Let us pray.

What a friend we have in Jesus.

All of our sins and grief to bear.

What a privilege it is to carry everything to God in prayer.

Oh God, we come this morning according to your word.

You said that we acknowledge your ways that you were directors of God.

We come this morning, seeking your direction, oh God.

Let these decisions that are made today have the Father.

Let them not only look at the road, but let them look down the road to see how it's going to affect generations to come.

Oh God, we pray that you would give us a kindred spirit today, that everything will go by the Father in a godly manner.

And Lord, we ever give you the honor and the praise.

And before we close this prayer, we ask you to forgive us for our sins of omission, our sins of co-mission.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Let every heart say amen.

Thank you so much, Reverend Martin, for that very inspirational prayer.

Thank you, Dr.

O'Quinn, for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance at this time.

Good morning, Madam Clerk, if you'll call the role.

First of all, it's time to register for school as a reminder to parents of school age children in Birmingham.

If you haven't completed your child's registration and enrollment, please do so now.

School starts August the 10th.

We want every student to be ready on day one.

Enroll at WW dot bam city schools.org.

Speaking of back to school, the city of Birmingham, along with several community partners, will host its strong start Birmingham Back to School Rally, presented by Windows World.

Window World on Saturday, August the first from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

at the Birmingham Crossplex, which is located at 2332 Bestman Road.

The event will feature a DJ, food trucks, um face painting, a game truck, inflatables, Coca-Cola samples, a limited number of free haircuts by Birmingham Barber and Style School, and free school supplies.

Partners include Crime Stoppers, the Birmingham Police Department, Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services, Church of the Highlands, Coca-Cola United, Rising Star Baptist Church, and the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Again, it's this Saturday, August 1st from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

at the Birmingham Crossplex.

And we hope to see everyone there.

And then finally, Madam President, at this time, I would like to ask Zoe Fribble, Vice President of the All the Same Alabama, to join me at the podium as well as any guests that she may have with her.

Madam President, Madam Pro Team members of the Council, Zoe is a part of a high school student, a group of high school students who formed a statewide nonprofit organization, and they're traveling across the state.

They're from Enterprise Alabama, and they're presenting hydration essentials to our first responders.

This morning, her group presented to our Steam Fire Chief Corey Moon.

They presented to him and the rest of the department water bottles, gator, greater gator's electrolyte packets, and cooling towels for our firefighters and first responders.

So Zoe is here to tell us more about their efforts.

Zoe.

Good afternoon, Mayor and members of the city council.

My name is Zoe Frittle.

I'm a student at Enterprise High School where I serve as the vice president of all the same Alabama.

I'd also like to mention the president of all the same Alabama, Jaden Blood.

Ever since we started this organization, we've hosted school supply drives, donated children's books and remote literacy, and organize a Mother's Day hygiene drive to provide essential items to mothers and families in need.

Though these projects, through these projects, we strive to create opportunities for young people to make a positive and lasting impact across Alabama through project through partnering with Project Pulmonary, a nonprofit organization founded by Bettina Lee.

Project Pulmonary is dedicated to raising awareness about the carcinogenic environments that firefighters are exposed to every day.

First responding.

Their mission is to educate the public about the long-term health risks firefighters face and advocate for greater awareness and support for these brave first responders.

Together, all the same Alabama and Project Pulmonary are organizing a hydration drive for the firefighters serving your community.

We work directly with local firefighters to coordinate the collection and delivery of bottled water and other hydration supplies.

This initiative has already taken an enterprise, Dothan, Montgomery.

Yesterday we went to Homewood, and today we're in Birmingham.

By the conclusion of our Birmingham Drive, we have donated nearly 10,000 bottles of water, along with a variety of other hydration items to firefighters across Alabama.

As we continue to grow, we hope to bring projects like this to even more cities throughout Alabama and beyond.

Our goal is to continue serving communities, promoting equality, and helping ensure that everyone has access to the resources and support they need.

Finally, on behalf of All the Same Alabama and Project Pulmonary, I'd like to sincerely thank the mayor and each member of the city council for partnering with us on this hydration drive.

Your support makes this initiative possible, and we're grateful for the opportunity to work alongside your city in supporting the firefighters who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Great job.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

We are so encouraged when our youth take upon themselves to provide us with servant leadership.

And so we really want to thank you for providing these resources to our first responders.

We know how important it is for all of us to hydrate.

And so I'm just excited that you took upon yourselves to bring this opportunity to support those who provide service to us.

So thank you so much.

Wishing you a great school year, okay.

Thank you.

Madam President, that concludes the mayor's report.

Thank you so much.

At this time, counselors, we'll return back to our agenda, and at this time, we will consider the items that have been listed to be considered for consent.

Excuse me, counselor.

I'm sorry.

I have one item.

Announcement of the mayor's board appointments.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

This is just to announce that Mayor Woofin has appointed two members to the Birmingham Airport Authority.

These are actually reappointments.

The first person is Jennifer Reed Eggby.

The other is our Ashby Pate, and both of their terms will be expiring July 29th, 2032.

Thank you so much.

Counselors, if you will note those appointments that have been made by Mayor Whippin to the airport authority, we um congratulate these members for being reappointed and for the service they'll provide to the city.

Yes.

Any presentations?

I'm so sorry.

Before we go to the rest of our agenda, this time, if we'll ask for unanimous consent to have the following presentations.

And first, I'll start with Councillor Brian Gunn.

Thank you, Brian Councillor Gunn.

And he has two presentations for us.

Good morning, everyone.

One of the things that I believe is super important as a city counselor is that we don't just recognize accomplishments, but we recognize the people behind those accomplishments.

So today I would like to bring up Shannon Malcolm and anyone that is with her.

Come up to the podium.

No.

Today we're honoring someone whose story is one of resilience, perseverance, and service.

Shannon Malcolm's impact has been felt not only here in our city, but now across the country.

Shannon has been selected as one of only three recipients nationwide of the Fair Housing Champion Award by the National Association of Realtors.

That's an incredible honor.

And it's one that reflects not only her professional excellence, but her heart for service and community.

At this time, I like to read a portion of a resolution from the city council to Shannon, and then after that, I will allow Shannon Port uh to provide remarks.

So whereas is the custom of this legislative body to take note and publicly acknowledge individuals who have distinguished themselves through their exemplary roles of service to the community and the city of Birmingham.

The Council of the City Birmingham is justly proud to recognize, commend them for their impact they have made in our city.

Shannon Malcolm, whose leadership and service strengthen our neighborhoods, expand opportunities for our residents, and exemplify the very best of the magic city.

Whereas the National Association of Realtors recognize Shannon Malcolm for her outstanding leadership and fair housing advocacy, education, and community engagement, and for her unwavering commitment to ensuring that every individual is treated with dignity and afforded equal opportunity in housing.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the council of the city of Birmingham, with Mayor Randall L.

Whippin concurring, pauses in its deliberations to congratulate Shannon Malcolm for being named one of only three recipients nationwide of the 2026 Fair Housing Champion Award presented by the Notion National Association of Realtors and commends her for her exemplary leadership, resilience, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to expanding fair housing and equal opportunity.

Be it further resolved that we express our sincere gratitude to Shannon Malcolm for her dedication, service to the citizens of Birmingham, her steadfast advocacy on behalf of Fair Housing and Inclusive Communities, and for bringing national recognition to the Magic City through her example of leadership, perseverance, and public service.

Adopted this 28th day of July 2026 at the recommendation of Councillor Brian Gunn.

I ask for unanimous consent.

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

All opposed.

Move for the resolution.

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

All opposed.

Good morning, everyone.

I want to begin by saying thank you.

Receiving the 2026 Fair Housing Champion recognition is an incredible honor and one that I'm deeply humbled to accept.

People often see the finished product, a beautifully renovated home, a family moving into their dream house or a neighborhood beginning to thrive again.

But what they don't always see are the years of believing in a community when others had given up on it or didn't know what to do with it.

Almost 14 years ago, we started buying properties in historic Norwood, not because it was the easy choice, or an easy choice, but because we saw potential where others saw problems.

We believed every home deserved another chance, and more importantly, every family deserved the opportunity to live in a safe, beautiful community that they could be proud to call home.

Over the years, we have renovated more than 50 homes throughout historic Norwood.

But this recognition isn't really about houses, it's about people.

Fair housing means creating opportunity.

It means treating every person with a dignity, respect, and equality.

It means believing that where someone comes from should never determine where they're allowed to go.

It means opening doors, not just literally, but figuratively for families who are building wealth, creating memories, and changing the trajectory of future generations.

For me, this work is deeply personal.

I know what it feels like to need a second chance.

I know what restoration looks like because I've lived it.

That's why restoring neighborhoods has never just been a business for us, it's been a calling.

I want to thank everyone who believes the importance of fair housing.

Thank you to our community partners, our fellow realtors, our clients, and to the residents of historic Norwood who welcomed us and allowed us to be part of the neighborhood story.

Our work isn't finished.

There are still properties waiting to be restored.

Neighborhoods needing transformation and families searching for opportunity and communities that deserve to be invested in.

Sometimes it begins with one family, one act of faith, one home, and one decision to believe that something broken can be made beautiful again.

Thank you.

So thank you, Shannon, so much for all the work that you've done as a resident of the city of Birmingham and continuing to improve the Magic City, but I also want to thank you as a resident of District 4.

So thank you so much for your work.

All right.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh the next up we will have Birmingham Sister Cities.

Can I get them to come to the podium?

Every chance I get, I want to take sure make sure that I take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible opportunities our Birmingham City School students have.

A lot of times we don't talk about the these opportunities compared to their peers in other communities across the city of Birmingham.

So I would like to have Marie come up and talk about this.

Jennifer.

Both of you pick them up and talk about the opportunities.

I told her like you've got to be here with me.

She is definitely heading up this effort.

Hello, distinguished counselors, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilor Gunn, for having us.

We are Birmingham Sister Cities.

We are your volunteers on behalf of the City of Birmingham, exploring international global uh relationships with multiple cities around the city of Birmingham.

We um just went to a conference and learned more about this organization and truly are the more and the most enthusiastic we've ever been.

This is peace through people and global connection.

We cannot wait to send this new group of students.

Uh that's what we're here today.

Uh, these wonderful scholars just attended Miles, and thanks to the City of Birmingham City Schools, Miles College, Lynx, and Sister Cities, these students will be going to embrace global citizen diplomacy in Wales.

And if you recall, Wales in their community in 1963 took up a collection around their community to raise money to replace the stained glass window in 16th Street Baptist Church.

We have a friendship pact and celebrated that two years ago with Mayor Woodfin and counselors, and then last year we celebrated the 60th year the end of the installation, where John Pettis' son, Pitt's son, Mick Pence saw the window for the first time, and it was just a beautiful celebration.

So we're excited to send these students to learn more about Wales and then come back and tell us all about it.

Thank you to T.

Marie King, Justina Howard, Gwen Amammu, and the entire sister cities commission who supports these transactions.

Thank you, City of Birmingham.

And now we'll introduce our beautiful students.

Hi, my name is Ayana Bishop, and I come from Huffman High School.

Perfect.

Hello, good morning.

My name is Madison Major, and I attend Ramsey IB High School.

Good morning, City Council.

My name is Jeremiah Wear.

I attend Hoffman High School.

Good morning.

My name is Tanaya Garden.

I attend UW Culver High School.

Good morning.

My name is Shaquila Comick, and I attend George Washington Carver High School.

Good morning.

My name is Valeria Ward, and I attend George Washington Carter High School.

Good morning.

My name is Kennedy Jones, and I attend George Rustin Carver High School.

Good morning.

My name is Raymond Young, and I'm a senior at Jackson Olin High School.

Good morning.

My name is Osmondiallo, and I go to DPD Jackson Olin High School.

Perfect.

All right.

Thank you all so much.

And I just want to remind my colleagues that this is something that we should all be proud of.

It's a reminder that when we invest in our young people, we're investing in the future of our city.

These students are serving as ambassadors for Birmingham, and I know they will represent us well.

So thank you.

That concludes my presentation.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Councillor Gunn for presenting this group to us to Jennifer, T.

Marie, and the students.

We're very excited for the opportunity that you have.

We thank Sister Cities for what they've been doing.

I don't know how many years did you say that they've been nice.

But international been 70 years.

Wonderful.

So thank you all so much.

We wish you safe travel and just great representation for the city of Birmingham.

Thank you.

And Tima Reed was my classmate at Leadership Birmingham.

2023 best class ever.

Thank you.

All right.

Well, we'll continue with presentations, and we have joint presentation by Councillor Crystal Smithman and Councillor Darrell O'Quinn.

Thank you, Madam President.

Would the members of the Yonder Walls organization come up to the podium right here?

I don't know if they're here.

They are.

Okay.

I looked the wrong way.

Um, but they'll be able to talk about this more.

Uh Council O'Quinn and I are supporting them.

They are having a mural festival, which of us a verse of this kind in Alabama is a large-scale public art and music festival taking place on October 17th in the Birmingham's Parkside District.

So they're gonna talk to us a little bit about their organization and this festival, and we we all know Hunter as well, who's a developer here in Birmingham.

So take it away.

Hey y'all, thanks for having us.

Thank you, City Councillors, for taking the time to hit the button.

Okay.

Hit the silver button there, the little panel.

And we just see the red light come on.

There it is.

There you go.

Okay.

Thanks, everybody.

So thank you for taking the time to hear here about our um event, which is happening October 17th at Urban Supply and Parkside.

Uh I'm just here to uh kind of give you guys an introduction about it.

So I met these wonderful uh ladies who with Sean Gilder started an organization focused on break bringing more public art to Birmingham, and I'm happy to help sponsor their festival, which will be uh here in Birmingham, and it'll be one of the largest installations of public art in one place in Alabama.

