Tuscaloosa council approves $725,000 in Northern Riverwalk land buys; committees take up grants, sewer work and a rezoning hearing
The Tuscaloosa City Council approved two land purchases totaling $725,000 for the Northern Riverwalk Phase II project at its Sept. 29 meeting, according to official minutes — the only meeting in the records provided where votes were taken. The council also ordered two structures demolished and adopted two ordinances. Council committees, meanwhile, met or are set to meet on insurance renewals, federal grant agreements, sewer treatment work and a rezoning hearing. Those items appeared on agendas; the records provided do not show that votes have been taken on them.
City Council, Sept. 29: land, demolitions, ordinances
From the official minutes, the council:
- Approved a $515,000 land purchase for Northern Riverwalk Phase II.
- Approved a $210,000 land purchase for the same project.
- Ordered demolition of structures at 2615 18th St and 3538 23rd St.
- Adopted Ordinance 9823 amending the FY2026 Water and Sewer budget.
- Adopted Ordinance 9824 electing a President Pro Tempore.
- Authorized a $262,919 contract amendment for the Freeman Park and Pool project.
- Approved various public works contracts totaling over $200,000.
- Authorized ALDOT maintenance agreements for traffic and lighting.
The minutes summary provided does not list individual vote counts for these items.
Committee agendas, Sept. 29: insurance and federal grants
The Insurance and Litigation Committee agenda listed three resolutions presented by Scott Holmes, with no vote shown: renewing Engineers Professional Liability 2027 coverage with MSIG Specialty Insurance USA, Inc. at a $20,225.25 premium; binding Fiduciary Liability coverage for the Police Officers and Firefighters Supplemental Retirement Plan through USI Insurance Services, LLC at an annual premium not to exceed $6,090.00; and renewing insurance for Holidays on the Plaza with Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters at a $7,501.27 premium.
The Public Projects Committee agenda listed a $12,405.35 minor public works contract with Premier Service Company, Inc. to repair lighting service in the Lift Station 3 parking lot, and a contract with Red Oak Paint Company not to exceed $45,000.00 for as-needed painting at City facilities in FY27. It also listed authorization for the Mayor to execute Program Year 2026 CDBG and HOME grant agreements — $930,381.00 in CDBG funds and $473,759.13 in HOME funds — plus subrecipient agreements including $100,000.00 to Habitat for Humanity for Critical Home Repair, $504,747.80 to COT for Let's Paint Let's Renovate, and $736,627.71 to the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority for affordable housing construction.
Oct. 6 agendas: zoning, naming, Saban Center
The City Council agenda included a public hearing on zoning amendment no. 47, which would rezone about 0.4 acres at and around 2111-2115 8th Street and 802-808 Almon Avenue from D to DP, with 21st Avenue Development, LLC as applicant. It also listed previously tabled demolition orders for structures at 1225 19th Alley, 17 Reece Court, 142 18th Court East and 6414 31st Street.
The Properties Committee agenda listed requests to honorarily designate Alberta Park as Kip Tyner Plaza and a portion of 26th Avenue East from University Boulevard East to 4th Street East as Kip Tyner Parkway, plus authorization for the Mayor to execute a declaration vacating part of Knoll Road tied to the University Boulevard East Improvements project.
The Finance Committee agenda included accepting an $800,000 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside grant for Skyland Boulevard (US-11) streetscape work with a 20% city match of $200,000, and applying for a federal grant for 70 bulletproof vests for the Tuscaloosa Police Department. The Public Projects Committee agenda listed a $415,000 first-year professional services agreement with Thornton Musso & Bellemin, Inc. for intermediate sewer treatment at Lift Stations 39, 41, 2 and 33, and a $36,340 change order with Mark Johnson Construction, LLC raising a Lift Station 40 and 41 valve contract from $347,660 to $384,000. The Administration and Policy Committee listed a job classification for Director, Saban Center Facility Operations (OCA-26-1135). District 5 is listed as vacant on committee rosters.
Coming up
- **Oct. 13 — City Council:** public hearings on demolition costs and liens at 2806 Short Street, 2808 Short Street and 2317 Jack Warner Parkway; a Placer Labs Inc. dba Placer.AI contract amendment totaling $106,320.00; public works contracts with Knight Sign Industries, Inc. ($40,801.00) and Druid City Electric, Inc. ($35,000.00); the proposed Kip Tyner renaming; and introduction of amendment no. 1 to the FY2027 general fund and ELEVATE Tuscaloosa fund budgets.
- **Oct. 13 — Public Projects Committee:** a Rice Mine Rd slope repair award to John Plott Company, Inc. for $242,317.39; Saban Center amendments with Davis Architects ($375,730.62) and Turner & Townsend Heery ($50,000.00); and a TTL, Inc. proposal for River District parking lot improvements at $339,000.00.
- **Oct. 13 — Finance Committee:** a Water and Sewer Fund budget revision transferring $154,657 to contingency, and District 7 Improvements Fund disbursements.
- **Oct. 13 — Public Safety Committee:** a professional services contract with TargetSolutions Learning, LLC dba Vector Solutions (OCA-26-0786).
All items listed for Oct. 13 are agenda items; no outcomes were available at the time of writing.