To uh since the beginning of um the music office's inclination when we launched Huntsville Music Month in September to uh make sure that Jazz in the Park is a pillar of that month.

And so we'll be kind of gathering up and reaching out again to talk about uh all things uh Huntsville Music Month.

And so to be able to announce this first ahead of everything is something we're really proud of.

And so a reminder, these concerts are free and open to the public and the new venue of Big Spring Park West, which means whether you're a jazz official in auto or just curious, there is a space for you out there, and that's what we want to keep building a music ecosystem where everybody feels welcome and we're attracting world-class talent.

I hope you'll mark your calendars the uh every Sunday in September bring a launch.

Good evening, and welcome everyone.

It's August 28th, 2025, 530 p.m., and we are gathered to convene this meeting of the Huntsville City Council in the chambers in Huntsville, Alabama.

We welcome all those who have joined us tonight.

We have lots of opportunities to celebrate, and we look forward to all of those who have joined us for that purpose.

We are excusing Council President John Meredith who is traveling.

We wish him safe travels and look forward to having him return at this on the uh September 11th meeting.

We will begin our meetings as we usually do with invocation and pledge of allegiance.

Our invocation today will be offered by uh Alabama Public Safety Chaplain, Ethan Ryan, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance offered by uh led by Councilmember Michelle Watkins.

All those who are willing and able to do so, please stand.

Let's pray.

Thank you and praise you so much for who you are.

Thank you for for creation.

I thank you for sustaining us, and thank you for protecting us.

Thank you so much for our city council members.

I thank you for our mayor, Lord, our city attorney, uh, who works so hard for our city.

Lord, I pray that you would watch over them and you would protect them.

Lord, they was uh go to you and seek seek your wisdom and not their own.

Lord, I thank you for all the organizations that are represented here today.

I think specifically of Alabama AM, Laura, thank you so much for their hundred and fifty years of service to our community, educating uh the future uh of the city.

Lord, I know there's many products uh of that institution represented here, though I just thank you so much for that.

Thank you for their slogan that service is sovereign.

Laura, I thank you so much that you are sovereign, that you watch over us.

Lord, you desire what is best of us.

And Lord, I pray that we would live every day striving uh to make the world around us a better place, uh sharing your glory with those around us.

Lord, I pray you be in this meeting now.

Lord, I pray that your presence is truly felt.

In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

And to the Republicans one day and the visible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Chaplain Ryan.

Thank you, Ms.

Watkins.

While Council President Meredith is not with us, all the other council members are, and we have established a quorum.

We'll move on now to the business of the council.

Item uh three is approval of the agenda.

Council members, please note that item nine A has been removed because the property is now in compliance.

Are there any other changes to be made to the agenda?

Seeing none, the agenda will stand approved.

Item four, approval of the minutes of previous meetings.

Item 4A is minutes of the regular meeting of the City Council held on August 14, 2025.

Are there any changes or additions to be made to these minutes?

Hearing none, the minutes will stand approved.

That brings us to special recognitions.

We will start with the mayor's special recognition.

5A is a presentation of appreciation from the Monte Santo Civic Association to city employees for their dedicated support and service following recent tornadoes.

We're going to ask Mr.

Joe Pinnocks to come forward and we have a microphone.

Mr.

Mayor, would you like to go down there?

Oh.

Thank you, sir.

Face the crowd.

I'm certainly honored to be here to represent the first speaker for the Monte Santo Civic Association.

I'd like to thank the mayor and all of the council members and all of the city workers behind the scenes that actually pull all of this together where we have this opportunity to speak.

We've been through snow, but the city workers always uh always come through.

And this time it was really special.

Um the city workers were there within an hour.

They were working, they worked nonstop, they worked through Memorial Day weekend, and um they obviously had a plan and it was well thought out.

You know, everything moved uh just as it should to get us as uh back back to our neighborhood as as soon as possible.

And um they say, you know, there's a picture says uh is a thousand words.

Well, then a video would be a thousand pictures, and the civic association with some help of some really talented volunteers has put a short two-minute video for you to kind of uh showcase what we're here for.

And I'd asked I'd like to ask Klaus Berger.

He's one of the longest living residents of Montesanto.

He was born in Germany.

Moved here seventy-five years ago when his dad arrived from Fort Bliss with the Von Braun team.

And also Aiden Weiss is one of the newest mountaineers.

He attends first grade at Montesano Elementary.

Aiden enjoys camping on Montesino State Park and swimming at the Montesino pool.

If you two would come up with a card, please.

Would we like to get Mr.

Little to accept it since he was the star of the um texting wars?

Thank you for that great video.

I think we got oh, we don't care.

But the people do.

Thank you all.

Uh Mark Byers, we have public works, Huntsville Utilities.

Folks here, go on to come up.

We even got some coppers in the back, Chief Giles.

I don't know if you want to send anybody up, because y'all were up there too.

Um just for a photo op.

Here, let's just do it.

I'll hold it.

I got it.

All right.

There you go.

You want to come on the other side.

All right.

Thank you.

We don't often get that opportunity to do those kind of public thanks.

One more comment.

Yes, uh, just to quickly wrap up.

You can't get ninety-four percent of the people to agree on the time of day this year, so it's wonderful to see we had this kind of unanimity about the city's response.

Uh in a previous company, I worked with cities all over the world, about 4,000.

I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in city management.

And I can assure you here that this is one of the best managed cities, not just in America, but in the world.

Well done.

And I would be remiss if I didn't point out something uh important here.

Klaus Bergler.

Klaus uh came here 75 years ago with the Von Brown team.

That's an important anniversary.

And they've left us a great legacy.

Once this was a little town of thirteen thousand people, and because of them and their American counterparts, it's now the most livable city in the United States.

We often take this legacy for granted, but I think it's the most important legacy of the 20th century.

Think about it.

Five years before they came here, these Germans had been trying to kill a bunch of Americans.

Who did they hire when they come here?

The first GI war bill graduating class.

But they put aside their differences, they focused on a common goal, and they achieved a goal, the century's greatest achievement that many thought was impossible.

Now the the good book says that we should turn our swords into plowshares.

These former enemies did it one step further.

They turned their swords into spaceships.

Now, seventy-five years later, these are polarizing times, and I'd like to encourage all of us to learn from their example.

Put aside our differences, work for the common good, and continue to do the impossible.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ralph Petrov.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Petrov.

Thank you, Mr.

Petrop, Mr.

Pinnix, all those who and Montesano Civic Association for those kind words and recognition for our exceptional department heads and community partners.

Item 5B is a proclamation to recognize and honor the remarkable accomplishments and historic milestone of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University on its 150th anniversary, the celebration continues.

Mayor Battle.

Madam President, we have a proclamation and a resolution tonight, which is very unusual.

And Ms.

Watkins, if you would come join me down here to do the presentation, and Dr.

Wims, and if you want to bring the whole bulldog nation, you can if we got enough room up here for them.

Please come up.

You.

Good to see you.

Come on.

I told you.

All right.

There we go.

Perfect.

Thank you.

All right.

The reason that we have 150 from the Bulldog Nation here tonight is because we are celebrating 150 years of Alabama AM providing education, providing for our people, providing for people to have a better life.

Education is the key to opportunity.

Opportunity is the key to doing well in life and to having jobs and to and to uh being able to raise families and do all the things that we want to look forward to people doing in the city of Huntsville.

And Dr.

Wims, we want to say congratulations on being here 150 years.

I know that you weren't there when we started off 150 years ago.

Although it may feel like it some days.

But uh our proclamation has a lot of whereas is, but I'm gonna let Ms.

Watkins read hers because I have a feeling we're they're about the same whereas is there.

Uh but I'd love for Ms.

Watkins to give a sense of the uh the declaration and the proclamation uh and uh talk a little bit about AM and the importance.

Well I thought you was gonna read, and I was just gonna wrap up with my comments.

Okay.

We don't have glasses, so we're we're doing an audible here.

Whereas Alabama AM Mechanical University, Alabama AM is a publicly historically black land-granted university whose rich heritage and bold vision continues to shape in the legacy as it marks 150 years of excellence.

Whereas the university was founded in 1875 by Dr.

William Hooper Council, and whereas Alabama AM remains steadfast in its core values, placing students first, upholding excellence and integrity, embracing diversity, fostering partnerships, and cultivating global awareness.

Whereas as the largest historically black college and university in Alabama, Alabama AM provides a student-centered environment.

Whereas Alabama AM stands as an anchor institution driving transformation through record enrollment.

Congratulations on the record enrollment this year, too.

Infrastructure growth, broad uh brand expansion, and national recognition as one of the top producers of minority graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Whereas the university's bold leadership, that's you, Dr.

Wimps, and enduring legacy continues to inspire progress and serve as a model of excellence in higher education.

Now, therefore, let it be resolved that the City of Hustle proudly recognizes and celebrates the historic 150th anniversary of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and commends its remarkable achievements and lasting impact.

Be it further resolved that this proclamation is presented in honor of Alabama AM's unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation, community service, and transformative leadership.

Now, therefore I, Tommy Battle, Mayor of the City of Huntsville, do hereby commend our Alabama AM for a hundred and fifty years of visionary leadership and invaluable contributions and call upon all citizens to join in celebrating this esteemed institution and its enduring legacy.

Thank you so much, Dr.

Wims.

And to the Bulldog Nation.

Ms.

Watkins.

Good evening.

Thank you, everyone, for coming out.

Who would have thought at the tender age of 27, a former slave would start a university that is now internationally known.

The Alabama AM University, where I learned service is sovereignty.

That is why I'm standing here now.

It's always been embedded in us at the university to serve, and that's what we do.

And with the record enrollment, I want to say one of them is yours truly, Squirronson.

Take care of my package.

And he's very excited to be on campus.

But I want to talk about the things that Anum does.

We have one of the best engineering programs in the state.

Throughout the nation, it's known.

We had the very best student, I mean teacher education program that I graduated from, internationally known and had the highest enrollment of any education center in North Alabama.

Alabama AM University's social work program is second to none.

And we have record enrollment there as well.

So I want you to know it's some great things going on at Alabama AM University.

We are excited about the 150 year anniversary, and we're more excited about football season is gearing up.

So if you want to come out and have fun, please join us.

