OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - August 26, 2025

City CouncilTuesday, August 26, 2025
BodyBirmingham, Alabama
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 26, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:18:37

Transcript — Verbatim
10:35

I think I bring up the I didn't bring up the dinner.

10:39

So we late some agenda.

10:40

Agenda.

10:41

I'm printing them out now.

10:42

Okay.

10:45

Thank you.

11:42

Oh, yeah.

11:44

No.

12:46

So this is a good one.

14:09

So you're right, how you're going to do this.

14:41

Oh, that's really good.

15:00

pick up our Easter almost at I should almost ask a high oh that's reaching that little bitch you let them talk about your little bitch that we try to be here to be played at one time make it basically no tell tell you I'm gonna shoot you out go to church y'all the dog no no no no no no tell them they go through the work sometimes and then you just got to check the all the way out there and put that out of gas and get them and get me up gas and get a kick yeah I didn't think it got yeah I'm about how about how about how speaking no anybody got on the people that know I think that's that's good they don't get they're gonna get by straight up and eat your thing she can't work for the city and work for the man what did that see they didn't see tell Jeff tell Johnny tell tell me tell them hey that tell me how somehow I push you over so I so you can receive the workers tell him I'll push you over so you can receive the workers get you make that stuff don't let that stop and get me to that channel that kind of what he said what that man said he said they gonna get paid you know John to tell them they're gonna get a big chip tell them what he said what they do they can do where we didn't go get paid you know and then he told me little boy what you got he told the boy that I just obeyed no you ain't got it you ain't got it you smoke you ain't got it what you talk about he's he said I got a man in the car isn't what I did I drop them all downtown we we gonna we're gonna be all right we're gonna be all right y'all got to the church yet doing I think yeah that's that we're gonna crisp wood double crispwood uh great church hold the other one crispwood okay and then what about the half rack and all that you know the one that's a half uh yeah what is it what is it that can be fine with that too and then I was playing by there just got out there for a bit you know but this yeah I'll go to the code yeah tell the uh you know

20:00

Yeah, but can you find what it is?

20:14

You know, but yeah, uh that can't scream.

20:51

Right.

20:54

Okay, there we go.

23:01

We can fix it for someone.

24:38

I thought you know what we've got.

28:34

I've been watching it maybe that's so crap.

32:12

Oh, feels like we can have support.

32:34

Oh, yeah.

32:46

Right.

33:24

I don't know when you see it.

33:53

Okay.

34:24

No.

34:29

We're ready.

35:00

Maybe we belong among the highest stars.

35:05

I can see what you gotta do.

35:22

Good morning, Birmingham.

35:23

This is the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council.

35:26

Today is Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

35:30

This morning, our invitation will be delivered by Reverend Herman Henderson, pastor of Believers Temple Church.

35:37

And our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councillor Crystal Smitherman.

35:41

If you're willing and able, please stand.

35:48

First of all, we say good morning to the councils.

35:52

Father God, I want to tell you thank you.

35:55

Thank you, God, for allowing each one of us to wake up this morning, God, just to give you the praise.

36:02

Lord, we pray for unity for our city.

36:05

Pray that you will allow us, God, to continue working in the direction that you want us to go.

36:12

Lord, you said in your word, whether it's unity, that is strength.

36:16

And God, we can see that our city is receiving strength, God.

36:20

And we ask that you would look on the mayor of the city, the president of the council, all the city councils, and all the leaders, God that represent this city.

36:31

And God, we know God, that's a wall that has to be built.

36:35

And sometimes, God, in building a wall, we sometimes don't understand the tools that we're working with.

36:41

But God, we know this morning, God, the wall will be built.

36:45

Because you have allowed us to see the direction, the vision, the purpose, and the direction you want us to go.

36:51

And God, we pray for the police department, our leaders that's leading us out there, God, to represent our city to keep crime down to help us understand that the problem that we're dealing with is bigger than us.

37:04

It's bigger than City Hall, it's bigger than the police department.

37:08

We pray for the parents of the church and God that don't understand the family structure.

