Welcome everyone.

It is Thursday, July twenty third, twenty twenty six, five thirty PM, and this meeting of the Huntsville City Council is called to order.

We are met in the chambers city hall in Huntsville, Alabama.

We welcome everyone who has joined us here in the chambers and who is joining us remotely.

Um you may notice that our numbers are down a bit tonight.

We uh Miss Mayor Battle and Councilmember David Little, they are both out of town, and we look forward to having them rejoin us at our next meeting.

Uh but be assured a quorum of the council is present and we will conduct our business tonight.

We will begin by an invoced by one of our Huntsville, Alabama Public Safety Chaplains, Chaplain Scott Lowry.

He will be followed by Pledge of Allegiance, uh which will be led by Councilmember Bill Kling.

All who wish to stand for the invocation and pledge, please do so.

It's been a privilege to serve this my twentieth year as a volunteer police chaplain.

We've seen a lot happen.

I stood be side mayor battle in the hallway of UAH when there were no words to speak sixteen years ago.

We've seen God bless this community tremendously.

May we never take those blessings for granted.

Let's pray.

Father, we come before you with thanksgiving.

Help us never to take the blessing of living where we live for granted, but to understand that you've been very, very good to us.

We pray, Lord, for our leadership tonight for the things that'll be discussed.

We pray for our state, we pray for our country, and we ask for your blessings.

We ask for wisdom, and once again, thank you for the way you've poured your blessings out throughout the years.

Bless now in all that is said and all that is done, and we will give you the praise.

Amen.

Uh council members, we have a couple of changes to be noted on the agenda.

Item nine A has been withdrawn at the request of the sponsor because the property has been brought into compliance.

That's always a good thing.

And then we have had a request to add an item regarding a fire truck lease, which will become twenty item twenty a D.

And and our uh bylaws require that to be added by motion.

Is there a motion to add item uh the item that will become twenty A D?

Motion to do that.

Mr.

Mr.

Meredith, uh Mr.

Cling, will you take the second on that?

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

So moved.

Second.

Motion from Mr.

Clink and Watkin from Ms.

Watkins, second by Mr.

Cling.

I like how y'all are working together tonight.

All in uh favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any pose, the motion uh carries and the agenda is approved.

We should also note that Mr.

Kling made a nomination from the floor last week to nominate Barbara Hughes for the Human Relations Commission, but that nomination was made outside of the 30-day window before the end of her term.

So you will not see it tonight on board on nominations to be approved.

So we will take that appointment, that that nomination process uh forward to August when it will be timely and vote take care of it then.

Are there any I guess I should have asked earlier, any other changes or additions to the agenda?

We're good.

All right, very good.

Thank you.

We'll now move on to approval of minutes.

For A is the minutes of the regular meeting of the council held on July 9th, 2026.

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

See none, we're good.

Uh and then for B is the minutes of a work session of the City Council held on July 10, 2026.

Any changes or additions to those those minutes?

Then those minutes will all be uh accepted as they've been presented.

Uh Mayor is not here with so no special recognitions from the mayor, but we do have a couple from the council.

6A is a resolution honoring the 10th Cavalry Hill Buffalo Soldiers, American Legion Post 351 for over 60 years of service to the Huntsville community.

Is there a motion to approve to motion from Ms.

Watkins?

Second from Mr.

Kling, all in favor, please indicate motion carries.

Ms.

Watkins, would you like to make that presentation?

Oh, sorry, microphone.

There you go.

Good evening.

Can I have the 10th Calvary Soldiers please come up, please?

So while they're coming up, let me tell you all a little background about myself.

Come on up on the stage.

Um before I read the resolution.

I grew up and went to school in elementary at Calvert Hills Elementary School.

And throughout the time that I was at Calvary Hills, this is why your history is so important.

And I talked to several people that went to school with me because I thought, how did I miss that?

But no one never told us why the school is named Calvary Hill.

And throughout the years when we came to learn why it was called Calvary Hills, and a lot of people refer to it as 10th Calvary instead of Calvary Hills.

And it's so important for us to teach our history, know our history, and recognize our history.

So that's why tonight I have them here because I want to recognize them for the hard work that they do in the community.

So I'm going to read some of the resolution and then I'm going to turn it over to Mr.

Walker.

Are you youth Sergeant Major, right?

First Sergeant.

First Sergeant.

Okay.

Okay.

Whereas the City Council and Mayor of Huntsville recognized the 10th Cavalry Hills Buffalo Soldier, American Legion Post 351 as a distinguished veterans organization whose members have faithfully served both our nation and the Huntsville community through military service, civic leadership, and an unwavering commitment to equality and service.

Whereas following honorable military service, nearly 300 veterans from Huntsville, Madison County, and surrounding communities united to establish American Legion Post 351 after being denied equal access to existing American Legion facilities, receiving their official charter in 1961 following years of perseverance and determination.

Whereas the founding members of Post 351 care for the proud legacy of generations of African American servicemen and women, including the Buffalo Soldier, the Tuskegee Airmen, the 369th Infantry Regiment, and the 761 Tank Battalion, and countless others who answered the call to defend our nation with courage and distinction.

Whereas throughout this history, Post 351 has demonstrated remarkable resilience by overcoming numerous challenges, preserving its charter through the dedication of generations of commanders, officers, members, and volunteers who remain steadfast in their commitment to serving veterans in the community.

Whereas the Post has made lasting contributions to Huntsville through youth mentorship, educational program, boys state sponsorship, oratorical competitions, tutoring initiatives, community service projects, and advocacy on behalf of veterans and their families, while promoting the principles of duty, honor, patriotism, and citizenship.

Whereas in 2024, the members voted to rename the organization, the 10th Calvary Hill, Buffalo Soldiers, American Legion Post 351 in recognition of the historic legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers who once camped in North Huntsville and to honor the enduring connection between the legacy and the service of the Post members.

For more than six decades, the members of Post 351 have strengthened the Huntsville community through their dedication of veterans, youth, education, public service, and preservation of African American military history, inspiring future generations through their enduring example of leadership and perseverance.

Now let it therefore be resolved that the City Council and the Mayor of Huntsville, Alabama, do hereby congratulate and honor the 10th Caver Hill, Buffalo Soldiers, American Legion Post 351 upon its continued legacy of service and express sincere appreciation for more than 60 years of dedicated commitment to veterans, youth, community service, and preservation of the proud military heritage and history of African Americans in Huntsville and the state of Alabama and our nation.

Thank you, uh Councilwoman Watkins.

Normally, first I do a lot of talk, but tonight we're not going to do this.

So I want to say happy birthday to America, 250 years of perseverance, and I want to thank the mayor, Councilwoman Watkins, the City Council members, and all of you for coming, and we appreciate this award and this recognition, and we will carry forward from this day forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all for 60 years of service.

Item 6B is a resolution recognizing National Health Center Week 2026.

Is there a motion to approve?

Chairman.

Ms.

Watkins, I will take the motion.

Mr.

Kling, the second.

All in favor, please indicate.

Opposed.

The motion carries.

Ms.

Watkins, would you like to make that presentation as well?

I think it's still on.

Good evening again.

Can I get uh Thrive, Happy Health, and Central North Alabama to come up, please?

That's right.

So we we brought all of them together in recognition of National Health Center Week.

So I'm going to read this resolution and then I'm going to let each one of you from each of your organization speak if you don't mind.

Okay.

Whereas the City Council and Mayor of Huntsville, Alabama recognized National Health Center Week to be observed August 2nd through 8, 2026 as an opportunity to celebrate the essential role that the community health centers play in providing high-quality, affordable, and accessible hair care to individuals and family throughout our community.

Whereas Central North Alabama Health Services, Inc., a federally qualified health center serving the citizens of North Alabama since 1982 has remained steadfast in its mission to improve health and well-being of the community by providing comprehensive primary health care services, regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

Whereas Thrive Alabama and Happy Health, together with Central North Alabama Services work collaboratively to ensure that residents throughout North Alabama have access to comprehensive primary care, preventive services, behavior health care, dental care, pharmacy services, and other essential health care resources that improve the quality of life and strengthen our community.

Whereas community health centers serve as trusted health care homes for thousands of individuals and families, reducing health disparities, promoting wellness, preventing diseases, and ensuring that quality health care remains accessible to all in our community.

Whereas the physician, nurses, dentists, behavioral health professionals, pharmacists, administrators, and support staff of our community health centers demonstrate extraordinary dedication, compassion, and professionalism in caring for the health care needs of our residents each day.

Whereas the collaboration celebration to be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at Campus 805, Butler Green reflects the shared commitment of Central North Alabama Health Services, Thrive Alabama, and Happy Health to honoring their patients while strengthening community engagement and promoting healthier lives for the residents of North Alabama.

Now, therefore, let it be resolved that the City Council and Mayor of Huntsville, Alabama, do hereby recognize August 2nd through 8, 2026 as National Health Center Week in the City of Huntsville, and commend Central North Alabama Health Services, Inc., Thrive Alabama, and Happy Health for their outstanding service, unwavering commitment and collaborative efforts to provide to promoting the health and well-being of our community.

The City Council may extend our sincere appreciation to the health care professional staff, volunteers, and community partners whose dedication continues to make quality health care accessible to all and encourage all our citizens to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of our community health centers.

Thank you.

Can you say your name and which organization you we have?

I am Carlton Pyfram.

I am the CEO of Central North Alabama Health Services, and we have provided services since 1982 to the energy and low-income individuals, primary people below 200 percent of poverty, and 100 percent of poverty, federal guidelines.

We will continue to do that.

And we appreciate our patience and the governments, uh the City Council, the Hart Huntsville Hospital, et cetera, who has supported us all during this 46, 44 years.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Stephanie Harville.

