[1. CALL TO ORDER.]
[00:00:09]
ORDER THE MEETING FOR 7, 2026. WELCOME THOSE WHO JOINED IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERING OR LISTENING OR WATCHING THROUGH THE STREAMING CHANNELS. WITH THE ROLE CALL, LINDSAY.
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE AFTER ALLEGIANCE AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PLEASE BE SEATED. IT IS THE FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH AND
[4. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS.]
SO AT THIS TIME WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND OTHER EMPLOYEES AND THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND A COUPLE OF OTHER SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS.>> WE'RE PROUD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR APRIL EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND I HAVE A MEMORANDUM OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF DIRECTOR. MIKE BEGAN HIS CAREER AS MAINTAINENS WORKING BEFORE MOVING TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN 2018.
HE SERVED AS LANDSCAPE SUSTAINABILITY MAINTENANCE WORKING UNTIL PROMOTED TO CREW LEADER IN 2023. DURING HIS TENURE OF PUBLIC WORKS MIKE HAS MOVE PROVE TON BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE AND TEAM PLAYER. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CREW AND DAILY LANDSCAPING OF 7 CITY OWNED AND ENSURING THESE PUBLIC FACILITIES REMAIN SAFE, FUNCTIONAL AND CEASE TETICILY MAINTAINED FOR CITIZENS YEAR ROUND AND POSSESS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND AND THIS EXPERTISE IS TRULY A GREAT BENEFIT TO OUR CITIZENS. MIKE LEADS HIS CREW DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON TO INTALL DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS DECO DECORADECORATIONSES AND LIGHTING. HIS CREW TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN GETTING IT DONE RIGHT. MIKE IS A SKILLED OPERATOR IN MANY TIMES OF EQUIPMENT AND RECENTLY DEMONSTRATED EXCAVATOR PROFICIENCY DURING THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL TREE REPLACEMENT WORK IN CONDITIONS MAINTAINING A SAFE JOB SITE AND STAYING ON SCHEDULE. MIKE IS DEPENDABLE AND HAS A CAN-DO ATTITUDE WITH ANYTHING HE IS TASKED WITH COMPLETING AND HE CONSISTENTLY PROVIDES VALUABLE INPUT AND EMPLOYS CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO SOLVE PROBLEM ON A REGULAR BASIS. HIS LEADERSHIP AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE MAKE HIM AN EXCEPTIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF AUBURN'S CORE VALUES AND FOR THESE REASONS I NOMINATE MIKAL BOLTON FOR THE CITY'S EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> WE'RE PROUD TODAY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE FINANCE TEAM AND I HAVE A MEMORANDUM HERE FROM THE CITY MANAGER THE CITY OF AUBURN WAS AWARDED THE GOVERNANCE FINANCES ASSOCIATION TRIPLE CROWN AWARD THAT RECOGNIZES GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING THREE PRESTRATEGICOUS AWARDS, THE
[00:05:01]
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE OF FINANCIAL REPORTING AND THE POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIALING REPORTING AWARD AND BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD. THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR SCPLENS EXCELLENCE WAS AWARDED TO THE CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. AND GFA ESTABLISHED THIS PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY COUNTY STANDARDS AND PREPARE REPORTS THAT EVIDENCE THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND FULL DISCLOSURE. IN ADDITION A GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ENSURE THAT AUBURN CITIZENS AND OTHERS HAVE THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO ASSESS THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE ORGANIZATION. THIS IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL REPORTING.TO BE AWARDED A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT A GOVERNMENT MUST PUBLISH AN EASILY READABLE AND EFFICIENTLY ORGANIZED COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT. THIS REPORT MUST SATISFY BOTH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND APPLICABLE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. THIS IS THE 39TH YEAR THE CITY HAS RECEIVED THIS DESIGNATION. THE CITY RECEIVED THE POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING AWARD FOR ITS FISCAL YEAR 2024. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES GOVERNMENTS FOR PRODUCING THIS REPORT TO BE EAE EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITHOUT A BECOME IN FINANCES. AND IT'S REVIEWED BY JUDGES AND UNDERSTANDABILITY, CREATIVITY AND KNOWABLE ACHIEVEMENTS AND USEFULNESS OF THE REPORT. THIS IS THE 6TH TIME THE CITY HAS RECEIVED THIS AWARD. THE THIRD AWARD THE CITY RECEIVED IS DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD FOR FISCAL YEARS 2026 AND 2027 BIANNUAL BUDGET DOCUMENT. THIS PROGRAM RECOGNIZING HIGH QUALITY BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT IS REFLECT THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON STATE AND LOCAL BUDGETS AND THE GFOA BEST PRACTICING ON BUDGETING. THIS IS THE 31ST YEAR THE CITY HAS RECEIVED THIS DESIGNATION. THE FINANCES DEPARTMENT BUDGETING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING TEAM AND HUMAN RESOURCES ALONG WITH AUDITORS AND OTHER PARTICIPATING CITY STAFF SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND EFFORT TO PERFECT THESE DOCUMENTS YEAR AFTER YEAR. THIS CONTINUED ACHIEVEMENT CONFIRMS THE CITY'S EQUIPMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, SCPLENS IN FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC AND OPERATING A FISCALLY SOUND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES AT A LEVEL COMES RATE WITH THE WANTS AND NEEDS OR OUR RESIDENTS. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS AT AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL WITH US TODAY IS THE TWO WRESTLING TEAMS WITH AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL, THE BOYS TEAM AND THE GIRLS TEAM AND I HAVE A PROCLAMATION FROM THE COUNCIL THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ. THE AUBURN CITY COUNCIL IS PLEASED TO HONOR AUBURN CITY SCHOOLS AND FACULTY STAFF AND STUDENTS FOR EXCELLENT ACHIEVEMENTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. WRAWS AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL JOINED AN EXCEPTIONAL WRESTLING SEASON HIGHLIGHTED BY THREE INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS AT THE HSHA STATE TOURNAMENT IN HUNTSVILLE.
