OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mobile City Council Meeting - July 21, 2026

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
BodyMobile, Alabama
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, July 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Say July 21st.

0:01

Please stand for our invocation, led by Dr.

0:03

Dan Taylor, public safety chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence following the pledge.

0:12

Let us pray.

0:15

Gracious God, creator of all that is good, all that is holy.

0:20

We give you thanks and praise for this incredible place that we have the privilege to inhabit.

0:26

Help us to be grateful stewards of your bounty.

0:31

Bless this city, bless its residents, its leaders.

0:36

Help us always to take care of our brothers and sisters in the way and with the love that you take care of us.

0:43

These things we ask in your holy and blessed day.

0:46

Amen.

0:59

Indivisible with liberty uncusted.

1:07

If you would please remain standing for a moment of silent prayer.

1:11

Deacon John E.

1:13

King passed away on July 15th, 2026.

1:17

Mr.

1:18

King is a community leader, has been a community leader in Hillsdale.

1:23

He has been a great friend, a coach, a mentor to so many, many young people and older folks like me in this city.

1:33

I ask you now to take a moment to honor Mr.

1:35

King's kindness, his generosity, his warmth, and his compassion.

1:41

You know, over the years, so many folks have been touched and honored by Mr.

1:44

King's presence, his wisdom, and his gentle spirit.

1:47

I am just really really grateful to have known Mr.

1:50

King and to have been able to have called him a friend and certainly a supporter over these 20 plus years that I have been in this elected office.

1:59

Funeral services for the deacon are set for 11 o'clock on Saturday, this coming Saturday at Friendship Baptist Church on Cody Road, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

2:09

So I would ask you to please continue to keep Mr.

2:12

King's family in your prayers.

2:14

If you would a moment of silent prayer.

2:28

Okay.

2:34

Roll call, President Small.

2:36

Here.

2:36

Vice President Gregory.

2:38

Here.

2:38

Councilmember Penn.

2:39

Here.

2:39

Councilmember Ingram?

2:40

Here.

2:41

Councilmember Reynolds.

2:42

Councilmember Fleming?

2:43

Here.

2:44

Council Member Woods.

2:45

Here.

2:45

Statement of rules.

2:46

And good morning, everyone.

2:47

Morning.

2:48

It's good to see everyone this morning.

2:49

Welcome to our July 21st, 2026 meeting.

2:53

At this meeting, we do have rules.

2:55

At this time, I ask if anyone has any type of electronic device, including cell phones, please at this time put on the all for the vibrator position, the offer the barber position.

3:06

Any person that desire to address the Mobile City Council must sign in, indicating the resolution, the public hearing, or the uh ordinance before entering the meeting.

3:18

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

3:22

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

3:31

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

3:38

Anyone who has not given proper notes to the city clerk's office and wish to speak on a non-agenda item would not be allowed to address this council.

3:46

Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address this council.

3:49

A bell was sound to indicate the end of two minutes.

3:52

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

3:57

When addressing this council, there'll be no personal address to any individual council members.

4:01

All statements are to be made to the chair who recognize any council member who wishes to respond.

4:06

To maintain the corn, there'll be no unto applause or public I cry allowed.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement████████████████████████████████32%
Zoning And Land Use███████████████████████████27%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Economic Development██████████10%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Personnel Matters██2%
Homelessness██2%
Public Safety█1%
Parks and Recreation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Mobile City Council Meeting - July 21, 2026

The Mobile City Council convened on July 21, 2026, with President Small presiding. The meeting included a moment of silence for community leader Deacon John E. King, passage of several ordinances and resolutions, public comments on a range of issues, and announcements from councilmembers.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of minutes from July 14, 2026 (unanimous).
  • Adoption of the agenda (unanimous).
  • Approval of noise ordinance waiver for October 17 on Airport Boulevard (unanimous).
  • Denial of another noise ordinance waiver request (motion to deny, seconded, passed).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sue Saviac spoke about travel options in Mobile: insufficient parking at the cruise terminal, inadequate Amtrak platform and lack of restroom facilities, and high airline fees at Mobile Airport Authority. She cited 2025 passenger statistics: Pensacola 3,041,000; Mobile 594,410; Gulfport 437,226, arguing the new airport location is good but fees and amenities must improve.
  • Apostle Valina Green (Down the Bay Community) requested revocation of the business license for Cotton State Barnes, alleging the company sold her nonprofit a defective storage building for a food pantry and soup kitchen, failed to deliver promised features, and did not respond to certified letters. She asked the council to revoke the license to prevent others from similar harm.
  • John Mitchell opposed rezoning of 5101 Moffat Road from B2 to B3, stating the applicant wanted a used car lot with a three-car garage (implying a repair shop) and had not followed proper procedures at neighborhood meetings.
  • George Harb (representing the property owner at 5101 Moffat Road) supported the rezoning, explaining the plan is for 15–20 parking spots for used vehicle sales, with only light work (inspections, battery checks) in two small bays, and no heavy mechanical work. He said surrounding neighbors and businesses were supportive.
  • Alfredo Fernandez Garcia spoke in favor of a lounge retail liquor license for Bebop's downtown, calling it a safe cornerstone for the LGBT community and noting it harms no one.

