City Council - Regular Meeting

Don't don't break a limb. I got a good knee. Good evening everyone. Tus city council now. I ask everyone please rise for a prayer and calling our pray standing for our hand. Dear God, bless our proceedings tonight. Give us the wisdom to know what is and strength to do what is right. Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. Approve. I make a motion we approve the minutes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Y'all, nobody's been coming to see me late at lately at Jack's. I won't be there this Saturday, but I'll be there after that. I know. We got to do something. Mayor, I need some help. Maybe Joe Eatman will come out here and bring all his friends. Won't you buy breakfast? Yeah.

Yeah. Let's let's keep it under a million dollars. None. Mr. Bill. Thank you, Brandy or Miss Johnson. Any other council announcements? Any agenda item comments by citizens? No, sir. Uh unfinished business. Clerk. This orders demolition of the structure located at 1421 18th Court East. Move adoption. Second. Second. It's been moved and second. Mr. Williams.

Mr. Mayor, city council. This is for the condemnation of 14218th CD East condemned September 19th, 2025. Property has 46 housing code violations. The owner has been contacted as aware of this hearing. The owner is aware that if it's condemned and demolished, the cost of demolition will be charged back to the owner. The owner has made some improvements. They removed the rotted deck, repaired accessory build, and cleared the front porch of all the storage boxes. The owner is supposed to be here to represent Okay. Any questions for Mr. Williams? If the owner would come forward and please give your name and address. Is the owner here?

Is there anyone here representing 1421 18th Court East? I believe we see we was had planned on recommending 90 more days, but since the owner is not here, should we table it for another week?

What's your feelings, Mr. Williams? That's a good question. Uh, I mean the owner, she had said she had expressed concerns about not being able to make it up here, but I told her she needs someone here to represent. She said she was going to have somebody here. I don't know what happened. Either they're late or what. I have no no problem with going ahead and giving 90 days to see if they make more progress. Um, I mean, she has made some progress. So, so move second. It's been moved and second for 90 days. Thank you, Mr. Williams. Um, this was a public hearing when it was introduced. Anyone here wish to speak for against? Seeing none, voting, Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. It's Tabled for 90 days. Clerk, this orders demolition of the building located at 6414 31st Street. Move adoption. Second. It's been moved and second, Mr. Williams.

This is for the condemnation of 6414 31st Street. condemned September 19th, 2025. Property has 40 five housing code violations. The owner has been contacted as aware of this hearing. The owner is aware that if it's condemned and demolished, the cost of demolition will be charged back to the owner. The owner's continued to make repairs and she is here to represent. Any questions, Mr. Williams? Okay. Hey, if the owner would come forward and please give your name and address. My name is Cla Cambor here on behalf of 6414 31st Street. Um, I have been steady working on it and we are seeing more progress, but I still need a little bit more time to get finished. We started on the roof, but the guy when it got real cold, he he didn't want to work. So, I just spoke with him today and he told me he'll be out there next week.

I'll make a motion for 90 days. I second. Okay. It's been moved and second to table for 90 days. Is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against? Seeing none, voting Mr. Eatman to table for 90 days. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Table for 90 days. Good luck. Thank you. Consent agenda. Clerk. This approves items A through E on the consent agenda. No adoption. Second. It's been moved. Second. Voting. Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Consent agenda is adopted. Public hearings. Clerk. This adopts zoning amendment number 30. Move adoption. Second. It's been moved and second, Mr. Ponds.

All right. This is a reszoning request by Build Art LLC petitioning to reszone approximately.35 acres located at 1209 and 12118th Street from MR1 to MR2. And this is in council district 2. So here's the location of that property somewhat close to the Amtrak station. the aerial of the property and then the current zoning. So, the applicant is requesting to reszone from MR1 to MR2 to construct two duplexes on two separate lots. This is the site plan that they've provided showing those two duplexes and then renderings showing those duplexes. It does um conform to framework. framework identifies this as traditional neighborhood core. Um and so the intended use as well as the zoning request do conform to framework and you can see the future land use character map here. Planning and zoning commission did recommend unanimously to approve this request at their February meeting and I can answer any questions might have.

