Okay, Toby, we're ready.

You might have found another shit.

Good morning, Birmingham.

Today is Tuesday, May nineteenth, twenty twenty-six.

The time is nine forty.

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

Today's invocation will be led by Reverend Dr.

Tyree A.

Anderson, Pastor of First Baptist Church Insley, and I will be leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

If you're willing and able, please stand and join us.

But Lord, they are in order here in Birmingham.

And we thank you for our council leaders.

We thank you for the committees.

God, we especially thank you for our mayor.

God, we pray right now that they will continue to receive insight, revelation, and vision from you to lead this city in order that we might continue to be a light on the hill.

We pray now that you will bless the residents of Birmingham.

You will bless our law enforcement agencies.

God, you will bless every person from high office all the way down to grass cutter.

That God, they will know that you are with this city and with this council.

We give you glory in the name of Jesus, and we ask, Amen.

Thank you so much, Dr.

Anderson, for that very thoughtful prayer.

At this time, Madam Clerk, if you will read the call.

Read the call.

Read the role.

Thanks, ma'am.

Councilmember Guy.

Good morning.

Good morning, Councilmember O'Quinn.

Good morning.

Councilmember Smith.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Councilmember Smithman.

Good morning, Councilmember Vasa.

Good morning, Councilmember Williams.

Councilmember Woods.

Council President Pro Tim Tate.

Good morning.

Good morning and Council President Alexander.

Good morning.

Thank you very much.

Councillors, a motion and a second is needed to approve the minutes from the previous meetings of February 3rd through February 24th, 2026.

So move.

Second.

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

Aye.

All opposed.

All right, thank you.

Those minutes are approved.

The minutes are not ready from the meetings of May 3rd, 2026 through May 12th, 2026.

At this time, counselors, we will follow our agenda where we have the presentation of the mayor's proposed general fund capital budget and his budget message for fiscal year 2026 through 2027.

Good morning, Mr.

Mayor.

Morning, Madam President.

Good morning to the councils.

Good to see everyone this morning and happy election day.

Just reminding our general public today is election day, May 19th.

Polls are open from 7 a.m.

to 7 p.m.

And encouraging all the residents of the city of Birmingham to exercise your right to vote and participate in the democratic process.

With that, Madam President and Council today, this morning I present to you the FY 2027 fiscal year budget.

I say the word I, but there are some names I want to acknowledge, and they can stand and be recognized because I didn't do this work alone as it relates to the preparation of what you're about to receive.

Um Chaz Mitchell is about to pass it out to you very soon.

But I want to acknowledge and know and Lalicia, Lilisa Coleman, Derek Gray, Cornita Esrich, Dorothy Mall, Linda Stenson, Diana Bolden, Chad Mitchell.

And there are countless others who have been working on this, but this has been the team and the lead to help us get to this point to present this to you.

So thank you all for all your hard work and I appreciate you so much.

With that said, Chaz, if you could pass out to the council the 2027 proposed budget.

As Chaz Mitchell brings that to you all as a city, I'm encouraged as we continue to show what is possible when we all work together with a shared purpose as well as a united vision for Birmingham's future.

Our progress as a city and our communities and neighborhoods has been driven by collaboration with each of you on the council, our community partners, and most importantly, our residents and our businesses.

Because of this, we have reached a moment of sustained investment.

The proposed $615 million FY 2027 operating budget.

Not only reflects our shared priorities of safe and thriving neighborhoods, but also of continuing to support our youth and investment in our people, which are our city employees.

It also builds on the momentum from the almost $32 million investment you approved from surplus funds nearly two months ago.

Starting with neighborhood revitalization, the budget continues to put neighborhoods first by prioritizing street paving, weed abatement, demolition, traffic calming, and something new this year out of our general fund, critical repair for housing for our seniors.

That is a combined $19.3 million.

Some of the numbers include street paving, $12 million, weed abatement $3 million proposed, demolition $1.5 million proposed, traffic calming, a half a million dollars proposed, and then critical repair right at $1.5 million.

The proposed FY27 operating budget also enhances is enhanced by additional neighborhood revitalization initiatives.

