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Record of Proceedings

City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026

City Council MeetingsTuesday, January 13, 2026
BodyTuscaloosa, Alabama
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, January 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Approve agenda item number one approval contract amendment to the engineering service contract with McGifford for the Northern Riverwalk Phase 2 project total $518,680.

0:13

Mike?

0:14

Well, not much.

0:15

It was Mike loves the spotlight.

0:17

I had to fight until let me take the podium.

0:20

Um good afternoon, Council.

0:22

This is as it says here, an amendment to the engineering services contract with McGifford.

0:26

This should be the final amendment for this contract.

0:28

This will take uh the support for McGifford all the way through the remaining design and all the way through the construction phase.

0:35

Uh in the amendment, what we're adding here is the final design service is to go from 90% to 100% for the design, as well as engineering services during construction.

0:44

So that's observations, making sure the quality that we want from the construction projects being delivered, as well as some testing services during construction.

0:52

So this is about 1.6 or 7 miles of pavement, making sure that we get the right compaction during the construction phase.

0:58

That's what this uh amendment is due to provide.

1:02

Bill, what's the the big pieces of the river walk project?

1:08

This is phase this is the last 10% of phase two.

1:14

Is that right?

1:16

Yes, sir.

1:17

So the 10% is referring to the execution of the design.

1:21

So where we're at right now, um the the final design, and I don't mean to mix terminology here between final and 90% 10%.

1:30

The final design is the changes that were requested when they submitted the preliminary design.

1:35

So McGifford's working through those, they'll submit to us.

1:38

We'll make sure everything's 100%.

1:40

And so that's that 90% to 100%.

1:42

We're talking about the design portion of the project, and then the project itself.

1:47

Uh if you recall, about five miles north of here, this is going to connect the end of Northern Riverwalk phase one, which is the Randall only park trailhead portion up to to the northeast, the end of the McRights Ferry Road pedestrian bridge.

2:05

So the construction project, uh 12 foot wide paved path, multi-use path, uh largely follows the the route of the water and sewer maintenance road.

2:17

It's a gravel road through that area today, and it'll um extend the end of the northern riverwalk phase one, that gold star at the bottom left to the northeast, the end of the pedestrian bridge from McWright's Ferry Road.

2:36

Did we not have a second item related to this on the project's agenda as well?

2:43

There is an item, I believe, on the finance committee related to this, which will be to put the budget in place.

2:48

There's a WAPR on finance, but yes, sir.

2:50

I thought that was another one.

2:54

Okay.

2:57

I don't have one motion.

3:00

Second.

3:00

All in favor.

3:02

Thank you.

3:04

Thanks, Blue.

3:05

Just item number two, approval change order number five with price civil served for 2023 sanitary sewer rehab and repair projects and done $12,884.

3:18

Yes, sir.

3:19

Um, so this is the close-out change order for the sanitary sewer rehab and repair contract.

3:26

So it's this is funded from all from an operational count, uh, water sewer pipe, manhole repair and rehab.

3:35

Um we had so this is our on-call contract for when we get a call out, we need to fix something.

3:41

We'll go out there and fix it.

3:42

We'll also use this to uh make repairs that uh proactively as they become evident through our video inspection through that process.

3:51

So last year through this contract, we had 49 uh work orders, about 70 percent were proactive, third percent reactive.

3:59

Um so any questions.

4:03

Does that run calendar year?

4:05

Runs calendar year what uh yeah, I'm sorry, fiscal year.

4:09

Run this year.

4:11

So after the beginning of October, this 12 and change is what was left over.

4:15

That's right.

4:17

We previously approved and have an active new contract.

4:22

Okay, I don't have any other questions.

4:26

Second, all in favor.

4:27

Aye, motion item three, approve or balance and change order for the Suncoast infrastructure for Third Avenue e-trunk sewer repair project, totally uh fifteen thousand three hundred and ninety dollars.

4:40

Yes, sir.

4:41

So this is similar in the it's a close-out change order for third avenue east trunk sewer repair project.

4:48

Um the the funding is from the same operational account that water sewer pipe manhole rehab repair.

4:56

Um the project uh went over the 15,000.

5:01

Uh there was uh assumptions there was we inspected the pipe uh we found a sinkhole inspected the pipe.

5:09

There's 50 feet of the pipe in the middle we couldn't inspect.

