Good evening, everyone.

It is Thursday, June twenty fifth, twenty twenty six, five thirty PM, and this session of the Huntsville City Council is called to order.

We are met in the chambers in Huntsville, Alabama.

We welcome all those who have joined us here tonight in person, and many who are joining us virtually on several streaming platforms.

We will begin our meeting tonight as is our practice with an invocation offered by one of our Huntsville, Alabama police safety chaplains, Chaplain Don Edy, which will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance given by Council Member John Meredith.

All who wish to do so are able, please stand for the invocation and pledge of allegiance.

Last week, this past month for the children.

We're grateful and we take that as a stewardship upon them.

And Lord, thank you for the gift of these little ones.

Lord, we pray for the council members tonight that you give them discernment and discretion as they work through the issues they have of the evening.

We pray for the public who's gathered here that you would give them grace and understanding as uh the two work together.

Lord, we just want to say that we love you, and we pray that you would help us to love you and to love one another as we love ourselves.

And we pray this in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Amen.

To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Chaplain Eady, and thank you, Councilmember Meredith.

Council members, we have the agenda.

Please note that items 19B and 21G have been withdrawn by the sponsor.

Is anyone aware of any other changes or additions to the agenda?

Is there a motion?

That's the last one 20 G.

20 G.

Okay.

Yeah.

For introduction.

So 19B, 21.

19B and 21G.

Gotcha.

We have two items.

Thank you.

Anyone aware of any other changes?

Is there a motion to approve the agenda?

Motion uh second by the chair.

All in favor, please indicate.

Imposed, the agenda is approved.

Council members, you also have in front of you the minutes of the work session of the city council held on June 1st, 2026.

Is anyone aware of any additions or corrections?

If I'm not mistaken, that wasn't a work session of the council.

It was a joint session with the council and the Huntsville City School Board.

We'll call it a joint work session.

Thank you for making that correction.

Are there any other corrections that need to be made?

Um, all in favor, or is there a motion to approve the minutes?

They've been corrected.

Uh motion from Mr.

Little.

Corrected title.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Second by the chair.

All in favor, please indicate opposed.

The motion carries.

4B is the minutes of the regular meeting with the City Council held on June 11, 2026.

Are there any additions or corrections to those minutes?

Seeing none, the minutes will be accepted as presented.

The mayor has one special recognition tonight.

5A is a proclamation recognizing Huntsville Hospital Health System.

100 years of babies celebration.

Mayor Battle.

Thank you, Madam President.

If I could ask uh Tracy Dowdy and Elizabeth Sanders and the whole baby team, in fact, if they would come forward for this proclamation, one that we are very proud to be making tonight.

As they come forward, I might mention to everybody that um Huntsville Hospital has been servicing our community for over 131 years.

And in 1926, June 11th, 1926, they welcomed their first baby, Buddy Miller, and that started for a hundred years of delivering babies in the city of Huntsville and this North Alabama area.

But whereas generations of families have trusted Huntsville Hospital to care for them during some of life's most meaningful moments, and I've had that opportunity also with a son born there and two grandsons born there.

Uh whereas generations of families have trusted Huntsville Hospital to care for them during the life life's most meaningful moments, whereas Huntsville Hospital Health System is recognizing the historic milestone through a commemorative one hundred years of baby celebration.

Whereas our nonprofit community-based hospital plays a vital role in the health and well-being of children and families throughout our city, county, and region.

Whereas Huntsville Hospital has continuously advanced the care for mothers and babies, and whereas the legacy continues today through Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children, which delivers more babies annually than any other hospital in Alabama and Madison Hospital, which has expanded access to high-quality maternity care for one of the state's fastest growing communities.

And whereas the city of Huntsville proudly recognizes and celebrates the nurses, physicians, and care teams, which is all re uh represented right here, that have impacted families across our community for the last 100 years.

Now, therefore, I, Tommy Battle, mayor of the city of Huntsville, do hereby recognize 100 years of babies at Huntsville Hospital Health System and honor the extraordinary legacy of care, compassion, and commitment that has touched generations of families throughout our community.

Thank you very much for all that y'all have done for our community.

Now, Tracy, please give us some words of wisdom.

Okay.

On behalf of our Board of Trustees and our senior leadership team, thank you all.

Thanks to the mayor and our city council for recognizing us today.

We've delivered over 350,000 babies in our 100 years, and that's a lot of people.

So most people here probably were delivered at Huntsville Hospital if you're from Huntsville.

So we thank you for being here.

I'm just in the way.

They do all the work, so I'm gonna let Elizabeth Sanders say a few words.

You're sweet.

Um I just thank you.

Thank you for the honor.

Um, we couldn't do this without the team that we have.

We have incredible staff at the hospital and incredible providers.

Um, we're just thankful to play a part into our community and to bring um these lives into the world and help um continue to grow a stronger Huntsville, and I'm proud to see where we go in the uh next few years.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

All right, thank you.

Sure, thank you.

Here we go, everybody.

Thank you.

Thank y'all.

And I will just add that five of those babies in that huge count belonged to the bay our family.

My all five of my children were born at Huntsville Hospital.

They did a fine job.

Item six A is a resolution recognizing the remarkable life and legacy of Representative James Howard Sanderford.

Is there a motion to motion to approve?

Motion for Mr.

Little, second from the chair.

All in favor, please indicate.

Mr.

Kling, would you like to join me in uh presenting the resolution?

We have Mr.

Sanderford's family here.

Would you like to come and join us up here?

Oh, we have his daughter, one of his three daughters, Peggy is with us, two grandchildren, and I will, while they're coming up, I'll tell you that at the visitation when in January, when we suggested to the family that we would like to do a resolution, they said we will all from out of town.

We will all be back in June for a wedding, which has taken place, and so now we are able to present the resolution in Representative Sanderford's honor.

Whereas the City Council and the mayor of the city of Huntsville, Alabama, wish to recognize the remarkable life and legacy of Representative James Howard Sanderford, who will long be remembered for his innovative entrepreneurship, unwavering service to his country, and steadfast leadership in the community.

He had a dedicated following a dedicated military service.

Believing that serving the citizens of Huntsville and Madison County was the honor of a lifetime.

He was definitely a public servant.

Representative Sanderford served in various leadership roles, including co-chair of the joint legislative sunset committee, chair of the House Boards Agencies and Commissions Committee, and Chair of the Alabama Legislative Medal of Honor for Law Enforcement.

He was very proud of his service in that capacity.

As an active leader in his community, he served on the U.S.

Uh Space and Rocket Center Board.

I was past president of the Huntsville Rotary, and someone just told me that half of the members of Rotary were recruited by Howard.

