City Council - Regular Meeting

I'm 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, May 12th. The time is now 9:43 a.m. We call to order the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council. This morning's invocation will be led by Minister Janetta Perurdue, New Life Church of God, Graceville, Alabama. And our pledge of allegiance will be led by Council Prom Tate. If you all please join and stand us. Thank you. Stand and join us. Thank you. You can come to the mic. Thank you.

Good morning everybody. Good morning.

Amen. Let us pray. Dear heavenly father, we come on this morning humble, thankful, and grateful for this is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Lord, we pray that your spirit would come in this room and create in each person here a clean heart and right spirit as we work together for the good of those who have entrusted in us the responsibility to serve unselfishly the city with integrity, compassion, humility, and honesty. Come on in this room, Lord, and have your way, reminding us that we can't do nothing without you. Hallelujah. We can even pour bitter and sweet out of the same system. So let your wisdom Lord speak for us and through us. Hallelujah. As you saturate us from the crown of our heads to the soil of our feet. Let gentleness, sincere effort to be respectful and patient, working together in the bond of peace and unity for the betterment of the city. Lord increase our faith so that our trust is grounded in you and you alone. defeat all our struggles and all of our enemies and fears today so that your will be done. Bless the mayor this morning and continue to lead and guide him your way. Lord, bless every member of the city council this morning, oh God, and continue to lead them and guide them in your way. Oh Lord, bless every staff person here today working working in this building, dear God, and lead and guide them in your way. And it is in Jesus' name that we do pray. Amen.

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much, Minister Perurdue, for that very inspirational prayer. And thank you, Council Tate, for leading us in the pledge of allegiance. Good morning, Mr. Clerk. Good morning. If you'll call the role, please. Council member Gun. Morning. Morning, Council Member O'Quinn. Morning. Morning, Council Member Smith. Good morning. Morning, Council Member Smitherman. Good morning. Good morning, Council Member Vasa. Council Member Williams. Good morning, Council Member Woods. Good morning. Good morning, Council President Proim Tape.

Good morning, C. Good morning, Council President Alexander. Good morning. Thank you very much, councilors. The minutes are not ready for the meetings of February 3rd, 2026 through May 5th, 2026. At this time, we'll have communications from Mayor Whip and I think he has no communications today. Thank you, Mayor Whip, and good morning. At this time, councilors, I'd like to ask for unanimous consent that we uh divert from our agenda and we allow the following presentation. Councelor Daryl O'Quinn has a presentation to bring someone who is not new to us but uh give us an opportunity to greet an old friend.

Thank you madam president. This morning we have with us the marvelous amazing enigmatic Max Reichov who's going to tell us about the other foundation. So, Max, if you would.

I was supposed to have uh Pony by Genuine as my walk up music, but we couldn't get the rights to that. So, if we can just sing it ac capella council, Mayor Woodin, esteemed department heads, council administrator McDaniels, city clerk Frasier. It's good to be back in these hallowed chambers. Thanks for the opportunity to talk about the Other Foundation. The other foundation is a way to get funding in the hands of Birmingham who are trying to make their neighborhoods, their communities a better place. So, I'll give you some background. From 2017 through 2020, I ran something called the Austin Foundation was a local chapter of something that exists around the world. They're giving circles where 10 people give $100 a month and give micro grants to community projects. We gave out funding for a washer and dryer uh in Woodlon High School. Some students realized that if they didn't have clean clothes or was truency issues and they didn't have a washer and dryer at home. My favorite project ever that counselor O'Quinn was actually involved with was a 17-year-old Girl Scout who noticed that there was a a bus stop in Woodline where there was just a pole in the ground bus stop and people were just waiting in the elements. So, what she did is she designed a bus shelter. It's still there. Uh it's on the corner of Georgia Road and 59th Street North, I believe. It's a beautiful shelter. She did it for $1,000. actually created a document where anyone can replicate this. So these are the kind of things that we fund and the other foundation grew uh from the awesome foundation. We just wanted to expand it. So what we are is we're a giving circle where people contribute still $100 a month to fund community projects. The unique thing about the other foundation is you do not have to be a 501c3 nonprofit

organization to apply and receive funds from us. Our only stipulation is that it's not a for-profit venture. So, I know there's um often issues with neighborhood associations who are trying to get projects off the ground. And I know that it takes time to to move funding and some of them have associated 501c3 organizations. I know Crestwood does and maybe some others, but a lot of them don't. And so, when we ran the Austin Foundation, we would get applications from uh neighborhood officers or just groups of neighbors. And so what I want to encourage all to do is to spread the word about this opportunity. So we give out grants from between $1,000 and $3,000 every month. We just launched formally last month. We gave away $5,300 to three projects. A community garden project in Ensley, um a project in the Titisville neighborhood for kind of um urban food systems and Aenddale movies in the park. So, pretty diverse array geographically and in terms of the projects themselves. The the funding that we give out, there's no taxes that need to be reported on. We're literally just giving out money. We're not an entity of any kind. We're just a giving circle. And the reason we did this is to make philanthropy more transparent, more accessible, and more communitydriven. So every month the members vote on projects and the top three get the funds. We give them we just wire them the money and the only thing that we ask in return is that within 12 months they just come back to one of our monthly meetings and tell us how the project's going. It's part of a broader movement of what's called trustbased philanthropy. So, if any of you have been involved with nonprofit organizations, you know that sometimes you apply for a grant for $2,500, $5,000, and the reporting requirements for that grant are incredibly tedious, and it takes away from the actual time

