2026-09-22 - City Council

00:00It's the regular meeting of the Mobile

00:01City Council, Tuesday, September 22nd.

00:03Please stand for our invocation led by

00:05Lynn Chilton, public safety chaplain,

00:07and remain standing for the pledge of

00:09allegiance.

00:10Lyn is not here.

00:12>> Council, would you mind to lead us a

00:13word of purpose?

00:15>> Mr. Mayor, a word of prayer.

00:21>> Let us bow our heads.

00:24Lord, we thank you for this beautiful

00:26day. We thank you for yet another

00:27beautiful day in the city of Mobile. We

00:30pray that you continue to shower your

00:31blessings upon our great city. Guide all

00:35of us uh who are charged with its

00:37leadership in the administration on the

00:40council throughout city hall. Guide our

00:43steps, guide our words, guide our

00:45thoughts and actions. Help us to realize

00:48the blessings that you have in store for

00:50us. uh keep us safe as we work and

00:53travel and keep all of our first

00:55responders safe as they continue to

00:57protect our city. In Jesus Christ's name

00:59we pray. Amen.

01:00>> Amen.

01:01I pledge algiance to the flag of the

01:04United States of America and to the

01:08stands. One nation under God,

01:11indivisible, liberty and justice for

01:14all.

01:23>> Roll call. President Small

01:25>> here.

01:26>> Vice President Gregory

01:27>> here.

01:27>> Council member Penn

01:28>> here.

01:29>> Council member Ingram here. Council

01:31member Reynolds

01:31>> here.

01:32>> Council member Fleming

01:33>> here.

01:33>> Council member Woods

01:34>> here.

01:35>> Statement of rules.

01:36>> And good morning everyone.

01:37>> Morning.

01:38>> Good morning everyone.

01:39>> Good morning.

01:40>> It's good to see everyone this morning.

01:41Welcome to our September 22nd, 2026

01:45meeting. At this meeting we do have

01:47rules. At this time I ask if anyone have

01:49any type of electronic device including

01:51cell phones. Please at this time put on

01:53the offer of the barbar position. The

01:55offer of the barbaric position.

01:58Any person that is desiring to address

01:59the Mobile City Council must sign in the

02:02resolution, the ordinance, or public

02:03hearing agenda item before entering the

02:05meeting. When addressing this council,

02:07the speaker must give his or her name.

02:10Any person that desiring to speak to the

02:11council on a non-aggenda item must

02:13contact the city clerk office no later

02:15than 2:00 p.m. or Thursday prior to the

02:17council meeting. The subject that he or

02:19she wishes to express to the Mobile City

02:21Council must be identified and pertain

02:22to the city of Mobile Business. Anyone

02:25who has not given a proper note to the

02:27city clerk office and wish to speak on a

02:28non-aggenda item would not be allowed to

02:30address this council. Each speaker is

02:33allowed three minutes to address this

02:34council. A bail was sounded indicating

02:36the end of two minutes. One minute

02:38remain for summarizing. The second bail

02:40indicates that your time has expired.

02:42When addressing this council, there be

02:44no personal address to any individual

02:45council members. All statements will to

02:48be made to the chair who will recognize

02:49any council member who wish to respond

02:51to maintain the corn. There be none do

02:53applause or public outcry allowed. Madam

02:56city clerk

02:57>> approval [clears throat] of minutes of

02:58September 15th.

03:00>> So move second properly move and second.

03:02Any discussion? All in favor?

03:05>> I.

03:05>> All oppose. Minutes approved.

03:09>> Communications from mayor chairus.

03:11>> Good morning everyone.

03:13>> Morning.

03:13>> Uh it's hard to know what to talk about

03:15at these because there are so many good

03:17things to talk about. We have a big uh

03:19vote on a budget today and I just want

03:21to thank the council for their um

03:23cooperation, work um the the amendments

03:26that they've offered. They continue to

03:29work um with this administration as a

03:31real team and I certainly appreciate

03:33that. Um yesterday we had a big

03:36announcement. Uh the red clay strays are

03:39going to be our grand opening act for

03:41the region's arena on March 26, 2027.

03:45Uh, I hope you're as excited as I am to

03:47welcome these chart topping band home

03:50back to their hometown. This show will

03:53help launch a new era for Mobile as a

03:55worldass

03:57uh entertainment destination with

03:59regions arena officially opening to the

04:01public March 26. Uh, while we're talking

04:04about this arena, I have to recognize

04:07the herculean effort of BL Harbor

04:10International. Uh I I think back to my

04:12first day in office, November 3rd. There

04:15was barely any concrete, a little bit of

04:17uh structural steel on the building that

04:20now is taking shape each and every day

04:22as Mobile Regions Arena. I've been able

04:25to watch it grow um much like my

04:27children and I am just as proud of it.

04:30Um don't tell Lucy,

04:33but it has truly taken a team effort

04:35between Vulkar and BL Harbor. They have

04:38truly exceeded expectations and this

04:40March 26 date will not and would not be

04:43possible without their hard work. Uh

04:45they're working around the clock and

04:47they are working to get this arena open

04:49even prior to the date uh that they're

04:51contractually obligated to. So I thank

04:53them for that. Um I want you to get out

04:56there and and buy some tickets early. I

04:58know I will be. If you want to do that,

05:00you can sign up uh at redcllaytraes.com.

05:04you'll get that first notification the

05:06second those pre-sales are open. Uh you

05:08know they the red clay strays are really

05:10spreading Mobile all throughout the

05:12country throughout um you know the

05:14entertainment world. People know where

05:16Mobile is in many ways because of the

05:18strays and having them open our arena I

05:21think is going to be truly incredible.

05:23Ready to welcome them home. Uh you know

05:26we want to help our citizens when they

05:28have things they need to get rid of and

05:30don't know how to. Uh, and that's why we

05:32hold these household hazardous waste

05:34events. Uh, the city of Mobile is set to

05:37host another household hazardous waste

05:39collection event this Saturday,

05:41September 22nd. That'll be from 9:00

05:44a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the James Seals

05:46Community Center. Uh, it it really gives

05:49Mobileians an easy way to discard those

05:51items that can't be collected through

05:53our regular, you know, roadside pickup

05:56or or garbage pickup. Uh, I'm proud we

05:59can provide these events. Since the

06:01first one back in 2022, we have

06:03collected and disposed of more than 100

06:06tons of hazardous waste properly that

06:09may have ended up um on our roadsides,

06:11in our local waterways, in our

06:13landfills, places that they should not

06:15be. Uh so I really want to thank our

06:18environmental in engineering department

06:20who heads up this work and uh and I just

06:23thank them for the work that they do

06:25that goes into the planning and the

06:26hosting of these events. Uh big kudos to

06:29them. If you have anything old paint uh

06:32batteries, old stuff that you can't get

06:34rid of in the normal ways, come out

06:36Saturday from 9 to 1 pm at the James

06:39Seals Community Center and we'll help

06:40you with it. [clears throat] Uh, now I

06:42do have a couple of conf uh

06:44proclamations this morning. Let's see. I

06:47want to um call up USA uh South

06:49Alabama's Health's Director of Advanced

06:52Practice Providers, Sharon Pelicanos.

