City Council Tuesday, December the 9th.

We have approval of minutes from November 25th and December 2nd.

Any issues anyone?

No.

Okay.

Appeals, we have requests for a wave of the noise ordinance on December the 21st from 10 a.m.

until 6 p.m.

on Airport Boulevard.

And this is the new district too.

No issues.

May 21st on Government Street.

5 p.m.

until 8 p.m.

No issues.

September 12th on in Medal of Honor Park from 9 a.m.

until 1 p.m.

No issues.

Okay.

Presentation of petitions and other communications to the council.

Christopher Paragon proposal to partner with the city on a new performing arts facility.

Brenda Barnes comments about rezoning requests on MLK Jr.

Avenue and the large cement pillows that are throughout Thomanville communities.

Roy Pimbleton will residents about notified about the cement pillows.

Ms.

President.

Oh Mr.

Penn.

Thank you.

This is not something that the city have authority of.

Okay.

Aaron.

And so and it's nothing towards Aaron.

And because I know it's some things over her head, but I already share my concerns about this.

Correct.

Jump turn.

A council term.

Oh we don't have any.

I just want to publicly to know we have no authority over utilities like Alabama Power.

So I think that's right for the check.

Okay.

And so I have reached out.

I didn't even know that this was taking place, that land was being purchased from residents to put these poles in their yards.

And I think that's a problem.

But I don't you don't want to see a big pole in your neighborhood.

I don't care what nobody nobody wants to see that in their yard.

And I believe that we have to figure out, um, I don't know if that's from the state legislation or or what we need to put to reach out, but we should know these things that are coming.

Um, that land is being purchased, um, to put these polls in place, but they didn't have to come through city.

I don't believe the city knew about this.

Um, the executive side know that there was purchasing land.

I'm not sure, but I did not know that.

Um, and so we have to figure it out.

And so honestly, when Miss Borns come down here, uh, Mr.

Penn Penitent come down here.

I agree with what they're feeling.

I agree with their feeling.

If you're walking out your house and you see a gigantic pole in someone's yard, you're wondering what's going on.

But at the same time, of course, the neighbors made that decision to sell their land.

And so um, hopefully, um today during the council meeting when they have their concerns, maybe.

Uh, I mean, it's already a done deal, but I do think they have some concerns, making sure that none of the the waves or anything is gonna create problems for them health-wise.

Um, and so hopefully, Aaron, you can answer some of those questions for them during that time.

Uh thank you, May Councilman.

Uh thank you, man.

Councilman Penn.

Uh, we were aware of the two individuals who have requested to speak.

We reached out to both of those individuals yesterday.

We were able to speak with Ms.

Barnes um and talk to her.

Um, at this time, we were not able to reach Mr.

Pendleton.

I think we played phone tag back and forth.

Um, but we'll be happy to answer any questions that they may have regarding the project.

Um, both of these customers are not directly impacted by the project.

Um, while it is in their community, they do not have a structure that will be on their property.

And with regards to properties being purchased, um, each of the customers who are directly impacted by either polar wire running across their property has signed an easement uh for those rights, and they all have been financially compensated for the right to their property.

Yeah.

And I and I and I appreciate that Aaron for you sharing the information.

It's just my concerns and I mean it's a done deal.

Is it nothing that we can do at this moment.

But the problem is that I just want the the community and I I want Alabama power to know going forward is that even though directly that that poll is in someone else's yard, the neighbors still have to see that.

So if I go outside my house and I look across the street and I see a gigantic pole even though I it's not in my yard it's still affecting my blockage my views or or how my community look and beautification and our community have been dealing with this for years.

It's just being honest like we're we're tired of of not being a part of the decision making.

And I understand from Alabama power perspective their goal is to make sure that it takes care of the hospital and the outages and all these different things.

But at the same time I think that it's not just affecting the person who living in the house it also affects the community.

But I'm I'm grateful for you being here and being able to answer any questions that the residents bring.

Yes sir.

Thank you.

I just have a question are these just street lights or are they bigger?

Oh these are much bigger than regular old street lights.

These are big massive utility poles is that what I'm hearing yes ma'am that's correct.

They are uh transmission poles that will be placed through the community.

Oh and they're placing them in people's front yards.

Oh in the right of way that's correct.

Yeah because they sold it the in the property yeah yeah but for the what people don't understand is anytime something takes place in the city limits the residents going to look at their leaders and say hey did you know about this what's going on they are afraid um because they didn't get to phone call because it wasn't sold in there now the postcards were sent because they I know the information but we sometimes I mean just be honest we get mailers we throw it away um and so I just moving forward I would like to have a better relationship and understanding um we can have community meetings and talk about these things before it happens not while it's already a done deal um and so just moving forward I would like to the figure out so I'm asking our um our council attorney as well as um the city attorney to let's figure out how we can put some in place that we can know some things going forward.

