Essentially, I think it's right here.

So maybe it's having a big thing.

So that'll be done.

Oh yeah, so I think the land isn't that space.

I think so.

I just gave it to stay.

Oh, yeah, but we also have to return.

No, it's like we just write out the later sort of screen.

Yes, we'll say that.

I think we'll probably do that.

She doesn't write that one.

Yes, I go.

Yes, I think you keep the job.

And then if they were doing around the same time, we still have two.

I don't know what's it just.

Oh yeah, it's time to show you how to see that she's like.

Cody, are we ready in the back?

Tell me, Santa, I am free to play.

Good morning, Birmingham.

Today is December 9th, 2025.

The time is nine thirty-two.

I call to order the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council.

This morning, our invocation will be led by Reverend Dr.

Marcus Jerkins, Pastor, New Pilgrim Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama.

Our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councillor Hunter Williams, and in his abstention, if he's not here, it will be led by Pro Tim Tate.

If you all please stay in and join us, thank you.

Councilmember O'Quinn.

Councilmember Smith.

Mine isn't up, but I vote yes.

Okay.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Those minutes are approved.

The minutes are not ready from the meetings of August 5th, 2025 and December 2nd, 2025.

At this time, we'll entertain communications from the mayor.

Chief.

Morning, Madam President.

Morning, Madam Pro Tem.

Good morning to the members of the Council, those of the public, all those under the sound of my voice.

Madam President, there's no mayor's report today.

Everybody have a great day.

Thank you very much.

Before we begin the consideration of the consent agenda, I'd like to read a statement of our conduct of business during our council meetings.

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 number 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 and addressing the council with respect to an item on the consent agenda designated for public hearing.

That'll be with the PH 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, and those are indicated with a capital P will be read, and all public hearings with the PH will be announced.

At this time, Madam Clerk, would you provide us with the items that are being considered for consent?

Yes, ma'am.

The consent agenda begins on page two with items two, three, four, and five.

On page three, we have items six, seven, eight, nine, and ten.

Go over to page nine, and we have item 11.

On page 12, we have item 12.

On page 19, excuse me, we have item 13.

On page 20, we have item 14.

On page 29, we have item 15.

On page 31, we have item 16.

On page 42, we have item 17.

On page 45, we have item 18.

On page 66, we have items 19, 20, and 21.

Page 67, we have items 22, 23, 24, and 25.

Page 68, we have items 26, 27, 28, and 29.

Page 69, we have items 30, 31, and 32.

Page 70, we have items 33, 34, 35, and 36.

Page 71, we have items 37, 38, 39.

Page 72, we have items 40, 41, 42, and 43.

On page 73, we have items 44, 45, and 46.

Please note on item 44.

It was recommended by the budget and finance committee.

On page 74, we have item 49.

Page 75, we have items 50, 51, and 52.

On page 76, we have items 53, 54, and 55.

Please note on item 53.

When it says that there is a city match of $50,000.

There are no matching funds due from the city.

So please take take uh scratch out that there's a city match of $50,000.

Page 77.

We have items 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60.

Page 78, we have items 61, 62, 63, 64, 65.

Page 79, we have item 66, 67, 68.

On page 80 is 69 at the very top.

Also on uh page 80 is item 70, 71, 72, and 73.

And we go over to page 94.

We have item 74, and that completes the consent agenda.

Thank you, madam clerk.

At this time, counselors, are there any items that you would like to remove or add from the consent agenda?

Okay, I'm sorry, Councillor Gunn.

Yeah, I would like to remove item eight from consent.

Okay, that's item eight.

Should be on page two.

Thank you.

Item eight from page three is removed from consent.

Next item.

Council Smithman.

Uh yes.

Um it's item 18 and then it's number 281 on page 55.

Okay, item 18.

Let's start from page 45 in this item.

Which one?

Uh 281 on page 55.

Thank you.

And then president.

Yes.

We'll just remove that item, that parcel from that um that we debate them.

Correct.

And have the staff follow with it.

Right.

And what was that parcel ID again?

I'm sorry.

288.

281.

281.

Okay.

So item number 281, excuse me, parcel 281 from item 18 is being removed.

Yes, ma'am.

And then um item 54.

That's it.

And item 54 on page 76.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Any others?

Yes, sir, Councilor Woods.

I'd like to add item 47.

The request has been to add item 47 to consent.

Just like a little more information on this.

Thank you.

At this time, we won't add that one to consent.

Any other items?

All right, madam clerk, with the exception of the items.

We will entertain a motion for a motion and second for the items being considered for consent.

Did you need to read those again?

Are you okay?

Oh no.

Okay, good.

Thank you.

So we need a motion.

So move.

Second.

The vote has started.

Council President Alexander.

I'm a yes.

I don't know what's wrong with my pad, but I'm a yes.

Thank you.

I guess I need to.

All right.

The consent items are approved.

If you were here for an item that was listed as consent, it has been approved.

And we will continue with the rest of our agenda.

If you don't want to join us for the rest of the agenda, hope you have a great day.

Madam Clerk, the first item.

The first item is on page two.

Item number one.

It's an ordinance to amend the zone and district map of the city of Birmingham.

Case number ZAC 2025-00013 to change zone district boundaries from D5, multiple dwelling district to I 1, Light Manufacturing District, filed by Andrea Lewis, property owner and Roger Lewis, the applicant, in order to allow for the parking and storage of 18 Wheelers, Truck Plaza for the property locate for the property located at 1418, 22nd Avenue North, and situated in section 23, Township 7, Range 3, West Birmingham, 35204.

Okay, move the item, please.

And it is a public hearing.

So now turn this over to Dr.

O'Quinn.

Good morning.

Do we have zoning staff here to give us a rundown on this case?

Yes, sir.

Council O'Quinn.

We should have staff from PEP coming in shortly.

Good morning.

My name is Michael Ward.

I serve as principal planner in the city's planning engineering and permits department.

And what you have before you is case number ZAC 2025-13.

This is a request to change the zone district boundaries from D5 Multiple Dwelling District to I1 Light Manufacturing District.

The property is located at 1418 22nd Avenue North in the Assipco Finley neighborhood.

This application was filed by Roger Lewis, and the property is owned by Andrea Lewis.

The subject property is one parcel that's 0.68 acres.

And the applicant proposes to use the subject property as a truck plaza for parking and storing 18 wheelers.

In terms of the staff comments, um zoning staff reviewed the proposal, and the property must be resurveyed into one lot through the subdivision committee process.

And the fence shall be placed inside the property line such that there will be space between the fence and the property line to plant the landscape buffer.

Terms of storm water, the applicant must apply for the following permits if the rezoning is approved.

The City of Birmingham Soil Erosion Control Permit as well as the City of Birmingham Civil Construction Permit.

The subject property is not located in a special flood hazard area, and there were no comments from the city's Department of Transportation.

The property is located within the North Birmingham Framework Plan area.

On August 6, 2025, the CIPCO Finley Neighborhood Association met at its regularly scheduled meeting and voted to not recommend the rezoning proposal.

The vote was six votes to support, nine votes to not support.

The zoning advisory committee met at its regularly scheduled meeting on August the 19th, 2025 to review the proposal and voted to recommend approval of the request to the planning and zoning committee, four votes to approve and one vote to deny with the following cue condition that only a truck plaza use will be permitted.

The planning and zoning committee met on September the 10th, 2025 to review the proposal and voted to not recommend the rezoning request.

The vote was one vote to approve, two votes to deny.

And the applicant is here to um answer any other questions that you may have.

Thank you.

Could the applicant come and give us a rundown of what you're planning to do with the property?

All right.

My name is uh Roger Lewis Jr.

Uh 1418 22nd Avenue is the address.

Uh pretty much what we're trying to do is par two of our trucks and trailers on our lot.

Um we have agreed to whatever we need to do to make it happen.

We are we're okay with changing the times that we crank the truck up.

That was the issue in the last meeting.

And I said, okay, fine, you got it.

As far as the buffer goes and the landscaping, we said okay.

The biggest thing with the neighborhood meeting was it could be several other different things other than what I'm trying to do with it.

We removed all of that, and I said, We're good.

I don't understand the reason for the pushback because on the same street that I'm on, you got a big trucking company called Deep South Freight.

Faily Boulevard is a six-lane therapy, therapy, right?

So you got Kenworth dealership right up the street.

You got Amazon, you got Mill South.

It's is set up for trucking.

You know what I mean?

It's the same size as I 65 interstate.

I'm not going through anybody's neighborhood to get to my lot.

