2026-09-15 - City Council

00:00Mobile City Council, Tuesday, September

00:0215th. Please stand for our invocation

00:04led by Dr. Dan Taylor, public safety

00:07chaplain, and remain standing for the

00:09pledge of allegiance.

00:12>> Thank you. Pray with me if you would,

00:13please.

00:17Lord, we thank you for a great day.

00:21We thank you for this city,

00:24for the employees, all of them who help

00:27meet the needs of our citizens.

00:31And today we pray for the mayor, chief

00:35of staff, public safety director,

00:38all these members of the city council.

00:42We pray for them as they lead and make

00:45decisions to help make this city a great

00:49city.

00:51But Lord, I especially want to pray for

00:52the safety of those who carry the burden

00:56of keeping us safe.

00:59Our firefighters

01:01and our police officers,

01:03they faithfully place their lives in

01:07harm's way every day,

01:09every day that they're on duty.

01:12And we owe them a tremendous debt of

01:15gratitude

01:17for their service.

01:20Lord, as Moses commanded the priests to

01:23pray,

01:25I ask you to bless and protect all those

01:29that lead and protect this city. I ask

01:33you to smile on them and be gracious to

01:37them.

01:38I ask you to show your favor to them and

01:43give them peace.

01:45And I ask it in your name, Lord. Amen.

01:51>> To the flag of the United States of

01:54America to the stands. One nation under

01:59God, indivisible, liberty and justice

02:02for all.

02:13>> Roll call. President Small

02:14>> here.

02:15>> Vice President Gregory

02:16>> here. Council member Penn

02:17>> here.

02:18>> Council member Ingram

02:19>> here. Council member Reynolds

02:20>> here. Council member Fleming

02:21>> here.

02:22>> Council member Woods

02:23>> here.

02:24>> Statement of rules.

02:25>> And good morning everyone.

02:26>> Good morning.

02:27>> It's good to see everyone this morning.

02:28Welcome to our September 15, 2026

02:31meeting. At this meeting, we do have

02:34rules. At this time, I ask if anyone

02:36have any type of electronic device,

02:38including cell phones, please at this

02:40time put on the off of the vibrating

02:42position. the off of or the vibrated

02:44position. [clears throat]

02:46Any person they desire to address the

02:48Mobile City Council must sign in the

02:50ordinance the resolution of public

02:52hearing agenda item before entering the

02:54meeting. When addressing this council,

02:56the speaker must give his or her name.

02:58Any person that desire to speak to the

03:00council on a non-aggenda item must

03:02contact the city clerk office no later

03:04than 2:00 p.m. or Thursday prior to the

03:07council meeting. the search that he or

03:09she wish to express to the mobile city

03:10council must be identified and pertain

03:12to the city of Mobile Business. Anyone

03:15who has not given proper notice to the

03:17city clerk office and wish to speak on a

03:19non-aggenda item would not be allowed to

03:21address this council. Each speaker is

03:23allowed three minutes to address this

03:24council. A bell was sound to indicate

03:26the end of two minutes. One minute

03:28remain for summarizing. The second bail

03:30indicates that your time has expired.

03:33When addressing this council, there be

03:34no personal address to any individual

03:36council members. All statements are to

03:38be made to the chair who will recognize

03:40any council member who wishes to respond

03:43to maintain the corn. There will be no

03:44outdo applause or public outcry allowed.

03:48Madam clerk

03:50>> approval of minutes of September the 8th

03:52>> some move second move and second. Any

03:54discussion? All in favor?

03:56>> I. All oppose minutes approve.

04:01>> Communications from mayor chair God.

04:03>> Good morning everyone. Morning. We have

04:05a lot to get to today, so I'm going to

04:06try and keep my comments brief. Uh, but

04:09I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some

04:11of the festivities of last weekend. Um,

04:14as many of you know, we opened the Son

04:16of a Son of a Sailor exhibit at the

04:18Maritime Museum. A lot of events and

04:21excitement around that. We had uh over

04:24850 visitors on the first day. I haven't

04:26heard second day's numbers, but more

04:28people than have been in that museum in

04:30a single day. And the the exhibit itself

04:34is truly worldclass. You could put it in

04:37any museum in any city in this world and

04:39people would be terribly impressed. I

04:41encourage anyone who hasn't seen it yet

04:43to get out and see it. But the

04:45festivities around it, the concert on

04:47Friday night, the concert out in the

04:49amphitheater next to the maritime

04:51museum, all coupled with Mural Fest. Um,

04:55last weekend was a great weekend to be

04:56spending time downtown in Mobile. uh and

04:59and I expect to see a lot more of that

05:03as uh our city continues to grow and

05:05prosper. Um now it's it's my pleasure to

05:09uh call up Chief Jackson who's here with

05:11our officer of the month for the month

05:13of August.

05:20>> Good morning, council.

05:22>> Good morning.

05:23>> Good morning.

05:23>> Thank you, mayor, staff, council. Today

05:26I have with me Officer Hayden Yerby.

05:28He'll have two years with us in just a

05:30couple of weeks. In the month of August,

05:32he responded to 67 calls for service, 16

05:36backings. He made significant arrests in

05:39assault, domestic violence, theft, and

05:40narcotics cases. But one of the most

05:43significant things he did is he

05:44responded while he was working another

05:47grant, not even on duty, responded to

05:48other officers to a uh very high

05:52pressure situation. He encountered an

05:54individual that had a very significant

05:58wound, potentially fatal, and he

06:01transitioned from being a police officer

06:03doing to doing the best he could by pro

06:04providing medical services until Mobile

06:08Fire could get there. There's no doubt

06:10that the the efforts that he made saved

06:12this individual's life and hopefully at

06:14the end of next year, he'll be receiving

06:15a life-saving award for the same. So for

06:17that, it's our officer of the month for

06:18August.

06:20[applause]

06:21Congratulations.

06:44You don't

06:49>> congratulations to you, man.

06:51hearing that partnership between our

06:52police department and fire and rescue

06:55truly out there saving lives. Uh is a

06:58great segue to introduce our chief of uh

07:00the fire and rescue department, Barry

07:02Glisten, and our firefighter of the

07:05month of August.

07:13>> Good morning, council.

07:15>> Thank you, Mayor. It's uh our pleasure

07:17to announce uh firefighter Joshua

07:20Carrera as our firefighter of the month

07:21for the month of August. Um so

07:24firefighter Carrera came on in July of

07:2725. So he just has just over a year but

07:30yet he is already excelling in what it

07:32means to be a firefighter. So his

07:36previous job he was a uh tower uh

07:39climber for cell towers and that type of

07:41stuff. and he actually has helped

07:44promote a program that we've instituted

07:46here on our department and helped do a

07:48three-day training course for our

07:50technical rescue guys on climbing towers

07:52with some new equipment that we had

07:54purchased. So, in regards to that, he's

07:57also going to paramedic school and has

07:59really excelled in what it means to be

08:01our firefighters. And uh we're happy to

08:03announce him as our firefighter of the

08:05month, Joshua Carrera.

08:08[applause]

08:20And congratulations to you, man.

08:28And with one more recognition from

08:29another outstanding employee of the city

08:31of Mobile, I'm going to invite Shad

08:33Collins up to the mic to introduce our

08:37uh parks and recreation employee of the

08:38month.

08:42[applause]

08:47>> Yes. Yes. Yes.

08:48>> Good morning, everybody.

08:50>> Can everybody hear me?

08:52>> All right. It's my honor to uh introduce

08:55Miss Cassandra Pedway from the Trixie

08:57Senior Center live and direct from

08:59district 1 as the employee of the month

09:01for public works. Y'all make some noise

09:03for her. [applause]

09:08Cassandra Pedway is a dedicated and

09:10god-fearing staff member who brings

09:11creativity, compassion, and unwavering

09:13commitment to our senior programming.

09:15She consistently goes above and beyond

09:17for our seniors she serves, often

09:19checking on them after hours to ensure

09:21their well-being. Cassandra's genuine

09:23care and devotion makes her an

09:24invaluable part of our team and a true

09:26blessing to the community she supports.

09:28Y'all make some noise again. Miss

09:30Cassandra Pedway [applause]

09:37[applause]

09:45and we have a shameless prayer. We have

09:46movies in the park at Hagmire Park this

09:48Friday. So please come out.

09:52Mr. President,

09:53>> uh, Mr. Pan.

09:54>> Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to

09:55give a big shout out to Miss Cassandra.

09:57Thank you for the hard work and your

09:58team. And I see some of the great people

10:01in the back from the Trixie, senior

10:02citizen. Thank y'all.

10:05Thank y'all for being here. Um, it's

10:08amazing work that they're doing in

10:10District 1 and the city of Mobile.

10:12People come from all over um to

10:14participate in this amazing program.

10:16They dance. Um, they eat good. they they

10:19invite me over and and it's just an

10:21amazing program. So, thank you so much

10:23for all the work that you all are doing.

10:25Um amazing job. Thank you.

10:27>> Yeah, congratulations to you.

10:30[applause]

10:33>> All right, a few more um proclamations,

10:35but thank you to everyone from the

10:38Trixie SE center that showed up today.

