Oh yeah, that would be like you're right.

I feel like I'll have to do it.

I think that would be more than a little bit.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, there's a lot of people.

Oh, yeah.

So we're going to show you how to do that.

So I could just have a fine person.

So you can see that it was playing Twin.

That's fine, which is just kind of quite a very good thing.

That's the sound.

Okay, cool.

So I can do it in the so we'll be there.

I'm looking at the cover.

Now I believe it's not easy.

So I think it doesn't work.

So they're not just going to sit on the water.

Yeah, it was thing on that.

So it's a little bit more than that one.

So let's be honest with the air.

I think how they say it is not a side.

Yeah, no, you don't have to say that you're not going to be able to do it.

I can talk about that.

We're ready.

I can see what you gotta do.

Good morning, Birmingham.

This is the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council.

Today is Tuesday, August twelfth, twenty twenty-five.

This morning our invitation is going to be delivered by Reverend Vincent Martin, associate pastor of Wilson Chapin Wilson Chapel, Missionary Baptist Church, and our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councillor Carol Clark.

If you're willing and able, please stand.

Acknowledging the fact of God that we need your help on today.

You said in your word that in all that we acknowledge you and you will direct Bible path.

We ask right now that you would send your spirit into this room and let it touch each and every member of each and every district that is represented.

Not only that we look at the road, but let it look down the road.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember Abbott, present.

Councilmember Clark.

Present.

Councilmember Moore.

Councilmember Smithman.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Councilmember Tate.

Good morning.

Councilmember Williams.

Councilmember Woods.

President Pro Tim Alexander.

Good morning, President.

Good morning.

And Council President O'Quen.

Good morning, President.

All right.

Council, the minutes are not ready for the April 1st, 2025 through August 5th, 2025 meetings.

At this time, we'll have communications from the mayor's office.

Morning, Mr.

President.

Good morning, Madam Pro Tim, members of the council, baby boy.

All the members of the public.

There's no mayor's report this morning.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um without objection, we will suspend the rules for a couple of presentations.

This morning, um, I've invited Coach Orlando Burks and Coach Quentin Lundy with the Birmingham Park and Recreation Basketball League to come and talk to us about a recent championship that they won.

So, coaches, if you guys could come forward.

Good morning.

I'm uh Coach Orlando Burks, Center Director at ML King Recreation Center.

Uh good morning.

You got a ball and fans, and we got Team Premier.

These guys went to Orlando, Florida in July and play in the YBOA National Championships.

We played against teams from Puerto Rico, Hawaii, California, Texas.

Now, pretty much all over.

And they brought home the national championship.

These are four-grade national champions, and these are our sixth-grade national champions.

And all these kids are Birmingham City School products.

This whole team goes to Phillips Academy.

All AB students.

All these kids pretty much go to Princeton Elementary School.

Two wonderful volunteer coaches, Coach Landy, Coach June.

These guys don't get paid for this.

They dedicate a lot of time to these kids.

No monetary games just send these kids exceed to the next level.

And without you guys, Birmingham Parson wouldn't be where we are.

So I'd like to thank Director Bennett, Deputy Ron Hicks for all they do.

Thank y'all for all y'all do.

I see Mr.

Ward, Miss Milman, they always in my center, so they know we do.

We're working for these kids to get them a better future.

And without you guys, it wouldn't be no us.

Coach, I want to say something.

I just wanted to real quickly, we just we're very proud of the product that uh we're producing with these young young men, uh the lessons and the values that they're learning, perseverance, integrity, respect, discipline, hard work.

Uh we think that's the most important.

We think that's more important than basketball.

So we just thank them for giving us a chance to let us make them means and uh we're gonna keep working.

Yes, I just want to um thank you all for having us again once this year.

Uh this is like the third time I've been up here.

Uh I'm happy for my boy.

Also, I want to shout out my parents.

If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be able to do none of this.

They always present.

They bring the boys a practice every day, they don't miss a tournament.

So I just want to thank y'all once again.

Coach Burks, um, can you tell us a little bit more about the um MLK recenter and the you know, you know, my understanding is that there are a lot of kids, even from outside the city of Birmingham that come to play there on a regular basis.

So, you know, tell the council a little bit more about uh what happens there on a daily basis.

Um basically we become we call our CS MLKU.

That's our nickname because because of these guys, we have good coaches that come over there.

They train these kids have their own facility that uh coach Doris actually uh runs, but they all come over and play in our rig leagues, and they all we all support each other.

And then we just we keep the doors open because of you guys.

We there to eight o'clock every night getting work in and trying to be better.

And so we have kids from Mountain Brook, Homewood, Chelsea, Trustville, Vistabia.

They and MLK Rick every week working.

Yeah, they over here.

Because they want to get their kids better.

You know, when Mountain Brook started winning state championships, a lot of people don't realize they all played in MLK Rick.

That's right.

That's right.

All those state championship team from Mountain Brooke, those guys played in MLK Rick.

Ty Davis Chandler Walford, all those guys.

Matter of fact, Trent came back and dealed a back uh back drive two weeks ago.

So he came back and gave back to the community.

So yeah, those guys come over there to get better.

All of them, they over MLK Rick.

People say they're in the hood.

Why they over in the hood?

They say first of all, and they're getting better, second of all.

Yeah.

Okay, now we want um the the young men here to introduce themselves.

Tell us your name, your age, and what's um, and we already learned that you guys what schools you go to, but tell us what school you go to as well.

My name is Langston Lundy.

I'm 10, and I go to Brock's gap.

My name is Hinkle.

I'm 10 years old, and I go to Princeton.

My name, my name is Amari Dietrich.

I'm 10.

I go to Princeton.

My name's Arlen Smith, and I go to Penn.

My name is Jeby on Betford, and I'm 11 years old.

I go to Pell City.

Uh my name is the cars Foster, and I'm 12, and I go to Phillips.

My name is Taj Moore.

I'm 12 years old and I go to Phillips Academy.

My name is King Smith.

I'm 12, and I go to Phyllis Academy.

My name is Chase Prince.

I'm 12, and I go to Phillips Academy.

My name is Joni is Harris.

I'm 11.

I go to Phillips Academy.

My name is Jacoby Lewis, and I and I'm 12 years old and I go to Phillips Academy.

My name is Kinsley Lewis.

I go, I'm 11 years old and I go to Phillips Academy.

Awesome.

All right.

Okay.

Um, you guys, we're gonna go outside in front of the step and repeat.

Oh, uh oh, I'm sorry.

My Isha's trying to tell me that we got a video queued up.

Let's roll the video, please.

Oh man, the whole team win.

Yeah.

Whole team winning.

Whole team winning.

You can divide us, winning the five.

This is the beginning.

The whole team winning.

You can divide us, winning the five.

This is the beginning.

Oh man, the whole team winning.

Look at the squad, man.

We got the line, the whole team winning.

Oh man, the whole team winning.

Yeah.

Uh-huh.

Look at my squad.

Look at the trophies.

Look at my dog.

Look at the way we beating up cost.

Me and my squad with a line and hard.

Been a minute.

We've been winning.

We ain't finished.

Ain't no limits.

Killing the gang.

You know you dig it.

We said that hey, we ain't a fanny.

We didn't matter, you know we ain't settled.

Oh man, the whole team won it.

Yeah.

Whole team winning.

Whole team winning.

You can't divide us, we'll in the five.

That's just the beginning.

The whole team winning.

Okay, big inside.

You never deny the whole team winning.

Oh man, the whole team winning.

Look at the spot that we got the most team movement.

All man, the whole team.

Look at my spot.

Awesome.

We want to try and get a picture in here or yeah, yeah.

Okay, so stay where you guys are.

I'm gonna come down.

I'm gonna give you a quick picture.

Uh Mr.

President.

Yeah.

I just wanted to say one quick thing.

Uh I just gotta give a big shout out to Coach Orlando.

Um, I know when I was working over at Hayes K through A several years ago.

Uh it was it was not uncommon for kids to leave straight from the school and go right over there to the center.

Um, and anytime they would go, it was always a family-oriented environment.

Um Coach Orlando did a really good job in making sure those kids felt welcome, that they knew that this was a place of safety for them.

Um, and they knew that they were gonna have some individuals that cared about them and poured into them.

Um I'm seeing the connection that y'all got right now because it's a lot of kids that's in your program that are also you know still looped in with Phillips.

And so it's it's a it's a really good opportunity for these young men and women to grow up together, playing together, building that camaraderie so that you know when they're competing, it's just gonna be seamless.

Like this is this is no accident.

Like this is always going to happen.

Um, and so I just want to give a shout out to you, your coaches, the parents who are involved.

Um, like you mentioned before, Trendan Watford had an opportunity to come over, who is a uh NBA player who played at Mount Brook, who's from the city of Birmingham, awesome young man.

Um, and I'm just glad that they were able to be able to be in in the presence of greatness because they are greatness as well.

So shout out to you and all that you all do.

I just want to commend all of you, uh, the coaches, the parents, and the athletes, most of all, and not just athletes, but scholar athletes.

You all represent the best of Birmingham.

And I just want to commend you and encourage you to keep up the great work uh for yourself and for your community.

Thank you.

Counselor Tate.

Thank you, madam pro team.

First of all, I want to thank Coach Orlando first time meeting you, but all the coaches for um just your families loaning you out to give up your time and spend time with these young scholars, as counselor Clark said, representing the city of Birmingham, the greatness that you know that's here.

Um keep striving and thriving and to the Phillips Academy.

I see Taj Moore, great Enus Wadley, better known as Enamo back in the day with the Phillips High School.

I'm a Phillips High School grad, so some great spirits is flowing through that school.

Um, but I just want to um just speak peace and blessings over your life, that God opens up the floodgates of heaven, favor pour down upon you.

People begin to start coming in, pouring in, giving you the resources that you need.

So when you decree and declare a thing and speak it, it will come in existence.

So, Coach Rolando, thank you.

And I also noticed that you are a great part of uh a Greek organization that my late uncle Johnny R.

Hatchett um out of college real was.

So again, thank you all for giving up your time, your family's loaning you because it takes a lot to be committed and pouring into it to young people, and I just see greatness in all of you and um your college careers and your future MBA careers.

Counselor Speaker.

Thank you.

Um, Coach Orlando, thank you for what you do and all the coaches.

I think Madam President and I are my daughters have coaches, and so we see the time commitment that you give.

Um, and not only do you give your time, but you also help the boys.

I know Coach Orlando clothes, making sure they've gotten a home.

Like it's much more than just basketball.

You're a changing people's lives.

There was um somebody there from really loud.

Uh Jameson County Resource Center.

It was some probation officers, and they were talking about the number of adults that would come to them and be like, hey, you really changed my life.

And that's what you guys may not know the fruits of your labor, but these young men will turn to the next councilmen, mayors, lawyers, doctors, businessmen, because of the things you have done.

So I really want to say thank you for what you do.

You know, we I think our kids get bad rap sometimes, but it's always good to remind them that our young black boys, they are our future, they are positive, they are doing great things.

