CC Minutes 2024.01.02
1
PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024
6:34 P.M.
The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 6:34 p.m. in
the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag,
Councilor Striplin gave the invocation. Roll was called with all Councilors recorded as present.
Council President Boone declared a quorum and called the meeting to order.
THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS INITIATIVE… Recognizing and doing what
needs to be done before I am asked to do it.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Public Hearing and City Council Meeting December 19, 2023.
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik made a motion to adopt the minutes and Councilor
Merrick seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the minutes were adopted (6-0).
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA:
Mike Baker, 463 Cherry St, spoke in representation of Forge Residential Partner and discussed
Agenda Item No.3 as it relates to growth in the City of Prattville’s population and a need for
more housing. Mr. Baker also spoke on traffic studies, property value, crime and asked
consideration of postponing the vote until the next council meeting.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Gillespie opened his report thanking and welcoming everyone back from the holiday
season. Mayor Gillespie commented on 2023 projects including asphalt, concrete and park
improvements. The Mayor went on to discuss additional projects and progress in Prattville
thanking the dedicated employees and citizens that continue to make Prattville a wonderful
community to live, work and play.
Mayor Gillespie discussed the Rebuild Alabama Act annual reporting giving details of the
previous fiscal year expenditures. The Mayor advised the report will be posted on the City’s
website.
In closing Mayor Gillespie addressed the challenges and the many successes of 2023, with
more projects coming this year.
FROM COUNCIL ON SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
None
CONSENT AGENDA
1. RESOLUTION: To Appoint City Clerk Paula G. Barlow as the Assistant Municipal Election
Official / Absentee Ballot Manager for the 2024 Special Municipal Election. {Sponsored By:
Council President Boone}
2
2. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into a Lease Agreement between the City
of Prattville and the Autauga County Master Gardeners Association to Continue to Lease
Certain Property Located at the Corner of S. Washington Street and Doster Street. {Sponsored
By: Councilor Striplin}
3. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into a Lease Agreement with Fountain City
BMX, Inc. to Continue to Operate a BMX Park Located on County Road 4. {Sponsored By:
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik}
4. RESOLUTION: To Declare the Dilapidated Structure at 930 Wilberforce Avenue to Be
Unsafe and a Public Nuisance. {Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Strichik}
Councilor Merrick made a motion to place item numbers 1-4 on a Consent Agenda and
Councilor Jackson seconded the motion. The items were placed on a Consent Agenda (6-0).
Councilor Jackson made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda and Councilor Striplin
seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Consent Agenda was adopted with the
following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
AGENDA
1. ORDINANCE: To Rezone Property Located Inside the Corporate Limits at 941 Lower
Kingston Road from R-3 (Single Family Residential) and M-2 (General Industry) to T-1
(Manufactured Home Subdivision) (Petitioner: Austin Mitchell). {Sponsored By: Council
President Boone}
This ordinance was originally read in on December 5, 2023 where Councilor Striplin made a
motion to adopt the ordinance and Councilor Merrick seconded the motion. The ordinance now
being properly before the Council, Council President Boone opened the floor for discussion.
There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE, 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
2. ORDINANCE: To Rezone Property Located Inside the Corporate Limits at 307 Old Farm
Lane South from FAR (Forest, Agriculture, Recreation) to O-1 (Office District) (Petitioner: Little
House Developments, LLC). {Sponsored By: Council President Boone}
This ordinance was originally read in on December 5, 2023 where Councilor Chambers made
a motion to adopt the ordinance and Councilor Striplin seconded the motion. The ordinance
3
now being properly before the Council, Council President Boone opened the floor for
discussion. There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
3. ORDINANCE: To Rezone Property Located Inside the Corporate Limits at Highway 82 East
and Constitution Avenue from B-2 (General Business), R-2 (Single Family Residential) and
PUD (Planned Unit Development) to PUD (Planned Unit Development) (Owner: DHS-1
Holding, Inc., DHS-2 Holding, Inc., DHS-3 Holding, Inc. and Gresham Place) (Representative:
Barrett-Simpson, Inc.). {Sponsored By: Council President Boone}
This was ordinance originally read in on December 5, 2023 where Council President Pro
Tempore Strichik made a motion to adopt the ordinance and Councilor Striplin seconded the
motion. The ordinance now being properly before the Council, Council President Boone
opened the floor for discussion.
Councilor Jackson made a motion to postpone this item until February 6, 2024 allowing Home
Place residents, Forge Residential Partners and property owners to meet. Councilor Striplin
seconded the motion.
Councilor Striplin verified with City Attorney, Andrew Odom that this was a procedural vote and
not a vote on the ordinance itself. Mr. Odom confirmed.
