The Mobile City Council voted this week to authorize an $85,000 agreement with ACP Greene & Associates, LLC — operating as Planning Next — to lead community engagement for the Three Mile Greenway Trail, a planned 13-mile recreational corridor through the city. The measure was sponsored by Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Vince Calmetti, who oversees the city’s major projects.
Under the contract, Calmetti’s office will take the lead on publicizing the project, with the $85,000 covering outreach for the entire 13-mile route rather than a single segment.
“I or my staff will be doing all of the outreach for assistance on brochures, planning meetings and the public meetings,” Calmetti said.
Council Vice President Levon Manzie said he backed the agreement because of the benefit he expects the trail to bring to residents across Mobile.
“I think this Three Mile Greenway is going to be a great recreational amenity for thousands upon thousands of our citizens,” Manzie said. “This contract will (have us) work with them on the outreach, making sure citizens understand about what’s going on throughout the process of building the entire 13-mile route; so I supported the contract because it’s paramount that citizens are engaged, informed and are able to offer their commentary and opinions so there’s not a vision of seven of us (on the council) and the mayor, but something that all citizens can buy into.”
Manzie added that he hopes to see the pace of engagement pick up once the contract is finalized.
“I’m hopeful that we can get this done as quickly as possible,” he said. “As soon as we get the contract done and consummated by both parties, I’m hopeful that the engagement process will be strengthened and there’ll be stronger and regular engagement of the whole trail so that citizens throughout the city feel ownership of what will be the Three Mile Greenway Initiative.”
Greenway and trail projects like this one are often pitched by cities as a way to expand recreational access, encourage walking and biking, and connect neighborhoods that might otherwise be separated by roads or waterways, while also raising property values and drawing visitors to nearby businesses. The Three Mile Greenway has been discussed in Mobile for years as part of a broader vision for connected trails linking downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, and the community engagement contract is intended to make sure residents have a voice in how the final 13-mile route and its amenities take shape.
Council members also acted Tuesday on five resolutions held over from the previous week’s meeting. They authorized an agreement with Emerald Coast Utilities Authority for the acceptance and processing of source-separated recyclables, at an estimated cost of $45,000 a year. Two additional resolutions approved contracts with Best Price Services, LLC, for right-of-way mowing services — $37,800 for Springhill Avenue and $40,500 for Dauphin Island Parkway.
The council also authorized a three-year, $35,502 contract with Johnson Controls, Inc., for preventative maintenance and service of the HVAC Direct Digital Controls system at the History Museum of Mobile. In a final action, members approved a $20,000 invoice payment to the Southern Tennis Association, Inc.