Just a follow-up question um on something like this um is there any sort of zoning regulation that would impact something that big going into a residential neighborhood on a residential piece of property the only thing I can think that's similar would be like a cell tower which is even worse but uh is there any sort of regulating authority over putting something that big in a residential area rather than on a kind of vacant piece of property uh to your question like cell towers are are regulated then that now there's a very prescriptive and prescribed process that we have to go to go through that's handed down to us through the federal requirements uh utility lines uh things of that nature are not currently regulated through the zoning process their placement their location it it's it's not uh a use that is identified in the zoning ordinance so Ms.

Biko can you so we can do that that's something that we can work towards putting that in the zoning I will say um the that utilities as a use I I have seen their location and there are there are prescribed standards in zoning ordinances um that that address that but they're just not present in the unified development code so that's something that we can work on yes if that's something you're wanted to pursue as an amendment to our ordinance that's something we can look at too okay.

So and I guess this would kind of be a question for legal counsel.

I mean all the time not all the time but we do see franchise agreements come across our agenda um I mean that might be something to I don't know if that's what a you know what that would entail but maybe prescribing exactly what what's allowable in a franchise agreement I don't know if that's something that we could we could possibly possibly explore as well just to to spell out this franchise agreement um if there's an area um and then um if if possible to if we needed to we can uh get together the old ad hoc uh poll cut poll committee so we can add it to the stub poll so the stub pole committee yeah yeah I do agree with you uh councilman penn they not just look at their leaders but they really look at the local leaders and they attack their local leaders um many times that we are touchable uh people that's on the federal level and some state level many citizens cannot touch them you know weekly we have several citizens that's come down here to the council meeting every week because we're more touchable than it is for the state in the federal level but um the thing about it is that they look more and they attack us more because we're more touchable than versus you know them and everything

Um many times that we are touchable.

Um, people that's on the federal level and some state level, many citizens cannot touch them.

You know, weekly we have several citizens that's come down here to city council meeting every week because we are more touchable than it is for the state in the federal level.

But um, the thing about it is that they look more and they attack us more because we are more touchable than versus you know, them and everything like that.

So that's why we always more on the front line, so it's more local leaders than versus just leaders just in general.

But I do agree with you.

Uh Madam Clerk.

Ordinance is held over 64058.

Consider an ordinance to amend appendix A, downtown development district of the City of Mobile Unified Development Code, chapter 64, the Mobile City Code 2022.

Councilwoman Ingram.

Um, Mr.

President, first I want to thank Ms.

Bico for uh sharing this summary of changes.

Um, also for providing the stakeholder of participants based off this information.

I'm requesting that we table this until January the 6th.

Okay.

Okay.

And the issues are a course on this council.

Are we we're tabling or are we just laying over it all?

You can just hold it on till January 6th.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh Madam Clerk.

64059.

Consider the proposed rezoning of property located at 2243, 2245, 2345, and 2509, Hall's Mill Road from B3 to B5.

64060, consider the proposed conditional use permit for property located at 2574 and 2664 Sally Road to allow expansion of a religious facility to an R N R1.

Resolutions held over.

47 1471 and 1472 are considering a vacation rights away and uh considering the vacation fee uh as a condition of the vacation of rights away within lot one of MAA A C D C subdivision.

I I'll offer the amendment to modify the legal description to match what's actually happening.

251512.

I'm sorry, I I didn't follow that you had already read uh 1472.

So this is the consideration of a vacation fee.

Okay.

This is not the consideration of waiving a vacation fee.

So if we're gonna waive the vacation fee, do we not need an additional item to waive the vacation fee?

Well before it was just table.

Yeah, they use table and kill it, or do you just that we we're not considering a vacation fee?

Okay, so so this one we're gonna I'll move to table on 47 1472.

That give us the outcome we need.

Yeah, okay.

So I'll read those separate.

Okay.

Accept temporary construction easements for miscellaneous drainage repairs for Tollman's Spring Branch East of Wilson Avenue.

Consent resolutions being introduced.

37 1515 recommend approval to the ABC board for issuance of a retail beer.

Table Y and off-premises only license to OSHE on OSHO Road.

Repeat weed lean group 94 and weed lean group 1673.

60 1158 and 118.

Oh god, 60 15, 18 and 1519.

Approval ward special bonus to the public works employee of the month and the officer of the month.

60, 1520, 21, and 22 are determined appropriations to the village community mental health program, Cuminville Rattlers, Mobile County Public Schools, System Division of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Serve Public Purpose and Approve Payment.

Resolution is being introduced 0815 23, approved purchase order to BL cable construction for fiber optic installation at Matry Park, 21,725.

081524 approved purchase order CDW government for fiber optic transceiver modules 27,362 and 40 cents.