06:56Did I say that right? That sounds Greek.

06:57I should be able to nail that. Uh and

07:00Dr. Shannon Noel Davis, chair and

07:03co-founder of the Advanced Practice

07:05Provider Council at USA Health.

07:09uh in reading this proclamation. Whereas

07:12advanced practice providers, including

07:14nurse practitioners, physician

07:16assistants and associates, nurse

07:18midwives and nurse anesthesists, that's

07:21a good one, are highly trained health

07:24care professionals dedicated to

07:26providing expert patient centered

07:28medical care. And whereas APS assess,

07:32diagnose, treat, and manage acute and

07:34chronic illnesses, prescribe

07:36medications, and perform vital clinical

07:38procedures, significantly expanding

07:40healthc care access for local residents.

07:43And whereas APS serve as essential

07:45leaders, educators, and collaborators

07:48within interdisciplinary care teams,

07:51improving health care outcomes, and

07:53strengthening the resilience of our

07:55regional health care system. And whereas

07:57National A week is observed the last

08:00week of September recognizing their

08:02daily expertise, dedication to clinical

08:05excellence and role in driving

08:07innovation in healthcare delivery. Now

08:10therefore, I spir Cheragatus, the 109th

08:12Mayor of the great city of Mobile, do

08:15hereby proclaim September 21st through

08:1725th, 2026 as A week and encourage all

08:22residents to recognize the contributions

08:24of APS to the health and well-being of

08:27our community. Thank you.

08:31[applause]

08:32I would love for you to share.

08:39Can you all hear me? Good morning to the

08:41mayor and city council members. My name

08:43is Mackenzie Roberts. I'm a nurse

08:44practitioner in the trauma intensive

08:46care unit here in Mobile at University

08:48Hospital. I'm joined by Sharon

08:51Pelicanos, our advanced um director of

08:54advanced practice. I'd like to take a

08:56moment to thank you for honoring

08:57advanced practice provider week and for

08:59recognizing the important role that

09:01nurse practitioners, physician

09:02assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse

09:05anesthetists, and midwives play in our

09:07community. As advanced practice

09:09providers, we have the privilege of

09:11combining knowledge, compassion, and

09:13clinical expertise to improve the health

09:16and lives of our patients of all ages.

09:19We work alongside physicians, nurses,

09:21first responders, therapists, and many

09:24other health care professionals to

09:26provide

09:28um to provide safe, accessible, and

09:31highquality health care throughout a

09:33wide variety of settings throughout the

09:35Mobile. This recognition also honors the

09:38countless health care professionals who

09:40have supported us throughout our careers

09:41and have mentored us. I am especially

09:44grateful to serve the community that

09:46values healthc care in recognition to

09:48the dedication of those who care for its

09:50residents. Thank you to the mayor for

09:52this pro proclamation and for shining a

09:55light on the contributions advanced

09:57practice providers make a difference

09:59every day. It is an honor to accept this

10:01recognition on behalf of the USA health

10:04advanced practice providers as we remain

10:06committed to serving our patients and

10:08our community with compassion,

10:09excellence, and purpose.

10:12>> Congratulations.

10:14>> Thank you.

10:25Congratulations

10:38and thank you for the work that you do.

10:41I know uh I've certainly needed the meds

10:44y'all provide a number of times with my

10:47petri dish children.

10:50Um, and one more proclamation, uh, the

10:52Mercy Day, Mercy Life Day proclamation.

10:55Uh, I want to welcome down Miss

10:57Katherine Overton, Gemma Phillips,

10:59Michael Goddard, and Leia Byron.

11:03Come on down. And anybody else from the

11:05Mercy Life team that wants to join us.

11:09Uh whereas Mercy Life of Alabama serving

11:11in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy

11:14and Trinity Health opened their doors to

11:16our community in 2011. And whereas their

11:19holistic community-based model of care,

11:22which is the only PACE program in the

11:24state of Alabama supports our elders by

11:27helping them remain in their homes. And

11:29whereas Mercy Day signifies the opening

11:32of the very first House of Mercy on

11:34September 24th, 1827 in Dublin, Ireland,

11:38which was started by Katherine Macaulay,

11:40foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, who

11:43moved to Mobile in 1884 to provide

11:46education and health care to our

11:48community. And whereas Mercy Life of

11:50Alabama's commitment to providing

11:52compassionate care to elders in our

11:54community by aiding and keeping them

11:56safely home with their families

11:59demonstrates Mercy Life's important

12:01mission. Now therefore, I spirit

12:03Cheragatus, the 109th Mayor of the City

12:05of Mobile, to hereby proclaim September

12:0824, 2026 as Mercy Day in the city of

12:11Mobile.

12:14[applause]

12:21Good morning, mayor, city council

12:22members. I'm Katherine Overton,

12:24executive director of Mercy Life of

12:26Alabama. For 15 years, we have served

12:29some of the most vulnerable in Mobile,

12:31providing medical care, social care,

12:34transportation, and all sorts of

12:36supports that allow our elderly to stay

12:39independent in their homes and

12:40communities and remain vital parts of

12:42their families. I want to thank you for

12:45your support over the years and thank

12:47you for your continued support in the

12:49future. We appreciate this opportunity.

12:55If I could, I would also like to

12:57introduce the people with me.

13:00This is one of our participants, Mr.

13:01Nathaniel Foster. This is Miss Rosemary

13:04McCall, another participant of ours.

13:07Chaplain Michael Goddard, transportation

13:10manager Mark Gardner, social worker

13:13Victoria Byron, and Director of

13:15Enrollment Gemma Phillips. Thank you,

13:21[applause]

13:22>> Mr. President. Mr. Pan,

13:24>> I truly want to thank all the staff and

13:26executive director at Mercy Life, what

13:29they provide. Like the mayor stated, the

13:31only PACE program in the state of

13:32Alabama and we're blessed to have them

13:34right here in Mobile. and I'm blessed to

13:36have you all in district one. So, thank

13:37you for your service. Thank you for

13:39everything that you provide our

13:41community.

13:43>> Thank you all so much what y'all do for

13:44our city.

13:59>> Let's let Rose will

14:03hold the proclamation.

14:04>> All right. Here, we'll pass that up to

14:05Miss Rose in the front.

14:24>> And with that, my remarks are concluded.

14:26All right. Thank you.

14:35Adoption of the agenda.

14:37>> So move

14:38>> second.

14:38>> Probably move and second. Any

14:40discussion? All in favor?

14:42>> I.

14:43>> All oppose.

14:44>> Agenda's adopted.

14:46>> Appeals. We have request for wave the

14:47noise ordinance on September the 28th on

14:50Dolphin Street and September 26th,

14:53Dolphin Island Parkway.

14:55>> So move.

14:56>> Second.

14:56>> Prop the move and second. Any

14:58discussion? All in favor?

15:00>> I. All oppose. Appeal passes.

15:03>> Public hearings. Today is a public

15:04hearing to consider the modification of

15:06a previously approved plan unit

15:08development for property located at 13

15:11and 5 Mobile Infirmary Circle, 166

15:14Mobile Infirmary Drive, 168, 169, 171,

15:18176, 177, 185, 190, 191, and 196 Mobile

15:23Infirmary Boulevard. and 1700, 1720,

15:271740,

15:291768, and 1806 Spring Hill Avenue.

