. IS YOUR INTENTION. I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS YOUR INTENTION FOR ANY FUTURE ELECTED CITY COUNCIL. THERE'S. SO THE AGE WOULD BE FOR ANY FUTURE PERSON. I DON'T WANT THIS TO AFFECT ANY PAST PERSON. IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS IT HAS NO RETROACTIVE APPLICATION. YEAH. FOR ANY. FOR THE SIX, THE AGE 60. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF WE'RE DOING AWAY WITH IT FOR ANYBODY PAST THIS COUNCIL. WELL THAT THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS SAYING.

IT'S IT'S DOING AWAY WITH THE THE BENEFIT FOR US. BUT IT'S NOT DOING AWAY FROM THE FUTURE COUNCIL. BUT YOUR INTENTION IS TO GET RID OF THE FUTURE COUNCIL BENEFIT. THAT'S CORRECT.

THEN WE NEED TO AMEND THIS. YEAH WE DO. YEAH. SOMETHING'S NOT JIVING HERE. RIGHT. OKAY.

SAY IT AGAIN. SO THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT STEVE WAS TRYING TO SAY. HERE ARE THE LAST ONES ELIGIBLE. THAT IS CORRECT. IF DOES IT MATTER IF IT IF 55 OR 50 5 OR 60 BECAUSE YOU. BUT WE SHOULD BE 55 REGARDLESS BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE TAKEN AWAY FROM WHEN WE. ALL RIGHT. LET'S LET'S JUST LET'S JUST STRIKE THE AGE 60 OFF HERE. OKAY. THEN IF THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS WANT, THEN IT NEEDS TO ALSO BE AMENDED BECAUSE IN SECTION ONE IT SAYS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. SO YOU WANT TO TO SUNSET, THE BENEFIT FOR ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD BE THE CHANGE IN THAT. OKAY. IS THERE JUST TO CLARIFY. SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT THE CURRENT COUNCIL AGE 55, IF THEY'VE SERVED FOR 12 YEARS, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THE $350 A MONTH BENEFIT. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. IF SOMEBODY GETS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, THEY AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THAT BENEFIT AT ALL. IF THIS PASSES AND IF IT'S AMENDED.

CORRECT. AND THE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THESE THINGS RIGHT BEFORE PEOPLE START FILING FOR OFFICES, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE INTENT IS BECAUSE FILING PERIOD PASSES, YOU CAN'T MAKE A CHANGE. THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO GET ALL OF THIS. WE WANT TO GET THIS ALL DONE BEFORE THE FILING PERIOD. WHAT DOES THE CITY PAY OUT ANNUALLY ON THIS BENEFIT? THE 350 A MONTH FOR THE FOR. WELL, RIGHT NOW WE PAY. WE'RE. WHAT WE CURRENTLY PAY OUT IS 54,600. AND I DON'T THINK THE INTENT WAS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT. NOT THAT IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT. I THINK IT WAS MORE THE INTENT OF. TYPICALLY A. A PART TIME POSITION DOESN'T TYPICALLY RECEIVE A, A RETIREMENT LIKE BENEFIT. YEAH. SO HOW LONG HAS THIS BENEFIT BEEN BEING PAID? HOW MANY YEARS HAS THAT BEEN EFFECTIVE? WELL, SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED, IT WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED BECAUSE OF INSURANCE, RIGHT? TIMES HAVE CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY IN TERMS OF INSURANCE, INSURANCE BENEFITS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. AND WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS PAID THAT MUCH MONEY BECAUSE IN THE BEGINNING, I THINK IT WAS

[00:35:03]

AND THEN REALLY, SECTION THREE WOULD THEN NO LONGER BE NEEDED AT ALL. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THERE, THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER SECTION THREE. READ THIS ONE TIME TONIGHT. AND THEN STEVE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND CLEANING UP AND PUTTING THE CORRECT ORDINANCE IN THERE UNDER THE TITLE AND THE TITLE, THAT FOR THE THE CORRECT ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE MISSING, AND THEN STRIKE SECTION THREE AND CLEAN UP THE LANGUAGE TO TAKE OUT SECTION THREE, AND THEN TAKE OUT THE EXCEPTIONS OF MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. OKAY. AND WE'LL READ IT ONE TIME. IS THAT WELL, WHY DON'T YOU NEED AN AMENDMENT TO DO THAT? SO AND THEN IT'LL COME UP AGAIN NEXT MONTH TO IN ORDER TO CHANGE THOSE THINGS, WE HAVE TO THEN AMEND THIS BY DOING THE THINGS YOU JUST SAID. SO IS THAT A MOTION? THAT'S A MOTION. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR TWO AMENDMENTS STRIKING SECTION THREE AND STRIKING ON SECTION ONE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROOKS. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND. WHY ARE WE SAYING TAKE THE EXCEPTION OF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OUT NOW? THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID EARLIER. THAT'S WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE SAYING. YOU WERE SAYING THAT 60 DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE WE WERE DOING AWAY WITH IT ALTOGETHER. CORRECT. OKAY. SO IN ORDER TO DO AWAY WITH IT ALTOGETHER, YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO THOSE TWO THINGS. OTHERWISE, FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE RECEIVING THIS BENEFIT. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. I THINK IT'S I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE'RE ALL A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED BY EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO VOTE ON. SO CAN YOU CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT ONE MORE TIME, MAYOR? OKAY. SO IT WAS STATED WE DIDN'T NEED TO CHANGE THE AGE TO 60 BECAUSE WE WERE DOING AWAY WITH THIS FUTURE BENEFIT. OKAY? WE'RE NOT DOING AWAY WITH THE FUTURE BENEFIT FOR CITY COUNCIL. IF YOU KEEP IN THE WORDS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. SO YOU'VE GOT TO WEIGH THAT OUT AND THAT IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO DO AS STATED, SUNSET, THIS BENEFIT FOR THE FUTURE, YOU HAVE TO GET RID OF THAT SECTION AND THOSE WORDS IN SECTION ONE, AS COUNCIL MEMBER BROOKS SAID, AND THEN ELIMINATE SECTION THREE. SO THIS VOTE. IF WE VOTE YES, WE'RE VOTING FOR THAT BENEFIT TO BE SUNSETTED FOR FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND THEN IF WE VOTE NO, WE'RE VOTING FOR A FUTURE CITY