Approved again through the surplus spending you all did in March, which is why you don't see sidewalks in here because you all just supported that with an investment of $2 million.

Interstate lighting with $1.2 million and other additional capital improvements.

As we continue, switching to investing in cradle to career strategy in our children and youth.

This year we continue with our support of the Birmingham Promise with $2 million.

Mental health in partnership with Birmingham City Schools, another million dollars.

Common ground, our continued investment in conflict resolution of a million dollars.

We're re-upping our park and rec safe haven initiative of $625,000, as well as the Youth Sports League of a half a million.

And then some additional funding around the Black Mill Initiative as well as cradle to career.

This investment also includes our continued investment in partnership with kids and jobs.

Moving towards investing in public safety and violence reduction, we continue to have our commitment in safer communities with not just law enforcement, but other community initiatives.

I'm happy to present to this council that we doubled that funding with the proposed recommendation of $3 million this year.

Of course, there's no city budget without investing in public transportation.

The FY27 budget seeks to make a proposed recommendation of an additional half a million dollars towards BJCTA at $11.5 million.

The express bus rapid transit at $3 million, Birmingham on Demand, Microtransit at $2.5, and Class Train at $300,000.

Council also thought it was important this year with some of the first-time investments we made of our general fund separate from our community development block grant dollars that we support our continuing investments and strategies to reduce homelessness and address our unhoused residents.

Of course, you know last year that funding was $1.5 million.

This year we are proposing a recommendation of doubling that to continue to invest our own house strategies at $3 million.

On top of that, that's separate from the community development block grants dollars of roughly around $800,000 to address homeless issues in our community.

We have longevity in this proposed budget, like we did last year.

This year the city will pay an additional five million more in health care costs than we did last year, as the employer.

But for the first time at least in three years, the employees will have to pay a little more in their insurance as well.

So for example, if an employee is at the premium level for the city's health and dental insurance, some employees may see an increase of up to $32 more in their paycheck for their health insurance.

That's separate from the $5 million additional more that the employer is absorbing, but that still balances us for the employer roughly at 79% for health care costs for our employees, and that leaves about 21% for our employees to absorb.

However, it does include a one-time premium pay of $500 per active full-time employees.

In addition to that, that's on top of the $1 million premium pay the employees received in December.

But the longevity and the merit pay combined is a $10 million on top of that additional $5 million more in health health care costs.

At a high level council, that is centered around our employees, centered around public safety, centered around investments in our youth, and centered around investments and neighborhood revitalization.

There's a significant amount of more information in front of you in the books you have, but we also recognize all of our employees and our residents don't have the book you have for the proposed budget.

So we highly encourage and recommend for all of our residents, business owners, and anyone else who wants to check out the proposed budget to visit Birmingham AL.gov slash budget 2027.

Again, that's Birmingham AL.gov slash budget 2027 to go deeper into this proposed budget.

Look forward to answering your questions, public's questions, and all other additional questions you may have.

And with that, Madam President, Council, any high-level questions you may have now open to taking as well.

Thank you, Mayor Wilton.

We appreciate you presenting uh these documents to us.

Uh, we know that this is the heartbeat of the city, the funds that we spend for our neighborhoods for our safety, and so we appreciate you uh providing this to us.

Of course, we have our work ahead of us as counselors as we go through these documents as well as the public.

And so thank you for announcing um public access to the information that we have as well.

And uh counselors are asked if there are any questions at this time.

Counselor Smithman.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, just a couple of comments first.

Um I do want to thank you because I'm looking at page 35 community violence reduction.

Uh we have three million dollars, um, and I think that's you know, we want a little bit more, but I I'm happy for the three million.

Thank you, ma'am pro Tim.

I know you advocated for that, so this is a big win for us because a lot of times with these type of pilot programs, once the pilot program is finished, they kind of just don't really fund it as much.

So I really appreciate that.

And as you mentioned with the homelessness, um, but number one, can we get an email of your budget message?

Because you're reading confast.

