Good evening everyone. It is 5:30 on Thursday, August 27th, 20026, and this meeting of the
Huntsville City Council is called to order. Welcome to everyone who has joined us in
the chambers or who is joining us remotely. All members of the council are present. We will
begin, as is our practice, with an invocation offered by one of our uh Huntsville, Alabama
Public safety chaplains. Tonight we have Rachel Harper with us, and that will be
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance offered by council member John Meredith. All those
who wish to and are able to do so, please stand for the invocation and the pledge.
Father, we come to you tonight as a grateful people for all the many blessings that you
have afforded us and for the opportunity that we have each and every day to live in such a
great nation. Father, I'm thankful for our leaders and for their hearts to serve, Lord
and I ask Father, that we never ever take lightly the responsibilities that we have
as servant leaders. I pray for continued blessings over our city and for wisdom, Lord. over
our city council in decisions made tonight. Lord, we pray for safety all the men and women
who who give their lives, their lives on the line every day for your service and the protection
of us, Lord, we just ask all these things in your precious name. Amen. 1. Hoover flag of
the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God
indivisible with liberty and justice for all. In Thank you, Chaplain Harper. Thank you, Mr.
Meredith. Council members, you have the agenda before you. Please note that item 8A will
require executive session. Are there any changes or additions to be made to the agenda?
Hearing none of the agenda will be approved. Uh, you also have, um, the minutes of the regular
meeting of the city council held on August 13, 2026. Are there any additions or changes
to be made to those minutes. Seeing none, the minutes will stand approved. We have 2
recognitions tonight. 6A is a presentation recognizing the 65 year legacy of Big Ed's Pizza,
and Mr. Little, I believe you will be making that presentation. microphone. Oh,
Our friends from Big Ed's here. Pizza? Mm It doesn't, come on down, sir. And I'm sorry I
didn't bring you guys any food. Yeah, yeah, if he didn't hear, he said he didn't bring us any
pizza, so we're gonna go ahead and vote this out, so that's OK We'll swing by. Thank you. I'd
like to change my vote to a nay If he didn't bring us food, then I'm changing my vote to
nay. Mayor Battle didn't bring me Britlins either, so just saying, so yes, well, that's,
that's uh holding on to a grudge if you're bringing back Britlin's Yeah Yeah oh yeah.
Well, I'm sure everybody that's lived in Huntsville for any amount of time has heard of Big
Ed's Pizza celebrating 65 years of business in Huntsville, which is quite a testament to
good pizza. Um, I did a little, um, Uh, research, and I can only find about 5 or 6
businesses that are still around. As long as Big Ed, so that's really great, and this
is a certificate recognizing that great, uh, the outstanding food and tradition and
community service and assigned by everybody on the council and the mayor too. Yeah,
congratulations. Yeah, yeah, and uh. Congratulations. 6B is the presentation recognizing
the dedicated volunteers of the Chaffee community, and it is my honor to make that presentation
representing the Chaffee community. Tonight we have Mr. Loud Wells and Mr. Bill Gould.
Mr. Boyles, Mister Mr. Gould, will you come up, please? But you, you stay there I stand up.
that feels right. That feels right. If you didn't know, the Chaffee community has the one
of the oldest and largest civic associations in the community. They are a neighborhood that is
well connected. They are a neighborhood that really cares about their community and
tonight we're honoring them, particularly for the unique service that they provide to
caring for Logan Park in uh collaboration with Parks and Recreation. So Mr. Gould, would
you share with us what it is you do? Sure. So, uh, starting in 2011, the CNCA, the Chaffey
Neighborhood Civic Association reached an agreement with the city to take responsibility for
opening and closing and basically tending to the park, keeping an eye on things,
letting them know her problems and issues. Calling in when somebody was in there when they
shouldn't be and activities going on, Lyle here was one of that. First group. He was the
actual founding member of it and he's still in the rotation today. Every once in a while he
forgets his key, we've got to get it for him, but, but a group of 6 teams. Every week,
every 6 weeks, you get a rotation. You take that week with a partner and somebody
opens it in the morning, opens the restrooms, checks the facilities to make sure that
it's good, and then somebody else or that same team. Lyle does it by himself. He can't
find a good partner, I guess. Uh, we close it up every night. When we see something, we reach
out, so the, the partnership with the parks department is amazing. We are truly partners.
If we need something, we just reach out. David Delier is my favorite pen pal. I send him.
note saying there's a toilet that's running or there's a trash can that somebody took
home as a souvenir and the next day it's done, it's fixed. When we have issues, we can reach
out to the police. We had somebody who was living in the, keeping their car living in the
park while they were visiting their girlfriend down the street. The police department
came over and helped us to clean that up. We've been doing that now for 15 years. We plan
on doing it for a bit longer and we greatly appreciate the partnership and the support
that allows us to keep our precious. Little park Safe and clean. And a great place for
the families to spend time. So thank you. And I have 10 certificates here that I hope
you will share with, with all the folks who are involved. Yeah, if I could, those, those
people, uh, are. Most of them still getting out of work when we're starting this, so it's
not a bunch of retirees that just hang around and that's nothing to do but open and
close the park. They fitted in amongst everything else. First thing in the morning, last
thing at night, we make sure that it's taken care of. And Lyle, we were talking before
the meeting started about why this is so important and so do you want to comment on that?
You don't just take care of the park just to make it look nice. Well, it's significant in the
fact that the park was really uh it's, it's secluded off of the South Memorial Parkway. It
was dark. There was a lot of nonsense going on in the park. Vandalism, things of that
nature, and as a result of doing this now for these years, that's significantly reduced
all of that, and again we're so grateful to the city for the support we get from several of
the departments, not just Parks and recreations, but general services and others are in
there, and we do appreciate that and thank the city for that. And we're sharing this
tonight not just because we want to recognize volunteers and again, here are the
certificates. We hope you'll share that, but this is a model we hope other communities can
use. So thank you both for your service. Thank you to all the volun the Chaffee volunteers
and for the work that they do. OK. Thank you. All right. Moving on. We have AA. Matters
with outside legal representation. Uh, 8A is a resolution authorizing the
mayor. To enter into a legal services agreement with Riley and Jackson PC and affiliated
co-counsel for the investigation and prosecution of claims relating to the fire
apparatus manufacturer antitrust litigation. Council members, we have been informed
that there is need for executive session on this item before we vote. So Mr. Riley,
could you share with us, um, that rationale. Certainly, thank you, Counsel President.
counsel, the um. Item number 8A tonight is a matter with outside legal representative
which will require executive session in which, which we will request. Executive session is
uh something that is covered by the Alabama Open Meetings Act found at Section 3625A 7 of the
code of Alabama which provides that executive sessions may be held by the council but only
for the purposes enunciated therein. There are some ones listed, the pertinent provision
for our consideration tonight for my opinion is found at subdivision A3, which is to
discuss with the council. Attorney, the legal ramifications of and legal
options for pending litigation or for controversies not yet being litigated, but imminently
likely to be litigated or imminently likely to be litigated if the government
body pursues a particular or proposed course of action. Before you go into executive
session, the law requires, uh, that the governmental body shall receive either a written
or oral declaration that will be reflected in the minutes from an attorney licensed to
practice law in Alabama, uh, that this exception is applicable to that plan
discussion and I for the purposes of that requirement, I am a lawyer practiced for a
long, long time in the state of Alabama, so I've been. Licensed uh, for sure, uh, and I
confirmed this item does fall within the exception that we just discussed, allowing
executive sessions, uh, and, uh that, uh, I'm qualified to make that that determination. So if
you would ask for a motion, thank you, Mr. Riley. The chair moves that the city council go
into executive session to discuss with our attorney the legal ramifications of and
legal options for possible litigation. Second from Mr. Meredith, is there any
discussion? Question? Yes, Mr. Kling, I think just for the record, Mr. O'Reilly, there's a
rally at the law firm, but that is not related to you, correct? That is, if it is, it's so far
back, neither of us know, so, uh, to my knowledge, there's no representation whatsoever, no.,
no relation whatsoever. Thank you for clarifying that. Any other discussion? All in favor
please indicate Madam President we need a roll call vote for this. a roll call vote has been
requested. Mr. Meredith, how do you vote? Mr. Kling, how do you vote? Mr. Little, how do you
vote? Aye. Ms. Watkins, and the chairs outside. We have unanimous consent to go into
executive session. Um, we will reconvene the public meeting when we return. Do you have an
estimate of the time? We do not uh, we will Mr. O'Reilly, I would estimate between 50 to 15
to 30 minutes. Thank you most likely on the short side of that. We will reconvene at. feel
Um. Hmm. We have closed our executive session. Let the record show there was no action
taken. Is there a motion to reconvene the public meeting. Move to reconvene motion from
Mr. Little, second from Mr. Kling. All in favor, please indicate. A and opposed. The
public meeting is reconvened. Is there a motion to approve item 8A moved motion for Mr.
