Birmingham City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026

The Birmingham City Council convened on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, to hear the Mayor's Report, approve the Consent Agenda, and conduct a public hearing on a proposed temporary suspension of data center expansions. The meeting began with ceremonial recognitions for the Founders Days of the Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Kappa Alpha sororities, followed by extensive deliberation on the environmental and economic implications of emerging hyperscale data centers, and concluded with community announcements and public comments regarding neighborhood blight and traffic safety.

Consent Calendar

• Approved items 2 through 45 (with item 42 removed for abstention), 46 through 88, and miscellaneous appropriations.
• Modifications: Item 30 revised to reflect a total of $12,500 (adding $2,500 from Council District 6). Item 41 revised to a total of $5,500, allocating $3,000 to the Birmingham City Schools Music Department and $250 to specific schools. Item 80 address corrected to 4829 14th Avenue North.
• Item 35 was withdrawn from the agenda.
• Council Member Vaso abstained from voting on Item 42 (settlement with RJ Young Company, LLC) to allow for a direct vote on the settlement authorization.
• General business items regarding conduct of business and public hearing protocols were reviewed before the voting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mayor Randall Woodfin: Issued a proclamation honoring the 113th anniversary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, citing their founding on January 13, 1913, and their commitment to service in Birmingham.
• Councilwoman Crystal Smith: Recognized the 113 years of Delta Sigma Theta and presented a resolution thanking the sorority for its service. She expressed pride in being "raised by Delta" and highlighted the sorority's historical role in the women's suffrage movement.
• Natasha Burnett (President, Birmingham Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta): Spoke on behalf of the chapter's 95 years of service. She expressed support for the council's leadership but stated opposition to gun violence, urging the council to advocate for stronger federal gun laws. She noted, "We are raising our voices here in Birmingham... to demand stronger common sense gun laws."
• Councilman Gunn: Expressed support for the reduction in gun violence numbers, attributing success to the Mayor's investments and community partnerships. He emphasized that gun violence is a public health threat and pledged to work with Delta Sigma Theta to lower violence numbers further.
• Mayor Randall Woodfin: Later presented a resolution designating January 15th as "Alpha Kappa Alpha Day" in honor of the sorority's 118th Founders Day.
• Mellie Traylor Wright (Chief of Staff, AKA Southeastern Region): Expressed gratitude for the proclamation. She announced a regional conference scheduled for April 29–May 2, 2026, inviting 6,000 members to Birmingham to "paint the town pink and green."
• Tammy Fincher (General Chairman, 94th Southeastern Regional Conference): Extended an invitation to the Council and public to attend the AKA conference, noting enthusiasm for the upcoming event.
• Public Testimony on Data Centers (Support):
  • Charles Miller (Alabama Rivers Alliance): Expressed strong support for the temporary suspension, citing Alabama's lack of water laws to handle the cumulative impact of hyperscale data centers.
  • Joey Griffin: Expressed skepticism regarding the AI bubble, urging the council to "Give Birmingham nine months or six months now" to determine if the investment is viable.
  • Ryan Anderson (SELC): Expressed strong support for the suspension, referencing the negative precedents set in Bessemer and emphasizing the need to prevent environmental injustices in overburdened communities.
  • Kelly Marshall (Highland Park Neighborhood Association): Expressed support for the pause to prevent the city from overlooking costs and benefits, warning that the AI industry has yet to break even.
  • Scotty (Deon Gordon, Tech Birmingham): Expressed concern that a moratorium sends a message that the city is "not open for business," though he acknowledged the need for a new framework for smart economic development.
  • John Meehan: Expressed strong concern regarding utility rates and the potential for rate hikes affecting low-income and senior citizens if data centers utilize fossil fuel generators.
  • Kyle Krider (People's Justice Council): Expressed strong support, noting that the Project Marvel data center in Bessemer was zoned as "light industrial" despite requiring 1,200 megawatts, and suggested a ban on cryptocurrency data centers.
  • Paige Klein: Expressed support, highlighting the lack of a statewide water plan in Alabama.
  • Keith Williams: Expressed support, noting that while his residence is close to an existing DC Blocks facility (which has not caused major concerns so far), he wants to ensure the city regulates future impacts on air, water, and rates.
  • Peggy Gargus: Expressed concern regarding water utility spending and the potential demand for aluminum resources.
  • Sara (Gas, Greater Birmingham Alliance): Expressed support for the pause but argued that hyperscale data centers should be permanently banned, citing air pollution from diesel generators and water usage.
  • Dorothy Crosby: Expressed support for the suspension, citing estimates that Project Marvel could use 9% of the Alabama Power capacity.
  • Sandra Smith: Expressed support, requesting that if a substation is required, the company must pay for it rather than passing costs to consumers.
  • Bill Blackman (IBEW Local 136): Expressed support for workforce development opportunities, noting that apprentices have already trained at DC Blocks.
  • Unnamed Speaker: Expressed opposition to the industry, calling it a "dead-end technology" and suggesting it is not in the best interest of Birmingham.
  • Madeline Green (Oxmore Valley): Expressed support for the moratorium, citing severe community concerns about proximity (less than 500 feet) to residential areas, noise, and property values.