I'm right next to the speedway truck stop.

So that it, you know, it's no hindrance to anybody.

And what I'm doing is already going on.

I'm not starting nothing new.

So, you know, whatever we got to do to get it approved, I'm all for it.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Um, do members of the council have any questions for staff or the applicant?

Councilor Tate.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Chair.

Mr.

Lewis, have you have you saw the uh truck parking rental place that's located in that corridor?

Have you can have you considered that?

Because it's like right behind the city.

I don't know what you what where is it located?

It's behind the circle K on Finley.

It's uh it's a big trucking parking, rental rental rental space there.

Ms.

Tate.

Uh the purpose of me purchasing the property was to be able to regulate my equipment from being damaged or have things stolen.

This place is secure.

It's not, but the thing is it's not mine.

It belongs to whoever, and they can have whoever and however go in there because it's it's theirs.

I'm trying to do something where I can regulate what happens to my equipment because that's all I own.

That's all I got.

It's not like you can go up tomorrow and be like, oh, I'm gonna buy five trucks.

All I got is what I got.

I I understand that, but I I do understand um, you know, that area where it is a lot of you know trucks there, it's a lot of service stations there that has truck speedway, does not allow truck parking.

Uh the circle K does, but I do know that that lot that people park their trucks that is a secure 24-hour uh lot.

It may be something you may want to consider.

I understand, you know, you do own that parcel, and I you know, I understand that, but I do understand the concerns of the people that I represent also.

Um for that area, right?

So that's the other thing, right?

So we go through our application, you know, you pay your application, this that and the third, right.

I think that when a person does an application, the people who are involved that make a decision in the neighborhood meetings to get to know their person instead of looking at what it could be and what could happen and look at the negativity.

All I seen was negativity that's came from the whole deal.

Nobody talks about oh, Mr.

Lewis keeps his grass cut.

Mr.

Lewis don't have any paper in his yard.

Nobody says that.

It's all negative.

We don't want it because it's not us doing it.

That's what I've pretty much been taking from the whole experience.

And it's sad because it's already going on.

It's just so happened this time that it's happening.

I happen to be a minority, and that's what's disgusting.

And that's what's disgusting.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Council Smithman.

Well, it's more like a comment.

I know during uh planning and zoning, there were concerns from the neighborhood about it.

There were concerns about the noise, the amount of trucks that would be coming in and out of the neighborhood.

And I know I see I think the neighborhood president here, I'm sure she'll come to talk.

But I think that was a lot of our concerns during the committee meeting about this item.

It wasn't anything else in particular.

It was really about listening to the neighborhood.

Okay.

So this is a public hearing.

Are there any many members of the public that wish to uh comment?

Yes, ma'am.

You guys can come to the front and when you come to the lectern, um, please state your name and address, and you'll have three minutes.

Thank you.

Good morning, everyone.

Happy holidays to you.

My name is Anna Brown.

I'm the chair of the North Birmingham Framework Committee.

And I would like to address two issues that were said before.

Um this property is about three blocks away from Speedway.

Speedway is on the other side of 16th Street.

The main reason he's talking about people don't want it, you're right next to a residential area.

This property is zone residential.

And after suffering over a hundred years of pollution in the North Birmingham area, we deserve to have places where we could live without a lot of noise, without a lot of pollution, air soil, everything that we're dealing with.

It ain't nothing personal against him or anybody else.

But the point of it is that we should be fighting to save our residential areas.

This area, most of those houses there have been there since the 1920s because this was one of the few areas in Birmingham that black people were allowed to live at that time.

So you have houses all around there.

There are other properties, and I want to thank you, Councillor Tate, because that was a good suggestion to move where the other trucks are, and you can sit there, not at someone's back door.

That is what we're fighting for.

And when you have a city this size that has lost the population that it has already, we need to do what we can to keep the families here.

Most of those properties there are generational properties.

People moved in in the nine and 1920, and you got relatives that are still there that own those properties.

So we've got to protect our residential areas.

And we're asking you to support what the planning and zoning committee agreed with and do not support this project because it's not the right place for it.

And I thank you.

All right, thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Good morning.

My name is Pamela Abernathy.

My address is 1323, 22nd Avenue North.

I live diagonal from that where he's looking to put the trucking plaza.

And I'm not talking about what may happen with him.

I'm talking about what has happened in the past.

18 wheelers on our street.

One was coming from the 14th Street, going on to 22nd Avenue.

He got stuck on the sidewalk.

And I was hearing this grinding noise and this big churning noise.

So I went outside, two o'clock in the morning.

18 Will was stuck on the sidewalk for an hour.

He tried to get his truck off.

He didn't didn't call for help or anything.

I called for help.

I called the police, and they ended up having to get a tow truck to pull him off.

Now that sidewalk is disformed from where the truck was stuck.

And it flipped over on its side.

We've had 18 wheels to knock tree branches down, um, to lose stuff on the side of the road.

And it's annoying that we're residential area, and that that right there, that's what when I go out on my front porch should sit.

That's what I'll be looking at.

Yes, we do have the railroad people there, but there's no parking of trucks.

They don't come down to the residential area.

They have an opening at the far end on 15th Street where they go in and out.

That's the only time we see them.

And there's no noise, no disrupting of the sidewalk.

We have potholes on our sidewalk, on our street that we need fixed because of big trucks that have been on that street.

We have probably had a problem with big trucks from Jordan.

They were coming, but we've argued that point so much that we don't have them anymore.

They were losing scrap metal.

And with other people, him bringing his trucks.

We have people that are pulling wagons and garbage cans.

They're looking for scraps.

So they're gonna go where they think something is.

We've had we've had a problem with a bacon lot next to us, no house, no nothing.

People were out there pulling the rods out the fence to go sell them for strap.

You know, we already have the problem with Jordan, and everybody's looking for something that they can sell to get a little cash.

And I just, you know, it's a residential area.

And I think it should remain a residential area.

You know, for the sake of the people that live there, we have quite a few elderly people that live there.

You know, I live with my mom.

That's my homehouse.

I moved back in with my mom.

And she enjoys sitting out on the street, being on the porch, being able to see Finley Boulevard.

So from now on, if that's there, she got to look at bushes if they're kept up.

They may not be kept up because the railroad put trees and stuff for the beautification.

But I wish y'all could see it now.

It's it's trees have fallen, they're leaning over, they're not keeping this property up, even though they come in and they say that they're gonna do something.

Everybody puts out a beautiful picture, but as years go by, sometimes even just months, that it gets um forgotten, left behind, or we'll get to it later.

We want our neighborhood to be beautiful also.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Good morning.

My name is Deborah Clark, and I'm calling, I'm here to oppose putting the trucking facility there.

I own property at 1314, 22nd Avenue North, and that is generational property for me on that street.

We have a church that would be just across the street from where he is talking about, since it's zoned as residential.

I think that we will be setting a strange precedence if people can come in neighborhoods that are zoned residential, they buy property, and then they decide that they are going to put something that is commercial in that neighborhood, that that's a very strange precedence.

There are children in the neighborhood, there are elderly people in the neighborhood.

We maintain our properties in the neighborhood, and I'm very against that being in the neighborhood.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Good morning.

My name is Tommy Myers, and I live at 1344 2030 Avenue North.

That's across the street from the place that the gentleman wants to um have his activity.

And we are older people.

We don't have a lot of kids on our block, but it's there are some, and we don't want any more dangerous trucks if we can keep them from coming.

And anything that's gonna cause any damage and harm, more harm to our residents.

Now we do have things that are already there that we were not able to keep from coming, but at this point we need to be settled in our old age, our golden age, where we wouldn't be bothered with truck noise and up and down the avenue because there is a busy street, but on the flip side of that, it's normally okay, but when we have extra things coming in, it's not a good idea for our neighborhood, and I don't agree for the gentleman to be a part of that situation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Catherine Evans Lewis.

I'm the president of a Cipco family, and I live at 922nd Avenue West.

I live in an area also.

No more.

I asked Mr.

Lewis, I said, why would you buy residential property if you wanted it to be industrial?

I said, why would you buy residential property if you wanted it to be industrial?

We have so much going on, and we don't need any more.

It is a well, like just saying I was gonna say that also across the street from a church.

And then when you talk about 18 wheelers, I'm having that problem on my street.

We have people that was on, I mean, uh, like I'm on the CPAP machine.

Those trucks come, we be we be without power.

We we be with our phone, on phone for eight days every time.

They get stuck in there and they can't get out, the roads are messed up.

So we are going through a lot.