But if you're ready to go to school and get an education that's worthy of any education, I put it up against any school.

Come to Alabama AM University.

You'll be loved.

Dr.

Wims, would you would you give us a response?

Thank you for putting me on the spot, Mr.

Mayor.

But uh in deepest humility, uh, as I stand here with the councilites and normalites.

Those of you who are graduates understand what I'm saying.

Uh it is a seminal moment for our institution and for our constituents.

And I'm just deeply humble that your Honor the Mayor and Council Lady Michelle Watkins, who is an alum, as well as the other council members would recognize us in this way.

I have a team here, so it's not any individual of us, it's all of us.

And but the leaders of the cabinet members who you have the provost here, the vice president for research and development, as well as the leaders of the 150th campaign, which is Vice President Ali over March Communication and Advancement, and then Vice President Reeves, who's leading our efforts on federal uh state and local governmental side.

We have had enormous success, but it's due to some of you who have also supported this institution and its trajectory.

So I'm very, very humble, very, very pleased.

I think, Mr.

Mayor, that we are having some significant impact economically in your city and in the county of Madison, and we will continue to do so and continue to grow with your support and your help and with this council's support and help.

So thank you all.

Reverend Dr.

William Hooper Council would be proud today that 150 years later we're still recognizing the institution but calling his name.

Thank you very much.

May God bless you all.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And we also will point out that Mr.

Kling is also an alumni of your of your group who is sitting right behind us, cheering us on.

Thank you so much for coming here, and thank you for making uh help letting us make this a very special year for uh the Bulldogs.

And um, as we get on the football field, we're all yelling, go Bulldogs or something.

Hey, I love them, hey.

Hey, hey, you're 50.

Hey, M.

Hey!

I love them.

Hey, hey, number 50, hey, what a great way to wrap up that presentation and proclamation.

Um, to make it official, though.

6A is a resolution celebrating Alabama AM University's historic 150-year legacy of leadership and service.

Ms.

Watkins, would you like to make to approve?

Second.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

And I'm not even going to ask for opposition on that one because it just wouldn't be right.

So uh the motion is approved, can and many thanks to all those who have contributed to 150 years of incredible service.

6B is a resolution honoring Vicky Guerry for her steadfast leadership and unwavering dedication to the community.

The chair moves to approve.

All in favor indicate any opposed.

The motion carries, we would like to invite Miss Grary to come forward.

And ask the mayor to join us.

To the council members and the and the public, I think I first met Vicky, and she was at the desk at the South Precinct working as a volunteer.

And every time I came in, I thought she worked for us because I thought she was getting a paycheck because she was there every time I came in, and she was volunteering down there.

This was before we even had a Citizens Advisory Council or anything else.

This was uh this was way back uh 17 years ago.

And she was always a stalwart, always there to help make the community a better place.

And Vicky, we are so proud to be able to do a resolution for you for all years of service and to want to say thank you for those years of service.

And thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

So this this resolution is so special.

I'm I don't like to read resolutions, but we're going to read most of it this time.

Whereas the City Council and the mayor of Huntsville, Alabama wish to recognize and honor Vicky Guerreri for her decades, and it really is decades, of dedicated service, steadfast civic leadership, and tireless commitment to public safety and community engagement, strengthening neighborhoods, fostering trust, and inspiring future generations of leaders.

Vicki, a Kentucky native, has called Huntsville, Alabama her home since 1982, bringing with her the values of resilience, adaptability, and service learned as a proud U.S.

Army spouse.

Vicki has since 2010, she has faithfully served as District 3 representative on the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council under five chiefs of police, chairing the 2021 comprehensive Huntsville Police Review.

That was really tough duty.

Advancing transparency and accountability and contributing to initiatives including body-worn cameras, equitable disciplinary policies, expanded mental health crisis intervention training, the Alabama Multi-Agency Crime Center, and citizen involvement in incident review boards.

Her volunteer service extends widely across the community, including leadership roles as a founding executive board member of the Huntsville South Civic Association, President of the Hillwood Estate Civic Association, member of the Madison County Personnel Board, board member of the Huntsville Area Crime Stoppers, and member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs legacy.

She has devoted her life to strengthening neighborhoods, promoting public safety, building police community partnerships, and mentoring future leaders, leaving an indelible mark on Huntsville's civic fabric.

She is also a devoted mother of two sons and a proud grandmother of three grandchildren who remain her greatest inspiration and motivation to foster a legacy of community leaders and service.

Switch pages.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council and the Mayor of Huntsville hereby recognize and honor Vicky Guerreri for her steadfast leadership, decades of volunteer service, and unwavering commitment to public safety, civic engagement, and community building, and extend deepest appreciation for her enduring contributions that continue to strengthen Huntsville and inspire future generations of leaders.

I'd just say I'd like to say thank you very much for this honor.

It has been a privilege to serve through all these years.

And I know we did a lot of good.

And it's a really good feeling.

And I was blessed with a very good council to work alongside all of our members are very hard-working people.

And I'm accepting this also in their behalf too.

And thank you very much.

I gotta stop or I'm gonna start crying.

Thank you.

Could we could we have the chief come up?

And you've got some of your command staff here, Chief, Chief Hudson.

Others, Lee?

Going to get a picture with you.

You will take in the member of the interval.

Yes.

Let me get make sure my good ears are there.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Always say that we have lots to celebrate in our community, and it's wonderful to start a council meeting with so much celebration.

And now we go on to the business.

We have no announcements and presentations, no matters with outside legal representation.

We do have a couple of public hearings to be held.

9A has been deleted because the uh situation has been remedied.

That brings us to 9B.

9B.

Now is the time and place for public hearing in order to hear, consider and act upon all objections or protests of any for removal of a public nuisance at 2407 Oakwood Avenue Northwest Huntsville, Alabama, and consideration of a resolution ordering abatement of a new nuisance located at the same properties.

Was set at the August 14, 2025 regular council meeting, Mr.

Irwin.

Council members, Mayor Battle, Scott Urban, the Community Development Department.

The resolution before you at the public hearing to consider any objections regarding a junk public nuisance located at 2407 Oakwood Avenue.

And this is authorization to abate that public nuisance.

The video before you is on recent photographs of the conditions on the property.

The public hearing is now open.

Is there anyone who wishes to comment?

Is there anyone from the public who wishes to comment on this matter?

Hearing none, the public hearing is closed.

Is there a motion?

Is there a motion to approve the resolution?

Move to approve.

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from Ms.

Watkins.

Any discussion?

All in favor, please indicate.

Any opposed?

The motion carries.

Thank you, Council members.

This moves us then to item 9C.

9C now is the time and place for public hearing on the zoning of 27.61 acres of land lying on the west of Old Big Cove Road and north of Beauford Drive to residents 2 district and the consideration of an ordinance pertaining to the same.

This was set at the July 10, 2025 regular council meeting.

Mr.

Nunez.

Good evening, Council members.

Mayor Battle.

Thomas Nunez, manager of Plant and Zoning Services.

This item is located west of Obi Cove Road and north of Buford Drive.

It was recently annexed into our city limits.

It is overall 27.61 acres.

The petitioner is seeking to zone the property residence to district with a plat restriction that will restrict the uses as permitted by Section 10.1 of the zoning ordinance, while also offering another PLA restriction to lot widths of residents 1B of 60 feet and lot area of residence 1B of 7500 square feet.

Thank you, Mr.

Nunez.

The public hearing is now open.

Is there anyone here who wishes to comment on this matter?

Please come forward to the podium and give us your name and City of Residence.

Joy Johnson, I live on West Arbor Drive in Huntsville.

I it looks like maybe that's a farmhouse and it used to be a farm.

So I find myself again saying we need to preserve farms.

More than we need to uh give tax breaks to uh drone companies.

Um of these plat restrictions was just a code.

I have no idea what that is.

I wish I did know.

And I'd like to suggest that any time a zoning or annexation or anything of this character comes before council, uh that uh recognition, acknowledgement of what is there now is given before suggestions of what is going to be there.

As just a possible tiny window of thinking about things a little bit differently, maybe opening the possibility of thinking about how we need to preserve farms or whatever might be there that might need to be preserved if we acknowledge what's there before we decide to build houses all over it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Johnson.

Is there anyone else who wishes to comment?

Hearing none, the public hearing is closed.

Is there a motion to approve the ordinance?

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from Mr.

Kling.

Is there any discussion?

Questions from Mr.

Nunez?

All in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Thank you, Council members.

Thank you, Mr.

Nunez.

That concludes our public hearings.

We have three public hearings to be set.

10 A is a resolution to declare a public nuisance located at 1013 Kinsey Drive Southeast, Huntsville, Alabama, and to set the date for when objections will be heard to that date is to be set for the September 11, 2025 regular council meeting.

Is there a motion to approve?

Move to approve.

Second.

The hearing from Mr.

Kling.

Thank you.

Second from Mr.

Kling, the hearing is set for September 11, 2025.

10B is a resolution to declare a public nuisance located at 3506 Gay Street Northwest, Huntsville, Alabama, and to set the date for when objections shall be heard.

Move to set the meeting for September 11, 2025.

Second.

Motion by Mr.

Little, second by Mr.

Kling.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The hearing is set for September 11, 2025.

Resolution to set a public hearing on the zoning of 572.48 acres of land lying on the north of Bob Wade Lane and east and west of Mount Lebanon Road to residents 2, residents 2B, and Highway Business C4 Districts, and introduction of an ordinance pertaining to the same.

Second.

Motion to set the hearing for September 25, 2025 from Ms.

Watkins.

Second by Mr.

Kling.

Any discussion?

All in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

Any opposed?

The hearing is set for September 25.

This brings us to agenda-related public comments.

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the council on matters relating to specific content of items on the meeting agenda.

Individuals have signed up to speak on the agenda comments roster prior to the meeting.

When called, please approach the microphone and state your name, home address, and city of residence.

Each speaker may address the council for three minutes.

Speakers shall refrain from entering into a dialogue with council members or city staff and from making comments regarding the good name and character of any individuals.

We have two people who have signed up.

The first is Joy Johnson.

The subject is agenda item number 20i.

Ms.

Johnson.

Joy Johnson, I live on West Arbor Drive in Huntsville.

How are you guys doing?

Long time no see.

