City Council - Regular Meeting

Falling down, but nothing has changed. You never lost it all. You still got your flame. Light me up. Let me see your fire. Light me up. Let me see your fire. Light me up. Let me see your fire. Light me up. Let me see your fire. Light me up. Let me see your fire. Light me up. Let me see your fire.

Good morning, Birmingham. Today is Tuesday, April 24 25th. Wait, wait a minute. Let's start over. Today is Tuesday, April 21st. The time is now 9:35 a.m. I call to order the meeting of the Birmingham City Council. This morning, our invocation will be led by Elder Wendell Brantley, More Than Conquerors Faith Church, Birmingham, Alabama, and our pledge of allegiance will be led by Councelor Josh Vosa. Elder Brantley, if you'll come on up to the microphone, and if you all please stand and join us.

Good morning to the council. Bow heads as we pray. Father, we just thank you today.

God, we lift you up and we exalt your name. We pray today, God, for this council. We pray for the leadership of this great city, our mayor. God, we pray for him that you will give him guidance, strength, wisdom, and direction as he guides this city to a better Birmingham. We pray for all the citizens of this great city, all 23 communities, 99 neighborhoods, that you would just cover them, God, with safety. We pray for our law enforcement. We pray against crime. We pray against poverty and anything that will pull down anything in this city. We pull down every stronghold. We ask that you would guide this council president and all the officers and all the council members here today. Lord, we pray for peace, unity, and wisdom today. We pray for economic development in this great city that Birmingham will be a better Birmingham. And we pray that you strengthen us, guide us, lead us. And we ask all of this in your precious name we pray. And let every glad heart say amen.

Amen. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much, Elder Brantley, for that most encouraging prayer. And thank you, Council of Vasa, for leading us in the pledge of allegiance. Good morning, Mr. Clerk. Morning, Madam President. If you'll call the role, please. Council member Gun. Good morning. Morning, sir. Council member O'Quinn. Morning. Good morning, Council Member Smith. Council member Smith. Good morning. Good morning, Council Member Vasa. Morning. Morning, Council Member Williams. Council member Woods.

Morning. Morning, Council President. Pro Tim Tate. Morning. Good morning, Council President Alexander. Good morning. Thank you very much, councilors. The minutes are not ready from the ME meetings of January 6, 2026 through April 14th, 2026. At this time, we'll entertain communications from the mayor. Good morning, Mayor Wiffin. Madame President, good morning to you. Good to see you counselors. Good to see all of you this morning. Hope everyone is well. Good morning to the general public as well as those who are here in the chambers this morning. Mr. Ning Langston,

you and your crew come on up. Yes, sir. Tell everybody come up. Yeah. Librarians are not shot people. So please come up. We are not.

Madame President and council at this time. Um as you know this is National Library Week and I am being flanked by not only Janine Langson who is the executive director of the our city's public library library system. but as well as minimum one of her board members who she'll recognize in a minute as well as a host of librarians and support members um across our various um city. You know, in the city of Birmingham, we love our libraries. As plain as that, the libraries spark creativity. They fuel imagination and they inspire lifelong learning, offering a space where individuals of all ages can find joy through exploration as well as discovery. Um today it gives me a great honor um to recognize our amazing library team, our library workers, employees and cohort as they all doing a phenomenal job. And so at this time madam president and council what I want to do is read a proclamation in part not in hope. In the states whereas libraries provide free and equitable access to book books, digital tools and innovative programming ensuring that all individuals regardless of background have the support they need to learn, connect and thrive. Whereas libraries protect the right to read, think, and explore without censorship. Without censorship, without censorship. I may sound like a broken record. without censorship. Sorry about that. Standing as champions of intellectual

freedom and expression. Oh, did I mention without censorship? Yes. Yes.

And whereas dedicated librarians and library workers provide welcoming spaces that inspire discovery, collaboration, and creativity for all. And whereas libraries, librarians, and library workers across the country are joining together this week, joining together to celebrate National Library Week under the theme, find your joy. Find your joy. Now therefore, I, Randall Lwood, and mayor of the city of Birmingham, along with the city council, be it resolved that and proclaim April 19th through April 25th, 2026 as National Library Week. And during this week, I truly encourage all residents to visit the Birmingham Public Library, explore its resources, celebrate all the ways that libraries help our community, and of course, find joy. With that, everybody, I give you the one and only Janine Langston. Y'all give it up for her.

Thank you. Good morning, Mayor Wood, President Alexander Pre, President Pro Tim Tate, counselors and guests. I am Janine Langston and I have the honor of serving as executive director of the Birmingham Public Library system along with this awesome team and all those that are still back at the library making sure it's opening and running today. So, thank you. Today is a special day because it is National Library Workers Day and I want to recognize and celebrate the phenomenal BPL team. Many of them have joined me today along with our board members, Miss Yolanda Hardy, our board president, Dr. Willie Davis, and Miss uh Yishia Coleman. Have I missed anybody? Board members. Got them all. Okay. Thank you. The Birmingham Public Library has been serving the city of Birmingham for 140 years. 140 years. Today, we're celebrating the North Birmingham Regional Library, which has been serving 100 years. So, we take pride in our ability to adapt to the everchanging needs of our community by continually expanding our collections, our services, and our partnerships. The theme, as Mayor uh Whipton said, this year's National Library Week is find your joy. It's a really simple phrase, but it holds a powerful truth. Joy isn't something distant or rare. It's something we discover, often quietly in places that welcome curiosity, imagination, and connection. Places like the Birmingham Public Library. For some, joy is found in the pages of a novel that offers escape after a long day. For others, it's learning something new, whether that's a skill, a language, or a deeper understanding of the world. And for many, it's simply the comfort of a

space where everyone is welcome, no matter their background, their age, or their story. Libraries are one of the few places where you don't have to buy anything to belong. You can walk in with questions, with uncertainty, even with nothing at all, and leave with ideas, inspiration, and sometimes even a sense of purpose. That's a rare and valuable kind of joy. Find your joy is also an invitation. It asks us to be intentional about what sparks our curiosity and what brings us fulfillment. Libraries make that search possible. They give us access not just to knowledge but to opportunity to grow, to imagine, and to dream. So this week, along with Mayor Woodin, I encourage you to visit a Birmingham public library, wander the shelves, ask questions, attend a program, rediscover what's possible because because joy doesn't always announce itself. It's sometimes often it's often something we uncover. One page, one idea, one moment at a time. Let's celebrate our libraries, not just for what they provide, but what for what they make possible. And let's continue to support them so that everyone has the chance to find their joy. We're honored to be here today. and thank you so much. Madame President and council, on a personal note, I do want to thank Janine Langston for her leadership, of course, the board that you are well aware of and the amazing men and women you see here and all the amazing men and women you don't see here who are um on

post in our libraries right now. I'll be visiting North Birmingham today to celebrate their 100 years with them. Um, as you know, you all have supported some new programming there. Of course, that's a new building. That's not the library library I grew up with as a child. Um, but I'll be there with him to celebrate today. So, again, thank you all so much. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you. Go anywhere. Nobody here. Don't go anywhere. All right. Councelor Quinn.

Sure. I just wanted to take a moment to um say that um thank you. I I know as librarians that term and the connotation of librarians doesn't encapsulate all the things that you guys do. Um libraries are more than just a uh repository for literature. They are community centers. Um, and one of the things that I especially want to thank you guys is for is being a safe space for our children. And I I know that in addition to taking care of your core responsibilities that you're often caretakers for children in our community, especially after school. um go into any library after 3:00 p.m. and the predominant age group is going to be under 15 probably. So, um thank you for that and uh just wanted to let you know that we recognize that that you guys um do so much more than just being librarians. Thank you. Thank you for you want to say something?

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Miss Janine. And um as the mayor stated, North Birmingham is where I live and that's not the library that I remember going to, but it is a beautiful space that has Northstar and we just excited on what they are doing over there with their chair exercise. They got a a food um pantry that they provide um you know, food for the community. So they are doing such a great job. Thank you all for the sacrifices that you make and you continue to give you know in the communities and to as councelor Quinn has stated a safe space for our young people and the social workers that are helping people that are unhoused. We really really really appreciate because it takes a collective you know for all of us to win. So thank you all so much.

Thank you Councelor Woods. Uh thank you. Like I said, just want to offer appreciation as well. I think y'all have been a tremendous partner uh specifically Spring Road Library out of my area. We, you know, you do so many activities for seniors uh and children. So, my kids love being there and uh appreciate the work that each of you all do each and every day. And then also got to throw in a shameless plug because we're actually partnering with the Springville Road Library today at 5:00 pm. So it' be a great opportunity to come out uh celebrating Earth Day with uh DJ uh Shahed and Supreme and so inviting everybody up. Five o'clock Spring Royal Library. Thank you.

Thank you very much. As you know, each year I say the same thing at this time of the year. Um I actually worked at the library, served on the library board, and I just have to tell you that the library was always just a solless and a safe place for me as a a child. And um I remember when I first um was got my driver's license, I would um load up my sister in the horse and buggy and we come down during the summer and we just get tons and tons of books. And I realize now that's that was my mother giving us our entertainment for the summer. But it certainly uh really paid off. And so I want to thank you all each for the service that you do. Uh District 7, we just love the Powder Branch Library. No, we have her former librarian. She's moved on up now. And um but um we Miss Green, we're very excited for the work that she does in having the STEM uh room in there. And it's just so many different things they offer to the community. So, thank you all so much. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. All right. Photographers. Everybody can come in as much as possible.

