City Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning, Birmingham. Today is Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026. The time is 9.43 a.m. I call to order the regular meeting of the Birmingham City Council. Today's invocation will be led by Reverend Otis McGuire, pastor of Water of Life Ministry in Hueytown, Alabama, and our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Counselor Brian Gunn. If you all are willing and able, please stand and join me. Pastor McGuire, thank you.

Thank you very much, Reverend McGuire. And thank you, Councilor Gunn. Good morning, Madam Clerk. Good morning. If you'll call the roll. Thank you.

Good morning, President. Counselors, at this time, the minutes are not ready from the meetings of July 7, 2026 through September 15, 2026. At this time, we'll entertain communications from the mayor.

Thank you very much. Thank you for those announcements. At this time, Councilors, if I could get unanimous consent, we will go from our agenda and we'll entertain the following presentation. At this time, we have a presentation from Councilor Darrell Quinn regarding the National Diaper Awareness Month. Councilor Quinn?

Thank you, Madam President. For the past several years, one of our partners that we have worked with in delivering services to the Birmingham community is an organization called Bundles of Hope. So Ms. Lindsay Gray is here this morning to tell us more about the organization and National Diaper Awareness Month. Good morning. Good morning.

Step up to the mic, Ms. Bregman. Pull the mic down for us so we can hear you. Thank you.

Am I correct in thinking that you guys also distribute feminine hygiene products? We do. Okay. All right. And... I mean, you know, one of the things that are really valued, we do a health fair every year, as you know, and you guys are like the star of the show every time. So to my fellow counselors, you know, encourage you to partner with Bundles of Hope. It's a... surprisingly wildly popular resource for folks in the community. They'll come out to the community if you're doing an event, but you can also direct residents to drop by their location. They're on Abraham Woods. And again, thank you

Thank you, guys. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you, Councilor O'Quinn, for bringing this presentation to us, and we are grateful to them for the work that they do in our community. Thank you very much. At this time, Councilors, we'll return back to our agenda and we will, before we begin to consider the items that are designated as consent, I'd like to read the statement of conduct of business regarding the consent agenda. All items designated as consent are routine and non-controversial and will be approved by one motion. All items on the consent agenda will be announced by reading the

Excuse me. Well, wait. I don't think they're moving that one, those two items. Item 20 and 21, administration has an answer. They're not pulling them from the agenda.

And is there any answer as to when these may come back on the agenda? Excuse me. All right. Thank you. So items 2021, you said withdrawn. You can continue. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Counselors, are there any items you'd like to have added or removed from consent? Okay, thank you. Hearing none, can we have a motion and a second for approval of the consent agenda? All in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Aye. All opposed? All right, thank you. The items that were listed for consent have been approved. We'll continue with the rest of our agenda. And Madam Clerk, if you will start with item six. Item six. Yes, ma'am, on page three. Okay.

All right, councillors, this is an ordinance approving and authorizing the mayor to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Mount Brook, Alabama, where the city of Mount Brook will install a public art sculpture at the center of a public roundabout. Any questions concerning this particular agreement? This time we're ready to entertain the vote.

Thank you. Councilors, this is an ordinance approving and authorizing the mayor to execute an intergovernmental agreement with Jefferson County. under which the county will grant the city access to portions of the Roosevelt City pedestrian bridge which crosses over Valley Creek and is located between a neighborhood that gives you access to the Roosevelt Community Center. Any questions regarding this item? We're ready for the vote.

All right, thank you. This item passes. I am very excited. This is in District 7. I know this is a long time coming. A lot of residents had asked for this to allow that access. It was one that we used often when I was growing up that connected you to the neighboring community. And so we're glad now that we'll be able to give these residents this access back to the Roosevelt Center.

Next item. And we'll keep going. Let's see. We have any other items open other than the public hearing item? All right, thank you. So now we'll call that item up.

All right, thank you. At this time, we will have the public hearing, and Council Bossa will conduct the hearing. Council Bossa, I turn the meeting over to you.

Thank you, Madam President. Is staff available for an update on the plan? Thank you.

To assist with your presentation, we're having some problems generating what you have on your screen, so I believe they're going to try to make some adjustments if you'll give them a few minutes.

Cody's coming back. I have to help her. Okay. Thank you.

THANK YOU. WERE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR IS THAT IT FOR NOW? ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE, WE'LL NOW OPEN THIS UP FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. But before we do that, we have a question from Councillor Pro Tem.

Quick question. I didn't hear you talk about a queue condition. What is that queue condition?

