City Council - Regular Meeting

Oh yeah. Good evening, everyone. Tuscaloosa City Council has now come to order. We ask that everyone please stand for our prayer and then remain standing for our Pledge of Allegiance. Let's bow our heads, please. Dear God, bless our proceedings tonight. Give us the wisdom to know what is just and the strength to do what is right. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. Approval of the minutes. So moved.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Do we approve the minutes voting? Mr. Eatman. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Minutes stand approved. Proclamation statements by counsel. Tonight we have a proclamation by Ms. Howard. So, Counselor Howard, I'm going to turn it over to you.

Thank you, Mayor. This is an honor to present this proclamation tonight. And if the family members of Ms. Betsy Williams and Kim Wint are here, if you can please come up.

Is that Dave? Hold on.

on the student . Yep, right there. Okay, whereas Betsy Williams and Kim Wendt served as beloved teachers at Little Friends School at Calvary Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa during the 1980s and into the 1990s, dedicating themselves to the care, education, and development of the young children entrusted to them, and whereas Ms. Betsy and Ms. Kim left a lasting impact on the lives of the children of the Tuscaloosa, including children with disabilities, demonstrating that every child, regardless of circumstances or challenge, deserves to be treated with dignity, patience, encouragement, and respect. And whereas these two exceptional women set a prime example for early childhood educators, showing through their dedication and perseverance the extraordinary difference that a caring teacher can make in the life of a child. And whereas Ms. Bessie Williams passed away on March the 7th, 2026, leaving behind a remarkable legacy, that will forever live on through the children whose lives she's touched and the many people who were fortunate enough to know her. So now, therefore, be it resolved on behalf of the Mayor Walt Maddox and my colleagues on the Tuscaloosa City Council, we would like to proclaim September the 9th, 2026 to be Betsy Williams and Kim Winth Day. So on behalf of the Mayor and the City Council, I would like to present this proclamation to Mr. David Risling, and I would just like to say that we thank you for recognizing the support that we already give to our early educators and our educators here in Tuscaloosa, and we are glad to present this proclamation to you on behalf of those that have touched your lives. Thank you. Would you like to have a few words?

thank you miss howard uh to the mayor uh to mayor maddox to members of the city council uh it is just uh it is just has was such an honor to be a student under miss betsy and miss kim and i've said it before and i'll say it again because what we really hope that what i really hope that this does is kicks off a campaign and that is already going, I'm sure, and this will continue to strengthen that campaign in this city. Look, we love our educators and all that they do, but preschool teachers are heroes too. And it is disheartening to me to hear about so many of our early childhood educators, the educators of the very young, being, just feel like they're undermined underpaid, underappreciated, unappreciated and underestimated and that has to stop. And so that can start with us being the spark that starts a flame all over this country. And to all of the parents that are watching this way because this meeting as are all meetings is broadcast all over the world on Facebook and on television. send your kids to school at an early age, I would implore you, and I know that a lot of people have questions about daycare these days and the affordability and the reliability of daycare these days. I can tell you now that it is, and don't send your kid to just any daycare. Send them to a daycare where you know they're gonna be nurtured, where they're gonna be nourished in body and in soul, And because one of the things that Miss Betsy taught me and Miss Kim too, without saying it always out loud is that Jesus loves all of us. He loves us enough that he is so compassionate with us that he doesn't give up on us when we fall short. And boy, do we ever fall short of his glory. I fell short so many times when I, you know, and it wasn't that I was defiant, I was scared. Being a child that we now know is on the autism spectrum. And that's the other thing, too, is a lot of people don't know what autism is. And so much research has been done now. So many studies have been done. And the DSM-5 has come out labeling Asperger's as a high-functioning end of the autism spectrum. And there are so many stigmas behind that, and we need to get rid of that stigma because it's going to get worse if we don't stop it and try to educate the public on what these conditions are. And they're not disorders, they're conditions. We don't suffer from them, we have them. Because we can achieve anything through the gifts that God has given us. And so, please send your kid to a daycare that we know is gonna be, that you know is gonna be structured and tailored to their level, to their ability, because the sooner you do that, then the more they're gonna be ready for school, when school starts at age four, five, and six. because it gets more structured as you mature and as you age, not just as you age, but as you mature. And it just depends on, you know, the readiness of the child. But please send them to a good daycare. And to all of the educators, the early childhood educators, and all of our educators, but especially our early childhood educators who hear it even less. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Can we take a quick picture? We can.

Mayor, I was at an event last night and this young man played the piano and it was wonderful. He can play the piano. Oh yeah, he definitely can play.

All right. One, two, three.

All right.

Any other council announcements tonight?

I'll probably be a jack Saturday morning between 8.30 and 9 if anybody shows up.

Any other council announcements tonight? Any agenda item, comments by citizens? No, sir. Unfinished business, clerk.

This order's demolition of the eastern structure located at 1721 and a half, 16th Avenue East.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded, Mr. Williams.

Mr. Mayor, City Council, this is for the condemnation of 1721 and a half, 16th Avenue East, the eastern structure. This was posted for condemnation on March 10th, 2026. This property has 48 housing code violations. The owner has been contacted, is 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 pulled permits and repairs have been started. The owner is here to represent.

