Birmingham City Council Highlights 11.28.23

ITEM 3

The Birmingham City Council voted unanimously to approve two loans for Birmingham Southern College totaling $5 million.

The first $2.5 million loan will be forgiven if the terms of the agreement are satisfied, including the school being open for the fall 2024 semester – those funds will be immediately available. The other $2.5 million loan will be repaid over a 20-year term with one percent interest and will be made available to the school next year. The school is leveraging a portion of their existing property as collateral for the loan.

Council President Darrell O’Quinn, explained BSC is an anchor institution for two historic communities: College Hills and Bush Hills. This money is an investment into the stability and economic future of the area, he said.

“One of the things that I was excited about is that Birmingham Southern College, as part of the agreement, is extending three scholarship opportunities for graduates of Birmingham City Schools,” President O’Quinn said. “This isn't a decision we made lightly. All of the considerations in terms of jobs and economic impact to the entire city really factored in to why there was a unanimous decision among the Council to support this today.”

The school employs roughly 300 people (an additional 1,200 indirectly) and has an estimated annual economic impact of $45 million in the city. During the public speakers portion of Tuesday’s meeting, several local business owners expressed support for the aid, saying the success of their business is directly tied to the college.

Councilor JT Moore, who chairs the Community Development Committee, said the goal was to avoid another situation like Carraway Hospital, which was a blight in the community for over a decade.

“Having an empty 200 acre campus in the middle of a neighborhood that is on the verge of a resurgence will set this area back decades,” Councilor JT Moore said. “I understand the concerns of those who disagree with the decision to provide financial support to a private university. Over the last several months, the Birmingham City Council has continued to have these difficult conversations. In my opinion, this is an investment into the future of the surrounding area and our residents who live here.”

With other major institutions like Princeton Baptist Medical Center, Legion Field and the Birmingham CrossPlex all located within a couple miles of the school, losing an anchor like BSC could lead to further disinvestment in the community, lowered home values and a reduction in services, according to city officials.

BSC President Daniel Coleman told reporters following the meeting that they will also be seeking financial support from Jefferson County and urged the state’s executive leadership to re-evaluate their position on denying the loan that was approved by the Alabama State Legislature. The financial support provided by the City of Birmingham will allow BSC to continue operating throughout the remaining school year, according to President Coleman.

BOLD Grant Recipients

On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council approved a total of seven program agreements through the Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) Grant program with the City.

Now in the sixth year, BOLD supports the growth of women-owned, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses, and focuses on developing our small businesses environment.

Today’s BOLD funding agreements are as follows:

Birthwell Partners: A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a BOLD Program Agreement with Birthwell Partners, Inc. to help overcome barriers to economic opportunities for 80 residents by providing birth doula services, childbirth and parenting classes, and maternal health advocacy workshops. The project also includes workforce development through Birthwell’s need-based work-study program, which will expand access to doula training for three Birmingham residents and offer continuing education to further develop the skillset of 10 community doulas working with Birmingham’s at-risk families for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $90,000.

Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank: A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a BOLD Program Agreement with Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank through the BOLD funding program to help overcome barriers to economic opportunities for 1,500 Birmingham residents by distributing diapers, wipes, and menstruation products to community partners and schools for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $120,000.

MedPLUS Consulting, LLC: A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a BOLD Program Agreement with MedPLUS Consulting, LLC. Through the BOLD Funding Program to support workforce development for three (3) Birmingham residents to become community health workers and to help overcome barriers to economic opportunities for 60 Birmingham residents by providing diabetes prevention for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $104,695.00.

Diane’s Heart: A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a BOLD Program Agreement with Diane’s Heart, Inc. (Diane’s Heart) under which Diane’s Heart as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) Program to support workforce development, overcoming economic barriers, and revitalizing Birmingham’s neighborhoods through the “She Knew There Was More” coaching and mentoring program for 30 Birmingham residents for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $138,413.00

Urban Impact: A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a BOLD Program Agreement with the Urban Impact, Inc. (Urban Impact) under which Urban Impact as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) Program to support small businesses and minority-women-and disadvantaged business enterprises through the Legacy Entrepreneurship Program, which will train 24 legacy businesses in succession planning, safeguarding the legacies of long-established businesses, and facilitating the intergenerational transfer of wealth and business ownership in Black communities for a term of twelve (12) months for an amount not to exceed $150,000.