5:11

We made an assumption that 10 feet needed replaced where when we uncovered it to make the other two repairs, we had to replace 50 foot.

5:19

So that's the reason for the average.

5:21

But project's done.

5:23

Um there's money in that same operational account to cover the average.

5:27

Um so any questions to cover the overage.

5:33

Yeah, the 15,000 is the amount over.

5:38

15390 is added to the cost, Jack.

5:41

Yes, sir.

5:42

But number two is about okay.

5:44

I thought they got any other questions, comments.

5:49

Motion second all in favor.

5:52

Thank you.

5:54

Thank you, Brian.

5:55

Jim item number four approval of minor public contract and metal roofing solutions to replace Ani roof uh city hall annex one, totally 39,000.

6:06

Tim.

6:06

Yes, sir.

6:07

Thank you.

6:07

Good afternoon.

6:08

Good afternoon.

6:09

So this is the portico that sits on the east side of Annex one.

6:15

Uh you see it on the screen.

6:17

Um this roofing system, original to the building constructed in 1989.

6:24

Um, it's got skylights that have seen on every side.

6:28

We're dealing with constant roof leaks in this area.

6:32

One of the bigger factors here is that the entrance there is about two feet below grade, and so if we don't have a suitable roof structure here, we're we're getting a lot of water intrusion into the building.

6:45

But given its age, we would like to utilize our facility renewal budget to replace this roof structure entirely.

6:54

Question, yeah.

6:56

When you say entirely, you're talking about just the roof or just the roof.

7:00

However, there will be new framing.

7:01

This will be a TPO thermoplastic roof membrane structure built on this with it'll actually be the copper pellet penny coping around the edge.

7:11

So have a little bit different look, but um a lot more durable and longer lasting.

7:16

You're not gonna tear all that down.

7:18

No, sir.

7:18

The the granite structure stays, it's just the entire roofing structure that you see within the middle middle there, the skylights that goes away in favor of the TPO.

7:28

What kind of roof is it then?

7:30

It's a thermoplastic.

7:31

Is that what we just put on the yes, sir?

7:33

It's the same material that we're putting on court, yes, sir.

7:36

You actually don't see that from the ground.

7:38

It'll be it'll have a uh a decking below it.

7:42

You won't see the thermoplastic roof.

7:44

So the whole framing structure gets added to in the middle there, framing inside, um sheetrock on the bottom, light fixtures go inside that that canopy there.

7:57

All right, I don't have any other questions from that second, all in favor.

8:02

All right, gym item number five, approval minor public work contract with building specialty company to re-key city hall annex number two, 45,000 temples.

8:13

Yes, sir.

8:14

So this is funded by the facility renewable security enhancements budget, and this will actually finalize all of the city hall building rekeying.

8:21

We've already re-keyed what did we just re-key.

8:23

Main building, Annex one, and Annex three.

8:26

Those three buildings have already been done.

8:28

So this is the municipal court building, and the final one for city hall.

8:35

This is municipal court building and the final for all the city hall buildings.

8:41

This is the final building, yes, sir.

8:44

And we're done with city hall, yes, sir.

8:58

Give it number six approval of amendment number one to the minor public works contract with Taylor Electric Contractors for the electric service for the city facilities increasing compensation $20,000 for the total not exceeding $40,000.

9:11

Yes, sir.

9:12

So we're asking to double our not to exceed contract with Taylor Electric.

9:17

This is funded by our soil maintenance outside services line.

9:21

Um we've already incurred so far through this first quarter of the year a little bit higher quantity than normal for electrical repairs.

9:30

We're also down a staff member right now that we're trying to refill that position, so we've been leaning on our not to exceed for to supplement really that vacancy.

9:46

I I don't have a problem.

9:49

So we're short a person, and we're gonna cover that by doubling the not to exceed amount on outside providers.

