[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6225360,"mediaKeyId","3537369-c952dae62336750eee240b1981bc1c94","parentId",3537369,"title","Council authorizes Hughes contract for Langan Park dredging; officials say project will aid stormwater capacity","audioSeconds",160,"startMs",3132000,"endMs",3292000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537369-c952dae62336750eee240b1981bc1c94&start=3132&end=3292","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537369-c952dae62336750eee240b1981bc1c94/thumbnail_3132000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6225360/Mobile-City/Mobile-County/Alabama/Council-authorizes-Hughes-contract-for-Langan-Park-dredging-officials-say-project-will-aid-stormwater-capacity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225360-3a99bcf49facb967aac95ada308243a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771065831&Signature=KxXTWKA9BpW7ftgzFmNdBJSAWwfobD05CFQ6OPzxBhv-lOZzsGgxEoGE1AiGHDPyolre3V5olMD28VW3GFGjNIff4XB3A215DRgJVE0bhiuqcmZ3ZEErl3WqXDMkVF6uJXS0YbCYhdX98nEAKQhRkMcVrFTBy0d7Vr942SQmBpjNpXuau1mRWuCNegdI3ef5H25PDW3WJOWoxFedVbZCohfOTfZnIKBXC~xw~gk~lLYhvFaZe-3Eph6vOme7PonpoMSiux6WoeOVMGRK0MHox7ZZl1nWsqgIhCIQOQGS4EE8iyn5idnqyOvGhSJkcjuLz7U3eabFre4N~1y3vh-ECg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mobile City, AL","date","2025-05-28T09:11:51.313Z","article","The Mobile City Council on May 27 approved a contract to begin dredging Langan Lake and perform associated stormwater improvements, a project city officials said is funded through RESTORE Act dollars tied to the Deepwater Horizon settlement.

A council speaker said the project qualified for Restore Act funding after a multi‑year qualification process and that the contract award will put nearly $15 million (described at the meeting as “$15,000,000 plus, nearly $16,000,000”) to work restoring the lake and park amenities. “We qualified because this is a recreation center, recreation facility, a lake, dredging the lake to make it possible for people to use the park,” the speaker said, and indicated dredging operations could begin in July.

A separate council member emphasized the stormwater benefits: dredging increases capacity in an area where years of sediment from the 3‑Mile Creek watershed have reduced conveyance downstream, the member said, and tied the lake work to broader restoration on the watershed. The speaker said the project will both improve recreation and help manage stormwater in lower‑lying parts of West Mobile.

Council members noted that parts of the park will be unavailable while dredging occurs. The presentation singled out Jennifer Green for leading long-term efforts to secure the funding and shepherd the project through its administrative requirements.

The authorized contract appeared as Resolution 21745 on the council agenda and was approved during the meeting. City staff told the council the dredging will begin when contractor mobilization is complete and that construction activity will be visible once dredging equipment is on site.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Mobile City Council Meeting May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council authorized a contract for roughly $15 million in RESTORE Act funds to dredge Langan Lake and make stormwater improvements, with officials saying dredging will restore recreational use and increase stormwater capacity downstream.","taxTitle","Mobile City, Mobile County, Alabama","taxId",3866,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225365,"Public hearing spotlights proposed UDC changes on neighborhood meetings and notification radius",370,1757000,2127000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537369-c952dae62336750eee240b1981bc1c94&start=1757&end=2127","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537369-c952dae62336750eee240b1981bc1c94/thumbnail_1757000.jpg","/articles/6225365/Mobile-City/Mobile-County/Alabama/Public-hearing-spotlights-proposed-UDC-changes-on-neighborhood-meetings-and-notification-radius","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225365-eb02bae9e64cf5ba729a22be9682d115/orig.mp4?Expires=1771065831&Signature=FOZjb4WP~JCBROlFcrX3425cYn~B9REr9axkz~kmfsHivdPKZ2BglYjGlxgq5fXpKGxigW8OvW7bbnEZg3OynGNBTP--MP70qg5FxVsfwM-8wWcLf1JJKg~4ocmfQ-3FbPl1YKVpm0PxXmzIxwEnZyG0r3suB0VOMVcaVFlOvIXIRZveG5AaDpziqcy4v4McGR6KRScEs1a6K4v9c6R6J7f9~Z8Z~hT9Gpd9e4HZ~RkNB3M-~8wRM82V46pyrspKdgX7iboUXsPMG24tEz~ZczY61xgcSgmFBnQtffS-j0zTL9VrBN5~WIp48pEVzY1ffHOOG3K3C0hqcsaLE3wKVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a May 27 public hearing, residents and council members questioned proposed amendments to the city’s Unified Development Code (UDC) that would modify neighborhood‑meeting requirements and related notice and record‑keeping rules.

