Mobile City Council Regular Meeting - September 8, 2026

This regular meeting of the Mobile City Council was held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The council conducted multiple public hearings on zoning changes, discussed the proposed FY 2026-2027 general fund and capital improvement budgets, and voted on several ordinances and resolutions. Residents provided testimony on zoning requests, budget allocations, and other community concerns.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of September 1, 2026 approved unanimously.
• Agenda adopted without opposition.
• Noise ordinance waivers for events on September 12 and September 20 at 518 and 113 Dolphin Street approved.
• Resolutions 01954 (agreement with Richard Cooney for tennis teaching pro services) and 08956 (purchase order to Cone to rebuild convention center exhibit hall escalators) passed without discussion.
• Ordinance 64034 (rezoning of 1509 Navco Road from B2 to B3) approved unanimously.
• Consent Resolutions 37964 (special events retail license for Mob Towns picnic pop-up) and 6965 (appropriation to Child Advocacy Services) passed.
• Resolutions 01968 (MOA with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Gulf Coast HIDTA), 01969-01971 (purchase orders to A&D Crumwell Concrete, Butler Complete Services, and Thomas A. Galloway for storm drainage and debris removal), 01973 (purchase order to Traffic and Parking Control for traffic data collectors), 01976 (purchase order to Grabar Electric for decorative street light poles and LED fixtures) passed. Resolutions 01966, 01967, 01972, 01974, 01975, 01977, 01978, 01979, 01980, and 01981 were laid over for one week.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jay Watkins (attorney for owner of 255 Church Street) spoke in support of rezoning from T5.2 to T6 for a planned mixed-use development, answering council questions about height and design review.
• Robert Momberger (resident behind 2694 Government Boulevard lot) questioned the need for B3 zoning instead of retaining a B1 buffer zone, expressing concerns about potential changes to property use.
• Jeremy Milling (commercial realtor for the property) clarified there are no plans to develop the buffer lot and that the rezoning is to unify the parcel after years of operation under a variance.
• Don Banks (resident) spoke in favor of rezoning 4460 Dauphin Island Parkway from R1 to ML, noting improvements to previously blighted property.
• Tisa Steiner (resident on Moffat Road) opposed rezoning of Fair Fork Road and Moffat Road from R1 to B3, citing traffic dangers, lack of turning lane discipline, and visual impacts from RV sales on her property.
• Cynthia Byrd (realtor for the project) argued the rezoning is a logical expansion of existing commercial use, noting the property was annexed as R1 but adjacent to commercial activity.
• Reggie Hill (citizen) commented on the FY 2026-2027 budget, proposing savings by eliminating the Operations Administration department, reallocating grant administration capital, using fleet management funds for recreation center vans, restoring park and recreation cuts, and redirecting library funds; he also questioned overhead increases, legal liability costs, and Metro Jail funding.
• Robert Clocton (citizen) urged the council to reconsider eliminating the $400,000 Port City Classic contribution, comparing its return on investment ($11.36 per dollar) to the Gulf Coast Challenge ($12.58 per dollar) and calling for a consistent event performance standard.
• Reggie Hill (second appearance) asked for clarification on Second Line Transit routes to ensure seniors’ access, inquired about Gulf Coast Technology Center budget line, and suggested reducing police force in schools in favor of investing in education and intervention programs; he echoed support for maintaining HBCU event funding.
• Apostle Valencia Green (pastor) pleaded for the disabled and poor, alleging failures in probate court and feeling targeted by the administration for speaking out.
• Estella Stroder (resident) spoke against the Taylor Landing project, questioning transparency, possible gentrification, and use of block grant money given past neglect of Oakland apartments; she called for a federal investigation.
• Young woman (name not given) thanked the mayor for transit investment but stressed the need for better bus headways (frequency), and noted she would become more civically engaged.

Discussion Items

• Mayor’s Communications: Mayor Stimpson highlighted the FY 2026-2027 budget public hearing, emphasizing public safety, infrastructure, and transportation; he announced the first Second Line Transit trolley and a federal grant application to purchase five more trolleys; also promoted the Jimmy Buffett exhibit opening September 12 at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf.
• Proclamations: Council declared September 2026 as Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month and September 13–19 as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week; representatives from the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation and Home 20 LLC accepted.
• Rezoning 255 Church Street (T5.2 to T6): Attorney Jay Watkins explained the proposed mixed-use development would be similar in height (15–16 stories) to nearby buildings; a council member noted staff comments about adjacent T5.2 properties but Watkins argued the area likely should have been T6 given existing heights; no opposition was voiced.
• Rezoning 2694 Government Boulevard area (R1, B1, B2 to B3): Council members questioned the need to rezone a buffer lot; staff and the applicant explained that subdivision policy requires one zoning class per lot and that the site has operated under a variance for decades with no plan to change use.
• Rezoning Fair Fork Road and Moffat Road (R1 to B3): Resident Tisa Steiner detailed traffic safety and aesthetic concerns; Council members expressed understanding but noted the applicant has existing commercial property adjacent; no vote was taken at the hearing.
• FY 2026-2027 Budget Public Hearing: Reggie Hill provided detailed suggestions for reallocations totaling millions, questioning several line items and urging careful use of infrastructure funds.
• Ordinance 64036 (rezoning 97 Center Drive R1 to R3): Councilman Fleming noted the Planning Commission recommended denial due to adverse effects on neighborhood property values and infrastructure; he stated he met with neighbors and would not support the rezoning. The ordinance subsequently failed.

Key Outcomes

• Rezoning 1509 Navco Road (B2 to B3) approved unanimously.
• Rezoning 97 Center Drive (R1 to R3) failed (no vote tally provided, but Councilman Fleming’s opposition and planning commission denial led to failure).
• Resolutions held over (01954, 08956) passed.
• Consent Resolutions (37964, 6965) passed.
• Resolutions 01968–01971, 01973, 01976 passed as part of the consent agenda; several others laid over one week.
• Budget: Public hearing held; no vote taken. Further discussion will occur in committee.
• Appeals: Two noise ordinance waivers granted.