And then um number two, during uh parts and arts committee meeting yesterday, uh we had an update from the Negro Museum, Southern Museum, and we were asking them questions about their uh maintenance requests and the type of budget, and so they were telling us they then present actual presentation during the um when they have the time in March to present their budgets to you, and they were saying it falls in your office.

So, what is that process like and what's the approval for deferred maintenance for that particular facility?

Yeah, so I would have to give with Chaz Mitchell to go deeper on that actual facility.

Um I will tell you in this proposed budget related to, and Chaz, you correct me if I'm wrong, um, for deferred maintenance related to capital, there's an additional one million, one point five.

So we are increasing um deferred mainten our deferred maintenance budget on purpose, um, separate from some of the deferred maintenance you all approved from the almost 32 million two months ago.

Um, on top of that, additional 1.5.

But that is that is spread citywide with a significant amount of our facilities.

I think that brings that to what three million in this budget for deferred maintenance just for some of our facilities.

That's not the entire capital budget that will be shared with the council as well.

So that's in the capital projects for those public facilities.

But I want to verify it's just confirming Negro League is in my budget.

So we'll be sitting and talking um with the leadership in the board of the Negro League.

Okay, so my second question is, and this may be quite a bit of work on you all.

I just want to know, I don't know if we've ever gotten this, just like a comparison what departments actually requested and what they were actually granted in the budget.

Yeah, so we actually went through an entire process yesterday where I thought it was important as an administration that before we go public with the council as well as the general public that we share with each department head your requests versus what you actually receive.

So this team along with the chiefs yesterday, um, literally the entire day went through with all the department heads, all their requests.

Can we get a copy of that if possible?

Yeah.

Okay.

I'll just just like to I'm gonna verify what's in writing.

I wasn't a part of the meeting to let the chief leave.

Okay.

But I do know the this budget team went through requests versus what was honored and what was not being able to, what was not able to be honored this year.

Like the council, like many other things, we go through a process of right telling us what your top rate here's a list of the things you want right and or need within this once and each list.

Please list a one, two of three priority.

Okay.

So we were not able to honor every single thing every department wanted within their budget, no different than for every single issue in every neighborhood.

We're not able to honor in one fiscal year budget.

But we did have the department heads give us their priorities, and from within that, I can't tell you majority of the priorities were honored.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you also, and I think uh for transparency, you spoke of the departments that uh listed their priorities.

I do know that you asked each counselor as well to um list priorities.

Oh, I'll be going, Madam, with your permission, I'll talk to every one of them about um where it is within this budget that things are perfect.

So that top thing they wanted to see.

Thank you very much.

And um, so I appreciate counselors providing that feedback.

Often uh there's this notion that we don't have any opportunity to provide you feedback or to even ask and seek for items that we'd like to see in the budget.

So I know that from the list that you've given us, I believe um each of those priorities have been considered and have been met.

No particular order.

Um business improvement facade, um, traffic calming.

Um let me start rattling things off.

Um wheat abatement um related to the land bank, uh, critical repair, um a few others off the top of my head, continuing to fund the study for our parks.

Um there are a few other things related to investments from priority standpoint.

So I'm sure as we go through this in a deeper dive, we'll continue to have those conversations and um for the new colleagues.

Um if you have any questions as we go through this process, I know for those of us who have been through this before, the book may look a little different in some way.

So it will be different.

So as you go through this, there are a couple of things I want you, or not a couple, just one of the things I want you to note.

Some things will look different.

Um I'm gonna give you an example and then I'll explain why it looks different.

If you turn to page 32 in the book, I'm just gonna highlight one example.

Um, you have the third line, which is five zero.

I'm sorry, you have the fourth line of longevity, which is five zero four zero zero zero.

This book, as you see in this proposed budget on page 32 in the fourth line, FY27 proposed says zero, but that's not true.

Longevity is in here.

What makes this different is that our new system oracle that we approve lets us budget it budget longevity um by position and within the department.

So the reason it's zero here is because as you go through the book in the different departments and the department functions, and you look at the detail of salaries, wages, and you get down to longevity, etc.

You will see it per line related to that department versus at a high level here, but that's because of Oracle.

So you may see a few other things like that.