081525 approved purchase order to gray bar electric for utility access boxes for fiber optic security cameras, 22,283 and 28 cents.

081526 approved purchase order land yet annual weekly advertising 2026 parks and events 15,610.

081527 approved purchase order to shape for plastics North America for garbage carts 42,443.

211528 authorized contract with advanced property exposure U.S.

Court for records management 16,800 per year.

251529 grant a permanent easement to Alabama Power to provide service to Mobile Arena from Canal Street.

Call for public hearings.

41 1530 call for public hearing to consider the proposed rezoning of property located at 7125 Bellingraph Road from R1 to B4, scheduled January 13th.

Ms.

President at the planning commission, this was agreed to be from R1 to WH, which is warehouse.

So has something is that still the case?

Do you remember this one, Nick or Shayla or Josh?

It was um we uh taken it from B4 on the recommendation.

I think was to take it to the warehouse, still kept the same same qualifiers, but just kept it out of a B4 designation.

R1 to WH was what was discussed, and then there were going to be some um voluntary use restrictions, I believe, associated with this one if I remember correctly.

I think so after the look, but I think there was a voluntary there in there in the packet.

Okay, so it's just this summary just incorrect in saying B4 versus WH I need to double check that, but I think that's turn your mic on, Ms.

Bico.

I need I need to double check, but I think that the uh warehouse uh zoning classification was was recommended because the way that it was crafted, it would sort of lessen the impact um for warehouse uses um as they may be more adjacent to um non-industrial areas, as opposed to the B4, which is usually I believe more downtown center, but it would open it up to more.

Um it's uh CW.

It was CW CW.

I'm sorry.

CW thank you.

That's a new class one.

Yes.

So I just want to make sure that when we call for the public hearing, we're calling for the right thing for the public hearing today.

Can you with it?

Yeah, I'll double check.

Let me get the language that came out of the planning commission.

I'll do that.

It's in the it's in the packet on the first page says the B4, but on the letter says CW.

Yeah.

The letter of uh the letters.

The notice of hearing it says and I'm being corrected, yes.

41 1531 call for public hearing to consider proposed modification of a previously approved plan unit development for property located at 3456 Halls Mill Road and 2390 West I 65 Service Road South, scheduled January 13th 41 1532, call for public hearing to consider the proposed modification of a previously approved planning approval for property located at 6710 Old Shell Road scheduled January 13th.

Announcements.

Uh Vice President, you want to take up all the resolutions today or the only one, but the only one that you might want to hold over is that last one 251529, but it's permanent easement to Alabama power for the civic center.

It's gonna happen.

It's gonna happen one way or the other.

We may as well go ahead and uh do it.

All okay.

I I'd prefer to stick to the uh let that one held over one way.

All right.

All but uh 25159 1529 will be um waived to go ahead and vote on today.

And I think counsel uh yes, sir, just runn just briefly.

Obviously, we've been watching the news.

Um, you know, Commissioner DeWitt outlined our uh you know, failure to pay rent uh yesterday at the county commission meeting, which is very interesting approach, but understandable, I guess.

Um somewhat disappointed that we weren't paying the old rate, but I think that's been rectified at this point.

But I I think it I think it's uh a lot of money they're asking of us to pay for to rent this building, and and I think it behooves us to to consider other options.

Um $3 million a year or thereabouts is is a whole lot of money.

Um, and I did have a question about it, you know, may not have the answer, but I think it's something we need to consider is how many people do we have in this building currently, and is there an opportunity for us to consolidate some of our space uh currently and maybe consider you know relocating some employees to other assets so we can avoid you know this contentious sort of situation we have down here, but because I I just to be honest with you, I I think it's high time we start looking at moving our city hall somewhere else.

I I don't think this is the best option to our citizens.

I think there's a better opportunity for us to move to the west or you know find something that works better for us that's more cost effective.

And um, and I don't think we should be entering into any long-term lease on this building.

So as these discussions progress, and I'm sure legal teams are going to be discussing this going forward.

My ask is please do not you know agree to some long-term deal for this building because I think I think it's you know something we need to get away from, to be honest with you.

I think previous mayors have had problems with with this arrangement.

So um, anyways, I that's that's been in the news, and I think I think it's a good opportunity we have here with a change in administration, fresh new ideas for us to maybe move on.

Mr.

Ben.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to join in with my colleague.

I actually agree with Councilman Reynolds that we have to start looking at other options.

Um, of course, I was um, you know, to see everything take place over the news, okay.

But to know that um a 90% um that that's pretty high.

Um, and I think if we're paying three million dollars, we should own a building that's just as good stewards.

And so um we're we're kind of different from where we are located when you think about downtown mobile, um, when you go to other major cities downtown is usually kind of mid place.

We're all the way and and the city mobile is growing.