SENIOR MOLLY EARNED AN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND NAMED THE STATE TOURNAMENT MOST VALUABLE WRESTLER AND SHY ANNE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND SENIOR LEWIS MILLER EARNED INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AT 144 POUNDS.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE COUNCIL HACHE HEREBY RECOGNIZING MOL M AND LEWIS AS WELL AS HEAD COACHES TAYLOR AND ZACHARY AND ASSI ASSISTANT COACH JOSH FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN REPRESENTING AUBURN CITY SCHOOLS AND THE CITY OF AUBURN. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED IT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE SPREAD IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING AND PRESENTED TO THE HEAD COACHES AND THE ATHLETES ADOPTED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN ALABAMA THIS 7TH DAY OF APRIL 2026.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF Y'ALL. >> THANK YOU, GREG. AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS MIKAL BOLTON OUR OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND ALL THE BEST TO -- I'M PROUD OF OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND STATE CHAMPION WRESTLERS AND APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK. I'D LIKE TO ASK BASIC QUESTION TO THE CFO AFTER THAT VIDEO AND IN READING THE LEG SAY THAT IS APART OF GOOD FINANCIAL REPORTING THAT OUR CITY'S PARTICIPATED IN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME YOU KNOW THIS -- EVERY YEAR WE COME TO THIS PLACE AND
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RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF OUR TEAM OVER THERE. I JUST -- YOU KNOW, ALLISON, I DON'T KNOW AND GENERALLY HOW DO YOU -- HOW WE CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WHAT'S THE SECRET?>> REALLY, REALLY GOOD PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE BUILT OVER THE YEARS. PROFESSIONAL ACCO ACCOUNTANTS, NOT MANY MUNICIPALITIES HAVE THE STAFF TO DO THIS TYPE OF DOCUMENT AND SO THEY DON'T DO IT. AND WE HAVE AN AMAZING GROUP. WE HAVE MULTIPLE CPAS ON OUR STAFF. PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING. PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THIS ORGANIZATION. AND EVERY TRANSACTION THAT HAPPENS HERE AND WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO RECRUITMENT, STAFFING, SO VERY IMPORTANT NOT JUST ME AS THE PRESIDENT PRESENT FINANCIAL DIRECTOR. IT'S PREDECESSORS AND CONTINUING THAT LEG SAY OF MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THINGS ARE PRESENTED TO CITIZENS SO THEY
KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. >> YOU KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A MORE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY THAN MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZEN'S TAX DOLLARS THAT THEY PROVIDE FOR US TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I APPLAUD YOUR STAFF AND THEIR EFFORTS FOR THAT. THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO
SAY? >> DEFINITELY. TO TAG ONTO THAT, AND JUST AN AMAZING GLISHMENT. TRIPLE CROWN I GUESS, THREE AWARDS THAT'S A PHENOMENAL ACHIEVEMENT AND I JUST REALLY RECOGNIZE YOUR STAFF ALLISON AND WHAT THEY DO AND APPRECIATE FOR ME THE TRANSPARENCY AT WHICH THESE DOCUMENTS ARE PRESENTED TO OUR PUBLIC, OUR CITIZENS. IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND, THE DATA IS VERY CONSUMABLE AND A LOT OF EFFORT, TIME GOES INTO IT. WE REALIZE THAT AND APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT YOU GUYS PRESENT THAT. AND AS YOU SAID I MEAN IT'S DECADES LONG -- YOU KNOW, ACHIEVEMENT HERE. SO IT'S REALLY A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE AND I REALLY COMMEND YOUR STAFF ON THE JOB THEY'VE DONE SO WELL DONE. THANK YOU.
>> WELL I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD ON THAT AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS THAT IS NOTED IN THE MEMO IS THAT YOU PUT IT INTO LAYMAN'S TERM FOR THE AVERAGE STAKEHOLDER TO UNDERSTAND. AND IT'S REALLY -- I'M A VISUAL PERSON SO THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS FOR OUR CITIZENS TO PICK UP, WHICH IS THE POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT THAT I WOULD THINK THEY COULD GET AT CITY
>> AND/OR FIND ONLINE. >> BOTH.
>> SO WHAT A GREAT DOCUMENT, FLIPPING THROUGH IT INITIALLY, IT JUST HIGHLIGHTS ALL THE THINGS AND SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE -- NOT ONLY DO A GREAT JOB ON THE NUMBERS BUT ALSO PUT IT IN A FORMAT THAT PEOPLE CAN COMPREHEND. SO THANK
YOU. >> GOOD. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY WE'LL MOVE AHEAD IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTED SARA COLEMAN AND JOHN SMITH TO SECOND FULL TERMS ON THE SECOND PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND APPOINTED MATT POYIOR. AND WE APPRECIATE THEM AND MATT BEING WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTED JUSTIN MILLER TO TAKE THE PLACE OF DAN BENNETT ON THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE AND WE WANT TO THANK DAN FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. UNDER ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND WHAT A SPECIAL AFTERNOON IT WAS AT BELL BAPTIST CHURCH CO GE DEGREEGATION -- THE C CONGREGATION CELEBRATED THEIR 100TH BIRTHDAY IT WAS A SPECIAL DAY FOR THAT CON GE -- CONGREGATION. I CONGRATULATE THEM. THIS COMING UP WEDNESDAY TOMORROW AT 8:45 I'LL BE APART OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONIES AT THE TRACK COMPETITION AND WE APPRECIATE THE UNIVERSITY ALLOWING THE LEE COUNCIL SPECIAL OLYMPICS TO PARTICIPATE ON THEIR TRACK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING WITH ALL THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS FAMILIES TOMORROW MORNING AND THEN FRIDAY ONE OF THE MAIN FUNDRAISERS FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS THEY GET READY IS COPS ON TOPS AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TO KROGER THE POLICE OFFICERS CLIMB UP ON THE BUILDING AND RAISING AWARENESS FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS AS THEY GET READY TO FUND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPS I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STROP BY KROGER AND PUT THOSE IN THE BUCKET AND I BELIEVE THERE'S GOING TO BE GOOD CHEAP HOT DOG LUNCHES FOR YOU AS WELL. THE AUBURN BULFTIFICATION COUNCIL WILL BE PLANNING NEXT WEEK. THURSDAY 16TH I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK AND SERVICE OF THESE VOLUNTEERS AS THEY TAKE CARE OF HANGING
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BASKETS AND IT'S JUST AWESOME TO WATCH THESE CITIZENS TAKE THE TIME THAT THEY TAKE TO NOT ONLY PLANT THESE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS BUT TO KEEP THEM WATERED DURING THE HEAT OF THE YEAR IF YOU'RE DOWNTOWN NEXT THURSDAY MAKE SURE YOU STOP BY AND HONK YOUR HORN AND SAY THANK YOU TO THOSE GREAT CITIZENS WHO ARE WORKING ON THAT. THE TIGER TRAIL CEREMONY IS SATURDAY APRIL 18TH AT THE AUBURN ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND THERE WILL BE FOUR NEW INDUCTEES GOING INTO THE TIGER TRAIL OF AUBURN IF YOU NEED ANYMORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RUNS THAT EVENT AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AT TIGER TRAIL AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND FINALLY I THINK WE'VE -- I THINK THE LAST TIME WE MADE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT 8 RIBBON CUTTINGS IN THREE WEEKS AND BEFORE WE GET BACK TOGETHER IT'S 4 MORE RIBBON CUTTINGS AND IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, ENTREPRENEURS BELIEVE AUBURN IS A PLACE FOR THEM TO OPEN UP THEIR BUSINESS AND WHATEVER SERVICE THEY PROVIDE AND I'M JUST PROUD OF THE EFFORTS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO WORK WITH THESE BUSINESSES AND GIVE THEM THE CORRECT GRAND OPENING AND THOSE RIBBON CUTTINGS ARE ATTENDED VERY WELL AND IT'S VERY ENCOURAGING TO SEE PEOPLE WANT TO DO BUSINESS AND WANT TO OPEN BUSINESS IN AUBURN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING APART OF THAT.ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
[5. AUBURN UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS.]