And the recommendation, Mr. Williams?

90 days. 90 days.

All right. Is the owner here? Are the owners representative? If you would, please come forward and give your name and address.

Hello, my name is Joy Sambora. What was the other request?

Address.

Address, 427 Racetrack Road, Hohokas, New Jersey, 07423.

Any questions?

You think you can be pretty close in 90 days?

No. No, I really don't have the bandwidth for this right now. It's not even the money issue. I need to be in New Jersey for two months and I need to be in Kenya for two months. So no, I cannot be pretty close in 90 days. I can be pretty close in six months. I can be done in six months, but I need to go to New Jersey for two months to liquidate a property and I need to go to Kenya for two months And I won't get into all that. But anyway, six months, it'll be done. But I can't, I can't. No, 90 days, I can't.

How about we keep moving the football down? Okay.

So what happens if, so are you saying just go ahead with the recommendation?

What'd you say? 90 days. 90 days. What's the max? The max is 120 that we can go.

Sounds good.

So that's six months. I mean, it's on your eyes. She's done this much.

Are you going to be able to close this before you leave?

No, I need to go. I've been postponing it with this. I need to go liquidate. an asset, and then, as they say, I can make it rain after that.

I'm not against giving you 120 days. I'm just concerned that that being open like that.

Oh, they'll close it up this week.

Well, that was my question.

Yeah, the exterior will be closed up. Yeah.

What's the recommendation of the city council?

I'll make the recommendation for 120.

Okay, I second.

Okay, it's been moved and second for 120 days. This is also the same owner on the next one as well. Any questions on that one? That way you don't have to come up twice.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Okay. So we have a motion and second for 120 days. Voting Mr. Lanier. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Mayor, this was a public hearing. Yes.

Yes. Okay. It passes. This, as Ms. Johnson's always correct, this was a public hearing when it was introduced. Was there anyone here we should speak for or against? Seeing none, clerk, do you introduce the next resolution?

This order is demolition of the western structure located at 1721 16th Avenue East.

So moved. Second.

Moved and second.

Mr. Williams. This is for the condemnation of 1721 16th Avenue East, the western structure. This was posted for condemnation March 10, 2026. This property has 48 housing code violations. The owner has been contacted as aware of this hearing. The owner is aware that if it's condemned to demolish, the cost of demolition will be charged back to the owner. Once again, they've pulled permits and started repairs.

Would you have any opposition to council move this 120 days as well?

I have no opposition. We can do 120 days.

So I make a motion for 120 days.

Okay. It's been moved and seconded to table for 120 days. This is a public hearing. Or this was a public hearing when it was introduced. Anyone here wish to speak forward? Seeing none. Voting for 120 days. Mr. Eatman. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Demolition is tabled for 120 days. Good luck. Clerk.

This order is demolition of the southeast structure located at 30 Eastwood.

So moved.

Second. Second.

Moved and seconded.

Mr. Williams. This is for the condemnation of 30 Eastwood, the southeast structure on the property. It was posted for condemnation March 10, 2026. Property has 22 housing code violations. The owner has been contacted, is 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 pulled permits and continued making repairs, and he is here to represent.

Any questions, Mr. Williams? All right, if the owner would come forward, please give your name and address.

Marvin Wiley, 30 Eastwood, Tuscaloosa.

Any questions?

All right.

You rolling? Looks better. Yep. Yep. I'm good with that. I'm good with that. I'm sorry. How many? What was the date? 90 days or not.

Yeah.

Make a motion.

Second. It's been moved and seconded. Mr. Williams, you good with 90 days? I did. Thank you. I couldn't hear. Been a motion and second table for 90 days. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against? Yes. Seeing none, to table for 90 days, Mr. Lanier. Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Demolition's table for 90 days. Thank you. Thank you. Clerk.

This order's demolition of the building located at 2018 Dinah Washington Avenue.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded, Mr. Williams.

This is for the condemnation of 2018 down at Washington Avenue. Posted condemnation on August 8, 2025. This property has 22 housing code violations. The owner has been contacted, is 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 continued to make repairs. They are here to represent, and our recommendation for this one is 120 days. Okay.

Any questions, Mr. Williams?

No.

If the owner could come forward. Do we have the owner here of 2018? Okay, or represented. If you would, please give your name and address.

Lakeisha Ball, 3616 First Court.

Any questions?

No.

That's going to be a pretty house when you get it done.

Yeah. I'll make a motion.

I second.

Moved and second for 120 days. You're good with that, Mr. Lanier? Yes, sir. Okay. Moved and second for 120 days. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against? Seeing none, for 120 days, Mr. Eaton. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Table for 120 days. Good luck.

Thank you.

Consent agenda. Clerk.

This approves items A through I on the consent agenda.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and second. Voting Mr. Lanier. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Consent agenda is adopted. Public hearings. Clerk.

This will withdraw the ordinance adopting the 2026 water distribution system engineering standards.

Motion to withdraw.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded to withdraw. Voting Mr. Eatman. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. The ordinance is withdrawn. Clark.