So I ask you all, please don't let that come over.

And it's nothing against him.

He came to the neighborhood meeting.

He said one truck.

It's a plaza.

Plaza means more than one.

So it and like my neighbor was saying, she's sick, her mom is sick, and that is right by her.

And I'm sure this church don't want because you have to bag out and in, and and so it's it's just a lot going on in that area.

I have been uh you all know about joint recycling.

They claim they was gonna put trees up for boundaries.

They hadn't done that.

It'd be like I have pictures I can give show you all, like a sandstone over there.

We haven't to endure with that, and then now another company I think have bought joint, and it's more they're burning metal.

So we going through that.

When you changed up the industrial, this uh this man can, if he ever leave, uh if join he's been going around asking people about their property, and he can he can put uh uh uh a metal over there, burning metal, we can't breathe.

My neighbor called me the other day, and she said she has asthma, and she was talking about she said the scent and everything and the burning is messing with her asthma.

This is her home.

She has remodeled her home, and we have homes in the area.

We have a house on, I think it's 17th Street, and um uh um, I think was 17th Street.

Well, it's between 20 Avenue, I think, built from the ground.

And so a lot of our neighbors would have to remodel their homes.

They have added on.

And so we we wanted residential, but some of my church members, I go to Mount Eben Baptist Church in this area that he wants, they live there.

They are passed on now, but they live there.

So, yeah, we don't want that, and I just hope you all the SIP coast family so that we can grow.

And so it's no more, you know, like when he was saying uh Amazon and Speedway, like Speedway, you know, like he was saying, they don't have that trucks out there, and and the car dealership and his down.

We had to get on him back to cars, which he was selling cars, but and then he had them where you almost got hit.

A lot of people almost got hit.

So I just hope, you know, I you know hope you all vote against it.

I don't want it, the neighbors don't want it.

We said no more.

Please help us where our neighborhood can grow and we get more homes, which we are getting.

We got homes that were selling now for over $100,000.

Thank you.

Okay.

Next speaker, please.

1418 22nd Avenue North 3, Birmingham, Alabama, 3504.

My name is Andrea Lewis.

True enough, I spoke there are trucks, there are other companies that are in the area.

However, when you go to homes such as Miss Pam, that first person that spoke, right behind her home are several train tracks.

So there is it's always some kind of noise.

Forever they have been dealing with air pollution, air pollution, you got six lanes, you got a simco, you have Jordan, and as Miss Catherine mentioned, there have been in companies that have been burning.

So, yes.

So, as far as the plaza piece of it goes, the dimensions of the property will only allow two.

That's it.

When you put the buffer in, no more than two.

According to the implications that were given from City Council, I mean from the city, not city council, from the city, the name Plaza developed because it's more than one, but there are only two that the property will house.

That's all it can hold.

So when you think about the even the speedway, the property is here, and the speedway is here.

So we're talking about the next block or so.

There's a piece that's like a wedge, and then there's the speedway.

So the developments are already in place.

So it's not going to bring any more noise.

It's not going to bring any more pollution than what's being dealt with.

When you go up and down Finley Boulevard, you see different businesses that have 18 wheelers, and they have other forms of transportation whether it's a box structure or not.

So it's not taking away from the neighborhood.

And as Ms.

Pam mentioned to me when I spoke with her, she thought that someone else was keeping the property cut.

I said, no, ma'am, we're doing that.

And she says, well, the church is parking over there.

That's fine.

We're not using it.

But my thing is it's not going to hamper or cause any harm.

Then what's already going on?

The dynamics will not change.

And it's proper to want to use what you have, especially since you owned it.

Thank you for your time.

Okay, thank you.

All right.

Uh Counselor Smith.

I just have a really quick question for the applicant.

Where are you currently storing your trucks?

At the truck stop.

Okay.

Any additional uh President Alexander?

Yes, thank you very much.

This question is for PEP.

I noticed in the items that were given to us as part of this package.

The current zoning map, these areas in orange, they are considered multiple family district, correct?

Correct.

And the red is currently commercial.

That's correct.

So you all are proposing to take this entire area and make it commercial.

Can I get a rationale for that?

Because the spot zoning and that type of thing, how um could potentially disrupt the neighborhood.

Any um thoughts or I was just trying to curious as to why you all felt that was a reason to allow this type of zoning.

I think the other map that you're referring to was the um the future land use plan uh map, and see this was done during the framework plan process.

I think this was like around like 2015.

So this is something that I think at the time, probably looking at access, probably looking at since since it's so since the area is such in close proximity to Finley Boulevard, and there was also a couple of other commercial um properties.

Um that was more than likely the rationale behind behind that, but that's something that's going to be um re-evaluated, um, like we hope to um you know to do this starting next year to kind of re-go back through some of our framework plans that have been adopted, like say 10, 11 years ago, and then look at um updating the uh future land use plan.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

And I just wanted to say this is very close to a home there, so thank you.

That's my only question.

Okay, uh, I think that's all of our speakers.

I'll turn it back over to you, President Alexander.

All right, thank you.

At this time, counselors, we are ready to entertain a vote unless you have any other questions.

Mr.

Clerk, if you'll call for the vote, okay.

Voting should be open, counselor Smith.

Do you have an issue?

Okay, how would you like to vote?

Okay, okay.

Uh, Councilor Williams.

No, all righty.

I think that should be everyone.

All right, thank you.

At this time, item number one does not pass.

And we have Councillor Sonia Smith of District 8.

She has a special presentation from the Southern Music Research Center.

All right, good morning.

We have a very brief presentation by Bertrand Matthews of the Southern Southern Music Research Center where he will share some of the exciting things that are happening.

You might hear him on Saturday afternoons on NPR with his very informative and educational and interesting radio show.

Oh well, thank you, Counselor Smith, uh, for inviting me.

Uh thank you to all members of the city council for this opportunity uh to say a few words about the Southern Music Research Center.

Uh we are a my name is Bergen Matthews.

I'm the executive director of the Southern Music Research Center.

We're a 501c3 nonprofit here in Birmingham devoted to documenting and preserving and promoting the many musical histories, traditions, communities, expressions, and experiences of the American South, uh, with a particular emphasis on the state of Alabama and our organization's hometown of Birmingham.

Um I know I won't have time to say all the things that I want to say today, so I've given you all a handout.

And there are extra copies of this handout for anybody else who wants to learn more about what we've been up to here in Birmingham.

Uh but in brief, I always tell people that the real center of the Southern Music Research Center is our website.

It is a uh free searchable public archive of all sorts of music materials, rescued recordings, uh, oral history interviews, rare photographs, and other artifacts and ephemera from a deep diversity of musical genres and eras.

Uh this handout indicates just a handful of the work that we've been doing in Birmingham and the materials that you can access uh from Birmingham Music in the archive.

Uh beginning with some material related to the music of the civil rights movement.

We've got a number of interviews with foot soldiers, um singers and song leaders from the Birmingham movement reflecting on the music that uh uh fueled the movement.

We also worked recently with uh the three daughters of Reverend Fred and Ruby Shuttlesworth to document the musical legacy of that civil rights family.

I think people know the Shuttlesworth civil rights legacy, but maybe don't know uh so much about the role that music played uh in that family.

We've also got a wealth of materials related to Birmingham's jazz history, which is a deep and influential and uh I think far too unsung tradition.

Uh a lot of material that I accumulated over the years working on a book published in 2023 called Magic City, How the Birmingham Jazz Tradition Shaped the Sound of America.

Uh a lot of those research materials are available to the public on the site.

Uh along with a extensive collection of oral history interviews with Dr.

Frank Adams, longtime Bush Hills resident, uh beloved local educator and musician, um, and if anybody knew Doc Adams, a phenomenal storyteller.

So we you can stream hours of his voice uh sharing some of those stories uh of Birmingham's uh musical history and history writ large, uh from Tuxeda Junction to uh Sun Ra, the cosmic band leader from Birmingham and all sorts of other local history.

We've also got more than 30 hours of streaming music uh recorded on the stage at Gipps Place, the kind of beloved iconic Bessemer Duke joint.

And uh I've also indicated here one of our recent projects, a collaboration with the family of Marvin Williams, brother of Paul Williams of the Temptation, uh Temptations, the son of Rufus Williams, who is a founding member of the Enslee Jubilee Singers, uh, and we collaborated with that family to preserve some of their musical legacy.

As this note says, this is just a sampling.

We've got Birmingham Punk Rock, Birmingham Hip Hop, uh, Bluegrass, Sacred Heart Music, and much more.

