This is the regular meeting at the Mobile City Council.

Tuesday, July the 14th.

Please stand for our invocation, led by Pastor Tony LeGier, public safety chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning.

I like to greet you all from the Mobile Police Department strong and resolute.

Happy to serve you this morning.

So let's pray together.

Father, we continue to give thanks to you on this Tuesday morning.

As we look around our world, we are very much aware of our need for you, and our need for you is great.

So we humble ourselves and say, Spirit of God, would you breathe upon us?

Would you guide us, would you favor us with your counsel, even here in this room?

We do pray for our leaders today.

And Father, whatever issues or circumstances that they may incur individually.

That what we do is betterment to our community.

And we pray this humbly in the name of your son Jesus.

Amen.

I pleasure 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.

Councilmember Penn.

Here.

Councilmember Ingram.

Here.

Councilmember Reynolds.

Here.

Councilmember Fleming?

Here.

Councilmember Woods.

Here.

Statement of rules.

And good morning, everyone.

Good morning.

It's good to see you about this Tuesday morning.

Welcome to our July 14th, 2020, 2026 meeting.

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

I ask if anyone have any type of electronic device, including the cell phones, please at this time put on the off of the barber position, the off of the barber position, just like that one.

Okay.

Any person that desires to address the Mobile City Council must sign in the resolution, the ordinance, or public hearing agenda item before entering a meeting.

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

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

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

Anyone who has not given proper notice to the city clerk office and wish to speak 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 sound to indicate the end of two minutes.

One minute will remain for summarizing.

The second bell 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 would wishes to respond.

To maintain the corn that would be known to applause all public I cry allowed.

Approval of minutes of July the 7th.

So moved.

Second.

Other move and second and discussion.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

Communications from Mayor Mayor Chair Goddess.

Good morning, everyone.

Morning.

Um, I have to start today by recognizing the incredibly impactful announcement that occurred last week.

Al Dot announcing that we are officially, officially moving forward with the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.

Uh, this is truly the largest infrastructure project in our area's history, and it took a great deal of work from every level of government to move this project forward.

It's an imperative that we start now because as we all know, costs continue to rise.

Uh, and we are excited about the impact that this this bridge will have on our area.

Um, I do want to draw your attention to an announcement that occurred this week.

Uh, Regions Arena made an announcement through our partners at OVG that uh one of our first acts that will be coming to the Mobile Regions Arena.

Comedian Matt Matthews is a local Alabama comedian.

Uh, he'll be performing and slated to take the stage uh in March of this year.

And I just encourage you to continue to stay tuned to OVG and Regions Arena announcements.

Uh that'll include soon, they'll be announcing the official grand opening show of the Regions Arena.

I'm very excited for everyone to know about that, and I hope that you will stay tuned and check that out.

We have some back to school sales tax holidays coming up.

The city, the county, and the state are all participating in the back to school sales tax holiday from Friday, July 17th to Sunday, July 19th.

That allows parents, uh, caretakers, guardians to save on a ton of items that are needed for that back to school shopping time.

So if you want to save on that sales tax, be sure you do some shopping between July 17th and July 19th, Friday through Sunday.

Uh and for a full list of the items that you can save that money on, you can go to the state's revenue website and they have that full complete list.

Um lastly, I want to invite everyone to Fridays at the firehouse.

Uh on July 17th this week.

We'll be having a Friday at the firehouse.

This will be at the John D.

Willett fire station at 1004 Broad Street from 530 to 730 p.m.

Uh you can tour the fire station, meet the local crews, they'll have games and coloring stations and other things.

So if you've got any fire obsessed young children, uh fire truck obsessed young children, please bring them.

Let them see what happens at their local firehouse.

Uh, again, that'll be this Friday from 5 30 to 7 30.

Uh and finally, it is my pleasure to welcome up Mr.

Matt Anderson, who's going to help us recognize our public works employee of the month.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Yeah, we're very, very blessed in public works and public services and the city as a whole to have some very good employees.

And today I want to recognize a special employee who was nominated by her peers to be the employee of the month for public works.

I just want to read to you all some of the things that her team said about her.

Hard working, dependable, always on time, a true team player.

Leads by example, shares knowledge, teaches co-workers, and helps improve the team's skills every day.

That sounds like that sounds pretty fundamental, right?

When you're dealing with a department that has some of the turnover we have and the very large variety of tasks that we have, having a public service worker too like Brenda, who's there with seniority, who's teaching them the skills that they need, who's giving them uh a shoulder to lean on when they are learning to do pretty hard jobs that some of them have never done, have never touched before.

Uh it's it's very special to have that and very reliable.

Glenda has proven many times that when we have special operations for cleanups or or you know, side projects that might be after hours or anything like that.

She's one of the ones that always stands up and says she's gonna be there to help out.

So uh Glinda.

You'll come on down.

We're gonna recognize you with this certificate.

Mr.

Mayor, if you'd join us for a photo.

I'll let him give you the plaque.

Thank you all so much.

Glenda, do you have any remarks you want to make?

Come on.

Thank you.

Short and sweet.

All right.

Uh congratulations, Ms.

Glenda, and thank you all.

Thank you for all that you do for the city of Mobile.

Okay.

Madam Clerk.

Adoption of the agenda.

So move.

Second.

Properly moved and second in discussion.

All in favor.

Aye.

All opposed.

Agenda's adopted.

Appeals.

We have requests for a wave of the noise ordinance on October the 18th on McGill Avenue.

So move.

Second.

Proper move and second ending discussion.

All in favor.

Aye.

All opposed.

Appeal passes.

Public hearings today is the public hearing to consider the proposed rezoning for property located at 2609 and 2651 Spring Hill Avenue, 152, 157, and 159 Mobile Street and 144 Highland Avenue from R1 and B3 to B1.

This open at the public hearing for this particular stay at item.

Is there anyone present that would like to address the council on this item?

