Summary

Opelika City Council approves consent agenda, vacates portion of N 12th Street, tables hemp retailer license

OpelikaMar 17, 20262 min read

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At the March 17, 2026 regular meeting (6:01–6:27 PM) at 300 Martin Luther King Blvd, the Opelika City Council (Mayor and all council members present) adopted the agenda, approved prior minutes, approved the consent agenda (including alcohol licenses, downtown street closures, equipment and software purchases), approved a $500 special appropriation to Envision Opelika for the Worthy Squared 5K, approved vacating a portion of N 12th Street, approved a 2nd-reading annexation of 4.6 acres at 223 Lee Road, and tabled a specialty consumable hemp retailer license (Top Shelf Alternatives LLC) by 3–2. The meeting included mayoral financial and building reports and recognition of the March Citizen of Excellent Character.

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CB&E Development

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City Council

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TransportationBudget & TaxCommerceHousingUtilities

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Key decisions

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Adopted the March 17, 2026 meeting agenda (unanimous).
Approved minutes from the March 3, 2026 council meeting (unanimous).
Approved the consent agenda (unanimous), including: alcohol licenses for Tienda El Paraiso LLC and Opelika Auburn Films Arts Collective (DBA Boxcar); downtown street closures for Taste of the Town (04-28-26) and O-Grows Market (05-02-26); expense reports; designation of surplus property and disposal; purchase of 624 Toter 96 Gal Evr II carts (OES); approval of Pentera software (IT); professional services contract with KPS Group (PLAN); and acceptance of donated property for the Cunningham Dr. roundabout.
Approved Resolution No. 068-26: special appropriation of $500 to Envision Opelika for the Worthy Squared 5K (unanimous).
Tabled request for a specialty retailer license (Top Shelf Alternatives LLC — consumable hemp products) by a 3–2 vote.
Approved Resolution No. 069-26 to vacate a portion of N 12th Street (unanimous).
Approved Ordinance No. 011-26 (second reading) annexing 4.6 acres at 223 Lee Road (Janie Powers and John Morgan) (unanimous).

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Meeting information

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Opelika City Council Regular Meeting

Mar 17, 2026, 6:00 PM300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Opelika, AL 36801completed

Agenda

1. A CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
1. George Allen, Janataka Hughley-Holmes, Leigh Whatley, Chuck Beams, Todd Rauch
Decision: ROLL CALL
3. INVOCATION
1. Bill Jamison from the Church of the Highlands.
Decision: INVOCATION
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
1. Russell A. Jones, MMC - City Clerk.
Decision: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
1. Motion to Adopt the CM Agenda for 03-17-26.
Decision: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
6. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S)
1. Minutes from the 03-03-26 council meeting.
attachments=2
Decision: APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S)
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
8. MAYOR COMMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS
1. City's Financial Summary Report for February 2026.
attachments=1
Decision: MAYOR COMMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS
2. February 2026 Monthly Building Summary Report.
attachments=1
Decision: MAYOR COMMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS
3. Recognize Character Council Citizen of Excellent Character.
Decision: MAYOR COMMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
(Limit comments to 3 minutes or less)
1. Public Hearing - Request to Vacate a Portion of N 12th Street.
attachments=1
Decision: PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Public Hearing - Amend Zoning Ordinance & Map: 1550 and 1570 N Uniroyal Road, 12.5 Acres, from R-2 to C-2, GC-P.
attachments=1
Decision: PUBLIC HEARINGS
10. AGENDA-RELATED PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Limit comments to 3 minutes or less)
11. CONSENT AGENDA
1. General Business: Request Alcohol License - Tienda El Paraiso LLC, Retail Wine Off Premise and Retail Beer On Premise.
attachments=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
2. General Business: Request Alcohol License - Opelika Auburn Films Arts Collective DBA Boxcar, Retail Wine and Beer On and Off Premise.
attachments=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
3. General Business: Request Downtown Street Closure - Taste of the Town Event on 04-28-26.
attachments=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
4. General Business: Request Downtown Street Closure - O-Grows Market Event on 05-02-26.
attachments=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
5. Resolution: Expense Reports from Various Departments.
attachments=2
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
6. Resolution: Designate City Personal Property Surplus and Authorize Disposal.
attachments=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
7. Resolution: Purchase (624) Toter 96 Gal Evr II Carts - OES ($37,608).
attachments=2
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
8. Resolution: Approve Proposal for Pentera Software - IT ($81,053.84).
attachments=2
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
9. Resolution: Approve Professional Services Contract with KPS Group - PLAN ($85,400).
attachments=2
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
10. Resolution: Accept Donation of Property from CB&E Development Co. Inc. for Cunningham Dr. Roundabout - ENG.
attachments=3
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
11. Resolution: Approve Employment Contract with Patrick McCulloch - HR.
attachments=2
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
12. Resolution: Approve New Job Description for the Position of Public Safety Cadet - HR.
Resolution Approving and Adopting a New Job Description for the Position of Public Safety Cadet | attachments=2
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
13. Resolution: Special Appropriation to the Chamber of Commerce - 20 Under Forty ($1,250).
attachments=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
14. Resolution: Special Appropriation to Envision Opelika - Worthy Squared 5K ($500).
attachments=2
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
12. GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Request Specialty License - Top Shelf Alternatives LLC, Specialty Retailer Of Consumable Hemp Products.
attachments=1
Decision: GENERAL BUSINESS
13. AWARDING OF BIDS
14. RESOLUTIONS
1. Approve Request to Vacate a Portion of N 12th Street - PLAN.
attachments=3
Decision: RESOLUTIONS
15. ORDINANCES
1. Approve Annexation Petition by Janie Powers and John Morgan, 4.6 Acres, 223 Lee Road 799 - 2nd Reading.
attachments=3
Decision: ORDINANCES
2. Declare 601 Avenue A Surplus Property and Approve Conveyance - 2nd Reading.
attachments=1
Decision: ORDINANCES
3. Amend Zoning Ordinance & Map: 1550 and 1570 N Uniroyal Road, 12.5 Acres, from R-2 to C-2, GC-P - 1st Reading.
attachments=2
Decision: ORDINANCES
4. Amend Zoning Ordinance & Map: 4600 block Birmingham Hwy, 113.4 Acres, from R-2 to C-3, GC-P - 1st Reading.
attachments=2
Decision: ORDINANCES
5. Amend Zoning Ordinance & Map: 1500 block Century Blvd, 42.73 Acres, from R-3 to R-5 - 1st Reading.
attachments=3
Decision: ORDINANCES
6. Amend Zoning Ordinance & Map: 598 Dunlop Drive, 21.11 Acres, from R-1 to R-2 and R-3 - 1st Reading.
attachments=2
Decision: ORDINANCES
7. Amend Zoning Ordinance & Map: 3310 Society Hill Road, 6.59 Acres, from R-1 to C-2, GC-P - 1st Reading.
attachments=3
Decision: ORDINANCES
16. APPOINTMENTS
17. SECOND ROSTER OF PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Limit comments to 3 minutes or less)
18. ADJOURN
1. Character Trait of the Month - Compassion, a sympathetic consciousness of others distress with a desire to alleviate it.
Decision: ADJOURN
2. Motion to Adjourn.
Decision: ADJOURN