OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Pelham, Alabama/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Pelham City Council Regular Meeting – May 21, 2026

City Council — Thursday, May 21, 2026
BodyPelham, Alabama
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, May 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 39:31

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

I will call this May 21st, 2026 council meeting to order.

0:05

I will be offering the invocation, followed by Mayor Rick Walsh leading us in the pledge.

0:09

If you would bow your heads.

0:11

Father God, thank you for this day that you have provided for us.

0:14

Thank you for another day on your earth that you created for us.

0:18

Thank you for our families.

0:20

Thank you for all the people in this room.

0:22

It's always great to see veterans out in the audience.

0:24

Just pray that you be with them with their health, their families, also our active uh military personnel currently overseas at war and uh and home protecting us.

0:34

Just watch over all of our military.

0:37

Please be with us tonight as we carry out the city's business.

0:39

In Christ's name, amen.

1:05

Mr.

1:05

City Clerk, please make a record of attendance.

Speaker 2

1:08

So noted Mr.

1:08

President, you do have a quorum, sir.

Speaker 1

1:10

I have one note before we move into the consent agenda.

1:13

This is a good news for all of us here in this room.

1:15

We do not have an executive session tonight, although it's on the agenda at the end.

1:20

We are removing that because we no longer need that this evening.

1:23

That will move us into the consent agenda, which consists of the approval of the May 21st, 2026 City Council agenda, approval of the May 7, 2026 regular city uh city meeting minutes.

1:38

Resolution number 2026 05 21 01 through 02.

1:45

The complete text of the agenda, minutes, ordinances, and resolutions are available at Pellon City Hall and online at PelhamAlabama.gov.

1:54

I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented.

Speaker 3

1:58

Motion to approve.

Speaker 1

1:59

Is there a second?

Speaker 3

2:01

Second.

Speaker 1

2:02

We have a motion and a second.

2:04

There is no discussion on the consent agenda.

2:06

I will ask the city clerk for a roll call vote.

Speaker 2

2:11

Excuse me.

2:11

Uh, Councilmember Power.

2:12

Yes.

2:14

Consumer Snowden.

2:15

Yes.

Speaker 1

2:17

Consent agenda passes unanimously, leads us into the Mayor's report comments.

2:21

We also have proclamations that will lead into that.

2:24

So I'll turn it over to Mayor Walsh.

Speaker 4

2:26

Thank you, Council President.

2:28

Uh I would like to thank everybody for being here, especially the week before Memorial Day.

2:33

And then uh celebration of our nation's two hundred and fiftieth birthday.

2:39

I have asked Post 555 to be here tonight.

2:43

And I'd ask Henry Chris to please come forward and talk about the easel uh demonstration exhibit that we have uh here in the council chambers.

2:54

So, Henry.

Speaker 5

3:01

Everybody hear me.

3:05

Evening, everybody.

3:07

Mr.

3:07

Mayor, Council, people.

Unassigned speaker

3:13

My

Speaker 5

3:13

name is Henry Christ, and I am the second vice commander of the American Legion Post 555 chair and power.

3:22

I'm here today to talk to you about the American war display that you see before you.

3:50

I came up with the idea of honoring the veterans over the past 250 years of this nation.

3:58

Gathering the information, I put it together, and the display as you see today.

4:11

Each one has a picture and has a story of that contract.

4:19

Starting with

Unassigned speaker

4:22

the

Speaker 5

4:22

revolution of seventeen seventy-six over here, going through in succession and ending with the war on terror over on that part there.

Unassigned speaker

4:34

The number of displays that you are looking at, like I said, depict the wars of this nation that has endured through two hundred to 250 years.

Speaker 5

4:46

You must understand that this is not all the conflicts during this time.

4:52

But this nation's history, but an overview of most.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████████21%
Public Engagement█████████████████17%
Active Transportation████████████12%
Veterans Affairs████████8%
Public Safety████████8%
Public Health████4%
Zoning Regulations███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Pelham City Council Regular Meeting – May 21, 2026

This meeting was held on May 21, 2026, at 5:30 PM at Pelham City Hall. The council approved the consent agenda, issued proclamations for Bike Month and Stroke Awareness Month, discussed budget planning, approved a property easement resolution, heard public comments from a judicial candidate, and made community announcements.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved unanimously (roll call vote: Councilmember Power – yes, Councilmember Snowden – yes). Items included:
    • Approval of the May 21, 2026 agenda
    • Approval of the May 7, 2026 regular meeting minutes
    • Resolution 2026-05-21-01: declaring certain police vehicles as surplus and authorizing their disposal
    • Resolution 2026-05-21-02: authorizing a State of Alabama Tax Abatement Agreement for Coosa Composites Holdings, LLC

