Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting – November 16, 2023
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Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting – November 16, 2023
The Huntsville City Council met on November 16, 2023, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included recognitions, public hearings, multiple ordinance and resolution approvals, and discussions on road naming, a hotel development, affordable senior housing, and a parking deck repair contract. All votes were unanimous except for one abstention.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Agenda and Minutes – Unanimous approval of the agenda and the minutes from the November 2, 2023 meeting.
- Resolution honoring Mae Jemison Jr. Jaguars football team (Resolution No. 23-946) – Unanimously approved (5-0) after a presentation by Councilmember Keith.
- Public Hearings – Three zoning/re-zoning ordinances were approved unanimously after public hearings were held and closed with no public comment:
- Zoning of 9.83 acres on US Hwy 72 W to Highway Business C-4 (Ordinance No. 23-832)
- Rezoning of 64.68 acres on Liberty Hill Road to Planned Industrial District (Ordinance No. 23-834)
- Rezoning of 0.50 acres on Governors Drive to General Business C-3 (Ordinance No. 23-836)
- Public Hearing Setting – Two resolutions setting public hearings for December 7 and December 21, 2023, were approved.
- Finance Committee Report – Expenditures totaling $31,589,726.38 were authorized (Resolution No. 23-951).
- Board Appointment – Alvie Garrett appointed to the Huntsville Tennis Center Board of Control (Resolution No. 23-952).
- Legal Department – Vacation of Right-of-Way – Resolution and ordinance vacating a right-of-way along Hagey Drive were approved (Resolution No. 23-828, Ordinance No. 23-829).
- New Business Items (en bloc approval) – The following items were approved in one motion (20A–20D, 20G–20L, 20O–20Z): travel expenses, actuarial services, billing agreement with Huntsville Electric Utility, Walmart opioid settlement commitment, wastewater master plan, construction testing for Northern Bypass, engineering agreement for Northern Bypass, USGS water resources joint funding, John Hunt Park Tennis Center expansion, temporary construction easement for Hays Farm office building, HOME funds for affordable housing at 6211 Hollow Road, modification of CDBG-CV agreement with First Stop, MOU with Oakwood University, residential street resurfacing contract, letters of credit for Bluffs at Inspiration and Inspiration on Green Mountain subdivisions, lawsuit settlement (Alexandria Clark v. City of Huntsville), and special employee agreements with Larry Hamilton, Roosevelt Daffin, and Derrick Woodruff.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joy Johnson (West Arbor Drive, District 1) – Opposed item 20L (temporary easement with Brasfield & Gorrie) because the company is a major underwriter of the “Cop City” development in Atlanta. She stated the city should not do business with them.
Discussion Items
- Naming of Steve Ivey Drive SW (Ordinance No. 23-943) – Councilmember Keith expressed concern about the lack of a formal process for naming streets and buildings, and that the pool of nominees often lacks diversity. He supported the naming but urged the administration to develop a transparent process for future naming opportunities. Councilmember Meredith requested a written policy. Mayor Battle and Staff explained that the road naming is part of the John Hunt Park master plan, with previous council actions naming streets after individuals who contributed to the park. The ordinance passed 4-0-1, with Councilmember Meredith abstaining.
- Police Citizens Advisory Council Ordinance (Ordinance No. 23-944) – Councilmember Robinson asked about amendments. City Attorney Trey Riley explained the changes: meeting frequency changed to quarterly (with chair discretion for additional meetings) and training requirements were clarified. The ordinance was approved unanimously.
- Joe Davis Hotel Development (Resolution No. 23-958) – Director of Urban Development Shane Davis presented a ground lease and development agreement with BREG HSV, LLC for a dual-branded Hilton hotel (minimum 200 rooms) on 4.09 acres adjacent to Joe Davis Stadium. Lease terms: 25 years with two 25-year renewal options, annual payment of $100,000 with 3% escalation every five years, proceeds to fund John Hunt Park. City retains design control. Construction must start within 12 months and be open by March 31, 2026. Councilmember Robinson noted the hotel will support sports tourism. The resolution was unanimously approved.
- Clinton Avenue Parking Deck Repair (Resolution No. 23-965) – Director of General Services Ricky Wilkinson explained the design contract with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates for $33,650 to repair spalling concrete. Work will be scheduled after the new parking deck opens to minimize disruption. Unanimously approved.