Meredith, second from Mr. Little. Is there any discussion Mr. Mr. Clink, question. Mr.
Riley, or Mr. Trey Riley, city attorney. This is your recommendation for the counsel
to pursue, correct? Yes, it is. OK, thank you. Are there, is there any other discussion? Ms.
Watkins. Oh Well, all in favor, please indicate any opposed? The motion carries. Thank you
all. We'll move on to public hearings to be held 9A is a public hearing in order to
consider and act upon all objections or protests, if any, for removal of a public
nuisance at 4704 Cabot Drive Northwest, Huntsville, Alabama, in consideration of resolution
ordering abatement of a nuisance located at the same property. Mr. Irwin. Oh yes,
Mayor Battle, council member Scott Irwin Community Development Department. This
public hearing is regarding the property located at 4704 Cabot Drive Northwest. The property
was in violation of the state Public nuisance Act regarding junk. Community development
issued notice to the property owner and interested parties, and the property remains in
violation. Hearing development is seeking your authorization to abate this junk public
nuisance, the condition of the property is before you on the video screen, including photos
from when the property was initially determined to be a nuisance. The owners and
interested parties were notified to attend the city council meeting in the council
chambers where the objections could be heard regarding the abatement of this nuisance.
Thank you, Mr. Irwin. The public hearing on item 9A is now open. Is there anyone here
who wishes to address the council regarding this item. Singan, we will close the
public hearing. Is there a motion to approve the resolution. Motion from Ms.
Watkins, second from Mr. Little Are there any questions for Mr. Irwin or any discussion? Seeing
none, all in favor, please indicate and impose. The motion carries. 9B is a public hearing
on authorization authorizing the demolition of an unsafe building constituting a public
nuisance located at 4204 Berry Street Northwest, Huntsville, Alabama, and consideration of a
resolution pertaining to the same, Mr.. Yes, this resolution authorizes the demolition of an
unsafe building constituting a public nuisance located at 4204 Berry Street Northwest. The
owners and the industry parties were notified of this hearing by certified and. first class
male and entered parties may be present tonight to voice any objections. We have
photographed some of the property for your review on the screen and independent
contractor inspected this property and determined it is not structurally feasible to
repair the 89% loss of the independent assessment of fire damage had and had extensive
interior damage of the property has been declared unsafe. No permits have been issued for
repair or demolition. An official notice was sent by certified and first-class mail
on July 2nd. Requesting demolition and removal of the structure, the owners of the
parties were notified that tonight would be the time and place. where objections could
be heard. Again, no action has been taken, so we're seeking your authorization to abate
this nuisance. The public hearing on item 9B is now open. Is there anyone here wishing to
comment on this item? I Please come to the microphone if you will please give us your name
and address for the record. Uh, my name is George Macklin, 4204 Berry Street. And um I talked
to a buyer and I got a buyer that's gonna buy it in September the property. OK.
Thank you, ma'am. Any other comments? No, ma'am. Thank you so much for sharing that. Thank
you. Are there any other comments? Public hearing is now closed. Is there a motion to
approve the resolution? Move to approve motion for Mr. Little. Second from the chair. Is there
a discussion? Mr. Irwin, there is apparently a buyer for this property for September. Does
that change your recommendation ? No, Madam President, it does not. This has been a project
we've been working on since December of last year. We are aware of the potential of a
sale, so this, this public nuisance will be abated regardless of the sale. New
owners would be held to the same standard, so if by the time we mobilize, it was at
least 30 days before we were ready for the demolition, so we'll work with the existing or
new owners to get demolished by voluntary compliance. Any other questions? All in favor, please
indicate any opposed motion carried, madam, Madam President Ms. Watkins, I don't think
everyone heard all the council members said, Can we do a roll call vote? Mr. Meredith, how do
you vote? Mr. Kling, how do you vote? Mr. Bye. Ms. Watkins. And chair vote sign. The vote is
unanimous. Thank you. We will move to 9C. 9C is a public hearing on authorizing the
demolition of an unsafe building constituting a public nuisance located at 3042
Boswell Drive, Northwest, Huntsville, Alabama, and consideration of a resolution
pertaining to the same. Yes, this resolution again authorized the demolition of an
unsafe building constituting a public nuisance at 3042 Boswell Drive, Northwest. The owners
and parties were notified of this hearing by certified and first class mail and they may
be present to voice any objections. We have photographs of the property for review on
the screen and independent contractor inspected this property and terminated it was
not structurally feasible to repair and 90% loss. The walls have come off the foundation.
The roof system has failed, so it was beyond an economical viability for. Repair or
renovation. The property is has been declared unsafe nor permits have been issued for
repair or demolition. An official notice was sent by certified and first class mail
on July 2nd requesting demolition and removal of the structure, the owners and the
parties were notified to attend this city council meeting. where objections could be heard
No action has been taken, so we're now requesting the council's authorization to
abate this nuisance. Thank you, Mr. Irwin. The public hearing on item 9C is now open. Is
there anyone here wishing to address the council regarding item 9C. Seeing none, the
public hearing is now closed. Is there a motion to approve this item? Move to approve.
Motion for Mr. Little. Second from Ms. Watkins. Is there any discussion? Questions for Mr.
Irwin. I do have one question. I noticed on the, the photos this was May 19th. I'm, that's
a little while ago. I'm assuming that nothing has gotten better in the interim.
You've had someone check it. Yeah, he was checked the most recent this afternoon. So there
have been no changes since the original photos. OK, all in favor, please indicate aye aye,
and he opposed motion carries. Thank you. Uh, 9D is a public hearing on authorizing
community development to assess the cost for the cleanup of public nuisances located at
certain properties in Huntsville, Alabama in consideration of a resolution
pertaining to the same. Yes, Madam President, this is a public hearing on a resolution
authorizing community development to assess the cost of the clean of junk public
nuisances located 3607 Princes Street and 4906 Clarty Road Northwest, the resolution
before you authorizes an assessment to assessments in the total amount of $6,752.94.
All procedural requirements relate to the declaration and clean up of public nuisances
have been fulfilled in accordance with the state of Alabama Public Nuisance Act
property owners were notified that an assessment. May be authorized and placed upon
their property at this city council meeting in which they will have the opportunity to
appear and present any objections to the assessed cost Thank you. Is there anyone here
wishing to comment or the public hearing is now open for item 90. Is there anyone here
wishing to comment on this item ? Seeing none, the public hearing is closed. Is there a
motion to approve this resolution. A motion from Mr. Little, second from the chair.
Does anyone have questions or comments? All in favor, please indicate a opposed. The motion
carries. Thank you, council members. Thank you, Mr. Irwin. 9E is a public hearing on
authorizing the finance director to issue a taxi license to Shasha Patsko
Jennings doing business as Jennings' local transport for the operation of 3 taxis and
consideration of a resolution pertaining to the same, uh, Ms. Bryant, good evening. Keisha
Bryant, director of parking and public transit. This item is a public hearing to. Authorize
our finance director to issue a taxi license to Mr. Jennings Jennings doing business as
Jennings' Local Transport, he plans to operate 3 taxis under this business license. He has
completed his application and passed his background check and also paid the fee for the
license and so he is due to proceed. Thank you, Ms. Bryant. The public hearing on item 9E
is now open. is Is there anyone here who wishes to comment? Seeing none, the public hearing
is closed. Is there a motion to approve the resolution motion from Mr. Little second from Mr.
Kling. Any comments? Mr. Meredith. Uh, Ms. Bryant, um, this is specifically for 3
taxis. If he wanted to add additional taxes, does that have to come before the council
or is that just added, so a taxi company requires 3 at the minimum, so anything above the
3, he would not have to come to counsel, but he would have to bring the vehicle to our office
for inspection, metering, and, um, tagging. Thank you very much. Any other All in favor,
please indicate any posed. The motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. 9F is a public
hearing on the zoning of 24.67 acres of land lying on the north side of University Drive
east of Providence Main Street to Highway Business C4 district and consideration of an
ordinance pertaining to the same. Mr. Nunes, good evening, council members, uh, Madam
President, Thomas Nunez, manager of planning and zoning services. This item is located
north side of. You drive in east of Providence Main Street. Uh, this property was recently
annexed into the city of Huntsville, uh, petitioners are seeking to zone the property
highway business C4 for commercial, retail and hospitality development. Thank
you, Mr. Thomas. Is there anyone here who we, oh, I'm sorry, public hearing is now
open for item 9F. Is there anyone who wishes to comment on this item. Seeing none, the
public hearing is closed. Is there a motion to approve motion from Mr. Meredith.
