Tuscaloosa City Council Meeting, September 22, 2026: Honoring Councillor Kip Tiner and Adopting FY2027 Budget

The Tuscaloosa City Council convened on September 22, 2026, for its first meeting in 10,057 days without Councillor Kip Tiner, opening with a moment of silence and tributes to his legacy. The council then moved through a lengthy agenda: demolition orders, alcohol and special event licenses, dozens of contracts and purchases, and adoption of the fiscal year 2027 budgets, marking the 41st consecutive year the city has passed a balanced budget on time. The evening's only substantive debate concerned overtime eligibility for the executive director of public safety.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the previous meeting were approved unanimously.
• Consent agenda items A through K were adopted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No citizens addressed the council during the citizens' comments period, and no members of the public spoke for or against any demolition item.

Memorial for Councillor Kip Tiner

• The Mayor noted the meeting was the first in 10,057 days without Councillor Tiner, cited the public outpouring of support, and recalled Tiner's love of Alberta and Tuscaloosa. The Mayor also noted the proclamation honoring Tiner had been presented earlier.
• The council observed a moment of silence; no council members offered additional remarks.
• A celebration of life and service ceremony will be held Monday, September 28, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Alberta Plaza, lasting about 40 minutes. The city will share details on social media.

Demolition Orders & Property Enforcement

• 3605 19th Street (unfinished business): Demolition ordered unanimously. Property posted for condemnation May 1, 2026; 48 housing code violations documented. The owner was not present but had told Councilmember Williams she already began tearing the structure down herself and did not object; demolition costs will be assessed to the owner.
• 512 24th Avenue East (unfinished business): Demolition tabled for 90 days unanimously. Property posted March 10, 2026; 49 violations documented. The owner appeared in person and is continuing repairs; staff recommended the 90-day tabling.
• 1205 17th Street: Demolition ordered unanimously. Posted June 2, 2026; 49 violations; owner not present and no repairs made.
• 3221 16th Place: Demolition ordered unanimously. Posted June 2, 2026; 48 violations; owner not present and no repairs made.
• 2927 25th Street: The resolution ordering demolition was withdrawn unanimously because the owner had already demolished the property. Posted June 2, 2026; 49 violations.
• 2322 Herman Avenue and 2711 24th Street: The council set demolition costs and authorized filing liens in both cases, unanimously.
• The 2026 water distribution system engineering standards manual was adopted unanimously.

Alcohol & Special Event Licenses

All five licenses were presented by Councilmember Franks, received no objection from the Tuscaloosa Police Department (Officer Champion), and were approved unanimously:

• Oktoberfest (Party Down LLC): less-than-seven-day special events retail license for October 3, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., at 618 Alman Avenue (Government Plaza). Applicant: Jonathan Boyd.
• Alabama Wildlife Federation: Type 240 nonprofit tax-exempt license for the Wild Game Cook-off on November 12 at 6 p.m. at the RC Jenkins Horse Arena, 6025 Watermelon Road, Northport. The applicant described it as a family-friendly event: a $50 ticket admits two people, includes a federation membership, and children under 15 are free; ticket information is available at AlabamaWildlife.org.
• Downtown Entertainment LLC: less-than-seven-day license for October alumni game-day bar events at seven fraternity houses (ATO, Kappa Sig, Phi Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu). Applicant: Brandon Hanks.
• Theatre Tuscaloosa: Type 240 nonprofit tax-exempt license for Clue at Bean-Brown Theatre, Shelton State Community College; weekend one September 24-27 and weekend two September 30-October 4; doors at 6:30 p.m., event at 7:30 p.m. Applicant: Michael Walker.
• Downtown Social LLC: less-than-seven-day license for The Pitts at Champions Corner at Malmore Athletic Facility, 1090 Coliseum Drive, on September 26 and October 10. Applicant: Bill Wright.

