City Council - Regular Meeting

Roll call. President Small. Here. Vice President Gregory. Council Member Penn. Here. Council Member Ingram. Here. Council Member Reynolds. Council Member Fleming. Here. Council Member Woods.

Here.

Statement of rules.

Good morning, everyone. Good morning. It's good to see everybody this morning. Welcome to our Tuesday, August the 18th, 2026 meeting. At this meeting, we do have rules. At this time, I ask if anyone have any type of electronic device, please, at this time, put on the off of the vibrated position, the off of the vibrated position. Any person that is desiring to address the Mobile City Council must sign and indicate in the resolution the ordinance of public hearing agenda before entering the meeting. When addressing the council, the speaker must give his or her name. AND A PERSON DESIRING TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ON A NON-AGENDA ITEM MUST CONTACT THE CITY CLERK OFFICE NO LATER THAN 2 O'CLOCK P.M. OR THURSDAY PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL MEETING. THE SUBJECT THAT HE OR SHE WANTS TO EXPRESS TO THE MOBILE CITY COUNCIL MUST BE IDENTIFIED AND PERTAINED TO THE CITY OF MOBILE BUSINESS. ANYONE WHO HAS NOT GIVEN A PROPER NOTICE TO THE CITY CLERK OFFICE AND WANTS TO SPEAK ON A NON-AGENDA ITEM WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address this council. A bell will sound to indicate the end of two minutes. One minute remain for summarizing. The second bell indicates that your time has expired. When addressing this council, there will be no personal address to any individual council members. All statements are to be made to the chair who will recognize any council member who wishes to respond. To maintain decorum, there will be no undue applause or public outcry allowed. Madam Clerk.

Approval of minutes of August the 11th. So moved.

Second. Properly move and second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Minutes approved.

Communications from Mayor Chair Gattas' office.

Yeah, Council President, I'll be making comments on behalf of Mayor Chair Gattis, who is on city business and brings greetings to the city council. I do want to announce an upcoming DDD community meeting. The city, along with Bill Mobile Department, is inviting interested parties to review and help us update the downtown development district code. The downtown development district update community workshop will be Wednesday, September the 2nd at 6 p.m. at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf. ESTABLISHED IN 2014 AND INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY'S UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE IN 2022. THE DDD IS A SET OF ZONING RULES AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT HELP SHAPE HOW BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN MOBILE ARE DESIGNED, BUILT AND USED. While it has worked well over the years, the update aims to make it even better and focus specifically on making standards clearer, more user-friendly, and more effective at producing the results that everyone can be proud of. If you wish to attend, please register by visiting the mapformobile.org website. Again, that's mapformobile.org website. And that will conclude my announcements.

All right. Thank you so much. Dr. Ingram.

Thank you, Mr. President. At this time, if I can ask Ms. Toki Dunn to meet me at the podium. Good morning. It is my privilege to read this proclamation. Whereas the Mobile County Health Department and the Mobile County Community Health Workers Coalition strive to recognize the important role of community health workers in Mobile County. And whereas community health workers are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of and or have usually close understanding of the community served. And whereas this trusting relationship enables the community health workers to serve as a liaison or link between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competency of service delivery. And whereas a community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as health outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, clinical integration, and health advocacy. And whereas on September 29, 2023, Congress introduced a resolution recognizing community health workers as profession and honored the significance of their vital roles in the community and public health. And now, therefore, I, Councilwoman Dr. Samantha J. Ingram of District 2 and the members of the Mobile City Council do hereby proclaim August 24, August 24th through the 28th, 2026, as National Community Health Workers Awareness Week, done at the City of Mobile, Alabama, the 18th date of August 2026. Congratulations. And please provide comments.

