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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting - June 25, 2026

City Council — Thursday, June 25, 2026

BodyHuntsville, Alabama

SessionCity Council

DateThursday, June 25, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:20:19

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3:15

Good evening, everyone.

3:18

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

3:26

We are met in the chambers in Huntsville, Alabama.

3:29

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

3:38

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.

3:52

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

4:30

Last week, this past month for the children.

4:33

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

4:38

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

4:41

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.

4:49

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

4:56

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.

5:04

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

5:07

Amen.

5:13

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

5:20

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

5:28

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

5:33

Council members, we have the agenda.

5:36

Please note that items 19B and 21G have been withdrawn by the sponsor.

5:42

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

5:47

Is there a motion?

5:48

That's the last one 20 G.

5:49

20 G.

5:50

Okay.

5:50

Yeah.

5:50

For introduction.

5:51

So 19B, 21.

5:53

19B and 21G.

5:56

Gotcha.

5:56

We have two items.

5:57

Thank you.

5:58

Anyone aware of any other changes?

6:00

Is there a motion to approve the agenda?

6:02

Motion uh second by the chair.

6:04

All in favor, please indicate.

6:06

Imposed, the agenda is approved.

6:08

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

6:15

Is anyone aware of any additions or corrections?

6:19

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

6:22

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

6:27

We'll call it a joint work session.

6:29

Thank you for making that correction.

6:31

Are there any other corrections that need to be made?

6:35

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

6:40

They've been corrected.

6:42

Uh motion from Mr.

6:43

Little.

6:45

Corrected title.

6:46

Thank you.

6:47

Yeah.

6:48

Second by the chair.

6:48

All in favor, please indicate opposed.

6:50

The motion carries.

6:51

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

6:56

Are there any additions or corrections to those minutes?

6:59

Seeing none, the minutes will be accepted as presented.

7:02

The mayor has one special recognition tonight.

7:05

5A is a proclamation recognizing Huntsville Hospital Health System.

7:08

100 years of babies celebration.

7:12

Mayor Battle.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Miscellaneous███████████████████████23%

Procedural█████████████████████21%

Public Engagement███████████11%

Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%

Parks and Recreation████████8%

Youth Programs██████6%

Community Engagement██████6%

Arts And Culture██████6%

Public Safety█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Huntsville City Council Regular Meeting - June 25, 2026

The Huntsville City Council met on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the city chambers. The meeting included proclamations, public hearings, board appointments, and public comments. The meeting adjourned at 6:47 PM.

Consent Calendar

Approved the agenda with two items withdrawn (19B and 21G).
Approved corrected minutes of the joint work session with the Huntsville City School Board (June 1, 2026) and the regular meeting minutes (June 11, 2026).
Approved a resolution recognizing the life of Representative James Howard Sanderford.
Approved a resolution commemorating the retirement of Sarah Savage from the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.

Proclamations & Recognitions

Proclamation for Huntsville Hospital Health System: Recognized 100 years of delivering babies. Since 1926, the hospital has delivered over 350,000 babies. Tracy Dowdy and Elizabeth Sanders accepted on behalf of the hospital.
Resolution for Representative James Howard Sanderford: Recognized his military service, community leadership, and three decades of service to Madison County. His daughter Peggy accepted.
Resolution for Sarah Savage Jones: Honored her retirement as president of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, highlighting record fundraising, COVID-19 pandemic support, and expansion of the Caring House. Sarah Savage spoke, thanking the community.

Presentation

National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC): Chris Newland presented. NCAC co-locates with HPD's Special Victims Unit. Key statistics:
- Adults abused as children earn 21% less (men) and 15% less (women) without intervention.
- 9% of all Medicaid costs are linked to child maltreatment.
- The city provides $50,000 in outside agency funding and leases space at ~$14/sq ft (market ~$25/sq ft). Newland requested the council reconsider the lease to align with market value.

