0:09Good evening, everyone.
0:11The Tuscaloosa City Council will now come to order.
0:14I will ask everyone to please stand for our prayer and then remain standing for our pledge of allegiance.
0:20Bow our heads, please.
0:22Dear God, bless our proceedings tonight.
0:24Give us the wisdom to know it is just and the strength to do what is right.
0:29I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
0:33And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
0:42Approval of the minutes.
0:44We approve the minutes.
0:46Move and second to approve the minutes.
0:54Minutes stand approved.
0:56Proclamation statements by Mayor and Council.
0:58Tonight is my honor to ask Ms.
1:00Daniel Lee with I love the name of this bottoms up diaper bank.
1:06Miss Lee, if you'd come on, come up, please.
1:09And I as I read this proclamation into the record.
1:12Whereas diaper need, the lack of sufficient clean diapers to keep baby and toddlers clean and dry and healthy can severely affect the health and well-being of children and their families.
1:21National research shows that nearly half of all families struggle with diaper needs, with 48% delaying diaper changes to stretch needed supplies.
1:31Whereas without adequate diaper access, babies face increased health risk and families may face additional medical expenses and limited access to child care, further destabilizing economic security.
1:44And whereas the City of Tuscaloosa commends the work of local organizations such as bottoms up, diaper bank.
1:51I don't know why that makes me that strikes me for their vital role in distributing diapers and supporting families.
1:59By addressing diaper need, diaper banks promote infant health, economic stability, and stronger communities throughout the city and state.
2:08And any of us that have had to change diapers understand just how important.
2:59Mayor Maddox and City Council members, I thank you for this proclamation recognizing diaper knee awareness week.
3:06On behalf of Bottoms Up Diaper Bank, I am honored to accept this recognition and to share why this week matters so deeply.
3:14Diaper need is an issue that often goes unseen.
3:17Families who struggle to afford diapers face impossible choices.
3:22Whether to stretch one diaper longer than it should be used, whether to miss work because they can't send their child to child care without the required supply of diapers, or even whether to choose between food, rent, or keeping their baby clean, healthy, and dry.
3:39These are choices no parent should ever have to make.
4:06Every diaper represents more than just a product.
4:09It represents relief, dignity, and hope.
4:15One mom recently shared that she was grateful for this or for our organization and the service that we provided.
4:21And as a single mom with no support, it has been hard to stay on her feet and provide for her family.
4:27The diaper bank has been her saving grace.
4:30That is why we do what we do.
4:32Our mottos are let all that you do be done in love and helping families one contribution at a time.
4:40And it is truly the heartbeat of our mission.
4:43A pack of diapers may seem small, but it can mean the difference between stability and struggle for a parent and between health and hardship for a child.
4:53This proclamation is more than a piece of paper.
5:00It is a reminder that the city recognizes this struggle and is willing to shine its light on it and inspire awareness, compassion, and action.
5:06I want to invite our entire community, City Council included, and the mayor to join us in this mission to support bottoms up by donating diapers, making a contribution, hosting a diaper donation drive at your church, workplace, school, or by simply sharing our message with others.
5:27Every act of support, large or small, helps us to reach more families and remind parents that they are not alone.
5:35And on behalf of the families that we serve, our volunteers and our supporters, I want to thank you for your continued support of Bottoms Up Diaper Bank and the things we are doing here in West Alabama.
5:53Do we have any uh council comments?
5:56Mayor, when she was talking, I just reminded remember you and I both in the back of an 18 wheeler handing out pampers for hours after the tornado.
6:07You remember the most needed thing were diapers and and um of course they were all donated and people just waiting to get those bags of uh of uh pampers.
6:18I absolutely remember that.
6:21If anyone wanted to make a donation, where could they go to bottoms of doctors 35.4 and click on the donate tab, or you can stop by North Lake Night's Church, Hack Grown Baptist Church, Friendship Baptist Church, or New Life Baptist Church here at Tuscaloous.
6:41Thank you again for contact me.
6:44Thank you for what you do.
6:47Any council announcements tonight?
6:49Mayor, um, Friday is a uh exciting day in the in the district, but really for the whole community.
6:55We will have the ribbon cutting or McWright's Ferry Road and also the bridge ribbon cutting or dedication for the bridge that's over North River and named in honor of Ruth and Leroy McAbee.
7:08So it's gonna be a special day for our city and for our community, and I enjoyed participating in your mayor's minute, which I think is a minute and a half, isn't it?