10:40Congratulations to our officer,

10:43firefighter, and employee of the month

10:45for the parks and recck department. We

10:47have so many good people in this city

10:49doing so many good things and it's great

10:50to recognize them. Um, now it's my honor

10:54to announce a couple of proclamations.

10:56September is library card signup month.

10:59So I want to invite Miss Jere Hall up to

11:02the microphone.

11:05Uh whereas libraries are foundational to

11:08education, imagination, and opportunity,

11:11offering everything from early literacy

11:13programs to digital tools that support

11:15lifelong learning and personal growth.

11:18And whereas libraries welcome all

11:20people, serving as community hubs that

11:22connect individuals across cultures,

11:25generations, and experiences. And

11:27whereas libraries curate collections and

11:30design programs that reflect the

11:32population they serve, ensuring access

11:34to information, technology, and culture

11:37for everyone. And whereas libraries help

11:40individuals navigate life's challenges

11:42by providing trusted information,

11:45digital access, job search, support, and

11:48connections to essential services. And

11:50whereas a library card opens doors to

11:53endless possibilities from books and

11:56technology to lifelong learning and

11:58imagination. Now therefore, I Spirro

12:00Cheragatus, the 109th Mayor of the City

12:03of Mobile, to hereby proclaim the month

12:05of September 2026 as library card sign

12:09up month in the city of Mobile and

12:11encourage all residents to sign up for a

12:13free library card at your local Mobile

12:16Public Library branch and explore the

12:18endless possibilities they offer.

12:21Congratulations,

12:23[applause]

12:30Good morning and thank you. Thank you,

12:32mayor. I just have a couple of uh

12:34comments. I'm going to invite my board

12:36chair up beside me. Uh good morning uh

12:39to our city council, to our mayor. My

12:41name is Jere Hall Mitchell and I am the

12:44Mobile Public Library director. Since

12:461987, public libraries unite in a

12:49national effort to ensure every child

12:51signs up for their own library card.

12:53Throughout the school year, public

12:54librarians and library staff will assist

12:57parents and caregivers with saving

12:59hundreds of dollars on educational

13:00resources and services for students.

13:03From free access to Steam, STEM

13:05programs, activities, educational apps,

13:07inperson, and virtual homework help. The

13:10library card is one of the most coste

13:12effective back-to school supply

13:15available. The city of Mobile has 11

13:18branch locations that oversee wonderful

13:20programs and services. I am proud of the

13:23diverse library collection we have and

13:25most proud of the excellent customer

13:26service we have. A few statistics that I

13:29have enclosed in our folder for you all

13:31this morning and for those who are are

13:33watching and listening. I just want to

13:35share how we ended our summer. How you

13:37ended our summer and I thank you. Total

13:40642 programs across Mobile City Public

13:43Libraries. Total people in attendance,

13:4622,252

13:49attended programs in your district all

13:52across our city. 57 community partners

13:56partner with the library uh our local

13:58branches, branch managers and staff to

14:00continue to provide services and 5,177

14:06new registrants for

14:10library celebration for the summer. and

14:12that's library card sign up and reading

14:14registration during the summer. So, I'm

14:16super super pleased with the work we're

14:18doing. Um, finally, I want to make a

14:20couple of acknowledgements. Um, thank

14:22you to my board chair, Mr. Harris

14:24Oswalt, for his leadership and

14:26direction. Uh, thank you for all of the

14:28volunteers that serve on the Mobile

14:30Public Library board. Also, uh, we can

14:33get as rowdy as public uh, works and

14:35parks, right? So, I want to acknowledge

14:37the wonderful staff that's here. These

14:38are the people that make it happen. and

14:40I happen to be the director, but this is

14:42the magic and the mojo in all of the

14:44communities. If you all would raise your

14:45hand or stand or wave.

14:48[applause]

14:51Also want to bring attention to Diane

14:53Row, the friends of the library that

14:55supports us in all of the areas that I

14:57need extra help with. And then finally

14:59to my family at home listening and

15:01streaming. Thank you for your support as

15:02well. So thank you.

15:05>> Yeah, thank you for all your hard work.

15:07But I do have one thing to say. Yes,

15:09sir.

15:10>> We expect for parks and wreck to be

15:12rowdy, but not the library. So,

15:14>> no, the library is rowdy. We are loud

15:17and intentional about education, about

15:19services, about programs, and we're

15:21excited. So, I challenge my parks and

15:23wreck uh family and all of my other

15:25colleagues in the city uh to come and to

15:28join us and hear the noise, the noise

15:30that we make about learning and about

15:32fun in libraries.

15:34>> Thank you so much, Mr. President.

15:35>> Mr. Man,

15:36>> I truly want to thank Miss um Hall and

15:38the whole team for being here. Um Mr.

15:40President, I I attended um I think it

15:42was the Unear the day and they was raw.

15:45They had line dance going on in the

15:48library. I'm like, "Wow, this a

15:49different type of library right here."

15:51But I love it. But I truly want to just

15:53thank you all for all the hard work.

15:55This past Sunday, my my printer broke.

15:58Um and so my son had to complete a

16:00project and it was last minute and I'm

16:03like, "What's open right now?" I'm

16:05looking and downtown library was open

16:07and when I walked in I was greeted. Um

16:10it was people in there. It was kids. It

16:12was people being served. Um I was able

16:14to print from my phone.

16:16>> Um and I'm like, man, this so easy. I

16:18was I was I'm just grateful for your

16:20work. Thank you for your service. Thank

16:22you for everything that you're providing

16:23our cities um and and our community.

16:26Thank you.

16:27>> Mr. President,

16:28>> Madam,

16:29>> I would like to echo that. Uh Miss Hall,

16:31I want to thank you and your team and

16:32the volunteers. You know, I hear so many

16:34uh District 2 residents uh speaking to

16:36their time as a volunteer, but as uh

16:39Councilman Pin uh stated, just the

16:41customer service when you're there, you

16:43know, when you have um students and kids

16:45that are still interested in in coming,

16:47we know that the work is being done. So,

16:49thank you all so much for your

16:51dedication and your commitment. Thank

16:52you.

16:54>> Thank you.

17:08Come on.

17:22>> Thank you so much.

17:24>> My pleasure.

17:26>> All right. Thank you. Thank you.

17:30>> Yeah, talk tomorrow.

17:31>> I certainly want to echo those thanks to

17:33Miss Hall and her entire staff. We had a

17:35nice meeting this morning and uh it it

17:38is really impossible to quantify what a

17:40great library means to a community and

17:43uh she certainly recognizes that and I

17:45just applaud her efforts uh and that of

17:47her entire team. So, thank you for being

17:49here this morning. Uh certainly not last

17:53and not least, uh it's my honor to

17:55welcome up uh some of our

17:57representatives from the Junior League

17:59of Mobile, uh Miss Shannon Harris and

18:01Miss Maxine Walters.

18:04Um

18:07whereas the Junior League is dedicated

18:09to promoting volunteerism, empowering

18:12women, and enhancing communities through

18:14effective leadership and action. And

18:16whereas find the good day observed on

18:19September 17, 2026 encourages

18:23individuals to recognize and celebrate

18:25the positive aspects of their

18:27communities and to take action to uplift

18:30others. And whereas on this day, we

18:32acknowledge the importance of kindness,

18:35compassion, and community service in

18:37fostering positive change and building

18:39stronger, more resilient communities.

18:42And whereas the Junior League continues

18:44to play a pivotal role in advocating for

18:47significant community initiatives and

18:49empowering individuals to make a lasting

18:51impact. Now therefore, I spir

18:54Cheragatus, the 109th mayor of the city

18:56of Mobile, to hereby proclaim September

18:5917th, 2026 as find the good day in the

19:02city of Mobile and encourage all

19:04citizens to participate in acts of

19:07kindness, volunteerism, and community

19:09service.

19:14>> [applause]

19:24>> Thank you so much.

19:30>> Hi, I'm Shannon Harris, the president of

19:32the Junior League. Um, so we empower

19:35women in our league and in the

19:37community. um and we train them to be

19:39leaders in our league and in the

19:40community. So, Thursday we are going to

19:44give diapers out to six of our community

19:46partners. Um last year we gave out

19:4870,000 diapers and we hope to increase

19:51that number. We have also adopted um

19:54Holloway Elementary and Williamson sixth

19:57grade and we are u delivering them

19:59supplies. We're taking breakfast to the

20:01Ronald McDonald House and we are taking

20:05supplies to Penelope House.

20:08I am forgetting somebody. But you are

20:10all welcome to come to our celebration

20:12dinner Thursday night, 57 North Sage

20:14Avenue. You don't have to remember any

20:15of the details. I will send you an

20:17email. Thank you so much.

20:18>> Thank you, Mr. President.

20:20>> Mr. P.

20:21>> Um again, I want to like I would like to

20:22just thank Junior League of Mobile for

20:24all the work. I came out to the diaper

20:27um bank um last year and the line was

20:29just wrapped around Sage and and just

20:32seeing the service that you provide the

20:34community is just amazing. Just thank

20:36you for adopting schools as well.

20:38Holloway is also located in District One

20:41um and and I I attended Holloway and and

20:43so your service your that you provide

20:46from your organization is needed. So

20:48again, whatever I can do to support, let

20:50me know. Thank you.

