Mar 12, 2024 City Council

[00:00:03]

WE'LL

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

CERTAINLY.

WELCOME EVERYBODY TONIGHT AND WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING ON WA AND I, AS WELL AS WATCHING THROUGH OUR STREAMING SERVICES ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE.

LINDSEY WITH THE ROLL CALL, ADAMS. HERE.

OLIN.

HERE.

DAWSON.

HERE.

GRISWOLD HERE.

MORMON.

HERE.

ARSONS HERE.

TAYLOR WHITTEN HERE.

HERE.

WHICH PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING OF THE

[4. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS.]

SO WE'LL BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND OTHER EMPLOYEES WITH THEIR SERVICE AWARDS.

WE'RE PROUD TO TODAY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR MARCH EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

AND I HAVE A MEMORANDUM HERE FROM JOHN LANGFORD, FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF AUBURN.

I RECOMMEND JOSH EVANS FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

SINCE JOSH WAS HIRED IN OCTOBER OF 2020, HE HAS EXCELLED IN ALL AREAS OF HIS POSITION.

JOSH GRADUATED AT THE TOP OF HIS RECRUIT SCHOOL IN THE SPRING OF 2021 AND ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST OVERALL EMT GRADE IN THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY.

JOSH IS A MENTOR AND A LEADER ON AND OFF THE FIRE GROUND.

HE SPENDS TIME TRAINING AND TEACHING NEW FIREFIGHTERS WHILE ALWAYS COMPLETING HIS ASSIGNED DUTIES.

JOSH ALWAYS LOOKS FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE PROCESSES AND CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS.

HE LOOKS FOR WAYS TO FURTHER HIS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLSET EVERY SHIFT.

JOSH RECENTLY TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO CREATE AND DESIGN A NEW INTERACTIVE COMPUTER SYSTEM TRAINING AID THAT ALLOWS PERSONNEL TO FURTHER, TO FURTHER THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY STREETS.

HIS PROGRAM DESIGN HAS GREATLY INCREASED THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR STREETS AND NUMBERS.

TRAINING.

IT HAS ALSO LED TO FASTER RESPONSE TIMES WHEN CALLED TO SERVICE, ULTIMATELY IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICE, SATISFACTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

FOR AUBURN'S RESIDENTS, JOSH HAS DEDICATED HIMSELF TO THE CITY OF AUBURN AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

HE HAS ACHIEVED SE SEVERAL CERTIFICATIONS INCLUDING APPARATUS OPERATOR, AERIAL AND PUMPER, FIRE INSTRUCTOR, FIRE OFFICER, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, AWARENESS AND OPERATIONS AND TECHNICIAN, RAPID INTERVENTION CREW AND ROPE RESCUE TECHNICIAN.

JOSH REGULARLY SACRIFICES PERSONAL TIME IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE AND HAS A GENUINE CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OTHERS.

OF OTHERS, JOSH PLACES THE NEEDS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, COWORKERS AND CITIZENS ABOVE HIS PERSONAL GAIN.

THESE VALUES WERE FULLY DISPLAYED WHEN EVANS WITNESSED A SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT WHILE OFF DUTY AND PROVIDED A RAPID ASSESSMENT THAT RESULTED IN QUICK CARE FOR CRITICAL PATIENT.

IT IS FOR THESE REASONS AND MANY OTHERS THAT I RECOMMEND JOSH EVANS FOR THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSH EVANS.

YOU KNOW, OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE SMILING FACES YOU SAW WITH OUR SERVICE AWARDS AND APPRECIATE THEIR CONTINUED GREAT WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR CITIZENS, UH, EVERY DAY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND ALL THE BEST TO RILEY AND MIKE AS THEY ENTER INTO RETIREMENT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE TO AUBURN DURING THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TONIGHT THERE WAS NO BUSINESS FOR THE COUNCIL TO TAKE UP.

I DID ASK FOR THE, UH, PERMISSION AND THE ABILITY TO CAST A VOTE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE ALABAMA LEAGUE AND MUNICIPALITIES,

[00:05:01]

UH, UNDER MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS, I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO QUICKLY GO THROUGH AND, AND, AND THANK DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND, UH, AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES THESE EVENTS ARE COMING UP.

WE'VE GOT HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY COMING UP ON MARCH THE 23RD, AND, UH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A PEEK AT OUR NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, IT'LL BE THERE.

WE'RE ENVIRONMENTAL, WE'RE HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY WILL TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR ON MARCH THE 23RD.

TRASH AMNESTY IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW FOR SPRING CLEANING IN YOUR HOUSE UNTIL MARCH THE 29TH.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON EITHER ONE OF THE LAST TWO ITEMS I'VE TALKED ABOUT, THERE'S PLENTY OF INFORMATION ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO MAKING BOTH OF THESE HAPPEN.

BARK IN THE PARK IS MARCH THE 16TH, UH, OUT AT KEEL PARK AND IS ALWAYS A LOT OF FUN, UH, AS WE RECOGNIZE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH OUR PETS.

A COUPLE OF EASTER EVENTS, BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY IS ON MARCH THE 23RD AND THE EASTER EGG HUNT IS ON MARCH THE 30TH.

UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE THINGS FOR OUR CITY.

THERE WAS SOME, UM, PR OUT RECENTLY ABOUT A NEW EFFORT THAT THE CITY OF AUBURN IS UNDERTAKING WITH WORKFORCE AND OUR VETERANS, UH, PARTICULARLY VETERANS THAT ARE COMING.

THEY'RE RETIRING OVER IN FORT MOORE, OVER IN COLUMBUS.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND OUR WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP FOR, UH, TAKING ON THAT CHALLENGE.

AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THINGS GO WELL AND, UH, I BELIEVE AUBURN AND THE CITY OF AUBURN AND WORKFORCE AND VETERANS GO HAND IN HAND AND ALL THE BEST.

I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA EFFORT FOR THAT.

UH, THIS MORNING, SO MANY OF US UP HERE WENT TO THE, UH, NEW COCA-COLA DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND BOTTLING PLANT GROUNDBREAKING AND WHAT AN ENCOURAGING MORNING, UH, TO SEE THE, UH, LEADERSHIP FROM COCA-COLA UNITED HERE IN AUBURN.

AND VERY PROUD AND EXCITED TO OPEN UP AND BUILD THIS NEW FACILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE GREAT JOBS THAT WE'LL HAVE.

THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE STATE AND THE CITY COMING TOGETHER AND PARTNERING TO MAKING SOMETHING POSITIVE HAPPEN FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA CITIZENS AND AUBURN CITIZENS.

AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO AN ANNOUNCEMENT RECENTLY WITH THE MILKEN INSTITUTE AS RECOGNIZED OUR CITY FOR BEING A WELL RUN COMMUNITY, THE 14TH BEST SMALL CITY AS FAR AS BEING WELL RUN.

AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER PARAMETERS THAT GO WITH THAT, BUT, UH, THAT GOES BACK TO OUTSTANDING DEPARTMENTS, OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THE TAX DOLLARS THAT WE ARE GIVEN BY OUR CITIZENS ARE SPENT WELL ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST, UH, I HAD A VERY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY DURING SPRING BREAK TO SHARE A LUNCH WITH THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY BASEBALL TEAM AS THEY CAME TO AUBURN TO TRY TO PLAY TWO GAMES.

THEY GOT ONE IN.

UH, BUT TO BE WITH THOSE YOUNG MEN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, UM, WAS VERY EXCITING.

THREE OF THOSE YOUNG MEN ACTUALLY GREW UP HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PLAYED AT AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL, AND NOW THEY ARE PLAYING FOR AIR FORCE AND, UH, WHAT A FINE GROUP AND THE THINGS THAT THEY DO AS STUDENT ATHLETES AT AN ACADEMY IS REALLY SPECIAL.

AND, UH, AND TO BE HONORED AND RECOGNIZED.

AND THE NEXT DAY THEY PLAYED AUBURN AND A VERY COMPETITIVE GAME.

AND OUR, ALL OF OUR LOCAL GUYS DID SOME SPECIAL THINGS.

ONE GOT A HIT, ONE GOT A HOME RUN, AND ONE PITCHED A COUPLE OF INNINGS, BUT IT WAS JUST A, IT WAS A VERY GREAT TIME AND I APPRECIATE, UH, AUBURN'S BASEBALL PROGRAM, BRINGING THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY HERE, UH, TO PLAY THOSE COUPLE OF GAMES.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE ANOTHER, ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE TONIGHT? ANYONE PLEASE? YES, SIR.

I JUST HAVE ONE SO I CAN LEARN HOW TO USE THIS MICROPHONE.

MR. MAYOR, UH, AS JOSH EVANS WAS GETTING HIS, UM, EMPLOYEE THE MONTH AWARD, I WAS REFLECTING ON THAT NEW TOWER THAT WE'RE, UH, STEADILY ERECTING OUT AT THE NEW PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER.

UH, IT'S, IT LOOKS TO BE ABOUT FOUR STORIES HIGH, BUT IT LOOKS VERY HIGH TO ME.

AND I JUST THINK HOW BRAVE THESE PEOPLE ARE THAT TRAIN ON THAT FACILITY, AND I, I THANK THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND THEIR BRAVERY AND FOR PROTECTING US.

UH, AND I I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT IF YOU HADN'T BEEN BY THERE, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF, OF, UH, CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY ON THIS, AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT, AT HOW LARGE THIS IS ON JUST A FEW ACRES.

SO MY HAT'S OFF TO, TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OVERSEEING THAT.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVE US EVERY DAY.

ANYONE ELSE? YES, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY PLEASE.

I WANTED TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF LOCAL'S ACHIEVEMENTS THIS WEEK.

UM, FIRSTLY, THE, UH, OUR LOCAL FIREFIGHTER DAKOTA TALMAGE, WHO, UH, WAS RECENTLY FEATURED ON THE VOICE, WHO KNEW THAT THAT YOUNG MAN HAD SUCH A PAR SET OF PIPES, UM, HE WAS PICKED AND HE WAS MOVING ON IN THAT COMPETITION.

I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF, UH, THREE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, UH, THREE HIGH, TWO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND ONE JUNIOR HIGH STUDENT THAT RECENTLY COMPETED IN THE, UH, GREATER EAST ALABAMA REGION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR IN, UH, AUBURN, UH, IN, UH, AUBURN UNIVERSITY MONTGOMERY.

[00:10:01]

AND I'D JUST LIKE TO READ THE NAMES OUT.

LET ME SEE.

WE'VE GOT, UH, KEVIN YAN, UH, OR JUNIOR HIGH, ANNIE BOW AND AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL AT JACK PARSONS, MY, MY SECOND OLDEST SON.

SO I, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THOSE AND CERTAINLY GIVE, UH, MY THANKS TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, UM, UH, ALL OF THE TEACHERS WHO FOSTER A LOVE OF LEARNING HERE IN THIS TOWN.

I COULDN'T BE MORE THANKFUL TO LIVE HERE AND ENJOY THAT, UH, WONDERFUL RESOURCE.

SO THANKS A LOT.

YEP.

ANYONE ELSE? CONGRATULATIONS, DAD.

THANK YOU.

I KNOW YOU'LL TAKE SOME OF THE CREDIT .

OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, AT THIS

[5. AUBURN UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS.]

GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

AFTER A WELL-DESERVED BREAK.

FOLLOWING A BUSY WEEK OF MIDTERMS, THE AUBURN STUDENT BODY IS STARTING TO GET BACK INTO THE FLOW OF CLASSES AGAIN.

AND THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP THAT THE STUDENTS ARE GEARING UP FOR TOMORROW.

ZETA TOWEL ALPHA IS HOSTING THE 28TH ANNUAL BIG MAN ON CAMPUS.

THIS EVENT IS AN ALL MALE BEAUTY PAGEANT WHERE LOCAL CELEBRITIES JUDGE CONTESTANTS BASED ON PERSONALITY, ORIGINALITY AND AUBURN SPIRIT.

OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE PAGEANT HAS RAISED OVER $800,000 IN SUPPORT OF BREAST CANCER EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, AND THE HOPE IS TO RAISE ANOTHER $100,000 TOMORROW NIGHT.

NEXT SATURDAY, OVER 1000 AUBURN STUDENTS WILL SERVE THE AUBURN AND OPELIKA COMMUNITIES IN THE BIG EVENT.

THE BIG EVENT IS A ONE DAY STUDENT LED SERVICE PROJECT SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY'S OFFICE OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT.

SINCE ITS BEGINNING IN 2003, THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AUBURN STUDENTS TO GIVE BACK TO THE AUBURN AND OPELIKA COMMUNITIES BY PERFORMING BASIC COMMUNITY SERVICE TASKS FOR HOUSEHOLDS, BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, AND ORGANIZATIONS.

AS A WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR AUBURN, UM, FOR BEING A GREAT COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN, THE MCCREARY INSTITUTE FOR CYBER AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY ANNOUNCED THE ROLLOUT OF A NEW PODCAST THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

UM, THEY'VE ALREADY FEATURED SOME PROMINENT GUESTS SUCH AS MELISSA HATHAWAY, WHO IS THE FORMER CYBERSECURITY ADVISOR TO PRESIDENTS BUSH AND OBAMA, AS WELL AS A HANDFUL OF OTHER GUESTS, INCLUDING CYBERSECURITY JOURNALISTS FROM CNN AND POLITICO.