Greetings to the honorable Mayor, City Councilman, President, the entire City Council staff, community members present. I bid you good morning. My name is Toki Dunn and I am the Director of Community Prevention Programs at the Mobile County Health Department. I, along with many who are present with me today, are proud community health workers and community health worker allies. It is an honor to stand before you and give the utmost appreciation and credit to the many individuals called to be of tremendous service to the communities and neighborhoods of Mobile County. Community health workers are selfless individuals who are trusted to help educate, encourage, and empower individuals navigating through complex health and social systems, as well as this thing called life. We are the capeless heroes. I take this time to share the importance of the community health worker profession, the continuous work being done, and the impact they have on our communities. The recognition of the fourth annual National Community Health Worker Awareness Week is a call for continued advocacy, support, and dedication to improving our communities from the inside out. As we profess nothing about us without us, CHWs are ready to take the charge on the issues that affect us and the communities we serve, live, work, and play. Thank you for this proclamation, recognition and commitment to the CHW profession and the workforce in the City of Mobile and in Mobile County.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Madam Clerk.

Adoption of the agenda.

So moved. Second. Promptly move and second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Agenda is adopted.

Appeals, we have requests for a wave of the noise ordinance on September the 5th at Mill Street Park, November 22nd at Tri-Centennial Park, and September the 26th on North Cody Road.

So moved.

Second.

Properly move and second. Any discussion? All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed? Appeal passes.

Public hearings. Today is the public hearing to consider the application of KCARS4U LLC for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a sedan service.

This over at the public hearing for this particular said item. Is there anyone present that would like to address the council on this item? If not, this particular public hearing is closed.

Today is the public hearing to consider the application of Midtown Cart Transpo for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a golf cart service.

Just over at the plumber here for this particular said item, is there anyone present that would like to address the council on this item? If you want to address the council on this item, come on down and give us your name.

Good morning, everyone. Good morning. I would like to thank God and all of you for allowing me to be here today. My name is Roderick Bolton. I'm a proud owner of hair locker barber and beauty salon LLC. I'm a pillar in the community for over 34 years and my goal is to start a transportation service with my six passenger golf cart for the midtown area. to sporting events, concerts, assisting the elderly in the area, and also different events around the city. The name of my business is Midtown Cart Transport. This will be a part-time job for me from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, Sundays off. I WILL BE CHARGING $5 PER PERSON FOR THE FIRST SIX BLOCKS, THEN $2 PER PERSON FOR EACH ADDITIONAL BLOCK. FLAT RATES FOR TOURS. I WILL BE ACCEPTING CASH, CREDIT AND DAMAGE CARDS, VENMO, AND CASH OUT. I HAVE FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE WILL COVER MY PASSENGERS AND I AND THE CART ALSO. This business will also help prevent accidents caused by drinking and driving. We all want to be safe. Again, I'd like to thank the Mobile City Council for considering Midtown Cart Transport.

I JUST GOT ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. I KNOW YOU'RE A GOOD BUSINESSMAN. YOU CUT GREAT HAIR. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET OFF AT 6 O'CLOCK ON CUTTING HAIR? BUT I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT MR. ROGERS IS A VERY COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PERSON THAT INVEST A LOT INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND VERY WELL RESPECTED OWNER OF HIS BUSINESS AND EVERYTHING. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. MR. PRESIDENT.

I would like to echo those sentiments. Thank you for your commitment to the community and continuing to uplift others around you. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. President, you stated Midtown. What would be the boundaries? What would you consider the area that you would be serving?

Just like right around the Midtown area, around the Murphy area to downtown, around Ladd People Stadium. Sporting events, concerts, high school games. Okay.

All right.

Thank you so much.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you. All right. Thank you.

NYS president would like to address the council on this particular said item. If not, this public hearing is closed.

Presentation of petitions and other communications to the council. Apostle Valenia Green.