Contracts, Grants & Administrative Resolutions

Adopted unanimously unless noted:

• Division C Regional Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan; right-of-way permit to Spurland Properties; acceptance of installed public infrastructure for Cloverdale at Hackberry and Bryant at 15th; job class specifications for the Sabin Center; professional services contract with HELIA Incorporated; application for the 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant; authorization for the mayor and city clerk to execute certificates related to the Tuscaloosa Academy project.
• Minor public works contracts with: Alabama Pro Wash LLC; Miscellaneous Metals and Fabrication; Tri-State Abatement; Pure Air Alabama; Civil Works Construction; Amison and Associates; Delta T LLC; and American Fence Company. Tentative public works awards to Dominion Construction Company and Rev Construction.
• Appraisal service contract with Appraisal and Consultant Group.
• Equipment, supply, and service purchases for: Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue; Northport Electrical Supply (Fletcher Plant and Public Works Department); Hydra Service Inc.; Fire Tech Supplies; Moral Water Technologies (Jerry Plott Plant and Fletcher Plant); Polaris Sales; and airport security improvements.
• District improvement fund disbursements: District 6; District 2 to the Civil Rights Foundation; District 4; District 2 to Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa; and District 3.
• Professional services contract with Lamar Media; contracts with Thornton Mooseau and Bellaman Inc. and Duncan Parnell Inc., each with a bid law exemption.
• Opioid settlement funds appropriated to Phoenix House Inc. and to the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office. The latter was declared adopted, though the transcribed roll call appears to include some 'no' votes.

Budgets & Fiscal Actions

• Adopted the FY2027 general fund RFFI budget, FY2027 water and sewer RFFI budget, related expenditure capabilities for the facility renewal funds, and FY2027 agency funding contracts.
• Adopted budget amendments: No. 15 to the 2026 general fund RFFI budget; No. 2 to the 2026 B warrant series budget; No. 6 to the Elevate Tuscaloosa fund budget; and Nos. 20 and 21 to the FY2026 general fund budget. Amendment No. 21 drew a brief clarifying question; the Mayor noted it was a budget provision, and the item was adopted.
• Adopted the 2027 Elevate Tuscaloosa fund budget, the substitute FY2027 water and sewer fund budget, and the FY2027 general fund budget.
• The Mayor announced this was the 41st consecutive year Tuscaloosa has passed a balanced budget on time, thanking Mr. Busby and the accounting and finance team, including Miss Standridge, for three to four months of work.

Discussion Items

• Executive Director of Public Safety (FLSA exemption): The item would amend Exhibits A and B of Section 19-42 of the Code of Tuscaloosa to classify the executive director of public safety as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. A council member asked whether this overruled a state law recently signed by the governor. Staff responded that the state law creates a requirement for law enforcement and fire personnel, while the amendment removes that requirement for this position, making it exempt and no longer eligible for overtime. The council member said the current officeholder 'is doing an excellent job' but that the vote concerned the position, expressed doubt about the approach, and voted no. The transcribed roll call shows at least three 'no' votes, and the transcript does not explicitly record whether the item passed or failed.

Appointments, Code Amendments & Accounts Payable

• David Nelson was reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously.
• Code section 21-2 (read as '212 reserved') was amended; Section 16-15(6) was amended; and Exhibit D of the city's pay plan (Section 19-42) was amended.
• The council voted to withdraw the proposed amendments to Sections 246 and 259 concerning closure and transfer of the tourism capital improvements fund; a council member confirmed the item was being withdrawn completely.
• Under auditing accounts, the council unanimously authorized payment of 'KIP's bills' (accounts payable). Members joked about finding more auditable language for the line item and noted Councillor Tiner's final expenses were high ('KIP went out with a bang').

Key Outcomes

• Demolition ordered for 3605 19th Street, 1205 17th Street, and 3221 16th Place; demolition for 512 24th Avenue East tabled 90 days; demolition resolution for 2927 25th Street withdrawn because the owner had already demolished the property.
• Demolition costs set and lien filings authorized for 2322 Herman Avenue and 2711 24th Street.
• All five alcohol/special event licenses approved unanimously.
• FY2027 general fund, water and sewer, and Elevate Tuscaloosa budgets adopted; the city passed a balanced budget on time for the 41st consecutive year.
• FLSA exemption for the executive director of public safety drew multiple 'no' votes; final outcome not clearly recorded in the transcript.
• All other listed contracts, purchases, amendments, and appointments adopted unanimously.
• Celebration of life for Councillor Kip Tiner set for September 28, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Alberta Plaza.