Um two things that I would like to be sure to say that beyond the archives, a lot of um our activities uh in this area.

Uh one thing that I want to make sure people know is Southern Music Research.org is where they can explore these materials.

But also that the archive is a crowdsourced uh community-centered uh operation.

And so we invite members of the public if they've got music materials that they would like to be see see preserved.

That's the service that we provide us to work with families, individuals, organizations to digitize and preserve and provide a home for their music materials.

So maybe you've got a grandmother who directed the church choir for 40 years, and you've got a photo of her at the church organ or piano or with the choir, or even a funeral program or any other kind of artifact that might reflect her musical legacy.

We would love to work with individuals and families to to digitize that and preserve that.

The family keeps the originals, but there's a public archived record of uh of that legacy.

Our interest is above and above all, not so much the iconic kind of legendary recording artists that everybody knows.

But but there's grandmothers and those other individuals, men and women who have contributed to the musical lives of their communities, and those are stories that we want to reflect.

So my email address is on here, Bergen at Southern Music Research.org.

Uh and again, anybody tuned in online or listening today who has uh music materials they'd like to see preserved, we'd love to collaborate with you.

To keep this relatively short, I'll just say that this handout does indicate some of our other uh activities, including the radio show, uh collaboration with Create Birmingham and some other local organizations to declare 2026 a year of Birmingham Jazz.

We've got a lot of uh activities, live performances and historical commemorations uh planned for that.

Uh I'll also mention that we've collaborated with several documentary filmmakers over the last few years, uh consulting and providing archival materials, a recent documentary film about Tuxedo Junction and its musical legacy.

Uh we were able to participate in that film.

So uh unless there are other questions or anything, I'll just uh thank you for the opportunity and want to let you all know what we do, and uh would love to hear from anybody anytime.

Thanks.

Thank you very much, and thank you, Councillor Smith, for providing this presentation to us.

Thank you very much.

Question, Dr.

Quinn.

Um Yeah, I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you.

Um it's great to finally see the face behind the voice.

Um I I just you know, just to sum it up, I think uh the lost child is probably at least in my opinion, is some of the best radio programming available, period.

Um listen to public radio.

Um it pretty much stays locked in on my at my house and in the car, and um, you know, it's lined up next to other um national programming, highway 61, um, you know, bluegrass and other um programming, and um it's comparable and in my opinion, better even than some of the national programming being offered, and um you know, to couple that with the preservation work that you know you're doing.

Um I'm I'm incredibly proud that the Southern Music Research Center is located here in the city of Birmingham.

Um, I think you know this is something uh that's just an incredible resource um you know, archiving an important component of uh American history.

So all of that to say thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

At this time, counselors will return back to our agenda.

Mr.

Clerk, if you call the next item.

Item number eight.

Um a resolution relative to the application of turn uh turntable um BHAM LLC for a lounge retail liquor class one license to be used at the bot, Mrs.

Greenhouse 5535, First Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama, 35212, and hearing of all parties motion, please.

Second.

Councilor Gunn, you asked that this item be removed from consent.

Yes.

Uh I just wanted to use this as an opportunity for the neighborhoods that the business will be located in to get to know the business owner.

Uh so I do have a few questions uh for the business.

If they are here.

So if you'll hold on, uh since this is a public hearing, I have to turn it back over to Council Tate, and then she'll entertain that.

Thank you.

Thank you, uh Madam President.

Um, is the owner here?

Brandon, I see Brandon out there.

Just state your name and address for the record in um Count Gill.

Um Brandon Prince, 1216 Aveybrook Circle 35209.

Okay.

Can you give counselor Don an overview of um the business that's gonna be coming to Woodline?

Yeah.

So we um actually purchased this building a couple years ago.

If you're familiar with the neighborhood, it's the old city meets building.

Uh the grocery store had closed, so we purchased it.

We've done a complete renovation to the building.

Um, we intend to put a bar in there.

It's gonna be like a greenhouse themed bar.

It's named the botanist greenhouse.

Um, I have three other partners, and I actually used to live in Woodlawn, so I lived in Woodlawn for about seven years before we moved out.

And I still have my business right down the street in Avandella on an office building down there as well.

So we're excited about the neighborhood.

There's actually a bar right behind us.

Uh Urban Kennedy owns that is the Jazz Bar, and we share a courtyard, so he's actually in the process of developing that courtyard, which we also own and have leased to a separate entity for us both to operate.

Um so we're gonna have a courtyard there, it's gonna have a stage, and we'll have our bar, his bar, and there's a few other entities in the neighborhood.

But we're you know proud of the way the neighborhood's been developing over the last decade.

We're excited about future growth and happy to answer any other questions you all have.

And if you can kind of elaborate on your business hours and your you know your public safety plan, but I I do want to make say this for the record that you did present to the Woodlawn neighborhood on 1110 firework in attendance five supported.

The applicant has previously received a unanimous vote of support and has maintain a close and transparent dialogue with the the applicant.

So this is what the neighborhood is saying, Councillor Dunn.

So if you can kind of highlight your public safety plan for councillor gunn and also your hours of operations.

So as far as hours of operations, we're gonna be open Wednesday through Sunday, uh, Wednesday through Thursday.

We will be open, I want to say from about three o'clock till midnight.

Uh from Thursday through Saturday, we'll be open from noon until 2 a.m.

And then on Sunday, we will be open from noon until 10 p.m.

Um as far as public safety.

We intend to have our security cameras connected to the Birmingham system, and we also intend to use off-duty officers as our security.

Okay, councillor.

Those are all the questions that I have.

I'm so excited uh for your business to open up in Woodlawn.

Uh, if you need anything from my office in terms of support, let me know.

Absolutely.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Gunn.

Turn it back over to you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tim and Councillor Gunn.

At this time, if there are no other questions, then we'll entertain the vote.

Voting should be open.

She did ask for public speech.

I'm sorry.

You asked for public speech, correct?

Yes, we did.

Well, we didn't, but we'll answer for them now.

President Alexander, you're voting.

We good.

Do we have any public speeches speak for or against?

Okay, now we're ready for the vote.

That's okay.

I'm sorry.

Uh that vote should be up.

All right.

Item eight passes.

Thank you very much.

Look forward to that new business coming to Woodline.

Thank you.

Next item.

Should be item 47.

Um, a resolution approving and authorizing the mayor to execute a bold program agreement with bridge international doing business as the link through the bold funding program to implement a hands-on workforce development and career exploration program at the link Birmingham Bam, the Bridge International Entrepreneur and Training Center for Dislocated Workers, disadvantaged residents and entrepreneurs in Birmingham to equip participants with practical skills and training that lead to entry-level positions or enhanced skills in high-demand trades, such as HVAC electrical work, building maintenance, plumbing, and related fields for a term of 12 months for an amount not to exceed 140,172.16 cents.

Motion please.

Second.

All right, thank you.

Very much.

No problem.

We'll wait.

Good morning, Miss Shorts.

Good morning.

Mo Shorts, a services senior program manager for the Office of Business Adversity and Opportunity.

And I also serve as a project manager for our Bold, which is Building on Last and Development.

So as you know, we're moving to our eighth year fold.

We are transparent.

We align our partners with our city of her priorities.

We fund more partners.

We leverage external funds, and we increase transparency in the distribution of city funds.

We also promote collaboration with organizations to better serve communities and reduce duplication.

And we also demonstrate a return on our investment for our taxpayer dollars.

Over the past seven years, we funded 57 partners.

We've uh made a total capital investment of 15.2 million dollars.

This includes 5.4 million in total city funded dollars and over 9 million leverage prior partners.

East Lake, ENSLE, Five Points West, Fourth Avenue Business District, People Rice District, North Birmingham, Smithfield, Ellerton, Tittysville, and Woodlawn.

And our objections are as follows small businesses, workforce development, eliminating barriers, creative placemaking, and also a higher growth industries.

So today I'm presenting to you the link, Bridge International.

And if I can give you these the Link's Boat objective is workforce development.

They are an entrepreneur and training center founded by the nonprofit, the Ridge International, that exists to bridge the gap between potential and progress by providing access to entrepreneurship training, workforce development and educational resources.

With this bowl funding, the link will serve 80 participants from the East Lake area, offering virtual reality simulations through MediQuest goggles and high demand trade, such as HVAC, electrical work, building maintenance, and plumbing alongside job readiness training.

Participants will earn stackable certificates for each completed session, as well as OSHA and NAC certifications and be connected with local employers for placement opportunities.

The funding amount is 140,1716.

And the leverage funding is 62,000 40,000 four cents.