Thank you, Pro Tem. Any other questions from council for staff? All right. We will now open this up to the public for a public hearing. Just a few reminders on how this works. Folks, we're going to ask that comments stay relevant to the topic at hand. If they stray off, I will redirect. The council will not respond directly to any comments. Staff is on hand and can address that as needed. And also a reminder that each speaker will be given three minutes to speak, and the time will be displayed on the monitors to my left and right. All right, if anyone's interested in speaking, please begin lin

Presentation is about land fields, and I don't think we need any more land fields in our area, but thank you so much Thank you for your comments Councillor Quinn I just point out that planning and zoning stuff are available to Answer all of those questions really there in conference room a which is right across the hall over here so You know, as Ms. Ferrell pointed out, this is the last step in a very long process. I think the Ainslie framework plan rezoning has been going on for a couple of years now. And is... So there's been a lot of community engagement culminating at this public hearing.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR QUINN. NEXT SPEAKER, THANK YOU.

Thank you for that comment. Do we have any other speakers? All right, seeing none, this concludes the public hearing. Madam President, I hand this over to you.

Thank you very much. Thank you, Councilor Vassa, for conducting that hearing. Councilors, are there any questions? We're ready to entertain the vote.

All right, thank you. That item passes. Does that conclude our agenda, Madam Clerk? I think it does.

You all just give us one moment. Thank you. Thanks, everyone, for your patience. We'll return back to our agenda. At this time, we thank everyone for the participation. All of our items have been considered on the agenda. And now we will entertain comments from our districts. Councilor Williams, you seem to be ready.

I'm always ready, Madam President. Crestwood Neighborhood will be Thursday, September 24th at 6 o'clock at Hope Church. Southeast Lake will be Monday, September 28th at 6 o'clock. Southeast Lake, United Methodist. Crestwood South will be... On the same day, the 28th at 6.30 at the Jewish Community Center. And I'm also going to read Ms. Smitherman's announcements for District 6 as well in her absence. And the first one is that she would like to invite everyone out to join Saturday, September 26th for the Brenda Brown Bosom Buddies Sister Strut. from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Legion Field. It will be

Thank you, Madam President. This Friday, September 25th at the Altamont School Theater, the Southern Exposure Films will debut. Mix and Mingling at 5 p.m. Film starts at 6.30 p.m. This free event is presented by the Alabama Rivers Alliance. Next, Storytime at the Gardens. Bring your preschoolers and little ones to enjoy a story in the gardens. This storytime fosters a love of reading, creativity, and nature as well. This Friday, September 25th, 1030 a.m. to 11 a.m. AT THE GARDENS. LASTLY, GROWING UP WITH ATTICUS IS AT THE VIRGINIA SANFORD THEATER. THIS SHOW WILL BE RUNNING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 27

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER SMITH. THANK YOU. First, I want to say congratulations to Councilor Gunn on a very nice and successful summer concert series at East Lake Park on Sunday. So it was nice to see the carnivals. Great job. Also, I want to say congratulations to Councilor Clinton Woods. He picked up a tennis racket a couple of months ago and this past weekend participated in his first tennis tournament at the James Lewis Tennis Center. So congratulations. So he played well as partner, maybe not so much, but he played well and did a great job. And also congratulations to the James

Thank you very much. Happy birthday to you, nephew. Councilor Guy.

Thank you. Good morning. Yeah, definitely want to shout out the James Lewis Tennis Center. Did a great job putting on a tournament. I think Councilor Smith brought Mr. Smith to council earlier this year. And so I didn't know that they had all that going on out there, but they're doing actually basically free tennis lessons Monday through Thursday in the evening. And so I've been going out a few months learning how to play and found myself on the court. So definitely encourage anybody that's interested to get engaged and learn something new. I think learning a new thing is good for everybody. M

Thank you, Madam President. We have a couple of neighborhood association meetings tonight, and District 5 Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association will meet at 6 p.m. tonight at the Fountain Heights Rec Center, and Crestwood North Neighborhood Association will meet tonight at Girls Incorporated. And just a reminder that there's a couple of farmers markets that take place every Saturday morning. The first is the Pepper Place Market in the Lakeview area and the East Lake Farmers Market that takes place at East Lake United Methodist Church on First Avenue South in the parking lot. So that conclu

Thank you, Madam President. Dolomite Neighborhood Association meeting is tonight at 6 p.m. They meet on conference call. You can dial in at 720-843-2669. The access code is 378-9426, as Councilor O'Quinn has mentioned. Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association meeting is tonight at 6 p.m. at the Fountain Heights Rec Center. Ennard Ridge Neighborhood Association meeting is Thursday, September 24th. a 530 and New Salem Baptist Church and it's located at 1632 6th Street North and jury here. Neighborhood Association will meet on Monday, September 28th at 6 p.m. at Protective Stadium. The next publ

Thank you very much. Thank you, everyone, for your announcements. These are announcements for District 7. Just want to remind everyone that Saturday, September 26th, is Brenda Brown, Brown Bosom Buddies. She's hosting her 15th annual Sister Strut at Legion Field. And that will be from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., I really ask everyone if you can come out and participate. Think of supporting Brenda's Brown Bosom Buddies. Not only does she help cancer patients, but she helps families, and she's been doing this for quite some time, and she needs our help. So come on out. There's always great fun, great act

John Meehan. Okay, and as he comes forward, just know that if you give us your name and address, you have three minutes. We have these video boards on either side of us, and it shows your countdown. Good morning.