Good morning. Good morning, Mayor, Mayor's office. Women represented in leadership today, their works in our city. I applaud you for your work and I applaud you for standing, for standing for righteousness this morning with the women. that lead communities. I expressed my concern for the leadership with my community. I'm dealing with a death of my mother where she was not recognized as a dying cancer patient and the way system that existed with her in the community with the attorneys. I ask today for it to stop. I asked for the embellishment with the black community to stop. I asked for the racism in the law. I'm prepared to speak. I asked I ask for your help to employ your help to look on the elderly blacks in our community that are not represented here today. I could have gotten my community down here, but I couldn't move them because it's not enough disabled, handicapped parking places for them to get in and out of here. I have them fearful to scare to go over there to probate court because they think they're going to be struck down. I have two aunts now have nervous problems for the things that were done to them over there in probate court. My mother lied on a dying death bed with health care insurance when they said there was nothing wrong with her. I ask for freedom of running today in this place. If you're going to be white, be white all the time. Not some of the time. Not when it's time to look black. Be white all the time for the women. I ask you, and I implore you today, I don't see color, but y'all know if I come up here and talk about the services that were not rendered, Many of you, she put money in your campaigns, and you didn't come back to help. You never acknowledged even a doubt. And me fighting for the neighborhood, I deplore you. Not only have I taken care of my mother and other folks' mamas in this city, whose children left them abandoned, them old people over there in those senior citizen apartments, But, Lord, I want you all to know he reigns. He reigns on the just as well as the unjust. Now, what kind of reign are you going to get today? Because you've been employed to help, to stand up and speak. You say you're for a council patient. Well, how come I hadn't heard your voice? My mama died with brain cancer when they said nothing was wrong with her. Three months later, I had to receive a death. And y'all all knew about it. Thank you.

Thank you. And just for the record, um, we hear you, we don't need a microphone. So all of the elevation of your voice is not really necessary. Okay.

Madam clerk, Reggie Hill.

Thank you, Madam City Clerk. To the citizens and stakeholders of Mobile, greetings. Reggie Hill is my name. As I said before, an old adage, a steady drip of water puts a hole in a rock. And sometimes people have to continue doing these things because regardless of the volume, you've not really heard about what's happening. And that's why we're here time after time after time again. So hopefully that steady drip of water will allow us to get to resolves that are necessary for the citizens we each represent. I rise today to continue these personal conversations pertaining to our city's business. And I'd like to start with the fiscal year budget for 2027. When will we see resolutions that set the expectations of what's needed for what's coming up? I mentioned before about the necessity of our interest and where we spend our capital. We've seen over the past few years an over-allocation of funding, which eventually goes to the unassigned fund balance. What does that mean? We're putting more money into departments, and then we say, well, we didn't have to use that. And I think it's kind of less than the type of reports that we get each month financially. And then what ends up happening, we put things into unassigned fund balances. What we see, we go to these extreme projects, but yet the necessity that we need to cover is not handled. We're looking over these things that are vital for the growth of our communities. As well, I would like to see an establishment for small businesses to get resources. If we invest hundreds of thousands of dollars annually into the Chamber of Commerce, and they're supposed to act as an ambassador, why won't we allow the individuals and the businesses that have data-proven records to be a part of that same pool of income and improve the quality of life in the city of Mobile. What are we really going to do about performance contracts? We say these same things week after week after week, but we've not seen anything presented to the people. And so we don't have anything going towards the things that will actually work. What are we going to do about the infrastructure increase? It's nice, like I mentioned last week, where we're seeing more resources going to certain places, but a lot of times these things come to committee meetings and we don't have any idea where the resources are going. And I'm going to continue emphasizing, as I have for the past five years, districts one through three need more funding. They're the oldest infrastructure in the city. And that's not anything that's against any other district. This is what we need to do, because it doesn't matter what district you come into at the city of Mobile. They're going to talk about their experience here in the city as well. Community center fees, charging organizations to utilize these centers that we already pay for, not having vans in place for children to get around. These are things that we can put in the budget. If we have millions upon millions of dollars going into fleets that are not improving public safety, why are we not investing it this way? I don't have the time to go into things about the housing investment. We're going to continue to do this. The thing that I'm not appreciative of here, and please, again, I'll take this personal, is as if we wanted to make comfortable the history of being uncomfortable in this city. And that is something that we cannot continue to do, or the strains will be here like this. We look at this Gulf Coast Technology Center. We talk about these drones. I know of drones. that are being used probably irregularly. But you would say, well, you don't have any proof of that. Well, if you stymied the proof, if you prevent people from being allowed to present that, there's nothing you can really do about it. Thank you for not cutting me off at that time. We'll continue with some remarks next week.