- Affordable Senior Housing – Arbours at Moores Mill (Resolution No. 23-966) – Community Development Director Scott Erwin presented an 80-unit senior (62+) affordable rental development near Winchester Road and Moores Mill. The city will provide $420,000 in HOME funds. The project is a $27 million private development. Councilmember Kling asked about using housing vouchers instead; Erwin explained the market analysis supported the need. Councilmember Robinson noted Clarkson Square (a similar project) filled quickly. Unanimously approved.
Key Outcomes
- Naming of Steve Ivey Drive SW – Approved 4-0-1 (Meredith abstained). Council requested the administration develop a formal policy for naming streets and city assets.
- Police Citizens Advisory Council amendments – Approved unanimously; meetings now quarterly.
- Joe Davis Hotel Development – Approved unanimously; ground lease and development agreement executed.
- Clinton Avenue Parking Deck repair design contract – Approved unanimously.
- Arbours at Moores Mill senior housing – Approved unanimously; $420,000 HOME loan committed.
- Introduction of Ordinance to name Becky Peirce Drive SW – Introduced; due back for action on December 7, 2023.
Additional Notes
- Mayor Battle presented a $20,000 check from State Representative Laura Hall for swim lessons for children on reduced/free lunch.
- The council recognized former Mayor Loretta Spencer with the official naming of the Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex.
- Councilmembers noted the passing of community leaders Dr. Mary Jane Kaler, former Sheriff Blake Dorning, and Billy Webster.
- Upcoming holiday events were announced: ice skating, Galaxy of Lights, Tensor Trail lighting, and various district holiday activities.
Meeting Transcript
2023 is 5:30. We are convening this session of the Huntsville City Council, and the meeting will be called to order. And we will begin our meeting tonight, I believe, with a moment of silence, and then we'll be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Kling. So please stand as you're able for a moment of silence. Thank you, uh Mr. Kling. Please face the flag. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible of liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Kling. Council members, you have the agenda before you for this regular meeting of the city council. Are there any additions or deletions to be made? Hearing none, the chair makes a motion to accept. All those in favor say aye. Second. Any opposed say nay. All right, hearing none, the agenda stands approved. And also you have a copy of the minutes from our regular meeting held on November 2nd, 2023 before you. Does anybody have any changes to be made to the minutes that you have received? Hearing none, those minutes will stand approved. And is Representative Hall here? Okay. Um so this'll bring us to a special council recon rec uh our special recognitions and resolutions. We have two tonight. The first is 6A. It's a presentation honoring Loretta Spencer and recognizing the official naming of the Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, uh Council members will recall that uh we had unanimously passed the uh the resolution uh that we're going to be presenting tonight. And uh I think Mayor Spencer has been out and to enough council meetings, and she knows that when something's passed unanimously by the mayor and the council that uh that's pretty special. So that tells you what we think think of you. Uh Mayor Spencer, very briefly, Mr. President served as mayor of the city of Huntsville for twelve years, uh, had a lot of great things that took place during her years. Huntsville began and started the uh tax increment financing plans that located in in the TIFFs that we have. Uh it started uh provided funds for the uh city school system, and certainly those uh tips and the success of them has continued under uh Mayor uh Battle's years also. Uh she did numerous things to uh really get Huntsville rolling, uh started the um efforts to uh create that the embassy sweets hotel downtown, the bridge street town center, the Toyota V8 engine plant, and the target distribution center. And uh it's my pleasure, and I can I borrow the microphone or uh Mayor Spencer, it's it's my pleasure on behalf of uh the mayor and the city council to present you with a resolution uh honoring you and for the name of the Loretta Spencer Soccer Complex. And that's because you had so much to do with creating the Sports Commission. You love youth sports, and there are gonna be a lot of great events taking place there, and they're gonna be honoring you and what you meant to the city of Huntsville. You don't do things without a team, and there was a team that worked on this with me very hard, and they said we went to the state, and the state said, can you be ready in less than a year? And we I looked at the guys and they said, Can we be ready? I said they said, can we go to Auburn and learn how to do grass? And they did, they put the best feels down. So you gotta have your state, you gotta have your employees. You have to say thank you because you do everything as a team in order to make them accomplish. So thank you.
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