So just to start, 20i, I this is the first time I've heard about some railroad bridge project over Penhook Creek, which is my neck of the woods.

I would love to hear more about that, if somebody might consider holding that for discussion and maybe getting some explanation.

I also notice uh item M, 20 M, as in Mike.

Um is about code enforcement.

Is this another way to uh get around getting a city detect or something?

I would like some reassurance that this is not another, if you don't mind my saying, nefarious plot.

Um item S as in Sierra.

Uh I would love to hear if this is about public transit.

We need to talk about public transit all the time, up one side and down the other.

Please uh I think we would all love to hear what this grant would be going towards that we are going to be applying for.

20x as an X-ray.

This looks to be like a contract with an AI company.

And I will take every opportunity that I get to say we do not be needing to be used using AI on any way, shape, or form.

It is an energy hog at a time in history when we need to be stepping off using as much energy as we do.

In fact, I'd like to propose that Huntsville proclaim itself AI free.

And while we're at it, Ice free.

But anyway, that's another issue.

Um I would all uh uh um well it's in item 21.

So I know you're not inclined to discuss it, but be prepared that I'm gonna want to know about 21A and the uh Human Resources Relations Commission, not agenda, by laws, and you know what is actually being decided on next time when it comes up, okay?

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Johnson.

Um the next person to sign up is Mr.

Jeffrey Engle.

Subject is police drone budget increases.

Mr.

Angle here.

Hello, folks.

Uh my name is Jeffrey Engle.

Uh I live in Sherwood Park.

I'm with uh the North Alabama Democratic Socialists of America.

Um I would like to talk about the Skyfire contract that you guys are uh extending.

Uh I guess uh building up uh larger.

Um so for those of you not in the audience not familiar.

Uh we live in a surveillance state.

Uh the uh police uh have flock cameras that watch your license plates and they uh document everywhere you drive.

Uh there is cell phone triangulation, if you have it in your pocket, uh they know where that is.

Um and all of that data is put towards a fusion center, uh which is a center where uh law enforcement agencies are able to share all of that information to track you in every aspect of your life.

Uh to address the agenda item uh right now, uh Skyfire AI drones uh for the police department.

Um I do not think that you guys should extend uh I guess uh enlarging this contract uh $25,000 per month.

Uh that could go to almost 8,000 school meals uh instead of uh putting on uh an extension uh to a contract uh that will continue to surveil our communities, uh, will continue to be used to infringe on our privacy and will continue to be uh used to keep uh the American people uh down and watched.

Um so my proposal here is that you guys reject uh this uh expansion of the contract.

Uh it is what is in the defense industry called Scope Creep.

Uh they are uh increasing the amount of time and money uh that they are taking from your contract.

Um I guess bullying is a very good example of that of a cost plus contract.

That's what they're trying to get you into right now, and I suggest that you turn it down.

Uh we do not want our tax dollars used to surveil us.

We want our tax dollars, as Mr.

Tommy Battle said himself, uh, to provide opportunity uh to the community uh instead of being used uh to keep us down.

Uh thank you, and I yield my time.

Thank thank you, sir.

Um this brings us then to Mayor comments.

Mr.

Mayor Battle, the floor is yours.

Good.

Uh thank you, Madam President, uh, and council.

Uh first off, yesterday the uh Metropolitan Planning Organization approved uh six electronic traffic signs, which will be placed about the city, parkway, North Parkway, South Parkway, 72 east, uh 72 west.

Uh and there are traffic signs that can give you information.

Uh they are information-based uh signs as you come uh if you come uh up the parkway and are coming over those hills where if traffic is stopped right in front of you, you have a big chance of having a wreck.

Uh the traffic signs will be saying uh congested traffic ahead, be careful.

Uh they can say it's raining, slow down.

They can say uh wreck ahead, seek alternate routes.

Those kind of signages will save lives in the city of Hustle.

And I think it's one of the uh one of the best technologies that we can put out in other cities across the state have are already way ahead of us.

Uh we just installed two in the city of House.

We are installing six more.

It will take about a year to get them in.

But um they are great, great service for our community, and they will make um uh they will make for safety on our roads.

Uh also uh this September is music month.

Um there will be over 240 events, including jazz in the park, uh music events that will happen in September, and I hope that everybody will take uh will go out and take advantage of that.

Uh Ms.

Watkins and I were at the back school parade on the tr on Saturday the 23rd.

Uh it was uh quite uh uh production and there were a lot of people there.

There were bands, there were um uh school age uh children and um and uh lots of and the superintendent of education wrote in the fire truck uh along with me, and we got to talk about how how much gains that we have had in our school system and I'm very proud of what he has been able to accomplish and achieve and what we will we will achieve over the next year.

Um this is uh the uh we had also this week uh this past week we had the celebration of the tenth year of our cyber program uh in uh Hussle and Cyber Hustle has been is 10 years old.

I am probably um uh I probably pull down the intelligent quotient, a few couple of notches when I go when I go in, but they are very, very intelligent crowd.

And then uh last Sunday uh we had the 41st anniversary of the 39th birthday of Miss Betty Showers.

Uh she hit 80 years old.

Uh she was Dr.

Shower's wife, uh uh widow.

And she uh has been a uh uh person of who has given back to this community time and time again, and uh the there was there were quite a few people there to celebrate with her and celebrate her 80th birthday.

Uh this weekend uh starts uh the football, the peak skin type football.

And uh we will start with uh games on Friday and then Saturday and uh AM Bulldogs play Saturday and uh and uh all the other teams play then.

Uh so it will be a start of a a fall and a great fall to get us all started.

I hope everybody will come out and enjoy um our community.

Uh Saturday will be a good day to go shop because those shops will be not as full because people will be watching football.

So uh I hope that you out and and enjoy that and and have a good time.

And um, that's all I have, Madam President.

Thank you, Mayor Battle brings us to Councilmember Comments.

Um Ms.

Watkins, will you start us off?

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

Last Monday, um, August 18th, I had the pleasure of being a guest speaker at Huntsville Housing Authorities annual meeting.

I appreciate uh Antonio McGuinness for extending that opportunity.

And on last Sunday, I was with the mayor and Councilman Kling.

We celebrated Ms.

Shower's birthday, and um she was really surprised.

And they said it was hard surprising her, but she was surprised.

And we had a really good time.

On last Thursday, I attended with the mayor of the Good Neighbors event at St.

Barnley Church.

That is where ATT distributed 100 laptops to the students that attend uh village of promise school.

I thought that was really a phenomenal event.

It shows that this community cares, and it's just awesome when you have community partners who want to um be part of the education of a child and make sure they have every opportunity available to them.

I also attended an ice cream social at Monrovia Flats on last Thursday with um Housing Authority Director in Elmington, the ones that um built and maintained the facility, and it was a really nice kids were having a great time.

And this past Sardy, the celebrating education parade, it was it was just awesome to see um students from all across Huntsville come out to the district to celebrate.

And I want to give a special thanks to the police officers who helped with the traffic, who kept everyone safe.

We didn't have an incident.

I really appreciate you for that.

And I want to give a special thanks also to Scott Irwin in Crisis Services, had an incident where I needed them to assist with someone, and they came through, and I really appreciate that.

On this Saturday, and then we kick off their first football game.

So hey, it's not at home, but you can tune in on television.

And then tomorrow night, if you have nothing to do, please come out and support Jemison Huntsville High Football at Miln Frank.

The kids need us in the stands.

It it's hard to look at a game when this stands are not full.

I remember when I was in school, the stands were it's like you couldn't find a seat.

So tomorrow night, Huntsville High Jemison.

David, I'm gonna see you there.

When is it?

Tomorrow night.

Oh, sorry.

Uh oh my God, he don't listen to me.

Auburn's playing.

Tomorrow night.

We excuse you.

But if you don't have anything to do with it.

Go big red.

No, go Jaguars.

Um if you don't have anything to do, make sure you come out to Milton Frank and support our students, please.

Thank you so much.

I'm sorry.

I need to bring Shane Davis up to the microphone real quick.

Um Shane um is going to explain what's going on with the Northern Bypass being named MLK.

Thank you, Councilman.

Well, I can Shane Davis, Director of Urban Economic Development.

So, Councilmembers, uh, what is coming before you is the uh decision to name officially name uh a road that is under construction in District One uh news media and what we refer to as the Northern Bypass.

Uh so this section of roadway that is under construction starts just east of Plaskey Pike and travels uh 1,500 feet east of U.S.

231.

So the road that is under construction, there has been some confusion publicly about this.

So I want to take a moment just to explain to you and those who may be watching.

So the road that is under construction is actually a state highway.

So it's state, it's an extension of State Route 255 that starts at I-565 and goes north through the northern part of our city.

Uh as part of the reason we call it the Northern Bypass.

There's two phases remaining that will ultimately connect to the east side of our city at U.S.

Highway 72, completing a northern loop.

Um regardless of your decision on us giving a local name of the road will officially per state because it will be operated, controlled, and maintained by the Alabama Department of Transportation will be State Route 255.

There's been uh some confusion that we are widening Bob Wade Lane.

Uh we are not widening Bob Wade Lane.

We're not renaming Bob Wade Lane.

That is not what you are considering.

Uh the existing section of Bobway Lane for the most part is being demolished to make way for State Route 255.

So State Route 255 has three names.

So south of Interstate I-565 on to Redstone Arsenal has always been referred to as Rod Out Road.

Uh north of Interstate I 565, there near Bridge Street, uh common landmark, to Highway Alabama Highway 53 is referred to as Research Park Boulevard.

Uh the council before you, back in about 2005, I believe, uh, as that next phase was under construction that went from Alabama Highway 53 to just east of Plasky Pike, the piece that is there today was designated as Dr.

Martin Luther King Highway from a local, from a state and most Google maps, it still shows up as State Route 255.

We have that all throughout our city.

U.S.

431 through the medical district is Governor's Drive and so on and so forth.

Alabama 53 is Pulaski Pike, Jordan Lane or Jordan Lane.

So what your decision is is to whether or not to extend the existing local designation that starts at Pulaski Pike and would carry through Memorial Parkway.

That was the original intent of the existing road that is there today, and that's what you will consider.

Should council determine to vote no for that, the road would only have a signal designation as State Route 255, because that is the state route and state controlled highway.