Resident Reggie Hill said the city should not reduce opportunities for neighborhood engagement and urged the council to expand notice beyond the 300‑foot radius used for mailed or posted notices. “If there is anything put under this code that is saying we're not gonna meet with individuals in the communities that are gonna be most impacted, that's not only alarming and a red flag,” Hill told the council during the public hearing.

A later resident, James Williams (who asked to be called “JW”), said the 300‑foot notification radius did not adequately inform communities when rezonings affected a broader area. “Just 300 feet. Yes. But that's gonna that when something is rezoned, it's gonna affect more than just 300 feet,” Williams said.

Council members described the proposed UDC edits as clarifying standards for when and where neighborhood meetings must occur. Councilman Woods said the changes require meetings to be held on weekdays between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., for at least one hour, in a public or institutional building near the proposed site — “not more than a distance of 1 mile from the proposed site,” he read from the proposed language. Woods said the changes would “provide sunlight” and make it easier for neighbors to attend.

Other speakers urged the council to restore certain review powers to the council for planning approvals and to improve signage and mailings when notices are required. Several residents and council members cited past cases where signage or mail notice did not reach nearby residents and urged stricter, clearer outreach standards.

No ordinance vote was taken at the May 27 hearing; the public hearing was opened and closed during the meeting and the council heard multiple comments for the record. Speakers focused on the twin issues of who is notified about zoning or planning actions and what practical steps the city should require of developers to make neighborhood meetings accessible.","During public hearings, residents and council members debated proposed Unified Development Code edits that would formalize meeting hours and locations and retain a 300‑foot notice radius, prompting calls from residents and a council member for broader district notifications and for retaining council review authority on some planning approvals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225371,"Mobile finance staff reports flat revenues, flags possible public‑safety spending increase and federal funding risk",657,863000,1520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537369-c952dae62336750eee240b1981bc1c94&start=863&end=1520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537369-c952dae62336750eee240b1981bc1c94/thumbnail_863000.jpg","/articles/6225371/Mobile-City/Mobile-County/Alabama/Mobile-finance-staff-reports-flat-revenues-flags-possible-publicsafety-spending-increase-and-federal-funding-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225371-9203ddec0ee8f5bb672fd58bc3f43c17/orig.mp4?Expires=1771065831&Signature=oSm7q5zRPjhVdI57SeQuHVuYpWBP2-J3RgF-djZ243w6mh6htk0aV0HJ1bdZWzW2eTw5jtSFeaHH3ceF5nOHerGuy-qAYeuE9SiLL8Ddq1tpBlFb3U0wTt3-BwmFf1CZeks~0THnLsHh9bLqKQfHYXsEz7AEoTb03YzfVXOHBoYu~Xn6juolhdPt6mpXTttsHRZm0vxUCtFD2XwQXV8pDoCshVV0lfQVxe0Gh2hU8mvd8yMdVbabSbse0JkL-brH~syuTcefcW2y~-PA3hyPzU4lxmnup2SI4H31GrEwcWQmNp25sgTD~tim~YerjIEIE1Vob3JP9GH4Lq8tLzWruw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff presented the April 2025 operating report at the Mobile City Council meeting on May 27, saying revenues are “relatively flat” for the year and outlining the schedule for the 2026 budget cycle.

“On page 1… our reserve fund is 58,626,210,” the presenting staff member said, and noted the general fund operating balance grew from $104,757,000 at the start of the year to $108,404,000 at month’s end. The staff reported year-to-date revenues of about $229,267,000 against a year-to-date budget of $232,556,000, and year-to-date expenditures of $184,253,000, leaving net operating positive cash flow of about $45,013,000 through April.

The presenter said the city is planning a conservative fiscal 2026 budget and expects “requests for additional public safety funding” that will require operational trade-offs. When Councilman Carroll asked where cuts would come from, the staff said the administration plans to consolidate cost centers, perform a line‑by‑line review of operations and combine budgets for savings rather than designate specific line-item reductions at this time.

Finance staff also told the council they had received a federal communication advising potential federal budget reductions. “The last number we got from the federal government was they’re looking at a budget reduction of $1,500,000,000,000,” the presenter said, and the city will review federal grant lines such as CDBG when preparing the 2026 budget.

The staff outlined the local calendar for the budget process: the administration’s goal to deliver a proposed budget to council earlier than usual, by July 25, and a reminder of statutory council deadlines for budget adoption mentioned in the presentation. The presenter said the city will show federal and grant revenue sources transparently in the forthcoming 2026 budget documents so council can evaluate potential threats to external funds.