Not this particular public hearing is closed.

This open at the public hearing for this particular said item.

Is there anyone present that would like to address the council on this item?

If not, this particular public hearing is closed.

Yes, the public hearing to consider the application for the rezoning of property located at 5101 Moffitt Road from B2 to B3.

This open at the public hearing for this particular said item.

Is there anyone president would like to address the council on this item?

If not, this particular public hearing is closed.

There's the public hearing to consider the proposed rezoning of property located at 5361 Moffat Road from R1 to B3.

This open at the public hearing for this particular said item.

Is there anyone present that would like to address the council on this particular item?

Is so you may come down to the podium by stating your name.

Yeah.

Read our address one more time, Madam Clerk.

5361 Moffat Road.

We read 5101.

Are you here for 51?

Yes, sir.

We'll we'll come back to it.

Yes, sir.

Go ahead.

Good morning.

My name is Kenneth Lucre.

And I reside at 1596 MacIntyre Drive.

Like to say good morning to all the council, the mayor.

This property been vacant for a long time.

And I think it's Miss Pleasure.

She planned to do a good job cleaning the property up.

But my feedback is the rezoning to a B3 will bring in maybe nightclubs or gas stations or the adult entertainment.

So with that, I'm hoping that the owner will reconsider going to uh maybe a B1 or B3.

So with that, um I think the owner is coming in good faith.

She's very good.

Uh we met with her and this only drawback.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is anyone present that would like to address the council on this particular said item?

If not, this particular public hearing is closed.

So you want to go back?

Um so we'll go back to the public hearing to consider the application of for the rezoning of property at 5101 Moffitt Road from B2 to B3.

This open at the public hearing for this particular said item.

Is anyone present I'd like to address the council may come down to the podium by stating your name.

Good morning, and thank you for allowing me to speak.

And tell you about that earlier.

I I misheard.

My name is George Harb, and I'm here regarding the rezoning request for the property located at 5101 Moffat Road.

Um, I respectfully ask for your approval of this rezoning request from B2 to B3 so that the property can be used for automotive sales uh with very light service.

Uh the reason I'm asking for your support is simple.

Uh the rezoning will allow an abandoned and uh underused commercial property to be brought back into productive use.

Uh right now the building is not serving the neighborhood, the city, or the community.

It's sitting vacant.

And um, you know, it's brought up some uh safety concerns.

Um an empty building can attack attract uh trespassing, dumping, vandalism, and um other activities.

We've experienced that when we obtained the uh demo permit for the property, and we had to clean up a lot of the graffiti and the garbage and so on, and um it's continuing.

We go back to the property every two months, and it's the same thing that we have to keep cleaning up from dumping uh people dumping rubbish on the property.

Um, at the moment there are no employees watching the property, no customers coming going on a regular basis, no daily activities, no oversight.

And you know, that's the problems of a vacant property.

Um by approving this rezoning, the city council will allow this property to become an active, occupied, and maintained business.

That means property will have people on site, uh, regular business hours, lighting, security, cameras, maintenance, employees, customers, and of course, accountability.

Um, my opinion is that um that's much safer for the neighborhood, um, the leaving the building the way it is.

And for the last like year and a half, um, under the B2, we tried to rent a property of what it used to be as a uh convenience store long time ago.

And no one seems to want to rent the property, and then finally we came upon the company that wants to open it as a uh small car lot sales and very light maintenance, and um they got along with the owners of the property and they're willing to invest a substantial amount in bringing the property, you know, up to date.

Um again, the proposed use is automotive sales with limited light service.

Uh to be clear, light service.

Uh does not mean heavy repair work, no body work or painting.

There will be no oil changes performed on location, no body work or painting.

Uh the garage area will be used for limited minor service related to preparing vehicles for sales, such as inspection, battery replacement, tire check, minor repairs, uh cleaning, detailing, and basic maintenance.

Um we're also seeking a reasonable amount of parking for the business.

This is not to intend to overcrowd the lot with 50 cars or 30 vehicles.

Um, you know, we're requesting an approximately 20 spaces for uh used vehicles for sales, and approximately five spaces for customers.

Um I think for the property there is a reasonable size, but then that's up to zoning permitting and uh the architect and engineers what they agree on.

Um another important point is that both the property owner and the business owner are investing a sufficient amount of money into the property for improvements.

Um this is not a situation where it's just trying to use the building as is and ignore its condition.

Um we we truly want to fix this property, make it look nice, and um improve the area.

Uh those improvements benefit more than just the business, they benefit the surrounding area, the neighbors, and the city of Mobile.

Um a maintained occupied property looks better, functions better, and helps improve overall the appearance of Moffat Road.

Um there's also financial benefit to the city.

Vacant property does not generate the same value in active as an active business.

Uh once this property is improved and occupied, it can generate business license revenue, sales tax revenue, increased property value, and other economic activities that is good for the city of mobile and better than allowing the property to just sit, you know, vacant as it is.

So I really thank you for your time.

And um I I think it's an easy decision to make to improve this property.

And um, you know, we're trying our best, and that's what we'd like to do.

So uh thank you and God bless you all.

Okay.

Um, Mr.

President.

Uh vice versa.

Uh Mr.

Harb, while you're down at the podium, if I just can ask a couple of questions.

Yes, um, I do want to thank you for wanting to be proactive to redevelop the site.

Yes, that building has been empty for a very long time.

And um, prior to you all uh getting involved and wanting to do something else with it.

We had turned it in for nuisance abatement because the building has been open, and as you mentioned, a lot of trash is dumped on that vacant side.

So we responded to that, and we keep responding to to that.

And uh it definitely needs to be fixed up and yes, Reb, it does.

And and we we're we're we're gonna do the work on the property from the outside on the existing building as is.

So we're not making any structural changes to the building.

Uh, we're fixing it from the outside, fixing it from the interior, and then if you've seen that the parking there, the the asphalt is quite in bad shape.