Okay. the microphone. Thank you again. Let's give them another round of applause. Thank you very much. We appreciate that communication from Mayor Whiffen in the presentation. At this time, we'll turn back to our We have special presentations. So, council, if you'll allow us by unanimous consent, we'll go to our special presentations for today. We have two presentations by Pro Tim Lata Tate. Good morning colleagues. Thank you madame president for allowing me to present these presentations today. As I make my way to this podium, I am reminded of the resilience that our scholars um just on last week yourself and council Smitherman had your scholars here and I'm just blown away by the resilience and the things that I continue to see. Council Smitherman, you would really appreciate this. I was going through this city of Birmingham schools um city Facebook page and I saw a young golfer, the first black female to she's from jail. Let me just brag um that she won um um a golfing

championship. And so today I have with me Southampton K through8 and J's track team. So, if you can make your way to the podium, please. And if parents and teachers are here, please join me. And um I know that it's Miss Foy, the school board, Miss Foy, and any cabinet members from the board here. There's Miss Yamika Foy. Any other and Mr. Collins and Miss Boyd? Can y'all please join me to celebrate these scholars? Any cabinet members?

Come on, Miss Collins.

Come on up to Miss Collins. Okay. So, I'm going to present the first resolution for J uh Southampton's K through8. And it reads where as it is with great pride that the city the council of the city of Birmingham pauses today to celebrate the accomplishments of Southampton's K through8 SOM centers and extraordinary STEM team who were recently named national finalist in the Samsung Saw for tomorrow competition. Whereas on April the 27th, 2011, an E4 tornado tore violently through the state of Alabama. The tornado spanned one and a half miles at its widest point and rage for over 80 miles. During that time, many people had only 10 to 15 minutes to take shelter. This tragic incident was the catalyst behind the STEM team's groundbreaking innovation, a system consisting of a network of five specialized weather stations that utilize solar panels, sensories, and Raspberry Pi in a swing. There were especially created to protect the Pratt city and forest their communities by providing 20 to 30 minutes of advancing warning time, doubling an existing average. And I am going to go to the end of the resolution where it says now therefore it be resolved that the council of the city of Birmingham with mayor Randa Elwolf in concurrent pauses in his deliberations to honor the Southampton's K through8 STEM team the storm sentencils for innovative and potentially life-saving work which is significantly increase the safety of Birmingham families adopted this 21st day of April the 20 uh second at the recommendation of council president prom Latana Tate and I will have Miss Tam come to the mic and have the scholars to introduce themselves.

Good morning. So, we have Mr. Jason Walton who is one of our eighth graders. Raise your hand, Jason. James States, seventh grade. Ariel Judkins, eighth grade. Malaysia Brown, eighth grade. And these students, they were one of 10 schools chosen. I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. Kylie Bennett, raise your hand. I'm so sorry. Eighth grade, she in the back. But these students, they were one of 10 schools out of the nation chosen to represent Birmingham City. So they not only, this was not regional, this was not local, this was national. They stayed in Capitol Hill on Capitol Hill. they met with government officials and pitched to these these individuals. So for this type of award like this is major because Birmingham City was truly represented well and you can also go back to the Samsung website. The pitch is still live. It'll be live. It's out there forever. But next year they're going to take home a h 100,000. So they ended up winning and securing $50,000 in technology for their school. and we actually get to go shopping. And I also want to add they went up against a multi-diverse diverse group of people. So these are urban kids from Birmingham City representing on a national stage.

Oh yeah. Thank you. I'm going to invite the principal up. I think she said everything. I want to say I'm very excited and very proud, but I'm not surprised because the expectation at the Hampton is that we do great things. So, as I look at my city council members, my former students, I say the same thing about them. I'm never surprised, but I'm excited.

Thank you. and I'm going to present you scholars and thank the parents for making these sacrifices um that you make every day for for your kids. And we really thank you. I really thank you guys. I'm super excited on what you all have done for the city and the 50k and I'm in um divine connection with Miss Tam that you guys will bring Miss Clark that you technology integration facilitator for Birmingham City Schools and myself and Taiisha Johnson coached and worked with our students to get to this level.

Amen. That you will bring home the $100,000. I'm going to invite my school board um representative Miss Foy up to, you know, does keep me in the loop with what's going on in the school system. Uh council president Alexander and President Proim, I do want to thank you guys for just acknowledging us. Um I know you guys should probably be tired of seeing us here, but Birmingham City Schools, we're doing some great things inside the classroom and outside the classroom. And y'all know our motto, success starts here. Thank you, school board members. Boy, um now can I get a unanimous consent for um Southampton? And move the I'm sorry.

All in favor, let it be known by saying I. Now move the resolution, please. All in favor, let it be known by saying I.

Thank you very kindly. Um, the next scholars that I'm going to acknowledge and they really doing some things that I did in my young days is is run 4 by 100 100 yard dash. Y'all remind me of me. And I'm super excited for these scholars and I'm going to read some portions of the resolution where it says whereas it is great pride and immense pleasure that the council of the city of Birmingham pauses today to congratulate the Jackson High School boys 4 by 200 meter and 4x 400 meter relay team on incredible indoor track meet on Saturday, April the 18th, 2026. Whereas the relay teams rank one in the 6A division in the 4x400 relay, number 10 in the southeast region, number two in the 6A division, and 4x 200 relay, and impressive number 12 in the nation. And I'm going to go and read just the last portion. Now therefore, it be resolved that the council of the city of Birmingham with Mayor Randall L. Wolf and concurrence pausing in deliberations to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the Jackson High School boys 4x200 meter 4x 400 meter relay teams. They have more than lived up to their motto elite rank unstoppable scary fast. We congratulate them on their many success and wish them all the best going forward. This is only the beginning. adopted this 21st day of April the 20 uh 2nd 2026 recommendation of council president prom lats also want to add that you guys had some more um track scholars who shot put long shot long jump that did some great things so we want to acknowledge them on today and we'll send some medals back to them but I'm going to invite coach Willis to the po

to the podium I'm sorry coach Thank you everybody. Um counseling president. Um today my name is Joshua Stillings, head um boys track and field coach at Jackson High School. Uh in just four years our program has grown into one of the most successful school programs in the school history, producing state champions, breaking records, and earning recognition across Alabama and beyond. Today we're especially proud of our 4x4 relay team. We have Derek Bennett, Frederick Ree, Kai Stewart, and Charles Banks. A group of young men who have developed into the top relay team in the state. The 4x4 is more than just a race. It's about discipline, believing believing in one another under pressure. These young mans represent everything we stand for as a program. But for me, this program has also been personal. Over the past few years, I was a full-time caregiver for my mom as she battled stage 4 counselor. She poured everything into me and before she passed, she constantly reminded me that these young men need me, that this was bigger than me. In many ways, the program in these young men has helped me and in my purpose on this day, on days it's hard, the team gives me strength. They give me something to pour into. They remind me of why I do this. That's why it's more than track and field for us. We're building young men of discipline, accountability, faith, character. Young men who are overcoming adversity every day and choosing greatness every single day. We've done it with limited resources, but with a strong foundation and belief in what we're building and these young men continue to rise and make history. I'm just not proud of what they accomplished on the track. I'm proud of what they're becoming as young men. Thank you for the recognition. this truly means more than you know and we will continue to represent our school in

Birmingham City the right way. And also I wanted to let everybody know um they are ranked number one in 6A number two in the state of Alabama number one in the Birmingham metro area that's including Hoovers Thompsons and we're number we made the top 100 in the nation as far as our ranking in times and the time we ran 31754 is the fastest time by 6A program in over a decade. So, I really want to thank you. Thank y'all. Thank you.

We're so proud of y'all. Keep keep soaring. We look today that we see you all running professionally. Yes.

Good morning. My name is Toy Mlane. I'm one of the administrators at PD Jackson. And I just want to say that I am elated to be associated with such wonderful Mustangs. They make me proud. Um they are legends in the making and the numbers show it. Um we want to continue to support these young men. um to the coach, Coach Stillings. He's such a passionate um teacher and I just appreciate his heart and we have the results to show it. So, thank you all and I'm so proud to be an administrator for PD Jackson because we have the fastest the fastest young men in the state of Alabama. Thank you. Thank you all so much. Can I get a unanimous consent on the resolution?

And now move the resolution. Thank you all. Miss Foy, you want some last words? Mam. Okay. I think we need the vote. Hold on. We're going to re redo. Okay. Just go ahead. We've got the unanimous consent. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. And now the resolution. Second. Second. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I All right. Thank you. Thank you so much. Appreciate y'all. Thank you. Councelor Woods, it's you. Councelor Woods, you got something.