Discussion Items

  • Rezoning of 5101 Moffat Road (Ordinance 64030): The council considered an application to rezone from B2 to B3. Vice President Gregory opposed, citing that B3 is just one step below industrial, the site is surrounded by B2 and R1 residential properties, and the Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial. He argued the rezoning would have an adverse impact and the zoning would stay with the property. Motion to deny passed despite two opposing votes.
  • Rezoning of 5361 Moffat Road (Ordinance 64031): Application from R1 to B3 to use a single-family home as a realty office with a storage building and moving vans. Vice President Gregory opposed, noting it sits amid single-family homes adjacent to a new approved subdivision, and B3 would open too many options. Motion to deny passed unanimously.
  • Revocation of business license for All Weather Roofing (Resolution 37-781): Councilmember Woods stated the license was requested for surrender but not yet received, and after hearing complaints over the past month, revocation was the only option. Motion passed.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinances passed: 64028 (rezoning of Spring Hill Ave properties to B1, vote 5-2-1); 64029 (rezoning of Dauphin Island Parkway to B3, unanimous); 64030 (denied); 64031 (denied).
  • Resolutions passed: Approval of appointments (Diane Still to History Museum Board), ABC license recommendation for Bebop's, various purchase orders and grant acceptances, one-time lump sum payments to RSA retirees (transit and general), and modifications to capital funds.
  • Resolution tabled: 6759 (appropriation to DJ Black Entertainment) was tabled.
  • Upcoming actions: A contract for Lavretta Park playground replacement will be voted on next week; a 2.5% COLA for police and fire retirees is forthcoming from the mayor's office.
  • Announcements: Councilmembers reported community cleanups, back-to-school events, pay-as-you-go (Pago) plan details for road repaving, and District 7's Ziggler Boulevard gap will be addressed with Pago funds.

Meeting Transcript

Say July 21st. Please stand for our invocation, led by Dr. Dan Taylor, public safety chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence following the pledge. Let us pray. Gracious God, creator of all that is good, all that is holy. We give you thanks and praise for this incredible place that we have the privilege to inhabit. Help us to be grateful stewards of your bounty. Bless this city, bless its residents, its leaders. Help us always to take care of our brothers and sisters in the way and with the love that you take care of us. These things we ask in your holy and blessed day. Amen. Indivisible with liberty uncusted. If you would please remain standing for a moment of silent prayer. Deacon John E. King passed away on July 15th, 2026. Mr. King is a community leader, has been a community leader in Hillsdale. He has been a great friend, a coach, a mentor to so many, many young people and older folks like me in this city. I ask you now to take a moment to honor Mr. King's kindness, his generosity, his warmth, and his compassion. You know, over the years, so many folks have been touched and honored by Mr. King's presence, his wisdom, and his gentle spirit. I am just really really grateful to have known Mr. King and to have been able to have called him a friend and certainly a supporter over these 20 plus years that I have been in this elected office. Funeral services for the deacon are set for 11 o'clock on Saturday, this coming Saturday at Friendship Baptist Church on Cody Road, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. So I would ask you to please continue to keep Mr. King's family in your prayers. If you would a moment of silent prayer. Okay. Roll call, President Small. Here. Vice President Gregory. Here. Councilmember Penn. Here. Councilmember Ingram? Here. Councilmember Reynolds. Councilmember Fleming? Here. Council Member Woods. Here. Statement of rules. And good morning, everyone. Morning. It's good to see everyone this morning. Welcome to our July 21st, 2026 meeting. At this meeting, we do have rules. At this time, I ask if anyone has any type of electronic device, including cell phones, please at this time put on the all for the vibrator position, the offer the barber position. Any person that desire to address the Mobile City Council must sign in, indicating the resolution, the public hearing, or the uh ordinance before entering the meeting.

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