Second from Mr. Little, any discussion? All in favor please indicate any opposed? The
motion carries. 9G is a public hearing on the zoning of 1.98 acres of land lying on the
north side of Capshaw Road west of Waltriana Highway to neighborhood Business C1
district and consideration of an ordinance pertaining to the same. Mr. Nunez, Council
members, is is located north side of Capshaw Road and west of Waltriana, uh, petitioners
are seeking to zone the property neighborhood business C1 District, uh, for a property
that was recently annexed into the city of Huntsville. Uh, the proposal here is for a
commercial retail and office development. Thank you. Is there, oh, the public hearing
on 9GE is now open. Is there anyone here who wishes to comment on item 9G. Seeing none
of the public hearing is closed Is there a motion to approve motion from Mr. Meredith.
Second from Mr. Little. Any discussion? All in favor, please indicate. All opposed.
The motion carries. 9 H is a public hearing on the rezoning of 12.5 acres of land lying on
the east side of Lehman Ferry Road and north of Phil Dotts Drive from commercial
recreation C5 District to B C4 district and consideration of an ordinance pertaining to the
same, Mr. Nunez, council members, this is a rezoning request, a city imposed
rezoning request. For the east side of Lehman Ferry Road in North of Philip Dodds Drive
from commercial recreation C5 District to Highway Business C4 District. Uh, the property in
question is actually of Joe Davis Stadium in the Wicks Family Field. However, uh, this
will rezone the area in question to highway Business C4 which will bring it up to the
proper boundaries of the primary and proper boundaries of John Hunt Park, um. Yeah,
for the official portion. So The public hearing on item 9H is now open. Is there anyone
who wishes to comment? Seeing none of the the public hearing is closed, Is there a motion to
approve?? for Mr?. Little second from Mr. Meredith. Are there any questions or comments
? All in favor, please indicate any opposed? The motion carries Thank you, council members.
Thank you, Mr. Nunez. We we have no public hearings to be set. We have no agenda-related
public comments, so this brings us then to Mayor Battle, Mayor's comments. Thank you, uh
Madam President, and, and council members, uh, first off, uh, we would like to
congratulate Columbia High School, uh, they won their football game Saturday night.
Um Quite a few of us were there and it was a, it was a great, um, it, it was a great matchup.
They went down 14 to 0 in the 1st, 1st 2 times that, uh, Greensboro got the ball. They
went down 14-0, then they fought back and they ended up winning 41-14. Uh, so it was a
great game and, um, and it broke 101 game losing streak. So, uh, we're, we're
congratulations to Columbia, and I think you'll see some other activities happening, uh,
over the. Next, next couple of weeks for that high high school Uh, this weekend, Sanford is
gonna play UNA Saturday at uh uh at Joe Davis Stadium, uh, Wicks Field, uh, should be a
great game, a lot of fun, uh, and please come out and join it Um, we'll be there and, uh,
watching football at its best as, as we see, um, Sanford playing UNA and also, uh,
Saturday the 10th anniversary of Rock Steady Boxing. Uh, this is a program that was put in
place at John Hunt Park, uh, for folks with Parkinson's, uh, is a, a rehabilitation process
for those with Parkinson's, and they'll be having their 10th anniversary, um, I believe it's
about 10 o'clock on Saturday there and also this week um I had the opportunity to go out
on the arsenal to the ribbon cutting for, uh, the Defense Intelligence Agencies, uh,
material exploit exploitation, uh, facility, which is a Huge facility, um, the people out
there are to be congratulated for the work that they've done year after year. They, they
keep our country safe. And finally, uh, on a sad note, um, we, um, memorialize, uh, the
signage out on Highway 72 uh East, uh, for, um, Billy Clarty the 3rd. He was one of our
police officers, one of our finest, uh, who was killed in the line of action, and this.
And we'll stay in memorial uh fashion for Billy Clarty, uh, to for people to remember his
sacrifice and what he did for our city, uh, many, many, uh, many years ago. So thank you.
Thank you, Mayor Battle. We will move on to item 13. Council member comments, and we
will hear first from council member Michelle Watkins. No comments. We will move on to
council member Bill Kling. Well thank you, Madam President, first of all, let me just say
on a personal note, thank you to everyone within the district who came out to vote and
especially thank you to, uh, all those folks who voted to re-elect me. I felt like it was
a long, hot summer. There were some ups. There were some downs but I enjoyed the process of
getting out into the neighborhoods, perhaps even more than I normally do. It's a
learning process for me, and I've heard some issues, some concerns that people expressed,
I think. There are things we can do, uh, talking about uh how we up here can do our job a
little bit better, so I'm going to be looking at things that I can suggest we could work on to
the council as a body to interact better with the public Again, we have a great
community. We're all on the same team, and we just went through a great process that I
think a lot of people and a lot of countries would like to have the option. I am going to, as I
said, continue my monthly town meetings. Of course, and, uh, give me a few days to kind of
get my legs back, probably Monday or Tuesday of next week. Uh, I'll be back doing my
little street patrols that I do and I think I got one mayor and 4 council members love it
because me away from City Hall, and again, I'm working out in the neighborhoods. We've got
great department heads and we work to get whatever needed city maintenance we can take so
that action will be continued and certainly I'll be a very strong booster for the upcoming
becoming uh I-565 at Memorial Parkway Interchange and also as we chase and continue the
acceleration of the ring road around the city right out road coming into Alabama Highway 255
Now we're up to the northern bypass, and from there eventually Hampton Cove and
then coming around just east of the arsenal, that ring road again, I think will take a lot
off of the stress of the central portion of the city, and I think that's a great
thing for our future. as far as quality of life. Again, stepping back, uh, we have a
great city. Uh, we've seen that by the way we've been recognized by around the
country. Uh, we have challenges of course, but again, we do have many good things, and we
can be appreciative of that. So again, I'm looking forward to the next 4 years and, uh, uh, I
think there are many great things that are going to be taking place and on one sad
note, uh, this week, uh, we need to recognize the passing of Libby Jones, who, um, had
been the wife of Ray Jones, who uh, I think people throughout the community knew, very
wonderful, very smiling, beautiful woman who, uh, was brought a cheer to everyone
that she came in contact with, and she will be greatly missed. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Kling
We'll now hear from Council member David Little. Thank you Madam President. Um, I just
want to uh give a quick shout outs to our transit team, uh, police, engineering, public
works, planning, and home utilities for being responsive to citizen needs over the last
few weeks. As always, I'm grateful, as are citizens. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Little. We'll now hear from council member John Meredith. Want to start by uh. Wishing a
very happy anniversary to the best wife anybody could possibly imagine having. She
knows who she is. Um, the, the mayor stole my thunder, but uh, how about those Columbia High
School football players. Uh, wonderful group, um, and just for the record, they are
currently undefeated. Want to also mention that I plan on having that far on Flock
cameras here in council chambers on September 16th, it'll be at 4 o'clock and of
course, as always, the public is invited to come talk to the uh issue area experts, which is
HBD NAMA, and other law enforcement, uh, folks, and um again, the public is cordially
invited to be here, hear what they have to say, but also have the opportunity to Question
them. Um, want to thank, um, Columbia high High School and uh the folks at the central
office of HCS for inviting me, uh, on a sneak peek of the junior ROTC building there at
Columbia. It is a fantastic state of the art building that um I know they are looking
forward to um getting into and also making available to all of the uh ROTC programs within.
HCS schools. Um, looking forward to the brown groundbreaking at Westmore
Landing, which will be on Monday, August 23rd at 1 p.m. uh, been looking forward to
this project for quite a while. It is going to bring that Providence style living to
limestone County. And then finally, I want to thank the Chamber of Commerce and the
Research Park Board for inviting me, uh, along with my District 5, representative
counterpart for the Huntsville City Schools, Carlos Matthews, to present medals at the UCI
Pacycling world championships on Saturday, September 5th. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Meredith, and I will extend my congratulations to Mr. Kling and Mr. Little for their
reelection to council to Holly McCarty for reelection to the school board, and Peyton
Redfern, who is newly elected to the school board as well and thank all of those who offered
themselves for public service in this municipal election. We'll go on to item 14, the
finance committee report 14A is a resolution authorizing expenditures for payment. Is
there a motion to approve. I move for authorization and approval of expenditures in the
amount of $53617,4014.27. Mr. Little, take the 2nd uh any discussion on this? I do have
one question. The number is unusually large, um. Ms. Smith, would you like to Um, offer a
quick explanation to the public Certainly I'll be happy to. Penny Smith, director of
finance within these numbers are 2 actually very large payments. One is for our school
system. So as you are well aware, the school is, uh, is moving through their capital
plan and so they present to us some, um, payments for, for that out of the debt that we
have issued and so for the school system and so those payments came to. 14,
14,400,000 and, and change. And then we had another payment that, um, a couple of, um, a
couple of months ago, um, the city council passed resolution 26414, purchasing the assets,
I'm purchasing the food and beverages assets that were owned. Um, by, by, um by the
Huntsville Venue Group, and so that has that it took a while to get all the inventory
counted and make sure that all those numbers were correct, so that payment actually went
through on this particular item as well and so between those two payments, if you back those
out, we'll back down to about 27.7 million. Any other questions or comments? All in
favor, please indicate any opposed? The motion carries. 15 this is board appointments to
be voted on. We have several 15A is a resolution to reappoint Thornton Stanley
Junior to the Board of Examinations and Appeals for construction industries Place 8
his for a 3-year term to expire September 21, 2029. Is there from Mr. Kling, second from Mr.
