City Council - Regular Meeting

from the committee of the whole of the January the 20th meeting. Are there any additions or corrections to those minutes? If not, is there a move to approve? So move motion second? All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? And the minutes are carried forth. Questions on tonight's agenda. Are there any questions from the dis for the city manager? [snorts] City manager, anything for us? No, mayor. I don't have anything for you this evening. Okay. I would like to ask the council if they would uh um consider having time at the first meeting in March, which the date of that escapes me right now. March 3rd.

March 3rd. Uh during the committee the whole um to to talk about the chamber of commerce's new uh building. I mentioned this to each one of you in an individual conversation, but they are uh in the process of um of doing a development capital plan for that building. um it is would be located in the same location that it is today and um they have asked us to make a consideration of a pledge to that and so if we could have a discussion about that on uh March the 3rd during the committee of the hall um I would like to ask your permission to do that. [snorts] Sounds good. Am I good with that? Yes.

Okay. All right. I'll get with [cough] and we'll designate a time to get that started that evening. Okay. All right. Any other questions? All right. Is there a move to adjourn? So move. All right. We are adjourned and we'll start our meeting right at 6 o'clock. So you are certainly welcome to talk amongst yourselves or cough, whatever you need to do. We'll [snorts] get started at six.

Oh, that's on the 90s. We'll call to order tonight's Auburn City Council meeting for February the 3rd, 2026. We welcome everyone that has joined us live in the council chambers as well as those that are listening on Wii or they're watching through our streaming services with the roll call. Lindsay Adams here, here. Dawson here, Griswall here. Mormon here. Parsons here. Taylor here, Britain here, Anders here. Would you please rise for the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for a moment of silence.

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. It is the first meeting of the month and so this time we are excited to introduce you to our employee of the month as well as our other outstanding employees with their service awards. We're proud to introduce you to our February employee of the month. And I have a memorandum here from Allison Hall, the parks and recck director for the city of Auburn. Melissa Shaver joined the city of Auburn's parks and recck department in November of 2023 as the tennis center events manager at the Yarborough Tennis Center. In two years, she's made remarkable impact on the facility, its programs, and Auburn's broader tennis community. Her professionalism, initiative, and commitment to excellence have elevated the Yarborough Tennis Center's reputation as one of the premier public tennis facilities in the country. Under Melissa's leadership, the Yarborough Tennis Center achieved national recognition as one of 45 facilities nationwide to receive the United States Tennis Association's Outstanding Facility Award. This honor was presented at the USA Billy Jean King National Tennis Center in New York as part of the 2025 United States Open, recognizing excellence in facility management, programming, and contributions to the sport. Beyond overseeing a high volume of events and programming, Melissa has demonstrated exceptional initiative in improving the facility. She successfully secured more than 75,000 in grant funding to replace outdated indoor lighting with energyefficient LED fixtures, significantly enhancing both playing conditions and sustainability. Melissa consistently displays the high standards of professionalism and innovation. She builds strong relationships with staff, community

partners, and players, fostering an environment that is welcoming and forwardthinking. Her leadership has strengthened the Arbor Tennis Center's role as a vital hub for recreational and competitive tennis in the region. For these reasons, Melissa was recognized by the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association, District 5, with the 2025 outstanding new professional award. Melissa's accomplishments are a testament to her work ethic, creativity, and dedication, making her an outstanding nominee for employee of the month. [music] Congratulations. We appreciate you. Heat. Heat. [music] [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] [music]

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Interesting. [music] Congratulations [music] to our outstanding employees. Congratulations to Melissa Shavers, our employee of the month. Um what a great lineup of individuals that give their all to our community each and every day that they um that they give to Auburn. They participate in our community and very thankful for all of these folks. I do want to recognize one person uh in particular and that's our police former police chief who's recently retired. Cedric has uh Cedric Anderson is for 34 years has protected us all uh allowed us to all enjoy a great quality of life in this community because he was out and about um on our behalf in the last few years. He has led our police department with class and dignity and intentionality. And uh I just wish Cedric all the best. He is one great guy and I'm proud that he was the police chief of my hometown. Anyone else? Okay. I do have a couple of mayor's announcements I'd like to make. Um I'm very proud of our community and our city. Uh we were recognized again by the Milkin Institute along with our sister city in Opaikica. Our MSA at large is the number 10 MSA for small cities in the United States. Um a lot goes into this. Uh they recognized our job growth. They recognized our education. They recognized our gains in leisure and hospitality. Um they recognized our housing. And um the great thing about our communities, I know we're not satisfied. And just being number 10 doesn't mean that we don't have nine more spaces, nine more places we can continue to attain to to do to be. Um but I just want to say thank you. There's a lot of people in this room here tonight that have a lot to do with this. There's a lot of people that go to

work in the private sector every day that have a lot to do with this and uh I'm very proud to be a part of a community that strives to be the very very best and this Milkin Institute is um is certainly um not biased towards the city of Auburn. Uh they see it like they see it and to be continually recognized is is quite an honor and I'm very proud of that. I want to say thank our chamber of commerce. Uh they invited me recently to speak to this year's group of Auburn young professionals. Uh I was amazed at how many young people are doing life here in our community. It was a nice evening over at the baseball stadium. And uh as a person who has spent 99% of his life here in Auburn, I was amazed at how many people I did not know. And so Auburn continues to attract new new new citizens to this community, uh new employees to this community. And it was a very exciting evening. Um, my yard was recently tigered. Uh, there was about 12 yard signs in my front yard yesterday when I returned home. And, uh, it was an awareness campaign and a fundraising campaign for the upcoming project graduation, which is a celebration, uh, of the 2026 Auburn High graduates. Um, I ask all of you to consider participating in that if you have an opportunity to do that this year. It's a fun non-alcoholic uh manner of of uh celebrating the graduation of probably over 700 young people in this class this year. And I certainly appreciate this is parentled and parent driven. And I appreciate the parents uh being considered this. I believe it's the 34th year of project graduation which is really great. And then finally, uh, myself and three other of these rascals that are up here jumped in a cold pool a week ago Saturday, uh, for a great cause for Lee County Special Olympics. Um, I understand they had a great fundraising campaign for a great organization. Um, again, um, it was a lot of fun. It was amazing to see the the different kinds of citizens that

were there from young citizens to students to even a few older citizens to children to adults. It was a It was a great morning there at u at our local pool and I just appreciate everybody's willingness to come out and get freezing cold and it was freezing cold. Not as cold as it would have been this past Saturday, but it was really cold uh to raise money and raise awareness for a great organization, Lee County Special Olympics. That's all I got. Anyone else have anything they'd like to add? What is MSA that we uh you said we're number 10? Yes. What What is MSA for the It's a metropolitan statistical area. There's new terminology for it as well. Justice can Yeah. What's it called? I just want to make sure the folks listening understand what that was.

I didn't understand Kelly. So, in essence, that's Lee County, but yeah, it's by total population when you become one. And their study is only done with MSAs. It's not done with individual communities is what I read. Yeah. This particular study is. Yeah. Thank you. Yep. Yep. Okay. Anyone else have an announcement they'd like to make? I would. Yeah, please.