Is-Able Ministries: A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a BOLD Program Agreement with the Is-Able Ministries though the BOLD Funding Program to support workforce development, overcoming economic barriers, and minority-women and disadvantaged business enterprises through employment training, wraparound services, and financial management training to 60 Birmingham resident for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $87,050.

Momentum Alumnae Program: A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a BOLD Program Agreement with Momentum Alumnae Program, Inc. through the BOLD Funding Program to support workforce development and overcoming barriers for minority – women- and disadvantaged business enterprises through Momentum Work, an initiative that will provide professional leadership training, wrap-around services, and access to professional expert resources for 50 Birmingham residents for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $117,500.00.

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL: Week in Review, November 16th - November 26th

Birmingham Makes an Impact at the NLC City Summit

The Birmingham City Council represented at the 2023 City Summit in Atlanta—talking about economic development, transportation solutions, public safety, leveraging federal infrastructure investments to generate good, local jobs--while also connecting with local leader peers from across the country, policy experts, and industry professionals to gain knowledge and expand opportunities for Birmingham residents.

Birmingham City Council President Darrell O’Quinn and Pro Tem Wardine Alexander have been reappointed to prominent committee positions with the National League of Cities. While serving in these roles, they will continue to help guide policy priorities and legislative efforts in their respective areas of focus.

President O’Quinn was re-elected to serve on the NLC’s Board of Directors, Pro Tem Alexander was re-elected as the NLC’s Regional Director for the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, and Councilor Crystal Smitherman is continuing in her role serving on the Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Committee with NLC as well as serving on the Women in Municipal Government Board of Directors..

Councilors Host Multiple Thanksgiving Giveaways

Leading up to Thursday, multiple Council offices hosted holiday giveaways to assist our residents with getting everything they needed to create the perfect holiday meal.  This is one of our favorite times of the year, and we loved seeing and speaking with our neighbors all across the city. We hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving

ARPA Funding will Help Provide ADA Access at East Side Park

On Tuesday, the Council unanimously approved an agreement with the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition to fund the redevelopment of East Side Park, which directly abuts the massive urban greenspace.

Councilor Hunter Williams allocated $750,000 of his office’s discretionary ARPA funding. This funding will help provide ADA access to the park, with over 10,000 feet of wheel-chair accessible trails that will connect to the nature learning center and sensory trails.

“I’d like to thank the leadership of Ruffner Mountain for doing such an awesome job of being a good steward of the East side of town,” Councilor Williams said. “They are an invaluable asset to this city and I really think it’s a unique thing we have here. This East Side Park has been vacant and dilapidated for years. Now this will be an ADA accessible portion of the nature

preserve so even more people will be able to get out there an enjoy this area.”

More coverage here...

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL: Week in Review, November 6th - November 12th

Honoring Our Veterans at the Oldest Veterans Day Parade in the Country

Did you know that Birmingham is home to America's first and oldest Veteran's Day Parade?  This Saturday, District 4 Councilor J.T. Moore participated in the festivities for the 76th annual event, and he brought along a few friends!

Councilors Host 'Days of Giving' Ahead of the Holidays

Council President Pro Tem Wardine Alexander (D7) and Councilor J.T. Moore (D4) hosted some exciting giveaways over the weekend.  Both Councilors had Thanksgiving events where they distributed food to families in need this holiday season.

Councilor Moore Speaks at Building Black Wealth Summit

On Thursday, Councilor JT Moore spoke with an esteemed group of panelists at the National Associations of Real Estate Brokers for their Black Wealth Summit at Miles College. Building wealth in historically underserved communities requires action from all sorts of stakeholders, banks, schools, public and private partnerships, transportation services and so much more.

These conversations are crucial if we are going to continue to make progress and bring more affordable housing opportunities to our neighborhoods.

Birmingham City Council Highlights 11.7.23

ITEM 1

The Birmingham City Council has voted unanimously to deny a request for a rezoned property in the Oxmoor Valley Neighborhood following a lengthy public hearing.

During the meeting, over a dozen residents spoke against rezoning the currently undeveloped property located at 3100 and 3060 Oxmoor Road. The plans were to have this be a convenience store/gas station with a quick service restaurant. However, residents said there were already too many gas stations in the area and this was an unwelcomed addition to the corridor.

