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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - June 23, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, June 23, 2026

BodyBirmingham, Alabama

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, June 23, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:00:38

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

7:23

Good morning, Birmingham.

7:24

Today is Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026.

7:28

The night time is 9:34 a.m.

7:31

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

7:34

This morning's invocation will be led by Dr.

7:37

Milton Wren Jr., pastor of the Kingdom Builders Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama, and our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councillor Josh Vasa.

7:46

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

7:57

Council President to the City Council.

8:02

Gracious God, our Father, we thank you.

8:09

Thank you for the opportunity to stand before your presence.

8:18

Father, we ask that you give them grace, give them wisdom, give them understanding.

8:23

Help us to make decisions today.

8:40

And as always, God, we look to you for heavenly wisdom that can only come from above.

8:45

Grant them the grace to work together in harmony with our mayor for the betterment of the city of Birmingham.

8:53

And as we close, we say, like your son did with the disciples, Father, make us one.

9:00

It is in your son Jesus the Christ's name, we pray.

9:04

Amen.

9:30

Good morning, Mr.

9:31

Clerk.

9:33

Councilmember Downer.

9:36

Council Member Oakwin.

9:40

Good morning.

9:41

Morning.

9:42

Councilmember Smithman.

9:44

Councilmember Vasa.

9:46

Morning.

9:47

Councilmember Williams.

9:49

Morning.

9:49

Councilmember Woods.

9:53

Councillor President Alexander.

9:55

Good morning, President.

10:00

Counselors, at this time, the minutes are not ready from the meetings of April 7, 2026 through June 16th, 2026.

10:04

This time we have communications from the mayor.

10:06

Good morning, Mayor Wilton.

10:08

No communications today.

10:09

Hello.

10:10

Thank you very much.

10:12

At this time, counselors will continue with our agenda and we will uh this time we'll entertain consideration of the consent agenda.

10:20

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

10:27

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

10:37

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

10:43

All matters of permanent operation that's indicated with a capital P will be read.

10:48

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

10:51

All public hearings will be announced.

10:54

At this time, Council, I would like to revert and uh instead of considering the consent agenda, we do have a special presentation.

11:03

So with unanimous consent, if we could go ahead and have our special presentation.

11:06

And we do have one this morning from Councillor Crystal Smithman.

11:10

And um, she would like to introduce a program that's coming to Batwell Auditorium.

11:14

Councilor Smithman.

11:15

Thank you.

11:15

Uh Madam President, if the representatives from um the Bazaar Fashion Show, I'll let them speak.

11:23

But um, I believe this is the second annual um of the fashion show coming to the ball as well, and they're gonna talk to us a little bit about it as well.

11:35

Uh good morning, council.

11:38

A lot of familiar faces here.

11:40

Uh good morning.

11:42

Uh council and mayor's office.

11:46

My name is Desmond Wilson.

11:47

I'm a Birmingham based creative director, filmmaker, photographer, and communication strategist.

11:52

Uh I've had the privilege of building much of my career around Birmingham story through Birmingham through documentary work, uh public communications, creative strategy, and visual art.

12:01

Uh that includes my past work here, uh serving as communications in the Birmingham uh City Council office, where I saw firsthand how important it is for our city stories, people, and neighborhoods uh to be represented with care, dignity, and vision.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Community Engagement██████████████████████████████30%

Arts And Culture███████████████████19%

Public Engagement████████████████16%

Public Safety███████████11%

Procedural█████████9%

Economic Development███████7%

Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%

Technology and Innovation██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting - June 23, 2026

The Birmingham City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 9:34 a.m. in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a special presentation, approvals of routine consent items, first-read ordinances for economic development projects, and a public hearing setting for a zoning framework plan. Public comments addressed contractor transparency and a neighbor's debris issue.

Consent Calendar

Approved by unanimous consent, with several corrections: Item 4 was moved from a resolution to an ordinance (permanent operation); Item 10's funding amounts were corrected (from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000 and from $1,500,000 to $1,000,000); and an addendum Item 31 was added. The consent agenda included routine approvals such as towing licenses, nuisance abatement liens, police department community events (Back-to-School Bookbag Giveaway, National Night Out, Ice Cream With A Cop), agreements with Brenda's Brown Bosom Buddies, Carahsoft (Hootsuite licenses), KultureCity (accessibility project), Penny Foundation amendments, Vertosoft (timeclocks), various settlements, bid awards, equipment transfers, and employee expense accounts.