Sure. Thank you. Um, I just would like to encourage everyone to come out to downtown Auburn on Valentine's Day, the 14th of February for [snorts] the Marty GR parade. It's the um 9th annual parade and it's at 3 p.m. put on by Crew to Tigris. And I'd also like to thank um Mrs. April Hson's class, transition services to class at Auburn High that has helped to repurpose um beads and clean them so they can be reused um in parade after parade so that they're not um going to the um landfill. And then also I'd like to echo the mayor's sentiment about Project Graduation. As a mom of the senior class that brought it back after COVID and also now have a senior um graduating this year, it is very important for these kids to be celebrated and we appreciate the business community and parents um helping to support Project Graduation.

Thank you, Miss Whitten. Anyone else? Yes, I have an announcement. Yes, ma'am.

Okay. As everybody know, this is Black History Month. So, um, my youth organization is having their annual Black History program, uh, Sunday, September, I mean, September, Lord Jesus, February the 8th at the Binance Center at 3 p.m. And everyone is invited to come out to see great performance from our youth. And hopefully we'll be finished. It starts at 3, so we'll be finished before the Super Bowl starts. So don't let that cause you not to come out to watch out the youth. By 4:30 we should be going home. So this invitation to h what date was that again?

Sunday Sunday February 8th it starts at 3. [snorts] Okay. Anyone else?

I'd like to echo what you said about retired Chief Cedric Anderson. He was a special kind of person to our community and worked hard his entire career and worked spent a good portion of that with me and narcotics. He could survive that he could survive most anything. But we had a we had a good time in our careers and uh wish him nothing but the best and Auburn's a better place for having Cedric Anderson as chief of police. I know that his pre Mike Harris will do a good job as chief now. But, uh, Cedric was a special person. Definitely going to miss him. Thank you, Chief.

And and also, Ron, I I also would like to say something. Um, Cedric, I I've not known Cedric a whole long time, but I do know him and he's a great guy. But I also looked at this list where you had retirees on here and Demetrius Pitts and he served 26 years on for the city of Aubrey. Demetrius is not old. It's my oldest son. [laughter] Yes. So, and my oldest son is 46. So, he started here when he was about 20. Yes, ma'am. And retiring already. That's pretty smart. Yeah. He got a whole career going. [laughter] Can start another one.

All right. Anyone else? Okay. We'll move ahead with uh Auburn University Communications. Hey, good evening. Um, first I just want to highlight that yesterday Auburn's IFC hosted an event called BP with BT, which stands for batting practice with Butch Thompson. Basically, each fraternity volunteered a batter and they competed in a home run contest with head baseball coach Butch Thompson. Um, this event benefited the Hudson Family Foundation, which supports families and children in our community facing economic, physical, and emotional needs. They were able to raise over $7,000, I think. So, that is obviously a great achievement, and we're really proud of our IFC for that. Um, this week is super, super busy as it is officially campaign week for Auburn University. Um, today marks the official SGA campaign kickoff and students are excited to support their peers who are running for elected SGA position. Um, concoursing will take place on Wednesday and Thursday of this week from 8:00 am to 3 pm. Um, the candidates for SJA president include Willis Ore and Landon Childress. Candidates for SJA vice president include Colin Hail and Lily Pool. And then there is one candidate for SJA treasurer, Jackson Moors. So lucky Jackson. Um, and then candidates from Miss Auburn, there are five. They include Meg Thompson, Virginia Anne Holmes, Camila Lord, Riley Johnson, and Eliza Sunberg. Voting begins Friday at 7:00 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. on Friday. Um and then election results will be announced at 700 p.m. on the back steps of Cater. Um we we really wish luck to all the candidates that are that are running this week. Um and excited to see who will get to lead Auburn in the upcoming year. We're really lucky to have so many students that are willing to put their foot forward and go out for these leadership positions. Um and then Saturday is also going to be a big day as Auburn faces Alabama in

basketball. Um this game has been designated a camping game. So students are able to um rent out a tent and then register their tent and then camp out in front of Neville Arena to hopefully get a spot in the student student section. Um we expect a really strong turnout for this game and an exciting game atmosphere and hopefully there's an Auburn win. That's all from me tonight. Um, thank you all and we're Eagle. Thank you. We appreciate it.

I need to circle back. Uh, during the committee of the whole, we we did have one um action. Um, if you could call it that, I'd ask the city council to set aside some time in our first meeting in March to talk about the Chamber of Commerce's new building and the potential [clears throat] for the city of Auburn to participate in in that. So, we uh they agreed to do that. So, we'll have that on the committee of the whole for March the 3. Okay. All right. This this time is citizens communications on items on tonight's agenda. This is only on items on tonight's agenda. Uh you will notice under under ordinances items A uh one and A2 and A5 have public hearings attached. If you'd like to speak to the council about that, please wait until that time. As well as there is public hearings attached to items 10, B1, two, and three. Anything else that's on our agenda? If you'd like to speak to the city council, please come forward and give us your name and address for the record. and you have five minutes to speak to the council. Okay, seeing no one, we'll move ahead. City manager's communications.

Mayor, under city manager communications this evening, um the city council had requested periodic status updates on the various studies and analyses that are being conducted during the temporary moratorium on the construction of [snorts] multiple unit development and private private dormatory development within the urban core and urban neighborhood west zoning districts. I'll remind you that the temporary moratorum was adopted by the city council on November 18th, 2025 and is set to expire on November 30th, 2026 unless extended or repealed. So under sanitary sewer on December 16th, you approved a contract with barge design solutions to conduct the wastewater collection system master plan in which the area encompassed by the mortorium footprint will be prioritized. Um staff has had a kickoff meeting with barge design solutions [snorts] uh and to commence the overall project and also with a special emphasis on the moratorum areas. Currently staff and barge are working to secure approximately 40 sewer flow monitors for installation to begin the essential data collection phase of the project. The installation of these flow monitors will include a focus on the moratorum area under storm water. We are currently working with Neil Schaefer Incorporated. Um, we've had a joint meeting to review and refine a scope for professional services related to storm water modeling and analysis again with a special emphasis uh on the moratorum footprint. Staff anticipates placing a professional services contract on the February 17th agenda. That could slide to March 3rd, but we're hoping for February 17th. For the comprehensive citywide traffic analysis, you approved a contract with Kimley Horn and Associates on December 16th uh to perform this traffic analysis. Um you'll I'll remind you it was to include a special focus and also an immediate focus on the urban core and surrounding neighborhoods. We've also had a kickoff meeting with them um to introduce key staff and review scope and key milestones and deliverables. Um it's

important to note that while we're talking about those things, traffic counts were going on and have been in progress for some time. Um and so that's throughout the city, not just in the urban core area. Last but certainly not least is a comprehensive zoning ordinance evaluation and update. So the city has already contracted and this is just at at my level a small contract uh with the firm Whitesmith and Casino if that's how you pronounce it. Justice to support the city to perform services to meet with key stakeholders and staff to develop a concept to address comprehensive zoning ordinance evaluation and update. Uh they're a firm that specializes in planning and code development with vast experience to assist the city with knowledge of the state of Alabama and other cities to bring best practice concepts to the city. We've already had some planning meetings to discuss the strategy and we'll soon be conducting workshops with the consultant. Once complete with the concept strategy, we'll negotiate a final agreement with this consulting firm to actually perform the finalized zoning work. I'll remind you that we need outcomes from some of the engineering and other studies to also then recommend changes to the zoning ordinance. So, it's it's two things. It's changes to the zoning ordinance need to be happening in general, but also we need data from the sewer items, storm water items, and traffic items to look at zoning ordinance changes that might be necessitated for um the study area of the moratorum. So, that's our general update for now and I'll probably be updating you every other month. If something major comes sooner, then I will update you accordingly.

