The Gadsden City Council on a unanimous vote approved a package of contracts and a budget amendment and adopted a resolution authorizing preliminary steps to pursue debt to fund capital projects, including the new Gadsden Athletic Center. Councilman Wilson presented the measures and asked for immediate consideration and adoption.

The council adopted a supplemental agreement with Chambliss King Architects for work on the Westmegan Sports Complex, also referred to as the Gadsden Athletic Center, for $5,389,000 and an agreement with Robins & Morton for construction management services for $5,712,000. Councilman Wilson said those two items total $11,100,000. The council also passed an ordinance amending the fiscal-year budget to add $1,000,000 for new city-hall furniture, $600,000 for relocation costs tied to police dispatch operations, and $415,000 for a new garbage truck, bringing the total budget amendment shown in the meeting to $13,115,000.

In a separate but related measure, the council adopted a resolution authorizing the mayor to take preliminary matters and negotiate on behalf of the city related to the issuance of debt obligations to finance capital-improvement programs. Wilson said the authorization is intended "to result in $115,000,000 in net proceeds." The resolution delegates authority to negotiate terms and pursue bond issues; it does not itself issue bonds. The council approved immediate consideration and then adopted the two resolutions and the ordinance by voice votes; minutes record unanimous approval.

Council members who spoke during the discussion framed the package as a long-term investment. Councilwoman Latham said the action "will enable us to anticipate that generations to come will reside in Gadsden." Other council members and the mayor offered praise and noted the measures followed months of work by staff and advisors.

Discussion versus formal action: the council debated details and received information before voting. Formal actions taken were (1) adoption of a supplemental agreement with Chambliss King Architects, (2) adoption of a construction-management agreement with Robins & Morton, (3) adoption of an ordinance amending the fiscal-year budget, and (4) adoption of a resolution authorizing preliminary matters related to debt issuance. The resolution and contracts were adopted; the transcript does not show a timeline or final terms for any future bond sale, which will require further steps.

The fiscal impact described in the meeting materials and stated on the record is limited to the listed contract and amendment amounts. The council's authorization allows the mayor and staff to pursue financing and negotiate terms; the record does not specify a bond sale date, interest rate, or schedule for projects funded by any future debt.