Any questions, Mr. Hond? Thanks. Okay. If the applicant is here, if they would come forward, if you would please give your name and address. My name is Marcus Mes and my address is 907 Indian Hills Drive. Any questions for Mr. Mes? All right. Doesn't get better than that. Thank you very much. Thank you. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against? Seeing none, voting, Mr. Eatman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Zoning amendment number 30 is adopted. Good luck. Thank you.

Thank you, clerk. This adopts zoning amendment number 31. So move. Second.

It's been moved and second, Mr. Ponds. This is a resoning request by Longleaf Engineering Commissioning to amend a previously approved general plan development consisting of 121 single family residential lots, 25 town home lots, five commercial lots, 10 open space lots, and one additional lot on approximately 80 acres located at 565 Old Colony Road. This is in Council District 3. So, here's the location of the property off of Old Colony Road just on the south side. Um currently there is some construction going on. So again this is an amendment to that GPD. Um they are requesting to amend the previously approved general plan development to change nine residential lots fronting old colony to three commercial lots. So you can see on the left hand side here the existing site plan that was approved and then the proposed site plan up along Old Colony. They want to uh change those to commercial lots. And this is renderings that they've provided that will uh be what those commercial properties will look like. So this was re this was unanimously recommended to reszone um at the PCC meeting in February as well. And I can answer any questions that y'all might have.

So when you say commercial lots, is there a more defined what uses within the commercial lots are acceptable? Yes, sir. So, as part of that um GPD approval, they've provided a list of um of uh commercial uses that they would permit as part of their GPD. Are oil change places part of that? No, sir. No, it's going to be more like retail. I think they actually have some clients already lined up. Okay. All right. Any other questions? All right. if the um applicants would come forward for zoning amendment number 31. If you would please give your name and address.

Good evening. Uh I'm Tom Sams with Longleaf Engineering, 1927 7th Street, Tuscaloosa. Um as Zach said, we were just uh trying to convert a few residential lots uh back into commercial. I think commercial suits this better as as these lots all front old colony road there and uh it would be an extension of the the commercial property to the west that we had already got previously approved. So this will just create the whole frontage along old colony as commercial. Will you need a new Can we go back one? Will you you need a new ingress or egress with this or is it

No, sir. We we we have the two approved there on the east and west and and they can we'll have access uh off of both of those to the front of the commercial and they'll also have rear access along the shared residential drive. Any other questions? Okay, thank you very much. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against? Seeing none, voting Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Zoning amendment is adopted. Good luck, clerk. This approves a restaurant, retail, liquor license for Safari Tacos and Grill. So move. Second.

It's been moved and second, Miss Franks. Good evening, mayor and council. I have ABC application Safari Tacos and Grill LLC doing business as Safari Tacos and Grill. They are applying for a restaurant retail liquor license. They are going to be located at 1759 Skyland Boulevard East. They will be open Sunday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Here's the aerial view. Their occupancy is capped at 1:50. All my reports have been filed with the city clerk. TPD will come and give their report and then the applicant for questions. Officer Champion.

Good evening, Mayor Council. Police Department doesn't have any objections to this applicant. Okay. If the applicant is here, Did

they were supposed to be weren't they Weren't they just in the committee meeting? No, that was somebody Oh, that was Yeah, I'm sorry. Should we Would you like us to We normally require the applicant to be here to approve one week if we recommended that. That'd be fine with the Yeah, I'm moved to table for one week. Second. Yeah. It's been moved and second to table for one week. Voting, Mr. Eman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Applications table for one week. And I know Miss Johnson, I did not call for a public hearing with that. Um, was there anyone here wish we should speak for or against? Seeing none, we'll move on to resolution ordinances not of a general nature or permanent operation. Clerk, this item will be withdrawn at as a request to from the applicant. So, this will withdraw a less than 7day special events retail license for Levy Premium Food Service. Do I hear a motion to withdraw? Second. Move and second to withdraw. Voting Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Applications withdrawn. Clerk,

this approves a special event nonprofit tax exempt license for Theater Tuscaloosa Incorporated. So move. Second. Move and second. Miss Franks.