Thank you, Madam President. Really quickly, just wanted to uh congratulate all of y'all young people for your accomplishments. I hope you kind of take the lesson with you of uh putting in the work will get you the results that you want to see and so you can carry this with you for the rest of your life. Uh also got to shout out uh Principal Willis. Um, he's older than he looks cuz he was he was my uh middle school science teacher at WJ Christian back in 2000. And uh I got to say like he was one of those teachers that that truly did make an impact on your life. Man, we uh all loved the class, but we were also uh most likely to be held accountable and get in trouble in there. So, it wasn't that you just let it slide, but uh just appreciate the impact and happy to see you continuing that uh in Birmingham City Schools. So, congratulations as well.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Councelor Smith. Yes, it's always a treat to see our BCS scholars here. So, congratulations on all your accomplishments and what you've done. But I do want to also acknowledge some of our central staff members that aren't usually here, Miss Strode, um Dr. Drake, and Dr. Stevens. So, good to see you all and thanks for your support of our students. Thank you, Councelor Smith.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm so proud of you guys from STEM. Um, you know, that's one of those fields. A lot of people that look like us are in it. I actually voted for you all. So, I'm actually really excited. Ma'am Pro Tam was like, "Make sure you vote for them." And I did. Um, so I'm really excited. I'm really happy to see. And even though these schools are in my district, success is in Birmingham City Schools. You know, I think it doesn't matter what school you're at, we're still dealing with limited resources compared to our schools over the mountain, but yet we still succeed. So, I'm so proud of y'all. The track team, that's huge. Um, a lot of people cannot say that they are winners and champions. And you'll you'll hear adults being like, "I was almost there." But you can say, "But I was there." But, um, I will say stick with track because that's how you can get college paid for. I I played collegiate golf and my mom said it was much easier and she was right to keep an athletic scholarship than the academic one. And track can take you so many places. Um, I went to Hampton University and two of our alum actually went to the Olympics. And so, you know, we could be seeing you now, coach, with your players and we'll see you in about 10 years at the Olympics. So, I'm really proud of you all. And just like Council Woods, uh, Principal Willis was not only my science teacher, he was my basketball coach. So, yeah, that's a whole different Mr. Willis when he's your basketball coach. So, I'm not surprised about, you know, uh, Southampton just being very successful. So, congratulation to you guys and however we can support you all, just let us know. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Again, thank you, Pro Tim, for bringing these scholars and these athletes before us today to just recognize the hard work that each of you do as well as your administrators and your parents. So, we're very grateful to each of you for the work that you do. As you said, board member Foy, success starts here and it starts right at Birmingham City Schools. Um, I would be remiss if I didn't say we had an opportunity yesterday to jumpstart success and continue success in the city of Birmingham. Grateful to Mayor Wooden and Dr. Sullivan. They have um chartered a commission of um people around the city to want to just add other tools for success for our students. So, thank you Mayor Whitman, Dr. Sullivan, and thanks all of you here today. Thank you all.

Thank you, Madam President. I will end on this note. We are all some of us are all products of the Birmingham school system. I'm a proud alumni Red Raider. But anyway, thank you all teachers, parents, the sacrifices that you guys make, school board members, administration that you make. And again, I echo what Madame President said. Thank Cradle Cook to career. I had an opportunity to stand with him on yesterday and it's going to be a fantastic program. So, thank you all and we love you all so much. Thank you very much, counselors. At this time, we'll return to our agenda and we will prepare to consider the items that are listed for consent. All items designated as consent. We'll let them leave. All items designated as consent are considered to be routine and non-controversial and will be approved by one motion. No separate discussion of these items will be permitted unless a council member, the mayor, or citizen interested in a public hearing. So request if so, such items will revert to its normal place on the agenda order of business. All matters of permanent operation and they're indicated with a capital P on the agenda will be read. All other matters will be announced by reading the item number only. All public hearings will be announced. At this time, Mr. Clerk, if you'll read the items that are being considered for consent.

Yes, ma'am. Consent agenda starts on page two with items two and three. On item three, have a couple of corrections. Uh could we just withdraw item three for now since please instead of go through corrections? Well, it's up to the mayor's office would have to It's his.

All right. Um, pick back up on page three with items four, five, and six. On item five, uh, there are a couple of corrections. The total amount should change to $8,500. And District 6 amount should change to $2,000 and District 9's amount should change to $2,500. And we are withdrawing item number seven. Page four, items 8, 9, and 10 are on consent. Page five, items 11, 12, and 13 are on consent. Item 11, there are a couple of changes to item 11. Uh, the amount not to exceed should be $4,000 and we are adding district 8 for an amount of $500. District 8 will add $500 to that total. Page six, items 14, 15, 16, and 17 are on consent. Page seven, items 18, and 19 are on consent. Item 20 is be requested to be withdrawn. Page eight, we have items 21 and 24 on consent. Page nine, we have items 25, 26, 27, and 28 on consent. On item 28, our second line, we should change the language from the purchase of it should be seven 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe four-wheel drives. Um, and it should be $61,58510 per unit. Page 10, items 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 are on consent. Page 11, items 35, 36, and 38 are on consent. And that concludes the consent agenda.

Thank you. This time, counselors, are there any items you'd like to have added or removed from consent?

None. Thank you. At this time, we'll entertain. I'm sorry. Is there something? Yes, ma'am. Madam President. Yes. Uh, administrator McDaniels, before you consider the consent agenda, uh, will you allow for the amendment to item number five? Okay. Changing the total amount from 8,500 to 9,500 with an additional $1,000 coming from district 8.

All right. Thank you, council. So, that was an additional $1,000 added to item number five from district 8. Thank you, Mr. McDaniels. Any other items? All right. This time we'll entertain a motion and a second for approval of the consent agenda. Okay. Voting should be open about now.

Yes sir. And uh President Pro Tim Tate is out. All right. That vote should be up. All right. Thank you. Those items that were considered for consent have been approved. At this time, we'll revert to our regular agenda. And Mr. Clerk, I'm going to call some items out of order. If we could go to item 22 first on page eight. Item 22. That our first open item after number one, make a resolution appointing one member to the downtown redevelopment authority of the city of Birmingham with said term expiring April the 8th, 2032. motion. All right. Thank you, Councelor Williams. This is your committee. Let's know your pointing.

We are reappointing Joe for a term of six years. Thank you. Any questions regarding that item? We're ready for the vote. All right. Voting should be open. Council member Williams. All right. Thanks. All right. Thank you. Item 22 passes and we thank you for submitting this member to for reappointment to the board. Next item, uh, how would you like to go? 23. Yes, sir. All right. Item 23, a resolution appointing two members to the industrial development board of the city of Birmingham with said terms expiring April the 10th, 2032.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Williams. Okay. We're going to be reappointing Carlos mess up the last name. Um and then reg. Thank you very much. Any questions regarding those appointments? We're ready for the vote. Voting should be open. The vote should be up. All right. Thank you. Item 23 passes. We thank you council Williams and your committee for um providing us these names and we look forward to their work on the IDB. Thank you very much. Next. 37. Thank you.

Item 37, a resolution setting a public hearing June the 2nd, 2026 to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend the zoning district map of the city of Birmingham. Case number ZAC 2026-3 to change zone district boundaries from R six multiple dwelling district to QMUL qualified mixeduse low district in order to allow a boutique antique store filed by Jeff and Amy Smith. The property owner and applicant for the property generally located at 3849 Claremont Avenue and situated in section 32 quarter section 2 township 17 range to west Birmingham 35222. Motion, please. Second.

All right. Thank you, counselors. This is a resolution setting a public hearing on June 2nd to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend the zoning district map of the city of Birmingham. Any questions regarding setting this date? We're ready for the vote. Voting should be up. That vote should be up, Madam. All right. Thank you. That item passes. We've set that public hearing for June 2nd, 2026 here in council chambers. Next item, Mr. Clerk,

should be item one. Let's see. Item one, an ordinance to further amend the zoning district map of the city of Birmingham, case number ZAC, 2025-15, to change own district boundaries from all properties in the eastern framework plan area followed by the city of Birmingham for all properties located within the eastern area communities including Airport Hills, East Birmingham, East Lake, and Woodlong communities. And a hearing of honor parts Motion, please. Motion and a second. So moved. Second. All right. Thank you. At this time, we will turn the public hearing over to Councelor Josh.

Thank you, Madam President. Um, we are here today to review the case number Zach 20250015. Is staff here to report? Good morning. My name is Kim Sproul. I serve as the zoning administrator in the department of planning, engineering, and permits.