There is a small section of Bobway Lane that intersects at uh Memorial Parkway that will remain.

It is undisturbed, if you will, from the road project, and it ties back into State Route 255.

That section of Bobway Lane will remain Bob Wade Lane.

I hope that provides some clarity.

Yes, thank you so much, Shane.

I appreciate that.

You're welcome.

And just to clarify for the public's information, the a hearing will be set at the September 11th meeting for to consider that renaming, and then the hearing itself will take place on September 25th, and the council will consider at that meeting also.

I want to have one other thing.

Um at that meeting when you choose what the decision is to name, the name will not go into effect until we officially open State Route 255.

So upon that vote, you're just approving for the final signage that would get placed when the road is completed early next year and open to the public.

So the existing Bobway Lane is being used by the public because we're trying to keep access to residents.

They would continue with that until this road is open.

Thank you for clarifying that, Mr.

Davis.

Thank you.

Um is Ms.

Smith here, Penny Smith.

Ms.

Smith, can you come up to give an update on the budget, please?

Could we do that when we do the financial report?

Was she asked?

The finance report.

Next is Mr.

Kling.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh it was my pleasure to join uh Mayor Battle and Councilmember Watkins in celebrating uh Betty Schauer's birthday.

Uh again, I think a lot of great things have been said about her, so I guess all I can say is really Ditto.

She's been a great personal friend, and uh I'm just so proud that uh we have a community where we got three elected officials kind of paying accolades to her for what she has meant to our community, and again, a belated, but once again, Betty, happy birthday.

Also, uh, I know we've had people in the uh public that have asked us about seeing if we could stream City Council meetings on Facebook, and I do understand that our staff people are looking into that, and I appreciate their efforts on that.

And finally, uh, if I could borrow the microphone, Mayor, we have one little bit of recognition that we still need to get done, and uh we were able to arrange this at the um kind of at the at the last minute.

I have a uh certificate that's been signed by the the mayor and all five council members to recognize Sonia Infinger.

Sonia, come on down.

Sonia is uh Miss Senior Huntsville, and she's a member of the Miss Senior Alabama court.

And Sonia and uh uh her husband Jeff have done so many things in our community.

Sonia, I just want to give you a chance to let you tell our community about what you are doing and what Ms.

Senior Alabama is all about.

Thank you, Councilman Cling.

And also we are yes, I think we're on.

Thank you so much, Councilman, and to all the councilman and mayor, I appreciate your time and and thank you all for all your service and what you do.

I'm super excited to be a part of the Ms.

Senior Alabama court, and that I am the name, Ms.

Senior Huntsville, and so my honor is to be able to serve the City of Huntsville.

And so what I get a chance to do is to promote nonprofits, anything in the community to help bring greater awareness to our great city.

And so, as Ms.

Senior Huntsville, if you have any volunteerism that you would like MSA to be a part of, certainly all you have to do is go to Miss Senior Alabama.com and we're able to serve.

We also serve across the state of Alabama, and so not only just the City of Huntsville, but the entire state.

And our mission and goal really is to help promote women, senior women, to know that we have a purpose, a purpose-driven life, and we like to contribute and give back.

Because what that does for us, it helps us to have longevity.

You get plugged into your city.

You're doing more for others, and that helps bring greater awareness to those nonprofits and to the city, the great city that we have here in Huntsville.

And so it's my honor to receive this great certificate.

Thank you, Councilman Kling and Councilman and Mayor Battle.

Thank you, Mr.

And again, uh thank you for everything that you have done for our community.

You and your family have done legionary legion work, and we very much appreciate uh everything.

Thank you.

Thank you again, Councilman Kling.

Councilman Little.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, just would like to give quick shout-outs to public works, traffic, engineering, and planning on uh being responsive to citizens' uh issues and concerns over the last few weeks, and then I certainly hope everybody's football team wins this weekend.

Thank you.

Roll tight.

Um I had the opportunity this week to attend the Council of Neighborhood Associations.

Lyle Voyles has served as president of the council for many years now, and he does a wonderful job gathering leaders from all the neighborhood associations across across the city.

They meet monthly.

For those of you who have any interest in attending, it's a public meeting.

They meet monthly.

If you have a neighborhood association, a civic association, a community watch, or an HOA, I encourage you to attend.

At the meeting this past week, uh Travis Cummings, our manager, our zoning manager, came to answer questions about zoning enforcement.

And boy, they had a lot of questions for him.

Uh he went away with some homework to do and to report back.

Uh, but he answered so many questions that I think there's been a little bit of confusion on.

Those meetings are well worth anyone's time to attend.

So if you have an interest, I suggest you contact Mr.

Boyles and find out when the next meeting is.

If you're interested in forming a neighborhood association, a community watch, um, it this would be something to for for y'all to to do.

I've found that the strongest neighborhoods have the strongest connections with each other.

And one of the best ways to start that is with a community watch or a neighborhood association.

We saw a great example of it tonight with the Montesanto um civic association who is there, not just to recognize the city, but I think a lot of it was their work that they do with each other to look out for each other and to ensure the the well-being of their neighbors.

So uh so please take a look at becoming uh active in the Council of Neighborhood Associations.

That brings us to the Finance Committee report 14A is a resolution authorizing expenditures for payment.

Ms.

Watkins, would you like to make that motion?

Yes, Councilwoman Robinson.

I move that we approve the expenditures in the amount of 29 million two hundred thirty thousand four hundred eighty three dollars and four cents.

Second.

Second motion made by Ms.

Watkins second by Mr.

Little I all in favor indicate by saying aye.

Any opposed motion carries do we have a finance report?

Yes.

Ms.

Smith will come up at this time.

Thank you, Ms.

Smith.

Thank you.

Good evening, Penny Smith, Finance Director of Finance.

Tonight before you I'm just going to give you a short financial update for for the city out ahead of it'll actually usually I give these at the quarter end but we have all the July numbers in and so this will actually run through July and um and give us an update at that point.

So a little bit about the economic environment that we're in right now it is a shifting landscape kind of moving almost daily between what happens from federal government which bleeds into our also our local government and so I'm not going to read through all of this in general things are the the labor markets are kind of softening customer confidence is still a concern.

You'll see in our numbers that bleeds into our numbers as we move forward we're very much in kind of a a level playing field people are still kind of holding back a little bit but spending is looking a little better inflation numbers while the outlooks are rising we still remain around the same inflation numbers that we've had for a couple of months so that is that bodes bodes well for the future to to remain a consistency and then also with the Federal Reserve they their outlook is for a downturn in their expectations that rates will be cut at the next meeting which will be in September.

So we are going to look look towards that and that will that will go well for the economy as a whole so we're going to look at some specifics you have seen these graphics before so this is for sales and use tax this is all of our sales and use tax remember that it supports not only our general fund but also our schools and both of our capital projects funds the 1990 and the 2014 capital projects funds.

Year to date we are behind a little bit the prior year 0.7 percent and we are under the original budget at 80 percent but remember we revised our budget mid-year and so we are we are on that budget at 83.6 percent just a teeny bit ahead for the fiscal year elapsed so a couple of things these are some selected revenues so I kind of took out um what's above uh the locally levyed taxes there for sales and use tax because we already look already looked at that but I did want to point out a few things that are both ahead and behind in our sales register feedback from somewhere sorry um go ahead missing so uh the SSUT tax it is 13 percent uh ahead at this year to date of last year and then it's at 88 percent of budget so um so it is doing well it is helping with the with the general fund the other revenue here the vast majority of this is actually coming from interest revenue just like many other people in the state and across the country we are benefiting from those high interest rates for the past couple of years and that that also feeds into this particular July report um both for for the whole year and we should see that moving forward as well they are remaining fairly consistent as we move out from there permits are down we continue to see a kind of a decline.

So we are coming out of a period where we had lots of very large industry projects and multifamily projects that that contributed to our permit fees and we are back to kind of normalizing that and so that continues to come down we didn't predict it to fall quite this far but um but we are hoping that that levels out this year.

You'll see the line actually right above it I didn't flag it but the line right above it is our license fees and that is ahead of budget and um and it should come in quite well at the end of the year as well.

And then overall just pointing to that final total line that we are 86 percent ahead of budget and about a little over two two and a half percent ahead of this year overall that is ahead of the revised budget so we've brought that budget down so we are doing well re relative to that revised budget.

That is ahead of the revised budget.

So we've brought that budget down, so we are doing well relative to that revised budget.

For this is the flip side, this is again for the general fund expenditures through July.

So looking again at a couple of these personnel is at 80 percent of the budget.

Remember, 83 percent of the budget has elapsed, so we are under budget for that, and which makes our sub the subtotal for the departments are at 78 percent.

That is typical of the city.

We usually come in around 5 percent below, and that is happening again this year within our departments.

Our total, so the appropriations are pretty much paid out.

Remember, we pay out most of those quarterly.

So um so though those have gone ahead and pay out, it will not grow above 100 percent.

And then the total general fund is at 79 percent.

So that looks well.

That represents about um if we remain consistent at that level, it will represent about 9 million dollars, which um below budget, which is about what we took out of the general fund, so we should be right on with that with that in line with those budgets, even making a little bit towards the end of the year.

The lodging tax revenue, so this is just one that we follow.

It is much smaller than any other revenue we follow, but but it is very we like to um it points in real time to both individual behavior and excess funds for travel and commercial and defense.

I would point back to actually and I forgot to mention it, but within that slide, that economic slide, the GSA came out last month and said that our department for the Department of Defense and for those those numbers for PDM would remain the same, um, which was usually they raise it every single year, which helps us when we when we have so much DFD travel within our area.

So that may reflect be reflected in this number as we move forward, but we will be careful with those projections.

But we do believe that right now it is ahead of budget, and the year to date collections are six percent ahead of last year.

So we believe this will come in ahead of ahead of budget and on time.

And so I want to, before I get to any questions, I just want to talk for a minute to the overall because I do kind of bring this hey, we've got level revenue, we've had sales and use tax been revised, and so kind of this concern that that kind of that kind of looms over what is happening in the year.

And while our revenues um sales and use tax being flat, um we are doing well in other revenue streams, and our expenditures, as you just saw, look good.