THIS IS PART OF THE INSTITUTE'S NEW STRATEGIC PLAN TO MAKE THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE A DESTINATION FOR ALL THINGS RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY.

UM, I I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO HIGHLIGHT.

UM, BUT THAT'S ALL FOR ME THIS WEEK.

WE'RE EAGLE.

WE'RE EAGLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AT

[6. CITIZENS’ COMMUNICATIONS ON AGENDA ITEMS.]

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT, SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT, JUST ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA NOW WOULD BE THE TIME FOR YOU TO COME FORWARD AND WE'D ASK THAT YOU COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

YES, SIR.

IF I'M OUTTA LINE, Y'ALL TELL ME.

I THINK THAT TULLAHOMA DRIVE IS ON Y'ALL'S LEGITIMATE.

IT'S, IT SURE IS.

YES, SIR.

ALRIGHT.

THIS WILL BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME.

YEAH.

MY NAME IS TOM CONNA BROWN.

MY PHYSICAL ADDRESS IS 10 17 STAGE ROAD.

I COME BEFORE Y'ALL TONIGHT BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER AND MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN LIVE AT 8 0 3 TAHOMA DRIVE AND IT'S A CONCERN FOR ME.

UH, SUGGESTIONS MAYBE TO CONSIDER WOULD BE POSSIBLY SPEED BUMPS PUT IN ON BOTH ENDS OF THAT BIG CURVE.

UH, AND OF COURSE NON-PAR LOOK, I GUESS CONSIDERING NON-PAR ON ONE SIDE, WHICH IS GREAT.

THE OTHER THING THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO GO LOOK AT IS 8 0 3 TULLAH, EXCUSE ME, 8 0 4 TAHOMA.

WE HAVE COLLEGE STUDENTS LIVING IN THAT HOUSE AND I GUARANTEE YOU THERE'S AT LEAST FIVE OF 'EM IN THERE AND THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT CURVE.

THEY ALL PARK ON THE STREET.

AND IF Y'ALL WOULD CONSIDER THOSE ITEMS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU'ALL YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

CITY MANAGERS COMMUNICATIONS MAYOR, WE HAVE NO CITY MANAGERS COMMUNICATIONS THIS EVENING, SO IF YOU'RE

[8. CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA.]

[00:15:02]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MOVED SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

A AYE.

OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, WE GOOD? THERE WAS NO ABSTENTION.

THERE WERE NO ABSTENTIONS WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA.

OKAY.

A I WANTED TO CLARIFY.

THERE WERE NO ABSTENTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

OH, I'M SORRY.

THAT WAS A, UH, I APOLOGIZE.

I MEANT TO ABSTAIN ON THE, UH, CAMERA REAL ESTATE.

I SHOULD HAVE PULLED THAT OFF, SO I APOLOGIZE IF I NEED TO DO THAT.

I, I'M HAPPY TO PULL THAT OFF AND ABSTAIN FROM THAT.

YEAH.

CHOICE.

DO YOU GUYS WANNA GO BACK OR IF YOU JUST WANNA ABSTAIN ON THE WHOLE CONSENT AGENDA, THAT'S FINE AS WELL.

I APOLOGIES IF WE, YOU JUST ABSTAIN ON THE WHOLE CONSENT AGENDA.

I THINK THAT'D BE FINE.

THANK YOU.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

UNDER ORDINANCES

[9.a. Traffic control signs and devices. Establish a "No Parking" zone along Tullahoma Drive. Unanimous consent necessary.]

I'LL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND IN WILL THE COUNTS HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD.

THE VOTE ON THIS, THIS EVENING SEEING A HEARING, NONE.

ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

YES, I'VE RECEIVED, UM, MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THIS IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE AND I AM, UH, VERY THANKFUL TO THE CITIZENS THAT BROUGHT THIS TO THE CITY'S ATTENTION.

'CAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

IT'S A SITUATION THAT YOU CORRECTING.

SO, UH, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS AND HOPE EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE COUNCIL WILL AS WELL.

ANYONE ELSE? YES, SIR.

MR. MORMAN, UM, I THINK THERE WAS SOME, UH, RESEARCH DONE BY THE CITY ON THIS.

COULD YOU SHARE, UH, ANY DETAILS ON THAT? UH, THERE'S SOME RESEARCH.

UM, I WILL HAVE A CITY ENGINEER, FRAZIER AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, MATTHEWS, SPEAK TO THAT.

THIS INVOLVED A COLLABORATION BETWEEN ENGINEERING SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN WE GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT VEHICLES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD.

THIS, THE ROUTE OF THIS WAS ABOUT A SCHOOL BUS GETTING THROUGH, BUT IT WAS A LOT MORE THAN A SCHOOL BUS.

IT INVOLVED SOME, UM, FIRE VEHICLES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE WENT OUT.

WE ACTUALLY SPENT A GOOD BIT OF TIME ON THESE THINGS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING EVERYBODY SAFE.

SO EITHER ONE OF YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE.

SURE.

THANK YOU.

UM, ONCE WE RECEIVED THE CONCERN FROM THE COMMUNITY, WE SENT THE FIRE CHIEF AND ONE OF HIS DELEGATES OUT TO MEASURE THE, UM, THE STREET AND THE CURVE.

AND IF VEHICLES WERE PARKED ON THE CURVE, COULD WE HAVE ONE OF OUR LARGE FIRE APPARATUS VEHICLES MAKE IT THROUGH THERE? WHICH, UH, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN PROBLEMATIC.

AND SO WE COMMUNICATED THAT TO ENGINEERING SERVICES TO CONSIDER, UH, DURING THEIR DECISION AS WELL.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION? COMMENT? I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, WILL YOU SPEAK TO HOW THIS WILL BE ENFORCED MOVING FORWARD? PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR MATTHEWS WILL TAKE THIS ONE AS WELL.

SURE.

SO WE SPECIFICALLY RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM THE CITIZENS.

IF THEY SEE SOMEONE THAT'S PARKED ON A YELLOW CURB OR A, UH, AREA THAT'S MARKED NO PARKING, UH, BY SIGNAGE, UH, WE WILL RESPOND WITH AN ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OUT TO THAT AREA.

BUT ADDITIONALLY, IF, UM, AN ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS PATROLLING THE AREA AND HAPPENS TO SEE IT AND IT'S PROBLEMATIC, THEN THEY WOULD, UH, PROACTIVELY STOP AND, AND, UH, HANDLE THE SITUATION, WHETHER IT'S CONTACTING THE REGISTERED OWNER AND ASKING THEM TO MOVE IT OR CITING THAT THAT VEHICLE, IF IT IS A, UM, A BLOCKAGE WHERE A VEHICLE COULDN'T GET THROUGH THERE, THEN WE COULD TOW IT IF IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

LINDSEY WITH THE ROLL CALL? DAWSON? YES MA'AM.

