LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Tuesday night was busy for the Little Rock directors and Mayor Frank Scott Jr.
The City of Little Rock received an update on its downtown master plan. It's the first of its kind that the city can look at for future goals and initiatives for the area.
For months, the contracting firm Sasaki has gathered hundreds of people's feedback and analysis on downtown Little Rock to craft a plan. So far, they've mentioned ideas such as more open space, building up neighborhoods and creating better transportation.
"We know that nationally people think of downtown Little Rock as a great place, but in the city and regionally and around the state, it has more of a negative perception," Sasaki associate Daniel Church said. "Using this plan to change the narrative will be important."
Now, they will work to finish the initial draft with more feedback and meetings expected. Sasaki hopes to complete and present the plan to the city by May 2024.
Later in the meeting, the mayor and directors voted on the 2024 budget, which passed unanimously.
But there was one last decision to be made — the directors' vote to give themselves a pay raise.
The board voted 6-4 to approve the new salary of $25,000.
The newly approved budget will include a pay increase for police and fire departments while adding more code enforcement and animal control officers.