And then to the young men, I'm so proud of you.

Just all the hard work that you go into.

I know basketball is life right now, but this is a big accomplishment.

A lot of adults can't even say they won a championship.

So I'm so proud of you, and congratulations again.

Counselor Tate.

Yep, or Council Woods.

Thank you, sir.

Uh, real quick, I want to appreciate the coaches, man.

I know y'all putting in a lot of work and uh specifically to the young men.

I think y'all are y'all are learning lessons now that will serve you for the rest of your life.

Like knowing how to show up every day, put in hard work, get better, work on your weaknesses, those things that are gonna work in school and life, no matter what you do, apply that going forward.

I just want to congratulate y'all.

Keep working.

All right.

Okay.

Alright, thank you so much.

And again, thank you to all of the parents who are out there making this you know a reality.

So appreciate it.

Enjoyed it.

Thank you.

Next up, we have um former city counselor Elias Hendricks, who's going to talk to us about uh the Birmingham Arts Coalition.

Yes.

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Yeah.

Oh right.

My mistake.

Same thing.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Sorry, your mic on.

Sorry, your mic on is a button.

The great button to the right at the base.

There you go.

To the right.

There you go.

Mic check.

Oh.

Check, check.

Yeah, y'all might need to turn the micro.

All right.

Work check one, two, two, two, two, three, four.

All right.

How's everyone doing today?

Uh, first, let me let me pass out some of these.

These are impact reports so you guys can review.

If I could I did prepare a video.

Um, this is I wanted to bring to you uh some success from uh district five and from the BCS.

Uh for the past few years, I've been running an academy called Box Academy at Phillips.

So, shout out again to Phillips for doing great work.

Um, and we have made some incredible progress uh over the past couple of years uh working with uh some of the young middle school students in the Birmingham City School system.

So I believe I prepared a video.

Um, if we would like to run that, and then I'll speak on the other side.

You can win.

As long as you can go ahead to the sky.

Be optimistic.

Box Academy, where education becomes empowerment and students with combo weeks.

Our mission, Box Academy transforms Birmingham's youth into financially literate leaders through our innovative music money and movement approaches, breaking generational cycles of poverty and building economically empowered communities, one student at a time.

Our vision, every young person in central Alabama will possess the financial literacy skills and confidence needed to create economic stability for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Our innovative music money and movement mythology has achieved a 100% completion rate among participating students, demonstrating exceptional program effectiveness and return on investment.

Box Academy was founded by Elias Hendrix, a professional performer with extensive international experience, deep roots in Birmingham's educational and business community.

Fox Academy represents a groundbreaking approach to financial literacy education that combines music, movement, and money management to create an engaging and effective learning experience for middle and high school students.

Our work centers on educational ethics.

We understand that when systems fail, communities of color, we must build better systems with community at the center.

That's why Box Collaborates with local education, families, and organizations to create learning environments where students feel seen, supported, and safe.

Our innovative programming blends social emotional learning, culturally responsive curriculum, and leadership development, creating a new standard for student-centered education.

As we look toward the future, our goals remain clear to expand to new districts, to elevate youth voices as agents of change, and to continue challenging the status quo until every student, regardless of zip code, can access the opportunities they deserve.

So as you can see, uh, we've done some some great work with some wonderful uh kids.

Again, our tenants are music, movement, and money.

So we teach financial literacy through music and movement.

And uh we've had some amazing success.

One particular story that I'm very proud of.

Um, every year we do a song that has the tenants of money in it, and this year we had a group from the Welsh community come in and help create a song based on that.

And uh I took one of my students from uh previous years who's been with me every single year, Jordan Craig from Phillips uh to a music competition, and she ended up winning a full scholarship to college, and she hasn't even been in high school yet.

So I'm very proud of that particular story.

Um, and I'm here today um to let you guys know that I am um you know, bootstrapping a fundraising opportunity, and uh as you know, I'm a I'm a musician, and uh you guys helped me before uh with a concert at the Lyric Opera, which did sell out uh thanks to you guys.

If um, and so this year I'm doing another concert with my vocal group, International Vocal Group, Box Vatura.

Um, and this year we're specifically raising money to continue the good work here.

Um full disclosure.

We have reached uh, as you can see, if you look by the numbers, uh six of the eight schools with very few kids, and what I realize over my work is a lot of the children during the summer actually do have to work, and so I'm looking to expand this to go into the schools directly to meet some of the other uh middle school students in the district.

So I'm increasing my budget to go into the schools as early as the fall, starting in the spring, um, to be able to take this extremely important program to every school, every middle school that um in the Birmingham City school system.

Um, so I have spoken to uh some individuals at the uh school board, I've spoken to the mayor's office as well, and so with the concert, which will be October 10th and 12th, uh featuring Vox Ratura myself, uh, of course, all of our classical soul components.

Uh the the goal is to raise money for Box Academy.

So I'm asking um for community enrichment dollars as you as you did before to help us uh to provide some free um tickets for some of the students and their parents to be able to come and see this in action and also um to be able to raise more money for the camp for next year.

Excellent.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Hendrix.

Uh, you've been very humble this morning in uh just saying you your role in music.

We know you're a very talented artist, and I also know that your roots run deep in community service and servant leadership.

I had the opportunity to serve with your sister, your big sister on uh the Birmingham School Board, and of course, we know your parents work in our community.

I am just excited to learn more about your program.

I love the idea of marrying music with financial literacy.

So often when you go to kids and you start talking about money and resources and that type of thing, you put up this brick wall, but I love the fact that you're infusing that with um arts and music.

So thank you very much.

Very interested in learning more about your program.

We have two middle schools in District 7 that I know would really love to um have this work in those schools.

So I'm looking forward to talking with you about that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, right?

Great.

Uh Council Clark.

Well, hello, so nice to see you.

Hi.

And um, I just want to compliment you on your innovative fundraising approaches too.

And you know, this seems like the next uh generation of WeCare Academy, yes, which was your family's business that you know really helped um build the foundation for so many children in our community, and so the fact that you're fusing your talents and your gifts with sort of the the heritage, the legacy business in your family, I think is is really commendable because I know your family knows a lot about educating young children, and so um I'm just really impressed and want to encourage you and and commend you.

Uh the event that we supported before really gave you know adults and in my case, seniors in our community a chance to experience something really unique and culturally rich, and you know, they raved about it.

And so the the idea of letting kids, you know, young people experience a performance like that.

I think it's great.

And we just saw how our uh athletes were exposed to you know, teams from all over the country all over the world, actually.

And so that exposure is just so important for our youth.

So I agree.

Thank you.

Uh good luck.

And if you know, if we can support, I'm a short timer here, but if we can support we will thank you.

Okay, thank you so much.

Councilor Woods.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Henderson, do want to just appreciate you for one coming back to the city and finding ways to make a difference.

I think this is a creative program that we haven't, you know.

I've seen a lot of stuff presented.

This is something unique and uh something I think that's needed, but more than anything, I just appreciate you coming back to uh Birmingham uh to do this.

So keep up the good work and we'll definitely connect to uh see how we can help.

Thank you.

Yeah, I will say um when I did move home, you know.

I moved home from London.

Uh I spent 12 years out of the country.

And um, you know, I came back with these grand ideas of just doing my own music and and the kids uh realizing the need.

This was during COVID, you know, kids weren't really learning reading skills and these things.

So I feel very compelled to continue this.

It feels like kind of a lifelong journey of mine, and this is just the beginning.

So I appreciate you.

I might go anywhere.

Councilor Smith.

I just want to tell you keep up the good work.

Um, I kind of did all everybody else has said, just for music, because we know um since we were a kids, they've cut a lot of the funding for music and arts in our school, and you know, music therapy is something that helps our kids, you know, deal with whatever they need to and find different careers with it.

So good loves to you, and I'm kind of like Councilor Woods.

Whatever I can do to help you just let me know.

Thank you.

Yeah, and I'll just round it out by saying um really really enjoyed the concert um and looking forward to another one, and um we'll be here to support you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Tate.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Mr.

Hendrix, thank you for and echo everything my colleagues said.

I know your parents, my mom grew up with your dad.

Um anything we can do to support um, you know, the transformative um innovation that you are bringing to kids' lives.

I do see Carrie here.

We do have uh uh some restorative work.

Council Clark did some things around restorative justice and music and investing in you know the studio.

As Councillor Smith was saying all of the cuts, the deep cuts that are going around across, you know, these nations.

So it's to the point where we have to come together to combat things in our communities and work as a collective.

So I really appreciate um you know what you're doing in a way we can I can support um having six schools, carver, um, J O, Wylam, Southampton, those schools are in that western, northern western corridor, but really appreciate you know what you're doing and really want to just continue to speak blessings and over your life that God just opened up the floodgates and just give you all of the needs that you need to take box academy to the next level.

Thank you.

I do also want to mention um um when we do we have a full curriculum of financial literacy that we teach the kids with a certificate at the end, and we are committed to giving back at least $500 to each school's music program when we reach a quota of kids of 25 or more.

So that's also something that we're committed to doing as well, and we have some uh private sponsors that are willing to do that for us as well.

Excellent.

Thank you for being with us this morning telling us about more about what you're you're doing in Box Academy.

Yeah, I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Take care, guys.

All right.

Okay, we'll return to our agenda or read our statement on the conduct of business.

Oh I'm sorry, Mr.

President.

Yeah, I did have a question for the administration.

Um that's all right.

Sure.

Uh yeah, so I did get a chance to go to the uh Roblook Neighborhood Association meeting um last night uh where they were sharing about some some issues with you know flooding um along the let me see.

I'm gonna give you the address uh 8617 First Court North area, right there off of West Boulevard.

And I think at one point in time there was a capital project um that may have been uh in place to address some of those issues with a culvert that was in that space, and so wanted to number one just bring that to you all's attention, but then secondly, you know, see if we could get some updates about you know what is being done to address that um because that was something that was a great concern to to that neighborhood, and so we wanted to bring that to you all's attention.

We'll make sure we probably provide you with an update.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Brisman.

Okay, all right, all items designated as consent or routine and non-controversial and will be approved by one motion.

All items on the consent agenda will be announced by reading the item numbers only.

No separate discussion of these items will be permitted unless a council member or the mayor requests the items be removed from the consent agenda.

Additionally, a citizen interested in addressing the council with respect to an item on the consent agenda designated for public hearing may request the item be removed from the consent agenda to hold the hearing on the item.

Any items removed from the consent agenda will revert to its normal place on the agenda order of business for remaining matters, all matters of permanent operation will be read and all public hearings will be announced.

Could we please read through the items on our consent agenda?

Yes, sir.

The consent agenda begins on page two with item number two on page three.

We have items three, four, and five.

On page four, we have items six, seven, and eight.

Please note that item six was recommended by the budget and finance committee on page five.

We have items nine, ten, and eleven on page six.

We have items 12, 13, and 14 on page 7.

