Council - Regular Meeting

Here we go. All right. Pre-consil meeting of the city of Homewood for February 23rd, 2026. Councelor Simmons here. Councelor Sims here. Councelor Lane here. Councelor Armstead here. Mayor Anders here. All here.

Okay. All right, everybody. Um, beginning with our old business agenda, we'll start with our first item. 020226, request for permission to work in the rightway at 9005 and 909 Frisco Street to connect to existing sanitary sewer manhole brought to us from Amy Zary. It's my understanding that the applicant is withdrawing the application. They've requested withdrawal. Okay. So, if that is the case, then the proper motion would be to postpone indefinitely. So,

or unless someone wants to speak to it first. Uh, yes, we'll send it out to You're right. I'm sorry. You're right. We're going to send that out to council. I know. I'm going to get this right. One of these meetings I'm going to get it right. But still on committee structure. Okay. So, we'll send that out tonight. Postpone that indefinitely. You're not sending it out, but yeah. Okay. Is it all right if I ask a question? Because that's what I was here for. No. No. Oh, yeah. Go ahead. Okay. So, uh, can you come share your name and sign it? Thank you.

Shannon Tindle. T Y N D A L L. Um, I'm uh emotionally invested in this process. I've lived on Irving, which is right behind where this is going on for almost 28 years now. So, uh, I think I just heard you say that they have re pulled back their request to access the manhole in the alley. Yes, I'm that's the extent of what I know is that they're no longer developing that site. So, if anyone else wants to speak to that, please do. Yeah. Um,

well, from my understanding, it's not that they're I think it's that the current owner is not planning on developing the site. They're going to put the infrastructure in place, I think, and and then try to sell it. Um, that's my understanding. Okay. Based on the communication received. So, given that they're not going to try to proceed with this agreement at this time because that's it's not needed at this point in the process. Okay. Wonderful. Yeah. And the only reason why they did need an indemnification agreement for the sanitary sewer tap was because it was a force main line. So it was a little it was a little bit different than a gravity sewer which would which would be allowed without individation.

Right. Well that's one of the questions I had to ask was you know because our sewers are so old like is it have any studies been done to make sure that they could take the extra waste? Yeah that's a great question about it now. Right. That's a good question. The answer is they once they pay their sanitary sewer caps Jefferson County makes sure that there's capacity enough to handle the additional line. Okay. Well, thank you.

I will say in this discussion too, I mean, I went back and watched some public works videos from 2021 when this originally discussed um you know, thinking through the conversations about the roadway. Um went out there this past week and to see like what the topography of the you know, of the current road that they've put into place is. I mean, you've got some steep drop offs. you've got some narrowness of the existing Frisco Street segment which will only continue on the other side. So, um it is a conversation for the future though about um what services in particular garbage service looks like um for this future development. And if it become if it grows from two houses to four that's on that road, we're going to have to um put some plans in place for how to appropriately serve those residents.

Okay. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Thank you, Miss Linda. Okay, so we will take it up next door six o'clock. Thank you. Okay, next item is 06226. Request for permission to put yellow stripe on the curb at Lynen brought to us from councelor Lane. We did not discuss this the last meeting since you were not here. So, we held this over for you to talk us through it.

Okay. Uh the issue there is we're talking u on Lynon on the west side of Lynon. We've already got an old parking that covers 20 feet or 20 30. There it is right there. What what I'm requesting hopefully is to get that yellow curb brought all the way to the edge, which is one parking space basically. And the reason behind that is because we have when we have cars parked on the east side of Lyndon and the car parks on the right side. When cars making the turn there, it is just so narrow. And that's that's the image you sent me.

Yeah, perfect. Oh yeah, that is the image. Okay. So, there's an issue. If we can just at the uh request of some of the business owners, if we can take that yellow curb up, would make it a lot better for the thorough affairs through this on that street. Now, you mean extend the yellow curb? Extend the yellow curb just to another to the exact to the to the park. So, it would eliminate that parking space where that SUV was parked. I got you. Okay. And then I'll make it'll make traffic there a lot easier.

Okay. So, Mr. Merl, we'll have this ready meeting on March 9th at the March 9th meeting if that's okay. Does that work? Okay. Okay. Perfect. All right. So, that does go out, right? That gets added to the when I do the additions to the agenda that gets added, right? Well, we we can be on there. We can just carry it over. Yeah, I was just carrying over. Okay. All right. Uh, that is it for old business. Moving on to new business. Um 090226 request to amend the budget for MGT Impact Solutions. Mr. Smith.

