OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mobile City Council Regular Meeting - July 28, 2026

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, July 28, 2026
BodyMobile, Alabama
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, July 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:11:44

Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

This is the regular meeting of the Mobile City Council Tuesday, July the 28th.

0:18

Please stand for our invocation.

0:19

Let by Pastor Dan Taylor, Public Safety Chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:27

Let's pray together.

0:32

God, this is a great day to serve you.

0:36

We thank you that you're here with us.

0:40

You promised to empower us and to guide us.

0:45

Lord, you bless this great city.

0:49

While we're not perfect, our desire is to keep working to improve and become a city that others would want to emulate.

0:58

We trust you to help us do that.

1:02

I pray that you would give these leaders uh insight and wisdom to do what is best and what is pleasing to you.

1:11

And God, we thank you for doing that.

1:14

Your name I pray.

1:16

Amen.

1:16

Amen.

1:18

I'm glad to meet you.

1:49

Royal call, President Small.

1:50

Here.

1:51

Vice President Gregory.

1:52

Here.

1:53

Council Member Penn.

1:54

Here.

1:54

Councilmember Ingram.

1:55

Here.

1:56

Councilmember Reynolds.

1:57

Here.

1:57

Council Member Fleming.

1:58

Here.

1:59

Councilmember Woods.

2:00

Here.

2:00

Statement of rules.

2:02

If you're happy and you know, clap your hand.

2:05

If you're happy and you know, clap your hand.

2:08

If you're happy and you know, then your face will show the show.

2:11

If you're happy and you know, clap your hand.

2:14

Good morning, everybody.

2:15

Good morning.

2:16

Hey, welcome to our July 28th, 2026 meeting.

2:20

At this meeting, we do have rules, okay?

2:22

Number one rule.

2:24

Shh.

2:25

All right.

2:26

The second rule is if you have any type of electronic device at this time, please put on the offer to vibrate position, the offer the vibration position.

2:37

The following rules are any person that designed to address the mobile city council must sign in, indicate in the resolution, the public hearing or the public agenda item before entering the meeting.

2:48

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

3:02

The subject that he or she wish to express to the mobile city council must be identified and pertain to the city or mobile business.

3:09

Anyone who has not given a proper note to the city clerk office and wish to speak on a nun agenda item would not be allowed to address this council.

3:16

Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address this council.

3:19

A bell was sounded indicating that your two minutes is up.

3:23

One minute remain for summarizing.

3:25

The second bell indicates that your time has expired.

3:28

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

3:32

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

3:37

To maintain the quorum, there'll be no undue applause.

3:44

Approval of minutes of July 21st.

3:46

So move.

3:47

Thank you.

3:47

Prophet move and second in discussion.

3:50

All in favor?

3:50

Aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████29%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Youth Programs██████████████14%
Community Engagement██████████10%
International Relations███████7%
Historic Preservation██████6%
Disability Rights████4%
Animal Welfare████4%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Mobile City Council Regular Meeting - July 28, 2026

The Mobile City Council held its regular meeting on July 28, 2026, opening with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Sandy Stimpson and council members recognized numerous youth achievements from Parks and Recreation, Special Olympics, and the sister city exchange with Ichihara, Japan. The council also marked the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Key actions included approval of consent agenda items, denial of one noise ordinance appeal, and a public hearing on a nuisance property. Several resolutions and ordinances were passed or held over, and public comments addressed the Thomaville historic district request and concerns about the proposed animal control ordinance.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: Minutes from July 21, 2026, approved.
  • Adoption of Agenda: The agenda was adopted.
  • Noise Ordinance Appeals: Requests for August 19 (Airport Boulevard) and September 6 (Laneham Park) approved. Request for August 15 (Pine Run Drive) denied.
  • Public Hearing – 1307 Willow Lane: Declared a public nuisance and ordered demolished; no public comments.
  • Resolutions Approved:
    • Authorization to apply for a federal COPS grant (FY2026 Law Enforcement and Mental Health and Wellness Act).
    • Nuisance abatement for weeds (groups 1680 and 102).
    • Appropriations to James Strickland Youth Center and Liberty Learning Foundation.
    • Purchase orders: fire boots/helmets (Sunbelt Fire), playground equipment (Iker Construction), teak deck replacement at USS Alabama Battleship, post-disaster support services (Longview International), business software renewal (BOSSdesk), storm drainage/vegetation removal, desktop computers (CDW), device management software (Howard Industries), and a settlement agreement.
  • Transfer of Funds: Transfer from general fund athletic/aquatics account to capital account for Africatown Welcome Center.
  • One-Time Payment to RSA Retirees: Authorized under Act 608 of the 2026 legislative session.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Anna Bush (District 2): Opposed two sections of proposed animal control ordinance (0703). She objected to breed-specific language for high-risk dogs, calling it unnecessary discrimination and a burden on housing and socialization. She also condemned Section 731 for limiting pet numbers without a grandfather clause, warning it could overwhelm shelters or drive responsible owners to hide pets. She supported microchip encouragement and spay/neuter provisions.
  • Timothy Hollis: Requested the council commission a professional historic resource survey for the Thomaville community, highlighting its legacy of notable figures (Judge Harry T. Toulmin, Hank Aaron, Coach Ben Harris, Senator Michael Figures, U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, and Surgeon General William C. Gorgas). He asked for evaluation toward local historic district and National Register recognition. Councilman Penn (District 1) confirmed the process has already begun.
  • Mobile Firefighter (name not provided): Thanked the mayor, pension board, and council for the 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for police and fire retirees.