And I have Ms.

D finding from the link for any questions.

All right, thank you.

If we can have the um applicant come before and just give us an overview of what your program consists of.

Yes, ma'am.

So we will with the Bone Grant, we are here to provide workforce development training.

We're super excited about it because of our partnerships that will also help with the enhancing the training that we provide.

We will have partnership with Jeff State, AIDT, and in additional, we're one of the few nonprofit organizations that will offer home builders association certificate as well.

And your primary audience will be our primary audience will be those who are unemployed, underemployed, um, those who are seeking to enhance their current job skills as well.

All right.

Counselors, do you have any questions?

Okay, I want to start first.

Counselor O'Clain.

Yes, uh, where will you guys be located?

Yeah, we're located at 525 Huffman Road.

We're located right next door to Huffman Middle School.

Okay.

So I see it's uh serving participants primarily from the East Lake area.

Um you be working with some of the other organizations that are based in East Lake.

That's right.

We'll be partnering with other organizations in um in East Lake.

One of our primary partnerships would be Eli Thrive.

Okay.

Thank you.

Other questions?

Council Smithman.

Uh yes, ma'am present.

It's good to see you again.

I know you presented in front of budget and finance probably like a month or so ago.

Um can you talk about the virtual reality part?

I know we discussed um that this wasn't the only form of internship that they will work beside an actual um mechanic or uh electrician, etc.

Can you expand into that?

So um in a lot of career fields, they are using VR play in order to provide students and participants with more of the hands-on training.

Um, in addition to the VR play, we will also have strategic partnership for those programs that need um need the actual equipment.

That's where AIDT and Jeff State comes in for us.

Okay.

Okay.

I think that's all of my questions for now.

Any other questions?

Council Pro Tim, thank you.

Madam President, uh, are you familiar with Tamika Holmes C C D N Network?

Community care development network, Tamika Holmes.

Oh, yes.

Okay, so she, you know, I'm just gonna suggest that I think she will be a great partner because I know she has the Inspire program that does workforce development.

Um, you know, curious to know, like you got these high-level, you know, have it, electrical, building maintenance, plumbing.

Um, I think that when we did have an opportunity to speak with you, I did kind of make a suggestion that you reach out to your trades, the unions.

There's a union rep here, he's gone now.

Joe Davis was just here.

So we got it's a big old plant home.

East Lake Boulevard that has like plumbing electrical.

Um, and so what I'm just curious to know.

So, this is more of a theory part.

People will be coming for the theory part with where we are actual training, you know, when they go out for the real hands-on uh training.

Yes, so that's where our partnerships come in because we are we also have like job placement, and so we're partnering with a lot of small business owners to provide that hands on training and work alongside.

Okay, but definitely um, you know, just this is just a suggestion to you.

Please do not skip on our trade trade um oh absolute.

And we want people to really take advantage of that.

Oh, absolutely.

We totally believe in this program.

We're not the first to do this program.

This is something that's already been implemented by major companies already.

VR Play is found in, you'll you'll be surprised, it's even in nursing.

So it's in a lot of career fields that's helping to enhance the um quality of work.

Yeah.

Well, I'm just you know, being being a former going to nursing school, I remember doing my theory and then clinicals hand on, going in the hospital, learn how to speak, learn how to start an IV.

You know, I just don't want people to not educate young people or people going into this field, and this is something you can truly bypass because it can really come back to bite people if they really don't have the credentials of what they need to you know to to succeed.

Oh, absolutely.

Definitely tying in to your your um, you know, I just cannot stress enough.

We got union people here that are willing and able to take these young people under their wing and give them the best training um that they you know that they that they deserve.

And so I do know Tamika Home does some extravagant work out there on that east side.

So yes, glad to know that you um you know know her and definitely please tie in to her.

And um, if we need to give you some information about these skilled labor facilities, we would be glad to give them to you.

Yes, ma'am.

I I look forward to partnership because I feel like we all have one goal is to help the city of Birmingham residents to improve their income, their quality of life.

So I'm here to partner with whomever's necessary in order for us to meet our goals.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tim.

Counselor Woods.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, do want to thank you.

Uh, I have great appreciation for y'all's uh creativity and solving problems that we see in the community.

Y'all have been a strong asset in the terms of uh breathing life back into some empty buildings.

I think y'all have done a great job there.

Uh I think workforce development is important.

I'm somebody who grew up on construction job sites from uh I won't say the age because I probably wasn't supposed to be out there, but uh, you know, just being able to learn trades and things like that, always have a skill I can go back to.

Yes.

Uh if politics don't work.

Uh but uh just being able to introduce people to some of these lucrative opportunities.

You need as many like gateways as possible.

And so uh you're never gonna walk in the door anywhere and be at the top of the food chain.

So you've got to learn.

And I think understanding one, the terminology, uh the theory around what you're doing.

I agree with uh Pro Tempt Tate in that there's gonna be some next steps.

So you want to be prepared to uh when you're on those job sites with those contractors to know what you're talking about, and so they're they're gonna take more of an interest in you if you've already taken some steps to prepare yourself for those opportunities.

So I'm excited about that.

I think we do have to kind of meet this next generation where they are.

Uh and so you know, it is what it is, kind of that digital virtual things or ways to get them into the pathway.

Yeah, and then we can really push them and support them.

I think some of the other organizations you mentioned, uh, just do a good job surrounding people with that.

There's a lot of other people that can help them take those next steps, but just getting them engaged.

I think we all know like some of these trades are it's not enough people going into those spaces.

Um, and so we need a lot more uh people with whether it's carpentry, HVAC, electrical, we need more people in those spaces.

So uh excited about that.

Appreciate y'all you know bringing this to the table and um look forward to some success stories.

And I want you guys to know like this is not the final step for our students.

So our students will be able to further their career by going to college, and they may also want to seek licensing.

We are not providing the licensing, but we are super excited to have a partnership with the home builders association of Alabama.

They'll be able to come to our facility and receive their certification from the um home builders association of Alabama, and this was a huge win for us because, like I stated before, there are not a lot of um nonprofit organizations that have created this partnership with a state organization.

So we're here to see our residents win, and um we look forward to the next steps.

Thank you, Councillor Pro Tim.

Yes, thank you, madam president.

I do have a few more questions.

Um are you gonna be providing like stipends for like um transportation or child like females are getting into construction trades, you know?

Um, you know, for child care.

Yes, yes, and we're we're excited about that.

We do have um, we'll be able to provide support through the bowl grant.

Okay, and then I just got another little suggestion.

Like, I'm taking our suggestions.

Birmingham is an organization that's really um helping people that are system impacted, you know, with a program be what's the name of it?

Strive oh strive Birmingham, we entry fryer is the um executive director of their organization, so they really lean in helping people that have been system impacted.

So hopefully your program will open this segue for those as well.

And I'm gonna tell them you recommended me.

I'm gonna drop your name.

All right, and then if you do come to the the best side, which is the north side, yes, the salvation army um with um Jahan Quinn will be a great partner.

They have a big space over there if you ever decide to come on their side and teach on on their side, but just you know, if you get the information, we'll be glad to you know put it out and share it out.

Um, but I'm you counting got me like because I was kind of having some little thoughts.

I was like, but now you know I can't I'm gonna make you a believer.

I'm not saying I don't believe, I just want our people, you know, people to succeed.

Oh, absolutely.

That's the only reason that I am fighting for our residents, and we are here to create programs to help people to thrive, whether it's with small business owners or if it just if it's with individuals who are disadvantaged looking to improve their skills.

That's why we're here.

I'm not here to do this for me.

I am really here to see our residents win.

I appreciate that.

Thank you very kindly.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Dr.

Quinn.

Yes, I just got a question for staff.

Um, typically all of the bold recipients gonna move, you know, together.

And I was just wondering, you know, why this one is being considered individually um apart from you know we usually do these in a bunch.

So is there a reason for that?

Madam President.

Yes, so council Quinn.

This was actually scheduled to be with the brother of the other Bowl recipients, but the the organizer asked for it to be delayed because they wanted to have more in-depth conversations with the council members about the opportunity to have the bowl finally presented back to them.

Okay, all right, thank you.

Thank you.

And just finally, I do want to say that I retired eight years ago as a corporate trainer.

So I did have to look at VR play, and this wasn't something, and where I worked, it was a highly technical type job.

And so I do know that we're moving into different ways of now training and making something become inherent to someone as they're learning a new skill.

Yes, so I do appreciate the fact that you are using this new technology as a means of um providing this opportunity for residents who may not have that opportunity.

