She was angry.

She's going away.

Did we get new chairs?

No cover something.

Oh look at it.

Okay.

Oh, the couple would be ideal.

She's missing vinyl, maybe.

Oh you think vinyl would have been better?

Oh well yeah.

And then allergies.

I mean coffee.

Yeah, it's bad for your allergies.

Tell me the baby girl's not in college yet.

Oh, did she not?

She turned out.

And Charles' doing okay.

Yeah.

That's good.

I just saw Connie's daughter and husband and baby and another baby on the way, and I'm like, what is the wire up?

Right.

It's going on.

She doesn't put it.

I don't want to say that yeah, it's uh you have been putting that.

She's good.

I said Charlie.

Hey, darling.

Oh my god.

I'm fantastic.

I uh when they ask me to come back.

It's a good thing.

It is.

It's a good thing.

So I just stay busy all the time.

Unfortunately.

I just took it.

And then I was just elected uh sad.

Right.

I can't say no.

Ooh.

That's all I can say.

And um I was just elected.

What was it?

Almost three weeks ago.

Oh chair.

It's like the residing editor for the Northern District churches are gonna be.

Oh that's awesome.

It is it's uh paid for a time.

Yeah, hey.

Yeah, there were some other people up for it.

And I just thought Lord, I said, well I'm good if I do, but I'm good if I don't.

I'm still gonna work.

And then I I have the state.

We had a state office already, so I'm like the CDU too.

Um looking to be here.

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

I think I'm at a mailbone at the time, but they won't have something.

And I can't find that.

But I'm gonna find it.

And I know I need to get it.

I'm not fine.

I think I've got that.

Yeah, yeah.

And so we play for it.

We keep my still.

Oh yeah.

She's something Mr.

Joe.

Yeah.

KFC and the tool.

I think they got some offer.

Oh, okay.

Oh, Mr.

Mr.

He does all the work for me.

So also working on the okay.

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Oh, yeah.

Right.

It's replaced by what you want for five too.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah.

Oh, okay.

Well, it is just a little bit more.

Um that's a good three weeks ago.

Yeah, it was just electric for the northern district, which is a bad so now because they are pretty good.

Okay.

Yeah, absolutely.

I had people running against me, but that is working.

Thank you.

I didn't think that's what it's about.

I was in there, and she had put in feet for that.

Yeah.

I didn't know that.

Okay, I'm glad you're telling us.

You two side.

Yeah, this is a little bit more.

Oh yeah, yeah.

It's gone to the claim to be a worry.

You got to be able to know how long you just say that.

Oh boy, I think I do that like I've got any.

Okay, tell us about it.

Yeah.

So you're in the trick down.

So that's the question.

Yeah.

Yes.

Of course, yeah.

Yeah.

So I guess it's great.

Okay.

Oh, it's good to see.

Always good.

Oh, yeah.

Okay, go play with that.

That's well scary.

Yeah, yeah.

All right.

Sorry, questions.

We'll just stay in the work.

Okay.

Yeah.

Don't come out now.

Good morning, Birmingham.

This is the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council.

Today is Tuesday, September twenty-third, twenty twenty-five.

This morning our invocation will be delivered by Miss Erlen Reverend Miss Erlen Prince, pastor of the Church of God of Pratt City and presiding elder for the Northern District of the Church of Church of God.

And our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Council President Pro Tim Wardine Alexander.

If you're willing and able, please stand.

It's good to be home.

Let us pray.

And for the opportunity to serve its people.

Councilmember Woods.

Good morning.

Council President Protein Alexander.

Council President O'Quinn.

Good morning.

Council, the minutes are not ready for the May 6, 2025 through September 16th, 2025 meetings.

This time we'll have communications from Mayor Whiffin.

Good morning.

Mr.

President, good morning to you.

Council is good to see you all this morning.

To the general public, those here in the chamber and those online.

Good morning as well.

This Saturday is Fiesta 2025.

Saturday, September 27th is Fiesta 2025, which is Alabama's largest Hispanic celebration of arts and culture.

There will be a lot of music, storytelling, wrestling exhibitions and 174 booths.

That's a lot of booths, actually.

With everything from delicious food and Ford and Resources.

Taco eating contests.

We need to participate in lots more in Land Park.

I want to encourage you all to attend the event, which starts at noon and ends at 8 p.m.

It is a very fun environment.

And this year's mission is absolutely free.

So get your free ticket and details at FiestaBam.com.

Again, that is FiestaBeham.com.

Shared this last week, but it's worth sharing again because it's important information, and that is the food truck informational meeting.

CEO Birmingham invites all food truck operators, tent and table food vendors as well as event organizers to attend an important informational session next Tuesday, September 30th at the Bow Will.

That address is 1930, Reverend Abraham Woods Jr.

Boulevard.

The event will be from 4 to 7 p.m.

During this session, it is designed to help vendors and planners understand what is required to legally operate a mobile food business within our city limits.

We'll also provide critical information for those planning to sell food, clothing and beverages, park cars or organize events during the Magic City Classic.

Emphasis on those who want to park cars during the Magic City Classic.

And for more information, you can register for this free event at Birmingham AL.gov slash food truck.

Again, that's Birmingham AL.gov slash food truck.

This time, Mr.

President and Council, I would like to ask Dr.

Barry Sleckman, Director of the UAB O'Neill Comprehensive Cancer Center, and his guests to join me at the podium.

By myself, yes.

All right.

This young man leads Alabama's only national cancer institute.

This institute is designated comprehensive cancer center.

It is a world-class center that has physicians, researchers, and experts who focus on personalized care.

Today is here to talk to us more about the importance of being screened for prostate cancer.

Doc.

Yeah.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you all for the opportunity to address you today.

I've been the director of the O'Neill Comprehensive Cancer Center for five years now.

And I want to thank you at the start for your commitment, the commitment of this city to partnering with us to help reduce uh cancer burdens and cancer disparities in this community.

It started really my first interaction was with the fire department.

I don't know if you're aware, but firefighters have an increased rate and increased mortality from pretty much all cancers except lung cancer.

Uh and uh the chief contacted me.

I did not contact him.

He contacted me to say that he was concerned about that and wanted to start awareness programs and access programs for the firefighters, and we've been working with him on that.

Uh and then over the last two years, wellness events that we've run every year for people in the community, uh in the Birmingham community in collaboration with uh with City Hall and the mayor's office.

Uh and now uh these events for screening, the first one will be this Thursday for prostate cancer screening for Birmingham employees, uh, run in collaboration with uh B.

Well Bham.

Uh, I hope that that will be the first of many others uh focused on uh other types of cancers for which there are screening opportunities uh that we can uh make uh available to employees of the city.

Uh you have had a remarkable commitment.

This is the third cancer center I've worked in in one capacity or another in three different cities, and you all have had a remarkable commitment uh to your community and to your employees.

And so I'm here today to make a commitment to you.

Uh, as Mayor Woodfin said, this is an NCI, a National Cancer Institute designated cancer center.

Now I would say that probably many people in the room don't know what that is, so let me just tell you about that for a minute, and more importantly, why it's important that if cancer is of concern uh to an employee to anyone in the community, they should be seen at an NCI designated center.

There are 73 of these centers around the country.

Uh, the one at UAB was one of the first eight that was designated in 1972.

So it has been continuously designated now for more than 50 years.

These centers are held to the highest possible standards uh of research, outreach, and patient care.

In fact, will be held to that standard next May when we get reviewed, which is a five-year review, which we're preparing for now.

Uh cancer care, uh, having cancer is not a faith complete.

It's not.

Uh, there are options now for people with cancer, and those options are changing literally every day due to clinical research which is occurring at this cancer center and the other 72.

So I tell people all around the country when they call uh if you have cancer or you're concerned about cancer, go to an NCI designated center.

If it's not convenient to be treated there, it's okay.

Learn about all your options, and then work with the physicians at an NCI designated center to carve out a treatment plan that works for you from an effective standpoint and a standpoint of being able to be close to your home.

We're now working with health centers uh in the southern part of Alabama and the northern part of Alabama to make sure that people with cancer in those regions can get the advantages of uh NCI designated care close to home.

So that's my commitment to you.

Uh, if you tell a friend, a neighbor, a colleague that that is worried about cancer, they really ought to go to the O'Neill Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Probably the first thing they'll say is, I can't park.

Okay.

I can't park either.

All right.

But it's important that they come.

And I would say uh there's any hesitance getting an appointment, getting a parking spot, whatever, tell them to contact me.

It's easy to find me.

I'm on the internet.

Uh, you can ask uh Gene O'Reaser, he knows how to get in touch with me, or just remember my email, which is BPS at UAB.edu.

Put in the subject line, it matters where you're treated first, and I guarantee you I'll respond to that email, and I'll help you get access to be seen uh at the NCI designated center, which is right in your backyard.

Thank you.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Thank you, Doug.

And very important what you discussed before.

All the men in this chamber on this day is and men here in the city of Birmingham and around the world.

Mr.

President Council, I have one more um presentation.

Um, if you were unaware, September is Deaf Awareness Month.

DAF, Deaf Awareness Month.

And so at this time we have a very special guest.

His name is Aaron Scott.

I would like to ask Aaron Scott and his guest to draw me at the podium.

And I intentionally may talk a little slower as I share this presentation.

So please bear with me.

The month of September is recognized as Deaf Awareness Month.

A time dedicated to promoting understanding of deaf language.

Not just deaf language, but its culture, history, and countless contributions of the deaf community.

Aaron Scott, who is deaf.

Has shown exemplary passion and dedication to the deaf community here in Birmingham.

Serving as an advocate and representative while working to build bridges between deaf and hard of hearing individuals to foster mutual understanding and awareness.

And so today, today we would like to take a moment to honor the resilience and tenacity of those who are in the deaf and hearing impaired community.

In the states whereas approximately 8,260 residents in Birmingham, and more than a half a million individuals in Alabama experience hearing loss significant enough to affect their daily lives, underscoring the importance of recognition, accessibility, and inclusion for this community.

And whereas raising awareness during deaf awareness month encourages greater accessibility, equity, and understanding while promoting mental health support, inclusion, and the recognition of deaf culture as an integral part of our society and community.

Now, therefore, I ran all L.

Whitfan, mayor of the City of Birmingham, along with the Birmingham City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2025 as Deaf Awareness Month in the City of Birmingham, and urge all residents to recognize support and honor the contributions, culture, and advocacy of the deaf and heart of hearing community.

And Mr.

President of the Council, at this time, I would like to ask Mr.

Scott to present to you.

Hello, hello, hello.

Good morning.

My name is Scott.

I want to begin to acknowledge my mayor worston and the city council members of the city of Birmingham.

I want to thank you for the opportunity to be here to receive this proclamation on behalf of the deaf community.

And also I want to share with you a special gift, which is showcase my talent of dance, and I'll have the opportunity to perform for the deaf festival last weekend with such a blessing.

And also it's the month to acknowledge National Deaf Awareness Month, and I just showcase a video of the breathing keepers and SD.

Take on the morning like this servant.

Good things are yours that came in your bottom at the way.

This is a common.

Thank you, Mayor Whitman.

Um Councillor Abbott.

Mr.

Mayor.

Regarding the presentation on the free PSA test at Be Well Clinic.

Um, what other things are available at Be Well for our employees that they can take advantage of right now?

I think there's more than just PSA tests for men.

But I'm gonna let this young man introduce himself and tell you.

Good morning, everybody.

I'm uh Geno Reza, the employee wellness specialist here at the city of Birmingham, and uh my job is to make sure all of our employees are being well.

So uh to answer your question, uh Councillor Abbott, um, we have um each week we try to start the week off or the month off, depending on the month's theme.

Um with the wellness theme, we started off.

We've had uh ask the doctor series.

