Good morning, Birmingham.

Today is Tuesday, May twelfth.

The time is now nine forty-three AM.

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

This morning's invocation will be led by Minister Jeanetta Purdue, New Life Church of God, Graysville, Alabama.

And our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Council Pro Tem Tate.

If you all please join and stand us, thank you.

Humble, thankful, and grateful.

For this is the day that the Lord has made.

Bless every member of the city council this morning, oh God, and continue to lead them and guide them in your way, oh Lord.

Bless every staff person here today working, working in this building to God and lead and guide them in your way.

And then it's in Jesus' name that we do pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you very much, Minister Purdue, for that very inspirational prayer, and thank you, Councillor Tate, for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Good morning, Mr.

Clerk.

Good morning.

You'll call the roll, please.

Councilmember Gunn.

Morning.

Councilmember O'Quinn.

Morning.

Councilmember Smith.

Good morning.

Morning.

Councilmember Smithman.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Councilmember Vasa.

Councilmember Williams.

Good morning.

Councilmember Woods.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Council President Proteum Tate.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Council President Alexander.

Good morning.

Thank you very much.

Councillors, the minutes are not ready for the meetings of February 3rd, 2026 through May 5th, 2026.

At this time, we'll have communications from Mayor Whip, and I think he has no communications today.

Thank you, Mayor Whip, and good morning.

At this time, Councillors, I'd like to ask for unanimous consent that we uh divert from our agenda and we allow the following presentation.

Councilor Darrell O'Quinn has a presentation to bring someone who is not new to us, but uh give us an opportunity to greet an old Brian.

Counselor.

Thank you, Madam President.

This morning we have with us the marvelous amazing enigmatic Max Reichov, who's going to tell us about the other foundation.

So Max, if you would.

I was supposed to have uh pony by genuine as my walk-up music, but we couldn't get their rights to that.

So if we can just sing it, a cappella.

Council, Mayor Woodfin, esteemed department heads, council administrator McDaniels, City Clerk Frazier.

It's going to be back in these hallowed chambers.

Thanks for the opportunity to talk about the other foundation.

The other foundation is a way to get funding in the hands of Birmingham who are trying to make their neighborhoods or communities a better place.

So I'll give you some background.

From 2017 through 2020, I ran something called the Austin Foundation.

It was a local chapter of something that exists around the world.

They're giving circles where 10 people give a hundred dollars a month and give microgrants to community projects.

We gave out funding for a washer and dryer in Woodlawn High School.

Some students realized they didn't have clean clothes or truancy issues, and they didn't have a washer and dryer at home.

My favorite project ever that Councilor O'Quinn was actually involved with was a 17-year-old girl scout who noticed that there was a uh a bus stop in Woodlawn where there was just a pole in the ground bus stop and people were just waiting in the elements.

So what she did is she designed a bus shelter.

It's still there.

Uh it's on the corner of Georgia Road and 59th Street North, I believe.

It's a beautiful shelter.

She did for a thousand dollars.

Actually, created a document where anyone can replicate this.

So these are the kind of things that we fund.

And the other foundation grew from the Austin Foundation.

We just wanted to expand it.

So what we are is we're a giving circle where people contribute still a hundred dollars a month to fund community projects.

The unique thing about the other foundation is you do not have to be a 501c3 nonprofit organization to apply and receive funds from us.

Our only stipulation is that it's not a for-profit venture.

So I know there's um often issues with neighborhood associations who are trying to get projects off the ground.

Uh, know that it takes time to to move funding.

And some of them have associated 501c3 organizations, I know Creswell does, and maybe some others, but a lot of them don't.

And so when we ran the Austin Foundation, we would get applications from uh neighborhood officers or just groups of neighbors.

And so what I want to encourage y'all to do is to spread the word about this opportunity.

So we give out grants from between 1,000 and 3,000 every month.

We just launched formally last month.

We gave away 5300 to three projects, a community garden project in Enslee, a project in the Tittersville neighborhood for kind of um urban uh food systems and Avondale Movies in the Parks.

So pretty diverse array geographically and in terms of the projects themselves.

The funding that we give out, there's no taxes that are need to be reported on.

We're literally just giving out money.

We're not an entity of any kind.

We're just a giving circle.

And the reason we did this is to make philanthropy more transparent, more accessible, and more community driven.

So every month the members vote on projects, and the top three get the funds we give them, we just wire them the money.

And the only thing that we ask in return is that within 12 months they just come back to one of our monthly meetings and tell us how the project's going.

It's part of a broader movement of what's called trust-based philanthropy.

So if any of you have been involved with nonprofit organizations, you know that sometimes you apply for a grant for $2,500, $5,000, and the reporting requirements for that grant are incredibly tedious, and it takes away from the actual time doing the work.

So we just want to trust people to do what they say that they're going to do.

And our experience for three years with the Awesome Foundation proved that people did do what they said they were going to do.

So all of you have a little one pager about the other foundation.

Please do send it around to uh community leaders, neighborhood officers.

Let people know that this funding opportunity is available.

The next deadline uh for a grant the grant application process takes two minutes.

It's all on the website, other foundation be ham.org.

Our next deadline is actually this Friday at midnight, but we're gonna we continue doing it every month.

There's a couple of uh days in between cycles for us to get a chance to vote.

But other than that, it's uh it's continually open.

We we announce uh the the dates on the website and our social media on Instagram, other foundation behem.

