[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6277233,"mediaKeyId","2656416-43161027fad44f79ef087c41610578f7","parentId",2656416,"title","Micro Village homeless project delayed; city staff says site work done, community center bid must be rebid","audioSeconds",320,"startMs",1211000,"endMs",1531000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656416-43161027fad44f79ef087c41610578f7&start=1211&end=1531","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656416-43161027fad44f79ef087c41610578f7/thumbnail_1211000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277233/Little-Rock-City/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/Micro-Village-homeless-project-delayed-city-staff-says-site-work-done-community-center-bid-must-be-rebid","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277233-fe4b87d7cd2fbb2b8e0c17dc7e89e3d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205678&Signature=VDKx8VWBJ3L2gIKZMW31E8XBfSG~JKaxm2n~clas~S36-yJPEYkHRrBbTwkK2lMLaDm6bZ-XmU~T2H1O9zvA7nKlZhiSUv80fCRUdWXIOxjm8~9yGye6NVY-Ns4BZ3BL-oB8ip3lvVYnTiRMOG3vV51OkZUWji3Fc-pOOA0ebvqH8a5tre0lSc-iquRbjTfDXZkeCDZzQxPED9KXjSs8Tku2H5NmjJeQC4pL1Xn643qnBGRSSmpQnihNcKxwd9oj4fJ6TGK6MRu2xuAgcnk-TjV30RxxPywfEyC3BLtz8nLKwFRK7o6TKotuRHgUnPZnbJg38Cmy6D8-q1Ped09oxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Little Rock","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","City project staff and Mayor Frank Scott Jr. told the Board on March 4 that the Micro Village homeless services project has progressed through soft-cost work but remains delayed because of architectural changes, federal funding conditions and a required rebid of the community center contract.

The project had a groundbreaking about a year and a half ago, staff said, but drivers passing the site have not seen heavy construction because the city completed civil engineering tasks, topographic surveys and other pre‑construction work while resolving contract and funding issues. Staff said the city removed bathrooms from inside individual micro homes during redesign and must rebid the community center contract after the city attorney’s office raised procurement questions tied to the federal TIPs grant.

Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said staff would have started construction earlier but “due to some recent changes with state law on how you select a particular contractor off the TIPs program, we had to double back and restart that bid process and add more time to the clock.” He told directors the awarded bidder for site grading has been notified of a strict timeline and the city will move quickly to execute a contract once the board approves the bid and legal review is complete.

Project staff described planned shelter capacity in the community center. “We will have a section for men and women. So we have 16 available beds for women and 16 available beds for men,” a project staff member said. The staff member added that the community center would function as a low‑grade emergency shelter where individuals can be housed nightly.

Next steps: staff said it will present the community center bid and a formal contract for board approval; once site grading is complete and a construction contract is executed, staff will provide a more definite construction timeline. Staff and the mayor said finishing construction by the next winter is possible but that finishing by the end of the current year would be aggressive.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Agenda Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City project staff and Mayor Frank Scott Jr. told the Board on March 4 that the Micro Village homeless services project has progressed through soft-cost work but remains delayed because of architectural changes, federal funding conditions and a required rebid of the community center contract.","taxTitle","Little Rock City, Pulaski County, Arkansas","taxId",3741,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6277228,"City staff reviews state bills that would affect Little Rock operations",376,387000,763000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656416-43161027fad44f79ef087c41610578f7&start=387&end=763","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656416-43161027fad44f79ef087c41610578f7/thumbnail_387000.jpg","/articles/6277228/Little-Rock-City/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/City-staff-reviews-state-bills-that-would-affect-Little-Rock-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277228-ecdb1abf23b8dfc55c5e7bb79fcc7dca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205678&Signature=dnvYzKNfSjDA1BJeUcEhTypE0xo3BEmkX8BR1IVJ2ApSzm3Q4pJ5OG~NHUU5cEkWUfZoEth7VV6frVqAvk7xfOStp8H6xzl0eCV~TcM34rH0nYq2Jl8G3umIwu4ExQqh8dgV4kww-OB~Vi1D2~uUfaoTI4GNnnODcJqrb7bfJrrnY6vp4mauo4o8oEyzrM1R4Ek8GB3G3r4F03enBPJYgh3c4PCtYgK6RgYBnVjO2QII27wKMlmNlD~~H~6GK3xxivBONxHC0RiYkXldOCFrT~PD0BZRj6iDZ68klGw1teOf23rd2~x5b7bPCAlpZs3LGbqJhULLRCVDeezLNqmYvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a legislative tracking update at the March 4 Board meeting, outlining state bills and resolutions that could affect Little Rock operations and staff responsibilities.