Good morning. My name is Michael Ward. I serve as principal planner in the city's planning, engineering, and permits department. We just have a very short presentation to go over the eastern area proposed resoning plan. Um, so we just wanted to clarify real quickly the communities that we're talking about. Um, so we have four communities that are included in this resoning. East Birmingham, Woodlon, East Lake, and Airport Hills. and then all of the neighborhoods that are included in those four communities. Um we just wanted to reemphasize the goals for our communitywide resoning. Um first is to align our zoning districts with the adopted comprehensive plan for the city of Birmingham. um to consolidate our zoning ordinance and to downzone our heavy industrial sites that are abandoned, vacated, or not being utilized as heavy industrial. To expand our mixeduse areas to establish more vibrant and walkable communities in our neighborhoods, and to implement our new urban neighborhood district in our communities. Um, just a reminder as we've gone through all of the framework plan resonings, any properties that were individually reszoned by this council that had Q conditions, those cues have been carried over through the out this process. So, we have not removed any Q conditions that were previously adopted by the city council for this particular area, the eastern area plan. um planning and zoning held five community meetings to solicit feedback from the residents in these areas. Um they began in August of 2024

and the most recent and final community meeting was January of 2025 and at that meeting the community did vote unanimously to support this resoning plan. So the next step in the process was to take the resoning plan to the city's planning commission. We did hold a planning commission workshop and then the planning commission met in July of 2025 and they voted to recommend approval of this resoning plan. And then we forwarded this item to the planning and zoning committee where they met and they also voted to recommend this resoning plan. Um, just to remind counselors that all property owners within the eastern area received a notice at the planning commission level. So, they did receive a notice for the planning commission public hearing and they did receive a notice for today's public hearing. So that's all property owners within the area as well as anyone who owns property within 500 feet of the boundaries of the eastern area. So that concludes our presentation from staff. We're happy to answer any questions that you might have um about these four communities or any of the proposed resoning changes.

Thank you, Kim. Any questions from the council, from the staff? Thank you. Is um from an economic development standpoint, were the um future plans of the airport taken into effect? It looks like some of them were I3. Okay. Yes, sir. So, the airport, we kept the same zoning and we were also able to change the zoning for some of the properties that they've recently purchased. So, they will all maintain their current zoning for future development. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions from councelor G?

Hey, there is a property um in the Woodline community that I've been uh receiving some inquiries about. Uh it's being zoned the ch the current zoning is single family and it's being changed to light industrial. Uh I guess I want to better understand the case for that. Do you have the address counselor? I don't know that we've upzzoned any property. Uh so the address that I have uh is in the 5200 block of Division Avenue. We can look that one up.

Okay. Oh, that's the um

isn't that the property owned by While they're checking on that. Um, any other U counselors have any questions? All right, we'll wait on this then.

Steel. Yeah. So that those properties were owned by SMI Steel and so they are already zoned industrial adjacent to those. So we included I1 because it's part of their holding property holdings. Thank you, Council Gun. Any other questions from council?

All right. Thank you, Kim, for your presentation. Uh so we will now open this up to the public for feedback. And this is a public hearing. If you're interested in speaking at the podium, please line up to the left side right here. Anyone interested in speaking, feel free to line up. Uh when you come to speak at the podium, um please state your name and your address. Each speaker will be given three minutes to speak. At the three-minute mark, your time will be up. So, we'll hear from the first speaker. Yes, ma'am. Please come. And remember, please state your name and your address. Thank you.

My name is Wow. My name is Patricia Frasier and uh I'm really actually would like to ask a question about my mother's property. Uh I don't live there, but it's right there. The address is 51448 Street South. And the question I had is just kind of a general question. When I look at the map, and I don't have it with me, but it looks so disconnected from the Woodlon community and it's between the um Crestwood and the Red Mountain community. And I just didn't understand why it wouldn't be zoned close to the community that it was adjacent to as opposed to jumping across to where it is. It's considered Woodlong community, but it's squeezed between uh Crestwood and Red Mountain. So, I just had a question as to what was the objective of separating it like that. Thank you for your question, staff.

Yes, sir. So, um, the 48th Street is actually the neighborhood boundary line. So, you are in the East Birmingham plan that we're considering today, but directly across the street is Crestwood, which is the southern area plan. We do have maps in the conference room. Okay. We have um some planners in the conference room if you would like. They'd be more than happy to discuss the the neighborhood boundaries with you. Well, I know where the boundaries are. I just don't understand why it's closest to Crestwood. I didn't understand why it would have been considered part of Woodlong.

You're actually in that the Woodlong community because of the neighborhood your property's in. Crestwood is across the street. Woodlong is across the other street right where you're located. Yes, ma'am. It still doesn't answer my question. So, I just need to tell them. Yes, ma'am. Council

um this kind of relates to how the PL framework these plans are being done. Um so the the plans are being done by largely by communities. So the neighborhoods the neighborhoods. So, you know, this relates back to our citizens participation plan and um how the neighborhood boundaries were identified and the neighborhoods that make up each community. So sometime you know 50 years ago um when the citizens participation plan was developed and the political boundaries of each neighborhood and community were identified. um that sort set you know where the boundaries were and so this um resoning plan doesn't consider that um it it is being defined by communities. So, all of the neighborhoods that are in the Woodlon community, um, Oakidge Park, Woodlon, uh, East Aendale, so on so forth, South Woodlon, all of those, um, are in this eastern area. But so uh even though it's approximate, you know, there it it doesn't. Um I guess getting back to your question, so neighborhood boundaries can change, but the neighborhood associations really determine, you know, where those boundaries are. Um, and the that's something that the neighborhood associations would have to work out, you

know, amongst themselves and and then come back to the council and ask for that change. So, that's what you would have to do if you wanted it changed. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Quinn. Next speaker, please state your name and your address. Thank you.

Good morning, everyone. and um my name is Yolanda Flowers and I live in the Woodline community of Ridge Park. I have a couple of questions that I would like answered in the presentation. Um they mentioned Q conditions. So I would like to clarity on that. So I can understand that although I did miss a few of our ne our community meetings um and it was clear as mud then so if if I can get one do you have a specific parcel that you're inquiring about the Q conditions for

I just want to know well just in the what is the Q condition I just need definition of that

okay so Q conditions Um generally are um basically each each type of zoning gives an allowed set of uses. Um so for a dwelling district you know all of those uses are most of them are related to you know residents um commercial you know by so on and Q conditions um actually specify which uses a particular parcel within that zic zoning category can be used for. So, um if a zoning uh change is applied for going from one category to the next zoning, we can put Q conditions on that new zoning category that further restricts what the allowed uses are. So, for example, you have a piece of property that's going from uh residential to commercial.

Okay? You can cue out certain types of uses that are allowed in commercial. Those things are commonly liquor stores, nightclubs, um, you know, things that generally people, you know, may not see as beneficial to their neighborhood. Um, that's what Q conditions accomplish.

Cool. Okay. So the next question I I want to ask is why the reszoning in our comm I guess all abroad the four communities why the necess the necessary you know or the necessity of doing that. Um, I just want want to know.

And I think also you mentioned something about the neighborhood associations can determine where the line is. And I I need to know how that is brought about. I mean, how can we determine that when we don't have the legal sense nor um regarding that nor any of the other mapping? I mean, we're not cgraphers. So we don't understand that as well. So just clarify something for

so to your to your first question and staff can elaborate on this further but basically this is a process that the city undertakes typically every 10 to 20 years where we go back to evaluate the zoning of every parcel in the city. um to basically make sure that our zoning is aligned with what the property is actually used for or intended to be used for. And just because things change, you know, over time, it's a it's a good process to to revisit. Um, for example, you know, Birmingham used to have a lot more heavy industry than it currently does. And one of the things that this round of reszoning is accomplishing is moving some of that heavy industrial to downzoning it to um less intensive uh uses. So, um, that's a very, you know, just skimming over the surface of of what this is trying to accomplish. In regards to your second question about the neighborhood boundaries, again, this predates pretty much all of us. um going back to the mid 1970s when the citizens participation plan was developed under the Arrington administration. That's a the city's official community engagement plan. And one of the things that that accomplished was uh giving citizens an opportunity for

their neighborhoods to be represented. um with elected leadership in each neighborhood. You're familiar with this. Um but the neighborhoods themselves based on my understanding determined what their neighborhood was. Um you know, they said Oakidge Park is this street and not that street and define those boundaries. Um there's probably still some folks who were around around who were around then who could elaborate on how that pl played out. Um but my understanding is that those boundaries can change as long as the adjoining neighborhoods, you know, consent to the change. So again, it's a process that would have to start at the neighborhood association level um and and involve you know the adjoining neighborhoods evaluating whether you know each each side wanted to agree to that.

Okay. Okay. One final question and I'll be done. Now, when you're changing the conditions, the qualified conditions from industrial to residential, are is the city doing soil testing and and all of that to make sure that there's no contamination taking place in the community. Have you thought about that? The first thing that comes to mind is like North Birmingham all I mean because it's contamination in the soil is causing people to be sick. So I was just wondering when you're transitioning are you testing the quality of the soil and the pipes and all that to ensure that we're not getting sick through water or you know.

Thank you Miss Flowers for your question. I believe your time is up. Um, Kim from staff, do you want to speak to that in terms of u quality of of soil and how that is um uh part of the the conversation and consideration for zoning? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Yes sir. So to answer your question, when we initially do the resoning, we do not physically go out and test soil. Um when we are doing the resoning process, there are grants that are available to the city that we participate in for um for assessments to test soil properties. Um in North Birmingham particularly when they went through their process, we were able to downzone a lot of the contaminated properties um and we were able to work with EPA on soil testing, but the city itself does not have a program to test soil. We use our other resources available to us for that.

Thank you, Kim. Appreciate the question. Looks like we have three more speakers. Next speaker, please. Um, state your name and your address. Thank you.