OKAY WE'LL MOVE AHEAD WITH AUBURN UNIVERSITYCOMMUNICATIONS. >> HELLO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TIFFANY AND I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF CITY RELATIONS FOR AUBURN SGA AND I'M FROM ALABAMA AND MARGING MAJORING IN PHARMA PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES. WE'RE VERY EXCITED
>> WELCOME. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITHIN AGA ALL THE DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED AND EXEC IS FINALIZING GOALS BECAUSE WE HAVE A RETREAT THIS SATURDAY WHERE THEY'LL SHARE GOALS AND PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. IN TERMS OF CAMPUS UPDATES THE GLOMMERATA HAS BEGAN DISTRIBUTION TODAY AND I THINK IT WILL END ON THURSDAY AND SIGMA KAI IS RAISING MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH IN OPELINKA. TONIGHT THE INVOLVEMENT AWARDS ARE GOING ON TO RECOGNIZE THE ORGANIZATIONS SERVED BY AUBURN THAT HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ENCOURAGED ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY. THERE WAS A DINNER WHERE THE AUBURN CITY COUNCIL CITY SCHOOL SUPER INPENNED DENT WAS ABLE TO SHARE HER STORY TO A LOT OF YOUNG WOMAN TO ENLIGHTEN THEM AND GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE AND REGARDING ATHLETES AUBURN MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM TOOK HOME A CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SATURDAY AND ALSO THE MEN'S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OVER OUR RIVAL THE CRIMSON TIDE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH AND WAR EAGLE. >> THANK YOU, WAR EGOLE AND WE APPRECIATE THE GREAT EFFORTS OF STUDENTS AND RAISE THEM THE BEST AS THEY RAISE MONEY FOR THE SPENCER CANCER CENTER. AT THIS
[6. CITIZENS’ COMMUNICATIONS ON AGENDA ITEMS.]
TIME THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS ON ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA IF YOU NOTICE THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO COME FORWARD PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE CITYCOUNCIL. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M ANNA AND I RESIDE AT 1437 LOSSWOOD PLACE AND I SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO AGENDA ITEM 10A1 AND TO ASK THE COUNCIL APPROVING THE RESOLUTION FOR A FUNDING AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT THE NEW BUILDING CAMPAIGN. THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS THERE'S BEEN BACKGROUND INFORMATION WITH YOU AND THIS EVENING I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY PROVIDE CONTEXT ON THE PROJECT AND THE ROLE THE CHAMBER PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY. AFTER COMPLETING A VERY THOROUGH FEASIBILITY STUDY WE DETERMINED CONSTRUCTING A NEW BUILDING ON GLEN AVENUE PROPERTY IS THE BEST LONG-TERM INVESTMENT. IT ALLOWS US TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MORE EFFECTIVELY WHILE POSITIONING THE CHAMBER FOR THE FUTURE. OUR CAMPAIGN GOAL IS 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS AND IN THE PRIVATE PHASE WE'VE RAISED $1.4 MILLION FROM 50 EARLY INVESTORS LIKE AUBURN UNIVERSITY, EAST ALABAMA HEALTH AND MORE THAN 40 LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS. AS WE MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC PHASE WE'RE REQUESTING THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION FOR A MULTIYEAR PLEDGE OF 400,$000 AND THIS WOULD SECURE NAMING RIGHTS FOR THE MEETING HALL, 2300 SQUARE
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FOOT PLACE ONE OF THE MOST FEASIBLE AND FREQUENTLY USED AREAS. THIS WILL HOST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING, NETWORKING EVENTS AND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND ACCOMMODATE UP TO 300 PEOPLE AND REMAIN ACCESSIBLE FOR BROADER COMMUNITY USE TODAY OUR CURRENT FACILITY SERVES AVERAGE 795 INDIVIDUALS AND THESE INCLUDE NONPROFITS, HOA, CHURCHES SMALL GROUPS AND BUSINESSES IN ADDITION APPROXIMATELY 300 PEOPLE ATTEND CHAMBER-LED PROGRAMS MONTHLY AND WE ARE REQUESTING THIS COMMITMENT NOW SO WE CAN PLAN EFFECTIVELY, FINALIZING REMAINING NAMING OPPORTUN OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTINUE BUILDING MONUMENTAL WITH OTHER POTENTIAL INVESTORS. IT WOULD REPRESENT MEANINGFUL SUPPORT AND SIGNAL CONFIDENCE IN THE PROJECT. THE CHAMBER CURRENTLY SERVES MORE THAN 1250 MEMBERS WHO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CITY'S TAX BASE THROUGH SALES TAX, OCCUPATIONAL TAX AND BUSINESS LICENSE FEES OUR MISSION IS TO HELP MEMBERS THRIVE AND THAT INCLUDES OFFERING MORE THAN 200 PROGRAMS ANNUALLY FOCUSED ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WORK FORCE SUPPORT AND BUSINESS GROWTH WHILE WE ARE A MEMBERSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATION OUR IMPACT REACHES FAR BEYOND OUR MEMBERS. FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS THE CHAMBER HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT AND COMMITTED COMMUNITY PARTNER. WE'VE STEPPED IN DURING TIMES OF NEED, SUPPORTED MAJOR INITIATIVES AND HELPED BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. JUST IN THE LAST 10 YEARS SOME OF THOSE PARTNERSHIP EXAMPLES INCLUDE SUPPORTING DISASTER RELIEF FROM THE MARCH 3RD TORE NAEDO, SUPPORTING THE ART SALE AND COORDINATING MEALS FOR HOSPITAL WORKS DURING THE COVID-19 FIRST FEW MONTHS AND MANAGING THE VOLUNTEER LOUNGE AT THE CITY'S VACCINE CLINIC AND THE FUTURE WORK FORCE PARTNERING WITH READY SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP AND LEE COUNTY YOUNG LEADERS AND SINCE 2017 OUR AUBURN YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM SERVED ABOUT 230 PROFESSIONALS EACH YEAR AND WE PROVIDE MEALS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOST THE ANNUAL VETERANS RECEPTION AND PUBLISH AND DISTRIBUTE THE COMMUNITY WELCOME GUIDE TO NEARLY 50,000 NEWCOMERS AND ANNUALLY AND HOST EVENTS LIKE THE BLESSING OF THE CITY, THE TIGER TRAIL OF AUBURN AND OTHER DOWNTOWN EVENTS. WE TAKE SERIOUSLY OUR ROLE IN STRENGTHEN BOTH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND BROADER AUBURN COMMUNITY AND THE BUILDING PROJECT IS NOW ENTERING THE FINAL DESIGN PHASE AND PLANS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY NEXT MONTH AND ONCE APPROVED WE WILL TRANSITION TO A TEMPERARY LOCATION AND BEGIN DEMOLITION AND MOVE DIRECTLY INTO CONSTRUCTION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF APPROVED THE CITY'S FIRST CONTRIBUTION WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAINST THE CITY'S NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PROPOSED PLEDGE STRUCTURE. THAT HELPS US PLAN RESPONSIBLY AS WE CONTINUE SECURING THE REMAINING FUNDS. WE BELIEVE THIS PROJECT IS AN INVESTMENT IN AUBURN'S FUTURE. ONE THAT EXPANDS OUR ABILITY TO CONNECT, SUPPORT, AND GROW OUR COMMUNITY AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.>> THANK YOU. WHO WOULD BE NEXT? OKAY. WE'LL MOVE AHEAD WITH CITIZEN -- EXCUSE ME, CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATION.