15:33>> This open the public hearing for this

15:34particular said item. Is anyone present

15:37would like to address the council on

15:38this item?

15:41If not, this particular public hearing

15:42is closed. [clears throat] Today is the

15:45public hearing to consider the proposed

15:46reszoning of property located at the

15:49west side of Wineer Avenue 150 ft north

15:52of Virginia Street from R1 to R2.

15:56>> This open up the public hearing for this

15:57particular said item. Is anyone present

15:59that would like to address the council

16:00on this item?

16:04If not, this particular public hearing

16:06is closed.

16:07>> Presentation of petitions and other

16:08communications to the council. Antonet

16:11Bell.

16:30Now, can you hear me? Yes. Yes. Very

16:32good. Good morning to the mayor and the

16:34council. I am representing

16:37dedicated dentists along with me, Miss

16:40Miss Yolanda McCullen. It is a function

16:43that

16:44>> give us your full name.

16:45>> Antonet Bell.

16:46>> Okay.

16:47>> Okay. It is an organization and a

16:50function that was started by Dr. Sonia

16:53White and it is to service all citizens

16:58who are under service in dental care.

17:02She's having a free dental day on

17:04October the 10th. And we wanted to make

17:07you aware as well as all of the city

17:10aware that that is her goal to service

17:13as many people as she can uh who are

17:17under service. There are several

17:19dentists in Mobile as well as dentists

17:22are coming from all over the United

17:23States. It will be held in the area of

17:26Piccadilly Square. Miss McCullen has

17:29already sent you the information, but

17:32for those of you who would like to know

17:34more or if you'd like to volunteer or if

17:38you'd like to give funding, you can see

17:41it on the website of dedicated

17:43dentist.com.

17:47Thank you so much for letting us spread

17:49this news and if you would spread it

17:52because we want to service everyone

17:55who needs to be serviced. It is so

17:58critical. People are dying from septic

18:02bodies because of a simple rotten tooth.

18:06So we asked you to pass this around. It

18:09is again on October the 10th in the

18:13Piccadilly Square area and I thank you

18:16for listening.

18:18>> Could you give us that website one more

18:19time as

18:20>> dedicated dentist.com?

18:24>> All right. Thank you so much.

18:25>> You're welcome.

18:30Ordinance is held over

18:3264038. Consider the proposed reszoning

18:35of property located at 255 Church Street

18:38from T-5.2

18:40to T6.

18:41>> Move to lay over for 30 days.

18:45>> Probably move and second. Any

18:46discussion?

18:47>> Yes, Mr. President.

18:48>> Yeah, madam.

18:50>> Again, we're excited about this

18:51development opportunity. Um, our reason

18:54for laying it over is so that we can

18:56deal with some adjacency issues and to

18:58ensure that administration and legal are

19:00able to work it out for the

19:02reasonzoning.

19:04>> Any other discussion? All in favor?

19:07>> I.

19:07>> All oppose. I laid over for 30 days.

19:10>> 83

19:120 44. An ordinance approving the

19:15annexation of certain described land and

19:18redefining proposed reduced corporate

19:20limits. Motion to lay over one week.

19:23Second

19:24>> properly move and second. Any

19:25discussion?

19:26>> All in favor? I. All oppose. Item laid

19:29over one week.

19:31>> Resolutions held over. 09979 consider

19:34adoption of the 2026 2027 general fund

19:37and capital improvement fund budgets.

19:41>> So move.

19:41>> Second.

19:42>> Prompt the moving and second. Any

19:44discussion?

19:45>> Mr. President.

19:46>> Uh Mr. Pan.

19:47>> Yes. Um I have a amendment to the

19:49general budget. um um is on file with

19:52the clerk and my council members and

19:54administration have received it. It's

19:56reduced the mobile arena account by

19:58$400,000 and increase the performance

20:01contract allocation to port city class

20:03by $400,000. I move for that amendment

20:07>> second move and second discussion on

20:09amendment.

20:10>> Sir, Mr. President,

20:11>> Mr. Reynolds,

20:12>> I don't support this amendment. I think

20:14this is an error by passing this

20:16amendment. I think the state has already

20:18stepped up in their general fund budget

20:20and they have allocated $400,000 to to

20:24this organization in order to support

20:26their operations.

20:28Um, and this is an opportunity for us

20:30to, you know,

20:33set this one out rather than, you know,

20:36have them get another $400,000 to

20:38support the game that, you know, we we

20:40see year after year. Um,

20:44in many cases, the city of Mobile is

20:47doing the opposite where we're we're

20:49sort of subsidizing a lot of the state

20:50functions um because they just haven't

20:54funded them. And one of those being the

20:56district attorney's office in this

20:57budget. There's $1.1 million that we're

20:59setting aside to fund the district

21:01attorney's office. There are many other

21:02scenarios where we're sort of putting

21:04this money up to, you know, prop up this

21:08funding. I think this is an error and I

21:10will not be in support of it. Any

21:13other discussion on this amendment?

21:16All in favor on this amendment? I.

21:18>> All oppose?

21:19>> No.

21:20>> All right. Six to one. Any other

21:23discussion? Mr. President, Mr. Pen. Um,

21:26I have a amendment to move um amend the

21:29general budget, reduce the mobile arena

21:31by 100,000, increase parks and recreck

21:34public service events operating budget

21:36from $630,224

21:39to $730,224.

21:43I move for that amendment.

21:44>> All right, second.

21:45>> Probably move and second. Any discussion

21:46on this amendment?

21:47>> Yes, sir. Mr. President,

21:48>> Mr. Reynolds,

21:49>> again, I don't support this amendment. I

21:50think this is another error. We're

21:52taking currently $3.8 $8 million from

21:55our unallocated fund balance to move

21:57over to our uh capital fund. And I think

22:00it's unnecessary for us to do that. If

22:02we would just tighten our belts on some

22:04expenditures like this, we wouldn't have

22:05to worry about making that transfer

22:07transfer um in this year's budget. So

22:10therefore, I will not support this

22:11amendment.

22:12>> Any other discussion on this amendment?

22:15All in favor on this amendment.

22:17>> All oppose? No. A

22:19>> 61

22:21amendment pass. Any other discussion?

22:24>> President,

22:24>> uh, Mr. Woods.

22:25>> Um, I'm I'd off like to offer an

22:27amendment reducing the Mobile Arena

22:29account by 400,000 and increasing

22:31expenditure for library account by

22:33400,000. So that would be from 7.5

22:35million to 7.9 million.

22:38>> Second.

22:38>> Properly movement. Second. Any

22:40discussion on this amendment?

22:41>> Yes, sir. Mr. President,

22:42>> Mr. Reynolds,

22:43>> again, we we should be tightening our

22:45belt in cutting down on this $3.8

22:47million transfer we're making from the

22:49unallocated fund balance. the the budget

22:51that the mayor put forward, it left this

22:53funding out or a portion of this funding

22:55uh for the library out, but that doesn't

22:57mean they're just barely getting a small

22:58amount. They're getting a substantial um

23:01allocation made to them u

23:05by way of

23:08$7.5 million. So, you know, I I just

23:12think that's unnecessary in this case.