I am Jackwan Patton, East Birmingham, Patton Park. So, I am a lay person when it comes to zoning, reszoning, whatever, whatever. So my biggest question is would there be any reszoning or zoning or whatever whatever out in the East Birmingham area? Coca-Cola is in my backyard. I have been trying to get in touch with my council person for the last 6 months, three months to be exact. Have not been able to get a call back or text back. So, we as a neighborhood need to know what's going to happen in that neighborhood, especially since Coca-Cola has been put there.

That's your question. Uh, thank you, ma'am. I can have um Kim from P come and I'm sorry. Speak uh in response to your question. I'm sorry. He's getting someone from administration to respond to your question.

Yes, ma'am. So, East Birmingham is included in the resoning. Um the the CocaCola site is included. Um they are actually going to be reszoned to I1 which is light manufacturing. Um but the the neighborhood surrounding that their residential uses are remaining the same. Um so the we're not changing where the the single family homes have been established. That's a name change only from the old district to the new, but the manufacturing is not encroaching into the neighborhood.

So, one question I have. So, out in our neighborhood, they're putting up just anything out there. I had to get on them because somebody had a Sanford and Sun junkyard out there. Had to call the city for them to get that out of the neighborhood. There's a car lot in the neighborhood. I don't think we're are we zoned for car lots and stuff like that. It depends on the property. Um but we would encourage you as you find those uses that are unsightly if you would reach out to 311. We have an inspection team that will go out and they'll investigate each complaint.

I've called inspection several times about other stuff that's in the neighborhood. Haven't heard from anybody. I can give you our direct number to zoning enforcement and so we can um after the meeting I can give you our direct contact information so you can report them directly to us. Okay. Thank you, Miss Patton. Thank you, Kim. Uh we have a couple of more speakers and I'll uh sort of remind the speakers that this is uh the public hearing specific to uh item one related to the eastern framework zoning. Please state your name and your address, please.

I hope this is correct. uh 3357 39th Street North Marquee um noise level uh test for the FAA uh they don't make the information public on a regular basis and I'm wondering how to get that information for the noise because the noise is really bad over there and I had seen anything that's anybody suggested anything about voice because you're supposed to get insulation in your home for sound level from the federal government for grants. You're supposed to get heat and air units that are specifically built for sound. Windows that are built for sound. You're supposed to get all that from the federal government if you live close and sound levels get to a certain point. And I believe that whole area right there at uh Vanderbilt and East Lake is loud enough because there's military aircraft and everything else that flies over there all the time. And um I'm just kind of concerned about nobody's address that everybody's doing all this other stuff, but what about the noise?

All right, thank you for your question. Um what about the noise? Where's the information? Where where do y'all give us information to report this noise level? Where's the number in the information publicly available? So, I hear your question regards to noise and sound levels and how they might relate to the FAA requirements. Um, that's not uh direct and specific to to the Eastern Framework Plan. Uh, we do have city staff on hand that uh could possibly answer your question, right? This should be just public information because you know related to the item that's in front of us which is the Eastern framework. Right.

Correct. Um so thank you for your question. Um we may have someone on staff who can assist you if you want to write around. Thank you. All right. Next speaker please. Please state your name and your address.

Thank you counselors. My name is Luis Toledo. I live at 59th Street in uh in Crestwood. I know that some of the other council members live there as well. And I have I have two items today. Firstly, I think that the resoning is needed and I appreciate all the effort and work that's gone to resoning, particularly in the Woodlon area and creating a business district. So, I would say uh speaking for myself and the other nonprofits that are in the area, um we welcome growth and investment in the Woodlon area that would improve businesses and improve the community there. Um but if you would look at the map, especially on items number 15, um that area along Davidson Street on uh the southern end of First Avenue North, that area is a green space, right? It's currently owned by potentially by CMC Steel. And we're concerned that any change to that specific area would encourage further development, parking, maybe semitrs that going to come into the area and create more noise, create more pollution, and you know, it's it's two blocks from a nonprofit that does child care. And there's a dental office. There's several nonprofits. Rev. Birmingham is in the area. So, we would encourage you to look at uh item number 15 on the map and uh you know really challenge the idea that we need more light industrial in this particular area as opposed to the other areas. Um that would essentially create more noise, more traffic. Um and it could create, you know, a problem for the development and growth of Woodlon. And like the gentleman said, it's going to create a lot of noise. I know that some of the folks uh I live a few blocks from there as well. and you can hear the machinery going on 24/7 and we've been accustomed to that. But this would bring more noise and more um you know issues with traffic in the area particularly along those trucks those semi-truckss

that end up getting stuck under the bridge and sometimes fall over. Thank you for your comments. Uh councelor O'Quinn.

Yeah. Um, I haven't had recent conversations with CMC Seal, but I have been in the community for a couple of decades. And, um, that area along Division Avenue um, used to be residential homes, many of them blighted. Um, and so CMC Steel has uh purchased those parcels not just along Division Avenue in Woodlon, but also uh along Fifth Avenue in Crustwood. And their intention in purchasing those properties was really to create a buffer around the plant. Um and to the best of my knowledge, they have no intention of developing those properties. They they do own them. Um but their intention in in acquiring the properties was uh number one to remove the blight and number two to uh create a buffer zone around the plant. Um so just wanted to share that information with you.

I appreciate that. Uh, Mr. O'Quinn, so you're saying that they will there will be no development if this gets redistricted from uh single family to That's that's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying, you know, what their intentions uh were in acquiring those properties at the time. Now, you know, whether they choose to use those properties for the in in accordance with the zoning, uh, I'm not aware that they have intentions to do that in the future. That's all I'm saying. Okay. Thank you, Councelor Quinn. Thank you for speaking. All right. Next speaker. Please state your name and your address, please.

Good morning, councelor. I am Miss ZD Boy and I am a former neighborhood president of a community called Broomett Heights. That is in the airport Brownsville section of what we're talking about. I'm c I'm concerned and want some questions answered and satisfied regarding a landfield or dump that is in my community. And my community is a residential community. Mhm.

I understand that the city of Tarant, and I could be wrong. I do not know. As I said, I'm here for clarification. The city of Taran has given uh some trucking company the permission to dump or to come within certain so many feet of my community in my community and go to a dump that we thought for years was not in our community. But we find that it is. As I said before, I'm in a residential community called Broomit Heights and the landfield is in the city of Birmingham. It has been proven. I've carried some people from the uh city to show them exactly where the landfill was. So it is in the city of Birmingham a dump a landfill that is supposed to be zoned residential. Who's getting the revenue for this land from this landfield? Is it the city of Taran? Is it the city of Birmingham? What can be done to close it down? What can be done? Because we have children in our community. The dump trucks pass through at least, and I am not exaggerating because we've had people count them, at least two, 300, two to 300 per day, sometimes even more. And as they pass, some of the dump trucks have a cupboard. Some of them are not covered. They water is coming out. You got to drive way behind

the the dump truck because stuff's flying all over the community. The ends of the roads are t torn up and what have you. We have no way to get out of our community, the section of Birmingham that I live in other than to go a block. I'm a half a block out of that area. And it is zoned within the 500 ft. I think someone mentioned of less than that uh of my home. I would like to know those questions. Can I get some answers? Council Vasa. Yes.

Thank you, ma'am. We appreciate you bringing this information. Um, did you say what community? You're in Broom Heights. B R U M M I T H E I G HTs. Broom Heights. I'm the first female president of this neighborhood some years ago, but still the first. Well, well, I appreciate that information. Um, today we're talking about this particular Eastern Framework Plan. I do value your questions and we do want to get those answered for you. Now, I'll ask staff, is this part of the Eastern Framework Pan that we're u discussing here today? and we could see if we can get more information.

So, the Bummit Heights neighborhood is included. Um I if I can just I'll get her contact information and someone in PEP can reach out to her. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. So, what we'll do is get your information. We'll have our planning team to follow up with you and we've taken note of your questions and then we'll be able to get those answered for you. We have a team. While I'm here, is there any way I know you're going to follow up on this and I appreciate that it is most important that I carry information back, but do you know who's getting the revenue from this landfield? No matter what city,

I do not. And what we'll do is get administration that team will get that information for you. I know you said you had some staff that were outside. So, if you'll let one of them, be sure to talk with her and we'll get those questions answered for you. Thank you. Thank you very much, Council. Thank you, Madam President. Next speaker, please state your name and your address, please.

Morning. My name is Courtney Pride. I'm I currently live at uh 501 Valley A, but is as a former resident of uh Woodlong. Um as I'm was wanting to ask um with seeing uh some of the zoning being with the intention of some of the zoning updating to urban neighborhood and trying to encourage uh more residences um in development in those areas. Um what what uh plans or way that's being imple implemented to to monitor and uh consider uh whether uh the the cost of living with like property values would increase and and whether that would um risk pushing out people. Um, and also I'm concerned of or interested in whether how um the public transit is considered and what areas are being upzoned and and and downzoned and how and if there's been collaboration with um the transit authority and trying to update more and more uh efficient efficiently and effectively serve these communities.

