Good morning, Birmingham.

This is the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council.

Today is Tuesday, October seventh, twenty twenty five.

This morning our invitation will be delivered by Reverend Jerry Cunningham, associate pastor of New Pilgrim Baptist Church, and our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councillor Valerie Abbott.

If you're willing and able, please stand.

Father in heaven.

We give thanks for the sun rising.

Ushering in a new day.

As this meeting of the city council progresses, we pray that it will be productive without rank or bitterness.

May you be glorified in every work that is done henceforth.

In the name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen.

Council, the minutes are not ready for the May 6th, 2025 through September 30th, 2025 meetings.

The drive was created to provide happy holiday memories for hundreds of less fortunate Birmingham youth.

This event seeks to gather toys, coats, and bicycles to help supplement low to moderately low-income Birmingham families with their children's holiday wishes.

Donations will begin being accepted on November the first.

So for those interested in helping in this cause, please make certain you reach out for more information to the Magic City Toy Drive campaign and call 205-3200879, or you can visit the DYS website at WW.birminghamal.gov forward slash DYS.

City of Birmingham seeks a development partner for a major hospitality project.

The ideal partner will deliver a branded mid to up mid-to-up scale hotel with at least 100 rooms and potentially a mixed use development that complements the vibrant surrounding urban environment.

The site is located on two city-owned parcels at 1129 Caraway Boulevard and 2615 12th Avenue North.

Sits near major attractions like the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, Protective Stadium, and Top Golf.

The project's objectives include delivering high quality architecture, providing guest amenities that enhance the city's appeal, and incorporating sustainable design practices.

The city is committed to a collaborative approach to ensure the project's success and deliver lasting public value.

The RFP was actually released on September the 17th.

The first site visit was held on October the 2nd.

Due to the growing demand, however, the city will be adding an additional site visit on October the 20th from 2 to 3 p.m.

The submission deadline is October the 31st, 2025 at 4 p.m.

Interested parties can access the full RFP document on the City of Birmingham's website at IEO.birminghamal.gov.

And then finally, um, Mr.

President, Madam Protein, members of the council, I'd like to ask Miss Eva Johnson and any guests that are with her to please join me here at the podium.

Mr.

President, Madam Protein, members of the council, it is indeed my high honor to stand on the mayor's behalf.

This is one that he absolutely wanted to be here for to celebrate this dynamic matriarch of our city.

Miss Eva Johnson, a devoted East Lake resident, breast cancer survivor, and tireless advocate, has made it her mission to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer through education, community engagement, and faith.

Each year, she hosts her warrior walk at Eastlake Park, raising money for local organizations and honoring those affected by breast cancer.

During breast cancer awareness month, we would like to celebrate her work with a proclamation that I will read in part.

It reads, whereas, inspired by her own journey of survival and her belief in the power of prayer, Ms.

Johnson established the breast cancer warrior walk at East Lake Park, a community event that honors survivors, remembers loved ones who have passed on, and spreads awareness of the disease that impacts countless families.

And whereas the breast cancer warrior walk featuring food, prizes, and fellowship, serves as a joyful and powerful reminder that faith, community, and persistence are vital in the ongoing fight against breast cancer.

And whereas the 2025 Breast Cancer Warrior Walk will take place on Saturday, October the 11th, 2025, continuing Ms.

Johnson's mission to inspire others, celebrate life, and strengthen the community through awareness and action.

And whereas the City of Birmingham commends Miss Eva Johnson for her unwavering courage, advocacy, and service, and for being a living testament to the strength that comes from faith and community support.

Now, therefore it be it resolved that I obviously, on behalf of our Honorable Mayor, Mayor Randall L.

Whitfan, mayor of the City of Birmingham, do hereby recognize and honor Miss Eva B.

Johnson for her extraordinary efforts to increase breast cancer awareness, her generous contributions to cancer research and support organizations, and her commitment to uplifting the Birmingham community.

Miss Eva.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I would like to thank Mary's absent.

And each one of you all.

About enough for me to recognize me.

This is something that's dear to my heart.

I've been cancer free for 10 years soon, would be 11 years.

And God put on my heart to reach out and help others that's going through counsel.

I send gifts out.

Peep, I don't even know.

But it's on my heart.

That's what God put it to reach out and help others.

That's going through what I've gone through.

Thank you all so much.

It's a privilege to be here.

Thank you, Chief Sparks.

Council Clark.

Thank you.

Um, Mr.

Chief, I just wanted to note for the record.

Um, I know you can hear me while you're getting your picture taken, but you know, I have an issue, and and I know that I'm leaving and we haven't passed any sort of policy, but I have an issue with us doing RFPs without first declaring property surplus and not needed for municipal purpose.