So uh I'm gonna turn it over to them to talk to you guys about what their plans are.

Good morning, City Council.

My name is Levi, like the jeans and uh Jordan like the shoes.

We are Bendini's design company um out of Birmingham.

We are a mural installation and sign painting business, and then we are the co-founders of Yonderwalls Mural Festival.

So basically, we got into a um mural festival out of Oklahoma in 2022, and it changed our lives.

It was truly like the most magical experience we had ever had.

We got to paint next to folks that had half a million followers and learn from folks that have been doing this all over the country, really internationally.

Um, and so we asked the festival what they were doing and if we could join the team, and we spent the last four years um working on this mural festival out of Oklahoma to learn exactly how they were doing this.

They were on average putting up like 250 to 350,000 worth of art in a week and dropping it in these cities, and as cliche as it was, it was truly transformative.

Um, and so seeing this happen over and over, we were like, what how what is y'all's secret?

So we joined the team.

Um, Jordan was the production lead and the development lead.

We helped fundraise over 375,000 dollars that went directly back to artists in Oklahoma.

And so, yeah, we are trying to um bring this to Birmingham and make it feel like it is Birmingham's own festival.

And so basically some issues that we're trying to resolve.

There's been over $300,000 in the last 15 to 18 months that have gone to artists out of state.

And so we are really trying to let folks know that we have creative talent here within Alabama.

We don't have to hire artists out of state.

And one of the reasons I think that's happening is because we don't typically get to showcase our talent as artists.

Most of the time, the murals that we um get from clients, we are given like a branding package.

We're given their message, and you know, as artists, we're told you have to make your piece of art around our message.

And so we just don't have full autonomy, which therefore we don't know the like the talent that we have in the state.

So we are high highlighting specifically 75% artists from Alabama.

Um 25% of our walls we're saving for first-time muralists for folks that are trying to break into the industry.

And then we've secured 26 walls all within the same block.

Um so it's gonna be a massive, the largest concentration of public art that will happen in Alabama to date.

Um, as of right now, we've received 60% of our final budget with financial support.

Our title sponsor is um Alabama Power.

We've received um Mike and Jillian Goodrich Foundation grant.

We have a few other printing grants, and then of course, we've received our walls um from Hunter here.

We've got in-kind donations from the Birmingham Museum of Art, um, Rev Bham, good people, culture city, B ham now, WBRC, um, the Birmingham Museum of Art is gonna host our kids' zone on the day of the festival.

The festival is gonna be similar to the Block and Bloom party that happened, so it's gonna be just a massive um celebration, a lineup of music from noon until 8 p.m.

We're gonna have vendors, food trucks, and then the celebration of these 26 new large-scale murals that are going up.

Um, I know that's a lot of information.

Do you have anything?

Um, I think something that we noticed when thinking about bringing it back to Birmingham is just that this is kind of how all of these all of our neighboring cities got all of their public art, is by doing these festivals, it just gives the city a huge discount to come in and decorate the walls.

We've seen it done in Atlanta multiple times.

They have so many festivals that they do year-round, and so that allows them to get these huge massive murals for anywhere from like four to five to six dollars a square foot.

Where if you were to ask me, Levi, a professional muralist in town that starts at $25 a square foot.

So you're already getting a huge discount.

What we're doing is we're gonna try to meet in the middle where we're gonna pay our artists $12 a square foot.

So we're still kind of supporting the creative community that we have in town.

We're kind of still giving them the paycheck that they need to be able to complete the project and to create quality work.

So we're trying to sustain our creative community as a whole through this project.

And at $12 a square foot, that will put us at one of the highest, if not the highest paid mural festival in the country.

So just as an example, Atlanta does not pay their artists at all.

Um, so we are trying to still support our creatives.

Sorry to interrupt you.

No, you're good.

Um yeah, that's pretty.

I mean, I feel like we covered most of it.

I would say outside of that, so throughout the year, outside of just the festival, we are gonna have um a mentorship program where we've have 16 to 19-year-old teens come out and we get to partner them with a professional artist.

So again, it just helps them get like career workforce engagement.

Um, we're gonna have programming throughout the year.

We've already done programming with Carver High School through the Birmingham Museum of Art, working with our ESL students.

So this isn't just a one-time festival, it is an entire year of art engagement, art opportunities.

Um, we're just trying to create sustainability for the creatives that we have here in Alabama.

We should also say that we're just starting in urban supply as like a jumping off point.

We already have so much economic development happening over there.

There's already the walkability.

So we're doing this as a huge like we can do it, Birmingham, and then we want to travel to our other neighborhoods in town.

So we want to continue doing this year by year, yearly festival, and stay in Birmingham, but travel to our different neighborhoods, so we can continue to cover the city in art.

Yeah, the last two things I'll say um in Oklahoma, the last year that we did this, because we saved 25% of our walls for first-time artists.

We had a 67-year-old woman paint her first mural, and to see that happen, she was a fine artist but had never had that opportunity, it changed her life.

Um, so again, we are just trying to bring these opportunities to our Alabama creatives.

Thank you so much.

Also, again to Council O'Quinn and Councillor Smithman for bringing them.

I know Council Queen, you probably have some comments as well.

Yeah, I just I'm really excited about this.

Um you know, I'm thinking back to days when I was still a young counselor.

Um one of the first projects that I did was a um a mural project with a local artist.

It was a public participation thing where folks came and we had uh paint for them, and um it was a bit of an experiment, but uh I have some memories from that that will you know last forever.

Um so you know, the other thing that I'm thinking about is how murals specifically have train transformed, you know, sort of forgotten spaces um throughout the city.

So I'm thinking specifically about the mural alley and woodlawn, um you know, some abandoned buildings.

There's you know, one on First Avenue North that was like a COVID, you know, uh mural kind of thing.

Um you know, there's two gorgeous Flemish painting uh murals um on Second Avenue, I believe, uh downtown, and just you know, a number of others that just take spaces that you know are blank walls um and you know create a reason for people to pause and like appreciate you know the place that they're in.

So um I'm really excited about you know that happening in the Parkside District and it potentially you know, I'm gonna claim it.

This is gonna be a hugely successful uh project.

And and you know, I'm I'm already thinking about um the future and this being able to move around the city and transform you know spaces around the city.

So uh thank you for taking you know the lessons that you've learned elsewhere and bringing them to to Birmingham and and really um doing the service, you know, to the people of Birmingham and helping to transform the city.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, thank you.

Thank you.

As you all were presenting, I was thinking about, and some of my colleagues have um been in attendance.

We attend uh the Just Economy Conference that's a part of NCRC, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, and one of the things is they highlight murals across the city, and I believe they've highlighted some that have been here in Birmingham.

So I'm just excited that you all are bringing this into an even bigger fashion to the city.

And I again thank my colleagues for making us aware of this, and I'm very hopeful, and I'm gonna go out with uh Dr.

O'Quinn and say that this is going to be a very big uh event, and so we really want everyone to learn that date again.

Give us the date and the times.

Saturday, October 17th.

It's the third Saturday in October.

All right, thank you.

You're just ahead of the classics, so you're not competing with that.

So we're very strategic.

Very good.

But I do want to thank you.

And again, we just know how the importance of art, and as you said, it can revitalize the community as I passed along the city and seeing these murals and to think that you're also bringing in local uh Alabama artists.

Thank you for that.

Yeah, Madam Pro Tim.

Thank you all.

Grassroot organizing is so important.

So a lot of times when you leave an area where you've grown up in and you have to go outside to learn what the collective has done and learn what not to do, and somebody's already done it and did all the work for you and bringing it back.

I think people have a misconception a lot of times when you leave the city that we're bringing outsiders in.

That's just not true.

We're bringing the knowledge, you know, back into the community.

So Birmingham has a lot of creatives like Jamon Heel, Representative Hendrix just unveiled the mirror over in Ansley.

One just got unveiled over on Mackay Pine Rick Center.

Then we have our very own Erica Chisholm, who works in community development.

She's on her board.

So I really appreciate our and I'm I'm a joint forces because when two or three come together, you know, it it happens.

So I'm a joint forces with my colleague, Councillor Smith and Councillor O'Quinn for lifting this up because I can see it, you know, the transformation taking place all over the city.

And just come on over to the North Birmingham.

Listen, the last we had to create an application in our Oklahoma Festival because we were having main street programs reaching out saying if you guarantee to come here next, we'll match 100,000 because we traveled to new cities all across Oklahoma.

So that's our goal is to bring it to the 99 Haberts of Birmingham.

Thank you all so much for your time.

Um we will email y'all our presentation and our sponsorship packages so you have an idea of where all we are.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you all so much for your time.

Yeah, just briefly.

Um thank you, Hunter, for the introduction.

I'm really excited.

I remember the initial meeting when you guys uh told us about this festival, and you know, so important that we support our arts.

Um, I do remember being younger and going, is I think Sauce Furnace is still has it, where you have the ability to paint, look at different artists' work, and so I love the workforce development part.

Uh, one of my close college friends uh went to art school, is now a direct uh director of a museum, like people don't realize it's much more than just painting, and so um, you know, I think a lot of us support the artist with me where you speak and councillor Smith, she's not here with her bloom on the block, and so I appreciate you all for what you do, especially bringing something big to Alabama and replicating that, and I think a lot of good things are really coming out of Alabama.

So colleagues, you know, Daryl and I are counselor o'quin and I are sponsoring it.

Um, if you guys want to join us, I really think it's great.

So I look forward to October 17th.

I'm excited in district six first, too, as well.

Thank you.

Thank y'all so much.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

At this time, counselors, we will return back to our agenda, and we will um entertain the consideration of items for consent.

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 a 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 announced by reading the item number only.

All public hearings will be announced.

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

Yes, ma'am.

The consent agenda begins on page two with items one, two, three, and four, page three, items five, six, and seven, page four, item eight, and eleven, page five, items twelve, thirteen, and fourteen, but on item 14 at the very line uh second from the bottom.

Please note that that should be June 30th, 2027, and not 2026.

Page 6, we have items 15, 16, 17, and 18.

Please note that items 16 and 17 were also recommended by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

On page 7, we have items 19, 20, 21.

On page 8, we have items 23, 24, and 25.

On 23, please uh note that this is not a hearing of public of interested parties.

So we're gonna strike off that wording on item 23.

On page nine, we have items 26, 27, 28, 29, page 10.

We have items 30, 31, 32, and 33, page 11, items 34, 35, 36, 37, page 12, items 38, 39, 40, and 41.

Page 13, items 42, 43, and 44.

Page 14, we have items 45, 46, 47, and 48.

Page 15, we have items 49, 50, 51, and 52.

Page 16, we have items 53, 54, 55, and 56, and that completes the consent agenda.

Thank you, madam clerk.

Counselors, are there any items at this time you'd like to have added or removed from consent?

Yes, ma'am present.

Yes, counselor Smitheman.

I would like to take off consent.

Items 12 13 on page five.

Item 15 on page 6.

I think that's it.

Okay, that request by Councillor Smithman was to remove items 12 and 13 from consent on page 5 and item 15 on page 6.

Any other items, counselors.

All right, at this time we'll entertain a motion and a second.

Okay, this okay.

And the vote has started.

Okay, that vote should be up.

All right, thank you.

Those items that were consent considered for consent have been approved.

And if you're here for any of those items, we will continue with the rest of our agenda.

Madam Clerk, I would like to go out of order.

And I'd like for you to bring up item number 15 first, please, on page six.

Okay.

Item 15, page six.

A resolution approving and authorizing the mayor to execute an opioid abatement provider agreement with urban alchemy through the opioid abatement program to provide the Birmingham OASIS, open accessible, safe, inviting spaces, a fixed location, outdoor respite site designed to engage individuals at highest risk of opioid overdose, staffed by urban alchemy practitioners with live with lived experience and trained in harm reduction.

The OASIS offers low barrier access to hydration, snacks, narcan, care coordination, and supportive engagement.

The site includes shaded or heated infrastructure depending on season, public bathrooms, dark park, dog park for guests with pets, and consistent daily operations open 12 to 14 hours per day, seven days a week for a term of 12 months for an amount not to exceed $600,000.

And Madam Clerk and Counselors, we can also consider item 12 along with item 15.

So Madam Clerk, if you read item 12 as well on page five.

Okay.

Item 12 on page 5 is a resolution approving and authorizing the mayor to execute a ground lease agreement between Daniels Development Group LLC and the City of Birmingham, under which Daniels Development Group LLC will lease approximately 0.21 acres located at 600 3rd Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35203 to be used by the Department of Unhoused Strategies as an outdoor respite for unhoused residents of the city for a term of three years, subject to appropriation by council at a rental fee of 1,388 and 89 cents per month for a total amount not to exceed $50,000.

All right, thank you.

Can we have a motion on those two items so we can get those presented?

No, we don't need unanimous consent.

We just need a motion for both items so that we can consider them just to bring them up.

So I have a motion.

Do I have a second?

Thank you.

All right, counselors.

These two items are regarding a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement for urban alchemy to provide this OASIS project.

And Councilor Smithman, you asked that we move this from consent.

Would you like to go ahead and have the administration to provide an explanation or did you have a question?

Uh yes, and any presentation on it as well.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

Good morning, madam president.

Good morning to the entire council.

It's good to see everybody as Ms.

Elena Melton and her team and any other presenters with her make their way up.

I just wanted to set a frame of what's you'll hear this morning.

As you know, this conversation is not new a few months back.

We had a conversation about uh OACIS, the why of that, um, the use of opioid funding, etc.

etc.

Pulse your vote as we continue to move forward, things didn't work in the direction we thought for that actual site.