Motion to most or little, all in favor, please indicate aye, any opposed the motion carries.
15B is a resolution to reappoint Dennis Dean to the Board of Examinations and
Appeals for construction industries Place to his current seat for a 3-year term to
expire September 21, 2029. Motion for Mr. Little. 2nd from Mr. Kling. All in favor, please
Yes, sir. You might want to specify you didn't on the last one, but it requires 4/5 for
passage. All in favor please indicate aye, any opposed the motion carries. 15C is a
resolution to reappoint Heather Bender to the Animal Services Advisory Committee placed to
her current seat for a 3-year term to expire September 8, 2029. Is there a motion to
motion from Mr. Merritt, 2 from Mr. Little. All in favor, please indicate any opposed the
motion carries. 15 CD is a resolution to reappoint Colin Keller to the Animal Services
Advisory Committee. Place 5, his current seat for a 3-year term to expire September 8,
2029. Is there a motion motion for Mr. Little second from Mr. Kling. All in favor, please
indicate any opposed? The motion carries. 15E is a resolution to reappoint
Christopher Jason Smith to the Board of Examinations and Appeals for construction
industries Place 16 is current seat for a 3-year term to expire September 21, 2029. Is
there a motion to approve? Move to approve motion for Mr. Little. Second from the chair.
All in favor, please indicate many opposed. The motion carries. 15F is a resolution to
appoint Joshua Pennington to the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council placed 13 due
to the resignation of Brian Webb for the remainder of a vacant four-year term to expire
August 21, 2027. motion from Mr Meredith, 22nd from Mr. Little. All in favor, please indicate.
Aye, and he opposed the motion carries. 15G is resolution to appoint Larry Durham to the
Board of examinations and Appeals for construction industries Place 7 to the seat
previously held by Russ Grimes for a 3-year term to expire September 21, 2029. The Chair
makes the motion. Second from Mr. Little. All in favor, please indicate. I oppose and
he opposed the motion carries, and I think Mr. Durham is here. Thank you for your service. We
have no board appointment nominations on the agenda. Are there any nominations from the
floor. Then we'll go on item 17 Huntsville utilities items. Mr. Gerdes, do you have a report
for us? Thank you, Council President Jo Joe Gerdes, I would almost call myself Joseph
I never do that. Joe Gerdes Huntsville Utilities and as promised, uh, we're just here
to answer any questions you may have. Uh, nothing to report tonight. We will appear at your
next meeting with our FY 27 budget. Thank you, sir. Um, we appreciate you being here. Of
18 legal department item transactions 18A is an ordinance authorizing the
vacation of two portions of a utility and drainage easement tract 1, Richland Park 2nd
edition containing 0.07 and 0. And 0. let me do that again, 0.07 and 0.11 acres. Is there a
motion to approve? Move to approve motion for Mr. Little, second from the chair. Any
questions? All in favor, please indicate any opposed. The motion carries. 18B is a
resolution authorizing the acceptance of a 0.528 acre tract of land from North Valley
Land LLC for a sanitary sewer easement off of Highway 53 at Blake Bottom Road. Is there a
motion to approve a motion from Mr. Little, second from the chair. All in favor, please
indicate and opposed. The motion carries. This brings us to unfinished business items
for action in 19A is an ordinance to declare certain real property located at the
intersection of Moors Mill Road and Vintage. Drive a surplus and authorized the mayor to
enter into a purchase and sale agreement between the city of Huntsville and Opian in
Incorporated. Is there a motion motion for Mr. Little, second from the chair. Mr. Davis is
here with us, uh, to make a presentation. Thank you, Madam President. Good evening,
Council member Shane Davis, director of urban economic development development so
development, uh, council members from time to time probably 6 or 7 times a year we
bring you real estate contracts before this council, um, in various forms sometimes they're
industrial development, sometimes they're retail development, uh, sometimes
they're property that may be a counter agency that we're we're helping and, uh, tonight is one
of those, uh, ordinances and when we do that, there's two-step process, uh, that's
why it's an ordinate, so we must. declared surplus no longer needed for public use.
And then enter a purchase and sell agreement. So that's what you're going to vote on here
momentarily. So I wanna give a little bit of history about this property and how the city
uh came to acquisition of it, so it's located in Chase Industrial Park, uh, the
property is located fronting, uh, Mooresville Road and was the former campus of Qualitas
Pharmaceutical. I think locally a lot of people refer to pharmaceutical. Uh, the city
acquired the undeveloped portion of this back in about 2010 after the acquisition of
Qualitas Pharmaceuticals by Endo Pharmaceutical. Uh, the Probst family donated this land
to the sea, the undeveloped portion, uh, in the direction that it had 3 purposes for
which to dispose of it, one, a public use. Or commercial or industrial development. They
wanted to see good happen out of out of it for the betterment of the community. So on this
screen what I wanted to point out is, uh, the, the pharmaceutical campus uh that
you see kind of central to it with the ring road, uh, those buildings are still active,
actually, uh, trial X Pharmaceuticals is in the southernmost building, uh,
still in operation. The building to the east is, is Lidos, one of our defense
contractors in our city with multiple locations in the building to the north is more
warehouse logistics storage. Uh I do want to point out that. The dash yellow area was part
of that original uh acquisition by the city. And a couple of years ago we uh partnership
with some property that allowed us to expand in John Hunt Park. Uh, this council approved a
development agreement and real estate agreement with Alabama National Guard for this to
become one of their latest training centers if you've been by there, that project is
getting very near completion looks very nice, uh, very nice. Uh, I do want to point out to
the north and to the east of the Lidos building. That area has been reserved for the
future Northern bypass to connect to US Highway 72, so that is the corridor being
reserved for that, as it would cross Winchester Road, Mooresville Road, and come back
to US 2. 31. So that leaves the southernmost portion and that's what uh we're presenting to you
tonight. So what's before you is a 15 acre site as you see, uh, hatched out here, uh, the
southernmost portion of the city property, the purchase price is $1.126 million. That
is $75,000 an acre if, if you're doing the math, uh, that is in conducive of the market
rate for this area of Chase Industrial Park and it's Highway 72 area. Uh, as we do
with any real estate contract, we want to make sure that the reason that you would vote to
sell that that project gets delivered to the community, should it not? There's a
repurchase option. Uh, so that's pretty standard in our contracts. You always see those
So there's 18 month purchase, a repurchase obligation should the project not move forward.
The city has the right to regain the property at the same purchase price, so there's no
escalation that we'd pay more to to receive that property back. So the proposed land use,
so this property due to the utilities both public and private utilities in this area.
We felt that this is good for the overall community. Uh, the proposed use is a regional
fiber network switch facility, so that's a big word, right? Uh what I wanted to describe to
you and the public what that really means is to get more efficient in delivering high
speed long distance, reliable transmission and routing of existing fiber Internet service
and in our data that we send. Every day, whether that's email storing, uh, social media or
just conducting business, uh, I like to, um, equate that to what the AT&T building just
outside this uh building we set tonight across the is to our phone network that building is
a hub to distribute incoming and outgoing landline phone service. Uh, that building
stretches and provides service all the way to Southern Tennessee. So think of this and
very similar to that but for our existing fiber infrastructure through our city
Um, there's additional benefits to the city, uh, so the southernmost portion you see in
red, we are retaining and uh uh Jon Hamilton, the fire department and looking at a
long-range plans has identified this with the rapid growing area of East Huntsville is a
perfect location for a future fire station. So in working with the purchaser in the
layout of how they would build their facility and connect to the fiber network and provide
this better efficiency and more high speed service throughout the region. Uh, they've agreed
in their layout to build a new road for which our fire station would gain access to. Uh, there
so, uh, that would be at no cost to the city. And the proceeds from this, should you
approve this tonight, uh, the administration would like to take those proceeds, put them
in the 1990 plan to help fund this project. Council members, it, it, it's, it's not a lot,
it's not very complicated, um, open to any questions you may have. Council members, any
questions for Mr. Davis, Mr. Meredith. Uh, my question is just how many acres are going
to be utilized for the fire station. So if, if you look, uh you know, once they get design,
there's much more property here than is needed for the initial, but we wanted to carve enough
out to, as the city grows, if, if, you know, fire department needed a new ladder truck bay
like we're doing out in Greenbrier that there's room to expand, so, uh, the typical
initial is 2 to 3, maybe 5 acres at most, uh, if you look. Here, there's a just under 10
acres of additional property for the city to use. Thank you, sir. You're welcome. Any other
questions for Mr. Davis? All in favor please indicate any opposed. The motion carries.
