AUBURN, Ala.- The Auburn City Council took the following actions at its second meeting in March:

Authorized a grant agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has awarded the City of Auburn $45,154.86 through the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant. The grant will leverage budgeted funds for the H.C. Morgan Stream Restoration Project to fund additional improvements at the facility, including four bioretention cells at stormwater outfalls and the restoration of two acres of native forest. The City will also partner with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service to provide outreach through professional development workshops and tours at the facility. In total, the grant will provide 2,050 trees, two additional acres of native plants and 960 hours of professional development and tours.

Approved a conditional use for the Ridgecrest Bedell redevelopment project. The council approved a conditional use for institutional (community housing services and daycare) and office uses for the Ridgecrest Bedell redevelopment project. The project will redevelop the 106 units in the Auburn Housing Authority’s Ridgecrest property, originally constructed in 1971. A clubhouse will also be included, and the third phase of the project will add 70 senior housing units.

Approved a multi-unit development use on Bragg Avenue. The council approved a multi-unit development use for 152 Bragg Ave. The building will consist of first-floor commercial and four residential units with a total of 12 bedrooms.

The council also:

• Reopened the application period for two vacancies on the East Alabama Mental Health Board and postponed making those appointments until the April 18 meeting. The terms would begin immediately and end March 31, 2029. More information can be found at auburnalabama.org/boards for those interested.
• Approved the placement of four speed humps on Fairway Drive. The traffic calming was requested by local residents in accordance with the City’s Traffic Calming Policy as a means of slowing traffic on Fairway Drive. Of the 168 households in the affected area, 114 (67%) signed the petition in favor of implementing the traffic calming measures.

Meeting minutes and a video of the meeting will be posted at auburnalabama.org/agenda. Mayor Ron Anders’ recap of the meeting will be posted @CityofAuburnAL on social media. The next regular council meeting will be held on April 4, 2023, in the Council Chamber, located at 141 N. Ross St. in the Public Safety Building at the corner of Ross Street and Magnolia Avenue.