BY MICHELLE KEY | PUBLISHER
OPELIKA — During Tuesday night’s Opelika City Council meeting, the council held a public hearing on an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and Map to rezone 14.22 acres of land in the 3500 block of Waverly Parkway from a R-5, high-density residential zone to a C2, GC-P, light commercial, gateway corridor primary overly district — primary zone. KageFit, a fitness and martial arts training center, is one of the proposed developments for the proposed rezoned area. KageFit would develop and use a two-acre area with access from Waverly Parkway. According to the proposed ordinance, KageFit has been at 3613 Pepperell Parkway for the last 10 years; currently has 200 members and has outgrown the Pepperell Parkway location. The proposed fitness center and martial arts building is 10,000 square feet and would include a parking lot, outside playground and walking trail within the two-acre parcel. All fitness and training programs will be held inside the building. The development of the remaining parcel is reserved for future determination. Later in the meeting, the council introduced the ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and Map to rezone the property for its first reading. IN OTHER BUSINESS – The council approved a bid for one 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 truck from Glynn Smith Chevrolet for the Opelika Fire Department in the amount of just under $43,400. – The council approved a bid for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of State Road 51 and Gateway Drive. The cost of the project is $228,746 and is 100% federally funded by Alabama Department of Transportation with the city being reimbursed. – The council approved expense reports from various departments. – The council authorized the mayor to designate city personal property surplus and authorize its disposal. – The council approved agreements with AVENU Insights & Analytics LLC for the Revenue Department. The purpose of these agreements is for the review of the remittance, processing, discovery and recovery services with respect to lodging taxes, sales and use taxes and rental taxes. – The council approved a Google Workspace Enterprise Agreement with CDW Government. The annual charge for the subscription based service is just under $106,000. – The council approved the purchase of one Altec AT40-G with Chassis and Unit Body using the Sourcewell Contract No. 062320-ALT for Opelika Power Services in the amount of $154,410. – The council voted to accept a grant from the Daniel Foundation of Alabama in the amount of $10,000 to help defray the cost of the Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen traveling exhibition that will be the Opelika Public Library next year. – The council voted to amend the Community Development Board Grant (CDBG) Program Year (PY) 2022 Action Plan. This amendment moves $37,000 from PY2022 to the PY2023 action plan budget to the Emergency Home Repairs Program. – The council approved certain tax abatements and exemptions for Golden State Foods Corp. The company has announced plans for an addition to its facility located at 4801 Northpark Drive in Opelika with a capital investment of approximately $2.6 million. – The council approved a project development agreement with Miele Manufacturing Inc. Read the article on A1 for more detailed information. – The council approved an employment contract with John Sweatman hiring him as the new director of the Economic Development department for the city of Opelika following the retirement of current Director Lori Hughley on Jan. 31, 2024. – The council approved an agreement with NRC Inc. for arborist services. Fees for the services of NRC Inc. shall not exceed $114,000 for each one-year period for a total contract amount not to exceed $456,000. – The council approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GBGC LLC doing business as Gulf Coast Gunbusters for the Opelika Police Department for disposal of seized or surrendered firearms as deemed necessary. No money will be exchanged or reimbursed as a result of the destruction of the firearms. – The council approved a resolution to establish compensation of the presiding municipal judge in the amount of $2,700 per month, municipal judge in the amount of $2,500 per month, assistant city prosecutors in the amount of $165 per hour for professional services and public defenders in the amount of $2,500 per month. – The resolution for the fiscal year 2024 annual appropriation contract with Arts Association of East Alabama remained tabled. – The council introduced an ordinance to amend Section 2-162 of the City Code of Ordinances: Relating to Order of Business and Citizen Communications for its first reading. According to the porposed ordinance some of the changes in the order of business and citizens comments would include three options: • Public hearings, prior to council vote (comments must be related to the topic of the public hearing) • Agenda-related public comments, prior to council vote. (Comments must be related to specific items on the meeting agenda.) • Second roster of public comments on non-agenda items, at the conclusion of the meeting. (Comments are limited to city business or issues which the city council would have authority to act if brought forth as an agenda item.) Other changes address the order, decorum and entry policies. All of the proposed changes can be found on the city website at www.opelika-al.gov.