So you have any questions, let us know.

This team is explained to me, and they can explain to any of us why you may see something from last year, not this year.

Um it's possible because it's Oracle and it's just shifted to the actual individual department slash individual employee.

Thank you.

Well, I know we're all combing through it, and uh we'll have additional questions, but we do appreciate uh the opportunity to go through this document and we'll be giving more feedback.

So thank you, Mayor Whiffin.

Yes, ma'am, thank you all.

At this time, Council, Madam Clerk, if you'll call item one.

Yes, ma'am.

Item number one a resolution setting a public hearing in the council chambers on the mayor's proposed budgets.

Motion, please.

Some of the things thank you.

At this time, I'll turn it over to Councilor Smithman to just give us some more information about this item counselors as if this resolution.

Uh yes, ma'am.

Thank you, ma'am present.

In the absence of Chairman Woods, uh, we have a resolution right here, just saying that the uh public hearing that is required by law will be on June 3rd here in the council chambers at 5 30 p.m.

Also, you can join either online or in person, and there's the meeting link, which we will have posted as well.

Um so that's pretty much it.

I'm sure we'll have an opportunity for people to give questions beforehand, and this budget hearing is actually about this budget right here, and not about you know neighborhood issues, etc.

But things you would like to see in the budget, and furthermore.

Thank you so much.

Any questions, counselors?

Right, we're ready for the vote to entertain the item.

Okay, the date.

The vote has started.

Oh was there another question?

Are we good?

Start the vote.

Okay, and I am as well.

All right.

All right, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Item number one passes.

We'll provide more information to everyone, but again, this item has set the public hearing for June 3rd, 5 30 p.m.

in the council chambers.

And so I want to um thank again Mayor Whippin and thank the council as we go through the process of considering the budget.

Thank you very much.

We don't have any communications from the mayor.

Do we have communications at this time?

All right, um, we don't have any nominations of boards and agencies.

Before we thank you, Madam Clerk.

So before we start to consider the consent agenda, I'd just like to read the statement.

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 business.

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

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

All public hearings will be announced.

At this time, Madam Clerk, if you will entertain 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.

Page three, we have items six, seven, and eight.

Page four, we have items ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen.

Page five, we have items fourteen and fifteen.

Page six, we have items nineteen and twenty.

Page seven, we have items 21, 22, and 23.

Page 8, we have items 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29.

Page 9, we have items 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36.

Page 10, we have items 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43.

Page 11, we have items 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, and 50.

Page 12, we have items 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57.

Page 13, we have items 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, and 64.

47 48 49 and 50 page 12 we have items 51 52 53 54 55 56 and 57 page 13 we have items 58 59 60 61 62 63 and 64 page 14 we have items 65 66 67 68 69 70 and 71 page 15 we have items 72 73 74 75 76 7 78 page 16 items 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 page 17 items 86 87 88 89 page 18 items 90 91 92 93 page 19 items 94 95 96 page 20 items 97 98 99 100 101 12 and i believe that is okay thank you madam clerk counselors are there any items I'd like you to excuse me counselor I apologize uh on page uh item number 90 uh item 23 item number 23 that there is a correction of added yes we have an addition to i uh and the funding uh that'll be coming from district seven and that'll be 1500 dollars which should change the in the total to three thousand five hundred dollars thank you madam clerk any other changes we'll note that on item 23 additional fifteen hundred dollars has been added by district seven to bring that total of item number twenty-three on page seven to thirty five hundred dollars are there any items that either of you would like to add or remove from the agenda consent agenda all right thank you at this time we'll take a motion in the second second for approval of the consent agenda okay i'm apologize who made the second okay thank you that's okay hey the vote has started all right the vote should be up all right thank you the items that were considered for consent have been approved and we'll continue with the rest of our agenda please call the first item madam clerk yes ma'am the first item will be item number nine on page three item number nine on page three is a resolution relative to the application of IQAP doing business as easy pull and pay for a junk dealers permit to be used at 1849 Roughner Road Birmingham Alabama 35210 and this is the hearing of our interest parties all right thank you I'll turn this public hearing over to our chair of public safety madam pro ten thank you madam president is any staff from planning the zona here we have slow yeah we heard this item in public safety on last Tuesday so Mr Lowe can you give the body or update on where we are with this item good morning my name is Roger Glore and I serve as a planner for the city of Birmingham and the condition was that they needed to resurvey the two lots into one and that has been satisfied at this time thank you Mr.