I do also like the fact that this is a beginning point, yes, for those that you'll be serving, and they can either go into more education or more skill training following your um program.

Yes, so I do appreciate that.

But you taught me something with VR Place, I think.

All right, Counselor Gunn.

Yes, if community members want to know more information about the program and how to sign up, how do they do that?

Yeah, they can reach out directly to us at the link be ham or they can go to our website, www.the link beham.com, and um we'll have more of the information up around January.

Thank you.

The linkbehem.com, correct?

Yes.

All right, thank you very much.

Thank you, Ms.

Shorts.

Thank you so much.

Counselor's one more question.

Yes, the breakdown of your budget.

Thank you.

Yes, the breakdown of it, like what you're using it for, like how much is used for it.

Um, so the breakdown will include the programming, the equipment.

Um, we submitted it for um for staff because we also need um instructors, also job placement, recruiters, and then outreach um coordinators as well.

And um also we'll be able to provide stipends for individuals based upon their individual needs.

How much is each stipend?

How many instructors are you going?

So how do we um let's see?

Do you have the I don't have the budget, I don't have the budget breakdown with me, but it was something that we submitted, um submitted to the Bold grant team.

And I forgot to ask how long is the training is this increments of like three months, six months is this a year long.

Yeah.

So it depends on um the actual program that they choose.

So we couldn't modify it.

So for example for example, let's say that we have partnered with an employer and they just need for that individual to increase their skills, then we have the ability to modify it based upon that individual needs.

And so um we our our program, our regular program is 12 weeks, but then if we are partnering with organizations then we will be able to modify it and provide even shorter terms.

Okay awesome uh when we went to uh Salt Lake City for National League of Cities uh AI was a big topic of conversation and so and then I also want to say college debate where the Penny Foundation um held it I think the two schools were Alabama A and M and I forgot the name forget me of the college in Texas where the great debaters would be it was that I forgot the name of the school but the topic was AI in the workforce and if um you know if AI was a positive thing uh moving forward and so I think it is they end up winning the team that that was the um pro for it and that just shows how important it is to have people um comfortable with using AI because that's the future I actually love to see how a course is and do it myself um I was actually able when I interned for uh Danny Carr we actually did um a simulation as an officer actually in the uh shooting and so even though I would never personally be in there I was able to actually um experience that and all the interns and we actually talked about you know our reaction you know why we shot you know so quickly or why some of us did that so I and I can see that correlate to that so I think this is you know you made me a believer too because I was a little but I'm excited about it workforce is so important because everybody doesn't want to go to college and it's important to give people options um because when people don't have options they lose hope and that can lead to people feeling like they have to use other means to provide livelihoods.

That's right.

And so maybe you will eventually want it in your new facility that you just bagged you may want to bring it over there.

That's a great idea actually all right well thank you all very much no other questions counselors thank you both ladies we would now take the vote voting should be open councilor we thank you sir all right thank you that item passes good luck much success thank you next item item 48 resolution amending resolution number 1338 dash 24 adopted by the council September the third 2024 under which the council of the city of Birmingham Alabama authorized the mayor to execute an agreement with urban alchemy in an amount not to exceed 1,7171 dollars for a term of 12 months under which urban alchemy will provide community engagement and outreach homeless outreach interim housing hygiene services street cleaning and community crisis response to a non-emergency 911 and other calls related to homelessness mental health and addiction to the address the challenges created by the intersection of poverty mental illness addiction and homelessness to extend the term of the agreement to a term to end on before on or before March the 31st 2026 motion please move second all right thank you counselors this is a resolution uh recommending that we extend the term of the agreement for urban alchemy and that would end on March 31st 2026 I know this is presented to us before as well as budget and finance uh do are there any other questions or any presentations need on the item before we consider the vote right at this time we're ready for the vote Mr Clerk I'm sorry I'm sorry go ahead counselor wings thank you uh you know when when we look at this contract um and what was presented to us at committee of the whole I think that there's uh you know in my opinion there's a lot left to be desired when we look at the total cost of um of what this contract is and this the interactions that this organization has um has reported to us every time that they speak with a uh homeless individual it is costing the taxpayer three hundred and sixty three dollars um and that is every single time they just speak to the to a homeless uh individual now you know when when we got data like they've only referred four people to a shelter throughout their entire term here and and a lot of other data that that I found troubling based on the amount of taxpayer money that's going towards this organization um you know I I know the uh you I I think that we need to look really hard at supporting local groups that have been in the Birmingham area um for a long time

Now, you know, when we got data like they've only referred four people to a shelter throughout their entire term here, and and a lot of other data that that I found troubling based on the amount of taxpayer money that's going towards this organization.

Um, you know, I I know the uh you I think that we need to look really hard at supporting local groups that have been in the Birmingham area for a long time, and not just some out of state group that um you know is bringing the you know some California values that don't really fit in well in my district at least with the with the four letter words and whatnot that are used on their marketing material, but for the taxpayer having to spend 363 dollars every single time that they that there is an interaction, and that doesn't mean an interaction where there's an issue solved.

That means $363 every encounter with someone that's unhoused.

That's a lot of money.

I kind of you know I kind of want to do it.

Um but anyway, uh that that is my comment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Counselors, we're ready for the vote.

Voting should be open.

Um that vote should be up.

All right, thank you.

Item 48 passes.

Next item.

Should be item 54.

Um, also that item was budgeted by committee of the whole is also recommended by committee of bill.

Thank you.

Uh item 54, a resolution authorizing the mayor to submit to the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development on or before July the 13th, 2025, the city's action plan.

One year use of fund submission for the period of July the first, 2025 through June the 30th, 2026, in accordance with the consolidated formula allocation budget authorized herein and further authorized the mayor to enter into into an all necessary agreements under the community block grant program, the home investment partnership program, the emergency solutions grant program, and the housing opportunities for persons with AIDS program to acquire services as authorized herein.

Motion please.

Thank you.

This item was for consent and pull from consent.

Counselor Smithman.

I'm actually good.

Good.

All right.

Thank you.

Any other questions about this item?

All right, we'll entertain the vote.

All right, voting should be open.

Uh that vote should be up.

All right, thank you.

Council is item 54 passes.

Do we have any other items, Mr.

Clark?

75 just for information purposes uh and 76 and 77.

All right, thank you.

Okay, 75.

Uh pursuant to the provisions of section two-three-27D of the general code of the city of Birmingham, Alabama, as amended.

The Office of the City Attorney hereby gives notice to the city council of the final judgment rendered in favor of plaintiff um Christopher Little and Jalen Davis and others versus Jacob McKee and the City of Birmingham and the Circuit Court of Jefferson County Division Case number CV 2023-902760 and amount of 12,000, which includes attorney fees and interest copies of which are included here with.34 cents, which includes attorney fees and interest copies of which are included here with it is the intent of the Office of the City Attorney to satisfy says judgment in full with funds to come from account number 12801600 534 13.

Case number C V 2020-90 2385 in the amount of $54,325 and 34 cents, which includes attorney fees and interest copies of which are included here with.

It is the intent of the Office of the City Attorney to satisfy says judgment in full with funds to come from account number 12801600-534-13.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

And again, I have those items 75, 76, and 77 were for our information.

They don't require a vote.

All right, at this time, do we have any other items?

Mr.

Clerk, I think we're at that point.

Okay, at this time, before we entertain our speakers and our updates from our district, I do want to, on behalf of the committee of the whole, I do want to announce that we have positions open where we are looking for members of the human rights commission of the city of Birmingham to qualify.

You must be a qualified elector of the city of Birmingham.

Each counselor will have will have the opportunity to select a resident representative from each of our districts.

So we'll be representing, we will have an opportunity to select one resident per district.

Members must serve will serve a three-year term with said term being staggered.

We're opening the application process from December 9th through December 16th to 5 p.m.

on December 16th.

If you want to apply, and you would be have to indicate what district you're from, you would apply at WWW Birmingham AL.gov slash boards dash and dash agencies.

You'll select the Human Rights Commission of the City of Birmingham option, select apply, and then follow the steps.

If you have any questions or you want to send letters of interest, you can send those to Lozia L-O-Z-E-A.

Brown at Birmingham A L.gov.

And Mr.

Coleman, I don't want to put you on the spot, but if you could just come up and give the counselors just some information about the human rights commission and how this applies to the city of Birmingham.

Thank you.

Madam President, can you email that to us?

Yes, I will.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Great.

Thank you, Council Josh Coleman and Service Director of Public Affairs.