Council members asked for additional detail on specific line items and contract spending (for example, vehicle purchases and a third‑party forestry contract) and were told the administration will follow up with more granular answers in subsequent budget briefings.

No formal budget votes were taken at the May 27 meeting; the presentation was informational and part of ongoing budget preparations for the fiscal 2026 cycle.","City finance staff presented the April operating report showing roughly flat revenues year to date, a general fund operating balance increase and a planning assumption that public safety funding requests will rise for FY 2026; staff also warned of potential federal budget cuts affecting grants like CDBG.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225377,"Mobile Council details Saint Louis rebuild, warns of South MacGregor closure for roundabout construction",221,324000,545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537369-c952dae62336750eee240b1981bc1c94&start=324&end=545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537369-c952dae62336750eee240b1981bc1c94/thumbnail_324000.jpg","/articles/6225377/Mobile-City/Mobile-County/Alabama/Mobile-Council-details-Saint-Louis-rebuild-warns-of-South-MacGregor-closure-for-roundabout-construction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225377-5a560a53fa013f079909705d21f3bc19/orig.mp4?Expires=1771065831&Signature=ZsCSeH4k6zQQGPRyXW-YwiKZtjTvNR6ShpUfFqtEthLevxSpd5mWqPeQloGHDBTTHeiDhQ8Hw3rp5OcTG2IaulPe4gfnTkoCbVxsv6CBo8IHnQLpmmQTGRD4VcMxaUZMgm2vTMfd8EF22JXGMD1m-ke3~JFqQZo8vgS7ZcYwesa1Z3aQagGu3mrvw5AJwI3p4xkHohWkvDl-O06s~2F7dRioh3QRUG7Q3pINMsrHVq2mJOk~aPV~I7O6dKBGr~S8KlFgmlKgpPESpU~ZRbmnFSd~KWIyMa~0pWVnrdEADfIpCu7cmURDp4uNCA5CuTRfioijcPaYL6kHOO2EH9vvuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mobile City Council members and city staff on May 27 described two major road projects that officials said aim to improve pedestrian access, utility reliability and traffic flow in the city’s core.

Mayor Stimpson announced a “complete streets” rebuild of Saint Louis Street, a multi-block project he said will replace roadway and pedestrian infrastructure, relocate utilities and make stormwater and lighting improvements. The mayor said the project will be built block by block and stressed efforts to minimize disruption to businesses: “There’s been meticulous planning to minimize the impact on businesses and residents,” he said, and he urged people who live or work on Saint Louis Street to attend a community meeting on June 4 at 6 p.m. at the Innovation Portal.

At the council meeting, staff and council members also reminded motorists that the Dolphin–McGregor intersection — where a roundabout is being installed — will close the following day for construction. A city staff speaker said most of the work is complete through much of the corridor but that a full closure is unavoidable for safe completion of the roundabout. “We’re anticipating the roundabout being opened up, December,” the staff speaker said. The staff presentation described block-by-block construction intended to keep intersections open when possible, and noted new sidewalks and dimmable modern lighting are part of the work.

Council members praised the projects while warning of short-term traffic disruption. Councilman Daves thanked engineering and staff and said the work will “facilitate traffic” and change the physical appearance of South MacGregor between Dauphin and Airport Boulevard. Daves and other council members said the city is prepared to tweak traffic controls after closure begins to improve flow.

The council and staff did not adopt new ordinances or votes tied specifically to these projects at the May 27 meeting; the announcements were presented as mayoral communications and administrative updates. City staff said they will hold at least one community meeting about Saint Louis Street and monitor traffic patterns after the Dolphin–McGregor closure to make operational adjustments.

The timeline and staging details given at the meeting: a June 4 community meeting for Saint Louis Street design plans; closure of the Dolphin–McGregor intersection starting the next day; and an estimated December opening of the roundabout.

The council gave no new funding approvals tied to these updates during the meeting; staff said prior planning and private-sector investment had already preceded the public works work and that the city would continue block-by-block construction to limit disruption.","Council members and city staff outlined a block-by-block complete-streets rebuild of Saint Louis Street and confirmed a full closure at the Dolphin–McGregor intersection to allow construction of a roundabout, with officials estimating a December reopening for the roundabout.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes Hughes contract for Langan Park dredging; officials say project will aid stormwater capacity

Public hearing spotlights proposed UDC changes on neighborhood meetings and notification radius

Mobile finance staff reports flat revenues, flags possible public‑safety spending increase and federal funding risk

Mobile Council details Saint Louis rebuild, warns of South MacGregor closure for roundabout construction