Um his past very conservative.

Past chair of the Madison County Republican Executive Committee and past co-chair of the Chamber of Commerce Free Enterprise Committee, reflecting his dedication to the betterment of the City of Huntsville.

He was also an active member of his church, First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, finance committee chair, youth Sunday school director, and teacher, demonstrating exemplary faith and service to Christ.

And whereas Representative Sanderford not only faithfully served his country community and church, he was also a dedicated husband to his wife Dot of 67 years, devoted father to three daughters, Mary Ann, Peggy, who's with us tonight, and Betty, and loving grandchildren, or loving grandfather to eight children.

Now therefore be it resolved that the city of the City Council and mayor of the City of Huntsville hereby honor the life of Representative James Howard Sanderford, recognizing years of faithful service to his country and three decades of committed leadership in the city of Huntsville and Madison County due to his prominent influence.

Thank you for being here.

And thank you each for being here.

Would you like to introduce your family?

Okay.

I want to thank you all for this.

Anybody that knows my dad knows he loved a good resolution.

So thank you for this, and thank you for remembering him.

He and my mom moved here 50 years ago and made Huntsville their home, and they loved Huntsville and loved the opportunity to serve here.

So thank you very much for this.

Thank you.

Would you like to introduce you?

Sure.

Um, well, let me recognize before the ones that aren't here before I um my older sister Mary Ann and her husband Chip and two sons, um, Philip and John and um Shannon are not here with us, and then my younger sister Betty, who is the mother of Caroline and Grace, and Grace is the new wife of Dylan.

You make all this possible, yeah.

And this is my husband, Morgan.

So thank you again very much.

This is very meaningful to us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I had I had the privilege to know Howard both as a fellow elected official and also as a news reporter, and he was true blue.

He cared about the entire city, not just his own legislative district.

And sometimes there'd be some tough issues out there, but he would always return my phone calls.

And he was a great, great person for this community, and it was a privilege to have known him.

Another resolution for a great community servant 6B is a resolution commemorating the retirement of Sarah Savage Jones from the Huntsville Hospital Foundation and honoring her profound impact as the foundation's president.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from the chair.

All in favor, please indicate.

I oppose the motion carries.

And Mr.

Little will help me present this resolution.

Thank you.

I actually had an ordinance ready to go to prevent your retirement, but couldn't get three votes.

So anyway, this is real special.

Um this uh resolution is honoring uh Sarah Savage for great service to the city.

Whereas the city council and the mayor of the city of Huntsville, Alabama wished to commemorate the retirement of Sarah Savage from the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, honoring her profound service and impact as the foundation's president.

And whereas, whereas born in Nashville and raised in Dothan, Sarah is an Auburn University graduate and has worked in various capacities serving as the hospital Huntsville Hospital's Foundation president, including South Trust Bank in Birmingham and Huntsville, Crestwood Medical Center and Leadership Greater Huntsville Madison County, serving as its CEO for 19 years, demonstrating her dedication to bettering the city of Huntsville and surrounding areas.

Whereas following her time with Leadership Greater Huntsville, Sarah began serving as president of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation and is responsible for its expanded programming, strengthened partnerships, and deepened impact across North Alabama, combining her commitment to bringing positive change to the Huntsville Hospital Health System and passion for caring for others.

And whereas under Sarah's leadership, the Huntsville Hospital Foundation achieved its highest annual fundraising total in the organization's history, provided critical resources to hospitals and caregivers during the COVID 19 pandemic, expanded the caring house to better serve children and families across North Alabama through free grief support services, obtained its largest gift in history to support the expansion of cardiac services throughout the Huntsville Hospital Health System, secured statewide recognition at the 2023 Huntsville Classic through being named Business Alabama's Philanthropic Project of the Year and received the largest one-time grant in Huntsville Hospital Foundation history to invest in innovative programs and meet today's largest health care uh needs.

And whereas outside of her immense success at Huntsville Hospital Foundation as Huntsville Hospital Foundation's president, Sarah is an active member of the Huntsville community, having diligently served on 21 boards and civic committees, including Board Officer or Chair for Rotary Club of Huntsville, the National Association of Leadership Programs, the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, and Public Relations Council of Alabama.

And I know.

And early on in her career, served on the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform Board helping launch the Huntsville chapter, further demonstrating her passion for community service.

And whereas, due to her outstanding work in the Huntsville community, Sarah has been decorated with several awards and honors, including the Momentum Women Impact, Momentum Women of Impact Award winner in 2022, the Patricia Haley Charity Humanitarian of the Year Award, ALP Leadership Lifetime Legacy Award, Rotary Club of Huntsville Vocational Excellence Award, Women's Economic Development Council Foundation's Women Honoring Women Award, and the Parker Practitioner of the Year, and the AIB instructor of the year.

Now, therefore, be resolved that the City Council and the Mayor of the City of Huntsville, Alabama, do hereby commemorate the retirement of Sarah Savage as the president of Huntsville Hospital Foundation, honoring her profound impact on the Foundation defined not only by record-setting achievements, but also her ability to inspire generosity, strengthen partnerships, and unite the community around a shared purpose.

May this resolution stand as a testament to her the significant mark Sarah has left on the Foundation whose leadership will long be remembered and admired.

Thank you so much.

I'm so honored.

Um I came here 35 years ago, like so many I viewed.

This was uh a place that we chose to live.

We had a choice between Atlanta and Huntsville, and we came here.

I did not know anyone.

Um when I first got here, I wasn't so sure that it was the place for me.

Um, but honestly, within just a few months, I fell in love, and that has been the love story forever.

I've had the privilege of having a front row seat to watch this community grave.

Known many of you before you were in public service and have watched as you've grown um in leaders, and I I think we are the envy of so many communities.

We have it so great here, and I hope we never forget that.

Um, because the the problems that we have, so many communities would love to have those issues, but look at how blessed we are.

I have been blessed in all of my career um with banking and especially um with Leadership Greater Huntsville and with my wonderful Huntsville Hospital Foundation family and my Huntsville hospital family thank you all to City Council and to Mayor for your service you all put in a lot of hours uh countless hours here as do your teams and your department heads thank you so much for this honor you will be missed on my whole team under the part of someone yes, we're not thank you for everyone who joined us for our celebrations this evening now we get to celebrate the good work that's being done by one of our agencies uh item seven A is a presentation from the National Children's Advocacy Center joining us is Chris Newland.

Chris welcome thank you very much thank you for the opportunity to speak with you tonight.

Congratulations Sarah I know they're out the door I'm gonna be I'll try to be really brief but I think everybody on the council knows about the work of the National Children's Advocacy center.

