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Huntsville City Council Update

Please find below a recap of the August 25th Huntsville City Council Meeting for HAAR members.

 

🏠 The following public hearings for housing were held:
  • Ordinance # 22-476 (Zoning 8.30 acres of land lying on the north side of Hwy 72 and east of Wall Triana Blvd). Approving the zoning would put this property aligned with adjacent properties. (U/C)
  • Ordinance #22-478 (Zoning 135.09 acres of land lying on the south side of HWY 72 and west of Brian Hill Rd). Eventual housing development for “work force/ attainable housing” and business purposes consistent with the ones surrounding it. (U/C)
  • Ordinance No. 22-480 (Zoning 8.54 acres of land lying on the south side of Berkley Road and north of Pembrook Pond Place Road). Expansion of existing neighborhood.
  • Ordinance #22.482 (Zoning 4.86 acres of land lying on the south side of Hardiman Road and East of Sergers Road) Housing near major employer for region.
 
💰 2022 Fiscal Year Budget will be initially released at the city council meeting, Sept. 8. It will be brought before council for a vote on Sept. 22.
 
👮 HPCAC (Huntsville Police Citizen Advisory Council) gave its first compulsory report as called for in the updated expectations passed by council last year. The immersive report touched myriad topics of new focus for the council. HPCAC indicated that they were deeply involved in connections with broader stakeholder groups (like school resource officers and North Huntsville) to ensure that the entire community is benefiting from a community-policing approach.
 
‍⚖️ The council engaged in conversation around a bill signed into law last year that prohibited cities in the state with “full-time municipal judges” from operating under 30 year standing statute that allowed for a city’s police officer to issue summons and not arrest for low-level non-violent misdemeanors. Cities who do employ full-time municipal judges must get a local bill passed by the legislature to be applicable under this allowance. Technically, as such, the city is expected to arrest all instances of misdemeanor offenses (to include loud car stereo). Municipal judge Robinson indicates that none of the approximately 5 cities that employ a full-time municipal judge have began doing that, and do not intend to stop, even in the absence of a local bill. City administration wants to get a local bill passed to ensure compliance under the new act.