This is the regular meeting of the Mobile City Council Tuesday, December the 9th.

Please stand for our invocation that by Father Dan Good, Public Safety Chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

In the name of the Father and the Son of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

God or Father, we ask you to please bless our fair city.

Bless those who serve.

May you give them wisdom from heaven.

Please give us peace and justice among our people.

Give us safety, Lord God, and bless us with the charity of your son.

May you fill us all each day with your grace.

We praise you and we thank you in the name of your son Jesus to his Lord forever and ever.

Amen.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice draw.

Here.

Vice President Gregory.

Here.

Council Member Penn.

Councilmember Ingram.

Here, Councilmember Reynolds.

Councilmember Fleming.

Here.

Council Member Woods.

Here.

Statement of rules.

And good morning, everyone.

It's good to see everybody this morning.

Welcome to our December 9th, 2025 meeting.

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

I ask if anyone have any type of electronic device, please at this time put on the offer vibrated position, the offer of vibrated position.

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

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

Must contact the city clerk office no later than two o'clock p.m.

the Thursday prior to the council meeting.

The subject that he or she wishes to express to the Mobile City Council must be identified and pertaining to the city of Mobile Business.

Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address this council.

A bell will indicate the sign of two minutes.

One minute remain for summarizing second bill indicates that your time has expired.

When addressing this council, there'd 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.

To maintain the coin, there will be no undue applause or public outcry allowed.

Madam Clerk.

Approval of minutes of November 25th and December 2nd.

So move.

Second.

Properly move and second in any discussion.

All in favor.

Aye.

All opposed.

Minutes approved.

Communications from Mayor Chair Gottis.

Good morning, everyone.

Morning.

Yesterday was a big day for our city.

In council with some of my staff and others around the state, our city chose to join this an SSUT lawsuit against the state of Alabama.

We're joining the cities of Tuscaloosa, Mountain Brook, others, Hoover.

The SSUT program, nobody really knows what that is.

So I'm going to call it the internet sales tax.

Uh 10 years ago, Alabama instituted a flat rate tax for inner all internet sales.

This was back in 2015.

I think Amazon was still only selling books back then.

It was a way that our cities, our counties, and our state could capture some of the dollars made off those internet sales.

In those in the 10 years since then, internet sales have gone off the charts.

By our calculations, the city of Mobile is losing out around $34 million a year under the current structure.

That that is not something that, as your mayor, I can I can stand by and watch.

$34 million is a lot of money.

And right now, I think the scheme is just unfair.

Where our tax dollars spent here in Mobile, delivered by mobile drivers, bought from mobile stores, delivered to mobile homes.

That money is going all across the state to every county in the state and to every city in the state.

That's not fair.

And so we've joined that lawsuit in an effort to protect our local sales tax dollars.

Um we've worked for years trying to find a fix to this with the legislature, and we'll continue to do that.

Entering this lawsuit is not the end of those negotiations.

I hope it is a time for renewal of those negotiations.

Uh but in the end, the city of Mobile cannot sit on the sidelines and watch this fight.

We might not have filed the suit, uh, but this is our fight.

And so I am committed to fighting for those dollars to come home to Mobile to protect our schools, our roads, our citizens.

As you may have heard, some there are some negotiations ongoing to reach a fairer rental agreement with the county commission as to our offices here in this building.

In June, the commission notified us that our lease would be terminated and our rent was going to be raised by nearly 90%, essentially doubling it from 125,000 upwards of 240,000 per month, which is a lot of money.

But I promise you that we're going to continue to explore all options.

Anytime that I, as your mayor, am directing anyone to spend your tax dollars, I want to make sure it's fiscally sound, that it's in the city's best interest.

And so there are no options that we will leave off the table.

We will explore all those options.

And I believe we can find a solution that serves all parties.

Now to fund things.

I hope you see this as a gift from the city to you that we are finally reopening South McGregor Avenue, and it will reopen to traffic this week starting on December 11th.

After more than two years of construction, we're gonna host a ribbon cutting at 8:30 a.m.

this Thursday morning.

Uh the road will reopen shortly thereafter, uh, and we'll be sharing some additional details soon.

I know this project was disrupt disruptive to many.

Uh my daughter thinks it's been closed for 10 years.

I told her no, honey, you're only eight, so how would you know?

Um this project does represent a 25 million dollar investment and a 30-year effort to modernize and expand this critical corridor here in Mobile, which is McGregor Avenue.

Uh, I'm excited for everyone to see the finished product.

It's frankly beautiful.

Uh, it looks great, and I think it's going to be very functional and create a safer environment there at that traffic intersection.

But I'm most excited that it's going to open that corridor back up for everybody who like who like me will be doing that last minute Christmas shopping, getting to our shops that are there along McGregor Avenue.

And I hope you will all come out with me on uh Thursday morning at 8:30 to celebrate the reopening of this very important corridor.