doing the work. So, we just want to trust people to do what they say that they're going to do. And our experience for three years with the awesome foundation proved that people did do what they said they were going to do. So, all of you have a little one-pager about the other foundation. Please do send it around to uh community leaders, neighborhood officers, let people know that this funding opportunity is available. The next deadline uh for a grant, the grant application process takes two minutes. It's on the website other foundationbeam.org. Our next deadline is actually this Friday at midnight, but we're going to we continue doing it every month. There's a couple of uh days in between cycles for us to get a chance to vote, but other than that, it's uh it's continually open. We we announce uh the dates on the website, our social media, on Instagram, other foundation, Beham, but that's it. I mean, we just want to help fund community projects. We want to inspire hope around the city that hey, if I want to make my neighborhood, my community, the city better, here's a way to access, not a lot of funding, but some funding to get me started and to make an immediate impact. So, feel free to uh ask me any questions if you want. Also, anyone can become a member, too. The uh it's not even an application. If you say you want to give us $100 a month, we'll accept you as a member. Same website, other foundation beh.org. Um, councelor Woods, I see you wear these fancy suits all the time. I know you got the money, so I expect you'd become a member. Yeah, feel free to uh ask me any questions there now or um afterwards I'll email y'all this one pager as well so you can disseminate it. But um yeah, thanks for the opportunity.

Uh good to see you, Max. Um, it's good to know that you are revolutionizing the the space of giving in the same way you revolutionize the space of freelance quarterbacking. And so, uh, good to have you here in Birmingham making an impact. Thank you very much. And, uh, if the Birmingham Stallions need another quarterback, I am America's only freelance quarterback. I do football games, but also like weddings, bar mitzvah, things like that.

Cool. Max, so um if folks want to sign up to be a member, you said they can do that on the website. Can they also set up a automatic monthly deduction? Um our bank withdrawal on the way we actually do it is uh as our giving circle, we send a different member $100 every month. So that's uh there's a rule in the IRS basically that you can give someone up to $19,000 as a gift every year without any taxes being uh reported. So the way that we operate is instead of having like a business bank account because we are not an entity, we just choose a different person every month to send the $100. It's like having a big pizza party every month basically and that person just wires the money or writes them a check.

Okay. All right. So on our on our portal, if you become a member, you'll see like here's where you send the money to this month by this date. Here's how you vote. So on the website, it's like a member login, apply for a grant or become a member. Okay, got it. Awesome. Well, thank you so much and we appreciate your work. Um, you know, this is something that there's a lot of small projects um and most, you know, granting agencies have a significant amount of red tape and so, you know, great to see that you guys are cutting through that and getting directly to helping folks. Yeah, I mean honestly we're just trying to make it easier for people who have good ideas to make their communities better to get access to those funds.

Thank you, Max. I'm really excited for what you're doing here in Philanthropy 2.0. So, thank you very much. Thanks y'all. All right. Thank you.

Thank you, counselors. Now, we'll return back to our agenda. And at this time, we'll consider those items that have been presented to us for consent. And I'll read the statement of business and conduct as regards to the consent agenda. All items designated as consent are considered to be routine and non-controversial and will be approved by one motion. No separate discussion of these items will be permitted unless a council member, the mayor, or citizen interested in a public hearing so request. If so, such items will revert to its normal place on the agenda order of business. All matters of permanent operation, 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. Mr. Clerk, if you'll give us the items that are being considered for consent.

Yes, ma'am. The consent agenda starts on page two with item two. Skip over to page 12. Item three is on consent, and there hasn't been a request to withdraw item four. Page 13, items 7, 8, 9, and nine are on consent. Page 14, items 10, 11, and 12 are on consent. Page 15, items 13, 14, and 15 are on consent. Please note that item 15 was recommended by Transportation and Infrastructure. Page 16, items 16, 17, and 18 are on consent. Same recommendation for item 16 and the amount should change on item 16 to $40 million from $30 million.

Page 17, uh items 19, 20, and 21 are on consent. Page 18, items 22, 23, 24, and 25 are on consent. Page 19, items 26, 27, 28, and 29 are on consent. and page 20, we end with item 30. All right. Thank you. And we do have two addendum items. Is that correct? That is correct. All right, counselors, at this time, I'll entertain any request for removal or addition to the consent agenda. Councelor Smith.

Yes. Um, Madame President, can we add items 33 and 34 to consent? Addendum items. Thank you, Councelor Smith. There has been a request to add items 33 and 34 from the addendum agenda to be added to consent. Any other items, counselors?

Yes, Council Williams. Take 16. That's item 16 on page. The request has been to remove item 16 on page 16 from consent by councelor Williams. All right, councilors. We'll entertain a motion in a second for the consent agenda. So move. All right, voting should be open. One second here. All right, it should be open now.

Okay, we'll just take it orally. I see this must not be working. All in favor? I. All oppose say nay. All right. Thank you. All the items that were cons considered for consent have been approved. We'll now continue with the rest of our agenda. First item, Mr. Clerk. All right. Go to item one. An ordinance amending the city of Birmingham zoning ordinance title one general provisions filed by the department of planning engineering and permits and hearing of our partage. This is second reading for this item. All right. And we'd also like to call up item number 32 with this item as well.

Okay. So 32 um a resolution setting a public hearing June the 9th 2026 to amend this Birmingham zoning ordinance title one general provisions filed by the department of pluring and permits and hearing of parties and madam president you should have gotten an email from attorney's office about withdrawal of item one. Yes. Thank you. At this time, I will turn it over to our planning and zoning chair so that we can consider the items. We did receive that request. Dr. O'Quinn.

Yes. Uh thank you, Madam President. So, um yes, item one is um being recommended to be withdrawn um based on the feedback that we heard in the public hearing two weeks ago. Um there are, you know, there were got a lot of feedback about making amendments to um the ordinance and so um in essence it's uh not necessary for us to consider item one because that's the unmended version of the ordinance. Um, item two, uh, that sets the public hearing would reflect, uh, new ordinance that would contain, um, amendments reflecting some of the public feedback that we received uh, two weeks ago.

