Anniston City Council Meeting Highlights: Recognitions, Public Hearings, and Resolutions

The Anniston City Council convened for a work session on November 19, 2024, to address a range of topics including alcohol licensing, community development, property surpluses, and budget amendments. The session, held at 5:00 PM, featured discussions on key items that will also appear on the upcoming voting agenda.

Alcohol Licenses for Local Businesses and Events

The council reviewed two alcohol license applications:

A Special Events Retail License for the City of Anniston, doing business as Anniston Museums and Gardens, for the Decades Dance event at 920 Museum Drive.
A request from ZMA Variety LLC, operating as ZMA One Stop Shop, for Retail Beer (Off-Premises Only) and Retail Table Wine (Off-Premises Only) at its location on 1436 Lenlock Lane, which is within Anniston’s police jurisdiction.

Updates in Community Development Agreements

The council also discussed amendments to the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) consulting agreement. The current contractor, Dunn and Max Consulting, LLC, has rebranded as Blue Link Solutions. The amendment would expand the consultant’s hours without increasing costs, ensuring compliance with federal guidelines.

Surplus Property and Equipment

Several surplus items were reviewed, including:

Property located at 1721 Quintard Avenue, to be conveyed to an adjacent property owner.
Public Works equipment including mowers, a Graco sprayer, and a 2005 Ford Taurus, which will be traded in for updated machinery.

Fraud Summit Fee Waiver

The East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission requested a fee waiver for the use of the City Meeting Center to host a community Fraud Summit. The council acknowledged that such governmental events are open to the public and typically exempt from fees.

Education Tax Revenue and Budget Adjustments

The session included discussions on the allocation of funds from the New Business Sales Tax Revenue Education Fund. A portion of the funds is designated for career tech teacher support, classroom supplies, and instructional resources in modern manufacturing fields.

Additionally, amendments to the FY2024 Budget were proposed, addressing operational adjustments to meet the city’s financial and developmental needs.

City Manager Updates

City Manager Steven Folks provided updates on ongoing city initiatives, emphasizing upcoming deadlines and operational priorities.

Next Steps

These items, alongside others discussed, will be presented for approval at the upcoming council meeting. The council remains committed to fostering community engagement and addressing the city’s developmental goals efficiently.

The Anniston City Council convened on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, for its regular meeting at City Hall. The session began with the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the roll call, confirming a quorum. The council approved the minutes from the October 15, 2024, meeting and adopted the evening’s agenda after considering minor additions and deletions.

Special Recognition

A highlight of the evening was the celebration of the Anniston Barracudas Swim Team, recognized for winning the 2024 ARPA State Swimming Championship. Parks and Recreation Director Frazier Burroughs introduced the team, noting their consistent excellence with back-to-back championships and a total of three state titles in the past four years.

The swimmers, their coaches, and parents were praised for their dedication and hard work. Each team member received individual recognition, and council members commended the Barracudas for their outstanding representation of the city.

Public Hearings

The council held three public hearings to gather community input on the following topics:

Special Events Retail License for the Anniston Museums and Gardens Decades Dance: A request was made for a license to host the event at 920 Museum Drive. No public comments were made, and the hearing was closed.
Amendment to Zoning Ordinance for Tobacco and Related Products: The council reviewed a proposed ordinance to include tobacco products, CBD oil, and vaping products in existing tobacco shop regulations. This amendment would restrict entry to individuals under 21 and impose a moratorium on new shops. No public comments were received.
Relocation of Ward 2 Polling Location: A proposal was made to move the Ward 2 polling location to the Anniston Fire Training Center, consolidating operations from current sites. No public comments were made on the matter.

Consent Agenda

The council approved the following items unanimously:

A special events retail license for the Anniston Museums and Gardens Decades Dance.
Retail beer and wine licenses for ZMA Variety LLC at 1436 Lenlock Lane.
A fee waiver for the East Alabama Regional Planning Development Commission’s use of the City Meeting Center for a Fraud Summit.
Resolutions declaring personal property as surplus and authorizing its disposal.
Disbursements from the New Business Sales Tax Revenue Education Fund.

Resolutions and Ordinances

The council adopted several resolutions, including:

Amending the FY2024 budget for various city funds to align with updated revenue and expenditure projections.
Authorizing an amendment to the consulting agreement with Dunn and Max Consulting for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administration.

Additionally, the council introduced an ordinance to declare surplus real property and authorize its conveyance.

Public Comments and Closing

During the public comment period, Vanessa Sanders addressed the council, sharing her concerns and suggestions for the community. Council members expressed their appreciation to attendees and emphasized their commitment to addressing citizens’ needs.

The meeting adjourned with a strong sense of accomplishment, reflecting on the city’s achievements and ongoing projects. The next council meeting is scheduled for later this month.