But that's it.

I mean, we just want to help fund community projects.

We want to inspire hope around the city that hey, if I want to make my neighborhood, my community, the city better.

Here's a way to access not a lot of funding, but some funding to get me started and to make an immediate impact.

So feel free to uh ask me any questions if you want.

Also, anyone can become a member too.

The uh it's not even an application.

If you say you want to give us a hundred dollars a month, we'll accept you as a member.

You same website, other foundation beham.org.

Um councillor blitz, I see you wear these fancy suits all the time.

I know you got the money, so I expect you to become a member.

Yeah, feel free to uh ask me any questions there now or um afterwards, I'll email y'all this one pager as well so you can disseminate it.

But um, yeah, thanks for the opportunity.

Uh good to see you, Max.

Um, it's good to know that you are revolutionizing the space of giving in the same way you revolutionize the space of freelance quarterbacking, and so uh good to have you here in Birmingham making an impact.

Thank you very much.

And uh, if uh the Birmingham Stallions need uh another quarterback, I am America's only freelance quarterback.

I do football games, but also like weddings, bar mitzvahs, things like that.

Cool.

Max, so um folks want to sign up to be a member.

You said you can do that on the website.

Can they also set up an automatic monthly deduction um our bank withdrawal on the one?

The way we actually do it is uh as our giving circle, we send a Dipper member $100 every month.

So that's uh there's a rule in the IRS basically that you can give someone up to $19,000 as a gift every year without any taxes being uh reported.

So the way that we operate is instead of having like a business bank account, because we are not an entity, we just choose a different person every month to send the hundred dollars.

It's like having a big pizza party every month, basically.

And that person just wires the money or writes them a check.

Okay.

All right.

So on our on our portal, if you become a member, you'll see like here's where you send the money to this month by this date.

Here's how you vote.

So on the website, it's like a member login, apply for a grant, or become a member.

Okay, got it.

Awesome.

Well, thank you so much, and we appreciate your work.

Um, you know, this is something that there's a lot of small projects and most you know, granting agencies have a significant amount of red tape, and so you know, great to see that you guys are cutting through that and getting directly to helping folks.

Yeah, I mean, well, honestly, we're just trying to make it easier for people who have good ideas to make their communities better to get access to those funds.

Thank you, Max.

I'm really excited for what you're doing here in philanthropy 2.0.

So thank you very much.

Thanks, y'all.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, counselors.

Now we'll return back to our agenda, and at this time we'll consider those items that have been presented to us for consent.

And I'll read the statement of business and conduct as regards to the consent agenda.

All items designated as consent are considered to be routine and non-controversial and will be approved by one motion.

No separate discussion of these items will be permitted unless a council member, the mayor, or citizen interested in a public hearing so request.

If so, such items will revert to its normal place on the agenda order of business.

All matters of permanent operation, they're indicated with a capital P on the agenda will be read.

All other matters will be announced by reading the item number only.

All public hearings will be announced.

Mr.

Clerk, if you'll give us the items that are being considered for consent.

Yes, ma'am.

Consent agenda starts on page two with item two.

Skip over to page 12.

Item three is on consent.

And there hasn't been a request to withdraw item four.

Page 13.

Page 14, items 10, 11, and 12 on consent.

Page 15, items 13, 14, and 15 are on consent.

Please note that item 15 was recommended by transportation and infrastructure.

Page 16, items 16, 17, and 18 are on consent.

Same recommendation for item 16, and the amount should change on item 16 to 40 million dollars from 30 million dollars.

Page 17.

Items 19, 20, and 21 are on consent.

Page 18.

Items 22, 23, 24, and 25 are on consent.

Page 19, items 26, 27, 28, and 29 on consent.

And page 20.

We end with item 30.

All right, thank you.

And we do have two addendum items.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

All right, counselors.

At this time, I'll entertain any request for removal or addition to the consent agenda.

Councillor Smithman.

Yes, um, Madam President, can we add items 33 and 34 to consent?

All right.

Thank you, Councilor Smithman.

There's been a request to add items 33 and 34 from the addendum agenda to be added to consent.

Any other items, counselor.

Yes, counselor Williams.

That's item 16 on page.

The request has been to remove item 16 on page 16 from consent by counselor Williams.

All right, counselors.

I will entertain a motion in the second for the consent agenda.

So move.

All right.

Voting should be open one second here.

It should be open now.

Okay.

We'll just take it only.

I see this must not be working.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed, say nay.

All right, thank you.

All the items that were considered considered for consent have been approved.

We'll now continue with the rest of our agenda.

First item, Mr.

Clerk.

All right.

Filed by the Department of Planning Engineering and Permits and the Hearing of Office Parties.

This is second reading for this item.

All right, and we'd also like to call up item number 32 with this item as well.

Okay.

So 32.

Um a resolution setting a public hearing July 9th, 2026 to amend this Birmingham zoning ordinance title one general provisions filed by the Department of Planning and Permits and the Hearing of Ownership Parties.

And Madam President, you should have gotten an email from attorney's office about withdrawal of item one.

Yes, thank you.

At this time, I will turn it over to our planning and zoning chair so that we can consider the items.

We didn't receive that request.

Dr.

O'Quinn.

Yes, uh, thank you, Madam President.

So yes, item one is um being recommended to be withdrawn based on the feedback that we heard in the public hearing two weeks ago.