Okay. I have Theater Tuscaloosa Incorporated doing business as Peter and the Star Catcher applying for a special event nonprofit tax exempt license. This event will be held at Bean Brown Theater at Shelton State Community College at 9500 O Greensboro Avenue. I think that's actually supposed to be a road. Um, the event date and time is April 15th to the 18th at 7:30 and then April 19th at 2. Here's your aerial view. All my reports have been filed with the city clerk. TPD will come give their report and then the applicant. Officer Champion.

No objections from the police department on this application. Okay. Is the applicant here? If you would please come forward and give your name and address. Hi, I'm Michael Walker. I'm executive producer of Theater Tuscaloosa and my address is 845 Forest Drive, Homewood, Alabama. Any questions for Mr. Walker? Congratulations on your new position, by the way. Thank you. All right. Well, good luck, Mr. Walker. Thank you. Thank you. Voting Mr. Eatman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Applications approved. Clerk. This approves a special event nonprofit tax exempt license for West Alabama AIDS Outreach.

So move. Second. It's been moved. Second. Miss. Franks. Application for a West Alabama AIDS outreach. Doing business as the five horizons open. Applying for a special event nonprofit tax exempt license. This will take place at the Bowowers Pickle Pickle Ball Court at 1600 James I. Harrison Jr. Parkway. The event date and time is April 24th from 5 to 8. Here's your aerial view. All my reports have been filed with the city clerk. TPD will come and give their report and then the applicant. Officer Champion. No objections from police department on this application either.

Thank you. Um, is the applicant here? If you would please come forward and give your name and address. Um, I'm Amy Martin, the event coordinator for Five Horizons Health Services as as um, Whale Whale and my address is 4313 Northwood Care Coalition. So move second. Moved and second by Miss Treatment. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution's adopted. Clerk. This authorizes acceptance of donations to the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force. Is it on? So move. Second. Moved and second by Mr. Lineer. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Applications approved. Clerk.

This authorizes execution of an interjurisdictional aid agreement with Advanced Fire Protection District. So move. Second. Moved and second. Voting. Mistreatment. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution's adopted. Clerk. This authorizes the purchase of equipment, supplies, or services. Some move. Second. Second. Moved and seconded by Mr. Lineer. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Clerk. This authorizes a contract with MXI Environmental Services LLC. So move. Second. Move and second. Mr. Freeman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution's adopted. Clerk.

This authorizes a minor public works contract with fast signs. So move second. Move and second by Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution's adopted. Clerk. This authorizes a professional services contract with Redpoint Audio LLC. So move. Second. Move. Second. Voting. Miss Dreamman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution's adopted. Clerk. This authorizes a contract with Millennium Satellite and Video Incorporated. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded by Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution's adopted. Clerk, this will authorize a professional services contract with Civic Plus LLC. So move. Second. Moved and second by Miss Freman.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution's adopted. Clerk. This authorizes professional study and consult services agreement with Shaw Engineering Company Incorporated. Some move. Second. Moved and second by Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Clerk, this authorizes a professional services contract with the ESB Group Incorporated. So moved. Second. Moved and second by Mr. Freman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Clerk. This authorizes a district 2 dispersement of improvement funds to the West Alabama Multicultural Alliance. So move. Second. Move and second by Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Thank you. Yes. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Clerk. This authorizes dispersement from district 2 improvement funds for Skyland Elementary School. So move. Second. Moved and second by Mistreatment. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Clerk. This authorizes dispersement from district 7 and funds to the West Alabama Multicultural Alliance. So move. So move. Second. Moved and second by you, Mr. Lineer. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Clerk. This authorizes a contract with Skyio Incorporated and declares a bid law exemption. So move. Second. Moved and second by Miss Reedman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolution's adopted. Clerk.

This authorizes a professional services contract with Power DNS Incorporated. Motion. Second. Moved and seconded by Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolutions adopted. Ordinance to resolutions of general nature of permanent operation for introduction. Clerk, this introduces zoning amendment number 33. So move. Second. Moved and second by Miss Freman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Clerk. This introduces zoning amendment number 34. So move. Second. Moved and second. Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yes. Clerk.