Susan, who compiled the tracking sheet, reviewed multiple measures and explained the city’s current posture: monitoring several bills, working with the Arkansas Municipal League on others, and negotiating technical amendments in some cases. She flagged police concerns on a proposal to restore firearm possession rights to certain nonviolent felons and said the city had worked with the author. She also said the city helped amend a bill addressing unmanned aircraft imagery — the transcript identifies House Bill 1148 — to exempt city employees who might accidentally capture restricted images.

Selected items Susan discussed:
• House Bill 1057 — would amend law concerning possession of a firearm by certain persons and to permit restoration of the right to possess a firearm to a nonviolent felon (staff: \"We are still working on this bill. Police have some concerns over this, and we are working with the bill author.\").
• House Bill 1075 — would bar local regulation of the sale or use of certain lawn‑care devices and prohibit local taxes or fees on those devices; staff said this bill has passed the legislature and been sent to the governor.
• House Bill 1148 — Arkansas Bridal Act addressing images captured by unmanned aircraft systems; staff said the city secured amendments to protect city employees from accidental exposure and is comfortable with the bill as amended.
• House Bill 1149 — vegetable garden protection (municipal league working on amendments).
• House Bill 1445 — restrictions on local regulation of short‑term rentals (municipal league involvement).
• House Bills 1448 and 1510 — territorial jurisdiction issues (municipal league working with the city).
• House Bill 1481 — anti‑ATF commandeering act; police have concerns.
• House Bill 1503 — municipal regulation of accessory dwelling units; staff and the municipal league have concerns.
• House Bill 1504 — criminalizes weaponized robotic or uncrewed aircraft systems; police expressed concerns about legitimate operational needs.
• Senate Bill 102 — now Act 115, increases screening requirements for paid canvassers (background checks by sponsors).
• Senate Bill 91 — would restrict local authority over rental application and deposit amounts; staff is monitoring.
• Senate Bill 227 — FOIA amendments concerning public meetings; city attorney will review potential impacts.
• Senate Bill 248 — FOIA changes concerning personnel records; staff is monitoring.
• Senate Bill 297 — concerning municipalities electing council members and required ordinance filing; the city attorney has indicated this bill does not apply to Little Rock.
• Senate Joint Resolution 15 — a proposed constitutional amendment on economic development districts; the city said it is monitoring and in support.

Susan offered to provide follow-up information and said staff would continue coordinating with the municipal league and legal counsel on bills with operational impact.