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Ben Fulham, candidate for district judge in the June 16 runoff, addressed the council. He stated his positions as chief deputy district attorney (since 2022) and prosecutor (since 2015). He highlighted his record of handling serious cases (robberies, assaults, capital murder, human trafficking) and managing a $3 million budget. He requested support in the upcoming election and urged those present to vote in the runoff.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamations – Mayor Rick Walsh proclaimed May 2026 as Bike Month and Stroke Awareness Month in Pelham. Councilmember Snowden noted the city’s bike infrastructure (trails, lanes, new LED lights on Highway 31), acknowledged local bike businesses (Cahaba Cycles, eBike Oasis, and repair shop owner Jeff Leonard), and encouraged residents to cycle and exercise. The mayor also urged residents to learn stroke warning signs and prioritize preventive care.
  • City Manager Report – The City Manager presented:
    • A priority‑setting meeting (2 hours) to be scheduled in June.
    • Budget workshop planning: approximately 20 hours of workshops to be scheduled between August 3 and August 21, with options for full‑day Saturday sessions or meetings before/after regular council meetings. Councilmembers agreed on a starting target of 20 hours; the City Manager will circulate possible dates.
    • Palumpalooza attracted 1,600 attendees after two rain postponements, with very positive feedback.
    • Congratulations to Pelham High School Class of 2026.
  • New Business – Resolution 2026-05-21-03, accepting real property and easements for the Holland Lakes Subdivision sewer lift station rehabilitation and improvement project, was approved unanimously after a motion and second.
  • Council Comments – Councilmembers:
    • Congratulated PHS graduates and noted that the Class of 2026 was offered $17.5 million in scholarships.
    • Thanked American Legion Post 555 (Henry Christ) for the war‑display exhibit on the 250‑year history of U.S. conflicts.
    • Reflected on the sacrifices of military members and first responders, especially ahead of Memorial Day.
    • Recognized graduating student Luke for earning honors (4.0+ GPA) and his plans to attend Troy University.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda adopted unanimously.
  • Proclamations for Bike Month and Stroke Awareness Month issued.
  • Budget workshops planned for a total of 20 hours during August; schedule to be determined.
  • Resolution 2026-05-21-03 (sewer lift station easements) approved.
  • Executive session (listed on the agenda) was canceled because no longer needed.
  • Scheduled public hearing: June 4, 2026 at 5:30 PM on a rezoning request (property off State Park Road from A-1, B-1, R-1, R-3 to PUD-R).
  • Other announcements: City offices closed May 25 for Memorial Day; Pelham PD Youth Academy Summer Camp (June 8–12, free for ages 12–15, registration by May 31); Flag Day celebration June 14 including a flag retirement ceremony and community event.

Other Notes

  • The meeting included an invocation, pledges, and a presentation by Henry Christ (American Legion Post 555) on the war display.
  • No public hearings or requests to address the council were received.
  • The council adjourned by motion unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

I will call this May 21st, 2026 council meeting to order. I will be offering the invocation, followed by Mayor Rick Walsh leading us in the pledge. If you would bow your heads. Father God, thank you for this day that you have provided for us. Thank you for another day on your earth that you created for us. Thank you for our families. Thank you for all the people in this room. It's always great to see veterans out in the audience. Just pray that you be with them with their health, their families, also our active uh military personnel currently overseas at war and uh and home protecting us. Just watch over all of our military. Please be with us tonight as we carry out the city's business. In Christ's name, amen. Mr. City Clerk, please make a record of attendance. So noted Mr. President, you do have a quorum, sir. I have one note before we move into the consent agenda. This is a good news for all of us here in this room. We do not have an executive session tonight, although it's on the agenda at the end. We are removing that because we no longer need that this evening. That will move us into the consent agenda, which consists of the approval of the May 21st, 2026 City Council agenda, approval of the May 7, 2026 regular city uh city meeting minutes. Resolution number 2026 05 21 01 through 02. The complete text of the agenda, minutes, ordinances, and resolutions are available at Pellon City Hall and online at PelhamAlabama.gov. I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion to approve. Is there a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. There is no discussion on the consent agenda. I will ask the city clerk for a roll call vote. Excuse me. Uh, Councilmember Power. Yes. Consumer Snowden. Yes. Consent agenda passes unanimously, leads us into the Mayor's report comments. We also have proclamations that will lead into that. So I'll turn it over to Mayor Walsh. Thank you, Council President. Uh I would like to thank everybody for being here, especially the week before Memorial Day. And then uh celebration of our nation's two hundred and fiftieth birthday. I have asked Post 555 to be here tonight. And I'd ask Henry Chris to please come forward and talk about the easel uh demonstration exhibit that we have uh here in the council chambers. So, Henry. Everybody hear me. Evening, everybody. Mr. Mayor, Council, people. My name is Henry Christ, and I am the second vice commander of the American Legion Post 555 chair and power.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com