Yes, thank you for your question, M. Madam President. Yes, Council Vasa, we do have the maps outside that did you have an opportunity to look at the maps that we've got lined along the wall. We do have some staff out there that can answer some of the questions regarding the exact locations. Um, I believe when staff um first introduced this item, they did speak to their I want to say I want to say downzoning. which would encourage the residential use of those areas. And I believe Dr. Quinn wants to also add.

So yeah, um urban neighborhood is a new zoning category um that generally accomplishes allowing greater density uh where in those zoned areas. The intention is to apply urban neighborhood along transit corridors. Um and this would uh again allow a slightly higher density. Um some of those areas are single family residential. You know that allow only allows for one um structure on the property to you know accommodate those residents. um urban neighborhood I think will allow um some sort of middle density multif family so up to 12 units on a parcel. Um it also allows uh certain types of small businesses to operate uh with a residence on site. So, think about, you know, u a small grocery store or maybe a bar a barberh shop or a professional services type uh business where the the property owner and their family can can live in the same structure. Um, you know, that's a idea that used to be common place that people lived and worked in the same place and I didn't have to, you know, get in a vehicle and drive half an hour, 45 minutes away to get to my place of employment. Um, urban neighborhood accomplishes at least for a limited number of

occupations for that to happen in the same place. Um it you know so the general idea is to allow for greater density. Greater density actually helps our transit system greatly. Um so um it's it's one of the main reasons why um we're considering that a urban neighbor well the why the urban neighborhood designation has been created. Um but again as President Alexander mentioned um we have the maps available in the corridor outside and you can see where that zoning category is being applied for this eastern area.

Thank you councelor O'Quinn. Thank you for your time. Uh we have two last speakers. Uh please state your name and address please. Thank you to Mayor Woodland. Mhm.

Appreciate you genuinely to the council. Uh my name is Martin Briggs. My corporation is the Oasis Venture Studio. One of the addresses we own is 5009 Messor Airport Highway. We've been aggregating land across the street from the Church of the Highlands Woodlon campus for the last six years. and I come to you with encouragement and appreciation for um the move of these next wave as Mr. Quinn put it of resoning. Um, we have two hurdles in our desire to redevelop that area. And again, this is all of the land around Sammy's, the restaurant marketplace, a lot of dilapidated land over there, and some would say arguably that is the front door to Birmingham when you're leaving the airport. If you're not taking a freeway and you're going to get to Birmingham, you're going to come down through Messer Airport Highway, the first neighborhood you're going to see is that church, Church of the Highlands, which has done a great job. And in that parcel of land, we see it as a responsibility to make something great on that land that's attractive. Um, and my encouragement to you and why I believe this is so important that the city adopts this is I have two hurdles to develop about 5 acres of land around uh Sammy. One is I have to buy all of those little parcels which we've been doing that for six years. I've had three closings, bought five parcels and probably two more closings to go. That's layer one. But in order for us to develop the challenges that Mr. Jason Avery, board president or uh

neighborhood association president, expressed to me and many other neighbors, they said they want something that's beautiful, that's attractive, that provides jobs. We're maybe thinking a grocery store, walking area, but none of that can happen with my current zoning, the old zoning, because I got uh single family housing, commercial in one area. Without this mass change, I'd have to personally come to you and ask for that. But with this one blanket change, we will be able to quickly develop that area into something that's beautiful and lovable. Thank you. I yield my time. Thank you, Mr. Briggs.

All right. Uh I believe we have one last speaker. Please uh state your name and address. Thank you. Good morning. I know it's the morning is gone right now. I'm Janice Martin. I live at 3943 12th Avenue North. And my concern is about my house. When they was building the Coca-Cola plant, my house has conceited in the ground. It's like it's built on the ground. And I'm wondering if I can get some assistance on that because CocaCola plant is from like this desktop to you to my house. It's Cusa Street celebrates it. Not Cusa, but Tyler celebrates it. I mean segregated. But I was a little I need some help on this because my house was sitting up now. Now it's flat on the ground sitting there. So, who will I talk to about that or can I get some help somewhere to help raise the house back up?

Madam President, yes. What I'd like to thank you for bringing this to us and to our attention. I would like to ask you if we could refer this to administration so we can work and see what type of um resources there would be and what type of mitigation and uh within our ordinances that we would be able to assist you. There was staff standing right outside. I'll be sure they greet you and so we can get more of your information and we can get that. Chief Sparks, do you have staff that would be able to assist the resident? Yes, ma'am. Right outside the door. Okay. and we'll be able to get someone to answer those questions for you.

Okay. And we've got a new uh person, well, a new club that we know nothing about. It's a strip club and it's in right in the back of my house and one of the old dilapidated houses there. Okay. On Kahama Street. That's definitely concern. And um so we'll get all that information for you and then we'll be sure someone follows up. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. I would ask that any last speakers, if you're interested in speaker uh speaking, go ahead and stand up right here in line. Looks like we have one last person come on up. Please state your name and address. Thank you.

My name is John Jino. I live near I live at 4203 1st Avenue North. And uh this is Jordan Scrap right next to my house. It's toxic nuisance. And um I was supposed to get a buffer zone and uh I'm asking here's his business license and he's illegally operating. He was supposed to be a block away from me when he was given his license. And y'all drew the map right next door to my house, 21 ft from my house. Here's his business license. It's a subdivision in between. Your map shows the subdivision, the streets and alleys, and it says that his license specifically excludes the alleys and roadways contained on the site. And like every junkyard, he has to have a map of where the city council voted for years ago on file with the city clerk's office. They said they lost the map, but there's no way that he could be anywhere near my property because he didn't own it years ago. He was given he he has a tiny little piece of property two blocks away from me where his original license was given to him. And then he's illegally expanded all the way next to me. And now I'm asking y'all to draw that. You said your downside is in the heavy industry where it's not active. Well, he's illegally operating there. Can you draw that heavy industry onto that property where he was voted to work over a block away from me? There's a ma he's a major nuisance of smoke and the toxic noise and everything.

Thank you for your question. Thank you, council. Thank you so much. Did you give him the address again, please? His address is number his address is number seven 41st Street North Jordan scrap. He started out as a junkyard, but then he y'all gave him a license to be a scrap metal processor. So now he sits there and burns this toxic waste every day in the air.

What you're providing for us is um definitely an issue that will be with code enforcement. And so we're going to take this to PEP and our um also we have municipal court that would look into these type of problems. So we'll get follow up with you. There's staff that will also be able to follow up so that we can further look at this code enforcement v potential violation. I know you have paperwork that says that appears it's already gone through municipal court and there's some action. But for this particular item, is this address also included in this particular framework plan? It do. We have all the information. Okay. We're working on it. All right. Thank you.

So, it would be possible to draw the heavy industry just where his was allowed to operate because y'all drew it over next to my house and that's was never allowed. It's a subdivision and he's not. He he fenced in all the streets and roads and paved over Morris Avenue is where his first his entrance is on Morris Avenue. He fenced it all in to get over near me. I was just saying, can you draw it just where his license specifically said he could operate? Wouldn't that make sense? Cuz literally, he's not even

Thank you for your question. I I see that time is up. Uh I I heard that uh Kim is happy to talk to you after this. Uh y'all can exchange information and get information that you're looking for. Thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate it. Uh seeing no other speakers, this concludes the public hearing. I hand it over to Madame President. Thank you very much. Are there any other questions from counselors regarding this item? We're ready for the vote.

Yes. All right. Thank you. The item passes. We want to thank the PEP team for providing this information. I want to thank all the residents that are present, those that um had questions, also those that participate in the community engagements, and so we appreciate this participation today. Thank you very much. Item number one does pass. Next item, speakers, speakers are all right. At this time, we'll entertain our district updates. And anybody like to go first? Go ahead, Council Williams.

All right. Southeast Lake Neighborhood meeting will be Monday, February the 23rd at 6 o'clock at East Lake United Methodist. Crestwood South will be meeting Monday, February 23rd at 6:30 at the Jewish Community Center. And uh economic development and tourism is cancelled due to lack of submissions for today and our next meeting will be May the 5th. If you have any submissions, if you'll send them to india.bay at birmingham.gov. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Councelor Smith.

Great. Thank you. So, first I want to say congratulations to District 8's very own Tedra Tucker. She completed the Woodlon effect lead um academy for the class of 2026. So, I want to congratulate her for that accomplishment. I also want to acknowledge um Jackie Physicas Varnner of Bama Foods. They had a very unfortunate incident this weekend, but she is committed to District 8 and committed to the small businesses in the area. So really wanted to um just reach out and express concerns for her. Um also want to acknowledge five Beta Sigma and their Sigma Beta Club. This Thursday, April the 23rd will acknowledge the founding of their boys mentoring organization with the Smith Sigma Beta Club. It was founded in Alabama in the 1950s. And so I would like to um request a resolution for that. So ask for unan unanimous consent for that resolution. Second.

All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. And the resolution. Second. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Thank you. Um, so next, the arts and parks committee met on yesterday. There was a lot of really good information. So my colleagues, um, feel free to go back and look at that. In addition to updates from our cultural arts institutions, we also received a u really thorough update from GMC on the strategic park plan. So um definitely want to encourage you to do that. We're starting the listening sessions for that park plan. The first one will be this upcoming Monday um

yes, Monday, April 27th at 6 p.m. at the Oxmore Community Center. We also encourage residents and neighbors to go to Beham Parks 2030 um to complete the survey for that 2035. 2035. Okay. And then lastly um with park and wreck, they are still hiring lifeguards for the summer season. So please contact 2052542189 for more information on that. Um, and lastly, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is having their board meeting on today, Tuesday, April 21st at 4:30 p.m. Thank you. Thank you very much, Councelor Gun.