Uh now it's my pleasure to call up public service director uh Matt Anderson to recognize the public works employee of the month for this for December, uh Mr.

LeBaron Johnson, who is our public services supervisor.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh so LeBaron was uh partially because of how good of an employee he is, was recently promoted to supervisor for all of our garbage services in Mobile.

And because of that, he has a lot of responsibility, and he had to be called away to deal with the situation.

So he won't be able to join us.

So I would ask if we could do this at the next meeting.

Uh I'll try and make sure he has somebody that can sub-inform on those things.

Thank you, sir.

Very good.

We'll double recognize Mr.

LeBaron.

Um that concludes my remarks.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Looking forward to today's meeting.

Adoption of the agenda.

So move.

Second.

Probably move and second any discussion.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Agenda's adopted.

Appeals.

We have requests a waive the noise ordinance on December 21st on Airport Boulevard.

May 21st on Government Street, and September 12th in Medal of Honor Park.

So moved.

Second.

All in favor.

Aye.

All appolls.

Appeal passes.

Presentation of petitions and other communications to the council.

Christopher Paragall.

Morning, members of the council and Mr.

Mayor.

My name is Christopher Peragoni.

I'm with the Azalea City Center for the Arts.

And back here, we've got some of our board members.

We also have a representative from Florida P.

Carson, which is the charter school for performing arts here in Mobile.

I'm here to speak to you today about a proposal that we have to solve a need that is here in the city.

When the Mobile Civic Center was taken down, the theater went along with it, and that created a hole in the city for the performing arts community.

Azalea City Center for the Arts is under a contract to purchase the old Calagas building on Springdale Boulevard.

And we have a proposal to convert it into a 255-seat theater, which will solve the needs for lots of the performing arts groups here in Mobile.

Without a current theater and public performing space, we have been left scrambling, kind of putting it going you know here and there to high schools to different locations.

And even when the city does build the replacement for them for the Mobile Civic Center Theater, this mid-sized theater is still something that lacks in the city.

At 255 seats, it's going to be appropriate for all kinds of performing groups from dance studios to improv groups.

And if you look in the brochure, we also have interest from the mobile opera to be performing there.

Now there are other groups that want the main theater to come back, but this is something that will fill this need immediately.

And the facility will be a fully accessible stage and seating.

And in addition to that, it will have state of the art lighting, sound curtains, and all of the things that you need.

The backstage area is going to have eight generous size just dressing rooms, a big green room, and a steam shop that will allow for materials to be used by all the different groups.

And now if you not don't know anything about Azealia City Center for the Arts, we've been around for about 15 years, and we currently own our rehearsal space in midtown.

And so this will complement that rehearsal space.

The performance space will be as well.

And so what we're asking from the city is some commitment of support and dollars.

But I do think that this is something that will not only benefit the city but also fill a need that is is current and we could be open by next year if we can get the funding.

So are there any questions?

Any questions or comments from this council?

Yes, sir, Mr.

President.

Mr.

Reynolds.

With the new arena design, it includes that side ballroom over on the west side of the structure.

If that and I think it was contemplated that that would be utilized for this sort of use.

But I think our thought or idea was that would be our short-term gap filler until we were able to come up with the funds or money to to develop a bigger theater.

It's not always about bigger, though.

I mean, this is this is a mid-sized venue, which will I mean not every group that was in Mobile that's looking for a venue could use what the Mobile Civic Center had to begin with.

This is not just to replace the Civic Center, it's to uh provide a secondary performing arts venue, but it's more immediate than let's say what's down the road.

Ms.

President, yeah, you are you done, Mr.

Reynolds?

Uh Mr.

Penn, uh thank you, Ms.

President, and thank you, Christopher, for coming down.

One of the great organizations in District One, Azalea City Center for the arts and the arts are very important for not just District One, but for the whole City Mobile.

So many great people go out and do a lot of great things and accomplish and travel around the world because of the performing arts.

And we have a lot of great young people as well as adults that's participating in these type of programs.

Um we can't make a commitment or anything at this moment, but I know that um if you share that information with the executive branch, send in the ideas to the council, how that might that partnership might look.

Um, but I know this you're doing an amazing job, and I know it's a need, um, but we just have to figure out how we can make certain things work.

But thank you for all the work that you're doing.

Um, I had an opportunity.

If you hadn't had the chance, I asked you to go visit, go to a play, go to I mean, Christopher and his team is doing an amazing job.

And so thank you for your service to our city.

I appreciate it.

And any councilman is welcome to come to our facility, and we'll be presenting how the Grinch Stole Christmas for the first time ever in Alabama on December 19th through 21st.

Mr.

President, uh Miss Gregory.

Thank you for coming, and and I agree with my colleague, Councilman Penn.

