Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting – February 22, 2024

The Huntsville City Council met on February 22, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers for a regular meeting. All councilmembers were present except Jennie Robinson (ill). Mayor Tommy Battle, City Administrator John Hamilton, and other officials were in attendance. The meeting included recognitions, presentations, public hearings, discussion of winter weather response, and approval of numerous resolutions and ordinances.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from February 8, 2024, meeting.
• Resolution authorizing expenditures for payment (Resolution 24-90) – $27,784,097.61 approved.
• New Business items for consideration (items 20a-20d, 20f-20ak) approved en bloc, including travel expenses, donations, contract exemptions, bid awards, reappointments (except item 20e held separately), engineering modifications, leases, grants, letters of credit, facility use agreements, and special employee agreements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Frances Akridge (2002 Rogers Drive) spoke during agenda-related public comments. She urged a "no" vote on reappointing members to the Board of Zoning Adjustments (item 20e) and a "yes" vote on creating a sustainability commission (item 21d). She criticized the city's sustainability efforts and called for expert appointments.
• Joy Johnson (West Arbor Drive) spoke during second roster public comments, supporting the sustainability commission and reading a poem about environmental urgency.

Discussion Items

• Employee Incentive Award: Mayor Battle and City Attorney Trey Riley recognized Blair Dawkins for implementing a settlement docket that saved officer court time, handling approximately 3,728 DUI cases over two years, with 3,385 settled, reducing court hours and improving officer quality of life.
• Resolutions Honoring Winter Weather Response: Councilmember Meredith presented resolutions honoring Public Works (24-85) and first responders/fleet services (24-133 or 23-133) for their efforts during the January 2024 winter storm. Both passed unanimously.
• Ordinance Naming Disc Golf Course: Ordinance 24-84 named the disc golf course at Brahan Spring Park as "The Tom Monroe Disc Golf Course at Brahan Spring" in honor of the late disc golf champion. Passed unanimously.
• Presentations:
  • Global Ties Alabama (Jacqui Shipe): Updated on citizen diplomacy and refugee resettlement; received congratulations and pledge of District 5 funds from Councilmember Meredith.
  • New Futures, Inc. (Tonya Rains): Reported sheltering 56 families (83 adults, 123 children) in 2023, providing case management and transitional housing; received commitment from Councilmember Keith for further discussion on funding.
  • Wellstone (Jeremy Blair): Reported 1,400 evaluations at crisis center, 94% admission rate, 581 co-responder calls with HPD, and progress on 24-bed pediatric crisis unit expected operational fall 2024.
  • Winter Weather Response Review (John Hamilton and Kelly Schrimsher): Detailed analysis of January 2024 weather event, including equipment limitations (5 vehicles, 2 motor graders, 3 dump trucks with attachments), use of 400 tons of rock/sand and 85,000 lbs of salt, and communication efforts (66 text/email alerts, Facebook reach up to 440,000). Lessons learned included need for more smaller plows/spreaders (estimated $250,000 for 10-12 units), better centralized response, and inclusion of council in communication. Councilmember Meredith requested a task force; Councilmember Keith noted disparity in overtime pay for workers.
• Public Hearings:
  • Demolition of 3603 Drake Ave. SW (Resolution 24-86): Property owner Joseph Nuri’s attorney requested continuance due to inability to inspect property. Council denied, noting 44 prior notices and 13 years without utilities. Approved unanimously.
  • Demolition of 2106 Triana Blvd. SW (Resolution 24-87): Former hair salon damaged by fire; owner out of country. Approved unanimously.
  • Grass/weed lien assessments (Resolution 24-88): Two properties totaling $556.38. Approved unanimously.
• Public Hearing to Set: Resolution 24-89 declared 2206 Hill St. NW a public nuisance and set hearing for March 14, 2024. Approved.
• Finance Committee Report: Penny Smith presented first quarter FY2024 financials. Sales tax up 4.9% over prior year, property tax up 20%, lodging tax up 5.3% but slowing. Personnel spending at 22% of budget, overall spending 5% below budget. Discussed potential impacts of federal government shutdown and state legislation.
• Huntsville Utilities Item: Resolution 24-91 authorized an EV charging station at 309 Pelham Ave. SW. Approved.
• New Business Introduction:
  • Ordinance 24-129: Declaring surplus property.
  • Ordinance 24-130: Annexing 12.41 acres on Old Hwy 431 and Wade Rd.
  • Ordinance 24-131: Surplus property donation to Huntsville Area Crime Stoppers.
  • Ordinance 24-132: Establishing the Huntsville Sustainability Commission. All introduced for final action on March 14, 2024.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items and public hearing resolutions were approved unanimously (4-0, with Robinson absent).
• Resolution 24-96 reappointing Kimberly Ford, Wendy Lee, John M. Ozier, and Bert Peake to the Board of Zoning Adjustments passed 4-0 after discussion, with some councilmembers expressing desire for term limits and fresh appointments.
• The council committed to increasing winter weather equipment (10-12 smaller plows/spreaders) and improving internal and external communications for future events.
• A winter weather task force was discussed but existing department structure noted; Councilmember Meredith offered to participate.
• Ordinance 24-132 (Sustainability Commission) was introduced and will be voted on March 14.
• Councilmembers provided updates on district activities, including Meals on Wheels expansion, town hall meetings, and historic marker ceremonies.