Margo Spencer.

Yes, Mr. Spencer.

Hello. My name is Margo Spencer, and I'm here today.

She's really nervous. I don't know if this is allowed or not, but do you mind if I read the letter that she wrote?

Yeah, go ahead. That's okay?

Okay.

Good morning, Board. My name is India. I am a friend of hers. I attend her church. And she has some concerns, and I'm going to read the letter that she wrote. It says, I'm here today because I need help with an ongoing situation that I have been trying to address for some time. For months, my seven-year-old and I have experienced repeated harassment, intimidation, and threats involving individuals of the Mobile Police officials, detectives, officials, and others. I have tried to seek assistance, but I have been unable to get the help that I need. I'm concerned that personal relationship or conflict of interest may be making it difficult for me. This situation has affected not only me, but my child. I'm asking for someone to simply listen with a heart and to just seriously take into consideration the concerns that I have. Thank you for allowing me to speak today.

Can I ask you a couple questions, if possible? Have you went to Eterna Affairs and made a report? Okay.

I have, but no one is listening, and I believe because... Give them the closest to the mic. I have, and no one's listening because I believe of relationships, friendships.

But you did do a report at the police station with Eterna Affairs.

Yes.

How long ago has that been?

This has been happening for nine months.

Since you did the report?

A couple of months ago.

What's a couple of months? June, May, April?

Probably like in April or so.

April or so. And this is your full name that's on this?

Yes, sir.

All right. I'm going to ask the Yeah. Well, it won't be a problem. I'll cry. I will contact you. We have a number. Yeah, I will contact you after this meeting. Okay. All right. All right. Thank you.

Resolutions held over. 21778, authorized professional services contract with Mennequin Resources Incorporated to provide governance review and improvement consulting services.

Move to offer an amendment that's on file with the clerk.

Second. Properly move and second in discussion. Excuse me. So moved. Second. Properly move and second in discussion.

I offer an amendment that's on file with the clerk.

Second. Properly move and second on the amendment and the discussion on the amendment. All in favor on the amendment? Aye. Aye. All opposed? Back to the original. All in favor? Any other discussion? All in favor? Aye. And opposed? Item passed.

08832, authorized agreement with Live Investment Group LLC for Community Liaison Africa Town Welcome Center Youth Jobs Programming and Consulting Services.

Move to hold over for one week. Second.

I'll be moving second in discussion. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? I'm laid off for one week.

01850 authorized agreement with tag marshall international limited of cork ireland for installation and management of gps software services at azalea city golf course 08862 approved purchase order to unmanned vehicle technologies for drones 08863 approved purchase order to north america A FIRE EQUIPMENT COMPANY FOR MASTER COMMUNICATION STATIONS WITH HEADSETS AND ACCESSORIES. 37-864 CONSIDER THE APPLICATION OF EVERBLISS SENIOR SOLUTIONS FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO OPERATE A SHUTTLE SERVICE.

SO MOVED.

Second.

I'll move to second in discussion.

Yes, sir, Mr. President.

Madam Vice.

On the resolution for floodlights, drones, and cameras, we had a discussion about this during our pre-conference meeting just to help alleviate some fears of spying or invasion of privacy. Those are certainly not the purposes of these drones. They are for public safety use. for buildings, for parks, for Mardi Gras. And it also helps with looking at building elevations when we are developing new buildings throughout the city. So that is not what they are for. They are, again, primarily public safety and also for really the good of the city. Just wanted to make sure that everybody was clear on that.

