FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Fayetteville City Council took multiple formal actions on July 15. This roundup lists each recorded action, the council’s stated outcome and key conditions or next steps.

What the council approved or acted on

• Police pension plan administration (C1): Council approved an ordinance to transfer administration of retirement coverage for eligible members of the Fayetteville Police Pension and Relief Fund to the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System (LOPFI), and authorized the mayor to execute an irrevocable agreement with LOPFI. The ordinance also adds a 3% compound cost‑of‑living increase (COLA) to the local plan and includes an emergency clause. Council voted to adopt the ordinance and separately approved the emergency clause.

• Rezoning RZN2025‑21 (C4): The council rezoned approximately 0.12 acres east of 1228 Southwest Avenue in Ward 1 from RMF‑24 to UN (urban neighborhood) subject to a bill of assurance that limits development on the parcel to residential units. The planning commission forwarded the request with the bill of assurance after a 4‑4 split on removing the agreement.

• Intent to appropriate homelessness funds (C8 / moved from A8): The council adopted a resolution expressing intent to appropriate up to $450,000 from the general fund balance to support initiatives addressing homelessness. The resolution states intent only; specific expenditures will come to council for separate approval as projects and proposals are presented. Staff said the general fund balance is projected to be approximately $16.2 million at year‑end before reserving a 60‑day minimum balance.

• Recycling & trash rate study (C2): Council accepted and adopted the 2025 recycling and trash collection rate study prepared by Raftelius Consultants. Council did not adopt the implementing ordinance to raise rates (C3) at this meeting; the ordinance was left on first reading to allow staff to gather additional peer‑jurisdiction and vendor data and to answer public questions.

What the council tabled

• Establishment of a Fayetteville Renters Council (B2): Council voted to table the item at the sponsor’s request to the first regularly scheduled meeting in August.

• Two planning appeals related to rezoning and alley/airspace vacations (C6 and C7): Applicants asked the council to table appeals of planning commission denials to the first August meeting; the council voted to table both items to that date.

Votes and next steps (summary)

• LOPFI consolidation ordinance (C1): Ordinance and emergency clause approved. Staff to facilitate transfer and execute agreement with LOPFI; effective immediately on passage.

• RZN2025‑21 rezoning (C4): Adopted with bill of assurance; bill of assurance can be modified only by a future council action if requested.

• Recycling study (C2): Study accepted; staff to return with peer data, vendor RFP results and refined cost estimates before council considers the fee ordinance (C3).

• Homelessness funding (C8): Resolution of intent adopted; actual appropriations and program details will return for council approval when projects or proposals are identified.

Ending

Council members and staff emphasized that several items accepted at the meeting require additional staff work and future council votes: the recycling implementation ordinance and any homelessness expenditures will come back to the council with more detailed proposals, contracts or grant outcomes before funds are disbursed or rate changes take effect.