[8. CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA. (Part 1 of 2)]
>> MAYOR I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS THIS EVENING ARE YOU READY FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WISH TO REMOVE THE ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND DEAL WITH IT
>> 8D AS IN -- >> 8D. ANYONE ELSE?
>> DELTA. >> ALL RIGHT. 8D. YOU'RE GOING
[8.d. Designate Auburn as a Semiquincentennial City to Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and founding of the United States of America.]
TO MAKE ME SAY THIS, ITEM 8D SAYING DAESIGNATES DESIGNATE AUBURN AS A SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CITY TO CELEBRATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND FOUNDING OF THE UNITEDSTATES OF AMERICA. >> APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. >> I JUST THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE UNITED STATES IS TURNING 250 YEARS OLD AND THE CITY OF AUBURN IS 190 YEARS OLD, IS THAT CORRECT? IF I'M DOING MY MATH CORRECTLY. I JUST THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THESE MILESTONES AND I APPRECIATE THE CITY OF AUBURN CELEBRATING OUR NATION'S 250TH.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.
>> IT WAS HERE WHEN I GOT HERE. [LAUGHTER].
>> OTHER THAN LEARNING A NEW WORD TONIGHT THERE'S A PLETHORA OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE AND I KNOW THEY ARE STILL
IN FORMATION BUT -- >> THE COUNCIL GOT AN EARLY LOOK AT A LOT OF EVENTS. WE HAVE A WHOLE TEAM IN OUR DEPARTMENTAL TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT'S PUT THINGS TOGETHER. THE COUNCIL SAW A PREVIEW OF THAT AND I WANTED YOU TO KNOW WE'RE GETTING READY TO
[00:25:03]
DO SOCIAL MEDIA BLAST. PART OF IT IF YOU ADOPT IN RESOLUTION THIS EVENING IT ALLOWS US TO USE THE LOGOS FOR THE ALABAMA AND 250TH AND IT ALSO ENABLES US TO GET AT -- NOT BIG BUCKS BUT GRANT FUNDING THAT'S BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THIS PURPOSE IN ALABAMA OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR HAS AN APPLICATION READY TO GO SHOULD YOU APPROVE THIS THIS EVENING WE SHOULD SUBMIT I DON'T KNOW THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, ALLISON. IT'S 1,000 AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT THAT'S AVAILABLE. AND WE'RE TACKING ON TO A NUMBER OF EVENTS OUR ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION WHICH YOU HAVE A FIRE WORKS CONTRACT FOR LATER HAS AN EXTRA GRAND FINALE, EXTRA SPECIAL ONE BECAUSE OF THE 250TH CELEBRATION SOME OTHER THINGS I'LL DATE MYSELF I REMEMBER IN A PREVIOUS CENTURY THIS IS SOME OF THE CELEBRATIONS WE DID IN THE 1976 AND I WAS 5 AND I REMEMBER THAT EXTRA CELEBRATION AND I HOPE IT MAKES AN IMPRESSION ON OUR CITIZENS AND WE'LL HOPE THE WEATHER HOLDS THAT EVENING SO WE CAN CELEBRATE IT ON THE PROPER DAY BUT THESE ARE JUST THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND ENGAGE AND WE ARE -- YOU'LL SEE A WHOLE LIST OF EVENTS AND WHOLE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN JUST TRYING TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED. OUR LIBRARY TEAM SPECIFICALLY IN PARKS AND REC REACTION TEAM ARE DOING THE LION'S SHARE WITH A LOT OF EXISTING EVENTS AND NEW EVENTS AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION BECAUSE THERE'S A TON GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY THAT'S A LOT OF FUN. PEOPLE CAN LEARN A LOT BUT AS USUAL THEY ARE VERY CREATIVE IN WHAT THEY DO AND DRAW A REALLY BIG CROWD AND I APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO.>> THANK YOU. CHIEF IT TOOK ME THAT LONG TO CHECK THE MATH BUT
SHE'S SPOT ON, 190 YEARS. >> SO WE'LL BE PLANNING FOR AUBURN'S BIGGER CELEBRATION, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS.
>> IF THAT'S GOING TO FOLLOW THE ONE THAT WAS 150 IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT THAT WENT INTO
THAT YEAR. >> WE'LL SEE WHO'S WORKING HERE WHO DEALS WITH THAT. [LAUGHTER].
>> ALL RIGHT. >> AND WHO'S ON THE COUNCIL. A
WAY'S OUT. >> MOTION TO SECOND. ALL IN
[8.e.2. Foresite Group, LLC. Richland Park Survey. $86,000.]
>> MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 8E2 SERVICE RICHMOND PARK.
>> CHIEF. >> CAN YOU JUST TAKE A MINUTE AND DESCRIBE WHAT THIS FIRST STEP.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I'M GOING TO HAVE GREG PUT UP A DRAWING OF OUR FIRST PHASE AND IT'S HARD TO SEE THE DISTANCE I'LL HAVE KITSEDOR KEITH WILLIAMS GO OVER IT I WANT TO REMIND YOU THE PARK IS ABOUT 140 ACRES AT THE CI INTERINTERSECTION OF RICHMOND ROAD AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING FIVE SOFTBALL FIELD AND AS FIVE BASEBALL FIELD AND AS A LO THE OF FUTURE PHASES BUT I'LL HAVE
KEITH GIVE A LITTLE MORE DETAIL. >> THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YES THIS REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION OF A TASK ORDER THAT COUNCIL APPROVED IN MAY OF 2025 TO DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN FOR THIS SITE. THE ORIGINAL PARENT PARCEL FOR THE PARK IS 160 ACRES THAT WAS BISECTED BY THE PARK WITH THIS REMAINDER AROUND 140 ACRES. STAFF WORKED VERY CLOSE WITH THE GROUP ONE OF THE PRIMARY ONES BEING A FULL SLOUGH OF SOFTBALL FIELDS WHICH IS A VERY POPULAR PAIR OF SPORTS AND WE CONTINUE TO NEED MORE FACILITIES FOR THIS WHAT YOU SEE IS A TOTAL OF 10 FIELDS EXPECTED TO BE ADAPTABLE FOR ANY AGE GROUP WITH FENCES OF 225 FEELT AND DOWN. FURTHER YOU SEE THE PARKING NECESSARY TO SERVE THOSE FIELDS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL REC REACTIONAL USES SO IT'S NOT JUST SOLELY DEDICATED BASEBALL PARK THERE'S LARGE GREEN SPACE FOR PLAYGROUNDS AS WELL AS WALKING TRAILS AROUND A VERY ATTRACTIVE EXISTING 5 ACRE POND.