7:17So it was uh it was good that we were out there, and it's just a great project for our community, and glad to see it coming to fruition after 40 years.
7:27Crow, and thank you for all that.
7:28Not as important, but I will be a Jack Saturday morning, Mayor, if you're out there well.
7:32I I thought Norman was gonna say Friday we celebrate because it's my birthday on Friday.
7:37So, yeah, so if you'll be there, we'll celebrate it.
7:40We'll celebrate celebrate it Friday and cut a ribbon.
7:44Sounds like a good idea.
7:45Any other council announcements?
7:47Yeah, Mayor, I would like to recognize Dr.
7:49Page, the step uh Stemacall's presidents here tonight.
7:54Oh, you don't have to have you here.
7:57Would you like to address the city council tonight?
8:00I didn't mean to put you on the spot, Dr.
8:03I think, but I know we'd love to hear from you.
8:10Well, good afternoon to the mayor and of course to the council.
8:15It is always a pleasure to be before you on behalf of the trustees, the faculty, the staff, and of course the wonderful students of Steelman College.
8:24And I just want to say how much we appreciate the support that the city of Tuscaloosa has provided Steelman College over the last 149 years.
8:34Many of you are probably aware that we are on the cusp of preparing for our Cesquel Centennial.
8:41And of course, that sesquel centennial means that we look forward to you participating in those wonderful events uh with us.
8:51Mayor, I just want to publicly thank you for your uh hospitality and your graciousness since I came to Tuscaloosa.
9:01Can you believe it's been two years?
9:04Unbelievable, but it has been a fantastic experience for me.
9:09I again I appreciate your support.
9:11I appreciate you coming to campus and visiting with me quarterly.
9:16I do appreciate our talks.
9:18And for those of you who have not had an opportunity to come to Steelman College in the last two years, I extend a humble, humble invitation for you to come to Steelman College as well to uh have a chance to explore and see all of the wonderful things that we're doing over there.
9:39I was out there recently, and I ate in the cafeteria, and I highly recommend the cafeteria.
9:46So again, thank you very much.
9:48I appreciate the time to address you.
9:50When will you begin kicking off the 150th year celebration officials?
9:54So we are officially celebrating it starting next month with our Founders Day recognition, and so we'll be sure to share that information.
10:01And so we'll be sure to share that information.
10:04And we I think we'll we have a law enforcement night out coming very soon.
10:08So the law enforcement night out against crime is on October 7th.
10:19Any other council announcements or recognition.
10:24Any agenda item comments by Cis?
10:26We have no unfinished business tonight.
10:28Consent agenda, clerk.
10:29This approves items A through F on the consent agenda.
10:33It's been moved and second.
10:40We have no public hearings tonight.
10:41Resolution ordinances not of a general nature of permanent operation.
10:45This approves less than seven days special that's retail licenses for party down LLC.
10:52Good evening, Mayor and Council.
10:53This is ABC Alcohol Application 25-050.
10:58They apply for special retail less than seven days for the premises located at DKE alumni tailgate 2025 at 946 University Boulevard.
11:07We have Culver House LSU tailgate at 380 Stadium Drive.
11:10Cobra House Roundabout Tailgate at 380 Stadium Drive.
11:14And for the Kentuck Festival of Arts at 618 21st Avenue.
11:17All my reports have been filed with the city clerk office.
11:20Officer Champion will give you support.
11:21Followed by the applicant to ask any questions you have.
11:26Good evening, Mayor.
11:28Police forward doesn't have any objections to my applications.
11:32Is the applicant here?
11:34If you would please come forward and give your name and address.
11:42Lauren Shoemaker 13800 Wire Road, Cottendale, Alabama.
12:00Applications approved.
12:03This authorizes the Office of the City Attorney to file an amicus brief in the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.
12:15Resolutions adopted, Clerk.
12:16This authorizes termination of an agreement with Rocky Ridge Fire District.
12:22Move and second, vote Mr.
12:28Resolutions adopted.
12:29This authorizes execution of a memorandum of understanding with Owdot.
12:40Resolutions adopted.
12:42This will authorize a contract with Smart Force Technologies Incorporated and declare a bid law exemption.
12:48Move and second, vote, Mr.
12:53Resolutions adopted.
12:55This authorizes a contract with three SI security systems incorporated and declares a bid law exemption.
13:08Resolution is adopted, Clerk.
13:10This will authorize a professional services contract with John B.
13:21Resolution is adopted.
13:23This authorizes a minor public works contract with Dixie Painting and Sandblasting Incorporated.