Okay. Okay. Thank you, Maggie. Any questions from anyone? Okay. Certainly might generate some questions. Okay. Thank you for that update. All right. Consent agenda. Our first item of business is the consent agenda. Does any council member wish to deal uh [clears throat] or remove an item from the consent agenda and deal with that item individually? It's a whopper of a consent agenda. A lot to choose from tonight. So, everybody get All right. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? So, move. Second. Have a motion second. Any questions? All right. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? And the consent agenda is approved. Ordinances.

All right. Bear with me for a minute because all of these ordinances are related. So items 9A1, 9A2, 9A3, 9A4, and 9A5 are all associated with the foundry development. I'll remind you that the council postponed all items at the January 20th meeting to schedule work sessions to learn more about the project. Work sessions were held late last week on January 29th and 30th. They were identical work sessions, but because of council availability, we held it over two days. Staff is working with the developer on a development agreement for this project. The council may want to consider holding public hearings this evening and postponing all associated associated items to a date certain of March 3rd to provide additional time for completion and review of the development agreement. So therefore, item 9A1 is a request to pre-zone approximately 126.97 acres of property located at the northwest corner of North College Street and Suge Jordan Parkway to Comprehensive Development District for a p for a development known as the foundry. Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of this request at its December 11th meeting. This item was postponed at the January 20th city council meeting. A made motion is still needed for this item and a public hearing is required. I move to postpone to a date certain of March the 3, 2026 so that it can run concurrent with a development agreement. But I do request that we um hold the public hearing this evening.

Second. All right. We have a motion and a second to postpone to March the 3, but uh to go ahead tonight and open up the public hearing. Okay. So, I'll go ahead. Do we need to take a vote on that or just go ahead and open the public hearing? What's the right thing to do? You're going to need to vote on the postponement. Go ahead. I'll probably just vote on it while you have a motion and second. But if you guys don't want to vote, you can also hold that. We just need to do that before we leave the item. It's at the pleasure of the council. Okay. Why don't we go ahead and vote on that? Would that be a roll call? Would that would be a uh No, postponing is just Okay. All right. Voice. So, all in favor of postponing till March the 3, please say I. I. Any opposed?

And we will postpone to March the 3rd. At this time, I will open the public hearing. If you'd like to address city council regarding this, please come forward and give us your name and address for the record. And you have five minutes to speak to the council. [clears throat]

Good evening, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. I'm Warren Jolly with Jolly Development Corporation. Um, I know we had work session the other week and you guys were able to go through in great detail a lot of this project. Um, real quick, I just want to give you a little information about me. I graduated Auburn University and uh, 1986 in building science right when I graduated. I set up Jolly Development Corporation and been developing and building these type of communities in Atlanta and in the southeast for over 40 years. Um, I also have my met my wife here at Auburn and uh, had two uh, kids graduate Auburn. Two, actually three kids graduate Auburn. two two girls and one boy and two son-in-laws graduate Auburn. Um my wife and I have been very involved in Auburn um for several years um over 30 years we've been involved in athletics, the uh school of nursing um the uh uh school of building science, the business center, and also the school of liberal arts. Um so we we've been here a great bit. So you know we're very fond of Auburn. We want to do a great job. We're also, my son and I um a couple years ago zoned um a development in council member Tommy Dawson's district that's being done um they're called Dawson Corner which is the age restricted community, a gated community and Swans bridge which we bought the Swans Mobile Home Park which I think is one of the worst crimeridden areas at the time when we did it. And so uh we took the mobile home park and we have a nice quality development. We're also uh built and zoned assisted living across the center of uh the Cox and and wire roundabout and that's going to be completed in in May and um that's totally leased up um already. So that's really a good sounding I think to that whole area redevelopment. Um what we just so you

guys know we've been working on this project for over two and a half years with the sellers. We have three different sellers that comp comprise the 282 acres. Uh neither of them or none of them are very easy to deal with. They have a lot of family members, a lot of family property, uh a lot of feelings, a lot of history there. Um so we were able to put these together. We actually put one together and then we were told by the city there a connector road needed to be put through um to the new high school which is basically to the to the east. Um, as we sat there, we started looking at, we said, "Well, gosh, we really need to, you can't develop one of these. You really need to put them all together." So, unfortunately, that put 282 acres together and put three properties together. And if you don't put all three properties together, you can't build the road that will get you to the new high school. Um, um, I think is open in 28. So, um, Justice, can you put the slide up if you don't mind? Um,

yeah. It's It's You've got to give us a second, Warren. We don't we don't use this much during council. I'm sorry. Okay. Yep.

Um so there there you've seen it before the other week at the the Owens piece which is 77 acres, the Auburn Place which is 50 acres. Um those are the two pieces we're talking about right now. Um zoning CD u prezoning the CDD. Um they're not in the city at the current time. They're they're in Lee County. Um the school is to the the left of the Owens property. Um go to the next slide if you don't mind. There's a school. You can see the connector road that we talked about the other day. Um and also this property has a significant topo. So, you know, we spent a lot of money um in engineering with Brett Baskwin to be able to figure out how this road can be built and be able to tell you uh the other week, you know, how it was going to work out. Um next slide, if you don't mind. Um again, this is Owens and Auburn Place. Again, they're in Lee County. They're not in the in the city. You can see VETA was annexing the city a couple years ago. Um [clears throat] and then it reverted back to rural. It was a PDD. Um, if you go to the next slide and then you can see Auburn Place and Owens. If you see the whole corridor around the parkway is pretty much uh what we're asking to zone this to is CDD. All the pink um around the school is a big green area to the left of Owens, which is obviously a school. But if you look at this whole corridor looped around, it's all zone CDD. That's what we like to ask for. Reserve any time for rebuttal. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Jolly. Anyone else?

Is Is this the appropriate time to ask questions of the applicant? Yeah, sure. Do you want to keep the public hearing open or do you just want Keep Well, we can we can do it either way. I don't care. I just want to ask We'll keep it open. That might drive some other question. Yes. Would you like to Yes, please. Yeah. Mr. Jolly, would you come back to the microphone? Thank you, Mr. Jolly. Appreciate it. Uh this is quite a large development of course and um a lot of vegetation trees and whatnot will have to be cleared for it. What is your plan for removal of the trees? Are you going to burn, chip, haul them off or what?