>> KEITH WE ALSO HAVE BATTING CAGES AND SOME OTHER THINGS IN
HERE. >> YES, THE FIELDS, THE PROPOSALS WILL INCLUDE EVERYTHING YOU WOULD NEED IN TERMS OF PRACTICE FACILITIES FOR OUR REC LEAGUES, OBVIOUSLY OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO HOUSE OUR TEAMS IS FACILITIES AS POSSIBLE
GOING FORWARD. >> AND IN THE PRIORITY STANDPOINT WHY STAFF LOOKS AT THIS THIS IS CONSTANT DATA AND FEEDBACK FROM OUR PARKS AND REC REACTION CURRENT ENROLLMENT AS WELL AS PARKS ADVISORY BOARD PLAYS A ROLE WHEN WE'RE MOVING FORWARD THIS IS WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING TO DO AS YOU CAN SEE ON HERE THERE IS ROOM FOR FUTURE PHASES. WHILE WE'RE HINTING AT SOME THINGS THAT COULD GO ON FUTURE YOU PHASES THAT WOULD BE DECIDED BY THEN CITY COUNCIL WHEN THEY DO THIS I'LL REMIND YOU THIS IS AN OVER 40 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IN THE MOMENT AND SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND OTHER THING IS COUNCILMAN DOWMAN
[00:30:03]
KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN ANYONE. THIS IS NOT FLAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO GRADE A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND GET THE GRADES CORRECT FOR FUTURE USES SO ONE OF THE REASONS THIS IS EXPENSIVE IS WE HAVE TO MOVE A LOT OF DIRT WITHIN THE SITE WE'RE NOT DOING A LOT OF HAUL IN OR HAUL OFF THAT WE KNOW ABOUTAT THE MOMENT. >> CORRECT. IN FACT OBVIOUSLY THE AGENDA ITEM HERE IS THE SURVEY OF THE SITE BASED ON THE EXISTING ELEVATIONS WE DO HAVE, THIS PHASE WHICH ENCOMPASSES ABOUT 45 ACRES OF DISTURBANCE BALANCE.
>> SO THEY'LL USE WHAT'S ON THE SIDE AND TAKE CARE OF IT. MUCH MORE TO COME IN THE FUTURE AS FUNDING IS AVAILABLE AND AT THE COUNCIL'S DISCRETION FROM A PRIORITY STANDPOINT AND THERE IS THE OTHER 20 ACRES ON THE OTHER SIDE, IT'S 20.
>> YES, MA'AM. >> AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARKWAY THAT WE HAVE IDEAS FOR THE DEEP FUTURE ON AS WELL BUT THAT WILL BE UTILIZED AS PARK PROPERTY WE GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FROM DEVELOPMENT INTERESTS ESPECIALLY FROM OUT-OF-TOWN YOU HAVE THIS GREAT PROPERTY WOULD YOU LIKE TO SELL IT AND THE ANSWER IS NO. AND THE ANSWER IS -- THIS IS A PLAN FOR A PARK IT WILL REMAIN THAT WAY IT'S HARD FOR US TO FIND PROPERTY UNLESS THE COUNCIL OVERRULES THAT WHICH YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO.
>> THE PROPERTY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF WILL BEETENER IS ALMOST
AT THE HARD CORNER. >> IT IS AT THE HARD CORNER YOU CAN SEE IT AND THE BASEBALL FIELD LEFT OF THE DRAWING BUT YEAH YOU CAN SEE THE BEGINNINGS OF IT THERE. IT'S 20 ACRES AND LENDS ITSELF TO A LOT OF POTENTIAL THINGS BUT AT THIS STAGE STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND WE KEEP IT IN THE RECREATION.
>> AND THE SECOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OFF OF WILL BEATENER.
>> THE DIVIDING LINE YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT LOOKS WET ON THAT WHOLE
SIDE, CORRECT, KEITH. >> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> AND THEY HAVE STARTED WORK THERE.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I MEAN THIS IS A GREAT ADDITION AND MUCH NEEDED FOR THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN. WE'LL GIVE
IT TO YOU. >> THAT'S THE WAY WE ROLL OVER
>> I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION IT HAS ALMOST 600 PARKING SPACES AND ONLY 2 RESTROOMS AND BOTH OF THEM IS BASED ON THE SAME SET, WOULD THERE BE ANY ADDITIONAL RESTROOMS ARE THESE RESTROOMS
PRETTY BIG. >> IT HAS THREE RESTROOM FACILITIES AND ONE IN THE CENTER OF THE WAGEN WHEELS AS WELL AS ONE AT THE PA VILLIAN IN THE DEAD CENTER OF THE DRAWING AND THOSE WILL BE SIZE FOR THE CAPACITY OF THE FIELD BASED ON THE FIELD USAGE. WE HAVE A SPEC THAT WE LIKE TO PREFER AT LEAST 55 PARKING SPACES PER BALL FIELD BASED ON EXISTING EXPERIENCE AND USE WITH CURRENT BASEBALL SO THAT WILL DRIVE THE OVER ALL
SPACE FOR PARKING. >> YES, WE'LL MAKE SURE THERE ARE ADEQUATE RESTROOMS. YEP. THAT'S ONE OF THE NICE THINGS OF THIS AND I'LL REMIND YOU THEY WILL COMPLY WITH MANY THINGS STATE REQUIREMENT FROM AN ADA PERSPECTIVE ABOUT ADULT CHANGING TABLES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS AND THEY WILL COMPLY WITH ALL PUBLIC RESTROOM REQUIREMENTS AND WE'VE LEARNED MUCH ABOUT HOW WE BUILD THOSE AND HOW THEY ARE AND WE WILL TAKE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND
PUT IT IN PLACE HERE. >> YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS
ANSWERED. >> I BELIEVE I DO, THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE. >> I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AS WELL. JUST MY FAMILY JUST STARTING THE T-BALL REALM AND I CAN CERTAINLY TELL YOU WE NEED MORE SPACE THIS WILL BE A GREAT PROJECT AND HOPE IT'S DONE QUICKER SOONER THAN LATER.
>> THANK YOU, MAX. ALL RIGHT. GOT A MOTION TO SECOND. ALL IN
[8. CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA. (Part 2 of 2)]
>> ANY OPPOSED AND THE MOTION CARRIES. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> SO MOVED. >> MOTION SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED AND THE CONSENT AGENDA
[9.a. "Back to School" sales tax holiday. Exempt certain items from city sales taxes. Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19, 2026. Unanimous consent necessary.]
IS APPROVED. ORDINANCES. >> ITEM 9A, FROM THE CITY'S SALES TAX DURING THE 2026 BACK TO COOL -- BACK TO SCHOOL DICTATED BY STATE LAW AND THAT WILL BE HELD JULY 17 THS AND
JULY 19TH. >> I'LL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE
AND ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. >> MOTION SECOND. ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM. YOU CAN VOTE ON THIS. SEEING AND HEARING NONE, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. LINDSAY WITH THE ROLE CALL.
[9.b. Parking signs and devices. Establish Restricted Parking Zone. Carolyn Court.]