13:35Resolutions adopted.
13:36This will authorize a professional services contract with Itron Incorporated.
13:47Resolutions adopted.
13:48This authorizes professional services agreement with United Systems and Software Incorporated.
14:00Resolutions adopted, Clerk.
14:02This will authorize the minor public works contract with War Construction Incorporated.
14:12Resolutions adopted, Clerk.
14:14This authorizes amendment number one to the minor public works contract with Olympia Sprinkler installation incorporated.
14:27Resolutions adopted, Clerk.
14:29This authorizes amendment number one to the minor public works contract with PCI Technologies.
14:41Resolutions adopted.
14:42This authorizes a minor public works contract with Bagby Elevator Company Incorporated.
14:54Resolutions adopted.
14:55This will authorize a minor public works contract with Radco Electronics.
15:08Resolutions adopted, Clerk.
15:09This will authorize the professional services contract with Hearst Television Incorporated.
15:20Resolutions adopted, Clerk.
15:22This authorizes a contract for professional engineering and related services with Duncan Coker Associates.
15:34Resolutions adopted, Clerk.
15:35This authorizes the purchase of equipment supplies or services from Stivers Ford Lincoln for Tus Lucifier Rescue.
15:42Move and second, vote Mr.
15:48Resolution is adopted, Clerk.
15:50This authorizes the purchase of equipment supplies or services from Stivers Ford Lincoln for water and sewer.
15:57Move and second, vote, Mr.
16:03Resolution is adopted, Clerk.
16:04This authorizes the purchase of equipment supplies or services from Limbaugh Toyota.
16:16Resolution is adopted, Clerk.
16:18This authorizes the purchase of equipment supplies or services from Advanced Mower Incorporated.
16:31Resolution is adopted, Clerk.
16:32This authorizes the purchase of equipment supplies or services from train.
16:38Move and second by Mr.
16:43Ordinance of resolutions of the general nature or permit operation for introduction, Clerk.
16:47This introduces zoning amendment number 19.
16:52It's been moved and seconded by Mr.
17:00This will withdraw the ordinance reappointing Peggy Hogue to the Tuscasa County Parks and Recreation Board of Directors.
17:07Move and second to withdraw voting, Mr.
17:15The appointment is withdrawn.
17:17Does it require unanimous?
17:19It does not require unanimous consent.
17:22This reappoints Octavia Miles to the Tuscasa Public Library Board of Trustees.
17:33Do I hear following?
17:35Move and second for unanimous consent.
17:42Appointments made, Clerk.
17:43This authorizes amendment number 18 to the fiscal year 25 general fund budget.
17:55Off unanimous consent.
18:02Budget is amended for adoption, Clerk.
18:04This sets October 14th as a date to consider adoption of zoning amendment number 19.
18:10It's been moved and second.
18:18This authorizes the payment of bills.
18:23You got ready for your birthday.
18:25It was with it was with sponsor week.
18:27It's for my birthday party.
18:38You have to celebrate when you turn 50, don't you, Mr.
18:41Actually, I'm turning.
18:42Actually, Friday, I'm going to be 70.
18:48We know 70 is the new 50.
18:50That's exactly right.
18:51You keep telling yourself that, mate.
18:55Citizens' comments and other communications.
18:57Any citizens wish to address city council tonight.
19:01If you would please come forward and give your name and address.
19:08Good enemy, mayor, council.
19:12Uh I just feel like I'm left out of the loop a little bit, Mr.
19:16I've been talking to you and talked chief clerk.
19:19Uh on the towing that we're doing non-consensual tow on campus.
19:25Uh, like I said before, our 75 dollar release fee was taken away.
19:30I went back, looked at some numbers.
19:33Last year alone, I had to release 151 cars during that two-hour time frame after the game, which was 78 dollars a car I lost come out to a total of 11, 78.
19:49I also had to eat credit card fees because they changed it at 3% instead of 3.5.
20:00It cost me $1.38 cents to run every card I ran during football season.
20:05Just during the legally parked cars, that cost me $208 for me to take a card from customers just to pay me to pick their car up that I had to eat and lose on those cars alone.
20:18And that's not counting every car I towed.
20:20That's just on the 151 during ball game time with the two-hour time span that I am now regulated to mandatory be open and not charge a release fee.
20:31I feel like we should get every penny we should earn that was originally in the first city ordinance.
20:39Chief Blakeney, Chief Clark, Mr.
20:43Champion has all been with us towing cars at some point in time in their career, either on campus or when Chief Blakeney first started years ago.