Uh so that's that's all going to be fixed up.

In uh reviewing the planning commission meeting, I think you all had May 21st.

I went back and watched just to um do some homework.

And at that point, you weren't really sure about how many cars you were going to have on site to sell and exactly where the parking was going to be.

Have you updated those plans?

Uh well, we only made the first preliminary plans that we submitted to permitting.

And um then after permitting, we had to go through the zoning department and and and that was a new process for me.

And um I had to learn, you know, the neighborhood meeting and so on, and go through the process properly.

It took me a little time, but we got it right at the end, thank God.

And uh so if you do approve this, we are going to the drawing board and um resubmit to permitting, resubmit to zoning, uh the plans that we have and what upgrades is required.

Um including I I think permitting and zoning would say, hey, you're allowed like 20 parking spots or 25 parking spots, and that's what we are requesting.

Do you have an idea at this point?

I understand you're gonna go back and redraw the plans, but do you have an idea at this point where those cars would be parked?

Because the way that lot is, it's really different.

It's it's kind of you know awkward, I think, in order to really get a look at where you're gonna park the cars.

Will they be facing Moffat Road?

Will they be facing overlook?

How do you intend to find anything?

If if you look at the property, it has an entrance from Moffat Road and an exit from the back.

So that entrance and exit will not be blocked.

And the look the property kind of sits lower than Moffitt Road.

So uh, and then there's the two sections on the side of the building where there's a lot of green right now that we're kind of cutting down and cleaning up the brush.

Uh after the parking lot is fixed, uh, it would be the parking right in front of the building, probably facing away from the building.

And then you have the entrances to the property from both sides, and then on the back side there, uh facing the building.

Um there could fit like probably about 12 to 13 cars on that side.

So those would be the cars for sale that would sit in front of the building.

Yeah, yes, ma'am.

Face facing the building, I guess.

Facing the building and the parking lot.

So there's nothing really facing Moffat Road because Moffat Road is a little bit up higher.

Okay.

Um I have some other questions, but I think I can Josh looks like he wants to chime in.

So I'll I'll go to him and look down my list.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

President.

Um thank you again for coming down.

I I know that you've uh walked through the process and uh definitely appreciate it.

Um I guess my question would be for Mr.

Maples.

Um excuse me.

So this is coming in front of us after a um not recommended for approval or uh uh from the planning commission level.

Um normally whenever it does come as far as a recommended approval or recommendation for approval.

Um obviously you know, some of the stuff got sorted out at planning commission.

There might be some voluntary use restrictions or something like that that that uh the applicant was willing to make to close the you know to to move the deal along.

I guess in this case, since um you know there was discussions um at planning commission level about some voluntary use restrictions of uh limiting the number voluntarily limiting the number of cars.

Um since it's in front of us, doesn't have a recommending body recommended for denial.

Uh would we be able at this point to potentially work with the applicant to maybe if if he was willing to do some voluntary restrictions as far as number of vehicles on the property for sale, um could we do that here or or would that send that back through the whole process again?

I guess.

So let me look real quick, but I think you can attach conditions to it.

You can't change the the designation of can't hear you.

So yeah, you should be able to approve with conditions.

Um you can't obviously change the designation, but with conditions, yes.

Gotcha.

And then um back to you, Mr.

Hart.

I know we talked about potentially um, because again, you know, kind of looking at the location.

I I think everybody here agrees that um something needs to be done to the property.

Yes, sir.

Um, and you know, would rather you know rather try to find something um in in your instance here, would would you be willing to potentially say you know, no more than 15 cars displayed for sale um or or come up with we could come up with a number potentially to um and you'd be willing to do that, I guess.

Uh yeah, yes, sir.

I I think a reasonable number not to overcrowd the uh uh the parking location and still have the entrances and exit, it's exits flow properly.

I think uh 20 cars.

Um if you if you if you say 15, we'll have we will agree, absolutely.

But uh 20 cars uh uh used cars for sales and uh five parking spots for customers.

Okay, because I I think a little bit of you know, at least some concern um a lot of times with car dealerships is you know, given the size of the lot, I mean we all agree it's not the biggest lot ever.

Um, but there is a lot of right away up towards Moffitt, and um I guess you know there could be a potential fear that over time, you know, 20 cars turns into 30, then 30 turns into 60, and then now we got cars on the right way and all that, all that fun stuff.

Yes sir absolut absolutely we are um uh again we're we're not attempting to open a very large business here or a very large car dealership um uh the roadline motors um they do no own a location already uh which is a large garage on uh off the DIP right next to mud bugs if you go to Mark Bucks did the zoo to buy a fish uh so it's right next door to it it's quite a large garage and and they do most of their body work there um so this is like a very small extension of their business yes sir gotcha thank you thank you Mr.

President uh Mr.

Pan um thank you Mr.

President and thank you for coming down um one um of course this area is in um councilwoman Gregory district but it's also a right cross street like we share my fore um so that's a part of my district and and I see that space all the time and and I'm like we got to do something about it.

So hearing that you want to come and clean up the area um I remember in the past as well it was a car dealership down the street so I feel like it's just you know it's right you know to give you all the opportunity but I I I agree with my colleague that we probably need to put a number on there.

Yes and the reason why my fore is just so busy um and even overlook can't get back up so I think a number on there yes sir absolutely and other council members um vice president just one more um going back to the rezoning uh I know the building's been vacant for a long time and you all have probably been trying to get it leased out for some time yes um the issue for some of the neighbors and I know you've met with at least one or two of them you had some difficulty with your meetings it went it went very well at the end Mr.

Mitchell is very nice person and they're they're all very nice they just wanted some proper explanations and and some of the neighbors had wanted to come today but they were not able to and of course with the way we do these meetings 300 feet doesn't get you too far into any of the neighborhoods so some of them have reached out to me while they applaud any effort to clean up that site they are concerned about the B3.

