Council - Regular Meeting

You ready? I am now calling this meeting to order. Please stand for our invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we ask for wisdom and guidance as we conduct the business of our city. Help us to make decisions that serve the citizens of Northport with fairness, integrity, and respect. Amen. Attention, salute, pledge. I pledge allegiance. Ms. Tubbs, roll call please.

Pro Tem Washington.

Here.

Councilor Smith. Here. Councilor Conger. Here. Councilor Higdon. Here. President Dyches.

Here. Presentations, we have one proclamation recognizing VCon LLC as business of the month. Mr. Washington is going down there now.

Proclamation Business of the Month, VCon LLC. Whereas the city of Northport is proud to recognize businesses that contribute to the growth and success of our community, and whereas VCon LLC has built a reputation for quality workmanship, dependable service, and commitment to excellence, and whereas the city of Northport appreciates the positive impact VCon LLC has made through its dedication to serving our community, Now, therefore, I, Dale Coe, Mayor of the City of Norfolk, do hereby proclaim Beacon LLC as the City of Norfolk's Business of the Month and encourage all citizens to recognize and support this outstanding local business. I've set my hand and call the City of Norfolk to be effected the 17th day of August, 2026. Congratulations.

And also, Mr. Lucius, he's a

Contractor for a concrete you do a lot of commercial concrete Y'all I'm not the one for the mic now so But thanks for this great honor amen so What I do concrete I do I can change your ordinary to extraordinary and So what that means I can take your old and make it look brand new So what I mean by that I do stamp stain, you know all that good stuff I can Just make everything look great and we can just go from there and all you have to do is just give me a call And we'll take care of it, right? Yes, sir Whoa Lord of mercy Been a lot of years. So I want to say I've been out there approximately, let's see, I am, I'm going to tell my age, I am 63. So I've been doing it probably about 40-something years. So that's been me. And I thank y'all a whole lot.

That's it. Thank you.

Approval of the agenda. Is there anyone that would like to make a motion to approve the agenda for the August 17th, 2026 council meeting? Second. That is a motion by Councillor Higdon and a second by Councillor Conger. Ms. Tubbs, roll call. Voting with Pro Tem Washington.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Visitors to address the council, we have none. We're going to move to ordinances and resolutions of a permanent nature. Ms. Ram, you're first on the list.

Yes, ma'am. This first reading will rezone approximately 4.76 acres. The property is located east of 4550 Station Circle. It is currently zoned C3, which is general commercial, and a portion of the property is also zoned RS4, single-family residential. They are requesting to rezone to C2, which is neighborhood commercial. It does come with a positive recommendation from the Planning Commission, and there will be a public hearing on September 1st.

Is there anyone that would like to offer that as a first reading?

I'll offer it.

That is offered by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Ram?

Yes. So this next agenda item also deals with the same piece of property. This ordinance would approve a conditional use to allow multifamily in a C2 neighborhood commercial zone. The agenda item does come with a positive recommendation from the Planning Commission. They are asking for a couple of stipulations to be added to that ordinance, and those are that all disturbed areas not occupied by buildings, sidewalks, and hard surfaces should have permanent vegetation. All exterior building materials shall meet the standards for special corridors and that the development be limited to 76 bedrooms.

Okay.

Again, a second reading and public hearing will be on September 1st.

Okay. Is there anyone that would like to offer this up as a first reading?

I'll first read it.

That is offered up by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Ram, again. Yes.

All right. So this first reading would rename a section of our municipal code. That section is 62-32. Currently, that section is entitled Planning and Zoning Fees. We're proposing to amend that to include engineering fees as well. Then it would also update the fee schedule so we would have a second reading on that item on September the 1st Okay, is there anyone that would like to offer that up as a first reading so offered?

That is offered up by councillor Conger Resolutions of a temporary nature mr. Rhodes I

Yes, ma'am. This is an agreement for the City of Northport and the Alabama Municipal Workers Compensation Fund. Standard agreement for them to provide our benefits for our employees.

Okay. Does anyone have any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the mayor to execute the participation agreement with Alabama Municipal Workers Compensation Fund. Do I hear a motion? So moved.

Second.

That is a motion by Councillor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs, roll call. Voting with Pro Tem Washington.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. 9B2, Mr. Webb.

Yes, this is change order number one for the water treatment plant process residuals removal and disposal. This is the contract with Denali Water Solutions. This is an increase of $41,850 over the original bid project.

Are there any questions or comments for Mr. Webb? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution for change order number one for the water treatment plant process residuals removal and disposal, which increases the contract by $41,850 and authorizes the city administrator to execute the necessary documents needed to proceed with the project. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs, roll call. Voting with Pro Tem Washington. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. 9B3, Chief Carpenter.

Yes, ma'am. We are currently ending our agreement with Pro Vision for our body-worn cameras, and this would be a new agreement started with that sign.

Okay. Does anyone have any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into an agreement with Axon Enterprises Incorporated in the amount of $437,872.86. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. That is a motion by Councilor Conger and is second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs, roll call, please. Voting with Pro Tem Washington.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. 9B4, Mr. Matthews.

Yes, this would authorize application to the local law enforcement grant for the enforcement of cybersecurity crimes. That would be up to a $750,000 grant award if awarded, and there would be no city match.

We'd like to hear that. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing an application for the fiscal 2026 law enforcement grants for enforcement of cyber security or cyber crimes program. Do I hear a motion? So moved.

Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Conger and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs, roll call. Voting with Pro Tem Washington?

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. 9C is the consent agenda. You will see it ranges from minutes to bill listings to PO requisitions. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to approve the consent agenda for the August 17th, 2026 council meeting as printed. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs, roll call, please.

Voting with Pro Tem Washington.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Public hearings, I would like to remind everyone that during public comments, we encourage you to share any ideas or items of concern. There is a three-minute time limit. Please remember to direct all comments to the mayor, council, body as a whole and not individuals. Chief Carpenter, I believe you're next. Okay, I will open the floor for a public hearing for agenda item 10 d1 Is there anyone that would like to speak for or against this item? Hearing none. I'll close the floor for a public hearing for agenda item 10 d1 Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to approve the ABC license for Reem Food Market LLC, Food Mart LLC. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs, roll call, please. Voting with Pro Tem Washington.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Moving on, City Administrators, Business, Ms. Tubbs. I have none. I have nothing tonight. Mayor Phillips. Nothing tonight. District 1, Councilor Smith.

Just a reminder for curbside recycling, call Public Works 205-333-3003.

Thank you. District 2, Pro Tem Washington?

No, ma'am. I have nothing.

District 3, Councilor Conger? I have nothing. District 5, Councilor Higdon?

I have nothing.

Item 13 is Executive Session. The form of the motion is to adjourn the meeting into executive session to discuss potential litigation. The session is expected to take 60 minutes. The council will not take action after the executive session is concluded and the time is 5.41. Ms. King, will you please certify this?

Yes, I will certify that it is appropriate to go into executive discussion to discuss two things, the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, controversies yet to be litigated but immediately likely to be litigated, And then also economic development, which includes discussion that if it were to be outside of executive session, would have a detrimental effect upon the competitive position of a party to the negotiations.

Thank you. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs, roll call, please.

Voting with Pro Tem Washington.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

We are now in executive session.