We're founded on two basic concepts number one the only way we can be successful with addressing child sexual abuse is by having a multidisciplinary team that includes law enforcement, child protective services, mental health professionals, medical professionals, and that number two, whatever that team does it should actually help kids.

And Bud Kramer founded this concept back in the eighties uh this model has get you know has grown uh we're very appreciative of having our our wonderful campus at the corner of Pratt and Meridian where you can see all of our partners that are co-located with us of special note obviously to this council is our integral role that we play with Huntsville Police Department Special Victims Unit that entire special victims unit is co-located on our campus uh and we work together every day we did two forensic interviews today for HPD on cases that they were investigating uh we also provide a tremendous amount of training for those officers when they come to the unit uh and we have a great working relationship you all do have a wonderful special victims unit uh of of investigators so let me say that also it would it would be uh uh a miss remiss for me to not mention that this model that started in Huntsville Alabama has now expanded all over the US there's more than a thousand children's advocacy centers across the United States so once again Huntsville showing entrepreneurial spirit that has literally revolutionized how our nation responds to child abuse and these programs are also operating in more than 40 countries around the world.

But I don't want to talk to you about child abuse necessarily.

I want to talk to you about I mean because everybody thinks, oh, you address child abuse, but I want to talk to you about the work or the impact of our work in the long term on human rights, on school performance and behavior, on economic development, on public health, on workforce development, and on government efficiency, all in less than four minutes.

So for human rights first, let me just ask the question: Do kids have the right to grow up free from abuse or neglect?

I believe everybody, every sane person would say yes.

And secondly, if a child is abused, do they have the right to receive quality services?

Yes.

So literally in this community, unfortunately, children's human rights have been violated whenever they're abused.

But we as a system must make sure that we're not re-traumatizing them.

And so we are addressing human rights.

Individuals who have experienced child maltreatment are at increased risk of educational underachievement, including both math and verbal scores, and they're more likely to have poor social skills and classroom behavior.

So if we can intervene on behalf of children when they have these have had these incidents and prevent them from having the long-term impacts, great.

They're also less likely uh individuals who experience abuse are less likely to have savings account, less likely to own their own car, less likely to have uh any kind of stocks or savings, and less likely to own their own home.

And men who were sexually abused in childhood on average earn 21% less than their peers who were not abused, and for women it's 15%.

This is data of from individuals who did not receive services.

We're trying to change that so that we increase the economic viability of this community by addressing trauma in childhood.

Additionally, on public health impacts, the adverse childhood research is a big study, but across mental health issues uh and chronic disease, the more adverse childhood experiences we have without intervention, we're gonna have more issues.

Uh, it also impacts costs, 9% of all Medicaid costs are associated with child maltreatment.

Uh, and the cost of health care goes up when we have more health care issues.

For women who were sexually abused is 16% higher.

For women who are both physically and sexually abused is 36% higher.

So these are numbers that impact the future of this community's health.

It's also an issue with workforce development.

The more adverse childhood experiences a child an individual had, they're more likely to have absenteeism on the job, financial problems, and job problems.

So we need to address this in childhood so we don't we have a better workforce moving forward.

And finally, again, government efficiency.

We save a thousand dollars by reducing the duplication of government activities and having this coordinated approach.

So it's a smart investment for all these reasons, and I'm under four minutes.

Yes, you did it.

You told me you could.

356 for the record.

Council members, do you?

I was timing it too.

Uh council members, do you have questions for Mr.

Newland?

Ms.

Watkins.

I necessarily don't have um any questions for you.

I do have comment.

Um, as a former educator, I understand the importance of the children's advocacy center.

They do a lot of things for our students, a lot of work goes into it that people don't know about.

And because of the nature of some of the cases and the sensitivity, it is a blessing to have this in our community.

So another two I'll do a lot of hard work, and I just want to thank you so much and that you know that we really appreciate you.

Thank you, councilwoman.

I appreciate that very much.

Mr.

Little?

What Ms.

Watkins said.

I think the words ditto.

Mr.

Newland, when you and I met uh a couple weeks ago, we talked about the city's contribution to the children's advocacy center, and it has some unique aspects to it.

Can you just review that for everybody?

Sure.

Um so we were added to in outside agency funding a couple of a few years, a couple of years ago.

Uh this past year we received $50,000 uh in support, uh, which we are very appreciative of.

Um but we also have a lease with the city of Huntsville that all of those officers are using about 3,600 square feet in our team building.

Um, and the current uh lease uh is about $14 per square foot per year.

Uh we provide all the pest control, all the janitorial, all the utilities, the internet, phones, furniture, everything, soup to nuts, they just show up.

Um and that's if anybody who knows anything about commercial real estate in downtown Huntsville, that's far below market average.

Uh market average is somewhere around $25.

Um, so I feel that fair and equitable is what we're all about, you know, pursuing justice for kids, but also you know, having an equitable rate.

So I I would love to have see the council and the mayor reconsider uh that that lease to be aligned with more of current market value.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

Thank thank you again for the really exceptional work you do in a very challenging sphere.

I know that you have to be called to do that work, and you definitely have been.

Well, it's our pleasure to shepherd families from a place of hurt and and uh harm to a place of healing and hopefully to avert these long-term impacts that will drag down any community.

Uh so I that's why I really wanted to put it in terms of we you know we got to think the long game.

So I appreciate your attention and again, but I was kept my promise under four.

You really talked fast.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item A uh matters item eight is matters with outside legal representation.

We have none, but we do have three public hearings to be held.

Nine A is a public hearing on the zoning of 1.33 acres of land lying on the north side of Winchester Road, west of Shields Road to Highway Business C4 district, and consideration of an ordinance pertaining to the same.

Mr.

Nunez.

Good evening, Council members.

Thomas Nunez, manager of planning and zoning services.

This item is located north side of Winchester Road and west of Shields Road.

Petition is seeking to zone the property highway business C4 district.

Um which is consistent with property within the area.

This was recently annexed into Huntsville City limits.

The public hearing on this item is now open.

Is there anyone who wishes to comment on this item?

Anyone wishing to comment?

Seeing none, the public hearing is closed.

Is there a motion to approve the ordinance?

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from the chair.

Uh does anyone have questions or is there discussion?

Ms.

Watkins?

No, no questions.

Seeing none, we'll uh then proceed to the vote.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries, and the ordinance is approved.

Nine B is a public hearing on the rezoning of 47.19 acres of land lying on the south side of Swancott Road, east of Rabbit Lane from residence one B district to residence two district, and consideration of an ordinance pertaining to the same.

