Votes at a glance: Little Rock City board approves bond, zoning, contracts and multiple emergency clauses

The Little Rock City Board of Directors approved a package of items by voice vote on April 7, including contract authorizations, a planned-development zoning, and a bond ordinance.

The consent agenda approved included: local-government endorsement for J.A. Riggs Tractor Company to participate in the Arkansas Tax Back Program; amendment to a tax-back participant name; acceptance of Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding for native restoration at the Little Rock Zoo; a right-of-way and acquisition services contract with Pinnacle Consulting Management Group (amount not to exceed $103,400); architectural services with WER Architects (not to exceed $72,756.25); pool maintenance with Clarity Pools, LLC (not to exceed $85,000); demolition with Curtis Construction Inc. (not to exceed $100,506); contract authorizations for parts and services with J.A. Riggs Tractor Company and others with one-year caps (e.g., $500,000); and the confirmations of 10% franchise fees for water utilities. The clerk read each item into the record before the board voted.

Under grouped ordinances (M3) the board moved a planned zoning development for Two Moon Properties, LLC (from R4 to PDR) through third reading, approved emergency declarations where stated, and authorized contract extensions and purchases including a three-year ESRI GIS Enterprise licensing contract (not to exceed $736,800). The board also approved an ordinance authorizing issuance of capital improvement refunding revenue bonds (M4) after the required readings and votes.

Most final actions were taken by voice vote and recorded as the ayes prevailing; the transcript does not show individual roll-call tallies for each item. Where an emergency clause was stated for a specific ordinance, the board approved it.