It it really depends on the time of year that we're get started working. Obviously, if you're during the winter, uh burning's normally not that difficult. Um obviously you have to get the prior permits and regulations, whatever you do. Um so normally um and we we also have burned with air curtain structures that basically blow forced air in a hole in the and basically you don't really get as much smoke. Okay.

And and a lot of times we do that but we if you you know we're time is money so we want to go work as quick as we can. So the quicker we get it gone is the best. We don't want to leave a pile there burning for a month because it costs money. The quicker we can get it out. The only only thing about mulch and chipping is that, you know, you're putting a lot of trucks on a on the highway, you know, from a safety issue. But but we look at all it really is time of year. We have no idea when we would get started. Okay. So, the blower thing is a way to mitigate the it it burns up quicker and it reduces the smoke and it basically takes the it generates heat by the air and it just incinerates it a lot quicker. So, you're you're burning less and it's less smoke.

Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Okay. Thank you. And a question for Megan. The the burn pile is supposed to be as large as a automobile. Is that right? No, I have a Director Matthews. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Jo. We'll call M. Appreciate it. Director Matthews, we've been adjusting for that lately because because of a lot of questions about it.

We we have been and that's just kind of a rule of thumb, a guideline. Uh we have inspectors go out and look at the burn piles before they're issued a burn permit. So typically uh developers uh once they're clearing the land they have large feeder piles and that's what people typically see from the road are the large feeder piles and then they move smaller amounts of that to the burn pile to burn. Um okay in a controlled environment. So it is a it is a smaller pile. It's not the large piles that you typically see from the roadway.

Okay. All right. Yeah. I've seen some as big as a two-story building and they're on fire. So I'm uh sensitive to that. Um, I hope we can get a commitment from both the developers and the and the city to to keep it at a appropriate level. So, as part of the burn permit, the fire department reserves the right to extinguish any fire that we deem as a hazard or nuisance to the area. Thank you very much. Any more questions? Okay. Anyone else have any questions? Okay, then I'm going to close the public hearing. Um, we've already voted so we can move forward. Is that correct? Yep.

Item 9A2 is a request to reszone approximately 155.18 acres of property located on the west side of North College Street across from the Kerry Creek Parkway in the legacy subdivision from rural to comprehensive development district for development known as the foundry. The planning commission unanimously recommended approval of this request at its December 11th meeting. This item was postponed at the January 20th city council meeting. A main motion is needed for this item and a public hearing is required. Move to postpone to a date certain of March 3, 2026 to run concurrent with the development agreement and also ask that a public hearing be open this evening.

Second motion is second to move this to March 3rd as well as open the public hearing. Any questions? All right. All in favor, please say I. I. I. Any opposed? All right. The motion passes. At this time, I'll open the public. If you'd like to address the city council on this, please come forward and give us your name and address for the record. You'll have five minutes to speak to the council. You're welcome back. [snorts] [laughter]

So again, thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Warren Jolly, this is the other portion that we said revered back to rural the VA track. Um, it's 155 acres. It was owned uh PDD and then it didn't get developed in time. So it reverted back. Um just to note this piece has um a lot of flood plane on it. This is where we're talked the other day about the uh connection greenway trail beam. Um the whole development itself has 114 acres of green space within it which is about 41%. Um which when you talk about trees there's a lot of trees that will still be there. Um, even some people would could log, you know, flood plane in that area. Um, obviously we're not we're leaving it natural. Um, any other questions? They'll be more than happy to answer them. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Jolly. Thank you, Mr. Jolly. I don't want I don't want you to go ahead and get set down. Could could we go back uh a couple slides here, Tyler? Which one are you looking for? Uh the one that had the the road. Oh, the whole site plan go up to the probably the second slide. Maybe that's it. Oh, well it No, it's it's further down. Well, that

go down. Sorry, I'm fumbling through this. Down. That's it. This one. How will the So could you explain the the the different phases in which this in which you you plan to develop this? Yes, sir. I I I have some slides of that further in the PUD, but I don't mind doing that. Yeah, he's he's gonna I don't know what are you going to talk during the PUD another five minutes? Okay. Yeah. Go if you go one more slide down, Greg. Sorry. Couple go a couple more slides down. The It's the one with the all green. No, no, no. It's You were right. This one down from this one. That one has phasing. Is that one? No, there's one more. Go. Go.

Right there. Right there. That one right there.

So, they don't they don't overlap with the site plan. Um so, we're phase um working with the city. Phase one was the main concern with the parkway. Um the boulevard that we talked about the other week about getting through the connection point from the high school to across from Publix. Um phase two and and um three and four right there together. Um most of that land has to be graded to build the road and that's the front part's mainly the retail portion. So, normally you don't see the retail till later, but the retail's up front and the multif family. We'll go over the use later, but that area really has to be graded and take the dirt to balance the site to build the road. And so, and then the the back pieces to the back where you um three, five, and seven. Those would be done after the road built, which is couple of years. And and then you need a balance of dirt on those two at the same time. Again, this project is probably a 10 to 15 year project over phases, but the phases are mainly done right now where we're going to start first, but also how to balance the dirt and build the infrastructure. So, sort of going to what Kelly had mentioned, like the the the first phase of grading would be this area in front of the in front of the proposed road.

The the parkway [clears throat] the road almost on a ridge, so you really don't see the other side. So, so the road is almost on a ridge. So, everything there to the parkway would be done first and what you'd see first and then couple years later it would be on the other side, but you wouldn't see it actually from the main road. Yeah. Thank you. It's Mr. Jolly. [clears throat] Is the trail, the walking trail part of phase one?

Yes, sir. And the development agreement, that's what we're working with the city on the road and the trail that kind of the one that goes parallel the creek, the east west connector. It's a sewer line now. So, most of it's there. It's just putting in the trail itself. It runs along the sewer line. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah. To clarify real quick with the trail and I'll have um either Justice or Scott weigh in. A portion of it and that's what would go in the development agreement is what he's responsible for in the city is is for the more western portion above the high school and and on down splitting the property. So there's two pieces to that and that's part of what you'd be reviewing in the development agreement. That's where he would be responsible for a portion and we would be [clears throat] all right. All right, the public hearing is still open. Anyone else like to speak to this? Close the public hearing. Further question. Okay, we'll move on to number three.

Item 9 A3 is request to annex approximately 50 acres of property located on the north side of Suguran Parkway and west of North College Street for a development known as the Foundry. Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of this request at its December 11th meeting. This item was postponed at the January 20th meeting and a main motion is still needed. Move to postpone to a date certain of March 3rd, 2026. Second motion is second to postpone to March 3rd, 2026. Any questions, comments? All right. All in favor, please say I. I.

I. Any opposed? And the motion carries. Item 9A4 is a request to annex approximately 76.97 acres of property located on the north side of Suge Jordan Parkway across from Hickory Dickory Park for a development known as the foundry. Planning commission unanimously recommended approval of this request at its December 11th meeting. This item was postponed at the January 20th city council meeting and a main motion is still needed. Move to postpone to a date certain March 3, 2026. Second. All right. I have a motion and a second to postpone to March 3rd, 2026. Any questions, comments? All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? And that motion carries.