I also think it's really not, I don't know what to call it, but let's say not, I'm just gonna say not good to have you know a convention center district that's master planned.

Uh another site, well, really the whole convention center is master planned, and um the city is a part or at least is represented, I think, in in that body, but then to offer a hotel site while there are hotels trying to manifest within the master plan that the city has invested heavily in.

I just think that's ill-timed and that you know that could have waited.

Um I don't see why we have to compete head on with a project that the city is invested in.

So I'm just and and then there's also the issue that once the uh bridge was raised, the noise complaints at the Sheraton are through the roof.

So, you know, just moving that bridge up has changed the noise levels in hotel rooms so that and now we've got we're putting a hotel site out there that's right next to the interstate, disconnected.

I it's I don't know, it just seems you know, ill-timed and maybe not the highest and best use for that site, but you know, we don't really get to weigh in before things are disposed of, which seems like it would be appropriate because when people do RF when they respond to RFPs, they spend a lot of money and time, and you know, then we're backed in a corner.

We don't have any choice but to support it because people have gone through the effort and the time and the expense to compete to develop something that maybe doesn't need to be developed.

But anyway, just thought I'd put that out there for whatever it's worth because we don't have a policy um that says that you have to declare it surplus before it's marketed, but it just seems like that would be decent and in order.

So just maybe thank you.

One more thing.

I'm sorry.

If if I can if I could get an update on the carver um uh sewer issue, I think it's been pending for some time, and there's been some evaluation, but it to my knowledge it has not been repaired yet, and the the couple of investigations have determined that.

And I believe the city engineer is concurring that it is the city's responsibility and not the counties to make the repair.

Are you aware?

Offhand, yeah, Richard.

Yeah, uh, Council Clark.

So we're working right now with Capital Projects to Um consult a consultant, a contractor coming to make the repairs.

Yes, you are right that we did the investigating with the county um health department and found out the sewer line needs to be increased.

So that is a city obligation, and we are taking care of.

We're just waiting on the contractor.

Okay, thank you.

And and so the carver can continue to operate though, even though the potential for tobacco is still there.

But we we advised them to not do anything in the basement until this is alleviated.

Okay, thank you.

All right.

Madam Clerk, do we have any announcements of boards and agencies expirations?

No, sir, not at present.

Okay.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

I will 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 the council with respect to an item on the consent agenda designated for public hearing may request the item be removed from the consent agenda to hold the hearing on the item.

Any items removed from the consent agenda will revert to its normal place on the agenda order of business for remaining matters.

All matters of permanent operation will be read, and all public hearings will be announced.

Let's please to read through the consent agenda.

Yes, sir.

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

On page three, item numbers four, five, six, and seven.

On page four, items eight and nine.

Please note that item 10 was requested to be withdrawn by the office of the city attorney.

On page five, we have items 11, 12, and 13.

On item 11, there are a couple of corrections that need to be made.

This should be the lump sum proposal of Johnson controls fire protection LP.

And the money and the amount is 35,415 and 32 cents.

Okay.

Page six.

We have items 14, 15, 16, and 17.

Page 7, items 18, 19, 20, 21.

Page 8, items 22, 23, and 24, and that completes the consent agenda.

Okay.

Do any of the counselors wish to remove an item from the consent agenda?

Okay.

We also have items one through seven that are public hearing items.

Do any members of the public wish to remove any of the items one through seven from the consent agenda?

All right.

We're ready for a motion on the consent agenda.

And move approval second.

All right.

Okay.

And please note that we had a slight problem this morning with the uh granite.

So I'm not sure if your uh machine you'll be able to vote on your um computer.

Okay.

Or your tablets.

So uh we're gonna see.

I started the vote.

You may try it, but yeah, okay, it's working.

Councillor Abbott.

Oh, it's not working for you to have it long enough.

Okay, everybody should.

Yes, everybody's vote should be in at this point.

Record it.

Uh everyone voted aye.

Okay.

Okay.

So that's uh unanimo unanimous.

The consent agenda is approved.

Um now we'll move on to announcements.

Councillor Woods.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, quickly, uh, one announcement.

I would like to invite anyone that's interested in coming out tomorrow.

We're having a uh grand opening of a gooder grocery store in Huffman Middle School.

Uh this is one of our ARPA projects, and one way we're working with Birmingham City Schools to pilot uh basically working to working against food insecurity.

I think everybody's heard stories where potentially students are not getting through meals a day, and so by placing this grocery store in the school, we're empowering students to kind of uh take some responsibility, help in their own households, but uh be able to go in and grocery shop the families of those students have access to the store.

The families of those students have access to the store.

So we're gonna pilot that for a couple of years.

And uh we think it's gonna be positive, seeing some really strong things and examples that they've done in Atlanta.