23:13So, therefore, I will not support this

23:15minute.

23:16>> Mr. President.

23:17>> Um, Miss uh, Madame Ingram,

23:21>> um, I I do want to add that um the fact

23:24that this amendment will support some of

23:27the basic services that are needed for

23:29the public in terms of um

23:32the library. So, thank you.

23:35>> Any other discussion on this amendment?

23:38All in favor?

23:39>> All oppose?

23:40>> No.

23:41>> Amendment pass 6 to1. Any other

23:43discussion?

23:44>> Yes, sir. Mr. President,

23:45>> Mr. I'd like to offer an amendment to

23:47the budget um now that these other

23:49amendments have passed to allocate the

23:53remaining balance of the arena

23:57operations account be allocated back to

24:01the transfer made from the unallocated

24:04fund balance. So reduce Mobile Arena

24:06operations account by the remaining

24:08balance after the the previous

24:10amendments

24:12and reduce the amount of the unallocated

24:14transfer from the general fund. I'm

24:18sorry from the let me restate that

24:21reduce the amount of unallocated funds

24:23transferred in by that same amount.

24:26>> Uh second

24:27>> second properly move and second. Any

24:29discussion on amendment

24:30>> Mr. President?

24:31>> Uh Mr. Woods. Um so after uh 1.5 was was

24:36the budgeted amount for U mobile arena

24:39operations

24:40uh after the amendment for 400 to Port

24:44City Classic, the amendment to Park Rex

24:47events and then the amendment to the

24:49library account. Um that leaves a

24:51balance of 600,000 to be transferred

24:53over. And I guess do we need to name the

24:55amount or is it sufficient legally just

24:58to say whatever whatever's left in that

25:00account?

25:01>> [clears throat]

25:01>> It's sufficient to say whatever's left.

25:03Okay. And then um also too, I I know Mr.

25:06Reynolds has has made comments about the

25:08previous um previous accounts. I concur

25:11with Mr. Reynolds. Um the uh I even

25:15though I I was in favor of the other

25:16amendments. Um I I do think this is u

25:18obviously this is the first budget that

25:20the mayor um has had to to work with his

25:23team on this administration's presented.

25:26Um definitely would encourage that

25:28moving forward. Again, I'm I'm not

25:30optimist. I'm not a pessimist when it

25:32comes to the economy and the way things

25:33work, but I I do possibly foresee one

25:36day eventually in the next couple years

25:38there being a correction in the economy.

25:39Um obviously with inflation, I think

25:41sales tax collections over over um

25:43overinflated to a certain extent versus

25:45what it was probably give or take about

25:47a year and a half ago. Um I do

25:49appreciate what uh what the

25:51administration's done presenting this

25:52budget. um and and do do realize and and

25:55firmly understand, you know, that what

25:56we took from from from the account. So I

25:59but I just wanted to make note this is a

26:01this is 600,000 going back.

26:04>> Mr. President,

26:06>> uh [clears throat]

26:07>> um I I want to acknowledge that um I'm

26:10in agreement with my colleagues, but I

26:12also want to acknowledge that I am not

26:14proposing any amendments to the FY2027

26:17budget. Instead, I'm choosing to support

26:20the decisions that were made by city

26:22administration and uh ensure that

26:25they're held accountable for the

26:27resources that they said are sufficient

26:29enough to deliver services for our

26:30neighborhoods in terms of their needs.

26:32For district 2, that means public

26:35services and municipal enforcement is

26:37visible, is consistent, and it's

26:39responsive. The quality of life services

26:41cannot be occasional. It has to be on a

26:44frequency that they can take pride and

26:46they can see what's happening in their

26:47area and be proud of it. So again um I

26:51am standing with administration not

26:53making any um amendments supporting that

26:56but expecting that they will deliver for

26:58the public in terms of public services

27:01and municipal enforcement. Thank you.

27:04>> Discussion on on the amendment.

27:07>> All in favor on Mr. Reynold amendments.

27:09I

27:10>> all oppose.

27:12>> Amendment pass. Any other discussion?

27:14Mr. President,

27:15>> one more

27:16>> uh will be Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Woods, Vice

27:21President Gregory.

27:22>> I um Mr. President, I'll go after Miss

27:24Miss Gregory if that's right.

27:25>> Don't you have the one more amendment on

27:27the boarding?

27:27>> Uh Josh, why don't you go ahead and

27:29proceed? I was going to make general

27:30comments on the budget at Bard.

27:32>> What was that?

27:34>> Mr. Woods.

27:35>> Mr. Woods has one additional amendment,

27:37I believe, and I can reserve my comments

27:39until after we take that.

27:40>> Yes, that's that's what I was saying.

27:41Mr. Woods has an additional amendment.

27:43>> One more. Um, Mr. President, I I'd like

27:45to move to amend the general budget to

27:48rename under other capital expenses the

27:50line entry nuisance abatement-b

27:52buildingild demolitions to read nuisance

27:55abatement- secure, demolition and debris

27:58removal.

27:59>> Second prop second. Any discussion?

28:02All in favor of amendment? I all oppose.

28:06Amendment pass. Any other discussion?

28:08>> Yes, sir. Mr. President,

28:10>> I I just want to commend the

28:11administration and all the staff. I know

28:13you guys work hard on this uh budget and

28:16you know, we use the budget as an

28:17opportunity to sort of align our

28:19priorities as a council or individual

28:21districts and the mayor aligning his

28:23priorities. I think overall this is a

28:25good healthy conservatively created

28:27budget and I think uh it's conservative

28:30enough where you know we sort of

28:32estimate expenses a little bit higher

28:34than what they think we think they're

28:36going to be and we estimate revenues a

28:38little bit lower than uh what we think

28:40they're going to be and that's the same

28:42thing the previous administration did

28:44and I think that's wise and something

28:45that we should continue doing going

28:48forward but I think also as we roll into

28:51this year and this budget is put to

28:53work, we start making considerations for

28:56next year's budget along the way. Um, I

28:59think something that's tremendously

29:01needed is a true blue evaluation of

29:05performance contracts. What are we

29:07getting out of these performance

29:08contracts that have now ballooned to

29:10$8.7 million?

29:13And I just think we're on a trajectory,

29:15if that continues to grow as we see it,

29:17and we're not truly measuring the

29:19outcome we're getting from it, we're

29:21we're sort of making an error. And and a

29:23lot of this is going to be tough

29:24discussions, tough decisions. It's going

29:26to hurt some people's feelings at times,

29:29but I think that's sort of what we got

29:31to do. We've got to wrangle it in so

29:33that we don't, you know, keep funding uh

29:37a bowl game that's funded by the state

29:38or, you know, whatever it is. We need to

29:40to make some adjustments.