37:14

And as this day, God, we believe, God, in your word, God, that you said, if my peoples, which are called by my name will humble themselves and seek my face and turn.

37:26

God, you said I will heal.

37:28

We believe healing is coming back, God.

37:30

We believe restoration is coming back.

37:33

We believe the grass are going to get green again, that our peoples are gonna flow.

37:37

And we believe, God, that unity is gonna strive, and that there's a thus, and there's a drive, that you are doing something great.

37:46

I hear you saying in your word, God, that that endeavored to keep the unity of the spirit and the bonds of peace.

37:54

God allow your peace, God, to operate in the land in the 99 neighborhoods.

38:00

Allow your neighborhood president to see the vision, to see the purpose.

38:05

And God, in my closing, you said in your word, God, write the vision.

38:11

Lord, this morning, the president of the council, the city council, the mayor, the police chief.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Miscellaneous█████████████████████21%
Transportation Safety███████████11%
Zoning Regulation███████7%
Neighborhood Planning██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Education████4%
Fiscal Sustainability██2%
Budgets██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - August 26, 2025

The Birmingham City Council convened in regular session on August 26, 2025, at 9:30 AM in the City Council Chambers. Council President O'Quinn presided over the meeting, with Councilmembers Abbott, Alexander, Smitherman, Tate (arrived late), and Williams present. Councilmembers Clarke, Moore, and Woods were absent. The pre-council meeting scheduled for 9:00 AM was canceled due to a lack of a quorum. The Council handled a large consent agenda, individual items, public testimony, and discussion on weed abatement and transit services before adjourning at 10:17 AM.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council approved the majority of the Consent Agenda, which contained dozens of resolutions for weed abatement special assessments (Items 1-28, 30-38), inoperable motor vehicle abatement (Items 29-38), various service contracts and agreements (Items 40, 42-55), and refunds (Item 46). Before the vote, several modifications were made: a citizen successfully requested the removal of Parcel 87 from Item 13; Councilmember Williams requested the removal of Parcel 156 from Item 21 for staff investigation; and Councilmember Williams removed Item 41 (ClasTran contract) for separate discussion. Councilmember Abbott questioned the funding structure of Item 40 (A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club) but permitted it to remain on consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Citizen Contesting Weed Abatement (Item 13): A property owner requested the removal of her parcel from the consent agenda. She stated the noxious weeds cited by the city had already been cleared and that the city had not performed an inspection to verify the work. The Council granted her request, withdrawing that parcel from the resolution.

Discussion Items

  • Paratransit Service Agreement (Item 41 - ClasTran): Councilmember Williams initiated a discussion on the two-year, $300,000 contract with the Birmingham Regional Paratransit Consortium (ClasTran). Questions were raised about a $50,000 increase over the prior contract and constituent complaints regarding inconsistent service, including reports of riders being taken to appointments but not returned. ClasTran Finance Manager Tiffany Taylor and Innovation Manager Owen Thomas explained the cost increase was driven by higher insurance, fuel, and operating expenses. They denied leaving riders stranded, stating the organization ensures complete trips. They detailed coordination with BJCTA to prevent service duplication. A council member noted that the new contract mandates monthly performance reports, addressing a previous gap in oversight.
  • Extension of Local Emergency for Vegetative Overgrowth (Item 57): The Council considered extending the local emergency for hazardous vegetative overgrowth by 45 days. Councilmember Williams expressed concern that the costs were being shouldered by taxpayers rather than delinquent property owners. Chief Mitchell clarified that the city does place liens on properties and that the $3.5 million budget covers contracted mowing while allowing Public Works crews to refocus on rights-of-way and alleys. Councilmember Abbott confirmed that the city is using reports from emergency declarations and public complaints to prioritize lots.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda Adopted: Unanimously approved with the removal of Parcel 87 (Item 13), Parcel 156 (Item 21), and Item 41 for separate consideration.
  • Quitclaim Deed Approved (Item 39): Adopted an ordinance authorizing the sale of a city-owned property at 920 47th Way South to Rapid Holdings, LLC for $9,438.07.
  • ClasTran Contract Approved (Item 41): The Council approved the $300,000, two-year paratransit contract, contingent on enhanced monthly reporting and continued coordination with BJCTA. The vote was unanimous.
  • Zoning Hearing Scheduled (Item 56): The Council set a public hearing for September 30, 2025, regarding rezoning property at 1219 19th Street South from C-O&I and QB-3 to C-1.
  • Local Emergency Extended (Item 57): The Council adopted the ordinance extending the local emergency for vegetative overgrowth through October 10, 2025.
  • Meeting Adjourned: The meeting concluded at 10:17 AM.