Thank you, Mr. Davis. Thank you counsel members. This brings us to 20 new items of business
items for consideration or action. Are there any these items will be approved in one
motion unless any member of the council wishes to remove an item for discussion, the
reading of each item will be waived unless a council member requests otherwise. Are there
any items anyone wishes to hold separately, Mr. Meredith. Item M That that's all OK, Ms.
Watkins. B See I He Q S. S S or X S as in Sam. OK, item A. see. I I F Q. And S as in Sam, and
the chair moves for consolidation and approval. Of items 20. 2 H20J. 2 Jade K and
L. 20 and O. 20R are. 20 and 20U. 22nd for Mr. Little. All in favor, please indicate. I
opposed those items are approved. We will now move on to 28. 28 is a resolution
authorizing travel expenses as their emotion. Motion for Mr. Little, second from the chair.
Is there a discussion? Council members, any questions? Yes, Ms Smith, did you get a chance to
send me the the update of this for this. Prior to the approval Not for, for this, it's, it's
in. No, I did not realize that you wanted them for every session, OK, session if you
don't mind, yes. OK, I will send those to you. Any other questions? All in favor, please
indicate aye. and he opposed. The motion carries 20B is an ordinance amending budget
ordinance number 25-744 by changing appropriate funding for various departments and
funds is their motion. Move to approve motion for Mr. Little. Second from the chair.
Questions or comments. The discussion. Ms. Watkins, you held this. Do you have I did. I
want her to explain for the listening public, so this, this item has been donated, so we
have a, um, we have a a fire pole that um, that should, so this is for a budgeted item,
I'm sorry, not a donation, budgeted item that increases um a transfer to a 1990 Capitol
Projects fund from um from our fire and rescue department. So that, that contract and
everything. Everything will be executed within the capital projects funds, um, along with
the, with the remainder of things around it. And so this is literally just moving money
from, from the general fund where we initially established that to the Capitol Projects
fund so that the money can be properly expended according to the contract. Thank you. Any
other comments or questions? All in favor, please indicate opposed. The motion carries.
20C. Is the resolution authorizing the mayor to take a portion of the proceeds of
certain future borrowing is to reimburse the 2014 Capital Improvement Fund of the city
for expenditures incurred prior to borrowing issuance. Is there a motion to approve? motion for
Mr. Little. Second from the chair. Um, Miss Uh, Ms. Smith, can you help us understand what
we're doing here. Um, good evening, Penny Smith, director of finance. So this is, um,
you've seen these types of resolutions come before you, um uh, it is a tool that we use in
order to, um, in order to right size any borrowing that we do moving forward as we go forward
so, so there has been a a tiff that has been set in place, um, Along with a 1% lodging tax
that has been set in place to fund the the Von the Von the Von Civic Center expansion. And
um, and so there will be borrowings up to $260 million obviously that is, that is a
max amount, um, that is not, uh the actual borrowings themselves, there will be
multiple series of borrowings as we move through this three-year project. And um and
so setting that in place, there are a number of things that are starting to occur and happen,
um, and as we move across that, we want to be able to capture that into the borrowings right
now, the first borrowings set maybe for spring, February, March time frame. We're not
sure of the size, um, or scope of that borrowing as of yet. Any discussion? All in favor,
please indicate any opposed. The motion carries. 20 is a resolution authorizing the
mayor to enter an agreement between the city of Huntsville and Three Notch Group Inc. for
engineering design services for Alabama Highway 53 and Douglas Road intersection Improvements,
project number 71-26-SP56. Is there a motion to approve? Move to approve motion for Mr.
Little. Seconded by the chair, Ms. Martin. Yes, good evening. Kathy Martin, director of City
engineering. So this is a design contract with 3-notch Group. It's for intersection
improvements at the Alabama Highway 53 and Douglas Road. And what we're doing is adding
a right turn lane at Douglas Road to minimize congestion in the area. So this is a lump sum
design contract amount of $45,090. Thank you. Questions or comments? Do you know when
this construction is going to start on this road. We would hope, uh, by spring of next
year, we've got to go through ALDOC permitting process. OK, thank you, Ms. Martin. Yes,
ma'am. Any other questions or comments? All in favor, please indicate. I oppose the motion
carries. 20M is a resolution authorizing the city attorney to settle a personal injury
claim of Alicia Smith. Is there a motion to approve motion for Mr. Little, second from the
chair. Um, Mr. Riley, would it be appropriate for us to discuss this, or should we go
into another executive session want to discuss it, we need to go in the executive Council
members, is there a motion for executive session. Motion to go into executive session, I'll Mr
Meredith, how do you vote? go into executive session. Mr. Kling, how do you vote? Mr.
Klein, come back to me, would you? Um, I'll go ahead and vote on. Mr. Little Mr. Ms. Watkins.
On the chairboat's side, we will be going into executive. We will now convene for
executive session. Yes sir, I guess a personal contact, a comment I would have on this,
it seems like something like this an individual council member can consult with the
city attorney before the meeting, but I'll Went along with it as a courtesy. Thank
you. We will now convene for a closed suspend the public meeting and we were go into
executive session. We hope to. e public meeting. Motion for Mr. Kling, seconded from Mr. Little
All in favor, please indicate motion, the meeting is now convened. We have a motion on
the floor to approve item 20M. All in favor, please indicate opposed. The motion carries.
20% is a resolution authorizing the mayor to submit a grant application to the Federal
Transit Authority FTA administration, FTA for the FY 27 formula grant. Their motion
to approve motion Kling, second from Mr. Little. Any discussion conversation, questions. Yeah,
uh, is there going to be public input on how all this money gets used when you get further
down the line, Ms. Bryant. Yes, Keisha Bryant, director of parking and public. So these
are our annual dollars that are appropriated from FTA and so we will use them for our
operations cost, um, which are covered by these federal dollars at a 50% rate, and then
we'll also use them for capital costs at a rate of 80% for the federal dollars. And so we will
not have any public hearings. We are just continuing our operations. There's nothing new
that's going on with these dollars. It's just so that we can access and Allocate the
dollars that the federal government has allocated to us. Any other questions? Ms.
Watkins, well, now, Mr. Clean jumped in before I could ask a question, even though I held
the item, but thank you, Ms. Rich, read your mind. Thank you Mr. Meredith. No, I've got
something else. Let's finish this off and then I'll, all in favor please indicate opposed.
The motion carries. If I can interrupt just for the record, Mr. Riley, could you for Um,
compliance with the Opens the Meeting Act give the reasons for the last, uh, Need for
executive sessions, and I apologize for failing to do that. I kind of got called off
surprise there, but yes, uh, once again I am an attorney in the in the uh uh license to
practice in Alabama and in my judgment this falls within the open litigation and discussing
with your attorney those litigation matters that need to be done in confidence, so it
does apply to one of the, the, uh, uh, the exceptions. In the open Meeting Act that allows
for executive session for the record, could you give the site citation. Citation of the code.
Just for the record. It's 36 25A-7A3. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you
Mr. Meredith. Um, 2020Q is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into facility
use agreement between the city of Huntsville and Fox Trosts Company LLC is there a motion
motion for Mr. Little, second from the chair. Council members Jon Hamilton city administrator
So, uh, customers, the, the item before you is uh our standard facility use agreement
that you see each year for the fair, carnival event that occurs down at John Hunt Park.
This event is scheduled from September 24th to the 27th. Any questions for Mr. Hamilton?
Thank you, Ms. Hamilton. That's what I want to know. What was the Rocket City Fair? Thank you
Any other questions? All in favor, please indicate opposed. The motion carries. And finally
20s 20s is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a memorandum of
understanding between the Federal Bureau of Investigation the Huntsville City Board of
Education and the City of Huntsville Public department, police department to formally
establish the Tennessee Valley Threat Assessment and Threat Management Team. Is there a
motion to approve? Motion from Mr. Little. Second from the chair. Chief Giles, can you
share with us, uh, the action being here. Yes, ma'am, this is an MOU with the FBI in respects
to It's basically just violent as initially, um, When law enforcement traditionally are
dealing with this. We deal with this after the fact. In other words, once the incident had
already occurred. What they discovered back in 2015 to a symposium was the best way to
tackle this in a multidisciplinary team was to do threat assessment and then
threat management. So what they'll do, they were asking us to be a host agency, the FBI,
and we are going to collaborate with the schools, city schools, because that's where we're
obviously the concern is throughout the neighborhood, but especially with the schools
and at this point in time, we can help identify threats ahead of time and then, but once we
get through that, I. We'll be able to partner with other local resources such as mental
health to provide resources for the individual, and this can go outside the schools as well. In
other words, it can go, uh, in a normal, uh, business world as well. Any questions for Chief
Giles, Ms. Watkins, um, Chief Giles, with this assessment one of the schools? Not necessarily
It's going to depend on the circumstances. When we set up a multidisciplinary team, it'll,
it'll bring us all together, uh within that group, and we'll discuss it. It's not knowing
which cases we'll be dealing with at the time. It's hard to say, but we will be pulling to
schools in like an exercise? Yeah, they'll be involved if it involves a student, they would
definitely be involved. OK, thank you. Any other comments? questions. All in favor please
indicate you opposed. The motion carries. We have no new business that concludes our
business before us this evening We have no new business items for introduction. The next item
on our agenda is 2nd roster public comments. We have several s. Right, we
will call the meeting back to order, so we are now at 2nd roster public comments. This
portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the council on matters
relating to city business, whether or not such items are on the meeting agenda. Those
wishing to comment have signed up in advance, um, when called, approached the microphone,
state your name, home address, and city of residence, and I will also call the person
following so that you can be ready to come up. We'll move this process along. Each
speaker speaker may address the council for 3 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. The first person signed up to speak is
Christopher Boulware, who will be followed by Maggie Minsk, um Mr. Boltware. We'll just come
right here. And you will each have 3 minutes. Good evening. City council. I am an Alabama
native who graduated high school and college here. Name and address for the record,
please. Christopher Bulware 119 Rebecca Pines Drive, Madison, Alabama. Thank you. I've lived
in 5 states across this country I've seen enough to know that Huntsville is a special place.