GRISWOLD? YES, MA'AM.

YES MA'AM.

ARSONS? YES.

BITTEN? YES.

ADAMS? YES.

ANCE? YES.

SANDERS? YES.

UNDER RESOLUTIONS

[10.a. Concurrence. Webster Road property acquisition.]

MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

SECOND.

HAVE MOTION AS SECOND THE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM

[10.b. City of Auburn State of Alabama CDBG‐CV Grant Award Formal Amendment]

THIS AMENDMENT IS BEING REQUESTED SINCE THERE ARE NO LONGER VALID APPLICATIONS FOR COVID-19 SPECIFIC CA CASES

[00:20:01]

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YEAH.

COULD YOU GIVE US ALL AND THE PUBLIC AN OVERVIEW OF HOW WE GOT THERE AND THE REASON WHY THAT MONEY'S, UH, ALLOCATED IN THE WAY IT HAS? ABSOLUTELY.

I'M GONNA HAVE AL DAVIS, OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR, EXPLAIN, AND ONE OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KEEP IN MIND IS WE HAVE, UM, WHAT WE CALL ENTITLEMENT FUNDS THAT COME ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BASED ON OUR POPULATION AND LOW MODERATE INCOME SIZE.

UM, SO WE GET ANNUAL FUNDS THAT CAN BE SPENT A CERTAIN WAY, AND THEN THE STATE WAS ALLOCATED A LOT OF EXTRA COVID RELATED FUNDS.

AND THESE ARE THE COVID RELATED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS.

SO THEY HAD DIFFERENT HOOKS, UM, MAINLY RELATED TO DOCUMENTATION HAVING TO DO SPECIFICALLY WITH COVID-19.

MR. DAVIS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WELL, THE CITY ALSO RECEIVED, UH, COVID DIRECT FUNDING THROUGH HUD, UH, IN ADDITION TO THESE FUNDING.

SO WE HAD TWO FUNDING STREAMS WHERE THE CITY ACTUALLY RECEIVED DOLLARS, UH, FOR COVID DOLLARS THAT WE COULD USE TO SUPPORT AGENCIES, ET CETERA.

DURING, DURING THE HEIGHT OF, UH, COVID-19, WE ALSO RECEIVED, UH, AND APPLIED FOR IT RECEIVED THE 700 AND, UH, $50,000 GRANT FROM THE STATE OF ALABAMA, WHICH WAS ALSO COVID RELATED.

UH, ONE THING TO NOTE ABOUT COVID FUNDING IS THAT THEY'RE VERY RESTRICTIVE.

THEY HAVE TO BE USED, UH, TO EITHER PREPARE, RESPOND TO OR PREVENT COVID.

THEY CAN'T BE USED FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE.

SO WE DID ALLOCATE FROM THE STATE DOLLARS.

A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THESE FUNDS WENT TO THE EAST ALABAMA FOOD BANK.

UH, THE MAJORITY OF IT, PROBABLY ABOUT 450,000 WAS ALLOCATED TO THEM TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT, PURCHASE FREEZERS, ALL THE THINGS THEY NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FOOD THAT WAS NEEDED.

UH, DURING THE HEIGHT OF COVID, WE ALSO FUNDED SOME OTHER AGENCIES, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, UH, JOY LAND, AUBURN DAYCARE, THE SENIORS.

WE WAS ALSO ABLE TO SPREAD THAT MONEY OUT AND HELP SOME OF THOSE AGENCIES AS WELL.

UH, HOWEVER, UH, BECAUSE IT'S SO RESTRICTIVE, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO USE ALL THOSE DOLLARS FOR UTILITY AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

UH, AND IT IS THESE IS, YOU EITHER LOSE IT, USE IT, OR LOSE IT.

SO WE WERE FACING A SITUATION, IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS, UH, UH, BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND CLOSE OUT THIS GRANT BY THE END OF NOVEMBER, THEN THOSE DOLLARS WOULD GO BACK TO THE STATE.

WE DID INDICATE IN OUR ORIGINAL APPLICATION TO THE STATE THAT IF WE HAD ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS LEFT, THAT WE WOULD ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS TO THE EAST ALABAMA FOOD BANK OR TO THE, UH, PANTRY.

SO WE HAD ALREADY INDICATED EARLY ON HOW WE'D LIKE TO, TO UTILIZE ANY LEFTOVER DOLLARS OR ANY ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.

THE STATE, UH, WAS WILLING TO, UH, ALLOW US TO MOVE THOSE DOLLARS OR REQUEST, UH, WE REQUEST TO MOVE THEM AND, AND WE'RE BRINGING IT TO YOU TONIGHT TO RELOCATE THOSE, TO REALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SPEND, UH, AND GIVE THOSE DOLLARS TO THE EAST ALABAMA FOOD BANK AS WELL AS THE PANTRY AT THE BOYKIN COMMUNITY CENTER.

THE PANTRY AT THE BOYKIN COMMUNITY CENTER IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST BUSIEST PANTRIES IN THE CITY.

IT AVERAGES ABOUT 135 INDIVIDUALS OR, OR A MONTH, UH, AND DISTRIBUTE OVER 1400 POUNDS A MONTH.

UH, SO THEY ARE CERTAINLY IN NEED OF SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING AS WELL.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING TONIGHT IS REALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS TO THOSE, UH, ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES AND VERY NEEDED, UH, AREAS THAT COULD USE THESE DOLLARS AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, SPEND IT BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? THIS REPRESENTS ABOUT, UM, 10% OF THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT THAT, THAT WE RECEIVED, OR EVEN LESS MR. DAVIS, UH, YOU TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO REALLOCATE? NO, SIR.

UH, WE, WE RECEIVED COVID DOLLARS, UH, TO THE TUNE OF, I, I DON'T REMEMBER.

A COUPLE OF MILLION.

ABOUT 1.3, 1.4 MILLION? YES.

OKAY.

YEAH.

SO THIS REPRESENTS ABOUT 10% THEN? YES.

THEN ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? PLEASE? WHO'S ELIGIBLE TO USE THE FOOD PANTRIES? UH, IF YOU EL LO IF YOU MEET THE INCOME LIMIT, UH, YOU CAN CAN UTILIZE THE FOOD PANTRY, TYPICALLY LOW MOD.

AND THE GOAL AT BOYKIN IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A SENIOR CENTER THERE, WE HAVE, UH, SOME SUBSIDIZED DAYCARES THERE.

