Madison City Council Meeting - October 12, 2026

The Madison City Council met Monday evening, October 12, 2026, with Mayor Bartlett presiding. The meeting included an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, approval of minutes, an award presentation, a short-term rental update, public comment, consent agenda, department reports, a public hearing, an appointment, and an executive session. No agenda or minutes were supplied with the transcript.

Call to Order, Roll Call, and Minutes

• Roll call established a quorum; no agenda amendments were offered.
• Minutes from the September 28 regular meeting were approved by vote.

Award Presentation: 2026 Educator of the Year

• Captain Dan Pickens of Madison Fire and Rescue received the 2026 Educator of the Year award from the Alabama Fire College and was also selected by the Partnership for a Drug-Free Community for its 2026 Outstanding Public Safety and Educators Award.
• Pickens began with Madison Fire and Rescue in 2006 and has served in community risk reduction since 2023.
• He was selected from numerous Alabama nominees by peers in Mississippi, South Carolina, and the Virginia State Fire Marshal's office.
• 2025 statistics: more than 5,000 children reached through school events, 60 smoke alarms installed, 50 CPR classes, 145 CPR skills checkoffs, and 10 first aid classes.
• Pickens thanked his chief, the City Council, and the Board of Education, noting he reached 500 children in one elementary school that day.

Discussion Items: Short-Term Rental Update

• Staff reviewed Ordinance 2026-201, adopted June 23 and codified at Madison City Code Chapter 8, Article 6: 190-permit cap (0.75% of housing stock), $350 permit fee, about $165 business license fee, $1 million liability insurance, no events or signage, permit number required on listings, no overnight street parking unless zoned, one permit per unit, one business license per operator, annual renewal with inspection and complaint review, 24/7 local contact required to respond within 30 minutes, and a three-strike suspension/revocation process.
• As of the meeting, the city had received 27 permit applications, issued 11 permits, had about 15 pending, five properties failed building inspections, and one application was denied. Compliance vendor Decker identified 57 active listings, and 42 first-notice violation letters were sent on October 7.
• Revenue collected so far: $2,460 in business license revenue and $5,506.20 in lodging taxes.
• Enforcement will continue with second and third notices, then citations, with about 14 days between notices.
• A new online complaint form is live; residents can also email str.questions@madisonal.gov, call the non-emergency line 256-722-7190, or use 911 in emergencies. Three substantiated complaints within 12 months can suspend a permit.
• Staff said short-term rentals are defined as rentals of 179 days or less.
• Recommended next steps include revising the ordinance to address initial permit denials and creating an administrative appeals board with planning, police, fire, a mayoral appointee, and a council appointee with construction knowledge. Staff expect to bring a draft revision to the next council meeting.
• Council asked for quarterly STR updates; staff agreed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Cotis Grundy, a Madison resident and senior center user, spoke against an October 1 fee change at the Madison Senior Center charging $5 for gym use by city residents and $10 for nonresidents. He said many seniors are on fixed incomes and may stop coming, that gym use is limited and not bodybuilding-oriented, and asked the Council to revisit the budget, suggesting a lower flat fee such as $2 across the board.

Consent Calendar and Finance Report

• Councilmember Beer presented the consent agenda and finance committee report; appropriations had gone through the mayor's office, finance committee, and council review process.
• Approved items included annual community appropriations, increased funding for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation Parkinson's program and Madison Visionary Partners, a $984 police department donation, a $555 supplemental insurance payment, equipment disposal, and an amendment with the Deputy Corporation reducing scope of services.
• Periodic bills were reviewed.
• The consent agenda and finance report were accepted as written.

Rebranding and Marketing Resolutions

• Resolution 2026-422R, an agreement with Ad Four Group for city rebranding services, was approved.
• A professional services agreement with Ramble Type LLC for $18,000, funded from the mayor's budget for tourism and marketing branding services, was approved.