In one worth preserving. That's why I'm here to address what I consider a travesty against
American freedoms. AI powered automated license plate readers with flock safety as the
infamous market leader. Marketed to eliminate crime. This technology is dragnet
surveillance, paving the road to a surveillance state. Alabama now ranks 6th
nationally, and these cameras per capita. Fought claims that it makes communities safer, but
a leaked internal tool called OS Investigate showed can correlate plate scans with data
broker information. Social Security numbers, phone numbers relatives. Performing with
Flock itself calls a one command background check. Another tool, convoy analysis,
Clegg's vehicles traveling together, letting police monitor who regularly gathers,
whether a criminal ring or simply neighbors, coworkers, or protesters. With 20 billion
scans per month, you'd assume that Flock protects the data. And it's wrong. Researchers
gained root access to a camera in under 30 seconds with a ladder. Credentials transmit in
clear text and the cameras violate 8 of 10 industry internet security standards.
Clock doesn't even require multi-factor authentication. And flock logins have been
found for sale on Russian cybercrime forums and the public is responding. At least
54 cities have canceled their flock contracts in 26 alone, including the LAPD after an
audit showed a 1 in 3 chance of pulling over an innocent person The opposition is bipartisan,
uh, Governor DeSantis recently said that the cameras are out of control. Congressman
Burchett from Tennessee introduced HR 9800 to cut federal funding, and make no
mistake, protecting Americans from AI overreach and mass surveillance has become one of
the biggest issues voters use as their North Star at the ballot box. For Huntsville,
this is a national security issue. We are one of the largest defense hubs in the
nation, and for adversaries can buy stolen login credentials for a few $100. Mapped the
vehicles of our defense contractors, trace them home, and profile cleared personnel
for blackmail in minutes with no warrant. Our founders warned us, James Madison said there
are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of people by gradual and silent
encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations, and Benjamin
Franklin said those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary
safety deserved neither liberty or safety. As his counsel to cancel Flock's contract and
pass a local ordinance requiring warrants for any mass surveillance data. Thank you.
Thank you, sir. Next person to speak is Maggie Min Minsk following Ms. Minsk, we will
hear from Jerry Burnett. Hi, my name's Maggie Minsk, and I live in Madison, um, but I'm also a
business owner, uh, in Huntsville's District 5. Um, I am a single mother and business
owner, and I'm also concerned about flock safety, um, which I believe is rather Orwellian, uh
in speech and might be more aptly named Flux surveillance. I, I am truly concerned, uh,
the cameras take videos, essentially a warrantless search of everyone in Hunts, uh
Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, etc. all have contracts with Flock, um, Huntsville did it it
first. Madison got theirs. Um, not too long ago for 86,000, uh the North Alabama Multi-agency
Crime Center uses license plate readers, cameras, gunshot detection, which is microphones
and also intelligence, AI, um, however, statistically, it seems like a study of flat
cameras showed that ALPR's are wrong 71% of the time, leaving us to pay for a lawyer, take
off work, and prove in court that it wasn't us, um, so. there's a concern about
innocent until proven guilty, and once the data exists about all Huntsville citizens, it
becomes a cybersecurity target. Uh, in January, Flock confirmed a security incident involving
its condor cameras that exposed live camera feeds and archival footage and a allowed video to
be deleted. Researchers have also demonstrated vulnerabilities in ALPR
technology that exposed these surveillance systems to unauthorized access. Anything
connected to a network is potentially vulnerable. Uh, 2 days ago, uh, August 25th,
Pflugerville, Texas, unanimously voted to end its flat contract after it was
revealed that. 1.6 million searches had been conducted by 459 outside organizations
within a six month period. This week, a US Senate Jujudiciary Subcommittee opened a formal
investigation into Flock's data collection access and sharing practices, flocksone materials
acknowledge that it's LPR system is connected across 49 states while the ALC ACLU has
raised concern about the creation of a nationwide surveillance infrastructure as
a mental health professional, I'm concerned about the privacy and safety of clients or any
vulnerable marginalized residents. How do we protect? Those seeking refuge from
domestic violence, stalking, and other dangerous situations. Anyone can gain access and
reconstruct where a client lives or a police officer, judge, city council member,
track the movements of someone with national top secret clearance and what happens when
Huntsville's military intelligence, aerospace, and, and defense activity becomes
part of a searchable hackable surveillance database. The overall infrastructure also has
an environmental cost yet to be ascertained. Um, finally, taxpayers very much, Ms. Minsk.
Your time is up. Thank you for joining us tonight. We'll now hear from Jerry Burnett. Mr.
Burnett will be followed by Austin Jones. Uh, Jerry, Jerry Burnett, 2405 Greenhill Drive,
uh, to the mail and the rest of the council. Good evening. Thank you for allowing me to
speak. I'm here because I have an issue with my next door neighbor. Who doesn't seem to
care to keep their property up. And I've had to call my councilwoman, uh, several times
Crash and debris that they leave around the house, they don't care that. Bring the
trash can in, uh, dropped trash trash on the ground. They don't they'll just walk right over it
They don't mind drinking a soda Throw the can out the door. And from time to time I've had to
pick trash up that's coming over into my yard after it lay down for several days and the
wind blew it into the yard. And I told my wife, I said, well, maybe we can put up with it
until we can find the relocate. But then they got a cat, thththh cat that cononontinues to. use y
Property for its bathroom. So that's, so I spent a lot of money to make my backyard
catproof. But then the cats start going in the front to use you know, and it's creating
flowers and other insects, and I've called them animal control and they, they come by a couple
of times and once I come out to talk to him because I wanted to make sure you get your, get
them to clean their. Cat litter out of my yard. And he told me, he said, why don't you go back
in the house, sir? I got this. But in the meantime, Kat started doing his thing. So.
I'm I don't like picking up cat litter, but that's why I don't have a cat. And I think if the
owner should be responsible for their own cats and uh as it turned out the um. Animal
control so that uh. If you get a picture of it, and, and, uh, go to the city magistrate and
then maybe you can get some uh satisfaction from that so we'll give that a try. I put. Video
up and I captured the cat. Out on my property and then we go to the city magistrate, and she
looks at it and she says, well, the animal control set of caddies, y'all, this is a great
cat. I said, well, I don't know why a yellow cat come from. Then she said, Well, you got to
do it all over again. So it looks like I'm getng the runaround. In the meantime I
got a cat problem. Um, that's my issue. I wonder what is there any solution though.
Thank thank you sir um we can certainly get someone to meet. Miss, Ms. Watkins will meet
with you afterwards to discuss it. Thank you very much. We'll next hear from Austin Jones,
who will be followed Coden Cayden Helbling. Hi there. I'm Austin Jones. Uh, dress on the
sheet and I'm out in no one's crossroads. I'm a 21 year Army vet and a member of the
Democratic Socialists of America and I'm running for Madison County School Board
District 3. I'm here to talk about safety. The top 3 causes of death for children,
according to a New England Journal of Medicine study published May 13, 2026 are
firearms, motor vehicles, and poison. Followed closely by cancer, which is on the rise
among children. But there's something more insidious not captured by this study poverty
and poverty has lifelong effects on our children, our future. The poverty rate for
children in Madison County is 42.5%. That means just about every other child you meet
around is living in poverty in the richest country in the history of the world. This
doesn't count the number of kids that are borderline impoverished, which I would bet
puts that number well over 50%. What are we doing? What's going on? I constantly hear from the
Republicans how important and how much they care for kids. Do you really think the Epstein
class sitting in office care. My dad always said the proof is in the pudding. Well, the
children ain't even got no pudding to eat. And what they do eat 60% of it is processed.