[00:40:04]

RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST VOTING. I'M NOT SURE OR EXCUSE ME FOR IT TO COME UP AGAIN. I KNOW THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THE VOTE YAY OR NAY ON THE AMENDMENT. SO YOU NOW NEED TO VOTE UP OR DOWN ON THIS AMENDMENT SO STEVE CAN REWRITE IT SO HE CAN BRING IT BACK FOR NEXT MONTH TO CLEAN IT UP. STEVE, I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU WOULD BE REWRITING FOR SECTION ONE, PLEASE. HERE IT IS. STEVE. I WOULD BE WELL, I WOULDN'T BE REWRITING. I'D BE STRIKING. IT WOULD JUST IT WOULD BE A PERIOD AFTER TO SUNSET. THE BENEFIT FOR ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS. PERIOD. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO STRIKE THE REST OF THAT. OKAY. AND ADDING THE CORRECT THE OTHER. RIGHT. YEAH. THE OTHER THAT'S ALREADY BEEN STRIKE SECTION THREE. THEN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE 55 WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY. OKAY. I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. YES. SO WE JUST DID A BIG DISCUSSION VOTING TO RAISE THE AMOUNT.

OKAY. LAST MONTH. CORRECT. YES, MA'AM. AND SO NOW WE'RE COMING BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO SUNSET THE WHOLE THING FOR ANYBODY IN THE FUTURE IS THAT. THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL LITTLE I THINK. WELL I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE'S A LOT. AND I THINK THAT WAS BECAUSE I'M THINKING THIS BECAUSE BASED ON YOURS AND COUNCIL MEMBER MCCULLOUGH'S REACTION TO ASKING FOR THE RAISING OF THE AMOUNT, YOU WERE PERPLEXED ON THIS WHOLE THING.

AND THEN I'M LOOKING BACK TO THIS ORDINANCE FROM 1988, AND I GET INFORMATION FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BACK THEN OF WHY THE WHOLE THING EVER STARTED WAS BECAUSE THE CITY FELT SORRY FOR SOME OF THESE RETIRING COUNCIL MEMBERS. THEY WERE ALDERMEN BACK THEN, RIGHT.

AND THEY ACTUALLY JUST LET THEM STAY ON THE CITY INSURANCE. AND THEN THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CAME BACK AND SAID, OH, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. YOU CAN'T KEEP THEM ON THE CITY INSURANCE. SO THE MAYOR JUST SAYS, WELL, HELL, WE'LL JUST WRITE AN ORDINANCE AND GIVE THEM ALL MONEY INSTEAD OF MONEY INSTEAD, YOU KNOW, AND THEY CAN BUY THEIR OWN INSURANCE. WE COULD DO THAT FOR $125 BACK IN 1988. YOU KNOW, MEREDITH, I DO THINK THIS PLAYS INTO IT, AND I WOULD BE FINE LEAVING IT IF THE COUNCIL FEELS STRONGLY I'M OKAY TO LEAVE. BUT I DO THINK THIS IS A FACTOR.

THAT'S WHY A FEW YEARS AGO, I HAD ASKED ABOUT CHANGING THE INSURANCE SO THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS. IF YOU DON'T NEED INSURANCE ANYMORE, IF YOUR JOB PAYS FOR IT. YES, BUT THAT HAD ALWAYS BEEN INTENDED TO BE A BENEFIT OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. SO IN THE 80S, WHEN THIS STARTED, YOU HAD TO WORK FOR BAPTISTE. YOU HAD TO WORK FOR A BIG COMPANY TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. SO YOUR PAY WAS LOW AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT YOU GOT HEALTH INSURANCE. OVER THE YEARS, THAT CHANGED. SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED A FEW YEARS AGO FOR THIS TO BE ALTERED, SO THAT THE FACT THAT PREVIOUSLY ELECTED PEOPLE ARE GETTING THIS HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFIT DOESN'T BOTHER BECAUSE THEY SERVE THEIR TIME FOR MANY YEARS AT A REDUCED AMOUNT OF PAY FOR A HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFIT THAT MAY BE IN THE LAST 15, 18 YEARS. THEY DIDN'T NEED ANY MORE. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO LIKE I, LIKE I SAID I COULD, I COULD GO EITHER WAY HAS GONE UP CONSIDERABLY FOR CITY COUNCIL. SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO THEN JUSTIFY THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE GOTTEN LESS THAN OTHER. I MEAN, COUNCIL, IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY COMPARABLE. I COULD GO EITHER WAY, BUT I DO THINK THAT. BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS LIKE THE LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD FOR MANY MONTHS. YES, BUT THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH. BUT THAT'S OKAY. AND IT WAS STILL GOING TO PASS PREVIOUS PEOPLE. NOW, NOW WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO AWAY WITH ALL OF IT. WELL, AND THAT WAS BASED UPON THAT WAS BASED ON YOUR TWO REACTIONS. OKAY. WELL, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M FOLLOWING THE CONVERSATION. THAT IS WHY THE PAST 4 OR 5 DAYS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, CRAZY. SO, SO AND I DID. SO BASICALLY WE HAVE 13 PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THIS BENEFIT EVERY MONTH AND 13 TIMES $350 IS $4,550 A MONTH. SO. AND IF YOU DO $4,550 TIMES 12 MONTHS, IT'S $54,600 A YEAR THAT GOES OUT ON THAT. NOW, GRANTED, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING OLDER, SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER. SO BUT THEN SOME OF THEM I'M NOT. I'M JUST SAYING IT COULD BE ME. IT COULD BE ME. ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S LET'S TIE THIS UP. SO BASICALLY WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR THE THE TWO AMENDMENTS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THE AMENDMENT? A SECOND AND WE HAVE A SECOND. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY

[00:45:04]

[11. A resolution amending the 2025 General Fund Budget Resolution 42-2024, the 2025 Street Fund Budget Resolution 43-2024, and the 2025 Wastewater Utility Fund Budget Resolution 44-2024 (Mayor Heye-Townsell) ]

PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION. A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2025 GENERAL FUND BUDGET RESOLUTION 42 DASH 2020 FOR THE 2025 STREET FUND. BUDGET RESOLUTION 43 DASH 2024 2025 WASTEWATER UTILITY FUND BUDGET RESOLUTION 44 DASH 2024. THIS IS THE ANNUAL CLEANUP THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO EVERY YEAR BY LEGISLATIVE AUDIT. SO ANY QUESTIONS MOVE FOR ADOPTION.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ADOPTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER BROOKS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER TOWNSEND. ROLL CALL. THOMAS BROOKS. I WADE I TREAT I. MCCULLOUGH I TOWNSEND I WILLIAMS I. BRODERICK MOTION PASSES SEVEN. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. THOMAS. ABSENT. UNDER

[12.Old Business]

GO RIGHT AHEAD. OLD BUSINESS. I, I WAS JUST READING THINGS IN THE PAPER AND WAS SEEING SOME THINGS ABOUT DIFFERENT CITIES, AND I GOT TO THINKING AND I DON'T MEAN TO PUT, I MEAN FOR NEXT MONTH, IF I COULD SAY IT TODAY VERSUS LATER, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT FOR THE COUNCIL NEXT MONTH, BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE'VE HAD THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. SURE. AND WE'VE NOT HEARD THAT IN I'D RATHER SAY IT NOW TOUR THAN WHEN YOU DO IT WHEN AGENDA, BECAUSE THEN SHE ONLY GIVES HER WEEK. THIS GIVES HER A MONTH.

NO PROBLEM. OKAY. JUST TAKE ME IN HERE. I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED THAT ALL BUSINESS IS REALLY NOT OLD BUSINESS. IT'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS. SO I GUESS IT'S CONTINUING, RIGHT? SO UNDER AND

[13.New Business]

REGARDING PUBLIC COMMENTING AND NOT ALLOWING IT. AND IT'S CALLED VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.

YOU GUYS PUT SOME STUFF ON THE AGENDA THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO HEAR, BUT WHEN PEOPLE GO TO A COUNCIL MEMBER, WELL, MINE DOESN'T CONTACT ME. I HAD TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER PERSON AND I APPRECIATE THAT PERSON VERY MUCH FOR COMMUNICATING WITH ME VERY MUCH. WE MIGHT DISAGREE ON A FEW THINGS, BUT I DO. BUT IT'S CALLED VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION. THAT'S AGAINST THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AND ALL OF YOU ALL NEED TO HAVE SOME MORE TRAINING ON THE CONSTITUTION.

CONSTITUTION OVERRIDES ANYTHING FROM THE ORDINANCES TO POLICIES TO ANYTHING FROM THE STATE. AND MR. WILKERSON FROM THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE IS AWARE OF THIS AS. CONTACTED STEVE COBB.

[00:50:08]

