2026-10-14 - Pre-Council

00:00Good morning.

00:01>> It's good to see everyone this morning.

00:02Ladies and gentlemen, we're now in the

00:03hands of our capable city clerk, Miss

00:04Lisa Carol.

00:05>> This is the pre meeting of the Mobile

00:06City Council Wednesday, October the

00:0914th. We have approval of minutes from

00:12October the 6th.

00:13>> Any issues? Anyone?

00:16>> All right.

00:17>> Appeals. We have requests for a way of

00:18the noise ordinance on November the 28th

00:20from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at

00:22Figures Park. [gasps]

00:24October 24th from 3 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

00:27Washington Square Park. October the 25th

00:31from 2 PM until 800 PM on North Clay

00:33Street. October 30th through the 31st

00:36900 pm until 2 am on Dolphin Street. And

00:39October 17th from 3 p.m. until 9:45 on

00:42Marine Street.

00:44>> Mr. President.

00:45>> Uh yes.

00:46>> If we could change um 564 Dolphin Street

00:49to 10 p.m. Thank you.

00:51>> And also Marine Street, change that to

00:539:00 p.m. Please,

00:55>> Mr. President.

00:56>> Um yes, Mr. um P. I have no issues with

00:59the Norris ordinance at Figures Park for

01:01the greatest high school in the world,

01:02John Laf floor. Um the largest um

01:05reunion

01:07>> in the world reunion in the world, too.

01:09>> Yeah, that's why y'all don't have no

01:11place to go this year. [laughter]

01:14>> All right, madam clerk. [laughter]

01:17>> Presentation of petitions and other

01:19communications to the council. Reggie

01:20Hill to introduce amendments to the

01:22Mobile City code chapters 384652.

01:26Introduce amendments to Ruse's meetings

01:28procedure and public safety. Uh Molina

01:32Green comments regarding second line

01:34transit council meetings and serving the

01:36citizens of Mobile or

01:38>> Mr. President.

01:39>> Yeah, Mr. Pan.

01:40>> Um I do see that we have um Miss Green

01:43speaking on some concerns with the

01:46second line transit. Um I have received

01:48emails um and I saw video of citizens um

01:52complaining about the new service. Um, I

01:55just kind of want to get an update of

01:57what's taking place from the standpoint

01:59of how many people are been served since

02:02the transition. I also have received

02:04information that during the um I guess

02:08the what the mo

02:10>> what we calling that

02:11>> micro

02:12>> micro the micro um that they don't have

02:15enough vehicles to accommodate this new

02:18route. So now people are getting to work

02:21late, some two hours late um that they

02:24actually had to go speak um to someone

02:27job. So I would just like to kind of get

02:29an update. I'm requesting an update to

02:31see exactly what's taking place um and

02:33anything that this city council can do

02:35to support any initiatives to get this

02:38information so the residents understand

02:40how to utilize the service.

02:47>> Oh yeah. It's not dead yet.

02:50>> All right, madam clerk.

02:54>> Ordinance is held over 64048. Consider

02:57an application to reszone property

02:58located at 1451 Cedar Crescent Drive.

03:02>> Uh uh council, we heard from many

03:04residents on last week u as they came

03:06down with concerns, even got some calls

03:08on yesterday where supposedly the owner

03:11is back there cutting down um trees u in

03:15some wetland areas. I'm going ask the

03:17administration if they possible to um to

03:20look over there to make sure that things

03:22are in line, especially the complaints

03:24that we had got on last week as far as

03:26the fence and etc and everything. But I

03:29ask that this council, you know, hear

03:31the residents out on this particular

03:33item here.

03:35>> Mr. President, uh Mr. uh Woods, um I I

03:39think and if your email box looks like

03:41mine, um there's been overwhelming um

03:44comments from the neighbors. Um, you

03:47know, again, this was a this was a

03:48denial recommendation for denial from

03:50planning commission. Um, on top of that,

03:52um, one of the main reasons that that it

03:54was recommended for denial is is the

03:56last time it it came to planning

03:58commission and and and build mobile, you

04:01know, there are certain specifications

04:02and things that they had to accomplish.

04:04Um, and uh, that's obviously not been

04:07done. So, you know, again, I just want

04:09to reiterate this is a recommendation

04:10for denial from planning commission. Um,

04:13and again, the criteria that was that

04:15was laid in in front of them or provided

04:17to them the last time that they they

04:18visited, um, it hasn't been met. So, I

04:20just want to make that note.

04:21>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Woods. Madam

04:23Clerk,

04:25>> 64049, consider the proposed

04:27modification of a previously approved

04:29plan unit development for property

04:30located at 1891 and 1901 Herail Street.

04:34And this particular item here is just

04:36getting ready to uh the city had was

04:39able to uh be in partnership with a

04:41private developer uh doing some homes on

04:43Herail Street where the old Mayans is.

04:46So right behind the uh the current

04:48apartments they're going to build some

04:50senior houses back there. So they trying

04:51to get all that paperwork and stuff in

04:53order and we can go ahead and have a

04:55groundbreaking on that. Madam clerk,

04:57>> consent resolutions held over 311059

05:01authorize the mayor to to accept and

05:03receive a grant from the state of

05:05Alabama department of conservation and

05:06natural resources for Brookley by the

05:09Bay Southern Activation Zone phase 1B

05:11project.

05:11>> Mr. President, Mr. Reynolds,

05:13>> I'm [clears throat] glad we got this

05:14grant from um Go Mesa for $9 million,

05:18but I'm told that this phase $9 million

05:21doesn't cover the cost of that phase.

05:23So, where's the rest of the money coming

05:25from?

05:26>> Good morning.

05:27>> Morning.

05:27>> Um, so yes, this is a $9 million grant.

05:30Um, this is the largest award that the

05:31state gave out this year was to the city

05:33for this project. Um, we have in there a

05:37$5 million cost share, which brings it

05:39up to $14 million. That's what the bid

05:42package that's going to go out for this

05:43after this is approved is going to look

05:45like, and that includes all of the

05:47amenities that are noted in the cover

05:49letter. So you're saying the cost share

05:52of $5 million is not money that we've

05:54already spent out there. This is

05:56actually a $5 million that's going to

05:58make it $14 million total project.

06:00>> Yeah, that's correct. So these are

06:02voluntary cost shares voluntary

06:04contribution. All GMEA projects are

06:06asked, you know, you're asked to state

06:08what is the city or municipality's cost

06:10share. Um this was determined under the

06:12Stimson administration that that was

06:14going to be our contribution to that in

06:15order to get a large award like this.

06:18We're going to be coming back to the

06:19council to actually allocate that. This

06:21construction sequence will cover two

06:23fiscal years. Um the grant money, the $9

06:26million will be spent first. And so

06:28we're going to be working on that as we

06:30get the bid package and see what the

06:31actual cost of the project is because

06:33they're all estimates at this time.

06:35>> So where's the $5 million coming from?

06:38>> City capital.

06:39>> So we're just going to spend our cash on

06:41Brookley by the Bay. That's what we're

06:43doing.

06:44>> Correct.

06:44>> Okay.

06:46>> Yeah. And and one thing I would say, and

06:48I know that this was brought up last

06:50[clears throat] week, excuse me, is that

06:52um there is an active effort underway to

06:55look to other federal uh funding

06:57sources. And I think we mentioned WERA.

06:59We have some optimism with regard to

07:01that grant, but the it's certainly the

07:03hope that we'll be able to find um you

07:06know that that 5 million through other

07:07federal sources.

07:08>> Yeah, I would I would strongly advise us

07:10to do that. I mean, I love the Brookley

07:12by the Bay project. I mean, Jen and

07:14team, they've come up with a fantastic

07:15plan. I think it's a it's a nice amenity

07:18that we should have, but you know, we're

07:20spending a lot of our cash in downtown

07:22Mobile. And, you know, at some point,

07:26we've got to spend our cash somewhere

07:29other than downtown Mobile. I mean, I

07:31love this project. I think it's great,

07:32but my goodness, how how how long we

07:35going to just keep gathering up taxes

07:37and cash and spend it in downtown, you

07:39know? I I just or near downtown. Um, I

07:42think we need to be mindful of that of

07:45of the cash that we have where we're

07:47spending it because I guarantee you that

07:50Councilman Woods, Councilman Fleming,

07:52Councilman Penn, Councilwoman Gregory

07:54and small, I mean, we all have areas we

07:57could spend that $5 million and it would

07:59make a tremendous impact to the rest of

08:01the residents of our city.

08:05>> Mr. President,

08:06>> uh, Mr. Yeah.

08:07>> Um Jan, one I I just want to thank you

08:10and your team for getting receiving this

08:12the largest grant in this, you know, in

08:15Alabama. That's a that's a plus. Um

08:18phase 1B. Can you explain that phase and

08:21how it looks?

08:23>> That's right. So remember this is

08:25designed to be a regional park for the

08:26whole city to use. We did over six

08:28months of community engagement where we

08:30had hundreds of responses including

08:32responses from 300 children um that told

08:34us how they wanted the park to be built.

08:36And so what we're building is what the

08:38Mobile community wants. Um the park

08:40includes two destination play spaces for

08:43children. Um there's a playground area

08:45that's uh designed to be like you're in

08:47the forest up in the trees. Um there's

08:50also an experiential water play area

08:52which is exactly what we heard from

08:54children. Um so we're really excited

08:56about that. There's a kayak launch.