Mr.

Nunez.

Council members, this item is located south side of Swancar Road and east of Rabbit Lane.

Petition is seeking to zone the property from residence one B district to residence two district for a single family residential development.

The public hearing is now open.

Please come forward.

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

Um I'm wondering uh which is a more dense um uh resident residential zoning, the one B or the two?

And I'm also really wondering why does it get changed at this point?

Um clearly at some point it was approved for one thing.

Now they're changing it to another thing.

Who wants to change it?

And why and what is the process that you have to go through to have that happen?

Thank you.

Thank you for your questions.

Are there any other comments?

Public hearing is now closed.

Is there a motion to approve the ordinance?

Motion from Mr.

Little.

Is there a second?

Second second by the chair.

Uh are there questions for Mr.

Nunez?

Um, Mr.

Nunez, would you like to comment on which is more dense, one B or two, uh, residence two, and why are we making the change?

What is the process?

Yes, so I'll start one with the process itself.

So upon the city council annexing and zoning property, the property is to uh have a zoning district that allows for a particular use.

Uh through that uh action petitioners or property owners uh perform or app uh perform an application to us to state what their next intended uses are.

Uh for this development, they are changing from a residence one B district to a residence 2 district.

The residence 2 district is denser.

Uh it is allowable to have a mixture of housing stock.

Particularly this development is uh seeking to petition for uh reduction of side yard setbacks.

Uh, the difference between residence 1B and residence two is approximately four feet on either side.

Uh so in residence 1B, you are to remain uh 10 feet on both sides of the home.

In this case, in residence two, if it is to be approved, then that action would allow for a sum of 16 under residence 2B.

Furthermore, within the process, the application is received.

Planning staff reviews that application, has deeper discussions with the development teams.

At that point, we uh send out notification to individuals or property owners within 500 feet.

Those notifications are first heard before planning commission.

So the entire process takes approximately nine months and is now so this process started approximately um 75-85 days ago.

Uh and now it is here before you for this particular uh action to review.

Sometimes a denser property results in more affordable housing.

Would that be the case with this?

That is also the case now.

Overall, this development has approximately uh 350 plus acres, and there's a mixture of housing styles uh in this particular area.

It is a new growth corridor as we've had a significant amount of growth in uh our western area, uh primarily around Maza Toyota with Amazon and other announcements that have come.

Uh this is a next uh growth corridor with new housing development, and we want to put some affordable housing opportunities in this area by creating denser developments.

However, this overall development does have a mixture of uh housing stock and style.

Thank you.

Any other questions or discussion?

All in favor, please indicate any pose.

Motion carries.

Is a public hearing on a vacation uh a portion of rights of way at Greenbriar Road and Green Briar Parkway.

Council members, this is located in Southwest City, just east of Greenborough Road, and this is an old uh section of Greenboro Road that has since been demolished, but now still exists this right-of-way.

Petitioners are seeking to, it is the city of Huntsville's petition to uh vacate this this section as it is in conjunction with the Eli Lilly project.

The public hearing on this item is now open.

Is there anyone wishing to comment?

Seeing none, the public hearing is closed.

Is there a motion?

Oh, I'm sorry, at this point, no action will be taken.

The items will be considered at 18A and 18B.

We have one public hearing to set.

10 A is a resolution to declare a public nuisance located at 6026 Lincoya Drive Northwest, Huntsville, Alabama, and to set the date for when objections will be heard.

Is there a motion to set the hearing for July 9, 2026 regular council meeting?

Move to set the hearing.

Thank you.

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from Ms.

Watkins.

All in favor, please indicate aye.

That brings us to agenda-related comments, and we have no agenda-related comments, so we'll move on to comments from Mayor Bell.

Um Madam President, uh, I think the only one uh that I have to address tonight is uh the July 4th celebration, which uh will be coming in a couple of weeks.

Uh it will be a great uh great celebration of our nation's 250th uh birthday.

And we've had a lot of people who have worked uh tirelessly to make this happen uh, worked without pay, uh worked as volunteers to make sure that uh our community celebrates in a way that uh would be fitting for our country that is hitting 250 years.

So uh if you would watch your watch your news, watch your paper or go to uh uh Huntsville.com.gov.

Uh you'll be able to find all the events that are going to be done uh with the 250th anniversary.

So thank you.

Okay, thank you, Mayor Battle.

Councilmember comments.

We'll start with Councilmember Michelle Watkins.

Davis over here tapping his watch, and I'm not paying him no attention.

Good evening, everyone.

Uh first I want to um say last Saturday we had the Trevor Lacey basketball camp at John High Park.

It's the first event held at the John Hub Park.

And let me just tell you, we had over 240 kids show up.

Trevor had about 75 volunteers, so just imagine how packed the gym was, and we still had space.

But I want to thank um a special shout out to James Scotty, David DeLister, and the staff at John Hunt Park for their efforts in helping make the basketball campus success and for them doing everything they could do to make everything just run smooth.

And it really did.

So thank you so much.

This weekend kicks off June Fest.

If you don't want to know what June Fest is, it is actually the 10th anniversary.

Big Lee Adams is the owner of Spokes and Boaks.

And what he does is he restores old cars and like the young kids say he tricks them out with rims.

They have special color paints.

He pulled up one day down here at Sydney.

Everybody was outside walking around his car trying to figure out what kind of car it was.

But this weekend kicks off the 10th anniversary tomorrow night.

T.I.

will be in concert at the Orion.

Uh Saturday, they will have the car show out at John High Park.

They are going to have a special edition this year.

So bring your kids because they're going to have a kid free zone where they're going to have activities for them.

And then Sunday they'll have a basketball camp.

And I got a challenge from Mayor Battle because Mayor Wolfin, Birmingham, Alabama, had him trick out a car for him.

A black cadet that he rides around Birmingham all the time.

So I'm just throwing that out there for the Mayor Faddle.

Don't let him come back in your backyard again.

This Saturday, we're going to have a health fair at the Johnson Legacy Center.

It is free to the community.

We have several vendors set up to talk about different things that they offer.

We'll have somewhere to talk there about healthy eating.

We'll have someone there talking about Tuesing, Oak Street to be there, Happy Health to be there.

It's just a lot of different um vendors will be there.

So please come out.

And that's all the comments I have.

Did I make it in time, Dave?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh no, no.

I'm sorry.

The main comment, Sarah gave me this.

Tomorrow, Martin Marietta, which is one of the businesses in North Huntsville, is having a free community fish fry.

So you can come out to Dawson Elementary between three and six, and they're fine frying fish, and they're gonna have activities for the kids.

So if you have an opportunity, come out.