Mayor and Council Reports

• Mayor Bartlett welcomed new communications employee Lindsay Brandon; noted the Civic Awareness Academy opening sessions; reported aquatic center listening sessions and an RFP for underwriting services; thanked the record-setting 200+ Madison Street Festival volunteers; announced a Wednesday work session on the five-year capital plan and hemp regulation; and announced the James Clemens Homecoming parade and Saturday fall cleanup day.
• Councilmember Beer (District 2) discussed continuing work to improve cell coverage in the Village of Oakland Springs area and praised a recent facilities department update.
• Councilmember Goodson (District 3) announced the October 31 fall festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Home Place Park.
• Councilmember Lesman (District 5) recognized Captain Pickens, welcomed Lindsay Brandon, noted sidewalk construction at Hughes Road and Lynnbrook Boulevard, and listed a blood drive Oct. 13, flu shot clinic Oct. 14, Witches Ride Oct. 18, and Celebrate Madison Oct. 29.
• Councilmember White (District 6) recognized Captain Pickens, reported Shelton Park upgrades including a resurfaced lot, re-stenciled lines, and new bases, and said the Madison Senior Center needs meal-on-wheels substitute drivers, kitchen assistants, and special event helpers. She also noted the planning commission meeting Thursday and a special called ZBA meeting Oct. 19.
• Councilmember Jackson (District 7) announced office hours Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Madison Public Library.
• Mayor Bartlett also announced the final puzzle swap of the year on Saturday at 10 a.m., the Oct. 24 book sale, and the Nov. 8 Gather community event.

Board and Committee Appointment

• Councilmember White nominated Pastor Shelbert Shelton Torbert Sr. to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals; no other appointment requests were made, and he was appointed.

Public Hearing: Off-Premises Wine License

• A public hearing was held for Resolution 2026-327R, an off-premises wine license for Stakeholder LLC dba New York Butcher Shop at 125 Stadium Way Suite 230. No one spoke. The resolution passed.

Departmental Action Items

• Engineering: Resolution 2026-363R approved $15,000 for a professional services agreement with TTL Inc. for right-of-way acquisition support on the Eastview Sidewalk extension (Project 26005).
• Engineering: Resolution 2026-402R approved $10,450 for wetland credits from Robinson Spring Mitigation Bank for Garner Extension Phase 3 (Project 25017).
• Facilities: Resolution 2026-409R awarded the Sunshine Oaks Restroom Building project to EMW Construction Inc. for $249,000.
• Facilities: Resolution 2026-415R approved 14 quotes and a contractor agreement with Play Corps Wisconsin Inc. dba GameTime for playground equipment at seven neighborhood parks for $681,871.26, with funding cited as $309,036.63 from the neighborhood parks account and $250,806.49 in grant funds.
• Human Resources: Ordinance 2026-392 amending personnel policy Section 12 on court bailiff pay rate passed on second reading.
• IT: Resolution 2026-404R approved system hardware purchase from Unico Technology LLC via Omnia Partners for $218,612.32 plus shipping.
• IT: Resolution 2026-405R approved a Unico Technology LLC software subscription and support quote for $28,108.70.
• IT: Resolution 2026-418R approved a one-year network support software subscription for the Madison Community Center for $1,348.20.
• IT: Resolution 2026-419R approved a one-year cloud data backup license subscription for $7,314.
• IT: Resolution 2026-420R approved a one-year third-party backup software subscription for $9,400.
• Planning: Proposed Ordinance 2026-403, vacation of a utility and drainage easement at 177 Tohee Way in Moore's Creek Subdivision Phase 5, was read for the first time and will return at the next meeting.
• Planning: Resolution 2026-410R approved the third amendment to the Bellowwood development agreement with Deltina Development Corporation and Realty LLC, including dedication of 30 feet of right-of-way for the Henderson Lane extension; staff noted an annexation and zoning hearing would occur at the next meeting.
• Police: Resolution 2026-411R approved an agreement with PMAM Corporation for false alarm management system administration and software, with compensation set at 35% of fees, fines, and penalties under Chapter 11. Police staff estimated about 60 days before implementation.

Executive Session and Adjournment

• The city attorney declared that Alabama Code Section 36-25A-7(a)(1) permitted an executive session for a personnel discussion involving an employee's general reputation, character, professional competence, and job performance, with no waiver of attorney-client privilege.
• The Council voted to enter executive session and did not reconvene; the meeting adjourned.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the September 28 minutes and the consent agenda/finance report.
• Recognized Captain Dan Pickens as 2026 Educator of the Year.
• Approved two rebranding and marketing agreements.
• Appointed Shelbert Shelton Torbert Sr. to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals.
• Approved the New York Butcher Shop off-premises wine license.
• Passed all departmental resolutions and ordinances presented for action, including the bailiff pay ordinance and the false alarm management agreement.
• Scheduled the STR ordinance revision for a future meeting and agreed to provide quarterly STR updates.
• Entered executive session and adjourned without reconvening.