10:00

electrical repairs we're also down a staff member right now that we're trying to refill that position so we've been leaning on our not to exceed for to supplement really that vacancy question i i don't have a problem so we're short a person and we're gonna cover that by doubling the not to exceed amount on outside provider yes sir and and we don't know exactly we're we're still below our 2000 not to exceed currently we're just forecasting over the next nine eight and a half months of the year um we've we've got a vacancy right now that we're trying to fill so yes we have been supplementing some of that work we would normally do in-house whether or not to exceed which is how we normally operate it in times where there's higher volumes of repair work this is what we lean on these not to exceeds for we've used it a little bit more than normal so far in the last three and a half months and so we're wanting to get ahead of that and increase that not to exceed we certainly hope not to use all of that 4000 but we want to get ahead of that now before we we exceed that point why don't you spend your allowance you've got before you come for more well well I say we haven't exceeded it we're at 1900 of the original 20 it's pretty close okay all right so yeah all right motion uh all in favor aye motion present item seven authorization airport hangar lease with high maintenance pursuits well I think just no requesting uh approval of this lease agreement with high maintenance pursuits it reflects a change in ownership of an existing hangar show the location it's just west of the terminal uh been on the airport since the early 2000s uh it's great condition no issues with the prior tenant they just uh uh one has since gone they've they've passed away in the past 14 months the other owners no longer in aviation so they have found a new uh tenant to sell the hangar to comprises about 0.3 acres nothing uh too challenging with this lease so they're they're selling their higher yes sir and then what what's our leasing what's our role in the lease so uh so every tenant on the airport uh has a lease with the city of Tuscaloosa so we're changing the names on the prior lease and extending this one to excuse me a 10 year lease with a five year option and what were there any changes in the pricing it did go up at that time uh it did go up with this transfer um it was around eighteen hundred dollars a year it's now 2800 and that reflects the rate adjustment that the council approved okay and that um again that's all part of an effort I know three four or five years ago we consciously identified trying to get up to a market closer to a market base rate this is part of that absolutely when we have leases transfer or expire that's our chance to update the uh terms and conditions and the rates and fees that may be applied okay all right I don't have any other questions all in favor aye motion approved any more questions or concern heart of mine too I get a motion to dismiss so move dismiss

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Facility Management█████████████████████████████████████████████48%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████████████████29%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████16%
Budget Equity Analysis███████7%
Summary of Proceedings

City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026

The City Council convened on January 13, 2026, to review and approve seven agenda items, primarily consisting of contract amendments, change orders for infrastructure repairs, and public works contracts. The meeting addressed ongoing engineering services for the Northern Riverwalk Phase 2, various sewer rehabilitation close-outs, facility roof replacements, security enhancements, and an authorization for an airport hangar lease transfer. All presented motions were approved unanimously with no recorded opposition.

Consent Calendar

  • Engineering Services Contract Amendment (Item 1): Council approved an amendment with McGifford to finalize engineering services for the Northern Riverwalk Phase 2. The amendment extends services to cover 100% design completion (from 90%) and construction phase engineering, including compaction testing for approximately 1.6 to 7 miles of pavement. Total cost: $518,680.
  • Sanitary Sewer Rehab Change Order (Item 2): Council approved Change Order No. 5 with Price Civil for the 2023 sanitary sewer rehab project. This close-out order adds $12,884 to cover remaining funds from the operational account. The contract facilitated 49 work orders last year, approximately 70% proactive and 30% reactive.
  • Third Avenue E-Trunk Sewer Repair Change Order (Item 3): Council approved a balance and change order with Suncoast Infrastructure adding $15,390 to the Third Avenue e-trunk sewer repair project. The increase resulted from discovering a 50-foot pipe section requiring replacement (vs. an assumed 10 feet) during a sinkhole inspection. The project is complete.
  • City Hall Annex 1 Roof Replacement (Item 4): Council approved a minor public contract with Metal Roofing Solutions ($39,000) to replace the portico roof on the East Annex 1. The original 1989 roof leaking into the two-story entrance below grade will be replaced with a durable TPO thermoplastic membrane system with new framing and copper pellet copings, while retaining the existing granite structure.
  • City Hall Annex 2 Re-keying (Item 5): Council approved a minor public work contract with Building Specialty Company ($45,000) using the facility renewal security budget. This project finalizes the re-keying of all City Hall buildings, specifically securing the municipal court building after the main building, Annex 1, and Annex 3 had previously been completed.
  • Electric Service Contract Amendment (Item 6): Council approved Amendment No. 1 with Taylor Electric Contractors to increase the "not to exceed" limit from $20,000 to $40,000. This adjustment addresses a staff vacancy and higher-than-normal repair volumes in the first quarter, with current expenditures at $1,900 of the original $2,000 allowance.
  • Airport Hangar Lease Authorization (Item 7): Council authorized a lease agreement with High Maintenance Pursuits for a hangar located west of the terminal. The lease involves a change in ownership from the previous tenants (who passed away or left aviation 14 months ago) to the new tenant. The annual lease rate was increased from approximately $1,800 to $2,800 to align with market-based rates approved by the Council, with a term of 10 years and a 5-year option.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments or testimony were recorded during this meeting transcript.