Lowe any questions for Mr.

Lowe any counselors have questions for Ms.

And um the vote.

Okay.

The vote has started.

I believe everybody has voted.

So the vote should be up.

Everyone, every everyone voted for it.

It never came up on our iPad.

There was one note.

I'm sorry, I didn't see that.

I'm called.

It didn't come up.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Let's try this again.

Okay.

Record.

Let us try that again.

As we're about to enter the vote, I do just want to um be sure we did not ask if anyone was here to comment from the public.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'll let you go back and put that in record.

He's wanted anyone here from the public to one here from the public.

No.

Seeing none.

Thank you.

That's just for the record.

Now we are ready for that vote.

Okay.

Councilor Quinn.

Okay.

And understand there was a no vote.

Okay.

No, ma'am.

All right.

Are we good?

All right.

Item number nine passes.

Next item.

The next item is item number 16.

And it on page five.

And that item has been requested to be withdrawn by the mayor's office.

All right.

The next item after that is item 17.

Also on page five, and it has also been requested to be withdrawn by the mayor's office.

All right, thank you.

Item 16 and 17 are withdrawn.

Next item.

Okay, the next item would be item number 18 on page six.

That is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute an interlocal cooperation agreement for a period not to exceed three years between the city of Birmingham and the Birmingham Airport Authority to provide the airport with management and staffing of the fire station located at the airport, as well as to provide the airport with aircraft rescue and fire fighting services, equipment and facilities, together with the power to take all action necessary for the implementation of the agreement.

The BAA will reimburse the city for fully bourbon salary expenses of each BFRS, ARFF firefighter assigned to BHM during any pay period covered under this agreement.

BAA will reimburse the FRS via the City of Birmingham for all overtime costs for duties performed at the airport.

And this is an item of permanent operation, so we need unanimous consent first.

Councilmember Vasa.

Councilmember Williams.

I'm sorry, Council President Proteam Tate.

I apologize.

And Council President Alexander.

Aye.

Okay.

Now we need a motion to adopt the orders.

Thank you.

All right, counselors.

This is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute an interlocal cooperation agreement with the city of Birmingham, the Birmingham Airport Authority.

And this is a renewal of the services that are provided.

Do you need any questions or have any need any information shared from administration regarding this item?

All right, we're ready for the vote.

The vote is started.

Council President Alexander.

I'm aye, thank you.

That vote should be all right.

Thank you.

Item 18 passes.

We did have an opportunity.

Some of us were over at the airport authority uh several months ago, and we got to ride the tarmac and really see um the facility over there.

So we're grateful for this opportunity and this agreement between our Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services and providing that safety for the airport and for all of us.

Thank you very much.

Next item that concludes the items on the agenda.

Well, thank you so much.

At this time, counselors will entertain any updates that you have from your various districts.

And uh we'll start, Council Voss.

Are you ready?

Thank you, Madam President.

Two quick announcements.

Um is that we had a wonderful Birmingham Folk Fest at the Avenue Park this past Saturday, and incredible attendance.

We had wonderful musical performances.

We had chair yoga at the library.

We had art displayed as well at the park.

So we appreciated that great event.

And then Five Points Neighborhood Association for tonight is canceled.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you very much.

Councillor Smithman.

Thank you, Madam President.

The five point south meeting that was scheduled for tonight has been canceled.

This past Friday we celebrated the ribbon cutting and the ribbon cutting for the Princeton Healing Gardens.

This was actually one of our ARPA projects, so I was happy to see that come to fruition.

It was an event filled with with reflection, uncle and hope for our community's future.

And it was really very very special to me because it was something my mom started in uh 2005, and uh it was something that kind of was became dilapidated, so nobody could really go into and use anymore.

