[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6180430,"mediaKeyId","5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322","parentId",5119261,"title","Public comment criticizes local boards for low attendance and missed grant opportunities","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2535775,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322&start=2535&end=2535","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322/thumbnail_2535775.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6180430/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Public-comment-criticizes-local-boards-for-low-attendance-and-missed-grant-opportunities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180430-cbb6fa70c1e575a6f98a5c781279d92f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773957552&Signature=k03zmdSaqYFIVAvwvN-ugh2mwvj-YrpiFa67WplC028CW4TU8I~s7kcFE2EJoQyahlaMevRfWmMxPWpwqQg7EplOlKgngt~YlrzlqEd9hpGk3kKAqviG1TFWv-kTKX-QjH4xnUM0Gu~La6aAFpmL2-DlvPoU~CQDVArqBDkSgKyWEMSmFUs0Drai2dO-fqj4XZzgZ0kuYlKL5C9klL7zfFVx9jU5w1s7s39Ot5xNkbLpICnnIexHVI-61botFIrsBVYaZeDqkcAmAtZ47CMjt5zfW-GwbjDDbrQvKnr3OAdwK6zWXgcbdbu11HWn0TpLdw70nUbmYARJrQ~jNy6vMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery City, AL","date","2025-07-02T09:50:56Z","article","A resident who attends board and commission meetings told the City Council that several municipal boards have shown persistently low attendance and that some bodies have declined to pursue grant funding for needed projects.

The commenter said she has attended housing-authority meetings, water-and-sewer board meetings and airport-authority meetings and described recurring problems: housing-authority meetings often lacked a quorum, water-and-sewer meetings sometimes lasted only 15 minutes, and the airport authority decided not to pursue grant money for runway and ramp work.

“...a 15 minute meeting, if you're only meeting once monthly, there is no efficient or productive work done in 15 minutes,” the commenter said. She added that the airport authority had missed funding opportunities that would be “vital to revitalizing the east ramp of the airport” and to runway repairs.

Council members did not record formal action at the work session in response to the comment, but the council discussed board appointments elsewhere on the agenda and noted that expired appointees often continue to serve until replacements are appointed. Council staff said they would follow up on appointments and encourage attendance so boards can legally conduct business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MONTGOMERY CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION (JULY 1, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","A public commenter who has attended multiple board and commission meetings since September criticized chronic low attendance and decisions not to pursue grant funding at several city authorities; the commenter urged the council to address the problem.","taxTitle","Montgomery City, Montgomery County, Alabama","taxId",3930,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6180435,"Rider reports overcrowded Route 1 shuttle; transit staff invited to follow up",326,2271810,2598190,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322&start=2271&end=2598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322/thumbnail_2271810.jpg","/articles/6180435/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Rider-reports-overcrowded-Route-1-shuttle-transit-staff-invited-to-follow-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180435-90d06e7cbaff38faf4f74cfc3934e0b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773957552&Signature=BJ-JKx7JqwD0n9so6wLOJLcuFSflle97VcGE~Vzp9G-XtfH0A8F6aht3vNm9kKuU8ofFlJhBR88rA0thOBdOfy5DnPpYY1eiKXjAYeQuWLW8NI3zfSE7lu8mQ7oA7ArOIend2zFxDqk~IxGw3yz2R0tz59di-svcDmySVLVbIA5c81hUnvQUn7atA5E00BqZoNWLEV3G6zk6QIGHueLJ3QHL7eDx0bf2rJfhxRlKd28t2AhO3Yp4dqKdBFagkTQpe0UVGM3IN2ji-KxUMz6gW9QQla3J8qy8z7TNvao0cT5mMWewtG0lLSkjWnhmRA~0tQ07d3NLOe6gXaMvsLDs8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Montgomery resident told the City Council she was alarmed to find riders seated on the metal floor of a Route 1 shuttle and urged the city to improve planning and use federal funding to avoid unsafe or undignified conditions.

At the work session, Diane Duke said she boarded the Route 1 vehicle at the intermodal station and saw six seats and multiple riders seated on a metal floor; she said a man gave her his seat and she described the scene as “devastating.”

“I feel first of all mainly that the regulation, the federal regulation state that public transportation should provide a secure and safe method of transporting their residents,” Duke said. She asked the council to look at planning, budgeting and forecasting so buses are adequate and riders are not humiliated.

Council staff said the transit director and an operations manager were invited to speak with Duke after the meeting, and the director’s office was asked to follow up with the commenter and investigate the Route 1 capacity and scheduling concerns.

