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Record of Proceedings

Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - September 3, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, September 3, 2024
BodyBirmingham, Alabama
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 3, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:47:37

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

It's time to wake up.

0:03

At the break of dawn in the sun again, ready to get ready to climb back on the lamp.

0:08

Come on, man.

0:08

Shake the dust off the food.

0:10

Don't y'all in the prolonged what you got to do.

0:12

But if you've been going through any negative phase, what is your opportunity for turning the face?

0:17

Today's a new chapter.

0:18

Right to the fly.

0:22

First, you gotta rise with alert.

0:24

The dirt from your eyes and work for the prize.

0:28

Let's go, man.

0:30

It's newside wake up.

0:32

It's time to wake up.

0:35

It's time to wake up.

0:41

Take them off.

0:43

Take the top.

0:44

Let's go.

0:45

Take the top.

0:46

Take them off.

0:49

Can't wait around for someone to fool.

0:52

Now is the moment to begin your renewal.

0:54

Man, feel alive with the vibe in the eyes of the folks.

0:57

So you come in by the white in your eyes.

0:59

Hey, another day might waste the way.

1:01

Come on, let's get to go with no make delay.

1:03

So bring me your law to lift your own high.

1:06

Like Georgia, we can get a piece of the body.

1:08

Beginning with the stack.

1:09

You get in it in a second.

1:12

So right this minute.

1:14

Give my winning.

1:17

Good morning.

1:20

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council.

1:24

Today is September 3rd, 2024.

1:27

This morning, our invitation will be delivered by Reverend Herman Henderson, pastor of Believers Temple Church.

1:34

And our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by myself.

1:38

If you're willing and able, please stand.

1:44

Good morning.

1:47

Let us bow, yes, in prayer.

1:49

Father God, in the name of Jesus.

1:55

Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to wake up this morning.

2:04

And God, we tell you, thank you because you've been so good.

2:07

You've been better to us, God, than we've been to ourselves.

2:10

And God, we wake up this morning because we have a reason to tell you thank you.

2:16

And God, as we're telling you, thank you, God.

2:18

We ask you, Father, to look over our city.

2:22

Look over the 99 neighborhoods, God.

2:24

Look up our community leaders, God.

2:27

And God, we ask you, God, to look over the mirror of this great city of Birmingham.

2:33

Look on the council president, God.

2:36

All the council members.

2:38

God, we realize that our city need a wall bill.

2:41

And God liked your tote kneel, my God.

2:43

You say, when the people's got a mind to work, that's when the walls build.

2:49

God, we building a wall, God.

2:51

We're building the wall, God, bringing our youths to understand that we're tired of the violence.

2:58

God, we building a wall, God, to allow teenage mothers to know that they can get an education.

3:04

They can be a doctor, they can be a lawyer, they can be a judge, they can be a pharmaceutical God.

3:09

We building a wall, God, knowing that it looked like it's hopeless.

3:13

But God, you say it's gonna be alright.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing██████████████████████22%
Parks and Recreation█████████████████17%
Procedural███████████████15%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Historic Preservation███████7%
International Relations█████5%
Education████4%
Budget████4%
Homelessness███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - September 3, 2024