Discussion Items

• Proposed Temporary Suspension of Data Center Expansion (Public Hearing):
  • Director Katrina Thomas (Dept. of Planning, Engineering, and Permits): Presented the proposal for a six-month temporary suspension (moratorium) to allow time to draft regulations. She clarified that projects already in the permitting process are exempt from this suspension. She noted that existing data centers in Birmingham operate between 1-5 megawatts, while emerging hyperscale centers require 200-1,200 megawatts.
  • Hunter Garrison (Deputy Director, Office of Resiliency and Sustainability): Explained the difference between enterprise data centers (e.g., DC Blocks) and hyperscale centers. He cited the "Colossus" facility in Memphis, which increased nitrogen oxide levels by 70% in surrounding areas, and noted that 11 Georgia municipalities have adopted similar suspensions.
  • Councilmember Gunn: Questioned the timeline for permits and noted that while no adverse impacts have been heard from existing centers, environmental studies are needed for future projects.
  • Councilmember Vaso: Asked about the possibility of requiring closed-loop cooling systems to minimize water consumption.
  • Councilmember Woods: Argued for categorizing data centers rather than a "one-size-fits-all" approach, distinguishing between an "18 wheeler" and a "golf cart" of data centers.
  • CouncilPresident Alexander: Emphasized the need to incorporate subject matter experts to understand the technology and its impact on resources and residents.
  • Councilmember Fawcett: Suggested reviewing best practices and longitudinal outcomes nationally.
  • Councilmember Pro Tem Tate: Moved to refer the item to the Planning and Zoning Committee due to city code requirements mandating committee review before a full council vote, a motion seconded by Councilmember Gunn.
  • Outcome of Motion: The Council voted to refer the ordinance back to the Planning and Zoning Committee. The motion passed with the intent to have the committee report back to the council by the beginning of February.
• Mandatory Electronic Filing of Business Tax Returns:
  • Yolanda Lawson (City Attorney): Presented the ordinance to require electronic filing for business tax returns and license renewals to streamline processes, reduce wait times, and mirror state procedures. She noted that in-person payment options and waivers for hardship cases would remain available. Councilman Dunn confirmed a plan to install kiosks to maintain accessibility.
• Item 29 (Tabled): The item was tabled for further discussion after the staff presentation and questions regarding hardship waivers and kiosk implementation were answered.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution on Delta Sigma Theta: The Council unanimously passed a resolution honoring the 113th anniversary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated on its Founders Day.
• Resolution on Alpha Kappa Alpha: The Council unanimously passed a resolution designating January 15, 2026, as "Alpha Kappa Alpha Day" in Birmingham to mark their 118th Founders Day.
• Data Center Moratorium: The Council voted to refer the ordinance for a temporary six-month suspension of data center expansion to the Planning and Zoning Committee. The item will be reviewed by the committee and returned to the full Council, with a target report date of early February.
• Business Tax Ordinance (Status): Item 29 regarding mandatory electronic filing was tabled for further review. (Note: The transcript later shows a motion to continue tabling this item before the final vote on other items, but the final agenda summary indicates the meeting moved to announcements after the data center referral. The vote on Item 29 itself appears to have been deferred or tabled within the transcript flow, though later in the text a vote seems to occur on a different context, the primary action listed for the item in the final summary is tabled/continued).
• Item 42 Settlement: Council passed a resolution to authorize the settlement of the claim from RJ Young Company, LLC, totaling $525,000, with Councilmember Vaso abstaining.
• Planning Commission Appointments: The Council approved the reappointment of Steven Schrader and Sharon Deep Nelson to the Birmingham Planning Commission for six-year terms.
• Public Safety & Neighborhood Announcements: Various neighborhood meetings and MLK Day of Service events were announced across districts.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after public comments regarding apartment demolition and speed cushions in District 6.