OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mobile City Council Regular Meeting - August 12, 2025

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, August 12, 2025
BodyMobile, Alabama
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, August 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:01:32

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

This is the regular meeting of the Mobile City Council Tuesday, August the 12th.

0:07

Please stand for our invitation.

0:10

Led by Pastor Tony Legier, Public Safety Chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:16

Good morning, everyone.

0:18

And let's pray together a new day.

0:20

Our father, we give thanks to you for the gift of life.

0:24

For we know even our very breath comes from you.

0:26

And then this morning we arrive on this campus, pledge to honor you to serve our community, and we pray for the ability to do so.

0:34

Thank you for our leaders.

0:36

We pray that you'd smile upon them.

0:38

May they have clarity of mind and heart.

0:41

And we ask you, Father, for your favor and our time together in this room.

0:45

In Christ's name.

0:46

Amen.

0:48

Our gladly flagged.

0:54

For which it stands.

0:56

One nation.

0:57

Undergone.

0:58

Indivisible.

0:59

With liberty.

1:08

Roll call, President Small.

1:10

Here.

1:11

Vice President Gregory.

1:12

Here.

1:13

Councilmember Penn.

1:14

Yeah.

1:14

Councilmember Carroll.

1:16

Councilmember Reynolds.

1:17

Councilmember Daves.

1:18

Councilmember of Woods.

1:20

Here.

1:21

Statement of rules.

1:22

And good morning, everyone.

1:23

Morning.

1:23

It's good to see everybody this morning.

1:25

Welcome to our August 12th, 2025 meeting.

1:28

At this meeting, we do have rules at this time.

1:30

I ask if anyone have any type of electronic device, including cell phones.

1:35

Please at this time put on the off of the barbaric position, the off of the barber position.

1:41

Any person that is desiring to address the mobile city council must sign in, indicating the resolution, the ordinance, a public hearing agenda item before entering the meeting.

1:50

When addressing the council, the speaker must give his or her name.

1:54

Any person that is desire to speak to the council on the non-agenda item must contact the city clerk office no later than 2 o'clock p.m.

2:00

on the Thursday prior to the council meeting.

2:03

The subject that he or she wishes to express that immobile city council must be identified and pertain to the city of Mobile Business.

2:09

Anyone who has not given proper note to the city clerk office and wishes to talk on a non-agenda item would not be allowed to address this council.

2:17

Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address this council.

2:21

A bell was signed to indicate the end of two minutes.

2:23

One minute remain for summarizing.

2:25

The second bell indicates that your time has expired.

2:28

When addressing the council there to be no personal address to any individual council members, all statements are to be made to the chair who will recognize any council member who wishes to respond.

2:38

To maintain declaring, there will be non-dual applause and or public outcry allowed.

2:43

Madam Clerk.

2:44

Approval of minutes of August the 5th.

2:47

So move.

2:49

Proper move and second ending discussion.

2:51

All in favor?

2:52

Aye.

2:53

All opposed.

2:54

Minutes approval.

2:55

Communications from Mayor Stimpson's office.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████20%
Public Safety███████████████15%
Affordable Housing███████████████15%
Arts And Culture█████████9%
Health Awareness████████8%
Pending Litigation████████8%
Emergency Services███████7%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Economic Development█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Mobile City Council Regular Meeting - August 12, 2025

The Mobile City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 9:00 AM. The meeting opened with an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call (all members present). Key topics included mayoral communications on public safety, transportation, and employee recognition; a proclamation for National Minority Donor Awareness Month; public comments on a police department investigation, housing authority concerns, and city governance; and approval of multiple resolutions and contracts.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of the August 5, 2025 meeting.
  • Adopted the agenda.
  • Granted requests for noise ordinance waivers for February 14, 2025 (Government Street) and October 25, 2025 (Public Safety Memorial Park).
  • Opened and closed a public hearing to fix demolition costs for the structure at 5671 Bob Street.
  • Approved consent resolutions 011050–011056 (including agreements with Neil Schaefer and Thompson Engineering, purchase of signposts, fund transfers, and settlement agreements).
  • Approved resolutions 031060–031064 (appointment of April Boudreaux to Mobile Museum of Art Board, demolition cost fixation, employee bonuses, and appropriation to Mobile Bay Area Veterans Commission).
  • Approved resolutions 081067–081078 (purchase orders for respirators, tracing dye bags, trench shoring boxes, software subscriptions, surveying services, engineering consulting, and grant acceptance for port security).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Felicia Johnson questioned the council about the investigation into former Police Chief Paul Prine, specifically regarding the 321Z contract, $92,000 payment, and access terms. She urged further investigation by the Department of Justice. The city attorney responded that initial allegations were found false and that litigation is ongoing; the district attorney chose not to charge.
  • Tim Kaufman (President, Gulf Coast Ethnic and Heritage Jazz Festival) presented an award to Councilman Corey Penn for his support of the arts. The festival celebrated its 27th year, honoring jazz legend Fred Irby.
  • James Williams raised concerns about Mobile Housing Authority (MHA) violations, citing a recovery agreement and $310 million in HUD funds since 2021 with little improvement. Council members clarified they have no governing authority over MHA and that the recovery agreement is no longer in effect. Councilman Penn offered to advocate on his behalf.
  • Freddie Wheeler thanked the council and mayor for leadership, highlighted progress in the city, and praised the recent annexation of West Mobile (approved July 18; first city elections August 26). He encouraged citizen involvement.
  • Reggie Hill urged holding over the budget approval until after the election cycle, criticized the practice of waiving rules for contracts under $50,000, and called for municipal court reports and sensitivity training for police. Councilman Carroll clarified that Jefferson Place is not a housing authority property.