Yeah. So Sam and I um received three proposals for an organizational study to somebody from the outside to come in and look at our efficiencies and effectiveness um across the across the entire city. um that seems to be something that functional cities and municipalities, local governments do from time to time. I'm not sure that it's ever happened here. And so it's one of the things that I wanted to to start out with. Um I think it's going to be a great roadmap for how we how we structure our departments and our group um our entire city. So the first thing I'll mention, I'm going to tell you in a second what what they're planning to do. And then the first part, since I'm on this page, is a budget amendment. This wasn't budgeted. So, this would be a budget amendment similar to the fleet study a couple weeks ago for $36,97 to pay MGT Impact Solutions LLC. That money would come from the carryover fund balance into um general fund professional services. So, let me tell you what they're going to do. So, they're going to they're going to come to Homewood and stay for about a week and meet with all the department heads, understand what our existing structure looks like, and then go over job descriptions, meet with employees, and then figure out who does what. They're going to look at key metrics. Then the next thing they're going to do is meet with probably some of you guys to understand what path you want to be on. And then um after that they're going to look at our peers. Who are some similar municipalities across the

southeastern region that that we can benchmark ourselves against? And then lastly, they will um they'll give draft recommendations um organizational structure, reporting alignment, staff levels, role definitions, supervisory spans of control, workflow improvements, and then um early retirement incentive programs. Um and then and then finally, they'll present a report and show up and and present the information. Um, do you need this to go out tonight or are we It would be great. It would be awesome if it come out tonight.

Okay. All right. I kind of have a related question. It looks like on the timeline they propose it's going to be about 12 weeks. Um, so where does that timeline fall in assuming that we move forward, you know, maybe tonight? Um, have they given us dates as far as like when they expect to begin and will that be prior to budget then or Yeah, I mean so just like the fleet study, the intent of this is to is to try to get an understanding of what our organization should be. I don't imagine that whatever recommendations they make are going to happen this year.

I I just think it's going to be a roadmap to work towards. Um and but but yeah, I think we would have initial findings prior to the prior to the budget hearings over the summer. Does this when this is done, does this get presented? Do you present this publicly once it's established? Absolutely. Okay, great. Yeah. And I just again like the fleet study, they I think they'll come here and present the results and explain what their process looked like, who they talked to, what they found out. Sam, did I leave anything out?

Yeah, you also going to do like a employee engagement survey, too, right? So, kind of related to what councelor Lane's referencing, it says, you know, in the activities they conduct a final presentation to city council. And so, just to confirm, like that will be at a public meeting. Mhm. Okay. Yep. That'll be in this room at this meeting. Perfect. Thanks. We might have to start at 4:30 that day. Okay. Or especially if you're talking about a long-term strategy. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Perfect. All right, we will send that out then. 090226 will get sent out tonight.

All right. Um, next item is 10226 requests to authorize the mayor to sign an agreement between Homewood, Mountain Brook, Birmingham, Jefferson County relating to the eventual comprehensive bridge improvement construction project that will include pedestrian accessibility near the current Highway 280 bridge at Hollywood Boulevard. Brought to us from myself. Um, all this is doing, you should have should have had that agreement in your packet. All this is doing is authorizing phase one of this project which is construction of the sidewalks that will lead to the bridge. Um the county is paying for this. The county is handling the work. The county is maintaining this. The only um thing that we are responsible for is maintaining um one block which is connecting uh that house at Malaga um which is on the corner right there where the crosswalk is. But the rest of it is we're not paying for that either. The county is paying for that. But we will just maintain that one block. and we've already spoken with the homeowners over the years this project's been going on. Um so and if there's any overage, the county will handle any overage. Um we had a press conference today with our project and construction should begin this summer. Um we will not send this out tonight. Um Jay has worked with um Birmingham Mountain Brook and the county and to agree on all the language and um Birmingham will be passing theirs tomorrow and so we were going to wait for Birmingham to pass. So no need to go out tonight. So that should be in your packet for um any questions. I'm happy to answer, but that's really all that's all this is. It's intergovernmental agreement. No money.

That's what No money. Yeah. Yep. So there's no money. No money for homewood expense. So it's no money. Just let that make that public. No money. That we're not Yep. We're free and clear. We're free. Even the sidewalk even the sidewalk sidewalk. We're not paying for that. And that's Yes. So Yep. Got it. That's right. Yeah. We will maintain it, but we're not paying for it. Right. I think otherwise congratulations. It was a lot of hard work and I know it's took a lot of persistence to get it done. I mean, you should have seen today. Like, great job on the interview.

Oh my god. Thank you. I mean, you should have seen today. Like, it was like somebody asked me who was there. I was like, it'd be easier to tell you who wasn't there. I mean, every single like elected official basically Roger Smitherman was the only one that wasn't there. I mean, everybody else was there. And um because everybody has donated funds from their discretionary funds. Everybody has supported it and advocated for it. Robert Adderhole was texting during the you know the press conference like he couldn't be there. He wish he could be there. I mean it was just really it was a remarkable show of support from the local level all the way up to the federal level. It was incredible. So um we're really we're really pleased. Like Jay said I felt bad for Trustful. It did not get the Bali who that we got. Yeah. Their their project was mentioned but nobody talk about this.