Item 985 is a request to apply the plan unit development designation known as PUD to approximately 282 acres of property located at the intersection of North College Street and Sugar Jordan Parkway for a development known as the Foundry. The planning commission unanimously recommended approval of this request at its December 11th meeting. This item was postponed at the January 20th city council meeting and a main motion is still needed for this item and a public hearing is required. Move to postpone to a date certain of March 3, 2026 and ask that we open the public hearing this evening. Second motion is second to postpone till March the 3rd, 2026 as well as open the public hearing. Any comments or questions? All right. All in favor, please say I.

Any opposed? And that motion carries. This time I'll open the public hearing. If you'd like to address the council, please come forward and give us your name and address. For the record, you have five minutes to speak to the council. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. Mr.

Members of council, again, um Warren Jolly with Jolly Development. Again, this is [clears throat] where we get really into meat and potatoes of the uh the zoning application. Um, as I mentioned, we've been working two and a half years with the u sellers of these three properties and been communicating with staff why the PUB ordinance was being adopted and and developed that we thought this was the perfect property. Um, because this some of the issues with the flood plane and topography and what we're trying to do with the mixture of uses that this would be a great case for a PUD. Um when the ordinance got adopted, we've been working almost nine months with your staff and um so it's not like the first time we've submitted a plan. There've been reitions and discussions along the way. [laughter] Um if um justice, if you don't mind, go to the original the

Well, it's it's the gentleman with the he's going there. Yep. Yeah. Um you you gota click on the which one do we want? The show Warren show him which one you're It's the middle one with the that one. That one.

Yeah. Perfect. Um so so this is basically a mixture of uses. U you have the phase line over it. But as you come in there'll be a a a parkway from uh S Jordan Parkway up to the roundabout which will be on the new collector road. The new collector road will be running between the high school and lining up with the Publix across the street. Um, as you guys know, there's a very steep intersection there. It's really a bad hill there. It probably needed a signal anyway. Um, we've uh got with A DOT on both both intersections and they've agreed with the location. Um, we get the traffic study back. There's probably will require a signal in one and maybe a signal on the other uh once we get the retail built. But the the area close to the main parkway is is multif family out partial retail office. Um it's it's more neighborhood type retail. Uh really not big box like a ger maybe a small groceryer but it's not like a Publix or Kroger that type or Lowe's that type of use. it's a smaller intensity. Um, as you get further back in the development, the the buildings to the left on the Parkway are multif family units. We've capped that at 625 total multif family units. Across the street is another phase, the total 625. And then everything to the back, say, um, left and right is all the multif uh, all the single family type components. Uh, a lot of different type of housing types. We'll get that in a minute. Um if you don't mind scooting down Justice, we're going to run out of time with a lot of stuff. Um the [cough] the area map here shows um what uses are allowed in those certain areas. So area one is the more intense uh area which would be retail uh

apartments office. Area two is apartments say office. Area three is the all the different residential uses in area four. So you can't build say single family homes in area one, but you can't build retail in area three or four. So it it basically we have a cap on everything and a number of square footage and that's where it goes in those certain areas. Justin, if you could go to the the NE is a permitted use table that matches up with those areas. So this is basically out of the ordinance. Um most of it mimic CDD, but we reduced like u short-term rentals. There's some other things that the staff wanted to remove um churches because churches have different traffic patterns. Um so we have different uses that we can do in those areas. Um justice if you don't mind just go through all that or and then um this is again we just talked about the phasing plan where things were located over the the the lifetime of the project. Um the next map is uh the the meeting that we one of our staff showing the connector road um and what portions are being built by other developments, what portion that we're we're building with the city. Uh then the next renderings, if you just scroll through these, these are visions of what the multif family and the retail would look like. And then the next bunch of slides are housing [clears throat] that we I've built. And there's a lot of different housing types. There's stack condos, there's town houses, there's single family, there's um u you know, whole different and when we build um neighborhoods, they're lifestyle neighborhoods. They're not price point neighborhoods. Uh meaning that the HOA maintains all the yards. U it's a lock up and leave type lifestyle. And that's what we have in the two communities that we're doing in

Thank you, Mr. D. We might have some further questions for you. Thank you. I got I have You got some questions. All right. Go ahead, S. Come on back up. You're getting your exercise this evening. Thank you. Um you mentioned um briefly, but the HO you will have an HOA through the residential pieces, correct? And those will be um

we'll have a master association also. So that would be under the retail and the multif family. So they share detention and other uses. So you know by a cost share agreement. Um but there will be separate HOAs per area uh based on you know a lot of the attached housing the exterior is maintained by the HOA. Um so when you paint the building that you're painting it all at one time. You're not having a town building that people are painting different times.

And then we also do the um the same with the roof but all the extra maintenance and landscaping is done by the HOA. So when you have small lots, you know, if you go over there and you'll go over there and it's all cut one time, it's not like you got a two foot of grass on one and the other one's being maintained. And with the HA, the hardest thing to do is make somebody maintain their yard. I mean, it you can't really trespass and do it.

So we the HOA maintains all that. So their fees are higher in their HOA fees, but they're paying for those services anyway. Um, so when they actually qualify a mortgage, it's actually a little more expensive or harder to qualify, but you're not worrying about the quality of neighborhood. It's a higher standard of being maintained.

If you'll bear with me slightly, just because I think it's important with the um with the size of this development, during our work session, we um talked about the exchanges and relief that are part of a a peed, a planned unit development. And I think it's very important for our citizens to understand what that means. Um, and part of that is enhanced architecture, which I know you've shown some slides here. Um, but that is a part of your [clears throat] obligation for if this would be to be approved is enhanced architecture.

That's correct. We we've agreed with staff with conditions on the retail and also the uh the housing type what what the exterior type of material and how they would be done and like there's no vinyl siding there even in the ease we use all hardy you know mixture of brick and stone type materials um and then also there's a conditions with the retail

and what um another um benefit to the city is that um it it may not sound like a benefit but a single developer which means less um staff time to go back and forth for multiple developments. Um and then additionally you will provide right away for the greenway constru construction which is a if I'm not mistaken about a little over two miles on the north end. Yeah. So there are two trails. So there's an east and west one at the top and then there's the one on the furthest west end that runs north south. Okay. And so they they'll be constructing the one on the north that goes east west and then they'll be dedicating the rightway of the one that goes north south and cumitively it's about two and a half miles for both of them.

Okay, which would in essence be one of the largest greenway trails within the city.

Okay. And then also another um benefit or exchange to the city would be the major roadway extension um which would help to move the potentially traffic off of North Dahu and um the high school traffic which is a difficult thing to attain right away for that much land if we don't have a developer who's willing to provide that and also support cost of the construction of that. I I think I think the biggest thing on that is kind of back to the single developer aspect of it of with so many moving parts and the complexity of it. It's much easier when you have a single developer. That way you can kind of talk about what the se road sections need to look like and then you can kind of get it all in one fail swoop instead of peace mill development of kind of in one section and another section that may not adorn and the roads may not align.