I serve Thrive Alabama.

Um I just want to thank the council and councilwoman Watkins for inviting us here tonight.

We love our community and those that we serve, and we just appreciate the opportunity.

Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Gita Berry.

I'm the CFO for Happy Health.

I am here representing Ms.

Johnson, the CEO as well as Happy Health.

Uh thank you again, Ms.

Watkins, uh, for the invitation.

Um we are really uh committed to providing quality elite care for all of our patients, no matter who shows up at our door.

Uh and I think um we cannot take that for granted, and we have just privilege to be in this space.

Thank you.

I think I'm really good.

Thank you.

Thank you all for your service to our community.

Ms.

Watkins, thank you for making those presentations.

The next resolution is for approval only, not for presentation.

6C is a resolution recognizing and celebrating the 150th anniversary of Temple Banai Shalom.

Is there a motion?

So move.

Motion to Mr.

Kling, second for Mr.

Meredith.

All in favor, please indicate.

I oppose the motion carries.

Mr.

Kling, it is my understanding you will make this presentation on Friday evening.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

That will be to celebrate their 150th anniversary of the Temple.

The Shabbat service.

Wonderful.

Thank you for doing that.

We have one presentation tonight, and that is an update on the Northern Bypass Project.

Ms.

Watkins, I understand you have requested that, and Mr.

Davis will be making the presentation.

Mr.

Davis.

Good evening, Councilmember Shane Davis, Director of Urban Economic Development.

So tonight, the administration wants to provide you and the public an update on one of the larger construction projects we have going on in the city, and that's the Northern Bypass, we refer to it locally, but it's actually the extension of State Route 255.

So remind everybody the overall scope of the project is four and a half miles of new limited access highway from Pulaski Pike to about a thousand feet east of U.S.

231-431 regional project costs was 43 million dollars.

The project replaces the existing two-lane, Bob Wade Lane, that was a local uh road, both in the city and portions of it being in uh unincorporated Madison County.

As I mentioned, four and a half miles, a new curb and gutter roadway, and then multiple new road intersections along the corridor.

Kind of shows the current stage as of about 30 days ago.

I think this aerial shows a good scope of work of what is going on.

We'll will work from the top part of the uh of the photo and down.

So in yellow, the the two areas you can see the new portion that is actually open to traffic.

Uh for so uh to the top of the screen would be Memorial Parkway or US 231, bottom of the screen would be uh getting close to Pulaski Pike.

Uh you can see where the new intersections at Mount Lebanon and Northgate Drive will connect, and then uh in the black box you can see the light gray.

That's the old Bob Wade lane that this road project is replacing.

Uh I will tell you uh contractors and crews are in the most difficult section uh of the project, and that is cutting through uh the upper the lower slope of the mountainside.

You can you can see as we get into some of these uh additional photos.

Again, this is near Mount Lebanon Road uh intersection.

You can start to see on the left hand side that the divided uh four-lane highway coming uh to the west, and then uh just to the right side of the screen, you can see the old uh Bob Wade Lane and the new uh that would be the new westbound two lanes.

Uh this is the part that is really uh we knew would slow the progress of the project down.

It's cutting through the mountain slope, very similar to to a Cecil Ashprin uh widening project.

The contractor is uh hammering and busting rock and processing on site uh for road bed material, but uh this type of construction uh is very slow in far the amount of productivity.

Uh here uh for the next couple of slides I'm gonna show you the portions that are complete and open to traffic.

Uh to the left would be going westbound towards uh Pulaski Pike, uh, where Facebook and Meta and Toyota Motor Manufacturing and L3 Harris, North Huntsville Industrial Part, and to the right, you're you're moving towards the parkway.

Again, so this is the new 255.

I will point out the two-lane road just in the upper part is the old Bob Wade Lane that will reconnect, will stay a local portion.

We will, once the project is complete, we will uh identify this road as Council Lady Watkins met with the neighbors uh locally, it will be called Bob Wade Lane.

It will have State Route 250 signage.

Uh so we will at the point that we dedicate this road becomes open to public, we will need to rename uh that two-lane portion.

And the Shark family had indicated they would be open.

Ms.

Watkins has we made no commitment, but the Sharp family has lived on that road for a very long time.

So that could be an option, but certainly this council will make that determination.

Uh there's plenty of time to do that.

Uh as I move a little further, you can see the intersection of uh US 231, 431, and State Route 255.

When we bid the project, we put this as an early completion or requiring the contractor to work from this intersection westbound.

So that's why you see uh everything near the parkway is complete.

Uh four-way traffic is is moving, and then we transition as we get further west as we approach Pulaski Pike back to the two-lane as we're continuing to uh do construction.

Uh you see that uh work is progressing on North Huntsville Village or North Village Town Center, uh, the first phase being uh anchored by Home Depot and Target and Food City to the bottom.

So again, this is just a better close-up of the intersection that is complete, heavy amount of traffic already uh getting diverted westbound, uh seeing this as an alternate route in the mornings to get to research park, redstone arsenal, the western corridor of our city.

Uh project summary, you know, as uh what's complete, this section uh will be significant to our community as far as transportation network.

It will complete a 14-mile loop of limited access highway from Interstate 565 to US 231.

And what I mean by limited access is as we go through major intersections like University Drive and Highway 53, those overpasses are already in place.

So from U.S.

231 to Interstate I-565, other than the signal at Mount Lebanon that I showed you earlier and Pulaski Pike, uh it travels much like an interstate system.

Uh project status is about 75 percent complete.

Uh we're currently scheduled for the calendar days uh contractually of November 2026.

We have had you know some inclement weather this summer, a lot of rain.

Uh this is a Federal aid project, so we probably will add some days to that.

Uh but as you can see, we're getting really close.

The the hardest part around the mountain uh toe uh once that uh rock is excavated.

Most utilities are complete.

Huntsville Tilly likes just a little bit with electric there near Toyota area, uh, but most utilities are in place, so uh that's usually the slowest part.

And the good thing is those have been moved now for about six months in in totality.

I will answer any questions the council may have on the project.

Ms.

Watkins.

Yes.

One of the questions I was well, first of all, thank you, Mr.

Davis, for that presentation.

Um a couple of people have been asking me about the Northern Bypass.

I thought the best thing to do was just to have an update in Council Chambers.

Yes, ma'am.

So uh we're 75 percent complete, and I was gonna ask you, but you said we're running a couple of days behind because of inclement weather.

Do you still um project this to be completed in November?

We are pushing both the contractor and engineering department to be completed by this calendar gear.

Okay.

Um I will uh just point out that I know engineering is working through it.

Uh this this is probably the best illustration.

So the geotech uh naturally showed rock in this area.

It's the toe of the mountain, uh, so it would be what you would expect.

But as you see along the tree line, it's not solid rock.

Uh so the design plans for this project had much like Cecil aspirin, we would drill, shoot the rock, and it would leave a stone face, a rock face along that with no treatment needed.

Um much like you see on Governor's Drive, you see on Cecil Ashburn.

Naturally, you see that is not the case.

It's what we refer to in engineering as a mixed face.

It's partly dirt, partly rock.

So we are working on a supplement plan of how to stabilize that.

It could be slope paved, it could be rip route.

The state will do that.

It is the state highway.

Uh so that will add a little bit of time, but what we are focused on is maintaining schedule of the road itself and get traffic on it.

This would be outside the traffic lane, and we believe could be done uh without uh not withholding opening the road.

So as we get through the next couple of months, I continue to update you, but everybody is focused to get the road finished and traffic going both directions by the end of the calendar year.

Okay.

And I've been traveling through that road, and I'll tell you that I have seen that it has come a long way.

It looks good.

It looks really good.

Um the other question I have is how is this going to help commute time for travelers who are traveling to Redstone Arsenal?

So as far as travel distance versus if you live in the northern part of the city or northern part of the county today, you are traveling US 231, you are coming through I-565 and then headed westbound.

Our traffic modeling uh for this project, it which the Federal Highway requires us to do uh estimates, and that's computer generation modeling, but cuts 15 minutes off that commute time.

Okay.

Because it's more of a direct route.

But it uh one of the things I do, I want to answer your questions, of course, but then I want to give you an a quick update, it's just two slides of what we knew would happen.

One, this is going to move a lot of traffic which we need in a growing community, but we knew it was also going to be an economic development generator as most major arterials do in any city.

And I will show that uh moment.

We want to take your questions first.

Okay.

That's all I have now.

Thank you for presentation.

Yes, ma'am.

Mr.

Merrick?

I just have a couple of quick ones.

Could you show me the reconfigured uh intersection at Mount Lebanon?

It seems like it'll well, if you could just show me that.

Yeah, so I am assuming where the road goes to the ro uh north from this perspective.

Yes.

Um that's going to be the new intersection, correct?

You need to be able to do that.

It will.

So you you see the current T intersection of Mount Lebanon, the two-lane of Bobway.

So think of uh that two-lane direction of Bobway remaining becoming the new two-lane westbound of 255.

You see where the construction equipment and the new gravel, that is eastbound towards the parkway.

There will be an asphalt medium between those two travels and turning movements in that median.

So think of a four-lane divided highway like a 431 U.S.

72.

It would act very similar to, say, Nance Road in 72 in your district.

That is what it will look like.

Okay.

Full turning movements.

Both turning movements will directly go into Mount Lebanon, or will there be like a little U-turn that someone knows to it will be a conventional signalized intersection, full turning movements.

Excellent.

Thank you.

I got misled by that service road thinking that you were going to drop it.

That's a good point.

Okay.

My other question is the tie-end of 565 is going to be on rideout road by the gates to the arsenal in Bridge Street.

That's the same thing.

That's right.