Um, I know something that it did come up during our early discussions about the new arena and the fact that there is no standalone performing arts theater planned.

I mean, well, there is one plan, but nothing in design.

It will have to be a separate project.

So there were some discussions about that, uh, concerns, because what they will be able to do kind of in a short term over there is not really what you all are looking for, especially with acoustics and what you need in order to do the performances that you have now.

Um, so I think what y'all are doing in the interim, especially is important, and then for the kind of size that you're looking for.

So it won't be some big basketball arena size, but it is mid-size for the some maybe some specialty performances that that you won't have.

So again, if uh I know the mayor is listening as well as his staff, and so if if there is a way for us to partner with you guys, uh, we will certainly all consider that.

So thank you.

Thank you.

And all who came with you to support you, just wave your hand.

Yeah, thank you all so much.

And we will recognize a lot of folks back there.

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you all so much.

So thank you so much for your work and everything.

Thank you for your time.

All right, Madam Clerk.

Brenda Barnes.

Good morning.

My name is Brenda Barnes, and um I'm just gonna go over this.

This I didn't outline because of course I'm nervous, but I'm concerned.

I'm not concerned for myself as a citizen.

I'm concerned for my community.

I am disabled, so I'm asking you guys to work with because I'm taking medication, but this is necessary.

Okay.

Um the issues I'm concerned with is uh purported 5G installations, Alabama power infrastructure, project and community displacement.

This is what I feel like is taking place.

I'm not sure.

Okay, the issues is whether the city mobile properly approved for me for the infrastructure.

Which I think is a bridge expansion.

I'm not sure whether Alabama Power, because they contacted me yesterday, and for them to be concerned, something is taking place, and I'll get I'll get to the fact that got three minutes.

I'm gonna try to stay under three.

Whether Alabama Power Power City or Contractors are subject to public notices or community engagement requirements, whether the project reach repeated.

Move the microphone a little bit closer to your mouth.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah, speaking, yeah, very close.

Yeah.

Just get a little bit closer to the mic.

Yeah, I need to start over.

Okay.

No, no, don't start over, just start right there.

Okay.

Okay.

So I'm concerned whether the project reached repeat home for herbal renewal displacements.

We've gone through this in the black communities back in the 60s.

And all of my investments, all of my parents' investments, all of our black communities, our properties have been lost to eminent domain, new projects.

The community didn't get any notices, didn't get a chance to voice our opinions.

I'm 62 years old now.

I don't have anything else to lose.

I restructure my life over this is the third time.

And I have several properties in the area that this these are taking places.

So here's here's the applicable law that this concerns.

It's the Alabama Open Records Act of 36-12-40.

Mobile zoning and road ordinances, NEPA, title Title Six Civil Rights.

This this uh despite uh impact protections.

The FCC shot clock, orders and road rules, Alabama PSC oversight for utilities.

Whatever is taking place, here's the analysis.

The city is not supposed to propose construction affecting protect the communities without transparency or permits.

Alabama power said that they had permits to continue the project that they contracted out with the City Mobile.

And I'll I'll address the area of concern.

Uh environmental and traffic impact studies, civil rights impact review, public hearing opportunities.

And I'm speaking again for my compute community, and I'm speaking for myself as a citizen.

In conclusion, the community can demand permit disclosures, how it depended review, civil rights evaluation, public hearings, and PSC complaints if Alabama Power.

Yeah, Ms.

Barnes.

Um I'd like to give uh another minute.

Okay, we got one more minute.

Okay.

So I'll I'll just go, I'll I'll go and let you let you know what my conclusion is.

But my concern is the power grid that's been placed on St.

Stephen's Road.

All of this area is the area of concern.

From St.

Stephen Road, first I noticed the power plant.

I have a family history of cancer.

Okay, that was my main concern.

It just didn't look appropriate.

And the community that they said dressed, it just didn't seem appropriate.

From St.

Stephen Road to Pleasant Avenue, there are posts a hundred yards apart from St.

Stephen Road to Stanton Road.

And they're in people's front yard.

My first concern was the health issue.

But when I went through Somerville Stand Road around by Carver State, and I don't know what's in plenty because I didn't get a chance to check that, but it's I want to know if this has anything to do with the future bridge connecting to interstate team.

Mr.

Penn, that you have any comments.

Yeah, thank you, Miss Barnes, for coming down.

Um, and you you make some concerns that I think is everybody should have concerns about.

Um, and so um I I called you on yesterday, I didn't get a chance to get in contact with you.

Um, if you had a chance to go back and watch pre-consulte, I stated my concerns about it.

Um, from me representing portion of where that's gonna be located.

We didn't know at the time to the last minute that these things were gonna go up.

Um you asked a question about the city.

The city, because it wasn't right away, the those polls are on private property.

So they pay those private owners to be able to place those polls there.

Um, and so by doing that, they didn't have to come through me or anybody else to be able to do that.

