Huntsville is on track to try again in February to lure Uber to the city, a top official said Tuesday. Whether the city's efforts will be enough to bring the company or its competitor Lyft to town isn't clear.

Uber is operating in Birmingham, and other Alabama cities are working to get it. The company, which calls its service ride-sharing, uses freelance drivers to pick up customers who have accounts that charge fares to their credit cards. No money changes hands.

"We will introduce an amendment to our vehicle for hire ordinance in February that makes changes for several categories of vehicle for hire services, including the category under which Uber operates," City Administrator John Hamilton said Tuesday in an email. "We have been in direct communication with Uber during this process. While our ordinances have allowed Uber to operate in Huntsville since March 2015, they have not yet chosen to expand into our city."

Huntsville has tried before to integrate Uber into the codes that regulate transportation companies ranging from hotel courtesy vans to taxis. Uber says its business model is unique and needs a new section in the rule book.

"The amendment we will propose in February should make expansion of vehicle for hire businesses in Huntsville more efficient," Hamilton said, "(but) it is still up to those businesses to perform their own due diligence and determine whether or not Huntsville is a viable market for them so I cannot speak for them as to whether or not they will move into Huntsville in the future."

Uber did not respond immediately to a request for comment, and it was not clear if any issues remain. Issues in other cities have included certification of Uber drivers and the concerns of existing taxi companies.

Hamilton has said the city wants "a level playing field" and repeated Tuesday that existing taxis are important. "We very much want Huntsville to have a wide variety of transportation options for our citizens and visitors," Hamilton said. "Transportation Network Companies, like Uber and Lyft, are certainly one of the services we hope to see available in Huntsville as soon as possible just like we hope existing taxi services have the opportunity to expand and improve their services throughout the city."

City officials want Uber here for at least two reasons. Huntsville professionals use Uber now on business trips to Washington, New York and other cities and like the service. Also, increasing the number of rides available in entertainment areas could reduce driving under the influence.