And then one of the things Mr. Jolly that you get to um receive is um incorporations and private streets within the development. [clears throat] That's correct. And then also um the bulk regulations that will address the ISR and the F to support um more cluster development. Correct. With 41% of the space being um open space

and you know we felt like the ISR and stuff was a fair trade-off because you don't have many developments that they don't donate 40% of the space anyway. And so, um, it may be 20% or less and then you're doing the ISR, but we still have an ISR regulation, but we asked for some help on that, which we worked that with staff. And based off of the the um acreage um of if this were zoned CDD, the proposed units is less than what CDD would be would allow. Yeah, that's correct. So, CDD works out to about 9 and a half or it is nine and a half. This is about 8 and a half uh units per acre. Yep. units per acre.

units per acre. Yes. Okay. But much more dense and closer in to allow for the preservation of the 114 acres. That's correct. Okay. All right. I just felt like that was important to go through just for those who are not maybe familiar with this. I know we've had two work sessions and postponed already. So, I didn't want that to get mix get lost within these public hearings. So, thank you. Thank you. Good. Thank you. Quick question on the road. the main road from the high school over to college. That'll be a city road. Is that right? Yes, sir. We'll maintain the main through fair. Yes, sir. And you're just doing the private roads within the development.

Yeah, we we're allowed to do them. We haven't decided where they're at, but the road the the road coming off the main parkway to the roundabout through the retail development would be public also. Um but the the main parkway obviously is public. Yes. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Jolly. when when would you anticipate that uh your portion of this connector road would be finished? We're working through how that works. Um so we we haven't finalized that. So the discussions are now that we would um unless it changes we to talk about this or should

Well, we're still working through on the development agreement. So what's happening here is Mr. Jolly had mentioned in some work sessions they will be doing a lot of the mass grading the actual construction of a lot of aspects of Yarbo Farms Boulevard is likely and not finalized yet to be a city-led contract that a lot of his fiscal contribution will come in right away and overall mass grading um and dealing with some working with him on mass grading that helps us with some utility things and construction easements and all of that. the city would then step in and complete aspects of it of our as our portion, but that's not finalized yet. And an agreement I I want to tell you with your postponement, the intent still isn't as soon as we get a development agreement that Mr. Jolly is satisfied with and staff is. It is to get it to you just as a matter of information prior to your your March 3rd packets coming out. The sooner that we have it ready, we will share it with the council so you have a chance to read it as much as possible before we get there. I I just would say, you know, this some of the parts of the road are changing grades 30 to 60 feet

and it's [snorts] not just building a flat road on a piece of property that and so you're having to get dirt from other places and swap. So we we've talked through it with staff. We have some great ideas how to do it, but I think right now most of what I'll be contributing would be going up front. Understood. And we'll get you a better timeline for what we think that is. I think it's in where I'm going with this is just when is the completion date of the new high school when they're opening in the fall of 28. Um I don't want to [laughter] anybody to think that this road will be ready in the fall of 28. I I don't I don't believe unless my staff overrules me that we think that's feasible at the moment.

I wouldn't want to commit to that at this time. I think it's there's a lot of pieces that that have to come into play and I yeah I definitely don't want to commit to that because we're just getting started on on this and we even started design [snorts] I think it is fair to say that if the council agrees it will follow on the heels of the high school opening but it could be a year to two years in easily. Sorry Mr. Jolly I got another question for you. [laughter] I I couldn't catch you before you sat down so I apologize. What what how project uh this how shovel ready is this project? I guess upon approval here. What's your anticipated timeline moving forward on getting started with the commercial component of this?

I mean um I'm very superstitious. So we really not met with any retail prospects. We've had a lot of people approach us. Um obviously we got to get zoned. Um a lot of times retailers take a a while to make those decisions. We have had a lot of people uh a bank and a small grocery a small fitness things have approaches. Kevin Howard's been very great keeping us up and communicate, but we until we really know what we're doing, we can't really commit, but from starting the project, um we don't have um you know, I met with Brett Baskin before and you know, we're hoping in 30 days that we can start engineering. We have all the data, good topo, good surveys that we can start immediately designing the road in those two commercial phases immediately to hopefully have a permit, you know, sometime in midsummer, late summer to be able to get started.

Okay. And then long-term, who typically who owns or manages the commercial piece of of this long term? To the master declar, which would be us. Okay. Do y'all typically hold and deal with these long term? Okay. Great. You good? [clears throat] That's it. Yep. Okay. Are you sure you want to step away? [laughter] Any other questions for Mr. All right, take your chances. Any other questions in general or comments? Um, Miss Crouch, we were talking today that it's um there's been a an

Did you close the public hearing? You did. Yeah, you did before you asked him. been multiple efforts uh over for many years to try to bring the two pieces that are in the county into the city. Um could you speak just how substantial that is for this opportunity for for this to potentially to occur?

Yeah, so both both parcels and we know um one parcel more to the west that I referred to as as being across from Hickory Dickory Park. A lot of us uh know that as Owens family partnership property and the Owens family for many years has worked methodically. They owned at a point in time all four corners of Sugar Jordan Parkway and North Donahue Drive and methodically and carefully the family has sold pieces for various incundary developments. This is the last piece. There's a piece just below the high school that is under the control of a of a different group that is working on a development there that will come forward fairly soon. And then there's, you know, a remnant piece between um what I know is as the Mueller property, but a lot of people know it as the Auburn Place LLC property, which is you can see at the the corner of SG Jordan Parkway and East University Drive/Shug um North College, there is a piece that doesn't have the dark green on it in this drawing and that will be remain out that is part of the Mueller's property or Auburn Place property and that is not in the project at this time and being held out in reserve. serve and we've had friendly conversations for years with with both families, but there hasn't been a ripe opportunity. Um, in 2019, the opportunity is the staff reviewed prior to 2019 the major street plan, seeing that we had um activity on the VA property where it says mostly open space on on your drawing here. um and all the development we see around it and the constant concerns about Chug Jordan Parkway, we opted that we thought with large property owners, we'd have a chance at getting this road through Mr. Pic um on the pick property on the north side of the Publix has Kerry Creek Parkway that is the beginning of a road that's going to go all the way through eventually as that development completes to Shel Shelton Mill Road. And so our goal was in essence from Richland Road all the way um to Shelton Mill Road, you

can walk and bike and not drive fast, particularly through the AU Club and the 25 mph speed limits with people's driveways there, but you can get from one place to the other without getting on Sugar Jordan Parkway, which would be a nice relief for our residents. Um also with the storied history, the city staff remains concerned about aspects of the fact that the city does not own North College Street. um in this vicinity nor Sug Deran Parkway nor parts of South College Street. They're owned and maintained by the state of Alabama and we [snorts] are looking um for ways to partner with the state where the city gains control of that um to do everything that we can to slow speed limits down and so on. And that is a work in progress. Um the Alabama Department of Transportation has been amendable to talking about it and we're deeply appreciative um that they've even been open to talking about it. But I have been working for the nearly 30 years I've worked here to get these properties assembled. Um they are very much in town at this stage. And what we want to do is not have big portions of the county in this location. Both property owners are responsible property owners, good to work with, but we would like for them to be in the city limits where our citizens know what's going there. And this is a master plan that you're seeing that would tell you what could go there. So people know before they buy what could go there. [snorts]

Miss Crouch, I know we're not to the finish line. Uh we've still got work to be done, but this is the first major development we've had that's under gone through the PUD process. Correct. Would would you and your staff consider this to be what we planned on it being? Has it served the citizens and the city as we wanted it to serve? Has it delivered what we wanted it to deliver? Uh no, we're not done.