Um, we actually feel um that was a blessing and disguise that's allowed us to go back to the drawing board, spent a significant amount of time of just starting over as well as taking feedback from you all from the last presentation related to this topic, which included um public safety.

Um it also included um sanitation and how um we would keep the site clean as well as management of the site as well.

All these things were taken into consideration.

So from our internal teams and partners to our external partners.

Um this has been a very intentional process of how we got here today.

We had the opportunity to present uh to the budget of finance yesterday because part of this is approval is for funding and of course the funding sources to opioid settlement.

Um legal can answer any questions related to the use of those funds.

Um they're no different than last time, so the same legal threshold holds a few months later.

But I do as a as I yield the mic, I do want to set the frame of the why this is important and just a refresher.

Um different than house residents have spaces and places that they hang out.

Our unhoused residents have places and spaces that they hang out as well.

Um they tend to be on public right away, uh, they tend to be in front of small businesses and they tend to be in other places.

And while we receive all type of calls for services, um, we feel that like other cities have done, creating a daytime shelter, a place for unhoused residents gives us a couple things.

One, it actually gives unhoused residents an actual um place.

Two, it's what can happen here to build rapport, to build trust, um, to get unhoused residents to actual service providers.

Um walking up to them, walking up to an unhoused resident simply on a corner or street, doesn't necessarily give you immediate access or trust to get them to open up.

But if you can create a space and provide services, create a space that's very intentional about sobriety, then you start to build the report you need to get residents, unhoused residents to the actual services that they need.

Um, and so we have a presentation and probably be a minimum of seven, eight minutes.

Um, and then we'll can open it up in questions from the council.

Ms.

Melton.

Thank you, Ms.

Melton.

Thank you.

Um, Madam President, members of the council, thank you, Mr.

Mayor, for that um wonderful introduction.

I'm Elena Melton and I serve as a director of unhoused strategies.

I'm here for the city.

And we're here, as a mayor said, to talk about um the OASI um operational agreement as well as the land lease, and just a couple points to make.

We're joined by a whole host of folks.

We have um some of the Urban Alchemy team, Ida Gilbert, director of operations in the chamber, but also their leadership is on with us virtually.

Uh Mr.

Marcus Daniels, the property owner, um, who's allowing us to potentially lease the spaces, joining us virtually.

We have a host of providers, Miss Kelly Green with Food for Our Journey.

Um we have Miss Sherry Bray from First Light joining us, and also Nicole Boomhover, and forgive me if that's anyone I for I forgot on yesterday.

We were also joined by Gordon Sullivan, who leads our continuum care, and he could not make it today.

Um, just a couple of notes.

Also um leading into this project, we did do some community engagement, especially we really spent time around the site, right?

The the church located close and um the way station, who also couldn't join us, but who sent a letter of support um today.

I think that's really important to know.

We've also been going around the perimeter.

The heart team has already started um cleaning and engaging and letting folks know this is not a place to linger in hopes that we can get folks used to services being in the area.

So what is uh the OASIS?

It's a day shelter that's been said over and over again.

It's an outdoor day space.

It'll operate from 7 a.m.

to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

Um it's a place where folks experiencing homelessness can go to just be and exist as a mayor said.

It's a place to connect with services and providers.

We'll talk about that more in a moment.

It's a place for outreach beyond this location, a place where our service providers can establish community.

And I just want to part there for a moment.

But this contract is bigger than this one space, and it's bigger than Urban Alchemy.

This contract is how do we all rally together to help our community?

So they'll operate the space and keep it clean and safe, but we've already, and they've already started outreach to other agencies to say that this is a safe space for all of our agencies.

We've heard the cries of where do people go when we close.

But I want to park and say one, we're working on that coordination.

Additionally it's a place for people to go when the shelters close in the daytime, too.

I don't think we talk enough about where do people go when the shelters closed.

So it is an answer for the daytime activities.

And then lastly, the OASIS is a place of engagement.

Research shows that it takes well over 20 touches for a person experiencing chronic homelessness to take any one service.

And so by having a space that people can go every day and seeing the same people, we hope that we escalate getting those 20 touches and hopefully getting people housed sooner.

One of the charges the mayor gave us with the funding that you guys approved was that all roads to everything that we do need to end in housing or getting people housed.

And OASIS will be that that place, one place, not the only place.

It's just a tool in the toolbox.

It does not, it does not discredit the amazing work that's being done already by our providers.

We just want to do it in concert with them and give them another tool and the toolbox.

A little almost a year ago now, you guys approved the use of 1.5 million dollars in opioid settlement funds.

During that time, you guys approved us funding agencies like the Firehouse and 4 H Love Lady, the Reentry Alliance, and others.

This was one of the contracts in that list.

You guys challenged us, and we've made some changes and we've revamped.

We do have a little synopsis of what those agencies that we did fund what they've been doing over the past several months.

You should have a copy, but just in case we're gonna provide some more copies of that.

Also, we chose uh we chose them as a provider, actually uh a separate panel I was not a part of, um, chose the agencies that we recommended to be funded.

Um they were the only agency that submitted for a day's shelter, a space like this, and it was an answer to some of the challenges that we've seen, the the complaints we've gotten from businesses, house residents, you all.

Why are people just hanging out at the gas station?

So we hope this will be an answer.

Um we also want to have an answer for folks who say, I don't want people lingering in front of my business.

We hope that the business community will see that this is a step toward us supporting economic development as well.

So, why this site?

This site located at 600 Third Avenue North, it's right behind the um the waste station, um, another project that you guys allowed us to invest in with capital funding.

It's about two blocks from the firehouse shelter, and that's why this site, the mayor reference is an answer prayer because the previous site meant folks leaving those two shelters had to work walk a considerable distance.

And so now they don't.

When the shelters close that day, they have a place to go that's safe, that's very close to them.

But also it's important to note, and Mr.

Daniels is on if there are questions for him.

When he heard about the last project, he reached out to us.

And I tell you, nothing feels better than being wanted.

When you represent the most vulnerable in our community to have someone to reach out to you and help or want to help every step of the way, that's been a welcome change.

Um, and then I want to talk a little bit a bit about safety.

One of the big questions that you guys had for us was how are we gonna keep the site, the community, and the folks who who come for services safe.

And so we've had several meetings with our Birmingham Police Department, our chief and our DC of Patrol, and I believe DC Bo Apple.

So we've been talking to the police department and urban alchemy's team about what safety looks like.

So on site, there will always be trauma informed staff to help people who are in mental health crisis, experiencing homelessness, or quite frankly, just having the worst day of their lives, which is often where we meet people.

We will have 24 hour surveillance and cameras and signage.

Um per the recommendation of our um fire and police chiefs, we will have a blue light emergency phone.

That'll be really important even when the shelter is not open.

So now people in that area have a way, and a lot of our community, they don't have cell phones.

When they need help, they can get help for free.

We've talked a lot to the waste station about this being something for when their um clients need help as well.

And then the reason that we're here to see a decrease in opioid use, deaths, and overdoses.

So this will be a space that'll teach harm reduction.

You'll see on another slide.

We have excuse me, a number of providers who'll come and provide resources around opioid and substance use issues, and we've also partnered with some medical providers as well.

We everyone who enters the space will have to sign in like any other shelter, and they will be asked to leave and or ban or permanently discharge, depending on if there are any behavior issues.

Next slide, please.

So I want to talk about programming.

Last time I stood before you wraparound services was the number one topic, and I'm really proud of how our community stepped up, how our team is led in this space.

These are some pictures of some other OASEs that Urban Alchemy operates.

And here are just some of the services.

They will provide case management, but we're also providing licensed social workers.

It'll be that every day, Monday through Friday from eight to five, in addition to the urban alchemy staff.

W Life Skills and I mentioned peer report recovery service.

We will have our D cleaning right now that's tentatively set to be once a month.

Um where do people keep their things, especially when they have doctor's appointments and uh interviews?

We've talked to people, and I failed to mention this in our community engagement.

Folks with lived experience have been very important to get their perspective, and they want lockers, a place to keep their stuff safe.

They don't want to have to haul everything they own into their important meetings.

There will be a public restroom.

People don't have to use the restroom outside.

They'll have a place to take to handle their personal business with dignity.

There also will be meal services, food for our journey.

We'll deliver meals twice a day.

There will be a dog park, a safe space where folks can bring their pets, and smoking will be allowed.

A lot of these things seem like simple pleasures that we enjoy, but if you're unhoused, a lot of these things are just not um easily accessible to you.

So on the next slide, we'll talk a little bit more about the specific, and I won't read this, you guys already have it.

These are all of the providers who have said they will they will provide some service.

And on the next slide, it's a calendar.

So this calendar is how if every month will look.

We have almost the same number of providers that was on the previous slide that we've started having conversation with.

And I want to be real clear, we're not asking providers to do anything that costs them a dime or additional resources.

We're simply saying if the OASIS is for everyone, it's for everyone.

Is there a service that you already offer that you need a space for?

Is there a service that needs to be um remote, or is there a service you think we're missing and you already have the capacity to do?

And that's how we um we build this list.

And so then I want to talk a little bit about um funding.

It's already been well stated that the primary funding source for this is the opioid settlement funds for the operating agreement.

I do want to make one note the $50,000 for the ground lease is um coming out of general funds.

Per the recommendation of our city attorney's office and outside council, it was not a good use to legal of an allowed use to purchase or lease property using the settlement fund.

So we do we did um we're looking to do that out of the general fund.

So the total investment for this first year would be $850,000.

Approximately 200,000 will be for capital investments.

Everything on the site will be removable.

The most expensive capital investment will be the fence around the property.

We've obtained the permission of the property owner.

Um the fencing will be a little bit more expensive because of the location.

We're only zoned for a very specific type of fence.

The other capital improvement would include the lighting, um, ballards because there was a safety concern on the third avenue side of the property.

Um we don't want any cars to jump the curve or injure anyone, and then the emergency phone.

Um again, as a mayor has stated, the use of opioid settlement funds for the operations isn't allowable using it, has been approved by our council and outside council.

Um as it regards to ongoing sustainability.

Our thought is after a year, this is funded for a year, and we have proof of concept.

We want to we are we would be proud to come back to you guys and say, hey, this is something we want to continue.

Equally, we'll be honest if it doesn't work.

Um we also think hope that the burden lifted off of the private sector will be tremendous, and maybe this is an opportunity for public-private partnership.

I do want to note and thank um Councillor O'Quen for challenging me yesterday to talk a little bit more about the cost of homelessness.

We don't talk about it enough, but we immediately start pulling.

How can we quantify how much it costs for uh those 911 calls that dispatch police and fire?

We do we um have been working with the police department and urban alchemy's heart team, our 311 team and 911 to find out how much we have saved by sending heart in as opposed to police and fire.

So that's a work in progress.

But also, how many times do we pull a DPW crew um from their sites because we closed an encampment and now we need to clear it, or people just moved on and they left their things.

So, how do we begin to talk about the cost of homelessness?

And while I don't have that number, I'm fairly certain that $600,000 for for a year, seven days a week, 12 hours a day pales in comparison.

So thank you, counselor, for for that challenge.

And so lastly, uh we had a the timeline, it's real quick.

We hope to um pending what happens today, um, begin securing the space, acquiring the fencing and the lighting with with the goal of opening the space early fall.

If I have even 30 seconds of all the people that are here with me, there is one young lady.

Um I would love for you guys to hear from, and that's Christy Payne.

And her la her words will be um the last words.

Hearing her talk about the need for a space like this helps me um get the courage to stand before a crowd like this.

So I um I yield to Miss Kirsty.

Excuse me, Payne.

Hello, how are you guys doing?

Awesome.

Okay, I'm nervous, sorry.

Yeah, uh the OASIS has really helped me out.

Um, you guys, um, you know, uh I didn't ask to be homeless.

I didn't wake up and want to be this way.

Um I get up every day, try to go to work.

Um, it's hard out here.

Not having a place to go take a shower, worrying about where you're gonna, you know, get the sweaty off of you, you know, different things.

What's people gonna think if I go into work and I got the same clothes on, you know, where do I wash?

What do I do?

That's a lot of mental exhaustion.

You know, having to run around Birmingham to try to find somewhere to go get these things done.

I get off work sometimes four, sometimes six.

No, there's nowhere to take a shower.

You have to go into a bathroom just to wipe off.

I mean, that's embarrassing.

You know, really downgrading.

You know, makes you less of a person.

Um, you know, I still try to hold my hand up and I keep going.

You know, there's different places that we are trying to get help to get housing.

You know, you can't do it when you're trying to try and jump up.

I mean, you can't just I mean, it's hard out here mentally.

Thank you, Kirsty.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kirsty.

And with that, I'll yield the floor.

I will note that DC Bookle is in the back of there.

I know there were questions um before about safety.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Melton.

Mayor Woodson.

I think it is time um for the remaining part of what's needed from the administration.

We can engage through question and answer for.

Yes, thank you very much.

First, I'll start with Councillor Smithman since you asked this to be removed.

Um, is her name Kirsten?

Kirsty Kirstie.

She referred to the OASE, so is it open now?

Where's she where was she where's she taking a shower now?

She's been having to go other places.

I think what she was trying to say once before me's been.

Oh, urban alchemy's been helping you.

Yeah, the urban urban alchemy.

Yeah, that's the heart.

Okay, yeah, awesome.

Yeah, they've been helping me out, you know, with like hugging different different things, you know.

It's been hard out here.

Really?

Yes, sir.

Yeah, thank you for your bravery for um giving your testimony today.

I know that took a lot.

Um, and I really thank you for still keep moving forward with finding a job, um, trying to find housing.

I really appreciate you, honestly.

Um so I guess my first question is have you spoken to the neighborhood association about this?

I have not.