08:57There's obviously a parking area and a

08:59road in that allows for parking for 150

09:02um people. Um there's also um beach

09:06volleyball um ADA compliant um beach

09:09access boardwalks, championship disc

09:11golf, which is something that's been uh

09:13advocated for for a long time. I know

09:14all of you are aware of that. Um picnic

09:17shelters and comfort stations. That's

09:18what we call our restrooms in Brookley

09:20because they're designed to fit into the

09:21natural environment. Um and also a fence

09:23dog run which is something that people

09:25really ask for.

09:26>> And so all this will be in phase 1B.

09:29>> That is correct. Yeah. So it all depends

09:31on your bid prices. So just remember

09:33that. So this is a bid where we have an

09:36estimate. We got to put it out onto the

09:38street. This is a competitive bid

09:39environment. So we're really looking

09:41forward to seeing that. Um but we will

09:43come back to you obviously with the

09:45construction package when it is awarded.

09:47>> All right. Thank you for the

09:48information.

09:49>> I disagree with you uh Miss Jean. Uh,

09:51Jen, um, it's going to be more than just

09:54for the residents of Mobile. I mean,

09:56this going to be for surrounding areas.

09:58>> I mean, I can see people from Baldwin

10:00County

10:00>> 100%

10:01>> coming over to Mobile for this. Um,

10:03besides working, you know, and

10:05everything can be

10:05>> there's nothing like it in anywhere

10:07[clears throat] near where we live.

10:09>> So, this is pretty much is a tourist

10:11destination what this is going to be.

10:14And again when we have tourists coming

10:16to our city and spending money on their

10:17way to the park from downtown and tip

10:20corner etc. you know hopefully they will

10:22stop and buy some food and groceries and

10:25etc. then go there then when they leave

10:27they get some snack then go back home

10:28especially across the bay. So this is

10:30great news. I appreciate you so much for

10:32all that you do.

10:33>> Thank you Mr. President.

10:35>> Um yes.

10:37>> And Miss I want to echo those uh

10:39sentiments. Would you describe for the

10:41public exactly where this is located so

10:43that we they have an idea when we say

10:45Brooklyn by the Bay where this is

10:46located?

10:47>> Sure. That's that's right. So it is

10:49actually right next to Brookley

10:50Airfield. So the new uh airport. Um it

10:54is right off I 10. So the Broad Street

10:56or the Michigan exit. So it is

10:58accessible to many many people. It's

11:00about three minutes off the exit. You

11:02can get there from Midtown and downtown

11:04and other ways down Broad Street and

11:06Michigan Avenue. Um so it is a really

11:08central location. And that's why I

11:10expect it to be very very well visited

11:12by many many people.

11:13>> And and I wanted you to point that out

11:15that it is a central location and it I

11:17think that's in uh President Small's

11:19district. It is. Yes.

11:20>> Uh but the fact that it's a central

11:22location that really lends itself to

11:26becoming uh a destination spot and so uh

11:29thank you for continuing to seek funds

11:31outside of uh public funds to um you

11:34know to make this happen. Thank you.

11:36>> Welcome. Thank you. I think the best

11:38thing is it's about 3 minutes off the

11:40interstate.

11:40>> Yep. 3 minutes off the interstate.

11:42>> Great thing. Thank you.

11:43>> Thank you,

11:44>> Madam Clerk.

11:46>> Resolutions held over 01 1074 authorized

11:49foreign trade zone operator agreement

11:51with Transport Global. Mr. President,

11:54>> uh yes.

11:55>> Um this came up before and and I know

11:58you all the first time it came up you

12:00said that you know you don't know if

12:01they're going to do annual or if it's

12:03it's going to be for a certain size and

12:05so forth. I guess I'm asking for the

12:08grantee. Do we know like an estimate of

12:11what we're bringing in from this um

12:14trade zone agreement?

12:23>> Would you please because we this came up

12:25before um a couple months ago I think

12:28maybe longer than that but if we can get

12:30what you know in the actual companies

12:32that are participating. I know it states

12:33this one, but I think last it was a

12:35different company before.

12:36>> Yeah. Yeah. We we can get you kind of a

12:38list and summarize what

12:40>> Thank you. No problem,

12:41>> Mr. President.

12:41>> Yeah, Mr. P.

12:42>> Um I'm not sure the information you

12:45request that um Councilwoman Ingram, but

12:48can you also add um can we add what

12:51would be the economic benefit for the

12:54city so some residents just understand

12:56it?

12:56>> Sir.

12:56>> All right. Thank you.

12:58>> Okay. M clerk

13:01>> 011076

13:03authorized agreement with for grant

13:05participation with the Southwest Alabama

13:07Regional Highway Safety Office Community

13:09Traffic Safety Program.

13:12081080

13:14approved purchase order to Griffin

13:15Sports Equipment for three Spalding

13:17Renegade portable basketball hoop back

13:20stops with shot clock holders and

13:22installation.

13:24081083

13:26brew purchase order to deer and company

13:28for John one John Deere Progator utility

13:31vehicle with sprayer 081087

13:35a brew purchase order to spire for

13:37marketing services for events department

13:4021

13:41>> Mr. President.

13:42>> Yes, ma'am.

13:43>> Um, I spoke with the administration

13:45regarding this and I'm asking that we

13:46hold this over at least for one week so

13:49that we can get more information about

13:50the objectives like you know if this is

13:52a a you know what what is the marketing

13:55strategy the specific strategy and the

13:57targeted audience. So I've spoken with

14:00them and and it will not uh delay

14:02anything if we were to lay it over for a

14:04week both.

14:06>> Any issues in one?

14:08All right, madam clerk.

14:11>> 211088

14:13authorized contract respir for marketing

14:16services. So we're laying both of these

14:19over. Okay. 50 1089 resolution calling

14:23for public hearing and authorizing

14:25preparation of project plan for tax

14:28increment financing district 5 Midtown

14:30I65 corridor.

14:3450 1090. Resolution calling for public

14:37hearing and authorized preparation of

14:38project plan for tax increment financing

14:41district 7 south riverfront.

14:45>> Mr. President, Miss Reynolds,

14:47>> I'd ask that we hold uh these calls for

14:49public hearings over two weeks uh to

14:52allow our partners that are involved

14:54with this at the county and the school

14:56board to have a little more time to make

14:58sure they're comfortable with these maps

15:01uh before they're introduced. so that

15:02when we have the public hearing, we'll

15:04be discussing, you know, a pretty much

15:06agreed upon map, you know, with our

15:08partners on this one.

15:10>> Mr. President, uh, Mr. Woods and Mr.

15:13Pan, uh, Mr. Shre, I got a couple

15:15questions for you about these tiffs

15:18here. [clears throat]

15:19Um, right now in this package, there's

15:22just a copy of a map. Um, what what is

15:25the map there? I mean, can you explain

15:27like what that what that map is?

15:29>> Certainly. So these are these are kind

15:31of some initial proposed boundaries but

15:33you're not voting on boundaries today

15:35right I mean this is we're effectively

15:38starting the conversation and as we've

15:41discussed in the past the statute

15:43requires that this is an extensive

15:44conversation it's a conversation that

15:46involves the council here the

15:48administration it involves the public uh

15:50it's conversation where the taxing

15:52authorities from the county school

15:53system have an opportunity to weigh in

15:55so we've got multiple meetings left

15:57again no boundaries are being set in

15:59stone today. It's just let's start the

16:01conversation. Here are some proposed

16:03boundaries,

16:03>> right? And then I guess our next step

16:05obviously community um meetings are are

16:08going to occur. There's a public hearing

16:09I think let me see there's a call for

16:12public hearing I think on here I guess

16:14scheduled for October 27th if we were to

16:16take it up today. And then also too I

16:20guess the the next step is there a plan

16:22or something that has to be developed

16:24like a board I think. Right.

16:26>> Absolutely. So, so the next step um is

16:29not only that call for public hearing

16:31which actually needs to be November 3rd.

16:33The October 27th was what the

16:34understanding that it was going to be

16:36last week past last week. So, November

16:383rd will be the the public hearing. Um

16:41but also what the council is doing is

16:42they're authorizing the administration

16:44to prepare a project plan, right? And

16:46that is essentially the plan uh for that

16:49increment, right? When we get the

16:51increment deposited into the TIF, how is

16:52it going to get spent? and and so what

16:55the what the council is approving today

16:57is a resolution saying let's have that

16:59public hearing. Let's go ahead and issue

17:00the notice to the taxing authority so we

17:02can set that meeting. Here's some

17:04proposed boundaries. Again, we're going

17:05to discuss that. That's subject to

17:07change. Uh and then also you're

17:09authorized to go out and prepare a

17:10project plan which ultimately the

17:12council will consider and and they can

17:15choose to approve it. we can we can have

17:17discussions about amendments, but again

17:19today is just starting that conversation

17:21>> and in that plan um and forgive me

17:23because I I don't have a tiff or never

17:26been involved in the tiff um in a tiff

17:28or development of a tiff. Um I guess the

17:31the plan there I mean you're talking

17:32about number of board members that have

17:35the authority to to authorize releasing

17:38of the funds I guess once it once the

17:40tiff collects it. um are projects or

17:43priorities identified in the the plan

17:45and I guess this is a 30-year TIFF I

17:47guess so for the next 30 years you know

17:50once once the plan and again the the

17:52plan would be in on our agenda

17:54eventually um and we would approve a

17:56plan or dis disapprove a plan or or

17:58possibly change a plan I guess

18:00>> absolutely

18:00>> and then um I guess kind of what we're

18:02saying is like let's just say that that

18:05we wanted to circle an area just a

18:07simple circle in my neighborhood and we

18:08wanted to put a tiff in my neighborhood

18:10um you The board would say, "Well,

18:13obviously we want those nice decorative

18:15lights in my neighborhood." All right,

18:16that's a priority. Let's try to work

18:17towards using the funds for that. Check.

