Minutes 2018-05-03 Work Session
PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION MINUTES
MAY 3, 2018
6:00 P.M.
The Prattville City Council held a work session on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers at City Hall.
The meeting was called to order by Council President Striplin and all Councilors were recorded
as being present. The purpose of the work session was to allow the Prattville/Autauga School
Committee to present their findings and recommendations to the City Council.
The following City officials and employees were present:
Mayor Bill Gillespie
Mayor’s Executive Assistant Lisa Byrd
Assistant City Clerk Jamie Ferrari
Information Technology Director Jose Figueroa
The following were also present:
Greg Gray representing the Prattville/Autauga School Committee
Autauga County Economic Development Director Amy Brabham
Former Autauga County Commissioner and local business owner Kyle Glover
Council President Striplin opened with the following statement:
The Prattville/Autauga School Committee is not affiliated with the City of Prattville. The City of
Prattville did not organize or sponsor this committee. The City of Prattville did not appoint,
suggest, or recommend members to this committee. Anyone attending meetings of this
committee did so on a voluntary basis, and only those individuals speaking for themselves can
assert if they are a committee member or an invited guest. Council rules require that a Work
Session be held if requested by two or more councilors in writing. Three Councilors signed a
letter requesting tonight’s Work Session and they are Councilor Starnes, Councilor Jackson,
and Councilor Strichik.
Council President Striplin gave the floor to Greg Gray representing the Prattville/Autauga
School Committee so that he may begin his presentation.
After the end of Mr. Gray’s presentation, Council President Striplin opened the floor for
questions from the Councilors.
Council President Pro Tempore Brown asked for the cost of updating the 2004 study.
Mr. Gray gave a broad estimate of $50,000.00 to $100,000.00.
Councilor Cables commented that he understood members of the Autauga County Board of
Education were at one time attending committee meetings on this subject and now they are
not. Council Cables felt that it was very important that to have the input of the Board of
Education on this matter.
Council Present Striplin also voiced his concern over the lack of participation from the Board
of Education and County Commission. The author of 2004 study calls to the attention of the
reader that a school system’s debt service was not included in the per-pupil expenditure. That
raises the question of what is included in the per-pupil expenditures and what is excluded in
addition to debt service. The 2004 study also did not address extracurricular events. Council
Present Striplin understood that the committee was requesting funding to either fund a new
study or to update the previous 2004 study. If the committee wishes to update the 2004 study,
they are essentially asking for funding for a City School System. If they are asking for funding
for a study to increase revenue for education, those are two fundamentally different requests.
One is all inclusive of all students and the other is not. If this truly is a grass roots effort, he
would hope the other partners would come forward and share the cost.
Mr. Gray confirmed that the committee was requesting that the City either update the 2004
study or fund a new study.
ADJOURN:
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 6:36
p.m.
APPROVED:
___________________________
Cathy Dickerson
City Clerk
___________________________
Albert Striplin, President
Prattville City Council
SUBMITED BY:
___________________________
Jamie Ferrari
Assistant City Clerk