Our departments um hats off to all of them as they manage their budgets and um and look towards the future with that fiscal in mind.

And so, but we are physically stable.

Our fund balance, our reserves, and our liquidity is strong.

That not only speaks to our triple A performance in the markets, but it also speaks to um to just be in a good place as we move through the next physical year.

Next month I will be bringing before you um the the mayor's budget for y'all to present to y'all.

And um, and so we will do an introduction at the first meeting.

We will do we'll have a work session on that next Friday, and then we'll do the the second reading and actual vote for at the end of the month.

So that will um this this picture that as we go into that.

We are financially stable and financially strong, and I want to be sure that I reiterate that.

Is there any questions?

Mr.

Clink.

General assumption, just following up on what you said.

Uh I would assume that we're probably in better shape fiscally than uh most cities around the country, based on what I am seeing in national news.

Um I would like to say so.

I mean, so much of that is the decisions that are made by the council and the conservative nature by which we treat um our financial stability.

Strong reserves and strong liquidity is a big portion of that, having that cornerstone and that backbone in which to lean upon in lien time.

So many cities bleed their city all the way down, and um and we have never done that, and so that has been just um it's nice to have that whenever we need it.

I believe uh best I can recall, there have not been any employee layoffs due to financial challenges, you know, programs being cut.

Here in the city, no, I'm absolutely not.

Other questions?

Ms.

Smith, thank you for your you to you and your team for your leadership, and also thanks to our department heads for being such great stewards of the taxpayers' dollars.

And also thanks to our department heads for being such great stewards of the taxpayers' dollars.

Great work from all.

Brings us to 15 board appointments to be voted on.

15A is a resolution to appoint Sasha Irby to the Community Development Citizens Advisory Council, place three to the seat previously held by Billy Lennox for a three-year term to expire April 14, 2028.

Is there a motion to move to approve?

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from Mr.

Kling.

Discussion.

All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

15B is a resolution to reappoint Claude Moore to the Board of Examinations and Appeals for Construction Industries Place 6 is current seat for a three-year term to expire September 13, 2028.

Move to approve.

Motion from Mr.

Little.

Second from Mr.

Kling.

Any discussion?

All in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The motion carries.

15C is a resolution to appoint David Blair to the Huntsville Police Citizens' Advisory Council place eight to the seat previously held by Vicky Guerrero for a four-year term to expire August 1, 2029.

The Chair would like to make that motion.

Second by Mr.

Little.

Any discussion?

All in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Mr.

Blair is appointed.

16.

Board appointment nomination.

16A is a nomination to appoint Yolanda Cottle to the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council place 4 to the seat previously held by Willie Love for a four-year term to expire August 1, 2029.

Move to approve.

Second.

Ms.

Watkins, would you like to there was a previous nomination made from the floor at the last meeting for this same seat?

Yes.

I nominated Linda Holmes from the floor, but she did not want to serve, so I made another nomination.

So that's why.

Let the record reflect that the nomination of Linda Holmes was withdrawn, and the nomination of Yolanda Cottle for to the police police citizens advisory council place four to the seat previously held by Willie Love for a four-year term is in place of that other nomination.

Is there any discussion?

All in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The motion I'm sorry, that was for nomination only.

We got ahead of ourselves.

Nomination only.

There will be no vote taken at this meeting.

It will be considered at the September 11th Council meeting.

My apologies.

I thought you were just making a motion to change the vote.

No.

No, it no, it was it was withdrawn.

It was withdrawn.

No Huntsville Utilities items, no legal department items or transactions to be considered.

It brings us to 19 unfinished business items for action.

19A is an ordinance to amend Chapter 5, Division 2 of Article 2 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Huntsville.

This does require a motion.

Move to approve.

Motion from Mr.

Little.

Second from Mr.

Kling.

Is Mr.

Fisher here?

John Fisher, the Director of our Animal Services.

Good evening, Councilmembers Mayor.

This is the ordinance to amend Chapter 5 as it relates to the current fee schedule.

The existing fee schedule has different rates for our residents versus services provided under service agreements with other agencies.

This proposed schedule would apply the same standards to all the entities, ensuring the cost of service is appropriately covered by all users.

The only change for City of Huntsville residents is a small change for folks wishing to surrender their own pet to the shelter.

It's a nominal increase that covers the increased cost of vaccines and exams that we would have to do on intake.

There is a new investigative hold fee that is for criminal investigations where we are required to hold animals for longer periods of time.

And they require more extensive care, more extensive documentation and veterinary care.

Are there any questions for Mr.

Fisher?

Questions about the ordinance?

Thank you, Mr.

Fisher.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ordinance is approved.

Thank you.

19B is an ordinance declaring certain property surplus and to be disposed of per agreement with managed asset recycling solutions LLC.

Move to approved.

Motion from Mr.

Little.

Second by Mr.

Kling.

Any questions or discussion?

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

That brings us to item 20, new business items for consideration or action.

Are there any items anyone wishes to hold consideration?

Yes, sir.

20 F as in Foxtrot and I is in India.

F and I.

And I would like to Mr.

Clink.

And yes.

And Ms.

Watkins.

I has been called.

I still want IMS X and Z.

Z.

Zulu.

Zulu.

Okay.

Let me make sure that we've got everything.

Item F.

Item I.

Item X.

Item Z.

Are there any others?

Did I get all of them?

Could you go to that?

Could you run?

Item F.

We have to have David do the phonetics on that.

Item F, item I, India.

M.

S.

X and Z.

Can I get them all?

All right.

Then the Chair moves for approval.

Items A to E.

G and H.

J.

J to L.

Thank you.

N to R.

T to W and Item 20Y.

Is there a second?

Second from Mr.

Little.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Those items are approved.

And we will now move to separate consideration.

Beginning with item F.

Item F is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract between the City of Huntsville, Alabama, and Grayson Carter and Sun Contracting Inc.

for Tollgate Trail Improvements Project, Project No.

71-25-WP02.

Chair makes the motion.

Second.

Second by Mr.

By Mr.

Little.

Mr.

Davis, will you be making a presentation on that?

You want me to take it, Shane?

You want me to take it?

You can.

This is an extension of our our trail system that we're working on with in partnership with the land trust and hostile utilities.

Household Utilities is putting up $500,000.

And land trust put up $500,000.

City cost is a million seven hundred seven hundred and sixty seven hundred and sixty thousand seven hundred dollars and thirty-one cents.

And it's uh to make tollgate trail improvements on that uh tollgate project there.

What did I miss, Shane?

You know that, Mayor?

Are there any questions?

Well, I'm just Mr.

Little.

I held it because this is in my neck of the woods.

This is an exciting project.

Um people have asked me and just want to put clarity that they're worried we're going to be up there clear cutting the mountain to build this.

It's actually along the old tollgate roadbed.

That's right.

And I walked it with one of the mountain residents, and uh other than probably just a few saplings and some stones, it's a pretty clear path, and it will get people from the uh uh land trust parking lot on bankhead all the way up safely off of bankhead.

I know a lot of people like to bike it, and this will be an alternative for them.

Um so I think it's gonna be a great addition to that area.

That that's correct.

So, you know, the trail is uh the mayor and council little said it will start at the existing parking lot and go up to Fern.

And uh it's a trail system that is already used, but one of the things that uh both North Alabama Land Trust uh and then House of Utilities come in in partnership with the city is we have a lot of cyclist activity on bank bankhead, and there's just not wide enough facility.

So what this will do is take a trail that is uh a non-paved, non-gravel, and put it in a hard surface, not only to extend our greenway, but also provide bicycle uh multimodal through that that area of the city.

Well, is there still a plan to um extend it down to the uh closed road along the shoulder of Fern?

That's right, yes.

So this is the first phase, it's the most expensive phase just due to the terrain.

Right.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

That's all, Madam President.

Any other questions?

Um I guess I would also note that um while it was not held, the following item is the meat greenway.

And so we're going to be starting two Greenway projects, two long-awaited Greenway projects at the same time.

That's correct.

And I apologize for looking puzzled when I walked up here because that's the one I was getting ready to speak on.

And I know we celebrated Alabama A and M 150th tonight.

That project would not happen without some dedication of land for Alabama A and M, and we want to publicly thank them for that.

So this trail is almost two miles, and it will go from Winchester to Alabama and M's campus.

So it's the first piece of the Northern Gateway Belt line that we just had some public meetings.

So this is one that has been in the works and finally was able to get all the right-of-way needed to get that started.

So tonight, Council, you are approving almost four miles of new greenway in the city.

Thank you for that little update.

I know it wasn't germane to our agenda topic there, but I felt like it deserved to mention.

So all in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Unopposed.

Motion carries.

20i is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between the City of Huntsville, Alabama, and CSR Engineering Inc.

for Peter Fagan Railroad Bridge over Pinhook Creek, Project No.

71-23-SP23.

Chair moves approval.

Oh second.

Second from Mr.

Kling.

Mr.

Davis.

Thank you, Dr.

Robinson.

So as it has been long awaited, we received a Federal Park grant for our bill grant for our park project downtown, which has multifaceted pieces to it.

It's a flood mitigation project that starts just on the north side of Holmes Avenue and goes into the Low Mill neighborhood crossing Governor's Drive.

And we're getting very close to advertising and bidding that project.

It's part of that project.

One of the major flood impediments downtown is the old existing railroad trustle bridge, kind of behind the Von Braun Center.

That project will replace that bridge.

It's not our bridge.

It's actually owned by the Huntsville Mass County Rail Authority.

So through FRA requirements as we reconstruct that, we must provide funding for engineering inspections, third-party inspections for the Federal Rail Authority and Huntsville Mass and Rail.

That is what this will do is provide that on-site review during the construction of that railroad trestle bridge.

Questions from Mr.

Davis?

Yes, ma'am.

Is this the bridge project?

Is that also eventually tie in with the whole park grant project down there?

It will, yes.

So that the large-scale park project that has been widely publicized on the news, we will actually bid that project in three phases because there is different specialties of that project.

The first phase that the public will see in the next couple of months will be the channel widening, the flood mitigation piece.

So you will see the widening of Pinhook Creek, a little bit of Spring Branch Creek as it crosses Governor's Drive, and things that will alleviate flood mitigation areas of our downtown where we have experienced flooding.