20:51>> Mr. President

20:52>> uh ma'am

20:53>> I would like to also thank them for the

20:55adoption of school Williamson High

20:56School is in district two and so thank

20:58you all for your support and whatever we

20:59can do to partner. Thank you.

21:01>> Thank you

21:02>> Mr. President. I just want to add you uh

21:04mentioned training leaders and and I can

21:07certainly uh say yes I am one.

21:10[laughter]

21:10I came up through Junior League a

21:12sustainer now but uh way back in the day

21:14very active and learning so much more

21:16about the community and really and truly

21:18how to lead a group in all sorts of

21:20different ways and areas. So, the Junior

21:22League is a a wonderful addition to our

21:24community and uh we are very happy to

21:26support you in everything you do. I'm

21:28looking forward to Christmas Jubilee.

21:31[laughter]

21:32>> Never too early to talk about Christmas.

21:35>> Yes, this year's Christmas Jubilee is

21:37November 13th through the 15th at the

21:39convention center and we'd love to have

21:41you all there.

21:43>> Thank you all.

21:43>> Thank you so much.

21:44>> Congratulations.

21:47certainly thank the Junior League for

21:49their great work and I love going to

21:51Christmas Jubilee because it keeps me

21:53from only shopping last minute.

21:56Um, and in the tradition of of saving

21:59the absolute best for last, it is my

22:02true joy and pleasure to call up a man

22:05we all know and love, Mr. Moonpie, Mr.

22:08Fred Richardson, for a special

22:10announcement for the Moonpie over Mobile

22:12New Year's Eve event.

22:15>> [applause]

22:21>> Jackets never disappoint.

22:35[clears throat]

22:48Good morning to all.

22:51This place

22:53seemed familiar

22:58to M chair Godis

23:01council member President Council

23:02President CJ Small my council member

23:05Corey Penn and council members Ingram

23:09Reynolds Flemings Woods and Gregory

23:13I am excited to stand before you today

23:16on behalf of Events Mobile's forward to

23:20make a huge announcement regarding the

23:2219th annual

23:24downtown Mobile annual moon pad drop.

23:29It was President Small who contacted the

23:32board and said he didn't want us coming

23:36down here a month before the event

23:39asking for funds.

23:41So, we're down here 4 months before the

23:44evening

23:46because you you kind of set the fire on

23:49us. So, we we we honor what you had to

23:52say. We're looking forward to seeing

23:55Mayor Cherry Gardens and every council

23:57member on New Year's Eve at the city's

24:00largest single day event,

24:03[clears throat] the Moonpie drop.

24:05There's nothing bigger than the Moonpie

24:06drop. You can go with all this football

24:09game 2,000 3,000. If you can't beat the

24:12Moonpad drop, it's the largest second

24:14day event in the city of Mobile. Let me

24:17inform you that Mobile's annual Moonpad

24:19drop according to USA Today ranks among

24:23all New Year's Eve across America

24:27number nine. We're the ninth in the

24:30nation.

24:32We're not playing with them. It's a

24:34whole lot of cities like Pensacola start

24:36dropping everything out the air, but

24:37they couldn't keep it up.

24:40We 19 years old, still dropping.

24:44The celebration on New Year's Eve starts

24:47early for families.

24:50Kids zone opens at 11:00 a.m. to 100

24:54p.m. in Migra Park, and it would include

24:57bonus houses, New Year's Eve crafts,

25:00giveaways, a second line parade, and a

25:04special moon pie drop just for the kids.

25:08Bam.

25:11But at 7:00

25:15is when we going to cut the moon pie. At

25:177:00 the celebration kicks off for us.

25:20And when we cut and serve the world's

25:23largest edible moon pie at Riverview

25:26View Plaza Courtyard on Royal Street. We

25:29expect the mayor, the council to be on

25:32the Moon Pie stage to kick off the night

25:36celebration.

25:38Immediately afterward, we would get

25:40behind the band and march through the

25:44streets my grow style to the main stage

25:48and kick off the fun.

25:51We expecting all y'all to be there this

25:54year. John Ray's hip hop and the bull

25:56selected a southern artist artist born

25:58in Atlanta, Georgia to host

26:01to uh no he lost his mother and father

26:04at an early age. Dropped out of school,

26:07fell in love with music, finished high

26:09school

26:11and took up music and acting.

26:17I'm going give you three clues.

26:20He received not one but five Grammy

26:22music awards.

26:24So you know he's not a minor player. He

26:27received the BET music award. He

26:31received the Billboard Music Award. But

26:35you got to watch the screen for the

26:37artist to be revealed. Bring it on.

26:50>> [music]

27:00[music]

27:05>> We can go skating [music] at your

27:07favorite part.

27:10We'll go out day till this after time.

27:13We can do

27:17[music]

27:18it around

27:24[music] the rest of the night.

27:32>> [music]

27:32>> that last the rest of your life.

27:37Make me crazy. [music]

27:42Make me crazy.

27:45[music]

27:46Make me crazy.

27:58All righty. [applause]

28:02So, you know now who it is. See low

28:04green.

28:07Bring your seat belt. You got to buckle

28:08yourself in because he's coming with it.

28:12Event mobilebile is promising two

28:15things. We're going to pack out the

28:18streets and the hotel and everybody's

28:22going to have fun. Those are the two

28:24things we promise you. If you come down

28:25there, we're going you're going to see

28:27the streets going to be packed out and

28:29everybody's going to have fun. In

28:32closing,

28:35Mobile was born in 1702. By 1703, we had

28:38our first body growth. We know how to

28:40have fun. Fun is in our DNA because we

28:43was born to celebrate. Come join the

28:46fun. New Year's Eve downtown Mobile.

28:50At this time, we're going to ask all

28:51members of the Eismobile to please

28:53stand, including our capable president,

28:57Shondaanda Smith.

29:02[applause]

29:06See y'all downtown at the Moon Pie drop.

29:09Thank you very much.

29:12[applause]

29:14>> Well said, Mr. Fred. Um, with that, my

29:16remarks are concluded. Thank you,

29:17>> Mr. President.

29:20Um, I just want to thank um the great,

29:22the legendary Councilman Richardson

29:25being back in Government Plaza. Can we

29:26give him a big hand? Thank you.

29:29[applause]

29:30Big shouts out to the Events Mobile

29:33board for making this happen. This is a

29:36really a great artist, a legendary

29:37artist that been on the Voice. Fivetime

29:40Grammy Award winner. Yeah, I'm a part of

29:44something. [laughter]

29:47Yeah, I'm part of the board. But um I'm

29:49just grateful. I mean, this truly is an

29:51amazing event. Tell your friends, tell

29:54your family members, they need to come

29:56to Mobile for New Year's Eve and

29:58celebrate. So, thank you so much. Um and

30:01I'll see y'all on New Year's Eve.

30:06Madame Clerk,

30:10>> adoption of the agenda.

30:12>> So move second. I'll move and second.

30:14Any discussion? All in favor? All

30:18oppose. Agenda is adopted.

30:20>> Appeals. We have requests for a wave of

30:22the noise ordinance on September the

30:2419th, Palister Place, October 17th on

30:28Adam Street, October the 10th on Benia

30:31Road, and September 26th on Downtown or

30:34Boulevard.

30:34>> So move

30:36proper move and second. Any discussion?

30:39All in favor?

30:40>> All oppose? Appeal passes.

30:43>> Public hearings. Today is a public

30:45hearing to declare the structures at

30:471550 Stewart Avenue, formerly known as

30:511551 Forest Street, 1318 Hercules

30:55Street, 913 Texas Street, 858 McQueen

30:59Street and 11:09 Bay Avenue, public

31:02nuisances and ordering them demolished.

31:05>> This open the public hearing for these

31:06particular said item. Is anyone present

31:08would like to address the council on

31:10these item? is so by coming down to the

31:11podium by stating your name.

31:20>> My name is

31:25>> How everybody doing? My name is uh

31:27Nicholas Poe. Um just to give everybody

31:30a little background on myself, uh I'm a

31:32developer here in Mobile. Um I have a

31:36neighborhood going in 8 mile, Alabama

31:38called Poet Estates Drive. Uh, I also

31:41got infield developments inside of

31:43Mobile. One going uh 1565 Orange Street.

31:48Um, Texas Street. I just kind of

31:51purchased Texas Street. Um, and I'm glad

31:54to say the city is on their job about

31:57nuisance and stuff like that. It was

31:59already in bad state when I got it. Um,

32:02I have been going through the permit

32:03process, which is a headache in the city

32:07of Mobile. Um, so I had to go through is

32:11being in historic district. I got a

32:13meeting tomorrow with them uh to

32:16basically be allowed to either demolish.

32:18I already have plans for what I want to

32:21do with the property. But if uh

32:23everybody here is aware that it's kind

32:25of a a yo-yo situation when you file for

32:30a permit and it's in the historic

32:32district, uh you can't do nothing. So uh

32:35until they approve it. So right now it's

32:38a hindrance for me. Uh I am a licensed

32:40home builder in the state of Alabama.

32:42I'm also a HVAC contractor uh and

32:46electrical. So I am able to bring the

32:48property back um either by new

32:51developments or whatnot, but I can only

32:54do what I can with my legs tied. So uh

32:57I'm asking that y'all be patient uh

32:59tomorrow. Like I said, I'm on the agenda

33:02uh for the ARB board to be able to uh

33:05get a decision from them, which if you

33:07go into the portal, the CSS portal, you

33:10will see I filed three months ago for a

33:12demolition permit, which it got hemmed

33:15up. So, uh that process I have no

33:18control over. Uh that is a city issue.