29:43Um

29:45the capital budget I think is um

29:49you know you can't go wrong when we're

29:51able to fund the capital budget at the

29:52rate we're funding them setting aside $4

29:54million. I was talking to somebody at

29:56the state house about they were

29:59commending us on our ability to work

30:02together and figure things out. And I

30:03said, you know, I just I don't know if

30:04it's the personalities or what the

30:06secret sauce is. And he said, you know

30:08what I think the secret sauce is? The

30:10secret sauce is you get $4 million

30:12allocated to each one of your districts

30:14every single year. So you're not having

30:16to fight tooth and nail for every dollar

30:18that comes along the line. You got

30:20enough there to get the project you want

30:22to get done. So, as we go through the

30:25rest of this term, hope everybody's

30:27mindful of that. We don't need to go in

30:28there and start meddling with the

30:30capital improvement fund, the

30:31allocations that we get currently per

30:33district. That's all I have, Mr.

30:34President. Thanks again, mayor, for

30:35putting together a good budget.

30:37Everybody else,

30:37>> Mr. President,

30:38>> uh, yes.

30:40>> Um, I want to join in um with my

30:42colleague and echo those same

30:44sentiments. I want to thank you uh the

30:46city administration and the mayor for a

30:48conservative approach, but also for

30:50protecting the fund balance. Thank you

30:51for that. I think that's going to set us

30:53up for success. But I do want to uh

30:56encourage us and to ensure that we

30:58consider some things as we move forward.

31:00Um for for one, as uh Councilman

31:02Reynolds has stated, performance

31:04contracts. We truly need to have a

31:06comprehensive way to evaluate all

31:08contracts. And it's not just about

31:10evaluating these contracts to say that

31:12we're reducing the money. It's so that

31:14we can be good stewards so that we can

31:16replicate uh practices that are working.

31:19So public services are the best. So

31:22again um I think that we have to move

31:24forward on that evaluation framework and

31:26we need to be have that in place so that

31:28we can make the best decisions at the

31:30end of this year. And then lastly I you

31:33know as we move forward you know and

31:34looking throughout the budget I see that

31:36you all made some adjustments because we

31:38realized that the budget was not fully

31:41executed last year in terms of hiring

31:43personnel and so you've acted on those

31:45decisions and reduced positions and so

31:47forth. But I would ask that for this

31:48year coming up that we really look at

31:50fully implementing and executing our

31:52budget. There's a reason why we're

31:54putting these positions in the budget

31:56and it's so that public services can be

31:58provided so that our neighborhoods can

32:00get what they need. And so I'm asking

32:02that we really have a strategic approach

32:05to ensure that it's executed as designed

32:08so that we can get the intended results

32:10that we were expecting. Again, I just

32:12want to commend the team for the work

32:13that you've done and I look forward to

32:15the results that the public will receive

32:17in terms of quality of life. Thank you.

32:20>> Any other discussion?

32:22>> Mr. President,

32:23>> uh Mr. Pan.

32:24>> Thank you, Mr. President. I just really

32:25want to thank the administration, every

32:28department head, to Logan, to the mayor,

32:31to all the chiefs that's u representing

32:33his cabinet. Thank you. You did an

32:35amazing job with preparing the budget

32:37for the public. When we receive the

32:39budget, it's a proposed budget. When the

32:41council now receive it, we have to

32:43listen to our constituents. We look at

32:45different opportunities and the

32:47amendments that I presented today were

32:49opportunities for quality of life. Um,

32:51we want mobile bill to grow. Most of us

32:54travel. We like to go on vacation. And

32:56when we go on vacation, we like to have

32:57a good time. And if we're not providing

32:59opportunity for people to come to our

33:01city to enjoy the city of Mobile, then

33:03that's not going to happen. by moving

33:05funds to events to making sure we have

33:07Port City Classic. These are events that

33:10would bring in funds. Um we have Amtrak.

33:13We never thought we would have Amtrak

33:15coming back into our city. So now we're

33:17going to provide our our our residents

33:20as well as our visitors with opportunity

33:22to enjoy this great city of Mobile.

33:25Thank you, Mr. President.

33:27>> Mr. President.

33:28>> Yeah, Mr. Woods. Um I'll be brief. Thank

33:30you, Logan, Donna, and Paul. Thank you

33:32all for and your team for all y'all did.

33:34Uh, I can't tell you that obviously I

33:36think we sent you a bunch of questions

33:38that y'all more than adequately

33:39answered. So, thank y'all for that. That

33:41was very thorough. Um, and thank you for

33:43that insight and and getting behind how

33:45you came around to numbers and things

33:46like that. And I do want do want to

33:48thank the department heads as well. I

33:49mean, uh, I know that y'all had to go

33:51through a couple revisions because

33:53obviously uh, you know, budgets are

33:56presented then they get get narrowed

33:58down into what what fits in the the

34:00piece of the puzzle. So, thank y'all for

34:01doing that and thank you to the mayor's

34:02administration. this uh this budget uh

34:05not too bad for a first budget. So um

34:08thanks for uh thanks for all the time

34:09you put in that. I I look forward to

34:11seeing the actual impacts of this year

34:12and and to Mr. Reynolds point and and

34:14Dr. Ingram's point as well. I mean that

34:16that capital um there's no other city

34:18that I know of that's that's reinvesting

34:21in in their city and even in every

34:23district like the city of Mobile is. So

34:25I'm looking forward to seeing what the

34:26outcome of this budget is and um that's

34:28it for me. Thank you,

34:31>> Vice President.

34:32>> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President. I

34:34joined my colleagues in thanking the

34:36mayor and his entire team for making

34:38this such a smooth budget process. I

34:41mentioned something during

34:42pre-conference that I think this is the

34:43the best that I've ever seen in the

34:46years that I've been on the council. We

34:48we saw the vision. We all worked

34:50together. When there were questions,

34:51even disagreements, we all came

34:53together, worked through them, and now

34:55we've put together some amendments that

34:57are going to pass with this budget. So,

34:59it just really shows this team spirit

35:01and how we all want to work together for

35:03the betterment of our entire city. On

35:05the performance contracts, I know we've

35:07heard a lot about those. When these were

35:10initially um done way years and years

35:14ago before any of us were even on the

35:16city council, the the performance

35:18contracts were really something that

35:19would go to these pro um providers to

35:23give them some funding to provide

35:25services that the city was not able to

35:28do.

35:29They were never meant to be

35:32forever. They were they were not a

35:34forever sort of thing. But of course,

35:37you know, you get into the pattern of

35:40you expect this money because it becomes

35:41part of your budget. And so now we find

35:43ourselves having to in the coming year

35:46take a much closer look at all of our

35:48performance contractors. So, we really

35:50need to make sure that everybody

35:51understands that in the coming year

35:53there will be a different process and we

35:55will be taking a harder look at the

35:57performance contractors and how and who

36:00uh we continue to support with our with

36:03our city funds. Uh this budget of course

36:06goes through it. It provides a raise for

36:08employees beginning in April which is

36:10always a good thing. We continue with

36:12our $4 million per district and capital

36:14improvement funds. And as we have all

36:17mentioned, you know, we want to see

36:19everything move forward. We want to make

36:20sure that all of the quality of life um

36:23amenities are taken care of and that

36:26that we see the results of this budget

36:28on the streets of Mobile. So again, just

36:30thank you everybody for uh being a part

36:33of this and making this such a real

36:36positive experience I think for all of

36:37us. And it was your first budget, so

36:39kudos to you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, m

36:42>> Mr. President.