We have asked to get on the next um agenda.

And to be honest, because it wasn't residential, it we focused on the businesses and everybody around.

And in conversation last week, we actually started reaching out to get on the next agenda.

Just so they know what's going on, they ask their questions as well.

Okay, so that's interesting because that's kind of out of order because usually when we get projects, the neighborhood association is spoken to first, and then it's given to us.

Um we didn't do that for central city, did we?

Well, actually, and they something of this nature to communicate with them is fine, but it doesn't require their approval as it relates to the purchase of the leasing of actual land for an OASIS.

There's literally nothing residential around here.

It doesn't mean that we're not gonna talk to them, but this is no different than what y'all voted on last time.

We didn't engage Central City neighborhood either.

Well, I'm not talking about item 12, I'm talking about item 15, just the programming and the activity of it, because it still affects them.

That's like saying people who live in apartment complexes don't interact with all types of residents.

I'm um I'm not asking this to be combat, I'm just asking a question.

I just think it was warranted to go to them first before they can't y'all came to us.

But I do have other questions too.

Where would individuals go when the OASIS is closed?

Yes, so we are gonna start talking to you.

We've begun talking to the shelters in the area so that we can coordinate.

Here's the thing.

The OASIS will be occupied by human beings who will have choice, and we will make every attempt when it closes to um get into the shelter.

We've been talking to Urban Alchemy team about, you know, before they close, like let's know when every shelter closed, what's their process, and let's try to get people help.

Um however, it's just like when the shelter closes in a daytime, if they don't come to us, we can't make them go to us and take the resources, but we will make every attempt, which is why we wanted to put um the licensed social workers on the property so they could work with folks every day and literally walk through their housing plan because maybe uh emergency shelter is not for them.

Maybe they need um something more long-term, and so we will be able to walk through them with them consistently through the housing process.

So will we provide transportation for them to go to those particular shelters?

The heart does already offer transportation, so that is absolutely um an option.

Okay, I know you work with other you're on work with the other shelters, but if it's if I remember correctly, a lot of them don't have space for a lot of individuals and they turn them away.

So what's the alternative when that happens?

Well, that's just it.

The OASIS did not exist.

The same question would happen.

When shelters let out, this is two questions.

When shelters let out in the morning, where do our own house residents go?

Well, we know some of them go um to go all type of places.

Well, in this case, this the question is in burden.

What happens at night?

Some of them will go to shelters.

Um, some of them don't want to go to shelters.

Some shelters will be full and they will still need beds.

Um, but the truth is the city of Birmingham still working through that.

I mean, there are literally not enough beds in our city.

And I think in our time as a mayor in a council, we work to expand more beds, um, whether it's firehouse shelter or most recently um with the Jimmy Hill, Jimmy Hill mission.

We continue to provide resources for additional beds, but I think we all know and can agree they're not enough beds.

So we can't determine where everyone goes.

Okay.

So Madam President, whoever's speaking, can you say we are in the middle of a business meeting?

And so if you would allow the council and the mayor and administration to conduct and have those conversations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

No, sir.

Thank you.

Okay.

All right.

So how can we prevent tents from being on the OASIS and the surrounding area?

Yes.

Tents is actually we have a draft ordinance that we are continuing to engage council leadership when it's appropriate to present to the full body related to encampments citywide, whether it's our parks, city right away, et cetera.

I think on this site, it's easy.

So we'll just enforce no tents on the site.

But anything adjacent or approximate to the site, I think if and when this ordinance exists, that's an additional tool we can use well beyond proximity of this site citywide, particularly on our public right away and our city parks.

Okay.

Because I believe it was at San Francisco that ended up with the problem with people having several hundreds of tents and they got out of controls looking like they couldn't manage it.

So I just want to make sure that doesn't happen.

I'm not saying it's gonna happen.

I just don't want this to happen.

How will we measure the effectiveness of this project?

What are our benchmarks for it?

So great question.

Uh one, and you guys have received the year to date of the heart report, so we'll have something similar to this that Urban Alchemy provides, but also again going back to having case managers and social workers, we've asked for a report, and then the third is we want to particularly track any opioid related activity.

So did someone get treatment, how many times wasn't was Narcan like so our opioid outcomes will be a big part of that.

Okay, let's go ahead.

Um how will we handle if I know you have a certain amount of staff insecurity if we need to increase that because the numbers you thought would be on the OASIS increase, how will we address that problem for the need for more staffing?

So currently the capacity is about 75.

Um, I think that's an issue that we have to look to address in the next fiscal year.

It's just like any other shelter, our capacity will have to be our capacity based on what has been allocated right now.

Okay.

Um do we have any other existing day shelters in the city?

So, yes, um Pathways operates a day shelter for women, and then many other shelters, first light has opportunities.

I'm sorry, firehouse for folks to come in.

They operate, um, they have lunch and snacks, and there are times where people can take showers, but not a prolonged day shelter.

And then we also have three days a week with um Faith Chapel Care Center.

Okay, so it's not something like a prolonged day shelter.

Okay, that's a little bit not currently.

Oh, and I for I failed to mention uh Church of the Reconciler also opens a day a day shelter um four days a week and then on Sundays for service.

Okay, and you said there's a representative for food for our journey, is that correct?

Okay, I also have uh just concern with them because this is over more in district six than district three.

I know they service food over um their brother Brian Park and et cetera, and I've gotten complaints ever since I've been in the office about food for journeys servicing the residents, which there's nothing wrong with that, but what happens afterwards there's trash and etc.

How will we make sure that doesn't happen over here on the OASIS as well?

So well, I'll answer the first part and then I'll let her address the site.

Um there is a separate uh drafted ordinance that we would love the council entertain as well, but we will move at this point.

We haven't talked about it publicly.

You can go on.

No need.

That wasn't towards you.

I can't hear you.

That wasn't towards you.

No worries.

Okay, so we do have a draft to help that out.

Okay.

I just know we haven't talked about it yet.

That's why I asked.

But the draft does exist.

So we know that this is something we've been considering as a council.

But go ahead, Mayor and Counselor.

Thank you.

Miss Melton.

So at other OASI sites that Urban Alchemy operates, and this also gets to your earlier one of your earlier questions.

Um they they take care of the property around their property.

So it's part of the community engagement.

One of the passes in the conversation talks about people not only loitering but church, but trashing the church parking lot.

So they've already been in and around there, starting to pick up litter, engaging folks, letting them know like you got the cleaning spaces.

And so that's the same thing.

People will need to eat inside the OAS and throw their trash away inside the OASI.

And I will say that's one of the the um really cool things about having a space like this is that it gives operators like Kelly a dedicated space to go and know that it'll be clean when they're done.

Okay.

Um I want to thank both you and Mayor Wilson for answering my questions.

I do think you know this is a good idea to have a prolonged day shelter.

Um just being a business owner downtown.

I do interact a little bit more with our unhoused residents.

I see them and I see them in need.

Um ask for food, asking for help, and you know, I think having a space for them and a safe space, making sure it's safe.

I think um we'll just kind of reduce any concerns we've seen with business owners having them in their doorway, and a lot of times they're just trying to cool down or trying to find a safe space to sleep as well.

So um, I think that's all of my questions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, thank you, Ms.

Melton, for your presentation.

Uh the second time that we tried to do this, y'all uh provided a staffing matrix for us.

Um is that something that you have that you could provide?

We can re that part did not change, but we'll resend that there will be um four practitioners per shift, and additionally, um in DC Bo talked about this a little bit, engaging our um our CSOs, and we will also provide a licensed social worker, so that's six people at all times, in addition to those folks providing the programming that we mentioned.

Well, now remember last time it did not have a licensed social worker or not, and it did not, and I don't and the name practitioner means what that is the name for their staff, firm alchemy staff.

The the licensed social worker is not coming from um from their staff.

Yes, we've been working with this, I mean to build this up as a um a community resource.

So this will not be it's not a part of contract.

This is a totally separate social worker that will dedicate in this space.

And where where is that head count coming from?

Everything else in the head count is coming from the staffing plan that we presented to you guys, but we'll we'll resend that.

And then where's the social worker coming from?

So again, as a part of a safety plan, we have dedicated police officers who engage folks experiencing homelessness.

We're also working to put social workers with them who are trauma-informed, who can handle the severely mentally ill, and so we will they will have a shift um at the OASE.

Okay, so it's coming from BPD's budget, then no, it's not coming from BPD's budget.

Where okay?

Where is the social worker head count coming from?

So we've been, I don't know how Libria, um I'm allowed to say, but in partnership with the health department, as a part of this team, we will also we've been writing their grant for social workers and peer support.

So folks with lived experience with opioid addictions.

We have an MOU between our office, the police department, and the health department to put folks in the spaces where we know they're needed in the community.

Okay, so they'll be coming from the health department.

Correct.

The social worker.

Okay.

And then the staffing matrix that we got previously, so we're using the name practitioner.

What qualifications do those people have?

That's a question for the urban alchemy team if there's a way to um I don't know who might want to take that question.

I see we have someone on the screen.

Madam President, could you um I guess share with those on the screen to speak to that question or repeat the question for them?

Yes, thank you very much.

Are you all able to hear us?

I know we you're on the screen.

Um do we have someone?

I think everybody seems to be muted.

We do have one that's unmuted.

If you will ask the question again, Ms.

Melton or Counselor Williams.

Yeah, sure.

So we're the staffing matrix indicates that there are practitioners.

Practitioner indicates a degree and a licensing.

What is the degree and licensing that the practitioners have to handle specific since this is opioid money?

And we see on the screen is FM gives some indication of who's responding.

And also these are not that we have to RCOM.

She trains that's the escalation.

Um supposed to be debt classes to try to use this for you.

So even on your business and professional practitioners.

So that would be the seat.

That's why you didn't work with practice.

Madam President.

Yes, Mayor Woodman.

Um I think most of us tend to isolate the word practitioner to license.

But it's not, there's a conjunction that has the word or.

It's also a specialized skill skill that I don't have that they have, I don't live experience, but actually being on the ground, being trained in this work, and then years of experience accidentally actually engaging those who are in the house.

So I just want to make that clear.

Um practitioner is not isolated to an actual license.

It also means a specialized skill.

Okay, thank you.

Um that that is all the questions I have.

You know, I still have the same concern over the use of opioid money for this.

Um, and this is a question.

Um I guess that's all the questions I have about the operations of it.

I will say this.

The first time and second time that this was presented to us, there seemed to be what I would consider an extreme lack of wraparound services.

This third time that it's been presented, does actually have an indication of some wraparound services.

Um if the staffing matrix remains the same from the second presentation, then I still have concerns over the staffing matrix.

But that's fine.

Those those are my concerns.

As y'all know, I don't feel like this is appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.

Um, but my question over the opioid settlement money is the attorney general's office uh indicated to all municipalities that they should submit their proposed use and active use of opioid settlement money to the attorney general's office.

Um is that something that we have done for this project?

So, yes, in general, we have submitted what these funds will be used for, and as I went over with you all those approved uses, this is an alignment with those approved uses.

Now I just asked about if we've submitted it.

I don't I don't know if it's an approved.

Did they so are you saying the attorney general's office came back and indicated it was an approved use?

So, based off of what we did present to the attorney general's office, we did receive the funding through the settlement litigation.

Okay, thank you.

All right, thank you.

And thank you, Elena.

I appreciate it very much.

All right, thank you, Councillor Vasa.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh three questions, two related to the budget.

Um director, hello.

Uh thanks for the presentation.

Um could you explain where the budget for the build out will come from?

As I understand there's 200,000 that would be a capital investment.

Can you speak to this funding source on that?

Sure, we've been working with the uh Office of Capital Projects to do that.

Funding your question is the funding source.

The three million dollars for an hour strategies.

Okay.

Thank you for that.

Uh and then I did hear your point about year-to-year funding for sustainability, uh, that there's six hundred thousand dollar per year, if found effective given metrics and outcomes, et cetera, that it could be something that could be funded year to year outside of just receiving public funding.

Can you talk to us a little bit more about what public-private partnership might look like?

Yes, so in other cities, not necessarily OASIS, but other projects.

When um there's seem to be a lift on the uh the business sector, the private sector, they've gotten involved.

It's cities like uh Philadelphia, for example, the um local downtown business community has been very active in supporting um projects, whether it's workforce development, um, creative initiatives that's keeping people from sleeping in the doorways of businesses, and I misspoke.

I apologize.

I received the note, so I need to clarify this on the record.

Um the actual capital build out is deferred maintenance, not the three million dollars.

So deferred maintenance is where that 200,000 would come from.

Correct.

And there's a deferred maintenance budget that so that already exists.

Thank you.

Uh and the last question related to building and sort of the funding piece is uh the the property would not be owned by OASIS, but would be leased by um so just wanted to get an understanding of uh that agreement as I understand that lease agreement is three years.

Is that correct?

Okay, contractual the contractual lease agreement is between the city of Birmingham and the owners.

Um Daniel property, what is it?

Daniels property group, Marcus Daniels again, the property owners the property owner who was out of state is on online as well if you have any additional questions.

Uh thank you.

That's good there.

Uh and then my last question pertains again to the community engagement piece.

Director, I know you spoke to this, but I just wanted to clarify have business owners that are at directly adjacent to where this property would be located.

Uh they've been reached out to, they've been spoken to, and we have letters of support from all of them.

So we didn't do letters of support, we did signatures when we did the one-on-one meetings.

There are no uh for-profit businesses that are right businesses right there, but everybody in the media block all around have been contacted, and so now we're spreading out um to those other businesses, just letting them know.

I'm sure, like I said, the hard team has been there, they've seen the increased engagement, but they have not had a conversation with us.

We're starting to go out of the immediate um perimeter, but right around, yes.