The Oxmoor Neighborhood Association had already voted down the proposed plan 32-4 of those in attendance. Of all the residents who spoke at the meeting, all of them were against the plan, signaling it would negatively impact the quality of life in the area.

“I have an immense amount of respect for the residents who came down to speak on this and raise the concerns they have with this development,” Councilor Clinton Woods said. “I think it shows what residents can accomplish when they unite and it’s what we love to see. We want to hear from y’all and we want y’all to be involved. I think we have a much better understanding now about what the community wants to see as a whole. I don’t see any overwhelming reason as to why we need to force this new development on a community that does not have a need for it nor do they want it.”

Council President Pro Tem Wardine Alexander, who represents the district, said she was proud of the residents who came and spoke about this issue because their opposition made a big difference.

“We want to ensure that the residents who live in these places where we consider rezoning parcels of land, they deserve to have their voices heard and to have a seat at the table. I want to be sure that we don’t get into a situation where we think we know what’s best for people who have to live by these developments. I’m very glad to see that not be the case here today,” Council President Pro Tem Alexander said.

Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:

ITEM 1. An Ordinance “TO FURTHER AMEND THE ZONING DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM” (Case No. ZAC2022-00001) to change zone district boundaries from MXD Planned Mixed-Use District to “Q”C-1 Qualified Neighborhood Commercial District, filed by Charles Beavers, applicant, on behalf of the owner, OXMORE USA, INC, for properties located at 3100 and 3060 Shannon Oxmoor Road, and situated - in the NE¼ of Section 06, Township 19-S, Range 3-West, and the hearing of all interested parties. [Second Reading] (Submitted by Councilor Abbott, Chair,

Planning and Zoning Committee) (Recommended by the Z.A.C. and the Planning and Zoning Committee)**

Birmingham City Council Highlights 10.31.23

Birmingham City Council Highlights 10.31.23

Item 20

On Tuesday, the Council approved an agreement with Common Thread Community, opening the door for the organization to expand their small business incubator in District 6.

The Common Thread Community initiative will provide services to the City by supporting 10-15 new small business by expanding its existing Cultural Center in the Titusville Project (“The Project”) through the redevelopment, rehabilitation, and enhancement of their facility located on the existing premises at 222 6th Avenue SW.

Councilor Smitherman supported this project with $100,000 from her ARPA funds.

“This is a great initiative for my office to be able to utilize the federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars that we were allocated,” Councilor Smitherman said. “When I first came into office, my number one mission was to revitalize the small business corridor along 6th Avenue South. By providing this kind of assistance to small businesses, we’re looking to get homegrown, local businesses on their feet and out into the community. We’d love to see some of these companies eventually occupy buildings along that corridor that have been vacant.”

Currently, Building One of the Cultural Center houses important community-based organizations such as BuildUp, A4One Sports Facility, Step-by-Step and Cahaba Medical. This expansion will allow for more start-ups to be able to scale their businesses and serve residents in the surrounding areas.

Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:

A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute and deliver an agreement between the City of Birmingham and The Common Thread Community in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00, under which The Common Thread Community will provide services to the City by supporting 10-15 new small businesses by expanding its existing Cultural Center in Titusville Project (“the Project”) through the redevelopment, rehabilitation, and enhancement of Building 2, located on the existing premises at 222 6th Avenue SW, Birmingham, Alabama, into 15,000 sq. ft. of additional office collaborating space for a totaled combined office collaborating space of 60,000 sq. ft., inclusive of both Buildings 1 & 2, with an estimated investment of approximately $525,000.00 by Consultant for improvements to Building 2. [Funding Source: ARPA-District 6] (Submitted by the City Attorney) (Recommended by the Mayor and the Chief Community Planner) **

ITEM 21

In an effort to assist small businesses that have been impacted by hardships brought on by the COVID-19 health crisis, the Council approved an agreement with Urban Impact, under which they will provide support for 18 small businesses that qualify for a grant.

“I want small businesses to know that there will be assistance available through Urban Impact following today’s vote,” Council President Darrell O’Quinn said. “We know that these are some of the hardest hit industries in the last couple years and we want our small business owners to understand that we are here to help because they are the backbone of our community.”