Councilor Chambers discussed moving forward on this item.
Councilor Merrick addressed having met with Home Place residents, Forge Residential Partner
developers and his desire to vote tonight.
Councilor Jackson spoke on fairness and listening to both parties.
Councilor Chambers expressed his stance on listening and supporting the residents of Home
Place and voting tonight.
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik discussed concerns inquiring if the land owner would
be able to attend a combined meeting.
There being no further discussion, the motion to postpone until February 6, 2024, was adopted
with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON,
BOONE, STRICHIK 4
NAYS : CHAMBERS, MERRICK 2
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
4
4. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Release of Funds for the Purchase of Four (4) Station
Alerting Systems through the H-GAC Purchasing Cooperative, Contract No. EC07-23, from US
Digital Designs, Inc., for the Fire Department at a Cost Not to Exceed $164,997.87. {Sponsored
By: Council President Pro Tempore Strichik}
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor
Jackson seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with
the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
5. RESOLUTION: To Amend the FY2024 Budget and Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an
Election Agreement between the City of Prattville, the Autauga County Commission, the
Autauga County Board of Registrars, and the Autauga County Probate Judge at a Cost Not to
Exceed $10,000.00 Per Election. {Sponsored By: Councilor Chambers}
Councilor Chambers made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Jackson seconded
the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
6. RESOLUTION: To Amend the FY2024 Budget and Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an
Election Agreement between the City of Prattville, the Elmore County Commission, the Elmore
County Board of Registrars, and the Elmore County Probate Judge at an Estimated Cost of
$2,000.00 Per Election. {Sponsored By: Councilor Chambers}
Councilor Chambers made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Striplin seconded
the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT:
Jon Lee Finnegan, 211 Deer Trace, commented on the new downtown Prattville sign,
sidewalks, bid opening and Safe Haven baby box.
5
Craig Clements, 1317 Cherry Tree Ln., spoke on Agenda Item 3 and his desire for not wanting
apartments.
Emily Duke, 528 Old Farm Lane S., spoke on her background of reviewing data, deficiencies
in traffic studies and the lack of need for apartments.
John Baumhauer, 2951 Pine Haven Dr., spoke on the need for apartments and the growth of
the City of Prattville.
Todd Stephens, 1913 Constitution Ave., spoke on the potential increased crime rate with
apartments.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
Mayor Gillespie thanked Chief Terry Brown and Deputy Chief Josh Bingham for their work on
the grant for Agenda Item 4. The Mayor also recognized the Engineering and Planning
Departments for their success in acquiring grants. Mayor Gillespie discussed funding for
sidewalk projects and thanked the staff and the Council for all their hard work, diligence and
support.
Councilor Merrick thanked everyone and wished them the best for 2024. Councilor Merrick
continued by thanking Chief Thompson and the Police Department for the opportunity to do a
ride along. He encouraged all to thank our local law enforcement officers for what they do in
the City to make us safe.
Council President Boone advised the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting would be
held Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
ADJOURN:
There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilor Merrick made a motion to
adjourn and Councilor Striplin seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m. (6-0)
APPROVED:
Paula G. Barlow
City Clerk
Lora Lee Boone, President
Prattville City Council
SUBMITTED BY:
Loucretia Harrell
Assistant City Clerk
£ST. 1839 p BILL GILLESPIE, JR. DANIEL OAKLEY
MAYOR FINANCE DIRECTOR i7TTVILLE
--~-
January 2, 2024
Councilors:
Pursuant to Section 23-8-8(e), Code of Alabama 1975, as amended, all municipalities are required
to provide a written report to the City Council at the first meeting in January detailing the previous
fiscal year's expenditures made from the City's Rebuild Alabama Gas Tax Fund. Please see below
for the related information for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.
• $273,029.00 -Rebuild Alabama Gas Tax Receipts
• $665,971.23 -Expenses Paid from Rebuild Alabama Gas Tax Receipts
o Projects include the 2022 Paving Project, City match for Doster Road and Lower
Kingston Road Paving Projects, and Engineering work for Doster Road and Lower
Kingston Road Paving Projects.
• The FY 2023 Transportation Plan adopted by Council on August 16, 2022, included the
following resurfacing projects:
o 4th Street, Washington Street to Lower Kingston Road -COMPLETED
o Tara Drive, McQueen Smith Road South to Silver Hills Drive -COMPLETED
o Durden Road , Lower Kingston Road to Bridge Creek Road -COMPLETED
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Finance Director
City of Prattville, Alabama
1-INANCt DcPAR IMl:N I
101 West Main Street I P rattville, AL 360 6 7 I 334. 595.0150 I prattvilleal.gov