We have items 15, 16, and 17 on page eight, we have items 18, 19, 20, and 21.

On page nine, we have items 22, 23, 24, and 25, and on page 10, we have items 26 and 27, and that completes the consent agenda.

Okay, do any members of the council wish to uh add or remove items from the consent agenda councilor Abbott?

Yes, I'd like to remove item eight on page four.

That's all.

Thank you.

Okay, and I would like to remove item six on page four and item eleven on page five.

Yeah, I was gonna remove item six.

Okay, all right, got it.

All right, and we also we do not have any public hearing items uh on the agenda, so we're ready for a motion on the consent agenda.

Okay, okay.

All right, all in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed, all right.

The consent agenda is approved.

Item one, please.

All right.

Item one on page two is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a second amendment to lease, assignment and operating agreement with the Birmingham Airport Authority, under which the term of a lease, assignment and operating agreement between the parties dated September 16th, 1986, as amended by an amendment to lease assignment and operating agreement dated as of October 1st, 2009, pursuant to which the airport authority has leased the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport from the city for a term currently expiring September 15th, 2045 will be further amended to extend the term of the lease agreement by 25 years, expiring September 15th, 2070.

This is an item of permanent operation, so we need you see first.

All in favor, I'm sorry.

Councilmember Abbott?

Aye.

Councilmember Clark?

Aye.

Councilmember Moore.

Councilmember Smithman.

Aye.

Councilmember Tate?

Aye.

Councilmember Williams?

Aye.

Councilmember Woods?

Aye.

Council President Pro Tim Alexander?

Aye.

And Council Council President O'Quyan.

Aye.

Second.

All right.

Um discussion.

So Council Williams.

Yeah, why are we doing this if it if it's already out till 2045?

Mr.

President.

Chief?

I'll bring up Mr.

Ron Matthew, the CEO of the Apple Authority to speak on item.

Good morning.

Good morning.

So, Council Williams, you want to restate your question?

Yeah, so the lease agreement that we currently have ends in 2045.

So why are we asking for an additional 25 years on top of 2045 since it's so far?

Yes, teacher.

We we have two agreements now, one with Atlantic Aviation and the other with Millionaire.

Atlantic is about to put 45 million dollars worth, excuse me, 42 million dollars worth of improvement into the facility and millionaire 30 million dollars.

They need 30 years to do that.

And we only have 20 years left on our lease.

So that's why we're asking for the extension so that we can get them to invest this money into the community just as quickly as possible.

I got you.

What committee did this go to?

Budget and finance.

Budget and finance.

Okay.

You know, I hope that this could be an opportunity where the council has more insight into what's going on with the airport.

Y'all have done an awesome job of inviting us to to specific events.

But since obviously the mayor's office has the appointments to the board, there is a little bit of lack of communication in that, and that's fine.

It's not it it is what it is.

But um, and y'all really have done a good job of it, like when you have different airlines that are looking for um maybe an agreement with the airport authority or maybe looking to expand a route or did a new airline that pops up and pops out real quick in our market.

Um but and so we do appreciate that, but we just do want to.

I think I speak for myself and not the body as a whole, but I would like that this body be have the same amount of communication as the mayor's office, even though the mayor makes those appointments, especially when y'all come to us for items like this and not the mayor.

Thank you.

Yeah, one other issue that was brought up brought up in budget and finance yesterday, the um warehouse facility there, I forget the name of the entity that operates there, but uh you mentioned yesterday that the Kaiser one of the Kaiser, Mr.

Kaiser.

Kaiser, yes.

Um you mentioned yesterday that there's an opportunity to um address some issues there that this would impact.

Can you speak a little bit more about that?

Sure.

The current Kaiser lease expires in 2029.

Obviously, what we'd like to do is completely reimagine that area either with Kaiser or potentially with someone else.

It is difficult to have those conversations and plan because everyone's going to want to make a significant investment.

We're going to require them to make a significant investment, and they're going to need the 30 years.

And we we don't have that.

We can't truly start having those conversations with them until A, we have determined B as we get closer to the 2029 time frame.

The deal that we have today, I believe it goes back to the late 40s, so it is absolutely in their benefit, and it is time for us to uh start to truly benefit from the asset that we have out there, and we are not currently doing that.

Okay.

Councilor Clark.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Mr.

Matthew, thank you for your service to our airport authority and your great leadership.

Um I guess I have a question that I didn't have originally, and that's um, you know, it's kind of sparked by uh counselor Williams' question.

Does the I mean this gives you more time than you need to meet the opportunities before you are there other opportunities that like having 45 years ahead of you?

I know the initial lease was 50 years.

Does that I mean are there other opportunities on the horizon that having more time in the lease will give you a chance to pursue or well, more time is definitely better than less.

And I can tell you since my arrival, Birmingham's been on the rise as far as the airport's concerned, and we are looking at opportunities that in some cases the investment would require a 30 plus, for instance.

Um, but we are looking at the possibility of coming back with some better language and some changes in the future.

This change here is needed so that we can get the 72 million dollars of investment into our community as fast as possible.

Our hands are a little tied right now, and so we're not able to exercise the appropriate pressure that we would like to in order to get this going, and we want to do that as quickly as possible.

We will continue to have conversations with uh uh city attorneys and airport council and the board to come forward with an overall agreement that addresses exactly what you're talking about.

We are uh going to the air shows, we are bringing back opportunities, we have opportunities that are pending now, and there's no question that uh 30 years will not entirely be sufficient as we go forward.

So, what we have to look at, but it will help us now.

So we'll be very grateful for what you do now.

But as we go forward, we need to really think about having an opportunity where we don't have to come back in front of you every time.

Okay.

Well, I I realize there's some urgency to you know the opportunity at hand to get the time extended, but I do think we need to work on the agreement because it has a lot of obsolete language in it, and I know we're just extending the time today.

And I spoke with the city attorney, and she's committed that we will clean up some of the archaic language that references the old city department that doesn't exist anymore.

So I just think we got to do some work on the agreement.

I would appreciate you all uh bringing that back to us, just even I know we're approving substantially in the form, and those things won't change the form of the agreement, but if we could get a copy of a cleaned up agreement, I think that would be good.

I and I think there's no objection to that, at least on the airport's part.

Okay.

Councilor Abbott, did you have a comment?

I don't.

Okay.

I I asked all my questions yesterday at budget and finance, so I'm if I may answer one of those questions.

Uh in January of 2010, we wrote a check to uh the city for the entire 59 years of the lease, and should this be approved today by the by the city council.

Uh once it's fully executed, we will write another check for the full term.

That's good.

My question yesterday was about the $10 annual fee that they pay to rent the to lease the airport.

And I was just curious if they really wrote us a check every year, so that that was I even have the check number.

You're a very thorough man.

And you've done a great job, but I'm good.

All right, Councilor Moore.

I'll just say this, uh, Ms.

Matthews.

I just, you know, wanted to say thank you to you uh and your team.

Um I think that since you've been in position, uh you have definitely cast a vision for our airport and you know, been able to, you know, follow through on a lot of that and bring a lot of opportunity to the city of Birmingham, which has enhanced the the economic vitality of our city.

Um and not only that, you know, you all have done a really good job at uh staying in contact with the community, the surrounding community members, residents uh in those surrounding neighborhoods, uh, to just make sure that you address the issues that they may have and make sure that we're in lock and step uh and working together in partnership to uh make Birmingham uh the best place it could be.

And I can't tell you how many times you know, people fly into Birmingham, uh family members of mine, and they're like, man, this is a beautiful airport.

Like this is really nice here.

Um, because you you have done a really good job at uh just enhancing that experience that people have when they come into our city, uh, which is a big deal because that's that's the first welcome that they receive.

So just wanted to tell you publicly thank you for the work that you and your team are doing.

Well, I appreciate it, but in all fairness, it starts with the great board, and you guys appointed a great board that allows me to do the job that I do, and we have excellent staff, and that's the board has supported us in bringing that those staff members in, and we have liberated some other careers, uh, and we are in a great position now, and we intend to stay in that position.

So thank you very much for that.

Excellent.

All right, we are ready for the vote.

All in favor, let it be done by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

All right.

Item one is approved.

Thank you.

The next item is item number six, please.

Item number six is on page four.

A resolution approving and authorizing the mayor to execute and deliver an agreement between the city of Birmingham and Faith Chapel Christian Center doing business as Faith Chapel Care's LLC, under which Faith Chapel will develop up to 15 micro shelters to provide housing for unhoused residents of the city of Birmingham.

And consideration for the developers agreement to complete the project.

This uh in support of the project.

Move the item.

All right.

Um chief, could we have uh explanation of the project?

Yes, sir, Mr.

President.

And we have Dr.

Megan Venable Thomas from our community development department to speak to it.

Excuse me before you you go up, please note that there's uh uh the I uh I request this been put in for the item to be withdrawn.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I I said the wrong one.

I apologize.

Okay.

Got it.

All right.

Good morning, counselors.

I'm Megan Venable Thomas.

I serve as director of community development for the city.

Um, what you're about to receive is a document that overviews the construction that is about to happen on the site.

Um, this is our last phase as part of this first development for our home for all um program.

Um, and so what you will find on here is a little overview of the site.

You'll also see the site plan as well as a breakdown of the budget.

On the second page, you'll find some renderings of the street view of the front corner of the building that you'll see from First Avenue, as well as the um side view of the development overall, and then on the third page, you will also find a list of supportive services at the request of our budget and finance council that lists what kind of over operational things will be happening on the site.

Okay, yes, Protein Alexander.

Thank you very much.

I just wanted to be sure that we asked this question yesterday in budget and finance, and there was some question as money had already been approved or set aside, and we just wanted to be sure this particular portion of what you're asking us for today.

How does that relate to other items that we've already approved and what this will do for the site?

Yes, so we've already approved the operational budget, so that's all the wraparound service provision, what's going to happen on the site and be afforded to the residents that will be living on the site today.

What we're talking about is the construction budget, so that's going to be all of the grading, um, all of the infrastructure as well as the labor that it's going to take to be able to do the landscaping, demolition, um, murals, as well as putting together the prefabricated shelters.

So we've already paid for the shelters, but this will assemble the entire site to prepare it for residents to move in.

Thank you.

Okay, could you um speak a little bit about um Faith Chapels part of the investment and their uh the you know the term of their commitment and so on and so forth?

So yes, um, so their commitment is the one-year operations of the site, so they will manage entirely um the residents, the staff, um, the maintenance of the structures on the site, as well as the construction that's happening on the site.

So we're providing the funds for that construction.

However, they are going to be managing the contractor who's going to be doing the work on the site.

So they are responsible for all of the management of the site itself.

And and the the term of that agreement is one year.

Correct.

Well, 18 months.

And what the operations.

Yeah, and what happens after that?

So after that, we'll well, in six months, we'll be checking in about the extension of the program if they want to keep the shelters or not, um, and if they want to continue to extend the program or not.

And if they want to continue to extend the program or not.

