Mobile City Council Meeting Summary - January 6, 2026
Mobile City Council Meeting Summary - January 6, 2026
The Mobile City Council convened for a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, beginning with an invocation by Public Safety Chaplain Tony Laguerre. Mayor Chiragades highlighted the critical support and prayers for Lt. Lorenzo Matthews, who is in stable condition following a line-of-duty shooting on Sunday. The Mayor also celebrated the success of the "Moon Pie Over Mobile" New Year's event and the kickoff of Mardi Gras season. The meeting featured proclamations for local organizations, public hearings regarding a historic property redevelopment, and a presentation on a federal road safety initiative.
Consent Calendar
- The agenda for the January 6, 2026 meeting was unanimously adopted.
- Requests for waivers of the noise ordinance for January 17th (Spring Hill Avenue) and January 30th (Marty Brawl Park) were approved.
- Several CIP resolutions were approved, including the reallocation of funds for the Carlisle Ditch and Lane Park projects and authorization of contracts for erosion mitigation and drainage repairs.
- Various purchase orders for the Civic Center FFE (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment), waste services, and software renewals were approved.
- Advisory board appointments and liquor license recommendations were approved.
- Ordinance 09-1579 was laid over for two weeks.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mike Rogers (Rogers & Willard Inc. / Lemoine Properties): Expressed that the vacancy of the alley adjacent to the Shigazola House is necessary to facilitate a $2.5 million renovation of the historic 1850s structure. The speaker argued that the alley is a blighted dead-end currently used for construction access and debris, and requested the city waive the $12,440 vacation fee as an incentive for the private revitalization of the block. The speaker noted the property is owned primarily by Lemoine Properties, Cheerful Credit, and private owners, with plans for a boutique hotel and commercial uses.
- Willie Dynish III (Jazz Art Writers South Festival - JAWS Fest): Stated that the festival provides significant cultural and economic value, specifically through its "JAWS Youth" education initiative expected to reach nearly 700 students in 2026. The speaker asked the council to support sustained and expanded city funding to fairly compensate local artists and ensure the festival remains accessible to the community.
- Kevin Harrison (Saint Associates) & Monica Williamson (SARPSC): Presented the "Safe Streets and Roads for All" (SS4A) safety action plan for Mobile County. The speaker detailed that 71,000 crashes and 347 fatalities occurred in the county in the past five years, with 47,000 of those crashes occurring within the city limits. The speaker requested council assistance in promoting a public survey to identify crash hotspots, noting that future implementation grants (potentially $22-$25 million) depend on the prioritization of projects from this plan.
Discussion Items
- Vacation of Alley (6th South Franklin Street): The council discussed the proposal to vacate the alley to aid the renovation of the historic Shigazola House. Council member Dr. Inge asked about public access for emergency services; the applicant confirmed the alley is a 10-foot dead-end not used by service vehicles. Council member Reynolds and Council member Woods discussed the historic preservation aspects, confirmed the property has a facade easement, and expressed support for the project while noting concerns about future control to prevent homelessness encampments. The applicant agreed to install a decorative gate for controlled access.
- CIP Fund Reallocation (09-1577): Council explained the reallocation of funds from the Carlisle Ditch Drainage Repairs to the 12 Mile Creek Bank Stabilization. It was clarified that the Carlisle Ditch project is currently in the design phase only, with construction deferred to the next budget year, allowing the funds to be shifted to the Lane Park project.
- SS4A Safety Plan: The council inquired about the prioritization formula and the timeline. Staff confirmed that prioritization is based on an objective formula including fatalities, injuries, and public survey data. While the action plan takes approximately one year, the goal is to have projects ready for implementation funding (potentially from the Trump administration) next year if the program continues. Council member Woods asked for clarification that the items on the agenda for the Civic Center are part of a pre-approved master plan to clarify misconceptions about budget increases.
- Amendments to Waste Services: Council member Penn clarified that the amendment to the agreement with BFI Waste Services applies to downtown areas only and does not include newly annexed areas.
Key Outcomes
- Shigazola House Alley Vacation: The public hearing was closed, and the council moved to consider the vacation fee waiver. The formal vote on the fee waiver is pending final agreement on the conditions.
- SS4A Engagement: The council directed staff to obtain digital QR code copies and paper surveys from Saint Associates to distribute via social media and newsletters to maximize public input for the safety action plan.
- CIP Adjustments: Resolution 09-1577 to reallocate funds was passed, allowing the city to proceed with the 12 Mile Creek Bank Stabilization while delaying the Carlisle Ditch construction.
- Adoption of Rules: Rules waiving the reading of resolutions were granted for the batch of consent resolutions (03001-37020) and specific non-consent resolutions, streamlining the approval process.
- Adjournment: The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn unanimously approved.
Meeting Transcript
Retirees this morning. Oh, you did. Yeah, too. Firefighters. So if I asked you for anything, uh for this. He just everybody familiar with the um. Okay, here's the question. This is the regular meeting of the Mobile City Council Tuesday, January the 6th. Please stand for our invocation led by Pastor Tony Laguerre, Public Safety Chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Good morning, everyone. Tony Laguerre, Mobile Police Department Chaplain. Good morning to you. We just want to take a moment and just say thank you for the privilege to serve our city, to serve our new mayor and his administration, our council table and our new council men and women. We are so honored to serve you. These are just a few of our volunteer chaplains. And we just thought it would be good that you know. We serve at the uh at the pleasure of our public safety director, Commander Graves. We've been assigned by our city clerk, and I uh personally schedule our 10 volunteer chaplains to serve this council every Tuesday. We don't have an axe to grind, we don't have a particular agenda, other than we come prayed up and prepared to pray for our city because we know that God looks favorably upon a righteous nation. And that is our purpose here today, and we're gonna be here for you, Mr. Mayor and uh and your team, and we hope that you know you can call on us and we'll come running. All right, let's pray together. Good morning. Our father, we give thanks to you as we stand once again at the gates of our city. We humble ourselves before you, and we pray that the Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of Peace would guard us, direct our thoughts, our speech, even in the moments ahead. Thank you for our leaders, particularly our new mayor and his team, and these that are serving on the council table. Father, we pray that we have your mind today be a blessing to the community that we serve, and ultimately, Lord, give glory somehow to you. Favors today with your presence in Christ's name we pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all roll call, President Small. Here, Vice President Gregory, here council member Penn. Here, Councilmember Ingram. Here, Councilmember Reynolds. Here. Council Member Fleming? Here. Council Member Woods. Here. Statement of rules. And good morning. Happy New Year to everybody. It's good to see everybody this Tuesday morning. Welcome to our January 6th, 2026 meeting. At this meeting, we do have rules. At this time, I ask that NY have any type of electronic device, including the cell phones. Please at this time put on the off or the vibrate position, the off or the vibrate position. Any person that is desired to address the Mobile City Council must sign in the resolution, the ordinance, or public hearing agenda item before entering the meeting. When addressing the council, the speaker must give his or her name. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address this council.
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