Thank you, Dr. Oll. Are there any questions about what we're doing here at this time? Item one and then item 32. So, we're setting the public hearing and so that we are taking in consideration the feedback we received during the last public hearing and that will be reflected in the item that we will be reviewing and considering when we call the next public hearing on June. Any questions? Yes. So, we're not adopting an ordinance today, right? That's great. Any other questions? All right. So, I I'll move uh item 32. Second.

All right. Thank you, counselors. This is a resolution setting a public hearing for June 9th, 2026 to consider the um revision or amendment of the Birmingham zoning ordinance. Any questions regarding setting this date? I guess we need a first and a second. Do we have We did. We did have that. Any questions about setting this public hearing date? All right. Thank you. We're ready for the vote. All right. Did it open up? didn't show. Okay, that's still still not showing. Okay, all in favor let it be known by saying I. I oppose say nay.

Thank you. That item passes. I do want to acknowledge that we have our Ox Valley neighborhood president, Mrs. Green. I want to thank you, Mrs. Green, for your presence today and want to thank you and the residents that uh spoke up and gave us this information that we'll be considering during this next review of the ordinance. So much thanks to you and your all the residents that came out and provided that input. Thank you very much. All right. Thank you. Next item, please.

Item four is withdrawn. So next should be item five, an ordinance to amend part three, appendix A, article one of the general code of the city of Birmingham as adopted by ordinance 97-183 as amended by NICS 551 schedules 14A and 14B. This is the first reading. So we need UC to consider today. We need someone to move for UC. I move for you. Thank you. Council member Gun. Hi. Council member Oak Quinn. Hi. Council member Smith. Hi. Council member Smitherman. Hi. Council member Vasa. Hi. Council member Williams. Hi.

Council member Woods is absent. Council Pro Tim Tate. Hi. Council President Alexander. I I motion on the item, please. The item second. Item is before you. All right. Thank you. This is an ordinance to amend part three of a general code of the city of Birmingham. Mayor, if we could have do we have anyone from staff that could just talk to us about these changes? Good morning, Madam President, council members.

So, what's before the council is just um adding a stipulation for those attorneys that renew their business license to have proof of um their license that is active in good standing with the state of Alabama. It's not changing the fee structure at all. It's just making sure that we have the accountability part of them um being an active member of the state bar. Okay. And the rationale for this is just to ensure that we have licensed individuals that are drawing these. That's correct. It's no different than making sure our contractors have license or insurance policy for doing contract contractual work in the city of Mirand. Council, any other questions regarding this item? Yes, Council Williams. So, um, what committees did this go through?

It went through budget and finance yesterday. Okay. Um, I I'm Have we had an it what's the issue? Have we had an issue with this? It's no issue. We just want to make sure that we're granting business license to those who have active licenses. So, help help me walk through that. If it if it's an unlicensed attorney, they would not get a business license or they're not hold if it's an unlicensed attorney, they couldn't practice law anyway. Correct.

So, what is the reason why we would have extra red tape? So here's here's my problem with this is about a million times a month I hear about problems with business licenses. The red tape attached to it getting them with business licenses. Everything from business licenses to any kind of permitting that's done in this in this building. And I am very hesitant to understand why we need to add more red tape to something. If they can't practice law anyway and they want to get a business license for practicing law, but they can't and they just want to spend their money that way, then okay. I don't think that there's been a problem that I know of on this. And I am hesitant to be supportive of anything where there is just additional red tape because about if you talk to any business or you go to like every time I go to Rotary, it's the one thing that's said to me every single time about how hard it is to get a business license. So why if there's no problem, why are we adding extra red tape for these individuals? Well, I think the requirement is just to make sure they're active to us.

I don't think it's a red tape issue. I just It's no different than making sure somebody has a a valid driver license to drive. Okay. So, we're taking on additional policing powers of who's going to be practicing law. Well, that's I I think that answers my question. Thank you.

Mayor, do you have a comment? I do want to say that we did take this item up during budget and finance yesterday. I think among the three members there was some we we approved it. Looking for the chair is not there and um we took up this item yesterday uh during budget and finance and we did approve this item but I just have to say that um a question in my mind was again why what's the rationale? what's the movement towards it? And when we set policy and when we set code, we often get the recommendations from administration, especially if they're problems that they've been seeing in the way that something is conducted based on the ordinance that we have voted in. But in this case, I guess I'm a little I want to be sure we've had the right components that have also talked with us about this type of item. And I just want to have more meat in this as far as again, we're placing this different requirement, but is this going to actually improve the process? U

Madame President, excuse me. I I think if I use the analogy of PEP and somebody wants to walk in here and get a permit um and they're doing some type of um whatever work they do requires a license, they have to show proof that they're actual actually licensed licensed to practice um and or implement and execute on that type of work. uh we do not issue them an actual permit without showing proof of that. So I think part of the rationale is just alignment across anyone that holds themselves out in the state of Alabama where they have to have an actual state license to practice anything or do anything and they actually come before the city and say they want their license. there's no burden on the actual person but to show proof that the license is valid and updated. Um, as a lawyer in good standing with the state of Alabama, I have to renew my license every year and I'm supposed to actually keep that license bar um on me on my person. So, if and when I am asked to present it, because many people can say they're lawyers, but sometimes you do have to show proof that you're an actual lawyer, that information should be presented. So, no, we don't want anybody out here coming to city hall asking for a business license. Um, and even if they have their law degree, they're not necessarily in good standing um with the Alabama State Bar. Um, and so it's just a standard that we want to have, no different than we have in PMP and for other um, things that require a license or renew license or valid license yearly in the state of Alabama.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments?

So, let me I'm trying to understand, you know, this as well. So what I gather, what I infer is is that we're trying to prevent a situation where someone who says they're an attorney can actually say, "I'm attorney. I'm an attorney. Here's my city of Birmingham business license." if they did so, they would run the risk of, you know, um, penalties from the state from state law. But we we're just what I'm hearing is is that you don't want to enable someone to be able to say, "I'm an attorney. Here's my city of Birmingham business license." Even though they're not a licensed practicing attorney.