That will be the terminus of State Route 255.

Thank you.

Mr.

Kling.

This is a great road project, and I guess next to Councilmember Watkins, I'm I'm biggest cheerleader of it.

It is going to be great, and I can see where it's what it is going to mean to the community.

Okay.

Now let's say this gets wrapped up roughly around November.

Looking ahead, uh are y'all starting to work plan toward, I guess what we would call the eastern bypass over towards Highway 72 east and over to Hampton Cove.

My ultimate goal is the ring road around the city that would take stress off of the center part of the city.

Yes, sir, we are.

So we refer to this as the Northern Bypass Phase 1 from Pulaskipot U.S.

231.

We are at uh 60 percent set of planned completion for phase two, uh, which will go from U.S.

231 to Winchester Road and Mooresville Road.

Uh we Cathy Martin and I just got confirmation about 30 days ago after uh meeting with Mark Bartlett with Federal Highway.

Uh with having Federal funds, you have to have what is called a logical termini, meaning where you would pick up the next phase and where Federal Highway says you can end the next phase.

Well, the issue is when you model this and the amount of traffic will be diverted off I-565 and come through this corridor, the logical terminal would be U.S.

Highway 72.

Our argument has been that becomes a significant cost project in the tune of 180 million dollars.

We want to move local traffic.

So we have been advocating for a year to say let our let our next phase two go from the parkway to Winchester Mooresville.

We can obtain funding.

It is a little bit of right away, they are large track owners, and we can fund that now.

It's taken a long time, but we got confirmation about two weeks ago that uh Federal Highway is going to let us move forward with that.

So uh to answer your question, Mr.

Kling, we believe that uh we can bid that project next year, uh, which would get us to Winchester and Mooresville Road, uh, which will help alleviate.

If you if you see what we are doing, even though we got our own malfunction junction of I-565 and U.S.

231, it's about a $350 million project.

These type projects are, you know, if we can move 15,000 cars out of that interchange a day and give them an alternate route, it helps South Huntsville, it helps downtown, it helps East Huntsville and West Huntsville that come through that interchange every day.

Because it's it's the nerve center of North Alabama, north, south, east-west.

So we are advocating for that.

The eastern bypass that would come from Hampton Cove to U.S.

72.

Uh we've completed a corridor study.

We know what the alignment will look like.

We have sent that off how it will tie to U.S.

72 to Aldot.

Uh there are actually funding in the CAP plan to start design plans for that next year.

Okay.

That you approved.

Uh they were approved in 2025, but we have been waiting for the corridor study and getting a uh Federal Highway and OLDOT to approve where we would tie the U.S.

72 before you start the design.

And that's occurred this year.

I guess I am hoping for the day down the line when Huntsville has a ring road, eastern bypass, come around Arsenal, East Connector, come back on the ring road.

That takes stress off the medical district and all the other central portions of the city.

And uh I think that would really, you know, just remake Huntsville and take traffic flow improvement.

But we are working on all the things that are in the middle of great things.

Not fast enough, of course.

Yeah, but uh all of y'all are doing it.

They are all in progress.

I think we should call it the cling ring when you get a start.

That's how we just refer to it for now.

I think you may have answered one of my questions, and that is you are anticipating 15,000 cars.

Would come off the parkway and transition to this.

That's a great thing.

All right.

Any other comments or questions?

Mr.

Hunt.

I have been instructed to ask or to state that uh we can't name it after Bill.

Because he's alive.

Exactly.

So unless you put it in John Hunt Park.

That's the exception.

I think it's time to move on.

Maybe maybe this council would see an exception for Mr.

Clean.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Davis.

We appreciate that update and the good work everyone is doing.

So I can have two more minutes of this council.

So let's give you an update also for phase one update of North Village Town Center.

So as you know has previously been announced, North Village Town Center is a 200-acre mixed-use retail development at the intersection we were just speaking of, US 231, State Route 255.

The project would deliver a little over 650,000 square feet of retail restaurants, medical hospitality, fitness, along with resident new residential development.

Progress is moving.

The city has almost completed some relocation of utilities, Huntsville Utilities New Waterline.

They want to go ahead and get a loop in through this project.

There was some sewer that we needed to reroute, a drainage ditch, that aerial photography that you saw, a regional detention pond that we want to create.

So work very quietly has been occurring with not a lot of fanfare, but the fanfare is about to start.

So we are scheduling real estate closings both with target and home depot in August and September.

So this fall you'll see uh tilt-up concrete walls start to uh come up out of that red dirt.

Uh phase one is scheduled to open in 2027.

The whole development will take about three years to complete.

It is a lot of land.

Uh so we will uh bust that up into three phases.

I'm about to show you those phases.

Uh but phase one will open next year.

Phase two will start uh mid to late next year.

So they'll they'll run a little bit in parallel.

Uh as things start to open, you'll see uh new retail hotels and residentials start to uh catch up.

So this is the site, so you can see uh some of the utilities.

You can see the regional uh retention pond along the TVA transmission lines.

Uh and then we were required to sell this property to uh remove any structures on site.

So there's some it was formerly a farm, so there was some barns and things that uh that we needed to uh demo and get off-site.

There was an open uh drainage, public drainage ditch.

We've put that underground and rerouted it to maximize the retail out parcels.

We could have left it there, but for us, the amount of money it took us to relocate versus the out parcels we would get creating sales tax and property tax, it was well worth uh those utility relocations.

So again, just a another view of this.

You can see Food City uh to the south.

You have approved so out in front of Food City, there you see some uh grass area.

You have sold one of those uh and approved this council.

So a Bavellini Express, it would be the far left of half.

Uh and then we are in negotiations uh with an entity to purchase the three out parcels that will bring uh set down restaurants there.

We'll bring that to you very shortly.

Uh so we have wanted to wait.

Our phone is wrong off the hook.

Uh but knowing what we were creating across the street, we wanted to make sure we got the highest and best use out of city property, and I think we're doing that.

So let's kind of walk through all everything that is occurring around this intersection.

So uh the white boxes you see, that is the phase one.

Uh you have approved real estate contracts for everything except the two parcels I've showed you out in front of Food City.

So uh the red dirt that you see on the west side of the parkway, uh the kind of triangular piece, 16 and a half acres that you see on the north side of State Route 255, those are contractually obligated uh to our master developer of Target, and then directly with Home Depot, and then master developer for the north side.

Uh once they close in August and September, uh, the master developer will have the authority uh to bring more public announcements uh of the actual end users.

I can tell you the entire phase one is sold out.

Uh so every square foot of phase one, which includes about 350,000 square feet of retail is spoken for.

Uh and if what I would call is the best in class type brand names we all know, household names.

Uh phase two would be in yellow.

We are starting to work on that as well as far as public infrastructure.

The far south portion of phase two, Huntsville Hospital is closed on their property and is in full design for a new uh emergency and imaging center.

It's about a $50 million project that we will break ground next year.

Uh so they will be one of the anchors.

And then the other anchors, we are starting to finalize with our master developer, say master developer with the target as we move west.

Flanking phase one and two is phase three.

So we're in final negotiations to secure that property and starting to talk to retailers on that piece.

The orange piece to even further west, so that would be the corner of 255 and Mount Lebanon Road.

So we're working with the Harris family and their master developer.

Actually, there's a rezoning action on that project tonight for a planned development that we're very excited to partner with and bring before this council in the coming months.

And then to the far right, this is the last comment I will make is new residential single family for sale.

It's called Camden Place, new residential community that is under construction.

This is exactly what we thought we could create five, six years ago as we kept pushing and pushing and pushing to get this project.

When I say this project, State Route 255 underway.

I am done.

I'll take any questions.

Mr.

Davis, again, thank you.

Thank you to your team.

And I know Ms.

Watkins, you must be very proud of this.

I am absolutely proud and aesthetic.

And the only thing that I don't like about Shang Davis, he won't let me tell you anything.

I have shared some stuff, and she swore to say she has done a great job with that.

We will look forward to hearing good news in the future.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmembers.

We have no matters with outside legal representation.

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

Um 9A has been deleted because the property was brought into compliance, and we always like to hear that.

So we'll move on to 9B.

9B is a public hearing authorizing community development to assess the cost for demolition cleanup of a structural public nuisance located at 13032 Cheney Dompson Road, Southeast, Huntsville, Alabama, and consideration of a resolution pertaining to the same.

Mr.

Irwin.

Yes, Councilmember Scott Irwin Community Development Department.

This is a public hearing on a resolution authorizing community development to assess the cost for demolition and cleanup of a structural public nuisance located at 13032 Cheney Thompson Road.

The resolution before you authorizes an assessment in the amount of $16,438.38 cents.

All procedural requirements related to the declaration, demolition and cleanup of a structural public nuisance have been fulfilled in accordance with the State of Alabama's Public Nuisance Act.

Property owners were notified that an assessment may be authorized and placed on their property at the City Council meeting of July 23, 2026, during which time they may have the opportunity to appear and present any objections to the assessed cost.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Irwin.

Oh, and let the record show that Mayor Bowdle has joined us.

Welcome back, Mayor Battle.

The public hearing on item 9B is now open.

Is there anyone here who wishes to address us regarding item 9B?

Anyone wishing to comment?

Seeing none, the public hearing is now closed.

Is there a motion to approve the resolution?

Motion to approve.

Motion from Mr.

Meredith, second from Mr.

Kling.

Any questions regarding this?

I'm just grateful to you for uh getting this on the agenda and getting it taken care of.

Thank you very much.

All in favor, please indicate any posed.

Motion carries.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Thank you.

9C is a public hearing on the zoning of 2.41 acres of land lying on the west side of Old Beat Cove Road and south of Worley Drive to residents two district and consideration of an ordinance pertaining to the same.

