Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting - January 26, 2023
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Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting - January 26, 2023
The Huntsville City Council held its regular meeting on January 26, 2023, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included recognitions, public hearings, multiple contract approvals, and discussions on parks and transportation. Councilmember Bill Kling was absent. All votes were unanimous (4-0) unless noted.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the agenda and minutes of the January 12, 2023 meeting.
- Approved the following resolutions in a single consent motion (items 20A through 20L, 20N, 20Q through 20Y): travel expenses, donations acceptance, low bidder agreements, cybersecurity framework review with Mauldin & Jenkins, Rebuild Alabama Act compliance, amendment to Tyler Technologies agreement, on-call services with Barge Design Solutions (economic development), Tetra Tech (SCADA), Garver (sanitary sewer rehab), MOU with Madison County for paving Autumn Branch Drive/Capshaw Road/Jordan Road, change order for Merrimack Soccer Complex Phase 2, agreement with Madison County Veterans Memorial Foundation for flag addition, agreement with CDG Inc. for Hays Farm Sports Park testing, agreement with Mobile Communications America for radio maintenance, SMART grant application for Bob Wallace Ave corridor, Capital Investment Grants-Small Starts application for University-Medical BRT, monument repairs at Maple Hill and Glenwood Cemeteries, installation of public safety sensors with ALDOT, and special employee agreements with Richard Yoder and Rebecca Sullivan.
- Approved finance committee expenditure resolution (Resolution No. 23-45) for $24,742,650.66.
- Reappointed Doug Martinson to the Huntsville Public Library Board (term to February 2027) and appointed Collin Keller to the Animal Services Advisory Committee (term to September 2025).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jamie Miernik (1010 Holmes Ave, Huntsville) spoke in favor of Resolution 23-67, the SMART grant application for the Bob Wallace corridor, citing successful bike lane projects on Clinton and Oakwood and improved traffic safety on Oakwood after lane reduction.
- Mark Richardson (Madison, AL) objected to a $283.53 assessment for grass cutting on his Huntsville property, stating he received the notice on November 3, 2023 (the final date to comply) and could not cut before the city crew acted. The council acknowledged the concern but noted the violation was valid and the owner had time to act; the resolution was approved.
- Carmen Meyers (Millvale Drive) thanked the city for bike lane improvements on Oakwood and urged continued expansion of bike infrastructure for transportation, not just recreation.
- Tris Emmy Wilson (5017 Requis Court) also praised Oakwood bike lane improvements but expressed concern about Resolution 20W authorizing automated license plate readers (ALPR cameras) without a published HPD policy on data use and retention.
Discussion Items
- Resolution honoring Coach Thomas Owen (6A): Councilmember Little presented the resolution celebrating Coach Owen's legacy. His widow and former players attended. Approved unanimously.
- Personnel hearing for Queron Wherry (8A): Councilmember Robinson moved to postpone the decision to the February 9, 2023 meeting because Councilmember Kling was absent. Approved unanimously.
- Public hearing on rezoning (9A): 24.86 acres west of County Line Rd and north of Old Hwy 20 rezoned from Commercial Industrial Park to Highway Business C-4, with a plat restriction prohibiting multifamily dwellings on a 500-foot frontage parcel. No public comments; approved.
- Public hearing on grass cutting assessments (9B): City staff assessed 23 properties totaling $7,819; 17 had non-local owners. Mark Richardson's objection discussed. Councilmember Keith asked for future reports to include owner location breakdown. Approved.
- 20M – Sandra Moon Community Complex Phase 3: City Administrator John Hamilton presented a $3.3 million contract with Lambert Contracting LLC (270-day completion). Work includes a new playground (partnered with County Commissioner Phil Riddick, $180,000 contribution), internal street, parking, lighting, and stormwater management. Councilmember Robinson requested sidewalks along the road; Hamilton confirmed pedestrian infrastructure included. Approved unanimously.
