No one spoke at the first of three hearings on renaming 26th Avenue East for Kip Tyner. The council also approved $475,730 more for the Saban Center. Next hearing Oct. 27.
No one spoke for or against renaming 26th Avenue East and Alberta Park for the late Council President Kip Tyner at the first public hearing Tuesday. The Tuscaloosa City Council held the hearing at its Oct. 20 meeting, which ran from 5 p.m. to 5:13 p.m.
The renaming was not up for adoption. Two more hearings are set, on Oct. 27 and Nov. 17, the City Clerk’s meeting synopsis says.
Updated Oct. 22: this story was first published before the meeting. It now reports what the council did, from the City Clerk’s synopsis.
Five council members attended with Mayor Walt Maddox. Council member Richard Henry was absent, and the District 5 seat is vacant. All votes were unanimous.
The Kip Tyner renaming
Mayor Walt Maddox announced the plan on Sept. 28, at the celebration of life held for Tyner. The city’s announcement said:
- Alberta Park would become Kip Tyner Plaza
- 26th Avenue East would become Kip Tyner Parkway
The city called them honorary name changes. Tuesday’s item also amends Section 18-2(27) of the city code.
Tyner died Sept. 18 at 70. He was first elected District 5 council member in 1997 and served seven terms. The city credits him with major contributions to Alberta, including the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center and the University Boulevard East Improvements Project.
His District 5 seat is vacant until a special election on Dec. 8. Our voting guide has the dates.
Saban Center: two contract increases approved
The council approved two amendments that add money to design and management contracts for the Saban Center, the city’s Elevate Tuscaloosa project:
| Contract | Firm | Amount approved |
|---|---|---|
| Design services, amendment No. 4 | Davis Architects | $375,730.62 |
| Project contract, amendment No. 1 | Turner and Townsend Heery | Not to exceed $100,000 |
Together that is up to $475,730.62. Neither the agenda nor the synopsis says what the extra work is.
Everything else the council approved
Contracts and spending:
- $339,000 to TTL Inc. for engineering on the River District parking lot improvements
- $242,317.39 to John Plott Company, a tentative award, for the Rice Mine slope repair
- $237,386.88 for a professional services contract with TargetSolutions Learning, doing business as Vector Solutions
- a new award for bulk water treatment chemicals: the council rescinded the first award and gave the rest of the bid period to the second-lowest bidder
- Ordinance No. 9834, the first amendment to the fiscal 2027 water and sewer fund budget, introduced and adopted the same night by unanimous consent
- $48,656.60 in bills
Land and licenses:
- a rezoning of about 0.2 acres at and around 58 Springbrook from SFR-2 to GC, requested by DPG Springbrook LLC, was introduced, with a public hearing set for Nov. 17
- a special events alcohol license for Downtown Entertainment LLC
The synopsis notes that the phrase “Pay Kip’s bills” is used for that vote as a commemorative reference to Tyner, and that it does not change what the council approved.
One resident spoke to the council about inflation adjustments to towing fees, the synopsis says.
What it means for you
- Speak on an item: sign in with the City Clerk before the meeting. Each speaker gets five minutes. The clerk’s office is at (205) 248-5010.
- Live in Alberta? You have two more chances to comment on the Tyner renaming: Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Tuesday, Nov. 17.
- Near Springbrook? The rezoning hearing is Tuesday, Nov. 17.
- Questions on an item: email cityclerk@tuscaloosa.com and quote the page number from the agenda.
Our who to call at City Hall page lists every council member, and building permits and zoning explains how rezonings work in Tuscaloosa.
Have your say