SO THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY OR ACCOUNTABILITY. AND THE MORE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND YOU GUYS ALL GOT MY EMAILS, AND IF IT TAKES A LAWSUIT, I'LL DO A LAWSUIT. IT'S NOT ABOUT A LAWSUIT. IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING. BUT I DON'T MIND FILING A LAWSUIT. I DON'T MIND THAT A BIT DOESN'T HELP. SURE. WHEN WHEN A LAWSUIT HAPPENS AND YOU GUYS WANT MORE GROWTH, MORE BUSINESSES TO COME IN THIS TOWN BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. GROWTH DOESN'T HAPPEN WHETHER IT'S COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL. WHEN THERE'S A LAWSUIT, BECAUSE RESIDENTS DON'T TO BE DON'T GET TO BE HEARD HERE. AND MORE AND MORE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU KNOW, THIS TOWN IS SO DIVIDED AND PUBLIC COMMENTING, YOU KNOW, NOT ALLOWING IT. AND ALL OF Y'ALL, IN JANUARY OF 2025 AGREED WITH THE MAYOR ONLY ON AGENDA ITEMS. BUT IF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DOESN'T COMMUNICATE WITH US AND WE WANT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, THAT'S CALLED VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION, I GOT CASE LAW HERE AND IF YOU GUYS WANT TO FIGHT IT, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY. I DON'T AND I GUARANTEE YOU I GET A LOT OF PEOPLE ON BOARD. YOU GOT 30S LAWSUIT. EXCUSE ME? YOU GOT 30S. THANK YOU. AND I DON'T MIND FILING A LAWSUIT. I GUARANTEE YOU A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE ON BOARD WITH ME. BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT A LAWSUIT. IT'S DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE RESIDENTS. BUT IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS CITY IS SO DIVIDED. YOU ALL MIGHT NOT LIKE ME, BUT I, I CARE ABOUT EVERYBODY, BUT DO THE RIGHT THING. AND BECAUSE IF NOT AND YOU GUYS CALL, CALL JOHN WILKERSON, HE'LL TELL YOU YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. SO THE REASON WHY I ASKED FOR THIS TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA IS. AND I'M SORRY IF I'M A LITTLE DISTRACTED. I'M HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO WASPS. SO IF YOU SEE ME, JUST JUMP AND RUN, AND I APOLOGIZE IF MY VOICE IS SCRATCHY. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RULES. WERE CORRECT BY WAY OF THE CONSTITUTION AND BY STATE LAW AND ALL THE THINGS. I HAD REACHED OUT TO MR. WILKERSON FOR TWO REASONS. ONE, AS A REQUEST TO REVIEW OUR RULES, TO GIVE ME THE CLARITY THAT I NEEDED. AND TWO, I WAS ASKED BY A RESIDENT TO HAVE HIM COME AND SPEAK HERE IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY, MR. WILKERSON IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT THEY HAVE FORMALLY LOOKED AT OUR FULL RULES. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M GOING TO READ. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE THING. I'M HAPPY TO SEND IT TO YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IT.

BUT THE FULL MEMO, SOME BIG HIGHLIGHTS OUT OF THIS BETWEEN. AND THIS IS. A MEMORANDUM SPECIFICALLY IN RELATION TO IN ARKANSAS, THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY MAY ADOPT RULES OF MEETINGS FOR THE GOVERNING BODY THAT LIMIT CITIZEN COMMENTARY TO TOPICS AND SUBJECT MATTERS STATED ON THE MEETING'S AGENDA. THERE'S A LOT OF CASE LAW THAT IS IN HERE.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT. WE HAVE GENERALLY, WE HAVE ADOPTED, BASED OFF OF OUR RULES, A WELL, LET ME READ THIS FIRST PORTION THAT I'M GOING TO READ AND I APOLOGIZE AGAIN. MY BRAIN'S A LITTLE SCATTERED. JUST. YOU'RE FINE. OKAY. THE REVIEW CAME BACK WITH THIS MAIN NOTE THAT STATED THAT IT INCLUDED THE MEMO. AND WHAT I'M GOING TO READ IS FROM THE MEMO.

THE MEMO EXPLAINS THAT ARKANSAS CITY COUNCIL'S MAY LAWFULLY LIMIT PUBLIC COMMENT AT MEETINGS TO TOPICS LISTED ON THE AGENDA, BECAUSE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS CONSTITUTE LIMITED PUBLIC FORUMS WHERE REASONABLE VIEWPOINT, NEUTRAL TIME, PLACE, MANNER AND MANNER RESTRICTIONS ARE PERMITTED. OKAY. THE COUNCIL HAS ESTABLISHED RULES. TO GOVERN THE FORMATION OF THE AGENDA, INCLUDING A PATHWAY TO HAVE A CITY OFFICIAL PLACE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA IN ACCORDANCE TO ARKANSAS CODE 1440 3-501. OKAY. IN THE MEMO, IT SPECIFICALLY

[00:55:02]

IT'S ON THAT FIRST SECTION AT THE TOP. SECTION TWO. OKAY. THE PARAGRAPH STARTS WITH THE CITY CLERK. THE LAST SENTENCE IS THE PARKINSON'S. OKAY, SO WE ADDED, YOU'RE SAYING THIS SENTENCE IS WHAT WE ADDED IN? YES, THAT'S WHERE WE ADDED. NOW I WAS GOING TO ASK THIS COUNCIL FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO CLARIFY THAT EVEN MORE, BECAUSE I'M THINKING OF JANE DOE, WHO ISN'T ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHO DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, SHE'S OLDER, SHE JUST KNOWS THAT, OH, I HAVE A PROBLEM. I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO CONTACT MY CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE. I DON'T DO EMAIL. I DON'T DO ANY OF THAT. I'M JUST GOING TO SHOW UP TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE THAT'S WHAT SHE'S ALWAYS DONE IN THE PAST. SO I WAS GOING TO ORIGINALLY ASK FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT THAT IT CHANGES TO WHERE CITY COUNCIL THAT CITIZENS CAN REQUEST THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVE TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. HOWEVER, IN SAYING THAT. I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT UP TO Y'ALL. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LINE THAT WE ADDED IS SUFFICIENT. HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THAT CLARIFIES THE INTENT. YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE UP TO US IF IF ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS COME TO US, YOU KNOW, TO QUOTE UNQUOTE, SPONSOR THEM. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT IF THE, IF IF THE INTENT OF THE RULE THAT WE HAD CLARIFIED IS THAT A CITIZEN MUST GO THROUGH THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT THAT OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT. SO. BUT IN ORDER FOR ME TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, I NEEDED TO EDUCATE MYSELF ON ALL THE THINGS. SO THAT'S WHERE THAT IS AT. THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE HAS, YOU KNOW, PROVIDED ALL THE THINGS SAYING THAT OUR RULES ARE WITHIN LAW AND CONSTITUTION. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THIS IS LIKE ON PUBLIC RECORD AND PEOPLE FULLY UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHERE THINGS ARE AT. EVEN THOUGH I MAY NOT FULLY, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM AMENDING THIS. I MEAN, THE GOAL IS WE DON'T WANT TO APPEAR TO BE OPPRESSIVE TO FREE SPEECH. I HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY ANYBODY ASKING ME TO SPONSOR THEM. I THINK THERE WAS SOMEBODY HERE A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO THAT LIVES IN MY WARD, BUT I WASN'T ASKED IF, YOU KNOW, TO SPONSOR THEM. SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM AMENDING THIS SO THAT