Thank you, Madam President. These are my announcements for today. Uh, this Saturday, we'll be hosting a community cleanup in partnership with the Black Warrior Rivereper at Norwood Park from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. So, I hope to see all of my neighbors out there uh for 2 hours of cleanup. Uh the North Birmingham Public Library is hosting their 100th anniversary event today. So I will be be showing my face there. Although it's not in my district, a lot of my residents in in district 4 uh utilize that library. Uh upcoming neighborhood association meetings. Uh we have the South Woodline neighborhood meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Woodline Public Library. Uh we have the Norwood Neighborhood Association meeting tomorrow. Uh it is virtual. Uh, and then lastly, next Monday, we have the Kingston Neighborhood Association meeting at 6 PM at the Royal Event Center. And then last but not least, upcoming committee meetings. The next community development committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, May the 4th at 3:30 p.m. in the city council chambers. If you have any items that you would like to submit for the agenda, please send them to Carmen Mays uh by close of business Monday, April the 27th. And that concludes my announcements.

Thank you, Councelor Woods. Thank you, Madam President. Quickly, the Sun Valley Neighborhood Association will be meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. Uh, this meeting will be held via Zoom only. Uh, for virtual access, you can email bhm district1gmail.com and they will send you the link. Uh, also the Huffman Neighborhood Association will meet on Monday, April 27th at 7 p.m. That meeting will be held at the Huffman Baptist Church. Once again, want to make sure everybody's aware of uh our Earth Day event uh Hip Hop in the Environment, partnering with Springville Road Library. Uh went really well last year, so that we brought it back around. Uh this year that will be held tonight at 5:00 p.m. Uh just great opportunity to bring the family. Uh fun eco-friendly activities and a live performance by Shahed and DJ Supreme. and just proud to partner with uh both the Spring Bau Library and the Black Warrior Riverkeeper uh once again this year. The budget and finance, the next meeting will be Monday, April 27th at 3:30 p.m. uh here in the chambers. Uh any submissions are due by Wednesday, April 22nd at noon. Um I know we are getting towards the end of the fiscal year, so we will be flexible to uh help all of the colleagues uh ensure that their uh dollars are put to good use in the community. Also, uh if you haven't already, make sure that you take the uh FY2027 budget survey. If you have things that are important to you that you want to see done in your community, uh make sure that you share your priorities with us. You can find that survey at uh www. birmingham.govfy2027. Thank you.

Thank you, Dr. O'Quinn.

Thank you, Madam President. Um, anyone who attends neighborhood meetings um whether they're in district five or the other districts um will be familiar with the fact that um many if not all of the counselors provide news you can use packets to our residents um that contain information that's not only you know specific to the district but really uh provides info about a lot of city happenings and services available to residents. Um, so I encourage folks to contact their council office um to because those uh information packets can also be sent to you by via email

um which saves us on print uh printer ink and paper. So encourage you to do that. Um, in district 5 this week, uh, Central City Neighborhood Association has a meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at the Birmingham Central Library. Southeast Lake neighbor Neighborhood Association meets next Monday at 6 PM at East Lake United Methodist Church. We have a transportation mini committee meeting coming up on Monday um at 2 p.m. here in the council chambers and a planning and zoning committee uh on Tuesday at um I think it's 300 p.m. at here also here in the council chambers. Um you can contact my office or councelor boss's office u regarding agenda items. Want to remind folks that the annual foot soldiers anniversary street celebration is coming up on Saturday, May 2nd, uh from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the four historic 4th Avenue business district. Um you can reach out to them for additional information. And just want to remind folks again that the city of Birmingham is undertaking a multimodal transportation plan. Um, you can find out information and participate in that planning process by going to www. Birmingham.govhm to participate. And that concludes my announcements.

Thank you, council. Thank you, Madam President. U the St. Elias Food and Cultural Festival was this past weekend. Was a lovely event. great attendance and a showcase of the wonderful Lebanese uh culture, food, music, etc. Uh so thankful to all who hosted that. The Birmingham Folk Fest is on calendar for May 16th at Aenddale Park. Uh it's a great opportunity, family fun, music, art, community. Uh the Wild Flower Allianc's Buddy Big Top Carnival is on May 9th. Hold that date. Uh and lastly, neighborhood meetings. We have Five Points South Neighborhood Association meeting at 6 p.m. at Highlands United Methodist Church. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Madam Pro.

Thank you, Madam President. The Evergreen Neighborhood Meeting will be held tonight at 5:00 p.m. at the Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church. East Thomas Neighborhood Meeting will be held tonight at 6 p.m. They meet on Zoom. You can call the office to get the Zoom ID and passcode. South Cret neighborhood association will also be held tonight at 6:30 and they meet at Lively Hope Baptist Church in Ridge neighborhood meeting will be held on Thursday, April the 23rd and they will be meeting at 5:30 at the New Salem Baptist Church in Jura Hill neighborhoods. Meeting will be held on Monday, April the 27th at 6 p.m. at Protective Stadium. The next public safety meeting will be held on Tuesday, April the 28th at 100 p.m. Please submit agenda items no later than Wednesday, April the 22nd by 12 noon. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact our office at 2542302 at 2542096. And Madam President, I do have several um community events. As councelor Gun has already stated, the North Birmingham Library will be celebrating 100 years of community today at um 12 noon, starting at 12:00 noon. And the BJCTA community meeting will be held also at 5:00 p.m. at the North Birmingham Library as well to discuss the changes um with some of the fixed routes. Shelter Brook ribbon cutting inviting all of you out to the Shadowbrook ribbon cutting ceremony. It will be Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in the Shadowbrook and that's the Pratt city area. So come out and celebrate the ribbon cutting of uh those homes that they're building out there. And finally, North Side Community Cleanup will be held Friday, April the 24th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00. So that would include North Birmingham Hooper City in a typical coat Finley and a Bethl Baptist Church in Pratt City is having a community fair and giveaway next Saturday, April the 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. That concludes my announcement. Madam President,

thank you so much, Madam Pro Tim. These are announcements for District 7. I'd like to take a moment this morning to I guess we're Yeah, we're still in morning to thank our District 7 intern. She's leaving us to graduate from high school and to go on to new endeavors in college. So, Miss Sayia Hawkins Harper. Sayia, if you'll stand up. She's been with us for the past few months serving the district 7 office. She'll be departing Winona High School and she has a 4.0 GPA. And as she departs, we know she'll be arriving next as a ASU Hornet and she'll be majoring in forensic path biology. I want to call it something else. But we wish you all the best. I'm so excited. It's been a great pleasure to have you in the D7 office and always a dragon. All right. Thank you. We have the following neighborhood meetings. We this evening we have the Green Acres neighborhood meeting. They meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Lifting Christ Worship Center on Pine View Road. And then on Thursday, the Industrial Center Neighborhood Association meets at 6:30 p.m. On Monday, also the Tarley City neighborhood will meet at 6:00 p.m. As already been mentioned, Monday we do have the arts and parks community rec community meeting and that will be in district 7, Oxmore Community Center, and it'll start at 6 p.m. I also would like to acknowledge Robin Gully. If any of us have gone with us to um travel to DC for NLC, she always used to be a beautiful face that would greet us when we go into Congresswoman Terry Su's office. She's now the Birmingham district liaison. So, we'll see her here in Birmingham. So, thank you, Robin.

All right, that concludes our Yes, sir. Councelor Gun. Apologies for this delay. Yep. I just wanted to take a moment to recognize uh Norwood's president, uh Miss Barbara. She's out in the audience and I see you. Thank you so much for all the work that you do in Norwood and keeping us straight in Norwood. I appreciate it. Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you for acknowledging her. Saw that smile when she came in. Thank you so much. All right. At this time, we'll entertain our speakers list. Okay, Mr. Clerk. Bob Freeman.

Hi, Mr. Freriedman. We got three minutes. Good morning. Good morning to everyone. It's great to It's a great meeting. highly commend this council and the mayor for how everything was handled.