Thank you, Miss Watkins.

We will now hear from Councilmember Bill Clinton.

Thank you, Madam President.

Well, I guess you can tell I'm a little croaky, but uh I'm alive, I'm well, and I'm kicking.

Uh this past weekend uh we celebrated the unveiling of a new sculpture that took place at Mayfair Park.

This is the fifth uh public art that I have uh partnered with the arts council on using uh my uh council directed funding for.

Uh, it was a beautiful sculpture.

In fact, not many people realize it.

Mayfair is actually the site of Huntsville's first airport, and the sculpture, it has a theme, and it's uh flight.

It's beautiful piece of artwork that was done.

This is in addition to previous artwork that uh we've uh commissioned.

Uh there's a mural at Jim Merrick Park, sculptures at Archer Park, Westlawn Park, and uh also at um at Mayfair, as I said.

So a lot of great things are taking place, like the fact that we can use our arts council, they're great for the public, and they make an effort and they do great artwork, and they're able to share this with uh all members of the public, it's not just in an isolated area.

Um, one little bit of concern.

I see our friend Mr.

Cox out there, and it reminds me that there has been a uh recurring problem on Patton Road with both dumpster garbage overflowing and garbage carts overflowing and garbage carts being left out on the street.

And at different times, uh I've been directed to the police department, uh inspection, the uh community development department, and uh public works.

So I guess I'd like to see if somehow we could come up with a policy and a procedure about which department is actually uh responsible for those and how we can make sure that we take care of uh those types of problems when they reoccur.

Somebody can have something that happens uh once in a while, that's understandable that happens in most neighborhoods, but uh there's been a very constant uh problem with uh coming from the same players out there so that's something I'd like to work on and see if maybe uh we could work out a a defined policy so that uh everyone knows who has what responsibility under what circumstances and what can be done to um really crack down and keep these types of problems from happening again uh another little bit of good news uh I just found out from the traffic engineering department that the uh long awaited crosswalk that's been talked about and uh looked into uh has uh finally got a date according to what Dennis Madsen told me the uh plan which is coming through traffic engineering uh will be going on Triana Boulevard right next to fantasy playhouse so it'll be a very safe uh crosswalk for young people to be able to go across and hopefully we will not have any dangerous situations taking place but anyway that is projected to be uh completed within roughly 60 days so I'm excited about that and then last but not least uh Mr.

Hamilton's here and I think he's he can give us an update on Big Spring Park and all the sculpture emphasis in it.

Good evening council members John Hamilton City Administrator uh yeah Mr.

Kling asked me to just give a kind of quick update on the construction that you see happening across the street and one I would tell you that uh up there on your floor the sixth floor if you go down to the meeting spaces that gives you a good bird's eye view so if you ever want to kind of see what's going on over there that's a it's a good place to see it from uh from up high as you know we went through the process of demolished in the old city hall uh and have now well under construction it is on schedule I think uh you can expect to be at a ribbon cutting uh probably March April of next year so certainly uh hope to have it completed and and available for panoply next year which uh comes in late April so that's uh it's certainly on track uh for that some things that you see coming uh in in the shape you know there's there's changes of elevation in fact the design takes advantage of those elevation changes and so the requirement retaining walls things like that so that structural work is uh is the primary focus right now and that's going well but you can also see some of the sidewalks and things going in one of the great things uh that we're able to do is uh improve some of the ADA uh compliant uh travel uh through the parking up here to the higher elevations of city hall and ultimately to the courthouse squared so uh you see some of the sidewalks going in in a switchback fashion uh in fact the one the one uh on the south side that people refer to as kind of our version of Lombard Street you know that if you're familiar with San Francisco uh but that is an ADA compliant route and it will allow uh people with mobility challenges to be able to move through the park and come up to the higher elevation so uh that's going well as part of that as uh as Mr.

Kling alluded to we've also received some questions from folks about the opportunity for public art uh in the park in fact there is uh public art installations that are in that are part of the design and part of that project uh and it's uh kind of creating almost a bit of a an art walk up that uh you know that lombard street style sidewalk so several small pieces as you go through the switchback and then a larger piece up at the top by the by the pavilion so uh that's all going well it's on schedule uh and that uh you'll you'll really see it taking shape over about the next 45 days as they get the structural things done and now you'll see more of the finish type work happening and so you get a better sense of exactly what it will look like so but uh projects going well thank you sir thank you thank you Mr.

Hamilton thank you Mr.

Kling now here from council member David thank you madam president and I'll echo uh what Ms.

Watkins said about our new recenter um that is a phenomenal new facility for for uh John Hunt Park uh obviously the pickleball courts are a real big addition and you know what I love about how we operate is uh they're open to the public but then when sports tourism and people want to have tournaments and people travel to Huntsville for everything that can be done at uh John Hunt Park is very exciting so hat tip to everybody involved in making that a reality.

And then uh real quick, the special um uh shout outs to public works and water pollution control, landscape management and engineering uh teams for uh being responsive to some citizen uh concerns and questions this uh past few weeks.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Little, Mr.

Meredith.

Mr.

Meredith has no comments.

Uh then I will wrap it up.

Uh on June 27th.

We will have the first of many celebrations for the 250th uh anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence.

It will take place at Ditto Landing.

Uh gates open at five o'clock, admission is five dollars per car.

There will be food trucks, there will be concerts, and it's uh fourth of an independence day celebration, so of course there'll be fireworks at nine o'clock.

So please come down to Ditto Landing to see that.

While you're there, you may notice that the Tennessee River Greenway uh has closed.

It will be closing on Monday, uh the 29th for the parking lot construction at the event center, and it will be closed until approximately September 1st.

It will be just closed just around the construction site.

Uh the either side uh east or west will still be open until you get exact to that construction site where the parking lot is being constructed.

So please be aware of that.

I have several thank yous.

Um, my first is a thank you to Shondrika Edwards and the city clerk staff for conducting an absolutely outstanding municipal qualifying process for the municipal elections.

She they they completely revamped the process and it was very informative, it made things very clear, it was very simple and um just done in an exceptional manner.

So kudos to that whole team.

And also thank you to Captain Ricky Stevens to Officer Britney Williams to Kim Webster from Community Development and to our friends from public health for resolving a very difficult um situation.

Uh the neighbors had been dealing with it themselves by for one for a year.

They finally reached out for help.

We were able to very quickly convene a team to surround them and put together a plan.

Uh we learned about about it from the neighbors because they asked for help and we responded, and the situation has been dealt with, and we hope we'll find remedy uh very quickly in the future.