>> ITEM 9B, ESTABLISHES A NO PARKING DOWN ON CAROLYN COURT MONDAY FROM FRIDAY FROM 7:30 A.M. TO 9:30 A.M. AND UNANIMOUS
CONSENT IS NECESSARY. >> I INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND
[00:35:01]
ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. >> SECOND.
>> ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD WITH A VOTE ON THIS THIS EVENING. SEEING HEARING NONE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
>> IS THIS DRIVEN BY THE RESIDENTS?
>> CORRECT. COUNCILMAN ADAMS WHO IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY THIS IS DIRECT DIALOGUE HE HAD WITH RESIDENTS WITH CAROLYN COURT AND HE TALKED TO EVERYBODY INDIVIDUALLY OUR STAFF GOES OUT AND ALSO DOES THIS THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL WHICH IS ADJACENT BLOCKING -- IT'S A CUL-DE-SAC DRIVEWAYS GET BLOCKED INADVERTENTLY OR PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME BACKING OUT AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND OTHER MAINTENANCE VEHICLES SO SIMILAR TO THINGS WE'VE SEEN ALL UP AND DOWN THIS AREA, MCKINLY AND OTHER PLACES WE'RE SEEING THIS HERE TOO AND THIS IS OUR CITY ENGINEER WILL CORRECT ME BUT OUR RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA THEY WERE POLLED THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE AND THE BEST OUTCOME AND COUNCILMAN ADAMS HAS BEEN LOCK STEP WITH HIS CONSTITUENTS ALL THE WAY.
>> AND IT'S JUST FROM JUST THE TWO HOUR PERIOD.
>> CORRECT. AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES AND IF THAT DOES NOT WORK TO THE RESIDENT'S SATISFACTION WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU. WITH THE NEXT SOLUTION, WHATEVER THAT IS.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD.
>> HAS THERE BEEN ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE EAST MCKINLY RESIDENTS AND HOW WELL WTHIS SAME PROCEDUE HAS BEEN WORKING ACROSS THE
STREET. >> ONE OF OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEERS SAYS NOT WITH HER AND I'LL ASK OUR PUBLIC SAFETY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. WE HAD -- SOME OF THE EARLY DAYS I THINK WHEN WE PUT THEM UP MY HAD A FEW ISSUES BUT I DON'T KNOW IT THAT WE HAVE
SINCE THEN. >> WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY RECENT
COMPLAINTS. THAT I'M AWARE OF. >> IT EBBS AND FLOWS AND I THINK AS WE SEE THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL COME ONLINE A LOT OF THIS CALMS DOWN AND WE MAY BE UNDOING SOME OF THESE BECAUSE PARKING CAPACITIES AND GRADE LEVELS CHANGE SO WE'LL SEE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. OKAY. LINDSAY, ROLE CALL.
>> YES. >> UNDER RESOLUTIONS, ITEM 101A
[10.a.1. Auburn Chamber of Commerce. Funding agreement for new building construction. $400,000.]
AND THE MOMENT OF $400,000 FOR A NEW CHAMBER BUILDING INCLUDES THE NAMING RIGHTS FOR THE MEETING HALL. CONTRIBUTION WILL BE MADE AND INSTALLMENTS OF 50,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR STARTINGNO LATER THAN FISCAL YEAR 2029. >> MOTION SECONDED ANY OTHER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR ALL THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE YOUR 75 YEARS OF DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND OUR COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY CARRY A HEAVY LOAD WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PAYING FOR GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES AND PEOPLE WHO OWN BUSINESSES IN THIS TOWN Y'ALL ARE THE OWNS WHO SUPPORT THEM AND ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF AND CHEER THEM ON AND CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S HARD WORK. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. WE GOT A MOTION TO SECOND ALL IN
[10.a.2. Various vendors. Boykin Donahue Library furniture. $993,878.18.]
>> ANY OPPOSED. >> AND THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> ITEM 10A2 AUTHORIZING THE BOYKIN LIBRARY FURNISH IN $99 $993878.18.
>> APPROVAL. >> I JUST WANT TO ASK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CORRECT THAT THE WORK DONE HERE AT THE FURNITURE THE CULTURAL CENTER IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE LIBRARY BUT THIS MONEY DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FURNITURE FOR THE CULTURE
CENTER. >> YOU ARE CORRECT COUNCILWOMAN TAYLOR. THE CULTURAL CENTER THIS BUDGETED AMOUNT WAS FOR THE LIBRARY NOT KNOWING THE FULL PROBLEMATIC NATURE OF THE CULTURAL CENTER UNTIL WE HAVE A COMMITTEE AT WORK AND AS THEY COMPLETE THEIR WORK WE ALWAYS PLANNED AND LAID OUT WE'LL NEED A LOT OF CHAIRS SO DIFFERENT GROUPS CAN SIT AND LISTEN BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMITTEE IS DONE WITH SOME OF THE WORK PROGRAMICALLY SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'LL SEE BEFORE WE ADVANCE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE HANDLED LATER. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE ABILITY TO GET THE TYPE OF FUR FURNISHINGS WE MAY NEED IN A
TIMELY MANNER. >> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO SAY, I'M GLAD TO SEE THE LIBRARY COMING AND I'M ALSO GLAD TO SEE THE CULTURAL CENTER COMING. SO IN THAT DEVELOPMENT KEEPING THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AREA AND ALL OF AUBURN ARE EXCITED TO SEE.
>> I DID WANT TO CLARIFY THIS IS MORE THAN JUST FURNITURE. IT IS SHELVING, OBVIOUSLY A LIBRARY TAKES A LOT OF SHELVING AND OTHER SYSTEMS AND I HATE TO USE THE FINANCIAL TERM FUNTURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT. STILL COMES IN LAYER CONTRACTS AND
THINGS YOU APPROVED ON CONSENT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
[00:40:02]
COMMENTS? WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ALL IN FAVE PLEASE SAY>> ANY OPPOSED. >> MAYOR THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS
[12. CITIZENS' OPEN FORUM.]
OF BUSINESS WE HAVE FOR YOU THIS EVENING.>> AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN FOR CITIZEN'S OPEN FORUM AND WE ASK THAT YOUR COMMENTS BE ADDRESSED DIRECTLY TO THE COUNCIL AND PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES
TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. >> MY NAME IS ROBERT WILKINS, 261, AUBURN ALABAMA. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THEN AND NOW, FOR 45 YEARS AUBURN HAS OPERATED UNTIL A COUNCIL MANAGER SYSTEM PROMOTED AS A BETTER WAY TO GOVERN AND IT HAS QUICKIE ERODED BEFORE 1980 UNDER THE MAYOR COUNCIL SYSTEM WE DIRECTLY ELECTED A STRONG MAYOR WITH CLEAR EXECUTIVE POWER IN THEORY ACCOUNTABILITY WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD. AND IN REALITY IT WAS DYSFUNCTIONAL, ENDLESS POLITICAL IN-FIGHTING AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHAOS AND A WEAK COUNCIL LEFT GOVERNMENT PARALYZED. CITIZENS COULD VOTE BUT OUR VOTES RARELY PRODUCED MEANINGFUL CHANGE. PUBLIC FRUSTRATION REACHED A BREAKING DOWN IN 1980 VOTERS APPROVED THE SWITCH HELPING FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT INSTABILITY WHAT WE GOT IS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.
