Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting - February 8, 2024
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Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting - February 8, 2024
The Huntsville City Council held its regular meeting on February 8, 2024, at 5:30 PM in City Council Chambers. All five council members were present. The meeting covered a range of topics including a withdrawn sustainability commission ordinance, a major redevelopment plan for Mill Creek, a naming controversy for a disc golf course, and public comments on environmental and transportation issues.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of January 25, 2024 Regular and Special Session meetings.
- Set a public hearing for March 28, 2024 on rezoning 3.66 acres west of US 431 S Hwy and south of Miller Lane to Highway Business C-4 District (Resolution 24-57, Ordinance 24-58). Vote: 5-0.
- Approved expenditures for payment totaling $21,435,430 (Resolution 24-59). Vote: 5-0.
- Approved three ordinances vacating utility and drainage easements (Ordinances 24-60, 24-61, 24-62). Votes: 5-0 each.
- Approved amendments to Classification and Salary Plan Ordinance and Budget Ordinance No. 23-762 (Ordinances 24-55, 24-56). Votes: 5-0 each.
- Approved consent agenda for New Business items 20a-d, f-l, n-o, r-t (including travel expenses, low bidder agreements, donations, budget amendments, Airport Authority MOU, Art Museum HVAC renovation, Water Pollution control courses, Research Park Board appointment for Steven Simpson, digital billboard services, salary adjustments, lawsuit settlement, Father's Day Festival agreement, and special employee agreement). Votes: 5-0 each.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joy Johnson (West Arbor Drive) urged the city to support biodiversity by creating pollinator gardens, reducing mowing, ending wetland building, and investing in public transit and bike lanes to reduce carbon emissions. She questioned whether the new city hall will use solar panels.
- Dario Gonzalez (305 Lincoln Street) expressed concern that changes to the Big Picture Plan's bike lane proposals for Pratt Avenue were made without consultation from the Mayor's Bicycle and Safety Committee (BASQUE). He urged the city to maintain commitment to bicycle networks.
Discussion Items
- Withdrawal of Sustainability Commission Ordinance (Item 19a): Councilmember Meredith withdrew his ordinance to establish the Huntsville Sustainability Commission, stating that the attachment provided to council and public was outdated. He plans to introduce an updated version at the February 22, 2024 meeting, with a goal of approval on March 14, 2024.
- Pratt Avenue Bike Lanes: Councilmember Kling raised constituent concerns about bicycle lane plans on Pratt Avenue. Director of Urban Economic Development Shane Davis explained that adding dedicated bike lanes would require costly curb relocations or narrowing travel lanes to 9.5 feet, which is unsafe. Instead, the city is pursuing alternative parallel routes (e.g., Ward Street) to improve bike connectivity without impacting residents or businesses. A pedestrian crossing at Shifman is planned. Councilmember Kling also inquired about cut-through traffic on White Street and the redevelopment of the Nugent property on Holmes Avenue; Davis committed to follow up.
- Mill Creek Choice Neighborhood Initiative (MOU 24-76): A detailed presentation was given on a Memorandum of Understanding between the city, Huntsville Housing Authority (HHA), and developer McCormack Baron Salazar (MBS) to support a $50 million HUD grant application for the Mill Creek area. Key points: MBS has completed 47 Choice Neighborhood/HOPE VI projects and 16 CNI grants, more than any other developer. The plan includes 580 units (one-for-one replacement, 80% AMI, market-rate), a senior building, universal design building, and a Huntsville Hospital-supported medical workforce housing building. The MOU is non-binding; a formal development agreement will come to council if the grant is awarded in November 2024. Councilmembers expressed strong support, with calls for joint meetings with HHA and the school board. Vote: 5-0.
