An effort to restructure the Pine Bluff Police Department leadership failed at the City Council’s Monday meeting, coinciding with the surprise withdrawal of a key ordinance to dissolve the city’s Urban Renewal Agency.
The proposed Police Department ordinance, which would have amended personnel classifications within the department and covered the 2025 municipal budget, was up for its third and final reading. Mayor Vivian Flowers strongly advocated for the measure, emphasizing its financial and structural benefits.
Flowers explained the proposal would “even out the leadership” by keeping three executive positions, which she calculated would come at a substantial financial advantage to the city.
“This would come at a savings of $94,000 to the city, as well as address issues that I have heard from, as it relates to patrol and leadership,” Flowers stated. She also noted that “chief candidates are in support of this measure.”
The measure failed to garner enough support for adoption, leaving the current police leadership structure in place. Flowers indicated the issue would likely reappear. “If it doesn’t pass tonight, it will come up again, no matter who is chief,” she said.
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In other legislative action, the body’s ordinances and resolutions committee reported the ordinance to dissolve Pine Bluff’s Urban Renewal Agency had been “pulled by the sponsor.”
The City Council also adopted a resolution commending the “Gloves Not Guns” organization and its boxers for their recent performance in the Arkansas State Silver Gloves Tournament.
The resolution lauded the program for providing a “wholesome alternative activity through its boxing program, a program which teaches fitness commitment, respect and many other virtues.”
Flowers thanked boxing Coach Albert Brewer. “The work that you have done to instill strength and discipline and physical fitness and even teamwork, in these young people is something that I have witnessed myself,” she said.
The meeting included a presentation from Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services, which was recognized with the 2025 Arkansas Fire and EMS Service of the Year Award.
Captain Russell Carothers outlined the department’s progress, including its affiliation with the Arkansas Fire Academy and becoming a satellite EMT campus, which has raised the EMT student pass rate from “approximately 50% to 97%.”
During the public comments segment, Danny Walker spoke against a proposed 1-cent sales tax, detailing a history of passed taxes that have failed to revitalize the city.
“I respectfully ask the city council to vote against putting the tax on the ballot. Since returning to Pine Bluff in late 1997, I have watched this city slowly decline, with no growth and major loss of population since that time. It has been tax after tax,” Walker said.
Later in the meeting, officials from Retail Strategies provided an update on the city’s three-year contract to recruit retail businesses. Portfolio Director John Ross highlighted the successful opening of a Roses store. Ross estimates one average store generates “anywhere between $65,000 to $81,000 a year in sales tax revenue.”
Also on the agenda were several resolutions to establish three new positions. The new roles — a communications manager, a community services liaison, and a revitalization and land bank director — would be housed in the mayor’s office and the Economic and Community Development Department.
The City Council approved the communications manager position. This person is responsible for developing and executing strategic communications plans. They will oversee all aspects of public relations, media engagement, digital communications and citizen outreach. The goal is to effectively promote the city’s image, initiatives and services across various platforms, including the city’s website and social media. The annual salary for the role is $50,750.
The community services liaison position would act as a bridge between the local community, the City Council and the mayor. The role involves gathering community concerns and relaying them to the mayor and council members. The liaison is tasked with keeping residents informed about city initiatives and advocating for community needs. The annual salary for the liaison is $42,724.
City Council member William Fells III said he could not support the resolution.
“What this person is doing is what we as City Council members should be doing, that the mayor should be doing and that members of the mayor’s staff should be doing,” he said. “I said that as someone who is on the council and who has worked in the mayor’s office. This is a duplication of services.”
Flowers pulled the resolution, stating the work is being done, but it’s still falling through the cracks.
“I’m going to pull it so we can see what happens with the budget and tax proposals, and we will prioritize accordingly,” Flowers said.
The revitalization and land bank director in the Economic and Community Development Department resolution was also pulled and will be revisited at a later date. The position is being created in response to the City Council’s legislation to completely abolish the Urban Renewal Agency.
The director’s primary duty will be to assume the responsibilities of the defunct agency and to oversee the anticipated land bank program. The person in this role will manage and complete outstanding urban renewal projects, coordinate revitalization initiatives and assist in establishing the future land bank program.
The director will also serve as the general manager for Simmons Bank Park. The approved annual salary for the city revitalization and land bank director is $66,800.