Um there are you know that we've got a lot of feedback about making amendments to um the ordinance and so um in essence it's uh not necessary for us to consider item one because that's the uh unamended version of the ordinance.

Um item two uh that sets the public hearing would reflect uh new ordinance that would contain um amendments reflecting some of the public feedback that we received uh two weeks ago.

Thank you, Dr.

O'Quinn.

Are there any questions about what we're doing here at this time?

Item one and then item 32.

So we're setting the public hearing, and so that we are taking in consideration the feedback we received during the last public hearing, and that will be reflected in the item that we will be reviewing and considering when we call the next public hearing on June.

Any questions?

Yes, so we're not adopting an ordinance today, right?

That's correct.

Any other questions?

All right, so I'll I'll move uh item 32.

All right, thank you.

Counselors, this is a resolution setting a public hearing for June 9th, 2026 to consider the um revision or amendment of the Birmingham zoning ordinance.

Any questions regarding setting this date?

I guess we need a first and a second.

Do we still we did?

We did have that.

Any questions about setting this public hearing date?

All right, thank you.

We're ready for the vote.

All right.

Okay.

I still still not showing.

Okay.

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

Aye.

All opposed say nay.

Thank you.

That item passes.

I do want to acknowledge that we have our Ox Valley neighborhood president, Mrs.

Green.

I want to thank you, Mrs.

Green, for your presence today, and want to thank you and the residents that uh spoke up and gave us this information that we'll be considering during this next review of the ordinance.

So much thanks to you and your um and all the residents that came out and provided that input.

Thank you very much.

All right, thank you.

Next item, please.

Item four is withdrawn, so next should be item five in ordinance to amend part three, appendix A, Article 1 of the general code of the City of Birmingham is adopted by ordinance 97-183 as amended by NAICS 551 schedules uh 14A and 14B.

This is the first reading, so we need UC to consider today.

We need someone to move for UC.

I move for UC.

Thank you.

Councilmember Gunn.

Aye.

Council Member O'Quinn.

Councilmember Smith.

Aye.

Council Member Smithman.

Aye.

Councilmember Vasa.

Aye.

Councilmember Williams.

Aye.

Councilmember Woods.

It's absent.

Council Pro Tim Tate.

Aye.

Council President Alexander.

Aye.

I motion on the item, please.

Moving on.

Second.

Item is before you.

All right, thank you.

This is an ordinance to amend part three of a general code of the city of Birmingham.

Uh Mayor, if we could have anyone from staff that could just talk to us about these changes.

Good morning, madam president, council members.

So what's before the council is just um adding a stipulation for those attorneys that renew their business license to have proof of their license that is active and good standard with the state of Alabama.

It's not changing the fee structure at all, it's just making sure that we have the accountability part of them being an active member of the state bar.

Okay.

And the rationale for this is just to ensure that we have licensed individuals that are drawing these.

That's correct.

It's no different than making sure our contractors have license or insurance policy for doing contract contractual work in the city of Birmingham.

Counselors, any other questions regarding this item?

Yes, Council Williams.

So what committees did this go through?

It went through budget and finance yesterday.

Okay.

Um I've it have we had an it what's the issue?

Have we had an issue with this?

It's no issue.

We just want to make sure that we're granting business license to those who have active licenses.

So help help me walk through that.

If it if it's an unlicensed attorney, they would not get a business license.

Or they're not hold if it's an unlicensed attorney.

Correct.

So what is the reason why we would have extra red tape?

So here's here's my problem with this.

Is about a million times a month.

Is about a million times a month, I hear about problems with business licenses, the red tape attached to it, getting them with business licenses, everything from business licenses to any kind of permitting that's done in this in this building.

If they can't practice law anyway, and they want to get a business license for practicing law, but they can't, and they just want to spend their money that way, then okay.

I don't think that there's been a problem that I know of this, and I am hesitant to be supportive of anything where there is just additional red tape because if you talk to any business where you go to like every time I go to rotary, it's the one thing that's said to me every single time about how hard it is to get a business license.

So why, if there's no problem, why are we adding extra red tape for these individuals?

Well, I think the requirement is just to make sure they are active to the case.

But that's not up to us to I don't think it's a red tape issue.

I just it's no different than making sure somebody has a valid driver license to drive.

Okay, so we're taking on additional policing powers of who's going to be practicing law.

What that's I think that answers my question.

Thank you.

Mayor Wynn, do you have a comment?

I do want to say that we did take this item up during budget and finance yesterday.

And I think among the three members, there was some.

We we approved it looking for the chair, it's not there.

And um we took up this item yesterday uh during budget and finance, and we did approve this item, but I just have to say that um a question in my mind was again, why what's the rationale?

What's the movement towards it?

And when we set policy and when we set code, we often get the recommendations from administration, especially if there are problems that they've been seeing in the way that something is conducted based on the ordinance that we have voted in.

But in this case, I guess I'm a little I want to be sure we've had the right components that have also talked with us about this type of item.

And I just want to have more meat in this as far as again, we're placing this different requirement, but is this going to actually improve the process?

Uh Madam President, excuse me, I think if I use an analogy of PEP and somebody wants to walk in here and get a permit and they're doing some type of um whatever work they do requires a license.

They have to show proof that they're actual actually licensed, licensed to practice and or implement an execute on that type of work.

Um we do not issue them an actual permit without showing proof of that.