Um and so then finally, it occurred to me today as I was thinking about the 250th celebration that we're going to engage in this next week and actually have been all year, that that signing of the Declaration of Independence makes it possible for us to be here tonight.

We would not have this sort of public meeting and public discourse and hear the voice of the people and be able to represent the voice of the people without that document, and it has inspired nations and governments throughout the world over the 250 years.

So uh just need to be thinking about that.

Happy Fourth of July to everybody.

We'll go on now with the Finance Committee report.

14A is a resolution authorizing expenditures for payment.

Is there a motion?

I move for authorization and approval of expenditures in the amount of 29,578, 387.70 cents.

Second.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

14B is an ordinance approving appropriations, goods or services for District 5 Council Improvement Funds.

The chair moves for approval.

Is there a second?

Second from Mr.

Little.

Um, Mr.

Meredith, would you like to share with us the good work you are doing here?

Trying to keep talking to a minimum.

Um it is an appropriation for global ties given the lack of federal funding and this is something to keep them afloat so that they can keep their doors open.

Thank you.

Any questions or comments?

All in favor, please indicate.

Motion carries.

We have several board appointments to be voted on.

Fifteen A is a resolution to reappoint Jim Batson to the Huntsville Natural Gas Utility Board to his current seat for a three-year term to expire July 1, 2029.

Is there a motion to approve?

This seat needs four fifths.

Thank you.

And it will require four-fifths vote.

So we will um we will conduct a roll call when we get to that point.

Uh, is there a motion to approve the motion from Mr.

Little, second from Ms.

Watkins?

Uh all in we will proceed with a roll call vote, and we will need four fifths to approve this.

Mr.

Meredith, how do you vote?

No.

Mr.

Cling.

Aye.

Mr.

Little.

Aye.

Ms.

Watkins.

Yes.

Mm-hmm.

Chair votes yes, and there are four affirmative votes, so the reappointment is approved.

I would like to go ahead and change my vote.

Aye.

And let the record reflect that Mr.

Meredith has changed his vote to aye and it is unanimous.

15B is a resolution to reappoint Jim Batson to the Huntsville Water Utility Board to his current seat for a three-year term to expire July 1st, 2029.

This will also require four fifths vote.

Is there a motion to approve?

Move to approve.

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from Ms.

Watkins.

We will proceed with the vote.

We'll start with Ms.

Watkins.

Yes.

Mr.

Little?

Aye.

Mr.

Kling?

Aye.

Mr.

Meredith?

Aye.

And the chair votes aye.

The motion is approved unanimously.

15 C is a resolution to reappoint David Mathis to the Huntsville, Madison County Marine and Port Authority, City Council Place 1, his current seat for a five-year term to expire, July 1, 2031.

The Chair makes the motion.

Second.

Second from Ms.

Watkins.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The motion carries.

15 D is resolution to appoint a lawn to sales to the Human Relations Commission Place 1 to fill a vacancy due to the resignation of Ringless Bowden for the remainder of a vacant four-year term to expire September 8, 2026.

I move to approve.

Motion from Ms.

Watkins, second from Mr.

Little.

All in favor, please indicate.

Any opposed, the motion carries.

15 E is a resolution to appoint Paulette Risher to the Huntsville-Madison County Railroad Authority City 1 play City Place 1 to the seat previously held by Jurae Wilson for a five-year term to expire May 22nd, 2031.

The chair makes the motion.

Second from Mr.

Little.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed, the motion carries.

15 F is a resolution to appoint Rushi Singall to the early works museums board place nine to the seat previously held by William Clark for the remainder of a three-year term to expire June 26, 2028.

The chair moves for approval.

Second from Mr.

Little.

All in favor, please indicate.

Any opposed, the motion carries.

15G is a resolution to appoint Samuel T.

Green the second to the Huntsville Electric Utility Board with a seat previously held by Kimberly Lewis for three-year term to expire July 1, 2029.

Move to approve.

Second.

Motion from Mr.

Little, second by Ms.

Watkins.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Okay.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Abstain.

Mr.

Kling abstains.

Any opposed.

The motion carries.

And Mr.

Green is appointed.

We have no board nominations.

Are there any nominations from the floor?

Yes, I'd like to nominate to appoint Wiley Day Jr.

to the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council, please 13 due to the resignation of Brian Webb for the remainder of a four-year term.

To expire August 1st, 2027.

Thank you.

That nomination is recorded.

Are there any other nominations?

Thank you very much.

Please note that the public hearing on this item has been held.

Is there a motion to approve?

Move to approve.

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from the chair.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed, the motion carries.

18B is an ordinance vacating portion of rights of way at Greenbrier Road and Greenbar Parkway.

The public hearing has been held.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from second from the chair.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Opposed, motion carries.

We will now move on with unfinished business items for action.

19A is an ordinance to amend Chapter 15 licenses and taxes.

Article 3, sales use, rental, and lodging.

Oh, I'm sorry.

This item was is already on the floor.

It was postponed from the June 11th meeting.

Yeah.

So let me go ahead and read this in, noting that it is already on the floor.

Ordinance to amend Chapter 15, License and Taxes, Article 3, Sales Use, sales use rental and Lodging Tax, Division 5 Lodging Tax, Section 15 of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Huntsville regarding license fees.

This was introduced at the May 28th, 2026 meeting.

It was postponed to today's meeting, the June 11th meeting.

It is already on the floor.

So I will the chair moves that we postpone once again to the July to the July 9th meeting.

Second.

Second from Mr.

Little regarding postponement.

All in favor of postponing this item to the July 9th meeting, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The item is postponed to July 9th when it will be considered.

Item 19B is withdrawn.

19C, ordinance declaring certain items surplus to be recycled for monetary value.

Is there a motion?

Move to approve.

Motion from Ms.

Watkins, second from Mr.

Little.

All in favor, please indicate aye.

Any posed?

Motion carries.

19D is an ordinance to amend ordinance number 25-194, Chapter 2, Administration Article 13, control of access to city owned controlled and lease premises of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Huntsville.

Is there a motion to approve?

Move to approve.

Second motion from Mr.

Little, second from Ms.

Watkins.

Does anyone have questions about this?

Discussion.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

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

These items will be approved in one motion unless any member of the council wishes to remove an item before discussion.

The reading of each item will be waived unless the council member requests otherwise.

Item E as an egg.

Item E.

Yes.

Anything else?

And Chair wishes to hold item B and item K.

So B as B as in Bravo.

Okay.

Okay.

Item B as in Bravo, item E as an egg.

Item K is in Kilo.

Kilo.

Oh, we don't guess that one.

Chair moves for approval.

C and D, item F to J, and item L to Q.