This sets the cost for demolition of the structure at 520 25th Avenue East and authorizes the filing of a lien. So moved. Second.

Moved and seconded. This is a public hearing. Anyone here wish to speak for or against? Seeing none, voting Mr. Lanier. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Calls to set. Clerk.

This sets the cost for demolition of the structure at 2208 3rd Street East and authorizes the filing of a lien.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and second. Anyone here wish to speak for or against? Seeing none, voting Mr. Even. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Calls for demolition is set. Clerk.

This authorizes zoning amendment number 46. So moved. Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Mr. Pons.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. Longleaf Engineering, Clay Smith, petitions to rezone approximately 4.6 acres located at 3311 and 3327 Hargrove Road East from SFR 1 to SFR 4. This is in Council District 6. The location of the property, the aerial, and then the zoning. So this request is to rezone from SFR1 to SFR4 with no specific plans for development. Initially, when it came to the Planning and Zoning Commission, they were requesting to construct 24 townhomes. However, that specific development proposal was denied by a vote of six to three with those specific concerns in mind. So Framework identifies this property as suburban residential. So the zoning request does conform to that plan. You see a range of lot sizes, housing sizes, and styles, including some small-scale attached dwellings is appropriate in the suburban residential. And then the intended use, of course, isn't specified. So you can see that here on the future land use character map, suburban residential. And this specific request was voted to not recommend approval. at the July 26th meeting by a vote of six to three. I can answer any questions that you guys might have.

Any questions, Mr. Pons?

Mr. Pons, I do have one question that I didn't ask earlier. What are the setback requirements I see on a property like that that's... It's got MFR to the left, but it's got SFR1 to the bottom would be the setback requirement.

Right. I don't know off the top of my head, but for the townhome specific, they'd have seven on each side and I think a 20-foot setback on the rear. Okay.

Okay. Any other questions? Mr. Pons? Okay.

Now, just a question about this. We're not voting. on whether or not he can build town homes on this right now. I mean, we're changing the zoning, but what I mean is we don't have any specific to show what would be on there.

Right, so they would have to come back with a proposal that would go to Planning and Zoning Commission. If this were to pass. Yes, sir. And this was in the county? Yes, so this was in the county. January 27th of this year, it was annexed into the city.

Any other questions? Okay, thanks. If the applicant is here, if you would, please come forward and give your name and address.

Hello, I'm Tom Sims with Longleaf Engineering, 1927 7th Street, Tuscaloosa, on behalf of Mr. Clay Smith here. Just a quick background. As Zach mentioned, this property was annexed earlier this year, but it was sort of a forced annexation for Mr. Smith. He had some plans to develop the property within the county jurisdiction, and the city felt it would be beneficial to bring it under their control, which Mr. Smith was amenable to after several discussions with the city. We've kind of went through multiple iterations sort of a commercial type use and a couple of different residential type uses that we've presented to the city and had multiple discussions with staff and different personnel. So this is sort of a culmination of those. We do still have some work to do to get back in front of Planning Commission and get an approval on what the ultimate end product is. But the zoning requested today is more in line with what we feel like is the best use for the property. I mean, it fits framework. We have multifamily directly to the west, a significant amount of multifamily. Actually, I think that's Palisades Apartments there. We do have single family to the south, but we also are bordered to the north and by other adjacent properties as commercial along Hargrove. corridor there. So that's a pretty busy corridor, obviously, and, you know, Currently, without the zoning, it's single-family residential. That's what it defaults to coming into the city, and that doesn't seem to be an ideal location for just a single-family residential product. So we do still have some work to do, like I said, to get the ultimate product approved by Planning Commission, but this will be a good first step in getting it into the best-use zoning as far as we see it.

Any questions for Mr. Sims or Mr. Smith?

I guess my biggest concern is the traffic coming out of there. Is there any thought on your mind should it pass what you could do with the traffic?

Any help in any way? As previously mentioned, we've been through a couple different use iterations with different uses in the property and in the process of doing that to satisfy some of the questions from city staff and other personnel, we did get a traffic study done. You know, I'm not sure I know, and I know you have personal experience at this particular location, but you know, we have found ourselves conforming to all recommendations from the traffic study. So, you know, whatever that bears, We want to provide whatever it requires, and we're prepared to do so. I'm not sure how much more we can do outside of that. There are particular parameters for things like traffic lights and such. I don't think even if we wanted to suggest that, hey, we want to put a traffic light here, I don't think that's within our purview. I think that's... A better question for city engineering and such, but I think there are certain criteria that needs to be met. I mean, traffic lights can be as detrimental as they are positive, depending on the location. So again, I guess we would just default to the experts. You know, they make recommendations and we follow them. And right now, we have a study based on what we put together previously. It may change a little bit. We would adjust the traffic study or ask them to review it again and make recommendations for whatever they felt was necessary based on the proposed new plan.

Any other questions from Mr. Thelms? Can you bring back up the slide that showed why Planning Commission voted the way they did? It had some comments. We've talked about traffic. Can you speak to some of these down in the bottom, parking or trash management? Obviously, if we don't have a plan, you'd have to define that at Planning Commission. Sure, yes. I assume parking would have to be on site and trash would as well?

