OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings
Pelham City Council Regular Meeting – February 2, 2026
City Council — Monday, February 2, 2026
BodyPelham, Alabama
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, February 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Transcript — Verbatim
Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety22%
Procedural18%
Parks and Recreation15%
Cannabis Regulation13%
Engineering And Infrastructure11%
Community Engagement8%
Public Health4%
Public Engagement4%
Zoning Regulations3%
Summary of Proceedings
Pelham City Council Regular Meeting – February 2, 2026
The Pelham City Council held its regular meeting on February 2, 2026, at Pelham City Hall. The meeting included the swearing-in of a new police captain, the unanimous approval of a consent calendar, first readings of ordinances addressing business license fees and the council meeting schedule, and a major announcement from the City Manager regarding the federal obligation of funds for the $52 million Highway 52 railroad crossing elimination project.
Oath of Office – Pelham Police Department
- The Chief of Police administered the oath of office to Captain Rebecca Herrera, a 20-year veteran of the Birmingham Police Department. Her husband, retired law enforcement officer Charles Newfield, pinned on her badge. Representative Alan Treadoway conducted the swearing-in ceremony.
Consent Calendar
- The Council unanimously approved the Consent Agenda, which included the meeting agenda, previous meeting minutes, and three resolutions: a final change order for the Business Center Lift Station Improvements Project (completed under budget), a proposal from Enviro Management Corp. for MS4 Stormwater Program services, and an agreement with Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) for landscape, signage, and survey services at the Interstate 65/Highway 119 and Interstate 65/County Road 52 interchanges.
Public Comments
- Ben Fuller, Chief Deputy District Attorney for Shelby County, addressed the Council. He expressed his candidacy for the newly created District Judge seat in Shelby County. He argued that the county’s population growth of 136,000 people since the last judgeship was established in 1990 necessitates experienced judicial leadership. He cited his broad prosecutorial experience and requested support in the May 19th Republican primary.
Discussion Items and Reports
- Mayor’s Report: The Mayor congratulated Captain Herrera and highlighted the city’s ongoing partnership with the Owens House organization, which supports the police department in sensitive investigations involving crimes against people, including children.
- City Manager’s Report:
- Skating Program Growth: The City Manager reported a record 294 registrations for the current Learn to Skate session, more than doubling over the past four years. He highlighted the world-class coaching staff and local skater Audrea Liliak, a gold medalist at the Romanian Junior Figure Skating National Championship, and reiterated the goal of producing an Olympian from the Pelham Ice Arena.
- Federal Railroad Grade Crossing Grant: The City Manager announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has officially obligated the funds for the Highway 52 grade crossing elimination project. Andre Bitas, the project lead, confirmed the $52 million effort was the largest FRA grant of its kind. The project must be completed by April 30, 2031, with environmental assessments and design expected to take approximately three years. The city will launch a dedicated project webpage and provide quarterly reports to the Council.
New Business (First Readings and Resolutions)
- USTA Tennis Center Grant (Resolution 2026-02-02-04): The Council unanimously voted to accept grant funds from the United States Tennis Association for improvements at the Pelham Tennis Center.
- Business License Code Amendment (Ordinance 526-01 – First Reading): The Council introduced an ordinance to add business license classifications and a $1,000 annual fee for specialty retailers of consumable hemp and vape/electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The Assistant City Manager stated the amendment is necessary to comply with new state laws (Acts 2025-385 and 2025-403) and is intended solely to allow existing lawfully operating businesses to meet state ABC Board requirements, not to authorize new businesses where prohibited.
- Council Meeting Schedule Change (Ordinance 399-07 – First Reading): The Council introduced an ordinance to restructure the meeting schedule. Following a weighted poll of council members, the preferred format will establish a Monday work session followed by a Thursday regular council meeting, with regular meetings starting at 5:30 p.m., to separate discussion-focused and action-focused meetings.
Council Comments
- Council members offered congratulations to Captain Herrera and recognized the success of city programs. Councilman Snowden promoted the “Resting Place of Pelham” facility for women and children. City staff were commended for the operations of the Pelham Ice Arena and the Learn to Skate program in local schools.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Unanimously approved.
- Resolution 2026-02-02-04 (USTA Grant): Unanimously approved.
- Ordinance 526-01: Approved on first reading; a second reading and vote are scheduled for a future meeting.
- Ordinance 399-07: Approved on first reading; a second reading and vote are scheduled for a future meeting.
- Federal Grant: Formal obligation of funds allows the project to proceed with environmental review and design phases.
Meeting Transcript
Mr. City Clerk, if you could please make a record of attendance. So no to Mr. President, and you do have a quorum, sir. And that leads us to the oath of office with the Pellham Police Department. Good evening again. For those of you who are in the previous meeting, this is the perfect segue from that. One of the most important things I do as the police chief is hire and promote and retain and recruit good people. And tonight we're about to do the swearing in of our newest police captain, uh, Rebecca Herrera. And I'll just read you a little bit about her. Originally from Minnesota, Captain Herrera comes to us from Birmingham PD, where she spent more than 20 years. She served most recently as the East Precinct Lieutenant. She's previously served as the Crimes Against Person Unit Lieutenant, a North Precinct Lieutenant, an internal affairs division sergeant, vice and narcotics unit detective, South Precinct Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration, and as a patrol officer. As a lieutenant in the crimes against persons unit, she commanded the special victims unit, the homicide unit, the robbery unit, the sex offender unit, and the felony assault unit. She maintained crime crime data and statistics for presentation to the senior command staff of the Birmingham Police Department and to the mayor's office. As a sergeant in patrol, she revamped the protocol for the neighborhood association meetings and attended them to foster positive relationships with community members. Her duties as a detective included a variety of undercover assignments, and she was assigned as again I said to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. During the 2022 World Games, she held the position of logistics section chief for the Birmingham Police Department. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. And so without further ado, I'll introduce you to your newest captain, uh, Rebecca Herrera. Rebecca. Rebecca, would you tell us who's here with you and who will be uh pinning on your badge, and then we'll have Jonathan swearing about me this evening is Representative Alan Treadoway. I served under him at the Birmingham Police Department prior to his retirement as the assistant chief of the Birmingham Police Department. And my husband Charles Newfield, retired law enforcement officer, currently working at Jeff State as a law enforcement officer still. He will be pinning on my badge, and I have a couple other friends. Do you solemnly swear? That I will to the best of my skill. To the best of my skill and ability and ability. Faithfully discharge. Faithfully discharge. All duties required of me. All the duties required of me. And execute. The orders. The orders of my superior officers. And in all cases. And in all cases. To uphold and enforce. The criminal laws. The criminal laws. And the Constitution of the State of Alabama. And the Constitution of the State of Alabama. The criminal laws.
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