Conway City Council approves multiple ordinances, nominations and funding items in single meeting

Conway City Council approved a slate of ordinances, nominations and appropriations during its regular meeting, voting to advance utility financing, airport capital projects, permit-fee updates and other items.

The council acted on both routine and substantive measures that will fund infrastructure and city operations, confirm board appointments and change local rules affecting permits and property uses.

Taken together, the votes allocate borrowed funds and local appropriations, change fee schedules that affect builders and commercial users, and adopt land-use and program rules that city staff said will support growth and operations.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of Dec. 10, 2024 minutes — Motion adopted, 8–0. - Motion to waive standard reading and consider all three readings of scheduled ordinances on Jan. 14 agenda — Adopted, 8–0. - Ordinance O02501: Issuance and sale of $6,000,000 in Electric Revenue Improvement Bonds for Conway Corporation operations campus — Adopted, 8–0. The ordinance funds completion of a new operations campus on South German Lane; council was told the issue will not trigger a utility rate increase. - Public hearing: Water revenue improvement bonds for Roger Q. Mills Water Treatment Plant expansion — Public hearing held and closed (no final ordinance vote recorded at this meeting). Staff said the project will add 8 million gallons per day of treatment capacity, bringing total capacity to 32 million gallons per day; staff also said financing through the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission will save roughly $11 million in interest versus market rates (figures presented by Conway Corporation staff). - Resolution R0501: City of Conway organizational rules and procedures for fiscal year 2025 — Adopted, 8–0. - Nomination of Scottie Bell to Conway Corporation Board of Directors — Approved by council, 8–0. - Nomination of Jennifer Welter to Conway Housing Authority Board of Commissioners — Approved by council, 8–0. - Ordinance O02502: Appropriation for capital improvement projects at Conway Regional Airport — Adopted, 8–0. Staff said federal funding of about $5 million is expected over three years; council was told the local match in the ordinance is $36,000 (staff initially referenced $40,000 in discussion). - Ordinance O02503: 2025 building permit fee schedule (Permits & Inspections) with emergency clause — Adopted, 8–0. Staff described modest increases (examples cited: roughly $3.40–$3.80 per 1,000 sq. ft. depending on residential/commercial rate changes) tied to construction cost inflation. - Ordinance (land settlement appropriation — Linn property, related to Sixth Street overpass condemnation settlement) with emergency clause — Adopted, 8–0. Council confirmed the appropriation to pay a previously approved settlement and that it covers the claims discussed earlier. - Ordinance to rezone property at 931 Faulkner Street from R‑03 to C‑1 (emergency clause) — Adopted, 6–2. Vote recorded: yes 6, no 2. The applicant said the current plan is all-residential (removing an earlier commercial component) and described a proposal of rehabilitating the existing building into five apartments and building another structure with nine one‑bedroom units (14 total). Council debate included neighbors’ notification concerns and the planning department’s recommendation to keep the C‑1 zoning. - Ordinance (natural landscaping / habitat certificate) — Adopted with emergency clause, 8–0. The new permit/certificate allows limited natural landscaping under clear parameters (site plan required, 25% of rear yard and 10% of front yard maximums, 5-foot setbacks from property lines, height capped by fence height or 6 feet if no fence) and carries a one‑time $35 application fee. Staff clarified the city will not enforce private POA/HOA covenants. - Ordinance O02507: Update of rates for the Conway Expo Center (with emergency clause) — Adopted, 8–0. Staff said rates set in 2010 were increased modestly (examples given: expo setup day from $500 to $750; expo event day from $1,000 to $1,250; chairs/tables minor increases) to cover rising operating costs. - Consideration to dispose of two Conway Police Department vehicles (2010 Nissan Maxima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata) — Approved for auction, 8–0. - Ordinance O02508: Appropriate asset-forfeiture funds for police range rental (S7 Shooting Range) — Adopted, 8–0. Chief Harris said the contract rate increased and the department will use forfeiture funds to cover the difference for the year. - Ordinance O02509: Waive competitive bidding and purchase additional license‑plate‑reader (LPR) equipment (use of forfeiture funds, sole‑source compatibility) — Adopted, 8–0. Council and staff said the existing LPRs had helped solve crimes; staff seeks to expand the system from 6 cameras to 26 total cameras and emphasized inter-agency compatibility for regional searches.

What the votes do next

Several items appropriate or authorize funding and require staff and partner agencies to complete procurement and contract steps. The water bond matter had a public hearing and financing details were presented; staff indicated future loan documents would be processed through the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. Projects tied to federal funding (airport) will proceed through bidding and federal grant processes as described by staff.

Council members and staff flagged procedural items for later consideration, including improved notice for rezoned or tabled items so neighbors know when a matter returns to the agenda.

Ending

Council adjourned after brief reports, including a nonuniform pension board update and reminders about upcoming staff reports and salary-survey work.