33:20Uh and it also kind of is deterring me

33:23from even trying to do further

33:24development uh inside the city because

33:27on Orange Street it took like 3 months

33:30to get a permit and it only took six

33:33weeks for me to build it. So that that

33:35is a hindrance especially with financing

33:37and stuff like that. So uh that's all I

33:40wanted to do is address that and let

33:42y'all know that I am actively trying to

33:44invest in the city. Uh but I can only do

33:47what I'm able to do. Thank you. Uh, hold

33:49one second, sir. Councilwoman Ingram.

33:51>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I want to

33:53confirm that you said you have um

33:56requested a permit for demolition.

33:59>> That is correct.

34:00>> And then if administration, is there

34:01anyone that can give us the status if

34:04you are aware of where we are with that

34:07process?

34:08>> I I don't have any specifics, but if he

34:11is in fact the property is located uh

34:13within the historic dist, he is correct.

34:15he would have to go before the

34:16architectural review board before any

34:19permits could be issued.

34:21>> Okay. And and then

34:24Okay. So, I'm I'm going to request that

34:26we hold it over. Um I want to make sure

34:28we don't interfere with the timeline.

34:30So, if we did um 60 days, would we be

34:33okay with that? Okay. So, we'll give

34:36them uh I'm going to request that we

34:37hold it over for 60 days.

34:39>> Okay. Thank you.

34:40>> Thank you.

34:41>> Thank you so much, sir, for your

34:42investment to the city. Is anyone else

34:44present that would like to address the

34:46council on these particular said items?

34:50If not, these public hearings are

34:52closed.

34:53>> Today is the public hearing to consider

34:54the application of Granberry Executive

34:58Transport for a certificate of public

34:59convenience and necessity to operate a

35:02shuttle, sedan, and limousine service.

35:04>> This opened up the public hearing for

35:05this particular said item. Is anyone

35:07present that would like to address the

35:08council on this item? is so by coming

35:10down to the podium and stating your

35:12name.

35:21Good morning, council. Hello. My name is

35:23Sunonny Mui. I'm representing Granberry

35:25Executive Transport. We are the um out

35:29of Granberry in Texas. We are in our

35:32second location here in Alabama. And um

35:36yeah, office is at the warf and um the

35:40uh vehicles are at the Gulf Shores

35:42airport. And yeah, we are a black suit,

35:45black tie transportation company out and

35:48um yeah, we are uh just launching here

35:53out and in July. But um

35:57questions, any questions or comments

35:59from this council?

36:01>> Thank you so much for coming out. Thank

36:03you. Is anyone else present that like to

36:04address the council on this particular

36:06said item? If not, this public hearing

36:09is closed.

36:10>> Presentation of petitions and other

36:11communications to the council. Lonnie

36:13And I'm sorry, Lonnie Robinson.

36:18>> Mr. Robinson, present.

36:21>> Yes.

36:28>> Good morning. My name is Lonnie

36:29Robinson. I'm here today. I'm in

36:32District 4 and I just so happen to be

36:35off work because I had surgery. It's

36:37hard to get down here. When you got an

36:39ongoing problem, I got an ongoing

36:41problem with a ditch behind my house is

36:44overgrown. I got snakes in my yard. I

36:47got raccoons. I got pasta. The city cut

36:50it two years ago. The supervisor for the

36:54public work gave me his card and said,

36:56"You got any more problem, Mr. Robinson?

36:58Give me a call." I gave him a call. He

37:00said, "Call 311." I called 311 back in

37:04June. The case was open. The case was

37:06closed. I filed another case with 311 is

37:10open once again. And what I'm trying to

37:13do is get some help because I'm going

37:16through the steps by calling the city

37:19and I'm not getting no help. So, I'm

37:21here to talk to the councilman in

37:24district 4. That's where I'm at in

37:26district

37:28>> 457 Sunny Val Lane West

37:32and it's just like a ongoing problem on

37:35the streets. I do what I can as far as

37:37keeping trash up cutting on the corners

37:40and stuff which is the city right away

37:42which I was told by the city that's not

37:44our right away but I have no problem

37:46with cutting it but the ditch is

37:48overgrown and a lot of my neighbors they

37:51work like me. It's hard to get to a city

37:54council meeting and voice your opinion

37:57that you call the city. And if you

37:59check, I spoke with a lot of my

38:01neighbors. We all been calling 311 about

38:04this ongoing issue and things, you know.

38:07So, just trying to get this address

38:09because like I said, when I walk in my

38:10backyard, I'm got to kill a snake. I got

38:13a dog. I got raccoons. I got to worry

38:16about killing him and stuff, you know.

38:19So, I'm just trying to get this issue

38:21resolved as for if they can put this on

38:23a a two-year cut, one-year cut,

38:27something to keep it from being

38:29overgrown like that.

38:32>> Uh, Mr. President,

38:33>> uh, Mr. Reynolds,

38:34>> I am a strong advocate for cutting

38:38ditches and I'll do everything I can to

38:39help you to get this ditch cut if it in

38:41fact belongs to the city. But I don't

38:43want to overstep here because you you

38:45actually live in district five. I'm in

38:47district five not but but I'll and I'm

38:51whatever I can do to help I'm I'm there

38:52and I'm sure Bo is as well. Yeah. Thank

38:54you for being here, Mr. Robson. I just

38:55looked up your address. Did you say 454

38:58Sunnyville?

38:58>> 457 457 Sunnyville Lane West.

39:02>> Okay.

39:03>> You got a ditch that run between Chris

39:05Haven and Gay Lord.

39:06>> We're going to take a look at it

39:08>> so we can get that did I highly

39:10appreciate.

39:10>> I appreciate you coming down here and

39:11sorry you had to make time to do it, but

39:14we'll we'll go and look into it for you.

39:15Thank you very much.

39:16>> Yes, sir.

39:17>> All right.

39:18>> I I do have a request of the

39:20administration also. I would like for

39:22the administration to look to see why

39:24was it closed and you know and the

39:28reason why it was closed. Um because

39:30it's not the first time I actually heard

39:31something like this before, but it's

39:33something that we need to look into as a

39:34city and everything. Okay.

39:36>> Just just to answer that briefly, Mr.

39:38President. Um you know, I know we are

39:41confirming, but it it appears that it is

39:43a private ditch. uh you know, I'm I'm

39:45not seeing any public right away that

39:48would allow access to that ditch. So,

39:50there are certainly some issues that

39:51we're continuing to look into and we'll

39:53stay in communication um with Mr.

39:55Robinson and I appreciate him taking the

39:57time to come down here and talk with us

39:59today.

39:59>> Right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. M clerk

40:02>> Jaden Bworth.

40:09>> Good morning, council.

40:10>> Morning.

40:10>> Can everyone hear me?

40:12>> Okay, that's good. Oh, sorry. I have a

40:14soft voice. I'm sorry. Um, my name is

40:17Jaden Budworth and I am a senior from

40:19Enterprise High School. So,

40:20unfortunately, I do not stay in any of

40:22your districts, but um I am also the

40:26founder and president of a student led

40:27nonprofit called All the Same Alabama.

40:30And what we do is we go from city to

40:32city and we work with the students in

40:34each city to do a different initiative.

40:37Um, so this past summer we've been going

40:39to several cities both in South and

40:42North Alabama to donate water bottles to

40:44their first responders. So we've been to

40:47Enterprise, Dothan, Montgomery,

40:49Birmingham, Homewood, Prattville,

40:51Opaikica, and most recently last night

40:53in Coleman where um me and my vice

40:56president drove directly after school 4

40:58hours and got back at 2. Um, but after

41:03that, I drove here at 6:00 and this

41:07morning was me and my twin sister's

41:09birthday. Um, just turned 17 and I

41:12wouldn't think of any any better way to

41:14spend my birthday. So, um, I've come

41:16here today because no one else from my

41:19team could come. I had to kind of skip

41:21school. But, um, I brought about a

41:23thousand water bottles for your

41:25firefighters um, just to donate them. So

41:27after this meeting I will be taking them

41:29to the station just to show my

41:31appreciation. Um that's one reason I

41:34came here but also another reason sorry

41:36also another reason is because a few of

41:39the volunteers in my organization

41:41brought up to me a news article a few

41:42weeks ago that was written by

41:44Alabama.com that was describing that

41:47there were banners displayed around the

41:49city that um had words saying protect

41:52our children from gender ideologies. Um,

41:55and my organization, we're nonpartisan,

41:57but we try to represent every student

42:00across our state. So, um, what an

42:03initiative that we kind of did besides

42:04the hydration drive is that we created

42:06pamphlets for the students in the city

42:08and for the city council members and for

42:10the firefighters. Um, and basically

42:12describes your voice, your rights. So,

42:14basically exercising your first

42:16amendment, but also bringing unity in

42:19the community through our different

42:20beliefs instead of division. So, um,

42:23like I said, I just want to show my

42:25appreciation for your firefighters. Um,

42:27I'm usually more prepared when I come to

42:29city. This is my first time in Mobile.

