Little Rock board approves Kenwood PID, authorizes Port Authority bond and dozens of routine contracts

The Little Rock City Board of Directors on May 5 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions, including establishing the Kenwood Project Improvement District and authorizing the issuance of a Port Authority revenue bond. The board invoked emergency clauses where noted and advanced several budget and contract items by unanimous voice vote.

The board approved an ordinance to establish the Kenwood Project Improvement District (number 2026-002) after its second and third readings and adopted the accompanying emergency clause. The clerk read the ordinance into the record and the presiding officer closed the hearing before calling the vote; the city attorney asked that the record show the vote was unanimous.

The board also moved an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of a Port Authority revenue bond and related bond purchase and mortgage-security documents through their final reading. Members responded ‘Aye’ on voice vote and the presiding officer announced the motion carried and the emergency clause was approved.

Separately, the consent agenda included multiple contract authorizations and one grant acceptance. Items read into the record included: - Authorization for an architectural and engineering contract with Rourke, Perkins, Perry, Yovington, PA Architects for design work at the Little Rock Police Department storage and offices (contract amount not specified in the reading); - A right-of-way and acquisition services contract with Volcor Incorporated not to exceed $48,000; - An advanced purchase order contract with Centisk Corporation not to exceed $60,000 plus taxes and fees for uniform rental services for fleet services personnel; - A mowing and maintenance contract with ZMD Lawn Services LLC not to exceed $299,881.46 with the option for extensions; - Authorization to accept and utilize a $198,166 grant awarded under the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services mental health and wellness grant to expand officer mental health services (grant period 10/01/2025–09/30/2027); - A contract renewal with ScopeNow Incorporated for open-source intelligent software access for the crime analysis unit, not to exceed $52,541.75; - Authorization to enter into a contract with Motorola Solutions Incorporated not to exceed $285,216.23 for APX mobile radios and related equipment for new patrol vehicles; - Interlocal agreement extensions granting Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services exclusive ambulance franchises for surrounding municipalities (Sheridan, North Little Rock, Cabot) for specified terms.

Board members made and seconded motions as the clerk read grouped ordinance items (including amendments to ordinance number 22568 to adjust the 2025 fiscal year budget and a zoning item titled Access Village revised POD). Where emergency clauses were proposed, the board approved them by voice vote.

Director Peck commented on the passage of the Access Village project, saying, “I’m so delighted that this is passed. This will be the first residential units that Access have,” and thanked supporters. The city attorney later noted, “Let the record show that that was a unanimous vote,” reflecting the board’s voice-vote outcomes on several emergency clauses.

Next steps: the ordinances adopted as final readings and those advanced with emergency clauses will be processed according to city procedures; the record contains the full list of contracts and the grant acceptance read during the consent agenda.

(Provenance: matter introduced on the consent agenda and during grouped items; ordinance readings and votes recorded in the board’s May 5 meeting transcript.)