Council President Darrell O’Quinn contributed $25,000 of this office’s ARPA funding, Councilor Clinton Woods contributed $15,000 and Councilor JT Moore contributed $10,000. The small business grants are available for up to $4,100 for those who qualify. For more information please visit https://urbanimpactbirmingham.org/

ITEM 27

One of Birmingham’s lowest graded sidewalks will soon be getting repairs made following the Council’s vote on Tuesday.

“I’m so excited about this because we all hear from our residents about the need to repair sidewalks. This is an issue that impacts every single neighborhood in this city so it’s good to see a project like this moving forward. I’m hopeful that this indicates more projects like this coming soon,” Councilor Valerie Abbott said.

Mayor Randall Woodfin indicated that the City is currently working on leveraging federal grant funding to bolster the city’s general fund allocation for a massive set of citywide sidewalk repairs. More details about that will be released when they are made available.

Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:

A Resolution accepting the unit price bid of C.P. Construction, LLC, 905 – 24th Street SW, Birmingham in the amount of $170,995.00 for City Wide Sidewalk Repairs this being the lowest responsible and responsive bid submitted, and authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with C.P. Construction, LLC, in substantially the form contained within the bid documents and in accordance with said bid, providing that the total compensation payable under the contract not exceed the appropriation.

[Funding Sources: DOT103CP 003818 and DOT102CP 003818] (Submitted by the Mayor) (Recommended by the Director of Capital Projects) (Three Bids Submitted

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL: Week in Review, October 16th - October 22nd

Love Doesn't Hurt, Council Pro Tem Crystal Smitherman Hosts Relationship Violence Awareness Seminar

Council President Pro Tem Crystal Smitherman hosted the first ever Love Doesn’t Hurt event over the weekend. The seminar featured a variety of domestic violence experts from the YWCA, a self-defense session, a presentation from the Family Justice Center and more.

“By discussing relationship violence openly, we can reduce the stigma associated with being a victim. This can make it easier for survivors to seek help without feeling judged or blamed,” Councilor Crystal Smitherman said. “It’s a goal of mine to foster more partnerships between the government, organizations, and individuals to help increase the amount of available resources to address domestic violence and better understand its scope and impact. We heard a lot of powerful and inspiring messages during this event.”

See more from the event here...

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Dropping Science: Councilors Combine Hip Hop and STEM with the McWane Science Center

We bet you didn't know your Councilors have BARS!  Districts 4 and 5 represented C.W.A. (Councilors With Attitude) at the McWane Science Center's Dropping Science event on Saturday.

This event was all about exploring the impact of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) on hip hip, and visa-versa!  Education Chairman Councilor J.T. Moore and Councilor Darrell O'Quinn took over the main stage to perform their rendition of some children's picture books -- and the crowd went wild.

Birmingham City Council Highlights 8.29.2

Birmingham City Council Highlights 8.29.23

ITEMS 18-19

The Birmingham City Council has voted to delay considering proposed amendments to the City’s parking and towing ordinances following a public hearing at today’s Council meeting.

Several representatives from local towing companies addressed the Council during the hearing and raised concerns over the proposed language surrounding insurance coverage in the updated ordinance. In order to get the corrected language included into the ordinance, there will be a two-week delay.

Written submissions for public comments will still be accepted until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5th; the public hearing to consider the amended parking and towing ordinances will be held September 12th during the regularly scheduled Council meeting.

Written comments can be sent to Darrell.OQuinn@Birminghamal.gov

The Council will be in a position to consider approving the amendments at the conclusion on the public hearing on September 12th.

The Office of the City Attorney presented the proposed changes during a Town Hall held in June. Some of the key points of the updated ordinance include, but are not limited to, increasing insurance requirements for operators; clarifying proof of payment to help drivers with dispute options; prohibiting operators from towing/booting a vehicle while a driver is paying; additional payment options — the use of mobile and web payment systems; improved requirements for signage.

In addition to modernizing the way parking in paid for by phone, the updated ordinance also gives the Birmingham Department of Transportation purview to oversee parking signage placement and regulations.

Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, chair of the Transportation Committee, said he has been encouraged by the productive conversation and feedback from members of the public throughout this process.