Special Presentation

Councilor Crystal Smitherman introduced representatives from the Pose Bazaar Foundation. Desmond Wilson and founder Lavinia Holliday presented the nonprofit's upcoming fashion and art show, scheduled for September 27, 2026, at Boutwell Auditorium. The event highlights Alabama creatives, includes a scholarship fund, and partners with the Bilbin Tucker So Up teen designer cohort. The Council acknowledged the presentation and encouraged community participation.

Discussion Items

Item 3 – Sale of Land for Karting Facility (Ordinance): The Council considered an ordinance authorizing the sale of approximately 25 acres in Grand River Technology Park to BK Propco, LLC, for $1,850,000. BK Propco will build a world-class karting facility. Councilor Williams expressed excitement over the long-awaited development, noting it complements the Barber Motorsports area. The ordinance passed unanimously.
Item 4 – Baldwin Properties Redevelopment (Ordinance, moved from consent): An ordinance approving a project agreement with Baldwin Properties, LLC, for the redevelopment of 1909 14th Avenue North into a mixed-use development with residential and commercial space. The project involves $1.85 million in capital investments, an estimated $492,400 in annual revenue, and 25-30 new jobs. The City will provide a forgivable loan of up to $300,000 under Amendment 772. The item had been discussed in committee and passed unanimously.
Item 30 – Pratt-Ensley Framework Plan Public Hearing (Resolution): A resolution setting a public hearing for August 4, 2026, to consider zoning district boundary changes as part of the Pratt-Ensley Framework Plan. The resolution passed unanimously, scheduling the hearing for the regular meeting on that date.

Public Comments & Testimony

Joseph Hope raised two concerns: 1) Lack of transparency regarding bidding opportunities for the planned city jail renovation, noting that no application process has been publicized; 2) Unfulfilled grant from the Penny Foundation (approved November 2024 for $2,500), with no response from the organization. Administration promised follow-up with purchasing, finance, and the Penny Foundation contact.
Antoinette Halsey described debris and trash from a neighboring property (located in the county) that has been pushed against her fence, causing wildlife and insect issues, including a previous severe bee sting. She had contacted District 1 and the county but requested further assistance. Councilor Woods confirmed the property line dispute and indicated ongoing efforts to mediate.

Key Outcomes

Consent agenda approved with noted corrections.
Item 3 (BK Propco land sale) – Ordinance passed unanimously.
Item 4 (Baldwin Properties redevelopment) – Ordinance passed unanimously.
Item 30 (Pratt-Ensley public hearing) – Resolution passed unanimously, setting hearing for August 4, 2026.
City administration committed to follow up on Mr. Hope's bidding and grant concerns.
District announcements included upcoming neighborhood meetings, community events (D6 Fest, District 3 Summerfest, health fairs), and board openings (Design Review Committee, Land Bank Authority, Regional Planning Commission) with application deadlines noted.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, Birmingham. Today is Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026. The night time is 9:34 a.m. I call to order the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council. This morning's invocation will be led by Dr. Milton Wren Jr., pastor of the Kingdom Builders Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama, and our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councillor Josh Vasa. If you're willing and able, please stand and join us. Council President to the City Council. Gracious God, our Father, we thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to stand before your presence. Father, we ask that you give them grace, give them wisdom, give them understanding. Help us to make decisions today. And as always, God, we look to you for heavenly wisdom that can only come from above. Grant them the grace to work together in harmony with our mayor for the betterment of the city of Birmingham. And as we close, we say, like your son did with the disciples, Father, make us one. It is in your son Jesus the Christ's name, we pray. Amen. Good morning, Mr. Clerk. Councilmember Downer. Council Member Oakwin. Good morning. Morning. Councilmember Smithman. Councilmember Vasa. Morning. Councilmember Williams. Morning. Councilmember Woods. Councillor President Alexander. Good morning, President. Counselors, at this time, the minutes are not ready from the meetings of April 7, 2026 through June 16th, 2026. This time we have communications from the mayor. Good morning, Mayor Wilton. No communications today. Hello. Thank you very much. At this time, counselors will continue with our agenda and we will uh this time we'll entertain consideration of 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 that's indicated with a capital P will be read. All other matters will be announced by reading the item number only. All public hearings will be announced. At this time, Council, I would like to revert and uh instead of considering the consent agenda, we do have a special presentation. So with unanimous consent, if we could go ahead and have our special presentation. And we do have one this morning from Councillor Crystal Smithman. And um, she would like to introduce a program that's coming to Batwell Auditorium. Councilor Smithman. Thank you.

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