42:30This is kind of a last time, last ditch

42:32effort. So, um, I do still have to

42:35coordinate with your fire chief and your

42:37reporters, but after this, I will be

42:39taking those donations to the fire

42:40station. So, thank you for allowing me

42:42in your beautiful city. Um, it is very

42:45beautiful and um, I hope to work with

42:47you all in the future. Thank you,

42:49>> Mr. President.

42:50>> Uh, Mr. Could you hand uh the pamphlet

42:52over to the clerk so that I can have a

42:54look at it, please?

42:56>> Can we keep that copy?

42:57>> I have I have more if you need that.

42:59>> Oh, you have more? Yeah.

43:00>> Can you share it with us the rest of

43:01your pamphlets? And uh thank you so much

43:03for all your hard work that you have

43:04done or doing throughout especially the

43:07state of Alabama. Uh it's very rare we

43:10see young men's like you. We don't

43:12advise you to skip school but um come on

43:15your breaks and uh visit the different

43:17cities and everything. But again, we

43:19need about 100 more young men like you

43:22to do great things like what you're

43:23doing for our community. Thank you so

43:25much, ma'am.

43:26>> Mr. President,

43:27>> uh Miss I mean Oh, Lord, Miss Reynolds,

43:29[laughter]

43:32Councilwoman Ingram,

43:34>> you did that on purpose. Um first of

43:37all, I want to say Jaden, thank you for

43:39your your leadership. You know, we need

43:41youth leadership. We need you to be out

43:43front. But more importantly, thank you

43:44for giving back to our public servants,

43:46you know, and recognizing what they do

43:48for us on a daily basis. Thank you.

43:50>> Of course. Thank you.

43:51>> I have a quick question. So, you're

43:53visiting Mobile. So, where all have you

43:55been and where is home?

43:57>> Um, so I've been to I listed a few of

44:00them. I've been to Enterprise, which is

44:02my home.

44:02>> Enterprise? Oh, you're from Enterprise?

44:03>> Yes, I'm about four hour drive. Um,

44:06Enterprise, Dothan, Montgomery,

44:08Birmingham, Homewood, Tallaladega,

44:10Opaikica, and Coleman. And this will be

44:13our 11th stop.

44:15>> So, is this your last stop? Is that what

44:16you said?

44:16>> Oh, 11th out of um all the states I mean

44:19all the cities that we've been to. We

44:21have a few more to go.

44:23>> All right.

44:23>> Well, thank you for coming and doing

44:24that. We appreciate it.

44:26>> Of course. Thank you.

44:26>> And everything that you're doing,

44:29>> Mr. President.

44:29>> Yeah, Mr. Pan.

44:30>> Jaden, thank you so much for coming

44:32down. It's is encouraging to see young

44:34people engaged in government and and

44:36starting your own nonprofit and giving

44:38back to the communities as well as other

44:40cities. What grade you're in?

44:42>> I'm a senior and I turned 17 this

44:44morning.

44:45>> All right. Well, happy birthday.

44:46>> Thank you

44:46>> to you and your twin. Um and so you said

44:51you um started your nonprofit in your

44:53hometown.

44:54>> Yes, sir.

44:54>> Okay. What what made you start this this

44:57program?

44:58>> Um well, I knew that I had kind of this

45:00passion for advocacy and giving back

45:02into my community, but I didn't really

45:03have a platform to do that through. And

45:05I noticed a lot of other students in my

45:07community had the same issue. So, I

45:09started the nonprofit to give them the

45:11platform to like convey their passion.

45:13So, hydration drives, we do school

45:15drives. This upcoming October, we're

45:17doing um hygiene drives for women's

45:19shelters. So, we're just trying to give

45:21back into the community.

45:22>> Okay. And like President Small said, um

45:25don't don't skip school next time. Just

45:27you can call our office and request a

45:29letter and we'll write a letter to your

45:31school and give permission. Now, if you

45:33still need that letter, let us know

45:35[laughter]

45:36so so it can be um not a unexcused um

45:40absence. Okay. All right. Have a great

45:41day.

45:42>> You too.

45:45>> Estella Troder.

46:06Good morning.

46:08>> Morning.

46:09>> My name is Estella Troder.

46:12I'm here to speak about

46:15um voucher gate,

46:19the vouchers

46:21for the project that's supposed to be

46:23for Oakland housing.

46:27That's the least of your worries because

46:30of the fact that this is a internal

46:32problem with the city of Mobile and the

46:35housing authority. This is nothing new.

46:39They've been through this

46:42process with SAC, the application for

46:45housing and vouchers.

46:48The first RAD was in 2015. So, we

46:50supposed to have pros at this. And to my

46:54understanding, it's they didn't put in

46:56the for the wrong vouchers. They didn't

46:59put in any vouch for the vouchers at

47:01all.

47:02We need to start reporting facts. So,

47:05let's see the facts on that matter. The

47:08citizen of Mobile is paying for this.

47:13The public now needs to directly reach

47:17out to SAC and start finding out about

47:19the facts of these matters. We need to

47:22have our own public housing hearings so

47:24we can speak and you stop giving us just

47:26three minutes to speak.

47:29I am traumatized standing here because

47:32of still how you violated me. I'm still

47:36homeless because I wouldn't sign a

47:38illegal settlement agreement to tell the

47:40truth about the corruption that goes on

47:43in public housing. And some of you been

47:45there for years, you know, and you need

47:47to be gone

47:49because you're a part of the problem.

47:52Holly Hander, he was here in 2021 with

47:56the Maryville

47:59project.

48:00You didn't inform the communities then

48:04about how the citizens are supposed to

48:07know what's going on. And you did it

48:09with this project too.

48:12Um

48:14even with the gayers project, the

48:16housing authority was going to give a

48:18million dollars toward that pro project.

48:19What didn't go through the proper

48:21channel because I stood up and talked

48:22about it. Paul Watkins because I

48:24confronted him there. one of your very

48:27well- paid consultants, isn't it?

48:31That Michael Pierce situation was a hush

48:33hush thing. They need to investigate

48:35that, too. That loophole

48:38of uh violated the due process like I

48:41said you did Mr. Papulla the same way.

48:43You don't do it two times in a row and

48:45call it oops. You know how many people

48:47you paraded for his hearing? That cost a

48:51whole lot of money.

48:54So, it needs to be a federal probe

48:57audit, forensic audits. They need to

49:00investigate from the city, county comm

49:03uh uh council to everybody else over the

49:06years who's known about all this that's

49:08going on now. That Oakland thing is

49:12corruption.

49:18M clerk

49:19>> Sabrina Mass regarding resolution 09978.

49:23[sighs]

49:26>> Good morning. Morning.

49:28>> Morning.

49:30>> So [sighs]

49:34I am definitely here to speak about um

49:36Sabrina Mass. I'm sorry. Uh 09-978

49:39the Taylor Landing project on Baltimore

49:41Street. [sighs]

49:44So, I think from my first of all, let me

49:47just say to Mayor Chair Goddis, um,

49:50thank you for putting that on the record

49:52because a lot of these things we really

49:54just don't know about and we should know

49:56about. It's our tax dollars.

49:58So, thank you, Mayor Chair Goddis, for

50:00putting that on the table so that we can

50:02now know what's going on and try to

50:03research everything. We need everything

50:05to be transparent. We always come down

50:07here and ask for just transparency,

50:09honesty, and truth.

50:11You expect the citizens to tell the

50:13truth and we expect our elected leaders

50:14to tell the truth. Stop trying to hide

50:17things if it's any hidden things. And

50:19I'm not I'm so I want to say to um not

50:22to no disrespect district 6. When when

50:24it was said that you wanted the wording

50:26to be changed from what the mayor put on

50:28the agenda, that's a no no. Put the

50:29truth on the paper. Don't change. I

50:31think I hope he's competent enough to

50:33put on there what he means and what what

50:35the truth is. So this is I'm not against

50:38this project per se because I'm not

50:40educated enough to be against it. But I

50:43did read and I did my own research as I

50:45do and it seemed like from my

50:46understanding it was a fasttrack project

50:48so to avoid the housing and urban

50:51development um lingo and the the law

50:55when you start avoiding the laws it's

50:58going to be a problem. And then I have a

51:01question if someone would answer this.

51:03The people want to know once this

51:04project is done, is it going to are the

51:06people that that were impacted by this

51:08project, are they going to be able to

51:09move back into these these these

51:11apartments, this project, whatever, what

51:14what will happen to them? What what

51:16happens to all these people that are

51:17being displaced?

51:19And and God, just to be truthful, I try

51:22to

51:23I believe that there needs to be a new

51:26appointees on the the Mobile Housing

51:28Board. You have that authority. Then I

51:30would like to say to the council with no

51:32disrespect, we keep hearing that you

51:34guys have nothing to say or do with the

51:36with the with the housing board or the

51:38HUD or whatever, but but yet you're here

51:41today to vote on funding to go toward

51:44this project. So how is it that you're

51:45not involved or you have no say so, but

51:49the money is there and then you do have

51:51a say. So it's very confusing. This

51:53stuff has been confusing for years and

51:56we are apparently tired of it. Just tell

51:58the truth to the people. Let We are

52:00grown people. We are strong people. We

52:03are not a weak people. This is America.