So I first got an office.

You couldn't even see through the gates, but it was something you know I was very passionate about and super um grateful to the city for allowing each council to get the three million ARPA funding uh to allow me to help with that.

We also plant a legacy tree with my mom, uh symbolizing growth, healing, and lasting impact for generations to come.

So I really hope the residents uh really really um enjoy and just really just get to utilize the space.

Um and we also heard from Hemp Heel, we were able to have their choir and their band perform, so it was a really good event.

And also this past Saturday, my staff went in my absence to Tisville Community Gather for the Day Luau party to share feedback ideas for next year to this field celebration.

Those in partnership with Jordan Crawford and the Greedy House residents enjoy a day of food conversation community connections, special thanks to neighborhood officers, volunteers, committee, and vendors for their support in making the event a success.

And then uh this past weekend was definitely very personal to me.

My niece graduated with her uh undergrad degree in communications from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

So I want to say congratulations to my niece Naomi on getting her um bachelors.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Council Smithman.

Council Williams.

All right.

Thank you.

Economic Development Tourism Committee has been canceled for the day, and we will reschedule that later.

And I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.

Thank you so much, Councillor.

Councillor Quinn.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh Central City Neighborhood Association will meet tonight at the Central Library at 6 p.m.

Uh we have two neighborhood meetings on Thursday.

Uh South Side Neighborhood Association will meet at 6 p.m.

at the South Precinct, and North Avondale Neighborhood Association will meet at 6 p.m.

at the MLK Rec Center.

Uh the Ballard House will host a community soir on Thursday to launch an event called Vivid Reflection, celebrating a resilient community through cultural artifacts.

Uh this is an exhibit that will be on display April 29th through June 13th.

Um, and again, that's an event that is on uh being held Thursday.

I don't have the exact time, but again, that's at the Ballard House.

Um Jones Valley Teaching Farm for all the parents out there.

Please keep in mind that Jones Valley Teaching Farm uh does camps for uh rising second grade through eighth grade graders um and they're they do they're doing always doing camps um uh holiday weekends and during the summer and um uh other times as well.

So check out WJBTF.org um for that information.

Also, they have an annual uh fundraiser that's uh coming up.

It's a picnic that they're calling calling gather um and it's happening May 30th, 4-7 p.m.

at the downtown farm.

Um, and this supports the good community food fellowship.

Um so these are uh Birmingham City School students from City of Birmingham who um this program helps to support the tickets include a buffet, um there'll be local shelves uh preparing that food um and drinks and there'll be some line dancing lessons and other family-friendly activities again.

Again, check out WWJBTF.org for more information.

And just want to remind folks that we have two great farmers markets that happen every weekend.

That's the East Lake Farmers Market that runs from 8 to noon at East Lake United Methodist Church on Saturday and Pepper Place that takes place every Saturday from 7 to 12 at Pepper Place.

And that concludes my announcements.

Thank you, Dr.

Quinn.

Dr.

Gunn, Dr.

Gunn.

I wanted to be a doctor in my past life.

Councillor Gunn.

All right, thank you, Madam President.

Upcoming District 4 announcements.

The District 4 office will be hosting a mobile office hours at the Ingle Nook Recreation Center on May 26th from 2 p.m.

to 3 30.

So this is an opportunity for residents to come out and meet with the councillor, provide solutions and talk about some ideas that they may have for their neighborhood.

This is especially important for people that can't make the city council meeting, so I wanted to extend myself out into the community so we can have conversations about how we move the community forward.

The next event that we'll be hosting is a community cleanup day in Inglenook.

We'll start out at the Ingle Nook Recreation Center on May 30th from 9 a.m.

to 11 a.m.

Uh upcoming neighborhood associations.

South Woodlawn is tonight at 6 p.m.

at the Woodlawn Public Library.

Pond O Vista is next Thursday at 6 30 p.m.

via teleconference.

Kingston is the fourth Monday at 6 p.m.

at the Royal Event Center, and then East Birmingham is the fourth Monday at 6 p.m.

at the Show's Conference Center.

