Birmingham City Council Meeting - October 28, 2025

This meeting of the Birmingham City Council convened with the inauguration of the 2025-2029 Council, where eight Council members were sworn in. The session included the election of leadership, approval of the consent calendar with several items removed for discussion, and deliberation on significant funding resolutions for Bold grants and opioid abatement programs. The meeting concluded with council member district updates and public testimony regarding homelessness and community resource centers.

Consent Calendar

• Items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-13, 14-16, 17-20, 21-23, 24-27, 28-30, 33, 53-55, 56-61, 62-67, 68-72, 77-78, 79-81, 82-84, 85-88, 89-91, 92-95, and 97-100 were approved by a single motion without discussion.
• Items initially requested to be removed for further discussion were: 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39-41, 42-44, 45, 46, 47-52, 73-76, and 96.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Councilor Christopher N. Smithman: Expressed concern regarding the lack of data on small business losses in Five Points South (Iron City Pizza, Black Market) following a break-in at Slide Cafe. Position: Requested a meeting with administration regarding support for small businesses and requested monthly printed "Blue Books" with an annual review for the next four years. Also requested department heads attend neighborhood meetings.
• Councilor Latanya Tate: Positioned to support inclusion and community service after being sworn in.
• Mayor Randall Woodfin: Extended gratitude to city employees for the success of the 84th Magic City Classic. Announced the City of Birmingham Roundup Harvest Festival. Introduced Christina Norman of Down Syndrome Alabama to promote inclusion.
• Minister Ricky Green: Stated his position on the need for a tangible track record of success in city programs. Proposed a vision to occupy a 155,000-square-foot vacant Christian Life Center in Woodland (District 4) to establish living quarters for 125 homeless individuals. Position: Urged the council to move away from ineffective funding models and evaluate programs based on results.
• Councilor Warren T. Alexander: Noted the impending government shutdown and a potential gap in SNAP benefits for approximately 70,000 Birmingham residents. Position: Issued an all-call for the community and local organizations to assist in meeting this immediate need.
• Minister Ricky Green (Follow-up): Provided specific information on existing feeding services at East Birmingham Church of God in Christ and partnerships with Southside Baptist Church.

Discussion Items

• Oath of Office: Administrators administered oaths to Councilors Clinton Woods, Hunter Williams, Josua Bassa, Brian Gunn, Daryl O'Quinn, Christopher N. Smithman, Warren T. Alexander, Sonia Q. Smith, and Latanya Tate.
• Council Leadership Elections: Councillor Warren T. Alexander was nominated and unopposed for President. Councillor Latanya Tate won the election for President Pro Tem with eight votes (one abstention by Councilor Alexander was noted later, but Tate voted for herself). Councilor Tate was appointed President Pro Tem.
• Item 31 (CMAQ Grant Amendment): Councilor Smithman requested clarification on funding sources and amounts. Deputy Director Alan Walker confirmed the funding source is the state fuel tax account. The item was approved, increasing the award amount to $3,216,484.82 and the city contribution to $804,121.20.
• Item 32 (Enslie District Developers Lease): Councilor Smithman expressed concern over the lack of specific information regarding the services to be provided in the leased space and how the community was surveyed. Councilor Gunn requested information on the project timeline, citing pending litigation. The Council voted to enter Executive Session for 15 minutes to discuss the pending litigation. Upon reconvening, the item passed with Councilor Williams voting against it.
• Item 34 (Medical Clinic Board Lease Renewal): Councilor Smithman requested clarification on the 10-year extension term and the original intent of the 2015 agreement. The City Attorney noted no financial obligation exists for the city. Councilor Smithman moved to delay the item for one week to receive further information; the motion passed.
• Bold Program Grants (Items 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 48-51): Councilor Smithman requested detailed quarterly goals and organizational histories for all recipients, noting only the Budget and Finance Committee had received prior presentations. Representatives from 12 organizations (including Alabama Center for Employee Ownership, BCAN Birmingham, Community on the Rise, The Creed Foundation, Forge Workspace, Hope Inspired Ministries, Hub Worldwide, Measured Access, Plus Finders LLC, United Ability, Breakthrough Birmingham, and Flourish Alabama) provided testimony on their programs, locations, and goals. Councilor Williams questioned the funding versus leverage distinction. All Bold items were approved except where noted below.
• Item 37 (Breakthrough Birmingham Thrive Teacher Project): Councilor Smithman again requested goals and history. Representive Mary Michelle from Breakthrough Birmingham provided a 90% retention rate for the program. Councilor Smithman abstained from the vote. Item passed.
• Item 44 (Flourish Alabama Isley Creative Economy): Councilor Smithman was absent for this vote. Representative Jamon Hill presented the plan to create 50 jobs and train 140 students. Item passed.
• Opioid Abatement Agreements (Items 47-52 with Urban Alchemy): Councilor Smithman requested specific metrics of success, tools for measuring outcomes, and details on services provided for all opioid abatement items. She specifically questioned the high number of IT staff salaries versus service providers for Item 52 (Urban Alchemy Oasis) and whether the project could become an open-air drug market. Representatives from Alabama Apple C, Love Lady Center, Cahaba Medical Care, and Firehouse Ministries provided testimony. Councilor Smithman expressed strong opposition to Item 52 without clear wraparound service metrics, noting Austin, Texas recently cancelled a similar contract due to fictitious data. Councilor O'Quinn challenged the council to understand the work being done. Item 52 was referred to an Executive Session to discuss potential litigation regarding the real estate purchase. Upon reconvening, Councilor O'Quinn moved to refer Item 52 to the Committee of the Whole, which passed.
• Item 73 (Weed Abatement Assessment): Councilor O'Quinn noted a confusing discrepancy in the resolution text regarding the "removal" versus "assessment" of a lien for a property where the owner contested the assessment. He moved to delay the item one week for correction; the motion passed.

Key Outcomes

• Leadership: Warren T. Alexander elected Council President; Latanya Tate elected Council President Pro Tem (8-0 vote, 1 abstention noted later by Alexander).
• Approved Resolutions:
  • Item 31: CMAQ Grant Amendment approved (City contribution $804,121.20).
  • Item 32: Lease with Enslie District Developers approved (Executive Session held).
  • Items 35, 36, 38-43, 45, 46, and 47-51 (Opioid programs): Approved with representatives present.
  • Item 37: Breakthrough Birmingham approved (Smithman abstained).
  • Item 44: Flourish Alabama approved.
  • Consent Agenda items (listed above) approved.
• Deferred/Referred Resolutions:
  • Item 34: Medical Clinic Lease Renewal delayed by one week (Councilor Smithman).
  • Item 52: Urban Alchemy Oasis project referred to Committee of the Whole after Executive Session (Councilor O'Quinn motion).
  • Item 73: Weed Abatement assessment delayed one week for text correction (Councilor O'Quinn).
• Next Steps: Administration to provide written response on Item 34; Item 52 to be revisited at Committee of the Whole; Item 73 to be corrected and rescheduled.