Um, because those residents received a financial um payment to have those polls placed there.

For me, I still disagree with.

I disagree because I believe it just doesn't affect the people who live in that particular house, it affects the whole community as a whole.

Um, and so um I asked our attorney um and the city attorney what authority we have.

And at this time, the city, even myself, we don't have any authority um over Alabama Power or any utility company that's here um in the the city mobile, but what can we do to create change?

And that's what I'm asking.

Now, some of your questions regarding the health and all those different things.

Um, we I actually request the Alabama Power to be here and they can answer those questions for you.

Um, or get bring the people who know more information about all that.

They told me that it shouldn't have any health problems, um, but they will be able to share that information if you raise your hand.

But they will be able to share that information.

If you raise your hand, you can see them right after this meeting or doing the meeting if you want to step out and they would get the right information to you or the right people to talk to you about that.

Now, regarding the bridge, a bridge is not coming through Tomville.

That's that's something that I never heard that.

Those are not coming out.

So I'm gonna give you my cell number as well.

Um I did call you, and so it's you have it, but if you want to wait, we can talk about what ways that we can move forward together, but I didn't have that information or the city um that we all found out later.

Um, and so I have now requested a meeting.

Um postcards were sent out, but I will send a letter out and I'm requesting Alabama Power to be present to talk to the community um and share everything, all the information that you asked now, they're able to go and get um and share all that information at that meeting.

Yeah, also, Councilman McPinn, I would like to uh say that you probably want to have the health department there also, where they can verify everything that is being said at that meeting because of the health heritage and stuff.

Okay, thank you so much for coming down.

Okay, Madam Clerk.

Roy Pendleton.

Good morning.

I guess my question kind of ties into what she was talking about.

Um Roy Pendleton.

Yeah.

Um I saw this project.

Uh I took pictures of it, and I noticed that it was in uh one of my classmates' yard, these structures, and I was wondering what it was.

You could pass it around if you like.

And uh I spoke with Councilman Penn, and uh he's told you what he just told you.

Um the project Alabama Power was working on.

But my concern was uh what the residential well is because I didn't get I live in that neighborhood, and I I got nothing saying that they were gonna do this, that these people were compensated.

I never was compensated.

Now, if it compensating, shouldn't everybody get compensated who might affect.

I didn't get a notice saying that they were gonna do this.

I don't even know what it is.

All I know is about 20 block structures going down Pleasant Avenue and down Stanton Road in the Tomerville community.

I don't know what it is.

I don't know if it's safe, how many voltages?

I don't even know anything about electricity.

But I know this is in my neighborhood, and it just came out of nowhere.

I just found out about this about two weeks ago.

And uh I don't know if that's legal.

I haven't spoken with anybody from Alabama Power about what that is or anything.

That's my first concern.

Second is uh transparency.

Who do I talk to?

What are who do I concern?

You know, who can I go to?

Was there a meeting between everyone in Tomoville or the people in that community?

I haven't heard anything.

My main concern is the safety of that community.

What's the long range plans?

What is this?

What's what's the purpose of this?

You know, I don't even know what it is.

First of all, what's what's the purpose of this?

Putting these big block structures all throughout Tomerville, some of them in people's yards.

What are we trying to accomplish here?

You know, I don't know what it is.

I like to get some answers.

I like to know and is it safe?

And if somebody being compensated, me being in that community, I should have been compensated too.

I didn't even receive a notice.

And it was done rather quickly.

You know, something like that takes time.

You know, and it just done, they paid the people off, they moved on, and everything is fine.

No, no, no, no.

No, I need a little time to see what's going on.

At least I do.

I like to talk with somebody with from Alabama Power and get an understanding.

So this is like a major project.

It's in my neighborhood.

That's all I got to say.

Thank you, Mr.

Roy, for coming down.

Me and you spoke on yesterday.

Um, and you share your your concerns, and I totally agree with everything you're saying.

Um, I think we have to do a better job in pre council.

I asked our attorney as well as the city attorney to make sure that what can we put in place to start making sure that these utility companies are having those community means and and and going forward sharing what's taking place.

Now, what I can tell you, the information that I have received, one of the questions you asked about the poll was like what's the purpose of it?

Well, one is that USA hospital is located in the Thomaville community.

Um, and it requires a lot of power.

And when storms or anything take place, you know, the power potentially can go out.

Um, and these particular polls would make sure that they have less uh interference with having a power outage, and that doesn't just fit the house builder, but it also affects the rest of the community.

So that means that the community will be connected to having those uh receive the benefits as well as what the hospital received, that community received.

I and I hear that, and I understand that, and I'm grateful for having better service, but the problem is could it have been done a better way?

And and could we find other ways to be able to still get that type of service?

And so I have the same concerns that you have.

