City Council - Regular Meeting

Ladies and gentlemen, now the hands of our capable city clerk, Miss Lisa. This is the premeating of the Mobile City Council, Tuesday, May the 5th. And we have approval of minutes for April 28th. Any issues anywhere? No, sir. Okay.

Appeals. We have request for wave of the noise ordinance on May 16th on Donald Street from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. May 15th on Government Street from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30. May the 30th and 31st on Charleston Street from 12:00 p.m. until 1000 p.m. Uh September 4th and 5th on Virginia Street from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. October the 1st through the 3rd on Virginia Street from 12:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. May the 9th at Lion's Park from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. September 11th through the 13th at Lion's Park 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. June 27th at Fort Condi from 6:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. July uh 18th on Dolphin Street, 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. September 13th, North Warren Street, 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. October 17th on Government Street, 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. June the 6th, Apex Court from 12:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. May 7th, Mobile Botanical Gardens from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. May the 9th, Magnolia Grove Parkway, 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. And May the 9th, Magnolia Grove Parkway from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Any issues? U P Ingram Reynolds or Gregory? Yes, sir. Mr. President, I'd like to hold the one in my district uh over, please. For how long? One week. Okay. Any other issues? Yes, Mr. President. Um, if you could go to June 27th and change that June 27th um from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. And then if you could hold over for two weeks, October the 17th, 2026. Okay. [snorts]

That's laying over two weeks. Two weeks.

Okay. Public hearing today is a public hearing to declare the structure at 2814 Cottage Hill Road, a public nuisance and order it demolished. 251 Ryland Street, 2459 Carrian Drive, and 3909 Wiggins Drive. uh ordering those demolished, declaring them public nuisances and ordering them demolished. Presentation of petitions and other communications to the council. Tammy White give information about support surviving mothers that provides resources such as therapy and burial assistance. Lenise Emanuel, executive director of Alabama Institute for Social Justice in inviting the council to the National Day Without Child Care event on May 11th. Stella Tra, Mobile City officials and officers of the court fidiciary duties to report fake, inaccurate, fraudulent, gross negligence information purposely submitted to courts in order to harm mobile citizens. And um Malcolm Banks's um application to address the council was attached to another form. So that why that's why it wasn't on the original agenda. and he is giving information about Elizabeth Crayon's event resolutions held over 01466 authorized agreement with downtown Mobile District Management Corporation for baseline services.

Mr. President. Yeah. Yes. If we could lay over for one week. Okay. Did you have anything for Okay. And just to provide some clarity, um we trying to get some more details on the actual um description of some of the services, but we don't see an issue. Just need to get with Mr. Renfrey. Okay. Thank you.

01467 authorized agreement with Matthew Brooks and Payton Hickman to provide tennis lessons and Frank Trice to provide racket stringer services. 09473 reallocate funds from capital project mounting unit new training center to capital project MPD mounted unit grand bay upgrades 09474 reallocate funds from capital project ADM testing to capital project storm water management MS4 program to support the city of Mobile's MS4 program 21475 authorized contract amendment number four Goodwin Mills Kwood for improvements to the master plan for the Mobile Civic Center Arena. 37477 Consider the application of Charles Royal for a certificate [clears throat] of public convenience and necessity to operate a shuttle service. 6478 authorized settlement agreement and release of claims. Consent resolutions being introduced. 03480 concurrent appointments of Dr. Valerie James and Denise Rimmer to the Mobile County Board of Human Resources. 09481 transfer funds from Capital Project Priority Project District 5 to Capital Project Traffic Engineering Street Traffic Improvements. 40 482 483 484 and 485 are declaring the structures public nuisances and ordering them demolished. 6486 through 489 determine appropriations to Jack and Jill of America Inc. Mobile Chapter via Senior Center, Country Club Estates Neighborhood Association, Augusta Evans School serve a public purpose and approve payment. CIP resolutions being introduced 01490

authorized agreement with Harwell and Company for 2026 CIP resurfacings districts 1 2 3 4 5 and 7. Mr. President. Yeah, Mr. Reynolds. [snorts] Can I get a road list, the actual roads listed at least for district four? Yeah, I can send it to Okay, thank you.

The 08491 approved purchase order to Muse Co Sports Lighting for field lights for Tre Park football field 253,000. 21492 authorized contract with geotechnical engineering testing for 2026 CIP resurfacing districts 1 2 3 4 5 and 7 238,000. Resolutions being introduced. 01493 authorized foreign trade zone operator agreement with CMT2 LLC. Mr. President. Yeah, I can do that.

If administrative um could just sh provide some insight on the size of this company. You know, I I realize that it gives us an exhibit A in terms of what the administrative fees are going to be, but it lists multiple options.

