Weekly Snapshot (3/26/21)

March 26, 2021

D AVI D F. WAT KI N S M E M O RI AL PARK D E D I C AT I O N

City of Hot Springs

Ceremony dedicates park in 1

honor of former city manager 23

David F. Watkins served as city manager for
the City of Hot Springs from 2012 until his
passing on Aug. 17, 2015. Although his time
leading the city was relatively short, his impact
was great and is ongoing as he helped initiate
several major initiatives still in the works,
such as the Lake Ouachita Water Project,
the Majestic redevelopment and others. His
memory will live on through the new City
park he helped envision in the Park Avenue
neighborhood – David F. Watkins Memorial
Park. A crowd gathered in a break in the rain
on Thursday, March 25, for the dedication
ceremony at the park, including David's wife,
Kaye, and two daughters, Laura and Leslie.

Photo Captions

(1) Parks & Trails crews had David

F. Watkins Memorial Park pristine

for the dedication. (2) Mayor Pat

McCabe presents a framed copy of
the proclamation he read in honor
of David Watkins to David's wife, Kaye, and

two daughters, Laura and Leslie. (3) Sheila

Winter, from left, Kaye, Leslie, Laura and

Bill Burrough pose for a photo. (4) Parks &

Trails Director Anthony Whittington speaks

at the onset of the ceremony. (5) Well before

the ceremony began, guests
arrived to explore the new park's
amenities, including the
amphitheater, playground
and more than 22 trees.
Sunflower bike racks pay
tribute to David and his
vision for the park.

45

SEE MORE
PHOTOS ON
FLICKR AT

http://
bit.ly/
DFW-
Park

Weekly Snapshot Page 2

LISTENING SESSION ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS

City of Hot Springs

City leaders hear community input
on short-term rental businesses

The City of Hot Springs held a listening
session to gather input on possible policies,
rules and regulations regarding short-term
rental (STR) businesses at the Convention
Center on Tuesday, March 23.

After City Manager Bill Burrough introduced
the topic and opened the floor for community
input, 29 speakers voiced their opinions on
short-term rentals, sharing perspectives that
included STR ownership, neighborhood
development, code enforcement and other
community concerns. There were also around
75 comments submitted via email.

"I can tell you I think everyone who spoke

tonight had some good points, and that's what Bill Burrough welcomes community members to the listening session on short-term rentals.

I am going to take away from this evening,"

said Burrough. "I want to thank each and every one of you for showing up tonight and taking the initiative to work

through this issue. It's people like you that come out and get involved in the community, especially during any type of a

rule-making process, that really helps us to find that solution that works for both sides."

In closing the meeting, Burrough said it will not be an easy road ahead over the next six weeks as City staff compile the
community feedback and work with the board on this issue because there are such vast differences in opinions. He said
that many cities across the state in nation are in the same situation, with some having passed short-term rental regulations
or are in the process of developing those.

Watch the listening session on the City's YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/jO7LGTSd7ls.

DForIethNea AYateNs, DCireEctor

Sales tax revenues off to great start in 2021

Finance Director Compared to 2021 Budget Compared to 2020 Actual
Dorethea Yates recently
shared the City's Month Budget Actual Over (Under) 2020 Actual Actual % Inc(Dec)
January sales tax
revenue, which was up January 1,077,263 1,190,991 113,728 1,073,491 1,190,991 10.95%
10.95% over January Total 15,071,541 1,190,991 113,728 14,960,641 1,190,991 10.95%
2020. YTD 1,077,263 113,728 1,073,491 10.95%

S ORaLndyIADtkinWson,ADirSectTor E

More than 34 tons of waste removed in year's first Operation Clean Sweep

The City’s first Operation Clean Sweep of 2021 ran March 8 – 26, and included approximately 350 structures in the area of
Valley Street and Shady Grove Road, between West Grand and Hollywood avenues, to Malvern Avenue.

Solid Waste made 116 stops with a total of 34.20 tons of collected materials that included 30.33 tons of miscellaneous
items, 2.8 tons of brush, .45 tons of collected litter and .62 tons of scrap metal.

Operation Clean Sweep is the City’s three-week, multi-departmental, concentrated cleanup effort in targeted areas.

Weekly Snapshot Page 3

NATURAL STATE TREE CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIP

Arkansas Urban Forestry Council
Trimming for upcoming tree climbing championship

Select trees in Entergy Park had their first round of sprucing up
and branches thinned on Thursday, March 18, in preparation for
the upcoming Natural State Tree Climbing Championship on May
1– 2, 2021.
The event is organized by the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council
(AUFC). Anthony Whittington, Parks & Trails director, is the
current AUFC board president, and Urban Forester Allen Bates
is a board member. The championship event is free and open
to the public, and spectators are advised to bring lawn chairs.
Competitions will include throwline, open ascent, work climb,
aerial rescue and the master’s challenge. The open ascent event
will be held at night with lasers and fog machines.
Tree prepping was provided by C.D.’s Tree Service, Jake the Tree
Guy, Raines Tree Care, Treegorillla Tree Care and Royal Tree Care.

Pictured, from left on the ground, are Motak Abon, Royal
Tree Care; Caleb Darnell, C.D.’s Tree Service; David

Raines, Raines Tree Care; Chad Bryant, Treegorilla Tree
Care; Allen Bates, City of Hot Springs Urban Forester. In

the tree is Jake Labicki, Jake the Tree Guy.

UPDATES AND INFORMATION

W W W. C I T Y H S . N E T / VA C C I N E

Weekly Snapshot highlights some of the recent projects from the various City of Hot Springs departments
and is part of the City’s efforts to broaden its communications with the public.

[email protected] • City of Hot Springs Public Information Department • 501-321-6806
www.cityhs.net