So I think part of the rationale is just alignment across anyone that holds themselves out in the state of Alabama where they have to have actual state license license to practice anything or do anything, and they actually come before the city and say they want their license.

There's no burden on the actual person, but to show proof that the license is valid and updated.

Um, as a lawyer in good standing with the state of Alabama, I have to renew my license every year, and I'm supposed to actually keep that license bar on me, on my person.

So if and when I am asked to present it, because many people can say they're lawyers, but sometimes you do have to show proof that you're an actual lawyer that information should be presented.

So no, we don't want anybody out here coming to City Hall asking for a business license.

Um and even if they have their law degree, they're not necessarily in good standing with the Alabama state bar.

Um, and so it's just a standard that we want to have, no different than we have in P and P and for other um things that require a license or renewed license or valid license yearly in the state of Alabama.

Thank you.

Any other questions comments?

So let me, I'm trying to understand, you know, this as well.

So uh what I gather, what I infer is is that we're trying to prevent a situation where someone who says they're an attorney can actually say I'm a turn, I'm an attorney, here's my city of Birmingham business license.

Here's my city of Birmingham business license.

If they did so, they would run the risk of you know penalties from the state from state law, but we we're just what I'm hearing is that you don't want to enable someone to be able to say I'm an attorney, here's my city of Birmingham business license, even though they're not uh not a licensed practicing attorney.

Correct, no different than uh contractor or medical same.

Yes, sir.

Okay, got it.

All right.

Any other discussion?

As someone myself that it was licensed when I worked in the medical field, and we had to have a med tech certification and license.

Um, and I always never wanted anybody to impersonate a medical technologist because we went through a lot of training and there was a lot of expertise that came with that.

So I I understand the desire to be sure that everybody's doing business is certified and are trying to pull these permits.

It's um a certified attorney.

I guess it was just this additional overlay for me that you would assume is already a part of the process.

I mean can't practice law without being an attorney getting a business license up here.

This is ready to take.

Okay.

All right.

At this time, if there are no other questions, we will consider the vote.

Take any steel.

Oh, try it one more time.

All right, uh it's open.

Councilmember Gunn.

Yes.

All right, and Councilmember Williams.

I see.

I see.

I'm sorry.

That vote should be up.

All right, thank you.

That item passes with um eight votes.

Thank you very much.

Next item.

Uh an ordinance approving and ratifying an agreement between the city of Birmingham and the City of Trustville and Norfolk Southern Railway Company, and I wish the parties agreed to undertake a project as part of the redesigned Alabama program closed at Great Railroad Crossings, which will elevate block crossings from the Woodloan neighborhood in Birmingham into Trustville and erect alternative routes to enhance public access.

The City of Birmingham is a recipient of an FY 2022 consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements.

Chrissy grant in the amount of $8 million, which will be used to provide funding for this project.

In addition, the City of Birmingham and the City of Trussville will each be responsible for 2.5% of the cost of the project, which equals 250,000 each, and Norfolk Southern Railway Company will be responsible for 15% of the cost of the project, which equals one point uh $1 million $500,000, which is inclusive of the value of certain Norfolk Southern Engineering Review Services that will be reimbursed in an amount up to $300,000.

The agreement was previously approved by ordinance number 24-21, which was adopted on April the 27th, 2024, but the terms of the agreement have been modified since the ordinance was adopted.

This is another item of first reading on the UC to pass today.

Councilmember Gunn.

Councilmember O'Quinn.

Councilmember Smith.

Aye.

Councilmember Smithman.

Councilmember Williams.

Councilmember Woods.

Council President Pro Tim Tate.

Council President Alexander.

Aye.

Motion on the item, please.

All right, thank you.

Council is this is an ordinance approving and ratifying an agreement that the city has with the city of Trustville and Norfolk Southern Railway.

This is the recipient of the Chrissy grant.

And so this will bring some great change and alleviate some of the block crossings in that area.

Council, do you need a review of this item before we consider it?

It um it's being amended now to because we had to modify some of those agreements.

Do you need any other discussion?

I would like to acknowledge Dr.

Quinn and the work he did as um Department of Transportation.

Department of I'm making a Department of Transportation as the uh chair of the uh transportation infrastructure committee, and this has been something he's been very focused on.

Um Dr.

Quinn, I'm just gonna allow you to give a review here of what's happening.

Sure.

Um so this has been like a oil tanker moving through the ocean um because we received the grant actually in 2022.

And here we are four years later, um, you know, with still talking about getting to an agreement.

Um so um, but in just a snapshot, um this would address the train blockage issues on the eastern side of Birmingham, um, primarily in the Woodlawn, uh North Crestwood, Oak Ridge Park neighborhood, and in the city of Trussville, um, where trains stand on the tracks waiting to go into or out of Norris Yard in Irondale.

Um it's been a long-standing problem, it's been a very serious problem for the Harris Holmes communic community in Oak Ridge Park.

Um and uh this project ultimately um would be the design and engineering for grade separations um that would uh eliminate the actual crossing and create you know underpasses on the Birmingham side and a bridge on the trustful side.

So that's um hope what we hope to accomplish.

This is not the actual construction of those things, this is just the design and engineering for those projects to make them shovel ready.

Very good.

I know we're very excited um once we vote this action in, and um I do have to say on behalf of those of us on the west side who are dealing with this same type of problem.