No operational changes were decided during the work session; staff committed to follow up with the commenter and to review the incident.","A public commenter described men sitting on the metal floor of a Route 1 shuttle and called for improved planning and federal-funding use; transit operations staff were asked to follow up with the speaker after the meeting.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6180439,"Council hears city code citations about unpaid taxes, license compliance and enforcement authority",316,1383755,1700160,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322&start=1383&end=1700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322/thumbnail_1383755.jpg","/articles/6180439/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Council-hears-city-code-citations-about-unpaid-taxes-license-compliance-and-enforcement-authority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180439-8360dbcfbe5cd11fe7d33070edc6e98d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773957552&Signature=M6~vgrNoQT7xc6bjcFDiquAtuTUiQrWA0EvsuLfbna~k5n2O9G8CqSXZ6HCULp392naUgje4jDW~IMB3A~BvqkwIFtuUles1UUIH5E7bUtibL8HrjioY51WwY7m07VnC44086KPbMwwdtUzeZw~2QNeNrhd4HjL5Jj2pYBJWnmt1cheqjlg2E0ZF5FOQhAnwBJs5afrItK6j~oDBfK399~g9glTtVxrwe1RHO1nw6CpB7Y3DX9T5LtqZIw4f0MWlZ40uL5teeneBks10RJcKg0VIE-b4PNGBt9J1loeBlncHPHcAcXxVflsPPR~hUdVYzSPolhIT2S2DTqSSGLn~vQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City revenue staff briefed the Montgomery City Council about a business-account that had not renewed its license and that had outstanding sales taxes, and staff cited city-code provisions that empower the revenue administrator and licensing inspector to enforce licensing rules.

A staff presenter referenced Chapter 16, Article 3, Section 16-82 and related sections, saying the account’s last tax filing was March 2023 and that the licensing inspector has authority to enter premises, write citations and “require any illegal business or one operating illegally to immediately cease operations in accordance with the city's administrative and or enforcement procedures.” The presenter also cited Section 16-86, which states that a business operating without a required license “shall be shut down and closed to the public by order of the revenue administrator.”

Council members asked why county authorities could padlock premises for unpaid obligations while the city appears not to exercise the same actions. The presenter and other staff said the city’s code provides administrative authority to order cessation of business operations and to place signage indicating a business is shut down; staff also noted limits tied to property access, lease rights and due-process protections and said further legal review may be required.

Bob Taylor was named as the licensing inspector authorized by the code; staff said enforcement can include notices, citations, court actions or administrative orders but that padlocking property can raise legal and due-process issues if the city does not control physical access to a leased or owned structure.

An ordinance granting a license to Mid State Signs LLC to install a monument sign on a church structure was listed on the agenda and discussed; the work-session record does not show a final vote on the sign license.

Councilors asked staff to continue working with legal counsel to clarify enforcement options for unpaid taxes and unlicensed businesses and to coordinate with county authorities where appropriate.","Revenue staff cited city code provisions that authorize the revenue administrator or inspector to require businesses without current licenses to cease operations; councilors questioned why padlocks and county enforcement occur while the city appears not to take similar physical action.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6180444,"Councilors debate suspending open container, changing scooter hours and juvenile enforcement downtown",915,328889,1244625,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322&start=328&end=1244","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322/thumbnail_328889.jpg","/articles/6180444/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Councilors-debate-suspending-open-container-changing-scooter-hours-and-juvenile-enforcement-downtown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180444-33db264e9a65b4b66c29292724c29e29/orig.mp4?Expires=1773957552&Signature=BKGthr9g0XhFyvGW8CYrC-yYzkL59o8ezqg-BjwlV~9sOJ1VUHhBhIuYh4m7a76jGLvMwIDk3EPkyFu1M8-n8yYX4LulKSnRukwjRtjMHqj-PqH2xKYWnPtXAqYnetD4DwPCArhVaE2B8nyu6iOcJBCwsoYEfDL5XSdwAN4GljENKSx8UmwJJTBOOurti-dkHUrhyKTbDyccm6-DM-5esshLY2keNjSLYRdgY36rNq92mR6lVoUH7qjaktKPjhMdB6eQ4tkhugLYZ4NsG91VnbIVeOp2nNHC8Ymat6les6tNFIvG1yAptBLJY0uEg8m62RYRBpkPwHX5Iom47BioVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montgomery City Council members debated policing and administrative changes for the Downtown Entertainment District, including a proposal to suspend open-container privileges for about 60 days and to limit shared-scooter operations to 6 a.m.–8 p.m.

Councilor Sharon Johnson told colleagues she had discussed enforcement plans with the police chief and business leaders and proposed carrying the item into the council meeting with a 60-day suspension of open-container rules and a change to scooter operating hours to reduce late-night problems.