Why are we living in a real life Hunger Games. That book is a warning, not a goal on how
society is supposed to run. The parents of these children are working their tails off over, 2
and 3 jobs with what to show for it on top of the Epstein class, not paying people, they
steal $50 billion a year in wages, so what are we doing? What's going on? Freedom starts
but it sure is hard to study when you're hungry and your parents can't cook because
they're at work. Freedom starts with education. All the power to all the people, free
Palestine, solidarity forever. Thank you Mr. Jones. We'll hear now from Kayden Helbling. Mr.
Helbling will be followed by Gerald Vines. I'm Cayden Helbling from Huntsville. My
address is on the sheet. Um, I wanted to follow up with the city council and make others in
Huntsville aware of the status of my records request, uh, surrounding the flock audit
logs with the city. Uh, I spent 8 months, requesting those audit logs, um, that the city
is legally required to have for oversight that they are capable of providing electronically and
have been provided by Blount County in Alabama unredacted for the public to review, um,
but for whatever reason, uh, the city has determined that they are not legally compelled
to provide them, um. After my last update at City council uh during the last uh city council
meeting, uh, I stayed after to speak with council president, uh, Robinson about why Blount
County, um, under the same rules and regulations as, uh, Huntsville was able to provide
the same documents I was asking for, and she told me that it is because Huntsville is bigger
and has more lawyers. Um, that is something that I think those living in District 3, should
keep in mind during the runoff election on September 22nd. Additionally, uh, city attorney
Trey Riley told me that I will have to go to court if I want these audits and that I should,
and should I be successful, that I will be putting children in danger. One more thing that
I would like to highlight because there is news of Flock uh implementing some new safety
guidelines. Uh, the city's official stance is as follows. The city rejects the premise
that flock safety's guidance documents established the city's legal obligations under
Alabama law. Flock Safety is a private software vendor. It's publications, user manuals,
customer guidance documents, and recommended practices are not statutes, judicial
decisions, or opinions of the Alabama Attorney general. They possess no president, and no
presidential value and cannot define, expand or restrict the city's legal obligations under
Alabama's Public Records Act or any Alabama case law that has endeavored to interpret the
same, nor can they be substituted for the statutory analysis required under Alabama
law. Effectively, the city can do whatever it chooses regardless of what Flock
recommends or suggests that the users do. So if you hear anything about, um, you know,
flock implementing new safety tools. Take it with a massive heap of salt. The city does not
have to follow it. Uh, these systems have never been up for public vote, have no means of
public oversight, and it appears that rather than listening to those living in
Huntsville and change those things, the city is looking at other vendors with all the same
problems. Let's do better. Thank you. Thank you. We'll now hear from Gerald Vines, who
will be followed by Molly Cluck Good evening, Gerald Vines 165 Mid Park Drive, Meridianville,
Alabama. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Madam President and council members, thank you
for allowing me to share this vision with for the Omega Psi Phi fraternities, 50th state
meeting hosted here in the Rocket City October 2nd through the 4th. I am the state marshal
for this meeting. We're excited to be in Huntsville for this meeting, and it's more than,
more than just the gathering of men. It is an opportunity to provide economic impact, serve
the Huntsville community, and invest in the next generation through youth enrichment
activities. The economic impact We're expecting approximately 1000 members from across the
state of Alabama and beyond our attendings will have an opportunity to experience the
city's restaurants, entertainment, and other destinations and support the
local economy. Uh, we encourage them to stay in our hotels and patronize the local businesses.
The community impact. However, Our presence in the city of Huntsville is not just economic
service is the heart of Omega Psi Phi. We are planning a community service project with
the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Huntsville on the Pulasia Pike to to set up their
computer labs for them to Um, For the education opportunities community programming, and, and
at the center. As you know, access to technology is increasingly important for
students pursuing education, career opportunities, and, and, and, and digital skills. We
have a talent competition that will be held Friday night, uh, October 2nd at the Marriott,
and this competition will be, will be hosted by our fraternity, and we have
students from all over the state competing in this competition. Then we'll have a
STEM competition that'll be held on Saturday at the um Space camp operations center
now we have members young kids from all the state at the STEM competitions as well. Our goal
Is to ensure that when the members of Omega Psi Phi leave Huntsville, we leave behind
something tangible that continues to benefit the community. We welcome the state
of Huntsville to partner with us in making this a memorable and impactful weekend for our
members, our young people, and the entire Huntsville community As a part of this weekend's
activities, our public meeting will be held on Friday, October 7th at 7 p.m. at the Helmsford
Marriott. We will be honored to have representatives from the cities of Huntsville to join us
bringing greetings and welcoming our visitors to the, to our great city. Your
presence and help. would help demonstrate the strong partnership between the city of
Huntsville and the Alabama statewide organization of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. As we come
together. Around economic opportunities, service, and the arts and development of our
youth. We look forward to welcoming you to this and the city, to our Alabama statewide
organization. Meeting it will make us our fire on October 2nd through the 4th. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Vines. We'll now hear from Molly Cluck who will be followed by Luis Bal
Balderrama. My name is Molly Cluck. My address is correct on the form, and I'm a resident of
Huntsville. Thank you. Good evening everyone. I'm here tonight to demand rejection of
the expansion of automatic license plate reader surveillance. This is often
presented as a simple public safety tool, but that description leaves out the most
important question. What happens to the relationship between citizens and government
When the government is allowed to collect information on everyone all the time without
suspicion of wrongdoing. ALPRs collect license plates, locations, and time stamps from
everyone who happens to drive past a camera. That means the government can build a
searchable record of where ordinary people have been, even when those people are not
suspected of committing any crime. That is an inversion of a basic principle of a free
society. We are being asked to accept a system where everyone is treated as a potential
future suspect. The government collects first and justifies the search later. Instead of
public power being limited and accountable, ordinary people are made permanently available
for inspection. Citizens should not have to live under constant surveillance so that someday
the government might decide their past movements are worth investigating. And surveillance
does not fall equally on everyone, people who work irregular hours rely on older
vehicles, travel across jurisdictions, organize with neighbors, attend protest,
visit clinics, or move through heavily monitored areas are more likely to be recorded and
scrutinized. A system that collects everyone's movements becomes a system that
disciplines the people with the least power to challenge it. And once that infrastructure
exists, the question is no longer simply whether we trust today's police department. It
is whether we trust every future administration, every future employee with access,
every agency this data may be shared with and every future expansion of this technology.
Power that can be abused finds someone willing to abuse it. We also need to ask whether the
evidence justifies the cost. A quasi randomized study found an increase in vehicle recoveries,
but no increase in arrests and little clear evidence of general crime prevention
benefits. Earlier experimental research into Northern Virginia jurisdictions found no
statistically significant reduction in general crime, auto-related crime, auto theft,
or theft from autos associated with ALPR patrols. Public resources should be directed
towards measures that strengthen people's security directly, reliable emergency
response, housing stability, mental health services, safe transportation, and the
conditions that allow people to live with dignity, a technology that expands the state's power
to watch everyone should not take priority over investments that improve people's lives. A
safe society does not require turning the entire public into a database just in case someone
might be useful to an investigation later. The people of this community are not raw
material for an ever growing surveillance system. Safety and freedom are not opposites. No
one here should accept a false choice between protecting our community and protecting our
civil liberties. I urge this council to reject the expansion of ALPR surveillance and to
refuse to build a system of mass suspicionless monitoring in our community. Thank you.
Thank you. We'll now hear from Luis Valderrama who will be followed by Joyce Macklin. Is
Mr. Balderrama here? Good evening, Mayor and council. So accidentally name and address,
so Louis Baldroma, 1580 John Wesley Way. Thank you. So I thought that was a and she, so
I accidentally signed up to speak. So while I'm here, um, I'd like to introduce myself
again, Louis Balrama. I am the chair for the city of Huntsville's Community
Development Citizen Advisory council, and while I'm here I would like to thank Community
Development for everything it does and. I would like to cordially invite everyone on
council. We've already had Mayor Battle come speak to us to join us in any one of our
meetings. So that's uh standing invitation for whenever you get a chance. Um, one thing we have
been talking about a lot during the CAC is housing affordability here in the city
of Huntsville. Um, as in North Alabama native, I've gotten to see the process of housing
skyrocketed in my short life that I have been alive. Um, a lot of residents who grew up
here are starting to feel the impact of that. So down payments are starting to become
incredibly high, and we who grew up here and have lived here our whole lives are
struggling to be able to afford some of those. So we ask that if counsel could seek some
solutions to help address some of these issues. That'd be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you, sir. Thank you for being with us and for serving on the advisory council. We'll
now hear from Joyce Macklin, who will be followed by Edward. Uhniowski Junior. Miss Macklin
Not here. We will then go on to Mr. Ponniowski. And who will be followed by Christopher, uh,
boulware. I thought we were. Edward Pontiatowski, 821 Mira Vista Drive. Uh, I'm just here
to just as a general citizen provide Uh, my discrepancy with the flawed camera industry as
of right now, I don't think that's a good direction for the city of Huntsville to move
forward, and I just wanted to provide my, uh, general comment on that. Thank you. Thank you,
sir. We'll now hear from Christopher Boulware, who will be followed by Shaylon Moody. I
signed up through the phone and then I signed. OK, very good. Thank you. Uh, Shay, Shaylyn
Moody, and then Doctor Angela Somerset. Hi. Thank you Mayor and council members for hearing
me out on an opportunity to raise the level of name and address please for the record.
