20220104 Andalusia City Council Meeting January 4 2022
Date: 2022-01-04 Type: Regular Meeting
Quick Summary
Council approved the December 21, 2021 meeting minutes. The council suspended rules (unanimous) to adopt Ordinance 2022-01 (declaring certain downtown real property) and Resolution 2022-01 authorizing a development agreement for a downtown hotel; related tax rebate and abatement incentives and county coordination were discussed. Council also authorized Southern Engineering Solutions to reapply for the Rebuild Alabama grant, extended the pandemic leave policy through FY2022, and approved abatement actions for two properties.
Key Decisions
- Approved minutes of the December 21, 2021 regular meeting (motion by Mr. Mount; second by Mr. Nix; hand/voice vote).
- Suspended the rules by unanimous vote to consider Ordinance 2022-01 on first reading.
- Adopted Ordinance 2022-01 (declaring certain downtown real property) with council vote (hand/voice vote).
- Adopted Resolution 2022-01 authorizing the city to enter into a development agreement for a downtown hotel project (council vote).
- Authorized Southern Engineering Solutions to reapply for the Rebuild Alabama grant for Col Street/Henderson Street area (motion approved).
- Adopted Resolution 2022-02 to extend the pandemic leave policy for the remainder of fiscal year 2022, and adopted Resolution 2022-03 to declare abatement action for 607 Riley St. and 629 W Watson St.
Notable Discussion
- Ordinance/Resolution pair would surplus the Timberland (Old First National Bank) building and the top two floors of the Adel/Big Mike’s building to enable a hotel redevelopment.
- Project financing incentives discussed include a lodging tax rebate and property tax abatement; city will ask the County Commission to consider similar actions.
- Developer identified as Wood Properties (working through Big Mike’s); council emphasized project is not yet final and will return for further action.
- Council noted a previous unsuccessful grant application and discussed modifying the application for a re-submission.
Action Items
- Record approval of the December 21, 2021 meeting minutes.
- Proceed with declared surplus actions for the specified downtown properties per Ordinance 2022-01 and continue negotiations on the hotel development agreement.
- Request the County Commission consider corresponding lodging tax rebate and property tax abatement for the project.
- Authorize Southern Engineering Solutions to reapply for the Rebuild Alabama grant with application modifications.
- Implement Resolution 2022-02 to extend the pandemic leave policy through the remainder of FY2022.
- Pursue abatement actions for properties at 607 Riley St. and 629 W Watson St. as directed in Resolution 2022-03.