Mr.

Nunez.

Good evening, Council members.

Mayor Battle.

Thomas Nunez, manager of planning and zoning services.

This item was uh uh annexed into City of Huntsfield approximately uh two months ago.

Uh the zoning of this property is approximately 2.41 acres.

It is an existing single family home, and residents are seeking to zone the property residence to district and um which is consistent with the adjacent zoning properties.

The public hearing on item 9C is now open.

Is there anyone here wishing to address us regarding or make comments regarding 9C?

Seeing none, the hearing is closed.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Motion from Mr.

Merritt, second from Ms.

Watkins.

Any questions from Mr.

Nunez?

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye opposed.

Motion carries.

9D is a public hearing on the zoning of 2.47 acres of landline on the south side of old Highway 20 east of Greenbrier Parkway to commercial industrial park district and consideration of an ordinance pertaining to the same.

Mr.

Nunez.

Councilman, this item is located on old highway seven on Ohio 20 and east of Greenborough Parkway.

Uh this property was recently annexed into city limits and is zoned, uh, seeking to zone the property commercial industrial park consistent with adjacent properties.

Thank you, Mr.

Nunez.

The public hearing on item 9D is now open.

Is there anyone wishing to comment?

Seeing none, the public hearing is closed.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion to motion from Mr.

Meredith, a second from Mr.

Kling.

Any questions for Mr.

Nunez?

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carries.

And finally, 9E is a public hearing on the rezoning of 505.03 acres of land lying on north of Bogway Lane, east of West Mountain Mount Lebanon Road from residence 2 and residence 2B districts to Plan Development Housing District LUI 45 and 56 and consideration of an ordinance pertaining to the same.

So moved.

Super excited.

We just heard about Mr.

New.

Let's let Mr.

Nunez go first.

Sure.

Again, Council members, I'll start with a small presentation.

I will try to make this as quickly as possible as you currently have a motion on the table that has not yet been seconded.

But again, this item is a plan development housing district rezoning.

Property was recently annexed into City Huntsville in August of 2025 and was uh zoned appropriately so that they can go through the plan development process.

So through this, um you would see a proposal of 505 acres, essentially producing approximately 1,800 homes.

Now those 1,800 homes were consistent of a multiple phasing of homes uh that we call um home choice and options, where that uh this proposal would produce a 42 lot 42 with lot development.

Also a 56-foot lot development and also a 66 lot size lot development.

Uh when you look at these 30, 40 in the town homes, this is talking about products.

So uh getting down to the very last uh role in that which says Harris Farms overall uh within the 30-foot, this is just the product that is the home, the style itself and not the lot sizes.

Uh through my presentation, I'll get into a little bit of deeper uh discussion as how that fits into the lot and some of the modifications that would come before you soon.

Uh but overall this produces uh 1,800 uh units.

548 of those units would be a 30-foot product, 40 uh 623 units would be a 40-foot product, and 226 would be a 54-foot um product, and lastly, um 141 proposed townhomes.

One of the things that planning staff uh likes about this development is that it is a diverse housing um strategy that is new, uh uh keeps and allows for affordability throughout the development.

As I move forward, uh this proposal will have four different street sections uh that are non-traditional to how we currently design streets.

Nevertheless, they are still streets that we've seen on a common basis throughout our city.

Uh but it can of course, as you look at other housing and put plan development, um, you see these types of styles.

Each one of these sections has approximately an eight-foot planting section, uh, which is similar to that of our um crime prevention through environmental design that is allowed through our subdivision regulations.

They produce a tree that will add for vegetation and shading over time for those that would commute and walk through this community.

Uh this community, as I speak about it, will be very walkable as majority of these phases of A, B, C all have six-foot sidewalks.

Um currently our regulations require a four-foot, as you can see, they are going just beyond and have to ask for modification for these different street sections.

But through that development, you can see the primaries.

There is a Boulevard Street, which is A, a major collector street, which is B.

There are two of those, and then a C collector, minor collector street, which would be on the west side of Mount Lebanon.

Through this development, uh there will also be a local road that has a 50-foot right-of-way that will also ask for a modification.

But I'll get to those a little bit later.

This is the housing style and products that you will see.

Uh, these are similar to uh developments that we've seen throughout our city, but also has uh we'll have design standards and architectural review committees that will review each component as these homes are built.

Therefore, if the um city council approves this planned development.

Furthermore, this open space rendering and amenities, what I do want to bring to the uh forefront is that this uh development is heavily amenitized with approximately 350 acres of open space and about 15 acres of recreational space throughout the entire development.

So uh when getting to the deeper details, uh you'll see um larger amenities, pickleball courts, greenways, larger sidewalks, um, some other uh aspects of pickleball courts, pocket parks, dog parks that will happen throughout this all throughout the entirety of the development that would make it attainable for those to walk and just live and have a uh sense of community throughout the development as well.

Now, this is just another depiction of our land use intensity calculations that are requirement of the zoning ordinance and just showing that we meet and require or are above those particular standards as established.

Now, the modifications themselves.

Um, within our planning or zoning um districts of R2, there are several modifications.

The primary one is that under R2, we only allow for approximately 6,000 square foot and a 50-foot lot.

This modification for the 30-foot product will reduce that size by 8 feet to a 42-foot lot size with 5,040 square feet, uh, and also a reduction in uh the rear yard setbacks to approximately 15 feet for each style in each product.

And lastly, uh or multiple throughout that uh sideyard setbacks will be reduced to five feet.

Um, and for two stories will go to 5.5 feet with the sum of side yards at 12 feet throughout the development.

The one unique thing is the um typically within R2, you see a 40 percent lot uh coverage.

This development would request or ask for modification to go to a 63 percent lot coverage.

Now, within that 63 percent lot coverage, you uh spoke to the fact that you are producing approximately 350 acres of just open space, um, green space, open space that is uh clear to the sky with no true development on it, but also 15 acres of recreational space.

So uh the amenities align with the density controls that are being placed within this development as we see it from a planning perspective.

Uh again, another modification that you will see is for the townhome developments currently by our regulations, we do not allow for a garage in the front yard and for a town home, but this would request that they have a front loaded product in the garage in the front.

And of course, the one of the closest to last modifications is a height adjustment to the amenity buildings.

Typically within your subdivisions, when a clubhouse or an amenity building is built, it has to re meet the requirements of that of the single family home.

Those homes are 30 feet and/or 35, depending on the um the regulation.

This modification is asking to go to a 45-foot.

Uh that is all due to the uh heavy amenitizing of activities through pools and recreational spaces that are happening in this development.

So you'll ask for they are asking for an additional 10 feet for the amenity sections.

But again, when you if I were to go back, you would see how large these spaces are, and they don't seem to overpower the current developments that would happen if you see that this section is approved.

And one of the last ones is a 50-foot right-of-way reduction to uh 12 feet of pavement.

Our typical right-of-way sections are require a 26 feet of pavement.

This would go to uh 24 feet of pavement, so uh two feet of a reduction of just pavement area.

But however, recall that I stated that you're getting amenitized sections through larger sidewalks.

These sidewalks will go to five feet in this section, and also a uh the uh tree planting section as well.

Um I do want to give uh cadence and respect to those that are doing this work, Suncrest, Thomas and Hudden, Shoal Engineering, Casey, and Spectrum Sutton, Suncrest and Thomas and Hutton are are present and will happily answer any questions that you have.

Um, but that is my presentation.

Okay.

You will hold on questions until we have had the public hearing.

So the public hearing on uh on this item is a 9E is now open.

Is there anyone wishing to make comments regarding this item?

Anyone wishing to make comments?

Seeing none, the public hearing is now closed.

Ms.

Watkins, would you like to make a motion?

Move to approve.

Second.

Second by Mr.

Meredith.

Questions for Mr.

News.

I do.

I'm more so not questions.

You have thoroughly explained everything to me, and I really appreciate that.

And um more so comment.

Um I'm really excited about this development in District 1.

Um it's going to go in line with the retail space and commercial space that's being developed as well.

So it's going to complement it as well as give the residents an opportunity for work health play.

And I want to also comment that in the past, I had uh voted against the development in Mr.

Mayor this district.

And that was because there was not a clear understanding of if things have been communicated with House City Schools.

Since that time, Shane Davis, Economic Development Director, and Mayor Battle both have reassured me that they've been communicating with Houseville C schools.

And I even spoke with Dr.

Sutton as well.

And he is happy about this development, happy about the prospect of having students come in and attend schools in District 1.

So this is the main reason why I'm supporting it because I'm confident that the city and Hustle C schools are working together to ensure that our students are taken care of.

And that was my only concern.

That concern now has been reassured.

Appreciate you for that, Mayor Battle.

Appreciate you there for Shane Davis and Dr.

Sutton.

So I just want to say job well done.

Thank you.

And welcome to the family, District One.

I'll get you a t-shirt, okay?

Thank you, Ms.

Watkins.

Other questions?

Mr.

Merrick Merrick.

Yes, you had mentioned the town homes having front-loaded garages.

Do you have an illustration of that?

Yes, that is in a slide that would be provided.

There.

So just to the right, where town homes on the front and a small use.

You can see the different styles on that just to the left of those screens that speak to the size, like the minimum.

So through this development, we establish the minimums and they can go beyond those particular standards.

Thank you.

You're very welcome, sir.

And thank you, Ms.

Watkins.

Glad you feel good about the Westmoreland plan development that you had concerns about earlier.

But I don't have any concerns about this good stuff for you.

And as you said, welcome District One, but welcome to Huntsville from my perspective.

Mr.

Kling comments.

Just said I think what's good for North Hudsonville is good for all of Huntsville.

And if you have more of this type of development, this type of growth taking place, it spreads it out and you know takes takes away the congestion in the central portion of the city.

