Real-time crime center funding and capital improvement bonds are on the city council's agenda next week

The Little Rock Board of Directors will vote next week to spend $864,500 to fund the Little Rock Police Department's real-time crime center for five years, issue a round of capital improvement bonds and revamp a city homeless program that provides temporary job opportunities.

The board met Tuesday to approve the agenda for its Nov. 19 meeting.

The capital improvement bonds will be paid for by a $3 million property tax that will be renewed by Little Rock voters in 2022 and will fund improvements to the city's county courthouse, parks and fire department. If approved, the bonds will be sold Stephens Inc.

Established in 2022, the LRPD's Real-Time Crime Center uses technology such as cameras and gunshot detection sensors to provide real-time information to police officers responding to crimes, the city said. The center, which coordinates with the North Little Rock Police Department's Real-Time Crime Center, maintains a map of private cameras that residents have registered with the LRPD and uses it to contact residents to request camera footage when one occurs in their area crime is committed.

The center also allows private companies to “integrate” cameras, giving the LRPD access to a live feed. Companies set the parameters for when the LRPD is allowed access to their cameras, such as only in emergencies, and could theoretically provide unrestricted access 24/7.

Little Rock is among a growing list of cities that in recent years have contracted with Axon Fusus, a major public safety technology and software company, to create real-time crime centers.

Funded by the city and operated by Canvas Community ChurchThe Bridge to Work program provides day jobs to people experiencing homelessness, including picking up trash or other beautification work. The board will vote next week to spend $183,894 to fund the program for another year.

Other major items on next week's agenda include the purchase of 1,248 trash cans for $79,420 to replace those lost or damaged by the tornado that swept parts of Little Rock and central Arkansas in March 2023 became; Purchase of 14 coats and pants for $50,671 for the Little Rock Fire Department; Spending over $111,000 on a portable X-ray scanner and range-firing device for the LRFD bomb squad; and spending $500,000 to extend for another year the Downtown Ambassador program, in which stations hire workers in downtown Little Rock to pick up trash and keep the area safe. The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau provides half of the funding for the program.

For more information on how Little Rock's city government works, check out our city government cheat sheet.