If some of you have may have seen on the first floor of um of City Hall, we bring in a different uh physician each week, um, not each week, but once a month to talk about things based on the theme of the month.

So this month was uh prostate cancer awareness uh month, and so we had uh Jeffrey Nix as our ask the doctor.

Uh also on Wednesdays, we have um what's called Wellness Wednesdays.

If you've seen us outside on the plaza for wellness Wednesday, we have different vendors once again all aligned with the theme of the month for health and wellness.

Uh, like I said, this month was prostate cancer awareness, and so we had uh several um uh physicians and uh resources out there surrounding prostate cancer awareness.

So each week um and each month we have a different opportunity, a different wellness opportunity for our employees to take place in.

So are any vaccines available at our clinic?

Well, that would be uh a question with Dr.

Cree.

I mean, they do have uh vaccines available.

I I don't want to speak to exactly everything that they have available with the Be Well Clinic, but Dr.

Cree um does have vaccines available, uh COVID.

Uh we will have flu shots getting ready to come up uh for the uh October and September, you know, getting ready for flu season.

So you could definitely look forward to that.

You'll see the signs and the um uh flyers for those.

Good, thank you.

I'm a big fan of our clinic.

They do a great job.

They've done a great job.

Who can complain about free?

Can't complain about free.

No.

As long as we still are free.

Yes, no copay.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Council without objection, we'll suspend the rules for presentations this morning.

We have a presentation from Council President Pro Tem Wardine Alexander.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Good morning, everyone.

I would have the opportunity today to bring before you Miss Jackie Fazikas and members of the Winona High School Community Wellness Peer Club.

If you all will come on up to the podium, as they join us at the podium, they're here this morning to discuss the community wellness experience event that will take place at Winona High School on Saturday, October 4th.

Community health and wellness is one of the three focus points that we have in District 7, and so I'm excited today to present them.

Tell us a little bit more about the event.

Thank you.

Hi there, thank you for uh hosting us and allowing us to tell of our event.

My name is Jackie Fazikas Verner, and I am the executive director of Bama Wellness Advocacy.

One of the things that we do with the advocacy is we have initiated a peer wellness club at Winona High School, and we really are the wind the wind underneath their wings for them to do all the activities that they so desire to transform the health of their community.

So today I have Angel who and many of our seniors here that have been instrumental in starting the club and will tell you about the events uh go forward.

So thank you so much.

Angels good morning.

My name is Angel, and I'm a senior at Winona High School.

And the Wellness Club goal is to promote health and wellness throughout the community.

We host many events that promote wellness.

We do taste testing for healthy options and alternatives.

We do movement sessions, we do goal setting.

It's really for wellness for your overall body, mental health, and physical.

And some of the some of my peers want to tell your experience in the wellness club.

Thank you.

Hey, good morning.

My name is Donovan, and I go and I'm a senior at Winona High School, and I'm going to be telling y'all about a little mage on the wellness club.

So the only thing I literally joined the wellness club was Mr.

Turner and Miss Jackie because our experience a whole bunch of stuff.

Like I said, we have events coming on Saturday, October 4th, 2025 at Winona High School Jam starts at 12:30 and ends at 3.30.

And we got parents.

Hello, my name is Paris, and I'm also a senior at Vinona High School.

And I joined our health club because I have allergies, like peanut allergies.

And when it comes to healthy stuff, it's hard to find anything that's very healthy for me without my allergies inside of them.

And that's why I decided to join the wellness club to find something more healthy for me, this my body.

Thank you.

Well, thank you.

So the community wellness experience is an experience we will be hosting October 4th at the Winona High School Gym.

Is the health teacher?

And uh he and I decided uh we needed to do this for our community.

Um this will be the first one of many go forward.

Um it is October 4th, starting at 12 30 to 3 30.

It's a passport to wellness.

Our peer club will host and guide, they will be the tour guides for both a nutrition, a fitness track, and a mental health track, as well as resources.

Um, and this is just one of many.

We have a uh second one starting in November 8th in the uh Fountain Heights Rec Center in great partnership with the Park and Rec Center that uh we've been supported.

So we invite you all to come out and see how we collectively can use this community wellness experience to bring wellness into our neighborhoods by community and uh fostering mamas.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

And if we can have the other students that didn't speak, if you'll just come to the mic and give us your name, and I think you're all a seniors, right?

Go ahead.

My name is Terry Nisa Woods.

My name is Teradisa Lewis.

Thank you.

My name is Summer Clark.

Thank you, Salmer.

And my name is Jalen Jules.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Turner, go ahead and tell us a little bit about your role there as the health instructor.

Well, thank you for having me.

I'm so blessed to be here.

I'm Mr.

Turner.

I'm the health and wellness uh educator at Winorna High School, also the swimming coach, just in case you wanted to know.

Um, but this is my core group.

When I moved here from Maryland two years ago, you know, it was put upon me that I wanted to do something, you know, for Birmingham, wasn't quite sure, but I was blessed by meeting Miss Jackie and then these students.

So I'm teaching health, and I said, guys, what do you think?

And these were my core group, give or take three people that said, let's do it.

And so people asked me how it evolved, but I said they had the buy-in and the ideas.

We were just here to help them facilitate and help them with their goals.

So I'm so happy to be here.

I'm Mr.

Turner.

Um, and thank you guys for having us.

Thank you so much.

At this time, we do have some medals that we'd like to give to the students.

We appreciate you for taking the opportunity to bring us more information about health and wellness.

We know a lot of it starts in the home, and so we encourage you to talk with other students, and we're just asking the public to come out for this community health wellness event again.

It's Saturday, October 4th.

Now, Jackie has been very humble.

She hasn't told you about a little bit more about herself, but I want to thank you personally.

You are the type of individual that we love in our community.

You came back home, you took back over your family business, and you have the health health and wellness business in Central Park.

And so I want to thank you for investing in the community, coming back and investing in us.

And so we appreciate you.

Thank you all so much.

All right, thank you.

I'll read our statement on the conduct of business.

All items designated as consent are 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 request the item be removed from the consent agenda.

Additionally, a citizen interested in addressing a 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.

Mr.

Clerk, please read through our items on our consent agenda.

Consent agenda for today starts on page two with items one, two, and three.

Um page three.

Items four and five are on consent.

Please note that on item number four.

Uh you should have received an updated agreement with the strikeout changes, red line by the law department.

And also note that on item number four, it was recommended by transportation and infrastructure.

As well as budget and finance.

And on item five was also recommended by budget and finance.

Page four.

We have items six, seven, and eight on consent.

Page five, we have items nine, ten, and eleven on consent, and on item number eleven, uh we're gonna change five hundred dollars to sixteen hundred dollars, and I don't know one, two, three, fourth line up.

Um starts off with said funds.

It should be strike said funds and add five hundred dollars, and it will start five hundred dollars will come from and then the GL account number.

And as far as the funds are concerned, the breakdown is $300 from district three, three hundred dollars from district nine, and five hundred dollars from district seven, and the total amount is sixteen hundred dollars.

Page six uh we have items twelve, thirteen, and fourteen on consent, fourth line from the bottom.

Um we should strike well, beginning on the fifth time is of the essence and performing the work.

So we need to strike time is of the essence and performing the work of that synopsis.

Page seven, we pick back up with the consent agenda with items 15, 16, and 17.

Page 8, items 18, 19, and 20 are on consent.

Page nine, items 21, 22, 23, and 24 are on consent.

Page 10, items 25, 26, 27, and 28 are on consent.

Uh page 11.

Items 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 are on consent.

Uh page 12, item number 34 is on consent, and we have two addendum items.

Okay.

Do any members of the council wish to um remove any of the uh consent agenda items?

Counselor Smithman.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

I would like to remove items three on page two, items four and five on page three, item nine on page five, and then for item number one.

We don't yeah, can we take off consent to item number one?

Okay, three, four, and five and one and nine.

I am nine on page five, and also item one on page two.

Okay, okay, counselor Abbott.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like to remove item six from the consent agenda.

Okay, counselor more.

I'd like to add item uh 36 to consent.

Oh no, she objects it.

Oh all right, careful.

Okay, um we have no public hearing items on our consent agenda, so we're ready for a motion on the consent agenda.

It is not on the consent agenda.

Item 36 is not on the consent agenda.

Do you want to add this one?

All in favor that you want to say aye.

Aye.

We'll say nay.

Okay.

The consent agenda is approved.

Item one, please.

Item one in ordinance to further amend the general fund budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 by transferring 166,072 from finance grant expenditure, grant match and appropriating 166,072 to non-departmental transfer to fund 36 grant match, and to further amend the grant match fund budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 by appropriating 94,898 dollars to innovation and economic opportunity proceeds sales of capital assets, rise direct cash and 71,174 dollars to proceeds sales of capital assets, rise revolving loan motion, please.

Second item is before you.

All right, councillor Smithman.

Uh can we um even though it's recommended by my committee, I would like a um motion to move this item to the next economic and development committee meeting.

Second um before we vote, can I make sure?

Okay, thank you.

Council Clark.

Yeah, so uh I really like the rise program.

I just feel like having it's funding coming from liquidation of city assets uh creates a conflict that encourages them to liquidate city assets rather than think about how they may be used more strategically uh sometimes in non-cash transactions to induce things we'd like to happen in certain places.

So I feel like we need to create another funding source for RISE.

That's just a comment, and I I want to place it with the economic development committee because like many times if you if you think about affordable housing, I mean it's it's infeasible to charge for the land and expect people to provide housing at a low price.

So I think creating this probably creates a conflict with community development and their goals, and just encourages the liquidation of assets without maybe as much thought to strategy as we probably should have.

That's just my it's just a gut feeling I have about this.

It's it's bothered me for a long time.

So I just wanted to put it out there while I still could.

So I agree with the um referral to economic development so that we can talk more about strategy and how to fund this.

Okay, Council Warriors.

Just in response to your comments, Ms.

Clark, I couldn't agree with you more.

I think that the uh I have the same sentiments that you do.

I know there's a motion in a second.

Um, but just for the administration's point, you know, for economic development, we I've tried to get in touch with them now for over a week.

We've I can't get anybody to call me back, email me back.

Um, so anyway, motion and a second to send it back to committee or send it to committee for the first time.

All right.

Ready for the vote.

I'll favor letting me know by saying aye.

All right, so item one will be referred to the economic development and tourism committee.

Item three, please.

Item three a resolution pursuant to section 11-40-1, code of Alabama 1975.

Uh the city has authorized the contract for authorized goods and services authorized the mayor to spend one million dollars to the Birmingham Board of Education IMC Financial Consulting LLC.

The city desires to improve the financial stability of its citizens with low and moderate household income and endeavors to embed financial empowerment programming into the heart of the city of Birmingham to improve individual and family financial stability that will ultimately impact the overall local economy by increasing their quality of life.

The city is in partnership with the consultant, the board have come together to establish a one-of-a-kind financial literacy initiative called the Financial Freedom Project.

The funds will come from accountant 1611.527.091.

The term will be for school year 2025 to 2026.

Motion please.

Mother item.

All right, Councilor Smithman.

Um I know Mr.

Cooper gave us a great presentation yesterday at BNF committee meeting, but I kind of want to would like him to say the same things you said yesterday, but to the public, it was really good information.

And I watched my video, I really really liked it.

Thank you.

Well, good morning, everyone.

Uh, thank you for your time.

Uh, last night you may have received an email from us that laid out all of the different assets.

The videos are in your report for you to be able to review at your time.

Uh, through that, your investment has yielded an incredible return.

And so as we move into our fourth year, we've grown uh over the last three years uh at a hundred percent as in regards of the schools that we're in.

So we'll be in 27 schools this school year.

Uh the average increase in regards to pretests and post-tests, so data is extremely important when it pertains to the work that we do.