I have requested, like I said, both for um our count, our city attorney as well as our council attorney to start looking at some of the zoning things that you mentioned, Miss Borns as well.

Um, but I totally agree with everything you all saying.

Um, but Alabama Power Um will meet you outside right now, or you can wait after the meeting um to talk to you um regarding some of the things that you're looking to um talk about.

All right, thank you, Ms.

President.

All right, Madam Clerk.

Ordinance is held over 64058.

Mr.

President.

Uh uh Councilwoman Ingram.

Mr.

President, I move to hold over the ordinance.

Hold on, Miss Ingram.

Okay, I'm sorry, Mr.

Um President.

Uh Reggie Hill signed in, and um, I didn't get the form.

What resolution sign in to speak to ordinance 64058, resolution 031514, and 601521.

Thank you.

Uh to the citizens of stakeholders of Mobile Greetings, uh, Reggie Hill is my name.

I rise today to continue these pertinent conversations uh pertaining to city business and particularly as these are related to property uh matters and release of fundings.

And uh it's great to see that none of us were uh put out of here today, not by any of y'all, but by our landlord, if you will.

And so it's gonna lead us into what we're doing about these matters, particularly 64-05A.

Um, and this is dealing with the downtown uh development district.

We know that a lot of this is stemmed from how we're approaching blight.

I think it's significant to have areas that are designated, maybe with entertainment, things of that nature that can be specified separately.

But when we're looking at coding and how we're looking at how we're gonna specify how people should upkeep their property, that needs to be very central.

It needs to be very concise.

It needs to be precise as well.

Uh, we have matters that we deal with the municipal enforcement department that I believe can be looked at when we're doing this as well.

There shouldn't be extra things for people to conduct business in the City Mobile.

There are a lot of strongholds.

We've seen where we've increased the business license prices, and we've also seen we're making more restrictions that prevent people from wanting to come in and spend money with our city.

So I know that this is something that we're going to be looking at in January.

I hope that these are some of the things that we're going to be considering as we get to that.

Let's look at please 03-1514.

Um, this is the appointment of Miss Uh I pray I'm pronouncing her name correctly.

Uh Catalina uh or Catholic Fidala to the Mobile Housing Board Authority.

Um, my first question is have any of you met with uh with Ms.

Fidala uh before uh putting her on this list and and has any of that been presented to the public what those findings were?

We see that over the past what seven or eight months we had about five or six people, so there's a recidivism problem when it comes to mobile housing authority.

And those people who were just put in, the first thing that they came and did was eliminate or terminate rather the CEO from that position.

And I don't think they had enough insight on what actually was going on.

And we're saying it was saying housing units closed across the entire city.

Uh people are being deprived of their opportunity or quality of life excuse me, opportunities for enhancement of their quality of life.

And it starts with how we make these appointments.

So I would suggest that similar to what the United States Congress does, uh, when they have these people who are being appointed by the administration and they have to be approved by the legislative body, you bring them before a committee so they can present and show us what it is that they intend on doing when they go and serve on these boards because these are impacting thousands of people's lives.

And lastly, this uh 60-1521.

Uh, this is the discretionary appropriation.

Uh, we know that there are organizations, uh, one in particular.

We know we said it's plenty of time, we've been waiting on resources since 2021 that were approved by this body.

And there are other instances who said that they haven't received their resources either.

So is there something that's gonna prevent uh something like this?

Because these youth need these opportunities, and this is why we're here and why we're here to serve.

So there's something that's gonna prevent that.

I said that'd be eliminated.

Uh, these funds need to go out to the people that deserve them, and this is our improvement quality of life and simple bill.

Thank you for you on the floor.

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 of the Mobile City Code to 2022.

Mr.

President, I let's bring it up to the for discussion, Ms.

Ingram.

Uh so move.

Second.

Property movement, second in the discussion, Ms.

Ingram.

Mr.

President, I move to uh hold this open to January the 6th to give us time to look at the summaries and the comparisons.

Second.

Property moving second in the discussion.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed on late old January 6.

64059.

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

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

So moved.

Second.

Proper move and second ending discussion.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

I don't pass.

Resolution is held over.

47 1471.

Consider vacation of all rights of way located within lot one of MAA A C D C subdivision.

Uh Mr.

President, I'd like to offer.

I'm sorry, so moved.

Second.

Property moving second ending discussion, Ms.

Reynolds.

Yes, sir, Mr.

President.

I'd like to offer an amendment identifying or modifying the legal description to match that of the map that's produced in exhibit A.

Can I get a second?

Second.

Property movement second on the amendment.

All in all in favor.

Aye.

All opposed.

Astain.

Six one going back to the original.

Any other discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

Opposed.

Pass system one.

Madam Clerk.

14 47 1472.

Consider a vacation fee as a condition of the vacation of rights of way within lot one of MAA A C D C subdivision.

So moved.

Second.

