Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting – October 7, 2025

The Birmingham City Council held its regular meeting on October 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers. The meeting began with an invocation by Rev. Jerry Cunningham and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilor Valerie Abbott. The pre-council meeting scheduled for 9:00 a.m. was not held due to a lack of a quorum. The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included routine fiscal and administrative items, and heard announcements from council members and the Mayor's Chief of Staff. No public comments were made.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda (Items 1–24) was adopted by a single motion, with all council members present voting aye (6–0). The vote consisted of Councilors Abbott, Clarke, Smitherman, Woods, Alexander, and President O’Quinn.
• Public Hearing Items (1–7): Resolutions declaring seven inoperable motor vehicles as public nuisances and authorizing their removal from properties at 3225 Norwood Blvd, 1005 SW 2nd Ave, 2445 Coral St, 1028 2nd Ave (two vehicles), and 1021 2nd Ave (two vehicles). The costs of removal are to be assessed against the registered owners of the vehicles.
• Item 8: Resolution amending the sub-recipient agreement with Jefferson County Family Resource Center, Inc., reducing the sub-award from $1,135,282.20 to $935,282.20, with $200,000 allocated for four cycles of microgrants (up to $12,500 each) for community-based wraparound service providers under the RESTORE program.
• Item 9: Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute Secondary Manufacturers’ Settlement agreements to provide funds for abating the opioid epidemic in Birmingham.
• Item 10 (Withdrawn): A resolution authorizing legal action against the McCalla Area Fire District for reimbursement of firefighter training costs was withdrawn by the City Attorney’s office.
• Item 11: Resolution accepting a corrected proposal from Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP ($35,415.32) for the Birmingham Museum of Art Fire Panel Replacement.
• Items 12–13: Bid acceptances for mobile equipment tires (S&S Firestone, Inc. and Southern Tire Mart, LLC).
• Items 14–16: Payments to Affordable Interior Systems, Inc. for dorm furniture upgrades at Fire Stations #10 ($34,460.00), #11 ($37,018.50), and #22 ($49,942.00).
• Item 17: Payment to Alabama Power Company ($21,163.00) for installation and relocation of guys and anchors for the Shades Creek Greenway ARAP Project (District 2).
• Items 18–21: Payments for camera equipment ($3,222.37), water fountains ($8,148.65), wreck repair ($12,916.29), and sign brackets ($2,076.00).
• Items 22–24: Approval of itemized expense accounts for appointed officials (Item 22), city employees (Item 23), and advance expense accounts for city employees (Item 24). Specific expenses included travel to conferences and training events across multiple departments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public addressed the council during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• RFP for Hospitality Project: Chief of Staff Cedric Sparks announced a request for proposals for a major hospitality project on city-owned parcels at 1129 Caraway Boulevard and 2615 12th Avenue North, seeking a branded hotel with at least 100 rooms and potential mixed-use development. The first site visit was held October 2; an additional site visit is scheduled for October 20 (2–3 p.m.), and the submission deadline is October 31, 2025, at 4 p.m. Councilor Clarke expressed concerns about the process, noting that the property was not declared surplus before marketing, the project may compete with the city’s convention center district master plan, and noise issues from a nearby bridge. She questioned the timing and called for a policy requiring surplus declarations prior to RFPs.
• Carver Sewer Issue: Councilor Clarke requested an update on a sewer problem at the Carver. Chief Sparks confirmed that investigations with the county health department found the sewer line needs to be increased and is a city obligation. A contractor is being secured for repairs, and the Carver has been advised to avoid basement use until the issue is resolved.
• Animal Control Town Hall: Councilors O’Quinn and Clarke discussed a community meeting on animal control to be held October 15 at Parker High School (doors open 5:30 p.m., meeting 6 p.m.). The meeting will gather public input on potential city code amendments, such as a spay/neuter requirement. Councilor Smithman asked about legislating qualifications for animal control officers; Councilor O’Quinn suggested consulting the Jefferson County Personnel Board.
• Additional Announcements:
  • Councilor Woods invited attendance at the grand opening of a Goodr grocery store at Huffman Middle School on October 8, 12 p.m., an ARPA-funded project to address food insecurity.
  • Councilor Smitherman announced a Budget and Finance Committee meeting on October 13 and several neighborhood meetings.
  • Councilor Abbott promoted the My BHam 311 mobile app for reporting city issues.
  • Councilor Clarke announced the Blues in the Ballpark event featuring Bobby Rush, Kids’ Day at Rickwood on October 18, and the 24th annual Lavona Russian concert on October 16.
  • Councilor Alexander expressed support for the Goodr project and announced District 7 neighborhood meetings.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Approved Unanimously: All resolutions and ordinances on the consent agenda (Items 1–24, excluding withdrawn Item 10) were adopted by a 6–0 vote.
• No Items Removed: No council members or citizens requested removal of items from the consent agenda.
• Meeting Adjourned: The council adjourned at 10:12 a.m. after completing all business.

Note: The minutes contain a discrepancy in the roll call: they list Councilors Moore and Tate as both present and absent. The transcript indicates Councilor Woods arrived after the meeting began.