The Mobile City Council held a premeeting Thursday, Jan. 2, during which members reviewed a broad consent and capital improvements agenda, noted public petitions and a request to waive the city noise ordinance for Jan. 4 on Saint Francis Street, and voted to convene an executive session to discuss litigation.

City Attorney Ricardo Woods asked the council to go into executive session “to discuss matter that is likely to be and that are being litigated,” and requested a roll call vote before the council recessed to meet again at 10:30 a.m., citing the Alabama Open Meetings Act. After a motion and a second were made, the council conducted a roll call in which President Small, Vice President Gregory, Council member Ken, Council member Carroll, Council member Reynolds, Council member Dave and Council member Woods each answered “Yes,” and the body moved into executive session.

Why it matters: the invocation of an executive session signals upcoming closed-door council consideration of legal matters. The premeeting also laid out several items that could return for formal votes at the regular meeting, including appointments, grant applications and capital project contract actions.

Agenda highlights listed during the premeeting included an ordinance held over (01066) to amend the City of Mobile municipal code to establish general fund reserves; CIP change orders and contracts for Westside Park and ballfield/lighting improvements (131247 and 211248); a resolution to authorize strategic communications services with PM Group (011249); and a financing/resolution for Civic Center bond reimbursement (041250). Several purchase orders and vendor approvals were announced, including a $148,840 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies grant application (31003) with no local match noted and an appointment listed as 03001 to place Morgan Carroll on the Mobile City-County Youth Council.

The premeeting also recorded petitions or presentations listed for the council from residents and community members: Nigel Hill (requesting funding for Shaaban Network), John Young (Trans books in public libraries), Apostle Veil Green (homeless-disabled situation), Raymond Cook (homeless situation in Mobile), Reverend Born (homeless situation in Mobile) and Sabrina Masse (allegations of abuse of power and insulting taxpayers). A noise waiver request for Jan. 4, from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Saint Francis Street was noted on the agenda for later consideration.

Multiple procurement and contract items were introduced by number during the premeeting, including purchase orders for LED sign boards, variable speed fans for Mobile Fire Rescue, and a standby generator; change orders for street and park projects; and several special event and retail liquor license recommendations to the ABC board. Specific dollar amounts read into the record included a $79,492.90 change order for John G. Walton Construction Company (project on North McGregor Avenue) and a $160,887.78 cost-sharing sidewalk agreement referenced for Whit Willie's sidewalks. The NOAA grant item was identified as $148,840 with no local match.

The council’s stated plan was to reconvene the regular meeting at 10:30 a.m. after the executive session. No final decisions on the many listed ordinances, resolutions, or purchase orders were recorded during the premeeting segment in the transcript provided; those items remained on the agenda for consideration at the regular meeting.

Ending: The premeeting served primarily to preview and place items on the regular meeting agenda and to record the council’s vote to enter closed session on litigation; several agenda items (appointments, grants, CIP change orders, and vendor purchase orders) were introduced but not finally acted on in the recorded premeeting.