Correct. No different than a contractor or medical saint. Yes, sir. Okay. Got it.

All right. Any other discussion? As someone myself that was licensed when I worked in the medical field and we had to have a medtech certification and license. Um, and I always never wanted anybody to impersonate a medical technologist because we went through a lot of training and there was a lot of expertise that came with that. So, I I understand the desire to be sure that everybody's doing business is certified and or trying to pull these permits. It's um a certified attorney. I guess it was just this additional overlay for me that you would assume is already a part of the process. I mean, you can't practice law without being an attorney, getting a business license. This is red to you.

Okay. All right. At this time, if there are no other questions, we will consider the vote. Take it. Still open. Try it one more time. All right. It's open. Let me get Council Member Gun. Yes. All right. And Council Member Williams, I see. I see. I'm sorry. That vote should be up. All right. Thank you. That item passes with um eight votes. Thank you very much. Next item

should be item six, an ordinance approving and ratifying an agreement between the city of Birmingham and the city of Trussville and Northol Southern Railway Company under which the parties agreed to undertake a project as part of the redesigned Alabama program. Close at grade railroad crossings which will elevate block crossings from the Woodlong neighborhood in Birmingham into Trussville and erect alternative routes to enhance public access. The city of Birmingham is a recipient of an FY2022 consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements Christy uh grant in the amount of $8 million which will be used to provide funding for this project. In addition, the city of Birmingham and the city of Trussville will each be responsible for 2.5% of the cost of the project, which equals $250,000 each. and Norfolk Southern Railway Company will be responsible for 15% of the cost of the project which equals 1 point uh $1,500,000 which is inclusive of the value of certain Norfolk Southern Engineering Review Services that will being reimbured in an amount up to $300,000. The agreement was previously approved by ordinance number 24-21 which was adopted on April the 27th, 2024, but the terms of the agreement have been modified since the ordinance was adopted. This is another item first reading I need you see to pass today.

Council member Gun. Hi. Council member O'Quinn. Hi. Council member Smith. Hi. Council member Smitherman. Hi. Council member Basa. Hi. Council member Williams. Hi. Council member Woods. Hi. Council President Proim Tate. Hi. Council President Alexander. I. Motion on the item please. Second.

All right. Thank you councilors. This is an ordinance approving and ratifying an agreement that the city has with the city of Trussville and Norfolk Southern Railway. Uh this is the recipient of the Chrissy grant and um so this will bring um some great change and alleviate some of the block crossings in that area. Council, do you need a review of this item before we consider it? it um it's being amended now to because we had to modify some of those agreements. Do you need any other discussion? I would like to acknowledge Dr. Aquin and the work he did as um department of transportation department I'm making department of transportation as the uh chair of the uh transportation infrastructure committee and this has been something he's been very focused on. Um and so Dr. Quinn, I'm just going to allow you to give a review here of what what's happening. Sure. Um, so this has been like a oil tanker moving through the ocean um because we received the grant actually in 2022

and here we are four years later um you know with still talking about getting to an agreement. Um so um but in just a snapshot um this would address the train blockage issues on the eastern side of Birmingham um primarily in the Woodline uh North Crestwood Oakidge Park neighborhood and in the city of Trussville um where trains stand on the tracks waiting to go into or out of Norris Yard in Irondale. Um it's been a long-standing problem. It's been a very serious problem for the Harris Homes comm community in Oakidge Park. Um and uh this this project ultimately um would be the design and engineering for grade separations. um that would uh eliminate the actual crossing and create you know underpasses on the Birmingham side and a bridge on the Trussville side. So that's um hope what we hope to accomplish. This is not the actual construction of those things. This is just the design and engineering for those projects to make them shovel ready.

Very good. I know we're very excited um once we vote this action in and um I do have to say on behalf of those of us on the west side who are dealing with this same type of problem um I know we've had some train faux uh dollars that Dr. Quinn and I did put into those projects and that is working. But u I would like to ask and challenge B do DOT to continue going out for these type of grants that could help us in this. And councelor Smitherman, I know you stated something about that yesterday as well.

Yes, Madam President. Um because we're still having issues with um I call her my cousin district and I having trains that are sitting for 3 days and I know you know we have to service every side of Birmingham but and I personally had to do that when the train's been stopped and I've tried several neighborhoods to get across and I couldn't and I am being late for a neighborhood meeting. So, I just asked Colin Alexander who was really amazing. Just consider the west side um because and thank you madame president and uh our former council president Aquin for that initiative but we still have to remember the west side and the issues that they deal with and we also have to think about the history of trains on the west side because we've had kids you know having to crawl under it. So, it's bigger than oh the west side needs help. We also have to consider our kids. So, I'm excited to see this, but I'm also pleading for the west side to get some help, too. Thank you, Madam President.

Same. Thank you very much. Any other discussion? Okay, we're ready for the vote.

Council member Williams. I thank you, Council President Alexander. I All right, that vote should be All right. Thank you. That item passes. Uh, thanks again for the work of BOT and Mayor Whip and your team. And thank you especially councelor Quinn and um the different committees that have worked on this. Thank you very much. That item passes. Next item

be item 16. A resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for submit and accept all grant funds for the FY 2026 port infrastructure development program grant. The grant opportunities provided by the United States Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. The grant will be used for the purpose of improving the safety, efficiency or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and interotal connections to ports in an amount up to and it should be changed to $40 million. Match will be covered by weight co.

All right. Thank you. This item was um removed from consent by council Williams. Council Williams.

Yeah. I just wanted to bring attention to this item because it is such a big deal. Most people do not know that Birmingham has an inland port and to get the federal government support um and then having Watco, which is our partner, do the match for for the city is such a huge um an absolute huge win. So, uh mayor, thank you um your administration for this. This is um I think you know we since I've been on this council we've gone back and forth with the port over so many different things and and tried to get funding over and over again and we have never been as successful. Um I remember the first time the first week I got on the council going out to that port. But um but we but this is this is such a huge win. Um and just want to thank the um uh the administration and the federal government um and our Senate partners for getting this for us.