18:20Uh, we want a we want a water feature.

18:22We want to dig a pond and we want a

18:23water feature. Um, all right. So, that's

18:25a priority in our plan that we've

18:27developed for the next 30 years to try

18:28to accomplish. That's what the plan is,

18:30right? I guess is that my understanding?

18:32>> No, I think you you hit it spot on. What

18:34we're trying to do here with these

18:36project plans is to set forth and

18:39delineate those projects which are

18:41important to the city, right? To to use

18:43these funds to advance. Now, the city is

18:47not going to be able to uh to use the

18:50funds for projects that are not listed

18:52in the approved project plan, right,

18:54without coming back to the council and

18:56and seeking an amendment of that plan.

18:58So, you're exactly right. That's what

19:00we're doing here is we're we're going to

19:01set forth those projects which are

19:04important which we believe these funds

19:06should be expended on.

19:07>> And then all we're doing on this on our

19:09agenda today is um obviously it's a

19:11little different. Um you know a lot of

19:13times whenever something whether it's a

19:14reasonzoning matter there's a there's an

19:16action from the planning commission that

19:18that's kind of triggered a a need for a

19:20call for public hearing. So the

19:21resolutions we're just telling oursel

19:24that hey we we recognize that we need to

19:26have a public hearing. This is what's

19:27kicking kicking off the the public

19:29hearing process. And then obviously down

19:31the agenda is is the calls for public

19:32hearing. But I guess am I hearing

19:34correct that that right now these maps

19:37are just proposed. They're general.

19:38They're thrown out there. I'm sure you

19:40got data because it has to meet certain

19:42criteria. Um and obviously I think

19:44there's probably a plan that y'all have

19:45in your mind of, you know, why you why

19:48you encircled certain areas or why it's

19:49in the tiff. And then I guess basically

19:52I mean y'all probably I would imagine on

19:53the back of a napkin somewhere have a

19:55plan for what a board and what the

19:57authority would look like the tiff

19:59authority but yeah you know we we'll

20:01work through that and so really all

20:02we're doing today is calling for a

20:04public hearing. I guess the feedback

20:05that we're looking at the public hearing

20:07and also too we're we're allowing you to

20:09you know legally and effectively and per

20:12the the state statute notify our our

20:15partners whether it's at the county or

20:17whether it's at the school board that

20:18you know we're looking at doing this and

20:21then that that therefore would you know

20:23legally and efficiently and I guess the

20:25right way per the statute would allow

20:27them to provide comments back for us to

20:29to kind of kind of take into

20:31consideration. So really all we're doing

20:32today is we're not passing a plan. We're

20:35not even passing a tiff. All we're doing

20:37is we're just saying, "Hey, we recognize

20:38that we want to put a tiff in these

20:40places and we're going to call for

20:41public hearings so we can start per the

20:43statute, legal statute, start getting

20:46the comments um from the public and also

20:48act actually working towards what a plan

20:51would look like. And I'd imagine is

20:52there a time frame on when possibly the

20:55statute from I guess from a call for

20:57public hearing to to you know plan tiff

21:01plans showing up on our agenda. Is there

21:03a time frame set up set out in the

21:04statute? Is it like 90 days within 20

21:06120?

21:07>> Absolutely. So so there's various

21:09requirements and it's it's very complex

21:11and and it's complicated by nature,

21:13right? I mean they want everyone to have

21:15an opportunity to weigh in and so that's

21:17why the statute is is set out like that.

21:19Um, but I think at the earliest we'd

21:22probably be looking at a vote to approve

21:24somewhere in the range of a month,

21:26right? Um, but again, that process can

21:28can go longer. It just it's kind of

21:30dependent on [clears throat] how these

21:31conversations go.

21:32>> And that's also within a month or 60

21:34days. Let's just say it shows up on the

21:36agenda. Um, and I I can ask Jonathan,

21:39too. I mean, honestly, if we're not

21:41comfortable with the thing, then we can

21:43weigh the thing over a couple weeks

21:44until we do get comfortable or we can

21:46the dag on thing down. So, I mean,

21:47that's I mean, that's correct, I guess.

21:49Am I right on that?

21:50>> Right. You're you're not being asked to

21:51approve uh the creation of the TIF

21:53district. You're not being asked to

21:55approve uh the boundaries of TIFF

21:57district or a project plan today. We're

21:59we're asking you to start the

22:00conversation.

22:01>> Gotcha. I think that's all my questions.

22:02Thank you.

22:03>> Uh Mr. Pen, Mr. R.

22:05>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um

22:07[clears throat]

22:07couple questions.

22:09Um,

22:11does the county as well as the school

22:14board has to vote on this tiff for it to

22:22>> in terms of them having vote? They do

22:24not. However,

22:26>> I'm sorry, thought I'd turn it on. Um,

22:30no, they're they are not required uh to

22:32vote on the tiff. what there is is a uh

22:36meeting of the taxing authorities where

22:38they can send a representative to to

22:40speak to the tiff and uh and engage in

22:43in conversations about the boundaries,

22:44what's proposed, all of that.

22:47>> So, um the next question, have we spoke

22:52with the county or the school board

22:55about the tiff already or is the public

22:57hearing legally is the way to start

22:59those conversations?

23:01>> Yeah. So, we'll we will kick off um the

23:05public hearing for the public comment,

23:07but I'm going to let the mayor speak to

23:08conversations with the other taxing

23:11authorities.

23:11>> Yeah, certainly. We um you know, I met

23:14as early as this morning with uh

23:16Commissioner Dit. I met with

23:17Commissioner Hudson yesterday. We're

23:20we're having some of these conversations

23:22informally, you know, whether on the

23:24phone or in person. Uh we expect those

23:27meetings to continue throughout the time

23:30leading up to um the meeting should that

23:33should this be approved should the

23:34letter you know the letter requires I

23:36believe 20 days notice at a minimum you

23:39know we're going to seek to find a day

23:41that works for everybody and we'll be

23:43talking throughout that time frame and

23:45and hopefully by the time that meeting

23:47rolls around we will all be in

23:48agreement. Let me say, you know, while

23:50the statute that allows uh us as a city

23:54to create a tiff doesn't specifically

23:56require a vote by the taxing

23:58authorities, it does not. That said,

24:00this is a partnership. You know, we we

24:02want these tiffs to be something that

24:04benefit not just the city uh but every

24:06person that lives in Mobile County. As

24:09we all know, you know, when Mobile when

24:12good things happen in Mobile, it

24:14positively affects the entire region. uh

24:16Mobile, you know, is the true economic

24:19hub of, I would say, the Mobile Bay

24:22area. And so what is good for the city

24:24generally is good for the county and the

24:26schools. Um in the end, you know, the

24:30schools and the counties are not giving

24:31up any dollars today, but the the

24:34likelihood is that in the future they

24:36won't receive all of the monies that

24:38they would typically from property

24:40taxes. Anything that increases from the

24:43time the tiff is created will go into

24:44the tiff. Um, we always in our project

24:47plans include language in there that

24:50allows for investment in public

24:51infrastructure, you know, which would

24:54could mean schools, which would mean

24:55roads, which would mean a lot of the

24:58things that uh generally the the

25:01counties uh the county and the school

25:03board partner on already. And so these

25:07tips, while while there's not a vote

25:09required, we have no desire to try to

25:12force feed anyone what we want. We are

25:15working hard to prepare you know a

25:18proposed boundary. We have been working

25:20diligently on uh you know numbers as far

25:23as vacancy under under use. Um we

25:27looking at blight. We've been doing

25:29windshield surveys. Uh we can continue

25:32to do those. We will continue to do

25:33those through this process. Uh this is

25:36truly just the beginning of the

25:37conversation. This is including the

25:39public in those conversations instead of

25:42us having all of those meetings you know

25:44behind closed doors and in private which

25:46we will. We're also including the public

25:48in those discussions so that uh you know

25:51their input can be received. Uh it can

25:53be calculated and incorporated in any

25:56future plan that we actually do propose.

25:58Uh what is happening today is truly the

26:01beginning of the conversation. So for

26:04the public to understand having a public

26:05hearing is just really being

26:07transparent. um from the standpoint

26:09giving everyone the opportunity to share

26:11their concerns. Um the second thing

26:14regard I'm not sure how this council is

26:16going to move forward today but I think

26:18that we know that we want to move the

26:20city forward and moving the city forward

26:21is moving the schools forward, moving

26:24the county forward. Um and but I think

26:26the the community and residents really

26:29don't understand the tiff.

26:31>> Yeah. And so some information that I

26:33would just like to request um that we

26:35can start preparing in this season is

26:38that we kind of share how it would

26:39benefit the county,

26:41>> how it would benefit the school systems.

26:44Um and does the board make the final

26:48decision when it when the board is

26:50created? Um and I'll send all this

26:53information. right in the email. Um, and

26:56then will a tiff fund be used for

26:58streets, drainage, sidewalks, just

27:00understanding how it works. Um, and I

27:02think having that information and being

27:04able to share publicly is important and

27:07also how would it um help existing

27:10residents and small business? Um, how

27:13would how would they benefit from it?