36:43>> Yes. I I also want to um thank

36:46Councilman Woods for his leadership, his

36:49patience with us, especially with Mr.

36:52Reynolds um and the time that he put in

36:55in coordinating this event. Just thank

36:57you for your leadership. Thank you,

36:59>> Mr. President. It's a great second

37:01meeting.

37:01>> Um

37:03uh Councilman,

37:04>> Mr. Yeah, I just really want to echo the

37:07sentiments of my colleagues here, uh to

37:09the administration, to Logan and your

37:11team. Uh well done. I think um this

37:15budget conservative. I think it touches

37:18a lot of the major issues we need to see

37:19in this city as far as public safety.

37:22Having $135 million still in the budget

37:24for that. I'm I'm grateful for that. Uh

37:27tourism. We've got a new transit system.

37:30I think we have a lot of things that um

37:32are is some major projects,

37:34infrastructure, capital improvements

37:36that um I think we're being really good

37:39stewards of our citizens money with

37:42this. So

37:44kudos to the team. Um, you know, we had

37:47a lot of questions and very promptly the

37:50administration came back with 18 pages

37:52worth of questions to kind of rest our

37:55concerns over this budget. We were able

37:57to come together, have a very good

38:00discussion,

38:02uh, prioritize what we needed to

38:03prioritize and move forward. So I just

38:04want to say thank you.

38:07>> Um, I do appreciate uh you, Mr. mayor u

38:10your administration

38:12uh you uh Mr. Logan and also Councilman

38:16um Woods um for working with this

38:19council to make this almost like a

38:21seamless budget for our great city. Uh

38:24thank you all so much for y'all's hard

38:26work. U this budget uh that's in front

38:29of us today I believe will continue the

38:32good financial footing our city is on.

38:35vice president had mentioned about this

38:37is probably one of the easiest ones, but

38:39our last budget wasn't bad at all

38:41either, you know, and it's just

38:43continuing with a great footings and

38:45hopefully next year will be the same.

38:47Again, we thank you all so much, Mr.

38:49Mayor. Uh we will see and continue to

38:52see more progress uh in our districts,

38:55in our city with this budget. Uh in in

38:59our districts, it just won't just be on

39:01one side of Mobile, it'll be all sides

39:03of Mobile. Um, municipal enforcement is

39:07very, very important and I know

39:08municipal enforcement was addressed in

39:11this budget. With addressing municipal

39:14enforcement, we can clean up our more

39:16blighted communities, our more blighted

39:18areas in our city to make our city not

39:22just a dumping ground, you know, just

39:24for tires and people that, you know,

39:27just just just bringing stuff into our

39:30city and then going back across the bay,

39:32Baldwin County just to live. We want our

39:34city, Mobile, be just like Bowwin

39:37County, if not even just better besides

39:39just a dumping ground. I do uh share the

39:43same um

39:46um things that Councilman Reynolds, you

39:50know, had expressed and uh that is that

39:53we do need to review all of our um

39:56performance contracts. Not just one or

39:59two, but we need to review all of our

40:00performance contracts. And I do charge

40:03the mayor, you know, to do this, start

40:07working on this as soon as possible. Um,

40:09like October 1st that some before the

40:12budget come out next year that these

40:14nonprofits, these performance

40:16contractors are we going to cut them or

40:18delete them. They need to know ahead of

40:20time, not just at the last moment. So,

40:23we need to really start addressing that

40:25today. Um fund is money you know and I

40:29understand that you know there are some

40:31money that going to certain places in

40:34this budget but if it's not bringing in

40:35no fund and people not enjoying it I

40:38believe that is a waste. So that's why

40:40it's very important to review all our

40:42performance contracts.

40:46Um

40:48we're not going to make money off of

40:50everything. Again it's quality of life.

40:53We don't make money off the library.

40:55don't make money off of free concerts.

40:57But as long as the citizens are enjoying

40:59it and there are many more than just 15

41:02or 20 citizens, if we have hundreds and

41:04thousands of citizen enjoying it, I

41:06don't believe that it's a waste of

41:08money. But I do believe that fund is

41:10money and it cost to have some fund.

41:13Again, I do appreciate, you know, the

41:15mayor and his administration again,

41:17Councilman uh Woods for bringing us to

41:20where we at today. And let's go ahead

41:22and let's pass this budget. Okay. All in

41:25favor? I.

41:26>> All oppose. This budget is passed.

41:43>> Oh. Oh. As a minute. I thought

41:47>> Oh, yeah. Back to the

41:49>> Okay. I thought Okay. I thought we had

41:51already passed it as amended. Okay. Any

41:53other discussion? All in favor? I

41:56oppose.

41:57>> Budget pass. That's correct.

41:59>> As amended passed twice.

42:01>> As amended. [laughter]

42:03>> As amended. All right. Thank you, city

42:05clerk. What we would do without you.

42:09>> Don't start. [laughter]

42:13>> Resolution 01 922 authorized agreement

42:17with Mirthth artist for construction of

42:19Marty GR float.

42:20>> So moved.

42:21>> Second. profit moving second in the

42:24discussion.

42:25Um I would like to uh thank the uh mayor

42:29um for bringing this uh to us. Um ever

42:32since I was a u little boy, I remember

42:36seeing um Councilman Clint Johnson,

42:40former mayor Mike Dow on this little box

42:43cart going down the street. They say

42:46it's had the Marty [snorts] Gro on it.

42:48And then I'm 40 48 years old and I was

42:51in almost elementary school at the time

42:54and this box car has served its purpose

42:56especially with the happy Martyra on the

42:58side. Uh Martigra is our economic engine

43:01here. Now I'm in the city of Mobile. We

43:04make plenty of money off of Marty Gro.

43:07And for us to be the mother of Marty GR,

43:10the birthplace of Marty GR, it's time

43:12for us to graduate from that little box

43:14cart. And uh this float will feature and

43:17focus on different parts of our city. So

43:20therefore, we just want to be having

43:22this float just doing Marty GR. to have

43:24this float for different smaller

43:25conventions, other activities that's

43:28throughout the year um for our great

43:30city. And again, I think this is a great

43:32thing that we are doing because if we

43:34don't scratch our own back and say,

43:36"Hey, we the best besides going down the

43:38street with a box cart, we know who will

43:40do it." But again, I do appreciate the

43:42mayor for bringing this to us. And

43:44again, uh fun is money. Any other

43:47discussion? All in favor?

43:50>> All oppose? Oppos?

43:52>> Post.

43:53>> All right. Pass 5 to 2.

43:58[snorts]

43:58>> 089

44:01993

44:02approved purchase order to DC3 for

44:04annual renewal of ThinkGuard Network

44:06Cyber Security and disaster recovery

44:08software services. 08996 approved

44:11purchase order to truck equipment sales

44:13for pickup truck with utility bodies.