Yes. Thank you, Council Williams, for bringing this out of consent so that we could have the public to be aware. This is a very big win for the port authority in district 9. And I like you, Councelor Williams. I do remember one of our first road trips when the three of us became part of the council and we went out there. I lived in Birmingham all my life and had never known that that was there and uh so it's something else out there. So this is greatly needed and it will be a great economic development boom for the city um being able to put that as a part of supply chain and getting items moved back and forth. So we're ready for the vote.

Yeah, that vote should be up.

All right. Thank you very much councelor. That item passes. Next item that uh should be item 31, a resolution pursuant to section 3.15 of the mayor council act of 1955 to recall from the mayor ordinance number 26-50 which would have amended the Kelvin Felder ordinance in article C of chapter 10 title 12 of the general code of the city of Birmingham before ordinance number 26-50 has become a law has been acted on by All right, counselors, do we have a motion and a second as we consider resending this item?

Thank you.

All right. Thank you, counselors. What is before us is the resolution to recall action that we took um last week where we amended the Kelvin Felder ordinance in article C of chapter 10. And um the the desire at this time is to recall that item and to allow us to take in consideration um just wanted to be sure we have community input. We have the working with BPD, the public safety committee, the office of the city attorney and also to get that public comment as we go through this item. This item has come back before us. Um we heard you as far as um a community wanted to be sure that we considered these items. We took recommendations again from administration from the police department and made those changes to that particular ordinance. It's important to us that we do obtain community input. I do know that our public safety committee two years ago, they tried to do something similar by asking members of um those clubs and those um particular businesses to come in and to talk a little bit more about what our ordinance looked like and what we could do to improve the safety in these establishments. And when we go back and recall this ordinance, I'd also like to ensure that we have a community component in it as well. So they can be sure to get all of the different views of what this ordinance will and will not do to maintain the safety. It is important to me as I feel I'm sure all of our counselors, we don't we don't dislike business. We don't dislike people having opportunity to um you know be successful. What we do want to ensure is

that people who are entertained and come into our establishments we maintain a safe safe environment. And so this is an opportunity for us to pull this back, look at each of those amendments and to have an opportunity again to gain the additional input that we'd like to seek for this. Um councilors mayor Wooden. Uh, yes, ma'am. Madam President, good morning again, council. I I just want to state on the public record because I made some public um comments and social posts um Saturday um that were not meant to offend and or um put council in the light as it relates to um responsibility what happened. The administration and I want to take full responsibility of how we got here related to this ordinance. um and for um any comments I've made. I want to publicly apologize just as I've made um some statements Saturday. I think it's important that I also take the time publicly to acknowledge um how how they came across and were perceived uh by this body. So, I apologize to you publicly. Two, as an administration, we want to make sure we get it right. Um, as you've stated, Madam President, um, I've spoken to, Madame Chairwoman of public safety. Um, I've spoken to, um, the prior um, member, no, not member, prior chairman of the committee who I know has received a significant amount of calls like the administration has. Um, but I think it's important that I level set here

and fully u take accountability for how we got here. um and we'll move forward and make sure we get it right of honoring public safety as well as striking the balance of not doing harm as well.

Thank you. Any other comments? I do want to acknowledge I want to thank you chief and assistant chief for um being here today and letting you know that we wholeheartedly support any move any changes that are needed to make this city safe and we acknowledge the work that you've done. citizens have done, the council have done, OCA has done to um really impact the safety. And so um at this time we will we're considering to resend that and we'll go back to the books and be sure that we have all of the pieces in place and also to get the community and the business involvement in their thoughts on it as well. All right, no other questions. Council Williams. Well, I just wanted to thank the uh members of the restaurant um and hospitality industry that that did reach out um over this. You know, it's one of those things where we have 99% of our businesses operating um uh within the you know, within the scope of what is good business, within the scope of what is uh provides public safety to their patrons and uh they are the best part of the city of Birmingham. Unfortunately, there's always that 1% that strays away from um what the 99% are doing. And that 1% causes trouble um for the 99%. Um and it causes trouble uh in public safety issues, not only for the city and the police department. Um but it it you know it one of the biggest strengths that we have in this city is our restaurant and hospitality scene. um especially from an economic development um uh perspective. And so, um, I appreciate all of the the owners that are that that reached out and there is a

I think that there is definitely a balance that this council administration as a team, you know, would be willing to to strike with uh owner operators um and trying to find a way that we can make sure that that 1% is held accountable. and we don't have um you know tragedy, shootings, assaults, whatever and as a result of operations from that 1%. So um I think that the this team is is very committed to that. Thank you, Council Proin.

Thank you, Madame President. Uh I also want to echo everything that you guys have said. Um as you said, couple of years ago, a letter went out, but this is what I want to say, you know, to the people that own these establishments. If your address is not correct or you receive your mail through a PO box, kindly update your information with um tax and license. Also want to acknowledge Chief Piki who's here today. And I cannot um go without saying the business compliance unit um Detective Fe, Detective Langford Campbell, those guys work extremely hard um you know to make sure that people are complying. So, um, we, you know, as you guys stated, you know, we reached out and, you know, some people showed up and some people didn't. So, we going to try this again.

Thank you. We're ready for the vote.

It's a I don't know what's going on. Okay. Thank you. vote your bill. All right. Thank you. That item passes and we will turn this back to the public safety committee and to work with administration and um Thank you, Chief. Thank you, Chief Bohackle. Assistant Chief. All right. Next item. Uh I think this should be it for the item. Is that it? All right then. All right. At this time, counselors, we will entertain updates from your various districts. Who's first? Who's ready? Council Vasa.