So what type of clawbacks do we have in, you know, this is a sizable investment, um, especially in the context of you know, 15 shelters.

So you know my expectation is that type of investment uh would go well beyond 18 months.

Um so you know, we want to obviously want to see this project continue long term.

Uh so what kind of assurances um can you give the council that this project will continue beyond 18 months and that you know this is the the right uh circumstances to make this size of investment?

So I can have attorney Scruggs speak to the clawbacks that are a part of our contract.

However, as with this contract or any other contract we have with the partners that we work with over the years, after the end of their contract, they are not required to continue to do the programmatic operational components.

However, we know, and the reason that we selected Faith Chapel as one of our partners is that we know they have a commitment to serving this part of our population.

They have a brick and mortar day center on this site where they have been providing these operations for many years and are trusted partner in the community, and so want to continue doing this work.

Um, and so we believe that um through our partnership together through this commitment that they would want to continue the program.

However, again, um our requirements will really just be based on the terms of this contract, and there are clawbacks that are associated with them doing what they're required to do over the terms of this agreement.

Yeah, could you so could we have more elaboration on the clawbacks?

Sure.

Good morning, Beverly Scrugs and I serve in the office of the city attorney.

Uh there are clawbacks in place tied to Faith Chapel's performance.

Those clawbacks uh require that should they fail to do uh the services that they contracted to do that they they would have to return funding.

Uh there are also clawbacks in place in the form of the structuring of the the lease as it relates to the shelters themselves.

Uh because this is a pilot program and we can't project past the pilot period at this point, then we have uh safeguarded uh the those resources and assets so that they will be in place in the event that another provider has to be selected uh to continue the program past the pilot period.

Okay.

Um Sor Williams, did you have a question?

Um else who said okay, so counselor Clark.

Thank you.

Um I just wanted to ask um Dr.

Venable Thomas if the 18 months is driven by the wraparound, the the length of time the wraparound services will last because I know that's an expensive layer, but we are not leasing the property.

We're we're basically funding them to op to construct and you know the physical part, and then exhaust the wraparound services over the 18 month period, and then any continuation will be due to fund will be based on our ability to fund additional wrap around services.

I'm just asking because I or for them to raise the money somewhere else.

Correct.

So we would have conversations about what the future after the pilot would look like, what's needed for that, um, and where funding can be found to support that.

Okay.

And then just to understand the 1.2 million.

So some of it is not I'm I'm asking, is some of the funding represented here non-cash because it's the structures we already purchased and will allocate to them?

Like there's a line item that says prefab structures, and I remember we purchased some.

Correct.

So within prefab structures is the installation, the infrastructure, and then the labor to put the structures together.

So um and delivery of the structures from the warehouse to the site.

So we've really just put all of the things that are needed to be able to then put the pieces together on the site.

There's also the footing, et cetera.

That's what's part of the prefab, not the shelters themselves.

Okay, so we will allocate some of the shelters that we purchased already plus fund the additional construction.

Correct.

And and I'm I share you know interest in it continuing so that we get a better return over time, but I get that the wraparound services are very key to this working, and those we haven't funded that indefinitely.

So and I'm also excited that we will get to see this demonstrated because you know we've made a significant investment and a lot of energy has already gone into a pilot that didn't materialize in my district.

So really um looking forward to this.

All right.

Council Moore.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh my question was going to be around the same thing in terms of uh since this is a pilot, this is an opportunity for us to do a lot of assessing as to what will be needed in the future to support the ongoing services that will be provided uh by FAIC Chapel.

Um help me understand exactly uh well, I'm looking at the picture, and it seems as though this site is going to be catacornered to their brick and mortar space right across the street from it.

Uh, and so as you mentioned, they've been doing this work for several years, um, and this is not something that they've just started.

Um, so I would imagine that because this site is going right across the street, I wouldn't see them discontinuing this work as a result of this pilot program, you know, being being over with.

Um, and like I said, you you answered my question in terms of us being able to uh after these 18 months support them being able to understand what else is needed to be funded so that we can continue these services because like counselor Clark, um I definitely want to see this uh work done.

I understand it is something that is important to happen in our city because we do have a lot of unhoused individuals that need these services and that need some some platform to be able to get back on their feet.

And so um that was that was my statement.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um Council Woods.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh quickly, the I think that the the term that's actually listed is giving me some unease in terms of the improvements that are actually happening to the grounds.

Have we had conversation with them or can we talk to them about more of a five-year commitment?

Not necessarily them committing to run the program, but committing to allow the program to be ran on that property, even if they don't want to directly carry out the services, allowing another vendor to come in.

Well, we don't want to do is have a to lose access to the land after we have invested half a million and and uh because I'd imagine the shelters could be moved, but the site improvements are gonna be at the site.

So I don't know, has that come up?

Um I think that needs to be looked at just so we don't lose access to the site if for some reason um I'm not saying they have to commit to walking out the program, but just openness to another vendor coming in uh should they decide not to go forward.

So they own this site.

Um this is part of their larger Faith Chapel site.

Um, so we could certainly have conversations about what a commitment could look like over a longer term or period.

Um we could definitely have conversations about that, but at this time ours is based on the parameters of the pilot program.

Um, and so that's where we've aligned the construction as well as the operational components, but we could certainly have conversations about that.

Yeah, I would like to know what the openness is to that.

Um like I say, even if they did not want to continue running the program, I think the program because of that investment should have the opportunity to go past 12 months.

Okay, council Williams.

Thank you.

Um so and and forgive me for not remembering, but what was the original funding amount that we did prior with the agreement with Faith Chapel where I thought we had bought all these shelters?

So we did a 1.2 roughly million dollar agreement for the operations, and then we did an up to $1 million purchase of the pallet shelters at the very beginning, which is for both or all the sites of as part of Home for All.

Okay, and the 1.2 for operations that's different from the 1.225 today.

Correct.

So the operations pay for all of the service provision, the food, the laundry services, so all the supportive services that you see on the third page, this is what helps them operationally do that, as well as have the staff to be able to perform those functions.

This 1.2 today is for the construction on the site to include permitting, planning, superintendent, demolition and prep, landscaping, concrete, masonry, et cetera.

Okay.

I think that I did not understand when I voted last time for the I thought that the 1.2 we were voting on, or whatever the amount was last time for Faith Chapel was sort of like signed sealed, go bill, like the we're going to now go go do it.

Like that that was my impression based off the information, and I might have been on a completely different page than everybody else.

So I'm really surprised to see another one uh one and a quarter million for this.

I think Councilor Woods made some really good points potentially about a five-year ground lease or agreement to utilize the property for longer.

You know, when we add this up and we're talking about 3.5 million dollars, um what do we have?

What how many unhoused people do we have at any given time?

1,600.

So we currently have about 900 unsheltered and sheltered homeless, about 300 who are unsheltered.

Okay, so we have 300 people that are legit unsheltered.

Correct.

Based on what you said.

And this is 15 houses, and it's only a um a pilot project, and now we're looking at 3.5 million dollars.

You know, I wonder if we can have better economies of scale by utilizing some of our nonprofits that specialize in this and already have more built-out um centers or assist them in in building out centers.

I so let me ask you some more questions because now I'm con I'm this has caused a lot of confusion for me since I thought we were done with this with the last allocation.

We just had a homicide uh where we had um some stuff involving unhoused people uh that that is right up right um, I don't know if it's close to this area, but is there I don't remember.

Are are we going to allow well, you know, one of the things that a lot of the shelters do not allow or narcotics or alcohol in their facility?

Does this have the same requirement?

Yes.

Okay, and will there be a law enforcement presence here?

Yes, there will be a security present on site 24-7.

Law enforcement, not security.

So there's not a required law enforcement person on site.

Okay.

You know, I'm having a hard time allocating $3.5 million for for 15 um shelters because it I I keep thinking we're done with it after we allocate the funding, and we keep getting asked for more money, and the tab is kind of growing what I would call out of control for this.

I think that it's I think everyone can agree, especially in the business community, that we have a real problem when it comes to our unhoused population, and that we and our nonprofit partners absolutely from a moral perspective and from a city governance perspective need to do something to assist them into transitioning into a lifestyle in which they are not unhoused and and they potentially have employment or seek corrective issues if they have a I don't know, mental health or addictive issue at you know, whatever the underlying issue might be, but at what cost to the taxpayer makes sense, it how much nonprofit funding are we getting with this to assist the taxpayers?

How much nonprofit funding in generals?

So each of our partners, so if you look at the service provider list, each of the partners listed there are partners that are also a part of this program and will be providing services to this site, some of which will come from operations, but some of which comes from their already processes that they already commit to doing.

Um so there has been a lot of engagement and collaboration for partnership that will be a part of this site as well as our second site.

And so this is one of the sites that we're hoping to begin construction on.

The second is with Urban Alchemy, which is a larger site.

The reason we chose to do two, one, this one being smaller than the other, is based on building our partners' capacity to do this type of work, as well as being able to really build a case for this type of housing that we've not seen in this city or this region before.

And so that's kind of why we chose this approach.

Because I want to clarify your question, uh, council.

Go ahead.

So we're not asking the council for new money.

This is already approved grant funding that was designated just for this actual program that was done out of CDBG and from the ARPA funds.

So we're not asking the council for any general fund money.

This is money that is already allocated to the specific project.

So in the in the the realm of transparency, that's what's before the council is the budget amount for the construction of the site so we can move forward with what's already been allocated for the entire pilot program or home for all.

Okay, that that's actually clarifies.

So thank you, Chad.

That actually clarifies um uh a lot of my concern.

So then one question for you, um uh Dr.

Mitchell is after um the for the for the urban alchemy the group that you know whatever are is that money also going to come from already allocated from our property.

That's correct.

So no, there will be no general fund expenditure.

No, not at this time, it's just as Dr.

VT has noted.

Once we're past the cycle of the three-year cycle, then we have to revisit that the actual operating allocation if it can be supplemented through CDBG funding that we get from the federal government from Hood or potentially something that we can see that we can find out of general fund.

But I know that community developers are very aggressive about finding grants and using that funding, so we don't have to use a general fund, especially for our partners that we fund out of CDBG for our unhoused shelters.

Well, I think that's a good idea and a good path forward.

And it looks like based on my competition, this election, I'll be here in 18 months.

And so I really hope that uh we are able to um we're able to keep that in CDBG dollars because I think that the uh you know, for our local tax dollars, I think that our citizens deserve um something a little bit more robust.

Thank you.

Yep, Councilor Tate.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh Dr.

Thomas and Mr.

Starworth, Deputy Starworth.

I you know, I got a chance to travel um, you know, with these fine young people to California, and I think I've said this more than once.

I think, in order for anybody to understand how to eradicate any situation, um, it comes by learning and educating yourself.

When we look at the person that sits in the high seat in the office in this country, have deployed federal agents in DC to one eradicate homeless.

So I want you all to think about what is that going to do.

That is going to give people arrested and it is going to balloon your jail system, right?