Um I know we've had some train flow uh dollars that Dr.

O'Quinn and I did put into those projects, and that is working, but uh I would like to ask and challenge BDOT to continue going out for these type of grants that could help us in this.

And Councillor Smithman, I know you stated something about that yesterday as well.

Yes, ma'am president.

Um because we're still having issues with um I call her my cousin district and I having trains that are sitting for three days.

And I know you know we have to service every side of Birmingham, but and I personally had to do that when the trains stopped, and I've tried several neighborhoods to get across, and I couldn't and being late for a neighborhood meeting.

So I just asked Colin Alexander, who is really amazing, just consider the West Side because and thank you, Madam President and uh our former council president of Quinn for that initiative.

But we still have to remember the West Side and the issues that they deal with, and we also have to think about the history of trains on the West Side because we've had kids, you know, having to crawl under it, so it's bigger than all the West Side needs to help.

We also have to consider our kids.

So I'm excited to see this, but I'm also pleading for the West Side to get some help too.

Thank you, Madam President.

Same, thank you very much.

Any other discussion?

Okay, we're ready for the vote.

Councilmember Williams.

I think Council President Alexander.

Aye.

All right, that vote should be.

All right, thank you.

That item passes.

Um thanks again for the work of BDOT and Mayor Whitman and your team, and thank you, especially Council of Quinn and um the different committees that have worked on this.

Thank you very much.

That item passes.

Next item.

The item 16.

A resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for submit and accept all grant funds for the FY 2026 port infrastructure development program grant.

The grant opportunities provided by the United States Department of Transportation Maritime Administration.

The grant will be used for the purpose of improving the safety efficiency or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports and amount up to, and it should be changed to 40 million dollars match.

We'll be covered by Wake Core.

All right, thank you.

This item was um removed from consent by Council Williams.

Council Williams.

Yeah, I just wanted to bring attention to this item because it is such a big deal.

Most people do not know that Birmingham has an inland port, and to get the federal government support um, and then having Watco, which is our partner, do the match for for the city is such a huge um an absolute huge win.

So uh mayor, thank you, um, your administration for this.

This is um I think you know, we've since I've been on this council, we've gone back and forth with the port over so many different things and and tried to get funding over and over again, and we have never been as successful.

Um I remember the first time the first week I got on the council going out to that port.

But um, but we but this is this is such a huge win.

Um, and just want to thank the um uh the administration and the federal government um and our Senate partners for getting this for us.

Yes, thank you, Councilor Williams, for bringing this out of consent so that we could have the public to be aware this is a very big win for the port authority and district nine, and I like you, counselor Williams.

I do remember one of our first road trips when the three of us became part of the council and we went out there and I lived in Birmingham all my life and had never known that that was there.

And uh so it's something else out there.

So this is greatly needed, and it will be a great economic development boom for the city, um being able to put that as a part of the supply chain and getting items moved back and forth.

So we're ready for the vote.

Yeah.

That vote should be okay.

Right.

Thank you very much, counselors.

That item passes.

Next item.

Okay, you record that should be item 31.

A resolution pursuing to section 3.15 of the mayor council act of 1955 to recall from the mayor ordinance number 26-50, which would have amended the Kelvin Felder ordinance in Article C of Chapter 10, Title 12 of the General Code of the City of Birmingham before ordinance number 26-50 had become a law has been acted on by him.

All right, counselors.

Do we have a motion and a second as we consider rescinding this item?

Thank you.

Right, thank you.

Councillors, what is before us is the resolution to recall action that we took um last week where we amended the Kelvin Felder ordinance in Article C of chapter 10.

And um the desire at this time is to recall that item and to allow us to take in consideration um just wanted to be sure we have community input.

We have the working with BPD, the public safety committee, the office of the city attorney, and also to get that public comment as we go through this item.

This item has come back before us.

Um we heard you as far as um a community, wanted to be sure that we considered these items.

We took recommendations again from administration from the police department and made those changes to that particular ordinance.

It's important to us that we do obtain community input.

I do know that our public safety committee two years ago, they tried to do something similar by asking members of those clubs and those um particular businesses to come in and to talk a little bit more about what our ordinance looked like and what we could do to improve the safety in these establishments.

And when we go back and recall this ordinance, I'd also like to ensure that we have a community component in it as well, so that we can be sure to get all of the different views of what this ordinance will and will not do to maintain the safety.

It is important to me as I feel I'm sure all of our counselors.

We don't we don't dislike business.

We don't dislike people having opportunity to um you know be successful.

What we do want to ensure is that people who are entertained and come into our establishments, we maintain a safe safe environment.

And so this is an opportunity for us to pull this back, look at each of those amendments, and to have an opportunity again to gain the additional input that we'd like to seek for this.

Um council mayor whitfin.

Uh yes, ma'am, and president.

Uh good morning again, council.

I just want to state on the public record because I made some public um comments and uh social posts Saturday.

Um they were not meant to offend and or um put council on the light as it relates to um responsibility what happened.

The administration and I want to take full responsibility of how we got here related to this ordinance and for um any comments I've made.

I want to publicly apologize just as I've made some statements Saturday.

I think it's important that I also take the time publicly to acknowledge um how they came across and were perceived by this body, so I apologize to you publicly to as an administration.

We want to make sure we get it right as you've stated, madam president.

Um I've spoken to Madam Chairwoman of Public Safety.

