Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting – October 1, 2024

The Birmingham City Council held its regular meeting on October 1, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers, with President Pro Tempore Alexander presiding in the absence of Council President O'Quinn. The pre-council meeting at 9:00 a.m. was not held due to lack of a quorum. The session included major presentations on police recruitment and retention, a contentious liquor license hearing, and a detailed update on the Safe Streets: East Lake pilot project, along with routine consent items and public comments.

Consent Calendar

• Approved as a block, then reconsidered and readopted multiple times to add or remove items. Notable items included:
  • Amendment of Resolution No. 982-24 for Spice of Life Jamaican Restaurant and Bar (liquor license) – approved.
  • Transfer of Special Retail Liquor License for Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center – approved.
  • Transfer of Off Premise Beer and Wine License for Kent Kwik #929 – approved.
  • Off Premise Beer and Wine License for One Stop Gas – approved.
  • Restaurant Retail Liquor License for Wooden City Birmingham – approved, conditioned on obtaining a certificate of occupancy within 90 days.
  • Nine resolutions authorizing abatement of inoperable motor vehicles as public nuisances – approved.
  • Amendments to the Grants Fund Budget: $438,105 from ADEM Recycling Fund for a side loader truck, and $5,074,139 from HUD HOME-ARP funds for community development – approved.
  • Agreements with Birmingham Board of Education for school support ($14,500), IMC Financial Consulting for Financial Freedom Project ($1,000,000, later voted separately), Birmingham-Jefferson County Port Authority ($125,000), Carahsoft Technology for police software ($19,484), purchase of railroad corridor for Valley Creek Rails-to-Trail ($1,100,000, with $270,000 from council ARPA funds), consulting with Freshwater Land Trust ($25,000), Own It Property Solutions ($524,420 for housing rehabilitation), Sidewalk Film Center ($10,000), Sister City Commission ($150,000), Axon Enterprise pilot for body cameras (no cost), Highland Park dog waste bags ($1,000), acceptance of $3,000 civil costs from KM Hospitality, emergency demolition at 4315 7th Ave Wylam ($24,883.75), and multiple bids for filters, bark, appliances, paper, uniforms, greenhouse repairs, and a mechanic truck. Also approved expense accounts for officials and employees.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sandra Davis Lawrence and Leroy Lassiter (Wylam Neighborhood) : Opposed the Off Premise Beer and Wine License for MOS One Stop, citing proximity to Wylam Elementary School and concerns about illegal alcohol sales. The applicant did not appear.
• Judy Woods (Operation Hope) : Invited council to “Uplift Birmingham” event on October 3, 2024, at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, promoting financial literacy and a fireside chat with the mayor.
• Robert Banks (citizen) : Criticized Five Points South business owners for lack of compassion toward victims of a recent mass shooting; called for more door-to-door community engagement and parenting support.
• Willie Jenkins (citizen) : Announced Carver High School reunion activities and invited council to attend.

Discussion Items

• Police Recruitment & Retention Proposal – Mayor Woodfin and Deputy Chief Rodarius Mauldin presented a comprehensive plan to address police staffing, including: increasing hiring bonus from $5,000 to $10,000, $5,000 relocation assistance for officers living 80+ miles away, $1,000 referral incentive, $2,500 quarterly retention bonus, accelerating take-home car program, 8 hours of mental health leave, a part-time reserve program, enhanced recruiting campaigns, and talent acquisition recruiters. The mayor requested an emergency joint meeting of the Public Safety and Budget & Finance committees, which was scheduled for noon that day. Councilmembers expressed support and asked for budget details; no vote was taken.
• MOS One Stop Liquor License (Item 2) – After an executive session to discuss potential litigation, a public hearing was held. Detective Lankford testified that during a business check, alcohol was found packaged for sale without a license. Councilmember Williams made a motion to deny, citing proximity to a school and negative neighborhood vote. The application was denied 0-7 (all present voted no).
• Project Safe Streets: East Lake (Items 18 & 51) – Mayor Woodfin presented results of the 80-plus-day pilot: 27 structures condemned, 7 demolished, 182 lots cut, 559 traffic citations, 19 firearms recovered, 140 criminal arrests, 305 of 381 resident contacts supported continuation. The council approved extending the experimental road closures for up to 90 additional days (Item 18) and set a public hearing for November 12, 2024, to consider indefinite closure of 20 listed intersections (Item 51). Both items passed unanimously.
• Crossplex Family Fun Center Bond (Item 19) – An ordinance authorizing up to $15,000,000 in capital improvements to the Crossplex via a revenue bond from PNC Bank, a project lease with PACE Board, and an indenture. Councilmember Smitherman moved for unanimous consent to adopt; the roll call showed 5 ayes (Moore, Smitherman, Tate, Woods, Alexander) and 3 nays (Abbott, Clarke, Williams). Unanimous consent failed, and the item was held over until October 8, 2024.
• Financial Freedom Project (Item 21) – Tracy Bennett (Deputy Director, Community Development) and Cooper Smith (IMC Financial Consulting) reported on the $1,000,000 financial literacy initiative in Birmingham City Schools, citing pre/post-test score increases, over 1,000 hours of instruction, and national recognition. Councilmember Clarke requested a third-party evaluation. The resolution passed unanimously.
• Library Board Appointments (Item 53) – Cherie Dortch was appointed to a term expiring December 31, 2028, and Nadia Johnson was appointed to fill an unexpired term ending December 31, 2026. Passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Denied : MOS One Stop Off Premise Beer and Wine License (unanimous no vote).
• Approved : Extension of experimental road closures for East Lake (Item 18) and setting of public hearing for indefinite closure (Item 51) – both unanimous.
• Failed Unanimous Consent : Crossplex bond ordinance (Item 19) – held over for second reading.
• Approved : Financial Freedom Project agreement (Item 21) – unanimous.
• Approved : Library board appointments (Item 53) – unanimous.
• Consent Agenda : All items adopted as final (including budget amendments, contracts, and nuisance abatements).
• Next Steps : Emergency joint committee meeting on police plan scheduled for noon on October 1, 2024; East Lake public hearing on November 12, 2024; Crossplex item to return on October 8, 2024.