That's correct. So, the size of the company that we couldn't necessarily tell you that because this is purely for storage. What they are doing is they're storing metals at a warehouse at this location. Um, so we can get you um we can get you specific location. We can get you all of those things, but what I can tell you is that is for a specific site and the site's usually bigger than just the one warehouse, but for this one in particular, it's for the warehouse for storage of metals. [snorts] That's uh that's all that they're doing there. And so then what is the what is the operator fee? Is it option A, B, C?

It it will depend on so that it'll depend on the amount of metals that come in. So what they store there and so once we know that that's when you make that selection. So you don't make that selection on the front end. Okay. So then once you determine the size so that sounds like the size. Yes. Once you determine the size size of storage what they're storing. Okay. That's when you'll determine which option you're going to charge them in terms of a fee.

That is correct. because that fee is going to be dependent on what they're storing there. You got to think about it in terms of free trade zone, what you're looking at is either customs or duty deferrals delays or sometimes they actually wipe them out. Um, and so you in order for them to come and pay us, they have to be saving a certain amount of money. It helps with their cash flow is what it really does. So you wouldn't want to charge somebody more for what they're storing if they're not storing a certain amount. But we can get once that selected we can actually get you that number.

Okay. And that's great. So then does that explain then when you go to the second page for the annual operator fees will that fee depend on like you we're saying size but the cost of that merchandise because on the next page it then goes to the annual fee. That is correct. That is that is correct because once again what they're saving as far as storing in this area using the FTZ will depend largely on what the duty they're deferring is or is it and then my last question will this provide any job creation or is it just something that was already there?

Typically it does not. That's this is warehousing that is already there. they're using the advantage of the FTZ. And you got to remember um so as far as a free trade zone, there's no duty that's there's no duty tax to the labor. And so it typically typically does not create jobs. It's just about the storage and deferring delaying or just absolutely cutting out the duty or the tax. And you know depending on the the device say for instance there's different subcategories and we used to include all of that. be glad to go over that with you all. Um, it's terribly dry, but you know, if it's if it's being stored for a certain amount of time, they can defer the duty, but if it's broken equipment, then you don't pay the duty or the tax or if it's being reintroduced. So, for instance, a component unit goes out is combined with something else that comes back into the country for international trade, then you don't necessarily pay a tax on that. So, there's no double taxation um there. because that's one of the one of the advantages of using the free trade zone.

So then it there is some port activity associate associated with it. Yes. So absolutely. Um so everything that comes in this is all dealing with international trade and everything that comes in typically comes in through barge or rail. Um that's that's that's how it comes in. But it's all because of importing and then being able to avoid that duty. So I would say not everything but 99% of this is dealing with international trade and what comes in and out through the through the port.

Okay. I I do want to thank you for the explanation. You know I understand it's not creating job creation but the fact that it is giving us port activity. It is preparing us for more of a global competitiveness. Um you know I'm in favor of it. I just would like to know um what is going to be the actual annual fee, you know, once you all ga gather the rest of the information and and that that's available. And let let me let me give you a caveat and I think, you know, Dr. Ingles made a valid point. This doesn't directly create jobs, but indirectly it it could down the line. But we don't attribute anything to this particular agenda item. Mr. President, Mr. Toronto

uh is who's the administrator for the city and is it do we have the same administrator for all of our FTC's?

Yes, it's so it's Greg Jones who we deal with who we've dealt with probably I don't know last I' who I've dealt with for the last 13 years. Um same administrator very um very collaborative effort. We talk to him back and forth all the time when we're doing each every one of these. Um, and so it's been the same administrator for all that time and then they do report back in to us when they're dealing with the uh with the the zones. And so you got to remember also this is not just the city of Mobile, it's the administrator, it's the user, but we also have to deal with customs and border uh protection. So those communications come directly to us as well in addition to the administrator, Mr. Jones, dealing with them. and they have to follow all the the agreement requires the user to follow all of the standard rules that they would with um with our folks uh in the port area and with Customs and Border Patrol. That's that's a requirement of being entered into this agreement. And the the monitoring is not only done by administrator, but that's that's on the city side, but dealing with the federal government. they're monitoring this as well because the deferral of the duty or either the uh the delay of the duty sometimes.

I would just ask Mr. I'm sorry, Mr. President. I would just ask if we could have um an overview of what that administrative cost um return is for the city once you determine the size and the merchandise and all of that. If we can get u an overview of that. Sure. And be happy to do so. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. 01494 authorized agreement with Hunter Nichols for videography and photography services for National Maritime Museum of the Gulf $61,79 per year. Mr. President, yeah.

Yeah, I had a question. Um, I see this is a renewal um process. Is this something um I guess um we seeing it for the National Time Maritime Museum. Is it not in their budget? U we have to renew it. Just want to get some insight.