Meeting Transcript

I think I bring up the I didn't bring up the dinner. So we late some agenda. Agenda. I'm printing them out now. Okay. Thank you. Oh, yeah. No. So this is a good one. So you're right, how you're going to do this. Oh, that's really good. pick up our Easter almost at I should almost ask a high oh that's reaching that little bitch you let them talk about your little bitch that we try to be here to be played at one time make it basically no tell tell you I'm gonna shoot you out go to church y'all the dog no no no no no no tell them they go through the work sometimes and then you just got to check the all the way out there and put that out of gas and get them and get me up gas and get a kick yeah I didn't think it got yeah I'm about how about how about how speaking no anybody got on the people that know I think that's that's good they don't get they're gonna get by straight up and eat your thing she can't work for the city and work for the man what did that see they didn't see tell Jeff tell Johnny tell tell me tell them hey that tell me how somehow I push you over so I so you can receive the workers tell him I'll push you over so you can receive the workers get you make that stuff don't let that stop and get me to that channel that kind of what he said what that man said he said they gonna get paid you know John to tell them they're gonna get a big chip tell them what he said what they do they can do where we didn't go get paid you know and then he told me little boy what you got he told the boy that I just obeyed no you ain't got it you ain't got it you smoke you ain't got it what you talk about he's he said I got a man in the car isn't what I did I drop them all downtown we we gonna we're gonna be all right we're gonna be all right y'all got to the church yet doing I think yeah that's that we're gonna crisp wood double crispwood uh great church hold the other one crispwood okay and then what about the half rack and all that you know the one that's a half uh yeah what is it what is it that can be fine with that too and then I was playing by there just got out there for a bit you know but this yeah I'll go to the code yeah tell the uh you know Yeah, but can you find what it is? You know, but yeah, uh that can't scream. Right. Okay, there we go. We can fix it for someone. I thought you know what we've got. I've been watching it maybe that's so crap. Oh, feels like we can have support. Oh, yeah. Right. I don't know when you see it. Okay. No. We're ready. Maybe we belong among the highest stars. I can see what you gotta do. Good morning, Birmingham. This is the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council. Today is Tuesday, August 26, 2025. This morning, our invitation will be delivered by Reverend Herman Henderson, pastor of Believers Temple Church. And our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councillor Crystal Smitherman. If you're willing and able, please stand. First of all, we say good morning to the councils. Father God, I want to tell you thank you. Thank you, God, for allowing each one of us to wake up this morning, God, just to give you the praise. Lord, we pray for unity for our city. Pray that you will allow us, God, to continue working in the direction that you want us to go. Lord, you said in your word, whether it's unity, that is strength. And God, we can see that our city is receiving strength, God. And we ask that you would look on the mayor of the city, the president of the council, all the city councils, and all the leaders, God that represent this city. And God, we know God, that's a wall that has to be built. And sometimes, God, in building a wall, we sometimes don't understand the tools that we're working with. But God, we know this morning, God, the wall will be built. Because you have allowed us to see the direction, the vision, the purpose, and the direction you want us to go. And God, we pray for the police department, our leaders that's leading us out there, God, to represent our city to keep crime down to help us understand that the problem that we're dealing with is bigger than us. It's bigger than City Hall, it's bigger than the police department. We pray for the parents of the church and God that don't understand the family structure. And as this day, God, we believe, God, in your word, God, that you said, if my peoples, which are called by my name will humble themselves and seek my face and turn.

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