[01:00:01]

I MEAN, I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO SHERWOOD CITIZENS. YES, YES. BUT BUT I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, I MEAN, WE, WE LIKE THAT'S WHY I SPECIFICALLY ASKED AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE, IF SOMEONE EVEN COMES TO US OR THEY SHOW UP AND, YOU KNOW, THEY COME TO MISS BEVERLY AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HEY, I REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS. AND BEVERLY SAYS, OKAY, YES, FINE. YOU KNOW? SO I MEAN, I'M OKAY WITH I'M OKAY WITH LEAVING THIS AS IT IS, EVEN THOUGH THE WORDING IS NOT AS CLEAR AS WHAT I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE. AS LONG AS THERE IS A WAY FOR OUR CITY RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT LIVE WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS HAVE THE ABILITY AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN AVENUE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC. THEY'VE GOT TO CONTACT THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT I DO NOT WANT IT TO APPEAR AS THOUGH WE ARE SUPPRESSING COMMENTS. CAN I JUST FOR A SECOND? YES, PLEASE.

I WOULD COUNSEL STRONGLY AGAINST ANY AMENDMENTS NOW. AND THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS BECAUSE THE RULES, AS THEY STAND, AS THEY HAVE BEEN ADOPTED, HAVE BEEN EXAMINED BY THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, AND THEY HAVE GIVEN US A MEMORANDUM TODAY THAT SAYS THEY'RE GOOD.

YEAH. I'LL READ THE FIRST SENTENCE. I BELIEVE THE RULES HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, ARE WITHIN THE CITY'S AUTHORITY AND WOULD BE FOUND TO BE LAWFUL BY A COURT APPLYING CONSTITUTIONAL SCRUTINY. SO I THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE THEN. THIS IS WHAT I WAS THINKING. AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, STEVE. I THINK WE CAN OBTAIN BOTH. LEAVE IT AS IT IS. BUT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ADDRESS, BECAUSE IF SOMEONE CALLS ME RIGHT, I HAVE A BECAUSE THIS IS CALLED IT'S THE SAME. IT'S THE SAME THING. IT'S CALLED THIS IS CALLED A CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. THE EIGHT OF US HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUT ANYTHING ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. AND MAYBE WE'RE NOT DOING THAT AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD IF THAT'S THE CASE. BUT IF SOMEONE CONTACTS ME AND I THINK IT'S A VIABLE THING FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING, I'M GOING TO PUT IT ON THERE. AND THEN IF WE'RE TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT, I COULD SAY, HELLO, TONY GORDON, WOULD YOU COME UP AND LET'S HELP ME EXPLAIN THIS TO MY FRIEND, TO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES. AND THEY ARE OUR WITNESS, SO TO SPEAK, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO EXPRESS SOMETHING. SO I THINK UNDER THE CURRENT LANGUAGE, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. BUT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING IT AS MUCH. I MEAN, I'M NOT SHY TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, AS YOU ALL KNOW, OR TALK EITHER ONE. SO NO COMMENTS THERE. YEAH, I MEAN, I JUST I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I MEAN, LIKE I SAID LAST MONTH, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN AVENUE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTING THAT WE HAVE AN AVENUE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK, AND IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR THINGS, I HAD ASKED THE MUNICIPALITY TO DO A THOROUGH LAW REVIEW, WHICH THEY DID RETURN THAT MEMO. THEY DID. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE JOHN WILKERSON'S NAME WAS THROWN OUT QUITE A BIT HERE. AND JOHN WILKERSON HAS VERY CLEARLY CLARIFIED THIS. AND I DO THINK AT THE COUNCIL MEETING WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS, I THINK WE WERE ALL VERY CLEAR THAT THE AVENUE. WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS HOW IT WORKS ON ALL LEVELS. YOU CAN CALL UP YOU CAN CALL UP THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, YOU CAN CALL UP YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU CAN CALL UP DEPARTMENT HEADS WHEN YOU HAVE PROBLEMS. THEY THE NUMBERS ARE WIDELY PUT OUT THERE AND EMAILS AND SO FORTH. AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING, THEN CERTAINLY IT CAN BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN CLEARED UP.