Joy, it's always a joy to come back and see uh see Birmingham do its business. That's the right way to describe it. Uh I'm the director of the Birmingham Black Radio Museum and I'm a public historian and I'm uh an employee of the VBRM as well. These are all firsts. I'm not a radio announcer. I was, but I really am a public historian. And in line with that, I'm handing out something to all of you, which is basically my soon-to-be 40 years in Birmingham, which is just shy of half of my life. Uh I spent 20 2025 wrestling with uh cancer and uh two days ago found myself to be clean. So I'm so glad to say both of those things and to say it to this council as well. Um the previous visits here have had to do with the sewer the sewer system and the sewer backup. Um Plumcore has been hired. I thank you for your persistence in the matter and right now they've been hired two months ago with no um p public number where they can actually address remuneration getting paid. Um I don't know how long it takes to get a uh a particular number which I think comes from the mayor's side. Uh but I hope that that will be forthcoming. So let's move ahead with the reconstruction of the sewer system and opening up of the BBRM. This is National Library Week, which I'm very glad to be a part of as well since we host a uh a very large oral history uh collection which has

been used extensively uh by professionals and students alike. Um, I do want to report that our board has expanded. The original board had Miss uh, Willilamina Richardson, who's the general manager at WJLD, and Brother Enis Bragg, and some of you may remember Dr. Reginald Swanson who is a a dentist, longtime dentist in the city. The latter two have retired. Regginald has passed away. Emory Anthony, the attorney, is still on our board, but we've also uh expanded the board to include Wayne Coleman, who is the head of archives for the Birmingham U Civil Rights Institute for 29 years and who just completed his master's degree, the subject of which was the Birmingham Black Radio Museum. And I met I met Wayne 17 years ago. He came into my office at JLD, yelled at me to take all the sheet music I had off the wall since the fluorescent lighting was going to kill it. And a year and a half ago came to me and asked me if he could be my intern. So that really you start to feel age when that cycle takes place. but he received his be his uh his masters at University of Alabama based on this construct which is here in the city. Uh also Dr. Robert Writer is the head of archival studies for University of Alabama. He's on our board. And finally um Miss Pamela Stern King who was the preservationist for the city of Birmingham and a longtime professor of history at UAB. So, we're very excited

about all of that. Uh fally, and I don't know what the clock is telling you. Um,

oh, one one last thing is to say that uh Dr. Jeremiah Claybo from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Their education department has decided to take on the um I guess you would call it a a media a contest that we had as part of our exhibit to see who was good at trivia. he's taken it on to reform that contest to fit with the social studies core curriculum in the state of Alabama. So that's going to help us even recruit more folks. Again, want to encourage uh the on the mayor's side to please uh uh assign Plumcore a number so they can get paid and begin the process of restoration, make that building a safe place to work for everybody.

Thank you, Mr. Freriedman. That information had already been forwarded over to administration as you know, and so um they have that information. Thank you. Next, Speaker, John Jackson. Morning, Mr. Jackson. If you state your Good morning. Address.

Yes. I'm John Jackson. I reside at 235 85th Street North. I'm here today because of same problem we've been having for the past I want to say about five to six years. Uh to Mr. mayor, the president, city council. I've recently went to Selma to the Edmonton Edund Pettis Bridge. Why am I saying this? It's because those people went through and was beat and mistreated severely, but they wouldn't give up. Why am I saying that? Because on my street at 235 85th Street North, we have all kind of things going on where people run up and down that street at speeds of 80 and 90 miles an hour. We feel that speed pumps would really help us tremendously. Now what we've done, we've done several we've taken several steps. First, we went and got the position done and that was done and it was approved. And in addition to doing that, we were sent a map showing how the speed cushions would work. In addition to doing that, we talked to each person that's lives on 85th Street North, got their signatures on it. In addition to doing that, we went to our neighborhood president meeting and this was voted on and it gave us a 90% yes. And in addition to doing that, I'm coming to you guys for help. You guys are our representatives. Now, we've seen death on this street. We've seen a person get uh ran over in a wheelchair. And we've seen uh kids uh running across

the street actually running for their lives. And only thing we're asking for is for our representative to to step in and help us with that. Now, I'm not doing this for myself because the children are more important. I recently heard how the mayor went and did several things to help the kids out and that's tremendously. But remember us on 235 85th Street North. We need help. Remember 85th Street North. We appreciate you for what you do. We heard about the joy on the library and we we'd like to have joy on 85th Street, too. Give us the joy that we want to have as well. Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you, Mr. Jackson. Um, I wanted to just I know you're aware B do DOT does have a the Birmingham Department of Transportation. They do have a traffic calming program that um you as you have stated it typically starts within the neighborhood and the neighborhood votes and um were have you been part of that process with the neighborhood vote and are you aware what the neighborhood voted on that? Yes, that's what I was just expounding on. Yeah, they voted on and it was a a 98% yes.

Okay. So, um I know within that program they have had some opportunities where that um they've been backlogged when they've had those processes and they voted on by the neighborhood. I think councelor Woods wanted to had some other information. Yeah, I was going to add to that. Um it sounds like you have already done all the steps on your side of the puzzle and so basically I do know cuz I'm working on uh some of these as well.

But there's a they're going to be put out to bid and so all of your steps are done. It could potentially be included in the next bid and then it'll be so but you're you're good on your end. You'll just you're just waiting on installation. So but I'll verify that street but it sounds like based on what you said you've already done and gotten approved that you should You've carried the ball all the way and now it's just got to get in the queue for installation. So, thank you so much. Congratulations. All right. Thank you, Mr. Jackson. Thank you. Y'all have a good day. All right. Thank you. Next speaker. Hal Tilman. Thank you, Council Woods. Mr. Tilman.

I guess she's not here. That speaker is not here. All right. Thank you. This time, that concludes our speakers list. We do want to thank our officers on duty today, Officer Campbell and Officer Tarant, and our fire inspectors on duty, Inspector Snow and Inspector Giggs. This time, we'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. Second. All those in favor, please say I. I meeting ajourn. Thank you.

What's up, Birmingham? It's Council Vos from District 3. We're over here at, let me tell you, an event that is very near and dear to my heart and a wonderful event for the community. It's the St. Elias's Lebanese Food Festival. This is the 28th annual. And believe it or not, I remember our dad uh Stan Vasa taking uh our family over here just so we could enjoy it and get some cultural uh experiences, some wonderful food, dancing, music, entertainment. Uh it's a two-day event Friday and Saturday and it is a wonderful opportunity to to meet neighborhood folks uh to meet uh you know have different cultural experiences. Again we have dancing, there is music, uh there's delicious food, there's baklava, there's really so many opportunities to just have a good time uh meet some new folks and have a wonderful experience.

Oh my goodness. This is this is truly it's a labor of love. We start baking and cooking and prepping um in January. We have baking days and cooking days on Saturdays. But it's great, like I said, to be able to pass it down to the next generations. Um you know, that's the great thing about this country. We're all big melting pot. And it's our sense of hospitality, too, saying welcome to our culture and this corner of Alabama.

I'd say, you know, this is sort of a reunion for me. You know, we used to come again as as kids. Uh my dad brought my sister uh and myself and and and my mom and we would we would have a good time and just just again enjoy meeting people, eating good food, having live entertainment and and just having a cultural experience. So, it's a great way to highlight, you know, different uh types of activities in the Birmingham area. And so, we're glad that it that it that the tradition continues. had a late night.

Well, we're here today at Jones Valley Middle School and this is our annual day that coincides with Earth Day that is later this month. This is an opportunity to empower residents. We know that we're plagued with blight, illegal dumping in our neighborhoods, um vacant lots, and this is a day for us to come out and show some love to be and this gives us an opportunity as residents to empower ourselves and try to combat what's going on in our community. I'm very, very grateful for each of you for whatever capacity you're here with us today. And I want to thank you on behalf of the residents of District 7. And um I really just and the love you're showing to D7 and so I thank you so much.

Now we not necessarily everybody's cleaning up today. We have all sorts of resources here so that you can plan future cleanups, but this is to jumpstart our season of showing love to D7. cuz you a diamond. Whatever you prefer, I'll only give me the chance. Let me prove it all. I've actually been doing D Love D7 since I was appointed to the city council back in 2018. The only time that we've haven't had this event is during the COVID years. So, I'm excited that we started these back and that we do this. This is an annual thing that I like to do in D7. I have three C's of focus in D7. community cleanliness, community revitalization, and community health and wellness. And this is one of the largest parts of the community cleanliness focus that we have here in D7.

How are you?

Well, I just want to say I'm very grateful to all of the volunteers and the different organizations that have come out today and really want to show this love to our district. My parents moved uh to the US in the in 1978 and my sister and I were were blessed to be raised in a family that focused very much on the arts. So my sister did uh dances uh Bollywood and a little bit of Barthonium uh and then you know I was able to do some some music as well. So the arts play a very important role.

This is Josh Basa. I'm city council for district 3. We're out here at the beautiful city walk celebrating uh a tradition called holy. Uh it's from India and uh it celebrates the welcoming of spring and new seasons and sunlight. It also more broadly focuses on love over hate on community, bringing community together. So, we're out here, you can see we got hundreds of folks. We're throwing colors. Uh it's all about celebration. It's about love. Uh it's about having a good time. And we got all walks of life out here enjoying themselves. Uh so we're thankful to the Museum of Art, uh for CityWalk for hosting this, uh for Sunjay and Dora Singh for their involvement. Um and folks just being out here on a beautiful day. Uh, hope to see you at the next one next year. We having a great time today. Thank you. I I just want to leave, you know, something for the young ones here. Again, young or younger young at heart. Um, you know, it takes I love this joke, uncles and aunties like myself, right? Uncles and aunties, uh, as we say in the Daisy community, um, to to be intentional about keeping these traditions alive, right? Uh, and making sure that they stay relevant. So, uh, if you're a young one, you know, one day you will be an uncle and auntie and and it'll be your time to continue this. So, please make sure you continue on this foundation.