Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting – May 23, 2024
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Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting – May 23, 2024
The Huntsville City Council held its regular meeting on May 23, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the newly opened City Council chambers. All five council members were present (Jennie Robinson joined after the meeting began). The meeting included special recognitions, multiple public hearings on zoning and code amendments, approval of a $27.7 million expenditure package, and a second public comment period where speakers addressed library policies, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and local concerns.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the agenda, minutes of the May 9, 2024 meeting, and a resolution authorizing expenditures for payment in the amount of $27,743,631.47 (Resolution 24-357).
- Approved a consent agenda (Items 20a through 20l) including travel expenses, change orders for Von Braun Center renovations, contracts for Martin Road Recreation Center and John Hunt Park public restrooms, and special employee agreements.
- Approved routine public hearings: weed/grass abatement for 21 properties ($6,304.78 total) and junk nuisance cleanup at 2206 Hill St NW ($2,298.34).
- Approved vacation of utility and drainage easements for Village of Providence and Buck Island Commercial Park.
- Approved amendments to the Classification and Salary Plan and the Budget Ordinance to modify department authorized strength.
Public Comments & Testimony
Agenda-Related Public Comments – None.
Second Roster Public Comments (10 speakers):
- Kristen Hunsberder (Huntsville) opposed book censorship, sharing personal experience of sexual assault and arguing that sex education materials protect children.
- Laura Person (South Huntsville) criticized the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library board for not adopting Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) recommendations, warned that the city may have to cover $500,000 in lost state funds, and asked the council to hold the board accountable.
- Austin Jones (Owens Crossroads, Army veteran) condemned the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, calling it genocide, and urged the council to take a stand.
- Carissa Callan (Athens, AL) supported relocating sexually explicit books away from children’s areas, referenced the APLS code changes, and asked the council to ensure compliance before the June 1 implementation deadline.
- Afura Taylor (Huntsville) presented a “People’s Resolution” calling on the city to stand in solidarity with Palestinians, condemn Israeli actions, and demand a ceasefire.
- Dr. Marissa Allison (District 2) spoke in solidarity with the Palestinian resolution and presented a separate resolution against book bans, urging the council to protect intellectual freedom.
- Susan Stewart (Huntsville) defended specific books (“It’s Perfectly Normal” and “Let’s Talk About It”) as age-appropriate and educational, and urged passage of the anti-book-ban resolution.
- Alex Kim-Yon (District 4) argued that library board decisions should be trusted, criticized the APLS process, and called for the city to adopt both the Palestinian solidarity and anti-book-ban resolutions.
- Gail Carter (District 1) raised concerns about a new skating rink being built across from an active rock quarry, requesting transparency about silica testing and the decision-making process.
- Sarah Colletti (District 4) linked Huntsville Police Department training to Israeli police tactics, criticized the city’s complicity in alleged human rights abuses, and called for divestment from Israel.
Discussion Items
- Mayor’s Special Recognitions: Police Chief Giles presented the Lifesaving Medal to Officer Jordan Jones for performing CPR on a woman in cardiac arrest in Pigeon Forge, TN.
- Council Special Recognitions: Councilmember Keith presented a “keycard to the city” to Ricky Wilkinson, Director of General Services, for his contributions to city infrastructure.
- Resolutions Honoring Barry Oxley and ALS Awareness Month: Councilmember Kling sponsored resolutions honoring Barry Oxley for his leadership at the Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association and recognizing May as ALS Awareness Month; both passed unanimously.
- Public Hearings on Rezonings:
- Airport rezoning (985.47 acres): Rezoned from residential/commercial to Planned Industrial and Commercial Industrial Park Districts to create consistent zoning near the airport; passed unanimously.
- Wade Road zoning (12.42 acres): Zoned to Neighborhood Business C-1 and Residence 2-B with plat restrictions limiting density; passed unanimously.
- Green Mountain rezoning (161.67 acres): Rezoned from Residence 1-B to Residence 2 with single-family restrictions; passed unanimously.
- Electric Vehicle Readiness Ordinance: Added Section 70.3 to Zoning Ordinance requiring EV-capable spaces for parking lots with 100+ spaces (2 spaces + 1 per 50 additional). Speakers David Patton, Daniel Tate (Energy Alabama), and Ankur Shah expressed support. Passed unanimously.
