Opa-locka commission approves multiple ordinances, including downtown height increase and renaming police headquarters

The City of Opa-locka commission on Feb. 12 approved several ordinances and formal actions affecting historic preservation, property registration, noise, zoning and municipal procedures.

Key votes at the meeting included first readings and adoptions across a range of items. The commission approved an administrative process for minor Certificates of Appropriateness for designated historic properties (first reading), a new registration framework for abandoned and vacant foreclosure properties (first reading), and a revised ordinance on loud or unusual noises and fireworks (first reading). The commission also adopted changes to the I-4 zoning district to permit certain equipment and vehicle storage uses, approved renaming the police headquarters to honor Vice Mayor Timothy Holmes, approved code changes to remove newspaper-publication references, and raised allowable building heights in the Historic Downtown district to 10 stories (to align with FAA Part 77) for downtown-only properties. One item (a zoning amendment) was deferred to the March 12 meeting for rework.

Votes and motions (high-level): - Consent agenda approved (moved by Commissioner Natasha Irvin; second Commissioner Louis Santiago). Roll call: Irvin, Kelly, Santiago, Bass, Mayor Taylor — unanimous (5-0). - Agenda approved (moved by Vice Mayor Kelly; second by Commissioner Santiago) — passed 5-0. - 16(a)(1) — Historic preservation: first reading approved (mover: Commissioner Irvin; second: Commissioner Santiago). Roll call: Irvin, Kelly, Santiago, Bass, Mayor Taylor — 5-0. - 16(a)(2) — Registration of abandoned/vacant/foreclosure properties (new Chapter 14 provisions): first reading approved. The item establishes a registration process the city says is intended to identify owners and enable corrective action; city staff said foreclosure would be a later step and will depend on liens and title status. Roll call: Irvin, Kelly, Santiago, Bass, Mayor Taylor — 5-0. - 16(a)(3) — Loud or unusual noise; fireworks rules (Chapter 15): first reading approved 4-0-1. The commission debated cutoff times and enforcement; Vice Mayor Kelly proposed moving the quiet-hour cutoff earlier but the final first-reading action set the ordinance cutoff at 1 a.m.; Mayor John H. Taylor recorded a "no" vote on first reading, and the item passed 4-0-1. City staff said enforcement would proceed through ticketing and the code-enforcement process. - 16(b)(1) — I-4 zoning text amendment (allowing construction-equipment and vehicle-storage uses): second reading/adoption approved. Roll call: Irvin, Kelly, Santiago, Bass, Mayor Taylor — 5-0. - 16(b)(2) — Rename police headquarters to honor Vice Mayor Timothy Holmes: adoption approved. The commission amended the title language in-session; final ordinance renames the facility the "Vice Mayor Timothy Holmes Police Headquarters." Roll call: Irvin, Kelly, Santiago, Bass, Mayor Taylor — 5-0. - 16(b)(3) — Code amendments removing newspaper-publication requirements following state law changes: adoption approved 5-0. - 16(b)(4) — Zoning amendment (specific text not finalized): sponsor asked the item be deferred to March 12; commission granted the deferral. - 16(b)(5) — Historic Downtown Opelika District (HDOD) maximum height increased to no more than 105 feet / 10 stories (downtown-only, to comply with FAA Part 77): adoption approved 5-0.

Other formal action: the commission voted to cancel the Feb. 26 regular meeting due to several members' travel; motion passed 5-0.

What the measures do in practice: - The historic-preservation administrative COA process is intended to expedite minor repairs and routine maintenance approvals (for items such as windows, doors and roofs) without full board review. - The abandoned-property registration ordinance creates a registration requirement for vacant/foreclosed properties so the city can identify contacts and pursue corrections; staff said registration is an initial tool and foreclosure remains a last resort subject to legal and lien considerations. - The noise ordinance sets enforcement as a ticketing process administered via police and code enforcement; commissioners discussed cutoff times (weeknights vs. weekends) and agreed enforcement is key to effectiveness.

The commission did not adopt emergency or immediate funding changes tied to these ordinances during the Feb. 12 meeting; most ordinance adoptions and first readings will return for second-reading or implementation steps as required by the code.