Um I've spoken to the prior um member, no, not member, prior chairman of the committee who I know has received a significant amount of calls like the administration has.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

I do want to acknowledge, I want to thank you, Chief and Assistant Chief, for um being here today and letting you know that we wholeheartedly support any move any changes that are needed to make this city safe.

And we acknowledge the work that you've done, citizens have done, the council have done, OCA has done to um really impact the safety.

And so at this time we will we're considering to rescind that, and we'll go back to the books and be sure that we have all of the pieces in place, and also to get the community and the business involvement and their thoughts on it as well.

All right.

No other questions.

Council Williams.

Well, I just wanted to thank the uh members of the restaurant um and hospitality industry that did reach out over this.

You know, it's one of those things where we have 99% of our businesses operating um uh within the you know, within the scope of what is good business within the scope of what is uh provides public safety to their patrons, and uh they are the best part of the city of Birmingham.

Unfortunately, there's always that one percent that strays away from um what the 99 percent are doing, and that one percent causes trouble um for the 99 percent, um, and it causes trouble uh and public safety issues not only for the city and the police department, um, but it it you know it one of the biggest strengths that we have in this city is our restaurant and hospitality scene, um, especially from an economic development um uh perspective.

And so um I appreciate all of the the owners that are that that reached out, and there is a I think that there is definitely a balance that this council administration as a team, you know, would be willing to to strike with uh owner operators um and trying to find a way that we can make sure that that one percent is held accountable and we don't have um you know tragedy shootings, assaults, whatever, yeah, as a result of operations from that one percent.

So um I think that the this team is is very committed to that.

Thank you.

Councilor Pro Tan.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh I also want to echo everything that you guys have said.

Um, as you said a couple of years ago, a letter went out, but this is what I want to say, you know, to the people that own these establishments.

If your address is not correct or you receive your mail through a PO box, can we update your information with um tax and license?

Also want to acknowledge Chief Piggy, who's here today, and I cannot um go without saying the business components unit, um, Detective Feist, Detective Langford, Campbell, those guys work extremely hard, you know, to make sure that people are complying.

So we, you know, as you guys stated, you know, we reached out, and you know, some people showed up and some people didn't.

So we're gonna try this again.

Thank you.

We're ready for the vote.

Smith.

I don't know what's going on.

Okay, thank you.

Vote should be up.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

That item passes, and we will turn this back to the public safety committee, and to work with the administration, and um thank you, Chief.

Thank you, Chief Bo Hackel, assistant chief.

All right, next item.

Uh I think this should be forgotten.

Is that it?

All right, all right.

At this time, councilors, we will entertain updates from your various districts.

Who's first?

Who's ready?

Council of Vasa.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um quick couple of updates.

We had two wonderful uh events last week at coffee and conversation at O'Henry's Coffee in Highland Park.

It was a great opportunity to meet residents and uh have some good quality conversations.

So thanks for everyone for showing up.

Um we will have another one soon.

This past Saturday at Bessie Estel Park was the Wildflower Alliance's Buddy Big Top Carnival.

A wonderful event.

Lots of adults, children, people of all ages.

And the focus was on accessibility with our all-inclusive playground and Bessie Estelle.

So wonderful event.

Special thanks to Parks and Rec for their participation and for the Wildflower Alliance for putting on the event.

This Saturday is the Birmingham Folk Fest at Avondale Park.

Very excited about that.

That's Saturday, May 16th, 11 a.m.

to 7 p.m.

at Avondale Park.

Lots of music, family activities, et cetera.

Look forward to seeing everyone there.

And then lastly, we have a new uh D3 email.

It's district three at BirminghamAl.gov.

You don't have to remember our names anymore.

So District 3 at Birmingham AL.gov.

Feel free to continue letting us know how you feel.

And then upcoming neighborhood association meetings, East Avondale is tonight at 6 p.m.

And Highland Park is tonight, 6 p.m.

at the Roh Sideboom.

That concludes my announcements.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councillor Smithman.

Thank you, Madam President.

As far as neighborhood meetings, the South Tidisville neighborhood will meet today at 5 30 p.m.

at Holy Family.

And then Arlington West End will also meet today at 6 p.m.

at the West End Library.

And then the Tittisville Planning Day Committee, they're having an event this Saturday from 10 to 1 in Memorial Park.

Join the Finewood Free Food Community and Silduao, so Island Vibes, but they're really just gathering community support for uh next year's Tillisville Day as well.

Um and then we had a good event this past Saturday with Girls Speak Up and Speak Out.

Um it was really good.

Thank you to everyone involved.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you so much, Councillor Williams.

Thank you.

Roebuck Springs will be meeting Thursday, May the 14th at 7 o'clock at the regular spot, New Beginning Church.

And economic development tourism committee will be meeting the 19th at 11 30 in the chambers.

If you'll have all your submissions to India.bailey at Birmingham AL.gov by Thursday the 14th.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councillor O'Coyen.

Thank you, Madam President.

We have some neighborhood associations this week, meetings this week in District 5, East Abondale.

Uh we'll meet tonight via conference call at 6 p.m.

Please contact my office if you need that call in for me.

Call in information.

Smithfield will meet on Thursday at 6 p.m.

at the Smithville Court Community Center.

And then Southeast Lake will meet on Monday at 6 p.m.

at East Lake UMC.

Want to just follow up on Councilor Voss's announcement about the Birmingham Folk Festival.