And we've already heard talk today about B3.

And I know to do a car dealership you need a B3.

But it just opens up so many other options that most neighborhoods are just not in favor of I know everything else pretty much over there is a B2.

You know you've got the Kentucky fried chicken the auto zone and you know other um fast food places with drive through so most of those are B2.

So a big concern is still going to be that B3 and a big concern is also how many cars are you in reality going to have there on any certain day.

Where are they all going to park we have had issues in other parts of the city where the cars wind up on city right away and and it's really hard for the city to police everything.

So there's those are just some of the things that are that are out there and some that that I've been hearing and that I have as well so just wanted you to be aware of it but I appreciate your your effort and your desire to make the the site better and that you're willing to look at limiting the number of cars that you you would have on site.

Yes ma'am I also had had a question about what do you mean by light retail I mean light mechanical work and I think you went down the list pretty quickly because I think everybody has in their minds that oh they're going to be changing the oil oh they're gonna be changing tires and all sorts of loud noise and where are you going to park the customers cars and things like that but you're saying that the mechanical work will only be on the cars that you are selling that they are selling very light mechanical work there's no oil change there.

Not only that a lot of the customers if they have like more extensive work that the garage doesn't handle they will be the redirected to the other location that Roadline Motors has.

So again I've explained to the owner and I've explained to the lease that this is the way it's going to have to be that this is a very small operation and this is their there that was their intention from day one.

And you know, they're they're straight up people, they like everything to be neat, they like everything to be perfect, uh, they don't want any complications, not with the LC, not with anyone else, especially.

We we want the property to be improved for the neighborhood, and I hope you give us a chance to do that and uh look at the property a six month to a year down the road, and um I mean that's what we do.

We remodel, we fix people's homes, we fix people's commercial properties, and uh it's for the betterment of the city and and everyone.

Well, again, I appreciate the effort to remodel and repair and uh really just fix up this this site.

Uh one one final question, though.

You I think in the information that we received, you're looking at doing three bays for for work.

Is that correct?

Roll-up bays, something like that.

Uh well, rather than putting up a glass facade on one section or another section, we figured that uh the best fit would be just three garage doors on the large open side of the property there.

Um, and that's for the different aspects of light work, like inspection or um or something else, and then there will be a uh a small lobby with offices, um, and of course the basic necessities, restrooms and so on.

Um, and that that's basically it.

I mean, the property can can not really handle something large, it's just a very small bay.

Um, and it's really for small cars only, it's not for like large trucks or anything like that.

So yeah, the service is basically for the 20 cars that are on the parking or previous uh customers that have purchased cars that come in for for the basic maintenance.

Okay, thank you very much.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

All right, thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you all.

Is anyway as president would like to address the council on this particular said item.

If not, this public hearing is closed.

It's the public hearing to revoke the business license at 1172 with Interstate Service Road South.

This I'll put the plug in here for this particular said item.

Is anyone president would like to address the council on this item?

If so, you might come down to the podium by stating your name.

Good morning, members of the council.

My name is Eric Nelson.

Uh, I would like to start by noting I served our nation in three war zones Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

Um, and as a diplomat for two presidential administrations.

Following a rewarding career in public service, I retired to this beautiful area, thinking I would become a not thinking I would become a victim of brazen business fraud right here at home, but I am.

I, along with more than 100 other local victims, have lost over one million in deposits to window depot and all weather roofing of mobile.

We paid for goods that were never delivered and work that was never performed, and it is painfully clear that these businesses participated in an elaborate scheme to deceptively steal hard-earned money money from us all.

I'm here today imploring you to take action.

First, by asking that the city revoke any remaining business licenses, these owners may hold.

Second, I ask you to enact measures to prevent them from ever obtaining another business license in this city.

Further, I'm requesting you establish and enforce consumer protection legislation to mitigate future instances of business fraud, such as what has occurred here.

There should be swift and stiff penalties for owners and employees who engage in this level of fraud.

Following the last hearing, a representative stated we need to do something to make these victims whole again.

Well, here's your chance.

After all, this is what people elected legislative elect legislators to do.

Indeed, the first responsibility of government is the protection of its people.

As previously mentioned, I took an oath to defend this nation and its people, a responsibility I took to heart.

When asked to fight, I fought.

After all, this is part of your duties and responsibilities.

So please let us know what are you doing to protect us from such criminality.

I fought abroad without expecting to fight at home because you all were supposed to have had my back, my six, and done everything possible to prevent me from being victimized.

But here we are.

We've been let down.

Me, my family, and everyone else who has been victimized by these fraudsters.

Unfortunately, this environment didn't happen overnight.

It was enabled by a regulatory environment and local laws that failed to protect consumers like us.

That also includes law, you know, slow law enforcement inertia and a DA office that appears unwilling to fight for us.

Hopefully that's not the case.

But these criminals have been allowed to continue stealing for months, suspecting consumers, sell off their assets, and appear appear likely to get away with what they've done to each of us.

Because of this sluggish response, my neighbors and I have been stripped of any reasonable opportunity to receive compensation for our massive financial losses.

I don't know why this has been allowed to occur, but would assume this is a matter of legislative importance, due in part to how large scale this crime truly is.

In closing, we deserve answers, accountability, and we need this council to step up to ensure no other citizens fall victim to this in the future.

Think about how other criminals are viewing this matter.

They are all plotting and scheming, just as they did here in an effort to further steal from your constituents.

So please do something to prevent this evil from further destroying people's lives.

Thank you for your time.

Mr.

President.

Don't go anywhere for me if you don't mind.

Um do have a couple questions.

Uh, as far as responsiveness from this council, um, as soon as the the week before or the week after the first person came down here to make aware, bring awareness of this, we acted swiftly.

That's why it's on the agenda.

We advertised.

Um, and uh, so I mean, I as far as any any other parts of the city or any other law enforcement or anything like that, I can't really can't really tell you.