52:07Americans. Let's tell the truth. Just

52:09tell the truth and be transparent, open,

52:11and honest. And I think that from that

52:13point, we will all be able to say we can

52:16then respect each other as citizens, as

52:18elected officials. Just tell the truth.

52:21It's so simple. Jesus. Thank you.

52:27Reggie Hill regarding resolution 09978

52:31and 979.

52:34Mr. President,

52:35>> uh, Dr. Ingram,

52:37>> is there any way our attorney can speak

52:39to the fact that, you know, how it does

52:41operate so the public is aware that, you

52:43know, whereas, as she stated, the mayor

52:45does appoint that board, but what our

52:48role is, is there a way for him to at

52:50least give us an update so that the

52:52public can hear our role?

52:54I'm happy to. So, the council's function

52:58is to fund certain things. The council

53:01doesn't have any closer on the mic.

53:03>> Sure. The council's real function comes

53:06to funding, right? I mean, to

53:08appropriating funds, you're a

53:11legislative body. You're not an

53:12enforcement body. And so there are

53:14mechanisms in place through HUD and and

53:17the federal agencies for [snorts]

53:20oversight and enforcement, but that's

53:22not that's not your role. It doesn't

53:24fall to you.

53:26>> Thank you,

53:29>> Mr. Hill.

53:32>> Thank you, uh, Madam City Clerk. As I've

53:34stated before, this is a strong council,

53:35weak mayor, former governor. The most

53:37important responsibility being to pass

53:39the budget and to appoint members who

53:41lead these commissions and these boards.

53:43So, let's keep that in mind, please, as

53:44we conduct city's business. To the

53:46citizens and stakeholders of Mobile,

53:48greetings. Reggie Hill uh is my name. Um

53:50I rise today because where I stay, um

53:53there at this level is no sound advocacy

53:55addressing and ultimately resolving the

53:58everyday overconuming concerns of my

54:00fellow mobilians. Um I speak in this

54:02season standing on a position of being a

54:05duly installed steward of our city seal.

54:08Because I have appeared on multiple

54:10ballots here, probability of such is

54:12already established. Uh and hear this.

54:14Had I been privileged to formally

54:16advocate for taxpayer spending in a

54:19specific demographic of our

54:20municipality, my district particularly

54:22uh whenever I offered a yay or nay from

54:25where seven of you seemingly sit now, if

54:28it still would represent the city of

54:30Mobile's total best interest, uh

54:32mobilians expect when there is something

54:34out of order, especially pertaining to

54:36taxpayer money, for the legislative body

54:38to take a stand at minimum by forming a

54:41simple majority to check and balance the

54:43decisions of this place we each call

54:45home. Even say that reflects preventing

54:48the adoption of a formal Tuesday agenda,

54:50then attempting to actually conduct city

54:52business in the following week. Even

54:54though most of the matters I'm about to

54:56present to us now have already been

54:58recorded in our city's official minutes.

55:00Again, where I stay remains without

55:03public response or proposed solution to

55:06these concerns. As you proceed in

55:08today's scheduled finance committee

55:09meeting, please resolve the following.

55:11$5,000 for the Mobile Pops van, $500,000

55:15for the Port City and Bridge of

55:16Classics, $917,000

55:18for grants operating capital by leaving

55:21traffic engineering management level.

55:23Doing away with $1.4 million for

55:25imaginary traffic citations, keeping MPD

55:28spending level, returning $500,000 for

55:31the Mobile Public Library, and I hear

55:33that might actually be $700,000, but

55:35we'll have to hear about that.

55:36retrieving over $700,000 by dissolving

55:39the office of professional

55:40responsibility. Restoring $200,000 in

55:43parks and recreation for seed money

55:45towards the department's cola expenses.

55:47Moving one $1 million from excuse me, $1

55:50million each to districts 1 through3 and

55:53$250,000 each district 4 through 7 from

55:56capital citywide for storm water

55:58imperatives. approving $14 million for

56:01public transit only if existing busing

56:04routes which best service our seniors

56:06and those with unique inconveniences

56:07remain in place using $5 million from

56:10the unassigned fund balance to cover

56:12Taylor Landing and restore what many

56:15call 1010 Baltimore for the current

56:17tenants first saving more than $1

56:21million by keeping legal liability funds

56:23level and applying those dollars to

56:24meaningful investigations of varying

56:26citizen concerns revamping municipal

56:28enforcement forcement and finding ways

56:30to partner with Bishop State Community

56:31College to restore blighted properties

56:33before they become a nuisance. If

56:35somebody would just grant me a minute,

56:37please. Uh, we're at right at the end,

56:39the last part.

56:42>> I'll grant you a minute.

56:43>> Thank you.

56:49and shifting $3 million from capping

56:51public safety increases for additional

56:53performance contracts, 15 pastor advance

56:56to be utilized by our local nonprofits,

56:58and strategic sensitivity training for

57:00MPD. Budget season sets the tone for how

57:04governance season commences in the arena

57:07of civility and taxpayer responsibility.

57:09May we be vigilant and prudent with the

57:12people's money, especially during these

57:14times when our people need the best

57:16decisions made on their behalf, not just

57:18temporary ambitions which more than

57:20likely leave avoidable expenses for our

57:23children in the future. We will continue

57:25uh this robust dialogue next week and I

57:27hope you'll consider these matters as

57:28you go to committee meeting. Thank you

57:30for your miss

57:34>> Nicholas Poe regarding resolution 40984.

57:46>> Uh I think that's

57:48>> Street

57:56ordinance is held over.

58:0164037.

58:07Consider the proposed reszoning of

58:08property located at 320 and 330 Western

58:11Drive from B3 and I1 to I1

58:1564039.

58:16Consider the proposed reszoning of

58:19property located at 2665 Government

58:21Boulevard and 604 and 610 Mandrel Street

58:25from R1 and B2 to R1 and B3 64040.

58:31Consider proposed reszoning of property

58:33located at 2694 Government Boulevard,

58:362750 and 2754 and 2756

58:41Brookley Avenue from R1 B1 and B2 to B3.

58:4664041

58:48consider a proposed reszoning of

58:50property located at 4460 Dolphin Island

58:53Parkway from R1 to ML. 64042. Consider

58:57proposed reszoning of property located

58:59at 42134221

59:02Spring Valley Drive South from R1 and R3

59:05to R1. 64043.

59:08Consider the proposed reszoning of

59:10property located at the northwest corner

59:13of Bay Fork Road and Mafett Road from R1

59:16to B3.

59:18>> So second

59:20properly move in second. Any discussion?

59:23>> Yes, sir. Mr. President,

59:24>> Vice President

59:25>> on 64-043

59:28at Bear Fork and Moffett Road. Um, this

59:31is an R1 going to commercial. Uh,

59:35anytime there is a residential zoning

59:38for single family homes going to

59:40commercial, that tends to raise red

59:42flags with me and I'm sure with all my

59:45colleagues as well. This is a little bit

59:48different. You have to look at the

59:49circumstances of this one. It is on the

59:51northwest corner of Bear Fork Road and

59:53it is a big vacant piece of property.

59:56It's all wooded. It was part of the

59:58newly annexed area that we took into the

1:00:01city some time ago. It sits right next

1:00:04to

1:00:06property that this applicant already

1:00:08owns and is already operating a business

1:00:10on. He intends to continue operating his

1:00:13business with some expansion doing the

1:00:15same sort of thing on this u new

1:00:19property that he is uh asking for

1:00:21reszoning. This is Moffett Road. It's a

1:00:24state highway. Uh in this area where

1:00:26they are looking at on their side of

1:00:29Moffett Road, which is the north side,

1:00:32almost all of it is already commercial.

1:00:35Some B2, some B3, very little

1:00:37residential. The residential area is

1:00:40from this area is across the street

1:00:42across Moffett in the Magnolia Grove

1:00:45neighborhood. Those homes start further

1:00:47into the actual subdivision itself. Uh

1:00:50the HOA there has no problems with this

1:00:52as long as they are not putting in

1:00:54mobile home parks where people are

1:00:56actually living. It is not an RV park.

1:00:58These are places where they are selling

1:01:00the products there. Um the ingress and

1:01:04egress uh one is off Moffett, one is off

1:01:06Barefork and considering the way the

1:01:09traffic is out there now um I don't

1:01:12think it's going to have much of an

1:01:13impact. So with this I will go along

1:01:16with this resoning simply because of all

1:01:18of the facts associated with it. I know

1:01:20I had some questions last week but I've

1:01:22looked at it. I've been out there and

1:01:23looked at it. Um, talked to the um

1:01:26surveyors and I think this one is is

1:01:28good to go.

1:01:31>> Any other discussion? [clears throat]

1:01:32>> Any other discussions?

1:01:34>> All in favor? All

1:01:35>> oppose? Item passes.

1:01:37>> 64038. Consider the proposed reszoning

1:01:40of property located at 255 Church Street

1:01:43from T-5.2

1:01:45to T6. Move to hold over for one week.

1:01:49>> Second.

1:01:50>> Move and second. Any discussion?