So this event started in Avondale Park a few years ago and has really grown.

Everything from Sacred Harp to Zydeco.

And just a lot of other things happening.

So it's going to be a great event.

Unfortunately, I'm going to be out of town.

But really encourage everyone to go check it out.

It's a free event.

So again, that's Saturday, May 16th from 10 a.m.

And I think it runs till 6 or well, actually, let's see it runs till 8 from 10 a.m.

to 8 p.m.

in Avondale Park with the bands performing on the amphitheater stage.

Just want to remind folks that Jones Valley Teaching Farm has camps for kids, and you can find out about those at WWJBTF.org.

Um also want to remind folks to uh weigh in on the future of Birmingham's most multimodal transportation um plan, and you can go and participate in that at Birmingham AL.gov dot backslash go bhm.

And that concludes my announcements.

Thank you.

Councillor Woods.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh the Killow Springs Neighborhood Association meets tonight, uh, May 12th at 6 p.m.

That meeting is at Smith Middle School.

I encourage all the residents to continue to stay engaged.

Also want to thank uh our health proud partners for uh working with us last Friday uh for another day of service out in District 1.

Uh we were able to uh paint a house, uh complete some landscaping projects uh and some HVAC improvements and so uh just an opportunity to one uh help a family in need and elevate curb appeal in the community and just appreciate everyone that came out and volunteered and another opportunity to volunteer this Saturday at our next Beelder Free Cleanup.

Uh we'll be partnering with the Black Warrior River Keeper again, and this will be Saturday, May 16th at 9 a.m.

Uh the cleanup will be starting at Calvary Resurrection Christian Church.

And like I said, if you have a few minutes that can go a long way, so definitely encourage everyone to get out and uh support.

So thank you.

Thank you so much.

Council Gunn.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, here are my announcements.

Uh last week we had an opportunity to go out to Woodlawn to uh do a ribbon cutting for SARCOR.

Uh so many Rogers Dickerson has moved her headquarters to the Woodlawn community, and so that is a signal uh for the business community that Woodlawn and District 4 and ultimately the city of Birmingham is open for business, so I'm excited about that.

Uh the next uh announcement, the district four office will be hosting a mobile office hours at the Inglenook Recreation Center on May March, it says March 3rd, but that's incorrect.

Um, coming up in June from 2 p.m.

to 3 30 p.m.

We want to make sure that residents uh are there and to give them a chance to actually meet their counselor outside of City Hall in the community.

So uh be on the lookout for more information on that.

Uh upcoming neighborhood association meetings.

We have the Kilo Springs Neighborhood Association meeting tonight at 6 p.m.

Uh, it will be at the Smith Middle School, and then we have Penfield Park, they'll be hosting the Airport Hills Community Meeting tonight at 5 30 at the Brownsville Heights Community Center.

So I want to make sure uh residents are encouraged to come out and participate in the democratic process.

Thank you.

Those are my announcements.

Thank you, Councillor Smith.

Okay, thank you.

So first I want to acknowledge our volunteers and residents for coming out to our spring in the clean district gate beautification day this past Saturday, May 19th.

Um it was really good to see everyone come together and do their part to help make our area a little bit better.

The Parks and Recreation Department is still conducting a citywide community survey.

Please visit BHM Parks2035.com to complete that survey.

Parks and recreation is also still hiring lifeguards for the summer season.

If you're interested, call 205-254-2189 for more information.

This Sunday, May 19th, May 17th is the ninth annual taco fest at Sloss Furnaces.

So if you have um a little bit of time on Sunday, come out that starts at 11 a.m.

The next arts and parts committee meeting will be held on Monday, May 18th at 3:30 here in the council chambers.

So um please submit agenda items by May 14th at 5 p.m.

And we have the following neighborhood association meetings that are coming up.

Tonight is the Bellview Heights neighborhood meeting at 6 30 p.m.

at Brown Elementary School.

Tomorrow is a Tuxedo Heights neighborhood meeting at 4 30 p.m.

at the Pratt City Library.

And on Thursday, May 14th is a Central Park Neighborhood Association meeting at 6 p.m.

at the Five Points West Branch Library.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Madam Protein.

Thank you, Madam President.

North Parade Neighborhood Meeting will be here tonight at 5 p.m.

at the Price City Library.

They meet on Conference Call.

You can dial in by calling 319 5279642.

Oak Reach Neighborhood Meeting will be held on Thursday, May the 14th at 4 p.m.

And they also meet on conference call.

You can dial in at 952-2064918.

Pass code is 223418.

Hooper City Neighborhood Meeting will be held Thursday, May the 14th at 6 p.m.

at the Hooper City Rec Center.

And the next public safety meeting will be held today at 1 p.m.

in this council chambers.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you very much.

These are the announcements for District 7.

We do have the following neighborhood association meetings in the district this evening.

East Brownsville neighborhood will meet at 5 p.m.

via conference call.

The Powderly Neighborhood Association will meet at 5 30 at the Henry Crompton Rec Center and the Riley Travelett Neighborhood Association will meet at 6 p.m.

at Noble Chapel Chapel.

And I believe the Grisela neighborhood that was scheduled for yesterday is rescheduled for today.

Also occurring in the district, we know that we are a week away from elections.

And so the Greater Charlotte Baptist Church, they're having a meet and greet the candidates event this evening at 6 p.m.

at Greater Charlotte Missionary Baptist Church.