But what I can tell you is that we acted as swift as we could, and that's what got us here today.

So, you know, today's the public hearing, uh, but and uh and kind of whenever or when this does happen, and again, I from my beliefs politically, a lot of times I would rather government um not interfere in private businesses, but uh, whenever things like this happen, whenever like uh instances happen, which then I'm gonna ask you about in just a few minutes a few seconds when these happen, the government has to be swift, and you're correct that we have to sweep sweep in and we have to do what we can.

And in this instance, you know, potentially revoking the business license so that they can't operate any more in the city limits, is kind of the check and balance on that.

Sure.

Um, so uh you you kind of told us a little bit about uh you're just kind of diving into your instance here.

Um so basically, right now it's gonna, you know, we're allow four people to come in favor, four against.

Um, I'm gonna go ahead and go with that.

You're probably against uh you're for appealing and revoking the license.

Yep.

Um, but uh, this is kind of like a little mini courtroom per se as far as his testimony is concerned.

Um, can you kind of recount briefly, just like under maybe a minute or so, minute and a half, kind of your experience and what kind of I guess what what kind of transpired from getting a contract to paying an amount of money to not hearing can you kind of recount your story at least?

Yeah, exactly.

So we received four business quotes prior to this, and and speaking specifically about what legislation can be done for in California for except I know this may be an Alabama legislator thing, but it in California businesses cannot contractors can't take over 10% of a deposit or 1,000 dollars.

I got it with government less government interference, but that's how socialism starts.

When we're talking about government writ large, when things like this happen at the local level and they're not addressed, it becomes a bigger problem.

I've lived in socialism, but yes, my instance.

Yep, my instance, we received four other quotes, and I thought it was industry standard because we've been remodeling a home for a year now that everyone wanted these large deposits.

Now I see why, because they can get away with it, and they wanted so I thought, okay, I met with the individual, he comes to my home.

This business has awards and accolades all over their business and shop.

He comes to my home.

I said, something's not right about the individual, but I was traveling, and my wife trusted him.

English is our second language, my wife is from Ukraine.

We met when I was serving in Ukraine.

But he took advantage of her, he took advantage of us.

I said, Something's not right about him, but I'm traveling.

If you trust him, write the check.

She writes him the check.

And when uh went about uh when did all this occur transpire kind of day?

Uh this this occurred April or I'm so apologies.

January uh 27th or 22nd was when we met with him in 26 of this year, yes, correct.

And he told us it'd be 10 to 12 weeks, the salesperson.

Um, and uh, and then come that time I started looking up.

I said, This isn't gonna go down.

Um, so I had to take matters into my own hand at that part at that point.

Um contract was signed around about January as far as conversations back and forth to you from the company.

Uh hey, your windows are on or being made or they're in route or they're sitting in the in the warehouse.

Any conversations occur after the contract to kind of today, I guess.

Yeah, no, no, when we come to about that 12 minute mark 12 week mark was about the same time that I saw that all this was percolating and things were going down.

So I went to the business uh myself in person, and that's when I was lied to and uh was being slow rolled and I knew it was evident.

So, yeah, and then my last question for you as far as uh um obviously uh were you ever told uh not gonna happen um or did uh no conversation on any uh any promises of issuing refunds to you, refunding that deposit or anything like that.

Uh yes, to some degree after I went up there and told them I was gonna set a sandwich board to back my truck and protest their business, which I did.

And then um uh final question uh to today have you received any of the money back from the company.

No, I in fact that's a that's a rabbit hole.

We probably don't have time to go down.

Right.

Um was window depot.

Okay, okay.

All right, thank you.

Yep.

Is any why as president would like to address the council on this item is so it can come down to the point by stating your name.

Good morning.

Mary Cherry Gotis, President Smalls, honorable members of the council.

My name is Katie Morrison.

I'm a resident of District Five.

I'm more one of more than 100 victims who have filed police reports involving Window Depot of Mobile and all weather roofing.

I'm here today, not for just for myself, but for all the victims of Mobile.

All the families that have trusted these companies with their homes, their savings, and their futures.

In December 2025, I contracted with Window Depot of Mobile to replace the windows in my home.

Like any responsible homeowner, I researched the company before signing the contract.

They carried a nationally recognized brand, had outstanding online reviews, and I paid nearly $10,000 of a deposit upfront, which was not out of line with the standard payment from the other quotes that I had received.

For months I was told that the project was delayed because of manufacturing issues.

I believed them.

It wasn't until I contacted another window depot in northern Alabama that ultimately then the manufacturer contacted through my attorney that I learned no order had ever been placed in my name.

Unfortunately, my story is not unique.

Melanie, a young young young single mother who paid $5,000 for a roof with all weather roofing.

That was everything she had.

She's received nothing and today is still living with leaks in her home and no financial ability to contract another contractor.

A 91-year-old widow who paid $6,000 for windows in March at a time when information indicates the company reportedly could not even order windows from their suppliers.

She deserved honesty, not false hope.

These victims are our parents, grandparents, veterans, retirees, and our neighbors.

These are people who spent years saving their money only to see it disappear.

This is not simply a collection of unhappy customers.

This has affected more than a hundred mobile families who have taken the time to file police reports.

And that figure continues to grow.

This is not a small business dispute.

It is a community crisis.

A business license is not a right.

This privilege carries with it an expectation that businesses will deal honestly and fairly with the citizens of this community.

Today, you have the opportunity to protect future consumers.

Revoking this these business licenses will not make the victims whole, nor will it replace the money that we lost, but it will send a clear message that the city of Mobile will not continue to lend its credibility to businesses that have left so many of its citizens financially devastated.

I also ask you to consider whether individuals responsible for businesses that leave behind this magnitude of consumer loss and harm should ever again be able to be permitted to obtain a business license in the city of Mobile.

Our community deserves safeguards that prevent this from happening again.