I mean signatures that was only about four groups, so it only really required about four signatures.

The only letter support that we got, like I said, it was from the way station because they couldn't be here today.

And they asked, just to be clear when we when we met folks, we wanted them to know what was going on, what was the details of the project and signing saying that they got their questions and that we answered their questions.

Um started to just kind of come in organically as people heard that this item was coming before the council yesterday and today.

So um thank you to our providers who've just been showing up to show their support um and submitting letters.

All right, thank you, Director.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you very much.

Madam Pro Tim.

Thank you, Madam President.

Elena, I want to just give you just my um just overall how you have been in the paint and have really worked extremely hard.

I got a chance in 23.

Was it 23 that we traveled to California?

I think so.

To visit Urban Alchemy, their whole operation, and how things, you know, they were doing things there from you know, from the call center.

Then we had the opportunity to go to the OASIS, where the property, you know, was given to the mayor to um to develop the OASIS.

But I also want to continue to challenge my colleagues in order to.

I just feel like in order for people to really see how things work, you gotta go and you gotta do some site visits.

So you can really see this is a tedious thing to attack.

I live directly across the street from the Salvation Army.

I work directly with Elena, I work with the mayor with this abandoned Sunco service station that we have worked tremendously hard to keep clean.

Work with Urban Alchemy, what about three weeks ago?

Um lady and her son, several people were out there.

They pulled up, called Artie, no problem.

We come and got the young lady on the bus, sent her back to Huntsville.

Um, and I see these this this movement every day with people transitioning in and out to Salvation Army, and it in the bottom line is we do not have day facilities in Birmingham.

You know, we commend people like the firehouse.

I commend Patricia Todd uh for doing the work that she's done, commend everybody in this space for doing the work that they're doing.

And so I think we've had some conversations.

I think I've sent the mayor maybe like some ticks or some things that I've seen in other cities where they've opened up, I don't call it transitional housing.

I call it safe housing because what I do know is people that get into this this work, is it's it they see dollars, they really don't see the person as being human.

They they begin to start counting bodies.

This is how much I can make on this person.

Then we have these systems that are in place, like our Alabama Department of Correction that releases people that are coming out of prison mentally ill, drug addicted, then you got all these problems.

Then as I was exiting off Sixth Avenue, exit yesterday, and I'm gonna talk about the Alabama Department of Transportation, who is doing terrible job, not lighting up the freeways.

But I see tents everywhere.

Tents all under the under the under the under the underpath of the freeway.

Now I'm reminded of maybe some years ago when somebody set a fab under a freeway in Atlanta, and you can't even get these people to come do basic things of clearing out these sites, but everybody wants where these people gonna go.

Public safety starts with us all business owners, community members, everybody.

We gotta have some sympathy and some empathy.

I don't I don't even see that from people.

It's all you said, what what we gonna do?

Everybody wanna lock somebody up.

What they gonna do when they get out of jail, they come right back to the streets.

So where's the medium, the balance in all of this?

When we go get the solutions and we bring them back, then everybody wants to push back.

So where's the balance?

The business owners, it's everybody got to come to the table to rectify this problem.

But again, thank you for the hard work that you have put in.

Thank Urban Alchemy, thank everybody, firehouse, all of the partners, everybody coming to the table.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councillor Quinn.

Uh thank you.

So um I am the counselor for the district that this site will be located in.

I support this project.

Um I think there are, you know, as spoke to um there are reasons of you know, empathy and humanitarian, you know, uh considerations for doing this project, but I want to set that aside completely.

I think if you look from a just cold hard facts, dollars and cents from a financial analysis point of view, this is a good investment of taxpayer dollars because homelessness is not free for taxpayers.

You're gonna pay me now, are you gonna pay me later?

And if you choose to pay me later, you're gonna pay five times as much.

People who are living on the street have a much higher rate of engagement with first responders, so it takes police officers out of service from taking care of other public safety needs, it takes paramedic units out of service for being at the emergency room.

And oh, by the way, if you're they're admitted to the emergency room, um, taxpayers are paying for that medical care.

If they have to be admitted to the hospital, taxpayers are paying for that.

Um, there's a wise man that wants a ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Uh, and this is exactly that situation.

Um gets out of this on a free ride.

You're gonna pay now or you're gonna pay later, and if you choose to pay later, you're gonna pay a whole lot more.

So just from a financial analysis point of view, and I know you guys are gonna compile some numbers for us, but just based on you know things that I've read, um, you know, it's just like crime prevention in general.

Um, I have some old numbers.

I used to have a uh data sheet on my door of my office that talked about how much the cost of each homicide costs taxpayers, and and this is like an old number, but you know, each homicide costs taxpayers about a million and a half dollars, it's probably twice that now.

Um, this is the same type of situation, you know.

If we can prevent and and you know, let me just give out uh shout out to VPD right now because the work that they have done over the past year, you know, is saving uh taxpayers millions, you know, and I I look at this with uh through the same lens.

Um, I think there are a lot of uh big-hearted people in this metro area, and you know, it's it's apparent just by the charitable giving that you see in the the Birmingham metro area.

Um but again I want to just you know I want to acknowledge that, but say it set it aside and say this is uh a wise use of tax workpair resources because in the long run it's going to save a lot of money.

I just want to put that out there.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Quinn.

Council.

Thank you, Madam President, and Director Milton, thank you for your presentation and all the work that you have done uh up until this point.

I'm reminded of a saying um from a notable citizen of Birmingham.

If you've done, if you do what you what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

Uh and we're at a point where we can't afford to do nothing.

Uh we can't be afraid to think outside of the box uh when it comes to tackling our unhoused crisis uh that we have in the city of Birmingham.

And so we have to do something.

Whether that something works uh is yet to be determined, but at least do something, and I'm super excited to see that we are doing something.

Uh, as a municipality, it is our responsibility to care for every citizen in the city of Birmingham, not just those that are housed.

And so I'm excited to see that we are making uh headway on this.

I do have one question uh before I end.

Um how do individuals know about the OASIS?

So, how will we get the word out?

That's a great question.

So again, through engagement.

So starting uh from the moment this past is being able to say to folks who are already kind of hanging around close to the space that there will be a safe space that's coming um really soon.

Also, as we work with these providers, letting them know that this is a space for your folks who need a place to go to.

Well, just like the mayor said, very similarly to folks who are our house residents.

The word will will spread that there is a space that you go just to basically be able to use the restroom.

Yeah, like people the word will get out, but we're absolutely depending on um partnership with our providers to let folks know that the OASE is here.

Thank you.

And just one last comment.

Uh again, I want to thank you for the work that you you're doing, uh the city of Birmingham is doing.

I know uh since I've been on this side of the day, is that people will criticize you when you do something and they'll criticize you when you don't.

So keep up the good work.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Councillor Gunn.

Counselor Woods.

Yeah.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

Quick question on the finance piece.

Uh I heard you mention that the lease funds couldn't come from the opioid source.

Where are we pulling that from?

From the three million dollar allocation that you all um approved for unhouse strategies.

So the general fund.

All right, yeah, I will say, like I said, this has been a uh growing issue, I think.

I've seen beginning to see uh more feedback from residents on the eastern side of town around uh unhoused uh population and and kind of what are we doing to uh really move people ultimately to permanent housing, uh transitional, but ultimately to permanent housing.

And so we've been able to increase our investment in this space over the over the years.

So I'm optimistic.

Um, you know, one is getting an opportunity to kind of get data.

Uh I think if we can find some solutions that are effective, uh we can kind of start to, you know, move this thing in a better direction.

Um, you know, um kind of observe, I think the significant trust issues.

Like I think you talk about that a lot, but uh we've been able to kind of see that in real world.

And I mean it makes sense, you know, somebody just pulls up and tells you they want to take you somewhere.

Uh you know, you're not gonna be as receptive to that.

So creating some safe spaces to be able to build those relationships.

Uh yeah, I think the data piece is gonna be key.

And so being able to track that and point to, you know, yeah, you're Navy, is this impactful or not?

Like I'm big on being able to uh pilot things, prove concepts, um, you know, and if effective, uh we can find additional ways to invest in it.

But um, like I said, excited about the opportunities to to see it in action uh in Birmingham to see if this is something that can be effective for us.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Woods.

Um, I do just have one question, Director Milton.

Um, yesterday I did ask, so I know the answer, but I just want for transparency during budget and finance.

Part of the uh presentation you included was the scope or the map of where this would be located and the surrounding businesses or people that were close.

And you had several churches that were in there, and I believe I asked at that time what had been your um sort of engagement with those uh primary businesses or churches, and had you had some communication with those particular neighbors that would be involved there.

Yes, ma'am.

So we started there because there is one church in particular that's very, very close.

Um, and the feedback was really good for Pastor Caldwell.

Um, so I thank him for spending a tremendous amount of time with us.

And what we've learned is the number one issue uh around the unhoused um was the amount of trash and littering and loitering, and the next day the heart team was out there cleaning up and um we've gotten pictures, and since then the um that has continued to go on, just being good neighbors.

Yes, we would be responsible for this bioland, but that entire community, how it looks and feels for the folks that'll be on on the other side of that gate, it's important, equally important that our churches in the area um and our house residents in the community, or even though they're far out, know that it's a view, it's it's a nice safe space that people can go.

Um we have heard that there are increased um this increased loading of Sundays, and so one, this spot will be open on Sundays, but two, we know now from um police patrol as well as the heart team, we need to increase our engagement.

Um we have heard that there are increased um this increased loading of Sundays, and so one, this spot will be open on Sundays, but two, we know now from um police patrol as well as the heart team, we need to increase our engagement, and that's not the only church we've heard that from, and so we want to be real intentional to offer them that support as well.

Because one of my concerns was I believe I asked what were the hours of operation, and I was concerned about um just the churches and Sunday and people coming in and out and what would be that traffic and what would that be that experience?

So thank you for that.

I do uh want to thank you for the work that you're doing for the work that has been done since the last presentation.

I uh I know that um we voted at that time to support and had overwhelming response that made that not go into effect.

I do want to thank the property owner that brought this as an opportunity for us, and I think it gave us an opportunity for lessons learned during the last um presentation and the last time we considered that for the work that went into it to try to answer those questions.

Um I do understand the concern about being sure that we're good stewards of um not only the settlement that we got from the opioid funds, but for the money that we um have in the general fund for uh assistance of our unhoused strategies.

I just have to think often we have items that come before us that um are meant they're for I don't want to say they're meant to make money for people who are investing in a project, and sometimes we don't see this in the help and the aid to our residents.

So for this type of a project, I'm excited that this one segment we would be able to help.

It is not going to be the most perfect, but again, it is a start to where we want to go and what we want to see for the um people in the city of Birmingham.

So I thank you.

At this time, if you're knowing the questions.

Um a few more questions.

Um you're talking about the trash and et cetera.

It made me think how many trash cans will be on site and around the area.

So I don't know how many will be around the area.

Um, but inside we've been working with DPW, and they've suggested because of the potential volume that we have a roll off, and they will service um the staff will clean and empty, but DPW will service them.

We're working to get a roll-up.

Okay, good.

And then um, do you mind repeating the timeline for this project?

I know it was in your um in your slides, but can you so the goal would be of course to continue community engagement from the moment we leave here, just making sure we we uh meet with the neighbors.

The longest thing and a timeline will be how long it'll take to put the fence up.

So in a perfect world, um we would open early fall, so in October.

Okay.

Um, I'm not sure if you mentioned this, but when it gets cold, will there be heaters on site?

There will be heaters.

Okay, good, good, good.

Okay.

Um, and then last one, did you ever say the number of businesses you've engaged since you've started this project?

I did.

I said there are no businesses in the immediate, so we focus on what's right around, and now we want to just start going outside the perimeter where there are some for-profit businesses in the area.

So you don't know how many?

We have not begins with the for-profit businesses in here.

And what's the name of the business owner?

Who's the business owner again?

Which one?

For the lot that we're purchasing from.

Oh, Marcus Daniels.

Marcus Daniels.

He's still on the call if there's a question for him.

Yeah, because I just got information, he's not really the owner.

That's why I asked again who's the owner of this lot.

Okay, so are you the only person that owns this lot?

You see that we're working on this one.

Okay.

That's fine.

Thank you.

Um like I mentioned before, I think this is a good idea, but I'll say myself, I need to do a better job of asking questions because we can have good ideas, but if we don't ask the questions to make sure the logistics is right, a good idea can sometimes fall by the wayside, and that happens from something as small as a family reunion to something as big as a development project.

Um, so I don't want it to appear as a lot of questions, means not really in support, it's just making sure that things go well.

Um I do really appreciate you, Elena, because you have helped me recently with the situation with our unhoused residents, and I think what this project is really about investing in people.

Um I think Madam President talked about how we invest a lot of times in infrastructure, but it's the people that make up the city and not just the infrastructure.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions, counselors or comments?

Thank you, Director Millton.

We thank you and everyone that has um answered questions, and thank you, counselors, for the series of questions that we had regarding this particular item.

At this time, Madam Clerk, we're ready for the vote.

Uh the vote is started.

Um yes.

Okay.

That's that's not working either.

I'm a no.

All right, thank you.

So councillors items 15 and 12 pass.

Next item.

Uh if we go back to the beginning, yes, we can go from the beginning.

Thank you.

On page four, we have item number nine, which has been requested to be withdrawn by the mayor's office.

All right, thank you.

Item nine is withdrawn.

Okay, the next item on page four is item 10.

An ordinance approving and authorizing the mayor to execute an interlocal contract, accepting a grant of 462,500 from the Jefferson County Board of Health for development of parks to provide sustainable industrial residential buffer zones as proposed by the city and in accordance with conditions set out in this ordinance, and then the agreement presented to this council for approval.