And it's entitled Black Men Vote 2026.

So we encourage everyone to attend.

We know the importance of voting that is upon us now and has always been.

On Thursday, May 14th, the West Brownsville Neighborhood Association meets at 11 11 a.m.

via conference call, and the Roosevelt City Neighborhood Association meets at 5 30 at the Roosevelt Rec Center.

The Weenona High School celebratory parade has been rescheduled.

They had to postpone due to rain.

So it will be held on Friday morning.

And you can go online to see the parade route.

But the uh will be they will be celebrating the Victoria's Boys Basketball team.

So that parade will start Thursday at 10 30 a.m.

And they will be rolling down the streets of Birmingham starting at 10 15.

So again, for more information, you can go to the city website or to um our social media sites to see the parade route.

And on Friday, May 15th, the Garden Highlands Neighborhood Association will meet at 4 p.m.

at Mount Hilliard Baptist Church.

And I just want to make residents aware that there's also a wellness and safety day that will be held at presented by Cooper Green Mercy Health Services, and this is preparing families for the summer.

And this will be held Friday, May 29th, 1 to 5 p.m.

at the Roosevelt City Rec Center.

So we'll be talking about that more as we move towards the end of the month.

But this will be a great opportunity to learn about protecting your children from summer injuries and emergencies, learning some life-saving skills, and also connecting family to Cooper Green for health care services.

Those are all the announcements for District 7.

At this time, Mr.

Clerk will entertain the community voices.

Thank you.

Good morning, Council.

Good morning.

My name is Michael Houston.

Current address is 7941, Crestwood Boulevard.

I come here this morning.

I've spoken with one of your representatives prior, but I'm in civil litigation for businesses that I started that was stolen.

And I need for you to be aware of the severity of it because it has placed lives in danger.

And it's caused death that's in the media.

But it's my heart and my body that made it.

So it affects me.

So I need for the council, which has broad um influence in the community of Birmingham.

I was born here, graduated from Woodlawn in 1992.

And I just need for you to be aware of it.

Okay.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Houston, for bringing this awareness.

Thank you.

Next speaker, Mr.

Clerk.

Last name Foster.

Good morning, ladies.

As you come forward, you'll have three minutes.

And go ahead and introduce yourselves and tell us why you're here.

Do we need our address?

Yes.

Um 301 Memphis Street, Birmingham, Alabama.

I'm Thea T Vive G.

Hughes, Huntsville, Alabama, but I currently attend Stanford University.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Mariama.

Um, I've been a resident of Birmingham for about 10 years now.

I migrated to the U.S.

in 2016, and uh um I am a prior graduate at Dexton Nolan High School, and I attend Sanford University majoring in international relations.

My name is Arya Foster.

I also attend Sanford University.

I'm originally from Huntsville, Alabama, but I've been down here for a couple of months.

Um I am a rising sophomore, majoring in marketing and finance, and currently serve as the vice president of campus relations.

Wonderful.

So Arya and I are part of the Ragling Scholars Program, which is our honors program at Sanford.

It is in honor of Elizabeth Raglan, who is the first black woman to leave on Sanford campus.

And during this semester, we had the opportunity to take a seminar class, which is a research-based class.

And our focus was on faithful justice, and we had the opportunity.

Well, there was a unique focus on Birmingham civil rights history, and we were able to visit the Cali Ingram Park, learn about Dr.

King's letter from Jill, and just dig deeper into civil rights activists and leaders that I often not talked about.

And so our final project was to write about an open letter to address to someone, and we addressed it to Burnham City Council and the mayor's office about something that stood out to us during the civil rights unit.

Yes, so as she said, we got to visit Kelly Ingram Park and left nothing short of a maze seeing how Birmingham was so prominent in the civil rights movement, especially leading up to the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

But one thing that we couldn't help but notice was the faded signs, monument, poor landscaping, and even the lack of water and the water features, which almost took away and distracted from the mission, vision, and purpose of Kelly Ingram Park, which was to celebrate justice, reconciliation, and faith.

And so we come to you guys today not to critique or out of anger, but just to show our love for Birmingham.

We know that you guys support the youth and you support our education.

And this landmark has been used to teach so many students in Birmingham about the civil rights movement.

And so we just wanted to highlight that for you all for the care and upkeep of Kelly Ingram Park.

Thank you so much, ladies.

I'm um excited that you got to just explore the resiliency and the beauty and what just took place over the years and the significance of Kelly Ingram Park.

Um Chief, I know that that park is maintained by our public work staff.

All right.

Um could we turn this item over to you and we just get an assessment so that we could get some ideas of um how we're maintaining that and these young ladies, did you give us some you say you wrote a letter or you did your email?

Okay.

And did we get that over to the um administration's office?

Let's be sure that we get that over there to them, and then Chief will come back and we'll ask you just to give us a report and let us know the maintenance that and what items that might need to be addressed.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Thank you, ladies.

Appreciate you, and I wish you great luck in your studies.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

That conclude our list, right?

All right, counselors.

At this time, we do want to thank our officers on duty.

That's Officer Pinkett and Officer Tarant, as well as our inspectors Snow and Griggs.

This time we'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

Right, all those in favor, please say aye.

All right, thank you.

Meeting is adjourned.

Uh councillors, I do want to remind you we do have a meeting at 11:30.