The victims have done everything our government has asked responsible citizens to do.

We documented our losses, preserved evidence, filed police reports, cooperated with investigators, connected with one another so that no victim would stand alone.

And together we have helped identify more than a hundred purported victims.

Now we are asking our government to do the same.

I respectfully ask that this council not let today's vote be the end of your involvement.

While revoking these business licenses is an important step to protect our future consumers.

It does not help the families who have already suffered these losses.

Please use your voice and your position to urge this investigation to remain a priority until it reaches its conclusion.

Citizens of Mobiles deserve answers, accountability, and transparency.

This case should never be allowed to quite quietly fade away.

We've done our part as citizens.

We simply ask our city leaders to stand with us to continue advocating for accountability and to send a clear message that in Mobile businesses that exploit our residents will not be tolerated.

And the people responsible will not be a simply allowed to walk away and start over somewhere else.

Please stand with the victims.

Tomorrow this could be another family, another retired couple, a single parent, a 91-year-old grandmother.

Today you have the opportunity to make sure it isn't.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Uh yes, ma'am, real quick, just kind of uh thank you for for coming down and thank you for that.

Uh as far as um, so you in this instance, I mean you're you're kind of for for two, right?

You said that um there's another consumer with you, I guess.

Oh, I'm I'm here for all 100 victims.

We we we have a just in your personal instance.

My personal experience is 10,000 to window depot.

And uh, what date did you sign a contract?

I signed the contract on December 23rd, 2025.

Okay.

Um 25th, okay.

And to 12 week lead time.

What did it kind of look like on uh when you tried to reach back out?

Hey, and um, so you you starting the middle of March, actually it's about the second week of March.

I started contacting uh our the representative Chase Alley, who had been on my sales rep, um, asking when this would be scheduled to be confirmed um and to start the installation because honestly, I I'm in the medical field, I have to take 30 days' notice to get to get a day off because my patients do not like to be rescheduled.

Um he said, Oh, it we don't know, it's gonna be back ordered, the manufacturer delay, it's gonna be at least three to six weeks.

Another three weeks went by, I called again, and then it was I would call him, no response, called their offices multiple times.

Um their manager, I'm gonna air quote that, sorry, um, kept telling me the same thing, and then he said, I don't know where you got three to six weeks, we don't even know when it's gonna be.

The manufacturer doesn't know what their schedule is, they're too super behind.

And this went on through May.

And I then that's when I contacted or I filed a better business bureau complaint.

I then waited for that response to come back, uh, reach and then again got the same response from the manager, contacted Window Depot out of Montgomery.

Um any any offers from the company, no, they refused.

They I they just kept saying they would take a message and let the owners get back with me, and I have never heard from them.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

President, uh, yes.

Uh yes.

Thank you for being here.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Uh you said something during your remarks that uh I agree with.

Um you have done your part.

All of you have.

Um, I remember when you came a month or so ago, there you provided a list of 52 victims.

Uh, because I I feel like you guys are victims.

It had the dollar amounts, it had the contract dates, uh, the work to be done.

That was never done.

Um, your arrangement, your contract was December 23rd.

I believe the gentleman before you was January of 26th.

Were you ever made aware that the company couldn't even order the supplies you had paid for?

Never when you gave them the money.

No.

Were you ever told a date of when they weren't able to order from their vendors?

No.

Okay.

That has been found out by actually talking to the manufacturers and receiving that information through council.

Lots of lots of manufacturing delays, but but you guys feel as excuses to cover some fraud.

That was just excuses according to other window depot locations that I contacted, as well as manufacture uh direct response, they had no delays.

Okay.

So just to kind of reiterate what Councilman Wood said and his first comment, you know, we didn't did not take this lightly.

You know, we were a little bit blown away, I believe, when you came last time, and we empathized with you, and this is just kind of where we are, and we got here as quickly as we could.

So it's it's not a neglect or not a lack of concern.

I I can assure you our we are concerned, um, and we're going to consider um the best action to take.

And we do appreciate the council's you know swift response because we do know that this does take public, you know, it has to take public uh precedence to contact the public and say, hey, come talk about this.

So thank you for being here.

Thank you for sharing your story.

Thank you.

Mr.

President.

Yeah, Mr.

Reynolds.

I didn't get the first gentleman's address.

Your address.

Where do I live?

Yeah, sir.

Six five or six five three five chapters have dropped and that um also is there any update on the investigation or anything that we could share publicly on this.

Um public safety director, do you have any knowledge of it?

I can share currently that we are somewhere around 108 uh victims.

Uh and we are my last the last information I received, we were at 900 10,591 dollars, but I hear it's over a million now.

I'm waiting for an update currently, so hopefully I'll get that information while we're here.

So there is an ongoing criminal investigation.

Yes, unfortunately, yes.

Yeah.

All right.

And uh do these people have a business license currently?

Do we know that?

Does all weather have a current business license?

Um I'm not aware their business licenses current.

Mr.

Reynolds, I think the um there's uh there's an existing based on verification from revenue.

Um there's a existing business uh license for all weather roofing.

Um there's not a current one for the Windows Deep uh depot side, but yet they share the same address.

Okay, so Window Depot doesn't have a business license currently.

Okay, but all weather roofing apparently does.

Okay.

Also on this agenda today, there the revocation of business license is not on our agenda today for a vote.

So uh I think we're gathering the information here, and then you know, ideally we'd we'd hear from you know the investigators, the people who know how this, you know, they're investigating this for criminality, uh, to see, you know, typically they they put it forward, they'll have testimony here at the podium and call a witness and ask him questions, and then we'll make our decision on the revocation of a business license at that point.

So uh I will share with the council that PD is currently working on this as they were from the very beginning.

Uh and we have uh staff that continue to uh identify new victims.

Uh and this is an ongoing situation that is has to be handled delicately due to the nature of what it is.

