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Votes at a glance: Texarkana board approves drainage donation, contracts, zoning and business approvals
Summary
At its April 6 meeting the Texarkana Board of Directors adopted multiple resolutions and ordinances: accepted a donated drainage parcel, authorized an engineering contract for street-bond projects, approved a private-club municipal approval for Lost Tacos, amended ordinances on ADUs and accessory structures, rezoned parcels for Flying J, and adopted the police-presence ordinance.
The Texarkana Board of Directors voted on and approved multiple items at its April 6 meeting, including property acceptance, contract awards, business licensing approval, and a series of zoning and code amendments.
Key outcomes
• Drainage donation (Item 4): The board authorized the city manager to accept a 0.12-acre drainage parcel in the Bailey subdivision donated by Michael Franklin and Steven Mark Davis so the city can formalize ownership and maintain it for drainage purposes. The resolution was adopted by roll call (unanimous yes votes recorded).
• Award engineering contract (Item 5): The board authorized the city manager to enter a contract with Al Franks Engineering to design 2025 street-bond projects (Sammy Lane, Forest Street, Harris Lane, Rocky Creek Road). The design-fee proposal was listed as $140,500 with a construction-administration/inspection portion specified; initial engineering fees will be covered by the public-works budget until bond funds are available. The resolution passed on roll call (unanimous yes votes recorded).
• Police-presence ordinance (Item 6): Adopted (see separate story). Final roll call recorded six yes, one no (Director Harris).
• Private club municipal approval — Lost Tacos (Item 7): The board granted prerequisite municipal approval for Raphael Figueroa’s private-club application at 422 North State Line Avenue so the applicant may proceed with state licensing. The ordinance was adopted after three readings (roll-call approval recorded).
• Accessory dwelling-unit ordinance (Item 8): The board adopted an ordinance implementing the state requirement to allow one ADU by right per qualifying lot and attached an emergency clause to make the rules effective immediately. The ordinance defines ADUs, sets size limits (75% of the primary home or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less), and clarifies that the city cannot require owner occupancy, separate utilities or additional parking.
• Accessory structures in sideyards (Item 9): The board amended ordinance K-286 to allow accessory non-dwelling structures in sideyards (behind the front building line) such as RV or boat covers; one director abstained on the final vote (Director Smith), and the ordinance passed.
• Rezoning for Flying J (Item 10): The board rezoned parcels along State Highway 108 (including the Flying J truck stop on I-30) from C3 open-display commercial to mixed-use highway, making the truck stop legally conforming and allowing potential future expansions; the ordinance was adopted by roll call.
Votes and procedural notes: Most items were read through three readings (where required) and adopted on final roll calls. Where specific roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript, they are reflected above (e.g., police-presence ordinance 6–1; accessory-structure amendment carried with one abstention). Several items moved with little or no public comment during the meeting.
Documents and next steps: Staff will finalize contracts and publish ordinance language and application details (for police presence and ADUs). The city manager updated the board on the street-bond timeline and initial engineering work; bond closing was pushed to June 30, 2026, and staff will bid the first two sets of projects near the end of May.