Proper move is second in the discussion.

Yes, sir, Mr.

President.

Ms.

Runnels.

I'd like to offer an amendment identifying the uh vacation fee as being waived to the original amendment.

It's an offer to the clerk's office.

Proper move and second on the amendment.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed, abstain, pass one.

Going back to the original.

Any other discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

Opposed.

Pass 6-1.

Madam Clerk.

25 1512.

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

So move.

Second.

Property moving second ending discussion.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

I don't pass.

Consent resolution is being introduced.

031513 through 601522.

Move to weigh the rules for immediate consideration of these resolutions as read.

Second.

Property moving second ending discussion.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

Rules waived.

Madam Clerk.

031513, 031514 are appointing Catherine O'Keefe to the Citizens Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and appointing Caitlin Fidelity to the Mobile Housing Authority Board.

371515 recommend approval to the ABC board for issuance of a retail beer.

Group 16173 and Group 94.

60 1518 and 1519 approval ward special bonus to the public works employee of the month and the officer of the month.

60 1520 1521 and 1522 are determining appropriations to the village community mental health program, Tolmanville Rattlers, Mobile County Public Schools System Division of Teaching Learning and Assessment Serve Public Purpose and Approving Payment.

So moved.

Okay.

Prop the move and second and in discussion.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

Consent resolution passes.

Resolution is being introduced for the first time 08-1523 through 25 1529.

Move to waive the rules for immediate consideration of resolutions.

With the I'm sorry, not 29.

Uh with 1529 being laid over for one week.

Second.

Prop the movement second in a discussion.

All in favor.

Aye.

All opposed.

Rule wave, model clerk.

081523.

Approved purchase order to BNL cable construction for fiber optic installation at Matry Park.

08 1524 approved purchase order to CDW government for fiber optic transceiver modules.

Approved purchase order to gray bar electric for utility access access boxes for fiber optic security cameras.

081526 approved purchase orders land.

Yep, annual weekly advertising.

So moved.

Second.

All opposed.

Resolution passes.

Call for public hearings.

41 1530.

Call for public hearing to consider the proposed rezoning of property located at 7125 Bellingraff Road from R1 to CW schedule January 13th.

411531 call for public hearing to consider the proposed modification of a previously approved plan unit development for property located at 3456 Halls Mill Road and 2990 2390 West I-65 Service Road South scheduled January 13th.

411532 call for public hearing to consider proposed modification of a previously approved planning approval for property located at 6710 Old Shell Road Scheduled January 13th.

So moved.

Second.

Prop the move and second and in discussion.

Yes, sir, Ms.

President.

Mr.

Runnels.

The agenda summary for 411530 is misdated from R1 to B4.

It should be R1 to CW.

This is not required for amendment.

I believe the letter of decisions been attached to our agenda, and that's part of what we're approving.

That's what I read.

Just want to make that note.

Okay.

All right.

And other discuss uh other discussion.

All in favor.

Aye.

All opposed.

Love and hearing is called.

Announcements.

District six, councilman woods.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um only announcement I have is just want to remind everybody that this Friday night from 5 to 8 o'clock at the Connie Hudson Senior Center.

Uh the Connie Hudson Senior Center Foundation will be hosting their their uh their Christmas dance on uh ten dollars at the door, uh light buffet included with that, and then also Christmas attire.

So that's uh again that's Friday at uh at the senior center in district six um from five to eight.

Um and I did uh did want to uh commend the mayor.

Um I know obviously uh the comments that are made regarding the the tenant status of the city of mobile.

Um I I do want to commend you.

I I definitely uh like the ideas that you have as far as uh the potential for looking other places.

Um, you know, district six, we're we're out we're out west, and um, you know, a lot of times to to do business with the city of mobile, it it takes uh uh effort or extra effort.

Um, so um, you know, definitely exploring what what the city looks like uh as far as uh where we where we call home um to offices and departments.

I think that's a very fair thing to take a look at.

And um, I do want to say a misnomer that I I did see just um across social media because we know everything on social media is true.

Um misnomer that the city withheld, paying the county for rent, uh, due to the financial state of the city.

That that's absolutely absurd.