YEAH. SO, MAYOR, MAYBE TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE, COULD YOU WHEN IT'S POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEN COMING FROM THE CITY TO HAVE A STATEMENT, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON A NON AGENDA ITEM, YOU KNOW, SO THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT, WELL, THIS WILL ACTUALLY IN THE CITY COUNCIL RECAP, WE'LL BE THERE. IT'LL BE MENTIONED. SO IT WILL DEFINITELY BE ON THERE. THEY WOULD HAVE TO READ THIS MONTH'S MEETING. WHAT I'M SAYING IS RIGHT, YES I UNDERSTAND. I JUST WANT TO YES. I JUST YOU KNOW. I KNOW IT'S RIGHT THERE. I KNOW THAT'S WHY I'M ALRIGHT. I THINK THAT THE LAST LINE ON HERE THAT SAYS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY ADDRESS CITIZEN CONCERNS UNDER NEW BUSINESS. RIGHT. IT'S VERY FIXED IT RIGHT THERE. IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR. IT SAYS IT RIGHT THERE. SO. YEAH. ALRIGHT. SO LIKE I SAID, I WAS GOING TO INITIALLY REQUEST A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO CLARIFY THAT SENTENCE EVEN MORE. BUT AFTER RECEIVING THE FULL LAW REVIEW OF OUR FULL COUNCIL RULES, I'M NOT NECESSARILY ASKING THAT, BUT I DID WANT TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. SO THE CONVERSATION IS ON RECORD TO REITERATE WHAT, YOU KNOW, ME MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AN AVENUE FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN MADE CLEAR. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT DUE

[01:05:04]

FIRST OF ALL, CURRENTLY AT 9600 WARDEN ROAD, THERE IS A LISTING FOR $750,000 FOR 14.19 ACRES.

AND YES, SOME OF IT IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN. THIS MAKES IT $53,499 AN ACRE, 8000 LANDERS ROAD IS LISTED FOR 949,000, WHICH IS 3.28 ACRES, NONE IN THE FLOODPLAIN. THAT IS $289,329 AN ACRE. THE CITY'S PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED FOR 875,000 FOR 23.77 ACRES. YES, SOME OF IT IS IN A FLOODPLAIN, WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN, BUT THIS ONLY MAKES IT $36,811 AN ACRE.

LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA NOW. THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FLOODPLAIN AND A FLOODWAY. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO MITIGATE BUILDING IN A FLOODPLAIN, INCLUDING CHANNELING WATER RETENTION, DETENTION PONDS, USING FILL, ETC. THE SLAB OF THE STRUCTURE ONLY NEEDS TO BE ONE FOOT ABOVE AN EXISTING FLOODPLAIN. THE SAME IS NOT TRUE FOR A FLOOD WAY. WE HAVE AREAS IN SHERWOOD THAT HAVE BEEN FILLED ON AND HAVE BEEN BUILT, BUILT ON ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY IN A FLOODPLAIN. NOW WE GO TO THIS APPRAISED ASSESSED VALUE OF 190,160. LET'S PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE.

THE CORNER OF MARYLAND AND BROCKINGTON HAS A LAND TAX APPRAISAL FOR TAX ASSESSMENT PURPOSES, WHICH CHLOE, IF YOU COULD PUT ON THAT SLIDE, THAT IS 20 ACRES THAT APPRAISED VALUE, $3,400. DOES ANYBODY THINK THAT THAT 20 ACRES OF THE CORNER OF MARYLAND AND BROCKINGTON IS ONLY WORTH 3400? NO, OF COURSE NOT. THAT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS. BUT RIGHT NOW, IF WE COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES AS TO WHAT'S BEING SAID ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IT GETS EVEN WORSE. LET'S LOOK AT 107 AND BROCKINGTON. THAT CORNER SOLD IN 2006 FOR $3,638,000, BUT IT

[01:10:06]

ONE STANDOUT WAS WINTERFEST, WHICH FEATURED ITS FIRST EVER DRONE SHOW, LIGHTING UP THE SKY, CREATING MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES FOR FAMILIES ACROSS SHERWOOD. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE SAW WHAT MAKES THESE EVENTS SO MEANINGFUL FAMILIES SPENDING TIME TOGETHER, NEIGHBORS CONNECTING, AND A SHARED SENSE OF COMMUNITY ON FULL DISPLAY. THIS IS WHAT COMMUNITY FIRST LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE, INVESTING IN EXPERIENCES THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY. BUT THESE EVENTS ARE ABOUT MORE THAN JUST A GREAT TIME. THEY ARE PART OF A LARGE QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVE, ONE ROOTED IN CONTINUED GROWTH AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENT. THESE EFFORTS NOT ONLY BENEFIT SHERWOOD FAMILIES TODAY, BUT ALSO SERVE AS POWERFUL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS FOR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND THOSE LOOKING TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE WAY THAT WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO GROW AND EVOLVE. IN 2025, WE LAUNCHED THE TALK OF THE TOWN PODCAST, OFFERING DEEPER CONVERSATIONS AND INSIGHTS INTO OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO INTRODUCED THE SHERWOOD STUDENT, A WEEKLY RECAP HIGHLIGHTING WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE EXPANDED, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF TIKTOK, HELPING US REACH NEW AUDIENCES AND KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED IN REAL TIME. WE ALSO INCREASED THE DISTRIBUTION OF OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, ENSURING MORE RESIDENTS STAY CONNECTED TO CITY NEWS AND UPDATES, AND TO MAKE ACCESSING CITY SERVICES EVEN EASIER. SHERWOOD LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE ALONG WITH A MOBILE APP, PUTTING CITY HALL RIGHT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND. SO JOSH, TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS NEW FACILITY AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT. SO WE'RE WE'RE MOVING IN. WE'RE PROCESS OF GETTING ALL OPERATIONS MOVED OVER. SO THAT'S EXCITING. THE

