Several Little Rock directors used the Dec. 23 special meeting to call attention to long-standing safety and livability issues at city fire stations.

Director Peck, speaking to the board with firefighters in the room, catalogued problems she said had persisted for years: bat and rodent infestations, mold, bay doors that would not open and other conditions she called "inhabitable." "We're asking these people to put their lives on the line for us every day but we are forcing them to live in an inhabitable situation in some of these firehouses," Peck said.

Board members and staff identified potential funding sources and constraints. The mayor said the city had roughly $8 million to $10 million in emergency funds and staff reported $2 million in ARPA funds set aside for Fire Station 25; the city's chief financial officer told the board a new station could cost about $6 million. That combination, members said, might allow targeted repairs or one new station but not a systemwide rebuild.

Director Hines pressed for a re-examination of priorities and suggested amendments to reallocate administrative dollars toward frontline needs. "We have an issue with the priorities of how we spend our money," Hines said. He proposed bringing an amendment to reallocate funds toward homelessness services, code enforcement and facilities repairs and said he would present his amendment when the board reconvened.

Several directors asked staff to provide a prioritized list and a more detailed cost estimate and recommended a separate policy meeting in January to hear from the fire chief and union representatives. Director Phillips requested that the city convene a policy meeting early in January to identify what the issues are, where money would come from and how to prioritize spending from reserve funds.

Staff said there are lists of needs in departments that have gone unaddressed because of limited funds and suggested emergency reserves or grant funds could address some of the most pressing repairs. The mayor and other board members said trade-offs would be required—pay increases for police and fire have already been budgeted and diverting those dollars would affect other employees.

What happens next: Directors asked staff to prepare prioritization and cost estimates and to convene a policy meeting in January to hear from the fire chief and other stakeholders so the board can make a deliberate decision about using emergency, ARPA, or other funds for repairs.