So, yes, the the students are having an incredible time in the classroom, but they are learning, and the way in which we've designed our curriculum is that we work directly not only with the board of education and their leadership, uh, but also with the instructional superintendents to get a great understanding of the core curriculum they need to know at that grade level.

So if it's at elementary school, what are the different learning components when it pertains to mathematics that we we need to embed the financial concepts in?

And then if it's in uh their seniors at 12th graders, what are some of the core elements of economics that we need to embed our financial concepts in?

And so we've seen tremendous results, um, and really grateful to work with Birmingham City School leadership in regards of the feeder pattern we established three years ago because we've been able to trek alongside uh our students and their successes.

And so you know, three years ago we had a student named Derek that was an eighth grader at Southampton, and now he's going into his 11th grade at Ramsey, and he's telling us how he's about to buy a car and he got his first job.

And so those same information and principles they've been able to utilize real time.

And then as you know, our program is comprehensive.

So we include the faculty and staff, we include the parents.

So there are one on one consultations, there are workshops for them to be able to get free estate planning done for them to get their budgeting in place for the best ways to be able to increase their credit.

And so our data is there.

We we not only have the quantitative data in regards to the growth, but also the confidence measurements, right?

What what how confident are they on when it pertains to approaching these different topics and opportunities?

So throughout our annual report, we lay out not only the data, but one of the pieces that we were very grateful and being challenged on is our third party assessment.

And so councilwoman Clark asked us about who is looking at our data to make sure that you know you could put any number on the spreadsheet, but there's a level of integrity that comes with the work that we do that we wanted to make sure that reflected the growth in a transparent way.

And so Dr.

Jesse Jurgensen, he is a professor at Texas Tech University, they have the number one financial planning department in the country, and he's been able to sign off in regards to not only the growth, but the integrity of our design that is impacting not only the residents but also the the uh Birmingham City School students.

And so here to really say thank you for the investment, but also we're just getting started.

Um we've uh implemented uh some of the I would say newer iterations of a curriculum, and so we're we're listening while we're inside the classroom, so we know that there are more Spanish speaker students inside the classroom.

So we've translated our curriculum in Spanish.

We've we've added more individuals on our team to be able to provide workshops for the parents that are in Spanish as well.

All I got is Ola.

After that, I can't say too much after that.

And so we had to make sure that folks could feel their culture in the translation of our information, but also we honor it within that process.

Uh, second, we are excited to announce and grateful for the mayor for the introduction with Edward Jones is our inaugural investment club.

And so this will be deployed amongst all high schools.

It will be a selection process, uh rigorous course, right?

Portfolio configuration, best way to assess companies.

Um, and we're gonna use this as a great opportunity to establish you know I would say a competitive way to be able to get an understanding of equities, especially knowing what inflation is doing real time.

And then also you'll see within the report, uh, hopefully you were able to either watch the videos or join us real time, uh, was our financial freedom project week.

And so this was a week of activities, or we talked about name image and lightness, the future of digital assets.

We had our students on panel discussions and industry experts to be able to provide more insight on some of the evolution around money, but also to celebrate our youth.

And so we bust in students from all schools.

We provided them with food, and we had the opportunity to be with the community.

So as they walked into the event, there were different plates with QR codes that that gave them instruction to community resources at no cost to them.

So we are continuing to expand, we're gonna continue to innovate.

Um last thing I will share in regards to uh a newer development is that as we've had one-on-one consultations with faculty and staff and parents, it's a lot of people.

So we needed to uh embark upon technology that allowed us to be able to do that at a rapid rate.

How can someone get a link through email and and feel like they're sitting down with a financial planner and a financial advisor?

And so we've been working with a company called Incentivize to essentially um reward them to become more financially stable.

And so we've been beta, we we're in beta mode with in regards of our our pilot, and so grateful working with uh BCS leadership to get the best addition of what this could be to support the faculty and staff on their financial journey.

So I'll pause there.

Um there's a good bit more I could say that just want to see if there's any curiosities or questions you may have.

Um Alexander.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Like Counselor Smithman said, I did watch the video last night as well.

So thank you for that.

Very good video.

I know some of these questions we did ask, but I want to re-ask a few of them so that the public has that same information that was shared with us yesterday at budget and finance.

I know you talked about the growth of the number of schools that are now participating.

Tell us a little bit about how that growth and we talked yesterday, asked a question about feeder pattern, how you go from elementary, middle to high school.

So could you tell us a little bit how that evolves?

Absolutely.

So when we started year one, we were in six schools, two elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.

If you look at the national data in regards to what financially looks like in in K through 12, it is at the fourth, eighth, and twelfth grade level.

It was established by Jumpstart.

And so that's what we modeled our infrastructure from.

And so that feeder pattern definitely drove how we wanted to track the data alongside of the students.

And so as we went from six schools to 13 schools, 13 schools to 20 schools, and then 20 to now 27, we wanted to make sure that we included that feeder pattern information that we were able to get from the district, um, just so we can you know follow them within their wins.

So within the growth that we've seen, it's been minimum double digit in regards to pre and post-test results.

As you can see, I want to say it may be uh the increase in high school are at 10%, and then everything up is it is at 16 and 18.

And so what we are seeing not only the understanding of this information, but there's a lot of excitement tied to it.

School is great, right?

I I love school, but it is it's a bit funny as we walk in, you'll see students say, All right, I'm gonna go to class today.

I know y'all was coming in.

Like there is this excitement to be able to talk about money because they can use it real time.

And so um the the growth is at a rate in which you know we're getting other schools are saying, like, hey, hey, we want y'all in our school, we're hearing about the the the wins that's happening um in the classroom.

And so we're we are grateful for our partnership with Birmingham City Schools to make sure that we have an intentional growth strategy that isn't alignment with the feeder pattern that's been established.

Thank you.

And the other question I had, and what piqued my uh curiosity was talking about the financial freedom project week.

And I love the fact that you include topics that I think are very um near and dear to the students to things that they're thinking about, like uh name, image likeness, NIL, and uh bitcoins or currency, those type things.

So, is this a part of the entire year?

Is this something that you do to jump start?

Tell me a little bit about the project week.

Great question.

So the financial freedom project we was established during Financial Literacy Month, which is in April.

So it was the last week in April to be able to celebrate really that national um uh spotlight.

Within that, it it gives us the opportunity, just as you mentioned, to get deeper into topics that we may not be able to spend three weeks on, right?

We can't spend three weeks on crypto, but we can talk about how digital assets is really in their pocket right now, Cash App, PayPal, Venmo, and then of course some of the ways in which they can get into cryptocurrency in a compliant way.

Um so we wanted to make sure that knowing that this is still evolving in regards to the compliance around cryptocurrency, the compliance around name and image and likeness, and seeing how much of our youth within Birmingham City Schools is either interested in it or they're in it real time.

I I can uh I'm gonna look at Dr.

Lamar, but it may have been close to about two to three million dollars of student athletes in Birmingham City Schools that receive dollars through NIL.

And so that puts a lot of pressure on the family.

It puts a lot of pressure on that 16, 17, 18-year-old to be able to navigate these decisions on concepts they wouldn't know unless they Googled it, right?

And so we wanted to make sure that we brought in these experts to make sure that we stay ahead of the curve.

Because I truly believe what we've designed here is one of the top uh in the country when you look at financial literacy at a K through 12 level.

Thank you.

Thank you, Doctor.

Okay.

Other questions?

All right, Council Woods.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I was just gonna add, man, uh I appreciate the program that you put together.

I think that uh more than anything, it's important to take the information to those that need it.

And so being able to put that into the schools and supplement uh in that way, but just have heard a lot of positive things coming back from it.

And I remember uh just kind of the idea of it.

Yeah, uh, just excited to see it not only uh happen, but then be able to be sustainable and keep it going.

So uh kudos.

Thank you.

All right, Council Moore.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, I know that we can kind of see some of the the feedback in the the um presentation that you've given us, but wanted to just kind of hear some, I guess some wins from parents that y'all have, you know, been able to uh extract.

Like what are parents saying about the program?

Absolutely.

So um I'm smiling because I'm thinking about our elementary school students.

So we talk about wants versus needs, variable expenses versus fixed expenses.

And so when we talk to our, especially our younger students about budgeting, one of the things they learn is that all right, if I that TV stay on, that's a higher bill.

That light stay on, that's a higher bill.

So we may talk to a parent and say, man, why is Lil Johnny come home and turn the lights off as soon as he gets gets out of school?

Because now he's looking at I want to go take a trip to Disney.

So we need to save more money.

So parents are seeing their children play more of a role in their finances, and it's also allowed the conversation around money to not be, you know, such of a heavy lift.

And um alongside that, parents are just grateful.

They're really grateful that their students are able to get this type of exposure early because sometimes it's tough to talk about these concepts if you haven't managed it well yourself.

And that's one of the biggest gaps that we see within households is that there's this confidence in approaching the dialogue around credit because their credit may be at a 580 at that time.

And so, in order to be able to give them the tools, the tips and the techniques, that has um taken pressure off the parent, which is why we wanted to make sure we provided workshops and one-on-one consultations for the parents so they can be on that same journey with the student.

Because you can talk about the best way to W your money, rule of 72.

If that parent learned nothing about that, she must say, go rule of 72 to them dishes or that laundry back there, right?

Like so it's a we we want to make sure that that relationship is cultivated as well because we do understand that you know, you know, wealth, generational wealth, wealth transfer, the assets are great, right?

The the property, the the jewelry or whatever it may be, the land, but it's really the mindset that we want the transfer.

And so we know that's the core aspect of our design, which is why that comprehensive aspect is needed.

But the the testimonials from the parents has I would say it's been an aspect of relief, appreciation, and now increased curiosity on how they can get their financial house in order.

I think that's awesome.

Like I said, I've had an opportunity to actually, you know, go and be a part of one of the classes, um, see the excitement of the students, see the engagement, um, and just the spark spline in terms of you know them wanting to learn and be a part of what you're sharing.

So um I say kudos to you and your whole team, uh, because I know it's is more than just you, absolutely.

It's you know, some other folks that play the position of hands and feet uh in this, and so uh kudos to you and your whole team for the work that y'all are doing.

Yes, sir.

Council Smith.

Uh yes, I really love your program, not because you know, we work well together, but because it's a very holistic program when it comes to finances.

A lot of times they kind of give you the basics about the stock market, budging and saving, um, and just for one year, and then you go about your life, and then when you become, you know, in your 20s and our age, that's when you start getting more serious again about your finances.

But I just love how you're sending these kids up, making it more realistic.

Like that's a great example, you know, think about hey, mom and dad, cut off the light so we can go to Disney World.

Um, making it more realistic.

I read in the paper that is it 2032, Social Security, um, we have lapsed.

And so that means all of us and the generation behind us, they won't have that network of security when they become in their 60s and 70s.

But the things that you're doing, the investment club, I don't know if you talked about that.

I may have missed that, but that's setting them up to have that income where they can save until they become 60, 70, and then they're millionaires by that time where Social Security, that amount won't even um that'll be small minimum compared to that.

And so I love what you're doing.

It really is giving back to our economy, generational wealth, and building up um just better stewards of uh people's money.

So I love it.

I remind me to go into a classroom, and I'll make sure um my nephew goes to class at Ramsey as well.

Um but it's the goal to get into all of the schools eventually.

How much would that cost?

Absolutely.

So there's two ways in which we can be inside the classroom.

As of right now, we have prioritized the in-person instruction where we take the relief off of the educator, so we're able to come in, we deploy um our specialists, and so they're all certified, so they have the certified financial educator instructor certification.

Um, then there is this other side of um, we'll just say curriculum that is deemed asynchronous.

So that's more student-based.

They put some headphones on, they hit next, watch a video, you capture some of the responses.