to to do business with the city of mobile it it takes uh uh effort or extra effort um so um you know definitely exploring what what the city looks like uh as far as uh where we where we call home um to offices and departments i think that's a very fair thing to take a look at and um i do want to say a misnomer that i i did see just um across social media because we know everything on social media is true um a misnomer that the city withheld paying the county for rent uh do the financial state of the city that that's absolutely absurd um that was a uh you know for my understanding that was uh potential to bring people to the table um people are at the table now um so glad that we could bring uh bring people there and also bring the table um but um definitely appreciate you uh looking at that um again the uh city mobile is in great financial state um thanks to stewardship of councils and mayors uh uh before before us so um i did just want to touch touch base of that uh thank you again for exploring options or being willing to explore options to take a look and um definitely as we walk through this or as you walk through this um the district six council office I'm still got that leak so um I I don't know how much a ceiling tile costs but that that could be a cost savings for the county if they just fix the roof so thank you uh thank you councilman woods district two councilwoman thank you mr president um I want to to commend the residents for coming out on Thursday December the fourth we held our first all communities a meeting um at VL Health Center and it was uh packed as a matter of fact um we uh were able to uh feed all of the um participants we had an opportunity to get informed by our administrative staff thank you all for your services uh you were well prepared and very it was very informative in addition I want to give a special thanks to the city council clerica staff who had everything prepared and ready for us to go um and lastly um I would like to wish everyone a merry christmas and wishing you joy peace and hope for the season thank you thank you councilwoman eager district four councilman reynolds thank you mr president I was disappointing to see on the county commission meeting that they sort of aired this negotiation out and hey it's fine you know the city likely should have been paying 125000 or whatever the old payment amount was I think they probably should have been paying that amount but to accept this uh 90% increase in rent uh with your biggest tenant I think there's other options out there for us actually better options I think could be out there for us I think that's probably not the best way to go about it so I've asked that the city not enter into any long-term deal with the county I I I've also asked that we explore other options to move our city operation closer to the city center I think we'll all benefit from that also asked for the city to take inventory of the amount of space we're using here in government plaza see if there's an opportunity to consolidate our current use of this building and I understand the county has substantial operating costs for this building I understand that just because those operational costs higher does not mean that this real estate is the best real estate for the citizens of Mobile and uh so I I look forward to the discussion.

I know we got a a great new leader in the mayor's office who's gonna be digging into it along with his team and hopefully we'll get this thing resolved sooner that rather than later.

Thank you Mr.

President thank you Councilman Runnels District 5 Councilman Fleming.

Yes sir Mr.

President um I would like to echo the good news that the mayor shared regarding the opening of the McGregor Avenue project I would like to thank everybody who worked so hard um all the engineers planning people all those silent heroes is going to be exciting new project uh have opened up I would also like to really thank the neighbors in that area in that part of town for their patience um and hopefully this reopening of McGregor will help ease some of those traffic concerns you all been living with the last two to three years.

I would also like to remind everyone of our district five community meeting tomorrow night at 6 p.m at ER Dixon Elementary we should have a representative there from several city departments public safety mobile fire and rescue uh to answer any questions that may arise um if you do come which I hope you do uh please bring a new toy uh the new toy will be donated to fostering together and this is an important time of year in Christmas and the holidays and um it's would be great to help out children in need.

And then I would also like to announce today beginning beginning today in district five there's going to be a smoke alarm blitz on the southern end of the district with um and the Greenwich Hill subdivision and I'd like to thank Chief Glison for their for doing that and the rest of the mobile fire rescue department.

So Merry Christmas everybody thank you councilman Flemings district one councilman thank you Ms.

And so I'm requesting that we look at different options.

Even to the point is that our city is different from most major cities.

And so we understand that maybe being centralized might be a better option.

And so we should look at other options.

I also want to speak about the residents that came down here about their concerns.

They have legitimate concerns, guys.

This is something serious.

And we, as a body, not just a city, because we don't have any control of utility companies, but what we have to find out who have those control and figure out what ways that we can make sure that the information is getting out properly.

And that's my goal.

And that's what I'll be working on for this figure out what ways that we can put in place, even if we don't have the authority.

If I have to go to the state level, the federal level, whatever we have to do, we gotta see these changes.

So I want to commend them from coming down here and sharing their heart.

Coming up, we will have cookies and Christmas cheer with Councilman Corrid.

That will be at Pullman Bakery in District One.

We're inviting everyone to come out on Friday, the 19th at 4 p.m.

for a great time of just fellowship, talking, um, and just celebrating um Christmas cheer.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Finn.

District 7, Vice President Gregory.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, just to piggyback on my next door neighbor colleague, um, Bo Fleming's uh announcement about South McGregor.

Um, that is next door to my district.

However, many, many of my constituents have been impacted by all the work that's been going on on South McGregor.

So I will be there to uh be a part of the ribbon cutting.

And uh just to let you all know, of course, Councilman Daves, who retired, um, would have been there, but he can't because he is in Washington, D.C., but he certainly sends his best regards and um for all of the work that went into uh planning and design and construction and the patience that all of the residents in District 5 and everybody else who uses McGregor South McGregor as a regular route have shown during this process.

Um also uh we heard about uh some smoke alarm blitzes.

Uh we talked about that at my district meeting last week, and I mentioned to Chief Glesson this morning that we might want to look at a couple of neighborhoods in my district as we get into the first of the year for some smoke alarm blitzes.

If you are interested, if your neighborhood is interested, please let me know.