“There were definitely issues that were brought up that we had not heard before when we heard from residents in June. It’s really great to get these comments into the public record,” O’Quinn said. “There were multiple people that have referred to the ambiguity of the signage that refers to overnight parking. I think that’s really valuable to for us to hear. I’m looking forward to this additional opportunity for people to provide feedback. I’d like to thank the Mayor’s team and our City Attorneys for their continued work and diligence on these important updates to our city code.”

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ITEM 30

The Council approved a resolution for a grant application seeking $15 million for the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program with the U.S. Department of Transportation to convert 4th Avenue North from a one-way to a two-way street.

This would take place from 24th Street North to 9th Street North through the downtown corridor. This program is part of the bi-partisan infrastructure bill that was passed by Congress in 2021. These conversion plans are supported by the City Center Master Plan and Northside/Southside Framework Plans, which have shown a need to convert several one-way streets as a way to boost economic activity and help prevent incidents of reckless driving.

This corridor is the home of the Fourth Avenue Business District. According to representatives with the City’s Department of Transportation, national studies have shown that converting roads from one-ways is a big boon for local businesses. Two-way traffic allows for people to access these stores from both directions and allows for a slower pace of traffic.

“I know we have had many instances of collisions at the intersection by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and there is some confusion with drivers when they are passing through this area,” Council President Wardine Aleander said. “I think it’s so important for the City to support this historic Black business center. I am hopeful this grant application will be successful and we will be able to make our roadways a little safe and more supportive for local businesses.”

Most of the cost would be incurred from outfitting the intersections with new signals and ADA compliant features.

This corridor is located in an “area of persistent poverty” and therefore does not require the typical 80/20 percent grant match under federal guidelines. However, in order to strengthen the grant application, the City will be contributing $2 million towards the project in the event the application is successful.

Here is the item as it appeared on the agenda:

ITEM 30.

A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute any and all documents

required for the City to apply for a Reconnecting Communities and

Neighborhood (RCN) Program grant from United States Department of

Transportation in the amount of up to $15,000,000.00 to convert 4th Ave

North from a one-way to a two-way from 24th Street to 9th Street. This

grant requires matching funds in the amount of twenty percent (20%) of

the total grant received by the City and authorizing the Mayor to take any

and all actions and execute such documents as are appropriate and

necessary to accept and expend the grant funds on behalf of the City in

accordance with the grant documents. (Submitted by the City Attorney)

(Recommended by the Mayor and the Chief Community Planner)

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL: Week in Review, August 14th - 20th

Public Safety Chair (D9) Councilor LaTonya A Tate Hosts Credible Messenger in the Magic City

At Wednesday's Committee of the Whole Meeting, Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement President and CEO Clinton Lacey was in town for a presentation for the Birmingham City Council.  Mr. Lacey's presentation was one of several given at the meeting, geared toward addressing and reducing violence in the City.

Credible Messenger is a community-based crime prevention program that is currently active in 20 states.  While in town, Councilor Tate and Lacey also visited the Ross Bell Juvenile Detention Center and met with Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway and Urban Alchemy.

Learn more about Credible Messenger here...
Watch the Committee of the Whole meeting for Mr. Lacey's presentation here...

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Council President Wardine Alexander Hosts Quarterly Chat and Chew with Neighborhood Leaders

Council President Wardine Alexander sat down with neighborhood officers during the annual District 7 Chat & Chew.

A number of neighborhood officers had the opportunity to voice neighborhood concerns to Mayor Woodfin and also break out into small groups to discuss projects, collaborations, and nonprofits.

Click Here to View Event Photos

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Council Votes to Approve Resolution of Intent for Birmingham-Southern College Funding

On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council voted to approve a resolution of intent to provide funding to Birmingham-Southern College as the institution works its way back from a period of financial uncertainty.
 
The resolution of intent does not transfer any funds or establish a dollar amount for the one-time funding agreement. However, based on conversations that took place from the dais and during previous Education Committee Meetings, the leadership at BSC is seeking a commitment of up to $5 million.

The resolution passed 6-1 with the dissenting vote coming from Council President Wardine Alexander, who expressed her support of the institution, but said she would like to see similar investments made into neighborhoods across the city.

Councilor J.T. Moore, chair of the Council’s Education Committee, said he would like to see more opportunities for service-based learning taking place in schools across the City.

