Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - February 25, 2025

The Birmingham City Council met on February 25, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers, following a pre-council meeting that was not held due to lack of a quorum. The meeting included presentations, consent agenda approvals, discussion of several items, and recognition of community achievements. Mayor Randall Woodfin provided updates on a major crime breakthrough, health initiatives, and illegal dumping enforcement.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes approved: November 5–26, 2024 (minutes from December 3, 2024 – February 18, 2025 were not ready).
• Consent items adopted: Including resolutions for nuisance abatement on numerous properties (Consent Items 1 and 2), a budget transfer of $500 from Councilor Smitherman’s account to Parks and Recreation (Consent Item 3), encumbrance easement with Marx Management Company for trail lighting (Consent Item 6), ADEM FY2026 Recycling Grant up to $732,000 (Consent Item 7, later removed for discussion), three legal settlements totaling $108,643.82 (Consent Items 8-10), bid acceptances for outdoor power equipment, fire hose, and ladder equipment (Consent Items 11-13), and multiple expense accounts (Consent Items 14-17). The consent agenda was initially adopted, later reconsidered to remove Item 19 for discussion, then readopted without Item 19.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the meeting. No requests to remove public hearing items (Consent Items 1 and 2) were received.

Presentations

• Phillips Academy Basketball Teams: Girls and boys basketball teams were recognized for undefeated or near-perfect seasons. The girls team lost only one game; the boys team went 22-0.
• Huffman High School Cheerleaders: Recognized for winning the 2025 Birmingham City Schools Cheer Competition, sweeping all categories including Overall Champions, Large Varsity Traditional, and Large Varsity Gameday Performance. Corey Burroughs won the Individual Winner trophy. The council adopted Resolution No. 266-25 honoring them.
• Birmingham Black Business Census: Natalie Nelson Parker of Civitas Consulting Group presented a citywide initiative to collect data on black-owned businesses. The project is funded by Innovate Alabama and has already surveyed over 300 businesses. Council members asked about coordination with existing city data and plans for providing support to businesses after the census.
• Housing Authority of Birmingham District (HABD) Strategic Plan: Seth Embry presented the 2025-2029 plan “Build, Thrive, Grow,” focusing on resident services, community transformation, and partnerships. Key points include: 75% of residents are extremely low income (average ~$15,000/year for a family of two); crime at HABD properties decreased 57% over three years; redevelopment of Cooper Green and other sites; and plans for Smithfield, Kingston, and Whitland communities. Council members requested a deeper presentation in committee and raised questions about federal funding threats and security at Southtown.

Discussion Items

• Item 4 (P): Ordinance authorizing an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement with Jefferson County for paving improvements on 11 roadways, with total city cost not to exceed $303,720.88. The county will act as purchasing agent. Approved unanimously.
• Item 5 (P): Ordinance authorizing sale of property at 124 60th Street North to Kathryn Rapier for $10,904.65. Approved unanimously.
• Item 7 (Consent, removed for discussion): Resolution for ADEM FY2026 Recycling Grant up to $732,000. Councilor Clarke requested more information. The grant would fund an additional truck, 5,000 recycling carts, education, and electronic recycling. Director Josh Yates and Shauna Hammond (Keep Birmingham Beautiful) explained current recycling efforts, including four household hazardous waste/electronic recycling events per year. Councilor Abbott raised concerns about contamination and the need for education. Approved unanimously.
• Item 18 (P): Resolution setting a public hearing on March 25, 2025, for vacation of 3,932 sq ft of right-of-way at 904-912 Fulton Avenue SW for MD4, LLC. Approved unanimously.
• Item 19 (Consent, removed for discussion): Resolution authorizing a second amendment to the Purchase Sale Agreement with CSX Transportation for the Valley Creek Rails-to-Trail project. The amendment extends contingency deadlines from 60 to 90 days and includes language about a like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. Councilor Abbott questioned whether the city is exchanging property; the city attorney clarified the provision applies only to CSX, not the city. The resolution was adopted after discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Resolutions 266-25 (Huffman Cheerleaders) and 282-25 (memorial for Robert A. Pyles) were adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 267-25 (ADEM Recycling Grant) adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 268-25 (public hearing for vacation) adopted unanimously.
• Ordinance 25-24 (Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement with Jefferson County) adopted unanimously.
• Ordinance 25-26 (budget amendment) adopted as part of consent agenda.
• Resolution 271-25 (Encroachment Easement with Marx Management) adopted.
• Resolutions 272-25, 273-25, 274-25 (settlements) adopted.
• Resolutions 275-25, 276-25, 277-25 (bid acceptances) adopted.
• Resolutions 278-25 through 281-25 (expense accounts) adopted.
• Resolution 283-25 (CSX rail corridor amendment) adopted after removal from consent.
• The consent agenda was reconsidered and readopted without Item 19.
• Mayor Woodfin announced a breakthrough in the murder of firefighter Jordan Melton and assault on Sergeant Jamal Jones, with charges filed against Damian McDaniel for multiple killings.
• The council acknowledged February as Heart Health Month and encouraged employees to visit the Brownstone Bewell Clinic.
• Several council members provided district updates and neighborhood meeting announcements.