Thank you, Madam President. Um, quick couple of updates. We had two wonderful uh events last week. We had coffee and conversation at O'Henry's Coffee in Highland Park. It was a great opportunity to meet residents and uh have some good quality conversations. So, thanks for everyone for showing up. Um, we will have another one soon. This past Saturday at Bessia Estelle Park was the Wildflower Allianc's Buddy Big Top Carnival. Um a wonderful event. Uh lots of um adults, children, uh people of all ages. Um and the focus was on accessibility with our um all-inclusive playground in Bessia Estelle. So wonderful event. Special thanks to Parks and Wreck uh for their uh participation and for the Wildflower Alliance for putting on the event. Uh this Saturday is the Birmingham Folk Fest at Aendale Park. Very excited about that. That's Saturday, May 16th, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Aenddale Park. Lots of music, uh family activities, etc. Look forward to seeing everyone there. Um and then lastly, we have a new uh D3 email. It's district 3 birmingham.gov. You don't have to remember our names anymore. Uh so district 3 birmingham.gov. Um, feel free to continue letting us know how you feel. And then upcoming neighborhood association meetings, East Aendale is tonight, uh, 6 p.m. Um, and Highland Park is tonight, 6 p.m. at the Rojo side room. That concludes my announcements. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Smith.

Thank you, Madam President. Uh, as far as neighborhood meetings, the South Tidisville neighborhood will meet today at 5:30 p.m. at Holy Family and then Arlington West Endon will also meet today at 600 p.m. at the Weston Library. U Mary's chair aerobics will be held on Thursday, May 14th at 10:00 a.m. and bingo will start at 11:00 a.m. at the West End Library. And then I get the Tisville planning day committee. They're having an event this Saturday from 10:00 to 1:00 in Memorial Park. Um Jordan Crawford with the founder of Greedy House. He'll be there. Um join the fun with free food community and it's a luau. So I'll invite that really just gathering community support for uh next year's to this field day as well. Um, and then we had a good event this past Saturday with Girls Speak Up and Speak Out. Um, it was really good. Thank you to everyone involved. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you so much, Council Williams. Thank you. Robuk Springs will be meeting Thursday, May the 14th at 7 o'clock at the regular spot, New Beginning Church, and Economic Development Tourism Committee will be meeting the 19th at 11:30 in the chambers. If you'll have all your submissions to india.bay at birmingham.gov by Thursday the 14th. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Okuyan.

Thank you, Madam President. We have some neighborhood associations um this week, meetings this week in District 5, East Aenddale, uh will meet tonight via conference call at 6 p.m., please contact my office if you need that call in call-in information. Smithfield will meet on Thursday at 6 PM at the Smithfield Court Community Center and then Southeast Lake will meet on Monday at 6 p.m. at East Lake UMC. Um want to just follow up on councelor Vos's announcement about the um Birmingham Folk Festival. Um so this event started in Aenddale Park a few years ago. um and has really grown. Uh and I'm just looking over the the the lineup. Um there's lots of different things. It's not just music. Um there's, you know, other activities uh going on. Um but just a lot of diversity uh in the music as well. Um everything from sacred harp to Zidico. Um the uh Carlton Reese Memorial Choir is going to be performing. Um and uh just a lot of other things uh happening. So it's going to be a great event. Unfortunately, I'm going to be out of town. I'm going to miss it, but um really encourage everyone um to go check it out. It's a free event. Um, so again, that's uh Saturday, May 16th from 10 a.m. and I think it runs till 6 or well actually let's see um it runs till

8 from 10 8 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Aenddale Park u with the bands performing on the amphitheater stage. Um just want to remind folks that uh Jones Valley Teaching Farm has uh camps for kids and um you can find out about those at www.jvtf.org. Um, also want to remind folks to uh weigh in on the future of Birmingham's mult multimodal transportation um plan and you can go and participate in that at birmingham.govhm. And that concludes my announcements.

Thank you councelor Woods. Thank you, Madam President. Uh the Kilo Springs Neighborhood Association meets tonight, uh May 12th at 6 PM. That meeting is at Smith Middle School. I encourage all the residents to continue to stay engaged. Also want to thank uh our house proud partners for uh working with us last Friday uh for another day of service out in district 1. Uh we were able to uh paint a house uh complete some landscaping projects uh and some HBAC improvements. And so, uh, just an opportunity to one, uh, help a family in need and elevate curb appeal in the community and just appreciate everyone that came out and volunteered. And another opportunity to volunteer this Saturday at our next Beer Free Cleanup. Uh, we'll be partnering with the Black Warrior Riverkeeper again. And this will be Saturday, May 16th at 9:00 a.m. Uh, the cleanup will be starting at Calvary Resurrection Christian Church. And like I said, if you have a few minutes, that can go a long way. So definitely encourage everyone to get out and uh support. So thank you.

Thank you so much, Council Gun.

Thank you, Madam President. Uh here are my announcements. Uh last week we had an opportunity to go out to Woodlon to uh do a ribbon cutting for Sarore. Uh Selena Rogers Dickerson has moved her headquarters to the Woodlon community. And so that is a signal uh for the business community that Woodlon and District 4 and ultimately the city of Birmingham is open for business. So I'm excited about that. Uh the next uh announcement, the District 4 office will be hosting a mobile office hours at the Ingleook Recreation Center on May March, it says March 3rd, but that's incorrect. Um coming up in June uh from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. We want to make sure that residents uh are there and to give them a chance to actually meet their counselor outside of city hall in the community. So uh be on the lookout for more information on that. uh upcoming neighborhood association meetings. We have the Kilo Springs neighborhood association meeting tonight at 6 PM. Uh it will be at the Smith Middle School and then we have Penfield Park. They'll be hosting the Airport Hills Community Meeting tonight at 5:30 at the Brownsville Heights Community Center. So I want to make sure uh residents are encouraged to come out and participate in the democratic process. Thank you. Those are my announcements.

Thank you, Councelor Smith.