Uh, but we stand with the victims uh and we are trying our very best uh to come to a resolution for this on our end as soon as possible.

Okay, and and just from um the city standpoint, you're not gonna issue a permit to anybody with an all-weather roofing business license, are we um I I'm not aware of any uh permits that have come up for us recently for for approval.

Okay, so this business license that they potentially have here, it's frankly useless at this point that you know if they're following the other laws and their other protections in place.

So um, you know, I once they come and bring the testimony forward and you know, we go through the legal steps of it and you know, we'll make our decision at that point on the revocation of a business license.

But based on what I'm hearing, these people aren't able to operate currently uh as it stands.

So hopefully there will not be any additional victims, you know, going forward with these folks.

Mr.

President.

Yeah, just just to make sure I heard correctly, they currently have a business license in Mobile.

Yes.

Okay.

Uh and then they are operating in in other counties around the state as well, as far as we know, right?

Yeah, yeah, it is a franchise, yeah.

But it but each municipality would have to uh provide a business license for them to operate in that area.

Right.

Okay.

Just want to make sure we're all on the same page as to why we're looking at uh potentially revoking a business license in Mobile.

Okay, thank you.

Is anyone else president would like to address this council on this particular said item?

If not, this particular public hearing is closed.

Presentation of petitions and other communications to the council.

Reggie Hill.

Thank you, uh city clerk to the citizens and stakeholders of Mobile Greetings.

Uh Reggie Hill is my name.

Um before I begin, it was great to see uh the former councilman John Williams here.

I didn't get to mention that last week, so hello to him if he's listening in.

Uh too often, uh, matters on these agendas, while some personal to a lot, uh, or not germane, I believe, to the serious conditions that people are facing every day in our city.

And because of that, in that same spirit, I rise today to continue these pertinent conversations pertaining to our city's business.

Um, while I would much rather spend this time because it's necessary, uh, looking into these investigations dealing with the busing concerns that Ms.

Martin continues to address securing properties that are purchased from the mobile housing authority.

If we go and ride by uh Thomas Jane to look at Boycontas like a third world country now, but yet we said that someone was terminated because they weren't able to secure uh those properties.

Um, looking at accessible forces being used by police, uh looking at outdated and fabricated coercions that potentially prevent our younger people from having access to real resources, uh, looking at these land grabs that are going on through our rather be gentrification or selective zoning and access to incentives versus others have not uh rather be things that I believe would be irregular by the Gulf Coast Technology Center or us not having a vehicle inventory list.

We had a little insight that was mentioned before about the evaluation to the performance contracts, but we haven't had anything presented publicly.

While we should be addressing all those things, as well as how the attack on blight is not really helping out those who are most underserved, and how we should be reviewing chapter 52 of the mobile municipal code and how our training may be the reason why so many things are going array, or disarray rather with our police department because of the outdated uh chapter 46 of the Mobile Municipal Code.

We have a lot of uh I would say enthusiasm toward other things being amended, but the things that really impact the entire city, all seven districts we are kind of overlooking.

But instead, I want to I want to put our attention because we're getting to the uh budget cycle here.

Um this is the time where we start seeing people come down and requesting resources and asking for things of that nature, and uh the finance department began structuring how they believe we would best use taxpayer dollars.

Um, I'm hoping that we're going to avoid these millions of dollars into things that do not improve the quality of life.

We spent millions of dollars in the vehicles.

Can we put that into programmatic pieces?

Can we increase our performance contracts?

Uh as well.

I mentioned a few weeks ago.

There are a lot of organizations who have great visions, I believe, that would improve the quality of life, but they don't have access to get a lot of people around.

Why aren't we putting vans into these parks and recreation centers?

Make these organizations prove they are legitimate, but then I have that access for them to go and be a part of it.

Uh, just last night I was having a conversation with a young man, and I wasn't here last week, so you can correct me if you didn't speak on it.

Uh, but there was a young man who was who was killed just last Sunday, teenager, attending Murphy High School.

I went to Murphy High School, so it's very touching to me.

A lot of people in the public may not know how this stuff aligns, but all of us down here really do.

And these people are lost, and there's not stuff that is in place to really help and assist them, but there are people who are here to do it.

So until we all actually come to the table, begin working together, it's gonna be for now.

I know that we don't have the time, we'll continue this marks next week.

Thanks for being on the floor.

James Williams regarding resolution 31742.

Morning.

My name is James Williams.

I was looking over the agenda this morning, and the law enforcement agency 2026.

EOD program grant of 100,000 dollars.

My question is uh, who's gonna be the coordinator over this grant?

And what would the grant be used for?

Um, Mr.

Gray, can you this grant is for um EOD purposes?

Can you guys hear me?

This grant is for EOD purposes.

Uh, our bomb squad uh will use X-ray equipment to identify and detect uh explosive devices with uh the funding that supports this.

Just for the bomb score.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Resolution is held over.

08729 approved purchase order to Cowan Equipment for compact track loader.

08732, approved purchase order to Peach State Truck Centers or Crew Cab truck.

08734, approved purchase order to send some equipment for garbage truck and yard automated side load body.

08735 approved purchase order to SIMTEC fire for one fixed cargo container flash over simulation.

08736 approved purchase order to ward international trucks for two freight liner crew cab trucks.

21737 authorized contract with Bill Smith Electric for lighting assemblies upgrades.

21738, authorized contract with Chris Brewer construction for public services, storm drainage repair and maintenance.

21739 authorized contract with Finn Partners for Marketing of Son of a Son of a Sailor Exhibition 21740, authorized professional services contract with MGT Impact Solutions for comprehensive cost of services study for development related user fees within Bill Mobile 60 741 authorized settlement agreement and release of claims.

So move second proper move and second in discussion.

All in favor, aye.

All opposed, item passes.

Ordinance is being introduced 64028 through 64031.

Per council rules, these ordinances will be laid over for one week.

