Mobile City Council Regular Meeting - December 9, 2025

The Mobile City Council convened on December 9, 2025, to address a range of administrative, legislative, and community concerns. Key topics included the city's participation in a lawsuit against the state regarding internet sales tax, updates on the reopening of South McGregor Avenue, and significant public testimony regarding Alabama Power infrastructure projects in the Tomerville community. Council members discussed zoning ordinances, budget appropriations, and the appointment of board members, while emphasizing transparency and community engagement.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the November 25 and December 2 meetings.
• Adopted the agenda.
• Approved appeals to waive the noise ordinance for December 21 (Airport Blvd), May 21 (Government St), and September 12 (Medal of Honor Park).
• Approved multiple consent resolutions: appointments to the Citizens Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and Mobile Housing Authority; ABC board retail beer license recommendations; Public Works Employee and Officer of the Month awards; and appropriations to Village Community Mental Health, Tolmanville Rattlers, Mobile County Public Schools, and Serve Public Purpose.
• Approved purchase orders for fiber optic installations and security camera equipment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Christopher Peragoni (Azalea City Center for the Arts): Expressed full support for a proposal to convert the old Calagas building into a 255-seat performing arts theater to fill an immediate gap in Mobile's performing arts infrastructure. He positioned the project as a necessary mid-sized venue complementing future Civic Center plans.
• Brenda Barnes: Expressed strong concern and fear regarding purported 5G installations, Alabama Power infrastructure, and community displacement in her community. She demanded permit disclosures, civil rights evaluations, and public hearings, citing the Alabama Open Records Act and Title Six Civil Rights.
• Roy Pendleton: Expressed worry about the safety of new "block structures" and "20 block structures" in his Tomerville neighborhood, noting a lack of notice regarding the project or compensation for residents. He stated he was unaware of the project's purpose, voltage, or legality.
• Reggie Hill: Criticized the appointment process for board members (specifically Catalina/Fidala) to the Mobile Housing Authority, arguing that a vetting committee is required to prevent recidivism and ensure oversight. He also positioned that funding for youth organizations approved in 2021 must be released immediately, arguing these funds are essential for improving quality of life.

Discussion Items

• Internet Sales Tax (SSUT) Lawsuit: Mayor Gottis stated the city is joining a lawsuit against the state of Alabama regarding the 2015 internet sales tax structure. He calculated that Mobile loses approximately $34 million a year under the current system and asserted that the current scheme is unfair because Mobile's tax dollars are spent across the entire state rather than locally.
• County Lease Negotiations: Mayor Gottis discussed impending lease termination and a potential 90% rent increase for city offices from $125,000 to nearly $240,000 per month. He committed to exploring all options and stated he would not accept the increase. Councilman Reynolds stated he had asked the city not to enter into a long-term deal with the county and urged an inventory of current space usage to explore consolidation or relocation.
• South McGregor Avenue Reopening: Mayor Gottis announced the reopening of South McGregor Avenue to traffic on December 11 following a $25 million, 30-year modernization project. He positioned the reopening as a critical step for local commerce and safety.
• Alabama Power Infrastructure: Councilman Penn explained that Alabama Power placed infrastructure on private property with owner compensation, which bypassed city zoning authority. However, he stated he had requested a meeting with Alabama Power to address community concerns regarding health and transparency. Councilman Runnels echoed these concerns, stating that the city must find better ways to ensure utility companies engage communities and requested legal review of zoning implications, even stating a willingness to go to state or federal levels if necessary.
• Ordinance 64058 (Downtown Development District): Councilwoman Ingram moved to hold the ordinance over to January 6 to allow time for review of summaries and comparisons regarding blight coding and municipal enforcement.
• Resolutions 64059 & 64060 (Rezoning & Conditional Use): These were held over for further discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Lawsuit Filed: The City of Mobile has joined other cities in filing a lawsuit against the state regarding the internet sales tax (SSUT) structure.
• Road Reopening: South McGregor Avenue is scheduled to reopen on December 11, 2025, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m. the same day.
• Ordinances Held: Ordinance 64058 was held over until January 6, 2026. Rezoning resolutions 64059 and 64060 were held.
• Public Safety Directives: A smoke alarm blitz was announced for District 5 and planned for District 7. Councilman Penn and others directed staff to request information from Alabama Power and to explore legislative solutions for utility community engagement.
• Employee Recognition: Mr. Le Baron Johnson was formally recognized as the Public Works Employee of the Month for his promotion to Sanitation Supervisor and continued service.
• Future Hearings: Public hearings for three zoning/modification requests (411530, 411531, 411532) were scheduled for January 13, 2026. A correction was noted in the agenda summary for 411530 to confirm the rezoning from R1 to CW.