TODAY UNELECTED CITY MANAGER CONTROLS THE BUDGET, DEPARTMENT HIRING AND FIRING AND NEARLY EVERYDAY DECISION. THE MAYOR'S ROLE IS LARGELY CEREMONIAL AND OUR ELECTED CITY COUNCIL HAS GRADUALLY SURROUNDED ITS AUTHORITY. IN THESE 45 YEARS AUBURN HAS HAD ONLY 3 MAYORS. MEANWHILE THE CITY OPERATES THROUGH 22 APPOINTED BOARDS AND ONE COMMISSION. NONE DIRECTLY ELECTED BY THE VOTERS. THESE UNELECTED BODIES SHOULD HAVE MANY TALENTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO NEVER SERVE BUT NEVER GET A CHANCE TO BE CHOSEN BY THE PEOPLE. THIS SYSTEM IS GROWTH AND IN IFISHANTY BUT THE COST HAS BEEN HIGH. CITIZENS NO LONGER HAVE A DIRECTLY ELECTED EFFECT EXECUTIVE WHERE WE CAN HOLD FULLY ACCOUNTABLE AT THE BALLOT BOX WHEN ROADS GO UNREPAIRED, DEVELOPMENTS ARE PUSHED THROUGH OR TAX PAYERS ARE SPENT UNWISELY AUBURN'S VOICE MUCHOR MUST VILTER THROUGH APPOINTED MANAGER WHO NEVER HAS TO FACE ELECTION DAY. RECENTLY STUDY SHOWS SATISFACTION AND TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT REMAINS DISTURBINGLY LOW. HEARINGS AND SURVEYS ARE HELPFUL BUT THEY ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR REAL POWER. THE TRUTH IS CLEAR. BOTH THE OLD MAYOR, COUNCIL SYSTEM AND TODAY'S COUNCIL MAYOR SYSTEM LEAVES ORDINARY CITIZENS WITH ONLY WEAK INCORRECT CONTROL. IN 1980 REFORM SOUGHT ONE SET OF PROBLEM AND CREATED ANOTHER. REAL CITIZENS CONTROL REQUIRES OUR CONSTANT VIGILANCE AND WE CLAIMING POWER FROM UNELECTED INSIDERS. MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR MAYOR ANDERS OR COUNCIL MOREMAN TO HAVE A REAL COMPETITION. CITIZENS FIRST.
>> WHO WOULD BE NEXT. >> SUSAN BALL, 1188 UNIVERSITY DRIVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I'VE STOOD BEFORE THIS COUNCIL AND SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED FOR TRAINING ON THE CONSTITUTION AT YOUR LAST MEETING THAT NEED WAS AGAIN NOTED. WHILE DISCUSSING THIS SIGNED ORDINANCE THE CITY MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT PROTECTS THE FIRST AMENDMENTS AND THE CITY MAY NOT REGULATE SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THEY ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION AND CONFIRMED THE SIGNED ORDINANCE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THEREFORE IMP TINT AND UNENFORCEOM. AND COUNCILLOR DAYMAN AGAIN ASKED WHETHER THE SIGNS IN THE MAYOR'S YARD WERE CONSTITUTIONAL. SO MR. DAYWSON WHERE WAS THAT CONCERN WHEN MY CONSTITUTIONAL VOTES WERE VOTED AWAY WHEN YOU VOTED TO REGULATE WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE MY HOUSE AND ON MY PRIVATE PROPERTY. YOU AND THE STR5 VOTED FOR THE CITY TO IMPLEMENT SOFTWARE THAT MONITORING PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES AND MAYOR ACTIVITIES VIOLATING FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
YOU FIVE VOTED TO DRAW ARBITRARY LINES WHERE NEIGHBOURS WERE TREATED DIFFERENTLY. THIS RAISES SERIES CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS INCLUDING DISCRIMINATION. AND ONCE AGAIN AS EXPECTED MR. DAWSON YOU DISMISS CITIZEN'S COMMENTS AS PETTY FOR QUESTIONING THE SIGN ORDINANCE. YOU AND THE SFR5
[00:45:02]
TAYLOR, GRISWOLD, ANDERS, PARSONS AND DAWSON CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF AUBURN CITIZENS. AFTER HEARING THE CITY HAGGERS -- THE U.S. CONSTITUTION SUPERSEDES ANY ORDINANCE THIS BODY CHOOSES TO POSS. YOU HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED WHEN AN ORDINANCE COMPLETES WITH THE CONSTITUTION ORDINANCE CANNOT STAND AND UNENFORCEABLE. THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE SAME REASONING APPLIED TO THE SIGN ORDERENED PLAYS DIRECTLY TO ORDINANCE 3288 AT THE LAST MEETING DURING THE SIGN ORDINANCE DISCUSSION SOME CONTRADICTED THEIR OWN POSITIONS, EXPOSING CONSISTENT IN -- THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR YOU TO RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION AND APPLY THOSE STANDARDS CONSISTENTLY. YOU NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, NO ACTUALLY OBLIGATION TO CORRECT TWO ORDINANCES THAT WERE NEVER PROPERLY VOTED FOR CONSTITUTIONALLY BY THIS COUNCIL, YOUR STAFF OR CITY'S LEGAL ADVISORS. AUBURN CITIZENS DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MANAGEMENT. THE CONCLUSION IS STRAIGHTFORWARD IF THE SIGNED ORDINANCE VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION THEN USING THE SAME ARGUMENT AND LOGIC SO IS 32-88 IT'S TIME TO OFFICIALLY NULLIFYORDINANCE 282-88. >> WHO BE NEXT?
