OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

City Council Meeting Summary - February 3, 2026

City Council MeetingsTuesday, February 3, 2026
BodyTuscaloosa, Alabama
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, February 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Motion seven all favor say aye.

0:01

Aye.

0:01

I mean it's approved.

0:03

Virgil.

0:08

We just have one for you today.

0:10

This one was tabled two weeks ago, or actually three weeks ago.

0:13

3153 Riggs Road.

0:16

She was supposedly getting someone to buy it.

0:20

Last week I did have a gentleman asking me about it.

0:23

I think he was the one supposingly gonna buy it.

0:27

I asked him what his intentions was.

0:29

He said he's gonna tear it down.

0:30

I said, Well, we're just gonna go ahead and condemn it.

0:33

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.

0:41

So you might not tear it down later on.

0:44

Exactly.

0:44

So we're gonna go ahead.

0:46

But he's supposed I mean, we're he's supposedly gonna buy it.

0:50

That's what he said.

0:50

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.

0:58

That's kind of the update.

0:59

We need to condemn it.

1:00

I would say let's we've dealt with this one for quite some time.

1:05

Same story, that's the it's just over and over, and uh nothing's getting done.

1:09

So she has a right to appeal.

1:13

She does have a current app uh permit on it, so but it's really not enough to save the house.

1:21

Uh even if she appealed, even if she appealed it, it wouldn't get saved.

1:25

She doesn't say anything.

1:26

No, no, sir.

1:28

And it will be for the house and the little storage shed uh on the property as well.

1:34

Okay.

1:36

Just one today.

1:37

That's it.

1:38

All right.

1:38

In the next two weeks, y'all angle see me, sir.

1:41

Where are you going?

1:44

That's a secret.

1:46

Well, we'll miss you.

1:48

All right.

1:56

Good afternoon, everyone.

1:58

Good afternoon.

2:00

All right.

2:00

So first up, I have downtown entertainment LLC.

2:04

Applying for a special event retail less than seven days.

2:11

So they have events in February and March, and this is going to take place at three different locations.

2:17

So you have 312 University Boulevard, 920 Paul W.

2:21

Bryant Drive, and 322 University Boulevard.

2:25

And that is all I have for downtown entertainment.

2:29

Can we go with those?

2:31

Okay.

2:32

Okay.

2:35

And then last, I have Party Down LLC applying for a special events retail less than seven days.

2:41

She has a February event, and that is at a frat house at 130 University Boulevard.

2:52

Anything for party down?

2:54

Mm-hmm.

2:56

Okay.

2:56

Okay.

2:56

That's it.

2:57

That's it.

2:59

And we were had our meeting with uh us four with the university last Thursday, and we were talking Mr.

3:07

Busby.

3:08

I think was the first one to bring up how great it is to have these parents' weekends spread out the way that they are, because it's great for our hotels and restaurants, especially than trying to do it once or twice a year.

3:21

Okay, but it's it's a they did say somebody said I won't say who the parents act worse than the kids.

3:29

When they're here, all right, Mayor Maddox.

3:32

Welcome back.

3:33

I'm glad to be back.

3:34

I I don't have anything for you under uh mayor's comments, but we will be requesting an executive session.

3:41

Okay, thank you, sir.

3:43

Any other department comments?

3:45

anybody?

3:47

All right, Mr.

3:47

Holmes.

3:48

Good afternoon, counsel.

3:50

Good afternoon.

3:51

If you recall, we had a busy day of committees last Tuesday.

3:56

That means you've got about six pages of listening to me here.

3:58

So pardon me and we'll get through it.

4:01

Uh on page 18, you'll be authorizing the chief financial officer to draw drafts for the kicker road sidewalk project right-of-way acquisition.

4:08

This is a total of 482 dollars and comes to you from my office.

4:12

On page 19 through 20, you'll be authorizing the execution of agency funding agreements with the city of Tuscaloosa 2025 emergency solutions grant program through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

4:23

Uh, this came to you from projects uh last week.

4:26

On page 21, you'll be authorizing a professional services agreement with Shoal Engineering Company for the Patent Lake Park Project.

4:33

This is a total of 511,627.50 cents.

4:37

And that came to your projects last week.

4:39

Page 22, you'll be authorizing a professional services agreement with McGifford Associates for the Patent Lake Park Project Boundary Survey.

4:47

This is a total of $8,400 and came to you last week in projects.

4:52

On page 23, you'll be authorizing a minor public works contract with PCI Technologies.

4:57

This is a total of $27,461.

5:00

This is a total of $27,461 in the game that came to you in projects last week.

5:03

On page 24, you'll be authorizing a contract for professional services with the appraisal and consultant group for professional property appraisals.

5:10

This is a total not to exceed $20,000 and came to you last week in projects.

5:15

On page $5, you'll be authorizing a contract for professional services with Duncan Coker associates for Lake Tuscaloosa Spillway property surveying and mapping.