We have curriculum to be able to deploy in all schools, but we're prior prioritizing that in-person aspect of it because we're seeing that there's a lot these students are learning when they're able to engage with a specialist or someone that knows how to manage the the curiosities and conversations at that level.

Um, what we've used as a metric to um establish uh, I would just say a scalable uh equation on the cost of our uh overall program.

And so typically we're about one percent in regards to the number of faculty and staff, uh, we'll just say of K through 12, and about two and a half to three and a half percent of their overall budget to be able to fulfill the the full pricing of it.

So as of right now, we're probably at about 65% of that now.

Um, but I do think as we move into our fourth year, because we designed this with a four-year time frame to be able to train the teachers with the concepts they need to know to be able to take that pressure off of the in-person instruction and then roll that over into the schools until they all have enough system and process in place to where we're just managing what we've designed and implemented for the school system.

Okay, so how does that tie in?

You I think you just answer it.

You talk about yesterday with the new law making on financial literacy mandatory.

How would that set up the teachers to be able to equip them to um requirement?

So unfortunately, this is one of those things where there's new policy but no funding for it.

Um the teachers have been I'll be honest, they've been struggling trying to implement this.

Um so it's at the ninth grade level, and regards of the state standards that's been mandated by the state of Alabama.

Um the great thing is that the state representative that actually sponsored the bill, Andy Witt.

We have a great relationship with, he loves our program and from a design standpoint.

Um it is operating in homeroom now.

Um one of the schools we've been working with is Ramsey is to help leverage some of the assets they provided.

They pretty much just gave them a Google drive and say figure it out, right?

And here's some lessons, and and so um the good thing is that with us in eighth grade that we are already implementing those core aspects, uh, about 85 to 90 percent of what they've deemed as uh a compliant financial literacy program to be able to hit that state standard.

We have the the material, it's just now working within the the school district from a time standpoint and also the the target audience that they have, and so there it's it's not as clear as we would like.

There's still a little bit of uh ambiguity there, but we are working with the stakeholders that are most proximate to it to make sure that we have the leading infrastructure curriculum to be able to deploy across the state.

Okay, that's that's amazing.

I really want to thank you for taking that extra step because you didn't have to do that because you know, just making sure that a lot of times we put policies in place.

I'm not talking about us, we'll put policies in place because it look good on paper, but we don't have the actual context and the support for it.

So I love it.

It's a great concept.

I honestly wish you could do adult classes for it, because I would take it.

So I don't know if that's something I know you're one person, but something you would think about, you know, taking the show on the road to different libraries, um, youth adult groups like Rotorag, um, and young professionals.

I think that'll be great.

So stay tuned.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

One quick question.

Um, you know, one of the things that we have to deal with is as a city are um you know, airs properties and probate issues.

Yeah, and I know when kids are in school, um, you know, they don't have any assets for the most part that you know they can think about, but um I don't think that it's too early to educate you know kids about that issue um and you know, instill in them, you know, the idea that hey, this is something that you probably need to take care of, you know, um early on when you set out in your adult life, um, so that it's not an issue for uh your other family members or you know, other folks.

So just wanted to plant that seed.

No, it's it's uh an incredible.

We actually we touch on that a good bit when we when we talk about um the community that they live in, what do they see across the street?

Is it grass high?

Is it a house?

And I also let them know as well, like I buy property.

So if your parents or grandparents ain't take care of XYZ, I will get it, right?

I'm buying it off property tax, and they see the process, they see the amount, and it actually gets them frustrated.

Well, hold on.

I I want to be a part of that as well.

Um, so you're you're you're spot on.

One thing I I will say, especially at our senior level, when we do talk about pay stub taxes, um, that's when they get very interested in who the city council members are, right?

They start they're they're very curious on hey, how come that that potholes here?

Because now they're looking at a pay stub and they're seeing so this money is coming out.

Who's managing it?

Who's over it?

What's the process?

So we've seen that as a great opportunity, which was one of the times council member more was able to come in.

He caught a little heat from the students.

He got a good amount of questions, but it does establish their awareness of how close they are to the community, but also some of the changes they want to see in the community, they can definitely play a role in it as well.

So great point.

One thing I wanted to flag that you mentioned during our last council meeting, uh, was the roles that banks can play.

Um recently met with the mayor and he's uh helped lead in the charge of galvanizing the banks when it pertains to their community reinvestment act um policy and some of the procedures.

And so if there are any financial institutions that you all want to make sure that is at the table, I want to make sure that's honored as well.

But we plan on bringing them to the table.

Regions has been an amazing partner, but there are other banks that can um pony up some of the the resources to um really make this a public private partnership.

Thank you, Mr.

Coops.

The President Yes, yes, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, sir.

I want to thank um IMC and Isaac Cooper and his team for what they do for financial freedom related to our young people.

It took me a long time to understand the difference between being financial literate and financial freedom, and there is a fundamental difference.

And so I I want to express that publicly.

And two, I want to I want to thank the council on DYS.

But I want to thank the council for um understanding what this investment means.

Um we talk a lot about our young people being college ready, uh, but probably more important than that is being career ready.

But what I've found in my time in our time is that probably more important than being career ready is life ready.

And there are certain life skills that every Birmingham should have.

Um, particularly in the city with this amount of uh concentrated poverty, and if you want to flip that and push past poverty, one of the life skills we are mandated in my opinion to arm our next and youngest generation with is financial literacy and financial freedom.

What this is is this is very critical to making sure our youngest and next generation is life ready.

And so this investment, uh, we're grateful for it and your support of it and know about uh the banks.

We want to scale up regardless of what the state does with this unfunded unfunded mandate.

Glad to see them get here, but that's only for high school.

The building blocks of what we do for financial literacy K through fifth, six through eighth helps what gets done nine through twelve.

Last point I'll make is this we live in Birmingham, Alabama, and it needs to be culturally relevant, and that is what they really that is the unique aspect.

Yeah, IMC provide.

So thank you.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Mr.

President, I do want to make a note to Mr.

Mayor.

I've said a couple of times before, you know, when we got to college, they just made a cute little skit um freshman week about two little nerds having a credit card impressing two girls is actually really cute.

And their uh credit card game declined because they were trying to impress the girls, and that was the way they introduced us to financial literacy.

But that's something, even though that's a very real scenario with a program like this.

Those two nerds when they had let that happen, they probably would just not have talked to the girls.

But you know, that's that's a great idea about you know not learning about you know taking on all these student loans, for example, which is crazy that they allow 18-year-olds to sign up for six-figure student loans and not give them a way to figure out how to pay for it.

Um a lot of people don't have uh support from home or how to get their food apartments.

So I I totally agree with you.

I think this is great helping the next generation.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

For the vote, all in favor letting me know by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed say nay.

Item three is approved.

Item four, please.

Item four resolution approving authorized the mayor to execute an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Birmingham and the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority.

Under which BJCTA will expand the microtransit services.

It offers by contracting with via in the city.

We'll provide $2,500,000 in funding to BJCTA for a period of one year in support for such microtransit services, which funding was previously allocated toward the cost of the city's contract via said funds will come from uh account number 1400 9630 96313.550 004.

Motion, please.

Second.

Item is before you.

All right, counselor Smithman.

Should we bring up they're separate?

They're separate.

Okay.

No, I just want to um just a little bit more information about this item.

I know you talked about it both committee meetings, but I think this is something you know the public should know what's going on.

This may have Mr.

Ms.

Argo or directory.

We'll be coming in to play uh good morning.

Good morning, good morning, Argo.

I serve as the deputy director in the Department of Transportation.

Did y'all I'm not even missed a question?

It's a little bit noisy.

Just provide us a 30,000-foot view of what's happening with this item.

Um, so the city's overall public transportation budget is 16.5 million dollars.

Um, this microtransit um piece sits in that bucket.

So we've got 14 million for fixed route bus and 2.5 million for microtransit.

Um we began piloting microtransit in in 2019, so we have about six years of experience under our belt.

Um we have over 500,000 unique rides that have happened since the service began.

Um and this whole time we have been contracted directly with VIA to provide those microtransit services.

So this is the grant?

I'm so sorry.

Y'all, it is it's like a party out there.

I'm so sorry.

Let me uh back up.

No, you're right.

It's actually item four, which is the via contract, and the the grant is the next item, so you're on the right track.

I'm okay.

Yes.

All right, back to it.

Um we have had service contracted with VIA this entire time, and and now it is time to to transfer that contract to the BJCTA.

And there's really two reasons why we want to do that.

Um one, the city is not a transit agency.

So we do not qualify for those federal matching dollars for every ride um that gets taken um on public transportation.

So by having the contract and the services live with transit authority, they are qualified to receive those those funds back.

Um it doesn't cover the entire cost, but it definitely helps us stretch our budget.

Um and then also for better coordination of the service, you know, um the the agency is managing our fixed route services, and this just allows for them to have better coordination between fixed route, microtransit, those two things work hand in hand.

They have capacity and access to data.

Um we closely collaborate with them now on all of those services, and so really that relationship will remain the same.

Um we did make a couple of um adjustments to the to the contract yesterday coming out of our meetings, and we added a few more details related to um uh the service level.

So um specifically related to the service area.

Right now we cover about 26.6 square miles, and so that will stay the same.

Uh locations may shift as we continue to improve the service, but we'll we'll stay at 26.6 square miles and the service hours will continue the way they are now, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m.

to 7 p.m.

Thank you.

Okay.

Other questions?

Council Williams.

So what what were the changes in the um I think it's on page two?

Um Jim Stanley has provided a red line uh version and this was in response to uh discussion yesterday in the transportation infrastructure ki committee meeting.

So the previously the agreement um didn't really describe the service as it was being rendered currently, so um specifically there was no reference to how much area of the city um the service was being provided to, and we wanted to put some language in the contract um that you know establish sort of a baseline uh uh so that you know there was um a concrete reference to where we are currently and that we want to maintain you know a minimum uh level specifically with the amount of the territory the in the city that's serviced and and those service hours.

So that's um section 2.1A and again it's uh a couple of sent or one sentence that was added there that kind of describes the um square miles of the city that's covered in the service hours.

So I guess my question is from that red line.

What does the term use commercially reasonable effort?

Like does that mean is there like a does that mean that they might not be providing the service?

They can't find drivers.

What's what does that term mean and why is it in there?

Is Jim Stanley in the audience?

He can explain it.

Yeah, in contracts, there are often three different levels of uh effort that a contracting party make and commercially reasonable, I think would be very common for this kind of contract.

And in this context, for example, I mean, if you had 26.5 miles of square area, but there was an effort made to encompass that, there wouldn't be a default.

Um it's it's using the efforts to achieve these uh two criteria put in the agreement.

But that doesn't mean that they can't just say that that region is not being serviced, like a zone is not being serviced because they couldn't find a driver, right?

That's not what they're doing.

Yeah.

Okay, thank you.

Um Ms.

Argo, my next question is why are we changing from the city operating this to BJCTA?

Because when I when we first started this, my exact question is why would the city do this?

Why wouldn't this be with a transit group?

Like why, you know, I'm always wondering why we're taking on like homelessness, all these things that we take on that we don't do a great job with.

So I asked, and the response was well, we don't have faith that the BJCTA can do it.

So what it has changed now.

Mr.

President If I could answer your colleagues' question, Council Williams.

Um I'm probably the best person to answer that.

I don't know, I don't even think she was in our position at the time that happened.

I remember because I um president and I we talked about this significant time.

Uh I want to say starting in the fall 2018, if not the summer of 2018.

And so uh that was that was a true statement, and I can stand on that statement, but from a past tense standpoint, when Miss Charlotte Shaw, the team you see here, they were not even at the table.

I think since then a couple of things have happened.

