Here are a few of the legislative highlights from Tuesday’s Birmingham City Council meeting, in case you missed it.
ITEM 3
As a way to combat food deserts across the city of Birmingham, the City Council approved an ordinance to transfer $298,686 for a grant to create a food sovereign program. The goal of this program is to identify areas of need and to help bolster healthy food options across the city.
Food insecurity is an issue that impacts a majority of residents in the city of Birmingham and the City Council has made concerted efforts to help address this situation.
“Building equity in our community, especially as it relates to food insecurity, must address these issues in such a way that ensures healthy, affordable food options for residents that live in one of Birmingham’s designated food deserts,” Councilor Crystal Smitherman said. “This past year, I partnered with local farmers and vendors to for monthly farmer’s markets across District 6 in Birmingham. Not only was this an opportunity for residents to access fresh produce, but also allowed them to build relationships with local farmers.”
According to a recent study published by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in Alabama alone close to two million residents live in a food desert, and almost 150,000 of them live in Birmingham. This accounts for 69% of the city's total population. Addressing food insecurity is as much about environmental justice as it is about racial equity.
This budget ordinance will create a budget line item for a grant received by the USDA. The city has already received a grant of this nature, which is being utilized by Jones Valley Teaching Farm to create a food fellowship program to establish urban farms across the city. This grant will help to hire a food system manager to expand food access strategies across the city. It will also help support the expansion of farmers markets in the Birmingham area.
ITEM 4
The Council approved changes to the city’s code to allow for the new regulations and guidelines for the uniform trash bins that are currently being rolled out in phases across the city. The changes also outline penalties for violating the new ordinance, especially as it pertains to bulk trash and illegal dumping following residential evictions.
“I’m tired of the city of being taken advantage of, all their stuff they dump out like mattresses and concrete piles we have to pick up. If there are no puntative measures enforced, they will continue to do this, especially when it comes from landlords and construction project.” Councilor Valerie Abbott said.
The update to the city’s waste collection and disposal ordinance will allow the City to modernize these practices and stiffen penalties for those who do not comply with proper waste disposal. The updated ordinance also allows for residents to purchase another trash bin in the case their original bin is damaged or stolen. Secondly, the ordinance will allow for up to 24 hours for residents to remove their bins from the street once the trash has been collected.
The 96-gallon trash bins are currently being distributed in phases across the city. For more information on how to utilize these new bins or to check your schedule, please visit: