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City moves to remove Church Street lot from short-term use policy as Food for Thought relocates under MOU
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Summary
The board reviewed a plan to remove the Church Street parking lot from the city's short-term facility use policy and a draft MOU with The Giving Team Inc. to relocate the Food for Thought program to the 324 Malvern city parking lot starting May 16; the city will provide barricades, waste disposal, signage and calendar support.
The Hot Springs Board considered two related items: an old-business request to remove the Church Street parking lot from the city's short-term facility use policy, and a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Giving Team Inc. to relocate the Food for Thought program to city property at 324 Malvern.
Lance Spicer told the board the Church Street lot (about 65–70 spaces) was recommended to be returned to general parking to support nearby businesses and employees; when the lot transitioned to free parking earlier it was intended to support employees and shrink the paid parking zone, and the recommendation now was to remove the lot from the city's short-term facility use policy and transition it back to parking.
Related MOU: City Attorney explained the Giving Team Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, asked for a formal MOU to support Food for Thought operations and a transition from Church Street to the parking lot at 324 Malvern (city offices). Under the draft MOU the city would provide barricades during events, waste disposal, directional signage and calendar promotion; The Giving Team would provide monthly attendance summaries and vendor lists and coordinate logistics. The MOU's effective date is May 5 and the nonprofit's first event at the new location is scheduled for May 16. The packet listed nonprofit contacts Brandy Bradford (president) and Janice Davis (CEO) as signatories.
Why it matters: The change affects where a longstanding community program operates and how city parking policy balances nonprofit activities and business/employee parking needs.
What happens next: The board was presented with staff recommendations and a draft MOU; no final vote was taken during the agenda-review session.
