Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pelham Council reviews first readings on hemp/vape licensing and meeting‑schedule changes; approves tennis grant
Summary
At first reading the council reviewed an ordinance to add consumable hemp and vaping license categories in response to new state law and a separate ordinance to change council meeting days; the council unanimously approved a resolution accepting a tennis grant for the local racket club.
The Pelham City Council held first readings of two ordinances and approved a resolution to accept a grant for a community tennis/racket club.
Council President (speaker 1) read Ordinance No. 526‑01 (first reading), which would amend Chapter 5, Article 1 of Pelham's business license code to add license categories for specialty retailers of consumable hemp products and electronic nicotine delivery systems (including license type 991). The ordinance text cited Alabama Acts 2025‑385 and 2025‑403 and said the Alabama ABC Board established new license types effective Jan. 1, 2026. The proposed local license fees listed in the ordinance are $1,000 annually for the new classifications. The reading emphasized that the ordinance would not override local zoning rules, moratoria or land‑use restrictions.
Assistant City Manager (speaker 11) told the council the city previously adopted zoning restrictions and a moratorium to limit where these businesses may locate and that the new ordinance is meant to allow existing lawful businesses to comply with state licensing without creating new vested rights. He also said no applications for consumable hemp or electronic nicotine delivery system licenses were yet pending in Pelham or Shelby County.
Council President (speaker 1) also read Ordinance No. 399‑07 (first reading), which would change council meeting structure so work sessions fall on Mondays and regular council meetings on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. The ordinance summary said staff and an internal poll of elected officials indicated a Monday/Thursday schedule would improve deliberation and allow staff time to respond to questions between sessions.
Under new business, the council considered Resolution 2026‑02‑02‑4 to accept a grant for the racket/tennis club. A council member moved and another seconded; the item passed unanimously.
What happens next: both ordinances were presented on first reading and will return for future consideration; the resolution to accept the tennis grant was approved on the council record.
Sources: ordinance readings and Assistant City Manager remarks during the council meeting.