[01:15:04]

YES. CORRECT. IT'S, IT'S HELPS WITH THE LONGEVITY OF THE VEHICLES IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

AND ALSO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO THEN WARM UP. YOU ARE ABLE TO GET GOING A WHOLE LOT FASTER. AND BEFORE IT WAS A BEVY OF EXTENSION CORDS RUNNING EVERYWHERE. AND NOW YOU ACTUALLY HAVE PEDESTALS WHERE YOU CAN JUST IT'S YOU PARK AND IT'S JUST RIGHT THERE VERSUS WE DO TRYING TO JERRY RIG IT. YES, WE HAVE DESIGNATED SPOTS FOR ALL THE BIG TRUCKS. IT'S A LOT MORE CONVENIENT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST PLUGGING THEM UP RIGHT THERE. WE'RE NOT DRAGGING CORDS ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, SO. WELL, CHIEF, WE'VE GOT THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW FACILITY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE JUST MOVED IN. IT'S NOT 100% COMPLETE, BUT WE ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO IT. SO TALK TO ME ABOUT LIKE WHAT THIS DOES FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT. SO FOR US, FOR YEARS WE'VE HAD THIS, WE'VE HAD A NEED FOR A TRAINING AREA. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CLASSES THAT WE CAN HOST. THERE ARE CLASSES THAT WE CAN PUT ON FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A PLACE TO DO IT.

WE WOULD UTILIZE THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND IF WE COULD BORROW FROM SOMEBODY ELSE, WE WOULD DO THAT. SO HAVING THIS CLASSROOM IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO NOT ONLY DO IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR OUR OFFICERS, BUT IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO BRING IN OUTSIDE TRAINING THAT WE CAN HOST HERE. AND A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE ABLE TO GET FREE SEATS IN CLASSES THAT WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY ORDINARILY BY JUST HOSTING THOSE CLASSES. SO THIS FACILITY WILL REALLY BE ABLE TO, TO HELP US BOLSTER OUR TRAINING BY HAVING THE CLASSROOM, BY HAVING THIS FACILITY, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE HAVE TO DO PRESS CONFERENCES. WE HAVE TO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STUFF WHERE WE MEET WITH PEOPLE. AND THIS WILL ALLOW US A SPACE. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT, THAT WHEN WE GO INTO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENTS, WHETHER IT'S A STORM OR WHETHER IT'S ICE OR WHATEVER, SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE OFFICERS THAT GET STRANDED, AND IT WILL BE NICE TO HAVE A PLACE THAT WE CAN PUT THEM UP THAT'S QUIET AND WE CAN GIVE THEM A PLACE TO STAY WITH SHOWER FACILITIES. AND YEAH, IT'D BE REALLY NICE FOR THAT.

WE PUT AN EMPHASIS ON PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND WE PUT AN EMPHASIS ON REALLY FOUR PILLARS OF FITNESS, YOU KNOW, MENTAL WELL-BEING, PHYSICAL FITNESS, YOU KNOW, EVEN FROM FROM A RELIGIOUS STANDPOINT, WE OFFER CHAPLAINS AND, AND THE, AND THIS IS GOING TO REALLY BENEFIT US. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PUT WE REQUIRE OUR OFFICERS EVERY YEAR TO PASS A PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST TO GIVE THEM A SPACE THAT THEY HAVE, THAT THEY CAN WORK OUT AND EXERCISE. PEOPLE REALIZE SOMETIMES THE AMOUNT OF WEAR AND TEAR THAT JUST THE EQUIPMENT ITSELF PUTS ON YOUR BODY DOING THIS JOB. SO THIS WILL REALLY HELP US. ONCE AGAIN, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL RECRUITING AND RETENTION. ABSOLUTELY. WHEN YOU BRING WHEN YOU BRING IN A YOUNG OFFICER AND THEY HAVE, THEY SEE THAT THEY HAVE FACILITIES LIKE THIS AVAILABLE TO THEM. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FRONT PORCH THAT THEY SEE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BETWEEN THE CLASSROOM, THE GYM, THE HAVING FULL ACCESS TO THE ACADEMY STAFF OR WITH THE TRAINING STAFF WITHOUT HAVING ALL OF THE DISTRACTIONS OF THE REGULAR DAY TO DAY POLICE DEPARTMENT STUFF IS VERY HELPFUL. AND NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE ALL THIS, BUT ALSO ON THIS CAMPUS, YOU'LL HAVE YOUR GUN RANGE WHERE THEY CAN TRAIN. WE'VE GOT PLANS TO MOVE THAT PHYSICAL FITNESS OBSTACLE COURSE. YES, OUT HERE AS WELL. SO I MEAN, THIS BECOMES LIKE A WHOLE TRAINING CAMPUS, JUST AS WE HAD ENVISIONED THAT IT COULD BE. I AM HERE WITH TAMMY

[01:20:05]