The purpose of the Human Rights Commission was to create for a governing body to provide recommendations to you all and the mayor as it relates to any discriminatory complaints in the city of Birmingham.

All right.

Thank you very much.

And again, we have the opportunity.

We will select for each of our districts, but we're opening this up so that any residents that might want to be considered, they can apply through your office.

And we will get this information out to you.

Thank you very much.

At this time, we'll entertain updates from each of our districts.

How about I start with you, Councilor Smith?

Are you ready?

All right.

So no neighborhood meetings, but our neighborhoods are continuing their holiday celebrations.

So this week we have several events starting this evening.

Bellevue Heights is having their holiday social at 6 p.m.

at Brown Elementary Elementary School.

Rising West Princeton and Tuxedo are both having their holiday socials this upcoming Friday, December 12th, and both of those are from 6 p.m.

to 9 p.m.

Bush Hills is having a holiday social on Saturday from 3 to 5 in the green space.

And Ensley Highlands is having a holiday social on December 13th, that same Saturday from 6 to 8 at Renew Birmingham.

So two other events that are taking place.

One is the word up event hosted by the flourish.

So the flourish is one of our fold uh recipients, and they are having their word up poetry contest for students.

The contest portion of the event starts at 7 p.m.

And that's at the Birmingham Public Library Main Branch.

And the Five Points West Library is hosting their annual holiday open house on December 16th at 4 p.m.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Councilor Gunn.

Yes, just a couple of announcements.

Uh last week and my colleague uh Council Pro Tim Tate had an opportunity to um make a major milestone in uh the pairway development.

So I want to thank her for her leadership and getting that project up and running.

And I know it will impact uh the north side community tremendously.

So I've received a lot of positive feedback from community members about that project.

So I'm super excited about that.

Uh I want to give a huge shout out to the Wilkine United and hosting a wonderful Christmas tree lighting uh that we had this past Saturday.

Uh it was a festival uh for the community.

Uh we have food, fund, and fellowship.

So thank you uh for that.

Uh next up, the Robo Neighborhood Association will have their neighborhood association meeting on December the 15th, and their holiday social will be on Sunday, December the 14th from 3 30 p.m.

to 6 p.m.

uh at the Gabriella Manor.

And upcoming neighborhood association meeting, the Kelo Springs Neighborhood Association meeting is counseled for tonight.

Uh Northeast Lake is tonight at 6 p.m.

at the Southern Museum of Flight.

Pennfield Park is tonight at 6 p.m.

at Brownsville Heights Community Center.

And that concludes my announcements.

Thank you very much.

Councillor Woods.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, we normally have a little bit more distance between us before I repeat something, but the uh Killow Springs Neighborhood Association is counseled for tonight.

There is no meeting tonight.

Uh and lastly, the the partnership that we have with the uh Birmingham Library over at Old Springville Road uh Library Branch.

Uh we'll be having holiday photos with Santa and the uh Winter Wonderland Open House.

So uh great opportunity for families, youth to come out, just have a good time as we begin to get ourselves into the Christmas spirit.

Uh that event is from 5 to 7, and like I said, just inviting everybody out of uh great time will be had in District 1.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Council O'Clan.

Yes, thank you, Madam President.

Uh in District 5, the Central City Neighborhood Association will host a holiday gathering uh in place of its monthly neighborhood meeting.

Um that'll occur Monday, December 16th at 6 p.m.

at the veranda at Park Place.

That's uh 2200 2nd Street North in the Park Place Development Downtown.

Uh and other events, we invite District 5 residents and friends to the annual District 5 Holiday Brunch and Resource Fair on Friday, December 12th from 10 a.m.

to 1 p.m.

And this will be happening at the Harris Homes uh gym located at 600 Brussels Circle.

Uh we will honor our seniors with a special pageant and crowning the Mr.

and Mrs.

or Mr.

and Miss Senior District 5.

Um please contact our office at 205-254-2679 for additional information or if your organization would like to participate.

Uh the Birmingham Public Library will host its annual holiday open house on Tuesday, December 16th, from 12 p.m.

to 2 p.m.

at the downtown central library.

The afternoon will include live performances from musical performances, creative crafts, complimentary for refreshments.

Um explore a new holiday-themed art exhibition featuring sculpture sculptures from the nutcracker and enjoy family friendly celebration that brings our community together for the holiday season.

And um lastly or next last, uh the Pepper Place, the final market of the season will happen this Saturday from 7 to 12 p.m.

at Pepper Place.

Um, so they'll have a break before they restart for the spring.

Um and finally I want to congratulate um one of the district five team members, Miriam Ahmed, um, who will be graduating next weekend with her master's in public administration.

So congratulations, Miriam.

All right.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Council of Vasa.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, folks, just a couple of announcements.

We have a great we have had a great response for our online survey on the Southern Framework Plan.

Uh we will keep the survey open through this Friday.

Uh please visit our Facebook page for more information and be on the lookout for additional surveys on more topics beginning in January.

And secondly, the Birmingham Zoo is thrilled to announce the return of its holiday tradition, Glow Wild and Animal Lantern celebration.

Our family will be going there uh very soon.

So excited about that.

It's gonna continue on select nights through January 4th.

Um a great mention, Birmingham Homes and Garden just named Glow Wild, one of the top holiday escapes across the Southeast.

That's great.

This concludes my announcements.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Councillor Smith.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, as far as neighborhood meetings, uh, the South to this field neighborhood will meet today at 5 30 p.m.

at Holy Family.

They will be having their holiday party.

The Arlington West End neighborhood will meet today at 6 p.m.

They will have their holiday party in partnership with the West End Library.

It's a lot of fun.

They have an MC, uh good food, uh, music, carols, all of that.

And then Oakwood Place neighborhood will have their holiday social on this Thursday, I believe at 1 o'clock.

Let me verify.

Yes, it's this Thursday at 1 o'clock at Harrison Park Recreation Center.

And also Tillisville Library Branch will have their holiday party tomorrow from 3 to 4:30 as well.

Then we will be having our first Christmas uh event.

This will be a Christmas food box food box giveaway in partnership with New Hope.

We're giving out 100 boxes.

Uh that would be this Saturday in New Hope starting at 10 a.m.

Uh first come, first third basis must be able to get it on site.

Um and then lastly, I do know we have some activists in the uh audience, and so I did want to acknowledge them in the work that they do.

Um don't want to really get into it much, but I know there are members of the community that have concerns about some of the things that have happened with BPD.

Um I just will also just like there to be an update, just in general for the public, and I know um the mayor has worked on this.

Uh the police department being trained to deal with the mentally ill and disabled and continue to work with the community.

Also just giving just an update with the for the public on non-punitive resources for the youth and low income.

Just doing a better job of spreading that information because I know there's good work that is being done.

I know um my previous uh colleagues, well, the last council I was with.

We talked about, I think Councillor Tay and I talked about in Nashville, separating, because I think Nashville has its own um, it's like a form of 311.

You can actually call for mental health um crisis, so that'll be directed to mental health counselors instead of the police.

Um so helping to separate those call, um, those calls.

And I just empathize with all the lives that were lost this year to any violence, including Jamal Williams and Vanessa Rackland.

So I just want to just publicly acknowledge that.

I know council leadership is working and administration, but just a public acknowledgement.

So thank you, madam president.

Thank you, Councillor Smithman.

Counselor Williams.

Thank you.

Roebuck Springs neighborhood will be Thursday, December the 11th at 7 o'clock at New Beginnings Church.

And economic development tourism will be December the 16th.

If you have any submissions, please get those to India.bailey at Birmingham AL.gov by Thursday.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tim.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to echo what Councillor Smithman said.

I do see uh Mr.

Hall, you know, in the uh audience, and so we did receive you know the letter that you guys sent over.

Um life is lost, it's a tragedy for all.

So we don't want people to think that nobody, you know, is cares or not paying attention to the things.

And I think I I do want to highlight this.

Um District 9 donated ARPA dollars to get to assist anybody who needed free mental health counseling in district nine.

So I do want to, you know, even expand it beyond district nine.

So if you guys know anybody that needs mental health counseling, I know Councillor Smithman uh partnered with the Black Women's Mental Health Institution, Dr.

Naughty Richardson Johnson.

I will be glad to get that information out to everybody.

So please, ma'am, sirs, if you know people that are suffering with mental health illnesses, uh please, ma'am and sirs, refer people to these free services.

Um want to continue to work with the organizations that are working to reduce you know violence in the city, um, um, you have the urban league and how do we come together as a collective and and move the needle to make our communities more safer.