Proclamation

  • Councilman Penn proclaimed August 2025 as National Minority Donor Awareness Month. Dr. LaToya Bishop of Legacy of Hope noted that 70% of those on organ transplant waitlists are people of color and urged registration.

Communications & Reports

  • Mayor's Communications (presented by a representative):
    • Aftermath of Violence event on August 14 at 5:30 PM at SEALs Community Center.
    • Downtown Street Optimization: 26 traffic signals will be replaced with four-way stops, beginning August 13 with 90-day flashing period.
    • Amtrak Mardi Gras Service: First run on August 18; parking lot improvements completed.
    • Employee of the Month: Emma Cochrane (Public Works) and Trish Prim (Legal) recognized.
    • Mobile Fire Rescue Department (MFRD) Update: Chief Barry Glisson reported on a confined-space rescue on August 11 (two fatalities due to oxygen displacement) and a fire death in the Racine Avenue area. A smoke alarm blitz will occur on August 14 from 4–8 PM.

Discussion Items

  • Councilmember Reynolds (likely) commented on the practice of waiving rules for small expenditures, emphasizing the importance of council oversight even for routine items.
  • Councilman Carroll clarified that Jefferson Place is not a housing authority property, addressing a point raised in public comment.

Key Outcomes

  • All resolutions and agenda items were approved unanimously on voice votes.
  • The council directed that the final walkthrough for the old South Brooklyn School (to be demolished for a new community center) will be held on August 25, 4–6 PM.
  • Vice President Gregory announced a ribbon-cutting for the Charles Wood Japanese Gardens Greenway Trail section on August 15 at 9 AM.
  • Councilman Penn reminded students of the "Combo with Corey" leadership program (Tuesdays, 8:30 AM–1 PM) and thanked the Boy Scouts for the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award.
  • Councilman Woods announced a District 6 community meeting on September 18 at 5:30 PM at Oak Park Church.

Meeting Transcript

This is the regular meeting of the Mobile City Council Tuesday, August the 12th. Please stand for our invitation. Led by Pastor Tony Legier, Public Safety Chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Good morning, everyone. And let's pray together a new day. Our father, we give thanks to you for the gift of life. For we know even our very breath comes from you. And then this morning we arrive on this campus, pledge to honor you to serve our community, and we pray for the ability to do so. Thank you for our leaders. We pray that you'd smile upon them. May they have clarity of mind and heart. And we ask you, Father, for your favor and our time together in this room. In Christ's name. Amen. Our gladly flagged. For which it stands. One nation. Undergone. Indivisible. With liberty. Roll call, President Small. Here. Vice President Gregory. Here. Councilmember Penn. Yeah. Councilmember Carroll. Councilmember Reynolds. Councilmember Daves. Councilmember of Woods. Here. Statement of rules. And good morning, everyone. Morning. It's good to see everybody this morning. Welcome to our August 12th, 2025 meeting. At this meeting, we do have rules at this time. I ask if anyone have any type of electronic device, including cell phones. Please at this time put on the off of the barbaric position, the off of the barber position. Any person that is desiring to address the mobile city council must sign in, indicating the resolution, the ordinance, a public hearing agenda item before entering the meeting. When addressing the council, the speaker must give his or her name. Any person that is desire to speak to the council on the non-agenda item must contact the city clerk office no later than 2 o'clock p.m. on the Thursday prior to the council meeting. The subject that he or she wishes to express that immobile city council must be identified and pertain to the city of Mobile Business. Anyone who has not given proper note to the city clerk office and wishes to talk on a non-agenda item would not be allowed to address this council. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address this council. A bell was signed to indicate the end of two minutes. One minute remain for summarizing. The second bell indicates that your time has expired. When addressing the council there to be no personal address to any individual council members, all statements are to be made to the chair who will recognize any council member who wishes to respond.

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