1:01:51>> Yes, Mr. Mr. President, I just want to

1:01:53add that we need to gather more

1:01:56information regard regarding the

1:01:57adjacent requirement to make sure that

1:01:59we're not just taking one piece of

1:02:01property in isolation. And so we're

1:02:03waiting to hear back and get more

1:02:05information from the administrative

1:02:07staff in the in legal.

1:02:10>> Any other discussion? All in favor?

1:02:13>> I.

1:02:13>> All oppose. Item laid over for one week.

1:02:16>> Resolutions held over 08958.

1:02:19Approve purchase order to MCCI for

1:02:21annual renewal of laserfish document

1:02:22management software. 01966 authorized

1:02:26agreement with Wesley Fontaine to

1:02:28provide racket stringer services. 01967

1:02:31authorized agreement with board of

1:02:34school commissioners of Mobile County

1:02:35for four community safety team

1:02:38prevention positions. 08972

1:02:41approved purchase order Greybar Electric

1:02:43Company for traffic signal and

1:02:45pedestrian signal light poles. 08974

1:02:49approved purchase order to Burwell

1:02:51material handling for Bobcat forklifts.

1:02:5508975 approved purchase order to Camo

1:02:58Manufacturing for floor cleaning

1:03:00equipment. 09978.

1:03:05>> Take that separate.

1:03:06>> Take that one separate. I'm sorry. Um

1:03:0831980 authorize the mayor to apply,

1:03:10accept, and receive a grant from the

1:03:12Federal Transit Administration for five

1:03:14new trolley style buses. 25981

1:03:18authorized limited temporary and

1:03:20non-exclusive access easement permits

1:03:22for Mobile River Bridge project.

1:03:25>> So moved.

1:03:25>> Second.

1:03:26>> Properly moved and second. Any

1:03:27discussion? All in favor?

1:03:30>> I. All oppose. Item passes.

1:03:3309978

1:03:35allocate funds from fiscal year 2026

1:03:382027 CDBG census track restricted

1:03:41capital funds to the Taylor Landing

1:03:43affordable housing development.

1:03:46>> So move second

1:03:48>> properly move and second. Any discussion

1:03:50>> Mr. President?

1:03:51>> U Mr. Woods.

1:03:52>> Um I do have an amendment that's on

1:03:54file. I believe the clerk has it. Uh it

1:03:57updates some language and then also um

1:03:59adds uh some some verbiage that uh

1:04:02council member pin wanted to to add

1:04:08properly move and second. Any discussion

1:04:10on the amendment? All in favor on

1:04:12amendment. All oppose. Amendment pass.

1:04:16Uh in other discussion,

1:04:19I would first like to uh thank the mayor

1:04:22and his administration u for bringing

1:04:24this forth with us. Uh several questions

1:04:27was asked was [clears throat] uh stated

1:04:29earlier about um you know is this going

1:04:33to drown out the residents that's there?

1:04:36What's before us today um is close to $2

1:04:39million. $2 million that gonna bring new

1:04:43life to a community and new hope to

1:04:47people that is hopeless or many people

1:04:49that are hopeless. Um 1010 Baltimore

1:04:52Street had been a bad stigma for very

1:04:55very long time and um this is just not

1:04:59just jump up this year to uh build these

1:05:02town homes. uh this uh we had something

1:05:05that came before this council probably

1:05:06several months ago if not a year ago and

1:05:09my request was to make sure that the

1:05:12address is changed that does not be 1010

1:05:14Baltimore Street so this is nothing that

1:05:16just popped up um and Mr. Robert, Jamie

1:05:20Roberts had heard the cry and the

1:05:22address is going going to be completely

1:05:25changed to get rid of that stigma. When

1:05:27I first um got into um on council, u one

1:05:31of the first thing that was stated to me

1:05:33was you know what's the first thing

1:05:35you're going to do when you get on

1:05:36council? I said street. Uh someone had

1:05:40sent me a message said don't go on TV

1:05:42and promise thing that can't be done.

1:05:44Well street completely in district three

1:05:46sides completely rebuilt. Uh the second

1:05:49thing was to approach one of the second

1:05:52worst streets um in Mobile which was

1:05:54Baltimore Street and that was to get

1:05:57that redone and um thank because of the

1:06:00CIP um you know we was able to rebuild

1:06:04that whole entire street to bring new

1:06:07hope into the community. Currently, if

1:06:09you drive down Baltimore Street is not

1:06:11potholes central no more.

1:06:14>> There's a basically a brand new smooth

1:06:16street where people start speeding up

1:06:18and down the street because it was so

1:06:20smooth. We had to put up speed bumps and

1:06:22stop sign. And if you drive down

1:06:25Baltimore Street right now, uh you will

1:06:27see that the uh Taylor Park Community

1:06:30Center is being rebuilt with a brand new

1:06:33uh pool house um with brand new rooms.

1:06:36The gym itself is being revitalized.

1:06:40And now we got a brand new street. We

1:06:42got a brand new community center, but we

1:06:44still have that stigma of 1010 Baltimore

1:06:47Street that's sitting right there. And

1:06:49with the help of um Mr. Roberts, Jamie

1:06:51Roberts, the past administration, the

1:06:53current administration, this council, uh

1:06:55we're looking to build some town homes.

1:06:58Now, granted, you know, we are taking $2

1:07:00million and put put towards that. Uh the

1:07:03$2 million is was set aside, this money

1:07:05was set aside for to be put into

1:07:08residents like Baltimore Street to

1:07:10revitalize it. And this exactly what

1:07:12this money was set aside to do. And are

1:07:15we taking a little shortcut before we

1:07:16can move forth? Yes. You know, we're not

1:07:19trying to wait around another three or

1:07:20four years for it to for this to happen.

1:07:22We're looking to break ground very soon.

1:07:25So that's far that's why the city is

1:07:27putting up this money and hopefully we

1:07:29don't spend it but that's the reason why

1:07:31we putting up this money before we can

1:07:32herb up and give these people our

1:07:35residents a new hope you know into the

1:07:37community that's our job here as a city

1:07:40is to make sure that our residents drive

1:07:44throughout the city of Mobile you know

1:07:47just not just driving you just work you

1:07:49know playing but also just making sure

1:07:52that you live in a community that is

1:07:54driving. My goal before I leave this

1:07:57seat is to really to re revitalize the

1:07:59whole Baltimore Street Old community and

1:08:02make this community just like the rest

1:08:04of the communities throughout the city

1:08:06of Mobile, especially in the west side

1:08:08of Mobile. The west side of Mobile can

1:08:10have it. Also, the east side of Mobile

1:08:11can have it. Um,

1:08:14you know, you draw more sugar, excuse

1:08:18me, you draw more flies with sugar and

1:08:21honey than you do with vinegar. That's

1:08:24why I take my hat off to my uh fellow

1:08:26council member uh Woods for making that

1:08:29amendment on the uh resolution because

1:08:32it's all about working together. It's

1:08:34not no big eyes or no little eyes. It's

1:08:37all about working together to move

1:08:39people forth in life. And with my

1:08:42colleague adding, you know, making that

1:08:44commitment on a resolution, I take my

1:08:46hat off to him for doing that because

1:08:48again, we're not trying to just separate

1:08:50ourselves from no individual person. We

1:08:53all in this thing together. If someone

1:08:56fail, we all fail. If someone move up,

1:08:59we all move up. If somebody on the west

1:09:01side of Mobile move up, we all move up.

1:09:03If somebody on the east side of Mobile

1:09:05move up, we all move up. Again, we all

1:09:08in this thing together. Um,

1:09:12we want to work with the housing board.

1:09:13We want to work with anybody that is

1:09:15able, probably investors to who who's

1:09:19able to help to move our citizens up to

1:09:21the next level. You know, someone

1:09:24constantly come down here talking about

1:09:25investigation, investigation,

1:09:27investigation. I'm telling you right

1:09:28now, I'm going to take my resources and

1:09:31put it towards something to help move

1:09:33people forward. You know, if HUD is

1:09:35violating something, if the housing

1:09:37board violating something, contact the

1:09:39federal government. Go down there and

1:09:41tell them they got more resources than

1:09:43we do. They got more money than we do,

1:09:45they have more employees, they got more

1:09:47lawyers to investigate it, please do. If

1:09:51you think that this council is doing

1:09:52something something wrong, go across to

1:09:54the DA office and report it. Investigate

1:09:57me. I don't have nothing to hide. I

1:09:59can't do no more than what this

1:10:01administration put before us. And that's

1:10:03a voted up or voted down. And again, I

1:10:06do appreciate the administration. I do

1:10:08appreciate Mr. Roberts. And I even

1:10:10appreciate the housing board. And again,

1:10:12we all in this thing together to move

1:10:14this city forward. Any other discussion?

1:10:18All in favor? I.

1:10:19>> All oppose. Item pass. [clears throat]

1:10:24>> 09.

1:10:30Okay. 09979 consider adoption of the

1:10:332026 2027 general fund and capital

1:10:36improvement fund budgets.

1:10:38>> Motion to lay over one week.

1:10:39>> Second option second. Any discussion?

1:10:42All in favor? I.

1:10:44>> All oppose. Item laid over one week.

1:10:47>> Ordinance is being introduced 83044.

1:10:52>> Per council rules. This will lay over

1:10:54for one week.

1:10:56Consent resolutions being introduced

1:10:5940982

1:11:01through 6991.

1:11:05>> Move to consider per council rules.

