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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Tuscaloosa City Council Meeting - October 27, 2026

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, October 27, 2026

BodyTuscaloosa, Alabama

SessionCity Council Meetings

DateTuesday, October 27, 2026

StatusNEW · FILED

Video Record

0:00 / 23:29

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:02

You know, that's how we get more viewers.

0:04

That's how we can get

Speaker 2

0:06

Besby.

0:06

You hear this finance chair.

0:08

Yeah.

Speaker 1

0:09

All right.

0:11

We'll put that on next week's uh committee agenda.

0:15

Good evening, everyone.

0:16

If everyone would please stand, the Tuscalous City Council is now going to come to order.

0:20

We're going to begin tonight's meeting with our council prayer, and then we ask that you remain standing for our pledge of allegiance.

0:26

Let's bow our heads, please.

0:27

Dear God, bless our proceedings tonight.

0:30

Give us the wisdom to know what is just and the strength to do what is right.

0:33

Amen.

0:35

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:42

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:47

Please be seated.

0:48

Approval of the minutes.

0:53

We approve the minutes.

0:54

Voting, Mr.

0:55

Eden.

Speaker 3

0:56

Yes.

0:56

Yes.

Speaker 2

0:57

Yes.

0:57

Yes.

Speaker 1

0:58

Yes.

0:59

Minutes stand approved.

1:01

Proclamation statements by Mayor and Council.

1:03

I know that we have someone here for BeatLSU and Beat Alzheimer's Week.

1:07

And

Speaker 3

1:07

we would ask that you please come forward

Speaker 1

1:10

to the podium as I read this proclamation into the record.

Speaker 3

1:15

Whereas Alzheimer's disease

Speaker 1

1:17

is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder that affects thousands of individuals and families across West Alabama, necessitating increased awareness, community support, and a dedicated push to find a cure.

1:29

Whereas the week of November 1st through November 8, 2026 represents a powerful intersection of community spirit in Tuscaloosa as residents rally together to tackle both a fierce grid iron rival and a profound health care challenge.

Unassigned speaker

1:46

The

Speaker 1

1:46

citizens of Tuscaloosa are called upon to demonstrate their trademark energy and resolve by uniting under a singular dual purpose banner during the high stakes week to support our Alabama Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, and to fight for a world without Alzheimer's, which I know we all want.

2:03

And whereas the week of uh whereas the week of advocacy and action will culminate on November 8th, 2026 with the West Alabama walk to end Hallzheimers at Parker Hawn Park in Tuscaloosa, uniting the community in a shared march towards a cure.

Unassigned speaker

2:19

Now

Speaker 1

2:19

therefore it be it resolved that I want Maddox on behalf of our city council to hereby proclaim the week of November 1st through November 8th, 2026.

2:28

It's beat LSU and beat Alzheimer's Week in the city of Tuscaloosa.

2:32

And I encourage all citizens, businesses, and visitors to wear purple and crimson to support West Alabama's walk to end Alzheimer's at Parker Hawn Park and join with us to defeat the disease.

2:44

I'm certain that many of us, if not all of us, have had family members who have experienced Alzheimer's, and we certainly all join with you in finding a cure to the stressful disease.

2:54

Thank you for it.

2:58

We would love for you to uh please you know talk tell us who you are, who you're representing, and say a few words for our city council.

Zachary Dutton · Speaker 4Inferred

3:05

All right.

3:05

Well, thank you, everybody.

3:07

My name's Zachary Dutton.

3:08

I'm one of our co-chairs for this year's West Alabama Walk 10 to Alzheimer's.

3:12

My grandmother battled this disease courageously for much of my childhood and seeing the impact it took on our family.

3:19

Uh it's it's a disease that I know she would want her memory to be that other families would not go through the same thing that our family did.

3:26

I really appreciate the city's continued support that you've given us over the years, and we really look forward to seeing you guys out there on November the 8th.

3:34

I appreciate it so much, Mr.

3:36

Thank

Speaker 3

3:37

you.

3:38

Any

Speaker 1

3:38

council

Unassigned speaker

3:39

announcements,

Speaker 3

3:41

I will be at Jack's Saturday morning at 8 15.

Unassigned speaker

3:46

And

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████51%

Code Enforcement████████████████████23%

Transportation Safety█████████████15%

Public Engagement██████7%

Public Safety████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Tuscaloosa City Council Meeting - October 27, 2026

The Tuscaloosa City Council met on October 27, 2026. The council approved routine items, acted on demolition orders and resolutions, and heard a citizen's pedestrian-safety request. All recorded votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.

Proclamation and Council Announcements

Mayor and council proclaimed the week of November 1-8, 2026 as 'Beat LSU and Beat Alzheimer's Week' in Tuscaloosa, encouraging support for the West Alabama Walk to End Alzheimer's on November 8, 2026, at Parker Hawn Park. Zachary Dutton, co-chair of the walk, accepted the proclamation and thanked the city for its continued support.
A councilmember announced that the Saturday morning district meeting would be at Jack's at 8:15 a.m.

Consent Calendar

The minutes of the prior meeting were approved.
The consent agenda, items A through J, was adopted.

