Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Birmingham City Council convened on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Council President Wardine Alexander. After an invocation by Elder Wendell Brantley and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilor Josh Vasa, the Council addressed routine consent items, a major zoning ordinance, appointments, and heard public comments. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

Consent Calendar

• Item 2 (Ordinance 26-45): Appropriated $89,084.97 to the Office of the City Attorney for Neighborhood Revitalization from opiate litigation settlement funds. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 3: Withdrawn (budget transfer for neighborhood associations).
• Item 4 (Ordinance 26-47): Appropriated $8,000.00 (increasing total from $16,000.00 to $24,000.00) to Planning, Engineering and Permits for a Certified Local Government Grant from the Alabama Historical Commission. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 5 (Resolution 863-26, adopted as amended): Approved an agreement with A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club, increasing the total amount from $6,000.00 to $9,500.00 and adding $1,000.00 from District 8 discretionary funds, for extended learning opportunities for students. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 6 (Resolution 864-26): Approved an agreement with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Mu Psi Lambda Chapter for leadership development and a Turkey Giveaway for a term ending June 30, 2026, not to exceed $5,000.00 (District 9 funds). Unanimously adopted.
• Item 7: Withdrawn (Birmingham Folk Festival agreement).
• Item 8 (Resolution 865-26): Approved a three-year, $170,774.50 agreement with Carahsoft Technology Corp. for software licensing and a constituent communication platform. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 9 (Resolution 866-26): Approved $1,000.00 (District 9) for Old Sardis Revitalization Community Development Corporation to host the 70th Observance Celebration of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights on June 5, 2026. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 10 (Resolution 867-26): Approved an agreement with the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham for a feasibility study for alterations to the ramp from Elton B. Stephens Expressway (total cost $74,971.91; City's portion $14,994.38). Unanimously adopted.
• Item 11 (Resolution 868-26, adopted as amended): Approved an agreement with Southwest Alliance Association, Inc., increasing the amount to $4,000.00 and adding $500.00 from District 8, for youth empowerment programs through June 30, 2026. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 12 (Resolution 869-26): Approved $1,000.00 (District 6) for Virtue, Inc. to run four community health and awareness initiatives. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 13 (Resolution 870-26): Approved $20,000.00 (District 3) for Vulcan Park and Museum to provide educational programs through June 30, 2026. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 14 (Resolution 871-26): Authorized a right-of-way encroachment license for TBG Southtown Senior, LP and the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District to install a blade sign at 920 24th Street South. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 15 (Resolution 872-26): Authorized a right-of-way encroachment license for Wade Wood Enterprises, LLC to install ADA ramps and stairs at 112 14th Street South. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 16 (Resolution 873-26): Authorized payment of $70,000.00 to Diane Hilliard Grimes for right-of-way and improvements for the Pratt Highway Bridge Replacement project (Tract No. 7). Unanimously adopted.
• Item 17 (Resolution 874-26): Authorized payment of $15,000.00 to Diane Hilliard Grimes for right-of-way and improvements for the Pratt Highway Bridge Replacement project (Tract No. 7, separate funding). Unanimously adopted.
• Item 18 (Resolution 875-26): Authorized payment of $4,000.00 to Saleh Moflehi Investments, LLC for a temporary construction easement and loss of plants for the Greensprings Highway Streetscape, Phase II. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 19 (Resolution 876-26): Authorized payment of $3,000.00 to Alabama Goodwill Industries, Inc. for a temporary construction easement and loss of plants for the Greensprings Highway Streetscape, Phase II. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 20: Withdrawn (Foreign-Trade Subzone application).
• Item 21 (Resolution 877-26): Authorized the Mayor to execute a settlement participation form on behalf of the City with six remnant defendants ("Six Remnant Defendants") related to opioid litigation, to provide funds for abatement of the opioid epidemic. Unanimously adopted.
• Items 24-36: Various resolutions approving bids, payments, refunds, expense accounts, and a fire hydrant installation—all unanimously adopted.
• Item 38 (Resolution 891-26): Declared 154 properties with noxious weeds a public nuisance and set a public hearing for May 26, 2026. Unanimously adopted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bob Friedman, Director of the Birmingham Black Radio Museum, reported that his board has expanded (adding Wayne Coleman, Dr. Robert Ryder, and Pamela Stern King) and that the museum's oral history collection is used by UAB and others. He urged the city to assign a payment number to Plum Corps, hired two months ago for sewer work, so they can begin reconstruction. He also announced that UAB's education department will adopt the museum's trivia contest to align with state social studies standards.
• John Jackson, 235 85th Street North, requested speed bumps on 85th Street North. He stated that residents have secured a petition with 98% neighborhood approval, completed a traffic study, and that the measure was voted on at a neighborhood president meeting with 90% support. He cited dangerous speeding (80-90 mph) and a fatal accident involving a person in a wheelchair. Councilor Woods noted that the request is likely in the installation queue.