Okay. Thank you. So, first I want to acknowledge our volunteers and residents for coming out to our spring in the clean district 8 beautifification day this past Saturday, May 19th. It was really good to see everyone come together um and do their part to help make our area a little bit better. The parks and recreation department is still conducting a citywide community survey. Please visit bhm parks2035.com to complete that survey. Parks and Recreation is also still hiring lifeguards for the summer season. If you're interested, call 205-254-2189 for more information. This Sunday, May 19, May 17th, is the 9th annual Taco Fest at Sloth Furnaces. So, if you have um a little bit of time on Sunday, come out. that starts at 11:00 a.m. The next Arts and Parks Committee meeting will be held on Monday, May 18th at 3:30 here in the council chambers. So, um, please submit agenda items by May 14th at 5:00 p.m. And we have the following neighborhood association meetings that are coming up. Tonight is the Belleview Heights Neighborhood Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Brown Elementary School. Tomorrow is a Tuxedo Heights neighborhood meeting at 4:30 p.m. at the Pratt City Library. And on Thursday, May 14th is a Central Park neighborhood association meeting at 6 p.m. at the Five Points West Branch Library. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Pro team. Thank you, Madam President. North Pratt neighborhood meeting will be held tonight at 5:00 p.m. at the Prair City Library. Sanders neighborhood meeting will be held tonight at 6 p.m. They meet on conference call. You can dial in by calling 319-527-9642. Oakidge neighborhood meeting will be held on Thursday, May the 14th at 4 p.m. and they also meet on conference call. You can dial in at 9522064918. Pass code is 223418. Hooper City neighborhood meeting will be held Thursday, May the 14th at 6 p.m. at the Hooper City Rec Center. And the next public safety meeting will be held today at 1 p.m. in this council chambers. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you very much. These are the announcements for District 7. We do have the following neighborhood association meetings in the district this evening. East Brownsville Neighborhood will meet at 5:00 p.m. via conference call. The Powderly Neighborhood Association will meet at 5:30 at the Henry Krompton Rec Center and the Riley Traval Neighborhood Association will meet at 6 p.m. at Noble Chap Chapel. And I believe the Graasilla neighborhood that was scheduled for yesterday is rescheduled for today. Also occurring in the district, we know that we are a week away from elections. And so the Greater Shiloh Baptist Church, they're having a meet and greet, the candidates event this evening at 6 p.m. at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and it's entitled Black Men Vote 2026. So we encourage everyone to attend. We know the importance of voting uh that is upon us now and has always been. On Thursday, May 14th, the West Brownsville Neighborhood Association meets at 11 11:00 a.m. via conference call and the Roosevelt City Neighborhood Association meets at 5:30 at the Roosevelt Rec Center. The Winona High School U celebratory parade has been rescheduled. Um they had to postpone due to rain, so it will be held on Friday morning. And um you can go online to see the parade route, but the uh we'll be they will be celebrating the Victorious boys basketball team. So that parade will start Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and they will be rolling down the streets of Birmingham starting at 10:15. So again, for more information, you can go to the city website or to um our social media sites to see the parade route. And on Friday, May 15th, the Garden Highlands Neighborhood Association will meet at 400 p.m. at Mount Hillyard Baptist

Church. And I just want to u make residents aware that there's also a wellness and safety day that will be held at um presented by Cooper Green Mercy Health Services. And this is preparing families for the summer. And this will be held Friday, May 29th, 1 to 5:00 p.m. at the Roosevelt City Rec Center. So, we'll be talking about that more as we move towards the end of the month, but this will be a great opportunity to learn about protecting your children from summer injuries and emergencies, learning some life-saving skills, and also connecting family to Cooper Green for health care services. Those are all the announcements for district 7. At this time, Mr. Clerk will entertain the community voices.

Uh, Michael, Mr. Hustler, Morning, sir. As you come forward, you have three minutes if you'll just give us your name and address. Thank you. Okay. Good morning, council. Good morning.

Um, my name is Michael Houston. Um, current address is 7941 Crestwood Boulevard. Um, I come here this morning. I've spoken with um one of your representatives prior, but I'm in civil litigation for businesses that I started that were stolen. And I need for you to be aware um of the severity of it because it has placed lives in danger and it's caused um death that's in the media, but it's my heart and my body that made it. So it it affects me. So I need for um the council which has broad um influence in the community of Birmingham. I was born here, graduated from Woodlon in 1992 and um I just need for you to be aware of it. That's that's all I come here for.

Okay. Thank you so much, Mr. Houston, for bringing this awareness. Thank you. Next speaker, Mr. Clark Foster. last name Foster. Good morning, ladies. As you come forward, you'll have three minutes and go ahead and introduce yourselves and tell us why you're here. Do we need our address? Yes, go. Okay. Um 311 Memphis Street, Birmingham, Alabama. I'm 302, Huntsville, Alabama, but I currently attend Stanford University.

Good morning, everyone. My name is Marama. Um, I've been a resident of Birmingham for about 10 years now. I migrated to the USC in 2016 and um, I am a proud graduate at Jackson High School and I attend Sanford University majoring in international relations. My name is Arya Foster. I also attend Sanford University. I'm originally from Huntsville, Alabama, but I've been down here for a couple of months. Um, I am a rising sophomore majoring in marketing and finance and currently serve as the vice president of campus relations.

