Tupelo City Council adopts urban renewal amendment, tables golf driving-range change and approves routine budget and procurement items

The Tupelo City Council on May 6 approved an amendment to the city’s urban renewal plan that adds about 17 acres to the urban renewal area, tabled a proposed change to the development code and approved a series of routine budget, procurement and permitting actions.

Why it matters: The urban-renewal amendment brings newly acquired city-owned vacant property under the Tupelo Redevelopment Agency’s jurisdiction, allowing the city to pursue redevelopment and private development programs on that land.

The council voted to adopt a resolution to amend and restate the city’s urban renewal plan, adding approximately 17 acres along Elizabeth Street across from the fish hatchery into the urban renewal area. A city staff presenter said notice of the public hearing was published as required, the planning committee found the change consistent with the comprehensive plan and no objections were recorded at the hearing. The resolution was approved after a motion and voice vote.

The council also considered an ordinance to amend Chapter 4 of the development code to allow a golf driving range as a use by right in the Regional Commercial zoning district. City staff asked that the matter be tabled to make a final technical edit to the ordinance; the council voted to table the item and agreed to take it up at a future meeting.

Budget and procurement approvals: The council approved Budget Amendment No. 5 for fiscal year 2025, a set of internal fund transfers and revenue-source adjustments that did not increase the general-fund total but reallocated existing funds. Notable items in the amendment included a $600,000 line for replacement breathing apparatus for the fire department (staff said the department’s current equipment is no longer supported), a $100,000 allocation to finish paving for the depot ahead of a planned opening, and $230,000 moved for drainage point repairs to be completed in-house by Public Works. The council also approved a $10,000 transfer from police capital for a target system.

Other votes and approvals included surplus and asset-list changes (including a seized 2014 Jeep Cherokee proposed for use by the North Mississippi Narcotics Unit), a bid award to replace a boom on a sanitation truck, several change orders and final closeouts for street and park projects, ratification of development and reimbursement agreements and the routine approval of minutes, bills and committee minutes. The council approved a one-year extension of the solid waste collection contract with Waste Management of Mississippi under the contract’s allowed extension terms.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution approving Third Amended and Restated Urban Renewal Plan (adds ~17 acres to urban renewal area): approved (voice vote; notice published, no objections at public hearing). - Ordinance amending Chapter 4 (allow golf driving range in Regional Commercial): tabled for technical edit; no final vote on ordinance. - Budget Amendment No. 5 (FY2025): approved; transfers and reallocation of existing funds including fire breathing apparatus, depot paving and drainage repairs. - One-year extension: Solid Waste collection and disposal contract with Waste Management of Mississippi: approved (contract extension pursuant to statute). - Change order/closeout: West Bristow Street improvements (Bid 2024005PW): approved. - Change order: Veterans Park playground (Bid 2024-06OBR): approved. - Surplus: 2012 Harley-Davidson for trade; and surplus inventory items: approved. - Asset addition: seized 2014 Jeep Cherokee to asset list for North Mississippi Narcotics Unit: approved. - Bid award: knuckle-boom replacement for sanitation truck (Rhein Body Works): approved. - Minutes, bill pay, traffic-committee and other routine minutes: approved.

What the council did not do: The council did not adopt the Chapter 4 amendment allowing driving ranges — staff requested a technical edit and the council tabled the item for the next meeting.

What’s next: The urban renewal amendment makes the 17-acre parcel eligible for redevelopment under the Tupelo Redevelopment Agency; staff said they will pursue private development opportunities consistent with the comprehensive plan. The driving-range ordinance will return to a future meeting after the requested edit.