Little Rock board approves consent agenda including HUD action plan submission, disaster recovery plan and city contracts

The Little Rock City Board of Directors on July 15 approved the consent agenda and a package of ordinances, authorizing city staff to submit the 2025 action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME and HOPWA entitlement funds and adopting a community development block disaster recovery action plan in response to the 2023 tornado.

The board approved multiple procurement and grant actions on a voice vote recorded in the meeting as "ayes have it." The clerk read the consent items into the record before the board moved for adoption.

Key items approved in the consent agenda and group items included:

- Acceptance of title to real property donated to the city to be used for neighborhood revitalization programs (warranty deed acceptance).
- Authorization to submit the 2025 HUD action plan for CDBG, HOME and HOPWA funds and to allow the city manager to execute agreements with applicants named in that plan.
- Approval of a community development block disaster recovery action plan related to the 2023 tornado disaster.
- A contract authorization for North American Fire Equipment Company Inc. to purchase protective coats and pants for the Little Rock Fire Department, in an amount not to exceed $87,475 (plus applicable taxes and fees).
- Authorization for the city manager to enter a contract with Catcher and Company Inc. for replacement of the gym/daily fitness center natatorium roof, in an amount not to exceed $635,550 (plus applicable taxes and fees) with a 10% contingency if necessary.
- Authorization for the mayor to enter into a lease with CJRW Inc. for 80 parking spaces at a downtown parking deck.
- A resolution amending Little Rock Resolution No. 9138 (04/05/1994) to change the status of Changjin China to a Friendship City.
- Acceptance and authorization to apply for a grant of $656,096 to replace 20 outdated Motorola dispatch consoles and restore the MAC Alert fire dispatching system; the grant requires a city match of $164,024 for a total project cost of $820,120.
- Renewal of a Veeam backup and recovery software contract with CDW-G for a one-year term not to exceed $70,459 (plus taxes and fees).
- In group items, the board approved a two‑year renewal of a software maintenance contract for the Lawson Enhanced enterprise resource planning system with M4US Inc., in an amount not to exceed $622,310.45 (plus applicable taxes and fees), after declaring it impractical to bid.

The board voted to place several items on second- and third-reading where required before final adoption; the package of group items was moved through the readings and adopted during the meeting, with the board also approving emergency clauses where stated in the ordinances.

The approvals give city staff authority to execute the listed agreements, accept the specified grant funding and proceed with the named purchases and lease. The HUD action plan submission and disaster recovery plan will be forwarded to HUD for entitlement and disaster-recovery funding consideration. The clerk concluded the consent reading and the board moved for and recorded adoption by voice vote.