Um there have been new board members, one, two, there's been a new um executive with the new team.

Three, uh their finances are better, four, their communication transparency is better, and things have gotten better with the cadence and the report and a relationship, not necessarily with me, but mainly between the Department of Transportation and the BJCTA, where there's established trust.

And so, yes, when this started, we took this on because um in partnership with the council that we wanted to get um co-creative, if you would, and expanding beyond um the fixed bus um fixed bus fixed bus routes and fixed bus only as the only form of public transportation, and this was an additional tool in the toolbox, if you would, um, to support public transportation.

Well, when you do the math, that's been seven plus years.

I think there's been not only enough time, um, but a enough trust built to give it to the organization who honestly should be responsible for leading leading it, and that's how we got to this point today.

So the response that I got also at that time from the organization that we're talking about is that they cannot receive any federal matching from via when I asked the question point blank to the leadership that's currently at the BJCTA.

So obviously that's not the case.

They can and we do that they can.

Maybe not forever though, right?

Like we know administration's changed, so policies and rules change as well.

That don't mean we should wait until if and when those changes happen.

Um there can be a reimbursement, but separate from to your statement, I do believe there is a future where whether a state or federal government are all in on microtransit.

Oh, yeah, that'd be great.

That's a dream scenario, but but we are um but we're here today in reality.

So I my other concern of this is when we talked about previously the expansion of the via zones, and we talked about them in Sarley as the city, because I don't think that that included the BJCTA at that time.

You know, the my questions about where could you go from that north expansion zones was kind of met with almost nowhere that was practical for those residents.

So do we have a defined area other than just Central Station that that they can go from the north expansion zone if they originate in that north expansion zone?

You know, we I know you have questions about how can the service change and grow and better serve our citizens.

Today, we really just need to focus on getting this contract to the BJCTA because that will allow those kinds of decisions to be made more effectively.

They have a system of data that looks at fixed route, microtransit.

While we have been managing the service, we've been working closely with them and looking at the data and sharing data and making decisions.

It's just going to be that much better for us to be able to grow the service and to have it be more effective.

You've you've heard of the 70, their 7030 plan.

This works right in hand with what they're trying to do to transform public transportation here in the city.

Yeah, I'm all I'm all for the 7030 plan.

As a matter of fact, I asked if we could actually fund it to get it done last time we spoke about it because you know, we're throwing a lot of money at public transit for it not to work.

And you know, when I spoke about it last time, I guess the media picked up on some of my comments because I think that about 150 phone calls that week to my office, and uh, and and I didn't count the emails, but I'm sure India appreciated the comments.

So you know it's not just me that feels this way, and it's not just folks in my district.

It seems to be a lot of those that either would ride these services or do ride these services, have thoughts, and you know, a lot of the emails are just appreciative of me asking these questions because the services are obviously to the point where most people don't feel they can use it, so they're depending on neighbors for rides and things like that, especially senior citizens that have had to give it that had to give up their car at some point, which you know, giving up their independence and they're not all that kind of stuff.

So I hope that you know, my question still stands about that north side expansion zone, because if we're spending 2.5 million dollars and we have these little zones, and they can't do anything outside of the zone other than go to central station, it create it's to me it's you know, if you can't go to your to a grocery store to a doctor's office or to any kind of a central service, then you've or or potential employment, then you've then to me that's what public transportation should be.

And so, you know, I had those questions about this when we expanded the northern zone, and the answer was you couldn't really go anywhere.

Well, if you can't go anywhere and it's a food desert, you can't you can't go to the grocery store after if you can't go outside of your zone.

So I do hope that we can go we can you know kind of move this in the right direction because um you know after we pay for what we're paying the BJCTA, after we pay for if now that we're moving via, we've decided apparently to move via over to them, and we're paying for bus rapid transit, we're paying a pretty good amount of money for public transit.

And I understand to the mayor's point, it is unfortunate that there's not more federal and any state matching or um grant money available, but zones that were the residents can't utilize the service to get to the essentials, just it doesn't work, and you know, I keep saying this, and so that northern zone is a real concern of mine.

So I am hopeful that we can, since we're paying for it, that we can you know get connectivity other than just Central Station.

So um another thing I'll point out is that you know, currently we have the two zones, the eastern area and uh downtown quote downtown, even though it includes a lot of the west side as well.

Um but um the the contract also um specifies that if there's you know any changes uh that are desired to be made to the service.

Um the there has to be advanced written agreement uh from both parties.

So that that's also and and there's uh 30-day um requirement for that notice to be provided, and then BJCTA also has you know their own process um that's defined by uh federal regulations.

So just wanted to point that out.

All right.

Okay, we're ready for the vote.

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

All right, all opposed saying nay.

Item four is approved.

Item five, please.

Item five.

Um a reconducting communities grant administration and cost sharing agreement between the city of Birmingham, the Birmingham County Transit Authority, and Birmingham, Jefferson County Transit Authority, on which the BJCTA will contribute 100,000 of a 200,000 dollar 20% local match required in connection with $1 million reconducting communities pilot grants with the city has been awarded the grant funding of $800,000 federal funds, $200,000 local match will be used for planning to implement the Birmingham Transportation Capital Investments Plan, which will advance data-driven transportation recommendations and nine.

Imagine Birmingham community framework plans and other relevant assessments to mitigate the negative impact of interstates railroads and major arterial roadways.

And again, this was recommended by budget and finance.

And the transportation infrastructure committee.

Okay.

So I'll move the item.

Second.

All right, Council Smithman.

Just the same thing, just general information.

Okay.

Okay.

Hello again.

Um comprehensive multimodal transportation plan.

Um we applied for this grant in 2023.

It's taking a little while to get these federal um money um moving, and so we have got a million dollars for a comprehensive plan for the city of Birmingham.

Um today we're talking about the match money that is um coming from the BJCTA.

Um the city's putting in 100,000 and BJT BJCTA is putting in 100,000, and there are partners on this plan.

Um this plan is gonna help us identify priority transportation corridors, um, needed policies to make transportation work in the city and help us prioritize capital investments in the near term and the long term.

Um so we're gonna get some prioritization around the next moves we need to make as it relates to our transportation system.

Um it will also include robust public engagement.

So um we have already hired a consulting team, and part of that team is not only transportation and transit planners, but um branding and marketing professionals.

We also have it uh um part of the team is a um firm that focuses on policies and the right kind of policies we need to put in place to enable dense um development and and development that supports public transportation.

All right, any other questions.

We're ready for the vote.

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

Aye.

All right, thank you.

Item five is approved.

Item six, please.

Item six, a resolution pursuant to section 11-40-1 and 41-16-51A of the Code of Alabama 1975, authorizing the mayor to execute and deliver a purchase agreement with granting as the LLC for short-term rental software to include address identification, compliance monitoring, rental activity monitoring, tax collection, and mobile permitting and registration software solutions.

The term of this agreement shall be not more than three years, and unless terminated early, should end on June 30th, 2028.

Total amount to be paid by the city pursuant to the agreement shall not exceed 86,836 dollars and thirty-eight cents.

Motion please.

I move for approval.

Second.

All right, Councilor Abbott.

Yeah, my question was well.

I wanted someone from the administration to explain this item.

We don't have an STR ordinance yet, but we're getting prepared, and I wanted to know when this was going.

So yeah, I will I want to be clear about granting to the council, Mr.

President, especially to your colleague, Ms.

Pabbitt.

This Abbott to be very clear, this is not about um the ordinance or policy the council's working on.

What we have to do though, whether it's um present for present sake, um, and then technically we're passing it, say two.

We need the software to track data on all things related to what's happening in the city, and this is one of those things Granicus allows us to track data.

Therefore, whatever decision this council makes, which I don't know, I have no clue what you will do.

We want to be able to the administration wants to be in a position to provide you up-to-date information, accurate data, etc.

And so this is only software to track to track data and information, collect information, has nothing to do with what decision this council will make related to policy.

This is a renewable and for the record.

This is a renewal, so this is not this is this has come before you before.

Okay, this is a renewal of Granicus's STR tracking system.

It's a module.

Okay, so we already have it.

Yes, ma'am.

Nothing again.

But we're not using it.

But we're going to start using it.

If there's a policy adopted, then the answer is yes.

There's no policy adopted.

No.

Aren't going to use it until we have our ordinance completed.

So that means we need to get moving on our ordinance.

So we're not, but I'm I'm curious.

I know that we we know where all the STRs that are managed by one entity are because we have an agreement for them to pay lodging tax, but all the rest of them that are out there operating, we're not using anything to track them.

Why not?

An ideal world support of passing this today would allow Granicus to start tracking that and collecting that information as well.

But we already have it.

This is just a renewal, so why aren't we using it?

Mayor.

So one of the companies that books um properties for short-term rental has a voluntary remittance program.

Um and that's the company that uh collects lodging tax and remits that to the city of Birmingham.

The other 70 plus uh platforms um that offer bookings for short-term rentals do not have a voluntary um tax remittance program.

So uh this Granicus umftware could help cook uh collect that tax actually, you know, by identifying where you know what properties are being offered for uh short-term rentals.

So um you're right in that you know, the one company that does have that voluntary remittance program, you know, we know what those properties are just by virtue of the fact that they remit you know the the lodging tax, um, but other other platforms do not.

Well, I know that, but we already have this software, and we've been having it, and we're not using it.

Um my question is why aren't we using it to scrape the internet and find all these things?

And so I think we will be in a position to with this renewal legal just shared with me.

One of the challenges when we we started this program is that we were transitioning away from Avenue.

As you all know, there were significant amount of problems there with our systems and getting beyond that, etc.

Now that we're beyond that, and with this renewal, what you desire to comb the entire internet, we this module now expand to everything, but we were limited in what we could do last year with Granicus because of that transition.

Okay.

So this STR thing has been dragging and dragging and dragging on for four or five years minimum.

I I would just encourage us to take action.

I I'm more than ready because my district is alive with them.

It's like stepping on an ant mound.

I realize everybody doesn't have that problem, but this Granicus, I just wanted to understand it's I thought it was new, and that was why we weren't doing anything, but it turns out it we've had it all along.

Anyway, we'll move ahead.

Thank you.

Um counselor, the proposed short-term rental ordinance and uh the attached zoning will be back before the committee of the whole at the special call meeting next Tuesday afternoon.

Council Clark.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I was just curious about something you said, Mayor, about knowing what's going on in the city.

Are there other is there other value or um capability that the software has, maybe through the STR module or others that might help us uh monitor like vacant properties and things like that.

I know we've talked about vacant property registration, but is there any um like when utilities get shut off for so long at a property or things like that?

I mean, is there so Miss Anthony is centered around an assumption, so please don't take it as the gospel.

But I'm gonna assume I'm going to assume Granicus can expand um beyond this narrow scope, if asked.

I imagine they do expanded things in their inventory/slash portfolio for other cities that go up well beyond one thing.

But if you allow us to walk that down to get you more of a detailed answer, I think you use an example of some of our kind of properties.

I was just thinking, you know, properties that are long-term vacant because all the utilities have shut off.

And you know, that might be an indicator if they have a big data way to monitor that and report that to cities, for instance.

Pretty sure it's gonna be for free, but yes, ma'am.

Well, you alluded to knowing more about what's going on in our city as if there were more capability and you know, from the software.

And I just want to get a sense of what else it could do, maybe.

I imagine it can do way more than this.

Okay, thank you.

I I'd like to know as you learn more.

Okay.

We're ready for the vote.

All in favor, let it be nobody say aye.

All right.

All opposed say nay.

Item number six is approved.

Item number nine, please.

Item nine, a resolution pursuant to section 11-40-1, uh Code of Alabama, 1975 to contract for authorized goods and services.