- Dwelling Definitions Amendment: Clarified definitions for dwelling types, family, domicile, residence, and transient (180-day threshold). Councilmember Keith questioned the 180-day standard; staff explained it aligns with state law. Passed unanimously.
- Councilmember Comments: Mayor Battle and councilmembers thanked staff for storm cleanup, highlighted the new City Hall ribbon-cutting, and noted upcoming events (Memorial Day services, Hispanic community town hall, District 1 cleanup). Councilmember Keith requested a comprehensive review of vacant and blighted properties across all districts; Urban Development Director Shane Davis agreed to research options.
Key Outcomes
- All votes on the agenda were unanimous (5-0 or 4-0 before Robinson arrived).
- Board Appointments: Jerry Cargile reappointed to the Huntsville-Madison County Railroad Authority (5-year term); Tammyier Leeth reappointed to the Historical Preservation Authority (6-year term).
- Board Nominations: Councilmember Kling nominated Marshall Schreeder Jr., Kim Harley, and Jay Chandler to the Randolph School Building Authority.
- Public Hearing Set: Set for June 27, 2024, on the vacation of a right-of-way in Kildare Estates/1315 Meridian Street/113 Oakwood Avenue.
- Ordinances Introduced (due back June 13, 2024): Declaring surplus equipment (Print Shop and Fleet vehicles), declaring .23 acres on Pearl Avenue surplus and authorizing a lease to JPThree Properties, LLC, and dedicating a sanitary sewer easement for the Pulaski Pike Sewer Improvements Project.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. It's uh there's a palpable sense of excitement, uh, which is great. It is five thirty, it is May twenty-third, and we are meeting here in our brand new City Council chambers in Huntsville, Alabama, and all council members with the exception of Dr. Robinson are present. I believe she will be coming in on two wheels shortly. And we welcome you all who are here with us today, and those of you that are watching online. We're now uh calling this meeting to order. We will begin with a moment of silence, followed by the pledge of allegiance, which will be led by council member John Meredith. So please stand as you're able for the moment of silence in the pledge. Thank you, Mr. Meredith. One nation undervisible with liberty to justice for all. Does anyone have any deletions or additions to be made? Hearing none, uh, I move that we accept the agenda. Second by Mr. Kling. All in favor say aye. Any opposed say nay. The agenda is approved. And council members, you have a copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Huntsville City Council held on May 9th, 2024 before you. Does anyone have any changes or additions to be made to the minutes? Hearing none, those will stand as approved. Uh, they'll be by our mayor, and uh the presentation of a life save of the life saving medal. Mr. President, could if I could ask Chief Giles to come forward. We have a life-saving medal to be presented, and we have a number of people from his staff if they were to please come forward too. Thank you, Mayor. If you would let me uh introduce Officer Jordan Jones, and this is Deputy Chief Charles Books beside him. Officer Jones is a new fifteen-year veteran of our department. And recently well, not recently, but uh in the past, uh, Officer Jones was off duty. He is associated with a gospel singing group. And he was in uh Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Um, there as part of an event. And while he was there, there was a lady in the vicinity that passed out, and it was apparent that she was having a cardiac event. Officer Jones absolutely went over to her, started administering CPR, and did so for almost 10 minutes before medical arrived. And medical took over and was able to sustain her and her cardiologist after the fact said had it not been for his initial um CPR effort, she would not have survived. So the lady that I'm speaking of does not have recollection of this event. So she reached out to us and they were able, he was able to travel to Silicon once she was up for the visit and meet her and talk to her about it, and she was so thankful. So I would like to uh present to Jordan a life saving medal on behalf of the Huntsville Police Department. Congratulations. We'd ask you to sing for us, but I'm not sure we're ready for that. Next is our council special recognitions, and that will be uh councilmember Devin Keith. Uh council members, if I could, I know we all wanted to take this moment and I know Dr. Robson in here. Um I get us all to head to the front, and if I could get a Mr. Ricky Wilkerson. Uh-oh. Come on down. Okay. Council members, I would love for y'all to come so we we could definitely get a picture as well.
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