Wonderful. So um Arya and I are part of the Raglin Scholars program which is a honors program at Sanford. It is in honor of Elizabeth Raglin who is the first black women to leave on Sanford campus and during this semester we had the opportunity to take a seminar class which is a researchbased class. Um and our focus was on faith for justice and we had the opportunity um well there was a unit focused on Birmingham civil rights history and we was able to visit the Kelly Ingram Park, learn about Dr. King's letter from jail and just dig deeper into civil rights activists and leaders that are often not talked about. And so our final project was to write about a open letter to address to someone and we addressed it to Birmingham City Council and the mayor's office about something that stood out to us during the civil rights unit. Yes. So as she said, we got to visit Kelly Ingram Park and left nothing short of amaze seeing how Birmingham was so prominent in the civil rights movement, especially leading up to the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Um, but one thing that we couldn't help but notice was the faded signs, monument, poor landscaping, and even the lack of water in the water features, which almost took away and distracted from the mission, vision, and purpose of Kelly Ingram Park, which was to celebrate justice, reconciliation, and faith. And so, we come to you guys today not to critique or out of anger, but just to show our love for Birmingham. We know that you guys support the youth and you support our education and this landmark has been used to teach so many students in Birmingham about the civil rights movement and so we just wanted to highlight that for you all for the care and upkeep of Kelly Ingram Park. Thank you so much ladies. I'm um excited that you got to just explore the resiliency and the beauty and what just took place over the years and the significance of Kelly Ingram Park. Um,

Chief, I know that that park is maintained by our public works staff. All right. Um, could we turn this item over to you and we just get an assessment so that we could get some ideas of um, how we're maintaining that? And these young ladies, did you give us some Did you say you wrote a letter or you did your email? Okay. And did we get that over to the um, administration's office? Let's be sure that we get that over there to them and then chief will come back and we'll ask you just to give us a report and let us know the maintenance of that and what items that might need to be addressed. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you ladies. Appreciate you and I wish you great luck in your studies. Thank you.

All right. Thank you. Does that conclude our list? Right. All right. Counselors. At this time, we do want to thank our officers on duty. That's officer Pinket and Officer Tarant as well as our inspectors Snow and Griggs. This time we'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjourn. Right. All those in favor, please say I. I.

All right. Thank you. Meeting is adjourned. Uh counselors, I do want to remind you we do have a meeting at 11:30 and it's in conference room A. 11:30. Check your email. I'm so thankful to have you all here on this bright, cloudy, overcast day, uh, and taking time out of your schedule to come out and make Norwood clean. Uh, we really appreciate it. You're not only doing a service for the city of Birmingham, but you're also protecting the environment.

We had a little discussion of a competition if we want to do that. um friendly competition between groups because at the end we will gather all the trash back here and weigh everything which is pretty cool. We are in the beautiful Norwood neighborhood and we are out cleaning up today. Uh it's important for residents of the city of Birmingham particularly in district 4 and in Norwood to take pride in where we reside. So, we have volunteers from the Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Ship, and other entities out today making sure that Norwood stays clean. And not only that, we protect our environment, but we protect the future of our community. So, we're so thankful that we have residents out here today and neighbors from all over the city of Birmingham uh helping us to keep Norwood clean. So, we'll be planning a a cleanup day once a month uh in various neighborhoods throughout District Court. So, stay tuned. uh be on the lookout on our social media channels for the next upcoming cleanup. So, we'll make sure that we come to your neighborhood. If you want us to come to your neighborhood for a cleanup day, let us know. Chime in and make comments. Hey, we're here in District 6. We're at the new event venue, The Grove. And so we're out here doing one of my favorite activities to do, self-care activities, Pilates. Shout out to Kinetic Wellness, uh, King Yale, the Pilates instructor.

She did an amazing first class. Shout out to the ladies who attended the first class. Thank you to Harmony and Heritage with Ashley Man for partnering with me. SAB Social, Alicia's Coffee, we have free matchas, and it's National Matcha Day, which is so amazing. We have giveaways, anything you can think of. Uh we have class number two that's taught by my other favorite pies instructor Tracy who is known by tone by Tracy. So really just helping women and hopefully we have some men just really loving on themselves and make sure that we take care of ourselves first. Counselor Smitherman and I work together a lot in bringing wellness and just overall good energy to D6. A lot of food access programs which my foundation also does. So today we just wanted to bring a little bit of matcha and Pilates in celebration of MACHA day which is today um and to bring wellness to D6 and different types of ways of moving your body and keeping healthy and stressfree. I just want everyone to know that wellness is generational. You're not just moving for yourself today. You're moving for your friends and family for life.

This is a space just for you to kind of just relax, let go of everything and enjoy it. and we really have a hyperfocus on district 6 and bringing all those collective resources together so we can see impact for this community. So, I think a lot of times, not just myself, but others, life moves so fast. We're always moving and we literally only stop and take a breath really when we wake up and when we go to sleep. And Pilates allows you to just be centered in the moment. Uh, finding peace, being in tune with your body, cuz I think a lot of times we're not very in tune to our body. Uh, just having just a very low impact workout where you can strengthen and work on flexibility. I love it. I've seen improvements in my body and even at the gym weightlifting. So, I just love bringing these wellness events to just my people. So, we're going to have another reschedule our because we're supposed to have a second Pilates event. It'll be sometime in June. Also, we're going to do it at the farmers market and do Pilates on August 8th. So, we have a lot of welding events, uh, educational events, and just things we're doing in district 6. So, stay tuned. Hi folks, this is Josh Rosa, city council, District 3. We're in the lovely Bessie South Park. It was wonderful event today, Buddy Big Top Carnival. It is uh put on by the wonderful people at Wildflower Alliance and it supports an all-inclusive playground that is uh here supported by the Bessie Estelle Brilan's Way. So here we have uh all sorts of fun stuff. We got tents, we got face

painting, we got popcorn, we got all sorts of activities. And what's great about this is that this is for everybody. We know that the history of Bessie Estelle Park is really significant. Miss Bessie herself was the first African-American woman city councilor in Birmingham's history and she was a big part of inclusiveness and so uh when we look at this event and you know the lovely lovely people spending time with each other hanging out bringing community together you know this is all about inclusiveness and so we're excited to be here glad to be and proud to be sponsor of this event and support anything that that supports inclusivity in our city. So, thanks to Wildflower Alliance, thanks to Parks and Rec for being a part of this, and uh looking forward to many, many more good things in the district.