The PUD process is both for ve very small parcels and and very large projects. And what we had is a plan development district um process that only allowed 10 acre parcels. So we were trying to do both. And what we were hearing from developers and citizens is we're not seeing all the things we would like to see in Auburn. Um from an architectural standpoint, from a amenity standpoint and what have you. And the feedback that we had gotten from the development side was your regulations make it difficult to do some of the things the citizens would like done. So the goal here is this is purely a contract um between the city council and this piece of property, not even the developer. At the end of the day, if this gets approved, it is binding upon the property regardless of who ultimately, you know, if Mr. Jolly were to to to sell it, which he's not saying he's going to do, it's binding upon anybody who owns it. They've got to do these plans, is it gives us the advantage of having um some different housing types and other things we wouldn't normally see. our zoning ordinance struggles to keep up with current housing trends and things our citizens want. Um, and this was part of the goal here was to provide that flexibility. However, the city council is under no obligation to to adopt a plan for this. You don't have any rights um to a plan unit development district uh granted to you by the zoning ordinance unless the council agrees to it. Period.

Thank you. All right. Any other questions? Do you have thoughts? Okay, let's move ahead to resolutions. Item 10A1 authorizes a contract with D&J Enterprises in the amount of $4,423,566 cents for the fiscal year 2026 resurfacing project. Move for approval. Second. All right, have a motion. Second. Any comments or questions? I I think it's important to note if somebody is curious as to what streets or roads are um included, there's a list and that can be found on the website.

And if I may, I'd mentioned this to you at packet meeting that one portion of Gay Street is not on this list that will um be handled accordingly. And that is the portion that is running from thatch toward the heart of Auburn development. Um we have some bumps in the road due to utility connections there. And we've had a lot of citizens reach out and just say it's a little bumpy here and so that it's going to be added in. All right. Good. [clears throat] Okay. Any other questions? All right. Got motion second. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? And the motion carries.

Item 102 authorizes a contract with Prologic it LLC in the amount of $198,878.54 purchase of vehicle upfit equipment and installation for 11 police vehicles. Move to approve them. Second. Second. Motion a second. Any comments or questions? Yes. I've got some questions. Um, in the proposal, some items are noted as contracted and some items are noted as non-contracted. Are the what? First off, why [laughter] why is it broken out that way? Uh, Mr. Matthews, respond. So the quote was developed uh under the master con the master state contract that uh prologic has with the state purchasing office

and the items that are listed in the contracted section are part of that master contract and then the other parts are at standard pricing. Okay. Okay. So they all roll up into the same in in total. They do, but typically we get a better discount on the items that are contracted. Okay. Thank you. Contract. Any other comments, questions? [snorts] All right. All in favor, please say I. I.

Any opposed? And the motion carries. Item 10 B1 assents to the vacation of a portion of the public ingress, egress, drainage, and utility easement located on Giddon Street and further authorizes the mayor and city manager to execute a quick claim deed relinquishing the properties to 810 MLK LLC and Neoh Holdings LLC. A public hearing is required. Move for approval. Second. Second. I have a motion second. This time I'll open the public hearing. If you'd like to address city council, please come forward and give us your name and address for the record. You have five minutes to speak to the council. Seeing no one, we'll close the public hearing. Any questions or comments from the council? All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? And the motion carries.

Item 10B2. Since the vacation of a portion of a utility easement located on Giddon Street and further authorizes the mayor and city manager to execute a quick claim deed relinquishing the properties to 810 MLK LLC and Neoh Holdings LLC. A public hearing is required. Move for approval. Second. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second. I'll open the public hearing. If you like to address the council, please come forward and give us your name and address for the record. You have five minutes to speak to the council. Seeing no one, we'll close the public hearing. Any further comments or questions? Council. All in favor, please say I. I.

Any opposed? And the motion carries. Item 10B3 ascends to the vacation of a public water easement located on Giddon Street and further authorizes the mayor and city manager to execute a quick claim deed relinquishing the properties to 810 MLK LLC and Neoh Holdings LLC. A public hearing is required. Move for approval. Second. Motion second. This time I'll open the public hearing. [clears throat] If you'd like to address city council, please come forward and give us your name and address for the record. And you'll have five minutes to speak to the council. See no one, we'll close the public hearing. Any comments or questions from the council. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? And the motion carries.

Mayor, those are all the items of business we have for you this evening.

This time we'll open citizens open form. If you'd like to speak to the council about anything, now would be the time for you to come forward. Please share your name and address for the record. You have three minutes to speak. Please address all of your comments, I'm [clears throat] sorry, to the council. Hey to the council. My name is Liz Strain. Um I was born and raised in Auburn. I love it here. I'm now a practicing lawyer here. And um something I just wanted to bring up to the council as you're considering this development. I was raised in the neighborhood right across the street from that development. And I know the the public hearing is closed for that, but I would urge the council to consider as Auburn is developing and growing. Um, something that I know is very important to me and is also important to several other citizens that I've talked to is considering the greenery and the trees. Um, I know as a citizen, I've seen we've seen lots of changes in Auburn, especially with the clear cutting and the thing that's going on. Um, and I would just love for the council, especially as we're moving into rewriting the zoning ordinances and things like that, that you would just consider, um, you know, Aubry's always been a tree city. My dad actually came and talked to you guys last last meeting and just understand how important that is to us. And as a young professional, like I moved to Nashville for law school and I was so excited to be back in Auburn. It's my favorite place in the world. I mean, and I hope that me being here shows the council just how much people in my age demographic love Auburn. People that are not married with children, but people that are young professionals, young lawyers, we love Auburn. And um something that really brought me back to Auburn was the

wildlife, the nature, the greenery, the trees. So, just keep that in mind.