The next phase that you will see will be this railroad bridge.

And the third phase will be pedestrian.

There's actually, I know the quote, Sky Bridge.

I don't know how much I talk about this project, that it's you know really a flood mitigation project, and that seems to what dominates it's only 20 percent of the project uh will be bid, but there's five pedestrian bridges.

Uh there is one that crosses Pinhook Creek back into the Thrasher Fountain or the canal that goes between the embassy suites and the Von Braun Center.

There is a new vehicular bridge behind the embassy suites to provide better truck access to the back of the VBC.

There's a pedestrian bridge that goes into the medical district and then uh the bridge over the parkway and over Governor's Drive.

Those will be bid at different phases, and then the final phase will actually be the linear park piece.

So it will be the Greenway Trails, uh bike repair stations, uh benches, landscape, those type of things along a new linear park in our downtown that will combine about 12 acres of new linear park.

Now that sounds very confusing, and our engineering department has done a great job of staggering a schedule of letting these packages to where they will finish on time together.

So we won't you know be going through construction saying when will the public get to use this?

When will the flood mitigation?

But but they're all different specialized contractors to do those types of work.

Uh but the thing to remember the first phase in the next 45 days uh we'll be bringing that first contract for your consideration that will be used with the Federal grant funds.

Thank you.

Is it too early to tell how long the railroad replacement, uh railroad bridge replacement would take?

Um it is a new design, so it is concrete, it is pre-cast.

Just is a new design, so it's concrete, it is pre-cast.

So when we let that project, you won't see uh immediate activity.

Uh the whoever the low bidder is will pre-order that, so it will take the manufacturer some months to do that.

But once the those pieces get on site, I would think you know, three to six months it would be finished.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Any other questions?

All in favor, please indicate.

I think motion carries.

Thank you, Councilman.

Mr.

Davis.

Uh 20 M is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute addendum number one to the business agreement to implement technology between the City of Huntsville, Alabama, and Comcate Inc.

for continued services related to the code enforcement division of community development.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion from Mr.

Cling, second from Mr.

Little.

Mr.

Irwin.

Oh, yes, Councilmember's mayor battle Scott Urban, the community development department.

This is an addendum to an existing contract with Comcate to do code enforcement software.

So what the software allows our staff to do is open track and close code enforcement cases, such as overgrown grass, joint vehicles, unsafe structures, and public nuisances.

It also allows mobile functionality.

Inspectors can enter case notes, take photos, and update violations from the field directly from their tablet or smartphone.

It also provides dashboards and reports to track performance.

Look at trends and for enforcement outcomes.

So it is a program we have been using for about three years, and this is a one-year extension.

Other questions?

Mr.

Clink.

Just for clarification, since the concern had been raised, this is not the artificial intelligence issue that we were talking about a couple of weeks ago, correct?

No, sir.

This is data management of our of our system ethics currently exists.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

I should note that at the Council of Neighborhood Associations this week, one of the issues though, the focus was on zoning enforcement, but it evolved to enforcement of all our codes.

And uh one of the concerns that was expressed was we have a lot of codes on the books.

They need to be enforced.

And so this software is what helps us do that.

It absolutely does.

Thank you very much.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

We will go on now to 20S.

20S is a resolution authorizing the mayor to make a grant application to the Federal Transit Author administration for the FY26 formula grants.

Motion from Mr.

Cling.

Second.

Second from Mr.

Little.

Hi.

Council members and mayor.

I am Emma Walker, accountant for the Public Transit Department.

Welcome, Mr.

Chair.

In lieu of Ms.

Bryant, our director.

This is our annual appropriation, just applying for it from FTA for our operating and capital budgets for FY26.

Thank you.

I can't remember who held this.

Who had it?

We had a question from the public.

And I guess just to clear clarify this, you're talking about buses?

Yes, sir.

Shuttle buses, maintenance, uh, those types of things.

Everything in administration there.

Okay.

Total cost of $6,115,002 of the grant fund is three $3,972,492.

The city cost is $2,142,795.

Yes, sir.

Any other questions?

All in favor indicate?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Thank you so much, Ms.

Clark.

20x is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute modification number one to agreement between the City of Huntsville and Skyfire AI Incorporated.

Okay, I have asked the Chair makes the motion.

Second.

Second by Mr.

Little.

Mr.

Riley.

Been asked by Chief Giles to uh to speak to this item.

Uh basically this is a resolution authorizing the the uh mayor to execute modification number one to the currently existing agreement between the City of Huntsville and Skyfire.

Uh we are currently under a contract with this group to manage our drones as a first responder program.

Uh under the current contract, we pay for two employees Monday through Friday from 3 p.m.

to 11 p.m.

They are FAA certified, they perform rooftop pilot in command and teller operator duties.

The program has been very successful, and they're requesting to add two more employees, HPD is, uh, to uh two more employees for two additional days of service, we mean Saturday and Sunday during the same hours, which is 3 p.m.

to 11.

And so the modification is for those additional hours and those days.

And again, this is a first responder program.

Very helpful and successful when there is an event and first responders there.

The drones were able to get to that scene before vehicles on the on the uh land can get there.

And for instance, make an assessment early on as to the severity of injury, for instance, in an accident or uh God forbid there's a gun fight or some type of situation to determine the exact situation where there are armed individuals who are still there.

These are these are the type of services that are provided to help the first responders as they come to have a better idea of what they are coming to, and if it is determined that the emergency is not quite as emergent, they don't have to tear through the city at a high rate of speed with all the danger that might be associated.

So it has been a very successful program, and there's a look to expand it.

Questions?

Yes, ma'am.

So I've heard about these.

I know they are really great in those situations.

I just want to be clear, they don't just fly around randomly filming people.

Right.

That's not what this is for.

This is a first responder program.

Um obviously a lot cheaper than us buying a couple of helicopters.

I would say considerably cheap.

Thank you.

That's all I have.

Any questions?

I'll make one comment.

When I visited the NAMAC, um I got to see video of how quickly these drones can give them eyes on a critical situation, and they can and then give the officers who are responding accurate information about what is going on.

So they come in prepared to deal with the situation.

I'm glad we are expanding it.

It is very successful.

Yes, Mr.

Davis.

I just want to make a comment.

It's not germane to what uh directly to what you are about to vote on, but uh I do want to recognize that this company is headquartered here in Huntsville, uh, started here with two employees and now provide these services globally.

So uh they are a local company.

Local vendor.

That's good to know.

Thank you.

Any other discussion?

All in favor indicate?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Sir, you are out of order.

You can make comments after the meeting.

So, sir, sir.

This is not an opportunity for you to have a conversation with us.

You can make comments uh after the meeting if you have signed up.

Uh 20Z is a resolution authorizing authorizing the mayor to enter into a special employment agreement between the City Council and Kurt W.

Warshek.

Chairman is for approval.

Is there a second?

Second from Mr.

Kling.

Um Ms.

Watkins, I believe you held this item.

Do you have a question?

I think the mayor is going to be handling this.

Sure.

Yeah, this is our our expert with the NAMAC uh who makes the uh NAMAC really roll.

It's a one-year contract.

Um this is a renewal for one for one year.

And the city cost amount is 168,540 annually.

Uh total cost is is again 168,000 168,540 uh dollars.

Uh the NAMAC has been a very good tool to be able to use to uh make sure that uh crime crime is abated and we keep crime down.

Uh Kurt has added uh the technology to it that uh makes it very uh uh protects our uh citizens, but also protects our policemen out there.

Other comments?

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The motion carries.

Um item 21A, new business items for introduction.

21A is an introduction of an ordinance revising, restating, and consolidating the Human Relations Commission and its bylaws pursuant to resolution number 94-633, which was adopted and approved on August 25, 1994.

No action will be taken at this meeting, um, but it is for introduction only and will be considered at the September 11th regular council meeting.

That concludes all of our business, and it brings us now to citizen comments.

We have a number of people who have signed up, and I will just read the little preamble for you.

This portion of the meeting is reserved for for persons wishing to address the council on matters relating to city business, whether or not such items are on the meeting agenda.

Individuals wishing to speak have signed up uh on the second public comments roster prior to or during the meeting.

When called upon, please come to the microphone and state your name, home address, and city residence.

Each speaker may address the council for three minutes.

Speakers shall refrain from entering into a dialogue with council members or city staff and from making comments regarding the good name and character of any individual.

Please remember that the best way to communicate with council members really is by email phone conversations or one-on-one.

One-on-one meetings with council members.

So we will begin.

Subject is smart meters, is Mr.

Campbell here.

Hello again.

A city of residents, sir.

Madison.

Thank you, sir.

Well, uh a few people have presented a proposal for smart meter opt-outs to Huntsville Utilities.

For the record, I was not part of that.

And the proposal, many requests are made that HU, Huntsville Utilities HU, is not about to comply with at this time.

I regret that they did not reserve such requests for our town council, as you are the entity with authority over HU.

I've been working on a proposal, and I still am, to present it to you, which includes a layout of how to implement controlling legislation, which is financially feasible to HU.

And there is more involved, which I cannot divulge at this time.

HU has responded with their opt-out plan.

Although it is called an AMI opt-out, they are not guaranteeing that we can choose to have an analog meter, which is our main request and concern.

And there are many reasons why we do not want any electronic meter besides the fact that they are physically harming us, which you have heard about before.

HU did not agree to allow those opting out to send it agree, excuse me, to degree, to allow those opting out to send a photo of the meter reading each month, which is being done in other places.

However, they still want to penalize us with a fee.

We should not be and refuse to be penalized for not allowing a device on our homes that harms us.

All of our lives we have been paying for meter readers to read every meter.

If the smart meters are saving so much money, then it should be no burden for HU to retain a few readers.

But if we are sending in the reading, which we must now do, we should not be paying anything extra for that.

Any such uh additional cost for that can be incorporated in the cost of the watt hours we are paying for.

Also, if HU is in fear that everyone will suddenly opt out and bankrupt them, studies have shown that only a merry 2 percent will uh opt out.

Uh there will be more as time goes on, but there will be time to make changes and new technology that will communicate without harming us.

Uh I again request that you, the council, write legislation amending the code which regulates HU to make opt-outs law.

I spent this summer studying this entire history with this battle of the meters all over the country and over the world.