Is there a second?

Second.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Aye.

Any posed?

Motion carries.

And those items are approved.

We will now move on to items for separate consideration.

20B is a resolution authorizing the acceptance of donations.

The chair moves for approval.

Second.

Second by Mr.

Little.

Mr.

Hamilton, could you please share with us this particular donation?

Sure.

So council's familiar with the area up on Green Mountain, that's obviously well inside of our city, but somewhat remote just based on uh based on the terrain.

Uh it does have fire coverage from one of our uh career fire stations down at the bottom of the mountain.

Uh but that community for many many years has also uh resourced a volunteer fire department that assists with uh emergency response up on the mountain.

Uh and in recent years, uh we've worked more closely with them.

Uh, have uh have actually provided some real estate.

Uh well they really kind of provide it to us, and then we uh we allow them to use the the small fire station that's up there, but also have assisted them with the equipment.

So one of the trucks that they have right now is one that we actually uh provided to them out of our out of our fire department.

Uh and it's now time to replace that.

Uh we think kind of the arrangement there, and then ultimately there there is a point in the future where we will need to uh build a permanent fire station up on the mountain.

Uh so uh we've identified the piece of equipment they need.

They did some fundraising uh and now want to donate that money about 110,000 dollars to the city to contribute towards the purchase of the truck that they'll use.

So ultimately, between this and then what we have in our fleet capital account already in the capital plan.

We will purchase the equipment uh and then provide that to them to use for emergency response up on the mountain.

And this truck is unique in that it has the capacity to take water far beyond what they could get from a hydrant.

There's really kind of two issues that we have to deal with up there on the mountain.

There's a portion of the development there that are very, very large lots, multiple acres.

In many cases, the houses are well off of the public right-of-way.

And so we have to deal with much longer runs of uh lines to get water into the house if there's a fire there.

We also have uh sometimes instance of wildland uh fires there, so dealing with uh with grass fires and unbrush fires, things like that.

And so this equipment uh is a little bit smaller and actually more maneuverable to get into some of those driveways and things over those long distances as well as helping with the wild line fire.

And I should also add for the record that I hope at the next council meeting, we will see I'm going to divert $30,000 from my um council improvement fund to fleet to help fund the this um the new uh the new fire truck.

Any other questions or comments from anybody?

All in favor, please indicate.

I posed motion carries.

20E is a resolution to elect to to grant a one-time lump sum payment to certain retirees of the city of Huntsville as provided by section two act six oh eight.

Move to approve.

Motion for Mr.

Little, Sarah Second.

Second by the chair.

Uh any questions or comments.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any posed, motion carries.

Abstain.

Oh Mr.

Please let the record show that Mr.

Kling has abstained, and four council members have voted in the affirmative.

Is he one of the sponsors?

Yes.

Oh, okay.

20K is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a construction services agreement between the City of Huntsville and Game Day Athletic Services for the Merrimack Soccer Fields 1 and 2.

Renovation.

Move to approve.

Motion from Mr.

Little, second from Miss Watkins.

Mr.

Hamilton.

Councilman, what's before you is the construction contract for renovation of two of the existing soccer fields at the uh the Merrimack Soccer complex.

Uh, and it's it's in the original portion uh as you uh may be aware that that park was originally built, those fields were built on the site where one of the one of the historic mills was demolished uh and they have always been challenged in terms of the quality of the surface and the playing because of the nature of what was that on that site previously.

Uh we have been working little by little to uh in pieces replace those fields with artificial turf.

Now that that technology advanced to the point where it is, it's uh it's actually been very, very useful to us to for those high use fields to use do them in artificial turf so we get a lot more use out of them, more durable.

The Merrimack Soccer Complex, while you know we refer to it as soccer complex, reality is it also supports all of our cross clubs uh as well as frisbee golf and seven on seven football and lots of other sports.

So the Proxner prefers to call them multi-use fields, but the primary use is uh soccer.

Uh and because of how high use they are, the natural grass turf there just gets absolutely destroyed at times.

And so it's very, very difficult for us to maintain that the quality, which equals safety of our athletes.

Uh, so we think the best approach is is incrementally replace those uh to better condition.

Uh in this particular uh contract, in addition to replacing those two fields, we're also dealing with some uh storm water management issues that have existed there on the south end of that park, as well as some other pedestrian uh access issues and things.

So we're fixing kind of all the ADA issues that surround the fields, uh fixing the fields themselves, but then also uh doing some stormwater detention and things that will help with uh with managing stormwater around that park that then flows into the neighborhoods that surround it.

Thank you for that explanation.

Anyone have questions for Mr.

Hamilton?

All in favor, please indicate any posed motion carries.

That concludes those business items, moving on to 21 new business items for introduction.

These items were are for introduction only.

No action will be taken.

They will be considered at the July 9th meeting.

21A is the introduction of an ordinance amending Chapter 2 administration, Article 4, Financial Policies, Division 1 generally of ordinance 96-864 to add Section 2-160, thereby establishing a formal vendor gratuity policy to provide clear guidance for the authorization and disbursement of gratuity payments related to the provision of goods and services.

21B is the introduction of an ordinance declaring certain equipment surplus and to be sold at public auction.

21C is the introduction of an ordinance declaring certain property surplus to be disposed of per agreement with managed asset recycling solutions LLC, ordinance number 26-563.

21D is the introduction of an ordinance amending chapter 2 administration.

Article 8, Board's Commissions, Committees, and Authorities, Division 8 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Huntsville, Alabama, to make changes to the City Tree Commission.

20E is the 21E is the introduction of an ordinance amending Chapter 27 Vegetation, Article 2 Trees of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Huntsville, Alabama.

21F is the introduction of an ordinance annexing 2.62 acres of landline on the north side of Old Monrovie Road, east of Wayne Road, and 21G has been withdrawn by the sponsor.

That brings us to second roster communications.

This portion of the meeting is reserved for people wishing to address the council on matters relating to the city business.

Whether or not such items are on the meeting agenda.

We have four individuals who have signed up to speak at this time.

When you are called, please approach the microphone, 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 individual.

The first person to sign up is Jerry Cox, who will be followed by David Snyder.

Thank you, Madam President.

Jerry Cox, 4029 Tale Star Circle.

Welcome.

I guess I was a little surprised that the distinguished councilman of District 4 has already talked about this the subject matter that I need to talk to, but I'll just give you the rest of the story.

On Saturday, a week ago, it would be two weeks this coming Saturday.

I was passing the sports plex on Patton Road, as I often do, where there were likely hundreds of sports people there enjoying sporting games.