44:1621997 and 998 are authorizing contract

44:21with uh Kimily Horn and ACOM technical

44:24services for City of Mobile Arterial

44:26Management Project congestion management

44:2937999

44:30consider the application of Grand Bur

44:33Executive Transport Court for a

44:35certificate of public convenience and

44:36necessity to operate a shuttle sedan and

44:38limousine service 451000 resolution to

44:41reaffirm previously accepted streets

44:44located in a public low rent housing

44:46area housing project

44:49Alabama 2-5 610001 authorized set

44:53agreement and release of claims

44:55>> so move proper move and second any

44:58discussion all in favor all oppose item

45:02pass

45:03>> ordinance is being introduced 64045

45:06through 64047

45:08per council rules these will be laid

45:10over for one week consent resolutions

45:14being introduced

45:1758 10002 through 6105.

45:2758 10002 and 1003 are declaring we

45:32noxious weedling group 1683 and weedling

45:36group 106 610004 and 10005 are

45:39determined appropriation to Aelia city

45:43center for the arts inc and playhouse in

45:45the park inc serve a public purpose and

45:47approve payment

45:50>> so move

45:51>> second proper move and second any

45:53discussion

45:54All in favor? I.

45:55>> All oppose. Item pass.

45:58>> CIP resolutions being introduced. 21 um

46:01106. Per council rules, this will lay

46:04over for one week.

46:08Resolutions being introduced 08 10007

46:12through 211023.

46:15Move to wave the rules for immediate

46:18consideration of resolutions 08-10007

46:2308 09 1010

46:271011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017

46:361020 1021 and 1022 with the rest being

46:40laid over for one week. Second

46:42>> properly move and second. Any

46:43discussion? All in favor?

46:45>> All opposed.

46:47Mad clerk. 08

46:51107

46:53through

46:551016

46:56are approving purchase orders to Safe

46:58Haven Company,

47:00Best Price Services LLC, Gains Utility

47:03Construction Company LLC, JJ Quality

47:05Homes LLC, Southern Realy Management

47:09Group LLC, Hughes 360 Services LLC,

47:13Scott Allen Construction, Secure Land

47:16and Tree LLC, Vulcan construction

47:19materials.

47:21Oh, I'm sorry. Um,

47:24yeah. Secure land and tree for all those

47:27are for storm drainage, vegetation, and

47:29debris removal. Um, 081015, approved

47:33purchase order construction

47:34[clears throat] materials, LP for 600

47:37tons of limestone for public services.

47:3908 1016 approve purchase order to A andd

47:42Crumb Rail Concrete and Construction for

47:44storm drainage, vegetation, and debris

47:46removal. 081017 approved purchase order

47:49to University of South Alabama for 2026

47:52fall semester advanced EMT courses for

47:55six firefighters. 081020

47:58approved purchase order to Aaron's

48:00company for remote controlled moore.

48:02081021

48:04approve purchase order to invasive

48:05management services for storm drainage

48:07vegetation and debris removal. 081022

48:11approve purchase order to rock robotic

48:14for light detection and ranging scanner

48:16system with mounts base station software

48:19and support.

48:20>> So move

48:20>> second move in second. Any discussion?

48:24>> All in favor? I.

48:25>> All oppose. I don't pass.

48:27>> Call for public hearings. 411024.

48:33Call for public hearing to consider the

48:34vacation of a public alleyway adjacent

48:36to property located north of 144

48:39Highland Avenue scheduled October the

48:4127th 411025.

48:44Call for public hearing to consider a

48:46vacation fee as a condition of the

48:48vacation of a public alleyway adjacent

48:50to property located north of 144

48:53Highland Avenue scheduled October 27th.

48:55>> So moved.

48:56>> Second properly move second. Any

48:58discussion? All in favor? I. All oppose

49:02open hearings call.

49:03>> Announcements.

49:04>> Uh, District 6, Councilman Woods.

49:06>> No announcements, Mr. President.

49:08>> District five, Councilman Fleman.

49:09>> No announcements.

49:10>> District 4, Councilman Reynolds.

49:12>> Thank you, Mr. President. Just want to

49:14remind everyone we're having a District

49:154 community meeting next Tuesday from

49:196:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Mobile Christian.

49:22Also want to remind everyone about the

49:26the new Cypress Creek golf course that

49:29is being developed by the county. Mobile

49:31County is purchased and redone the golf

49:33course and it is officially being

49:36opening to opened tomorrow and um I

49:40think several of us here are going to go

49:42and we can't say how much we appreciate

49:45our county commission enough to make

49:47these sort of investments within the

49:50city of Mobile. I I think it's going to

49:52be a great success and I hope it

49:54provokes a little bit of competition,

49:56let's say, between the city and the

49:57county where we go in and we make some

50:00improvements to Aelia City and we have

50:02first class uh golf facilities in the

50:04city of Mobile. And it's important

50:07because golf as a sport that it's a it's

50:11a self-regulated sport. It it teaches

50:14our kids, our youth, how to be

50:16responsible and own up when you make a

50:17mistake. I mean, you you call uh

50:21penalties on yourself when you play golf

50:23and um it it's just a it's a it's a

50:25lifetime sport. So, I want to encourage

50:27every every youth or adult out there to

50:29to get involved with the game of golf.

50:31It's a it's a fantastic sport. Thank

50:33you, Mr. President.

50:36>> Thank you, Mr. Reynold. District 1.

50:37Councilman Pin.

50:38>> Thank you, Mr. President. This past

50:40week, I had the opportunity to attend a

50:42conference in Washington DC with my

50:45colleagues, um Dr. Ingram, uh, President

50:48Small and Chief Brown from the mayor

50:50office and we had an opportunity to

50:53learn. We had an opportunity to build

50:55relationships and bring information back

50:57home. Um, I think it's very important.

50:59We had um, we had opportunity to sit on

51:01different sessions dealing with tourism.

51:04Also, um, hearing from u, mayors from

51:06other cities and what they're doing to

51:08create change um, and that's our goal is

51:11to bring that information back to the

51:13city of Mobile. Um, if you don't go, you

51:15won't grow. and we have to be able to go

51:18and learn and be able to bring that

51:19information back. After heading back to

51:22Mobile, I heard that we lost two people

51:24in the city of Mobile. So, my prayers

51:27are with Chef Douglas from Bishop State.

51:29Um he was an amazing man that provided a

51:31lot of service to these young people.

51:33Hospitality um just was amazing. Um and

51:36so we're praying for um his family. Um

51:39we also had a transition of um a

51:41gentleman named Brandon Shoots who was

51:43known in the Tomaville community um for

51:45playing at Laflur High School football

51:47team as well as um in the Mazeville

51:50community. We're praying for the Shoes

51:52family um the Lafllora Rattler family

51:55and everyone that's connected to Brandon

51:57Shoes. We're praying for you um at this

52:00time. Um with that being said, I think

52:03it's very vital as a city, as a

52:06community for us to come together. So on

52:08September 29th, we will have a District

52:11One community meeting with partnership

52:13with the administration um and the

52:15public safety department for safe

52:17passage. If you live in district one,

52:19and I believe even if you live outside

52:21those limits and you want to be a part

52:23of change, this is a program that you

52:26want to hear more about. We need

52:28volunteers, we need residents, we need

52:30parents, we need business owners, we

52:32need community leaders. It's time for us

52:34as a community to come together. And

52:37with this safe passage program, you'll

52:39basically learn more about the program

52:42and find ways that you can help a young

52:44person in our city and in our community.