Traffic flow goes a little bit better.

And again, I think we have got great things going on in uh different corners throughout the city.

Absolutely.

This is definitely a steering point of uh the trajectory of growth of District 1 that we have seen over the last six years, and one of the primary actions that are happening now.

Um, thanks to Shane and his support on these as well as we go through these particular actions of bringing in developments, annexations, and thank you, Council members, for um voting, but also asking the hard questions of how we get to uh making sure that we continue to put out the best product that we can.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Nunez, and again for the whole team.

Great work.

Um all in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Thank you all very much.

We have one public hearing to set.

10A is a resolution to set a public hearing on the rezoning of 12.50 acres of land lying on the east side of Bloomman Ferry Road, north of Phil Dots Drive from Commercial Recreation C5 District to Highway Business C4 District and introduction of an ordinance to be pertaining to the same.

Is there a motion to set the hearing for August 27, 26th?

We'll move to 26 regular council meeting.

Motion from Mr.

Kling, second from Mr.

Meredith.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries the hearing is set.

Brings us to agenda-related public comments.

And we do not have anyone signed up on agenda-related public comments.

So we will go on and officially welcome Mayor back Mayor Battle back from the London Air Show.

He is with us now.

Mayor, would you have you overcome jet lags sufficiently to make comments?

We landed about an hour ago, so we're not not quite quite over uh the jet lag yet.

But um, it was uh let me say as we were out there, we went through probably five different functions with different groups, uh, 20 different meetings and were able to talk to industry.

Some industry was already located here.

Uh talked to them about growth and uh what what they were looking for in the future, and every one of them were looking at um how we could grow more in the future and offer more opportunity in the future.

Uh but it was also um a lot of companies who um you know fit into the mode of what we do here and needed to be here.

And um so uh we had about 20 meetings with uh with companies that um might be looking uh to settle down and get a new home.

A lot of them moving from overseas production and moving into the United States, and so uh we have got some some opportunity.

We made an announcement there for 150 jobs, which 150 jobs will equal about 12 million dollars a year coming into this community year in and year out from payroll.

So um that was it was it was really a good meeting, and you know, but I was glad to be able to get back.

Um there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed.

And uh but also this weekend.

I mean, there's a lot of activities happening this weekend.

Kathy uh will be going on Saturday at Calhoun, uh, where we'll be making sure that uh young people have have the tools they need to get back in school with uh backpacks.

Um the Times building is having its 100th year anniversary, and uh Delta Sigma Theta uh is in town and we'll have be having a luncheon on uh well maybe be having activities throughout the weekend, but uh uh luncheon on Saturday.

And um let me just say, you know, Harris Farms is a great development for us, and you know, this just follows in the progression of how um uh the these things work.

You know, we started out with uh with jobs up in uh uh up from the North North Huntsville Industrial Park.

We had jobs there.

We said we added infrastructure as we added that uh our loop road into there and also the overpass at uh on on the North Parkway area.

And um then we added we've been able to add retail uh and uh and along with the infrastructure, uh the last thing that comes in is residential.

And this is just the way it's worked in uh out in Limestone County uh near the Toyota and uh Mazda Toyota plant.

This is the way it is working in um in uh for the Harris Farm development and and other developments that will happen along that area.

It's a progression, and each one of those put uh pieces uh have to be in place before the next piece can happen.

So uh congratulations to our planning staff.

Thank you for the job that y'all have done.

Uh thank you to council for y'all's support and making this happen.

Um this will be a great thing, adding uh homes and and people to our community and uh also adding to our economy uh up in the north north end of town.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mayor Battle, welcome home.

That brings us to Councilmember comments.

We'll begin with Councilmember John Meredith.

Thank you.

Um want to give heartfelt condolences to the family of Tom Glenn, who recently passed away after uh battling uh fairly long illness.

Um I became familiar with him through his leadership at the senior center and just a great individual who I had more recently been working hand in hand with to expand the Meals on Wheels program into the Fifth District, and uh his absence uh has already been felt um, but I I know his family is going through a tough time right now, and all my heartfelt condolences to his family.

Um the We Fill Foundation will be hold uh holding its launch pad event this Saturday, July 25th from 10 a.m.

until noon at the West Huntsville Recreation Center.

The foundation is a young community-based organization located in District 5, and they will be distributing free backpacks and school supplies to students and families in need of those items.

Uh for those who are in need of those items, I look forward to seeing you at this first of its kind event in District 5.

I want to uh acknowledge uh being a participant in a ribbon cutting um for at rather the Grove at Indian Creek off Jeff Road, which is in District 5.

Um it is it will be providing senior affordable housing units that not only will increase the quality of life for its residents, but also provide seniors that are having a tough time right now uh in terms of housing costs, uh particularly those that rent.

And this uh could not have happened without coordination between several uh nongovernmental agencies, but a lot of departments within the City of Huntsville and um community development, uh the engineering department uh are thanks uh they're not enough uh thanks to express um the fact that you all really, really outdid yourselves in in making this happen.

Uh and don't want to downplay Mr.

Hamilton uh in making this happen as well.

Um but again, this is um uh an addition to an already existing senior community, one in uh of which I have uh familiar uh familial relationship with um it is where my uh now deceased uh mother-in-law live for many years.

And I can tell you that this particular place is one that really, really adds quality of life to these seniors.

They get together, they don't wait on management, they organize themselves, everything from card games to socials and the ice cream and margaritas when the time comes.

So the quality of life that's going to be available to seniors in this community is one of the best in any senior community throughout the city.

So it was a pleasure to be there.

I guess finally, if Damon could start the slideshow on this, I wanted to address some traffic concerns in the Village of Providence, particularly around the off-Broadway roadways.

As you can tell, there is a lot of truck traffic, and the trucks are frankly violating our traffic laws and blocking this avenue into the western side of the Village of Providence all the time.

It is the only way into the West side of Providence, and they are causing residents untold amounts of frustration to access their house.

This is their only way in, their only way, well, their only way out if you are heading east.

There is another avenue for them to exit heading west.

But that's of limited usage for them.

So I certainly want to encourage, and I know they have been already had the outreach based on the fact that they knew I was going to make this presentation.

But uh kudos and thank you to both traffic enforcement as well as Huntsville Police Department.

Um they're going to be really, really monitoring this even more than they have.

Um but I wanted to make sure that the residents of Providence are aware that their councilperson hears them.

They have been complaining about this a long time.

We have uh been quietly working on a second entrance uh to the West side of Providence so that they can avoid all of this and have an additional way to get access to their side of Providence, and hopefully we're just a few months away from that project being started and hopefully completed in the very near future.

But given the fact that that is their only way in it, well, only way in and uh of limited use is the exit um out uh from that other side.

So again, I want to thank um Huntsville police and uh our uh traffic enforcement people as well.

But the second entrance is obviously needed, and it creates its its own uh ecosystem because it will allow folks to enter that side.

Um it's better in terms of access for first responders, particularly uh Huntsville Fire and Rescue, as they can access a light and go in versus having to go all the way around and then make a U-turn and go over what is a barricade at uh 72, and I believe it's Hillcrest.

So thank everyone involved, and we really appreciate it.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Mr.

Meredith, Ms.

Watkins.

Good evening, everyone.

Um I want to invite everyone out on Saturday morning at 8 o'clock at the Shirney Center.

We're gonna have an overdose awareness walk, and it's to bring awareness to the epidemic that we currently have, not just in Alabama and Huntsville, but throughout the country.

I also want to invite everybody out to Caffey, um, our multicultural affairs office with Randy Barber and Harry Hobbes at Huntsville Utilities will host Caffe annual event.

They have activities for the kids.

They give away free book bags and school supplies, and they have information available as well.

Uh if you're one to participate in the celebrating education parade this year, it's gonna be on August 22nd.

Parade will roll out at 8 o'clock on Maston Lake, Turn on Pulaski, and we will arrive on Jemison High School.

There will be plenty of activities for the kids as well as um opportunities for parents to sign up for PTA.

And lastly, I want to thank uh public works, um, landscape management, community development, public safety, fire, and uh rescue.

Let me just say there's not been a time that I've called and asked questions, and they were not promptly answered.

And I appreciate that.

I appreciate our employees taking time out to do that for us.

I want to thank Thomas and Shane personally for tonight.

You like gave me Christmas in July.

So thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Watkins.

Mr.

Kling.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to join Councilmember Meredith in recognizing the great contributions and the great loss we feel with the passing of Tom Glenn.

Tom was a yeoman working at that senior center.

He was a visionary.

He cared about the people there, and he took Huntsville Senior Center, and he really turned it into a thriving, active community, and uh he uh really leaves a big void that's going to be greatly missed.

And uh this community is a lot better for having Tom Glenn as a citizen in it for the years that we had him.

Uh I wanted to ask if I can get uh uh Mr.

Hamilton to uh come up.

Uh we've had a lot of uh discussion, input, internet flow, and concerns expressed about uh tree removals that took place at the uh Huntsville Middle School location, which is school system property, not City of Huntsville property.

And adjacent to it, of course, is California Park, which is a city park.

And uh Mr.

Hamilton, can you just tell us about uh was any of the trees impacted?

Are those trees going to be protected or how is that all going to work in the future?

Sure.

Uh Councilmember John Hamlin, City Administrator.

So, yes, there's uh we we received questions just uh just like you did, Mr.

Kling, uh, about you know kind of the the school system construction, how it relates to our adjacent property.

So California Park uh sits at the the corner of uh California and Lowe Avenue, which is adjacent to where uh current Huntsville Junior High.

My understanding is that they're uh they're gonna rename it Tuncewell Middle School when it uh when the new facility opens.