And think about the cost of incarceration, would it cost to incarcerate people in this in this state?

The United States of America has the highest mass incarceration in the state throughout this nation.

When you talk about criminalizing people because they cannot afford to pay rent, um, we we really have to do some deep diving and some soul searching.

Um, and we all know when people get released from incarceration, just right here in the state of Alabama that people are dropped off in these places and spaces.

So I really want you all to search your hearts and operate from a standard of empathy and sympathy for those who are rooted in generational issues that we have to address when it comes to mental illness, when it comes to people that were born in situations that they had no control of, I think we have to take a different approach because when I look at somebody who is sitting in the highest seat in the land of the United States of America, they have deployed federal agents on people, and saying you talking public safety.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

We're not talking public safe.

We're talking about criminalizing people and ballooning out our jail systems that's already overcrowded.

But I just want to thank you all for the commitment.

And what I continue to say is how do we move in a collective?

That's where we come in when you advocate your state, your county, your private, your philanthropic people, business people.

We all have to move in a collective.

So this is an area where you have folks who are you know already operating, and there are a lot of challenges in within this vicinity.

You got a lot of great businesses that are trying to you know do their work on top of you know having to do deal with the day-to-day challenge of having a population of people experiencing homelessness and vagrants and the people who predate upon those uh individuals because of their circumstances.

Um what I'm saying is is that I think I think this the home for all project, you know, will help bring a little bit of structure to the chaos that's already there.

However, I think that the situation in the surrounding area is a tremendous threat to the success of this project when you've got other organizations operating in close proximity that quite frankly are creating problems for their neighbors.

And you know, I'm not necessarily speaking just to you, Dr.

BT, um, but you know, the the property owners uh of the the switch district in particular, you know, recently came to the council, asked the council to uh approve a business improvement district expansion, um, you know, which imposes additional property tax on themselves to help you know bring in some additional um services like cap and and other things, and and there has been some modest improvement.

Um but you know, the the homicide on second avenue and the shooting this weekend, you know, happen despite the that effort.

Um so what I'm saying is is that as we move forward with this project, there needs to be just as big a commitment to addressing the issues in the the broader surrounding area.

Um because again, I think you know, things that are outside of Faith Chapel's control that are in close proximity will be a huge threat to their success.

I want this project to be successful.

Um you don't throw a sheep in the middle of a wolf pack and expect that nothing to happen.

So that's kind of what I see what we're doing, even though you know it's gonna have everything about the project itself and the site and the services and the security.

I get that.

That's right, that's great.

But literally, you know, the wolves are right outside the gate.

So that situation needs to be ex addressed.

So now I'll come back again.

I I think that we need to secure some sort of arrangement um that gives some assure some us some assurance uh beyond the the current term of the agreement.

So I would suggest to the council um, and I'll make a motion to this effect that we ask for a two-week delay to just have some additional conversation about this um and and to give the council an opportunity, whether it's in the contract language or or otherwise, um, to you know, know that we're we're getting the best value for our own investment.

So I I move for a two-week delay.

So the rest of us have a comment before we do it.

Sure, sure.

Yeah, like if I second your motion, can we still discuss it?

Yeah, no.

No.

Okay.

Well, okay.

So counselor Abbott?

Oh, she was first.

I'm first.

Okay.

Well, yesterday I asked some questions about this project, and one of them was will people living here be able to continue to use and abuse substances?

And the answer was yes.

And then today the answer was no.

So which answer is the real answer?

So there are no substances allowed on the premises.

There is no substance use allowed on the premises.

However, we do they will not be turning away folks who have substance use issues because they will be providing supportive services to help to um support people from whatever challenges that they might be showing up with.

So no, there is no what the question that I heard asked was if substances are allowed on the premises, the answer is no.

However, folks who are experiencing substance challenges, they may be afforded an opportunity to be a resident because they will be providing the wraparound services to help them get get off of substance challenges.

Okay, well that that part makes sense, except how are you going to because another question was about the types of people who lurk around substance abusers, and those would be the people selling them the drugs.

So they'll be outside the fence.

But who's going to stop them from congregating around there?

Because what we saw with Magnolia Park in Five Point South is the drug dealers came with abandoned.

They just showed up and openly dealt drugs, and it was like, you know, entrepreneurship.

But it was allowed and it was a problem for the residents and the businesses.

So that's the reason for that question.

But in our packets that we received, um, like on page two, it says incentive to developer, and it's blank.

So what is what is the incentive to the developer on page two if it's left blank?

And then the other question is there are exhibits A through E, except we didn't receive them.

It says attached, but nothing was attached.

Did anybody find any attachments or am I just having technical?

Okay, well, I couldn't find them.

I went from front to back, and I obviously I missed something, but I would have liked to have seen the attachments.

So and then the issue of weapons.

Are will there be metal detectors here so that people can't bring in weapons inside the compound?

There will be metal detectors so that folks cannot bring weapons inside the compound, correct?

Okay, and the drugs that are sewn into the hem of someone's pants, how are you going to find those?

I mean, you're not allowing drugs, but how are you not?

How are you not allowing drugs or they not allowing drugs?

Um, I'm gonna have uh Pastor Deborah Blaylock come forward from Faith Chapel that may be able to ask answer some more specific questions.

Yeah, because I'm very enthusiastic about doing something to help these peep poor people that are scattered all over the city, but you know, the the brief the brevity and then also the drug business that I have already observed elsewhere.

Uh thank you.

We do intend to have metal detectors.

We're gonna be um checking bag packs, their backpacks, they won't be allowed to just bring them in without them being checked by security to see if there are things like weapons or drugs.

We do that now at our day center, except we allow them to check their bags, we check that we don't open them, but they can't keep their bags.

But in this facility, they will have we will have to check their backpacks uh for weapons or drugs now.

If they're sewn in the hem of their pants, I mean people are exceedingly creative into drug abuse, but we also intend to do uh checks of their facility unannounced just to make sure and they they will know that before they uh as a part of their onboarding process, they will know that we will take weapons and drugs and alcohol seriously, and those infractions could cause them to lose their home.

Okay, thank you.

That that helps.

And then last question.

Um, if after 12 months or 18 months, whichever it is, this Faith Chapel decides they don't want to do this anymore.

Do we come back and pick up our little shelters and the buildings and move them somewhere else?

That's correct.

We would take back the shelters, we would obviously um have conversations about where that might go if we were to relocate and we would need uh uh an additional or a new provider to be able to manage those.

Um, but yes, that is part of the agreement.

If they are not able to um complete their commitment as it's based in the terms of the agreement.

Yeah, well, the commitment is so brief, that's what concerns me is the brevity, and then in the construction budget for the project, prefabricated structures, we already own them, right?

So why aren't we paying all this money for materials and I guess the labor might be to put them together?

That's correct.

That would include the transportation to the site, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and hardware, which has to connect the pallets themselves to the infrastructure on the site that's included under the prefabricated structures.

Okay, so the prefabricated pallets, as they were called, have running water in them.

They do not have running water, but they have an HVAC or they have an AC and a heat.

Um, and so they do need to be connected.

Now the showers, which are also part of what we purchase, the bathrooms and showers will be connected to water.

That's correct.

That would be expected.

Okay, well, that answers those questions.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Um I have a few questions actually.

Who I'm mayor misses, who will oversee the daily operations and maintenance?

Is that still Faith Chapel?

Correct, yes.

Okay.

Okay, is that somebody they're gonna hire, or is it somebody you'll hire?

Okay.

What what do you think their salary will be?

Does it say down here?

So that's not in this budget.

We approve that in the operational budget.

Gotcha.

But I can resend that to everyone.

Okay, thank you.

Um and then who uh who's qualified to stay?

Like how we determine the 15 people or 14 people who will stay.

Pastor Deb, would you like to talk about and then can you talk about also how will success be measured during this pilot as well?

There will be a core team of us that's working on the uh screening criteria, and we're including uh one route Gordon as a part of the process.

So we'll we're working on the screening.

We've been working on it for months now.

What would the qualifications be?

What the screening process will be?

Uh so I don't have it all finalized, but we do have a core team that's working on it.

Okay.

Um asked another question.

I can't remember what it is.

Uh, how will success be measured by them moving from being alcoholics to being off alcohol and drugs, and we're getting them into a workforce, a job, home.

If we can't get them into a home or a job or train, then we failed.

So our whole goal is to get them from where they are to a place where they're working and they have uh they're they're taking their medication, which is also a problem with many of them.

They don't have housing, so they're not taking their medication.

So our goal would be to have them on a place where they feel safe enough and they trust us.

A lot of our success is going to be based on them trusting us.

So we're gonna have to build trust enough with them to the point where they will go.

They will sorry, they will go into whatever program they need to be in or workforce development or whatever.

We've got to build that trust and then move them up to a place of self-sufficiency.

Yes, sir.

That's okay.

Um, I guess also like metrics, like will there be like timeline goals, you know, like in six months, we're gonna aim for this 12 months, like because you know, the whole goal, like you were saying, is to get people into permanent housing.

And so, you know, there are 15 other people who may need this opportunity to be in the micro shelters.

Our desire is that every person won't need that 15 what that 18 months or whatever, they won't need that.

Our desire is that at some point uh we built the trust and they trust us enough where we get them whatever and they may be gone in six months, and then we can replace them with someone else.

We we will have a dedicated full-time social worker.

Okay, uh, for them.

And we in the operational budget, we also had two admin support social workers, maybe some retired people that would have a passion for this population that will work along with the full-time social worker.

She will be meeting with them on a weekly basis.

She will develop as a part of their onboarding process.

She will develop an individual development plan for them that's specialized for them because every person is different.

So her role will be to develop that development plan and then monitor them weekly to ensure that they're staying on track.

So they have to commit to being a part of the development plan.

They have to commit to the plan.

So what if they don't commit to the plan?

Then they won't be able to be a part of the program.

Okay, that's fair.

Um my questions.

I think that's it for you.

Um thank you so much.

Uh so Dr.

Dr.

Thomas, what about AIDS Alabama?

Is AIDS Alabama the second recipient?

No.

No, no, no.

Urban Alchemy.

Urban, oh, it's urban.

So remind me, where are the rest of the micro shelters?

They're housed in a warehouse.

In the warehouse.

So who's going to have those micro shelters?

Urban alchemy is the hope, yes.

And remind me, where where are they gonna put them?

So we are working on the site um plan currently, uh, and that will be coming before council um in the next month or so.

Okay, and how many micro shelters do we have left?

How many are in the warehouse?

I'm sorry.

So we have 50.

Okay, 50 shelters, okay.

Um, and then maybe this is for administration.

What is the long-term plan financially to keep this going after we do the pilot program?

Well, at this moment, we don't know until we get to that point.

Okay.

Because this is only for three years, and then we'll have to revisit it at that time.

Okay.

Okay.

Um, you know, I I think a lot of times we forget that our transient residents are our residents too, and they are people themselves.

Um, I think I said this yesterday, we're all one paycheck away from being, you know, a transient resident ourselves.