For the purpose of authorizing a third amendment for the professional services between the city of Birmingham and the Penny Foundation to implement common ground, the cognitive based conflict resolution initiative using the pinwheel groups habilitation empowerment and accountability therapy, a curriculum design for people of color and all others facing socioeconomic issues with applies as holistic, culturally irrelevant, responsive, strength-based model that emphasize a positive and engaging approach to handling anger management and conflict resolution and administer and manage the fiscal and budgetary aspects of the program on behalf of the city.

The program will be administered by the Penny Foundation under a $1 million within an all-inclusive fee of 100,000, the term should be one year, and said funds will come from the DYS budget.

Motion, please.

Move the item.

So I could all right.

Um Council Smith.

Good morning, council.

Good morning.

My name is Andre Sparks.

I'm honored to serve the city as its presiding judge, and I'm also honored to guide the portion of the mayor's public safety uh efforts which deal with conflict resolution, particularly surrounding uh schools.

Um that portion we call common ground.

Um I want to thank you for your um support in these last two years by appropriating this one million dollars towards these efforts, and this is a uh another iteration of that appropriation.

Uh, we need to, if you will, move that money from um to the DYS budget so that the contract with the Penny Foundation can be um executed.

We uh by way of reflection, I want to remind you of how we've got into this place.

We started around the spring of 2022 with a pilot program at Carver High School.

Um we had a small group of students that we chose to use a curriculum we had been uh using with some adults called heat.

That pilot we thought went well, even though we only had a small number of students.

We continued that pilot into the fall of the semester.

Um, and the numbers were promising to us, even though it was still small after discussing it with the mayor and he in turn with the superintendent of education.

The decision was made to expand that um in January of 2023 through uh that semester, we enrolled more students because we identified a group that we at the time were calling at-risk students.

We don't use that terminology uh anymore, but we didn't know how else to identify those students who might participate in this program.

Um that semester we had 325 students in the program.

There were 276 male students and 49.

Uh we started a pilot with 49 female students that semester.

The numbers that you would be interested in primarily is what happened when we put coaches from the community into the schools.

That semester, fights went down 88%, suspensions went down 86%, disciplinary actions with the students in the program went down 76%, and that semester absences went down 75%.

We thought it was promising enough for us to continue moving forward.

And with your help in September of 2023 through 2024, that was our first full year.

We had grown the program to 628 students who were involved, 275 males and 301 females.

We also started another component of it.

We started an elementary school pilot.

The mayor has always said that he thought what we were teaching through conflict resolution would be best taught and grown up in the students.

And so we think the younger they are when we start teaching conflict resolution, the better outcomes we'll have.

The elementary pilot started at Huffman Academy and Wylam Elementary School.

We were in all middle and high schools at the same time.

That semester, out of those 628 students, the fights went down 50%, suspension 63%, disciplinary action 74%, and absences went down 73%.

In the pilot program with the middle school, the fights went down 63%, suspension 60, disciplinary actions 86, and absences.

We also made a change in terms of in terms of what we were teaching.

The he curriculum at that time we thought was too mature curriculum for us to use in the elementary school and middle school.

So we had a we we uh had someone draft a new curriculum for us that we now call Speaks.

We also had another curriculum drafted for the elementary students that we call Excel.

We only now use the HE curriculum in our community with adults.

The adults are ones who have been recommended from the courts, not just Birmingham Municipal Court.

You'll be happy to know that the district court at the county also refers their uh individuals to our HE program.

We've completed about 65 or 70 of their individuals through that program.

We continue to grow that aspect of it as well.

But August 2024 through January 2025, our second full academic year.

We had grown the program from 628 students to 1,01 students.

They were being coached by members of the community.

We had about 140 coaches who had been certified in the curriculum.

There were 504 students in Excel with 497 students in the older curriculum speaks.

Suspensions 60%, disciplinary actions 88%, and absences, which is a tough metric for the school system.

The absences we're struggling across the board on that, but they went down with those students 101%.

We we believe something's going on this year with it, but speaks went down 19%, suspensions went up that semester, and our disciplinary actions and absences are skewed in that semester.

Now we're not using our own metrics, we're using the metrics from the school system.

And so there's something going on this year.

Um we have done two, three things.

First, we've been fully embraced by the entire Birmingham School system.

Out of the 43 school systems, schools we're in, six 36 schools, 36 schools.

We've got about 150 coaches who are already in the schools teaching.

We've got 1,100 students already in the cohorts this semester.

Um we believe we'll have as uh the outcomes will be as significant as they have been.

But one thing we started different this semester and the school year is we've brought on what we've been trying to do for about a year is a parenting component.

We believe we got to have that reinforcement from home.

The parenting component is called roots and wings, a parenting alliance because we believe one of the things that's missing is parents don't have other people to turn to to help them deal with the circumstances that they find themselves in.

We've enlisted the aid of churches and ministers around the city to host the parenting classes at their locations.

That three weeks ago, the school system appropriated 250,000 to support the common ground program.

We know that's going to help us make sure we can take care of all the expenses we have through the school year and bring the appropriate parent alliance on board.

I want to thank the mayor for his continuous leadership.

Dr.

Sullivan has been fully involved, and all of his area superintendents have fully embraced the program.

They have targeted Common Ground program to help them deal with what they call tier one students.

And we believe that's going to help them not only with conflict resolution but other issues surrounding wellness in their personal lives.

Mr.

President Sir Quick Nota to this, I want to thank Judge Sparks and his team, all the volunteers and others, coaches, etc.

Um, for this program, as well as the school system partnership, and you all mainly for again investing in a life skill.

Um what's not lost on us is that what we're teaching again, the next and youngest generation.

Conflict has been and will always be with us as part of human nature.

But how we choose to respond, um, turns out separate from that emotional piece, it can be a learned skill.

And so this is actual teaching and a curriculum, again, a uh culturally relevancy curriculum, the cultural sensitivity curriculum around conflict resolution and how our boys and our girls, teenagers as well, K through fifth, six through eighth, and ninth to twelve, can and should respond to when conflict arises in their life, and that they don't have to fight, they don't have to pick up a weapon, and or ultimately pick up a gun.

So thank you for your investment.

Okay.

Council Clark.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just wanted to get a sense of, you know, I know you mentioned the school system pitching in.

How does the budget break down?

I do see that, you know, a hundred thousand goes to the financial administration.

Are there, you know, did you have to hire you had to staff up for people to manage and train the volunteers, or is most of it go to salaries?

I mean, I'm just curious.

Optimally, we would love to have a cohort of nothing but volunteers come in to the school system and do what we're asking them to do.

But as a practical matter, what we ask of them requires too much time.

They're in the school system at least two days a week for an hour and a half to two hours.

They have to prepare for each lesson, as the mayor indicated.

This is a curriculum.

This is not talk therapy.

They have to be certified in the curriculum and teach to the curriculum.

Um of them were teachers in their previous lives, some of them were not, but they've committed to learning the curriculum, which involves conflict resolution, um, social emotional learning.

Uh, it involves history of all people.

Um, and we know, and it also involves character education.

And so to be abreast, and we we we consistently teach them that you must have fidelity to our curriculums so that all the kids across the district are learning about the same thing.

Because of that, we have to offer them some type of stipend to come in, and that's the majority of the money, the vast majority of the money.

I'm glad to know that they are receiving a stipend.

They are receiving, we have our well we could be able to maintain it.

And you need the follow-through and consistency.

Yes.

Okay.

So that makes sense to me.

They make they most of the money is stipends to them.

Okay.

Yes.

Thank you.

All right.

Other questions we're ready for the vote.

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

All right.

All opposed.

Item nine, it's approved.

Thank you very much.

And I believe we're to item 35.

Item 35.

A resolution setting a public hearing uh should strike the 28th and put November the 4th there to consider uh the adoption of ordinance to amend the zoning district map of the city of Birmingham.

Case number ZAC 2025-19 to change the owner district boundaries from QB1 to C1.

I'm sorry, QB1 qualified neighborhood business districts to see one neighborhood commercial district filed by Dunn Real Estate LLC property owner and Dela Both applicated for the property located at 82139 place south and situated in section 32 quarter section of 2 Township 17 range 2 west 3522 Birmingham in order to remove Q conditions from previously approved rezoning case number Z 192 in order to allow a medical spa second and did you say the date was supposed to be November 4th changing it to November to 4th November 4th instead of October 28th okay it's been motion and second and we're ready for the vote all in favor let it be known by saying aye aye all opposed say nay item 35 is approved item 36 please item 36 a resolution determining that the 2025 picnic at railroad park on Sunday September the 28th 2025 at 1 p.m.

at Rural Park serves a public purpose and authorize the mayor to execute such contracts as may be necessary for the event in accordance with Birmingham General Code City Code 3-1-7.

There will be no cost to attend the event, which is designed to celebrate Birmingham's neighborhood and community officers and appreciation of their services to the community.

Second councillor Abbott you objected to this being on the consent agenda council.

Yeah I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Councilor Clark.

Thank you.

Um yeah, I I had some questions about it yesterday, and I think we were told that it's mostly in kind and that if there are some contracts, they would not exceed $10,000 without having to come back to the council.

So I was wondering if we can it says authorizing the mayor to execute such contracts as may be necessary for the event.

Could we just amend the language to say not to exceed 10,000 dollars?

Because I think that would just make it more.

I mean, otherwise it just seems like it's unlimited to me.

We can make those changes.

Thank you.

Okay.

If so, as amended, okay.

Do we need to submit?

So change this is an absolute chapter.

Well, there was no resolution attached.

So I got it.

It's in it's there, yeah.

I guess if you know if it achieves the intended purpose, if we could just put a not to exceed amount, whatever it needs to be.

Maybe it's doesn't need to be 10,000, but can the administration give us some direction.

We'll add that adjustment at the very end of the resolution.

Ms.

Clerk, is that all in favor?

Let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed say nay.

All right.

Item 36 is approved.

Item 37, please.

Item 37, the resolution approved the advanced dispense accounts of the elected official.

Move the item.

Second.

Just to note this is for um me to attend the Alabama League of Municipalities municipal officials training in Tuscaloosa on October 1st and 2nd.

All right, we're ready for the vote.

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

All opposed say nay.

All right.

Uh item 37 is approved.

That covers all of our business items.

Um ready for announcements.

Councilor Woods.

A couple of announcements.

Good morning.

The Spring Lake Neighborhood Association will meet next Thursday, October 2nd at 6 30 p.m.

And the Echo Hollands Neighborhood Association will also meet October 2nd at 7 p.m.

That meeting is still via Zoom.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you, Councilor Tate.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association meeting is counsel tonight.

Dolomite Neighborhood Meeting Association will meet tonight, 6 p.m.

at the Westfish Smithfield.

Dolomite Community Center located at 1069 10 Mill Road.

Henning Ridge Neighborhood Meeting will be held on Thursday, September the 25th, 5 30 at New Salem Baptist Church, located at 1632 6th Street North.

The next public safety meeting will be held on today, right here in the council chamber.

What is it?

QR Club QR Code class, which will be held on Wednesday, September the 24th from 9 a.m.

to 11 a.m.

at the North Birmingham Library.

So she's doing QR codes because we got the news you can use where people can just teaching people how to scan their phones and get all the information that they needed.

Let's give a big kudos to Miss Brenda Brown.

Um this weekend, Sister Stret.

This weekend Saturday, September the 27th at Legion Field Saturday, 7 a.m.

to 11 a.m.

So please go out and support Miss Brenda Brown bosom buddies.

If you have not, you can register on site.

I saw that on the news this morning.

Getting ready for the annual lastly, Mr.

President, get it ready for the annual District 9 state of the district where we will give high level overviews of what we've been able to accomplish in these years.

So just informing people how money was spent and pulling out receipts.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

You're welcome.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

These are announcements for District 7.