So the school system has started their construction on that new facility.

Of course, they're making significant capital investments in schools all across the city.

Uh that's one of the earlier ones in that uh in that cycle.

Uh so their project is solely on their land, which really kind of surrounds the park, you know, to the to the west and to to the south along California.

Uh all of their work is contained solely on their property, and so their their work will not touch uh the parcels that we own that uh that make up California Park.

Uh and certainly you know encourage citizens to, if they have any questions about the school's capital plans to engage with their school board members and in the school system to understand those in greater detail.

But uh this answer to the specific question that you and I have both been hit with is that that school construction does not affect California Park.

Now, you know, California Park is one of several that we know uh in in the out years uh is due for some renovations and some investment of things.

And so when I bring you the update to the 90 capital plan here in September, uh I intend to have a project in it, you know, out in a few years, kind of after the school system is done with their work uh for the things we need to to spruce that park back up along with others throughout the city.

Well, I think uh I think that will be good.

So the bottom line is the uh the trees at California Park City Land will not be impacted by what's taking place.

And I'm assuming that whatever plan we have concerning, and I know Councilmember Little and I have both been talking about you know getting California Park upgraded.

Um I'm sure there will be plenty of time for public to see plans, give us input, town meetings and uh see where we go there.

So it will be a collaborative process between the city and the community, and they're not gonna just wake up and all of a sudden see something's there, take it or leave it.

Uh correct.

Okay.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Kling.

Um on August 4th, I we will be holding uh South Huntsville Town Hall at 6 o'clock at the Moon Center in the band rehearsal room.

We hope this is maybe the last time we will be meeting in the band rehearsal room.

We look forward to getting into the new event hall.

Uh the speaker on August 4th at 6 o'clock will be our long-range planner, Dennis Madsen.

He will be uh presenting an update on the big picture plan.

It's a 10-year plan and uh and there is some exciting things to to see and also to talk about what the next steps are.

So join us at on August 4th at 6 o'clock.

We will also have a report on the completion of the Moon Center.

I also want to extend thanks to um our sanitation workers who worked extra hours this past week to uh pick up recycling.

Um after the July 4th holiday, we had some significant delays in recycling pickups.

The blue can in front of our house sat out there for 10 days, and that is inexcusable.

And so I just want to go on record to let our friends at the Solid Waste Disposal Authority know that we need a new contractor for our recycling.

We've needed it for a while, and this sort of was the last the last time, last excuse, and I hope it is the last time our sanitation workers have to make up their shortfall.

So many thanks to Chris McNeese and everyone in public works and sanitation who helped ran a catch-up.

We will move on to the Finance Committee report.

14A is a resolution authorizing expenditures for payment.

Mr.

Meredith.

I move for the authorization and approval of expenditures in the amount of $30 million fifteen thousand eighty-seven dollars and forty-three cents.

Second from Mr.

Kling.

All in favor, please indicate.

14B, is there a report?

Oh, I'm sorry, no, not tonight.

Thank you.

14B is an ordinance approving appropriations, goods or services for District 1 council improvement funds.

The Chair makes the motion.

Second.

Second from Ms.

Watkins.

Ms.

Watkins, would you like to share with us this?

Yes.

Real Fob is making a difference incorporated.

It's a nonprofit that works directly with parents and males specifically at youth risk to assist them in being successful.

I have observed and seen this program for the last four or five years.

And Mr.

Smith, who runs program, is hands-on in this program to the point that he visits the school, talks with the teacher, talks with the principal about behavior and grades.

I've seen the impact that he had on these young men's lives to the point that when they age out of the program, they don't want to leave.

He has to actually tell them you got to fly the nest now.

So I'm appropriating these funds because I believe in this program, and we need someone working with our youth at this point that has an impact.

Any discussion?

Mr.

Meredith?

No real discussion, but I just want to concur.

I think that Mr.

Smith has done an excellent job of conduct this program.

He does not ask for much and has been, is Ms.

Watkins said, so influential over so many lives that it is a pleasure to be able to vote in favor of this.

Any other all in favor, please indicate.

Opposed.

The motion carries.

We now have board appointments to be voted on.

Council members note that 15A and B both require four-fifths vote of the Council to approve since Mr.

Little is not here.

We will be asking for a motion to postpone to the August 13th meeting with both of these items.

15A is a resolution to reappoint.

I am sorry.

I understand, but I think they're going to get four fifths.

Is there really a need to postpone?

I just offer that.

It's in fairness to the nominee and also the organization.

We need to have all council members present.

That's fine.

That's fine.

15A is a resolution to reappoint David Nass the Museum Board of the City of Huntsville to his current seat for a six-year term to expire August 13th, 2032.

The Chair moves to postpone consideration to the August 13th meeting.

We need a motion and a second first, but I I don't see anybody saying no to it.

Motion.

Okay.

Is there is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Thank you.

Motion from Ms.

Merritt, second from the Chair.

A motion to postpone consideration to the August 13th meeting.

I guess motion to approve that.

Thank you.

Second from the Chair.

All in favor, please indicate consideration is postponed to the August 13th meeting.

15B is a resolution to reappoint Joyce Griffin to the Museum Board of the City of Huntsville to her current seat for a six-year term to expire August 13th, 2032.

Is there a motion to approve motion?

Second.

Second from Ms.

Watkins.

The Chair moves to postpone consideration to the August 13th meeting.

Is there second from Mr.

Kling?

All in favor, please indicate the motion.

The consideration is approved the August 13th meeting.

15C is a resolution to reappoint Mark Harburger to the Huntsville Downtown Redevelopment Authority.

Group C his current seat for a six-year term to expire July 26, 2032.

Is there a motion?

Motion for Ms.

Watkins, second from Mr.

Meredith.

All in favor, please indicate.

15 D is a resolution to reappoint John Burbach to the Huntsville Downtown Redevelopment Authority.

Group C is current seat for a six-year term to expire July 26, 2032.

Move to appointment.

Motion from Ms.

Watkins, second from Mr.

Meredith.

All in favor, please indicate.

I posed the motion carries.

15 E is a resolution to appoint Sharon Beauclair to the Huntsville Downtown Redevelopment Authority Group C to the seat previously held by Joseph Clark for a six-year term to expire July 26, 2032.

Move to approve.

Motion for Ms.

Watkins, second from Mr.

Kling.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Um council meeting.

16A is a nomination to reappoint Steve Thornton to the Von Braun Center Board of Control to his current seat for a four-year term to expire, August 27, 2031.

16B is a nomination to reappoint Lynn Troy to the Von Braun Center Board of Control to her current seat for a four-year term to expire, August 27, 2030.

16C is a nomination to appoint Vicki Guerreri to the Housing Board of Adjustments and Appeals to the seat previously held by Robert Jones for a five-year term to expire, August 22, 2031.

16D is a nomination to appoint Zachary Hester to the Human Relations Commission place two to the resignation of Tracy Harris for the remainder of a four-year term to expire September 30, 2027.

16E is a nomination to appoint Emily Rogers to the Early Works Museum Board place three to the seat previously held by Joanna White for a three-year term to expire June 26, 2029.

16F is a nomination to appoint Joanna White to the Early Works Museum Board place eight due to the resignation of Joshua McCoy for the remainder of a three-year term to expire June 26, 2028.

And again, these will be taken up at the August 13th meeting.

We have no utility items, we have no legal department items, uh, and one unfinished item of unfinished business.

19A is an ordinance concerning a franchise agreement between the City of Huntsville, Alabama and Limestone County Water and Sewer Authorities.

There are motion.

Right away.

Okay, Ms.

Yeah.

Mr.

Davis, for the listening audience, will you tell them what this is, please?

Yes, ma'am.

So good evening, Council Shane Davis, Director of Urban Economic Development.

So as we provide utilities across our city limits, our city limits is very broad, especially when it comes to water.

There are territorial rights by law with ADM of certain service areas for water utilities.

So you will see within the city limits of Huntsville.

We have the majority, I would say, is served by Huntsville Utilities, of course.

There's a small percentage in actually in the Hampton Cove area that actually is Madison County water customers because that is their territory.

And then as we get to the Western Corridor, we actually have Horvest Monroe and Limestone County Water.

We require them to, as they get in Ordoway, to have a franchise.

So franchises get into, they will provide service, they will publish their rates, but also as we make road improvements.

So that's what this is doing is as we've annexed south of OPOF 65 in the rapidly growing Swancott Road area, District 5.

We need to provide Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority of Franchise in that area to uh subdivisions actually that have some COs such that we need to get water there.

So we're expanding their franchise, their ability to operate within the corporate limits of the City of Huntsville.

Thank you, Mr.

Davis.

Yes, ma'am, thank you.

Any other questions?

All in favor, please indicate.

All opposed.

The motion carried.

Okay.

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

These items will be approved in one motion.

Unless any council member wishes to remove an item for discussion, the reading of each item will be waived unless the council member requests otherwise.

Council members, which items would you like held for separate consideration?

I would like EFG.

J and X.

E.

F.

G.

J.

X.

X.

Okay.

Anyone have any other items?

What's the last one after J?

E F G.

J.

J.

And X.

And Mr.

Meredith.

Mr.

Kling.

And Chair would like to hold items L M and A D.

I'm holding AD just AD is the one that was added at the last.

A D, the one that was added at the last just for transparency.

So we're holding EFG, JLM, X, and AD.

So the chair moves for approval.

Items 28, consolidation and approval of items 20A to D, 20H and I, 20K, 20 N to W, 20 Y to AC.

Second.

Second by Mr.

Kling.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Opposed, the motion carries.

We will begin with item 20E.

20E is an ordinance appointing the election officials for the August 25, 2026, City of Huncil Municipal Election, and if necessary, the September 22, 2026 runoff election.