Yes, sir, yes. Our previous plans were a collection of different, it depends on which iteration you go through, too, of course, but the latest iteration, there was some question about parking just from a standpoint of it not being, some of the spaces not being directly adjacent to proposed units, overflow parking areas just a little bit down the street. And those are types of things that we can kind of work through and figure out the best way to address those. As far as space goes and availability of parking, we have plenty of We met all the requirements for the minimum number of spaces. We actually had more than was required. So I think it was just more of a configuration and a difference of opinion on what the future public purchaser, end-game user would like to see as far as parking goes. So we can work through some of those logistics. Trash management was one thing that we discussed in there, and we're very open to whether or not Everyone felt dumpsters were appropriate or carts, and I think when we left that meeting, we've kind of landed back to where we think maybe a dumpster, a centralized dumpster location may be the best use if we end up with something similar to the last plan. But we have, again, we have plenty of room for those things. It's just a matter of reconfiguring the layouts.

Any other questions for Mrs. Helms or Mr. Smith?

Yes.

Since you've left the Planning and Zoning Commission, have you had a chance to meet with the residents in that area?

We have not. Okay.

Can you come to the mic?

No, we have not. Honestly, there's zero leverage there.

I'm sorry.

There's zero leverage there on our side, so it's kind of a moot point. They're not going to negotiate. We have not tried to reach out to them. If y'all decide that the zoning is appropriate, that is my plan, is to try to reach out. Y'all decided that the zoning is appropriate for more residents now let's work together and see what we can come up with that will try to make people happy because one of the things that we're I'm trying to achieve with this development is affordable housing there's next generation of 20 somethings can't afford it and they're happy not to have a garage they're happy to have a house yes I personally that would be a problem for me but when I was 23 looking to buy my first house, that was not a problem. So I know that was parking issue was one of them was we were planning on not doing a garage and a single car spot and some of the distance to the overflow parking that was raised and we would be able to revisit that. The centralized dumpster, we just, I agree after looking at it again that it probably is better to have a centralized dumpster than have a carts. And that's it.

Any other questions? Mr. Sam, Mr. Smith, there will be a chance that we may come back, or the council may come back and have questions for you. Thank you. This is a public hearing. It is first come, first serve. Is there anyone who wish to address City Council tonight? If you would, please come forward and give your name and address.

My name is Carolyn Booth. I live at 3709 34th Avenue East, which used to be number one Broadview.

Ms. Booth, would you pull that microphone a little bit towards you there? There you go.

Thank you. If you look at that, my house is the very first house. If you're coming off of Hargrove Road onto 34th Avenue East, Broadview, my house is on the left. My husband and I, shortly after we married, they were building a new subdivision in the county, and we bought lot one and two. And that has turned out to be a wonderful selection for us because it's just a wonderful neighborhood. And it continues all these years, even those people have come and gone. We still have a wonderful, close knit neighborhood. I'm not opposed to town homes, but I'm opposed to town homes being built in our subdivision. 24 townhomes, you're talking about probably at least 48 cars. And the way they have it is so that those cars are exiting onto our Broadway Road, almost right across from my driveway. And we have enough problems with traffic even trying to get out on the Hargrove Road. So you can just imagine, phase one, 48 more cars. Phase two, 48 more cars. So you're talking about 96 cars and possibly more coming out of that area onto our Broadview Road. I mean, traffic lines up at certain times of day, like I said, trying to get out of Broadview Road. And I probably wouldn't be able to get out of my driveway because all those cars would be lined up. If I have an early doctor's appointment or something, you know, I don't go all that often, but I do go. And the traffic study, I'd be interested in knowing, was this a 24-hour study or was this just certain hours that they chose? Because we definitely have a traffic problem on the Hargrove Road. I mean, sometimes you... The other day, I was telling them... I went to leave about 4 o'clock that afternoon, and I couldn't get out of Broadway Road. And so I thought, while I'm sitting here, I'm going to start counting the cars going by. And I counted 21 cars go by before I can even get out of that road. So certain times of day, that traffic is just terrible. And the reason, partly, is because people don't like going down McFarland and then coming up Skyland. So they cut through on Hargrove Road. And it's really bad. And then, like I said, they're planning on phase two as well. There's a lot of places that you can find to put a townhome. I'm not against townhomes, but I'm against messing up our nice subdivision by having entrance to it being a bunch of townhomes. And I hope everybody consider that because I love my neighborhood. We're a close-knit neighborhood. We'll watch out for each other. When I went on vacation, one of my neighbors volunteered to come and park a car in my driveway so it looked like somebody was home. We, if somebody dies or family member, we take food to them. We're just real close to it. We stay real close to each other. Like I said, we changed owners of the houses, but it hasn't changed the neighborhood. We're still probably, in my mind, one of the best neighborhoods in the city of Tuscaloosa, and I'd like to keep it that way. Thank y'all.

Thank you. Anyone else wish to address their city council tonight? If you would, please come forward and give your name and address.