And so I think this could be a positive model here in Birmingham.

So if you're available and interested, come to Huffman Middle School tomorrow at 12 p.m.

for the grand opening.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Woods, go to Tim Alexander.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Councilor Woods, I'd like to thank you for taking on that particular ARPA project.

I'm really looking forward to the results of that.

And already tired of talking to principal and staff at Jones Valley Middle School to hope that we can be your first prototype on that and your first cohort in being sure that we get that done.

And um, I just want to say it's very important.

We do know that students often sometimes the only meals some of our students get are during the lunch breakfast and lunch.

And I'm a member of the organization.

We provide meals to students over the weekends.

And um there's six member organizations that do that throughout the Birmingham area.

So I thank you for what you're doing, and I'm just excited for this project.

And for District 7 announcements, we do have several neighborhood meetings going on in District 7 this week.

On Thursday, October 9th, the West Brownsville Neighborhood Association will meet at 11 a.m.

via conference call, and you can call the office and we'll post that information for the dialing information.

On Monday, October 13th, the West Goldwire neighborhood meets via conference call.

And on Tuesday, October 14th, um, we will be having the Roosevelt neighborhood will meet together at Roosevelt Rec Center.

And those are all my announcements.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Councilor Smithman.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh the next budget and finance meeting will meet on Monday, October 13th at 3 30 p.m.

in the council chambers.

Submissions are due tomorrow by noon.

Uh the Tittysville Library will host community care day tomorrow, October 8th from 10 to 1 p.m.

This will include uh the adult book club session, discount groceries, free clothing, pet adoptions, and free or low cost pet vaccinations.

Uh today, Oakwood Place Neighborhood Association meeting will be held today at 4 p.m.

at Harrison Park Recreation Center.

And then Mason City will meet today at 4 30 p.m.

via teleconference.

Then this Saturday, the New Hope Annual Community Fair will be held this Saturday from 10 to 1 at New Hope.

This event will include health screenings, financial literacy, uh, voter education, educational resources in general, a food giveaway, and more all are welcome.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right, thank you.

Councilor Abbott.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The um announcements for district three for today, the next planning and zoning committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8th at 3 30 p.m.

here in the council chambers, and that is tomorrow.

Um neighborhood association meetings tonight would have been the Forest Park South Avondale meeting.

But since the library that they meet in as a voting location, they have moved it to next Tuesday.

Uh, of course, right on top of Highland Park and East Davondale, but that's the way it works sometimes.

Um, and then of course I'm a big advocate of calling 311, but I'm even bigger advocate of using the My B Ham 311 app.

So I hope everyone by now has it loaded on their phone and will take photographs and turn things in because the only way our city is gonna get cleaned up and straightened up is with resident participation.

The city does not have a crew of people to go out and look for problems.

So if you don't turn them in, they don't get fixed.

So my VM 311, you can go to the Play Store or the Apple store.

So that's all for me.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Abbott.

Counselor Clark.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And District 8, we have some neighborhood meetings this week.

We have the Fairview Meet neighborhood meeting today via conference call.

If you need a dial-in number, you can call our office at 205-254-2304 to get that information.

Um also the Thomas neighborhood meets today in person.

They gather uh at Mount Hebron Baptist Church in Thomas at 6:30.

Next Monday, that's October 13th.

The Tuxedo neighborhood.

Well, we have three meetings at night.

Tuxedo, rising West Princeton, and Ansley Highlands.

Tuxedo meeting at 5 and both rising West Princeton and City Highlands meeting at 6 p.m.

If you need the details, please call our office 2542304.

Wanna just uh give thanks and shout out to the Magic City Blues Society and the Friends of Rickwood for partnering with District 8 to present the uh blues in the ballpark.

It was the third event, and I have to say uh also uh the city council central staff really props us up in these events, as does the third party um consultant who helps us.

So uh really good event, great turnout, and we got to experience the legendary Bobby Rush.

He was pretty uh exciting in his um older years.

I mean, he hadn't missed a beat, so he was um it was it was pretty fun to um experience.

So thanks again to everybody involved, and I'm looking over there at Jeff because he's like a quarterback uh when we do these strange things.

Um anyway, the Michael Mays Youth Resource Project and the Friends of Rickwood present Kids' Day at Rickwood.

That's gonna happen on October 18th from 10 to 3.

Kids 6 to 12 years of age are invited to come out and play wiffle ball, stick ball, and baseball.

Admission is free to and all parents must remain on site.

Also, this year, the Birmingham Museum of Art is delighted to present pianist Vitali Starikov as the performer for the 24th annual Lavona Russian concert on October 16th at 7 30 prior to the concert at 6 30.

You can join uh you can go upstairs for coffee and light refreshments.

This event is free and open to the public.

