Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting - May 25, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting - May 25, 2023
The Huntsville City Council held its regular meeting on May 25, 2023, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. All five council members were present (Meredith, Robinson, Kling, Keith, Little). The meeting included presentations from United Cerebral Palsy and Thrive Alabama, four public hearings on zoning, numerous resolutions for land sales and contracts, and public comments. Key votes included approval of a lease for a Barracuda restaurant (4-1) and appointment of Patricia King to the Bingo Review Committee (4-1).
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the agenda (unanimous).
- Approval of minutes from May 11 and May 22, 2023 (unanimous).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mack Yates (Huntsville resident): Urged the council to pass an ordinance prohibiting clear-cutting on the slopes of Monte Sano, describing a recent clear-cut as a "big ugly scar" on the city's natural gem.
- Howard Ross (Huntsville resident): Raised two issues: 1) difficulty obtaining building permits for properties sold via land contract; 2) an unsafe building notice on a property he owns. City Attorney Trey Riley clarified that permits can only be issued to licensed contractors, not to owners of non-homesteaded rental properties. City staff offered to work with Mr. Ross.
- Andre Wilson (District 1 resident): Proposed creating a "Drone Port" and achieving 100% employment in Huntsville, advocating for modernization and investments to end homelessness and unemployment.
Presentations
- United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) – Cheryl Smith, CEO: Presented UCP's programs serving individuals with disabilities across 182 diagnoses. Highlighted a request for $47,000 to expand services to the Hispanic community, including a part-time interpreter. UCP's Tourism Alabama initiative has trained 25% of Huntsville hotels for sensory sensitivity. Councilmembers praised UCP's outreach.
- Thrive Alabama – Mary Elizabeth Marr, CEO: Updated on plans for a new health center (33–34 million project) to serve 22,000 patients. The city previously allocated $200,000/year for four years (second year underway). Ms. Marr noted difficulties raising $8 million to break ground, but stated the land at Oakwood and Washington Street is paid off and the project is 60% through architectural design.
Discussion Items
- Barracuda Restaurant Lease (Item 19A): Ordinance to lease a 0.2-acre city-owned lot at Cleveland Avenue and Meridian Street to Barracuda Restaurant, LLC for $17,500/year with 10% annual increases. The restaurant plans a walk-up, no-live-music concept. Councilmember Kling requested a two-week delay for neighborhood input, but his motion died for lack of a second. The lease passed 4-1 (Kling opposed). A resident from Old Town expressed concerns about noise from nearby venues but said the restaurant itself sounded fine.
- Blue Origin Land Sale (Item 20F): Resolution to sell 14.83 acres in Cummings Research Park to Blue Origin Alabama, LLC for $1,427,378.50. Proceeds reinvest in the research park. Passed unanimously.
- S&S North Development (Item 20G): Resolution to sell 11.55 acres in North Huntsville Industrial Park to S&S North Development, LLC for $404,250, to support a Toyota supplier expansion. Passed unanimously.
- Nextco Lease Modification (Item 20N): Resolution correcting errors in a prior lease modification for Huntsville City Football Club sponsorship payments. Passed unanimously.
- Homeless Outreach Software (Item 20O): Resolution to contract with Simtech Solutions, Inc. for an $8,100 annual license to track homeless individuals and services. Initial users: First Stop, Community Development, and HPD. Passed unanimously.
- Zoning Public Hearings (Items 9A-9D):
- 116.92 acres on Memorial Parkway rezoned from Light Industry to Highway Business C-4 and Neighborhood Business C-1 (passed 4-0, Kling absent for vote).
- 1.96 acres on Wall Triana Blvd zoned to Residence 2-A (passed unanimously).
- 3.44 acres on US Hwy 72 W zoned to Highway Business C-4 (passed unanimously).
- 7.29 acres on Bradford Drive rezoned from Research Park District to Research Park 2 (passed unanimously).
- Other Unfinished Business: Annexation of 1 acre on Taylor Lane (19B) and renaming a portion of Meridian Street to Lewters Way (19C) both passed unanimously.
- Mayor Battle Comments: Announced board appointments and reappointments; expressed concern over the U.S. Space Command selection process, stating Huntsville won the competition and the results should not be changed.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (unanimous): Consent agenda items (travel, donations, budget amendment, etc.), new business consent items (A-B, D-E, H-M, P-Q, S-U).
- Approved: Barracuda Restaurant lease (4-1, Kling nay).
- Approved: Blue Origin land sale (unanimous).
- Approved: S&S North Development land sale (unanimous).
- Approved: Nextco lease correction (unanimous).
- Approved: Homeless outreach software contract (unanimous).
- Approved: Bids resolution (Item 20C) for janitorial services and other contracts (unanimous).
- Approved: Publication date correction for South Memorial Parkway zoning hearing (unanimous).
- Approved: Appointment of Patricia King to Bingo Review Committee (4-1, Kling nay).
- Introduced: Ordinance amending fireworks code (Item 21A) – due back June 8, 2023.
- Referred: Nominations to reappoint Joanna White and appoint Briseida Ruelas for future meetings.
- Mayoral Appointments: Jeff Gronberg to Research Park Board; Dr. David Branham to Board of Zoning Adjustment; Randy Schrimsher to Von Braun Center Board of Control.
Meeting Transcript
Pay interest incurred for having the debt outstanding, so that that totals about 800 um thousand in change of interest savings, and then the price that you are paying the bonds off are at a discount to the stated par um that represents of the six point six million outstanding, you'll pay um a little less than five and a half, and so you'll get another million two in savings error relative to paying them off at par at their maturity date. Thank you. You're welcome. Mr. Mr. Keith. One is good news, but this is one lump sum, correct? Yeah, there's two maturities, one lump sum payment. Uh got thank you. You're welcome. So I if I understand correctly, it's about a two million dollar savings uh of taxpayer money. Yeah, over the life of the bonds. Over the life of the bonds, and then in addition to that, we are reducing our debt level. You're paying down your debt. Yep. Uh by six million some dollars. Uh all good news. Is there any any reason we shouldn't do this? None that I can think of. That all sounds good to me. All right. Very good. Any other questions? Any other discussion? All in favor, please indicate by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Very good. The motion carries the resolution is approved. Go by those bonds. And uh there is no other business to come before the council in this special session. So we are adjourned. We're all we're off, but point out that we did that in less than four minutes. I told you. It could be a new record. Right, it is 5 30 on May 25th of 2023, and we are meeting in the City Council Chambers of Huntsville, Alabama. Thanks to all of you that are here with us tonight, as well as those watching online. Please note for the record that all council members, with the exception of Bill Kling, are in attendance. And we are convening this session of the Huntsville City Council, and the meeting will be called to order. We will begin our meeting with an invocation led by Imam Rajib Abdul Moninium with the Huntsville Islamic Center that will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember David Little. Please stand for the invocation and pledge. Imam, yes. Our Almighty God. Thank you for all generous blessing that you bestowed upon us. We'll ask for your blessing to bless all of our life, our health, and our wealth, our families. We ask for your guidance to guide us to the truth, to guide us to the do to do the right thing, and to make the right decision, and to help our leaders to make the right decision and to make the meaningful discussion. We'll ask for your guidance and your protection to protect all of us from all kind of trials and tribulations, all kind of tribulation and difficulty. We'll ask you to make it easy for us and open the gates of mercy and forgiveness, and to bring all of us together to work in peace, love, coherence, and cohesiveness. I mean, I mean please face the flag.
openpublica.com