"Last call" on City Council agenda, sales tax increase tabled

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Back in September, the Mobile City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting bars from allowing anyone inside who is under 21. Now, a second ordinance is back on the agenda.

Absent from today's agenda is the mayor's one-cent sales tax increase which has been held over for discussion for a week. Today's alcohol ordinance would set the last call for alcohol at 2 a.m.

"Last year, there was a lot of activity with teenagers downtown and along Dauphin Street. A lot of activity with guns, shootings, and fights," said City Councilman William Carroll.

Right now, there is no set time for last call. However, Carroll said the new ordinance may not be needed because there has been progress since the first ordinance was approved.

"With what's been done with the age that's downtown and the atmosphere, I think some consideration can be given to leave the bars open," Carroll said.

Carroll said he expects a vote tomorrow.

"Being that I had a lot of input in the structure of the ordinances, I could live knowing the 21 and older portion of it has brought a lot of structure to downtown," Carroll said.

Carroll said he feels if "last call" fails, it could be brought up again down the road.

FOX10 News Reporter Chasity Byrd is at the meeting today and will have an update how the vote went on FOX10 News tonight.