We are in a time where industry is now beginning to control us.

We must not let it.

We must contain it.

Um I have copies of sample legislation for opt-outs for you, and also copies of some bad legislation that is going around the country, which I hope we don't see happen here.

And I like to give it to you after the meeting.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Campbell.

The next person to sign up is James Francini.

Subject is smart meters, is Mr.

Francini here.

Hello, my name is James Francini, and my address is accurate as shown on your sheet, and I am in Southeast Huntsville.

I am speaking on behalf of a group of concerned residents regarding the health and safety impacts of smart meters that are being installed as part of Huntsville Utilities Advanced Metering Infrastructure Program, also known as AMI.

This will should be a short status update on the progress being made in our collaboration with HU on developing a smart meter opt-out policy for Huntsville residents.

For those in the audience that may not be aware of this important topic, we originally approached this council because we were notified by HU that smart meters were going to be installed on our homes, even though we had previously opted out a few years earlier.

More importantly, there was no provision allowing us to opt out again.

This was unacceptable for us because of the extensive research and studies that have been done revealing the serious health impacts that can arise from exposure to radio frequency radiation emitted by them.

After presenting our concerns to this council back in July of this year, Mr.

Meredith proactively hosted a meeting between representatives of our small group and HU.

For that, Council President Meredith, we are deeply grateful.

I know he is not here, but I share that with you.

And we are grateful as well to the Huntsville Utility Leadership for being open to work with us.

Now for an update of our progress.

We attended the August utility board meetings this week, with our primary purpose being to request that the boards postpone their vote upon the current draft opt-out policy and allow us to continue to work with HU and crafting a more complete and robust policy.

The meetings were productive, with many good questions being asked by the board members, followed by intelligent and thoughtful discussions between them and the HU team, which led to the vote being postponed.

HU staff and our group will be meeting several times over the coming weeks to prepare the next version of the policy for the board's review.

I intend to provide another update at the next City Council meeting in two weeks.

Thank you for your support and for your interest in this matter.

Thank you, Mr.

Franchini.

The next person to sign up is Ms.

Francis Akeridge.

Subject is pr professional respect.

Ms.

Ackeridge.

Thank you.

I live in Huntsville and my address is correct on the sign-in sheet.

And the topic is professional respect because I've been very busy traveling, yay, and learning about the world and art and food.

And yet somebody called me recently and said, Did you see the epic epic embarrassment of the last meeting?

So I watched it.

It definitely could have been less contentious if, number one, the President or the second whatever the titles that you have had called a point of order.

A vote had already been made about Mr.

Bowden.

The item on the floor was about Ms.

Caruso, and yet the conversation started back to Mr.

Bowden.

Parenthetically, I have no idea why someone would want that person on the No.

We have to be very careful when we put people on the board because there need to, they need to add value.

They don't clutching our pearls and saying they had been thrown out of here doesn't disqualify them.

Please do not bring Facebook into your repertoire.

If someone can get on their phone and go to Facebook for crying out loud, you can go to the Huntsville Media Center and watch these live.

And by the way, you might learn something while you're there, like the phone numbers of the planning division, and find out that it is not up to the government what a farmer wants to do with their land once it is annexed.

Thank you.

And I have thank you, Ms.

Ackridge.

I have a gift for everybody.

The next person to sign up is David Snyder.

Subject is multiple.

Hello, my name is David Snyder.

My information is written correctly on the sheet, and I live in Huntsville, Alabama.

I'm going to run through a few items kind of quickly.

One, um I would like to talk about uh transparency in the jail.

I understand it's the Madison County jail, it is not the Huntsville City jail.

But I would like to know if Huntsville is making money off of ice deportations.

My understanding is every person that gets an ice hold that is in the Madison County jail right now is getting taken.

That is what is happening.

And I would like to know if our city is making money off of that.

A horrendous thing is happening to our Hispanic community.

And I expect that Huntsville should uh establish uh establish itself as a welcoming uh welcoming city like Birmingham did uh previously.

There have also been multiple deaths in the jail that uh we need transparency around there are going to be FOIA requests made.

I uh hope to have the City of Huntsville's uh support when those FOIA requests are submitted and uh any dealings that we have with the MCSO.

Um I would like to talk about Derrick Street a little bit.

I am going to be meeting with Scott tomorrow, actually, um, about that.

Um there needs to be greater access to the hose that is a water outlet for people to be able to get water from.

It's not a great setup to drink uh from, but it is water, so you know that's great.

Um but it could be it needs to be moved over a little bit or have an access away from the camp so people with mobility aids can actually get to it and it's suitable to drink out of.

Um there also needs to be an EMA special response.

Imagine being in a tent uh when a storm like we saw with Monte Seno.

Imagine being in a tent when that happens.

We need to have a special van come out and be willing to take people to safety ahead of a storm like that.

Um we also need to have the resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza signed.

I emailed Bill Kling actually at our last district uh meeting, a petition that is gone around.

I'm gonna email that to all of City Council and to uh Mayor Tommy Battle.

Uh it will be a stain on the City of Huntsville if we don't, at the very least, it is the bare minimum thing that we can do to sign for a ceasefi uh fire resolution and for humanitarian aid to be supplied to the area.

That is the bare minimum.

Um regarding City Detect, I am going to say again that the uh people of Huntsville, uh, like you've seen with the uh concern with Skyfire, we don't want to be surveilled.

We don't want money to be put into surveillance.

Um we would uh like to have a black history museum installed in the city.

We do not want to be surveilled.

Um I understand that with Skyfire, the idea is that it is for emergency response, and that is a good thing, right?

Um again, one of the things with uh City Detect is about what it can be used for or what that data can be used for, right?

So where are we getting assurances and transparency that they're not going to use those drones for any other purpose other than emergency uh response?

And um, like with City Detect, what assurances do we have that if a larger federal body demands that you know data that that's not going to just be handed over to other parties, right?

The best way to not do it is to not have it.

We appreciate your attendance tonight.

The next person to sign up is David W address is AAMU.

There is no subject.

Is Mr.

David W here?

Apparently not.

Uh then we will move on to uh Taurus Smith.

Mr.

Smith.

Mr.

Smith is not here.

Moses Eben.

Mr.

Eben.

Yolanda Cottle.

Is Cottle here?

Lynn Holmes.

I'm beginning to suspect that these were folks who were here and thought they had to sign in.

Turney Gaskin, subject is AI cameras.

AI police drone budget increase.

Hello.

Um, my name is Tierney Gaskin.

Uh, I live in the city of Huntsville.

Thank you.

Um real quick, I would just like to talk about the City Detect program.

So local citizen I have a copy of everything I'm about to say.

I'm about to talk very fast.

So a local citizen's concern on the City Detect program possibly coming to Huntsville, automated surveillance undermines trust and cooperation between citizens and their government.

If the AI tool is used, is doing the work of spotting violations on the street, then our officials will lose contact with the community and the human element is lost.

Without community and civic empathy, government officials will become disconnected from citizens.

For privacy concerns, the CEO of City Detect claims that the data collected will not be sold to anyone, but how can we be certain that our data won't be sold ever?

Legally, is it in the contract that our data is not for sale under any circumstances or after a certain period of time?

How does City Detect make money for its investors if they do not sell our data?

Customer data in the contract that you guys have under that proposal.

Uh customer data is defined as any information or other data of any type provided by the customer or its end users to City Detect in connection with the product, including preferences, case status, notes, and summaries.

However, customer data does not include analytical data or raw data or any other information reflecting the access of or use of the product per section 3.2 of the terms of use.

Raw data is defined as, quote, all audio, visual images, text, global positioning system, and other geospatial and environmental data and other types of content captured by devices or otherwise provided by city detect in connection to the product.

End quote, also as per section of 3.2 turns of use.

Analytical data is defined as the output that is generated through the gener that is output that is generated through the product using artificial and intelligence, quote AI output, and the data and information submitted or produced by the customer or its end users related to the interpretation, understanding, and refinement of raw data and AI output per section 3.2 of the terms of use.

As of section 11.1 of the terms of use states that all customer data, the product and analytical data, raw data and AI output are deemed to be confidential information of City Detect, which implies that if we are not in a contract with City Detect, that we cannot access our own data.

All of the cameras that are used in the City Detect program are delased to us by the company.

We will never acquire ownership of the data and the collection devices which implies that the photos, videos, and audios that is collected is not legally ours.

For section 1.10 of terms of use.

In the agreement, it is said that City Detect has the right to use analytical raw and raw data in a way that implies that it could be sold or used for data mining.

Quote, City Detect shall not use customer data for any purpose outside of the scope of the agreement or otherwise permitted by the privacy policy.

The foregoing does not restrict the city detects right and you miss gaskin.

Your time is up.

I'm glad you're going to provide us printed copies of that you said.

Yes, I do have printed copies.

Okay.

That's a lot of information.

We appreciate you preparing that for us.

Subject is AI cameras, City Detect.

Hey guys, I am Serena Clary.

I wanted to talk about City.

And City Residence, please.

Oh, Madison.

Thank you.

Sorry.

I wanted to talk also talk about City Detect what the environmental concerns are the aspect concerning AI.

AI has a substantial power draw requirement, which some estimates suggesting that data centers supporting AI could require up to three times the power of traditional facilities of the same size.

That power disparity will continue to grow as the these AI chips grow more and more powerful and therefore more power hungry.

A considerable portion of the power cost is due to cooling requirements.

Given that Alabama has a rather warm climate, it stands to reason that its cooling costs will be greater than the average of other areas.

With climate change mounting in an ever greater as ever greater threat, it would be more prudent to invest the money into renewable energy solutions instead of dumping it into surveillance mechanisms that would, as things stand now, only accelerate the rate of greenhouse gas emissions to keep up with their inefficient power requirements.

Buying solar panels and incorporating them into the city's power grid would pay for themselves over a five to fifteen year time frame.

And as they can last up to 35 years, they'll provide savings for the city well after that.

Bolstering the power grid could also help incentivize incentivize future AI investments that don't involve invasive hammer fleet since cities with robust power grids would be ideal sites for development in the long run.

So that's AI in general.

But I also wanted to mention that for citizens here in Alabama who have native plantings, the native plantings will not be recognized by these cameras leading to citations.