Upcoming committee meetings, the next community development committee meeting is Monday, June 1st at 3 30 p.m.

in the City Council Chambers.

And if you have any items that you would like to submit for the agenda, please send them to Carmen Mays by close of business on Monday, May 25th, which is a holiday.

So let's move it to May 26th.

Thank you.

That concludes my announcements.

Thank you so much, Councillor Smith.

All right, thank you.

So first um just want to say congratulations to all of the Birmingham City School students that are graduating this week.

Graduations are taking place Wednesday through Friday at the Bill Harris Arena at the Crossplex.

Also, Birmingham Sister Cities is has their application open for the International Dual Enrollment Academy.

Applications are due on May 22nd.

You can go to the Sister Cities website or Birmingham City Schools website.

Applications are open for current juniors, rising seniors, and this year's program will take students to Wales in the fall.

This Thursday, May 22nd, the Birmingham Museum of Art is premiering the Cry of Jazz, a film screening and panel discussion.

And again, that's Thursday at 6 p.m.

We have the following board meetings.

And the following neighborhood meetings, Grandmont Neighborhood is meeting on Wednesday, May 20th at 4:30 at the Smithfield Branch Library.

And then lastly, just want to make sure to remind everyone to go vote if you haven't already.

Thank you so much.

Madam Hootin.

Thank you, Madam President.

Evergreen neighborhood meeting will be held tonight at 5 p.m.

at the Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church.

Ansley Neighborhood Meeting will be held on Thursday, May the 24th at 6 p.m.

at Ansley Rex Center.

The next public safety meeting will be held on Tuesday, May to 26th at 1 p.m.

in the council chamber.

Please meet agenda items by email no later than Wednesday.little at Birmingham AEL.gov.

Do not forget that Max Transit is offering free rides to the polls.

So if you need a ride, please call 205-5210101.

And that is concludes my announcements for today, Madam President.

Thank you so much.

Madam Pro Tim.

These are announcements for District 7.

Today, the Green Acres Neighborhood Association will meet at 6 30 p.m.

at the Living Christ Worship Center.

It's already been announced this week begins the Birmingham City School's graduations.

Congratulations to all the Birmingham City School graduates.

District 7's own we know the high school commencement is scheduled for 10 a.m.

at Bill Harris Arena.

So they're excited for all those dragons as they walk across the stage.

The Hillman and Hillman Park Neighborhood Association will meet at 5 p.m.

on Thursday at Hillman Station.

On Saturday, May 23rd, the Tarpley City Neighborhood Association will be hosting a cleanup that will start at 9 a.m.

until 11 a.m.

And the starting point will be the Tarpley City Park, which is 3201 Grisela Avenue Southwest in Birmingham.

So everyone please come up and join the Top of the City Neighborhood as they uh do some work to clean up within their neighborhood.

Um it's already been mentioned today is voting day.

Some of my colleagues, I think, got up early and made it to the polls.

The polls are open until 7 o'clock p.m.

We know the importance of voting, not only this election, but every election.

So please go out and vote.

I'm happy to see that the gallery is almost empty this morning.

I hope that means everybody is out voting.

So thank you very much.

Um thank you, Madam Pro Tim, for announcing you have no excuse.

BCTA, BJ, whatever, the transit, will um take you to the polls, and they will uh give you a free ride.

So that number is 205, 5210101.

And before I mess up anything else, I'm just gonna say uh Chiefs.

The mayor did not mention, but City Hall is closed Monday, correct?

And what will be the services for trash and pickup and anything like that we need to know?

We'll send those out.

We normally adjust to the the next I think Wednesday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but we'll make sure that the public and the council has that info.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much.

Those who include our announcements, then thank you all.

And Madam Clark, if you will read our speakers' list, please.

Yes, ma'am.

On the speaker's list, we have Rob Berlin and Donald Smith.

All right, gentlemen, if you'll come on up, you're gonna tag team us this morning.

We have three minutes.

So thank you all very much.

If you go ahead and give us your names and addresses, good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Donald C.

Smith Jr., Central president.

I'm here representing CAB.

And we put together a committee, and we want to talk about some of the issues on that committee.

