City Council

CITY OF TRUSSVILLE MINUTES MARCH 10, 2026 AGENDA WORKSHOP The City Council met in an agenda workshop on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 5:30 pm to review the proposed agenda for its next regular session. Council President Jaime Melton Anderson presided over the meeting and Dan Weinrib served as recording secretary. Those members present were as follows: Council President Jaime Melton Anderson Councilor Kimberly Farr Councilor Ben Horton Councilor Brian Jackson Councilor Jim Miller Others present in their official capacity: Mayor Ben Short City Attorney Rick Stotser City Clerk Dan Weinrib The City Council determined the order of consideration. They discussed at length the ABC consumable hemp products applications. Three existing businesses had submitted such applications; Act 2025-385 requires these retail businesses to obtain authorization from the municipal governing body before they can sell hemp to consumers. Business license compliance officer Chuck Bradford gave the city council a briefing on products containing THC, the new law, & subsequent enforcement. Mayor Short informed the council that all these retail smoke shops existed in their current locations prior to the existing zoning ordinance. One business applicant, Chelsea Blues Liquor, is not even a retail tobacco shop. Its landlord would have to obtain C-5 rezoning so that it could sell CBD products. Any new such business must operate in the C-5 commercial zone, which does not exist in Trussville. He asked the council to provide policy & enforcement directions to his administration. The councilors posed questions, then eventually agreed that they needed more time to study the new law & discuss with various stakeholders, including business owners. They decided to remove from the agenda the three public hearings & related authorization resolutions, as well as a resolution imposing a temporary moratorium – up to 180 days – on ABC consumable hemp products applications. With no further items to discuss, President Anderson adjourned workshop at 6 pm. MARCH 10, 2026 REGULAR SESSION The City Council of the City of Trussville met in regular session on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 6:10 pm at the City Hall Annex, with Council President Jaime Melton Anderson presiding and Dan Weinrib serving as recording secretary. President Anderson called the meeting to order. Councilor Horton led the prayer; Councilor Farr led the pledge. Those members present were as follows: Council President Jaime Melton Anderson Councilor Kimberly Farr Councilor Ben Horton Councilor Brian Jackson Councilor Jim Miller Others present in their official capacity: Mayor Ben Short City Attorney Rick Stotser City Clerk Dan Weinrib They reviewed the minutes from the February 24 agenda workshop & regular session. Councilor Horton moved & Councilor Jackson seconded the motion to approve the submitted minutes. UNANIMOUS President Anderson then introduced the two-item consent agenda, as well as the regular agenda. Councilor Farr moved & Councilor Miller seconded the motion to approve the consent agenda. UNANIMOUS Councilor Jackson moved & Councilor Farr seconded the motion to approve the regular agenda. UNANIMOUS During public comments, Sunmed Your CBD Sture Trussville business owners BJ & Lisa Autry (1423 Gadsden Highway, Suite #103) introduced themselves to the council & audience. Sunmed is one of those businesses that had submitted an ABC consumable hemp products application.  Under the regular agenda, Councilor Farr gave an introductory first reading on a resolution authorizing a development agreement with BRE Main Street LLC. She yielded the floor so that others could give the public a briefing. She also encouraged the public to go online & watch a three-minute video of Mayor Short & Councilor Jackson explaining the proposed deal. If the deal gets approved on March 19, the developer is obligated to widen the northern end of Watterson Parkway for dedicated turn lanes & make other traffic flow improvements along Main Street. Councilor Jackson then gave an introductory first reading of a proposed ordinance to rezone properties located at 331, 333 & 401 Main Street to Q-C-2 (Qualified General Commercial) from I-1 (Light Industrial) & PUD (Planned Unit Development) Councilor Jackson then introduced a proposed ordinance to annex the properties located at 5560, 5574 & 5616 Trussville Clay Road. He had already given an introductory first reading at the prior council meeting. Inspection Director J.R. Malchus had informed the council that the owner had brought the property up to code. Planning & Zoning unanimously gave the property a favorable recommendation, with a stipulated prohibition on mobile or manufactured homes. Councilor Jackson moved & Councilor Farr seconded the motion to annex the three A-1 zoned properties with that stipulation. Upon