This is the item of permanent operation, so we'll need unanimous consent first.

Second councilmember gunn.

Aye, councilmember O'Quinn.

Councilmember Smithman.

Aye.

Councilmember Vasa.

Councilmember Williams, Councilmember Woods, President Pro Tim Tate.

Aye.

Council President Alexander.

Aye.

Okay, now we need a motion on the actual item.

All right, thank you, Councillors.

This is an ordinance approving and authorizing the mayor to execute an interlocal contract where we're accepting a grant of 462,500 from the Jefferson County Board of Health for the development of parks to provide sustainable industrial resident residential buffer zones.

And those have been proposed by the city in accordance with um conditions set in the ordinance.

Any questions regarding this item or do we need any type of presentation regarding this item?

Just one question.

Yes, I know the answer is on budget finance for us, but which parts would benefit from this.

I have to pull that.

I'm sorry, Madam President.

Yes, G.

I know they were mostly around the Fed area of the interstate because that was the settlement from that lawsuit was good.

But we can provide that, but I think they're mostly in the north Birmingham area.

Okay.

The central city area.

Okay.

I just wanted to say it for the public, but I do remember that.

Thank you.

I was trying to think Harriman, Macklin, and Fairmont.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Any other questions?

Okay, we're ready for the vote.

Okay, that vote has started.

Okay, Council President Alexander.

And I'm an I thank you.

Having trouble with my iPad.

All right.

All right, thank you.

That item passes.

Next item.

The next item we will go over to page five.

Item 13.

Item 13 is a resolution approving and authorizing the mayor to execute a funding agreement between the city of Birmingham and the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, under which the RPCGB shall assist the city with applications for federal and state grants, provide multi-jurisdictional planning for comprehensive land use, corridor, and strategic development, provide long-range programs and planning, including urbanized area and greenway plans.

RPCGB shall assist the city with GIS data development analysis and deployment assistance for a term of one year and amount not to exceed 128,000 four hundred three dollars for the services provided.

So we need a motion, please.

All right, thank you, Council Smithman.

You'd ask the sign it to be removed because where are the locations of the urbanized area and greenways they'll benefit from this?

It says in number three, provide long-range programs and planning, including urbanized area and greenway plans.

I'm trying to find it in the attachments, but I believe that it's still something that we negotiate with the RPC since this is our yearly funding agreement with them.

Um so but you know, as they convene as a commission, they assign different projects within the scope of Birmingham and other municipalities that pay into that system.

Okay.

And so I didn't know that was something we could look into into different parts of the city.

Just trying to see how to repurpose them instead of them turning into overgrown lots, they've been really a burden for all nine districts.

Um okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions regarding this item?

We're ready for the vote.

Okay, the vote is started.

Council and I'm aye.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Item 13 passes.

All right.

The next item is on page eight is item number 22.

A resolution consenting to the industrial development board of the city of Birmingham issuing up to 10 million dollars, principal amount of its industrial revenue bonds for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction, improvement, equipping, and installation by Colton Holdings L C of a manufacturing and warehousing facility located at 1811 Woodlands Industrial Drive, Birmingham.

Second.

All right, thank you, Counselors.

This is a resolution considering the cons consenting to the industrial development board of issuing $10 million in principal amount of its industrial revenue bonds.

Any questions regarding this item?

Council O'Quinn.

Yes, um we have a member of the industrial development board here to speak about this item.

Uh if you give us your name, and then we'll let you answer the question.

Yes, absolutely.

My name is Edward Gall with Bradley Aaron Bolt Cummings serving as bond counsel to the IDB for the financing contemplated in the resolution before you.

Um we are the proposal is to uh issue bonds on behalf of uh Jeff Colton.

Uh and those uh the bond proceeds will be used for the acquisition construction and rehabilitation of a trade show booth manufacturing facility.

So if all of you can picture in your head, like you know, when you I didn't think of Iron Man, you know, the big weapons displays they have these are that's not what this what it is, but somebody builds those big big expo booths, and Jeff Colton uh has been in Birmingham for about 30 years now, and uh so let's say you know he has to uh build an exhibit for a particular company, that exhibit then goes on the road and it travels all throughout the country, and eventually it's gonna come back to Birmingham where it's going to be uh refurbished, it's gonna be continually, I would say, manufactured and bespoked uh for the next trade show that is coming.

And in order to do that, you need you know a lot of manufacturing capacity and you need a lot of warehousing space.

And so what we're trying to do here is provide Jeff with just that, and the IDB is going to issue bonds on his behalf, and under the IDB's uh certificate of incorporation, uh it says that the IDB cannot lease, improve, expand uh any sort of real or personal property constituting a project underneath the statute 11-54-80 without the prior consent of the Birmingham City Council, and so that is why we are here today.

So will the 10 million dollars with uh the IDB own the facility?

Uh yes, that is my understanding.

Okay.

Um and so um what is the IDB's total bonding capacity?

That I do not know the answer to.

I know that underneath what do you mean when you say bonding capacity?

Well, well, what I'm getting at is, you know, let's just say the IDB's total bonding capacity is 10 million dollars.

They we are authorized to issue uh up to 10 million dollars in bonds.

Okay, so convince me that you know this 10 the investment of 10 million dollars in this facility is you know uh appropriate use of that bonding capacity versus where 10 million dollars could be invested elsewhere.

Uh right.

So in reality, the IDB is not investing ten million dollars in any way.

That is not what this is.

This is a conduit financing um through which the uh the proceeds of the bonds are secured and payable solely from lease payments that come from Jeff Colton.

And so the ultimate and you know ultimately it's going to be coming from Jeff.

So the lease payments are gonna come from the revenues of him just you know, ordinarily running this business, and um realistically there's nothing, there's no liability on the part of the city, there's no liability on the part of the IDB, it is a lease-backed revenue conduit arrangement.

So maybe I must misunderstood earlier.

So the IDB is just financing the project for them.

So the IDB will actually not own this property.

So it's a lease lease backed, the IDB owns the property, and it's gonna be secured by a mortgage, which will serve as collateral for the duration of the debt service uh and paying off the bonds.

Okay, uh now I understand.

I got you.

Um so the Colton Holting holdings reach out to the IDB, you know, to solicit this sort of assistance.

Uh so actually Mr.

Colton has done this before.

Uh he did this in 2009.

Uh and so the deal that we're putting before you today is essentially the same as it was in 2009.

The only difference in 2009 is there was a federal tax uh hiccup that was applicable uh post-2008, which is not applicable here, um, which involves federal guarantees, but we have uh you know a letter of credit that's gonna come from CBNS bank that is gonna uh you know serve uh as backup collateral for the bonds, and then we have a confirming letter of credit that's going to come from Wells Fargo to even serve as greater um uh safety net for debt service payments.

And so at the end of the day, there's just all that we are asking for that and that comes from the IDB's certificate of incorporation is just the consent to just continue with the yeah.

Yeah, I understand.

And and all I'm asking for is you know, to convince me that this is appropriate use of the IDB resources.

So um does this project have the backing of uh say like the the Birmingham Business Alliance?

Yes, that's the backing of the Birmingham Business Alliance, and we have been in conversations with the state uh and we are waiting on confirmation of a scheduling for the state industrial development authority to convene so that we can get state bond allocation for qualified small issue manufacturing bonds.

And so we've been you know working on the okay.

Um I would like a so the only information that we got in the agenda was the resolution, you know, the the text of the resolution on of the item.

So we don't you know part of the reason that I'm asking these questions is because the structure of the deal wasn't part of the information that was shared with us.

So I would appreciate that.

Um yes, and I I did provide a project summary, whether or not that was conveyed to y'all, that is my apologies.

It was an exhibit.

Yeah, I'll make sure that that gets sent to you all after the it was an exhibit as part of the resolution, but it's mostly uh description of the the property.

So um no, that was the uh the exhibit was just like the the legal description of the land.

I have an actual project summary which outlines a lot of what you're asking for, which I did provide to the city in advance.

I'd be very much appreciative if you'd share that with us.

Um also appreciate um uh IDB sharing the the minutes of the meeting where they considered this item.

Absolutely.

I did share those as well in advance of this meeting, so I'll have to make sure that gets to you.

Okay, that didn't make it to us, so uh I appreciate it.

Um part of the reason that I'm um asking about this is that uh you know we have a lot of um businesses in the city of Birmingham.

Um, you know, and historically not everybody has had equal access to um the type of capital that's required to exp expand and grow a business.

So been on the council now nine years.

I think this is probably the first time that the IDB has come to us to you know ask for consent, you know.

I may not be remembering previous um, no, and it makes sense that you are not because this is this used to be a much more common method of financing back in the day, but for reasons you know beyond my knowledge, uh it became less popular and they have been becoming more popular again lately, these uh like call qualified small issuing manufacturing bonds that we're talking about.

Um and uh I know Ben Sprattling, you know, counselor of the IDB has given me a the full gambit of history on bond financing through the IDB as it was before.

So I cannot speak to um you know why there hasn't been in the past ten years, but I do know that it is uh it it was previously a much more common method of financing.

Yeah, so um so I'm I'm learning, you know, and I'm I'm happy to learn that this is you know uh potential tool that we can use for economic uh development um in the region.

So I'm also curious, you know, the the I asked about the IDB's total bonding capacity.

You mentioned uh the IDB is authorized to issue bonds up to 10 million dollars.

Uh for this particular financing as to its total bonding capacity, I I'm not sure that there's a limitation.

Uh I would have to look into that.

Yeah, so that that's information that you know would be helpful.

I mean, I don't think there is a day that goes by um that every counselor sitting up here doesn't have you know a a business or an organization that's you know reaching out for some type of assistance.

Um and like I said, you know, access to capital has been a challenge.

Um so uh just for our own edification that would be useful information.

Um I mean part of our role as counselors, you know, maybe not explicitly stated in the Mayor Council Act, but we we are um you know, points of contact between the community and resources.

That's a position that we find ourselves in every day.

And so you know, having uh an inventory of resources that we can direct people to helps us in our work.

So you know, if you could assist us with getting that um type of information, we appreciate it.

Thank you.

Happy to.

Thank you, Dr.

Queen.

Any other questions?

Uh yes, Council Witz.

Uh thank you.

So at this point they have only bought the property.

Uh so they expended any funds towards the project.

So what project?

What had initially been the plan was to directly use bond proceeds to purchase the property.

But what happened was is we were having some delays with our uh tax due diligence because of that.

I don't want to bore y'all with federal tax law, but in there is a 2009-2010 law that uh made it to where you could issue bonds with uh with a federal guarantee without blowing up the tax exemption that comes with you know these types of bonds.

And um so it's not 2010 anymore, but Jeff did it.

Jeff issued these bonds, or the IDB issued these bonds in 2009, so it fell in that timeline.

So what we had to do is figure out okay, well, we can't get a confirming letter of credit from a federal home loan bank like we did before because that constitutes a federal guarantee.

And so we had to allow for some time for uh CBNS Bank and Wells Fargo and other parties involved to figure out okay, what kind of what are we gonna do instead?

And so that's where Wells Fargo is gonna come in as confirming.

And um, but in order for Jeff to you know proceed with purchasing the old EBSCO building, he needed to go ahead and you know buy it.

And so uh CBNS came up with an idea, they said, okay, well, we'll we'll provide a uh a temporary bridge loan, and then the bond proceeds can go to then uh apologies, uh refinance that bridge loan.

So it's effectively still being funded by Braun proceeds.

There just had to be some extra steps in between so that we could you know make sure we did everything that we needed to do.

Right.

Can you talk a little bit a little bit about the liability?

Because you were saying there is no liability on the part of the city in any way, shape, or form.

The uh the the bonds are secured solely from pet lease payments that uh Colton Holdings will make to the IDB, and those lease payments are going to be derived from the revenues that come from the project.

Right.

My question is more so in terms of liability associated with the IDB.

Right.

So the property that would be secured by a mortgage on the property, and then the lease payments will actually be uh supported by a letter of credit from CBNS bank.

So to the extent any lease payments cannot be made, those lease payments then come from uh the bank.

And actually, there is going to be a confirming letter of credit to further uh assure bondholders and to assure everyone that everything will get paid.

Wells Fargo is going to come in behind them and support.

All right, so the property will be a part of the collateral that the IDB, who's holding the collateral?

The pro that is my understanding, yes, of the project.

Well, I'm saying who does it refer to revert to in the case of a depot?

In the case of what now?

A default.

Oh, I believe it reverse back to the IDB.

So the IDB would own this property and have to I I think I don't want to speak out of turn here.

I'll have to confirm that myself.

Yeah, I mean uh um and I've got a separate issue in my district associated with the um similar situation that uh went a different route, but I'm interested in clarity around uh the downside, like what happens if this also from from my understanding that is virtually none to minimal uh short of you know the business just not doing well.

I don't really think there's much downside that comes because well, I mean, that's the downside I'm talking about.

Um if the business is doesn't sustain or has some issue.

No, I understand what what this is an expansion of the existing business because it is so successful and because it is doing so well, uh the entire reason we're doing this financing is so that he can expand his space to meet the needs and capacity that he is being uh uh asked for right, but I'm saying these are what's the term on these bonds?

Uh I believe it's 20 issues right.

So I mean we just don't know, so I'm just saying in the event that there is an issue, I'm just trying to get clarity on specifically what happens in that instance.

Right.

In that scenario, it's going to thank you, Council.

I'm out of turn, but I just wanted to state that so typically what will happen is if there is a downturn in this business, the letter of credit that the bank holds will then pay for the bonding of so that there is no downturn to the IDB.

And so the bank secures the bond payments or mortgage payments throughout the 20-year process with the letter of credit.