“...I would like to change the scooter hours from 6AM to 8PM,” Councilor Johnson said, and proposed that the city, economic-development staff and business owners meet after the holiday weekend to consider redefining the entertainment district’s boundaries. She said she had asked the police chief about enforcement and that some downtown owners had asked for a temporary suspension.

Council members raised enforcement and due-process questions. Councilor Mitchell, who works with youth, asked how officers would determine a person’s age when Alabama does not require identification from people not committing an offense; another councilor asked what would happen if detained juveniles’ parents could not be reached. “If they don’t have the right cup, what are we going to do to them? Just say pour that out or you need to leave,” one councilor asked, and the police chief described patrol tactics, camera monitoring and typical response times for downtown incidents.

Chief Hall said officers typically see incidents appear around 11:30 p.m. and can often disperse crowds within about 40 minutes, and that officers respond citywide as needed. The chief also confirmed new cameras and patrols are in place and that staff in the Star Command center monitor cameras regularly.

Several councilors cautioned against a blanket shutdown of the entire entertainment district without more detailed consultation with Experience Montgomery, Main Street and business owners. Councilor Johnson asked to carry the item forward and convene stakeholders after the July 4 weekend so the council could consider a defined, enforceable change rather than an immediate shutdown.

No ordinance vote or formal action was recorded during the work session; council members asked staff and the police department to develop enforcement details and to convene business and economic-development stakeholders for further discussion.","Council members discussed temporarily suspending open-container rules in the Downtown Entertainment District, limiting shared-scooter hours and enforcement questions about detaining juveniles; no ordinance vote occurred during the work session.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6180449,"Council discusses $5 increase to sanitation fee to balance operating budget",132,66585,199235,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322&start=66&end=199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119261-9fffbf08ede1e32769f413704b5c9322/thumbnail_66585.jpg","/articles/6180449/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Council-discusses-5-increase-to-sanitation-fee-to-balance-operating-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180449-a5a49b76da41e5336d87c86693f2ecf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773957552&Signature=Qm~tJjQETzo94W2zc21VcbZa83dJoRVxE6pJchvp7N7nN0UyGtOPSg6tvxKTck3tIChFx1pnMSmb5n3X6VCvuhyqUgyFGN9cZTDCCxfF68~MX~oCjlPcOW8vhAwEJEdbN6VdFZuD3vprxTIvRz0HhkI-CFPON9b5yFEIVgid6x-8FtxV6-KwTz1pgWSnGNIzb0u4PsAZyHnOQRcpnl8ZYJWf0wUyoiexlcUoEEaGu0Gn-0AEek0~pwr20x9bMxT4kkwnNHS3G6iDZpVbwEXmA7Z0QymDUuVCfFIpL0Azyb2pl1FJv6W4mCyjjGBOMOVpNP-0qt30vu92PF7M~qORCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Montgomery City Council during its work session that a proposed increase in the city sanitation fee from $27 to $32 is intended to bring the sanitation enterprise’s annual operating revenues and expenses into balance.

The proposal matters because sanitation operations have been running a deficit; if adopted, the increase would reduce the need to subsidize sanitation from the city’s general fund but would not cover capital costs such as new trucks or major equipment purchases.

“Mister Dunson, a city staff member, said the reason for the request to go from $27 to $32 is we currently operate at a deficit ... we are trying to get it to a point where we're operating at a, so that the general fund is not subsidizing the garbage collection and disposal side,” the staff member said. He added that the $5 increase would cover annual operating costs but “does not address capital investments.”

Council member Mister Kenwright questioned the size of the increase and asked whether a smaller compromise — he suggested $29 — could be acceptable. Other council members asked whether the additional revenue would fund salaries. “Part of operating expenses is salary,” Dunson replied, saying the increase would help cover salaries, fuel and repairs.

Jim Wright, identified in the session, and other council members noted that equipment replacement and fewer breakdowns were visible and helpful to operations. Council members also discussed that reducing the subsidy to sanitation would free general fund dollars for other city priorities.

No formal motion or vote on the fee increase was recorded during the work session; the council discussed possible compromises and asked staff to provide further details before a regular meeting vote.

The council’s next regular meeting will include the ordinance amending the sanitation fee; timing and final vote were not reported in the work-session record.","City staff told Montgomery City Council a proposed $5 increase in the sanitation fee to $32 is intended to cover operating shortfalls, not capital purchases; council members asked about salary and enforcement details and suggested compromises.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public comment criticizes local boards for low attendance and missed grant opportunities

Rider reports overcrowded Route 1 shuttle; transit staff invited to follow up

Council hears city code citations about unpaid taxes, license compliance and enforcement authority

Councilors debate suspending open container, changing scooter hours and juvenile enforcement downtown

Council discusses $5 increase to sanitation fee to balance operating budget