And just to piggyback behind Vice President, many complaints I have been receiving for the last couple of years is police chases. And this here will help to element police chases when you have a drone from a bird eye view can follow the suspect besides having six or seven or eight police officers chasing, you know, suspect down the street and putting other citizens in danger. So this is a good item that I'm looking to support on today. Any other discussions? All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Item passed.

Consent resolution is being introduced, 31866 through 6874.

Moved away the rules for immediate consideration of these resolutions as read.

Second. Second. Moved and seconded in discussion. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Rules waived. Madam Clerk?

31866 authorized the mayor to apply, accept and receive a grant from the US Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for fiscal year 2026 safer outcomes, enhancing crisis response training for law enforcement grant program. 46867 honorarily renamed the corner of Mill Street AND MOBILE STREET TO HONORARY CLARA JEAN ESTHER WAY. 58868, ASSESS COSTS FOR REMOVAL OF WEEDS, REPEAT WEED LINK GROUP 103. 6869 AND 870, APPROVE AWARD SPECIAL BONUS TO THE OFFICER OF THE MONTH AND THE FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH. 60, 871, 872, 873, and 874 are determined appropriations to Eichelmertz Magna School, Gillyard Elementary School, B.C. Rain High School, Craighead Elementary School, Marybelle Elementary School, Pillings Middle School, Morningside Elementary School, Tummelville-Criton Community Development Corporation, Rebounds and Resources, Lankford Enterprises, serve a public purpose and approve payment.

So moved.

Second. Second. I'll be moving second in discussion. Mr. President.

Mr. Penn. We have the honorary of Mrs. Esther, and I kind of just want to share some information about her life in 1968. She was a 19-year-old student in Memphis for a worker strike, and she witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King's funeral. I've been to a mountaintop speech on April the 3rd. The next day, April the 4th, She was at the motel when Dr. King was assassinated. She recalls seeing him fall after the gunshot, running upstairs where he was lying and kneeling beside him. She was one of the last people who witnessed this that was alive. In 1970, she moved to Mobile, Alabama, where she became a neighborhood organizer. and at Dumas Wesley Community Center. She eventually became an executive director of the Dumas Wesley Community Center, serving to her retirement in 2006. She was deeply involved in the Tomeville Warren Street United Methodist Church and became a deaconess. She was very important to the city of Mobile, to the Tomeville community and the crime community. So we celebrate her life today. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. Penn. And also, looking at Resolution 60-871, I covered just about every school in District 3. It's very important. I know many people that does back to school drives, and they give back supplies and everything. But one important thing that we need to do, especially as citizens, and we want to invest back into our public school systems, IS CONTACT THE PRINCIPALS AT EACH SCHOOL. THEY ARE VERY NEEDED FOR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES. TEACHERS DON'T MAKE THAT MUCH, BUT THEY GOT TO GO IN THEIR POCKETS TO BUY TISSUES AND OTHER SMALL ITEMS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE CLASSROOM. So the best thing that you can do is, you know, besides doing a back to school drive, is contact the schools and contact the principals and see, you know, invest money to their instructional supplies. And that's what 60-871 is doing by putting some money to the schools in District 3. Any other discussions? All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Item passes.

CIP resolutions being introduced 09875. By council rules, this will lay over for one week. Resolutions being introduced 01876 through 01895. Move to waive the rules for immediate consideration of resolutions 08-878, 879, 880, 881.

882, 884, 885, 886, 887, and the last one is 896. Second. I'll be moving second in discussion. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Rose Wade, Madam Clerk.