And the negative would come from a relationship between Jeff or whoever the person is and the bank because then Jeff would then know the bank to repay the bank for their letter of credit that paid for all of the bond payments for that 20 years is my understanding of how that would work should the business become insolvent for any reason and not be able to make those payments.

That's exactly right.

Does that make sense?

So they there's a letter that basically says the so the bank would end up taking the property, they would continue the lease payments on the on the oh yes, no, there's it'll be a credit agreement in place uh to affect that.

Okay, and so I guess has that agreement been done or where is that in the process?

It's being drafted currently in the same manner as it was in 2009.

Okay.

Sorry, I'm just trying to make sure I didn't overlook that in the agreement.

Um anybody else has a question, you can come back to me, but think any other questions.

All right.

And you're saying that information was included in the attachments that we have.

I'm sorry, what information?

The information that uh counselor would ask.

What are you looking for?

Yes, I mean I think ultimately just clarity on the bank providing a letter.

So if that if there is some sort of uh letter of intent to do that or uh indication that they've agreed, because I think the council of Quinn's point um this is a tool that you know we can use locally to uh bring in economic development funds, and you know, whatever we uh lend that capacity to is diminished by in this case ten million dollars that it can't go to something else, but um I'm comfortable with it if the bank is backing that um and committing to uh ensure that the bond payments are paid in full uh through the term of that bond, but we don't have um that here do you understand what he's saying?

I don't think so.

Do you have like um a letter of intent from the bank?

The bank agreeing to back basically.

Also, what we have is documentation from the bridge loan, which uh expires come October 26th, um, which means we have that there has been a bridge loan put in c in place entirely premised upon uh you know the hope that this bond issue can happen, which means that nobody is nobody is doing anything that they don't fully intend to commit to because they've already entered the phase one portion of this, uh, so that Jeff could just buy the property without having to wait uh and prices go up and all those things.

And so there's there's no risk that that that aspect of this will not occur.

Right, but I'm saying after that point, so uh once they um sell the bonds, they're gonna pay off the bridge loan, and so the bridge loan will be paid off, and that'll happen prior to uh October of this year.

And so my thing is you're saying that the bank is guaranteeing the lease payments through the term should something happen with the the business of the project.

And I'm just asking, like, where is that reflected?

Do you have that letter?

Uh at what point will the I can certainly provide all of that to you, absolutely.

So that's kind of where I'm interested in, just making sure the liability is not on the IDB.

Yes, the liability is not on the IDB, and I can provide documentation to support that.

Absolutely.

If I could ask administration, thank you for those questions.

IEO or um economic development, in asking for these items that were in the packet, can we request these or were these provided to us?

So the administration had no insight on this, so the IDB at separated apart from the city.

So I think it's just between the IDB and us and yes, ma'am and ma'am.

Yes, administrator McDaniels.

There are some additional attachments in the packet, they're misnumbered.

That's something looks like number 19 that I think should be 22.

Thank you.

Do you have copies of those, or we can refer counselors to that?

Because thank you so much for bringing that up.

And I think it's mislabeled as 19.

Is that correct?

Okay.

Yes, ma'am.

We apologize for that.

Thank you.

So counselors, if you could look at those.

Yes.

That's it.

For anybody who's looking at page 263 of our packet.

But it has the project expo summary at the top.

Yes.

And that gives some of those information.

And then this is identified as page one 19.

Yeah, it does describe the under.

How long will it take you to get that letter or of intent, like basically the bank letter?

You have it?

Do what?

You have it already?

I don't know if there is a letter of intent or I I don't know if there's a sp I don't know what specific documents you're looking for, but I can certainly find I guess the point like the liability is going to rest with somebody.

And so it's either the bank or the you're saying the bank is so we just won't.

Yeah, I can't.

I can ask you this for the Yeah, no, I can send you uh the bridge loan documents.

You can take a look at those and um see if I don't know that why would that be in the bridge loan document?

Because the bridge loan is the phase one portion of this financing to support the bond for the bigger.

The bank is signed off for the entire project.

Typically the bank is yeah, typically a bridge loan is gonna go away once it's paid off.

Correct, it'll be paid off with the bond proceeds that that come from this bond issuance.

Right.

And so I mean, I I'm representing the public side, and so I'm talking about yes, down the road.

You you understand what that's I honestly I don't because when the bank issues the bridge loan, you know that financial analysis is done so that they can issue the letter of credit because the bonds can't be issued without the letter of credit.

And so I you know he's all the individual's already been deemed credit worthy by the bank that's securing the bonds with the letter of credit.

So I don't know where where we're going with this.

Uh yeah, so I guess the point goes back to if they're unable to make the um lease payments.

Then the bank takes it through the letter of credit.

The letter of the letter of credit guarantees the lease payments.

There, but I'm saying there is there a letter of credit.

Is like does that exist or is that something you're gonna give?

So that that is currently like what what that is part of this deal.

Everything gets closed on the same day.

The letter of credit, uh, you know, there's probably about 50 plus documents that come with the transaction that is this complicated and of this size.

And uh that will all happen, you know, simultaneously.

Um so we do not have the full credit agreement for you yet.

What I have for you is is the plan, which is uh nearly identical to what uh was done in 2009.

Of which to my knowledge, a debt service payment has never been missed for the counselors included in the packet.

We do have some items again that were labeled as 19, even though this is item number 22, and I do see some of that communication regarding the bridge loan and the attachments of the IDB that's labeled item page two and three that does describe some of this information.

Yes, ma'am.

And now if we need to take a few minutes to allow you all to review since I mean that's what uh went to committee uh that document.

Uh I like I said, I don't know that we have everything, but I don't see anything to suggest that the the bank is engaged beyond uh the bridge payment bridge loan being paid off.

Any other questions, counselor?

How are you sitting with this as far as getting more information, Councillor Woods?

Uh I mean I don't I don't know.

Um I don't think it's creating an issue if we delayed this a week.

Um just for to get the like I said, uh if there if there is, you know, the bank is already on board with this.

That's basically what I'm looking for, is just some confirmation that somebody's backstop it.

I can absolutely assure you that the bank is on board with this.

We engaged uh Steifle as underwriter uh to the last IDB meeting.

That was one of the actions that we took uh to hire us as bond counsel and um you know steps are uh we are drafting right now.

We've engaged with uh regions to serve as trustee on the deal.

Um we have a pretty much a honestly a great framework laid out due to the fact that this deal was done almost identically in 2009.

Um and so I can certainly provide you with everything that we need, but I do know that you know this is uh something that we would like to get done fast uh you know to the extent that we can um all right well I'll move for a one-week delay if you can pull all that together, then we can sort it next week.

Second second all in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

All right, thank you.

We'll have a one-week delay on this item, and we just want to be sure we have clarity for you to provide us with the items that are being requested so that we can get those before the council to consider during that week.

I have what specific items are we looking for, so I understand is it a letter of intent to issue a letter of credit?

Is that the yeah, there's some commitment from the bank that they'll be backstop in um the 10 million?

Is that understandable what we're looking for?

Okay, letter of commitment to ensure that the bank is backing the right.

Yeah, I mean, because I'm being told that the liability is not gonna rest with the IDB, so we're just making sure that that is covered.

Understandable.

Understandable.

All right, thank you.

Awesome.

Thank y'all so much.

Thank you.

This item 22 is delayed for one week.

Thank you very much.

Next item.

That is the last item.

Come on the agenda.

That was the last item on the agenda.

Thank you very much.

At this time, counselors, we will turn our attention to your updates regarding um things going on in your district.

So, Councillor Smithman, you want to start first?

Yes, uh Madam President.

Um, thank you to everyone that joined us last Thursday at Arlington House for the community forum in partnership with Brenda Brown Bosom Bunnies.

Uh join Council Tate and I this Saturday, August 1st from 10 to 2 for peace on the block.

Um, we will be meeting at 1200 Tuscles Avenue, food vendors, mental health resources, and more, and then get fit while you sit.

We are still continuing through the last Monday in September.

Uh the class starts at 9 30 at Chris Obray Birmingham High School.

And also I want to tell Madam President a happy ballet birthday.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Council of you ready?

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh our D3 school supply pop-up is this Saturday, August 1st, from 10 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

at Bessie Estel Park.

We will distribute supplies at Bessie of Sell Park in Glen Iris.

We're inviting families from Epic, Glen Iris and Avondale Elementary Schools to come pick out their school supplies for the upcoming year.

And there will not be a Redmont Park meeting, a neighborhood meeting tonight that has been canceled.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you so much.

Council Quinn, you ready?

Yes, ma'am.

Um Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association meeting has been canceled for this evening.

Crestwood North Neighborhood Association will meet tonight at 6 30 p.m.

at Girls Incorporated.

Um and just want to again have sound like a break broken record about this up here, but the annual district five health fair will take place on Saturday, August 8th, 9 to 2 p.m.

at Parker High School.

Um again, we're uh proud to partner with the Alpha Phi chapter of the Omega Sci-Fi Fraternity Incorporated to make the event possible.

Um want to say thank you to those guys uh again uh over and over again they were out canvassing the neighborhood in Smithfield yesterday afternoon, going door to door, passing out flyers, um, which uh we haven't had the capacity to do in previous years, so it's tremendous.

Um so the health fair is gonna offer free health screenings, community resources, back to school supplies, uh blood drive, uh backpack giveaway, school supplies, uh free food.

So you guys come out and make plans to check it out.

And again, that's August 8th, 9 to 2 p.m.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Quinn.

Counselor Gunn.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, these are my announcements for this week.

This Saturday will be hosted in the District 4 Back to School Splash.

It'll be a free community event designed to bring families together uh before the start of the new school year.

So we invite residents, all residents in District 4 and the city of Birmingham to enjoy an afternoon filled with water, fun, music, food, and back to school giveaways.

Uh, we will also, during that time, it'll start at 11 o'clock, so we'll have an hour dedicated just for our seniors uh in the community to come out and enjoy aqua aerobics uh in the pool without kids around.

So I want to make sure that everyone comes out and uh attends that.

Uh neighborhood association meetings coming up.

Uh the first Monday of this month, which is August the 3rd, we have the Maple Grove uh Neighborhood Association meeting, which takes place at 6 30 p.m.

uh via teleconference.

We also have on that same Monday, Zion City, which takes place at 6 30 p.m.

via teleconference.

Also on that same Monday, we have Brownsville Heights, which takes place at 6 30 p.m.

at the Brownsville Heights Community Center.

And lastly, on that Monday, we have uh Collegville, which takes place at 6 30 p.m.

at Greater New Antioch Baptist Church.

Also on the first Tuesday of the month, which is August the 4th, we have the Fairmont Neighborhood Association, which takes place at 6 30 p.m.

at the North Birmingham Library and rounding out next week.

We have Brummett Heights, which takes place August the 6th at 1 p.m.

at the Brownsville Heights Community Center.

Uh upcoming committee meetings, we have the next neighborhood, I mean community development committee meeting uh scheduled for Monday, August the 3rd at 3 30 p.m.

right here in the city council chambers.

And that concludes my announcements.

Thank you, Madam Protemp.

Thank you, Madam President.

Dola Mighty Neighborhood Association meeting is tonight at 6 p.m.

They meet on conference call.

You can call 720 8432669.

The access code is 3789426, as is has already been stated by Council O'Quinn, Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association meeting is council tonight.

Central Pract Neighborhood Association meeting will be here Monday, August 3rd, 6 p.m.

at the Howard Sanford Park, located at 320 Avenue D, and that's in Pratt City.

Also want to also talk about and how like peace on the block.

We locking down Tuscaloosa Avenue again.

So the peace on the block is our annual event that brings resources and bring people together in the community for wellness resources, music, vendors, food, youth activities, and family fun and mental health resources.

So we're looking forward to this event.

It's gonna be at OAA at 1200 Tuscaloosa Avenue from 12.

Also, Dr.

Jamila T.

Davis and the community safety um department is going to be doing an activation at one prep park, 125 game changers.

Also with the 50 students that uh took the Rise of Program at Miles this year.

So they're gonna activate the park tomorrow from 11 to 3, and that's gonna be at one prep park.

So the kids are gonna lead that activation.

So they have to the youth leadership, wellness, sports, resources, sort of via an array of things.

So you have uh restore um community safety department and Dr.

Jamila T.

Davis who heads the um rising program at Penn Miles College.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you very much.

These are announcements for District 7.

Uh do want to note, counselors, that tomorrow we do have a special call committee of the whole administration and government affairs committee meeting.

That's tomorrow at 3:30 here in Council Chambers.

On Saturday, August 1st, the District 7 office will be teaming up with Grace Club, CDC, and the Roosevelt City and the East and West Brownsville Neighborhood Associations.

This is the third annual community resource fair and book bag giveaway.

So there are many opportunities for you to get your children ready to go back to school.

That will be Saturday from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

at the Roosevelt City Rec Center.

Um we'll have plenty of free school supplies.

There'll be bouncy houses, free limited haircuts, and free food.

The book bag giveaway that's being part of this that's being sponsored by District 7 that will be until supplies last.

So get there early so that you can get there for all those items.

And we're happy again to partner with Grace Club CDC and the three neighborhood associations to bring this opportunity to our residents.

On Monday, August 3rd, the Grisilla Heights Neighborhood Association will meet at 6 p.m.

at Bryant Chapel AME Church, and that's at 3125 Spauting Street Southwest.

If you have any um want to report any illegal dumping or miss bulk trash pickups, please uh dial make that award known to 311 or you can dial 205-254-6314.

And on behalf of Councillor Smith, I would like to announce that on Saturday, August 18th, she will be partnering with the joint town hall with Representative Trapp, Travis Hendricks, and that'll be at Sardis Baptist Church at 6 p.m.

