Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting: July 28, 2026
Birmingham City Council Regular Meeting: July 28, 2026
The Birmingham City Council met on July 28, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included the invocation by Rev. Vincent Martin, the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, and roll call. The council approved a consent agenda with multiple routine items, heard public comments, and debated two significant items: the opioid abatement OASIS project and the industrial revenue bonds for Culton Holdings LLC. Key decisions included approval of the OASIS operational agreement and ground lease, a one-week delay on the bond resolution, and passage of other resolutions and ordinances.
Consent Calendar
- Approved 56 consent items, including abatement of inoperable motor vehicles (Items 1–8), various resolutions (Items 11, 14, 16–21, 23–55), and a resolution declaring 274 properties as public nuisances due to noxious weeds (Item 56). Note: Item 14 corrected to end June 30, 2027, not 2026. Item 23 corrected to not require a public hearing.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Laquan Jackson (1236 Riverford Drive, Hoover, AL) praised the city for its embrace, highlighted his group Team No Breaks and their biking community, and announced his investment in a new gym on the South Side called Five Points Fitness. He expressed gratitude for bike lanes and community support.
- Joseph Holt (473 2nd Avenue North) expressed frustration over being denied entry into the Birmingham Workforce Partner Accelerator program despite meeting stated criteria (construction trades). He alleged discrimination and stated he would pursue legal action if no resolution is reached.
- Bob Friedman spoke in support of the women pioneers of Black Radio project, emphasizing its historical significance from the 1930s to 1980s, and noted new board members for the project.
- Terry Michael (629 Ridge Top Circle, Birmingham) requested postponement of the Pratt City/Ensley vote scheduled for August 18, 2026, citing lack of public notification compared to the Southern Framework Plan. He also urged consideration of amendments to the data center ordinance before new applications are filed.
Discussion Items
- Public Camping Ordinance (Item 9): An ordinance to add Article C to Title 11, Chapter 6, prohibiting camping on publicly owned property and requiring removal of unlawful camps, with provisions for connecting unhoused persons to resources. Withdrawn by the Mayor’s office.
- Park Buffer Zone Grant Ordinance (Item 10): An ordinance accepting a $462,500 grant from Jefferson County Board of Health for development of parks as sustainable industrial-residential buffer zones. Councilor Crystal Smithman asked which areas would benefit; administration indicated mostly north Birmingham around the interstate. Passed 7-0.
- Regional Planning Commission Agreement (Item 13): A resolution approving $128,403 for services from the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, including multi-jurisdictional planning, GIS support, and greenway plans. Councilor Smithman raised concerns about specific locations for urbanized area and greenway plans. Passed.
- OASIS / Urban Alchemy (Item 15) & Ground Lease (Item 12): Two related items removed from consent. Item 15 authorized a $600,000 opioid abatement agreement with Urban Alchemy to operate the Birmingham OASIS (Open, Accessible, Safe, Inviting Spaces) day shelter at 600 3rd Avenue North, open 12–14 hours/day, 7 days/week, for 12 months. Item 12 authorized a 3-year ground lease with Daniels Development Group at $1,388.89/month (total not to exceed $50,000) for the site. Council received presentations from Director Elena Melton (Department of Unhoused Strategies) and Urban Alchemy. Testimony from Kristy Payne, an unhoused person who stated the OASIS would provide critical services like showers and lockers. Council concerns included neighborhood association engagement (no prior meeting), safety (tents, staffing, blue light phones), metrics for effectiveness, use of opioid settlement funds, and coordination with shelters. Councilor O’Quinn argued the investment saves taxpayer money long-term. Both items passed.
- Industrial Revenue Bonds – Culton Holdings (Item 22): A resolution consenting to the Industrial Development Board issuing up to $10 million in industrial revenue bonds for a manufacturing and warehousing facility at 1811 Woodlands Industrial Drive. Edward Gall (bond counsel) explained the structure as a conduit financing with no city liability, secured by lease payments and letters of credit from CBNS Bank and Wells Fargo. Councilor O’Quinn questioned the IDB’s total bonding capacity and requested documentation of bank commitments. Councilor Woods moved for a one-week delay to obtain a letter of commitment from the bank. Motion passed; item delayed.
Key Outcomes
- Item 9 (Public Camping Ordinance): Withdrawn by Mayor’s office.
- Item 10 (Park Buffer Zone Grant): Passed 7-0.
- Item 13 (RPCGB Agreement): Approved.
- Items 12 & 15 (OASIS Project) Approved: The council approved the operational agreement with Urban Alchemy for $600,000 (opioid settlement funds) and the ground lease for $50,000 (general funds) for an outdoor day shelter/unhoused respite site. The site is expected to open in early fall 2026.
- Item 22 (Industrial Revenue Bonds): Delayed one week to secure a bank letter of commitment.
- Board Appointments: Mayor Randall Woodfin announced reappointments of Jennifer Reed Eggby and Ashby Pate to the Birmingham Airport Authority, terms expiring July 29, 2032.
- Presentations: The council honored Shannon Malcolm as a 2026 Fair Housing Champion Award recipient (National Association of Realtors). Birmingham Sister Cities introduced seven students selected to travel to Wales as part of a global citizen diplomacy program. Yonder Walls Mural Festival was introduced by founders Levi and Jordan (Bendini’s design company) and developer Hunter; the festival will take place October 17, 2026, in the Parkside District, featuring 26 new murals, 75% by Alabama artists, with a budget of approximately $12 per square foot paid to artists. Mayor’s report included back-to-school rally details (August 1, 2026, at Birmingham Crossplex) and a hydration drive by the nonprofit All the Same Alabama donating nearly 10,000 bottles of water to first responders.
Meeting Transcript
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.
openpublica.com