We started in November.

And strangely, we hear voting time.

But um I'm sure we're not gonna be long.

But that's what we uh here for to talk about some of the I guess I will say concerns, but things we can try to work together and bring to your attention.

Thank you, Mr.

Smith, and thank you, Council.

It's good to see y'all.

Um, as you all know, my name is Rob Burton.

I'm at 1907 Fifth Street South.

Um, so we just passed down a physical copy of the resolution that was passed at the CAB last night, though our acting uh acting CAB president also emailed these out to both the council and the mayor this morning.

So if you want an electronic copy, please check your your emails.

Um so obviously for years there's been a discussion about the um budget line item for neighborhood um for the the 2,000 dollars per neighborhood that we get.

Um so this resolution's got essentially three primary parts.

The beginning as any good resolution is is just a what are the legal um frameworks that establish the body that we are representing, right?

So it discusses Title 24 of HUD and the creation of CPPs and how our citizens participation plan was created in 1974 and what our we are responsible for doing.

Um so as the CPP says that one of our jobs is in addition to receiving information from the city and responding to it.

Birmingham residents have the opportunity to participate in the development of important documents.

Some of the most significant of these documents are the city budget.

Um, and so that's what we heard to talk about today on budget day.

Um there's also a couple points as it relates to the fact that the city is a member of NUSA, and we always have one to two representatives that serve on that national board.

Um a discussion of how there previously was monthly flyers sent out, which were critical for getting public participation in the city, and then a history of the decreasing neighborhood allocations, which started at $10,000 in the early 2000s.

Um last year it was uh 2,000, which was.

And it gives some examples of how neighborhoods are currently spending more money than we receive per year, and the benefit the city would see by increasing that investment.

So I will thank you for giving me a couple extra seconds.

So therefore, let it be resolved by the Citizens Advisory Board of the City of Birmingham as follows.

That the future budget proposed by the City of Birmingham, starting with the FY 2027 budget, should include increasing the line item number 800-031, named T E R F R S out Neighborhood Fund, which is underneath community development from a total of 198 a year back to the previous total of 990 K per year.

For the record, if that was done, that would make this line item 0.16% of the FY 2027 budget.

The second is for the future budget to include include a $5,000 line item, which would not roll over if unused.

Um for the uh travel expenses for the board members of NUSA, the one to two board members to get to the NUSA conference because they have to that's where their national board meeting is held.

Um for the record, there is a line item for travel underneath community development that already exists.

Um in the FY 2027, that is $50,000.

Uh but that $50,000 does not currently include this request.

Um and then lastly, that the future budget passed would reinstate a line item for the neighborhood flyers.

Um so we're just here to present this to you to begin these discussions.

Um we would love to have a meeting either collectively with your body or individually with members.

Uh, that could include other members of our committee and CAB leadership to further discuss what this is, why this is beneficial.

Um, and the same goes for the Mount Mayor staff.

Um so thank you all so much.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Are there any other speakers, madam clerk?

No, ma'am, that's the last speaker.

Thank you.

Quickly, Madam President, Mr.

Donna Smith is our president for Central Pray.

Hey, Mrs.

Smith.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Appreciate you.

All right.

Any other items?

I did not have my list of minute.

I do want to thank those officers that were on duty today, as well as our fire inspectors.

Thank you all very much.

At this time, we'll entertain a motion and second for adjournment.

All in favor.

Thank you.

Meeting is adjourned.

Thank you all.

And this is a thank you from the community back to you.

And that and you see the sign we preserved the original sign, y'all.

The first line, that was the sign from the first cars, and now we have a second one.

So, mom, I hope you enjoy this.

I hope you come back.

I hope you garden and just to know this is a uh labor of love on behalf of myself and distribute.

This is when I'm at the um city council babu.

I said to my daughter, what about legacy?

What about all the projects?

The project I've left.

What about the healing gardens?

Because we didn't have the money to do it.

She came up with the money and everything.

So, what about the gardens?

Fled legacy.

She said, Mama.

Nothing is gonna happen.

I'm always I will always, always lift up your legs.