27:15And I just think if we had like a I

27:17guess like a a PDF that we could put in

27:19our newsletter so the community can

27:22community can understand and know what

27:24to ask and maybe they don't have to ask

27:26a lot of [snorts] questions if we

27:27already present them with some of the

27:29answers that we think that they have

27:31concerns about.

27:32>> Absolutely. And and part of this public

27:33comment this public hearing will be a

27:36presentation almost exactly like what

27:38you just described. Okay.

27:39>> You know we are actively working on that

27:41public presentation portion of it. I

27:43expect it will be in a form that can be

27:45sharable, you know, through a link or

27:47through a newsletter. Um, we'll

27:49[clears throat] make sure that's

27:50available to you. Uh, but certainly

27:52TIFF, you know, it took me months to

27:55figure out exactly what that meant and

27:57I'm still learning things. But

27:59when you look at downtown Mobile, if you

28:02imagine the city of Mobile without the

28:04improvements that have happened in

28:06downtown Mobile over the last 33 years,

28:08it's really hard to imagine what the

28:10city would look like. It's it's hard for

28:12me to picture what, you know, that city

28:15would look like because I see the

28:17benefits of 33 years ago the

28:20establishment of a tiff that led to some

28:22of the largest development in our city's

28:25history. Um, I believe that is possible

28:27through these tiffs in every area that

28:30we are, you know, throwing a loose

28:32circle around right now. Uh, all of

28:34these, you know, we will get down to the

28:36street level, I'm sure, before this is

28:39over. Uh we will probably get to the

28:41address level on these maps before this

28:44is over. Um these are just proposals. We

28:47are absolutely you in the last week uh

28:49I've had multiple discussions um with

28:52county commissioners with city

28:54councilman. Uh I I've had conversations

28:58with Mr. uh with Crestle at school board

29:01and a number of school board members. Uh

29:03this is a conversation. We just want to

29:05bring the public into this conversation.

29:07All right.

29:07>> Thank you. Mr.

29:10>> I um it [clears throat] didn't take me a

29:12month to to figure out a tiff. I've been

29:14working on it for some time and I I

29:15think I got my head wrapped around it,

29:16but I been digging in deep just trying

29:18to understand like what is the purpose

29:19of this? Why were why were these

29:21established?

29:22And it's really to be a tool to you know

29:26affect a downtrodden or blighted

29:29community.

29:31And um you [clears throat] know the I'm

29:35I'm in favor of that. Um, but there's a

29:38cost associated with this tiff with a

29:40tiff, you know, because you're you you

29:43affect not just the county's advalorum

29:47tax, but the school board's adorum tax,

29:49but you also affect the city's general

29:51fund and their the other organizations

29:54general fund. And I think we got to be

29:56cogn cognizant of that as we consider

29:59these tiffs. And you know, the mayor

30:00used the downtown tiff as an example and

30:03it has been a a great success over the

30:05past 30ome years.

30:07the size of that tiff is, I don't know,

30:09500 acres or something like that. So, I

30:11was like, man, this this seems like it's

30:13covering a whole lot of area and we

30:15don't fully understand the implication

30:17on our general fund or the county's

30:19general fund or the school board's

30:21general fund. I just tell you right now,

30:22I don't care what conversations have,

30:24they're scared to death right now. All

30:25right? Uh that the city's going to have

30:29this big money grab and it's going to

30:31affect their general fund where they're

30:32not going to be able to provide the

30:33services to the level that they need to.

30:35And that includes things like the

30:36sheriff's department, that includes the

30:38jail, that includes, you know, our our

30:40ordinary schools. And I don't know that

30:43that that is a positive, a net positive

30:46for the for the city at large to draw

30:50down on vital resources from our general

30:54fund and our partners. So, how do we get

30:56to a place where it makes sense? I think

30:58there's plenty examples across the

31:00country where tiffs have been

31:03successful, but they've typically been

31:06smaller in nature. So, I looked up, man,

31:09we're going for some big tiffs here.

31:11What's the largest tiff in the United

31:13States?

31:14It's in Lake Calamett, Illinois. It's

31:1711,945

31:18acres. Big just outside of Chicago. I

31:22said, "Well, what's the biggest one in

31:23Alabama?" Well, Huntsville. They just

31:26passed one recently. around a Eli Liy

31:29plant that came in. What they had to do

31:32really because they had to make this big

31:33tiff, 9,000 acres. I mean, it's huge.

31:35Was they had to take in a bunch of like

31:37rural land and stuff around where this

31:39plant's coming because they're

31:39essentially going to have to build a new

31:41city, right, in this area. So, then we

31:44compare that to what the request is, you

31:46know, from why these maps are important

31:48because the request is

31:51for the Midtown TIF. Anybody know how

31:53many acres that they're requesting?

31:5612,000.

31:58What about the Tilman's Corner Theodore

32:00Tiff? How many acres you think they're

32:01requesting there? 12,000 acres. So,

32:05we're talking about drawing down on the

32:08resources of the city to an unknown

32:10amount. We don't know what the impact's

32:12going to be. Seen no study. Uh I've seen

32:16no projections about it. And all we see

32:19is a map that they say we want to do all

32:22these grandiose things. And it scares me

32:25a bit to be honest with you. I think

32:26this is a very abrupt direct approach.

32:29But it's not just scaring me. It I think

32:32it scares the people that are not

32:34surrounded by the tiff. You know, how

32:35does it benefit them? You know, they're

32:37going to school. They're relying on the

32:39resources of the sheriff's department.

32:40They're relying on the resources of the

32:42county. You know, what are the

32:43implications on pay as you go? You know,

32:46how how does you know, pay as you go is

32:48out of adarm as well, you know. So,

32:50how's that going to be affected? And you

32:52know, so and we get two votes at this,

32:56two votes. You know what those votes

32:57are? Call for a public hearing is one

33:01and approving the plan is the second. So

33:04when we're talking about making these

33:05just wholesale changes, yeah, it is just

33:09a call for a public hearing, but it's

33:11one of two bites that you get. And I

33:13think having the discussion with the

33:17public and having the discussion with

33:19our partners needs to be surrounding a

33:22precise area that is reasonable and

33:25understood

33:27about the implications if it were to

33:29happen on our general fund, the county's

33:33general fund, the school board's general

33:35fund. We've got County Commissioner

33:36Randall do it here today. I'd love for

33:38him to just say a few words. I mean,

33:39he's that I think I think he could

33:41provide a little bit of insight of kind

33:42of what the feel of the county is.

33:44Commissioner, do you mind saying a few

33:46words

33:47if you don't mind coming to the

33:48microphone?

33:49>> Mr. President, uh before that, can I

33:51make a statement, ask a question? Um to

33:54the administration, I I just want to

33:55before um Commissioner Dick comes up.

33:57Um, I do want to just say possibly

33:59because again tips are so new, um, it

34:01would be nice to maybe cut out a web a

34:04web page or something where all these

34:05can be listed um with information and

34:07I'm sure that you'll make aformational

34:09video. Um, you know, I don't know if you

34:11want to put your shiny shirt on again or

34:12what you want to do with that, but um,

34:15but uh, anything like that would be

34:17would be very good. And um, I do also

34:19just want to comment out of the general

34:21fund um, the city's general fund, I mean

34:23property tax uh, consists of 6%. So um

34:28so I just I just want to make that note

34:29before we we paint a big large thing as

34:31far as the city's concerned 6% of our

34:33budget and we're locking in uh with a

34:36tiff you'd lock in uh basically that. So

34:38I I just want to before we we go down a

34:40road of scary and doom and everything 6%

34:43of the budget

34:44>> before Yeah. If I could Yeah. Thank you,

34:49Mr. President. I appreciate that. And

34:51before Commissioner Dit comes uh I do

34:54Can y'all not hear me?

34:56Okay, we have a new system in here that

34:59we're still trying to work out the bugs,

35:00but um we do have a county commissioner

35:03here, um Representative Margie Wilcox

35:06and school board commissioner Johnny

35:08Hatcher. There may be others who were

35:10here today because they are very

35:12interested in this. and uh like uh

35:16Councilman Reynolds and Penn and Woods,

35:18we we all still do have some questions

35:21and concerns and certainly we have

35:23spoken to some of our colleagues um on

35:26the 10th floor on the other side as well

35:28as the school system. So, um I I think a

35:31lot of it we're just a little confused

35:33about how all of this actually works,

35:35who actually

35:37votes and has the the say so as to how

35:40these things come about because I'm

35:42probably misunderstood, but I thought

35:44that um the county and the school board

35:46actually had to do something official in

35:49order to agree to these before we could

35:51move forward. And that's not quite the

35:53case. I mean, I heard this morning that

35:56it's more of a resolution of agreement

35:59that that they can do. So, there's just

36:01a lot that's still, you know, we we just

36:04don't have the information together that

36:06we feel like we need to be able to

36:08explain it to our constituents. You

36:11know, overall, these should be really

36:12good things, whether it's this huge huge

36:15map that we're looking at or if we need

36:16to bring it down to, as Councilman

36:18Reynolds said, a little smaller that,

36:19you know, we can wrap our heads around.

36:21And as Councilman Wood said, you know,

36:24some of us uh or or I'm not sure who

36:26said it, but some of us, none of our

36:28districts will be impacted at all, you

36:30know. So, how do we then explain that to

36:32them? Uh the school board needs to be a

36:35part of this. The the county needs to be

36:36a part of this. And as I think it was

36:38Councilman Wood said, our PO could could

36:41really be at stake as as we move

36:43forward. And we don't want anything like

36:45that to happen. But I appreciate you all

36:47being here today and coming forward and

36:49these conversations are getting started.