And finally, if there's a runoff in your area, please go out and vote today before 7 p.m.

Um, and don't let the clouds deter you.

That concludes my remarks.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Clark.

For District 5, as Councillor Abbott already announced the Forest Park South Avondale Neighborhood Association meeting has been rescheduled for next Tuesday.

Uh East Lake Neighborhood Association for this month has also been rescheduled for next Tuesday 6 p.m.

Household of Faith Church.

at the Smithfield Court Community Center.

Um and then finally wanted you all to uh let you all know that uh next week, next Wednesday evening, um we will be hosting uh a town hall together uh feedback from uh the community about um what we as the legislative body of municipal government um can do to potentially impact the animal control issues so this will take place next Wednesday, October 15th at uh Parker High School.

The doors will open at 5:30, and the um town hall slash public input meeting will start at 6 p.m.

Um ahead of that meeting where we also have a survey out.

Uh you can find that uh through social media or the I believe it's also on the council website.

Um, the meeting itself, um we'll be uh allowing folks to sign up and and make comments um relative to the to relative to animal control and um the potential amendment of city codes to address that issue.

Um however, we'll also be live streaming that and and monitoring the uh comments and questions online um and potentially responding to those.

Um so you know, please mark your calendar.

Uh this is a uh important issue, and and we want to hear what the community has to say about this issue before we move forward with any potential amendments uh to city code.

And that concludes my announcements to for district five, Council Clark.

Mr.

President, I want to thank you for you know advancing this issue and getting input just to see what our citizens are willing to have codified to help manage this issue.

It's an important public safety issue, and you know, children being attacked or not being able to walk to school safely or having to get in the car with a stranger to be safe, to get away from dogs, you know, those kinds of things just aren't okay.

And so thanks for strategizing around it.

I I was just curious.

I know you know there's ordinances, but is there anything we can do from the council side to uh influence the qualifications for like animal control, like people who are hired, like what kind of training, you know, the physical fitness, are they you know, do they like animals?

I mean, because you know, it's about getting the animals safe and keeping us safe.

So I just don't know who we put in those jobs and if they are if there's something that can be legislated, sure to that would be a good question.

I would think uh that would be a good question for us to take up with the Jefferson County Personnel Board.

Um, you know, because they advertise those positions and list the qualifications and so I think we would need to check with them, you know.

Otherwise, I would say, you know, that the council, any council is the uh policy making body for their respective municipality.

Um so in theory that could be possible, but you know, I don't want to say definitively I'm just curious because I do feel like you know who we get to do these jobs is as important as anything we could write in a law.

So yeah.

Sure.

All right, Councilor Smithman, you have a comment?

No?

Okay.

All right.

Um can you repeat the date of that?

Yes, October 15th.

Um at Parker High School.

The doors were open at 5:30.

We're encouraging folks to come early so that they can uh sign up for the speakers list.

Um and we'll do that a lot like you know, we do the public speakers here in the meeting with you know two or three minutes for them to give comment.

Um and and hopefully, you know, get a lot of people who show up and weigh in on the issue.

Okay, and where do they go to read what is being proposed?

So we know I'll just say that we have some potential suggestions, but those suggestions are pretty broad.

Um, and we'll discuss those at the at the meeting, you know, um just generally things that could be done, they you know, at a very minimum minimum um a spay neuter requirement uh is probably you know the most common um municipal you know code that's uh something that you see elsewhere in Alabama and um throughout the country.

Um there are other you know potential um code amendments that that could be uh enacted in addition to that but you know we'll we'll talk about that, we'll present that at the meeting.

Okay, thanks for that.

Um so it was uh our PIO team sent it out through um our weekly announcements uh newsletter.

Um I'm guessing it's probably also on our socials.

Yeah, Councillor Smith I'm in sending it to you.

Okay, okay.

All right, we have no uh public speakers signed up this morning.

So I want to thank our officers on duty, uh Officer Tinker and Officer Fikes.

Um thank you for being with us this morning.

And that concludes our our business.

I move for adjournment second.

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

Aye.

All opposed.

Meeting adjourned, thank you.

Hold on.

If you feel alone.

Hold on.

You've got to hold on.

Everyone, this is Crystal Smithman, Birmingham State Councillor for District 6.

We're out here at the historic Legion Field for Brenda Brown, Business Buddies, Angle Sister Strike.

It's such an amazing event.

This is for awareness for breast cancer.

This is a walk run.

It's really amazing.

It's not just a run, but you have they were just line dancing, uh chair exercises, uh vendors, healthy eating, uh tips, everything that you can think of.

So I'm so proud of Brenda in his role every year.

I've been proud to support her the last six years.

You've got to hold up.

So doing this and changing your lifestyle to do a preventive health measure before it happens, or