Um it's just gonna take some work, so we just you know, looking, you know, to um you know have those conversations and and making sure we all moving in a robust way to make sure that we do what we need to do when it comes to you know the safety of of communities and the safety of of people and getting the people the services that they need.

So these are my announcements, um Madam President, Hooper City Neighborhood Association.

Christmas party will be held on Thursday, December the 11th at 6 p.m.

at the Hooper City uh Rick Center.

The next public safety meeting will be held today at one o'clock, right here in the chamber.

Registration for the Mary Kicks Musk starts this Wednesday, December the 10th at North Birmingham Library at 3 p.m.

Staff will be present to register families for the event held on December the 20th at Fountain Height Rec Center, which is located at um in Fountain Heights.

So also it'll be another registration, which will be on December the 17th at the East Ansley Library on December the 17th at 11 a.m.

So we're giving 200 pair of shoes and coats and not coats, I'm sorry, gloves and hats, you know, to to um our young people.

And the ages are infants to 18 and the sizes are two seats and 15.

So if you're a district nine residents, please uh register to get you know these free um shoes.

I just feel compelled, you know, to give people, you know, some shoes, some things that they need that sustainable that you know that's gonna keep that little feast warm.

And so also as a free virtual training for suicide prevention is Thursday, December 11th from 6 to 8, sponsored by District 9 and Black Women's Mental Health.

So you can go to register for these.

You can go to WW BW8 BWMHI.org slash community, or you can call 205-440-2837.

So this training is made possible by uh the District 9 office and the Black Women's Mental Health Institute with Dr.

Naudia Richardson Um Johnson.

So really thank her and all the good work that they do.

And lastly, the Sixth Prayer Community Christmas Fest.

I know Eric could probably be there because this is his one of his signature events.

It's on December the 13th.

It's from 2 p.m.

to 6 p.m.

at One Prayer Park.

They are in partnership.

Um, and it's hosting by the Sixth Prayer Community Foundation in partnership with their their, I think uh State Representative Gavan was probably their one of their uh uh sole sponsors.

So it's from 2 p.m.

until 6 p.m.

Saturday, December the 13th location at One Prayer Park at 1120 Harbornia Street, Bram, Alabama.

So please, ma'am, sirs, come on out and celebrate with the um the prep community on their this uh annual Christmas um festival that they do out there.

That's all I have for Madam President.

Thank you very much.

These are announcements for District 7.

I do want to thank all the residents, community partners, family, and friends that came out to participate in the inaugural district 7 holiday gathering.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tim, for joining in with us and um our inaugural event.

I was very um happy to be able to fellowship with the residents.

So we'll continue that as we move forward.

So thank everyone.

Also, want to thank all of those residents and families that came out Sunday as we lighted the uh Christmas tree and um really ushered in the Christmas season for the city of Birmingham.

So I want to thank the mayor's team, council staff, as well as um all of our city workers and those community partners.

I believe that was um Coca-Cola and United Way that were partners in providing that to our residents.

So thank you very much.

On Friday, December 12th, Commissioner Sheila Tyson will be presenting the annual Seniors Christmas concert.

This is featuring the legendary blue notes and the voices of Birmingham.

So music speaks louder than words.

So let's all get out there from 9 a.m.

to 1 p.m.

Again, this is the annual seniors Christmas concert.

So um I'll be there with my fellow seniors, and we're gonna have a good time, all right?

On Saturday, December 13th.

We have um great giveaway that holiday giveaway that's going on in District 7.

This is sponsored by the men of powderly as well as District 7.

This will be from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

This will take place at the first Baptist Church, Powderly.

That's 2801 Dawson Avenue Southwest.

The men of Powderly, these are former residents and current residents of Powderly.

These men work together as a nonprofit to bring these items and to bring things back to the community that they grew up in.

Uh, some of the giveaways will include bikes, coats, toys, books, socks, fruits, snacks, and more.

Of children must be accompanied by a parent in order to be able to um get the gifts that will be given way.

So we want everyone to get in the holiday spirit in District 7 and join us again with the men of Powderly that Saturday from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

Later that afternoon, the community first Birmingham, the Southwest Alliance Association, along with the Hopewell Senior Center Center, along with District 7 and other uh community partners.

We'll be presenting the Southwest Alliance Association's annual Southwest Holiday Festival.

That will be from 1 to 4 p.m.

We'll start out at the Hopewell Baptist Church.

We'll have a full afternoon of holiday fun for the whole family.

There is a parade that is included in this, so we all have a great time.

And there'll be high headlining the We Nona High School Marching Dragons.

I always enjoy that.

We're gonna see what we can do.

Also on Saturday, we have the Grisella Heights holiday social.

That'll be at 12 noon at Bryant Chapel AME Church.

That's at 3125 Spaulding Street.

Then the Tarpley City neighborhood will have their holiday social.

That's at 6 p.m.

on Saturday at the Merry Doris Center, and that's at 4560 Park Avenue Southwest.

Then Friday, December 19th, the Industrial Center Holiday Social will take place at 6:30 at the Greater New Macedonia Ministries.

And then the Green Acres neighborhood is gonna close us out on Saturday to December 20th with their um holiday social.

They'll be having at the fish market downtown.

I do also want to acknowledge receipt of um inquiries, um, information that we received and regarding some of the ongoing investigation that's taking place in the city of Birmingham.

So just want to um acknowledge that on behalf of the council that we did receive the letter and that um there is ongoing investigation, and so we will be waiting for the results of that investigation and looking for that information from the administration.

At this time, Mr.

Speaker, if you will um list our speakers for day, sorry, Councillor Gunn.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I have an one additional announcement.

Um praise uh will be having their annual dinner at the Encore Theater and Gallery on Friday, December the 12th.

Uh the location is 1604, 2nd Avenue North, and hope every and Willie, Mr.

Willie Jenkins will be Santa Claus.

So come out and have your pictures taken with Santa Claus.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Now, Mr.

Clerk, we'll go for our speakers.

Um Robert Banks.

Thanks as you come forward.

Um just to remind you that we have three minutes um to entertain comments that you have for the council.

And uh if you introduce yourself, and no, we know who you are, but give us your name and address.

Thank you so much.

My name is Robert Banks, and my address is the West Side of Eastern.

All right.

Uh good morning, council.

Um, that's a good morning for some.

Not a good morning for the residents of Bush Hills, unfortunately.

There's been another murder and shooting over there at 6 o'clock a.m.

Afghanam.

As you can see on my shirt, it serves Murder Ham.

That's what our city has become.

Just that Murder Ham.

In 1979, I'm quite familiar.

Y'all know y'all history.

What happened in Kingston Produce in 1979?

Her name was Benita Carly, and it was 20 years old.

She was killed by Birmingham police.

Now, let's fast forward.

It's 2025.

We still got the same thing going on in Kingston Projects.

Black person killed by the police.

Now, appreciate the city and the mayor and the chief of trying to show some type of transparency.

But did it really show?

I know we can't uh blame the police for everything, but what kind of programs are we really putting in besides locking people up on weekends for guns?

Because many guns that they take off the street, they still wag on the street, and the people are the one pulling the trigger.

Now we have eight of homicides as of this morning.

Now, some of y'all will say, well, this crime has decreased.

Uh murders has decreased.

Ada murders don't sound like a decrease to me.

From 138.

Okay, we got 40 or 50 or something people that ain't killed.

But guess what?

The year ain't over yet.

So what are we gonna do?

What kind of programs are we gonna really put in?

Do we really want to see the youth strive and survive on just one side of 65, or we're gonna give both sides of 65 will thrive?

Or we're gonna keep bringing private, or we're gonna blame ourselves because looks from the looks of it, ain't none of it working right now.

And if we killing each other and the police killing us too, it takes 1.5 seconds.

That's all it takes.

One point five seconds to determine the choice that you can make.

So what are we really gonna do, Burma?

Thank you, Mr.

Banks.

Next speaker.

Jessica is it four bus?

Jessica Fourbus.

All right, thank you.

That concludes our speaker's list.

I do want to thank our officers on duty today.

I know your names, but I guess I can't find the shit paper.

Here we go.

Pinkert and Officer Square.

Thank you all so much for serving and um serving with us today.

At this time, Counsel's thank you.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

We are adjourned.

Thank you.

Oh, three, two, one.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Send to heal me.

I'm excited to be here at Lawson State Community College, right in the heart of District 7.

We are here this evening for our District 7 holiday gathering.

I'm so excited to have so many residents, neighborhood leaders.

We have other elected officials.