On Thursday, September 25th, the Industrial Center Neighborhood Association will meet at 6 p.m.

at the Miradoor Center, and that's at 4560 Park Avenue Southwest.

As we've already talked about this morning during the presentation, on Saturday, October 4th, the community wellness experience will be held at the Weenona High School Gym.

They'll start at 12 30 p.m.

and they'll end at 3 30 p.m.

So empower yourself with transformative wellness experiences.

I also want to reiterate Brenda's Brown Bosom Buddies, Sister Strutt that's taking place this Saturday.

I'm asking everyone to please go out and support this organization does a tremendous amount of work within our community, not only for women with breast cancer, but families that are affected by multiple types of cancers.

And Miss Brenda has worked, I think this is the 15th year.

And so we're very excited to continue partnering.

I know that um Councillor Smithman, Councillor Tate and I always partner together with this, so we're excited to be a part of this.

And the last thing I have in Chief Sparks, I did, I was remiss in not bringing this up while um Chief Mitchell was here, but in a neighborhood meeting yesterday with the Tarpley City neighborhood.

There is a I was given a report and update on our capital projects, and there's a capital project, Carver Avenue in the Tarpley City neighborhood.

Some of the work that was mentioned there, about 99% complete, according to the update with that capital project.

But it did include some um water, um water passing through the neighborhood, stormwater, that type of thing, maybe some pipe improvement.

And so we just wanted some clarification on what that particular project was and if there will be any other work in that area when it comes to flooding in that area.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right.

Council Williams, do you have any announcements?

Yeah, Creson Neighborhood will be meeting Thursday, September 25th at 6 o'clock.

And then economic development tourism will be Tuesday, September 30th at 11:30 in the chambers.

If you could have your submissions into India dot Bailey at Birmingham HL.gov by the end of the day on the 25th.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you.

Councilor Smithman.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, just to kind of reiterate what uh Councilor Tate and my process did.

Please make sure to go out and support Sister Strutt.

Um, this is for all ages and all genders, so it's really great.

Um take a walk around Legion Field, they'll have food if you're a registered participant, vendors.

Um, they have a chair exercise, so it's a really good program to support.

So that's this Saturday.

Um, I wanted to wish my mom a happy birthday.

Her birthday is on Thursday, so she may or may not be listening, but happy birthday, mom.

Love you.

Also TEDx Kelly Ingram Park will be this Thursday starting at 3 p.m.

It will be at Sidewalk Cinema tickets are on sale at TEDx Kelly Ingram Park.com.

As mentioned before we just passed the resolution for it.

Railroad Park will have its 15th annual picnic at the park that would be this Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.

The event is free to the public and they will have a special guest pink beard.

Also Westminster will have a family and friends game evening this Saturday from 3 30 to 6 p.m in the east annex of the church and then the Tisfield library will host checkers tomorrow at 2 p.m everyone is welcome to come.

I had a great time judging the collar green cook off which was hosted by Urban Ministry and West End Community Church.

I've never had her color greens but it was actually really good.

So it was a great turnout they gave out um free food sweet potato drop is really well attended so kudos to them for that and then lastly it is Ramsey alumni week so go Ram.

So if you're at Ramsey Ram uh go participate go to the game support our kids so I'm hoping for a great week this week.

Thank you Mr President.

All right you have something else Counselor Smithman you made me think about something when you announced your mother's birthday please forgive me I know none of you were in Gregory know that I forgot my son's birthday is also September 25th.

So I would like to wish Gregory a happy birthday.

Thank you.

Also which thank you Crystal my mother's birthday is also on September 25th would like to wish my mother a birthday as well anybody else got any birthdays September 25th is my daughter in law's birthday and this past Saturday my great granddaughter celebrated her first birthday so now that we're in birthday mode great the 25th was a very popular day.

Counselor Abbott you have announcements I do they're not nearly as much fun as birthdays but you know um the next planning and zoning committee meeting is scheduled for tomorrow Wednesday September 24th at 330 here in the council chambers we have one neighborhood association meeting this week and that's tonight well this evening at 5 o'clock the Redmont neighborhood meets at the botanical gardens in the auditorium if you have any concerns or issues you want folks to call 311 but you really need that my Behem 311 app on your phone so you can send photographs and describe the situation in your own words so that someone can easily identify what the situation is and fix it.

It's the fixing that takes so long and it would be good if our 311 system had a little bit better explanation of what's going on but it's still the best system we've got so I encourage people to download it and use it.

And that's all for me.

Thank you Counselor Abbott.

Counselor Moore.

Thank you Mr.

President Norwood Neighborhood Association will take place today at 6 p.m via Zoom we also have the Harriman Park Neighborhood Association that will take place this Thursday at Herriman Park Rick Center at 430 p.m the land bank will be offering um let me see office hours for individuals to be able to ask questions and learn more this will take place on October the 3rd the 10th and 17th from 11 a.m to 12 p.m they have a uh QR code that you can scan on their uh Instagram page uh to be able to schedule your time and register so check that out we also have uh the city of Birmingham is now accepting proposals from qualified development uh teams for the design financing construction and operation of hospitality focused development that serves as a key catalyst uh for the surrounding area on city owned property uh this is uh a request for proposal and so um any developers that are are willing to be a part of this and uh help to develop the former Trinity church uh are asked to uh go to IEO dot Birmingham AL dot govern you may be able to no you maybe submit your uh let me see interested candidates can submit the required uh documentation to IEO at Birminghamal.gov um and then last but not least keep it with the trend of birthday

Uh this is uh a request for proposal and so um any developers that uh are willing to be a part of this and uh help to develop the former Trinity Church uh are asked to uh go to IEO dot Birmingham AL.gov or um you may be able to no you maybe submit your uh let me see interested candidates can submit the required uh documentation to IEO at Birmingham AL.gov um and then last but not least keeping with the trend of birthdays I definitely want to give a big shout out to my wife who celebrated her birthday on the 20th my grandfather who celebrated his birthday on the 21st and my son who will be celebrating his birthday on the 26th so no 25th but plenty of the 20s all right thank you counselor more council cart thank you mr president announcements for district eight um we do have a neighborhood meeting this week the Bush Hills Neighborhood Association will meet this evening at 6 30 p.m at the Bush Hills connections connection complex that is the former Woodrow Wilson School also be sure to join us this Sunday for the third annual blues at the ballpark come out and enjoy some down home blues featuring the Mississippi Delta's own Gary Burnside he plays in the hill country tradition made famous by his dis by his dad our L burnside and uh we'll also had it have as the main headliner uh blues legend Bobby Rush gates open at 2 and the show starts at 3 p.m.

Bring your lawn chairs and your dancing shoes for a great time at Rickwood Field the cost is absolutely free and this event is co-sponsored by um the City Council Safe Summer Series and also the Friends of Rickwood and the Magic City Blues Society if you're looking for fun after school meet up at the Five Points West Regional Library at 330 on Tuesday September 30th for Lego STEM have fun while learning more about science while building uh Lego objects with your friends on October 4th from 1 to 4 celebrate Latin traditions in the Birmingham Museum at the Birmingham Museum of Art during their annual Latin American Heritage Festival this vibrant day includes bilingual Spanish art explorations engaging arts and crafts for families face painting and performances by the by an audience favorite Orquestra Makuba while at the Birmingham Museum of Art also be sure to check out the museum's newly renovated reopened gallery for ancient American art and finally I just want to note that the funeral service for Chef Michael Glenn will take place this Saturday at 1 p.m at the worship center at 100 Derby Parkway and the interment immediately following at Moton Hill Cemetery in Leeds Alabama.

And Chief Sparks I did say finally but one more thing there is a residence in Ensley Highlands that we've been working with Ryan on but the complaints just keep mounting and mounting there's livestock goats chickens the goat gets out there's a loose pit bull trailers and box truck parked on the street in front of the house and you know just suspicious activity all the way around I'm almost scared to give the address so I'll just um just ask for some heightened vigilance on that thank you okay thank you council clerk for District 5 um want to uh wish you all uh well yesterday was first day of fall so um looking forward to some cooler temperatures and you know I guess we're now in festival season so happy fall y'all um also want to um wish the best of luck to our deputy administrator Jeff McDaniels who is in a runoff today for Helena Place 5 city council seat um good luck to you wish you the best um in District 5 neighborhood associations we have fountain heights neighborhood association that's going to meet tonight at 6 p.m at the fountain heights recreation center Crestwood North Neighborhood association also meets tonight at 630 p.m at girls incorporated the next transportation infrastructure committee meeting will be on Monday October 13th at 2 p.m in the here in the council chambers submit agenda items by emailing Kimberly dot Phillips at Birminghamal gov.

The next Transportation Infrastructure Committee meeting will be on Monday, October 13th at 2 p.m.

in the here in the council chambers, submit agenda items by emailing Kimberly dot Phillips at Birmingham AL dot gov.

And other events, uh the One Place Family Justice Center will host its 10th annual Relentless Hope Breakfast to kick off domestic violence awareness month on Wednesday, October 1st at 7 30 p.m.

until 9 a.m.

at the Harvard Center featuring the annual state of domestic violence report.

Tickets are available at one place, Relentless Hope dot swell dot gives.

And as always, I want to remind folks to uh take advantage of our two farmers markets.

Um the East Lake Farmers Market and Pepper Place Farmers Market that occur every Saturday morning.

Thank you.

That concludes my announcements.

Um Mr.

Clerk, we have several folks who have Jackson's uh oh, I'm sorry, Fountain Heights has been canceled.

Um so our public speakers list Mr.

Jenkins, first uh speaker left.

Okay.

Mr.

Jenkins uh press a button on the microphone there.

Yeah.

Willie Jenkins, uh 1105 Southwest Drive, Birmingham, Alabama.

Uh to the city council, all the city council, Willie Jenkins present uh the men appraise in concert the second Sunday in and uh well it's November 9th at Greater Uh Emmanuel Temple Baptist Church.

It's gonna be I don't know what time, but I will let y'all know about what time it's gonna be.

Also, um well we um our cabin gospel in the A Gator Cabin Johnson in uh October the 12th at the encore uh theater 1604 2nd Avenue North Downtown.

Well he in concert and many more uh people's gonna he's he's the president of men of praise.

Also, we're getting ready for the Cobra High School reunion.

Gonna be Mr.

Mo we getting ready for the cobbler.

Um, I want to invite y'all to call spring week.

Uh Red Blue Ball.

Gonna have a lot of activities.

Um and then also um if we'll be at the um the platinum gonna be September the 30th.

And uh picnic gonna be October the fourth in North Birmingham Par.

And we got many more things coming up, and we'll like for um I have a flyer when let y'all know when everything's gonna be.

Uh Mr.

Mo, we lost a very person from Calver High School.

She was my high Teresa Dixie.

She's been around a long time.

My family, my sister, we've been knowing the family for years.

And she went to Calver High School and she passed.

I didn't go car.

I was I was invited to a picnic.

Uh Man of Praise had uh uh had a picnic over there at uh Brady's uh Liddy Grove Bath Church.

We was over there over there Lady Grove.

And um my prayers, I mean we my prayers go with her because she was a great I've been knowing for years, and I just need to love Mr.

Mo that she she followed a good fight and um I didn't get chance to make it, but my prayers go with the with the family and stuff.

You know, family go for the family.

But and uh like I said, we uh getting ready for the reunion coming up pretty soon.

And also my pastor, I can't forget my pastor, Reverend Irving, Patrick Irving to have his anniversary in the second Sunday in November at uh Oak Street Baptist Church at Matthew, Oak Street Baptist Church in Cottageville.

I'm like to invite y'all to come the second Sunday.

That's gonna be a second Sunday in November.

It's gonna be doing the uh 11 o'clock hour, 11 o'clock out the second Sunday in November.

That's coming up.