36:51I know it's it's still early and a lot

36:54of conversation is still yet to be had

36:56and I appreciate that. Um, but I do

36:59agree that we need a PDF of something

37:02that gives us, you know, bullet by

37:04bullet by bullet explaining exactly what

37:06it is we're doing, how it all comes

37:08about, who it impacts, how it would be a

37:11positive uh change for the city, how it

37:13impacts our partners as well, so that

37:15when we're asked about it, we know

37:17exactly what's going on.

37:20Sure.

37:22>> Green is off and that is hard to

37:24understand.

37:25>> The green is off.

37:26>> And I'm sorry. I certainly want to give

37:27the mic to um Commissioner Dit. Um we

37:31certainly can and will provide all of

37:34the bullet points. Um you know, trying

37:37to get the borders and have justifiable

37:40reasons why we've chosen certain areas

37:43to be able to actually put data in the

37:45face of those decisions uh was very

37:48important. We have people working, you

37:50know, on some of those descriptions

37:52right now. Uh we're not authorized yet

37:54to actually create the plan. We hope

37:56that that will happen today for at least

37:58two of these. Um but it is I guarantee

38:02you that we will share those with you

38:03well before this public hearing is set,

38:05which would be in three weeks. Um we

38:09intend to share that with with you and

38:11our partners at the county and the

38:12school board as well. you know, whether

38:14there's a required vote or agreement or

38:17not with the school board and with the

38:20county, we don't want to pass anything

38:23that we don't have that on. We do not we

38:26are not going to put a project plan in

38:28front of you that includes any items

38:31that we don't have that general

38:33agreement with our partners at the

38:34county, with our partners on the school

38:36board. Uh we're not going to ask you to

38:39vote on that again until I can stand

38:42here next to Commissioner Dit um you

38:45know next to Mr. Johnny Hatcher who

38:47serves on the school board and say this

38:49is this is what we need to do. Uh again

38:53could we have done all of this behind

38:55closed doors prior to bringing the

38:57public in? Yes, we can. You we could

38:59have. These these have been

39:01conversations that have been happening,

39:02you know, since uh Miss Wilcox and her

39:05colleagues passed, you know, this

39:07expansion of the TIS from 10% to 50%.

39:11Um, frankly, you know, I don't think

39:13Mobile has time to waste. I think that

39:15we need to continue to push the ball.

39:18Um, these tips became we became eligible

39:20for that 50% cap about 13 days ago. Uh,

39:25we're trying to push these because I see

39:27the growth that's happening in

39:28Huntsville. I was there a couple of

39:30weeks ago with the Big 10. There are

39:33buildings, you know, multi-use

39:35facilities going up around every single

39:37corner and every one of them sits in the

39:40middle of a tiff. Yes, you can have

39:42projectbased tiffs like the Eli Liy tiff

39:44that is based on a project, you know, is

39:46coming. Uh, but we have areas where we

39:49know something will come eventually. We

39:51don't have the exact project delineated,

39:53but we know that when you look south of

39:56Tilman's Corner and a lot of that vacant

39:58land, something's coming there. You

40:00know, we need millions of square footage

40:01of of um logistics warehouse space alone

40:07just for the port. Something's coming

40:09there. So, you know, the size to me is

40:12somewhat irrelevant. Where is

40:14development going to occur and where is

40:16the greatest need? because you have to

40:18have the on the front end something to

40:20fund the tiff, the increase in the

40:22increment and then you have to have that

40:24blight and vacancy that allows you to

40:26create the tiff in the first place. One

40:28benefits the other. Um so

40:32that's generally why we laid these tiffs

40:34out the way we did. Uh we were Randall

40:37and I were sitting together with a pen

40:39and a map, you know, an hour ago. Um

40:42these lines are going to move. The

40:44conversations are going to continue. I

40:46don't think a vote today to pass to

40:49allow us to engage in those few things

40:51on those two tiffs at this point is

40:54going to hurt anything. It's not going

40:55to hurt our ability to have these

40:57conversations to make these decisions.

40:59It's simply going to bring those

41:01conversations out into the public eye

41:03and so that the public understands what

41:05we're doing. They're hard to understand

41:07and we're going to do everything we can

41:08to make sure the citizens understand

41:10them. Um these aren't the end. You know,

41:14we we have a cap of 50% right now. We

41:16sit at about 9.8% with the downtown tiff

41:20and DIP. Uh we expect more. We have a

41:23lot of areas that need housing that need

41:25housing improvements. Uh Mobile as a

41:27whole, housing is not where it needs to

41:30be. These tiffs are going to be a

41:32powerful powerful powerful tool to do

41:34that. And ultimately in the end, while

41:36there is that period of 30 years where

41:39uh the taxing authorities won't realize

41:41the benefit directly from these tiffs,

41:43we're going to include public

41:45infrastructure, including all the things

41:47they might be spending their money on

41:49were they realizing it in the tiff

41:51plans. But after those 30 years, all of

41:54that value goes directly to those taxing

41:56authorities. So it is certainly a

41:58long-term bet, you know, and it it might

42:00be a little short-term pain for a huge

42:01payoff in the end. Uh but that's that's

42:04what we're proposing with these tiffs.

42:06Um and not all of that has to be solved

42:09today. You know, we we are we've laid

42:11out our plans. Um and we are absolutely

42:15open for discussion with the public in

42:17private with our partners and we're not

42:20going to bring anything to you that we

42:21can't with a straight face say everybody

42:24thinks this is a good idea.

42:26>> Mr. President

42:28>> Commissioner

42:29[clears throat]

42:30>> um um Madame Inger

42:32>> um thank you mayor um for sharing that

42:34but I want to echo the sentiments of

42:36madame vice president you know when you

42:39think about a public hearing we need to

42:40make sure that the public is empowered

42:43with knowledge that they are aware of

42:45the basic what it is right and so I

42:48think that if somehow we can get a

42:50one-pager that explains that you know

42:53you know I'm sitting here and I have

42:54questions about the board you know

42:56council uh Reynolds stated we get two

42:58bites two two two times at this right

43:01and so one of my question deals with the

43:04plan so we know that there's going to be

43:06a plan that is prioritized with projects

43:08and so forth but my question would be

43:11just as any other so we create that plan

43:13then there's a board out there are they

43:14able to decide that we're only going to

43:17do this part of the plan those are the

43:19types of questions I think that if I

43:20have I I can imagine what the public is

43:22going to have I would just ask if we

43:24could somehow get in front of this and

43:27get a one-pager uh developed so that

43:30when they do go through the public

43:31hearing, they're not asking us the basic

43:33questions. They really are asking us um

43:35you know, more in-depth questions that

43:37that's going to get us to rethink and

43:38and think about if we're making the

43:40right decisions. So, and and I'm excited

43:42about this. I appreciate the forward

43:44thinking. Thank you.

43:46>> You know, we we've been working on this

43:47for months since that the law was passed

43:50that allowed it. Um, we absolutely will

43:53get you a one-pager not only to the

43:55council but uh in a way that it can be

43:57released to the public prior to that

43:59hearing. Uh, we we have enough

44:01information right now where we can

44:03easily do that specific details about

44:05the proposed areas as well as um answer

44:09some of those maybe frequently asked

44:11questions.

44:12>> When do you anticipate the information

44:14be out, Mayor? And I think you said last

44:16week you might have a video.

44:19>> We we intend to do a video. I haven't

44:21done the full video. Um, but we have,

44:24you know, planning next is working with

44:25us on this. Uh, our friends at Helmsing

44:28and Leech have been working very

44:29diligently with us on this.

44:31>> Uh, I I hate to give you, you know, say

44:34seven days. My goal will be at least by

44:36next week to be able to hand that out.

44:38>> Right.

44:39>> Oh, yeah. I I would say within the next

44:4210 days, we're going to have this uh

44:44ready for the public.

44:45>> And that'd be before the public hearing.

44:47That would be about a week and a half

44:49before the public hearing.

44:52>> Commissioner, [clears throat]

44:54>> President Small, and Council, thank you

44:55for letting me speak at your

44:57[clears throat]

44:58meeting. And uh Mr. Mayor,

45:01I I would like for this to feel like a

45:04partnership. I really would. And but I

45:06don't I don't feel like it has been. I

45:09think before you start advertising, and

45:11I'm not trying to do anything behind

45:12closed doors, and I don't think it's

45:14been suggested that we are, but I think

45:16before you start advertising maps to the

45:19public for their input, then the two

45:22taxing authorities or three actually,

45:23I'm not going to speak for the school

45:25board. I'm going to speak for the city

45:26and the county. I think they should have

45:28some kind of consensus on a the tiff

45:30authority, who is going to be on that

45:32authority, and number two, what the map

45:35should look like. We got the maps at the

45:37end of last week. um this the county

45:40commission really hasn't had an

45:42opportunity to digest this and I do want

45:44it to feel like um that it's a

45:47partnership and that's why I had talked

45:50to Ben and asked him to have this

45:51carried over to give us just a little

45:52more time so that when this does go to

45:54the public that at least the city, the

45:57county and the school board all have

45:59some kind of agreement to what the map

46:01should look like because quite honestly

46:04the the one tip that's in here and I and

46:06I want to say this, I'm not opposed

46:07President Small and and I have done a

46:09tiff together uh on the DIP tiff. Um I

46:14think where I disagree with uh Robert is

46:18I think the statute does allow uh the

46:20city to pass a tiff without the consent

46:23of the county but the state constitution

46:26does not allow that. So if you guys

46:28wanted to take the statute and pass a

46:31tiff where it only affects the avalorum

46:34tax of the city then you could do that.