I noticed directly across Patton Road where there are three small apartment buildings, 3607, 3609, and 3611 Patton Road.

On the street, just inches away from the pavement, were 11 garbage carts of waste management.

Their lids were open, and all 11 were running over with large amounts of garbage on the ground for those visitors to see, for each federal employer that passes that each morning going to work to see, including federal employees, probably from Colorado, and I bet they would never see anything like that where they came from.

I initiated an attempt to get the city to address the issue and tried for six days.

At 450 this evening, that was still all that stuff was still there, but probably 100% more on the ground.

Apparently, there are no ordinances governing this issue.

So I guess I'll give up on trying to get the city to correct it.

And on Monday, I will seek help from the county health department, because if without a doubt, it is a health issue.

I'm sure that flies are swarming all over that place.

And then the coming Saturday, there'll be hundreds of people coming from all over to that sports complex to watch them.

And as they leave the sports complex, it's right there in front of them.

What a what a what an issue.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Mr.

Cox.

David Snyder, and then we will hear from Joy Johnson.

Hello, my name is David Snyder, Mick Snyder, and I live.

My information is correct on the sheet.

I live in Huntsville, Alabama.

I wanted to bring up a couple of things.

One, I wanted to thank especially my district representative Bill Kling, for the uh assistance bill is given in a uh uh uh a program that I've been trying to get started, uh giving bus tickets to people uh exiting the jail as part of our unhoused uh program or unhoused unsheltered housing program docket, right?

That's part of our specialty dockets that uh Judge Cleveland uh presides over.

And um, yeah, we've managed to get several tickets.

The MCSO, I've spoken to Chief Deputy uh Chad Brooks several times now.

They have expressed that they're absolutely willing to do it.

Um I believe that uh from what I uh understand with uh Kling and also uh Deputy Brooks, um there are tickets that are available.

I went ahead and this week I uh you know emailed and called uh the uh it's the court admin office and informed them.

Basically, the judge just has to put on the release that this person is deserving of a bus ticket.

I think that every participant in the program, whether or not they're being released from the jail or not, it is a very small thing that our city could do to actually just let them ride the bus, right?

That is it's it seems um uh uh pretty reasonable.

Um so, but I would like to thank Bill for that.

Um also um I want to bring up uh again pretty soon we are uh you know coming up on the June 30th deadline for the flock uh denial.

That was a uh meeting that I had with Caden Helbling and our council president and several people with HPD about releasing uh basically search inquiry data with flock.

Um it's something that has happened all across the country that was up for review, and it will be coming out on the 30th.

I'm very interested in it.

I put in my own um PRR uh records request for it.

I want to uh read off my reasoning.

As a citizen of the United States of America that has guaranteed rights established by the U.S.

Constitution, and whereas I have a vested interest in the upholding of my and every person's guaranteed constitutional rights and protections, such as our right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures that we are promised regardless of citizenship, so long as we tread upon U.S.

soil, I would like to know the fullest extent possible to which my local government, the city of Huntsville, Alabama, is utilizing uh uh a network of cameras purchased from the Flock uh group incorporated doing business as flock safety to ensure my constitutional rights are not being violated.

Um so I'm really looking forward to that.

There's a couple of things that I am I like accountability, right?

Self-accountability, I'm very big on it.

There's a couple of things that I'm ashamed I haven't been pushing on for here.

For instance, uh I have no idea we just had those flash floods.

I have no idea how people at this lab have been doing with that, how that went over.

I would be really interested to talk to Scott about that after the meeting.

Um also I know there is still an issue, an ongoing issue of what happened with London Harkey.

Um during his uh arrest, there was an excessive use of force incident.

Um I know that for several months now there has been an ongoing internal affairs investigation, and I'm very interested to see what the results of that are.

Thank you, sir.

Uh Joy Johnson is our next speaker, and we'll be followed by our final speaker, Joe Winston.

Madam President.

Yes, sir.

Uh, whatever it's, I think for fairness, should we point out that Keisha Bryan was the person, not me, who made that uh program with the uh bus tickets happen.

She deserves the credit for looking into it and making it happen.

It was a good team effort, I'm sure.

Thank you.

Ms.

Johnson.

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

Thank you.

Um so I hear you guys talking about July 4th uh celebrations.

So I hope that you're gonna embark on a vigorous educational campaign about what kind of fireworks are illegal in the city.

And frankly, I hope you will just stop doing fireworks.

I don't think the wildlife gives two cents about our 250th anniversary.

And it is very disruptive to the wildlife, and we have got to start thinking about other species besides us, okay?

Um, uh Mayor Battle, if you do get a car tricked out, please do something more energy efficient than a Cadillac.

Uh I also with regards to wildlife, the light sculpture that I heard about at John Hunt Park, I think it was.

Uh, that has got to be very disruptive to wildlife down there.

Will we please start thinking about other species besides human beings?

Um, and here, you're talking about the artwork in Big Spring Park, why are we not talking about a beautiful, wonderful, healthy, educational opportunity to put in a wonderful pollinator garden on in space that that therefore won't have to be mowed by belching carbon dioxide out.

Okay.

Speaking of our founding documents, we'd have a lot less problems if it hadn't been written by a bunch of old white men.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Johnson.

We'll now hear from Joe Winston.

Uh Joe Winston, 105 Great Mount Drive, Madison, Alabama.

Uh, first of all, excuse me, I don't have a prepared uh presentation, but let me uh uh acknowledge uh Councilmember Michelle Watkins and City Administrator John Hamilton for taking the time out of their schedule to uh hold a meeting on Alabama EM campus regarding the Black Art Black History Museum a couple of weeks ago.

We appreciate that.

Uh several of uh community personnel were there.

Uh Mr.

William Hampton, uh Ollie Connley, and uh staff from Alabama EM.

Thank you all very much for participating in the discussion regarding a black art black history museum.

Now, as we uh approach two hundred and fifty years of celebration of American history, uh, it would be so nice to have a museum that also acknowledges the contributions of minorities as well as all people uh that have made Huntsville what it is.

And uh as we go about celebrating 250 years, uh just coming up here uh fourth of July.

Uh let's remember all the contributions that have been made by people of all races, all colors, all nationalities that help make this country and of course it helped makes Huntsville to say that it is.

And we're still pushing to have Huntsville recognize a black art black history museum, whether it's on Alabama ENEM campus or elsewhere.

And as we read newspaper magazines, uh there's very little to nothing that's written about black hit black art, black history here in Huntsfield, and we're pushing to get something to uh see, to uh be proud about and to acknowledge the contributions made by so many people.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Is there any other business before the council?

Move to adjourn.

We are adjourned at 647.