We're getting ready for that.

And uh oh, I ain't gonna forget y'all, Santa Claus coming back to town again.

I'll be back.

Um Christmas time.

Also, I have a birthday coming up.

I'll be 72 years old, December 20 will be my birthday, Mr.

Jenkins, and I'll be 72 years old.

And also we call the high school 79.

Had a uh we had a uh they have a party.

My sister went, I would dress up in my cowboy suit.

You know, my sister would dress up too, and uh we would reunite Calvin High School 1979, and we had a great, great time, you know, uh uh 1979.

But we looking forward to the big reunion, Carver High School mighty call the mighty rams.

He had a mighty mighty ram.

I'm a member, still a member of Carbon High School.

I'm out.

We're getting ready so people can get their tents and stuff set up, you know, for the big picnic in Auburnham Park, and we're there for y'all to come on out and joy, you know.

And I hear Jackson Old had one.

My guy, one of my men appraised, had a uh reunion over the Jackson Old and he just had celebrate they and uh Jackson over here at their reunion.

And I've been going yellow and going, I'm ready for the Cobra Rams reunion.

And like I said, that's all that's all I would like to mountain.

Um also just want y'all to pray for um to Teresa uh Dixon, pray for her.

You know, she was a great great soul.

We lost a lot of people from Carver, not only her, but we all lost a lot of members went to Carver High School.

Uh graduate with her from mighty carver high school, Mr.

Muffrey.

Thank you, Sir Jenkins.

I got you.

Next speaker, please.

Uh Ricky Green, Ricky Green, John Jackson, Greg.

Oh, sorry, John Jackson.

Good morning.

Morning.

My name is John Jackson, and I brought with me my neighbors, Tony, Greg, and Kirk.

We reside over in the East Lake area.

The reason why we're here today is because I came before you guys on 2023 asking you guys to prevent a death.

We brought hundreds of petitions here for a four-way stop sign and speed humps on 3rd and 85th Street.

Since our last meeting, we've had two deaths right there at that corner.

Guy was in a wheelchair, got ran over.

What we're trying to ask you guys is to assist us.

You guys are our public leaders.

And without your help, we can't do what we've already done.

We've tried to take the next step because we feel like action speaks louder than words.

We've already purchased speed humps.

That's how sincere we are and passionate about this.

We don't want another death occurring on our street.

Our neighborhood is crying out for help.

And the people who have the authority to make that decision, they're looking at us right now.

So will y'all help us in this regard.

Now, in addition to that, I've looked at what you guys sent us about traffic coming.

You said that the traffic common was there to help to promote and slow down traffic.

85th Street, north people come down there doing 70 and 80 miles an hour.

You get a stop sign at 5th.

The next traffic light is on First Avenue.

So if you got a Dodge Charge or one of those hot Mustangs or one of those other fast cars, you're gonna gun it.

We see people going up the street, going around other people because of no regard.

Now, the reason why we're asking for the four-way stop signs, we think that 90% of the average people will stop for a stop sign.

But then you have those who won't.

And that's why we're asking for the heat speed bumps, because the speed bumps will slow those down that won't stop.

Or those are just gonna run as if there's no tomorrow, or is there or if they were uh Caladica 500?

So we've also looked at other areas that's similar to ours, five mile road speed humps, Fourth Avenue and 85th Street North, two ways turned to four-way speed humps.

And okay, you say, well, what's congested or what's similar to your street?

Cress Hill Road has two-way stop sign, turn to four and six speed humps.

What we're asking is why can't we get that at 85th and 3rd Avenue North?

Now, some of these other guys have something to say as well, but I live at that corner.

I get a front side seat to it.

I see it all.

So I'm coming to my elected officials to ask them for help.

Okay, thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Greg.

Yes, my name is Greg.

I stay on 85th Street and Third Avenue North.

I'm disabled.

Part of my regimen is being disabled is walking to help loosen my injury.

I am afraid to walk down Third Avenue and cross 85th Street.

Because it's like a speedway going down 85th Street.

As he just said, we'd had two people die on 85th Street.

That's ridiculous.

You know, a lot of the people on our community of older age.

And we have we are actually a block from East Lake Park, which is accessible for people to walk.

That is a hindrance going across 85th Street for people to walk because they're scared, like myself.

You know, we asking you all for help.

It shouldn't take two years and two deaths.

How many more deaths?

I'm asking you all, how many more people have to die before something is done?

Possibly, Lord forbid, myself trying to exercise my rights for my health benefits to walk.

For some nick to come down there thinking it's Indianapolis 500 and hit me.

Now if they have respect for a person in a wheelchair that's handicapped, what do you think they're gonna respect have respect for me?

You know, our to put it bluntly, our life is in your hands.

So let me provide some background information.

So just for context, for decades, the city of Birmingham traffic engineering department.

Um actually wasn't even a department then, it was the division of the planning engineering permits department.

Um the the policy of the city was to not allow any sort of traffic calming.

So and I know this because I've been in Birmingham for twenty for 25 years now.

I got involved in my neighborhood association early on, you know, was eventually president of the citizens' advisory board.

Um, and I say that to say that I know that you know I have never been in any neighborhood on any street where uh the residents have told me the people just drive too slow.

Um that is not the case.

So um what happened uh with the Mayor Woodfin um changing you know the staff that handles our uh transportation issues and and actually created a actual uh department of transportation here uh within the city.

They I believe it was 2022, maybe 2021, they actually created a traffic calming program.

So as a result of that, um, when that opportunity became available, there was a tremendous amount of pent-up demand.

This is not an in new issue for your neighborhood.

This has been happening in Northeast Lake at this location for as long as the neighborhood has existed, I'm sure.

So that location and hundreds, literally hundreds of other requests have been made, and so this is not um there there are literally over 500 requests for Twat traffic calming currently in Kew across the city, and the as part of the process, it actually requires a certified licensed traffic engineer to go out and conduct a traffic study and actually design the traffic calming uh measures that that would be put in place.

So with the 500 in queue, and we own we only have a few engineers here that work with the city of Birmingham.

So with the 500 in Q, and we own we only have a few engineers here that work with the City of Birmingham, that's been the bottleneck is actually having those uh a certain a licensed uh traffic engineer to to do the traffic study and design the traffic calming measures to be put in place.

So that was already done, sir.

I'm sorry, I was done, sir.

That was already done for this particular great, great.

So what we we've done to address that that issue is additional funding has been put towards uh traffic calming in the city of Birmingham, and we are the the uh Birmingham Department of Transportation is actually outsourcing some of this work.

Now you say it's already the traffic study and the traffic engineering plan has already been done.

Great.

Um but let me just say that the elected officials um have no decision making capacity and whether or not those traffic calming uh measures get installed.

Um we make the decisions about what financial resources are put towards traffic calming, but then you know, beyond that, it's it's the uh Department of Transportation, you know, that goes through their protocol to make sure that each of those requested traffic calming locations are evaluated, and if it's deemed appropriate for traffic calming measures to be installed, then you know they they proceed as as warranted.

Uh Council Moore, you got some comments?

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

President.

I just wanted to say to Mr.

Jackson, uh thank you for coming down and uh Mr.

Goldsmith as well as the other members of Northeast Lake.

Um definitely, you know, uh am grateful to hear from you and hear your concerns.

Um I know that you know everything that Mr.

President has just said is uh definitely true, and you know, is what I was going to share.

Um one one of the things that I would offer as well is that I would love for you all to come to the neighborhood association meetings that take place every second Tuesday um of the month at Southern Museum of Flight to be able to also have other residents to to hear from you as well as partner with you in this effort.

Um that's also where I share updates and you know information about the status of certain projects or certain things that are going on in the neighborhood.

Um I know you know that road has been something that you share uh about with me before.

Uh I've come to your house, you know, even when you know we were working on the sewage issue.

Um I've come by there on that road when the cleaners uh was a problem because it was a lot of um unhoused individuals that were breaking into the the old cleaners on that same road, and that's why you know we were able to get that torn down, and so um definitely willing to work with you all uh to keep keep you informed of what's going on so that we can you know uh just make sure that everybody has the correct information and the same information, um, as well as just making sure that we we keep eyes on this area uh because it is it is a problem.

It is a problem, and we definitely need to make sure that we address it.

And so I want to make sure that I continue to work with you as well as uh the rest of the members of Northeast Lake to address that issue.

Thank you.

Counselor Abbott.

And I'm assuming, and this would be for the administration, the requirement has been that you go to the neighborhood association and the neighborhood association votes to pay for half of the cost.

Now you can do that out of your own pocket if you want to.

There are some neighborhoods where residents have just put their money together and paid for half, but the neighborhood association, the requirement is the neighborhood association would vote to pay for half of the cost of the speed hump lump bumps, whatever we're calling this week.

So and then the other point is that you still have to wait one to two years for them to get to you.

And there's a long list of neighborhoods that have not been gotten to, and I know that personally because 16th Avenue South just got its speed bumps after well over a year after the neighborhood voted for it, and a man was hit by a car on that street the week before the bumps were installed.

Okay.

So, you know, the name but the neighborhood is part of the process, and if you don't, you know, I know you say you've already done all that.

The good thing, the good news, is that the city is now contracting with contractors to install those humps instead of waiting for public works to have time to do it.

So that's the good news, and maybe that's the reason that 16th Avenue South finally got theirs, is because it's contracted out now.

But these are, I mean, these are issues for every single neighborhood.

I don't think there's one that's spared from wild drivers.

Some of them will still fly over the speed bumps, like they're not there.

So you still have to be careful, but at least it slows people down.

But there is a whole process, and I'm glad to know you've gone through it, and you're in the waiting period, and I'm sure that if there's a way to pull you up, someone will do it.

Can I respond to you or go ahead?

President Quinn, I appreciate everything you said, and I thank you for what you said.

But like I said, I live right there at that corner.

I've watched this happen.

So with that being said, I'm passionate about getting something done about that.

JT Moore addressing you.

Thank you for what you have done in the past, but we just can't stop there.

Life goes on.

We got to get something done about that.

Valerie Averett, thank you for what you said.

I appreciate that too.

But in the meantime, how many more people have to lose their lives before we get something done about this?

I understand you guys saying what you're saying, but there's a way we can get something done if we want to.

I really am passionate about this, people.

And I believe we can do better.

I really do.

That's that's Keith Sparks.

Yes, sir, Mr.

President, and thank you all for the concerns.

We've been tracking this as well, so I want to make sure that the council is armed as well as you all on process for next steps because we hear you loud and clear.

Thank you.

So a couple of things.

I think our um Department of Transportation team members gave you the list of your neighbors' addresses so that you can work with them to get the petition signed.

So expedite that process because that allows us to also go to the next steps of inserting those uh the speed humps.

Um they agree with you that that will help ease some of the concerns.

They did do a study, uh, but the the study from the stop signs were not approved.

So the next steps are speed humps, and the way to get that is to expedite that process.

We've already purchased the speed humps, all we needed some help.

We've already purchased them.

But the next step is to also have the petitions signed by that your neighbors.

So we will be walking with you all on that, and we'll be tracking it.

We want you to know we're we're extremely sensitive to it too.

We don't think that another life should have to be jeopardized in this.

So just know that we're tracking it and we'll work with you all as well.

Thank you so much.

That's all we have.

Thank you.

Okay, that concludes our public speakers portion of our meeting.

Um, want to thank our officers on duty, Officer Square, and Officer Lawrence.

Thank you for being with us this morning.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Meeting adjourned.

Hey, hey, this is Councilwoman Tate.

Coming from you from the historical Pratt City neighborhood.

We're here in Shadowbrook community.

We're here to do a new beginning, Shadowbrook, showcasing three bedrooms, two baths, one hard garage home.

It is beautiful out here.

We have behind us, we have duplex.