1:11:10>> Second properly move and second. Any

1:11:12discussion? All in favor? All

1:11:14>> oppose? Rules wave. Madam clerk.

1:11:17>> 40992

1:11:20declare the 4992 982 I'm sorry. um 983,

1:11:25985, 986 are declaring the structures at

1:11:291550 Stewart Avenue, 1318 Hercules

1:11:33Street, 858 McQuillin Street, 11:09 Bay

1:11:38Avenue,

1:11:39public nuisances and ordering them

1:11:41demolished. 58987 and 988. Authorized

1:11:45removal of Whis

1:11:48groups 1681 and 1683.

1:11:5160 989 through 991 or approve and award

1:11:55a special bonus to parks and recreation

1:11:57employee of the month, firefighter of

1:11:58the month, and officer of the month.

1:12:02>> So moved. Second move and second. Any

1:12:04discussion?

1:12:05>> All in favor? I.

1:12:07>> All oppose. Item pass.

1:12:09>> 4984.

1:12:11Declare the structure at 913 Texas

1:12:13Street a public nuisance and order it

1:12:14demolished.

1:12:15>> Move to hold over for 60 days.

1:12:18>> Second.

1:12:18>> Probably movement. Second. Any

1:12:19discussion? All in favor? I. All oppose.

1:12:22Item laid over for 60 days.

1:12:25>> Resolutions being introduced. 01992

1:12:28through 61,0001.

1:12:31Move to wave the rules for immediate

1:12:33consideration of resolutions 08994

1:12:3708995.

1:12:39The rest will be laid over for one week

1:12:41per council rules.

1:12:42>> Second.

1:12:42>> Second.

1:12:43>> I move and second. Any discussion?

1:12:45>> All in favor? I.

1:12:47>> All oppose. Roose wave. Madam clerk.

1:12:4908994

1:12:51approve purchase order to prime

1:12:52professional concrete pumping and

1:12:54finishing for storm drainage vegetation

1:12:56and debris removal. 08995

1:12:59approve purchase order to Long Lewis

1:13:01Ford of the shows for Ford Bronco SUV.

1:13:06>> So moved.

1:13:06>> Second properly moved and second. Any

1:13:08discussion?

1:13:09>> All in favor?

1:13:11>> All oppose? Item passes.

1:13:13>> Announcements.

1:13:14>> Uh District 6, Councilman Woods.

1:13:16>> Uh no announcements, Mr. President.

1:13:18District 2, Councilwoman Ingram.

1:13:21>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, greetings,

1:13:23District 2 and citizens of Mobile. I

1:13:25want to share how excited I was to have

1:13:27the opportunity this past Saturday,

1:13:29September the 12th, to participate in

1:13:32the, uh, Kingdom Covenant's 21st annual

1:13:35Unity Walk. Um, we started off, of

1:13:38course, at Lions Park, and from there we

1:13:41uh, culminated at Unity uh, Park. And

1:13:44again, as you know, Unity Park

1:13:46represents just that, the unity coming

1:13:48together for the good of all. Gave us a

1:13:50chance to, you know, to be reminded of

1:13:53the work of Joseph Langan and John

1:13:55Laflura in terms of making sure we honor

1:13:58the civil rights and the desegregation

1:14:00milestones. So, thank you for the

1:14:02coordinators and thank you for

1:14:04continuing to bring this forward so that

1:14:06we can remember our past while also

1:14:08celebrating our future. Um I also served

1:14:12as the um was able to bring the welcome

1:14:14for um the third annual international

1:14:17fashion show and exhibit at James Stills

1:14:20Community Center. Again, this really f

1:14:22focused on diversity. They had 11

1:14:24different countries represented uh

1:14:27represented during this time and so that

1:14:28was exciting and thanks to the

1:14:30organizers. Um, and then lastly, uh, I

1:14:33have an opportunity this week to join my

1:14:35colleagues, um, in attending the

1:14:38Congressional Black Caucus in Washington

1:14:39DC. I'm excited to bring back resources

1:14:43and tools that will help advance the

1:14:45interests of all of our communities uh,

1:14:47through federal policy and legislation.

1:14:50So again, um, thank you uh, for the ones

1:14:52of us that are going to be attending and

1:14:54and being afforded this opportunity to

1:14:57bring back. That concludes my

1:14:58announcements. Thank you. Thank you,

1:15:00Councilwoman. District 4, Councilman

1:15:02Reynolds.

1:15:02>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, we we

1:15:05sometimes have to make tough tough

1:15:06decisions up here and the mayor

1:15:08certainly has to make tough decisions

1:15:10all the time and I think this past week

1:15:11he made a very difficult decision, but a

1:15:14very necessary decision and that was the

1:15:16po to postpone the opening of the arena

1:15:19to a later date. Um, the the plan was

1:15:22always going to be very tight. The goal

1:15:25was going to be to open it for Marty Gro

1:15:28of neck for next year and and to be

1:15:32honest we probably could make it happen

1:15:33but it would take some great expense to

1:15:36make it happen and we'd be sort of

1:15:37rolling the dice on whether or not it

1:15:39would happen. So I want to commend the

1:15:41mayor for stepping up making a tough

1:15:43decision and um you know kicking it a

1:15:47bit so that we make sure that we open

1:15:49this $300 million asset the right way.

1:15:52we're able to inspect and make sure

1:15:54everything's just the way we want it

1:15:55before we accept it. The other thing,

1:15:58we're having an annual District 4

1:16:00meeting on September 29th at Mobile

1:16:03Christian at 6 p.m. Hope you come out

1:16:06and join us. Thank you, Mr. President.

1:16:07>> Thank you, Mr. Rena. District 5, Council

1:16:10Lemon,

1:16:10>> no announcements. District one,

1:16:12Councilman P.

1:16:13>> Thank you, Mr. President. This past

1:16:14week, I had an opportunity to greet

1:16:17students throughout the city of Mobile

1:16:20um for the 100 black men um lunching

1:16:23school event that was held at Jonell

1:16:25Laflur. It was honored to be back at my

1:16:28alma mada and be able to greet these

1:16:31young men from all over the city of

1:16:33Mobile and it was encouraging to see

1:16:36them excited about this new school year.

1:16:39Um this next two weeks I will be

1:16:42announcing a meeting of um for

1:16:45volunteers. We will be reaching out to

1:16:47different organizations as well as

1:16:50churches u with collaboration to help

1:16:53support programs like safe passage that

1:16:56the administration is already working

1:16:58on. I think it's time for us to come

1:17:00together as a city to support

1:17:02initiatives that we already have. Uh we

1:17:05shouldn't be working in our silos. It's

1:17:08time together, come together. And so,

1:17:11um, the next two weeks, you'll be

1:17:12hearing more information about that. And

1:17:15I look forward to meeting with everybody

1:17:17coming in the room and figuring ways how

1:17:19we can help our community. Thank you, M.

1:17:21Um, Mr. President.

1:17:23>> Thank you, Mr. Penn. Dish 7, Vice

1:17:25President Gregory.

1:17:27>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, just want

1:17:29to let everybody know that next week

1:17:31following our council meeting, we will

1:17:33have a public safety committee meeting.

1:17:35We have several um issues that we need

1:17:38to look at. So, it will be open, of

1:17:40course, to the public. That will be next

1:17:42week following our council meeting,

1:17:43public safety on the ninth floor. This

1:17:46past Thursday, I was able to join a

1:17:48couple of my council colleagues, as well

1:17:50as golf enthusiasts, members of the

1:17:53Aelia City Golf Advisory Board, and a

1:17:55steering committee to start taking a

1:17:57closer look at what the future of the

1:18:00MUN, better known as Aelia City Golf

1:18:02Course, can look like. Uh we kicked off

1:18:05this process. Uh the consultant was

1:18:07there. We talked about uh what we'll be

1:18:10looking at including the condition of

1:18:12the course, its operations, areas where

1:18:14we have some opportunities for

1:18:16improvements. We uh took a walk down the

1:18:19U golf course itself, and we're able to

1:18:21point out specific things at different

1:18:23holes and along the fairways of what we

1:18:25think needs to be improved upon. There

1:18:28will be other opportunities for the

1:18:29public coming up next month and we'll of

1:18:31course be making those uh known to

1:18:33everybody in the public. So stay tuned.

1:18:36Uh more improvements coming to Aelia

1:18:38City Golf. And um I just want to also

1:18:42mention that we were able to go to the

1:18:44Son of a Son of a Sailor reception

1:18:46opening last week and what a crowd, what

1:18:48a wonderful exhibit. I encourage

1:18:50everyone to go take advantage of this

1:18:52exhibit while it is in the city of

1:18:54Mobile. It's wonderful a way to uh help

1:18:57um honor of course Jimmy Buffett and all

1:18:59of his music and what he has meant to

1:19:01this area, but it's also really great

1:19:03for the city of Mobile to get this kind

1:19:04of exhibit right here at the Maritime

1:19:06Museum. Thank you, Mr. President.

1:19:08>> Thank you, Vice President. Anything from

1:19:10administration?

1:19:12>> Motion to adjurnn.

1:19:14>> Second.

1:19:14>> Proper move and second. Any discussion?

1:19:16All in favor?

1:19:17>> All oppose? Me a journal.

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