Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting – April 22, 2025

The Birmingham City Council met in regular session on April 22, 2025, at 9:30 AM in City Council Chambers. President Pro Tempore Alexander presided in the absence of Council President O'Quinn. The pre-council meeting at 9:00 AM was not held due to lack of a quorum. Councilmembers present: Abbott, Alexander, Clarke, Moore, Smitherman, Tate, Woods. Absent: O'Quinn, Williams. The meeting opened with an invocation (agenda listed Rev. Perry Macon, minutes state Ryan Jackson from Mayor's Office, transcript states Rev. Harry Macon) and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilor Moore (minutes) / Crystal Smitherman (agenda). Mayor Woodfin gave announcements for Earth Day, police recruitment (98 sworn officers recruited in 2025, 18 correction officers, $10,000 signing bonus), Walk at Lunch Day (April 23), Budget Town Hall (April 23, 6:00 PM at Boutwell Auditorium), Trails Day (April 26), Poet Laureate celebration (April 29), and Foot Soldiers reenactment (May 9).

Consent Calendar

• Nuisance Abatements: Resolution 598-25 declared 29 properties with weeds abated and costs assessed as liens; Resolutions 599-25, 600-25, 601-25 declared inoperable vehicles (white Dodge truck, white Cadillac, silver Chevy SUV) as public nuisances.
• Budget Amendments: Ordinance 25-39 appropriated $2,000,000 from Rebuild AL Gas Tax Fund to Grants Match Fund for the RCN Program; Ordinance 25-40 appropriated $2,140,900 for an Industrial Access Road and Bridge Grant; Ordinance 25-41 appropriated $178,344.22 from insurance proceeds for Legion Field improvements; Ordinances 25-42 and 25-43 transferred $2,433.63 and $5,000 from neighborhood allocations to traffic calming; Ordinance 25-44 transferred $15,000 from District 9 discretionary to donation fund for McAlpine Park.
• Contracts and Agreements: Resolution 602-25 authorized $7,500 to Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame for 70 hours of jazz education; Resolution 603-25 authorized $20,000 to Childcare Resources for the 2025 Sky's the Limit Conference; Resolution 604-25 extended the CSX Valley Creek Rails-to-Trail closing date to April 28, 2025; Resolution 605-25 authorized $46,303.65 for FINDER software for law enforcement data sharing; Resolution 606-25 authorized the Penny Foundation to administer up to $6,000 of a Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities grant; Resolution 607-25 approved a right-of-way encroachment for a restaurant at 113 13th Street South; Resolutions 608-616 authorized various neighborhood expenditures (e.g., Crestwood North PTA $3,000, Crestwood North sign $2,500, Crestwood South dog bags $600, Enon Ridge Zoom $300, Forest Park-South Avondale after-school $4,000, Huffman lawn care $5,000, Jones Valley summer reading $500, Pine Knoll Vista signs $500, South Titusville meeting space $1,200).
• Settlement: Resolution 617-25 authorized up to $35,000 to settle Kijuan Sanchez McCurdy v. City of Birmingham.
• Bids and Purchases: Resolutions 618-628 approved bids for Boutwell Auditorium freezer repairs ($16,254, STC Worldwide), city-wide demolition (four firms), residential special structures demolition (Cornerstone Roofing, Tomlin Excavating), and purchases of whiteboards, table, chairs, and restroom trailer.
• Expense Accounts: Resolutions 629-634 approved itemized and advanced expense accounts for elected officials, appointed officials, and employees for various conferences and travel.
• All consent items were adopted by a 7-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Willie Jenkins (1105 Southwood Drive) spoke about community events including church Men's Day, a Carver High School reunion, and condolences for deceased community members.
• William Harden (936 Dunridge Drive, East Pinson Valley) spoke as East Pinson Valley neighborhood president and CAB vice president. He requested follow-up on service requests, urged city department heads to meet with neighborhood officers, and expressed concern that the April 23 budget town hall uses a comment card format rather than open mic. Councilor Smitherman clarified that the June budget town hall will feature open mic and that written questions can be submitted.

Discussion Items

• GASP Climate Resolution (597-25): Councilor Smitherman introduced a resolution recognizing the Greater Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution (GASP). Carrie Dowell, GASP climate program manager, presented a climate action framework based on three years of community engagement on transportation, pedestrian safety, flooding, and heat mitigation. UAB graduate student Kennedy Butler described the student-led drafting of the resolution. The resolution was adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Financial Freedom Week Presentation: Isaac Cooper presented the inaugural Financial Freedom Project Week, featuring a State of the Union, a new investor league panel on NIL, and a session on digital assets. Council members praised his financial literacy work in schools.
• Hattie Williams Birthday Resolution (635-25): Councilor Clarke introduced a resolution honoring Ms. Hattie Lee Williams on her 90th birthday, recognizing her decades of community leadership and service. Adopted unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items (Resolutions 598-634 and Ordinances 25-39 through 25-44) were approved unanimously (7-0).
• Resolution 597-25 (recognizing GASP) adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 635-25 (honoring Hattie Williams) adopted unanimously.
• The meeting adjourned at 10:34 AM.