Yeah. Mayor Short. Nah, we're okay. We're getting and your mayor got a standing ovation because of the work that she did and a lot of very very important people who gave her standing ovation for her work.

Thank you. Thank you, Brian. That was a lot of fun. Thank you. It was a lot of fun. So, yay. Listen, happy to be there. Just great group of people. Really, really great group of people. Okay. Um, let's see. Next item. So, that will go out for March 9th. We'll vote on March 9th. Um 110226 a request to authorize the reimbursement of travel related expenses for an outofstate candidate for the position of city manager brought to us from Kim Kinder. And Kim, I assume you we want this to go out tonight. Is that right? Okay. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Okay. Yeah. What's the amount on that?

I can't get my crazy laptop to pull up, but is it on the agenda? It should be a little bit over a thousand for airfare, rental car, and one. It's on here. It's on here. the packet. Sorry. No, it's my fault. I was concerned.

That's my bad. There we go. 82640 plus 8848. Yeah. So, that might be normal. Okay. I think it's around 1300 total. Am I not seeing the number on here? Yeah, it's uh since I got it's within. Okay. Okay. So, just for clarification, too, since we're talking about the numbers, um so there's the the airfare on there and then on the receipt provided that amount is deducted by a credit. And I is that credit something from the traveler

which which we're reimbursing that amount as well because that was their credit they used or is that a city credit? It's not a city credit. So then that would be an amount that was incurred as an expense by the traveler which would also need to be reimbursed. I didn't think so, but I did not include that refund trip credit. Okay. Total cost. Just may um but I can double check and yeah, I think we need to it's hard to clarify that. Um because if they had a credit on their account that was applied that we're re reimbursing, then it seems like that was applied to the

to the ticket. So, we would want have to reimburse that as well. Okay. Would it be just would it be appropriate to authorize up to a certain amount or should we wait until I think probably finalizing what the amount should be and doing it in one fell swoop. So with that in mind, it's probably appropriate to carry it over. Okay. All righty. Yeah. If you'll just find that out for us, that would be great. Not till the next not that it's on here. It's on here at 11:3140, right? It just shows like it but it shows his credit. It shows his payment

at 11:3140 and then it shows you the breakdown of how it was paid, but the amount is there. Mhm. Well, we can see what I mean like the like it it does I mean it does highlight we can send it out and if we obtain definitive information the next hour, we can you know make a decision on it and if not we can carry it over. That's a great point. So, we could pay the amount then if he's like, "Oh, yeah. I do need the other that was my personal credit." Or do you want to try to figure that out with them? Now, if we can figure it out in the next 45 minutes to confirm, you know, in discussion, then I think we can pay it um you know, based off that information.

Okay, that sounds great. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you, Kim. All right. Um let's see. Next item. 120226 request to authorize the public release of recorded interviews of the five finalists with the position of city manager brought to us from myself. Um we will send this out also to council for discussion on March the 9th. That still gets us we're still within our time frame that we are required to um for the open open records for our uh policy on that. So, we will carry that one over until or we will discuss that at council on March the 9th. Um, do you want to vacate for the next item since it's about your contract? I can.

Okay. I didn't know if there would be questions for me, but I can certainly leave and then be called back. Yeah, let's do that. Let's do that. Yeah, let's do that. I'm going to take one of these sandwiches. The minnow cheese. Enjoy. All right, let's see. Next item. 130226, request to appoint Kale Smith as city manager and enter into an employment agreement with city manager. Um, this will also this will go out tonight. Um, and I'm going to invite Sam to come forward to discuss um what we have in front of us for his contract. Hi. Yes, sir. Did you get a sandwich?

Ma'am, did you get a sandwich? Well, my wife I think it's going to be Oh, okay.

Um, anyway, on the um the don't we have you before you um in my professional opinion, I think that the beginning salary is low compared to comparable cities. I know that you're looking at a 5% possibly a 5% bump up in six months if the has a you know a good evaluation. I think that would help with help the cause. But uh if you look at what Pelum Mount Brook and Vestavia are paying their city managers, uh this is a little bit on the low side. Again, you know, Kel's a new city manager and I'm sure he will earn earn u you know those additional raises in the future by the good job that he'll be he'll be doing. Uh so I could support the contract although I think it is a little low. Okay. All right. Any questions for Sam?