- Naming of Disc Golf Course (Item 21a): Councilmember Kling introduced an ordinance to name the disc golf course at Brahan Spring Park as "The Tom Monroe Disc Golf Course at Brahan Spring." A discussion ensued about the lack of a formal naming process for public facilities. Councilmembers Keith and Meredith argued that only one councilmember knew of the opportunity, and a community process (like for the Shurney Center) should be established. Mayor Battle and City Administrator Hamilton defended the current approach where councilmembers use their judgment and consult with their communities. The ordinance was introduced and will return for action on February 22, 2024.
Key Outcomes
- Sustainability Commission ordinance withdrawn; updated version to be introduced February 22, 2024.
- Mill Creek CNI MOU approved unanimously (5-0), authorizing the mayor to sign the MOU and proceed with the grant application.
- Public hearing set for March 28, 2024 on zoning change for 3.66 acres on US 431.
- Mayor made appointments to the Huntsville Music Board (Danny Davis, Kelvin Wooten, Jim Page, Kim Tibbs) and Huntsville Tennis Center Board (Lynn Dingo, Lisa Strickland). Steven Simpson was nominated to Research Park Board (confirmed via consent agenda).
- Councilmember Keith announced he will present a resolution at the next meeting regarding the first corner office at new city hall for District 1.
- Councilmember Meredith announced a district-wide town hall on March 12, 2024 at 6 PM at the Orion Amphitheater.
- Councilmember Meredith noted there is no public Wi-Fi in District 5, but a future rec center on Martin Road will include such service.
- Public comments noted concerns on environmental sustainability and bike lane planning; staff responded that bike lane plans for Pratt were never approved and alternative routes are being pursued.
Meeting Transcript
It is 5 30, February 8th, 2024, and we are meeting in the City Council Chambers of Huntsville, Alabama. And all council members are present. Welcome everyone here who is with us in person and those also watching online. We are convening this session of the Huntsville City Council. Um, and it will be now called to order. And we'll begin with a moment of silence, followed by a pledge of allegiance led by Dr. Robinson. So please stand as you're able. Thank you, Dr. Robinson. To the Republic for We just stands. Under God. Thank you, Dr. Robinson. Council members, you have the agenda before you for this regular meeting of the City Council on February 8th, 2024. Are there any additions or deletions to be made to the agenda? Mr. President. Yes, sir, Mr. Meredith. At this time, as a sponsor of the item, I would like to withdraw 19A with the explicit understanding that I will introduce an updated sustainability commission ordinance that will be published under an item 21 designation at our next regular meeting of the city council on February 22nd. By taking this action now, the need to have multiple primary as well as secondary amendments to and time consuming debate on the mayor's original submission to the council can be avoided in a clean, more palatable version that incorporates the sentiments of my colleagues expressed from the dais in prior meetings as well as the voices of not only district five residents but advocates throughout the city who have contacted me on this issue can be debated and hopefully approved at our meeting on March 14th. Thank you, Mr. Meredith. Is noted that uh item 19A has been withdrawn. Uh if anybody does anybody else have anything on the agenda? All in favor say aye. Any opposed say nay. Uh the agenda stands approved and accepted. Uh council members, you also have a copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Huntsville City Council held on January 25th, 2024. Are there any changes or additions to be made to the minutes that you have received? Hearing none, those will stand as approved. You also have a copy of the minutes of the special session meeting of the Huntsville City Council that was also held on January 25th. Are there any changes or additions to be made to those minutes? Hearing none, those stand approved. No public hearings to be held. That brings us to public hearings to be set. Item 10A is a resolution to set a public hearing on the zoning of 3.66 acres of land lying on the west side of U.S. 431 South Highway and south of Miller Lane to Highway Business C4 District and the introduction of an ordinance pertaining to the same. This will be set for March 20 the March 28th regular council meeting. Move to set the hearing for March 28th. Section motion by Dr. Robinson to set the meeting and second by Mr. Kling. And that brings us from all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed say no. We're going so fast. And uh we have no communications from the public. And now we will go to communications from the mayor.
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