Consent resolutions being introduced 31742 through 6750.

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

Second prop the move and second in discussion.

All in favor, aye.

Other posed rules waived, Madam Clerk.

31742 and 743, authorizing the mayor to apply accept and receive grants from Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Grant Program and American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Disaster Capacity Building Grant.

3774 recommend approval to the ABC Board for issuance of a special retail more than 30 days license to Drury Plaza Hotel Mobile on I-65 Service Road South.

6745 and 746 are approved award of special bonus to public services maintenance employee of the month and the officer of the month.

6747, 748, 749, and 750 are determining appropriations to Trinity Gardens Community Civic Club, Gulf Coast Ethnic and Heritage Jazz Festival Productions, Mobile Music Lake, Opportunity for Entertainment and Performing Arts, and Princeton Woods, HOA serve a public purpose and approved payment.

So move.

Second.

Prop the move and second and in discussion.

All in favor.

Aye.

All opposed.

Item passes.

Resolutions being introduced 08751 through 3175.

Move to waive the rules for immediate consideration of resolutions 08751 and 31-755 with the rest being laid over for one week.

Prop the move and second in discussion.

All in favor.

Aye.

All opposed.

Rules waived.

Madam Clerk.

08751 approved purchase order to shape for plastics North American for garbage carts for garbage collection.

31755 authorize the mayor to apply accept and receive a grant from South Alabama Regional Planning Commission's Area Agency on Aging in support of the Title III funding opportunity.

So moved.

Second.

Prophet movement second in discussion.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

Item passes.

Announcements.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um tonight we will have our community meeting at New Shallow Church.

We're inviting everyone out in District 1 to come out for our community meeting that will start at 6 p.m.

And then on tomorrow, um, I want to give big shout outs to parts and recreations.

They are doing an amazing um events throughout the City of Mobile.

Last week we had the adult um fun day at TriCentennial Park and on tomorrow, it will be a fitness day at the Trinity Gardens Park.

Um, so come out 6 30, um, bring your fitness gear and let's uh let's get in shape.

All right, thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilman Penn.

District 2, Councilwoman Ingram.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Greetings, district two residents.

We have a lot going on in District 2, starting with on Thursday, July 16th at 5:30 p.m.

at the Robert Hope Community Center.

We will have a community meeting that will focus on information about the welcome center, giving us timelines in terms of the opening, along with what that process is going to look like.

So I encourage you to be there so that you can be engaged and know what's happening in your community.

Also, we have another community cleanup date on Saturday, July the 18th, from at starting at 8 a.m.

And we will start on Clay Street along Lion Street to Congress Street.

So please come out and be a part of that.

And it's almost that time back to school.

So District 2 is hosting a back to school donation drop-off at the James Seals Community Center this Saturday, uh July the 18th, starting at 10 a.m.

So make sure you come and bring your donations and your supplies to ensure that our uh students have a successful start of the school year.

And lastly, just as we're having the donation uh drop off for back to school, we will have a back to school giveaway, and that will be on August the 1st.

Um, and again, that will be at James Seals Community Center, and that starts at 10 a.m.

And one more on July 25th.

I'm so excited about this because we are partnering with the Salvation Army Waterfront Rescue Mission along with um uh Mobile the City of Mobile in terms of the homeless care kit distribution.

So it's called Neighbors Helping Neighbors Initiative, and starting at 8 a.m., we will be distributing um hygiene kits to our unsheltered population.

So again, uh make sure that you come out and be a part of that.

That's on July 25th, and that starts at 8 a.m.

at the Mamga Den located at 305 Mamga Drive.

And that concludes my announcements.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh thank you, Councilwoman Ingrid.

District 4, Councilman Runnels.

District 5, Councilman Flynn.

No announcements.

District 6, Councilman Woods.

No announcements.

District 7, Vice President Gregory.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, just want to remind everybody that we will be holding our annual back to school rally for the district 7 community coming up July 30th.

It will be at 6 o'clock p.m.

at the Mobile Museum of Art.

We're asking everyone to bring school supplies for the elementary schools in the district.

I will also be presenting checks to the principals of these elementary schools.

We'll have a light dinner and also some updates from members of the administration for things going on within the district and in the city.

So again, that is July 30th, 6 o'clock p.m.

at the Mobile Museum of Art.

And also, we have some good news.

We will begin.

Well, it's already been given approval to open.

This is the senior center at Hillsdale.

We've been working on getting that senior center ready and um looking for a date to have the grand opening.

So we will be announcing that soon.

But the good news is it is ready, and I know our seniors are ready to move in.

Um, just one um point of information, I guess is what I should call it.

On the public hearings that we had today, and just for everybody who was in here for a public hearing, we do a public hearing, and then we vote the next week generally.

That's how it works.

So, in case you were wondering why we didn't vote on any of these today, is because those are the rules.

We do a public hearing one week and then the next week is when we are set to vote.

So those will be coming up next week.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Vice President Gregory, and greetings to the citizens on district three on last Thursday.

Representative Barbara Drummond and myself, we had our annual uh chat and chat with our seniors.

This was our 13th year at the Maritime Museum.

We had close to 200 uh seniors there.

Uh, we'd like to thank all the seniors for coming out on last Thursday to our annual chat and chat.

And like to thank all the volunteers who also who participated on last Thursday again, looking forward to the next coming year.

This evening, I will be joining the Old Dale Community Action Group that will be meeting at Smalls Mortuary at 5 o'clock PM, inviting all the residents in the Old Dale community to please come out this evening to our annual monthly meeting.

And also, I will be attending the Riverside Community Action Group meeting at the precinct one on Dauphin Island Parkway, inviting all the residents in the Riverside South DIP community to please come out this evening at 6 o'clock p.m.

to the monthly community action group meeting.

Anything from the administration?

Okay.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

Prompt the movement second in discussion.

All in favor, aye.

All opposed, means adjourned.