On on Pelum, for instance, we discussed this prior. Um, she's at a scale of what? 190, correct? Well, uh, or were you wrong? Uh, well, she was at one time, but her new contract now is 230. Okay. Okay. Found that out today. That's Yeah. Prior to that, it was under discussion. Mount Brook City Manager is at 235 and I'm not really sure what what this tut is, but I know it's No, it's like 300, I think. Yeah, he's up there. Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's up there. Well, yeah, he's in another he's in another category. He's in the Sam Gassing category. I already said

you have one too. Um well I will say when we were discussing um Sam made the point that the city manager typically makes 15 to 20% more than our highest paid department head at least. So that puts us in the two 15 and higher range. So um any other questions for Sam? But we will send this out tonight to vote on so wrap this thing up. Well, well, going going forward on on that uh the 15 Sam, we've discussed this prior on the um department heads. Okay. We're in a unique situation here in Homewood where our number one department head is uh was rewarded awarded the amount he was being paid due to the fact he took in two more. he did took in public works and also sanitation. So in doing that we eliminated a couple department heads at that time. So we advanced him to that. going forward. I don't know if homework will be in that same situation whether we'll have one person doing that when the day comes the gentleman retires or whatever happens that we would probably go forward hopefully getting a public works and someone else two different departments where one person can handle park and wreck. That's just my personal opinion and because of that uh I don't see the next park and wreck potentially which I we don't have any say so right at this time would be at that monetary at that cost of his wages at that time might not justify that but where he is today he has justified that because that's the role he took on and that's what the prior uh council and mayor had awarded him that. So I just don't want

everything set on going forward will be set on that one way. You know I think Chief Ross is right. He's right there. Yeah. Yeah. Also this M MGTT study will help us determine that eventually we need to split those two back out. I think longterm you probably will need to split them back out. Right. And um so u anyway I think we're going to get a lot of good data from the uh Mercury study for the fleet management as well as this study about organizational structure too. I expect some call statements to come about these. Anybody else?

All right. Let him back in. Yeah. Okay. Perfect. Thank you guys. All right. We will send that one out for vote tonight. And our final item on our pre-consil agenda is 140226. Amendment of ordinance number 1405 section 2 entitled board of adjustment composition terms. Amendment of ordinance 1405 section 3 entitled board of adjustment appointment. Regular members brought to us from our city attorneys Mr. Jackson, Mr. Merurl. Um I am going to hand it over to Mr. Merl and I will take it.

Thanks. So, this is another in a series of old ordinances that do not conform to the council manager form of government. We have now the BCA appointment structure under a 1981 ordinance contemplates five awards. You now have four with an atlarge mayor. So, this would adjust it to now deal with your current structure with four wards and an atlarge mayor and set up the appointment process for that. What you have before you is a draft. It is not what you have to do. You do not have to do this particular way of addressing it, but you're going to need to do something. Otherwise, you are operating under a BZA appointment process that no longer works.

And so, Jay, we're we're not going to send this out tonight. We're going to have our first reading and possibly unan vote on unanimous consent on March 9th. So, go ahead. Go ahead. And and going forward, so just to let everybody know who's here that we'll have the four ws, we'll have the atlarge and we'll have the two super nume. Is that correct? Let's see. Four wards. Atlarge. Two super numerary. Okay. And that size is governed by state code. And did you have another question? No, no. I just want to click put that out for the people here who are here listening.

And then the same sort of applies in that we um and that we defer to the ward rep. The ward rep gets preference like we've done in the past. The council still votes um but they have inserted preferred qualifications for the BZA as sort of a more specific board than some of our other boards. Going to speaking of that preferred qualifications, is there going to be a list of qualifications or I think we discussed I think councelor Armstead and I were discussing what are the qualifications

in the draft as written. They would be knowledge or experience in matters related to planning, architecture, engineering, real estate, legal, construction or related fields. One more question. Do you have to live in Homewood. I think you have to be a resident at that point. Well, yeah, there was something mentioned, right? Sam and I both said I think to serve on BZAs, you don't have to be a member of that municipality in certain, but here you you would Okay, that's what we had that I just want to clarify the discussion. That's that's all

under the state law, you don't have to be a resident of the of the municipality. So that's a law for homewood in this just want to clarify. I think the state law only says you have to have seven.

Okay. Jay, yes. In regards to the passing of this ordinance, would it keep all current members in place still serving their current terms? would allow them to finish out their current term, but for new appointments, this would be your structure. And typically, just for the sake of talking it through, I mean, it's kind of it's staggered as far as the way the terms expire. Um, so we have some, you know, maintaining membership and so that not everyone's replaced at once essentially. Yeah. Okay.

Did that did that affect this? that has no effect on the super numerator that we put in Mr. Young. So everything's stays going forward. Yeah. What what you don't have now is anyone serving that is appointed through a forward process. Got it. So Jay, we're going to be scheduling tonight interviews for no for the supernumeary position. Okay. And so that doesn't change anything either. Super nume. Okay. Okay. Perfect. Okay, perfect. All right. Thanks.

Well, all right folks, that's it for the pre-consil agenda. So, we will adjourn without objection and meet at 6 o'clock next door. Great. Thanks.