The fire department does these for free, and it is a great, great service.

Coming up this weekend uh will be the holiday market makers market at the Mobile Museum of Art.

Come on out and do some Christmas shopping.

It is a great, great opportunity for everyone to come out.

You can see the museum while you're there and uh just take advantage of all of the arts and crafts and vendors who will be there and do your shopping.

And uh last but not least, I want to introduce some students who are with us.

Uh, we have uh councilman uh Woods and I have students who were here from Faith Academy today.

They are seniors at Faith Academy.

Y'all stand up, and they are part of the government class in their school, and they come in yearly to to shadow us.

So good to have you all here.

My student is Selena uh follow uh default, Selena De Fala and then Councilman Woods.

Yes, we have uh Nicholas and Emma.

Um so thank y'all for uh for coming and hanging out today.

So it's great to have you all here.

Thank you for coming.

And that's all from District 7.

Uh thank you, uh Vice President Gregory and Steas's greetings to the citizens of District Three and also to the citizens of Mobile.

As our mayor has stated earlier on in his announcements, that um if you look around his ministry, some of his people of his administration, the uh the city clerk and her staff and the council members, we are wearing red.

On last week we wore green.

But if you look at the color red, red for Christmas symbolizes Christ's blood and sacrifice in the Christian tradition, representing love and redemption.

Also, uh, while it's tied to the pagan winter celebration for life, it's seen in Holly Berries and uh Ponsettos and is popular by the Coca-Cola iconic Santa Claus.

Uh it signifies passion, life, and a vibrant promise of spring during winter connecting to faith and festive cheer.

So on last week we wore green.

Uh this week we wore red, and next week at the history museum, uh, we will be wearing festive holiday colors on next Tuesday.

And again, our meeting would not be held in this auditorium.

It would be held in the history museum right down the street.

On last Saturday, they had the opportunity to uh attend the Paninsula First Annual Holiday Gala.

Uh the Peninsula of Mobile is a nonprofit that which is located in District 3, and they had a fundraiser on last Saturday at the Gulf Quest Museum.

It's a fun engagement where many residents who uh came out to help with this fundraising also helped bring in the celebration of um of the holiday season.

It was a great event, and I'd like to thank the um board for inviting me out on last Saturday uh to uh help with this uh great ordeal that is helping District Three in the peninsula of Mobile on tonight on District Three.

We will have our Christmas celebration.

It would start at 6 o'clock PM at Pillance Middle School, inviting all the residents of district three to please come out.

Uh we will have plenty of food, funding, and entertainment this evening at Pillins, and we're also asking the residents not required to bring a non-parish by item for seniors in the nursing home and nearby facility.

Again, this would take place this evening at 6 o'clock p.m.

at Pillins Miller School.

And also this coming Saturday, uh, December the 13th is our annual uh parades of threes, uh, hosted by myself, Representative Barbara Drummond, and also representing state representative uh at Lion Clark.

Uh the parade will start at 2 o'clock PM at BC Rain High School and with travel upward on DIP and we'll uh disband at Pillins Middle School, inviting all the citizens in Mobile to come out this coming Saturday at 2 o'clock p.m.

I believe that this weekend weather is gonna be way better than last weekend's weather.

Okay.

Do we have anything from the administration?

Yes, uh, if I may, our uh public works employee of the month, Mr.

LeBaron Johnson was able to rejoin us after addressing that sanitation emergency.

So uh if I can recognize Mr.

Matt Anderson to come up and introduce us to Mr.

Johnson.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Mr.

President, for sparing us some time here at the end of the meeting.

We want to recognize Mr.

LeBaron Johnson today.

He was actually nominated for this award when he was still a crew chief over in the public services maintenance division.

In the meantime, uh he's been promoted to supervisor in sanitation, and he is the supervisor responsible for the household garbage pickup in the City of Mobile.

A really tremendous responsibility that obviously everybody takes very seriously.

So we're grateful to Mr.

Johnson for his service, and we want to recognize him as such today.

His co-workers, his subordinates, and his supervisors all recognize and respect his skill, not just as an employee, but as a manager and as a colleague advising and coaching the folks that he works with.

Uh there are no complaints about Mr.

Johnson.

That's pretty special.

Uh, I couldn't, I wish I could say the same about myself, uh, and I'm sure everybody else in the room does too.

He's always been willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

He's helped when it when it's come to uh when it's come to analyzing the issues that we've had when he was in charge of sweepers.

Uh he's uh he is an asset to the city, and I hope that we have him for many, many more years.

So please join me in celebrating Mr.

LaBaron Johnson, his employee of the month.

Oh, sorry.

Mr.

Mayor if you would come over here.

Congratulations to you, Mr.

Johnson.

Thank you all so much.

Is there anything else from the administration?

Okay.

Motion to adjourn.

Prompt and move and second any discussion.

All in favor.