Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - October 8, 2024

The Birmingham City Council convened at 9:30 a.m. on October 8, 2024, in the Council Chambers. The meeting opened with an invocation by Firefighter/Chaplain Brian Blakes and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilor LaTonya A. Tate. Seven council members were present (Council President O'Quinn, Abbott, Alexander, Clarke, Smitherman, Tate, Woods; Moore arrived later). Councilmembers Moore and Williams were absent initially. The pre-council meeting at 9:00 a.m. was not held due to lack of a quorum.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 1563-24 (Item 1): Abatement of nuisances on 299 properties (list of addresses) and assessment of costs as liens. Approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 24-76 (Item 5): Easement to Alabama Power at Birmingham Zoo.
• Ordinance 24-77 (Item 6): Easement to Alabama Power at Hooper City Recreation Center for HVAC.
• Resolution 1564-24 (Item 7): Agreement with Fountain Heights Cooperative, LLC (up to $17,000) to provide 400 boxes of fresh produce to 50 families in District 9 for eight weeks, sourced from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers.
• Resolution 1565-24 (Item 8): Agreement with ESPN Productions Inc. for the Birmingham Bowl football game during FY2025; city incentives not to exceed $250,000 plus in-kind services.
• Resolution 1566-24 (Item 9): Bid award to Loomis Armored US, LLC for armored car courier service (three-year term, unit prices).
• Resolution 1567-24 (Item 10): Amendment to correct a clerical error in previous weed abatement resolutions (removed incorrect address 4380 Springbrook Lane; correct address 3920 Fred L. Shuttlesworth Drive).
• Resolutions 1568-24 through 1582-24 (Items 11-25): Various payments and approvals, including:
  • $10,425.00 for fire equipment (Scott Assy Com Bkt AV3 HT Service Kit)
  • $70,865.00 for NarcBox HQ Control Panel and training for Fire and Rescue
  • $12,728.24 for office furniture (Planning, Engineering and Permits)
  • $282.48 for fold-a-way tables (Capital Projects)
  • $327.74 for podium lectern (City Attorney's Office)
  • $29,914.85 for fryers, griddles, etc. for Legion Field concession stands
  • $699.00 for office chair (Information Management Systems)
  • $424.00 for bookcase (City Attorney's Office)
  • $27,300.00 for new hoods and labor for Legion Field concession stands
  • $7,062.43 for rotary phase converter (Fire and Rescue)
  • Seven refunds totaling $15,463.83 (Resolution 1578-24)
  • Expense accounts for appointed officials, advanced expense accounts for elected/officials, and employee expense/advance accounts (Resolutions 1579-24 through 1582-24)
• Resolution 1583-24 (Item 27, added): Payment to Indoff Incorporated for 500 chairs and one folding chair dolly ($20,480.00) for Boutwell Auditorium.
• All consent items approved unanimously (8-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ricky Green (107 74th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35205) spoke about crime in the city. He emphasized the need for more police patrols, criticized slow response times, and noted that the homicide of a young woman (Miss Holman) and her baby's father remain unsolved. He urged the council to build trust between the community and police to encourage witnesses to come forward.
• No public comments were made on the consent agenda items or public hearing items.

Discussion Items

• Mayor Randall Woodfin's Report on Gun Violence: The mayor presented a video from the U.S. Surgeon General declaring firearm violence a public health crisis. He highlighted that the city has invested approximately $7 million annually in prevention strategies, including mental health services, conflict resolution training, and a hospital-linked violence intervention program at UAB. He announced four new community safety initiatives to be presented at the Public Safety Committee meeting at 1:00 p.m.: (1) One Hood – using former violent offenders for violence reduction; (2) Expansion of hospital-linked violence intervention to the emergency department; (3) Gun violence reduction strategy with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR); (4) A street team for high-risk case management. The mayor estimated an additional $1.5 million needed for these programs, with funding source to be determined.
• Item 2 – Crossplex Family Fun Center (Ordinance 24-78): Second reading of an ordinance authorizing up to $15,000,000 in revenue bonds through the PACE Board (Public Athletic, Cultural and Entertainment Facilities Board) for capital improvements at the Crossplex site to develop a "Family Fun Center." The project includes a skating rink, bouncy house, pickleball courts, esports gaming, community rooms, sensory rooms, bowling alley, food hall, and more. Director Cornell Wesley (Innovation and Economic Opportunity) reported over a year of community engagement and pre-construction. Construction is expected to take 18 months. Council discussed the need for a venue manager (Venue Works identified), monthly written updates, and a boundary survey of the leased parcel. The ordinance was amended to require monthly written reports to the council and committee of the whole. Approved unanimously (8-0).
• Item 3 – Budget Amendment (Ordinance 24-79): Transferred $15,858,550 from the General Fund Fund Balance Reserves to the Neighborhood Revitalization Fund (Fund 103) and appropriated to the Birmingham Police Department for a Recruitment and Retention Strategic Plan. Approved unanimously (7-0, with Councilor O'Quinn not voting? Roll call shows Ayes: Abbott, Clarke, Moore, Smitherman, Tate, Woods, Alexander; O'Quinn not listed? Minutes show 7 ayes, but transcript says aye. Unanimous approval.)
• Item 4 – Sale of Real Estate (Ordinance 24-80): First reading (but permanent operation item, immediate consideration granted). Sale of approximately 11 acres in Daniel Payne Industrial Park to Jones Group, LLC for $40,000 per acre (estimated total $440,000). Unanimous consent granted for adoption, then approved unanimously (8-0).
• Item 26 – Zoning Change Public Hearing (Resolution 1584-24): Resolution setting a public hearing for November 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. to consider rezoning 1000 Avenue W from R-3 (Single-Family) to QD-4 (Qualified Medium Density Residential) with conditions. Approved unanimously (8-0).
• Presentations:
  • Councilmember Smitherman introduced a proclamation for the Day of Atonement, with representatives from various faith and community organizations speaking.
  • Susan Terrell from R.O.S.S. (Recovery Organization of Support Specialists) presented on harm reduction resources, including free Narcan and fentanyl test strips. She noted her region covers Jefferson and Shelby counties to the Mississippi line. She provided contact information.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: All 27 items approved unanimously.
• Crossplex Family Fun Center: Ordinance approved (8-0) with amendment requiring monthly written reports and a boundary survey of the leased parcel to be provided to the council.
• Police Recruitment Budget: $15,858,550 transferred and appropriated for police recruitment and retention strategic plan. Approved (7-0).
• Land Sale: Sale of 11 acres in Daniel Payne Industrial Park to Jones Group, LLC for $440,000 approved (8-0).
• Zoning Public Hearing: Set for November 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. for property at 1000 Avenue W. Approved (8-0).
• Presentations: Proclamation for Day of Atonement accepted; R.O.S.S. Recovery Center resources shared.
• Next Steps: The Public Safety Committee meeting was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on October 8, 2024, to discuss details of the new gun violence reduction initiatives. The next regular council meeting is October 15, 2024 (Budget and Finance Committee on October 14).