The Birmingham City Council met in regular session on September 3, 2024, at 9:30 AM in the Council Chambers. The meeting began with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Randall Woodfin announced the 100th birthday of Reverend William Greason, reminded residents of adjusted garbage pickup schedules, and highlighted a new business license website and a citywide rezoning initiative. The council recognized 23 students from the Birmingham Sister Cities International Dual Enrollment Academy who will travel to Japan. The pre-council meeting was not held due to lack of a quorum. Councilmember Williams was absent. The council approved a consent agenda of 30+ items and separately debated and voted on several major ordinances and resolutions, including significant housing development agreements, a cemetery maintenance contract, housing rehabilitation programs for multiple districts, and a contract for homeless outreach services.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 6–40 (as designated) were approved by a single motion, with the following items removed for separate discussion: Items 9, 11, 12, 15, and 17. Item 5 was added to the consent agenda. The consent agenda included resolutions for advertising with Birmingham Times Media Group ($65,000), a Crime Stoppers agreement ($50,000), housing rehabilitation programs in Districts 5, 6, and 9 (totaling $1.12 million), a Red Mountain Park funding agreement ($250,000), a contract with Urban Alchemy for homeless outreach ($1.7 million), a development agreement with Woodlawn Foundation ($1.64 million), sidewalk repairs, bid awards, personnel reclassifications, neighborhood association expenditures, nuisance weed abatement for 304 properties, and various expense accounts. All consent items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Tiffany Sellers (representing We Gardens in the Arlington/West End community) invited the council and public to the annual Sweet Potato Harvest on September 28, 2024, from 11 AM to 2 PM. She highlighted the importance of urban gardening and youth involvement in agriculture. Brother Walter Umrani also spoke about opportunities in agriculture and invited the council to a November program.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1 (Ordinance - Interlocal Agreement with ALEA): Authorized the Mayor and Police Chief to execute an agreement with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for issuing undercover DL/ID cards to BPD investigative officers, with fees up to $1,000. Approved unanimously.
  • Items 2, 3, 10 (Housing Development with Housing Reinvestment Corporation of America - HRCA):
    • Item 2: Authorized transfer of 27 vacant lots in Belview Heights (former Camelia Terrace) to HRCA at $1/lot, with up to $1,535,500 in city support for development of market-rate and affordable homes. Councilmember Clark asked about design and infill contextual design. Home sale prices targeted $200,000–$210,000. Approved unanimously.
    • Item 3: Authorized up to $3,950,984 for construction of 53 single-family homes (Shadow Brook) on Pratt Highway, plus infrastructure and mortgage subsidies. Councilmember Tate expressed excitement for the Pratt City area. Approved with Councilmember Clarke abstaining.
    • Item 10: Authorized up to $1,632,182 to subsidize home purchases for new buyers in Woodlawn (16 homes). Discussion included deed restrictions and down payment assistance program. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 4 (Ordinance - Cemetery Maintenance Agreement with Oak Hill Memorial Association): Authorized $201,297 over three years for maintenance of Oak Hill, Elyton, and East Lake Cemeteries. Councilmembers discussed erosion, perpetual care funds, and the need for more diverse historical reenactments. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 5 (Resolution - A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club): Authorized $10,000 for community outreach and educational enrichment programs. Approved with Councilmember Moore abstaining.
  • Item 9 (Resolution - HouseProud Atlanta District 9 Housing Rehabilitation): Authorized $420,000 for exterior beautification and minor repairs for up to 50 homes in North Birmingham (Wylam, Hooper City, etc.). Representatives from HouseProud described their volunteer-driven model and a kickoff event on September 27. Discussions included lead paint protocols and partnership opportunities. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 11 (Resolution - Disability Rights and Resources District 6 Housing Rehabilitation): Authorized $200,000 for major/minor repairs for low-income homeowners in Council District 6. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 12 (Resolution - Jefferson County Greenways Commission / Red Mountain Park): Authorized $250,000 for operations of Red Mountain Park, now under the newly formed Jefferson County Greenways Commission (also overseeing Ruffner Mountain and Turkey Creek). The new superintendent, Fran Marks, was introduced. Approved with Councilmember Smitherman abstaining.
  • Item 15 (Resolution - Urban Alchemy Services): Authorized $1,717,881 for community engagement, homeless outreach, interim housing, hygiene services, street cleaning, and crisis response for nonemergency calls related to homelessness and mental health. Discussion clarified that this is a first-phase wraparound service, not yet tied to a specific housing site. Approved (minutes show a contradictory vote: ayes include Councilmember Abbott but also list Abbott as abstaining; the item passed).
  • Item 17 (Resolution - Woodlawn Foundation Affordable Housing): Authorized $1,641,803 for construction of eight rental units (at or below 30%–80% AMI) plus infrastructure, on 2.8 acres in South Woodlawn. Also includes 12 homeownership units. Subsidy per unit ~$80,000. Developer noted challenges from COVID cost increases. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes and Approvals: All discussed items were approved. Specific abstentions: Item 3 (Clarke), Item 5 (Moore), Item 12 (Smitherman), Item 15 (Abbott, per minutes, though record is inconsistent). All other votes were unanimous.
  • Parks and Recreation Board Discussion: A lengthy exchange occurred regarding frustrations with the current park board structure, slow deployment of ARPA funds for parks, and historical segregation origins (Mayor Woodfin shared that the board system originated from 1962 desegregation closures). The council and mayor agreed to continue discussions at a future retreat and explore structural changes.
  • Next Steps: Several committee meetings were announced: Budget & Finance (Sept 9), Planning & Zoning (Sept 11), Administration & Government Affairs (Sept 10), Public Safety (Sept 10), Transportation (Sept 9). Resumes for the Birmingham Planning Commission vacancy are due by end of September; a Jefferson County Transit Authority Board vacancy requires submission by Sept 20.

Meeting Transcript

It's time to wake up. At the break of dawn in the sun again, ready to get ready to climb back on the lamp. Come on, man. Shake the dust off the food. Don't y'all in the prolonged what you got to do. But if you've been going through any negative phase, what is your opportunity for turning the face? Today's a new chapter. Right to the fly. First, you gotta rise with alert. The dirt from your eyes and work for the prize. Let's go, man. It's newside wake up. It's time to wake up. It's time to wake up. Take them off. Take the top. Let's go. Take the top. Take them off. Can't wait around for someone to fool. Now is the moment to begin your renewal. Man, feel alive with the vibe in the eyes of the folks. So you come in by the white in your eyes. Hey, another day might waste the way. Come on, let's get to go with no make delay. So bring me your law to lift your own high. Like Georgia, we can get a piece of the body. Beginning with the stack. You get in it in a second. So right this minute. Give my winning. Good morning. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council. Today is September 3rd, 2024. This morning, our invitation will be delivered by Reverend Herman Henderson, pastor of Believers Temple Church. And our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by myself. If you're willing and able, please stand. Good morning. Let us bow, yes, in prayer. Father God, in the name of Jesus. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to wake up this morning. And God, we tell you, thank you because you've been so good. You've been better to us, God, than we've been to ourselves. And God, we wake up this morning because we have a reason to tell you thank you. And God, as we're telling you, thank you, God. We ask you, Father, to look over our city. Look over the 99 neighborhoods, God. Look up our community leaders, God. And God, we ask you, God, to look over the mirror of this great city of Birmingham. Look on the council president, God.

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