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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The city of Pelham approved various resolutions related to economic development and infrastructure, including approving the purchase of Oak Mountain Amphitheatre from Live Nation, as well as hearing the results of the 2024-25 Citizen Engagement Survey during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Feb. 17.

The proceedings began with a meeting of the Pelham Water Department at 4 p.m. The Water Department in Pelham oversees water and sewage-related services and improvements throughout the city. The meeting contained five separate requests to address the water department.

Following the water department meeting, the city council work session began at 5 p.m. The council discussed a request for the deannexation of the North Shelby Library from Pelham, as well as setting interview dates and times for various municipal board interviews.

“We have seven applicants for the board of education and six with the CDA,” Council President Maurice Mercer said.

The council also received an update on the commercial development near the Pelham Public Library from Michael Simon, Pelham’s economic development director. Simon provided updated site plans on the development, which will include an Edgar’s Bakery and Waldo’s Chicken and Beer.

Various items were then introduced as part of the upcoming council meeting’s consent agenda and new business. Brian Cooper, the director of Pelham Parks and Recreation, updated the council on establishing pavilion rental rates for Pelham Parks, which was a part of new business for the upcoming council meeting.

“We did a comparison of the other cities’ rates all around us,” Cooper said. “It’s all over the board, but our proposed rates are on the low end of all of that.”

The proposed fees for the pavilions would be $20 per hour for Pelham residents and $40 per hour for non-Pelham residents.

The council then addressed a proposal from Pelham Fire Chief Mike Reid to enter into automatic mutual aid agreements with Alabaster, Chelsea, Helena and the North Shelby fire district. Other proposed items on the consent agenda included various PVC replacement projects and services related to Pelham’s upcoming NHL Street Hockey and soccer court project being developed at Pelham City Park. The work session closed with a proposed resolution involving maintenance to U.S. Highway 31.

The city council meeting began at 7 p.m. All items on the consent agenda passed unanimously. Pelham Mayor Gary Waters noted in his comments that TJ Dunaway was appointed to Pelham’s planning commission and that council resolutions celebrating the life of June Fletcher were postponed for the next city council meeting.

City Manager Gretchen DiFante invited student ambassadors from Pelham Oaks Elementary to address the council and ask questions related to local government. The moment was precipitated by DiFante previously visiting Pelham Oaks to educate students on the importance of local government.

“I expect to see some of your names in the ballot someday,” DiFante said. “You parents have a lot to be proud of.”

DiFante’s report then shifted to the results of Pelham’s 2024-2025 Citizen Engagement Survey, conducted in partnership with the ETC Institute.

“The purpose of the survey is to objectively assess resident satisfaction with the delivery of city services,” DiFante said. “We also have the opportunity to compare the city’s performance to other communities in the Southeast and in the nation, and also to help determine priorities for the community.”

The survey’s major findings showed that Pelham residents have an overall positive perception of the city, and that satisfaction with city services in Pelham ranks as one of the highest in the nation.

“We rated 34 percent above the U.S. average and 29 percent above the Southeast regional average in overall quality of city services provided,” DiFante said. “We also rated above the U.S. average and Southeast regional average in all 52 areas that were compared, which I think is quite extraordinary.”

Following the report on the citizen survey’s results, multiple resolutions outside of the consent agenda were passed by the council. These resolutions included establishing the rental rates for Pelham Parks pavilions, approving ABC licenses for Yamato Steakhouse and La Gran Riviera Maya Cantina and Grill and approving the purchase of Oak Mountain Amphitheatre from Live Nation.

The council also accepted the donation of three ambulances and one bus from the Shelby County Commission, which will be used to improve services for both Pelham’s first responders and the Pelham Senior Center, which will utilize the bus for travel purposes.

For more information on the Pelham City Council, visit Pelhamalabama.gov.