And so uh my request is let's have let's think open.

Um this is honestly to be mid somewhere in the city of mobile would be great for our residents to be able to get the service they need.

Do I enjoy being downtown?

And I think is it's important, yes, but for three million dollars, no.

And so um my request is that we just kind of look at some other options.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Mr.

Woods.

Um, I want to join in and agree with both Mr.

Penn and uh Mr.

Reynolds.

Um, you know, uh as the city grows or continues to grow, uh, you know, obviously we we really can't grow to the to the east a whole lot and it's a little wet over there.

Um, but uh, you know, me representing the citizens and residents of district six, uh if you know the furthestmost part, um almost uh, you know, Jeff Hamilton is where kind of the city corner almost is there.

Um, if you get in the car at that public that's in the city limits, actually the city limit there, um, you drive from there all the way downtown, you're looking at 45 minutes.

Then you got to find a place to park.

Um, you know, that's gonna cause you another 10 minutes, and then you got to do some walking, then you got to come in this build, and then you got to figure out what tower you go to.

I mean, it's an ordeal to do business with the city mobile before you even get to a window.

And um, you know, while I think uh I think it is really high, that's a pretty high increase in square footage costs.

And I mean, I I do understand what the county's saying.

I know I know the position they're in.

I I definitely see that, but I'm I I do think it's time for us to um possibly consider looking at what what other options look like.

Um I uh downtown's nice, it's great to come down here, do business in the with the city of Mobile, grab something to eat.

But uh when it comes to the ease of doing business, um, what is the future look like?

Is that an annex where we have you know we split personnel up, go to some smaller square footed areas and have some annex type situations?

That'd be ideal.

I like that a lot.

But I'm I I do uh want to say that I I think this is something we do continue to need to work with.

Um obviously um, you know, I mean I can be district six council office, we can be packed up in in five minutes in the box I got in there.

So we uh, you know, ease of moving me is not is not not hard at all.

But um I do want to say it whether uh it definitely don't want a long-term lease.

Um, and uh, but if we do in the meantime work out something to stay here um for the media until we we make a plan, or if there is a plan, um I would ask that uh part of those agreements that we maybe get the the ceiling in the district six council office fixed.

Uh I mean the last three years it's been leaking pretty much every time it rains.

So um so that's uh that's my only request for the county.

Maybe we can work that into the discussions of fixing the roof.

So I appreciate it.

Thank you.

All right.

Anyone else?

Um before I get to waiving the rules, uh for those of us who've been around for a very long time, and I think Lisa can chime in on this.

out something to stay here um for the media until we we make a plan or if there is a plan um i would ask that uh part of those agreements that we maybe get the the the ceiling in the district six council office fixed uh i mean the last three years it's been leaking pretty much every time it rains so um so that's uh that's my only request for the county maybe we can work that into the discussions of fixing the roof so i appreciate thank you all right anyone else um before i get to waiving the rules uh for those of us who've been around for a very long time and i think lisa can chime in on this when they moved from old city hall which is over where the history museum is now the reason everybody moved over here was to consolidate everything in one place they tried to move as many people as possible under one roof so that was a thinking back then even though there are some annexes throughout and they've tried different models of annexes some work some didn't but at any rate that's just the history so on waiving the rules everything y'all are good with everything but that last one correct yes ma'am okay oh oh and we need to introduce our students who were here almost forgot that I've got a I've got one more okay thing on the all right so as far as the the north tower goes we have municipal court over there right how many courtrooms do we have four courtrooms is that all we have on the north tower and then we have what five and a half floors or so over here five and a half thereabouts okay two and three people and three five they're not size so I just uh the municipal court obviously being over here with the other judges in course maybe that's part of our consideration you know maybe we leave that alone I don't know and well not not if they're gonna maybe charge us not in line with everybody else like you know are they somebody made a point in the media but maybe it was you Mr.

Mayor about they charging the DA the same did we get that answer I'm not sure there's any rent costs to those not any rent to the DA or to uh the other users here okay thank you uh vice president turn your mic on oh so we have some students with us today who are shadowing I know Josh has some students and I do as well if they would stand up and Josh you want to introduce yours and then I will introduce mine I'll be happy to so um uh we now know that uh you're very proud of your high school I'm very proud of mine as well so uh uh had some faith uh fellow uh future faith uh grads so I have Emma and Nicholas Lawson uh they're in Mr.

Gurley's class they're uh shadowing for their government class and um hopefully they walk away with uh some sort of knowledge that I've conveyed to them so and then I have Selena De Fala uh Fidala who is with us today she is also with faith and she's interested in going to the University of South Alabama possibly medicine or pharmacy so just happy to have you with us today all of the students for coming in today and they'll be with us during the regular meeting as well.

Okay.

All right and I think on administration all right we'll see each other downstairs at 10 30