And we have our city attorney here, Attorney King, who can actually tell you the law about dilapidated structures. Yes. It's just not in Press City. It's everywhere. Absolutely. And I will be the first to tell you, and I'm very proud of the work I have done to reduce violence in the city of Birmingham.

We have no control of people shooting. When people shoot, I have no idea. I don't know when people decide that they want to just take guns. It's illegal to fire shots anyway in this city. So I think you did what was right, called the police so they can address it. And that's the thing that you can do is call the police. um gun violence has been reduced significantly you know in the city of birmingham but you know attorney king can you know tell you the alabama code the law that we have to follow yes um to address any dilapidated structures particularly being a private structure absolutely you

So don't think what you're saying is going unnoticed. So if you talk to Ms. Williams, I can tell Attorney King to kind of give you like a high-level overview of the law that we have to follow when it comes to dilapidated structure, and I'm going to yield the floor back. Okay.

Yeah, I just wanted to follow up on particular the business properties that are dilapidated. So THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE JEFFERSON COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AGAIN FOR A LAW THAT I BELIEVE THEY PASSED IN 2024 THAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO FORECLOSE ON MUNICIPAL LANES. AND LAST YEAR We worked on a local ordinance version of that. That is a tool in our toolbox that hasn't existed before. And So we have some pretty strict parameters. We're not going after properties that, you know, our residences and inhabited. But we have plenty of properties that were, you know, commercial structure

Ms. Crenshaw, I've just been given an alert that the condemnation inspectors are on site as we speak about the property.

Okay. All right. Thank you. And I want to thank everyone. I want to thank you for still investing in your community even though you don't live here but you still have this interest and you want to. We live here every day.

And I did want to reiterate what Dr. O'Quinn and my other colleagues have already said. We have had some great stride with the Alabama State Legislature on what we see now with these delinquent properties and these property owners. And stay tuned. We have some items that we really are trying to get on the 2027 legislative agenda that will give us some more teeth and more power to go after these type of landowners. So thank you again. Thank you for bringing this before us. Next speaker, Joseph Holt. Morning, Mr. Holt.

Thank you very much. Next speaker. Harry Chambers, Jr.

Thanks for bringing these announcements. Thank you. Next speaker. Ricky Green. I believe he's also left. Does that end our speaker's list? Oh, Ricky Green, sorry. Good morning, Mr. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Green, for bringing this issue and sharing the story and what's going on. Obviously, your church is suffering under these conditions. I do know we have an infrastructure committee, but I do want to say that, as you know, there's current ongoing litigation with that particular organization as well from other sources around the city. And so at this time we don't actually manage and control the waterworks. Um, I would like to ask you to also bring this issue before members of the state legislature because, um, some of that power was taken from us through action by the state legisla

And Dr. O'Quinn, did you have something?

Yeah, I would just say you're doing the right thing. I'm glad to hear that you guys have hired legal representation. You know, lawyers get a bad rap sometimes, but you're, you know, everybody tends to be thankful when they need them, you know. So that's absolutely the, you know, the right way to handle the situation. And I just say, you know, I frequently talk to the city of Birmingham's appointee to the Water Works Board, Sheila Tyson. And, you know, you're not alone. There's other organizations in the city that have, you know, namely the Housing Authority where they've gone in and, you know,

You mean the board, the Central Water Works board?

Yeah, so Central Alabama Water, their board meetings have been moving around to the various counties. So I think the last meeting was in Moody, and... They've been meeting in Shelby County. The meetings are no longer at the headquarters on 1st Avenue North. You have to check the schedule and see where the meeting is each month. So another reason to be concerned because that makes it more difficult for concerned citizens to engage with them. So... Yes, they're moving around. OK.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Green. Appreciate it. All right. Thank you. Counselors, at this time, I'd like to entertain a motion and a second to bring the agenda back open to consider two items.

All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We'd like to bring back up items 20 and 21 that were on page 7.

