Opelika council approves multiple contracts, rezoning ordinances and stream-credit purchases

Opelika City Council on Sept. 2 approved a package of city contracts and multiple land-use ordinances, and authorized purchases of stream mitigation credits tied to road projects.

The council voted to award procurement contracts including wildlife protection materials for Substation 10 to Irby for $57,107.18; eight 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicles to Donahoe Chevrolet for $399,316.80; the Gateway Drive resurfacing and shared-use path contract to East Alabama Paving for $1,585,815; and citywide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements to JC Construction (unit prices not specified in the meeting transcript). All four contract awards were recommended by staff and approved by roll call.

Council members also approved multiple resolutions to purchase mitigation (stream) credits required for construction projects. The council authorized the mayor to buy 289.71 stream credits from Westervelt Ecological Services for $42,007.95 for the Gwen Mill Drive extension; 2,162.84 stream credits from Westervelt Ecological Services for $313,611.80 for the Thomason Drive extension; and 335.5 credits from Headwaters LLC for $55,357.50 also for the Thomason Drive extension. A city staff member explained these purchases comply with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mitigation requirements, which allow developers to buy credits from mitigation banks when on-site replacement is infeasible.

The council approved a design supplement with AECOM Technical Services Inc. to add a roundabout to the realignment of North 20 Eighth Street, increasing the AECOM contract by $23,614.02 to a total of $109,655.02.

On other business, the council approved the sale of a 2011 Ford F-150 truck to the Opelika City Board of Education for $2,000; renewed the city's group insurance administration contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (staff stated the administration fee is $664.20 per month for health and $5.05 per member for dental); and approved a weed-lien assessment of $337.88 for property at 8 Seventeenth Place.

The council adopted several zoning ordinances on second reading that had positive recommendations from the Opelika Planning Commission: rezoning 211 acres on Logan Drive to a planned unit development for 541 single-family lots; rezoning 174.2 acres on the east side of South New World Road and adjacent areas to a planned unit development for 401 single-family lots; rezoning 39.64 acres in the Pepple Village Historic District to a new planned unit development for mixed uses; and annexing 32.6 acres at 2270 Old Columbus Road into the city. Two items were introduced on first reading without final action: a rezoning of the Woodhaven planned unit development area (304.5 acres; proposed 624 single-family lots) and an ordinance to levy a local excise tax on consumable vapor products measured at $0.10 per milliliter; those will return for later consideration.

The council also approved a downtown street closure request for Opelika Main Street's On the Tracks event on Oct. 3, 2025.

Votes at a glance - Downtown street closure for Opelika Main Street On the Tracks: approved by roll call. - Wildlife protection materials for Substation 10 (Irby) $57,107.18: approved by roll call. - Eight 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicles (Donahoe Chevrolet) $399,316.80: approved by roll call. - Gateway Drive resurfacing and shared-use path (East Alabama Paving) $1,585,815: approved by roll call; staff noted some funding will come from state Rebuild Alabama funds. - Citywide ADA improvements (JC Construction): approved by roll call. - Purchase of stream credits (Westervelt Ecological Services / Headwaters LLC) totaling the amounts stated above: approved by roll call. - AECOM design supplement for North 20 Eighth Street realignment (roundabout) +$23,614.02: approved by roll call. - Sale of 2011 Ford F-150 to Opelika City Board of Education for $2,000: approved by roll call. - Renewal of group insurance administration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (administration fees discussed): approved by roll call. - Weed-lien assessment at 8 Seventeenth Place for $337.88: approved by roll call. - Rezoning ordinances (multiple PUDs, annexation): adopted on second reading as described above. - Woodhaven PUD rezoning (304.5 acres) and excise tax on vapor products (10'cent/mL): introduced on first reading; no final vote on Sept. 2.

Meeting context and next steps Several items were introduced earlier in the work session and later moved to the regular meeting for final action. Staff and council members noted that Gateway Drive work will use Rebuild Alabama funds provided by the state but that the exact amount was not finalized at the meeting. The two first-reading ordinances will return for additional council consideration at a later meeting (dates not specified beyond an expectation they will be brought back).