THAT, THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A ONE-STOP SHOP ALSO.

UM, AND WE HAVE A LARGE LOW MODERN INCOME POPULATION IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO ALSO MAKE A ONE STOP SHOP FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING THERE FOR OTHER SERVICES TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT THEY NEED.

ALRIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE?

[00:25:01]

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS WE HAVE FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

[12. CITIZENS’ OPEN FORUM.]

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT ANYTHING.

UM, WE'LL ASK THAT YOU COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL.

WE WOULD ASK THAT ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE COUNCIL.

MARTHA SCHAMP 3 0 7 CHAMELEON DRIVE.

THE CORE VALUES OF AUBURN SHOULD BE WISDOM NUMBER ONE.

WHAT IS WISDOM? THE FEAR OF THE LORD'S.

THE BEGINNING OF IT, JUST THE BEGINNING AND THE CLEAN LOVE FOR NEIGHBOR, NOT ERO, BUT CARITAS.

PHILIOS, BROTHERLY LOVE.

AND ESPECIALLY NUMBER THREE IS THE EXTREME PROTECTION OF CHILDREN'S MORALS AND VALUES.

CHILDREN'S PURITY.

CHILDREN BELONG TO GOD FIRST AND TO THEIR PARENTS SECOND, AND NO CHILD SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHY, YET THIS CITY IS BUYING IT FOR OUR LIBRARY.

STOP BUYING IT.

STOP BUYING IT.

STOP SIGNING CHECKS FOR OBSCENE BOOKS.

LET THE PARENTS INSTRUCT THEIR OWN CHILDREN IN SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AT AN AGE THE PARENTS CHOOSE.

IT'S THEIR RIGHT.

STOP THE LIBRARY FROM BUYING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL AND BOOKS THAT CHILDREN AGE 12 AND UP MAY SEE THESE BOOKS DAMAGE THE CONSCIENCE AND ARE TOXIC FOR A LIFETIME.

GOD CALLS SOME OF THE SEX ACTS IN THE LIBRARY.

BOOKS ABOMINATION.

IT'S MORAL DEGRADATION.

IT LEADS TO DISEASE AND DEATH.

CHILDREN ARE LITTLE.

THEY LOOK TO US TO KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT AND TRUE.

TAKE THE BOOKS OUT OF THE LIBRARY THAT TEACH THEM LIES THAT TELL THEM YOU CAN BE BOTH MALE AND FEMALE AT THE SAME TIME.

THEN ONE MINUTE YOU CAN BE THE THE OPPOSITE.

THESE BOOKS DON'T HELP THESE CHILDREN.

CHILDREN WILL MEET MANY STORMS IN LIFE.

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL CALM THEIR STORMS, ALL THEIR STORMS. HE CALMED TO THE TEMPEST AND THE ROARING WAVES ON THE SEA OF GALILEE.

HE LOVES CHILDREN.

HE WARNS ANY ADULT WHO OFFENDS AN INNOCENT CHILD, THAT IT WERE BETTER FOR HIM, THAT A MILLSTONE WERE TIED AROUND HIS NECK AND HE WERE CAST INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA THAN TO DO THAT TO A CHILD, TO LEAD HIM INTO SIN.

AND THE PFLAG LIFESTYLE, WHICH IS SIN.

CHRIST LOVES INNOCENT CHILDREN.

HE WARNS ADULTS TO PROTECT IT.

THANK YOU.

WHO WOULD BE NEXT? HELLO, SUSAN BOLT, 1188 EAST UNIVERSITY DRIVE.

TONIGHT I WANNA TALK ABOUT DIXON VERSUS THE CITY OF AUBURN.

SPECIFICALLY TWO CLAIMS AND THEIR EXPLANATIONS FROM THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT.

THE FIRST BEING A CLAIM BY DIXON THAT THE ORDINANCE VIOLATES HIS RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION GUARANTEES UNDER THE ALABAMA CONSTITUTION AS QUOTED FROM THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT DECISION.

AS THIS COURT HAS RECOGNIZED, HOWEVER, ALABAMA'S CONSTITUTION CONTAINS NO EXPRESS EQUAL PROTECTION PROVISION.

THEN THEY WENT ON TO WRITE THAT WHETHER THE ALABAMA CONSTITUTION PROVIDES FOR A GUARANTEE OF EQUAL PROTECTION REMAINS IN DISPUTE DIRECTLY FOLLOWING THESE PASSAGES, THEY NOTE THAT DIXON HAS NOT ASSERTED A FEDERAL EQUAL PROTECTION CLAIM APPEARING TO CONFIRM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT ORDINANCE 32 88 DOES VIOLATE THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

NEXT JUSTICE BRYAN, IN HIS RESPONSE SAYS, THIS COURT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A REGULATORY TAKING CLAIM BASED ON THE ALABAMA CONSTITUTION.

HE CONTINUED WHEN SPEAKING OF THE TOWN OF GURLEY CASE, THAT ALABAMA'S FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE REGULATORY TAKINGS IS OUT OF LINE WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE STATES, WHICH DO RECOGNIZE THE CONCEPT OF A REGULATORY TAKING UNDER STATE CONSTITUTIONS.

[00:30:01]

SO TWICE THE SUPREME COURT SEES AN INJUSTICE AND OFFERS A PATH TO OVERTURN THE ORDINANCE.

SO DOES THE CITY OF AUBURN CONCENTRATE ON THE STATE CONSTITUTION KNOWING THAT IT PUTS CITIZENS AT A DISADVANTAGE THAT FORCES THEM TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS IN COURT AT CITIZENS' DEFENSE EXPENSE? EXCUSE ME.

WHY DID THE CITY MANAGER AND HER STAFF PRESENT YOU WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL? SHOULD THE CITY MANAGER AND HER STAFF BE FORCED TO VET ALL ORDINANCES TO ASSURE YOU THE POLICYMAKERS THAT THEY ARE CONSTITUTIONAL? OR SHOULD THE CITY MANAGER AND HER STAFF BE FIRED FOR PRESENTING AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL ORDINANCE TO YOU? HOW COMFORTABLE ARE YOU NOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU WERE NOT GIVEN COMPLETE INFORMATION WHEN ASKED TO VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE THAT TRAMPLES CITIZENS' RIGHTS? HOW WELL WILL YOU SLEEP TONIGHT KNOWING THAT YOU WERE DUPED AND USED AND THAT YOU CANNOT TRUST THE INFORMATION BEING PRESENTED TO YOU FOR A VOTE? MR. DAWSON, AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, YOU ASKED ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL USE OF DRONES AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WILL YOU NOW ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO GO ON RECORD AS TO WHETHER ORDINANCE 32 88 IS CONSTITUTIONAL, BOTH STATE AND FEDERALLY, YOUR CHARACTERS AND REPUTATIONS HAVE BEEN USED TO BENEFIT THE CITY AND USED TO HURT THE CITIZENS.