46:37But my understanding is what we're

46:38trying to do here is take the Avalorum

46:41taxes that come out of the school and

46:43the and the county. And I think the law

46:46is pretty uh the constitution, not

46:48necessarily the statute, but the

46:50constitution uh amendment 475 I believe

46:55uh states explicitly that there has to

46:58be consent from the county

47:01uh because of the hierarchy of of the

47:03United States typically really that

47:06without our consent the the city can't

47:08just come in and inadvertently uh defer

47:11our avalorum tax and have a authority

47:15set up that the city uh set up to where

47:22they decide where the county's avalorum

47:24tax goes. So I don't disagree that the

47:26statute allows you to do that. What I

47:28what I disagree on is the constitution

47:32does not allow the city to do that. And

47:34I think I've looked back and I will say

47:36I know more about tiff today than I

47:38probably want to know um from

47:40researching this. But I I think uh for

47:44this to feel more like a partnership for

47:45the county commission, and I'm not

47:47speaking for the other two

47:48commissioners. I think uh uh

47:50Councilwoman Gregory has talked to uh

47:52Commissioner Hudson. I have not. I think

47:55the county attorney has talked to her.

47:57for me because one of these tiffs can

47:59almost lie completely in the in the in

48:02the district where I represent people

48:04and I'm not trying to keep the maps from

48:06them, but I would like to at least for

48:08it to feel like a partnership for me is

48:12that the city and the county have some

48:13kind of consensus on what at least what

48:16the maps look like before the public

48:18starts having input. And that's really

48:21how I feel about it. Now, I don't, you

48:24know, I I I told Ben if uh the city

48:27wants to use the statute and pass uh

48:30some sort of resolution that only

48:32affects uh the city's avalorum tax, then

48:36I don't really have a dog in the fight.

48:38But the way I think it's been done and

48:40every tiff that's ever been ever been

48:41done in Mobile County has been done on a

48:44mutual agreement like the constitution

48:46says explicitly says that it has to be a

48:50partnership between the county, the

48:52city, and the school system, the school

48:54board. The law is the the constitution

48:56is very clear on that. So if you're

48:59trying to pass something in the future

49:02that that defers the Avalorum tax of the

49:06county, then you can't do that without

49:08the county's appro. And I'm not a

49:10lawyer, Robert, by the way, if you

49:12didn't know that. So

49:13>> I have talked to you.

49:15>> I'm thinking about going to take the bar

49:16exam in Montgomery next week. But

49:18anyway, that that's all I that's all I

49:20ask. Uh that's why I'm here today in a

49:23suit on a Wednesday downtown when I'd

49:25rather be out in my district somewhere

49:26working. Um, I thought it was important

49:28enough. I've never in six years I've

49:30never come before this council and asked

49:32for anything. Uh, because most of the

49:34time we try to handle everything um,

49:38mutually before it gets out of hand. And

49:42I just don't want this and I'm not

49:43saying it's out of hand, but I don't

49:44want to see it get out of hand. And so I

49:46I guess if I were making a a request and

49:50I I I would respectfully request the

49:52same thing that Ben has requested that

49:54we carry these advertisements of these

49:56maps over until we at least have some

49:58kind of consensus between the city and

50:00the county of what these maps should

50:01look like. I don't think there's no need

50:03to send this out to the public with a

50:05map that we don't even all agree on at

50:07this time. So I I appreciate your time

50:09and letting me speak this morning.

50:11>> Thank you, Commissioner. Do it. So

50:13again, I just I I'll renew my ask and

50:16request that we get two bites at this

50:18apple. This first one's more important

50:20than maybe it's characterized at times.

50:22I'm I'm just telling you it's more

50:24important than the way it's

50:26characterized

50:27that

50:30we have to have the county's support. I

50:33mean, it's it's just clear as day. Okay?

50:36I'm telling you right now based on the

50:38conversations I have,

50:40not only do you not have the county

50:42support, but I think they're fighting

50:44mad about it. He's he's very he's been

50:46said it very eloquently today here, but

50:49I'm just telling you the approach that's

50:52taken right now is is the wrong way.

50:55There is a finish line to make the city

50:58of Mobile prosperous, Mobile County

51:01prosperous, and the school board

51:02prosperous. There is a finish line that

51:04we can get to.

51:06But to have a county commissioner show

51:08up here and ask us to hold them over, to

51:11afford us the opportunity to get this to

51:13a place where they don't feel like

51:16they're being steamrolled. And I don't

51:17feel like I'm being steamrololled

51:19because I I currently I feel like that

51:21is the case. I really do. I mean, I was

51:23seen I saw the maps and the idea about

51:25the same time the commissioner did, you

51:27know, and this is a well, yeah, I saw

51:30the initial map and I said no to this

51:31and no to this and then next thing you

51:33know, it's on the agenda. So, I you know

51:34I I didn't have meetings and discussed

51:37this. I want to make this other point.

51:40If this is in fact a 30-year tiff, which

51:42nothing is guaranteed that this in fact

51:44will be a 30-year tip, that's obviously

51:46a decision that's already been made

51:47behind closed doors without the public's

51:49input

51:49>> historic,

51:51>> but I

51:53my 11year-old daughter, if this is in

51:56fact a 30-year tip tiff, will be 41

51:59years old if this all goes through. and

52:04what she sees is very important, I

52:06think, to the to this city and our other

52:10children, what they see is important to

52:12this city.

52:13I'll be 71 years old. I'll be long gone

52:16out of this, moved on, maybe even dead.

52:20>> Don't say that.

52:20>> Cory's been telling me, don't say that.

52:22But, um,

52:24so this is a 30-year deal. It's very

52:27important. Look, a matter of a couple of

52:30weeks. I mean, when we're talking about

52:31implications for 30 years, it's not the

52:34end of the world. The sky, I promise

52:35you, is not going to fall for us to take

52:38the time we need to get these maps in a

52:41in a a good way that everybody's

52:43comfortable with. We protect pay as you

52:45go. We protect our other relationships.

52:47Two biggest projects in my district

52:49right now. Let me just tell you this.

52:51They're Mobile County projects, right?

52:53Last thing I want to do is poke a finger

52:56in Commissioner Duit's eye or poke a

52:58finger in Commissioner Hudson's eye and

53:01say, you know, we're gonna steamroll

53:04this thing down your throat and, you

53:06know, to hell with it. So, I I just

53:08look, we're not in a bad place. I think

53:09we can get there to the finish line. I'm

53:11just simply asking along with the county

53:14commissioner and I believe along with uh

53:17Commissioner Johnny Hudson and I believe

53:18along with uh Representative Margie

53:20Wilcox, I think us combined plus others

53:23that are not here today are asking that

53:25we take two weeks, hold these things

53:28over for two weeks, allow us the

53:30opportunity to try to get on the same

53:32page so we're all moving at the speed of

53:34trust. Okay. Thank you, Mr. President.

53:36>> Mr. President,

53:38>> Mr.

53:40I I thank you, Commissioner D, for

53:42coming down. I I greatly appreciate it

53:43and I value the feedback. Um regardless

53:46of holding these over two weeks or

53:48anything, I just want to make the point

53:50again that this is a call for public

53:53hearing. Um I think legally they can't

53:56even put a dad going plan for the whole

53:58board um uh out out right now because

54:01that's what that's what it is, the a

54:02call for public hearing. Um, we're going

54:04to call for public hearing so the

54:06public, the people we represent, can

54:08come down and have a say in what a tiff

54:10looks like and have a say in what a

54:12board looks like. I I don't and and I I

54:15I appreciate every sing every single

54:18thing that you said, Councilman

54:19Reynolds, and I I'm with you. I

54:20understand that. But at some point, we

54:23have to say we're going to start the

54:25process. We're going to get the public

54:27involved. We're going to vet and flesh

54:29out the map. We're going to flesh out

54:31the board makeup. we're going to flush I

54:33this the tiff really won't even impact

54:35district 6 honestly none of them really

54:37will to a certain extent obviously I

54:39think a piece of it's in one of the maps

54:41um but also too I think jumping the gun

54:43would be maybe putting a map on there uh

54:46that that that a sidebyside map of

54:48pretty much the exact same area. So if

54:51anything we need to hear from the public

54:53we need to hear from what what our

54:54representatives um on the school board

54:56and also the county commission say but

54:58this just starts the process. Nothing's

55:01in stone. We're going to hear from the

55:03public at a public hearing. Um, in the

55:05meantime, this also call for public

55:07hearing allows legally to notify the

55:10count the county commission to notify

55:11the school board that this is what the

55:13city's intending to do. So, if anything,

55:15the vote for what it you know what what

55:18comes back on whether it's the the final

55:20map or the final board makeup. And I I

55:23again I think that that you and all

55:25everybody else who the TIFF touches

55:27should have a say a big say honestly in

55:29what and what the board makeup looks

55:31like. But we can't have that until we

55:33call for public hearing. And again, we

55:36let's just say that uh in 60 30 whatever

55:39days um the administration puts

55:41something on here as far as the approval

55:43for the final approval for a tiff the

55:44map the board and everything like that

55:46and we don't dis and we don't agree with

55:48it then we'll just at that point we'll

55:50lay the thing over maybe a month maybe

55:52two months until we get it right and I I

55:54I'm not taking I'm not saying that that

55:57you're wrong or or it's not a serious

55:59point but yeah we do get two bites at

56:01this um this just gets the process

56:03started that's that's all I'm

56:05Mr. President,

56:05>> yeah,

56:06>> that's all I wanted to say. I just

56:08wanted I've been sitting back thinking

56:09about this and listening to all the

56:10comments and

56:12>> it's getting emotional and I I think

56:14just to talk everybody off the ledge. I

56:17don't really see any harm and just

56:18getting the ball rolling so we can flush

56:22out the plan truly make this a

56:25partnership between the county and the

56:26school board and the city. Just let's

56:28let's get it out there. Let's let's get

56:30the the ball rolling the public hearing.