52:47So, I'm inviting everyone out on

52:49September the 29th at 6:30 at the

52:52Franklin Street Baptist Church on 2113

52:56St. Stevens Road, Mobile, Alabama. The

52:58information will be in my newsletter as

53:00well as um on our social media

53:03platforms. We're inviting everyone to

53:05come out. Let's work together. We're

53:07stronger together. Thank you, Mr.

53:08President.

53:09>> Thank you, Mr. Pan. District 2,

53:11Councilwoman Ingram.

53:12>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, greetings,

53:14District 2 and the citizens of Mobile.

53:16Um, I too had the opportunity to attend

53:18that same conference. And I want to

53:20start by, uh, thanking President Small

53:22and Visit Mobile. They had an

53:24opportunity to present our story. They

53:26share with uh planners across the nation

53:28the great things that are happening in

53:30Mobile and why Mobile should be the

53:32designated site for coming to and

53:34hosting their events. And as a result of

53:36that, while I was sitting in that

53:38conference, I was getting texts from

53:40people across the nation that was in

53:42that room that I knew, you know, from

53:44college and so forth, just saying, "Wow,

53:46we didn't know all of that was happening

53:47in Mobile." So again, they did an I mean

53:50an awesome job in presenting our story

53:52and I'm sure we're going to begin to

53:55reap some of the benefits from that. So

53:57and again just uh the partnership with

54:00Visit Mobile, it really made an impact.

54:02So thank you, President Small. Um also

54:05in uh district 2 on I think it's

54:09Wednesday.

54:12Is it Wednesday? Nope, it's today. Today

54:14at 6 o'clock, we're going to have a

54:17campground bottom community meeting and

54:19it's going to be at Tabernacle Baptist

54:21Church. Uh so please join us. That's at

54:246:00 p.m. Come out, get involved, hear

54:26what's happening in your community. So

54:29be a part of that. And lastly, on

54:32Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., I would like for

54:34you to join me in participating in the

54:37Africa Town uh tent revival, celebrating

54:40100 years of annivers uh their 100th

54:43anniversary in fellowship with the

54:45historic churches of Africa Town. And

54:47that will be at Kid Park. And that's

54:49again Wednesday the 23rd at 6:30 p.m.

54:53And that concludes my announcements.

54:54Thank you.

54:55>> Uh thank you, Councilwoman, and

54:57greetings to the citizens of District 3.

54:59Uh as uh my colleagues uh Councilman Pin

55:02and Councilwoman Ingram has stated, we

55:04went to Washington DC on last week with

55:06visit Mobile. Had a um opportunity to um

55:11um to um to front our city. Uh many that

55:15was in present did not know the things

55:17that's going on in Mobile, the things

55:19that we do have in Mobile. They did not

55:21know about it. And that's one thing that

55:23we lack on here in the city of Mobile.

55:25We do not tell our story. and we don't

55:28tell our story, you know who gonna tell

55:31it. It's a sad dog that don't wag his

55:33own tail. So therefore, we did go out to

55:36DC and tomorrow u there'll be many um um

55:42planners, thank you coming to our city

55:44tomorrow to see exactly the things that

55:46we had talked about uh in DC and they

55:48come tomorrow just to see uh exactly

55:51what we was talking about. And these

55:53planners, they go out and they market to

55:55different groups to then have different

55:57groups to come to Mobile and uh a

56:00different city to see exactly, you know,

56:02what's going on to have their

56:03conventions here. One thing about

56:05Mobile, we are an affordable city. We

56:08not as high as Atlanta or Tampa or or

56:12Dallas, Texas or Houston, Texas. We are

56:14affordable city and we are walkable

56:16city. We are hospitality city. You know,

56:18we are that southern hospitality. We

56:20build food. And again, we have to tell

56:23people exactly what's going on where

56:25people can come here and not only just

56:28come here and see what's going on, but

56:29also spend money in our hotels and spend

56:32money in our um restaurants and spend

56:34money with our local vendors. Again, it

56:36was a great pleasure to uh represent the

56:39city of Mobile on last week and

56:42Councilman Pin said, "If you don't go,

56:44you won't grow." I want to add to that,

56:46if you don't go, you won't know. And um

56:50pretty much Councilman Pin and

56:51Councilwoman Ingram, we are will be

56:53presenting something in the next couple

56:55of weeks of some things that we did did

56:57learn in DC that we bringing back here

56:59to Mobile, Alabama. Is anything from the

57:02administration? Just briefly, I I just

57:04want to thank the council for passing

57:06the budget today. I want to thank you

57:08for the intentionality and effort that

57:10you put into understanding this budget

57:13and and working with the team. Um, you

57:16know, I take very little credit for the

57:18hard work uh that I want to give to um

57:22James Barber, Logan Guan, Donna, and

57:26Lee. U the amount of work that that

57:30foresome put into this budget is truly

57:33herculean and unbelievable. Many late

57:36nights, um many early mornings, and this

57:39budget uh has your fingerprints all over

57:42it. And I want to thank you not only for

57:44that work, but for your ability to

57:46coordinate and collaborate with all of

57:48our departments, each of our department

57:50heads. I want to thank every chief and

57:53executive director and director that had

57:55their input heard in this budget. Uh,

57:58and I just look forward to getting back

57:59to work with the council, with this

58:01administrative staff, uh, to continue to

58:04move Mobile forward. And I just thank

58:05you for for passing this budget.

58:08>> Mr. President,

58:09>> uh, Mr. rentals.

58:10>> I failed while we had all this, you

58:13know, $400 plus million dollars worth of

58:15budget in front of us and everything

58:16else, I failed to mention uh the

58:19Southwest Mobile County Chamber of

58:21Commerce, their tall program. Their

58:23students are here today. If y'all could

58:25just stand and be recognized. [applause]

58:32This is a fantastic program put on by

58:34the chamber and uh Tina Peru and the

58:36team. Uh it takes the very best leaders

58:39uh throughout the county and um you know

58:42sort of puts them to work and and they

58:45learn and understand how government and

58:46business and everything else goes on and

58:48you're going to you're going to very

58:50much appreciate this later on in life.

58:51I'm glad you all participated and I hope

58:54that all of you pick up golf. I want you

58:56to start playing golf. It's going to pay

58:57off for you. So thank you for being

58:59here. With that, Mr. President, I'll

59:01make a motion to adjurnn.

59:02>> Second.

59:02>> And and one more from me. Uh, I think

59:05I'm going to have to start pushing

59:06tennis since we do have the world's

59:08largest uh, public tennis court right

59:11here in Mobile. So, tennis is also very

59:13good and a lifelong sport. And before I

59:15forget it, Tina, we need to recognize

59:16you as well. Please stand up. Tina Peru,

59:18who brings these kids to us every year

59:20and does such great work for the Chamber

59:23of Commerce. And before we go, as well,

59:26we do have a public safety committee

59:28meeting this afternoon. It is pushed to

59:302:30 in case you did not get the uh note

59:33on that. 2:30 we will be in the

59:35conference room on the 9inth floor for

59:37our public safety committee meeting.

59:39That's all

59:41>> I guess I can say now. Any discussion?

59:44[laughter]

59:45All in [snorts] favor? I. All oppose.