5:23

This is a total not to exceed $27,500 and came to you in projects last week.

5:28

On page $6, you'll be authorizing professional study and consulting services agreement with Hazen and Sawyer PC.

5:35

This is a total not to exceed $950,000 in coming from the water department.

5:41

On page 27, you'll be amending the resolution authorizing a professional services contract with Corterra, Inc.

5:47

for utility locate management services.

5:49

This is a total of $37,060 and came to you projects last week.

5:54

On page 28, you'll be authorizing a minor public works contract with Johns and Kirksley.

5:59

This is a total of $71,550 in C in Projects last week.

6:05

On page 29, you will be authorizing a professional services contract with Smith Stiegel and Associates PC.

6:12

This is a total of $32,700 and came to you in projects last week.

6:17

On page 30, you'll be authorizing a minor public works contract with Nixon Power Services.

6:22

This is a total of $91,869 in you in projects last week.

6:27

On page 31, you'll be authorizing a minor public works contract with Amazon and Associates.

6:32

This is a total of $50,934 in came to you in projects last week.

6:38

On page 32, you'll be authorizing a professional architectural and engineering services agreement with Markham Architects.

6:46

This is a total of $33,500 in came to you in projects last week.

6:50

On page 33, you'll be authorizing a disbursement from District 2 improvement funds for Bloody Tuesday organization.

6:57

This is a total of $2,000 and came to you in finance last week.

7:01

On page 34, you'll be authorizing a disbursement for from District 2 improvement funds for the Fox Valentine's Ball.

7:08

This is a total of $5,075.50.

7:12

This came to you in finance last week.

7:14

On page 35, you'll be authorizing a disbursement from the District 5 improvement funds for Christmas decor.

7:20

This is a total of $13,000 and came to you in finance last week.

7:24

On page 36, you'll be authorizing a disbursement from District 6 improvement funds for the backpack connections.

7:30

This is a total of $1,000 and came to you in finance last week.

7:34

On page 37, you'll be authorizing a disbursement from District 6 improvement funds for carrying days.

7:40

This is a total of $1,000 and came to you in finance last week.

7:43

On page 38, you'll be authorizing a disbursement from District 6 improvement funds for the Kristen Amerson Youth Foundation.

7:50

This is a total of $1,000 and came to you in Finance Committee last week.

7:54

On page 39, you'll be authorizing a disbursement from the District 7 improvement funds for Southview Elementary School.

8:01

This is a total of $1,000 and is doubled up to be on finance this afternoon.

8:06

On page 40, you'll be authorizing the mayor to execute a right-away permit to Star Partners LLC.

8:12

This came to you in projects last week.

8:16

On page 41 through 42, you'll be accepting public infrastructure improvements and this came to your projects last week.

8:24

On page 43, you'll be authorizing the execution of grant agreements with the city's program year 2025 community development block grant program and home investment partnerships program.

8:34

This came to your projects last week.

8:37

Only another page and a half.

8:39

On page 44 through 45, you'll be authorizing the execution of subrecipient agreements and memorandums of understanding for the city's 2025 community development block grant program and home investment partnership program.

8:51

This came to you in projects last week.

8:53

On page 46 through 47, you'll be authorizing amendment number one to the subrecipient funding agreement with temporary emergency services and authorizing the mayor to execute an amended agreement under the city's 2024 emergency solutions grant program.

9:07

This came to you in projects last week.

9:09

On page 48 through 49, you'll be authorizing amendment number two to the subrecipient funding agreement with SAN Inc.

9:16

DBA turning point and authorizing the mayor to execute an amended subrecipient agreement under the city's 2024 emergency solutions grant program.

9:25

Again, that was in projects last week.

9:26

On page 50 through 51, you'll be authorizing amendment number one to the subrecipient funding agreement with the Salvation Army and authorizing the mayor to execute an amended agreement under the city's 2024 emergency solutions grant program.

9:39

This again came to you in projects last week.

9:41

On page 52, you'll be authorizing the execution of an agreement with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs program for the 2025 emergency solutions grant program.

9:52

Again, that came to you in projects last week.

10:00

On page 53, you'll be authorizing amendment number one to the funding agreement with Mac Environmental LLC for home repair and home renovation services and authorizing the mayor to execute the amendment agreement for the Office of Community Community and Neighborhood Services through local amendment.

10:09

That came to you in projects last week.

10:11

On page 54, you'll be authorizing the Office of City Attorney to initiate condemnation proceedings and other necessary actions for the acquisition of property for the Kicker Road Sidewalk Project.

10:21

This came to you in projects last week.

10:23

On page 55, you'll be authorizing the mayor to execute uh security firm contracts for city facilities and events.

10:32

This came to you in projects last week.

10:35

On page 56 through 57, you'll be authorizing amendment number five to the 2019 B warrant series budget.

10:41

This came to you in finance last week.