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I AM LETISHA SMITH AND I LIVE OUT AT HERITAGE LANE AND BETH WITTEN IS MY REPRESENTATIVE AND I AM HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE NACP LEE COUNTY BRANCH AND WHY I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO PUBLICLY PUT IT ON RECORD TO EXPRESS THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE LEE COUNTY NACP FOR THE POLICE CHIEF MIKAL HAIRACE NOT ATTENDING OUR ALL IMPORTANT TOWN HALL DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD. SO LAST MONTH WE HAD AN EVENT THAT WAS CALLED PARTNERS IN PROTECTION. AND IT WAS BILLED UNDER A TAG LINE WE'VE BEEN USING FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS CALLED CPR, ADVOCATING FOR CPR IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE CPR SAVES LIVES. CPR IS COMMUNITY, POLICE AND RELATIONSHIPS. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE THE NACP ARE FIRM BELIEVERS THAT CPR MATTERS AND THAT WE MUST HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SAFE COMMUNITIES. SO THIS EVENT IS NOT A NEW EVENT. WE'VE HAD IT SINCE 2023. THIS WAS AN OUTCOME OF THE TYREE NICOLES CASE AND WE HAD THIS SESSION IN LEE COUNTY SO WE COULD MAKE SURE WE DID NOT EXHIBIT OR SEE THE SAME THING THAT WE HAD SAW OCCUR. AT OUR EVENT FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS WE HAVE HAD THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF, WE HAVE WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE FROM AUBURN AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE FROM OPILIKE AP THIS YEAR WE ALSO ADDED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE DISTRICTY ATTORNEY WORKS HEAVILY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AS THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH OFFICERS INVOLVED WITH SHOOTINGS IT WAS A GOOD ADDITION TO OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WAS ANNOR OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEARN AND BE INFORMED BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT INFORMED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE COMMUNITY IS A BETTER COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT SAID, WE JUST WANT TO SAY THAT COMMUNITY AND POLICE RELATIONSHIPS MATTER. AND IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY BUILT TRUST AND TRANSFORM RESIDENTS FROM BYSTANDERS AND PARTNERS AND THAT COMBINED WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO COLLECTIVELY HAVE A SAFE COMMUNITY. SO I'M JUST SAYING THIS TO SAY THAT WE WERE DISAPPOINTED. AND ALTHOUGH I HAD A WONDERFUL MEETING WITH THE CHIEF ON THIS PAST THURSDAY, I BELIEVE HE IS WELL EQUIPPED FOR THE JOB HE IS GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY HOWEVER I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGEMENT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLOWING OUR CITY OFFICIALS TO COME OUT AND TO BE APART OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND ALTHOUGH WE DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY SPONSORS THEMSELVES AND THE CITY SPONSOR THEMSELVES WE JUST TALKED ABOUT C COPS ON TOP AND WE TALKED ABOUT COFFEE -- I THINK IT'S COFFEE WITH A COP. THOSE THINGS ARE GREAT BUT WE ASK THAT YOU ALSO CONSIDER THAT ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WHEN OTHERS ASK THAT
EVERYONE CONSIDERS US AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. WHO BE NEXT.
OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE CITIZENS OPEN FORUM. ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS
FROM THE COUNCIL? >> I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I DID ATTEND THE MEETING THAT LETICA IS TALKING ABOUT AND VERY
[00:50:04]
INFORMATIVE AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DID ATTEND IS BECAUSE I WAS HEADING UP THE AUBURN -- NEW CHIEF OF POLICE FOR AUBURN AND I WAS HOPING HE WAS GOING TO BE THERE AND THERE WAS PROBABLY MORE PEOPLE FROM AUBURN THERE AN OPELIKA SO I THINK ALL OF US WAS EAGER TO HEAR COMMENTS AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF. SO IT WAS RATHER DISAPPOINTING FOR HIM NOT TO BE THERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REASONING WAS AND MAYBE WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE REASONING OR WHATEVER BUT I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS SHE SAYS THAT THE SHERIFF AND CHIEF OF POLICE OF AUBURN AND POLICE OF -- CHIEF OF POLICE AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE REALLY KIND OF LEARNED FROM AND IT WAS VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE.AND THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ASKED AND I JUST THINK THAT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ASKED -- YOU KNOW, THAT PERTAIN TO OUR AUBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS -- YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE LEADERS TRIED TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS BUT IT'S PROBABLY BETTER TO HEAR IT FROM OUR AUBURN CHIEF OF POLICE OR SOMEBODY AS A REPRESENTATIVE TO ME SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE BUT LIKE I SAID, I WAS THERE. AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO IT AGAIN AND MAYBE THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE THOSE PEOPLE -- AND NOT JUST -- I WILL SAY NOT JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF BUT YOU KNOW, JUST US AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SOMETIMES WE NEED TO ATTEND THESE THINGS TO SEE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IN OUR CITY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO CRIME AND THIS TYPE OF STUFF AND HOW OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES OR WORK WITH PEOPLE, INDIVIDUALS, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND ALL THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT PROGRAMS WERE ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP FOR AUBURN.
I CAN'T SAY BECAUSE I DON'T WORK IN THAT DEPARTMENT. SO YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS BUT I JUST THINK THAT YOU KNOW GOING FORWARD WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB AS HAVING REPRESENTATION EVEN IF THE CHIEF CAN'T SHOW UP, SEND SOMEBODY TO
REPRESENT. >> WELL, I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT CHIEF HARRIS AND HIS RESPONSIBILITY AND HIS LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY. I AM CONVICTED HE WAS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB AND I BELIEVE HE'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE AND COMMUNICATOR. AND I LOOK FORWARD FROM HERE ON OUT THERE BEING A VERY POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR POLICE CHIEF AND THE CITIZENS OF
AUBURN. >> MAYOR DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES CHIEF HAD TO CANCEL PRIOR TO THE EVENT AND WE DID NOT HAVE A STAFF MEMBER AVAILABLE BASED ON OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT IN THE MOMENT AT THAT TIME. AND THAT WAS NOT ANYONE'S INTENT TO NOT PARTICIPATE. IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES AS LETICA POINTED OUT THEY HAVE SINCE MET AND WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN FROM A SCHEDULING STANDPOINT THE FURTHER OUT WE KNOW THE MORE WE CAN PREPARE FOR A BACKUP PLAN. I CAN SAY WITH POLICE AS WITH ANYTHING SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN. UNFORTUNATELY EVEN IF HE HAD NOT HAD SOMETHING ELSE COME UP WE HAD A SHOOTING THAT DAY AND NONE OF OUR STAFF WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO ATTEND THAT DAY BASED ON EVENT CIRCUMSTANCES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE NACPP COUNTY BRANCH ON THESE THINGS BUT ONCE IN A WHILE SOME THINGS COME UP THAT ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL AND I THINK THE COMEEF IS COMMITTED TO A LOT OF WONDERFUL THINGS AND HE WILL DO A GREAT JOB AND I'M GLAD THAT HE AND LETICA MET ANDV RELATIONSHIP AND MOVING FORWARD WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK ON THAT AND PARTICIPATE AS BEST AS WE CAN. BUT ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE WE CAN LAY THE BEST PLANS
BUT CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPEN. >> ANYONE ELSE?
>> I JUST LIKE TO SAY HOW MUCH I SUPPORT CHIEF HARRIS HE'S A HOMETOWN GUY AND STARTED OFF WITH POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK IN THE 90S AND PATROL MAN AND WENT TO THE FBI FOR 20 YEARS AND WE MANAGED TO GET HIM BACK AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY CITIZENS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MEET HIM AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND COME BY AND SEE HIM, WHEREVER, AND I THINK YOU PROBABLY KNOW HE'S A GOOD GUY AS WELL AND I'VE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU AS WELL MEETING WITH HIM. I APPRECIATE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MEET HIM COME OUT 'CAUSE HE CAN ONLY SERVE WHAT HE KNOWS. HE'S GOT TO GET THE THOUGHTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BUILD THOSE
BRIDGES BEFORE WE NEED THEM. >> GOOD POINT.
>> I THINK WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND CHIEF HARRIS IS A DEFINITELY PROFESSIONAL AND WE'RE FORTUNATE YOU HAVE TO HIM
HERE IN AUBURN. >> ANYTHING ELSE. MOVE TO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.