City Council Meeting Summary - February 3, 2026
City Council Meeting Summary - February 3, 2026
The City Council convened to address several routine matters, including special event permits, property condemnation, and extensive contractual authorizations across the Kicker Road Sidewalk and Patent Lake Park projects. The council also reviewed the introduction of a zoning amendment for 57 acres in Tuscaloosa, received departmental updates regarding construction speeds at a local intersection, and acknowledged personal updates regarding council members. The meeting concluded with a motion to enter an executive session to discuss preliminary negotiations.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of special event retail permits for events lasting less than seven days:
- Downtown Entertainment LLC: Events scheduled in February and March at 312 University Boulevard, 920 Paul W. Bryant Drive, and 322 University Boulevard.
- Party Down LLC: One event scheduled in February at 130 University Boulevard.
- Authorization for various contracts and disbursements as proposed by Councilor Holmes, including fiscal and project-related agreements.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mayor Maddox: Expressed concern regarding unsafe speeding behaviors by vehicles through a construction site on Alabama Street, noting the presence of a single open lane and the high risk of injury to workers and drivers. Mayor stated, "People... cutting there's one lane open... it's just unbelievable" and highlighted that "somebody's gonna get hurt" or workers could be injured.
- Mayor Maddox: Provided positive commentary on work completed at the Leland Shopping Center by Mr. Pate, expressing deep appreciation for the speed of the concrete removal and grading, and noting the upcoming creation of green space.
- Mayor Maddox: Shared personal updates regarding council members, noting Mr. Lanier's absence due to travel and expressing support for Councilor Miss Howard, whose father was recently readmitted to the emergency room. Mayor stated, "I hate to see that," regarding the stress placed on a caregiver.
Discussion Items
- 3153 Riggs Road Condemnation:
- Councilors discussed a property previously tabled for three weeks, where the current occupant (supposedly looking to buy) indicated an intention to "tear it down" rather than retain the structure.
- Counselor Position: A council member stated, "we're just gonna go ahead and condemn it" and argued against further tabling, noting that the current app permit is "not enough to save the house" even if appealed. Another member agreed, stating, "we've dealt with this one for quite some time... nothing's getting done."
- Scope: The condemnation will cover the house and a storage shed on the property.
- Budget and Contract Authorization Review:
- Councilor Holmes presented a series of authorizations for professional services, public works contracts, and fund disbursements.
- Key Financial Actions Discussed:
- Patent Lake Park Project: Professional services agreement with Shoal Engineering Company ($511,627.50) and boundary survey with McGifford Associates ($8,400).
- Kicker Road Sidewalk Project: Right-of-way acquisition drafts ($482) and appraisal services (not to exceed $20,000).
- Water Department: Consulting services with Hazen and Sawyer PC (not to exceed $950,000).
- District Improvement Funds: Various disbursements for organizations and events, including Bloody Tuesday ($2,000), Fox Valentine's Ball ($5,075.50), and Christmas decor ($13,000).
- Zoning Amendment #29: Introduction of an amendment for approximately 57 acres at 580 Old Colony Road, transitioning from S FR1 (Single Family Residential) to GPD (General Planned Development).
- Clarification: Councilor Farrell clarified that GPD is the "new terminology" for what was previously known as PUD (Planned Unit Development).
- Next Steps: Council set March 3, 2026, as the date for a public hearing to consider the zoning amendment.
Key Outcomes
- 3153 Riggs Road: Motion passed (all in favor: "Aye") to condemn the property at 3153 Riggs Road, including the associated storage shed, due to the owner's intent to demolish and the ineffectiveness of the current appeal process.
- Special Event Permits: Approvals granted to Downtown Entertainment LLC and Party Down LLC for their respective events.
- Contractual Authorizations: The council authorized the execution of multiple agreements and disbursements, including:
- Agency funding agreements with Tuscaloosa for the 2025 Emergency Solutions Grant Program.
- Amendments to subrecipient funding agreements with Temporary Emergency Services, SAN Inc. (Turning Point), and the Salvation Army under the 2024 Emergency Solutions Grant Program.
- Financial budgets amendments for the 2019 B warrant series and FY 2026 water/sewer reserve.
- Executive Session: Motion passed unanimously to enter an executive session to discuss preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce where disclosure would detrimentally affect the competitive position of negotiating parties.
- Schedule: Public hearing for Zoning Amendment #29 scheduled for March 3, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Motion seven all favor say aye. Aye. I mean it's approved. Virgil. We just have one for you today. This one was tabled two weeks ago, or actually three weeks ago. 3153 Riggs Road. She was supposedly getting someone to buy it. Last week I did have a gentleman asking me about it. I think he was the one supposingly gonna buy it. I asked him what his intentions was. He said he's gonna tear it down. I said, Well, we're just gonna go ahead and condemn it. He's still got time, he'll have time to tear it down himself, but there's no sense in us tabling this and keep bringing it back for him just to turn around and tear it down. So you might not tear it down later on. Exactly. So we're gonna go ahead. But he's supposed I mean, we're he's supposedly gonna buy it. That's what he said. He was he was looking to buy it, but unless I mean, unless somebody comes up and says I bought it and gives y'all something different. That's kind of the update. We need to condemn it. I would say let's we've dealt with this one for quite some time. Same story, that's the it's just over and over, and uh nothing's getting done. So she has a right to appeal. She does have a current app uh permit on it, so but it's really not enough to save the house. Uh even if she appealed, even if she appealed it, it wouldn't get saved. She doesn't say anything. No, no, sir. And it will be for the house and the little storage shed uh on the property as well. Okay. Just one today. That's it. All right. In the next two weeks, y'all angle see me, sir. Where are you going? That's a secret. Well, we'll miss you. All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. All right. So first up, I have downtown entertainment LLC. Applying for a special event retail less than seven days. So they have events in February and March, and this is going to take place at three different locations. So you have 312 University Boulevard, 920 Paul W. Bryant Drive, and 322 University Boulevard. And that is all I have for downtown entertainment. Can we go with those? Okay.
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