Thank you, counselors. These two items relate to structures that are located on Dow Avenue Southwest in Birmingham, Alabama, in District 7 in the Jones Valley neighborhood. I believe that the property owner is here, and these two items have been scheduled, according to these two items being before us, for our consideration that they have been determined to be unsafe, a public nuisance. and our actions would be directing that these two buildings could be demolished. I believe the property owner is here, and we can allow the property owner if you'd like to make a statement. Do you have something

We're concerned now about this particular property. Yes, ma'am. Let me ask you, when's the last time you visited that property?

Has it been within the last week, the last month, the last year?

You do not live in that property? in that property? Okay. And so in your mind, that property has been sitting there for this amount of time. So if we were to delay this... What actions are you taking?

Since you found out about it, that this has been sitting in that neighborhood for this amount of time, so this is the first time that you are aware that this property should be considered unsafe and is a public nuisance to the people that live around that property. I'm going to thank you.

Counselors do have some questions, if that's okay. Absolutely. That'd be all right. Sure.

Yeah, so when you mentioned that the first time that you heard about it was September, I believe you said the 3rd, I can't remember. Was that this year or a year ago, September?

I got it from my sister, and within a couple of days, I came down and acted. I'm asking specific questions and specific answers. I don't care about your sister. So what maintenance company, since you have not visited the property, what maintenance company do you have maintaining the property?

You said you formed that corporation after you received the notice. Since the property has been in a disagreement with the estate, or whatever that is, I don't care, it doesn't matter. Who has been maintaining that property since you just said you have not visited? So I assume that means that you have a private company and or person maintaining the property. Who is that, either a company or a person?

Okay. So how often is there a maintenance schedule? And I mean for yard work, one, and then for the facility, other. So how often is the maintenance schedule for the yard? Let's start with that.

Okay, and then what is the other company you mentioned that maintains the property?

Let me ask you this. How did this become so bad that it got condemned if what you're saying is true and you are actually having both a yard team as well as a property maintenance team maintaining this building?

From what I can tell from the pictures. Okay, so what I'm hearing is one of the parcels has not been maintained because you didn't know it was...

Okay, so now that we understand that you've had a crew coming out and regularly maintaining it...

Now, sir, how in the world can you tell me that you have had someone maintaining the... That house on the right is the one that you've got in the picture in the bottom right corner, I believe. Uh-huh.

Okay, let's look at the one you didn't think you owned.

And this is the property that you allege to have been maintaining?

Well, On a personal note, whoever you are paying weekly and monthly, maintain that. I'd let them go, but I think I've seen enough.

Thank you. We are passing around the condemnation pictures. Sure.

Okay. Counselor protein. Thank you, madam president. Uh, I just have to echo, you know, what my colleague is saying. You know, I just actually had someone come to speak today that grew up in press city, literally complaining about this very thing. Absentee property owners. We worked very hard last year with our delegation to get a law passed. I don't think it's the city of Birmingham's responsibility. to go out, inspect your property, and tell you what you need to do. And you say you live way on Springville Road. Okay, which is probably about a 30-minute drive into Birmingham.

So that tells me that you got this property sitting on the southwest of Birmingham and you weren't frequent, you know, you weren't doing no frequent visits. But the onus you want to put the responsibility back on the city saying they should tell you, no, it is your property. You should be highly responsible for this property and Whatever needs to be maintained whatever you need to do to keep it from going in a condemnation state All of this should have been your this your responsibility. I understand it's not the city's response. This is responsibility is to Public safety, nuisance, weed abate

What have you done prior to receiving these letters? What I believe you haven't done is zero, nothing.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Counselors, anyone else? Counselor Smith.

So I know you mentioned that you've been in litigation since 2021. You have still owned the property in this time. Ma'am, you still own the property in this time.

We're giving you this opportunity now, Mr. Thompson. Yes, sir, we're giving you this opportunity now. That's why we brought it back. We saw that you were here and wanted to give you this opportunity. Did you have any other questions?

Thank you, sir. Yeah, I just want to echo what my colleagues have said. It's just a concern. I mean, this is next to a school also. So I know I don't live in that area, but whenever I've driven by, I've noticed doors open and it's been unsafe. Right. So it's a nuisance. You wouldn't want to live next to that either. So it's a nuisance to those people that live in that area, but also the students that are in school right next to that property.

I would like to ask, before we have any other questions from counselors, Attorney King, could you give us some... information that we think we have also need about some of the things that Mr. Thompson is saying relative to knowledge about the property and the process involved.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Thompson. You can take a seat. We're going to go ahead and call for the vote. Yes, ma'am. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Are there any other questions? We're ready for the vote.

All right, thank you. Both of those items passed. Those two structures will fall in line with what is being asked of the council in finding that they be demolished. Any other items?