FOR THE RECORD, LET ME REPEAT THOSE NUMBERS. THAT'S 01876 THROUGH 01896. I SAID 895. OKAY. 08878, APPROVED PURCHASE ORDER TO STAND SUM EQUIPMENT COMPANY FOR REPLACEMENT VERTICAL MASS ASSEMBLY FOR SIDE LOAD GARBAGE TRUCK. 08879, APPROVED PURCHASE ORDER TO HF GLOB CONSTRUCTION FOR STORM DRAINAGE VEGETATION AND DEBRIS REMOVAL. 08880, APPROVED PURCHASE ORDER TO for one year renewal of avenue point office 365 cloud backup services 08881 882 our proven purchase starts to invasive management services and hughes 360 services for storm drainage VEGETATION AND DEBRIS REMOVAL, 08884, APPROVED PURCHASE ORDER TO MCCI FOR MIGRATION OF STORED CITY DATA TO LASERFISH ENTERPRISE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, 09885, TRANSFER 09885, 886 and 887 are transferring funds from capital project cruise terminal to equipment and miscellaneous capital projects and roll up doors gangway capital project cruise terminal and to parking deck repairs. 08896 approved purchase order to PL Russell for concrete base for Jimmy Buffett statue at Maritime Museum.

So moved. Second. Prop to move and second in discussion.

Yes, sir, Mr. President.

Vice President.

On the agenda today in these resolutions, you see a number of items for storm drainage, vegetation, and debris removal. I have a couple as well. And this is just continuing this program that we have instituted. to get at those drains and clean them out and really make a big difference in every district. And I just applaud the administration for continuing this, and it really does improve things. So this coming budget, we intend to put even more money in to continue this effort. Thank you.

Any other discussions? All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Item passes.

Call for public hearings. 41893, call for public hearing to consider the modification of a previously approved planning unit development for property located at 13 and 5 Mobile Infirmary Circle, 166 Mobile Infirmary Drive, 168, 169, 171, 176, 177, 185, 190, 191, and 196 Mobile Infirmary Boulevard, 1700, 1720, 1740, 1768, and 1806 Spring Hill Avenue, scheduled September 22nd. 41894, call for public hearing to consider the proposed rezoning of property located at the west side of Weinecker Avenue, 150 feet north of Virginia Street, scheduled September 22nd, 2026. So moved. Second.

Properly move and second in discussion. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Public hearings call.

Announcements.

District 6, Councilman Woods. No announcements, Mr. President. District 5, Councilman Flinders. No announcements. District 2, Councilwoman Ingram.

Thank you, Mr. President. Greetings, District 2 residents. I want to first start by thanking all of you that participated with us in the Back to School Bash on Saturday. A special shout out to Mr. Shad Collins, Parks and Recreation, the entire team. It was truly an eventful event. time for all of us and it was great to see so many families that took advantage of this opportunity. So thank you for the work that you all did in organizing that and partnering with us to make it a success. I also want to acknowledge the opportunity to participate in the 100th anniversary of New Hope Baptist Church with Reverend Glenn Clark. It was really um a great opportunity to uh worship and be a part of the um anniversary so thank you for that invite and thank you for the time and then lastly i want to thank district 2 residents who attended the community meeting on last thursday It was at the Hope Community Center. We had great participation, but more importantly, we had great dialogue. I encourage you all to stay engaged and stay connected by checking out your newsletter for what's happening in District 2. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Addition one, Councilman Penn.

Thank you, Mr. President. This past weekend, my son enjoyed the stream event. He created a rover. So shout out to Parks and Recs. And we stayed to support Dr. Ingram event with Parks and Recs. And it was an amazing time down here. downtown Mobile to District 1. We will have our community meeting today at 6 p.m. at the Tomeville 1 Street Church. Come, hear updates, share your concerns, and stay connected to see what's happening in District 1. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Councilman Penn. District 7, Vice President Gregory.

Thank you, Mr. President. Just a reminder that on August 27th, we will be dedicating and officially opening the Senior Center in Hillsdale. This is at Hillsdale Recreation Center. It is named in honor of John E. King. We are inviting everyone in the neighborhood to come, as well as, of course, all family, friends, church friends to come and be a part of this. We've been working on this senior center for some time now, and we are finally able to really have this complete dedication for the seniors in this area. Thank you.

Thank you, Vice President. Anything from the administration? All right.

Hello.

I was going to let her. Anybody else want to do it? Motion to adjourn.

Second.

Probably moving second in discussion. All in favor?

Aye.

All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Meeting is adjourned.