Thank you. Thank you. We're glad to have you back. Who would be next? I need three hours to go over all this. Now, I'm Robert Wilkins, 261 Ditson Drive, Auburn, Alabama. I'm one of the many Auburn voice [clears throat] that has been dismissed. I started on a simple journey in June of [clears throat] last year concerning the extremely elevated line items of salary and wages and employee benefits for solid waste management. What I wanted to do was to say I first went in and I went from 2009 all the way to 2024 16 years. Uh this is just one of the three pages that are in each comprehensive report. And I wanted to quickly ex explain why after I do this. uh operating expenses. It has things like salary and wages, employee benefits, the two that I really concerned about, repairs and maintenance, utilities, professional services, uh rental leasing, insurance, office supplies, fuel and lubricants, agricultural chemicals, minor equipment, uh repair parts and materials, clothing and linen, uh management fees, depreciation, amortization, travel and training, miscellaneous. Okay, this is what I needed. I needed to have two of these items out of 17. Instead, we had a meeting on June the 11th, and I appreciate Beth putting that meeting together with the city manager and the director of finance. But the problem is all I got was four items: administrative, recycling, solid waste, and general operation. Not a single one of these. It's a different kind of report, but I needed this. and I just wanted two items for five months of

2025. What's happened is the when you look at 209 all the way to 22 uh22, it it just kind of goes like this. It's just a normal way most expenses go. Okay. But what happened is uh in 23, bam, it went like that. 24 it went like that. And I know 25 is way up there. And I still haven't gotten it. I've asked for that information for two line items originally for five months. Now I know we, you know, we're four over four months into the year ending. So I can get that information. For some reason, our city manager will not give that information. I don't understand. I then had to go and do public records requests and I did a bunch of different ones trying to figure out what's going on. So I did all these different report I mean things. Then of course I deal dealt with David Dorton which was great. But then I dealt with Paul Clark which was for no reason. I have no idea why she did that. I have no idea why I had to deal with Paul Clark. I dealt with Davidson Davidson I guess and uh Forbes and I went to his office and found out he's here in the city. He goes there and and I'm having to deal with him, but I can't meet with him because the city manager won't let me meet with [cough and laughter] originally anyway. That's it.

Who'll be next? Anyone else? Yes, sir. [cough]

Hey, good evening. Good evening.

Thank you for your time. I will be very brief. I didn't bring any slides or anything with me, so it won't take but a moment. Uh my name is James Harden. I'm the administrator for the Lee County Health Department. Uh I really want to take the opportunity to thank the council and the mayor and the city for their support of the uh Lee County Health Department. Um we are in our district that Lee County is our second busiest uh facility in our district. Um we do probably over 4,000 exams a year on patients that would not be seen anywhere else. Um we did 1,800 um restaurant inspections last year. So the things that we touch are very important to the public, but they don't get done unless we have local support. We are we do have state and fally funded programs, but we are very fortunate in Lee County that we have the support of this city council, this city of Opaikica, and of of the Lee County Commission as well. Um, we do a lot of those things. We're we're able to see patients that can't get the care anywhere else. We also now do a large portion of cancer detection and we were able to now do culposcopies in Lee County that we used to have to send these patients to Birmingham. So those things, those growth, those abilities to provide those services are only possible when we receive the support of the local community. So I just want to take the opportunity to thank you guys for that. Um, and if there's anything that you guys need from us, just feel free to reach out. Um, Councilwoman Whitten was kind enough to come to our 150th anniversary open house last year. Um, and so a lot of us have we've moved forward through a lot of of of the changes over the last few years. And so we just want to make sure there's anything that the community needs from us, any partnerships that we're we're available for you. So,

thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you for dropping by tonight. Thank you. Who'll be next? Okay. Well, excuse me. We'll close citizens open form. Anyone on the council have anything they'd like to add before we finish up? I have a question for um the city manager. Um time after time we've had um a citizen come and state that they're not that they're being dismissed. Um the information being requested is available on the website. Correct.

Well, I mean there's a variety of information. There's our comprehensive annual financial report. the information is available there. It just is not in a format that the person that's making the request prefers [cough] that that was that was explained. Um and also one one key piece is when the city attorney gets involved, it's because um citizen was claiming that their rights were being violated. And I take my job very seriously and I will follow the law and I will do what state law says. Um, we take our fiduciary responsibilities very seriously and and I don't care one bit for being accused of not doing it correctly and uh we are people of strong ethics and have professional standards and we strive for that every day and we will do no less. The entire staff in this room will do that. And so when you challenge that we're doing something or not treating somebody properly then I will involve the city attorney to tell you exactly what the law says. And the certified audited financial report for 2425 or 25 fiscal year should be out required by our audited engagement is end of March.

End of March. Okay. And that that's a a fairly typical time frame or is that us is that quicker than most municipalities? I'll have our finance director speak to that, Alison.

Very typical. I mean, government audits are extremely complicated. Our environment that we work in is complicated. Um, our funding sources are complicated. We have set governmental accounting standards as well as auditing standards. We do work. The auditors review and check and ask question after question to the point that they drive us insane. Questions and we're continuing to do that now. It it it takes 6 months which is why the municipal securities rulemaking board has set the deadline at March 31st to ensure confidence in what what is being done because we do issue debt in the public bond market. And so that's what drives that deadline. It's in our audit engagement. Our goals are there, the dates, everything is set when we sign that engagement letter that you guys get to see when you approve that.

And our bond rating is pretty spectacular. Absolutely. It's um and you don't have a bond rating like that if you don't have very transparent financials. Yes. Thank you. Absolutely. Correct. And the financials will explain a variance in something like the solid waste management plan which [clears throat and cough] which they did. It in a particular question we keep getting it is a change in what RSA, the retirement systems of Alabama, um gives us a set number that we are then required to put in the budget. [cough] And so that was not something the city has control over. And of course, we're going to participate in retirement for our employees. Thank you.

I've got one question on that, too, if you don't mind. Um, I recall being privy to some of the exchange between the city and the complainant. And um it was my and correct me if I'm wrong, it was my understanding that the particular documents and information that the complainant was seeking just simply didn't exist in the format in which he was requesting. Correct. And the city's under no obligation to tailor make a

That's correct. We're not required to create a record. So I think some of the confusion lies when a record sits in a computer. If we pull a report and save it, that's a record. If you're just looking up data, that's not a record. And it's a a very simplified example, but that's correct. The reports and information do not exist in the format in which they're being requested. And by state law, we are not required to do so. Um, lots of time and effort goes into being as responsive as we can to our citizens, but um, we we do not stop what we're doing every day to create all new records and documents um, for what everybody asks. We want to be responsive. We believe we have been responsive to the request per state law and we will continue to do so.

And as I recollect, a written explanation was given to the complainant state. Many explanations have been given time and time again and a ton of staff time. Thank you. How much staff time? Curious.

Right now, um, not just this person, but several other people. It's averaging an an hour plus a day of my time just dealing with three to four individuals in public records requests along with the finance director, the city attorney, our David Dorton who handles public records requests, various and other department heads and so on, but it is much and again we have a responsibility to do so. However, yes, it is timely and we that's why we take these seriously. We spend the time that we need to spend on them.

Thank you. Um earlier in tonight's meeting, uh Tommy and I both mentioned, uh Chief Anderson retiring, uh I want to say now that we're through and moving on that, um I'm excited about Mike Harris being our new police chief. I know he's got a couple days on the job, but um he is uh he is ready for this occasion and I think he's going to do a great job for Auburn and I'm excited about his leadership.

He is. I also want to remind you as as we roll into the next council meeting, we need to be kind. Our new city engineer will be here be there his second day on the job. So, we'll be [snorts] making a very public announcement this week. Um, a lot of lot of people saw the internal announcements as the council did, but u Michael Griffin is coming to us from Athens, Alabama. Excited to move here um and be our next city engineer and you'll be meeting him then. [snorts] Thank you. All right. Anyone else? Is there move to adjurnn? So moved. All right, we