Discussion Items

• Eastern Framework Plan Rezoning (Ordinance 2091-G, Case ZAC2025-00015): The Council held a public hearing on a major ordinance to rezone all properties in the Eastern Framework Plan area (Airport Hills, East Birmingham, East Lake, and Woodlawn communities). Staff (Kim) reported that the plan aligns zoning with the city's comprehensive plan, downzones abandoned heavy industrial sites, expands mixed-use areas, and implements a new urban neighborhood district. Community meetings began in August 2024; a final meeting in January 2025 resulted in unanimous community support. The Planning Commission recommended approval in July 2025, and the Planning and Zoning Committee also recommended approval. All property owners within the area and those within 500 feet of the boundary were notified. Several members of the public spoke: Patricia Frazier asked why her mother's property (5148 Street South) was included in Woodlawn rather than adjacent Crestwood; staff explained it is in the East Birmingham community due to neighborhood boundaries set in the 1970s Citizens Participation Plan. Yolanda Flowers (Ridge Park) asked for clarification on "Q conditions" (conditions that restrict allowed uses on a parcel) and whether the city tests soil for contamination when rezoning from industrial to residential; staff replied that soil testing is not done as part of rezoning but that grants are available. Jack Willen Patton (East Birmingham) expressed frustration about not getting callbacks from her council member and asked about the Coca-Cola site; staff said it is being rezoned to I-1 (light manufacturing) and residential areas remain unchanged. A speaker from 3357 39th Street North asked about FAA noise mitigation and insulation for homes near the airport. Luis Toledo (Crestwood) supported the rezoning but expressed concern about a parcel owned by CMC Steel on Division Avenue being zoned light industrial; Councilor O'Quinn noted CMC Steel's intention to use those parcels as a buffer. Ms. Z. D. Boykin (Brumitt Heights) asked about a landfill in her residential community, questioning who receives the revenue and what can be done to close it. Courtney Pride (former Woodlawn resident) asked about plans to monitor cost-of-living increases and consideration of public transit in upzoned/downzoned areas. Martin Briggs (OASIS Venture Studio) expressed support for the rezoning, stating it will allow him to develop a grocery store and walking area on land near Sammy's restaurant (Messer Airport Highway) without needing individual zoning changes. Janice Martin (3943 12th Avenue North) complained that her house has sunk due to Coca-Cola plant construction and that a new strip club has opened on Cahama Street. John Javino (4203 First Avenue North) stated that Jordan Scrap (a scrap metal processor) is operating illegally next to his home, creating smoke and noise, and asked that heavy industrial zoning be restricted to the property where Jordan Scrap was originally licensed. The public hearing was closed after these comments.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 2-6, 8-19, 21, 24-36, 38): Passed by a unanimous vote of 8-0 (Councilor Tate was absent for the vote).
• Item 22 (Resolution 892-26): Reappointed Joe Ayers to the Downtown Redevelopment Authority for a term expiring April 8, 2032. Passed unanimously.
• Item 23 (Resolution 893-26): Reappointed Carlos Barahona and Reginald Coleman to the Industrial Development Board for terms expiring April 10, 2032. Passed unanimously.
• Item 37 (Resolution 894-26): Set a public hearing for June 2, 2026 to consider an ordinance to rezone 3849 Clairmont Avenue from R-6 to QMU-L for a boutique antique store. Passed unanimously.
• Item 1 (Ordinance 2091-G): Adopted to rezone all properties in the Eastern Framework Plan area (Airport Hills, East Birmingham, East Lake, Woodlawn). Passed unanimously on second reading.
• Resolutions 861-26 and 862-26: Adopted unanimously to honor the South Hampton K-8 "Storm Sentinels" STEM team and the Jackson-Olin High School boys' 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams.
• Mayoral Proclamation: Mayor Randall Woodfin proclaimed April 19-25, 2026 as National Library Week.
• Item 3 and Items 7 and 20: Withdrawn from the agenda.