Yes, my name is Shaleen Modi, uh, address is correct on the sheet and your city of
residence Huntsville, Alabama. Thank you, sir. Yes, ma'am. So thank you for hearing me out on
something uh of an opportunity to raise the safety awareness level across the city, um, I am
I've been a resident, uh, resident of Huntsville since 2018. Yes, I am another
engineer in town. I'm also a civic engagement, uh, academy alum and related to safety, I'm
also a former Boy Scout, former volunteer firefighter, and also went through the training
classes for the community emergency response team through Madison. Tony Cert. In a
growing city like ours, we have an opportunity to address concerns of many new residents
who may not know what to expect when or how best to interact with first responders.
Additionally, some, some just lack confidence or competence to assess someone in medical
distress, which may cause the situation to worsen. Metrics of growing cities often show
safety and harm prevention efforts may fall short in uh unless you have a critical mass
of trained professionals or bystanders, just generally spread across the city. What I
propose then is a pilot project for a citizens' safety and preparedness academy, which
could slot right in next to the Citizens Police Academy and Citizens or the civic
engagement academy. The end goal would be to increase survivability rates of victims
reported on 911 calls related to emergency medical distress through raising the overall
safety consciousness of our residents. The situations I have in mind are often time
critical. Such as heart attack, stroke, blunt trauma, mental illness episodes, seizures,
heat stroke, excessive bleeding and similar. Having someone who practices clear communication
and risk assessment in dynamic situations are some of the best people to have in an emergency.
Their confidence and calmness is a safety multiplier. A pilot program of about 30
participants seems to be a sizable enough cohort which can train in how to speak and
interact with the emergency call center personnel and first responders. Trained in CPR and
AD and recognizing signs of various medical conditions. Additionally, fire extinguisher
use and fire escape planning would be helpful. After the sessions conclude, we can check
in quarterly with the participants and the newly safe uh safely aware to see what
kind of effect they have had in the community and continue the program pending the results.
Raising the safety consciousness across the city may show up in different ways
and increasing the survival rates. Dispatchers and first responders having an easier
time to get through an incident participants may take up careers in emergency services,
and we may see an uptick of residents getting formal CPR and first aid training. It
might even cause some old boys to formally designate a 911 caller for a pickup game of
football. Thank you, sir. Um, we appreciate you being here. We'll now hear from Doctor
Angela Somerset, who will be followed by um. Tyler Gottney. OK. Good evening counsel. My
name is Doctor Angela Somerset, and I reside at 9 Chalkstone Street. Thank you, sir or ma'am
OK. This evening I would like to talk about a double standard I would also like to talk about
the importance of financial responsibility. The same way that our city requires us to be
responsible financially. I would like to also see that our utility company. is responsible
Right now young people are facing a huge responsibility. As well as a. Pressure in
regards to affording homes. Medical care. But our city sits uniquely under an umbrella for
the city of Huntsville, Huntsville Utility sits under that umbrella as well as
Huntsville Hospital under the healthcare authority. Many of you may not know that if you
face problems in paying your utility bill. And now you are unable to pay your medical bill
that the hospital can place a lien against you. You could lose everything and that's why
we are seeing such a rise. In homelessness, but one of the most important things that I am
still concerned about is that $4 million deficit and we keep brushing past it and I will
bring it up every time, whether it be here or on social media. Because I think as we all have
seen now social media is a very powerful force. The one concern I'm also going to bring up is
we have a city administrator. I'd like to see that in your budgets. Miss Penny Smith, I'd
like an answer. Council persons I'd like an answer. And this is why our city is changing. Young
people are looking for answers. We're looking for responsiveness. This past week,
one of my neighbors, ironically an attorney asked me to look at another, uh, citizen's bill of
$1,601. It took me 3 days to get my mind around that before I made a few calls to
Huntsville utilities, and they corrected that person's bill by $591 and change. It's very rare
that you see the doctor help the attorney, but this was the case. There are too much in
regards to misreads from a utility company that is still not representing accountability
and transparency as well as getting those books and just like this young man was saying
with the flock cameras, etc. We we have open record laws. And what you don't realize is that
these young people, if they're not getting the answers here, they will take this to social
media and the world will see it Thank you. Thank you Dr. Somerset. We'll now hear from
Tyler Gottney, who will be followed by Holiday Holyfield. Hey, I am, uh, Tyler Gotney, uh
Huntsville District 5. My address is on the sheet. I'm here to, um. Speak out against
Flock. I know the little worm that's uh worming its way through your head, fuck, you
have no reason reasonable expectation of privacy in public and it's collecting
public data. But my argument hinges on a recent Supreme Court ruling in June of this
year, Chater of the United States. The Supreme Court. Uh, pontificated the stance that
individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the whole of their movements and
Flock is fundamentally tracking those movements. It further reasons against surveillance
technology offering newfound tracking capacity, technology that runs against everyone, not
just those under investigation and technology that can travel back in time, the court's
reasoning provided that location history is protected under the Fourth Amendment as
follows location history provides an even more fine tuned. picture of a person's
movement, location history allows police to reconstruct retrospectively and with no
real effort people's comings and goings in any area enabling tireless and absolute
surveillance of any number of people in any number of places. Location history implicates
personal privacy interests because location history is the individual's own in that way
location history resembles other private materials. That even if stored on a private
company's servers are user reasonably expects to be shielded from the inquisitive
eyes of the government. The court also referenced prior landmark rulings on privacy
such as Carpenter. Carpenter v. United States where. A rule that acquisitions of Aon CSLI
data constitutes a protected Fourth Amendment search in United States v. Jones. It
ruled that attaching a GPS device to a vehicle and then using the device to monitor the
vehicle's movements constitutes 1/4 Amendment search in United States via Dri deri uh Fourth
Amendment is designed to place obstacles in the way of two permeating police surveillance.
How then can you argue in good faith that a mass surveillance network. Such as ALPR
technology where the movements of people are easily discoverable in a tireless and
absolute surveillance network allows parallel reconstruction of for anything that they want
to charge a person is not Fourth Amendment private protected domain. Um, the other
argument commonly is that you have nothing to hide if you have, you have nothing to fear
if. You have nothing to hide, but it indicates that the speaker fundamentally demands
we justify our desire for governmental boundaries. It is on America and un-American, and
I shouldn't have to explain to my thick-headed politicians why I'm glad I don't live in a
surveillance state like China or Russia. The nothing to hide argument uses sound circular
reasoning to present a false dichotomy to people. And another common argument is that
the national movement that's the end of your time. Well now our last speaker will be Dana
Holiday Holyfield. Thank you. My name is Dana Holiday Hollifield. I live at 10,010
Strong Drive, Southeast Huntsville, and my mother-in-law, I'm here with,
uh, to represent her as well. She lives at 4301 Holmes Avenue Northwest. So, um, I know that
Tara Bailey has spoken to several of y'all about uh removing the sales tax on
hearing aids, um, the state did that 2024 and Madison City followed suit, and I don't
think a lot of people realize that, you know, that that is taxed and it's a significant
amount. It's 4.5%, and I went with my mother-in-law to get her hearing aids, and that was
hundreds of dollars, extra dollars that she is on a budget We're talking about an 83 year
old woman who every dollar counts, and that 4.5% on those expensive hearing aids is, you
know, for some people it may be the. matter of groceries or getting my medication. So, um,
when they don't have their hearing aids, as a nurse, I see what that means. We're talking
about social isolation. People feeling like they're left out of the conversation that they
can't interact. It can lead to depression. We're talking about people just feeling like, you
know, they're old, you know, and going through all these things, and then now they can't
even participate in conversations. Um, so I feel like we need to follow suit and
provide a re. Resolution to remove that sales tax is not that much. I don't think it's
going to impact the budget that much to remove that, but it could really mean a lot to some
of our senior citizens, um, and making a difference in their lives. So I would really like
for y'all to consider bringing a resolution forth so that we can remove that sale tag and
follow suit with what the state has done, what Madison City's done. We need to go ahead and
get this done. I know several of you have spoken with Tara Bailey. And myself, please,
let's consider getting that done. I appreciate y'all's time and I always appreciate your
service. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Holyfield. That's our final speaker and concludes all the
items on our agenda is there a motion to adjourn. for Mr for Mr. Little, and we are
adjourned. It is 7:54 p.m.