roll call, UNANIMOUS Ordinance No. 2026-005-ANX Councilor Miller then introduced a proposed resolution to approve a professional services contract with Sain Associates to develop a multi-year street pavement maintenance plan for the city. He moved & Councilor Horton seconded the motion for approval. UNANIMOUS Resolution No. 2026- 19 During committee reports, Councilor Horton announced that the Tree Commission’s Arbor Day event on February 28 was very successful. He acknowledged & thanked multiple parties for their contributions. Over 1500 trees were given away, and local girl scouts planted a cherry blossom tree at The Malll. Also, the Utilities Board’s new campus on Main Street is progressing nicely. He expressed hope that the Utilities can lower its gas rates on consumers, starting in April, with anticipated warmer weather and lower wholesale prices. Also, he congratulated Dave Morette on his promotion to police chief. Councilor Jackson announced that the new greenways comprehensive plan, which the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham is developing for the Active Transportation Committee, is nearing its final draft. The committee is seeking funding grants. Also, he participated in the kick-off meeting with the Regional Planning Commission for developing Trussville’s new comprehensive plan. He mentioned that the Planning & Zoning Commission has studied the idea of creating a new overlay district for the Cahaba Project. The Commission will hold a public hearing on that topic on April 13 at the Civic Center, since the topic will draw a large audience. He is in the final stages of proposing new subdivision regulations, before submitting drafts to the city attorney. Sometime after April, the Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on new subdivision regulations. The current ones have remained unchanged since 1978. Also, the Downtown Redevelopment Authority is working on its Entertainment District Quad 2 plans. Councilor Miller reported that all ACTA’s Wizard of Oz shows sold out. Modern Magic featuring Alec Dixon, will occur on March 13; Murder at Mardi Gras on March 14. Also, the Historical Board met last week to form its own bylaws. They will not meet during April. Councilor Farr reported that IDA honored its former chairman David Fuller at its recent luncheon; Mayor Short read aloud a proclamation honoring Fuller. Also, she thanked Parks & Recreation & Public Works for their round-the-clock work at the Sports Complex just ahead of baseball’s Opening Day. She also thanked the HTHS Lady Huskies softball team for their work hosting the softball tournament. The Sports Complex will host the annual Trey Ellis baseball tournament. The Miracle League starts its new season on April 7. Also, she made the public aware of various Chamber of Commerce events; April 1 is the Chamber’s deadline for local high school seniors to apply for its college scholarships. Also, she commended Public Works & its director Justin Ferguson for all their hard work, cleaning out ditches, picking up downed limbs & trees & filling potholes on Bethune Parkway. They have started cutting grass. Councilor Anderson encouraged the public to submit landscaping nominations to the Beautification Board during April & May. She reported that Leadership Trussville will tour the school system’s facilities on March 12. She encouraged businesses interested in sponsoring LT’s luncheons to contact executive director Kristi Bradford. After acknowledging school board president Dr. Steven Ward in the audience, she informed the public that the school board will have its annual retreat & its monthly meeting on March 16; March 23-27 is spring break. HTHS baseball & softball teams are currently ranked second among all 7A teams statewide; boys soccer is ranked fifth. Mayor Short thanked Central Alabama Asphalt, Milam, Parks & Recreation, Public Works & Inspections for their respective work on the new parking lot in the Sports Complex. He informed the public that his administration will mail a public hearing notice next week to all Cahaba Project property owners & residents. Planning & Zoning will have its next meeting on April 13 in the Civic Center to accommodate the anticipated public turnout. Police Chief Dave Morette’s swearing-in will occur at the Chamblee courtroom on March 19. Also, there will be a public kick-off event for the prospective City Comprehensive Plan June 8-11 at the Civic Center. More details will be forthcoming. During audience comments, Humble Hemp Shack owners Kristina & David Beck (1447 Gadsden Highway, Suite #106) stood up. She introduced themselves to the council & public. Humble Hemp Shack too had submitted an ABC consumable hemp products application. With no further business left to consider, President Anderson promptly adjourned the meeting at 6:37 pm. Respectfully submitted, DJW City Clerk Dan Weinrib MMC