I'm really happy that we're starting something.

I know that we had some during the world again, so we learned a really valuable lesson about what not to do and what to do.

I know you and Corey have done extensive research, met with them.

Um, so I'm really excited because I think this is a pathways to stability and hope for people.

I know we have a long way to go with addressing homelessness, but it has to start somewhere.

So I'm I'm really excited we're finally getting to this point of this.

So kudos to community development.

Um it's taking a while, but we finally have gotten there as a city.

But Attorney King, um, and please forgive me for the agreement.

What is I feel like we've heard some questions about us putting this on the land.

What is the agreement with Faith Chapel?

Atari Scrolls hope to address that.

Everyone's correct with the office of the city attorney.

Uh, currently the agreement is um for uh the city to place its units under the supervision of Faith Chapel for their construction and development on the site, and those uh those uh shelters will belong to the city.

They are our property, and we will retain ownership pending um the outcome of the pilot program, depending on uh whether the city and Faith Chapel decide to proceed further with their agreement, and should they decide to then we'll revisit that issue as it relates to the long-term ownership and the outcome of those pallets at that point, but we want to retain ownership during the the uh term of the pilot program so that we can uh take another look at it as we get closer to the end of the period.

What about liability?

Like, what if something happens on the property?

Who is responsible?

That's one of the reasons why we wanted to uh maintain ownership uh so that we can uh as a part of our uh lease process, we can pass those uh responsibilities on to Faith Chapel.

Uh part of the agreement is that they will um obtain sufficient insurance, social services insurance and and other insurances uh related to potential outcomes and facilities of this sort.

Uh they will uh take responsibility for that and any liability associated with it will be attempted to be covered by that uh insurance coverage and and and as the uh tenant, they will uh take full responsibility for outcomes and actions on on the premises.

Okay, yeah, I just want to make sure the city is protected if anything happens.

Um so I'm I'm really happy to hear about that.

I think this I think this will be good.

I'll just be interested to see, you know, long term down the line what we're gonna do.

But thank you, Mr.

President.

I think this is great, and I look forward to hearing about what Urban Alchemy is doing for the other 50 shelters.

Quick question.

So the third organization that had submitted a proposal has now withdrawn their proposal.

They did not withdraw, but we discussed that at the time of the RFP that we didn't know if we would have the capacity to support all three.

Um, and so we decided to move forward with both Faith Chapel and Urban Alchemy based on our capacity, based on the funds that we had set aside, um, and based on the potential opportunity to have locations on the east and west side.

Okay, counselor Clark.

I just wanted to take a moment because I'm getting a little choked up here, thinking about my late nephew, Charles Antoine Clark.

He died at the age of 38 after having ingested a non-food item when he wasn't on his medication.

His diagnosis was bipolar and schizophrenic.

And all of his crimes were committed during alcoholic blackouts.

He self-medicated because he didn't have access to mental health care.

And once he finally found his, you know, he went to fellowship house, he was he accessed community care through UAB and found his mental health key, high performing individual.

If I when he was on his meds, he took a once a month antipsychotic shot.

And if I told you he was mentally ill, you would tell me I was lying because he was a high performing individual as long as he had his medication.

The system does not allow people to get mental health care unless they are about to kill themselves and someone can get them to the emergency room.

So it's really, I mean, what we're talking about is creating a space for people to have the intervention to get the care that they need to be highly functioning and performing because it strikes me that even though there's only 15, I mean, I was able to get him to go back on his meds.

Um he got a DUI, he was under Chief Sparks care, I mean, uh Judge Sparks care for a while.

Um I was able to get him to go back because he wanted money.

I said, okay, if you go back to community care, get your shot and put me on your medical record so that I can know you're getting your shot.

I mean, that's all it took for him to get back.

So I'm I'm just thinking if we can create a space that people are willing to go into.

He was a frequent visitor to the Faith Chapel Center to get his to get his shower and wash his clothes, and he had a little spot under the interstate between some bushes where he lived by himself for a time, you know, and I could go check on him.

But until he got back on that medicine, he was not gonna function, but he was he was free, he was cared for, he was you know, riding his redemptive cycle to get around.

But anyway, I just wanted to humanize it and remember my nephew, who was at times in his life like my son, who I sorely miss.

But if he could stay on his meds, he would be alive today because uh he ingested a non-food object that didn't pass through his system that is common for his diagnosis to do things like that.

So anyway, just wanted to put a face on it.

I support it, and um I think the number of people who can be helped will greatly outnumber the 15 shelters because some people just need an opportunity to reset.

Yep.

Thank you.

Um Councilor Moore.

Thank you, uh Mr.

President.

Um the questions that I did have for you know, members of Faith Chapel uh is if there were any success stories from you know um the service and the work that you all have already been doing uh that you could you know report to us and just kind of share with us because I I think you know, it's a counselor Clark's point, you know, we we need to humanize this because you know there are several people in our community that need help, and there are several folks that you all have already assisted uh in this space, and so was curious about that.

Well, we don't have uh overnight shelters, we just have a day center, and that's all we've had uh for the for these number of years, but it's been successful.

Uh, one of our success stories, we have had an individual that was with us in and out for a few years, and he sent a letter last year to us to let us know that he had moved back.

I forgot what state he moved back home, and he was now with his family, and he wanted to um he wanted to thank us for for treating him like a human being with with respect all the times that he came in our ministry.

We have a ministry on Saturday mornings with worship and the word and prayer with them, and he wanted to thank our ministers that specifically had pulled him aside and prayed with him, and he wanted them to know that he was now back at home with his family.

Another uh example recently I was helping a family member with closing on some real estate through their estate, uh closing out in the state.

And so I worked with the attorney that was handling it, and they assigned it to a paralegal in their office to handle when the um transaction ended.

He asked me, it was a Caucasian gentleman, and he asked me if he could talk with me privately after, and I said, sure.

And he informed me that he had been through our center for years.

He was an attorney that had some life situations, deaths in the family that were close together.

And so he became homeless, and he was living in his car, he lost his practice, he lost everything, his family and everything.

But he said that what he received at our day center, uh the the showers, the laundry, the love, the respect, the encouragement, the ministry of the word that he received there, that it helped him to get back on his feet.

So he was now paralegal at the law office where I was.

So that's just a few examples.

And and I appreciate you for sharing that because again, uh I want to make sure that you know it's understood that this is not something that you all have just started.

Uh I want to say thank you to Dr.

Venerable Thomas because I know that you know, when you all, you and Corey and your your staff, your team put out the RFPs, you know, uh you all were uh very uh intentional about making sure that whoever we partner with for this program um number one had the heart, but they had the capacity to do this work.

Um and Faith Chapel has shown that they they do have that, do have both of those.

Um it's a great opportunity for us to do exactly what you stated uh is which is you know, get people uh back to a place of self-sufficiency, back to a place where they are able to not only you know get off the streets and receive the love and the support, but be able to take care of themselves, um, be able to be homeowners, be able to get back into the workforce.

We know that we have different positions within our city that need to be filled, and this is a great opportunity to be able to do just that.

And so uh I want to make sure that you know we we take that into consideration because you know, this is something that homelessness is something that you know impacts our whole entire city.

Everybody, you know, can you know state how it has impacted or affected them in their different neighborhoods, uh, and we have a partner that has stated, hey, we want to be able to serve and add value in this space.

Um, and that's a beautiful thing, especially seeing as how this will be the first of its kind in our city, in this state, in this region.

Um, and I don't want us to get right here to the the finish line and then you know, we don't uh move forward with doing the very thing that we know needs to be done.

Um, and so I want to make sure that you know, um, I tell you all, thank you for the work that you have already done, um, as well as you as well, Dr.

Dr.

Thomas, um, for the work and the the patience and you know, um, yeah, all the effort that you and your team have put into making this possible uh because this is a worth worthwhile initiative.

Uh, and I believe that we'll be able to do a lot of great things uh through this.

And even though it's just a pilot, it still gives us an opportunity to learn more about what is going to be needed to take this further.

Um and so, yeah, I just I just wanted to make sure that I put that out there.

Okay, Mr.

President.

Yes, sir.

So the mayor wanted me to communicate to the council and to the public.

First of all, his appreciation to you all, his appreciation to community development, to Faith Chapel, to Urban Alchemy.

And I think it was stated earlier.

One of the things he wanted it to be noted is this is one of the many tools in the toolbox that he's looking to employ because obviously there's a delicate balance of ensuring that our unhousing transit citizens that they are dignity is respected and the services that they need are provided.

But we're also very sensitive to the discussions that are being held with our city leadership from our businesses and our community, and both have to be respected and protected.

And the work that they're doing, the work that Alana Melton is doing.

He's going to be bringing forth obviously additional support as we move into the future, but he looks forward to follow-up discussion if there are additional questions that the council has with community development so that we can make certain that we move this portion of the toolbox forward.

Yes, thank you for that.

Um so again, I want to reiterate I am excited about this project and want it to be successful.

I'm concerned about the term of the commitment.

Um and you know, I I also believe that you know that we have to set it up, create the best circumstances for success.

Um I I think there are some conversations that need to be had with other entities that are working in close proximity that are um quite could just quite frankly could do things better.

And um, you know, I would want those uh conversations you know to happen prior to committing additional resources.

So again, for the third time I support this project.

I think there's you know, some additional information, some assurances that I need and that the community needs before you know I'd be ready to to support it.

So I made a motion for a two-week delay.

Would anyone like to second?

Councilor Abbott seconds, all right.

Madam Clerk, could you please uh do a roll call vote on that motion?

I have a question.

Okay, just a quick question.

It may not be quick, but I'll ask.

Okay.

Are you looking for more information about uh the protection and the security and also the length of the project?

Just want to be sure I'm voting clear clarity on what I'm voting.

Yeah, so you know, um I you know I haven't had the opportunity to uh have direct conversation with face chapel to get some sense of you know um what their intentions are long term um, you know, or or with our staff, you know, to um understand better, you know, what what's the plan B, plan C, you know, if circumstances change, you know, um what happens, you know, how do we pivot to you know maintain the value of our investments at that site?

So that's one thing.

Uh but the other thing is is that you know, again, I think there's some significant challenges uh in the surrounding community.

Um and there's ongoing conversation with you know stakeholders in that that district that are playing out right now.

Um and and there's some additional conversation that needs to be had.

So I just want to you know again I support the project, I just want to allow a little more space for you know a little bit more conversation to be had um so that you know everyone is comfortable moving forward.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, all right.

So Madam Clerk, Councilmember Abbott Councilmember Moore, Stan Councilmember Smithman, and more I can answer question.

Um council member Woods no council president Pro Tim Alexander, no council president O'QuyN.

Yes, okay, so that motion fails.

So we're back to the uh original question.

Is there any additional discussion?

Council Woods.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Like I said, there's one issue I do think we need to look at resolving today.

I don't know uh maybe attorney Scrugs, but the and I think it can be resolved via land lease, but we do need to have some sort of commitment to the property that extends past 12 months.