YOU SWORE AN OATH TO PROTECT AS THE POLICYMAKERS.

I ASK YOU TO RESCIND THE ORDINANCE 32 88 AND TO RESCIND THIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ATTACK ON THE CITIZENS OF AUBURN.

THANK YOU.

WHO WOULD BE NEXT? HI FOLKS.

STEVE COSGROVE, 1927 WATERCRESS DRIVE OUT AT ASHTON PARK AT NORTH LAKES.

I JUST WANTED TO COME AND TOUCH BASE.

I HADN'T SEEN YOU FOR A WHILE.

JUST WANNA REITERATE HOW MUCH YOU REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL.

I, UH, EVERY TIME I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.

I SAW YOU RECENTLY.

I, I'VE EXPRESSED THAT APPRECIATION AND, AND I, I REALLY MEAN THAT.

IT'S, IT'S AMAZING THE STEWARDSHIP.

I THINK THAT YOU ALL DISPLAY OUR CITY MANAGER OR MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.

I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST LOOK AROUND AND, AND, AND SEE WHAT'S, WHAT THE, THE GOODNESS THAT, UH, THAT'S BEING CARED FOR AND, AND, AND CREATED.

UM, I SENT YOU A LITTLE NOTE ABOUT, UH, THE NEW DONUT SHOP IN TOWN, LITTLE TOWN CAN'T HAVE TOO MANY GOOD DONUT SHOPS.

SOMEBODY TAKING OVER A LOCAL, REALLY NEAT LOCAL, UH, RESTAURANT THAT WAS OPEN SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1989.

AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S KEEPING GOING.

WE ALL LIKE THAT.

AND, UH, THE, UH, THE HIGHWAY PAVING PROJECT, UH, GOING 1 47 GOING OUT OF TOWN.

I PARTICULARLY LIKED THAT BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST MOVED OUT, WHEN WE FIRST MOVED OUT THERE INTO ASHTON PARK FROM SOUTH COLLEGE, THAT WAS, UH, JULY 29TH, 2006, I NOTICED THOSE HASH LINES COMING DOWN THERE.

AND I, AND WHENEVER YOU SEE HASH YELLOW LINES AND SO FORTH, IT GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT TO, TO JUST HIGH BALL AROUND TRAFFIC AND SO FORTH.

AND WHEN, UH, WHEN THERE'S SOMEBODY TURNING IN THERE LIKE A BIG BOX, UH, UH, TYPE TRUCK OR, OR A SCHOOL BUS, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO SEE COMING AROUND THERE AND SO FORTH.

MATTER OF FACT, JEFF RAMSEY, WHO THE FORMER CITY ENGINEER AND I WENT OUT THERE A COUPLE TIMES AND TOOK THAT LOOK AT THAT, HE, HE, HE AGREED WITH THAT, THAT COULD BE A HAZARD.

AND, UH, BUT IT IS UNDER THE PURVIEW AND I KNOW OF, OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, I THINK.

BUT THEY, WHEN THEY REDID IT, I WAS SO, I WAS DELIGHTED.

AND BECAUSE IT HAD TO DO WITH SAFETY, KEEPING THINGS SAFE.

LIKE WHEN WE COACH, YOU WANT TO KEEP THINGS SAFE, FUN, FAST PACED AND CONTENT STRONG, BUT SAFETY IS ALWAYS FIRST.

YOU WANNA KEEP IT SAFE.

AND THAT JUST, THAT JUST REALLY MADE, MADE SENSE TO ME.

THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE OLDER FOLKS THAT ARE COMING IN AND OUT THERE AND SO FORTH, AND THEY, AND PARTICULARLY IF THERE'S ANY SORT IN THE LIGHTS, SOMETIMES, UH, IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND IF THERE'S ANY, UH, INCLEMENT WEATHER, UH, IT CAN, IT CAN UH, BE A PROBLEM.

HERE'S MY T TRIVIA QUESTION.

I GOT 25 SECONDS.

HERE'S MY TRIVIA QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHO WAS THE PLAYER AT AUBURN? LOCAL AUBURN SCHOOL THAT PLAYED IN THE SUPER BOWL? NOT DEMARCUS WARE.

WE COACHED HIM, NOT DEMARCUS WARE.

WHO, WHO IS THE PLAYER? YOU HAVE 13 SECONDS TO FIGURE IT OUT.

OCU, MANIER, WHAT'S THAT? OCM AND ERROR.

WHO'S THAT? OOC UMIN ERA.

OKAY, ANOTHER ONE THEN.

.

OKAY.

.

THIS ONE STARTED IN, UH, SUPER BOWL 12, AND HIS NAME WAS BERNARD

[00:35:01]

BUT ANYWAY, I, I'LL FINISH THAT STORY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WHO WOULD BE NEXT? I AM ROBERT WILKINS.

UH, 2 61 DENTSON DRIVE, AUBURN, ALABAMA.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

UH, AND COUNCIL.

ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES, THREE YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE STR FIVE, TAYLOR DAWSON, GRISWOLD PARSONS, AND ANDERS PASS.

ORDINANCE 32 88 SHORT-TERM RENTAL ESTIMATES ARE THAT THE TR FIVE HAVE ALREADY STOLEN OVER $2 MILLION FROM AUBURN CITIZENS WHILE AFFECTING OVER 151 FAMILIES REPRESENTING OVER 450 AUBURN CITIZENS.

COMPRISING OF NEARLY 400 ROOMS THE MAYOR SHOULD HAVE RECUSED HIMSELF.

WHY SIMPLY PUT CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

LET ME EXPLAIN.

FIRST STATED IN THE AUBURN VILLAGER ON 4 20 20, THE AUBURN PLANNING COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER A CONDITIONAL USE REQUEST FOR A FIVE STORY HOTEL TO AUBURN, ALABAMA DOWNTOWN.

THE PROJECT CALLED GRADUATE AUBURN WITH 177 ROOMS WHERE THE ANDERS BOOKSTORE CURRENTLY RESIDES.

TWO, THE MAYOR DID RECUSE HIMSELF ON 5 19 20 AT THE AUBURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THAT CONDITIONAL LAND USE VOTE, BUT DID NOT RECUSE HIMSELF FROM THE STR AND QUOTING THE MAYOR.

THIS AGENDA ITEM CONCERNS A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT MY FAMILY OWNS.

SO, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I'M COMPLETELY REMOVING MYSELF FROM THE DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON THE ITEM IN FULL TRANSPARENCY.

THIRD, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY BUREAUCRATS UTILIZE THE LACK OF DATA TO CREATE FRICTION FROM THE GROUP.

