# City of Mobile City Council Meeting Oct 27, 2026

The October 27, 2026, City of Mobile City Council meeting focused heavily on a reported $14.7 million fraudulent payment intended for the city arena contractor, BL Harbert. City officials said a false vendor communication led to changes in payment-account information without adequate verification; the payment was made October 2 and discovered by the administration on October 16. The mayor said the city is cooperating with the FBI, Secret Service, and other reviewers, and is strengthening payment controls, including additional checks on large transactions. Council members discussed forming an advisory committee of local financial experts and scheduling finance committee meetings to review procedures and seek answers; no vote establishing the committee occurred at this meeting. Members raised concerns about the loss’s potential effect on the arena’s owner contingency and future projects, while noting that the 2027 budget remained intact. The council also heard public calls for transparency and accountability.

On other spending and procurement matters, the council approved a grant application and acceptance for construction of segment five of the Three Mile Creek Greenway Trail; purchase orders for biometric readers for the Mobile Cruise Terminal (ID Software) and annual software renewal and support (Environmental Systems Research Institute); and a contract with Osprey Initiative for litter-free education programming. It authorized contracts with Wesley Fontaine and Elaine Campbell for tennis lessons and clinics. A professional services contract with the Bloom Group was held over one week. Resolutions concerning tax increment financing districts were held over for further review, and the council approved scheduling related public hearings.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Information Technology, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Cybersecurity, Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 27, 2026

### Sources
- [City of Mobile City Council Meeting Oct 27, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Blf1KEJrIQ) - City of Mobile, AL