Public Comments & Testimony

Riley Baird, a Springbrook-area resident, requested safer pedestrian access at the intersection of Hargrove Road, Forest Lake Drive, and 2nd East Avenue. She cited the lack of sidewalks, crosswalks, and crossing buttons; sensor-based signals; a 40 mph speed limit; and crossing distances up to 60 feet. She asked for pedestrian crossings and eventually sidewalks on that stretch of Hargrove. Councilmembers said they would discuss the issue with city engineer Mike, work with Councilwoman Howard, and potentially inspect the area with the mayor and engineer on Friday.

Discussion Items

Unfinished Business: Demolition Orders

5244 Overbrook Road: The council tabled a demolition order for 60 days. Johnny Nelms, an attorney representing Rocket Mortgage and Fannie Mae, said the property had been foreclosed on October 15, 2026, after processing a loss-mitigation request, and asked for time to complete demolition bidding. The property had 47 documented housing code violations.
1225 19th Alley: The council ordered demolition after noting 48 documented violations, a September 28, 2026 denial of a variance request by the zoning board, and the owner's absence.
2820 Fifth Avenue: Demolition was ordered; 48 violations were documented and no owner representative appeared.
2830 Fifth Avenue: Demolition was ordered; 48 violations were documented and no owner representative appeared.
2715 Oak Street: The council set the demolition cost and authorized the filing of a lien.

Public Hearings

The council held the second of three public hearings on renaming 26th Avenue East in Alberta Park and amending Section 18-227 of the Code of Tuscaloosa. No public speakers testified.

Resolutions and Introductions

Adopted resolutions authorizing improvement-fund disbursements for Stillman College from District 7 and District 1 funds, and for West Lawn Middle School from District 1 funds.
Tentatively awarded a public works contract to Sun Coast Infrastructure.
Authorized minor public works contracts with Miscellaneous Metals and Fabrication and IPS Power Systems.
Authorized professional services contracts or agreements with Everbridge, Matthew Murrow, and TTL, Inc.; selected TTL for environmental assessments.
Authorized the CFO to draw a draft for the Oakdale drainage improvements project easement acquisition.
Authorized Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue to accept donations; issuance of an RFP for interest in the Garner Road water tank tract; city council representation on the PARA executive director search committee; amendments to the 2010 and 2026 action plans of the city's five-year consolidated plan; and amendment one to the FY2027 Water and Sewer Reserve for Future Improvements Fund budget.
Introduced zoning amendments 49 and 50 and set December 15, 2026 as the public hearing date for both.
Amended exhibits A and B of the cited Code of Tuscaloosa section and reappointed Craig Fairburn to the PARA Board of Directors.
Authorized the payment of KIPS bills.

Key Outcomes

Approved prior minutes and consent agenda items A-J.
Tabled the 5244 Overbrook Road demolition for 60 days; ordered demolition at 1225 19th Alley, 2820 Fifth Avenue, and 2830 Fifth Avenue; set demolition cost and lien for 2715 Oak Street.
Held the second public hearing on renaming 26th Avenue East; no vote on the renaming was recorded at this meeting.
Introduced zoning amendments 49 and 50 and scheduled public hearings for December 15, 2026.
Adopted all presented resolutions unanimously.
Reappointed Craig Fairburn to the PARA Board of Directors and authorized payment of bills.

Meeting Transcript

You know, that's how we get more viewers. That's how we can get Besby. You hear this finance chair. Yeah. All right. We'll put that on next week's uh committee agenda. Good evening, everyone. If everyone would please stand, the Tuscalous City Council is now going to come to order. We're going to begin tonight's meeting with our council prayer, and then we ask that you remain standing for our pledge of allegiance. Let's bow our heads, please. Dear God, bless our proceedings tonight. Give us the wisdom to know what is just and the strength to do what is right. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. Approval of the minutes. We approve the minutes. Voting, Mr. Eden. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Minutes stand approved. Proclamation statements by Mayor and Council. I know that we have someone here for BeatLSU and Beat Alzheimer's Week. And we would ask that you please come forward to the podium as I read this proclamation into the record. Whereas Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder that affects thousands of individuals and families across West Alabama, necessitating increased awareness, community support, and a dedicated push to find a cure. Whereas the week of November 1st through November 8, 2026 represents a powerful intersection of community spirit in Tuscaloosa as residents rally together to tackle both a fierce grid iron rival and a profound health care challenge. The citizens of Tuscaloosa are called upon to demonstrate their trademark energy and resolve by uniting under a singular dual purpose banner during the high stakes week to support our Alabama Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, and to fight for a world without Alzheimer's, which I know we all want. And whereas the week of uh whereas the week of advocacy and action will culminate on November 8th, 2026 with the West Alabama walk to end Hallzheimers at Parker Hawn Park in Tuscaloosa, uniting the community in a shared march towards a cure. Now therefore it be it resolved that I want Maddox on behalf of our city council to hereby proclaim the week of November 1st through November 8th, 2026. It's beat LSU and beat Alzheimer's Week in the city of Tuscaloosa. And I encourage all citizens, businesses, and visitors to wear purple and crimson to support West Alabama's walk to end Alzheimer's at Parker Hawn Park and join with us to defeat the disease. I'm certain that many of us, if not all of us, have had family members who have experienced Alzheimer's, and we certainly all join with you in finding a cure to the stressful disease. Thank you for it. We would love for you to uh please you know talk tell us who you are, who you're representing, and say a few words for our city council. All right. Well, thank you, everybody. My name's Zachary Dutton. I'm one of our co-chairs for this year's West Alabama Walk 10 to Alzheimer's. My grandmother battled this disease courageously for much of my childhood and seeing the impact it took on our family.

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