Discussion Items

  • Rezoning – 7271 Green Light Road (R-1 to B-1): Approved after discussion. Councilman Woods initially noted speculation concerns but found B-1 acceptable for the corridor after review of permitted uses.
  • Lavretta Park Playground (Contract 21-777): Councilwoman Ingram described community engagement and design input. Construction will begin in September after the old equipment is removed. A celebratory event is planned.
  • Animal Control Ordinance (0703): Held over for one week; no final action.
  • Resolution 21-778 (Minnecan Resources contract): Laid over one week.
  • CIP Resolutions (08-791 to 08-797, 60-803): Rules waived and approved for purchase orders including software, computers, and storm drainage work.

Key Outcomes

  • Approvals: All consent items passed unanimously. Rezoning and noise waiver appeals (2 of 3) approved. Contract for Lavretta Park playground and other resolutions approved.
  • Denials: Noise ordinance appeal for August 15 denied.
  • Held Over: Ordinance 0703 (animal control), Resolution 21-778, and several CIP resolutions introduced but laid over per council rules.
  • Public Hearings Scheduled: For September 1, 2026: rezonings at 1509 Navco Road (B-2 to B-3), 4600A Hamilton Boulevard (R-A to I-2), 97 Center Drive (R-1 to R-3). For August 11, 2026: shuttle service certificate for Ever Bliss Senior Solutions, LLC.
  • Proclamations & Recognitions: Mayor and council honored Parks and Recreation baseball/softball champions, Special Olympics gold medalists (Mobile Revelers therapeutic volleyball and track athlete Citrian Stalworth), and the 36th ADA anniversary. Ichihara sister city students were welcomed as official city ambassadors.
  • Council Announcements: District events noted: back-to-school bashes in Thomaville and District 2, homeless care kit distribution, and District 7 annual back-to-school celebration at Mobile Museum of Art (supplies collected for elementary schools). Councilman Reynolds and City Clerk received awards.

Meeting Transcript

This is the regular meeting of the Mobile City Council Tuesday, July the 28th. Please stand for our invocation. Let by Pastor Dan Taylor, Public Safety Chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Let's pray together. God, this is a great day to serve you. We thank you that you're here with us. You promised to empower us and to guide us. Lord, you bless this great city. While we're not perfect, our desire is to keep working to improve and become a city that others would want to emulate. We trust you to help us do that. I pray that you would give these leaders uh insight and wisdom to do what is best and what is pleasing to you. And God, we thank you for doing that. Your name I pray. Amen. Amen. I'm glad to meet you. Royal call, President Small. Here. Vice President Gregory. Here. Council Member Penn. Here. Councilmember Ingram. Here. Councilmember Reynolds. Here. Council Member Fleming. Here. Councilmember Woods. Here. Statement of rules. If you're happy and you know, clap your hand. If you're happy and you know, clap your hand. If you're happy and you know, then your face will show the show. If you're happy and you know, clap your hand. Good morning, everybody. Good morning. Hey, welcome to our July 28th, 2026 meeting. At this meeting, we do have rules, okay? Number one rule. Shh. All right. The second rule is if you have any type of electronic device at this time, please put on the offer to vibrate position, the offer the vibration position. The following rules are any person that designed to address the mobile city council must sign in, indicate in the resolution, the public hearing or the public agenda item before entering the meeting. When addressing this council, the speaker must give his or her name. The subject that he or she wish to express to the mobile city council must be identified and pertain to the city or mobile business. Anyone who has not given a proper note to the city clerk office and wish to speak on a nun agenda item would not be allowed to address this council. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address this council. A bell was sounded indicating that your two minutes is up. One minute remain for summarizing.

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