56:32get all the input so we can bring

56:35everything together and make sure that

56:36everybody involved in this is

56:39comfortable and that we're really trying

56:42to accomplish what we're trying to

56:44accomplish

56:45uh to suit the needs for development and

56:48future growth and make it enticing for

56:51people to want to come here and do it

56:52but everybody gets to benefit from it.

56:54So that's I agree with Councilman was I

56:57I don't want to do anything that

56:59jeopardizes the county or the school,

57:00but I think I just don't see the harm

57:02unless call it public hearing.

57:05>> Thank you,

57:06>> Mr. President.

57:07>> Advice.

57:07>> Um

57:09and and I agree for the most part on

57:11what both of you guys are saying. I'm

57:12just wondering with the public hearing

57:15when people come down to speak at a

57:17public hearing, they generally know what

57:19it is they are speaking to.

57:22And so we are not really there

57:24specifically on what they are speaking

57:26to. what they would be speaking to

57:28potentially in a couple three weeks

57:30would be the idea of and since I know

57:33we've got these two for district four

57:35well no they're not district four

57:36[laughter] but they basically are benza

57:39and the mayor's ordinances

57:42would it be something we could do to

57:45pile them all together push these public

57:47hearings back maybe a couple more weeks

57:49to give everybody time to sit down and

57:50work through some of these things so

57:52that we look at them all at the same

57:53time still a public hearing but at that

57:56point. Hopefully, they will have a

57:58better idea of exactly what it is they

58:00are speaking to in these public hearings

58:02because they may come in and start

58:04talking about something that's not even

58:06included.

58:06>> Yeah.

58:07>> You know, so if we could just put them

58:08all together as one,

58:11>> have a public hearing for all of them at

58:12the same time, maybe that is the best

58:14way to move forward.

58:15>> Mr. President,

58:17>> um uh Dr. Ingram, then the mayor, then

58:20we going to shut this down. We're just

58:21going to vote up or down at 10:30.

58:23>> Um Mr. President, I want to um echo the

58:26sentiments of Madame Vice President. I

58:29think that we need something

58:32uh informational paper so that when

58:35people come to the public hearing, they

58:37understand what they're speaking to. For

58:40me to come to a public hearing and talk

58:41about a tiff and we have been going

58:44through this, but we're expecting the

58:45public to understand a tiff. I think

58:47that in order for me in order for us to

58:49have an effective public hearing, we

58:51need to inform the public of the basics

58:54of what it is and that needs to be in

58:56the front of this, not in the back of

58:58this. So, I agree with the uh sentiments

59:01of Madame Vice President. Uh and again,

59:04I think we need to move forward. I agree

59:05with the mayor. We can't we don't have

59:07time to lose, but we need to make sure

59:09we're making an informed decision, and

59:10that starts with being empowered with

59:12the information of what it is. Mr. Mayor

59:15>> and and just to answer that point, we

59:18will absolutely get that one pager as

59:20well as other pieces offormational to

59:22try and hit people from multiple angles

59:25to explain what we're talking about at

59:27least two weeks prior to this hearing

59:29being set. You know, I I really did just

59:32want to run through what we're asking

59:34you today. We're asking for a call for a

59:37public hearing. Um, we're asking for

59:40permission for us, you know, for the

59:44council's resolution and agreement that

59:46we go create this project plan that that

59:50talks about the board makeup that talks

59:52about the projects that are going to be

59:54included within all these things that

59:56that you know anticipates potential

59:59increments. Um, and we're asking for

1:00:01your permission or we're asking you, Mr.

1:00:05president to send a letter to the taxing

1:00:08authorities so we can begin to talk

1:00:10about scheduling a meeting, an official

1:00:12meeting with them. Uh we're not asking

1:00:15any agreement on who's going to be on

1:00:17the board, what the borders of this are

1:00:19going to be, what projects we're going

1:00:20to pursue, any of that. Um functionally

1:00:24grouping these now four proposals

1:00:27together. Um, logistically,

1:00:30city council meetings can go very long

1:00:33if we're talking about

1:00:36three now four individualized tiffs and

1:00:39all the projects and numbers that

1:00:41justify them and and why certain areas

1:00:43should or shouldn't be included during

1:00:45this public comment time. Taking on four

1:00:48versus two at one time feels pretty

1:00:50cumbersome. Uh, you know, I initially

1:00:54proposed three hoping that, you know,

1:00:56this would have been a little uh

1:00:58smoother and I think that we were

1:01:00certainly on our way to this being

1:01:01smooth until some things intervene. But

1:01:04um if we take on these two uh the

1:01:08waterfront and the Midtown tiff, I you

1:01:10know, I kind of call it 65 corridor

1:01:12tiff. Um that gives us chance to answer.

1:01:16I frankly I've not heard anyone really

1:01:19upset at all about any of the borders

1:01:21within either of those. But we have

1:01:23three weeks to have those communications

1:01:26uh before the public hearing. We will

1:01:28continue to have those. Um

1:01:31we have more time at least 20 days

1:01:34before we would have an official meeting

1:01:36with the county. I expect that we will

1:01:37have a multitude of unofficial meetings

1:01:40in the meantime prior to that official

1:01:42meeting. But if if this is passed today

1:01:45for the two tiffs, which you know were

1:01:47laid over from last week, um that's that

1:01:50allows us to begin talking about setting

1:01:52that meeting with the taxing

1:01:54authorities. Um that will then give us

1:01:56authorization to prep the full tiff plan

1:01:59so that we can address some of these

1:02:01issues. You know, um what the board

1:02:03looks like, what the projects that we're

1:02:05targeting. Uh we can package that up. At

1:02:08that point we could then distribute that

1:02:10to the taxing authorities to the council

1:02:12so that everyone can go through tooth

1:02:15and comb. Uh we can have those

1:02:17discussions. Comments will be returned.

1:02:19There will be large discussions

1:02:21eventually agreement will be reached and

1:02:24only then uh whe whether the law

1:02:26requires it or not only when we have

1:02:28agreement with the taxing authorities

1:02:30that this is the way forward [snorts]

1:02:32will that agreement hit this council's

1:02:35desk again. the council, the county

1:02:38commission, the school board will be

1:02:40involved at every single step along the

1:02:42way. Half of what we're asking here

1:02:44today is giving us the legal authority

1:02:47to put actual documentation in front of

1:02:50these authorities.

1:02:52>> And just just um clarify um again, Mr.

1:02:55Mayor, you said 10 days or less that you

1:02:57had information out.

1:02:58>> Uh I think I can say seven now.

1:03:00>> 10 days or less.

1:03:01>> We'll say seven.

1:03:02>> Okay. All right. Madam clerk

1:03:09>> 601091 authorized settlement and release

1:03:12of and release of claims. Ordinance is

1:03:14being introduced. 88050

1:03:17authorized conveyance of city-owned land

1:03:19located at lot 3, Fort Hardman

1:03:21subdivision, not now needed for public

1:03:23or municipal purposes.

1:03:24>> Mr. President,

1:03:25>> vice

1:03:26>> on this one, it's really pretty simple.

1:03:28There is a small piece of area that's

1:03:31being used as a parking lot right now

1:03:33which is behind uh Laam Gear's office

1:03:36and in between their office and Fort

1:03:39Hardman. Um they're just looking to go

1:03:42ahead and purchase this. There were no

1:03:44other biders and so I think it's a good

1:03:46way to get rid of some property and make

1:03:48a little money while we're at it.

1:03:50>> Mr. President,

1:03:51>> uh Mr. P.

1:03:52>> Um this just made me think about

1:03:53something. Um I would like to request um

1:03:56can I get a list of all city owned

1:03:58property that we have um in the city

1:04:00limits?

1:04:00>> Absolutely.

1:04:04>> Consent consent resolutions being

1:04:06introduced 371099 recommend approval to

1:04:09the ABC board for issuance of a lounge

1:04:11retail liquor class one license to BC

1:04:14Billiard Club on Government Boulevard.

1:04:19581 1100 declare we in 581

1:04:24declare we noxious and assess cost for

1:04:26removal of weeds weedling groups 1684

1:04:29and 107

1:04:3160 1102 and 1103 are approved award a

1:04:34special bonus to the parks and

1:04:37recreation employee of the month and the

1:04:39officer of the month 60 1104 through

1:04:4211:09 are determined appropriations to

1:04:44Tommanville Rattler sports may not four

1:04:47foundation soccer for life, Oshell

1:04:50Magnet School, and Huntley Woods

1:04:52Community Club serve a per public

1:04:54purpose and approve payment. 60110

1:04:57authorized participation in the ALM

1:04:59Economic Development Academy.

