Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting – December 23, 2024

On Monday, December 23, 2024, the Birmingham City Council met in regular session at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers. Eight councilmembers were present; Councilmember Woods was absent. The pre-council meeting scheduled for 9:00 a.m. was not held due to lack of a quorum, according to the minutes. Mayor Randall Woodfin delivered holiday and operational announcements, including city office closures for Christmas, trash pickup schedule changes, Christmas tree drop-off at New Georgia Landfill, and the Birmingham Bowl game between Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt on December 27.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved by one motion (8 ayes, 0 nays) after items 7, 12, 20, and 32 were removed for separate discussion.
• Approved resolutions included: the 3.0% cost-of-living allowance for FY2024-2025; a $950,000 ARPA funding agreement with the Birmingham Land Bank Authority for property acquisition and title clearance in Districts 5 and 8; term corrections for numerous ARPA sub-recipient agreements; a $750,000 early education agreement with Small Magic dba Birmingham Talks; a $297,582 Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program agreement with the Offender Alumni Association; multiple construction and supply contracts, including 50 Ford Police Interceptors for $2,266,750; and various appointed/elected official and city employee expense accounts.

Discussion Items

• Keep Birmingham Beautiful Commission (Item 1): The Council adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 5 of Title 2, reducing the commission from 25 to 15 members, adjusting terms, and revising officer duties. Councilmember Clarke asked about funding and expressed hope for renewed beautification campaigns. It was noted the board has not been active for years. The ordinance passed 8-0.
• Quit Claim Deed (Item 2): The ordinance authorizing the sale of 502 3rd Street North to Allen Tutwiler Jr. for $5,718.44 was withdrawn.
• R.I.S.E. Program (Item 3): An ordinance to repeal and replace the Retention Incentives for Success and Expansion program was removed from consideration; Councilmember Williams said it had not been through committee and lacked a redline. The Council referred it to the Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
• Violence Intervention Contracts (Items 34–37): The Council considered four ARPA-funded contracts under the Community Safety Initiatives Immediate Response Action Plan, totaling $1,832,768: Community Initiatives ($130,350), Institute of Research for Social Justice in Action ($700,000), National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform ($302,418), and Trajectory Changing Solutions, LLC ($700,000). Director Uche Bean explained the plan addresses gun violence as a public health issue, expands hospital-based violence intervention to the emergency room, creates street outreach teams, and develops a gun violence reduction strategy with police. Councilmembers asked about metrics, oversight, and coordination; Councilmember Moore expressed support for street outreach; Councilmember Tate urged colleagues to visit model programs. The Council approved all four items and requested quarterly reporting, with an initial report around April 1, 2025.
• Automated Car Wash Moratorium Hearing (Item 49): The Council set a public hearing for January 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., to consider a temporary moratorium on automated car washes.
• Right-of-Way Vacations (Items 50–51): The Council set public hearings for January 28, 2025 (8,011 sq ft, Hallmark ACQ, LLC, Case SUB2024-00087) and February 4, 2025 (114,074 sq ft, Legacy Prep, Case SUB2024-00088).
• Boards and Judicial Appointments (Item 53 and addendum): David Turner and Darryl Ward were reappointed to the Industrial Development Board for terms expiring April 10, 2030. Michelle Inman was appointed to the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority filling Becky Carpenter’s unexpired term. The Council also approved municipal court appointments: full-time Judges Katrina Ross and Anita Westberry, and Special Judges Lee Loder, Michael T. Clarke, Merika Coleman, and Monica Blanding.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda adopted with 8 ayes and 0 nays.
• Ordinance 24-129 (Keep Birmingham Beautiful Commission) adopted 8-0.
• Item 3 (R.I.S.E. Program) referred to the Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
• Items 34-37 approved by voice vote, with a commitment to quarterly updates and an initial report by April 1, 2025.
• Resolution 2049-24 adopted, setting the January 14, 2025 public hearing on an automated car wash moratorium.
• Resolutions 2050-24 and 2051-24 adopted, setting right-of-way vacation hearings for January 28 and February 4, 2025.
• Item 7 (UAB pre-apprenticeship term correction) and Item 20 (Alys Stephens Center arts program) each passed 7-0 with Councilmember Williams abstaining. Item 12 (Neighborhood Housing Services) passed 7-0 with Councilmember Clarke abstaining.
• The Council held an executive session under Ala. Code § 36-25A-7; the meeting recessed at 10:48 a.m. and reconvened at 11:58 a.m., according to the minutes. The minutes also record adjournment at 11:23 a.m., an apparent conflict with the reconvening time.
• Note: The minutes state the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilor Clinton Woods, though Woods was absent from roll call and the transcript shows Council President Pro Tem Alexander leading the pledge.