Pelham City Council Meeting – September 8, 2026

On September 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., the Pelham City Council met in the Council Chambers at Pelham City Hall. The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, received proclamations, heard the FY2027 budget presentation, approved six new-business resolutions, and heard public comments.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the September 8, 2026 agenda and the August 17, 2026 regular council meeting minutes.
• Adopted Resolution 2026-09-08-01 declaring surplus personal property (vehicles, equipment, supplies) and authorizing disposal.
• Adopted Resolution 2026-09-08-02 reclassifying a full-time position at Ballantrae Golf Club effective October 1, 2026.
• Adopted Resolution 2026-09-08-03 approving a job description for Crime Scene/Seized Property Specialist in the Pelham Police Department.
• Adopted Resolution 2026-09-08-04 accepting Suncoast Infrastructure, Inc.'s lowest responsive and responsible bid for the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project, Phase IV-B, budgeted in FY2026.
• Adopted Resolution 2026-09-08-05 affirming the Memorandum of Agreement with the Shelby County Commission for Pelham's share of P25 radio system maintenance.
• Adopted Resolution 2026-09-08-06 authorizing an agreement with Kissel Entertainment, LLC for midway and amusement services at the 2027 Spring Fair.
• All consent items passed unanimously by roll-call vote.

Proclamations

• Mayor proclaimed September 13–19, 2026 as Nephrology Nurses Week in Pelham, citing that nearly 37 million Americans have kidney disease and recognizing nephrology nurses' patient-care role.
• Mayor proclaimed September 17–23, 2026 as Constitution Week, marking the 239th anniversary of the Constitution's drafting. Ms. Neville of the Daughters of the American Revolution accepted the proclamation, thanked the city for continuing the tradition, and encouraged residents to learn about the Constitution; she noted DAR members would ring bells at 4 p.m. Eastern/3 p.m. Central on September 17.

FY2027 Budget Presentation

• The city manager and Finance Director Jamie Wagner presented a structurally balanced FY2027 budget. General fund revenues are proposed at $65.6 million, a 2% increase over FY2026, with operating expenditures of $54.9 million, a 6% increase. Sales and other taxes are projected at $43.5 million, property taxes at $10.3 million, and licenses/permits at $6.8 million, up about 21%; EMS collections, grant revenue, and interfund transfers also contribute.
• The budget uses committed reserves only for their intended purposes, avoids use of unencumbered funds, and projects the unencumbered general fund balance to increase by about $1.4 million. It proposes $575,000 from the committed vehicle replacement reserve for 10 police vehicles and a $202,000 special-revenue drawdown to accelerate street resurfacing.
• Proprietary funds are presented as moving toward financial sustainability. Water and sewer is the largest at about $11 million, followed by Civic Complex ($4.6 million), Ballantrae ($3.9 million), trash ($3.6 million), and Racket Club ($1.6 million). The Racket Club's charges-for-services revenue is projected to rise 10.5% to about $1 million, while the city operating transfer declines roughly 25%, from $798,000 to $597,000.
• Capital highlights include annual paving increasing from $1.25 million to $1.5 million, ADA sidewalk work, Fire Station 4 renovations for a new ladder truck, Police Department HVAC, City Hall lobby accessibility work, magistrate/courtroom safety renovations, Fire Station 5 patio cover, Ballantrae improvements, Civic Complex bathrooms, water/sewer infrastructure projects, and a new Blueberry Hill trailhead, restroom pavilion, and trails. The city manager reported 29 new capital projects and 61 active capital projects.
• Traffic signal synchronization is planned at 22 intersections on Highway 31, Highway 119, and County Road 52, with a goal of 60% of traffic arriving on green. Reported on-green performance included 48% on US 31/CR 119, 58% on CR 52/I-65 southbound, 62–64% on CR 52/I-65 northbound, and 76% on CR 52/Huntley Parkway and Racket Club Parkway.
• The budget adds employee benefit improvements: the city will pay 25% of long-term disability premiums for participating employees, vacation accrual thresholds will increase at 5 and 15 years, the cap on the city's retiree health insurance contribution will be eliminated, and retiree cost-sharing will move from 60/40 to 65/35.
• Finance Director Jamie Wagner reported that outstanding long-term principal is projected at about $57.4 million as of September 30, 2026, with FY2027 debt service of approximately $5.97 million.
• Council members praised staff for the budget process, and the council president said he believed the city remains one of only three cities with a AAA credit rating, noted that $2 million had been set aside, and said about $1.25 million was being left unencumbered.