Hello, I'm Jacques Dunn. I live at 5236 Woodland Forest Drive in Woodland Forest. I love my neighborhood. It's about aesthetics to me. I want to know if there's ever going to be a moratorium on townhouses all over the town. On Skyland Boulevard, there's four car washes within five miles of each other. All of them are operable. Car washes are all over the place. The self-storage. Beauty supplies. You know, just the same thing. Repetitive, repetitive, repetitive. And the south side of town and the west side of town, that'll be another day problem. But I just wanna know, are we ever gonna stop building so many townhouses, the extra large townhouses, encroach vision and views of some of the people on the side of town, where once again, I don't think they come and ask, do you care about us putting this in your neighborhood for a steady wise? It's just too much. Like I said, I love my neighborhood, Woodland Forest. It's not the best, but it's gorgeous to me. I think that Tuscaloosa should represent beauty for all of the Tuscaloosans, not just for people who want to make money out of building properties. I think that you should have a choice of what's being erected in your neighborhood, what's being erected in your city. So I'm going to the Tuscaloosa City Board for the schools next because this is a forum. If you don't speak your mind, nobody will ever know your concerns or how you feel. People just shouldn't assume that it's okay to put anything in your neighborhood or let your streets be any kind of way or paint big orange and yellow buildings. I don't think we should have any more tire shops. If you're gonna put a tire shop on a main street, paint it to look like the other buildings, not loud yellow, orange, red, and blue. Tuscaloosa's a fabulous place, but everybody should be happy where they live. If I walked out my door every day and it was ran down, I wouldn't be happy. I think if you walk out your door, you're in a beautiful neighborhood, then it's going to make you feel better. It's going to want everyone in your neighborhood to contribute to Kerberfield. My husband told me to tell you hello. Tony Grant. Thank you all.

I do think to answer your question, the city council has zoning authority under Alabama law. So there's things that we can zone. There's things that we we have no authority over. So, for example, if somebody is zoned for a particular business use, the type of business that they put there, as long as it meets the general zoning under Alabama law, they're allowed to put that business there.

Even though it's in excess?

No, ma'am. That is not a reason for, under Alabama law, for us to be able to restrict somebody from a business use. Council doesn't have the ability to say, well, you can just not put a tire store there, or it can't be that certain color. The city doesn't build those things. That's built by the private sector. And the zoning powers that we exercise, the zoning power that we exercise is what is provided to us under state law. So I certainly understand when I go by on Highway 82 and I see a particular store with a particular color, or a beauty supply place, or something of that nature. I feel the same way that you do. But this is a capitalist society, and people have choices within the zoning powers that were provided under Alabama law.

What they're going to spend their money on. I just thought that... When I moved here 26 years ago, I know progression has to happen, but for me it's overgrowth and it's not the little. I didn't expect it for it to remain tiny, but I did expect for it to remain beautiful. But I thank you anyway.

Thank you. I appreciate your question. Anyone else wish to address their city council tonight? If you would, please come forward and give your name and address.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Isaiah Harper, 3743 34th Avenue East. Ms. Booth, I spoke earlier. She said she's number one and two on Broadview. I am number five. So I live five houses or three houses up from Ms. Booth. This is probably my fourth time standing at this podium, be it first the Zoning Commission, talking about these different things that these developers are trying to bring to this particular property that will affront our community. I'm going to read something that I read when I was walking in this building, if I can. And it was a sign that said, the city of Tuscaloosa core belief is accountability. Accountability. And it says, elite customer service is a shared, I took a picture of it. It said, elite customer service is a shared responsibility of everyone. And our work must be guided by responsiveness, respect and accountability. I think what this boils down to is just generally respect. Because it's respect for genuine communities that have existed in Tuscaloosa for a long period of time. And it's the city of Tuscaloosa saying now that there is no more room for genuine communities where people have been living their lives for a long period of time Do those no longer exist? And are we willing to affront those communities with town homes, apartments, what have you? Ms. Booth has been living there 50 plus years. I've been living there 20 plus years. And this type of development is not a fit for us. I'm not against townhomes. I'm not against apartments, but there are places for those. All up and down Hargrove Road, there are empty lots. There's a lot where they started building some apartments about a mile around the road and they never finished and that lot has grown up with trees. There are places for this type of development, but affronting a community that have existed for a long period of time, that's not where it belongs. What they're trying to do is squeeze in, I want you to look at 34th Avenue East, that is the road that comes off of Hargrove into our community. If you look at that square, that red square, right there at the, where the corner, the 90 degree angle of the bottom of the square, that's where I live, Ms. Booth lives right there at the beginning of that road coming off of Hargrove. That traffic would come right across from her. You see the pool? There's a straight line coming from her pool. If you go across that road, 34th Avenue East, into the red square area, that's where the people for the townhomes would come out onto our one-way in, one-way out road. And we're talking about putting 48 cars coming out of there onto this one-way road, one way in and out. And that road is at a slope. It's not a straight road. It's a slope. So we would have to ride our brakes coming out of our community even harder as we approach the stop sign to Hargrove Road. We did not even know that they had conducted a traffic study until the last zoning meeting. And I requested that zoning study by public records. And that zoning study was done, interestingly, on May 19th of this year, 2026. It was a one-day study. It was between 730 and 830. It was between 4.45 and 6 p.m. And that date is interesting because we get a lot of traffic from students that come on that road. But on that particular day, UA students were gone. It was out. Students left April 29th. They did a study on May 19th. Also, seniors with high school, they were done. They'd long been done. So that study is not completely valid. So we're just asking that you guys understand that putting this type of development affronting our neighborhood is just, it would be just really disrespectful to this community that has existed for so long. Again, we're not against townhomes. I heard Councilwoman Hallward ask the developer, has he met with people in the community? He has not tried to meet with me one time. I don't even know his name until today. I just wrote it down. Clay Smith. So, no. Again, they're just trying to build something here because he bought this property and he's trying to get there whenever he can. When he was trying to build the commercial development, he didn't even know what type of material he was going to use. He said, oh, no, we'll use something. The zoning commission asked him. We don't know what type of material. Are you going to put green spaces up? We'll throw something up there.