I apologize. I didn't hear the question. Yeah, I was trying to see this is a renewal. So is we're we're hiring I guess the person the same person. Um and I was just wondering why it's not in their budget. Oh, the Hunter Nichols is a new and it's coming out of Ga. It's the GMEA grant for the Delta exhibit. Okay. So it's new. I I on it says renewal and so I just Oh no, it's not a renewal. Okay. All right. Thank you. 01495 authorized agreement amendment number three with Molen Construction for 2024 City of Mobile annual storm drain maintenance 2,490,000 increase. Mr. President. Yeah, Mr. K and Miss Gregory.

Yes. Um I see that it's an increase um that we're providing. Are we gonna get more? Um, I mean, I'm happy because we we need to fix fix our our storm drain maintenance, but is it more or it's costing more? We're going to get more bang for our buck.

This is a continuation of our existing contract. The work that's going on in Cromwell Place. This is a continuation allow that work to continue. um you know the completion of that first phase we you and I spoke about and we have locations in every district and um I think I've reached out to many of y'all and discussed those those locations and this is just continuation of that that same contract. Okay. Thank you.

Hey John, do you have um a list of what all you're working on and what the future projects are? Yeah, I I have a list of, you know, several locations that are in the queue, so to speak, and that we're, you know, acquiring, you know, temporary construction easements to, you know, go in backyards and Yeah. Can you send those too along with the I'll share that with everyone? Okay.

All right. Thank you. Sorry 08496 approved purchase order to Cad Media for exhibit media research and editing services for the Maritime Museum $64,400. 08497 approved purchase order to CDW government for network switches and backup power supplies 21,13.75. 08498 approved purchase order to Daphne Automotive for Toyota SUVs 42,000 08499 approved purchase order to Echo South Services of Mobile to repair and refurbish recycling compactors $26,15 08500 approved purchase order to Granicus LLC for one-year subscription for short-term rental activity monitoring and non-compliant property software outreach for revenue $36,330.65.

Mr. President. Yes, Vice President. Since we're renewing the Granicus contract, um could we get an update on where we are on the short-term rentals and collecting the back taxes and that sort of thing? I mean, if you can just email it to us, that would be fine with me because I know it's been an ongoing issue that we've been trying to get our heads wrapped around. Is that possible? Yes.

Okay. [laughter] Thanks. 08501 approved purchase order to G Coast Truck and Equipment for fire pumper truck engine replacements 64,96966 08502 approved purchase order to Enter one-year subscription for Pitcher Software $20,171 08503 approved purchase order to RAML Huntsville LLC doing business in Landers Mclardy Dodge for um pickup I'm sorry. For SUVs, $44,651 [clears throat] 08504 approved purchase order to Safe Haven for storm drainage, vegetation, and debris removal 19,0009505. Reallocate funds from capital project environmental testing and upgrades to capital project facility upgrade ADM compliance to assist with completing the spill prevention control and counter measure plans renewal $18,000 21506 authorized contract amendment with Michael Baker International for miscellaneous drainage repairs $33,000 increase 6507 and 508 are authorizing settlement agreement and release of claims Call for public hearings. 41509. Call for public hearing to consider the reszoning of property located at the east side of Tacon Street north of Cameron Street from R1 to B3 scheduled June 9th 41510. Call for public hearing to consider application of ground transportation with Travis for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a taxi cab service scheduled May 19th 41511. call for public hearing to consider the application of Raw Medical Transport LLC for a certificate of

public convenience and necessity to operate a shuttle service scheduled May 19th. Announcements uh council vice uh missing Mr. President just a reminder we do have an administrative uh committee meeting today um at 1 p.m. focused on Mobile Housing Authority update. Okay, vice president.

Taking a look at u resolutions that we can approve to wave the rules on. Starting with 08, 497, 498, 499, 500, 502, 503, 504, 505, and 506. Unless you all have any other requests. No objection.

Okay. and other council members. Attorney Woods. Thank you, Mr. President. Going to ask the council to convene an executive session. Um, go ahead and make the declaration now in oral form. My name is Ricardo Woods. I am the duly appointed city attorney and licensed to practice law in the state of Alabama. I would like to go into executive session to discuss a point that is now pending in litigation and then ask that you take a roll call vote and then we reconvene at the 10:30 meeting. I'll make the motion. Second.

All in favor? I mean, hold on. [laughter] I'm sorry. Any discussion? M clerk? No. All in favor? Play indivision. Okay. Yeah. All in favor? I I President Small. Yes. Vice President Gregory. Yes. Council member Pin. Yes. Council member Ingram. Yes. Council member Reynolds. Council member Fleming. Council member Woods. Yes. All right. We see each other downstairs at 10:30.