DON'T HOTEL OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE STR MEMBERS WHILE KEEPING THE AUBURN CITY COUNCIL UNINFORMED THE MAYOR.

FOUR.

THE MAYOR SET UP AN IMPOTENT STR TASK FORCE, WHICH HAD NO RECOMMENDATION.

FIVE.

THE MAYOR, THE CITY MANAGER, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, PARSON, GRISWOLD, AND DAWSON.

MET WITH VIC PATEL, MULTIPLE HOTEL OWNER AND PRESIDENT OF AUBURN HOSPITALITY GROUP ON 3 15 21 A DAY BEFORE THE PASSING OF ORDINANCE 32 88.

NOTE THE HOTEL LOBBY IN MAINE.

OBJECTIVE IS TO CRUSH AUBURN.

I MEAN OUR AIRBNB AND STR SIX A DAY AFTER THE MEETING WITH THE HOTELER, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER UTILIZE PARLIAMENT PROCEDURES ON 3 16 21 TO SQUASH MAYOR PRO TEMS WIS 2 16 20.

AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 32 88.

THE MAYOR BROUGHT BACK THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED STR UH, ORDINANCE.

THE MAYOR WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT ORDINANCE 32 88 WAS PASSED VIA ZOOM WHILE PROVIDING NO DATA TO SUPPORT PROS OR CONS OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL.

NONE.

IF THE MAYOR HAD RECUSED HIMSELF TO AVOID A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE ORDINANCE WOULD NOT HAVE PASSED.

TELL US WHY.

MAYOR, WE CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH WHO'LL BE NEXT.

I AM KATHY DONALD.

I LIVE AT 3 49 PAIN STREET AND HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUBURN FOR 42 YEARS.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AN INDIVIDUAL HAS REPEATEDLY ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEIR OPPOSITION TO AUBURN'S SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.

THE COMMENTS AND POSTED INCLUDED UNTRUTHFUL STORM STATEMENTS AS WELL AS ATTACKS ON COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF USING SUCH WORDS AS GREEDY AND UNINFORMED.

THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE WAS DEVELOPED AT THE REQUEST OF NUMEROUS RESIDENTS OVER A TWO AND A HALF YEAR TIME SPAN, AND REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION OF MANY HOURS OF WORK BY PLANNING PROFESSIONALS IN CITY LEADERS.

WHEN INPUT OF HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS, THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR WERE WELL-INFORMED AND NONE OF THEM PROFIT FROM THE ORDER THAT THEY ULTIMATELY APPROVED.

THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE WERE OVERWHELMINGLY REELECTED IN 2022.

BOB PARSONS, WHO REPRESENTS WARD SIX AND SERVED ON THE TASK FORCE, RECEIVED 85% OF THE VOTE IN HIS WARD.

MR. GRISWOLD AND MS. TAYLOR WERE REC REELECTED WITH 61 AND 70 RESPECTIVELY.

PRESENTS ALLOWED INFORMATION FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS BEFORE THIS ORDINANCE.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE LIVING IN FAMILY ORIENTED CLOSE END NEIGHBORS AREAS FOUND THEMSELVES WITH A REVOLVING DOOR OF CELEBRITY VISITORS NEXT NEARBY, A RESULT OF INVESTORS PURCHASING HOUSES OR NEIGHBORS USING THEIR OWN

[00:40:01]

IN OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE LOTS ARE SMALLER AND STREETS ARE MORE NARROW, SUCH INTRUSIONS ARE MORE ONEROUS.

AFTER ALL, EVERYONE WHO COMES TO AUBURN FOR A SHORT STAY IS COMING TO CELEBRATE SOMETHING.

FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, GRADUATION, WEDDINGS, RUSH REUNIONS, ET CETERA, AND CELEBRATE.

THEY DO.

THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE NO HOA, THE AUBURN CITY ZONING IS OUR HOA.

WE HAVE RELIED ON THE CITY TO PRESERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER.

WE HAVE RELIED ON THE CITY TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE.

I KNOW MY GRANDCHILDREN PLAYING IN MY BACKYARD OR ON MY PATIO OR A MEAL, OR A MERE CAMELIA BUSH AWAY FROM MY NEIGHBOR'S PATIO AND ARE NOT INTERACTING WITH TEMPORARY VISITORS THAT CHANGED.

WEEKLY AUBURN'S MAYOR RESPONDED TO THE DISTRESS RESIDENTS OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS EXPRESSED WHEN HE PUT A TASK FORCE IN PLACE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL VOTES CONFIRMED THAT THEY HONOR NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION VALUES AND THAT THEY WERE LISTENING TO CONSTITUENTS.

THANK YOU.

I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T THOUGHT TO COME MORE REGULARLY AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

AND BY THE WAY, THE HOUSE HOTEL ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOME WAS SEWN SOLD AFTER THE ORDINANCE WAS PASSED AND NOW HOUSES A REAL FAMILY.

THANK YOU FOR THE NEW NEIGHBORS.

WHO WOULD BE NEXT? GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME'S CONNOR BAILEY.

I LIVE AT 3 23 BROOKSIDE DRIVE.

I'VE LIVED IN AUBURN SINCE 1985.

I SPENT 30 YEARS ON THE FACULTY IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE.

SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN RURAL ALABAMA TALKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING, WHY IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT PROTECTING ME AGAINST THIS LANDFILL? THIS HOG FARM THAT HAS COME NEXT TO MY HOME IMPEDING THE ENJOYMENT OF MY PROPERTY.

THE REASON, THE ABSENCE OF ZONING IN RURAL ALABAMA, THERE IS ESSENTIALLY NO ZONING.

UNLIKE A UNLIKE AUBURN UNDER ALABAMA STATE LAW, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE AUBURN HAVE THE RIGHT TO ESTABLISH ZONING DISTRICTS TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND FURTHER THESE REGULATIONS, UH, IN ONE DISTRICT MAY DIFFER FROM THOSE IN OTHER DISTRICTS.

THE LEGALITY OF AUBURN'S STR ORDINANCE HAS BEEN AFFIRMED BY THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT.

AUBURN'S STR ORDINANCE PROTECTS GENERAL WELFARE OF RESIDENTS IN NC ZONES.

ST'S UNDERMINED PROPERTY VALUES FOR RESIDENTIAL OWNERS IN TWO WAYS.

FIRST IS THE TOPIC THAT HAS ATTRACTED MOST OF THE ATTENTION, THE NOISE, THE TRAFFIC, THE PARKING, AND OTHER NUISANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF STR OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT TURN A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY INTO WEEKEND LONG PARTY HOUSES IMPEDING ENJOYMENT OF NEIGHBORS LESS WELL RECOGNIZED AS THE FACT THAT ST'S HOLLOW OUT NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHEN THOSE SAME PROPERTIES ARE LEFT VACANT FOR MOST OF THE YEAR, SDRS WOULD UNDERMINE THE UNIQUE FABRIC OF NEIGHBORHOODS AS WE KNOW THEM IN THE NC ZONE.