The movement to create yards and grounds that use native plants to create habitats for Alabama pollinators and reduce water usage means that we can have more native lawns in our communities.

These would benefit everyone.

And there is concern that the AI cameras will not be able to discern a patch of native vegetation from weeds.

Therefore insinuating citations unneeded.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next person to sign up is Jeffrey Angle, Mr.

Angle.

Hello, uh Jeffrey Engel, uh City of Huntsville, live in Sherwood Park.

I'm with the Democratic Socialists of North Alabama.

Um we're going to talk about AI again.

Um I want to express my uh complete disappointment with the board uh for extending the contract uh to allow drones to uh surveil our communities on weekends and uh for that to be uh shuffled through uh through an AI company.

Uh I am uh very active in uh the uh movement here uh in Huntsville, and I know that those drones are used to watch us uh on our first amendment rights uh gatherings.

Those drones are above us and those that all of that data is being fed uh into this AI uh system.

Uh so it is being used for more than just first responders.

Onto City Detect.

Uh that again on data.

Um their contract says that all data is stored in third party facilities and uh we do not know where those facilities are.

Uh your con the contract also says that City Detect can store that data indefinitely.

So why are they able to store that indefinitely?

Why would they not be able to delete it after a certain amount of time?

Quote.

Images stored in deep storage for 12 months and then moved into deeper storage indefinitely retrieval, retrievable upon request.

Who would be requesting that data of all of our streets?

Who would need all of that data of every street for uh for years and years except for to use it uh for some type of surveillance?

All right.

The uh on to cost.

So this will be uh over $300,000 per year uh for three years uh equating to almost a million dollars.

Uh that money can be used uh for solar panels.

That money can be used uh instead to uh feed school children.

Uh one of the biggest uh indicators of economic opportunity is hunger.

Uh one of uh the greatest things that our city can do is provide for its children and provide uh impoverished uh communities uh with free meals.

Uh where'd it go?

All right.

Uh so again to the crowd, uh, you live in a surveillance state.

Uh just because there are AI cameras all over the roads, uh like Google, uh Amazon, uh does not need mean that we need to have more of them.

Uh I've been heard that as an excuse from a uh city official that hey, uh this technology is already out there, why not use it?

We don't want it.

We don't want to be surveilled more.

We don't want our tax dollars used to surveil us.

Um 1984 was not meant to be an instruction manual.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Angle, and please to the just for everybody's information comments should be addressed to the council, not to everybody else.

Amanda Puzchek.

Is Ms.

Puschek here?

That was fantastic.

I don't know if I've ever had someone say my last name so well.

My mother was Czech.

Again, thank you for the pronunciation.

I'm very impressed.

Uh Amanda Pushek, I live in Huntsville.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Hi.

Uh I want to talk a little about about City Detect AI as well.

Um here's the thing.

I check my mail and my robe.

And there's lots of people in our neighborhood who have kids that walk around, their kids in their bathing suits in the summer, splash pad out in the yard, all of that sort of thing.

And the way that City Detect is currently being proposed, all of that data, all of that information, all of that photographic evidence would be stored indefinitely.

So while we may live in a time right now where that may not be so much of an issue, I've also had my data leaked before.

I've had it leaked, I've had it sold when companies close down, and now I get 8,000 spam calls a day.

Not to mention the amount of times that I've had my credit damaged because of it, or I've had my father's personal home information leaked because of it.

My biggest concern is because of the indefinite manner in which that this data is stored.

Historically speaking, when these sort of companies do close, because typically companies close.

That's just how it exists.

Because that information is stored forever, one of the first mechanisms of action that they do to try to liquidate their assets is by selling the data.

Another thing that they'll do is also just leak the information, whether intentionally by company workers or an outside source, it doesn't matter because once it's out, it's out.

We all know that it's very difficult to put that information back into the bottle.

Now there are services out there that will hopefully pull that information back down off of the internet for us.

But I feel like the people of Huntsville shouldn't have to pay for that to happen.

If we get ahead of problems, it's much easier than fixing them later.

And I would just say with a word of caution that when we think of things indefinitely, time is a construct, and then we tend to experience it very differently as individuals.

When we look at broader periods of time, it can be very difficult for our brains to wrap around that indefinite concept.

What we do with that information cannot only affect us today, but 20 years from now, when those same kids are adults applying for jobs, and now they have their pictures of them in swimsuits as kids on the internet.

I know that that seems very silly, but that's what we're talking about here.

And that's the real life consequences.

Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you, Ms.

Kuchuk.

Next we have Julie Calderwood.

Julie, I'm Julie Calderwood.

I live in South Huntsville.

After one of my our meetings about the smart meters, uh one of the comments from the City Council was but you've been here before talking about smart meters, and we referred you to the Huntsville utilities, kind of questioned why why we're coming back.

And I and I thought to myself, um, it's because you don't understand.

Um this is not just about smart meters.

Um we have man-made two-way microwave radiation that sends and receives data in all sorts of things, the smart meters, the cell towers, Bluetooth laptops, iPads, Wi-Fi routers, classroom access points, you name it, all this wireless stuff, hearing aids, vehicles, gaming systems.

So there has never been a safe level of microwave radiation determined in scientific literature.

Many of the health issues associated with wireless technologies can also occur with electrical systems and devices that operate in low, extremely low frequency range.

Um I started researching because I was feeling getting sick, what was going on with me, I finally bought an acousta meter and started measuring around different places and different things.

And that's what got my my attention.

Um I have done so much research, but why I realize that um we adopted wireless technology without taking into consideration its potential impact on health.

The FCC guidelines in place today were developed in 1996, and they do not address the much lower non-thermal impacts that come with use of today's devices.

The science has proven there are many harmful non-thermal effects.

And the FCC standards also don't address the impact on children and fetuses who absorb a lot of this radiation more than we as adults do, and impact our bodies in such in so many ways.

The FCC um an agency reported by the Harvard is a captured industry.

And they have thousands of pages of scientific evidence that has been entered into the public record.

Thousands of studies have been done, and many countries have banned and restricted the use of Wi-Fi and cell phones for children and protect women who are pregnant from the health impacts of this this technology is causing.

In 2015, Harvard University published a captured agency report detailing how the FCC is run by the industry it presumably regulates.

The U.S.

government has known there are biological effects for from electromagnetic radiation for decades.

In the U.S.

and elsewhere, evidence of harm was suppressed and non-protective standards were set, falling back on the excuse that more research needs to be done before those standards will be updated.

And NASA Newback had a report in 1981, the Army Intelligence document from 1998 identifies and other things.

But we would like to send you.

And that would educate you.

Thank you.

Always appreciate that.

Thank you.

Next, Dr.

David Calderwood.

Uh David Calderwood, Southeast Huntsville.

I too would like to express our gratitude as a member of the Smart Meter Opt-out Group of this of the Huntsville utilities being willing to work with us to try to come up with a good plan, and we hope that this will be successful.

I come tonight to extend an invitation to the members of this council as well as everyone else present.

I think that there are members of our city government who would like the City of Huntsville to be a smart city.

Um it is probably one of the most extensive uh collection of information on electromagnetic radiation.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity, utility company smart meters, a large section on that and the effects of those.

Cell towers, 5G, planetary impact, including the impact on wildlife, on plant growth and insects, including bees.

If the radiation level gets high enough, beaming down from satellites as it is, and in all of our areas, we could kill off all the bees, and that would end life for humans on this planet.

Also, there's legal issue section bills from Massachusetts and other states.

Also a section on industrial whistleblowers exposing what's going on behind the scenes and the cover-ups and so forth.

World response, in which you learn that the United States, Japan, and Canada have the highest levels allowed, which are a hundred times higher than smarter countries who are allowing much less than those include Switzerland, Austria, and Russia, among others.

There's also a sections on solutions for schools and families, for workplaces, for health care providers, for engineers and physicists, for municipal leaders like yourselves, for legislators and for lawyers.

I therefore would like to extend an invitation that we learn about this so that Huntsville can be an intelligent and healthy city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dave, Dr.

Caldery.

And now Mariah Hammond, is Ms.

Hammond here?

I suspect these are you people who were here earlier.

Mariah Hammond and Kendia England.

They are not here, and that concludes our citizen comments.

We welcome all of you back at our next council meeting, which will be yes.

Oh, Rhonda Lynn.

Nope is that you I skipped right over you.

Thank you for calling that to our attention.

You will be our concluding speaker.

Please give your time to sign on the list, and I would love to speak also.

We'll look forward to hearing from you at the next meeting.

Ms.

Lynn.

Good evening.

I read this statement from name and address.

I'm Rhonda Lynn.

I'm reading this statement at the City of Resident Evil.

From Huntsville.

Thank you.

Alicia Booth Hagemager, also from Huntsville, and this is her statement.

She wishes to raise an issue that ties directly into Huntsville's future stability.

We all know Huntsville is being branded as a tech hub, but there's a dark side to that trend.

Across the country, corporate giants like BlackRock and Blackstone are buying up utility companies, tying them directly to the growth of AI data centers.

These data centers don't just use electricity, they drain community water supplies and spike local power costs.

Communities in Texas, New Mexico, and Minnesota are already in legal battles because private equity firms are driving rates up while residents are left footing the bill.

Here in Huntsville, we've already seen the proposed rollout of AI-powered surveillance cameras.

Pair that with the growing demand for server farms, and you have a picture that should concern all of us.

Our resources, power, water, even our privacy are being turned into commodities for outside corporations.

She wants to be clear.

She uses AI.

I believe it can be powerful tool, but using it irresponsible at the expense of residents' bills, health, and freedom, puts entire communities at risk.

Selling out to corporate interests that view Huntsville as just another market is a dangerous path.

Huntsville is unique.

We are a city with deep military, scientific, and family roots.

We cannot afford to let Wall Street interests dictate our utility policies, drain our resources, and then leave us with the damage.

So I'm asking this council before Huntsville follows the same path as other cities.

Commit to transparency, commit to protecting residents first, not outside investors.

Because if we don't, we may wake up to find out that the city we love is being run by algorithms and corporate balance sheets, not by the people who live here.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I believe that concludes our meeting.

Move to adjourn.

We are adjourned until September 11.

We welcome you back then.

Thank you.

Thank you every everyone who participated.