1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
2 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA,
3 HELD APRIL 6, 2004
4
5 The Honorable Council of the City of Huntsville, Alabama,
6 met in regular session on April 6, 2004, at 6 p.m., in the
7 Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, there being present:
8 President: Russell
9 Councilpersons: Moon, Kling, Showers
10 Absent: Watson
11 Mayor: Spencer
12 Administrative Assistant: Hatfield
13 City Attorney: Joffrion
14 City Clerk-Treasurer: Hagood
15 President Russell called the meeting to order.
16 Pastor C. Curtis Eason of the Antioch Baptist Church led the
17 invocation; Councilwoman Moon led the pledge of allegiance.
18 President Russell stated that Councilman Watson would not be
19 present for the meeting.
20 The minutes of the regular meeting of the Council on
21 March 25, 2004, and a special session of the Council on April 2,
22 2004, were approved as submitted.
23 President Russell stated the next item on the agenda was
24 Resolutions and Special Recognitions.
25 Mayor Spencer asked Jim Pockrus to come forward, stating
26 that she had a special recognition of him at this time. She
27 stated that the Emergency Management Department was an extremely
28 viable department and stated that sometimes it was not recognized
29 unless there was a tragedy. She stated that Mr. Pockrus had done
30 some special things that she would like for the Council as well
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1 as the public to be aware of.
2 Mayor Spencer stated that the International Association of
3 Emergency Managers was an international organization based in
4 Falls Church, Virginia, with over 2400 members, of which
5 876 members had earned the Certified Emergency Manager
6 designation. She stated that this CEM designation was the
7 highest honor of professional achievement available from the
8 International Association of Emergency Managers. She stated that
9 there were only two, including Jim Pockrus, in the state of
10 Alabama. She stated that the potential candidate had to submit a
11 CEM application package with an extensive credentials package,
12 including work history, references, education, training, and a
13 management essay. She stated that after this package had been
14 approved by a commission of 19 respected professionals in the
15 field, the candidate had to pass a 100-question written exam.
16 Mayor Spencer stated that she would like to recognize
17 Mr. Pockrus at this time and asked that he tell the Council and
18 the citizens of his opportunity to be certified.
19 Mr. Pockrus stated that it had been a long path to follow
20 and stated that he had decided to pursue this approximately two
21 years prior. He stated that everything he had done had had to be
22 documented and that all the certificates he had had to be
23 accompanied by a syllabus and that he had had to write an essay
24 and then pass the written test. He stated that he had finally
25 achieved this goal.
26 Mayor Spencer congratulated Mr. Pockrus in this endeavor and
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1 for his representation of the city in this regard.
2 Councilman Showers read and introduced a resolution
3 commending Dr. Ernest L. Knight for his outstanding support to
4 Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and having the
5 West Campus Living/Learning Complex named in his honor on,
6 April 29, 2004, 2:00 p.m. at Alabama A&M University, as follows:
7 (RESOLUTION NO. 04-252)
8 Councilman Showers moved for approval of the foregoing
9 resolution, which motion was duly seconded by Councilwoman Moon,
10 and was unanimously adopted.
11 Councilman Showers stated that he would be attending the
12 event on April 29th and would present the resolution on behalf of
13 the Council and Mayor Spencer.
14 President Russell stated the next item on the agenda was
15 Public Hearings to be Held.
16 President Russell stated that it was the time and place in
17 the meeting for a public hearing on Ordinance No. 04-133, to
18 rezone land on the west side of Triana Boulevard and the north
19 side of Redstone Arsenal from Residence 2-A to Residence 1-B
20 district, which was set at the February 26, 2004, Regular Council
21 Meeting.
22 President Russell recognized Ms. Marie Bostick of the
23 Planning Department.
24 Ms. Bostick stated that the subject property was located in
25 the southwest part of the city, west of Triana Boulevard and
26 immediately north of the Redstone Arsenal boundary. She stated
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1 that the property was currently mostly vacant and that it was at
2 this time zoned Residence 2-A, which she noted would allow a
3 myriad of residential uses. She stated that the proposal was to
4 change the zoning to Residence 1-B, which she stated would allow
5 only single-family detached units.
6 Ms. Bostick stated that her department had been working with
7 the owner of this property for several weeks and at this time
8 these discussions were still being held. She stated that
9 recently there had been a discussion of coming into this area
10 with a planned residential development. She requested that after
11 the public hearing the Council send this matter back to the
12 Planning Commission for further review, noting that the proposal
13 that was being presented might require some minor modifications
14 to the request that was before the Council at this time.
15 President Russell inquired as to whether there was anyone in
16 the audience who wished to speak concerning this matter.
17 Senator Jeff Enfinger, 721 Clinton Avenue, appeared before
18