Discussion Items

  • Northern Riverwalk Phase 2 Details: Staff clarified that the project connects the end of Phase 1 (Randall only park trailhead) to the northeast end of the McWright's Ferry Road pedestrian bridge. The discussion noted the route largely follows a gravel water and sewer maintenance road and involves a 12-foot wide multi-use path.
  • Sewer Repair Assumptions: Discussion highlighted that the $15,390 increase for the Third Avenue project was necessary because 50 feet of pipe required replacement after uncovering, differing from the initial assumption that only 10 feet needed replacement due to a section that could not be inspected.
  • Electric Staffing Shortage: Discussion emphasized that the contract increase for Taylor Electric was a proactive measure to cover a vacant staff position and anticipated higher repair volumes over the coming 8.5 months.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Motions: All seven items were approved via unanimous vote ("All in favor" / "Aye").
  • Next Steps:
    • McGifford to proceed with final design and construction engineering.
    • Taylor Electric to continue supplemental electrical repairs under the increased contract limit.
    • High Maintenance Pursuits to assume the hangar lease.
    • No further discussion held on a motion to dismiss, which was moved but not recorded as a separate vote in the transcript.

Meeting Transcript

Approve agenda item number one approval contract amendment to the engineering service contract with McGifford for the Northern Riverwalk Phase 2 project total $518,680. Mike? Well, not much. It was Mike loves the spotlight. I had to fight until let me take the podium. Um good afternoon, Council. This is as it says here, an amendment to the engineering services contract with McGifford. This should be the final amendment for this contract. This will take uh the support for McGifford all the way through the remaining design and all the way through the construction phase. Uh in the amendment, what we're adding here is the final design service is to go from 90% to 100% for the design, as well as engineering services during construction. So that's observations, making sure the quality that we want from the construction projects being delivered, as well as some testing services during construction. So this is about 1.6 or 7 miles of pavement, making sure that we get the right compaction during the construction phase. That's what this uh amendment is due to provide. Bill, what's the the big pieces of the river walk project? This is phase this is the last 10% of phase two. Is that right? Yes, sir. So the 10% is referring to the execution of the design. So where we're at right now, um the the final design, and I don't mean to mix terminology here between final and 90% 10%. The final design is the changes that were requested when they submitted the preliminary design. So McGifford's working through those, they'll submit to us. We'll make sure everything's 100%. And so that's that 90% to 100%. We're talking about the design portion of the project, and then the project itself. Uh if you recall, about five miles north of here, this is going to connect the end of Northern Riverwalk phase one, which is the Randall only park trailhead portion up to to the northeast, the end of the McRights Ferry Road pedestrian bridge. So the construction project, uh 12 foot wide paved path, multi-use path, uh largely follows the the route of the water and sewer maintenance road. It's a gravel road through that area today, and it'll um extend the end of the northern riverwalk phase one, that gold star at the bottom left to the northeast, the end of the pedestrian bridge from McWright's Ferry Road. Did we not have a second item related to this on the project's agenda as well? There is an item, I believe, on the finance committee related to this, which will be to put the budget in place. There's a WAPR on finance, but yes, sir. I thought that was another one. Okay. I don't have one motion. Second. All in favor. Thank you. Thanks, Blue. Just item number two, approval change order number five with price civil served for 2023 sanitary sewer rehab and repair projects and done $12,884. Yes, sir. Um, so this is the close-out change order for the sanitary sewer rehab and repair contract. So it's this is funded from all from an operational count, uh, water sewer pipe, manhole repair and rehab. Um we had so this is our on-call contract for when we get a call out, we need to fix something. We'll go out there and fix it. We'll also use this to uh make repairs that uh proactively as they become evident through our video inspection through that process. So last year through this contract, we had 49 uh work orders, about 70 percent were proactive, third percent reactive. Um so any questions. Does that run calendar year? Runs calendar year what uh yeah, I'm sorry, fiscal year. Run this year. So after the beginning of October, this 12 and change is what was left over.

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