Board members asked specific follow-ups, including whether the municipal league had talked with a sponsor on HB1503; staff said the league was actively engaged. Director Webb asked about HB1503 and the municipal league’s engagement; staff confirmed the league had spoken with the sponsor.","City staff presented a legislative tracking update at the March 4 Board meeting, outlining state bills and resolutions that could affect Little Rock operations and staff responsibilities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6277237,"Little Rock directors press staff on new stormwater manual as ADEQ deadline nears",1761,1591000,3352000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656416-43161027fad44f79ef087c41610578f7&start=1591&end=3352","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656416-43161027fad44f79ef087c41610578f7/thumbnail_1591000.jpg","/articles/6277237/Little-Rock-City/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/Little-Rock-directors-press-staff-on-new-stormwater-manual-as-ADEQ-deadline-nears","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277237-7d85a2540c0ec70dd9d411064d0d7218/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205678&Signature=neuERQU2eGkGllcx8qXijhIzOr1OcCK6kAp3S3hba~-md195nIXWhrNr0C4HwzcJs7EtNDPOThkIpVmKH5O4YOP6D7lybHIfFkXB1~HqM8wm1ztB4VqNUDmqOLzVjOxY82-1ZHJfbPQK0vavXqCq-YwBQQoj-g~3FoHgZFTqCPnHoEyeUS-NDGp9KzUi1hqRAqye9EuKXZXMkBMmoelxbojYGI0diWYsnucMq1hejhSGFG4FW7vF0irnGGNIFcPaFO11lDwMAK~YGK~9Ru48AWUnmOCZ~rs~HtyPWbDgFZJkGQN193hQHGMAkuqGAzlnPlRhW3F1vLh4VxOfLsQrfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Little Rock staff told the Board of Directors on March 4 that the city must adopt an updated stormwater drainage manual and associated MS4 permit by March 31 to meet Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment requirements, and that ADEQ has declined requests to phase in the new water-quality standard.

The manual, staff said, updates technical design methods first adopted in the 1980s, increases use of the modified rational method for detention design on larger sites, and sets a post-construction water-quality standard tied to total suspended solids. Brad, interim director, told the board the draft reflects “years of collaboration, compromise, and commitment” and that staff reduced an original recommendation to set the water-quality standard at “1.05 inches or the eighth percentile of total suspended solids,” which he said is the state minimum confirmed by consultants and DEQ. He said the city has spent about $331,000 so far on consultant work and related efforts.

Why it matters: the updated manual will govern how new development controls runoff and treats stormwater in Little Rock. Directors and developers said the new requirements could significantly raise per-site development costs and create a competitive disadvantage compared with nearby municipalities.

Board members pressed staff on technical choices, schedules and fairness. Director Computers said he spent Sunday listening to the development community and local residents and warned the debate could be a “bloodbath” at the next meeting; he pressed staff to explain why small, single-lot projects in older neighborhoods would be excluded even though they contribute to impermeability. Director Ward asked whether recent stakeholder requests — including keeping the existing rational method and removing certain minimum-standard language — could be fulfilled in the manual. Staff replied they had discussed adding language that the manual would not be less stringent than state requirements and that specific developer obligations could be spelled out in the city’s SWIP (stormwater pollution prevention plan) section.

On methodology, staff defended moving away from older engineering approaches. “The methodologies that are currently in use under predict the amount of stormwater runoff volume. So we’re undersizing our detention ponds,” a staff scientist said, and staff said they raised the threshold for using the modified rational method from 20 acres to 40 acres to reduce developer impacts while improving reliability. Staff also said some neighboring jurisdictions already require different methods; for example, some do not allow the modified rational method at all.

On enforcement and schedule, Brad told the board ADEQ has shown little flexibility. “We asked them today about the phasing in of the water quality, and they said that is an absolute no,” he reported. He also told directors: “We could be fined $10,000 a day” if the city misses permit obligations.

Directors asked staff to confirm whether ADEQ applies the same standards to Little Rock as to other cities and whether any equity or phasing options exist; staff committed to follow up with ADEQ and the city attorney and to supply requested comparisons. Several directors asked for an additional stakeholder meeting as soon as possible to let development and neighborhood representatives present concerns together before a final vote.

Next steps: staff said they will work with the city attorney to address grandfathering and ordinance language and will bring material back to the board quickly so the city can submit the MS4 documentation to ADEQ by the March 31 deadline.","City staff urged the Board to adopt an updated stormwater drainage manual required by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEQ). Directors raised concerns about development costs, equity with neighboring cities, and a March 31 MS4 permit deadline; staff said ADEQ will not allow phased implementation and warned of potential fines.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Micro Village homeless project delayed; city staff says site work done, community center bid must be rebid

City staff reviews state bills that would affect Little Rock operations

Little Rock directors press staff on new stormwater manual as ADEQ deadline nears