Is there a motion to approve?

Move to approve.

Motion from Ms.

Watkins, second from Mr.

Meredith.

Ms.

Edwards.

Good evening, Council.

Mayor Battle.

The item before you is an ordinance to include the 225 election officials for the 26 precincts that we will open for the upcoming election.

I'll be glad to take any questions.

What questions do we have?

A comment.

I held these three items because I want the public to understand what are we doing with the election.

Thank you, Ms.

Edwards.

And just to note, the same poll workers will be utilized if we have a runoff.

Very good.

Any other comments or questions?

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Then the next item is 20 F.

20F is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement for election custodial services between the City of Huntsville and Madison County, Alabama.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion from Mr.

Kling, second from the chair.

Questions.

Good evening, Council.

Gentry Edwards.

The resolution before you is the agreement with Madison County.

They will provide all voting machines.

There will be 43 utilized, but in the number you see before you, it does say it's 43 we will utilize, but we are paying for six additional spares.

So you will see 49 that we are paying for.

And that's for an estimated total cost of $76,930.

And that will also include printing materials for elections training, supply kit materials, as well as postage for the Board of Registrars.

Any questions?

I must have a question.

Over the history of our elections at the municipal level, how often do we use backups?

Not often.

And after talking to a probate judge, we just came up with the number, you know, what makes the most sense.

We hope we have no technical difficulties what we are praying for, but we came up with six just to say we have it available, should it occur.

And we have not in the past, to my knowledge, had that happen.

Oh, okay, even better.

Thank you.

You are welcome.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Proposed.

Motion carries.

20 G is the resolution authorizing the mayor to accept price quote from election systems and software inc for all ballots and supplies, provisional kits, express vote cards, and programming coding of three ballot styles, data conversion fees, L and A testing machine, testing of poll books, and on-site support for the August 25, 2026 municipal election.

Is there a motion to approve?

So move.

Motion from Ms.

Watkins, second from the Chair.

That is a whole lot you got going on there.

We are excited about the upcoming election.

Hopefully you won't see very much coming up.

This should be the bulk of it, but we're excited and we're ready.

The resolution before you is for the 43 machines for the upcoming election, all ballots, supplies, provisional kits, express vote cards, programming for all three ballot styles, data conversion, programming, as well as two election day technicians for support.

Should we have any issues across the 26 precincts for an estimated cost of $37,000?

Any questions for Ms.

Edwards?

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carries.

Thank you, Ms.

Edwards.

Welcome to the Council.

20J is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a construction agreement for a federal age project between the City of Huntsville and Alabama Department of Transportation for bridge replacement on Sparkman Drive over Pinhook Creek.

Project number 71-26-SP49 and LDAP project number demo-a 24-5.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion from Mr.

Meredith, second from Ms.

Watkins, Mr.

Davis.

Good evening, Councilmember Shane Davis, Director of Urban Economic Development.

It seems to be a district one night tonight.

This project is in District 1.

So we would be, should you approve this, we will be accepting a $2 million allocation of Federal fund for partial replacement of Sparkman Bridge just off the west side of Memorial Parkway.

We made an application to this bridge is very unique in that it is a local bridge from a maintenance standpoint, but as the parkway or US 231 was widened years ago and the overpass at Sparkman.

This bridge is just west of the overpass.

It actually lies in Al Dot Rideaway.

But um at the end of the project, the Federal A project they gave us because it's a local road gave us the bridge.

So we felt uh that it was in kind of a gray area of being in actually Federal right away, but a local bridge.

And uh Ms.

Britt agreed and got us a two million dollar allocation to go with our uh local funds uh to do some uh major bridge upgrades to the Sparkman Bridge.

Uh the amount of the allocation is two million dollars, and then the local city match would be 500,000.

Questions?

You may have questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Davis.

Yes, ma'am.

All in favor, please indicate uh posed.

The motion carries.

Okay.

20 L is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute modification number one to the agreement between the City of Huntsville and Rosales and Partners Inc.

for engineering design services for U.S.

Highway 231 and U.S.

Highway 431 pedestrian and bicycling bridge project number 71-24-BR02.

Is there a motion to approve?

Some motion from Ms.

Watkins, second from the Chair.

Mr.

Davis, can you uh the Sky Bridge has been of great public interest?

And so I thought just for clarity and transparency, would you share with us what we're doing here?

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh so council members, you are aware uh we have a large project that is has begun uh downtown that goes from Holmes Avenue, lost the western bank of Pinhook Creek, crosses Clint Avenue, goes down the west bank of the Bon Braun Center, crosses over Memorial Parkway, U.S.

231, also U.S.

431 AK Governor's Drive, and uh stops just south of Low Mill.

Uh that includes channel widening, flood mitigation, a new 13-acre linear park, uh channel restoration, aquatic restoration within Pinhook Creek.

Today, as you well aware, it looks like a a red mud ditch.

Uh, it won't not look that way.

So we have bid phase one, uh, which is the flood mitigation and channel widening and a lot of uh ready rock walls that you will see along the bank.

That is about five percent started.

If you drive down Clinton Avenue, you will see a large duct bank going underground to move a lot of utilities in that.

Uh this change order or our modification number one and should be final, by the way, is with our bridge designer.

Uh so Rosales Partners is designing five bridges.

Uh a bridge that links the new linear park and heart of Huntsville back into uh our canal uh between Embassy Suites and the VBC, that Thrasher Fountain area, so that you could go from Big Spring Park onto the linear park and this new Gateway Greenway, if you call it uh one that will link from the park in the Greenway to the medical mall, the medical district.

And then the three large bridges that have got the most attention that AK has been gotten deemed the Sky Bridge.

Um as we got some Federal Aid for that project, this project has been around.

It started as Army Corps Engineer Project, and uh we said, can we make it a local project?

Because it was stuck in a funding cycle that just seemed to never move forward.

Uh we did that about five years ago.

As we started designing this project, we designed it as a city city project.

As we got the Federal funds, uh we quickly was very easy to convert our local design plans to Federal and State standards, but we had to ask our bridge designer to do the same and go through a federal peer review of that design.

This $69,000 completes all of that such that we can uh bid this project in the first quarter next year.

So to go along with the channel widening and the greenways.

There will be two more things that will come for council.

One would be the actual construction contract of these five bridges, would be in one contract.

And then as we get further enough along with the sky bridges and the river walk, if you will, and the linear park, the last package that will come before you probably in late 27 uh will be what we call the hardscape.

It will be all the pretty stuff.

The landscaping, the trees, the benches, uh, the bike repair stations and in that portion.

We those are all specialized contractors.

We didn't want to lump this into one big contract.

We think it's more economical to break it in these phases so that we have uh contractors that is their style of work without a markup of a big prime GC.

So this is to finalize the plans in short uh to get them ready to to bid per federal standards first quarter next year.

So this is an effort to make sure we are doing everything right.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Any questions?

All in favor, please indicate imposed motion carries.

Uh, thank you, Councilmembers.

Thank you, Mr.

Davis.

20 M is a resolution authorizing Mayor to enter new lease agreement between the City of Huntsville and Green Mountain Volunteer Fire Department Chair moves for approval.

Second from Mr.

Watkin from Ms.

Watkins.

I'm sorry, Ms.

Watkins, then I was calling Mr.

Hamilton and Ms.

Watkins, Mr.

Hamilton.

Thank you.

Council members, uh part of our uh fire response and medical response capability up on Green Mountain is shared with uh the volunteer fire department that has served that community for quite some time.

And so they are they are a great partner and extend our capability there.

That area is in the coverage of one of our full-time fire stations down at the bottom of the mountain.

But uh, because of the kind of the unique nature of some of the properties there, the work that the volunteer fire department does is also very, very helpful to us.

As part of that, there is uh specialized equipment that we need them to have.

You may recall a few council meetings ago, you accepted a donation uh from the from the volunteer fire department on fundraising they did to assist with purchasing that truck.

Uh we will then combine our own capital fleet uh funds with that to purchase the truck.

What is before you is a lease.

So essentially the city will own uh that piece of fleet, it will be our piece of equipment, but we will lease it back to them to use uh in the service to the community there.

And how much will that lease be?

Uh it should be at no cost.

Okay.

Very good.

Any other comments, questions?

This is this just is a great community project where you have the hundred thousand dollars from the private entities combining with city funds to meet the needs of a very unique community.

So thanks to everybody that was involved in that.

All in favor, please indicate any opposed.

Motion carries.

20.

What's our next one?

20x is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a memorandum of agreement between the City of Huntsville on behalf of the Huntsville Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Alabama Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Grant.

Is there a motion?

Motion from Mr.

Kling, second from the Chair.

I believe Mr.

Hamilton.

Um could you just tell us what we are doing here?

Council members, that is uh this will be acceptance of grant funds uh from the State that reimburses us for overtime and other expenses the police department incurs as uh as a member of this uh drug task force.

Any questions for Mr.

Hamilton?

All in favor, please indicate.

If opposed, the motion carries and 20 AD.

This is the item.

This is the item that was added to the agenda tonight.

20AD is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an equipment lease agreement between the City of Huntsville and Brindley Mountain Fire Apparatus.

The Chair moves for approval.

Second from Ms.

Watkins.

Councilmember our second fire truck.

Mr.

Hamilton.

Yes, Councilmembers first, thank you for for adding this to the agenda.

We've uh actually had multiple of our ladder trucks go down for maintenance issues that have some long lead time parts and things associated with them.

Uh because of uh because of those unexpected issues, we had difficulty providing the coverage that we really want to have for ladder trucks across the city.

Uh fortunately, we have Brindley Mountain Fire apparatus that's kind of right here in our area and have trucks available for lease.