SDRS HAVE A BROAD NEGATIVE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY BY ATTRACTING INVESTORS WHO LOOK AT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE NC ZONE ONLY AS A SOURCE OF PROFIT.

THESE INVESTORS MAY DRIVE UP HOUSING COSTS FOR YOUNGER FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN WHO WISH TO LIVE THERE.

AND WE JUST HEARD THE STORY OF A NEW NEIGHBOR THAT CAME IN TO HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

AUBURN HAS HAD AN NC ZONE SINCE BEFORE I CAME TO TOWN.

I DUNNO HOW LONG IT'S BEEN HERE, BUT IT'S, IT WAS BECAUSE OF THAT NC REGULATION THAT MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT PROPERTY IN AUBURN, AND WE HAVE BEEN PROPERTY OWNERS AND PAID TAXES SINCE 1985.

SOME INDIVIDUALS BELIEVE THAT THEIR RIGHTS AS OWNERS OF PRIVATE PROPERTY ARE ABSOLUTE NOT TRUE.

PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING NOT ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE ENJOYMENT OF OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF AND TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY VALUES OF THOSE OTHER OWNERS.

WE'RE AT A MOMENT OF SERIOUS POLITICAL POLARIZATION IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE SOME PEOPLE CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS ARE ABSOLUTE AND CHOOSE TO DEFAME ANYONE WHO CLAIMS OTHERWISE.

I'M SADDENED TO SEE THIS INFECT POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I COMMEND MAYOR ANDERS CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY STAFF FOR THEIR PATIENTS WHILE THEY HEARD THEMSELVES INSULTED AND DERIDED WEEK AFTER WEEK FOR THE WORK THEY DID IN PUTTING A FAIR AND MUCH NEEDED ORDINANCE IN PLACE.

AND I WAS A PARTICIPANT IN THAT PROCESS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND, AND AND THE LIKE AND APPRECIATE WHAT WAS DONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WHO WOULD BE NEXT? LINDA DEAN.

4 7 4 SCOTT STREET.

[00:45:02]

THE TASK FORCE CONSISTED OF TWO PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS, TWO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THREE CITIZENS.

THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS REGULARLY ADDRESSED CITY COUNCIL FOR TWO YEARS HAS INCORRECTLY CLAIMED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THE TASK FORCE HAD, QUOTE, HAD NO STR MEMBERS.

ACTUALLY TWO OF THE THREE CITIZENS ON THE TASK FORCE WERE THEMSELVES OWNERS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS OR HAD BEEN AND BROUGHT THAT PERSPECTIVE TO TASK FORCE MEETINGS.

THE TASK FORCE HELD TWO WORK SESSIONS ON MAY 13TH AND AUGUST 14TH, 2019, AND TWO SESSIONS DURING WHICH CITIZENS COULD SPEAK.

ON JANUARY 17TH AND MAY 22ND, 2019, A VIDEO OF THE MEDI, A VIDEO OF THE MAY 22ND PUBLIC INPUT MEETING IS AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

A CLEAR MAJORITY OF THE SPEAKERS SUPPORTED AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

SPEAKERS AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL AS DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING DESCRIBED SPECIFIC INCIDENTS OF NOISE AND LEWD BEHAVIOR OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL OCCUPANTS DISTURBING THE PIECE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE INDIVIDUAL HAS STATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HE DID NOT QUOTE, HAVE ANY INFORMATION SUPPORTING THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAD CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS IN AUBURN.

PERHAPS THIS INDIVIDUAL WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER INFORMED IF HE HAD LISTENED TO CITIES COMMENTS.

THE INDIVIDUAL HAS ERRONEOUSLY STATED THAT THE TASK FORCE QUOTE HAD NO RECOMMENDATIONS AND DID NOT QUOTE, DO ITS DUE DILIGENCE.

IN FACT, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TASK FORCE PRESENTED RECOMMENDATIONS TO FOREST COTTON.

JIM BUSTON, THE CITY MANAGER AND MAYOR ANDERS ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2019.

PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSIONS TOOK PLACE ON DECEMBER 3RD, 2019, AND ON JANUARY 14TH, SEPTEMBER 9TH AND OCTOBER 5TH, 2020, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR RESEARCH SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCES IN OTHER CITIES TO INFORM THE TASK FORCE AND PLANNING COMMISSION DURING WORK SESSIONS.

SOME OF THESE CITIES ARE LISTED ON HIS SLIDE PRESENTATION.

NOBODY WAS UNINFORMED IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS AS THE INDIVIDUAL HAS CLAIMED, THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE ORDINANCE PERMITTED SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND ONLY EIGHT ZONES.

THIS IS DOCUMENTED IN THE SLIDES.

EVENTUALLY IT WAS EXPANDED TO PERMIT SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN 14 ZONES SHOWING TREMENDOUS COMPROMISE RESULTING FROM CAREFUL PLANNING DISCUSSION.

IN SHORT, THE PLANNING COMMISSION SOUGHT AND ACHIEVED A BALANCED SOLUTION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WHO WOULD BE NEXT? SEEING NO ONE WILL CLOSE THIS TIME OF, UH, CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS, ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO SAY? YES, MR. MAYOR FOR ME, PLEASE.

OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, MR. WILKINS HAS SHARED WITH US IN ASSORTMENT OF ARGUMENTS AND STATEMENTS AS HIS RESPONSE TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE ADOPTED BY THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL ON MARCH 16TH, 2021.

AN ARGUMENT TO WHICH HE RETURNS ON A REGULAR BASIS IS THAT HIS CONSTITUTIONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN STRIPPED FROM HIM.

CONSPICUOUSLY MISSING FROM ALL HIS COMMENTARY TO DATE IS ANY MENTION OF ZONING WHERE THE, WHERE THE DEBATE BELONGS.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHY MR. WILKINS HAS AVOIDED ZONING.

IT SOUNDS SO MUNDANE COMPARED TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.

PRESUMABLY HE'S STEERING CLEAR FROM ZONING DISCUSSION BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT IN THE FACE OF MUNICIPAL ZONING REGULATIONS, THE PROPERTY RIGHTS ARGUMENT LOSES A LITTLE OF ITS LUSTER ZONING IS A SET OF MUNICIPAL LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN HOW PROPERTY CAN AND CANNOT BE USED IN SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS.

AND IT SERVES IN PART TO KEEP INCOMPATIBLE OR UNSUITABLE USES AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.