Public Hearings

9A: Zoning of 1.33 acres on Winchester Road to Highway Business C4 – Approved.
9B: Rezoning of 47.19 acres on Swancott Road from Residence 1B to Residence 2 for a single-family development. Joy Johnson questioned density. Staff explained Residence 2 is denser, allows affordable housing, and the project includes a mix of housing. Approved.
9C: Vacation of right-of-way at Greenbriar Road/Green Briar Parkway (related to Eli Lilly project) – Public hearing held; action taken later under 18B.

Public Comments & Testimony

Jerry Cox (4029 Tale Star Circle): Complained about overflowing garbage carts at three apartment buildings on Patton Road near a sports complex. Urged city action; said he would contact the county health department.
David Snyder: Thanked Councilmember Kling for assistance with a bus ticket program for people exiting jail. Also requested release of Flock camera data by June 30 deadline and asked about an internal affairs investigation into an excessive force incident involving London Harkey.
Joy Johnson (West Arbor Drive): Urged the city to stop fireworks for July 4 due to wildlife disruption. Criticized light sculptures at John Hunt Park and proposed a pollinator garden instead of artwork. Made a remark about the Founding Fathers.
Joe Winston (Madison, AL): Thanked Councilmember Watkins and City Administrator Hamilton for meeting about a Black Art/Black History Museum. Urged the city to establish such a museum to recognize minority contributions during the 250th anniversary celebrations.

Discussion Items

Item 20B – Acceptance of donations for Green Mountain volunteer fire department: Councilmember Kling noted donating $30,000 from his council improvement fund. City Administrator Hamilton explained the donation (~$110,000) will help purchase a specialized fire truck for rural/wildland fire response. Approved.
Item 20K – Construction services agreement for Merrimack Soccer Fields renovation: Hamilton described replacing two natural grass fields with artificial turf, fixing stormwater issues, and ADA improvements. Approved.
Item 19A – Lodging tax ordinance amendment: Postponed to July 9, 2026 meeting.
Item 19D – Ordinance amending access to city premises: Approved.

Key Outcomes

Board Appointments (all approved):
- Jim Batson reappointed to Natural Gas Utility Board (4-1 vote, later unanimous) and Water Utility Board (unanimous).
- David Mathis reappointed to Marine and Port Authority.
- Launales appointed to Human Relations Commission.
- Paulette Risher appointed to Railroad Authority.
- Rushi Singall appointed to Early Works Museums board.
- Samuel T. Green II appointed to Electric Utility Board (Councilmember Kling abstained).
- Wiley Day Jr. nominated and appointed to Police Citizens Advisory Council.
Finance: Authorized expenditures of $29,578,387.70. Approved District 5 Council Improvement Funds for Global Ties.
Unfinished Business:
- Item 19A (lodging tax) postponed to July 9.
- Item 19C (surplus items for recycling) approved.
- Item 19D (access ordinance) approved.
New Business (for introduction, to be considered July 9):
- Ordinance for vendor gratuity policy.
- Ordinances declaring surplus equipment/property.
- Ordinances amending City Tree Commission and tree code.
- Ordinance annexing 2.62 acres on Old Monrovia Road.
July 4th Celebration: Mayor Battle announced events for the nation's 250th birthday, beginning June 27 at Ditto Landing (gates 5 PM, $5 per car, fireworks at 9 PM). Council President noted the Tennessee River Greenway will close June 29 for parking lot construction.

Councilmember Reports

Councilmember Watkins: Announced Trevor Lacey basketball camp, June Fest (10th anniversary), health fair at Johnson Legacy Center, and a community fish fry at Dawson Elementary.
Councilmember Kling: Announced new sculpture at Mayfair Park (fifth public art project), discussed recurring garbage issues on Patton Road, and reported that a crosswalk on Triana Boulevard near Fantasy Playhouse will be completed in ~60 days.
City Administrator Hamilton: Provided update on Big Spring Park construction (on schedule, ribbon cutting spring 2027). Noted ADA-compliant switchback sidewalk and public art installations.
Councilmember Little: Praised John Hunt Park facilities (pickleball courts) and thanked public works teams.
Council President: Thanked city clerk staff for successful municipal qualifying process and a team for resolving a neighborhood issue. Reminded of the July 4th celebration and the significance of the Declaration of Independence.

Meeting Transcript

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.

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