We don't have any other announcements at this time.

We'll um alert our attention to the speaker's list.

Madam Clerk, uh, as you call the first speaker, I just want to remind our speakers after your name is called.

If you'll please come to the podium, and if you'll give us your name and address and their monitors to my left and right, they'll be counting down your time.

You do have three minutes, and um, we uh want to entertain any uh communication you want to provide to the council at this time.

So, madam clerk, if you'll give us the first person on the speaker's list, the first name we have is Laquan Jackson.

Good morning, Mr.

Jackson.

My name is Laquan Jackson.

I reside at 1236 Riverford Drive, Hoover, Alabama.

Um I'm glad to see you, sir.

Um just and all of you counselors, uh councilmen, council ladies for what you guys do in the um community.

The the the Bible says that in the in the um in the um in the presence of of counsel there is safety.

Um and you guys definitely do a good job of um making us feel safe.

Now, this is provided I'm I'm a New Yorker, so I'm probably getting the backstory, but I I know Birmingham has been good to me.

I came here um running for my life from New York City and Birmingham embraced me, get educated me.

I'm a Miles College, go bears, and um since then I've served Birmingham solemnly.

Um if you ever see all those black people on bikes ride around bicycles in Birmingham, that's my group.

We're called Team No Breaks.

We've rode on every neighborhood from Avondale to Hoover, from Homewood to Gay City, and it's been nothing but love.

We stopped in the most worst neighborhood y'all could think of, and those people embraced us, changed ties for us, gave us rides.

So sometimes I see on the media what they say about Birmingham, and that's not what I see.

I see love.

So recently um, I've invested in a gym on the South Side with three other people.

Um it's called um Five Points Fitness.

I thought it was in um Councilman Quinn's area and Lady Smithiness, your area.

So um I didn't do the um the traditional way.

I think I reached up to you on your social media um and I just wanted to come here to um show you my face and let you know that we are here to serve you.

We're here to give to you whatever you need.

Um, you have an army behind you when it comes to my group, Team No Breaks as well as the um gym.

Thank you for everything that you're doing in the community.

Um I don't know if are you over um are you over the transportation?

Yes.

Yes, sir.

Okay, thank you for the bike lanes that you give us.

Um, it has really helped us out as the best that it can as far as um them seeing us, we seeing them.

They give us six feet.

They even now start honking and cheering as we get out the way.

Sometimes you hear, hey, get off, get out the way, but sometimes you also hear y'all keep going.

So I just again wanted to take the time out to thank you.

Um I look forward to working in your area, ma'am.

And uh, y'all keep doing what you do.

God bless.

Thank you, Mr.

Jackson.

And you you do look familiar to me.

I think you were here with the group before with the bikers at one time.

So, and you told us your story.

So I thank you for um not only being grateful to the city of Birmingham, but reinvesting in it through your business.

So I wish you much success with that.

And um, I always look forward to seeing when I see the bikers at night and see those lights.

I'm always enthused.

One day maybe I'll get on that bike and ride it.

But tell me that because we'll buy you a bike.

We've given over $100,000 worth of bikes.

That's documented.

So you want to bite, y'all holler at me.

Is it equipped for seniors?

We need to equipped for seniors.

We have e-bikes.

Okay.

We have every bike you could think.

We have tricycles.

Thank you.

My wife told me I gotta get a um a bike that has two seats on it.

So we have everybody basically think of.

But I do thank y'all for real.

And I look forward to hearing from you, lady.

Thank you, Mr.

Jackson.

I know you're not here in this capacity.

Aren't you employed with the city?

I am.

So I am a uh bailiff for judge um Kathy Alexis.

Um I was with police and safety, and then I went to corrections, and now I am a bailiff under uh I get to serve Kathy Alexis, and I did meet the awesome Smithers who I saw them in court and I said, God, I do not want to go against them.

So I'm just grateful for every opportunity that I got that I have.

Birmingham has been good to me, guys.

Trying to move my family here, and I'm trying to create an event so I could bring Birmingham to New York City.

So life is good.

Thank you.

Appreciate that.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

The next speaker is Courtney Brown.

Courtney Brown.

Next speaker.

Joseph Holt.

Hey, Mr.

Holt.

Hey, how are you doing, Madam President and um City Council members?

Uh, my name is Joseph Holt, 4732nd Avenue North.

Um, here again about like I said, system on the IEO um program.

I'm gonna read this to you.

It's um official this Birmingham City page.

It says Birmingham Workforce needs are concentrated in six key sectors: information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction trades, health care, professional services, and transportation logistics.

If your organization is working in any of these areas in the Birmingham Workforce Partner Acceleratory, was designed with you in mind.

Free program, key word, free program, real support.

May 29th, I signed up that day.

Okay, the program starts now in July.

This is the letter I got.

Thank you for allowing Birmingham workforce partner accelerated and for the care you give submission.

The decision reflects it says the whole foundation.

We cannot offer the Hulk Foundation a spot in this cohort.

It says this decision reflects the specific fit of this cohort.

Now, what does cohort mean?

Cohort means a group of people who share something in common.

Now, it says right here, construction trades.

The whole foundation teaches kids construction trades.

I'm a licensed contractor for 11 years.

I build homes across community, I teach people trades.

I'm on the news, I'm in the papers, I didn't tell over 50 kids in my program, and I got denied because I'm not a specific fit.

Where am I not a specific fit?

It say construction trades, okay?

IEO and all these programs are discriminating against me.

Now I'm coming here because it's recorded.

Some people don't care, and that's fine.

But I'm a resident too.

I'm a community leader.

You're supposed to care about me too.

But that's fine.

So what I'm saying to you is it's recorded.

I just wanted to come here and say, hey, I'm a resident.

I got discriminated against with my program.

I'm in construction trades.

What is the specific fit?

It says I'm not a specific fit.

Now these are six cohorts.

That's it.

I'm not specific fit for a cohort.

Why not?

So I asked the guy, he has no answer, Mr.

Houser.

The girl who's over the program, the manager, Erica Dis got small with me.

Talk in the type of way with me.

I took it.

But you know what?

She's not specific fit.

She's the manager, and on the video for this program, workforce, the first video, she says, hey, I know I may not be um a manager that has experience.

She don't have experience.

She says she's criminal justice.

She graduated from criminal justice.

So how is she over workforce development program?

She has no experience, but I'm not a specific fit.

So what I'm telling y'all is this.

I didn't try it every way.

I come here being diplomatic.

Joe just coming to other people.

I tell the mayor's office, I tell y'all, nobody does nothing.

So from now on, I'm gonna come tell y'all and I find my lawsuits.

Because I'm tired of coming here.

I do what's right.

I'm in the community, I'm a community leader.

I get an email saying, may I have been on the news with kids behind me?

I got 50 parents always prepared letters saying I taught their children.

And I'm not specific fit.

But when I call IEO, you know what they tell me?

They said they don't know what specific fit is.

They don't know why Diamond Anderson sent me that because they don't know what she means by specific fit.

But I got denied because I'm not specific fit.

But the six key items is construction trades, which I teach to 50 key is.

So this is frustrating to me.

It's nothing against y'all.

Y'all have nothing to do with it, but y'all are over the city of Birmingham and these departments.

So this is not fair.

I'm coming to you because it's not fair.

I get no answers why I'm not selected.

Thank you, Mr.

Holt.

Thank you.

I appreciate you for sharing this.

I under you know, I understand your frustration.

Just to clarify, the city council under the Mayor Council Act.

These departments do not operate under us as far as administration and direct lines of authority.

So thank you for sharing that with us, though.

We do have people from administration here who have heard your concern as well.

So thank you.

Next speaker.

Excuse me, the next speaker is Bob Friedman.

Morning, Mr.

Breedman.

I mean it's afternoon now.

Thank you.

Good morning, everyone.

Quite a quite a morning morning.

Every possible subject has been discussed.

I'm I am very impressed with your due diligence, I must say, and your patience.

Also very happy to hear that uh Fourth Avenue is going to get a new look in terms of well, I don't want to, I don't want too much to lose on that block because we've already lost a lot of the block to the federal building.

Uh, but that there'll be new emphasis on the history of civil rights in this city and the role that Birmingham played.

We we intend to be uh certainly partners in that.

Um I wanted to uh ensure um certain folks on the council who have contributed to the um uh the women pioneers of Black Radio that that project will be absolutely a part of the new construction uh when it's time for us to rebuild, and I wanted to tell you one story about a man who was born in 1898.

His daughter is still living with the city, Miss Annie Blevins McRae.

I don't know how many of you might know her.

She's in her 90s, and a dandy human being she is, and we have breakfast from time to time at Fife's restaurant.

Um her father, William Blevins, was on the air in 1931, WSGN, considered to be the first African American to broadcast in the Southeast.

So picture the 1930s in Birmingham, where one gentleman has 15 minutes on a Sunday to do his program, and the council doesn't look like this, the city doesn't look like this, it's totally structured differently.

And he comes on and he sings a uh hymn, and then he says hello to his friends in Central Park and his friends and uh Ensley and his friends, and I'll be here and I'll be there, and I will see you then, and he sings another hymn, and he's off the air.

What has he done?

He has told people where people will gather in the community, and that was an essential piece to giving uh coherence to the community as a whole.

And this is just one program, 15 minutes on a Sunday.

And as we watch the progress of Black Radio emerge in Birmingham, we see uh the formats changed, and more folks are on the air during the week, and there's more of that kind of communication going on.

It's not at uh overt, it's not necessarily on the air, but it happens where the meetings are, where the parties are, where the concerts are, and so forth.

It's a great history, and we look at it from the 1930s to the 1980s, AM Radio, when it was closest to the community from 15 minutes on a Sunday in 60 years, ownership.

It's something that we hope will be embraced by the city when we're finished, and certainly a gift of ours to the city.

Want to tell you one more thing.

Do I have a second for the board members?

Is it gonna be just a second?

Yeah, I'm just gonna tell you who's on our board.

Miss Wilhelmina Richardson, who's the general manager of JLD, Gwen uh Minister Gwen Webb, that most of you know, um attorney Emery Anthony, most of you know, but we brought on three more members.

Okay.

Uh Pam King, who's a professor of history at UAB, Wayne Coleman, who was the head of archives for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and Bob Bright or Dr.

Ryder who teaches archival history at the University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies.

Thank you, Mr.

Freeman.

Thank you for sharing that information and sharing that story with us.

And we were glad to um approve that item today so that you can um get uh further ahead with um the changes you want to make there.

Thank you.

Next speaker, Terry Michael.

Good um afternoon, everybody.

Uh Terry Michael, 629 Ridge Top Circle here in Birmingham.

Um, so there was just two things I wanted to talk with you about today.

Um, one of them is that I see in the Alabama Messenger on July 22nd, the Southern Framework Plan.

Um there was a hearing notification from the City Council about the hearing that's going to happen on August 18th.

Um, and also since then, um, in just the last couple days, um, people that are affected by that um Southern Framework have received a mailer letting them know this is going to be happening on August 18th.

Um I have been looking for a week or more on information about the Pratt Inslee hearing that's going to be happening the week before the Southern Framework hearing.

Um, two weeks before.

Um, and I've looked all through June, I've looked all through July.

I can find nothing in the Alabama Messenger showing notification of that hearing.

I've asked folks I know now that I know about this mailer.

Did you receive anything in the mail about it?

No, they received nothing in the mail about it.

I have been trying, all I wanted to do was to get the ordinance to find out what's going to be voted on in just one week.

I can't find it.

It's not out there.

So it's just really concerning to me that the Southern Framework has received all this time and attention, and the uh Pratt Insley one, there's just nothing out there about it.

So I really want to ask, I honestly, I think this needs to be postponed.

I don't think y'all should do this in a week.

But if you can't do that, can I at least receive the ordinance that you all are gonna vote on so that I can help get it out there to the people so they'll know what's going on?

Also, I did want to mention once again um the um the data center ordinance.

We really would appreciate um if y'all can be looking at some of those amendments, and please consider adding those before any other data centers come and put in applications, and you won't be able to make those um amendments without having a grandfather and all the other complicated stuff.

Okay, so thank you for your time.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Any other speakers?

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

All right, thank you very much.

At this time, counselors, we would like to thank our officers on duty, Officer Pinkard and Officer Tarrant, and our fire inspectors on duty, Inspector Shaw and Greggs.

At this time, we'll entertain a motion.

So who made the second?

How in favor let it be known by saying I.

Aye.

All opposed.

Meeting adjourned.

Thank you.

Well, today we are in the heart of Ansley.

So we are here for our Black and Bloom block party.

So this is a partnership between myself, the District 8 Council office, as well as the Flourish Alabama.

So we have music, we have food, we have arts, we have, oh gosh, some of everything here today.

So it's really just trying to create community or just to bring the community together for a positive event and just the time to have fun and just enjoy our area.

We've had almost all of our councils got here today, so that's been really great.

So we've been planning this for several months now, and it was just something that organically happened.

I want to just take a couple minutes to tell y'all a little bit about the flourish Alabama and the programming that we do.

If you hear me say word, I said if you hear me say what's poppin', Falcento game, what's good.

What's up, y'all?

My name is Eric Mirable Jr., creative director, co-founder of the Flourish Alabama.

Like I said, me and my brother have been rocking with this for seven years.

This is the manifestation of seven years of work, man.

So thank y'all so much.

Shout out to the city council.

Shout out to Sonya Smith.

All this hard work is paying off.

It's uh it's been great.

Several people have told me that they hadn't seen anything like this in this area.

So having all of this here is something that hasn't happened on 19th Street Endsley.

So it's um it's just been really good to see everyone come out and support and enjoy what we have to offer here in our versioning Black Arts District,