1:05:03Resolutions being introduced. 01 1111

1:05:06authorized second amendment to purchase

1:05:08and sale agreement with One Water LLC to

1:05:11incorporate recital definitions and

1:05:13replace the language defining the

1:05:15inspection period in section 5.4 for an

1:05:19additional one-year extension expiring

1:05:21October 26, 2027.

1:05:24>> Mr. President.

1:05:25>> Yes, ma'am. Um, and maybe I overlooked

1:05:27it, but I did not I could not find the

1:05:29original agreement to be able to

1:05:32understand what the amendments are.

1:05:36>> Certainly, we can get you a copy of the

1:05:38original agreement. Um, this was an

1:05:40agreement executed under the prior

1:05:42administration. Uh, but effectively the

1:05:44only amendment is extending that

1:05:46inspection period by a year.

1:05:49>> Yeah, I can get you.

1:05:53>> Okay.

1:05:53>> Mr. President, what what are they doing?

1:05:55What are they doing with that building?

1:05:57>> Are they going to do residential or

1:05:58something? Convert it from office to

1:06:00residential.

1:06:01>> Well, this this is not a building. This

1:06:03is the uh the property adjacent to the

1:06:05convention center.

1:06:06>> Oh, sorry.

1:06:11[snorts]

1:06:12>> Cler 08112

1:06:14approved purchase order to Omega 14,

1:06:17Inc. for event production services for

1:06:20November 7 Port City Rhythm and Blues

1:06:22concert for events department $26,500

1:06:271113 authorized transfer from district 3

1:06:29capital project McN fishing pier to

1:06:32capital project

1:06:34uh co 382 for the McN park marine

1:06:39improvement projects $98,30

1:06:43>> me as a sponsor

1:06:47>> [clears throat]

1:06:48>> 21114

1:06:50authorized contract with dynamic

1:06:53security for unarmed guard and

1:06:55protective services for 3 years 500,000

1:06:58per period. Mr. President,

1:07:01>> yes madam,

1:07:02>> if the administration could just share

1:07:04like what type of events would this uh

1:07:06service um be required for? And when

1:07:09they say unarmed, so I'm assuming like

1:07:11we wouldn't have our police officers.

1:07:12They would come for this particular

1:07:14service.

1:07:15>> Private security teachers.

1:07:16>> Okay. And what? Give me an example of an

1:07:18event that we would have that we would

1:07:20need private security.

1:07:26>> I mean, these are these are private

1:07:28security contracts like at Gail Street

1:07:30where you have the little guard booth

1:07:32there where we have private security.

1:07:34>> It's just really just securing our

1:07:36facilities. They're not event related.

1:07:38Uh, usually that's covered by the

1:07:39police.

1:07:40>> Thank you.

1:07:41>> Sure,

1:07:41>> Mr. President.

1:07:42>> Yeah, Mr. P.

1:07:43>> So, this is similar to like being at the

1:07:44Museum of Art, the Maritime Museum, that

1:07:47type of security.

1:07:48>> That's correct.

1:07:48>> Okay. And then it's up to $500,000,

1:07:51right? It's an annual limit. So, it's

1:07:53not that that don't mean that we're

1:07:55going to use that amount every year.

1:07:56>> That's right. Not to exceed.

1:07:58>> Okay. All right.

1:08:00Yeah, the clerk

1:08:02>> 211 1115 authorized contract of solstice

1:08:05pest control for ter termite

1:08:07extermination for incidental

1:08:09infestations at various city locations 3

1:08:11years 45,000

1:08:142116 authorized contract with Moffett

1:08:16and nickel for design and engineering

1:08:19for McNal Park Marine Improvements

1:08:21$578,920

1:08:24and we'll add you as a sponsor

1:08:2850 1117

1:08:30resolution calling for public hearing to

1:08:32consider the proposed tax increment

1:08:34financing district 3 Tilman's Corner

1:08:36Highway 90.

1:08:37>> Mr. President,

1:08:38>> Mr.

1:08:39>> I'd ask we just take this by consent

1:08:40today.

1:08:42[laughter]

1:08:45>> Just kidding. [laughter and gasps]

1:08:5050118 resolution calling for public

1:08:52hearing and authorizing preparation of

1:08:54project plan for tax increment finance

1:08:56in District 3, Tilman's Corner, Highway

1:08:5890.

1:09:01Uh call for public hearing

1:09:044192,

1:09:06call for public hearing to consider

1:09:07proposed tax increment financing

1:09:09district 5.

1:09:124193, call for public hearing to

1:09:14consider the proposed tax increment

1:09:15financing district 7. 4119 call for

1:09:19public hearing to consider the

1:09:20application of Tiffany Mon'nique

1:09:22Williams for a certificate of public

1:09:24convenience and necessity to operate a

1:09:26sedan service. Um, all scheduled October

1:09:29the 27th.

1:09:3141120

1:09:3311:21 or call for public hearing to

1:09:35consider proposed tax increment

1:09:37financing district 3 scheduled October

1:09:40the November the 3rd.

1:09:4341121

1:09:45is also u call for public hearing to

1:09:47consider proposed tax increment

1:09:48financing district 3 scheduled November

1:09:513rd.

1:09:51>> Mr. President,

1:09:52>> announcements.

1:09:53>> Yeah, Mr. Ron,

1:09:54>> I um hope everybody goes along with my

1:09:56two week hold over. I don't know where

1:09:58we stand, but if that one does or those

1:10:02others carry over, I'd like to carry

1:10:03over those public hearings to get them

1:10:05on the same track as the other two. Does

1:10:09that make sense?

1:10:09>> Yeah.

1:10:10>> Yeah.

1:10:13Um, Chief,

1:10:14>> yeah, I was just going to comment on the

1:10:16um the I65 corridor waterfront tiffs.

1:10:19October 27th date is no good anymore.

1:10:22So, we the earliest be November 3rd,

1:10:24which would be this consistent with the

1:10:26Tilman's Corner Tiff,

1:10:32>> Mr. President.

1:10:33>> Mr. P.

1:10:36>> Thank you, man. U Mr. President, thank

1:10:38you so much. Um, of course, Mobile, we

1:10:41were blessed to not be able to to

1:10:43receive a hit from the storm directly,

1:10:45but we do have residents that have some

1:10:47issues. Um, some people reached out to

1:10:49me about trees in their yard and their

1:10:52concerns that they might be fine if they

1:10:54don't get it up in a certain amount of

1:10:56time. During these situations, do we put

1:10:58a time frame where we are not finding

1:11:02someone immediately? Um, so they have

1:11:04time to to take care of that.

1:11:07you know, whenever you have a name storm

1:11:08and all the debris, we don't find them

1:11:11on that and whenever they can get it to

1:11:12the curb, we'll pick it up.

1:11:14>> Okay. Okay.

1:11:14>> All right. Thank you, Mr. President.

1:11:16>> Yeah, Mr. Woods.

1:11:17>> Um I on the on the hurricane or storm uh

1:11:21subject, um I I just want to say thank

1:11:22you to Clinton Johnson. Um I know a lot

1:11:25of times uh Clint's in the background

1:11:27when it comes to communications uh with

1:11:29between Alam Power and governmental

1:11:31entities. Um Clinton did an amazing job.

1:11:33I mean, every morning we woke up to an

1:11:34update of where they stand. Um, he even,

1:11:37you know, issues that that we had in our

1:11:40districts. Um, Clinton, you let Clinton

1:11:42know Clinton got Alabama Power out. But

1:11:44I just want to say thank you to Clinton

1:11:45and and his team at Alabama Power

1:11:47because they they really made it made us

1:11:49able to educatedly answer questions

1:11:52regarding the power. So, um, thanks

1:11:53Clinton. I we we greatly appreciate you.

1:11:56>> Yeah,

1:11:56>> Mr. President.

1:11:57>> Yeah,

1:11:57>> I want to echo those sentiments. you

1:11:59know, that information empowered me to

1:12:02walk through the neighborhood, tell them

1:12:03what was happening. They were calling

1:12:05and and that's that's the type of um

1:12:08partnership and support we need so that

1:12:10we can truly truly uh be of support for

1:12:13our constituents. So, thank you, Mr.

1:12:14Johnson.

1:12:16>> Any other council members? M uh vice

1:12:19president?

1:12:19>> Yeah, thank you, Mr. President. And I

1:12:21too want to thank Clinton for his

1:12:23proactive

1:12:25um use of the emails and being in touch

1:12:28with us as as well as Michael Jordan and

1:12:30I love these names, Michael Jordan and

1:12:32Clinton Johnson together at Alabama

1:12:34Power helping us to help our

1:12:37constituents. Uh so thank you to

1:12:38everybody and of course the the city

1:12:40team that was out as quickly as possible

1:12:42and we even got the garbage picked up. I

1:12:44mean it was great getting the garbage

1:12:46picked up, the trash. I mean those

1:12:47services did not, you know, miss a beat.

1:12:50So, thank you for all of that. Um, all

1:12:53right, let's look at the resolutions.

1:12:55Uh, any of the consent? Anybody have any

1:12:57problem with any of the consents?

1:12:59They're pretty generic. Okay. On

1:13:02resolutions, uh, to wave, let's start

1:13:04with 08-112

1:13:08and 2115.

1:13:10And that looks like all for waving the

1:13:13rules today.

1:13:14>> No objection.

1:13:15>> All right.

1:13:16>> All right. Can I administration?

1:13:20All right, we'll see each other

1:13:21downstairs in 12 minutes. [laughter]

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