The El Dorado City Council will kick off its new, monthly meeting schedule at 5 p.m. today in the Council Chamber of City Hall.
The meeting that is set for today is the only regular meeting the council has scheduled for the month.
After a lengthy discussion in October, the council voted unanimously to hold its regularly-scheduled meetings at 5 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month, scrapping its longstanding schedule of 5:30 p.m. the first Thursday after the first Monday of the month and again two weeks later.
The vote came with the proviso that the council approve the city's bills each week by email.
Today, council members are expected to vote on a proposed ordinance to rezone property in order to accommodate a residential development project on the west side of town.
The El Dorado Planning and Zoning Commission met in special session on Oct. 27 and held a public hearing for and approved a petition from Clifton Stringfellow, LLC, to rezone approximately five acres of land from A-1 (agricultural/undeveloped) to R-1 (single-family residential).
The property is just north of (behind) Stars Cinema 6 between Hollywood and Vine streets.
Eighteen home lots will be developed as part of the project, which will expand the existing Timber Hills subdivision, which Stringfellow developed in 2005.
Following the EP&ZC meeting, Stringfellow said he was awaiting approval from the Arkansas Department of Health on plans for wastewater infrastructure that will be installed in the new development.
The rezoning request is pending final approval from the El Dorado City Council.
Council members are also expected to consider a request from the El Dorado Fire Department to waive competitive bidding on a purchase for medical equipment, including a chest compression system.
The total quote for the equipment is $44,154. The EFD runs the city's ambulance service.
Also on the council's agenda will be recommendations for two re-appointments to the El Dorado Historic District Commission.
Terms for commissioners Ken Bridges and Steve Biernacki expire this month and the EHDC is expected to vote on their re-appointments during a regular meeting at noon today at the Newton House Museum, 510 N. Jackson.
Commissioners have said they will forward their recommendations to the city council for a vote on the matter later today.