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Little Rock board approves MOU to advance $30 million 30 Crossing park design; Bezos funds routed through Chamber foundation
Summary
The Little Rock City Board approved a memorandum of understanding to move forward on design and procurement for the $30 million 30 Crossing park project after discussion about how Bezos Earth Fund grant money will be held and spent through the Little Rock Chamber’s foundation.
The Little Rock City Board of Directors approved a memorandum of understanding to advance design and procurement for the $30 million 30 Crossing park project and clarified how outside grant funds will be managed.
Mayor Scott and staff told the board the Bezos Earth Fund awarded $30,000,000 for design and that a portion of philanthropic funds will be routed through the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce’s foundation. The mayor emphasized the arrangement is intended to accelerate work while city procurement requirements and board approvals remain in place. “This project now has been reduced from $120,000,000 to $85,000,000,” the mayor said while explaining the role of grant matches and procurement. He later added, “We received $30,000,000 which is a big freaking deal.”
City staff explained that routing philanthropic dollars through a nonprofit vehicle is a common approach for grant administration and reporting; any city monies or bond proceeds used as grant match would still need board appropriation. The mayor said the Bezos funds are currently held by the foundation and that the city must still authorize contracts through its normal procurement process.
The board discussed whether a $5,000,000 figure mentioned in the ordinance represented city funds; staff clarified that the $5,000,000 was Bezos Earth Fund money to flow through the Chamber Foundation and that no city general-fund transfer has been approved for that amount. Director Webb asked for clarity on combined monies and was told that any transfer of city funds would require a separate board approval.
Procedural questions about emergency clauses arose during the readings; staff and the city attorney explained that without an emergency clause the MOU and related ordinances still passed but would take 30 days to take effect.
What’s next: the memorandum of understanding will move forward through the city’s procurement and contracting steps. Any future use of city bond or general revenues for the project will require separate appropriation by the board.