And so if that is something that can be written into this agreement, I think we can move forward comfortably today, but I'll direct that to um the chiefs and see who can speak to that.

But is the administration amenable to adding some language that would extend our um either be a ground lease or or another method?

I think I'll let it but I think what's before the council is just a construction phase.

So I think we're talking about a whole different agreement about what leasing or the operator agreement that I think has already been approved by the council.

So Chief, the you know that's an important point.

Well, the agreement basically moves basically they're 12 months of operating the you know, six months construction, twelve months of them operating the program at the conclusion of that twelve months, you know.

Yeah, yeah.

So it supports construction, but if we're not gonna have access to the property long term, then you know I question you know why we should move forward with the construction.

So attorney scrugs.

The agreement does not address uh the city's access to the site or any time period related to that.

The time period in question is related to Faith Chapel's access to the pallet structures.

So that is the only uh issue that is addressed other than the the development of the site itself.

So as uh Chief Mitchell stated, uh that would have to be addressed in a separate agreement.

And uh the pilot phase for their use of the the ballot structures is tied to that initial contract for the wrap ground services and for the time period related to that.

So that is the time period that ultimately controls the initial relationship between the city and and Faith Chapel.

And that is not what's before the council today.

Yeah, but those are but typically if we were doing that, those would be companion items if we were going to be uh I mean in this agreement they're authorizing us to do work on their property, correct?

Correct.

Um in my mind that this could be added to that to this agreement as an addendum that we could write right now, but I'll leave that up to the uh city attorney's office, but I think it needs to be addressed because we do have a time frame uh listed in this agreement, and I think it's minor.

I think I think we make the change on our end, let Faith Chapel see if they agree with it before proceeding, and if it needs to come back to us, it can.

But um because of the investment into the property, I think we need to have some sort of uh backstop.

Of course, I can't speak to what uh Faith Chapel is willing to agree to.

We in the office of the city attorney would be willing to make whatever changes uh the city decides it wants to make as it relates to the contract.

Oh well, I guess the changes I'm proposing, and somebody uh may be able to articulate this and write it a little more eloquently, but effectively.

Um we need to see something that speaks to a ground lease.

I would say minimum of three years, but uh five years to where uh we have access to that site for the purpose of uh unhoused program.

I could just make one point.

One of the the uh uh driving factors in how we structure this agreement was based on being able to avoid premises liability.

Um so if we look at a ground lease, it changes uh potentially some of the the uh issues we're trying to protect the city against.

Um I I I don't think at this point it has been uh determined whether or not Faith Chapel and or the city uh want to continue the relationship because they wanted to see how well the relationship went.

Uh, but I do think that while a ground lease is legally possible, it does open up some parameters that we'd have to take another look at as it relates to how to we minimize risk from potential issues related to the function of the site.

Yeah, I mean I know I I accept that as I think that's an important point.

Uh another thought would potentially be writing adding in the city uh on the city's end, the city having additional one-year options to extend this agreement as is.

That might be another path for it, but we need to have something that gives us the right to continue the program at that at that site.

So yeah, I mean, Faith Chapel could would have the opportunity to review any changes we make before they sign the agreement.

And if they disagree, we could come back to the table.

Sorry.

Yes, we could we can make that change as long as it's not a substantial change.

We can make any minor change.

All right, I'm gonna we table this item.

All right.

All in favor, let it be done by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Abstain.

All right.

So this um item is tabled.

So our next item is so Mr.

President, during this tabling period.

Can we fill in that big blank on page two of the development agreement?

I mean, that's the reason I didn't vote.

I would like to wait, is that it's incomplete, and I still can't find the exhibits.

I'll have to go get that pile of paper that they have in the city council office and look for them.

So I just would like to have it complete if we're supposed to be approving it.

Got it.

All right.

Chiefs, y'all noting that.

All right, great.

Item 11, please.

Okay, I want to make sure I note that item eight was withdrawn.

And now we'll go over to item 11.

It's on page five.

A resolution pursuant to the Jefferson County Personnel Board Enabling Act, Alabama Code 1975, sections 45-37-121.096, and Rule 8.4b of the rules and regulations of the Jefferson County Personnel Board to amend the city's public safety salary schedule to add the classifications of animal control officer and animal services supervisor.

Motion please.

Second.

All right.

Um, so the question here is um just give us an overview of what we're doing here, Chief.

Yes, sir.

So what's before the council um our HR department work with the Jefferson County Personnel Board to do a salary surveillance for our animal control officers, which is seven and one superintendent or supervisor, and so they came back and did the surveillance and noted that the pay was uh was was not right or discrepancy.

So we're now increasing their rates for those officers and their supervisor to um be competitive with the market.

Okay.

Excellent.

Any additional questions, Councilor Rabbit?

Just one.

So we've had the classifications of animal control officer and animal services supervisor, but we are changing the salary schedule.

That's correct.

Okay, thank you.

That's not exactly how it sounds, but yeah, it's it's just changing their salaries to be more in line with the other municipalities.

Okay, good, thank you.

Council Moore.

Closely related, but not related, I guess.

Um our ordinance around you know, um, making sure that we put chips in uh straight animals uh to make sure that we can monitor them.

And is that something that's that well that's unrelated to this, but um yeah, they're um my office has been working on some potential amendments to our um ordinances related to you know pet ownership.

Um, you know, and I expect that over the next several months if the council is amenable um that we would you know have that conversation uh uh a public conversation about you know what's possible and trying to uh extract from the community um you know what they want to see it happen in that regard.

Gotcha.

Um I saw this, and you know it reminded me of the conversation last night at a neighborhood meeting.

Um that is they're very interested in making sure that that happens, and so um wanted to say that.

Okay, all right.

I believe we're ready for the vote.

All in favor, let it be done by saying aye.

All right, all opposed.

So item 11 is approved.

And I think that covers all of our business items.

So now we're to uh our announcements.

And Council Moore.

Uh so let me see uh district board announcements.

We have the Kelo Springs Neighborhood Association meeting that will take place tonight uh at 6 p.m.

at Smith Middle School, as well as the Northeast Lake Neighborhood Association meeting that will take place tonight at 6 p.m.

at Southern Museum of Flight.

The Penfield Park Neighborhood Association meeting has been canceled.

I will be giving the announcements for District 8.

District 8 announcements, neighborhood meetings this week.

We have one tonight, the Bellevue Heights neighborhood will hold his regular meeting tonight at 6 30 at the Charles A.

Brown Elementary School Gym.

If you missed the first two informational sessions, thank you, sir.

If you missed the first two informational sessions on applying for the next round of the city's critical home repair grants, the next planned informational session is this Thursday, August 14th at 5 30 in person at the Fountain Heights Rec Center.

If you can't make it in person, you can call this number for more information.

20551 3117.

The two-day application window will be online September 4th and 5th.

Again, you can get information on eligibility at the in-person informational on the 14th at 5 30 at Fountain Heights Rec Center, or you can call the number 581 3117.

There's an event, reset your wallet, create healthy financial habits being offered to us by Miss Kim Holyfield with you or with First Horizon Bank.

This event is free.

The date that it takes place is August the 19th at 1130 a.m.

Let me see.

At any rate, reset your wallet, create healthy habits.

If you would like to get more information on that, please reach out to First Horizon Bank.

Let me see.

Oh, to register contact Financial Stability at UWCA.org.

Again, financial stability at UWCA.org.

The countdown is on.

Okay, the countdown is on election season is upon us, and I have the pleasure of serving on the election commission, which is Councillor Clark.

Greater Birmingham Ministries publishes an election guide, and you can find an electronic version at ISSUU.com.

And so they will have the Five Points West Crossplex Business Alliance that will host District 8 School Board and City Council candidates forum Thursday, August the 14th, 2025 from 5 p.m.

to 8 p.m.

at First United Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

So join the conversation.

And that concludes the announcements.

All right.

Thank you, Council Moore.

Counselor Abbott.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The next planning and zoning committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13th at 3 30 p.m.

in the council chambers.

That's tomorrow.

Neighborhood association meetings tonight.

We have at 6 o'clock the East Avondale neighborhood, which meets via conference call.

And also at 6 o'clock, the Highland Park Neighborhood Association meeting.

And they will be meeting at Episcopal Place instead of the Highland Park location because of the heating and cooling problems.

And then they will have after the meeting adjourns, they will have a candidates forum for District 3 also at Episcopal Place.

If you have uh concerns of the or issues of things you see in the city that you think need to be fixed, 311 is a good place to call, but you can also download the My Bem 311 app, attach your photos, your own description, your contact information, or you can do it all anonymously.

So I highly encourage people to download that app and get to work on your neighborhood.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilor Abbott.

I'm gonna come back to uh Councilor Moore so he can give the Willie Jenkins report.

Yes, so men and women's day uh will take place Sunday, August the 17th at Damascus Baptist Church.

Uh the address is 3814 37th Avenue North.

Start time is 3 p.m.

Pastor Jeffrey Hord.

Um contact Mr.

Willie Jenkins to find out more information.

Uh and then also Mr.

Dallas Abernathy will be having or the funeral will take place uh this Friday at 12 p.m.

at Mount Hebron Baptist Church.

And the men of praise will be singing and celebrating the life of Mr.

Dallas Abernathie.

So thank you.

All right.

Thank you, Council Moore.

Council Smithman.

Thank you.

The South to this field neighborhood will meet today at 5 30 p.m.

at Holy Family School, located at 1832, Centerway South.

Also, the Arleans West End neighborhood will meet today at 6 p.m.

at the West End Library.

The next budget and finance meeting will meet on will be on Monday, September 8th, 2025 at 3 30 p.m.

in the council chambers.

Submissions are due Wednesday September 3rd.

So that means that our next meeting for August 25th is canceled.

We wrapped up our D6 Farmers Markets.

This past Saturday, it was great.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

These are announcements for District 7.

The West Brownsville Neighborhood Association meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday, August 14th by conference call at 11 a.m.

Um, I do with this meeting may not take place because I do want to make uh residents in D7 aware that Mr.

and Mrs.

Horton, who are the leaders of the West Brownsville community, they did have two family members to be involved in a very serious uh car accident.

And so I really want to extend uh sympathy to them for those two family members that they lost in that car.

So um please, D7, let's just keep them in our prayers.

Um the information session at the Fountain Heights Rec Center will be also on Thursday, 5 30 for the critical repair program.

The applications do open September 4th and 5th.

Um please, if you can attend this information session.

This is the third one that the city has already hosted.

But um, this will help you prepare for that process.

We have a hundred residents that uh can receive up to $30,000 for critical repair on their home.

I talked with the resident yesterday in Germania Park, and she's a senior living by herself.

Uh, she needs this type of critical repair, but we want to be sure that everyone's one is informed so that they will have all the paperwork, fully understand the program.

So by participating in these information sessions, that will help you.

So again, that is Thursday, August 14th, 5 30 at the Fountain Heights Rec Center.