20:52He was security guard on Old Montgomery Highway.
20:56I think it's called a landmark now.
20:58And he's seen what kind of people we deal with on the regular with the drunks.
21:02I understand people's mad they park their car wrong and they come back and it's gone.
21:07But City required us to put up signs saying toy zone, but nobody pays attention to them.
21:14It's just like the street signs out here on all the roads.
21:17Y'all ride around the road just like I do.
21:19People don't pay attention to them signs.
21:21They're like they're there for decorations.
21:23So we could put up signs flashing neon, don't park here, don't park here.
21:27You're gonna have somebody that says I'm gonna park there anyway and take the chance.
21:31So I just feel like I'm kind of out of the loop a little bit at what's going on.
21:35I just like to be filled in, and this is just at my company alone that ain't counting Fred or Bambarger or anybody else that does to illegally park cars because a lot of companies don't feel with it because it does give us a bad name, but I feel like I do a good service to my customers that call me that have the parking problem.
21:53And that's that's my goal to make my customer happy that their customers can't get to their parking places for Jimmy John's, uh any of the apartments that tenants live at that's probably $1,500, $2,000 a month.
22:06They expect to come home, have a parking spot if I pay that money and have a decal to park there, and nobody goes to the game or to the bars and they park there and they come home, they have nowhere to park.
22:15So then they call us to remove said cars.
22:17And after ball games, they're nine out of ten.
22:21A lot of them are drunk and very mad.
22:24I just like to kind of be in the loop and see if we can get this sped up just a little bit, please.
22:29We've discussed this a couple of times, and I know Chief Clark's working on this.
22:34Hey do you I don't know where we are on the change.
22:39Chief, do you have a comment?
22:44Chief Clark and uh Mr.
22:45Bobbitt from Scott's office have been working on it.
22:48I do not have an immediate update, but I will when I get to work at 8 in the morning, I will check and I'll have you an email out before 10 a.m.
22:58Any other citizens wish to address their city council tonight?
23:02If you would please come forward and give your name and address.
23:11Um good evening, mayor council.
23:14I come um kind of look counter to what the speaker here, previous speaker about just parking in in and of itself.
23:21Uh, I'm one of the largest employers uh on the strip, and I have quite a few employees that uh they'll work throughout the throughout the day throughout the night, students as well as uh people that's not students, and they leave two or three o'clock in the morning.
23:36Only to go and not only to have to walk a mile, if not several blocks to their parked vehicle, sometimes to learn that a vehicle is not there because it's been told for whatever reason.
23:47A lot of my employees, they leave there sometimes.
23:49They get cash, they have cash on them.
23:51These are young ladies, young men, women and uh older men, but they the parking is certainly is uh is is is an issue.
23:58I understand you guys have passed things, uh have restricted parking to curtail uh crime, public safety, and but in my mind also these employees of mine, they're they're they're uh their put their safety is a concern as well.
24:13Having to walk many blocks or maybe a mile or so uh when they leave two, three o'clock in the morning sometime later, poses that type of risk.
24:21So I'm just asking for some type of consideration uh for these uh for these employees, not just mine, I think a lot of other bar owners down there that uh that these employees can pretty much park.
24:33Uh I understand there's parking here in this parking deck, but again, that's about a mile away and leave it two or three o'clock in the morning uh sometime later.
24:41It poses again some type of public safety or a risk.
24:45So just asking for some type of consideration.
24:47I don't know what can be done or what you guys have in place to uh to resolve that issue, but if nothing else, just want to hopefully get some feedback from you guys about what can be done to address that issue at some point.
25:05Any comments from city council?
25:08I'm grinning because I was thinking you could close at 10:30 or 11.
25:14I think the parking lot.
25:17I think Chief, did you have something you want to say?
25:20I can give a suggestion would be.
25:23Um, we have eliminated a lot of parking around there for safety concerns.
25:26I think our suggestion would be um all the bars close at the same time is for the businesses to have a van.
25:32Um they can talk to businesses around there that do have parking lots that are not operating during that period and see if they can work out how to deal with them, and then the businesses could load their employees up and get them safely and make sure they get to their cars.
25:44Um that that way, I think that'd be a good way for the businesses to make sure their employees are safe for everybody.
25:51Thank you all for theone else wish to address city council tonight.
26:00Seeing none, subject to exercise of mayoral veto and ordinances of a general nature of permanent operational applicable departments here by order to otherwise implement council policy this day and act.
26:09Second, move and second to adjourn.