- 20O – Hays Farm Sports Park: $2.4 million fixed-price contract with Chorba Contracting Corporation for two lighted soccer fields, parking, pavilion, and restrooms. The project stems from a 2013 land swap agreement with the school system and John Hayes. Hamilton noted the fields are multi-purpose and will serve Grissom High School via a tunnel under Haysland Road. Robinson highlighted the restroom pavilion as a community need. Councilmember Keith emphasized equitable park distribution across the city. Approved unanimously.
- 20P – Calvary Hill Envision Center change order: Change Order 1 and Final to close out the project, returning $10,000 to the city due to unused allowances. Construction nearly complete. Approved unanimously.
- Introduction of ordinances: Two ordinances were introduced for future consideration: (21A) amending Chapter 22 on commercial solid waste collection practices, and (21B) amending the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual regarding use of city vehicles and the longevity banquet.
Key Outcomes
- All votes were unanimous (4-0) with Councilmember Kling absent.
- The personnel hearing for Queron Wherry was postponed to February 9, 2023.
- The rezoning, grass-cutting assessments, annexation, surplus equipment auction, and all new business items were approved.
- Nominations for Beautification Board (Keith Buckman) and Wellstone Inc. (Dr. Annie Saylor) were referred to the February 9 meeting.
- Two ordinances were introduced and will be back for action on February 9, 2023.
- Councilmember Robinson announced upcoming events: quarterly town hall on homelessness (Jan 30 at Sandra Moon Complex), spring cleanup (March 11), and council president's forum on Human Relations Commission (Feb 7).
- Councilmember Meredith noted town halls in Providence (Feb 21) and at Williams Middle School (March).
Meeting Transcript
All right, it is 5 30 p.m. on January the 26th of 2023, and we are meeting in the City Council Chambers of Huntsville, Alabama. Thanks to all of you who are with us and also to those watching online. Please note for the record that all council members, with the exception of Councilman Kling are in attendance. We are convening this session of the Huntsville City Council, and the meeting will be called to order. We will begin our meeting tonight with an invocation led by Minister Laverne Spearman of the Body of Christ Ministries. That will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mr. Martin McDonald with the Boy Scouts of America Troops 70 at the First Presbyterian Church. Please stand for the invocation and pledge. Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you, Father, because this for all of us is a day we've never seen before. Some of us father have seen more than others, but this day, none of us have ever seen before. We pray, Father, that your presence will fill the atmosphere of this chamber. Lord, with your wisdom, your knowledge as we come as leaders of this city to discuss and to deliberate and approve business of our city. Look up every department head, Father, every worker. Lift him up, President Joe Biden and his family, and his wife Jill in the presidency, our vice president Cameron Harris and her family, and our husband Doug Emphoff, our Congress father. Below up every representative and their families. Every senator, Lord, and their families. Our Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and his family. Father Governor Ivy and her family. Follow our schools, our assistant school superintendent, Board of Education, Lord, colleges and universities and professors that you obey the atmosphere of every school, campus, father, each and every day with your presence. Lord, we pray for our military, every soldier, Lord, around the world. We lift them up to unite and pray your protection over them. And Lord, we love you and we bless you, and we give you all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise. We pray in a name that's above every name, the name of Jesus, the Christ, our Lord and our Savior. And everybody said Amen. Thank you, Minister Spearman, Mr. McDonald. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Two. Thank you, Mr. McDonald. Thank you all. Council members, you have the agenda before you for this regular meeting of the City Council on January 26, 2023. I'd like to point out that tonight we will be taking items 6A and 8A out of order, and items 18A and 20U have been deleted. Are there any other changes or additions to be made to the agenda? If there is a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Some move. Motion by Dr. Robinson. Second. Second by uh Mr. Little. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed say nay. Hearing none, this agenda will stand approved and accepted as presented. Council members, you have a copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Huntsville City Council held on January 12th, 2023 before you. Are there any changes or additions to be made to the minutes that you have received?
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