New Business Resolutions

• Resolution 2026-09-08-07, amending the Development Consulting Agreement with GenRev Development, LLC, passed unanimously; the city attorney described it as administrative clarification.
• Resolution 2026-09-08-08, approving the ABC license for Litecoast LLC, doing business as Gallery Smoke Shop, 2706C Pelham Parkway, as a Specialty Retailer of Consumable Hemp Products, passed 4–0 with the council president abstaining.
• Resolution 2026-09-08-09, authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement with Newcastle Development, LLC for ADA-compliant sidewalk repairs in Camelia Ridge Subdivision Phases 1, 2, and 3, passed unanimously; work was expected to begin within four to six weeks.
• Resolution 2026-09-08-10, authorizing a change order with Massey Asphalt Paving, LLC to add streets to the FY2026 resurfacing project, passed unanimously; the original bid came in under the $1.25 million budget, allowing additional streets previously planned for the next fiscal year.
• Resolution 2026-09-08-11, affirming the mayor's emergency purchase authorization for a new passenger bus for the Pelham Senior Center, passed unanimously; the previous bus failed and the expense will be reclassified from FY2027 to FY2026.
• Resolution 2026-09-08-12, authorizing purchase of a protective flooring system for the Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena, passed unanimously; it will be funded from excess facility revenues and will let one person install the floor instead of two.

Public Comments

• Megan Michard, 107 Meadow View Circle, urged the council to act on a long-neglected property at 106 Meadow View Circle. She said weeds were over five feet tall in places, the back fence had fallen, the yard was visible from Highway 52, and rodents, snakes, and bugs were a concern. She said neighbors had filed numerous 311 reports, the owner had failed to appear in court, and the problem had continued for more than 16 months. Citing Chapter 8, Article 2, Sections 8-20 through 8-25, she asked the city to clean the property and place a lien for reimbursement. The council president asked her to leave her information with the city clerk and said staff were taking notes.
• Ms. Neville, speaking for the Pelham Arts Council, promoted the fall dinner theater The Wedding from Hell on October 2–3, 2026, with tickets about $55, including dinner, entertainment, and an open bar. She described the arts council as an important asset to the city; council members endorsed the event.

Public Announcements

• Applications for the Public Library Board, Place No. 1 are due online by Friday, September 25, 2026, at noon.
• Salsa in the Park will be held Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Pelham City Park.
• America's 250th birthday celebration will be held Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Pelham City Park, with Act of Congress, food trucks, bounce houses, face painting, and family activities.

Council Comments

• Council members thanked staff, praised the budget and Blueberry Hill project, and highlighted progress on traffic signal coordination, stormwater maintenance, and facility finances. One councilmember promoted Pelham High School football's Friday night game against Homewood. Another reported visiting the Pelham YMCA, which plans to invest $500,000 in the facility, offers free classes for people with Parkinson's disease, hosts weekly gatherings for Latina/Hispanic women, and runs a swim program using red/green bracelets; he invited the YMCA to present at a future work session or council meeting. Another councilman read First Peter 5:2 and encouraged residents to get health screenings.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved unanimously.
• Two proclamations issued for Nephrology Nurses Week and Constitution Week.
• FY2027 budget presented for council review; formal budget adoption was not on the September 8 agenda.
• Resolutions 2026-09-08-07 through -12 all passed; the only non-unanimous vote was the Gallery Smoke Shop ABC license, approved 4–0 with one abstention.
• The property complaint at 106 Meadow View Circle was referred to city staff for follow-up.
• Upcoming community events and the Library Board application deadline were announced.