Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - September 16, 2025

The Birmingham City Council met on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 9:30 AM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included invocation by Rev. Laramie D. Long, Pledge of Allegiance by Councilor Clinton Woods, and roll call with all nine council members present (Council President O'Quinn, Abbott, Alexander, Clarke, Moore, Smitherman, Tate, Williams, Woods). The pre-council meeting scheduled for 9:00 AM was not held due to lack of quorum. The council approved minutes from April 15, 22, and 29, 2025, and noted minutes not ready from May 6 to September 9, 2025. Mayor Randall Woodfin presented proclamations recognizing Sandy Green for alopecia awareness and declaring September 21, 2025 as "Sun Day" in Birmingham, highlighting the city's efforts on clean energy and solar power. The mayor also offered condolences for the passing of security team member Larry Johnson Jr., Chef Michael Glenn, and retired Judge Teresa Pula Pouliant.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Resolution No. 1563-25 (corrected off-premise beer/wine license for Son of a Butcher, rescinding Resolution 1318-25).
• Approved Resolution Nos. 1564-25 through 1571-25 (various liquor license applications: Easy Stop, Cassanova Restaurant, High Dive, The Green Bean, The Hive, Champagne & Fried Chicken, The Classic Comedy Cookout, Greek Festival).
• Approved Ordinance Nos. 25-118, 25-119, 25-120, 25-121 (budget amendments transferring neighborhood allocation funds for library supplies, certified local government grant, East Ensley Library S.A.L.T. program, and traffic calming speed cushions).
• Approved Resolution Nos. 1572-25 through 1587-25 (agreements with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham ($4,500), Birmingham Board of Education ($1,000 and $7,998 for school supplies), Birmingham Time Media Group ($65,000), ESO Solutions ($170,498 for dispatch and $121,781.22 for EHR), HUB Worldwide ($5,000), Huffman Development Council ($20,000 for community garden), Jones Valley Teaching Farm ($300,000), McWane Science Center ($159,104), Me Time Book Club ($500), Red Mountain Theatre Company ($160,000), SecturaSOFT/Stella Source name change, Vertosoft ($1,525,118.09 for workforce software migration), Purdue/Sackler settlement participation, Children's Hospital bond issuance ($225,000,000), and demolition of 27 unsafe structures.
• Approved Resolution Nos. 1588-25 through 1614-25 (declaring buildings as public nuisances and ordering demolition for 27 properties).
• Approved Resolution Nos. 1615-25 through 1618-25 (bids for janitorial supplies, emergency equipment, office furniture, and repair parts).
• Approved Resolution Nos. 1619-25 through 1622-25 (employee advance and expense accounts for travel).
• Note: Item 68 (portable air conditioning rental for polling place) was withdrawn.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 72 – 20th Avenue South Closure Public Hearing: Multiple residents of 20th Avenue South spoke in favor of closing the street to vehicular traffic at Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. S. to prevent cut-through traffic, reduce safety hazards, and preserve the residential character. Speakers cited 300 additional cars per day projected from a new car wash, lack of sidewalks, and previous accidents. Lisa Lewis (2000 20th St S) said she has had three cars in her yard. Antonio Caraballo emphasized danger to children and dog walkers. John Barney Castle questioned the traffic study numbers and noted 15,828 cars per day on Richard Arrington per ALDOT. Mike Douglas, attorney for Tidal Wave car wash, opposed the closure, stating it would make the site inoperable and that the city had already approved a traffic study and speed bumps. The neighborhood association president of Central City spoke in favor, calling it a commitment to putting people first.
• Final Public Comments: William Muhammad (411 Lorain St) complained that a District 4 candidate impugned his integrity on social media and declined to participate in a debate, expressing concern about low voter turnout.

Discussion Items

• Item 14 – Building and Housing Code Lien Enforcement Ordinance (Ord. 25-123): The council discussed and adopted an ordinance adding a new chapter to the General Code to implement state law (Act 2024-246) allowing judicial in rem foreclosure of municipal code enforcement and nuisance abatement liens, effective October 1, 2025, excluding owner-occupied properties. The ordinance passed unanimously (9-0).
• Item 15 – Oak Hill Memorial Association Additional Funding (Ord. 25-124): The council approved an additional $25,000 for repair of the eastern perimeter wall at Oak Hill Cemetery (roughly 600 linear feet), increasing the FY2025-2026 agreement to $226,297. Stuart Oates explained the wall is a retaining wall that has had two breaches. The ordinance passed unanimously.
• Item 19 – Birmingham Jefferson County Port Authority Funding: The council approved a $125,000 funding agreement to install a 6-inch tap on a water main to support construction of a 25,000 sq ft warehouse at the Birmingham Port Terminal. Some council members noted it did not go through committee but passed unanimously.
• Item 29 – ShotSpotter Renewal (SoundThinking, Inc.): The council approved a three-year renewal agreement for ShotSpotter gunshot detection service from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2028, at a cost not to exceed $3,034,920 (a 5% increase of about $144,000). Council members discussed coverage (20 square miles), integration with cameras and drones, and the need for more sensors. Chief Pickett noted that 30-40% of alerts have no 911 call. The resolution passed unanimously.
• Items 61 & 62 – Tree Removal Bids: The council approved bids for tree removal services: AE LLC dba Ace Tree Service (Birmingham) for 15 bid lines, and Asplundh Tree Expert LLC (Alabaster) for 15 bid lines, at unit prices, for one year. Discussion clarified these are for pickup of existing downed trees, not cutting. Council members expressed concern about limited city crews and the need for a tree replanting plan. Both resolutions passed unanimously.
• Item 67 – Payment to Williams Fire Apparatus: The council approved payment of $46,641.75 for outstanding invoices for fire apparatus repairs. Councilor Abbott asked about the delay; staff cited waiting for new invoices due to tariff-related price increases. The resolution passed unanimously.
• Item 72 – 20th Avenue South Traffic Closure (Ord. 25-122): Following the public hearing, the council voted to authorize the Traffic Engineer to close 20th Avenue South to vehicular traffic at a point roughly 190 feet from Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. S., allowing pedestrian/bicycle and emergency access. The ordinance passed unanimously (9-0).

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items approved unanimously (9-0) including 71 items (resolutions, ordinances, bids, and expense accounts).
• Ordinance 25-122 (20th Avenue South closure) adopted unanimously.
• Ordinance 25-123 (Building and Housing Code Lien Enforcement) adopted unanimously, effective October 1, 2025.
• Ordinance 25-124 (Oak Hill Cemetery wall repair additional $25,000) adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 1623-25 (Port Authority funding $125,000) adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 1624-25 (ShotSpotter renewal $3,034,920) adopted unanimously.
• Resolutions 1625-25 and 1626-25 (tree removal bids for Ace Tree Service and Asplundh Tree) adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 1627-25 (payment of $46,641.75 to Williams Fire Apparatus) adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 1628-25 (Resolution of sympathy for Chef Michael Glenn) adopted unanimously.
• Next Steps: Mayor's office to provide updates on recycling cart notifications, route optimization opt-in, and tree replanting plan. Council to forward locations of remaining tree debris to public works. Budget and Finance Committee meeting scheduled for September 22, 2025; Public Safety Committee for September 23, 2025.