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Record of Proceedings

Tuscaloosa City Committee Meeting - August 26, 2025: Infrastructure Contracts, Kentuck Festival Agreement, and Downtown University Quarter Update

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, August 26, 2025
BodyTuscaloosa, Alabama
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, August 26, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 27:39

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Any members have had a chance to review.

0:01

I would entertain a motion to approve.

0:03

Second.

0:03

Got a motion and second.

0:05

All in favor say aye.

0:06

Aye.

0:07

Senates are approved.

0:08

Item number one is approval of a minor public works contract with tri-state abatement for asbestos abatement services at 613 23rd Avenue East.

0:19

The total is $4,400.

0:21

Selvin, welcome.

0:22

Welcome.

0:22

Good evening, Counselor.

0:24

Good evening.

0:24

Thank you all for your attention.

0:26

This council has approved a residential property at this location for demolition.

0:32

Upon inspection, we have determined that there is asbestos at this property.

0:36

So this service contract will provide for the uh appropriate removal and disposal of that asbestos.

0:44

We have two bidders on this work.

0:46

Uh we consider the most responsible bidder to be that of Tri-State at the amount noted for $4,400.

0:53

This is covered in our operations.

0:57

Question motion.

0:58

Second.

0:59

Motion second.

1:00

All in favor say aye.

1:01

Aye.

1:02

Item number one is approved.

1:03

Item number two.

1:05

Thank you, Selvin.

1:05

Is approval of professional service agreement with uh Porter Higginbotham Engineering for Engineering Services on the 36th Avenue East Rainbow Drive Culvert Replacement Project.

1:16

Totals 49,761 dollars.

1:19

Zach, welcome.

1:19

Good afternoon, Council.

1:21

Good afternoon.

1:22

You'll remember this as part of the uh drainage presentation.

1:25

This is one of the short term or get it budget for locations at 36th Avenue East at the intersection of Rainbow Drive.

1:36

There's basically a C and P pipe your district.

1:44

It's on the road.

1:50

And so this is the corrugated metal pipe.

1:54

The bill or has a failing spot and is deteriorating.

1:59

Fullet works went out and patched the spot.

2:01

It's on the edge of the road.

2:02

It's on the outside edge of the road, but you can see the joint in the pipe there.

2:05

So this is just going to continue to happen until we replace this pipe.

2:12

If approved, what's the time frame getting this done?

2:16

The bid will most likely be in January.

2:20

Um we have it determined.

2:23

We're trying to part of this design of this is going to be to minimize the closure on this road as we replace the pipe.

2:30

So that'll be to be determined, but um should bid January.

2:35

I would think no more than 30, 45 days for construction.

2:39

Questions?

2:40

Motion.

2:41

Second.

2:42

Motion second.

2:43

All in favor say aye.

2:44

Aye.

2:45

Item number two is approved.

2:46

Item number three is approval of a professional services agreement with Duncan Coker Associates for Engineering Services on Veterans Memorial Parkway Bridge project.

2:54

The total 229,342.

2:58

Zach.

2:59

All right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Public Works███████████11%
Public Engagement████████8%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Procedural████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Tuscaloosa City Committee Meeting - August 26, 2025

The meeting on August 26, 2025, addressed several routine contracts, a long-term agreement for the Kentuck Festival of Arts, and a detailed update on the Downtown University Quarter streetscape project. The committee approved all consent items and received a phased cost and planning report for the quarter project.

Approved Items

  • Item 1: Minor public works contract with Tri-State Abatement for asbestos abatement at 613 23rd Avenue East, total $4,400. Funded from operations budget. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 2: Professional service agreement with Porter Higginbotham Engineering for engineering services on the 36th Avenue East Rainbow Drive Culvert Replacement Project, total $49,761. Construction expected to bid in January with 30-45 day construction window. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 3: Professional services agreement with Duncan Coker Associates for engineering services on the Veterans Memorial Parkway Bridge project, total $229,342. Previously tabled; approved unanimously without further discussion.
  • Item 4: Minor public works contract with Alabama Pro Wash for water tank cleaning (exterior wash), total $15,400. Funded from Ed Love's operations budget. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 5: Authorization to execute a 15-year memorandum of agreement and permissive use permit with Kentuck Museum Association for the Kentuck Festival of Arts. Festival scheduled for October 11-12, 2025, with VIP parties on October 10. Staff and Kentuck representatives expressed enthusiasm for the streamlined process. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 6: Right-of-way use permit for a community garden in Heritage Hills neighborhood. The garden will be on city right-of-way (approx. 2.5 acres, mostly drainage ditch). The city will continue mowing; a water meter installation estimated at ~$1,100 is required. Approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Downtown University Quarter Update: The committee received an update on the streetscape project from University Boulevard (Almond Avenue to 19th Street). Engineer Brendan (with Duncan Coker) presented a 50% design and cost estimate of approximately $35 million for the full scope, including underground utilities, streetscape lighting, wider sidewalks, and raised intersections for safety. Currently, $9.5 million is secured (unrestricted funds) plus any leftover from a 2025 $10 million bond. The project is divided into three segments: Reed Street to Wallace Wade (most cost-effective and utilities already buried), Queen City to Reed (improving pedestrian connectivity), and Queen City back to 19th (continuing existing streetscape). Phasing is needed to avoid disruption during football season and to manage traffic. The team plans to return with a phased timeline and cost breakdown within a few weeks. Council members emphasized working within existing right-of-way to avoid eminent domain and coordinating with businesses. The Greensboro Avenue project (breaking ground May 2026) was cited as a test case for balancing pedestrian access and business needs.

Key Outcomes

  • All six consent items were approved unanimously.
  • The Downtown University Quarter project will proceed with a phased approach; staff will present a detailed schedule and cost per phase in the coming weeks.
  • Next committee meeting set for Tuesday, September 9, 2025 (no meeting on September 2 due to Labor Day).

Meeting Transcript

Any members have had a chance to review. I would entertain a motion to approve. Second. Got a motion and second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Senates are approved. Item number one is approval of a minor public works contract with tri-state abatement for asbestos abatement services at 613 23rd Avenue East. The total is $4,400. Selvin, welcome. Welcome. Good evening, Counselor. Good evening. Thank you all for your attention. This council has approved a residential property at this location for demolition. Upon inspection, we have determined that there is asbestos at this property. So this service contract will provide for the uh appropriate removal and disposal of that asbestos. We have two bidders on this work. Uh we consider the most responsible bidder to be that of Tri-State at the amount noted for $4,400. This is covered in our operations. Question motion. Second. Motion second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Item number one is approved. Item number two. Thank you, Selvin. Is approval of professional service agreement with uh Porter Higginbotham Engineering for Engineering Services on the 36th Avenue East Rainbow Drive Culvert Replacement Project. Totals 49,761 dollars. Zach, welcome. Good afternoon, Council. Good afternoon. You'll remember this as part of the uh drainage presentation. This is one of the short term or get it budget for locations at 36th Avenue East at the intersection of Rainbow Drive. There's basically a C and P pipe your district. It's on the road. And so this is the corrugated metal pipe. The bill or has a failing spot and is deteriorating. Fullet works went out and patched the spot. It's on the edge of the road. It's on the outside edge of the road, but you can see the joint in the pipe there. So this is just going to continue to happen until we replace this pipe. If approved, what's the time frame getting this done? The bid will most likely be in January. Um we have it determined. We're trying to part of this design of this is going to be to minimize the closure on this road as we replace the pipe. So that'll be to be determined, but um should bid January. I would think no more than 30, 45 days for construction. Questions?

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