This appoints individuals to serve as election officers for the 2026 special municipal elections. So move second. It's been moved and second. Voting Mr. Eman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All unanimous consent. Second. Second. It's been moved and second for unanimous consent. Voting Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Resolutions adopted. Clerk, if you wouldn't mind if I could ask you to take a point of personal privilege and remind everyone when the special election is for District 3.

So the special election for District 3 is April 14th. polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00. Church of the Highlands is the polling location for district 3. Um, absentee voting, last time to the last day to apply for a regular absentee ballot is April 9th at my office. You can also do it um you can fill out your application online and email it to us or of course you could fill out your application when you get to my office. Okay. And and again, when is the election? April 14th. That's what I thought. Thank you. And if anybody has any questions, they can call 311. They can call 311 or they can email city clerk@tusescaloosa.com. Thank you, Miss Johnson. Yes, sir. Clerk, this authorizes amendment number nine to the fiscal year 2026 general fund budget.

So move second. It's been moved and second voting Mr. Even. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All unanimous consent. Second. Moved and second. Voting Mr. Lineer. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Budgets amended. Clerk. This authorizes amendment number 10 to the fiscal year 2026 general fund budget. So move second. Move and second voting Mr. Reedman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All for unanimous consent. Second. Moved and second voting Mr. Lenir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Budgets amended for adoption. Clerk. This says April 21st is the date for a public hearing to consider adoption of zoning amendment number 33. Some move. Second. Moved and second by Miss Friedman. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Date is set. Clerk. This sets April 21st as the date for a public hearing to consider adoption of zoning amendment number 34. I move second. Move. Second by Mr. Laneir. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Date is set. It appears somebody was busy during spring break. Auditing account. This authorizes the payment of bills. Pay my bills quick. Quick. Pay my bills. It's been moved and second. Voting. Mr. Freeman. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you.

The bills are paid. Citizens comments and other communications. E citizens will address their council. Yes, ma'am. If you would please come forward and give your name and address. My name is Susie Smith and I live at 17 Springbrook. Being curious about what business Delaney Property Group had before the city council public projects committee, I attended that committee's meeting today at 2:30. What public project was Delaney Property Group going to recommend to the city. As I learned, it wasn't a public pro project at all, but an amended financial proposal for the commercial development in 1/5 of Springbrook neighborhood. Mr. Deloney presented to the city c city council finance committee in late December and again in early January that was tabled indefinitely with a unanimous vote of the city council on January 27th. I wondered how a second ask for tax incentives for a commercial development fit on the agenda of the public projects committee. I never got an answer to that. Mr. Delaney had a six-point plan to modify his original ask for 5.75 million in tax incentives for the Springbrook develop commercial development and expressed dismay and frustration as did councelor Laneir when staff informed him that he must start over the process for the incentive ask. Mr. Mr. Laneir is concerned about getting quote something in his district 7 now. Isn't old McFarland Mall in district 7?

Isn't the development of old McFarland Mall quote something? Finally, Mr. Delaney outlined a modified six-point plan for his tax incentive. I have only three points to make about commercial development in Springbrook. First, the reszoneed property in Springbrook is unsuitable for commercial development. The location is unsuitable for commercial development. Had it been suitable, it would have de been developed before 8 and a half years after it was resoneed. Development. Number two, development will require the destruction of 20 homes and the raising of a tree canopy of many old growth trees older than 1945. Number three, tax incentives in any amount are inappropriate for a private nonprofit endeavor that benefits only private individ individuals. Initially, Springbrook Investment members Lynn, Melinda, Brock, and Blake Carter, Alan, Sarah, and Richard Henry, Robert and Suzanne Young, and Wendell Barton, owners of the properties on the reszoneed tract. I do not now and will continue to vigorously oppose tax incentives in any amount that the city might grant for such a project.

Anyone else wish to address their city council tonight? Seeing none, subject to the exercise of mayor veto and ordinances of a general nature or permanent operation, all applicable departments hereby ordered to otherwise implement council policy of the state. Move we adjourn. Second moved and second. Voting Mr. Heman. Yes. Yes. Yes. I Yes. Yes. Meetings adjourn.