City Council Meeting 11/2/26

Maumelle City Council Meeting Recap (Nov 2, 2026)

The Maumelle City Council gathered for its regular meeting on November 2, 2026, with an agenda ranging from a comprehensive human resources recap to the proposed annexation of a brand-new residential subdivision. Here is a detailed breakdown of what happened, who spoke, and the decisions that were made.

Opening Remarks and Routine Business

The Mayor called the meeting to order and handed the floor to Council Member Booker, who led the chamber in the invocation—praying for wisdom, guidance, and the community—followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Following the pledge, the council unanimously approved the minutes from the October 19th meeting without discussion.

Human Resources Department Year-in-Review

Speaker: Dorene Mattes (HR Department)

Dorene delivered an extensive, positive report on the HR Department’s operations over the past year. She highlighted that the HR team has been incredibly busy navigating recruiting, hiring, and employee benefits. Key metrics and achievements included:

Recruiting & Hiring: The city processed 994 employment applications (816 non-uniformed, 178 uniformed, including 73 police and 31 fire applications). They administered 17 entry-level exams, coordinated 23 promotional exams, and successfully onboarded 98 personnel.
Challenges: Retaining and recruiting employees with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) remains a highly competitive challenge.
Employee Wellness & Benefits: The city managed 15 FMLA cases and 9 workers’ compensation claims. Their wellness program, funded by Sigma, saw 84 employees participate in various initiatives, including stress management seminars, healthy snack distributions, and a summer hydration initiative.
Staff Accomplishments: Vivian, an HR generalist, was recognized for passing the rigorous SHRM-CP professional examination.
Employee Handbook: Dorene proudly announced the rollout of an updated employee handbook—the first major update since 2011.
Community Partnerships: The city continues to partner with workforce reentry and disability inclusion programs like Project SEARCH, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), and New Day New Life (a re-entry program).

Planning Commission Report

Speaker: Council Member Williams

Council Member Williams provided a brief recap of the October 22nd Planning Commission meeting. The primary focus of that meeting was the proposed Willowbrook Subdivision, a 23.96-acre, 90-lot single-family residential development. Because the subdivision dominated the commission’s agenda and was also on the night’s city council agenda, she kept her remarks brief to avoid redundancy.

Unfinished Business: Police and Fire Training Facility

Speaker: The Mayor / City Clerk

The council held the third reading of Ordinance 1183, which amends the zoning map to accommodate a new Maumelle police and fire training facility. The council held a roll-call vote, and the ordinance passed unanimously.

New Business: The Willowbrook Subdivision Debate

The most significant agenda item of the evening was a package of resolutions and ordinances concerning the proposed Willowbrook Subdivision along Highway 365, across from the existing Stonebrook community.

Introduction by Scott Grummer (City Planning): Grummer explained that the proposed subdivision requires an annexation into Maumelle. The developer plans to build 90 single-family homes with a “smaller lot” design (around 5,700 to 7,000 sq ft per lot) while maintaining roughly 19% common open space, well above the city’s 7% minimum.

Public Comments on Traffic:

Kayla Sturgeon (Resident of Stonebrook): Kayla expressed concern about traffic congestion on Highway 365. She noted that Highway 365 is currently the only viable road out to emergency services and regularly backs up during rush hour or whenever there is an accident on Interstate 40.
Jamie Sturgeon (Resident of Stonebrook): Jamie echoed his wife’s sentiments, noting that while they support growth, they hope the council will advocate for traffic management and communicate with the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) to address the bottlenecks.

Council Discussion & Debate:

Council Member Holt: Holt questioned the necessity of adding 90 new homes, expressing concerns about the strain on city resources (sanitation equipment, trucks, supplies) and asking if the city is growing too fast.
The Mayor: The Mayor responded that the developer owns the land and could build the subdivision in the county regardless of the council’s vote. By annexing it into Maumelle, the city gains property and sales tax revenues. Crucially, the Mayor noted that annexation allows the Maumelle Police Department to proactively patrol the area rather than relying on county deputies. He also mentioned a growing need for smaller, high-quality homes for seniors looking to downsize.
Council Member Shin & Council Member Gardner: Shin asked about the expected square footage of the homes. Grummer and Gardner clarified that the homes would likely be between 1,500 and 1,800 square feet, offering higher-end finishes similar to the neighboring Stonebrook subdivision but on a smaller footprint.

The Votes:

Resolution 2026-39 (Expressing intent to annex Willowbrook) passed unanimously.
Ordinance 1185 & 1186 (Amending the land use and zoning maps) were read for the first time and will proceed to a second reading at the next meeting.
Resolution 2026-38 (Approving a permanent conditional use permit for the smaller lot sizes) passed unanimously.

Mayor & Council Member Closing Comments

The Mayor: Reminded residents that Election Day is tomorrow (November 3rd) and urged everyone to vote. He also scheduled upcoming budget meetings for November 17, November 20, December 1, and December 8.
Council Member Shin: Raised safety concerns about citizens driving golf carts on city streets and e-scooters on park trails. The Mayor confirmed that a draft ordinance regarding e-mobility and scooters is in the works, though it likely won’t be ready until next year. Shin also mentioned that his political yard signs had been vandalized and thrown in his yard.
Council Member Holt: Shared a personal story about his American flag being suspiciously removed from its secure fixture and left on the ground overnight. He urged the community to remain aware and respectful of differing viewpoints.
City Attorney: Shared some good news—a federal judge officially dismissed a lawsuit against the city regarding the condemnation of a property on Delaware Lane.
City Clerk: Announced an upcoming Veterans Day ceremony at the local Veterans Memorial on November 11th at 10:00 AM (to be moved to the Community Center in case of rain).

The meeting was then adjourned.