Finance committee approves multiple contracts, advances downtown safety design amid parking concerns

The Tuscaloosa finance committee on Tuesday approved a slate of contracts and amendments covering streetscape work, resurfacing and several facility maintenance projects, and advanced design work for a downtown safety plan that drew objections from local business owners about lost parking.

The committee voted to approve a change order to add paving and restriping at Buddy Powell Pavilion, a contract with Taylor Electric to install underground raceway for cameras at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center, an award to GFC Construction for the Greensboro Avenue streetscape and a low bid award to ST Bunn Construction for the citywide 2026 resurfacing program. The panel also approved design agreements for a one‑way conversion and pedestrian‑safety improvements in the 4th Street/23rd Avenue corridor and engineering work to support ALDOT permitting on several roadway projects.

Why it matters: The Greensboro Avenue and 4th/23rd efforts are tied to downtown circulation and pedestrian safety. The one‑way conversion proposal is intended to reduce vehicle‑pedestrian conflicts through angled parking, bollards and widened sidewalks; business owners warned that the changes could worsen parking availability and game‑day traffic if alternative parking or turnover strategies are not put in place.

Most significant approvals: Staff introduced the Greensboro Avenue Streetscape award, describing widened sidewalks, new landscaping and dedicated delivery zones between University Boulevard and 7th Street. The contract amount was read aloud in the meeting transcript as '3,000,000 852,862.89' (the transcript, as spoken, contained that phrasing); the committee approved the award and staff said construction was expected to begin in early May with substantial completion targeted before September.

On the downtown safety project, staff recommended a $142,796 professional services agreement with Duncan Coker to design a one‑way traffic pattern on sections of 4th Street and 23rd Avenue and associated safety improvements. "This first phase is basically the 4th and 23rd intersection proper," a presenter said during the meeting. Council members and staff emphasized a tight summer bidding window.

Public comment and business concerns: During public comment, downtown business owners told the committee they support pedestrian safety but urged the city to address parking impacts. "The only thing I really have a concern is if this is going to hurt or to help as far as bottlenecking the traffic," said Jeremy Wyatt of Rhythm & Brews. Wyatt added that "we're going to be taking away about 29 parking spots," and warned that game‑day traffic patterns could exacerbate congestion.

Rolf Maier, owner of Rolf's German Restaurant, said city staff should study alternative scenarios including a pedestrian zone or additional parking capacity. "My name is Rolf Maier, I'm the owner from, uh, Rolf's German Restaurant," he told the committee, and asked the city to continue engagement with business owners as design proceeds.

Funding and other approvals: Staff identified multiple funding sources across items: the Buddy Powell change order’s differential will come from the tourism capital budget, facility work was tied to facility renewal funds, the Greensboro Avenue project combined bond funds and an "elevate" allocation, and resurfacing was to be covered in part by Alabama gas tax bonds. For airport work, council approved a contract with Hughes Aerospace to prepare interim flight procedures while runway construction displaces existing procedures; staff presented options priced at roughly $77,400 for a short option and a not‑to‑exceed $140,000 option and said the work would be funded from bid savings on the airport project.

What the motions did (meeting record): Committee votes were recorded in the transcript as "All in favor? Aye. Motion passed" for each listed item; individual roll‑call tallies or recorded votes by member name were not provided in the transcript.

Developer discussion: The committee also heard a lengthy discussion with Michael Delaney of Delaney Property Group about a previously tabled incentive agreement for a commercial subdivision (the Spring Brook project). Delaney said redlined drafts submitted after prior approvals reduced the scope from six lots to three and altered incentive and performance terms; city staff and the city attorney said those changes are substantial and would require a full resubmission and restart of the formal advertising/772 process before council could act.

Next steps: Staff and council repeatedly said that approving designers or professional services does not end public engagement on design questions. For the 4th/23rd safety project, staff committed to continued meetings with downtown businesses and to consider parking turnover strategies and other mitigations; for the Delaney matter, staff said the developer may resubmit materials and the matter would return under unfinished business after the required procedural steps.

The committee moved through a full agenda of capital and maintenance approvals and adjourned after routine motions; several items passed with the committee announcing unanimous voice approval on the record, and where procedural or numeric clarifications were needed staff said they will return corrected or resubmitted materials to the council.