That's what we'll say it.

Okay? Thank you. So we ask you guys to deny the zoning once and for all. Thank you, Mr. Harper.

Anyone else wish to address their city council tonight? Seeing none, we will close the public hearing. Does the council have any questions for team members or the applicant?

I would like to give the applicant an opportunity to kind of discuss the traffic study and kind of Where he sees traffic coming out, going in, just a little bit of information, more information about the traffic coming in.

I guess traffic studies in general are prepared by people that mainly do those specifically for living. I'm a civil engineer, and when we are requested to get a traffic study, we hire a specialist to do that, which is what we did here. I would say this, and this is not to critique the city rules and regulations or whatnot, but those studies are expensive, you know, and we, Mr. Smith paid for the study. He actually had to pay extra and expedite it to get it in before school was out for the spring semester. I think that was a requirement from city staff that it get done by a certain date, so he did that. And we're prepared to follow that study. If there are criteria that the city wants to add to the study or if they want to maybe disregard certain portions of it, that will be something we should take into account. I mean, I don't really know how to answer the questions about traffic other than to say they performed a study at our request city guidelines and we're prepared to make sure that we implement that. The study itself, as already reviewed by the city and staff, was not overly detrimental to the level of services that already exist there. I guess generally that's how those studies are put together. They define an existing level of service and then see how your proposed development at full build-out will impact that level of service. And those letter grades, which are defined in that level of service, did not change according to the study.

Any other questions of Mr. Sims or Mr. Smith?

So if this were to be approved, you would still have to go back through Planning Commission to do a... Subdivision?

Yes, sir. And we would also have to update the traffic study to accommodate whatever that new plan would be.

If our engineering department suggested a traffic light, I know you said there's pros and cons to that. Personally, I think it would be a good thing. How do you all feel about a traffic light? And I understand you'd have to pay.

I think that's more of a question for Mr. Smith and how it affect the overall development as far as does that fit within his model. Again, I don't know how to answer that without one, his input and whether or not it even warrants it.

I think, like Tom said, that's a decision for Mike Gardner, the city engineer, and we don't want to step on his toes and tell him how to do his job. But if he suggests a traffic light, then we'll put in a traffic light. Do you mind showing the zoning around it again, the map? So the property to the left there is Palisades Apartments. I bought the front two parcels from Billy Boyd. He bought those two parcels when he built the Palisades. They remained in the county for over 20 years. I'm sure y'all all know Mr. Boyd and knew his business model. There was no opportunity to bring it into the city when he's owned it for 20 years. Mr. Boyd owned those two properties.

I just missed the last sentence.

I was saying, knowing Mr. Boyd, if If we wanted to bring it in as SFR1, there was ample opportunity to bring it in. When I purchased the property, it was in the county. The land where it's tagged SFR1, Ms. Saylor, she was also in the county. That's the reason why there's a phase one and phase two. She got drug in with me. So I kind of have felt it was my obligation to try to bring her through the process as well. The reason why it's zoned Phase 2 is because she wants to remain in the house until she passes. She's in her late 80s, I believe, and she wants to live there until she's ready to go, and that's her right. I think the annexation kind of forced her hand where she's dealing with something that she's not too pleased to be dealing with, according to her daughter. I have agreed to her that during the Phase 1 to Phase 2, we would put a fence up along the the property line during that period, so she would have that. And also, there's county all around us. I want to know why that was not also included in the island annexation. I think that's a valid question. Why was I singled out? And I know the reason why was mini storage. there was discussion of that, staying in the county, and it was forced in because of that. So I feel like I have done, been willing to work and say, okay, well, if we don't want the mini storage, what are we willing to do? And as for forced sale housing units is what was suggested and what we'd like to have seen, and that's what I presented. just because if it goes to zoning doesn't mean the current proposal that came in, there's a lot of different options we could go with. So the street off of, the current street views doesn't necessarily mean it would be again, that we propose that again. We would be silly to propose the exact same thing again. I mean, we'd obviously make some changes. We could go to single family detached lots. We could just go to a lot of different options under SFR 4 and I think that's an important point to realize that we would still have to go through that. As far as the siting materials, the landscaping plan, that's kind of, from my understanding, that's the reason why the city has the code book, why we have minimum standards for materials, why we have minimum landscaping requirements. is whatever we do is gonna meet that, meet those requirements. So whenever we get to this, the zoning phase is kind of preliminary. We know we have to meet it. We know we're gonna work in those parameters, but it's really early in the process to understand exactly where a tree's gonna be planted first, or the exact siding material, or anything like that. It's just we're gonna meet what is required by the city code and that's why originally we were trying to bring it into the city and try to give a nicer product and yes we could build a little bit larger in the city not having to use septic at that time but we wanted to try to produce a more attractive product I think the end goal was for everything to be a a nice new community so new families can create their neighborhoods and have their stints in their houses for 20, 30, 40, 50 years. If we never give them those houses to have that opportunity, then they're going to stay in an apartment for the rest of their life. Any other questions?