On Saturday, August 16th, the Oxmore Valley Community Farmers Market will be held.

That's on that Saturday from 8 a.m.

to noon, and that's at the Oxmore Valley Community Center.

Did just want to mention that Cooper Green is also inviting residents to a day of health and fun.

That'll be on Saturday, August 16th.

Uh that will include free adult screenings, giveaways, kids' activities, and community resources and food trucks.

So uh bring a friend if you're interested in any of those services.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right, and thank you, Councilor Tate.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

North Pratt Neighborhood Meeting will be held tonight at 5 p.m.

at Press City Library, located at 509 Dugan Avenue.

Sandesky Neighborhood meeting is council, Oak Ridge Neighborhood meeting will be held Thursday, August 14th.

And they'd meet on conference call.

You can dial in by calling 952-206-4918, passcode 223-418.

Hooper City Neighborhood also will be meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m.

at the Hooper City Rec Center, located at 3901 Fourth Street West.

Next public safety meeting is today at 1 p.m.

in the council chamber.

I do want to thank One Hood, uh Jacobi Williams, Raphael King, Timothy Lanier, Gabriel, um, all those guys.

Um, Cosine, Danny Dangridge, all those individuals, Deborah Dangers and her team.

They invited me out and partnered with them to be a part of the one hood.

Backpack giveaway this weekend.

We were over in the Southampton community where we were able to bless um a lot of young people with you know book bags and supplies.

Then we had an opportunity to leave from there to go over to the sixth Pratt Community Fun Day, you know, just graced in there, greeted, speak spoke to people, so they have they were having a grand time there.

I want to mention myself in uh Commissioner Sheila Tyson on this Saturday and Sunday, August 16th and 17th.

We'll uh present the Hope Fest, which is located, which will be at the Ansley Park.

So some of the partners in there is the 60th, six um Ansley neighborhoods.

So some of the partners in there's the six six um Ansley neighborhoods, um Beats will be sponsoring the kids' zone, Alabama Election Protection, uh, Black Women Roundtable of Alabama, the city of Birmingham Royal Dominities with Pastor Davis.

So this is gonna be a great opportunity for to bridge the gap in community.

Um Volca will be there on Saturday, on Sunday.

You have the Williams singers and also the Birmingham Youth and Yum of the Fellowship Choir.

So free food entertainment, bring along, chance, giveaways, food trucks, um, free resources.

So come out and enjoy Hope Fest.

It starts at 2 p.m.

each day, two to seven o'clock.

So please come out and enjoy uh Hope Fist.

That concludes my announcements, Mr.

President.

All right, thank you.

Council Woods.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh a few things.

One, the Killow Springs neighborhood will meet tonight at 6 p.m.

That meetings at Smith Middle School.

Uh all residents invited to come out and connect and uh fellowship with your other neighbors.

I do want to shout out uh all of our volunteers that came out.

I kind of uh took a page out of the playbook of uh some of my colleagues, and we we we did a uh survey and actually uh did some renovations on a on a house in the community for uh some seniors uh painting the house, did some landscaping, and was just a fun day.

A lot of people came out, uh, really had a good time, even brought my um seven-year-old and six-year-old out, made them uh paint the house a little bit as well.

So uh it was just really good.

I think we've been kind of growing out there.

We've we focused uh you know early on.

We did what we call B litter free power of one, which was a litter cleanup uh volunteers, and then we fast forward to looking at the uh going back to late 2021 and we picked up over 20,000 pounds of litter, uh, but it just kind of started doing doing one cleanup at a time and it's grown.

And um, you know, so this kind of a next step and how can we continue to mobilize volunteers and I was excited, so it was a good day.

Um, and I think that's something that we can continue to build on and do more of, but uh beautifies the community and also lets people know uh that that they're not they're not alone, and so I think that's that was a good good day.

So I enjoyed myself, so thank you all for uh bringing that to the to the ecosystem.

So thank you.

All right, thank you.

Um in District Five.

I just wanted to um announce that uh the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is uh welcoming applicants for appointment to the BJCTA uh board of directors.

Uh there the terms of the current appointments uh expire um this month, and so the transportation and uh infrastructure committee will be receiving applications and um interviewing uh applicants uh at the September 8th in in lieu of the September 8th committee meeting.

So uh please if you're interested, um please send your applications to my office.

You can uh call 254 2679 or uh email Kimberley dot Phillips at Birmingham AL dot government and letter of interest.

Um and that concludes the announcement.

So I need to make a motion uh that we take up the tabled item, item number six.

I need to set the second all in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

All right, all opposed.

All right.

Uh attorney King, you want to update us on what's going on?

Yes, so there has been an agreement reached with Faith Chapel on the extension, and they are working out the terms of that agreement.

Okay.

You guys don't have language with that you can share with us at this time.

I believe attorney Scruggs is coming in.

Okay.

Great.

We have uh discussed the matter with uh Faith Chapel, and they've agreed to add language, which uh allows a one-year extension at the agreement of both parties.

Okay.

Council Woods, is that satisfy your request?

Uh I'm comfortable moving forward at this time.

Okay.

Any further discussion?

Councilor Abbott.

The incentive language, the blanks in the agreement.

Uh did somebody fill them in and can we see it?

I think I can speak to that as well.

Okay.

Apparently, the copy you have was before the um amount was finalized, and uh we have uh forwarded to council administrative staff, and and it and a copy will be forwarded to you, which includes instead of that blank the one million two hundred and twenty-four thousand dollar amount that is uh before the council today.

Okay, on page two where it talks about incentives, that's not incentives to finish faster or anything.

That incentive refers to the amount we're paying for the project.

Yeah.

Are we running?

Okay.

Did you tell me where we're on page two?

You're I just dug through all this stuff for Mr.

Chaz.

Incentive language pay incentives.

What kind of incentives?

That's just the city assistance that's being provided for the development of the project.

That is all it is.

I'm sorry, Mr.

President.

Chief.

It's everything that's outlined in that one sheet of that Dr.

Riddle Thomas gave you that outline construction, F and E labor, those are considered incentives to them to complete the project on behalf of the city.

Yes.

Their budget.

So it's the one million two hundred and twenty-four thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars and seventy-seven cents.

Yes, it's supposed to be in their blank, yes, ma'am.

Okay.

There are a lot of blank blanks in there.

We apologize.

Yeah, I mean, when y'all give us documents, they need to be the real documents, the complete documents, not partial documents.

Yes, ma'am.

Because some of us love to read this stuff if we can find it.

Yes, ma'am.

Understood.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Okay.

So I believe we need a motion.

Uh let me double check.

Need a motion to you're gonna move to amend the current resolution for additional wording.

Or is it just so um yes?

I'll make a motion that um we amend the original language that was presented to us to include the information the attorney scruggs just provided.

Um specifically including language that gives the city for a one-year extension, the option for a one-year extension.

Okay, and then the dollar amount on the incentives that are being provided.

Second, all in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

All right.

Now we need a motion to adopt the item as amended.

So move.

Second.

All in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

All right, so item six is approved.

All right.

Um we have a speaker who signed up.

Uh clerk.

Yes, sir.

The speaker is Kimberly Chapman.

Thank you for your patience.

Hello, everyone.

Hello.

Um, for those who don't know me, my name is Kimberly Chapman, and I'm the civic engagement organizer for Greater Birmingham Ministry.

I come to you on behalf of the executive director, Scott Deckless and Systems Change Director, Tori Williams.

I am here to announce our new election guide.

It is an unbiased guide, it's nonpartisan, and it gives bios for everyone who is running in the election.

And um, it comes with a photo, so I hope you like your photos.

Um, this guide is a little different this year.

Um we concentrated on trying to engage uh the new voter, um that 1820-year-old voter.

Um we put in some history of the city, the first mayor, the council.

Um we showed them how to get it engaged in the city, you know, whether it's agency or boards.

It's a one stop I'm tumbling your shop guide.

Uh everything that you would need to know about election, uh, is in the guide.

Um you can order the guys.

We um have 20,000 copies in two days.

Uh I was down to 7,000 copies.

So we roughly have sorry, but about 5,000 copies, and they came in Thursday afternoon.

So they've really, really people are loving the guide.

You can order them via email.

You may email election guide at gbm.org.

Or you could just stop by Greater Birmingham Ministry and pick them up.

We offer this guide as a community service.

There is no fee.

And this is what it looks like.

So I hope you all enjoy the guide.

And we did leave some for the community service so that they could get the guys out to your neighborhood organizations.

Do you have any questions?

All right.

Council Woods.

No, I just want to say thank you for the work you do.

Thank you so much.

You're very nice.

Oh, thank you.

I really worked hard on it.

This is my first time out the gate, and we all um met and discussed what we thought we could put in that would be new and engaging, especially for our young voters.

All right.

I also want to thank you for including information uh about the uh unopposed candidates not appearing on the ballot.

That was something that I wasn't aware of until now.

So I think that's important for folks to know so that they're not surprised when they get to the polls.

So thank you for putting that in.

Yeah, and that that's a process.

Um, especially if you qualify like the last day, but we were very unbiased.

We did not contact any of the candidates.

You would have to have had a uh social media presence or something out there, um, even with the council members, you know, to tell something about yourself.

So I think you would really like it.

It's like I said, it's unbiased.

It's just giving general information for the public uh to know who that candidate is and maybe how the hard they've worked over the years in terms of education, you know, uh committees that you sit on.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Okay, like I used to say when I lived at walk these halls.

It's a great day in Birmingham.

Y'all have a good day.

Thank you.

All right.

Finally, I want to thank our officers on duty, Officer Square and Officer Campbell.

Appreciate you being with us.

Um, and we're ready for a motion.

I move for adjournment.

All in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Meeting adjourned.

Yay.

We know that our students and families are preparing for the first day of school later this week.

But we had some great opportunities to support our families during this time.

We went to Oxmore Valley Elementary School where they had a resource fair and a back to school rally.

It was so great.

I'm so grateful.

Principal, Dr.

Melvin Love and his staff, all the families and the students that were out there.

They had great resources, and we saw so many smiles of parents and students as they prepared to go back to school.

Then we headed on over to Roosevelt Park where we partnered with the Great Care Community Development Center, as well as East Brownsville, West Brownsville, and Roosevelt neighborhoods.

They came together for a great community day for these three neighborhoods and a resource fair.

Over 400 participants came and took advantage of the resources that we all partnered together to bring to Roosevelt into that area.

So I'm very excited for what we did on that day and how our partnership worked to make this school year a prosperous one.

So I'm wishing every school student a great prosperous and safe school year.

So I want to give a shout out to our councilwoman of this resicus middleman.

She has created such a phenomenal event for the community to eradicate food desert.

Today we have farmers here.

We have everybody who brings all type of whole food.

Plant based food is what we need so we can live better life.

So we all we want to give a shout out to her and say thank you so much.

Christmas Middle for a vision well done.

We're enjoying the fun out here at Memorial Park.

This is a great way for family to enjoy and