So what is before you is a lease that will allow us to uh bring one of their ladder trucks in for a period of time as we work through the maintenance issues on our on our permanent fleet.

So with your approval tonight, we will get that, we will get that letter truck in service.

And the urgency of adding it to the agenda tonight is that these fire trucks do not come along very often, and we need to act very quickly and can't wait for because the next councilman will be three weeks.

Right.

Yeah, we really don't.

We would uh we would prefer to not wait the three weeks without the appropriate coverage.

Council members, thank you for permitting us to add it to the agenda.

Do you have any questions?

Mr.

Meredith.

Housekeeping.

Um it would have been nice to for each of us to have gotten a copy of that.

So I know I always keep the question.

That's a great point.

We had actually talked about doing that, and it that did not happen.

That's on it.

Yes, it is you know right now the lease authorized us to do it for uh several months.

It is $360 a day.

That sounds like a lot, but a ladder truck is over $2 million, and so actually $360 a day is uh is not a bad price.

I didn't have any issue with that.

It's just for I I keep all the records and now I'm not gonna have a copy of the question.

We can make a copy of the question.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have a comment.

Just want to say um, because of the urgency, we totally understand why this was added at the last minute, and very happy to support when it comes to life health safety.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

All right.

All in favor, please indicate.

Aye.

Opposed, the motion carries.

Thank you.

Uh we have several new business items uh for introduction.

These are for introduction only and will be considered at the August 13th 2026 Council meeting.

21A is the introduction of an ordinance to amend ordinance number 89-79.

Classification and salary plan ordinance 21B is the introduction of an ordinance to amend the budget ordinance number 23-744 to modify the authorized strength of departments.

21C is the introduction of an ordinance annexing 1.14 acres of land lying on the north of Countess Road west of Jake Jim Drive.

21D is the introduction of an ordinance annexing 3.07 acres of land lying on the west of Dupree-Worthy Road, north and south of U.S.

Highway 72 West.

21E is the introduction of an ordinance annexing 536.68 acres of land lying on the east of U.S.

Highway 72 East, North and South of Little Cove Road, and 21F is the introduction of an ordinance to declare property S surplus and authorizing the mayor to entry into a purchase agreement between the City of Huntsville and API Huntsville LLC in connection with the North Huntsville Target Shopping Center.

That concludes our items for introduction.

We will move on to second roster public comments, and we have four people signed up.

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the council on matters relating to city business, whether it's on the items or on the meeting agenda.

Again, we have four people who have signed up previous to this meeting.

When called, 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 individual.

I will call each person's name.

Please come to the microphone right there, and I will also call the name of the person following so you can be ready to come up and we can make this go as quickly as possible.

First, we will hear from Vatima Crawford, and she will be followed by Ashley Douthit.

Ms.

Crawford.

Come right up here, and then Miss Dowthet be prepared to follow.

Good evening, Council members.

My name is Bettima Crawford, and I'm here with my husband and my son.

We need your address and residence.

Okay.

My address is 112 Hollybrook Drive, Northwest Madison, Alabama, 3575.

Very much.

And what else did you need?

That's it.

Okay.

All right.

And I'm here.

My husband and my son, Alfred II and Alfred the Third.

We are the founders of WeField Foundation that Councilmember Meredith mentioned earlier.

We are committed to empowering families affected by hemophilia through education, advocacy, and community support.

Before I begin, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Councilmember Meredith for taking the time to meet with our family and learn about our mission.

Um your encouragement and willingness to support our organization means more than you know, so thank you.

Um our journey began May 13, 2023, when our son Trey experienced an eight-hour nosebleed that would not stop.

That frightening two-day hospital uh state ended with a blood transfusion that he had to receive.

And it was through that medical emergency that we learned that he has hemophilia, a rare inherited bleeding disorder.

Um, as our family underwent additional testing, we discovered that our youngest son, Cairo, also inherited the hemophilia mutation, and our youngest daughter, Amaya, is a carrier of the hemophilia trait.

And what felt like a single moment changed our lives forever.

We found ourselves searching for answers, resources, and a community that truly understood what our family was experiencing.

Um their journey inspired us to create We Feel Foundation, so that no family has to face that path alone.

Um we care, we fight, we feel.

In just two days, we will host our first annual We Feel launch pad, packed with purpose experience at the West Huntsville Rec Center.

Um tonight we are here not to ask for anything.

Um we're simply here to introduce WeFear Foundation, share our story, and let you know that we are committed to serving the families of Huntsville.

We look forward to building meaningful relationships with each of you as we work together to make our community stronger.

So thank you for your time, your service, and the opportunity to introduce WeFeel Foundation.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Crawford.

Thank you for joining us tonight.

We will now hear from Ashley Dowfitt, who will be followed by Samuel Bramlett.

Uh my name is Ashley Dalthit.

I live at 44 Pine Street, Huntsville, Alabama.

Thank you.

Um hello, everyone.

Good evening to you all.

I'm here tonight to address the traffic disaster that's been going on for years in Providence.

I bought my first home in the newer part of Providence in January 2022.

I was so excited, and that excitement was incredibly short-lived.

Soon thereafter, construction started on the Behemoth 2020 at Providence apartments.

From that day until now, I have been living a daily living hell, navigating these tight short streets that are littered at every bunge with some type of delivery truck that blocks the taxpayer-paid public roads.

I am here today not to ask but to demand a second entrance.

I wish you all would have anticipated the traffic disaster you were creating when you allowed the slimeans to build this monstrosity.

In fact, whoever approved this without putting up proper signage, street markings, and a second entrance needs to be reprimanded.

I hope you have learned from this and don't allow this to happen again anywhere else in out in Huntsville.

If you think I'm the only annoyed resident, you are wrong.

My other neighbors are too busy slaving away to a corrupt tax system that steals half of what we make to be here.

But I promise you, come to Providence and bring this issue up and you will see how angry we all are.

We are all fed up with this traffic we are all fed up with this traffic catastrophe.

There are five things that I am demanding to be done and be done now.

Number one, get us the second entrance built through Paramount Drive.

This is the easiest and quickest resolution for our problem.

The majority of my neighbors agree.

We need this done yesterday.

And when you do this, please remove back the median that impedes at the intersection of Gates Mill and Hillcrest.

It is creating a traffic hazard by blocking part of the street.

We also need more lighting at that intersection, as it is impossible to see pedestrians at night, especially if it's raining.

This is a very pedestrian heavy area with residents crossing to get to restaurants in Providence.

Number two, we need no delivery signs installed on Town Center Drive, off Broadway and Gates Mill Streets.

Number three, we need Huntsville Police Department to frequent patrol these three streets and to ticket all offenders, no exceptions.

Number four, we need a city official to immediately notify the leasing office at 2020 at Providence that tenants moving in and out are not to block the roads with their moving trucks.

They are responsible for their tenants, and they must make their tenants aware of this.

These tenants are now becoming the number one offender of this issue.

The final thing we need is for Providence Main Street to be repaved in front of Spring Hill Suites.

This was promised years ago and was supposed to be done when 2020 at Providence was completed per traffic engineering.

That street took a beating during the construction of 2020 at Providence.

Please help us as you are the only ones who can help.

We are depending on you to fix the wrong that you allowed in the first place.

Thank you, Councilmember Meredith and Shane Davis for all of your help so far.

Thank you, Ms.

Dafflet.

We will now hear from Samuel Bramlett, who will be followed by Joseph Lee.

Hello, Council.

My name is Sam Bramlett, uh live at 101 Limeberry Road, Meridianville, Alabama.

Thank you.

Wanted to bring to the Council's attention the lack of uh public information regarding the use of flock cameras in the city.

If you look at the open source map DFLOC, there is uh a lot of flock cameras inside the city.

Um has the council considered where who owns the data, data retention, uh the public oversight.

I I have not seen much information concerning how this is like helped our community.

Uh it would be good to put that data out there if if it exists.

And just more transparency.

Flock was established in Huntsville in 2022.

I have a quote from the Huntsville uh police department public information officer Chris Jackson.

Uh when time is critical, this technology can assist investigators in locating suspects, recovering stolen vehicles, and finding missing persons.

My question is, are there any statistics to back this up?

Uh Huntsville is on the national network, which means any flock customer can view our cameras and what is shown on them.

So to me, I mean Huntsville is obviously a big DoD industry.

Um is this not a maybe a national security threat if if if we have a centralized database of a bunch of engineers and people that are critical to the Department of War now.

Uh I would like the Council to consider that.

Um these cameras don't just track uh cars, they they track people and and phones through Bluetooth through our unique Bluetooth signatures on our phones.

Uh there's been hundreds of cases so far of misuse by local authorities nationwide.

I could list up a few examples.

But uh I just want to reiterate that we're lacking uh transparency with with how our data is collected, how long how what's the retention policy?

Uh that's all.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for joining us.

And our last person we will hear from is Mr.

Joseph Lee.

Is Mr.

Lee still here?

Yeah, I think he left.

All right.

Mr.

Lee, Mr.

Lee left, so we'll take his name off the list.

Um council members, that concludes our citizen comments.

And is there a motion to adjourn the meeting?

Before we do that, I know it's unusual.

But I'd like to address uh not really address, but inform the last speaker that I have been getting a lot of constituent concerns about flock.

And my next town hall will be about the flock cameras.

So pay attention to my postings and you will be informed.

Yes.

The Chief and Mr.

Hamilton and I have also had meetings with folks who are concerned about license plate readers and also the informing about the success that the police have had in using them.

So perhaps that is something that we might information we might share more broadly.

Sounds great.

But with that said, you make a motion to No, I do make the motion to adjourn.

The meeting is adjourned at 7 19.

Thank you all very much for your participating.