When did you buy the property?

It was almost two years ago this month. It's September of 24, and it was said it was county at the time, and that was right before the framework Tuscaloosa changed a lot of zoning. I have a piece of property on University Boulevard that changed from residential to commercial. So if it didn't change during that period, whenever Tuscaloosa went through a very long, thought-out process that took years and years to do, if they didn't bring it into the city at that point, I'm still a little confused why mine got singled out years later by itself when you can see those couple of properties right there that are in the county. Adam's heating coolants, the GC on the bottom right, he owns the properties across the street. But if you look at the total five mile out view, there's 15 to 20 of county islands in the same manner. And I went back and researched, there has not been a single petition in this area in the last 20 years asking to be brought into the city under SFR1.

So I would just like to say that I've seen this petition from the very first time, the very first idea that you brought towards us on the Planning and Zoning Commission. And I believe I voted no every time, but I will say this, as you just stated that with SFR 4, there are some possibilities and some options. And in those possibilities and options, if this passed tonight, I think it is very, very important and it's imperative that you meet with the residents so that you all can talk about all of those options, such as the buffer, such as the traffic study, what you're willing to do or what you can do. And I'm happy that you're willing to speak with our engineers and get their insight and you're willing to follow the traffic study. And there has to be another traffic study conducted after this. The trash management, I think that was very important. So, you know, the aesthetics of the building. So if this passed tonight, you still have to come before planning and zoning yet another time. But I do believe that if this passed, that you definitely need to have a conversation with the residents that have been persistent about these issues and concerns because they deserve to have an opportunity to state their concerns and talk about not just a problem, but the solutions also.

Any other questions or comments? Thank you very much. Council, have you any comments before I call for a vote? Voting Mr. Lanier.

No. No. I came in here to vote yes to the residents that spoke. You were as quietly convincing as any I've heard up here. What keeps tugging at me, though, is these 25-year-olds coming along. I vote yes.

I just hate to bring somebody in the city and prevent them from doing something, so I'm going to vote yes.

I'm going to vote yes because I would like to see it come back before the Planning and Zoning Commission and I would like for those residents to have an opportunity to speak with the petitioner in its entirety to get all of the information and the facts about this one particular project. And I do believe that bringing it into the city was the right thing to do to continue to respect the integrity of the neighborhood.

I'm going to vote yes as well. This is an opportunity to go back before planning and zoning and see what happens. Yes.

Okay. The clerk has confirmed. I'm seeing a 4-2 vote in favor of rezoning. Okay, zoning amendment 46 passes. Resolution and ordinance is not of a general nature or permanent operation. Clerk.

This approves a less than seven day special events retail license for Levy Premium Food Service.

So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Ms. Franks.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Good evening.

Okay, so I have ABC application in District 4 for Levy Premium Food Service Limited Partnership doing business as events at Bryant-Denny Stadium Champions Lane. They're applying for a special events retail less than seven days for all seven home games that are scheduled for September 5th, 19th, 26th, October 10th, and 24th, November 21st, and the 28th. They will be set up outside Bryant-Denny on Line A from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Here's the view of the advanced base. All my reports have been filed with the city clerk. TPD will give their report and then the applicant.

Okay. Officer Branscombe.

Good evening, Mayor, Council. After reviewing the application, the police department has no objection to the applicant or the application.

Is the applicant here? If you would, please come forward and give your name and address.

My name is Herb Tesh, 15566 Brookstone Drive, Brookwood, Alabama, 35444.

Any questions for the applicant?

All right.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Voting Mr. Eatman. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Applications approved. Good luck. Clerk.

This will authorize the purchase of equipment, supplies, or services from Tuscaloosa Tractor.

So moved. Second. Moved and seconded by Mr. Lanier. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Resolutions adopted. Clerk.

This authorizes a grant application for the 2026 Stopping Threats on Pedestrians Competitive Grant Program.

So moved.

Second.

Move and second by Mr. Eatman. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Resolutions adopted. Clerk.

This will temporarily expand the downtown entertainment district hours for Saturday, October 3rd.

So moved.

Second.

Move and second by Mr. Lanier. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Resolutions adopted. Clerk.

This authorizes a memorandum of understanding with the FBI.

So moved.

Second.

Move and second by Mr. Eatman. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Resolutions adopted. Clerk.

This authorizes execution of an amended agreement with Spectrum Business.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded. Voting Mr. Lanier. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Resolutions adopted. Clerk.

This authorizes a contract with EMC and declares a bid law exemption.

So moved.

Second.

So moved and seconded. Voting Mr. Riedman. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Resolutions adopted, clerk.

This obtains stop-loss health insurance coverage from Highmark for fiscal year 2027. So moved. Second.

Moved and seconded by Mr. Lanier. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Resolutions adopted, clerk.

This will authorize a minor public works contract with Hollowfield Electrical.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded by Mr. Eamon. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Resolutions adopted. Clerk.

This authorizes a minor public works contract with Southern Heating and Cooling.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and second. Voting Mr. Lanier. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Resolutions adopted. Ordinance resolutions of the general nature of permanent operation for introduction. Clerk.

This introduces zoning amendment number 47.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and second. Voting Mr. Eatman. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Thank you.

Clerk.

This authorizes Amendment Number 19 to the Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund Budget.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded by Mr. Lanier. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Call for unanimous consent. Second. Moved and seconded by Mr. Reidman. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Budget is amended for adoption. Clerk.

This sets October 6, 2026 as a date for a public hearing to consider adoption of zoning amendment number 47.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded by Mr. Lanier. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Good evening, Council, Mayor. So tonight, excuse me, tonight I'm here about the trains blocking our railroad crossings for hours at a time, preventing residents from getting to work on time, parents from taking their children to school, and most importantly blocking the path of emergency vehicles that are trying to get to people who need help. Last week I called City Hall requesting to speak with the mayor about the issue. My call was returned today by the chief of police who informed me that the city has no authority to do anything about this because federal regulations take over any local ordinance. As respectfully as I can, I disagree with this characterization on the situation, and I would like to respectfully bring your attention to something that happened earlier. that happened earlier in April of 2017 when the same issue came up. The mayor himself said, and I quote, the city ordinance requires that the trains move on and not block an intersection for more than five minutes. We've authorized TPD to move forward with citations to engineers of those trains. So either we have the authority to do something about this and something has changed in the meantime, something has changed in the meantime, or we don't have the authority to do something about this. And we haven't had it for three years. for nine years. I think we all deserve an explanation. Now, Alabama already has a law that handles this. Alabama Code Section 4537A 56.70 makes it unlawful for a train to block a crossing for more than five minutes in Jefferson County. With the violation carrying a fine of up to $1,000, it further requires the crew of these trains to clear the way for emergency responders and to notify law enforcement when they expect to be blocked for any length of time. Berman have this protection, Tuscaloosa does not. There is no reason our residents should not have the same protection as our neighbors 30 miles up the road. The reason we can't just enforce this law is due to a federal law that prevents any local government from doing so. But the Federal Railroad Administration on their own website points out there are no federal laws or regulations about block crossings. The federal law prevents us from doing something about it, but the feds themselves do nothing to protect our emergency responders, residents, or workers. I'm sorry, but this is not a reason to do nothing. This is a reason to demand more. And as a citizen of this city, I demand that something be done. I'm here tonight with six specific options for this council, and they are certainly not mutually exclusive. one enforce the city ordinance that the mayor himself put into effect back in 2017 even if the railroads take this to court at least the city is on record fighting for the residents instead of fighting against the residents two to pass a new public safety related ordinance that focused on emergency responders and their ability to access during block crossings this will require the railroads to notify emergency service when they are going to be blocked for an extended period of time and to clear the way for emergency vehicles immediately when asked. The Jefferson County law already does this and have an ordinance frame in the context of public safety. which would be better withstand a federal presumption challenge. Three, to pass a resolution asking our state legislators to extend the Jefferson County statute to Tuscaloosa County as well. The law has been on the books since 2001. If it's good enough for Birmingham, I'm sure it'll be good enough for us. Four, to pass a resolution supporting federal legislation that will allow block crossing fines to be enforced at the state level. The Railroad Responsibility Act of 2025 and the Railroad Safety Act of 2026 are both currently in committee in Congress and both would allow the state to enforce these funds. I would ask that the city that we put Tuscaloosa name On the record supporting them, five, to direct the city engineer to apply for federal crossing elimination grants. The Federal Railroad Administration currently has over $1 billion set aside to help municipalities build overpasses and underpasses at crossings that are safety concerns. The money is there, let's put it to good use. And six, finally, to establish a local reporting system for block crossings so that the city can document each occurrence by location and how often they occur and for how long they block. This information will get the most funding possible for any grant application to clear those crossings and will provide valuable information for any arguments with the railroad or with Congress. And I will leave you with this. When I called City Hall and asked to speak with the mayor, I was contacted by our chief of police who informed me that there was nothing the city could do about this situation. Block crossings are not a police issue. They're a leadership issue. This is a penalty. There is a penalty that can be done, but it all hinges on this whole body. I ask this tonight as a concerned citizen that this council put at least one of these options on the agenda for a formal vote on our next meeting. Thank you. Thank you.

Anyone else wish to address or see counsel tonight? Seeing none, subject to the exercise of mail veto in order of general nature or permanent operational, I call departments hereby order to otherwise implement counsel policy the same act. Do I hear a motion to adjourn? Second. Moved and second to adjourn. Voting, Mr. Lanier. Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Meeting's adjourned.