10:44

On page uh 58 through 59, you'll be authorizing amendment number one to the fiscal year 2026 water and sewer reserve for future improvements fund budget.

10:52

This again came to you in finance last week.

10:55

And uh tonight you'll be introducing zoning amendment number 29, uh approximately approximately 57 acres being annexed in the city of Tuscluso located at uh 580 Old Colony Road.

11:08

Uh this is Brixton from S FR1 to GPD.

11:14

This comes to you from the uh planning commission.

11:16

Your is just being introduced tonight.

11:19

Um on page 64, you'll be authorizing amendment number six to fiscal year 2026 general fund budget.

11:26

This came to you uh from finance last week, and on page 65, you'll be setting March 3rd, 2026 is the date for public hearing to consider the adoption of the zoning amendment that is being uh introduced tonight.

11:40

Okay.

11:42

Yes, sir, Mr.

11:42

Farrell.

11:43

What is GDP?

11:44

Over here on uh the introduction tonight.

11:50

That is uh general planned development.

11:53

It's the new terminology.

11:54

You used to hear PUD, but now they are general planned developments or GPDs.

12:03

Yes, sir.

12:04

Uh page 26 what is this uh page 26.

12:10

Y'all were briefed on it last week.

12:15

Okay, in executive session or one of the committees.

12:18

In executive session.

12:20

Okay.

12:29

Okay.

12:30

More questions.

12:32

Thank you.

12:33

Thank you, Scott.

12:34

All right, we have, and I hope maybe we'll have these committee meetings.

12:40

Um projects 230 finance three, three thirty admin, four properties and five council meetings.

12:47

Um fire and police pension board will meet Monday, and then on February 11th, Historic Preservation Commission will meet.

12:56

Um, just a couple updates.

12:58

Um and Chief, I was gonna get with Mr.

13:02

Puppet Safety Director.

13:04

Um, if you're not the the street project course, is about a week underway in Alberta, and I've never seen so many people out there working in my entire life on any project anywhere.

13:16

But there is some awful speeding going on.

13:20

People, you know, cutting there's one lane open.

13:22

Yes, and it's just unbelievable.

13:24

Can we um I'll send motors over there during the day and even short.

13:28

Okay, especially like I said, and uh somebody's gonna get hurt.

13:33

Thank you.

13:34

And also if you're not a threat.

13:37

Not for me.

13:40

Some of the workers are gonna be hurt.

13:42

I've never seen anybody speed through a one little lane coming through that construction uh site.

13:51

Awful.

13:52

Um, and if you hadn't had a chance, uh I'm go to Leland Shopping Center.

13:59

Mayor, did you get the video this morning about Leland?

14:03

I heard they're they're beginning to it's unbelievable with the work that Mr.

14:06

Pate's done on the Leyland and taking up all the concrete slab and and um he's already graded most all of it, and then said it'll be planting grass, hopefully um anyway, soon but uh to make it all green space, it's just unbelievable already what it looks like now, and I'm so appreciative of him for um getting right on that as we had had meetings about, and um so it's it's it's really interesting to see um how fast and be able to do that work.

14:43

Um also um Mr.

14:46

Lanier is not sick, he's on he's he's had uh had a something had to go to out of town, so it's a monthly deal.

14:54

And then Miss Howard, bless her heart.

15:00

I know what she's going through, uh, but she's um her her daddy fell again and and uh was put back in the emergency room early this morning because they couldn't keep him where he uh his uh re where he's staying.

15:13

And um I feel so sorry for her because it's seemed like it's all falling on her.

15:19

And uh so any just keep her in your prayers and and counselor her daddy, counselor Howard, and your your prayers as well.

15:28

He's uh he's just a great man, and we love to work with him so much.

15:32

And and I hate to see uh there's nothing more stressful than being a caregiver, and especially seem like it's all falls on her and trying to work and get the kids to school and everything else is tough.

15:45

She may not be here today, so it's just us four.

15:49

And um, so nobody gets food poisoned or gets sick.

15:54

We gotta have everybody here to have committee meetings.

15:57

Anybody got anything special you want to get from today's day today?

16:03

Today's the day.

16:04

Um I think that was okay.

16:07

Anyway, we uh is there a motion we go in executive session?

16:11

So moved second.

16:12

Have motion second, Mr.

16:13

Holmes.

16:14

Yes, sir, as your city attorney and attorney licensed practice law in the state of Alabama.

16:17

I can certify that this executive session is discussed preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce, in which the governmental body is in competition with private individuals or entities or other governmental bodies in Alabama or other states and four nations, and the discussion of which would have a detrimental detrimental effect upon the competitive position of a party to the negotiations.

16:34

Okay.

16:35

As a motion and second to go to executive session, all in favor say aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Zoning And Land Use█████████████13%
Personnel Matters██████████10%
Arts And Culture████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Summary of Proceedings

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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