SO YEAH, IT'S IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT YEAR. AND NOT ONLY DID WE GET A LOT OF GOOD PUBLICITY AND GOT SOME GREAT BUSINESSES, BUT IN THE DECEMBER EDITION OF METRO TRENDS, SHERWOOD WAS TOUTED AS HAVING THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE GROWTH OF NEW HOME STARTS OF ANYONE IN THE GREATER LITTLE ROCK METRO REGION. WE HAD 86% GROWTH. THAT'S INCREDIBLE. AND THAT'S NOT ONLY JUST HERE, THAT IS FAULKNER COUNTY, LONOKE COUNTY, PULASKI COUNTY, ALL THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. AND YEAH, SO 2026, WHAT WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR KIND OF GOALS AND, AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FOR 2026 FOR SHERWOOD? SO WE'RE ALREADY GOT THINGS IN THE TALKS. THE BIGGEST THING I THINK WE'VE GOT GOING IS JUST THE QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVES WE'RE TRYING TO ROLL OUT FOR THE CITY. SO OVERALL, IT'S IT'S IT'S EXCITING. AND THAT REALLY HELPS US MARKET THE CITY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. SO ONE THING WE'RE DOING TO GET TO THAT POINT TO MARKET IS WE'RE DOING A TAX LEAKAGE STUDY. AND WHEN WE GET THOSE NUMBERS BACK, IT'LL BE HARD NUMBERS THAT WE'LL USE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO, TO THESE RETAILERS WE'RE TALKING TO AND SAY HERE, SEE, THIS IS THE NEED THAT WE HAVE. HEY, MY NAME IS JOHN KEITH. I AM THE OWNER OF THINK COFFEE.

WE HAVE BEEN IN OPERATIONS FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS NOW, AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO EXPAND OUR OPERATIONS OVER INTO SHERWOOD. SHERWOOD HAS BEEN AN AMAZINGLY WELCOMING TOWN. THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE. THE CITY HALL AND THE MAYOR HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL AND REALLY AN INTEGRAL PART IN US COMING HERE AND REALLY THE EASE OF OF STARTING OUR BUSINESS HERE. IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY WELCOMING CITY, ONE OF THE MOST WELCOMING CITIES WE'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF SERVING. AND WE COULD NOT BE HAPPIER TO BE HERE AND, AND JUST SUPER IMPRESSED WITH HOW EASY IT WAS TO GET OUR BUSINESS IN AND TO GET SET UP, AND HAVING THE SUPPORT OF CITY HALL AND EVERYONE BEHIND US, JUST PUSHING US FORWARD HAS BEEN AMAZING. COULD NOT RECOMMEND COMING TO SHERWOOD AND STARTING YOUR BUSINESS, EXPANDING YOUR BUSINESS ANYMORE.

ABSOLUTELY. 101 100% GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS. LOVE, SHERWOOD. HELLO, I'M MIKE WITH RIVER CITY HYDRAULICS. THIS IS MY DAD. HE STARTED RIVER CITY HYDRAULICS IN 1982. OVER 44 YEARS AGO. WE'VE BEEN IN SHERWOOD OUR ENTIRE BUSINESS LIFE. WE HAVE FOUND PARTNERS WITH THE CITY HALL, THE MAYOR IN PARTICULAR. THEY'VE HELPED US TROUBLESHOOT PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. WE LOVE SHERWOOD SO MUCH AND WOULD RECOMMEND YOU MOVING YOUR BUSINESS HERE. WE ARE NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EXPANSION HERE AT THE CORNER OF HOLLYWOOD AND LANTRIP, AND WE PLAN ON BEING HERE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. AS YOU HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE CITY, SHERWOOD'S PROGRESS IS DRIVEN BY MORE THAN JUST PROJECTS. IT'S DRIVEN BY PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS, AND A SHARED VISION FOR THE FUTURE. FROM THE EFFORTS OF OUR DEPARTMENTS LIKE PUBLIC WORKS AND POLICE, TO CONTINUE GROWTH IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE VOICES OF LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE FOUND STRONG PARTNERS IN CITY LEADERSHIP. EVERY PIECE PLAYS A ROLE IN MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD. SHERWOOD IS A COMMUNITY THAT OFFERS OPPORTUNITY, CONNECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE. IT IS THE BEST PLACE TO WORK, LIVE AND PLAY. AND REMEMBER, SHERWOOD IS A PLACE THAT IS CLOSE TO THE ACTION, BUT FAR FROM THE NOISE. AND. AND KUDOS THAT WAS ALL DONE IN HOUSE. I DID WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW. SO FAR THIS YEAR WE'VE RECEIVED $1,176,000 AND

[01:25:04]

[14. Announcement(s) ]

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN SHERWOOD IN APRIL. ANY LEAVE ANYTHING OUT? MOVE. WE ADJOURN.

OH, NEVER MIND. I TAKE THAT BACK. SHE'S SO QUICK ON THAT. WELL. SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT ONE OF THE PODCASTS THAT THE MAYOR DID INVOLVED APRIL DENNY, AS WELL AS TORI BETH GETTING READY FOR MISS ARKANSAS. I WANTED TO ALSO LET THE COUNCIL CITY KNOW THAT WE HAVE ONE MORE INDIVIDUAL FROM SHERWOOD, WHO WON THE VERY LAST PRELIM OF THE SEASON AND HIS FAITH, KELLY.

SHE'S A GRADUATE OF SYLVAN HILLS, CLASS OF 23, AND SHE IS A DRUMMER. SO ADORE HER FACE.

SHE'S INCREDIBLE. SHE GOES TO ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY, SO SHERWOOD HAS THREE OPPORTUNITIES TO POSSIBLY BRING HOME THE STATE. CARA. WOW. IN JUNE WE WILL BE ALL CHEERING FOR A MISS ARKANSAS FROM SHERWOOD. AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? MOVED AND A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND. ALL RIGHT, WE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.