“We would love to see Birmingham-Southern become a part of the Birmingham Promise network of schools,” Councilor Moore said. “We want to increase the access that our students have to this institution, and create a more robust partnership with BSC, especially as we look to improve our reading levels in city schools. Their service-based learning model has been a great resource, and we’d like to build on that moving forward.”

Read more here...

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Council Pro Tem Smitherman Partners with Operation HOPE for Financial Wellness Series

Council President Pro Tem Crystal Smitherman has partnered with Operation Hope for a series of financial wellness workshops. This week's focus was on how to improve credit scores and money management.

We hope you will join us for the next installment when we discuss pathways to homeownership. That will be taking place at 5:30 pm at the West End Library on Thursday, September 21st!

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Public Hearing Set For Birmingham's Parking and Towing Ordinance

REMINDER: The Birmingham City Council recently voted to set a public hearing to discuss proposed changes to the City’s parking and towing ordinance. That public hearing has been set for Tuesday, August 29th during the Council meeting on the second floor of Boutwell Auditorium.

Read more here...

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UPDATED TIMEFRAME: Due to Chamber Renovations, Council Meetings are being held at the Boutwell

The Council voted to extend the length of time in which meetings will be held at the Boutwell Auditorium while the City Council chambers are being renovated. That completion date has been extended to December 19, 2023. 
 
The Council unanimously passed an ordinance earlier this year to change the regularly scheduled meeting location to the second floor of the Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 Reverend Abraham Woods, Jr. Boulevard. The meeting time will remain 9:30 a.m. on every Tuesday.

If you plan to attend the meeting in person, please arrive early.  All meetings will still stream to the Council's Facebook page: @citycouncilbham

Birmingham City Council Highlights 8.15.23

Birmingham City Council Highlights 8.15.23

ITEM 17
 
Today the Birmingham City Council voted to approve a resolution of intent to provide funding to Birmingham-Southern College as the institution works its way back from a period of financial uncertainty.
 
The resolution of intent does not transfer any funds or establish a dollar amount for the one-time funding agreement. However, based on conversations that took place from the dais and during previous Education Committee Meetings, the leadership at BSC is seeking a commitment of up to $5 million.

The resolution passed 6-1 with the dissenting vote coming from Council President Wardine Alexander, who expressed her support of the institution, but said she would like to see similar investments made into neighborhoods across the city. 
 
The next steps will be for the Mayor and his administrative team to draft a funding agreement, which will include the funding source, the amount of funds to be provided, as well as conditions that must be met by BSC. That will then come before the Council for final approval.
 
Councilor J.T. Moore, chair of the Council’s Education Committee, said he would like to see more opportunities for service-based learning taking place in schools across the City. “We would love to see Birmingham-Southern become a part of the Birmingham Promise network of schools,” Councilor Moore said. “We want to increase the access that our students have to this institution, and create a more robust partnership with BSC, especially as we look to improve our reading levels in city schools. Their service-based learning model has been a great resource, and we’d like to build on that moving forward.”
 
Last week, BSC President Daniel Coleman met with the Education Committee and laid out several steps the school has taken to ensure future financial stability. In order to prevent future overspending of their endowment, the college has set up a separate board of trustees to oversee the endowment.
 
This consists of seven trustees – four appointed by the college, three that are independent. It will take a unanimous vote to spend over 5% of the endowment annually, according to Coleman.
 
“We’ve been very encouraged by the work that has been done by leadership at BSC as they work their way back to financial stability,” Councilor Moore said. “Our priority is not having a situation where there is an abandoned college campus in the middle of Birmingham. Look at Carraway Hospital to see what that would be like, but on a larger scale. In my opinion, this is a potential investment into the continued success and vibrancy of the surrounding area.”
 
In June, Governor Kay Ivey signed the bill ( SB278) that created a state loan program for higher education institutions that will extend $30 million in loans to BSC to aid in the financial recovery.
 
BSC leadership will also be seeking financial commitments from Jefferson County as they look to reach their $200 million fundraising goal over the next several years, a sum largely consisting of private donations.

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ITEM 13
 
Major League Baseball will be coming to Birmingham next year, and Rickwood Field will be receiving a series of upgrade in anticipation of this monumental event.
 
Last week, the branding and logo were unveiled for the “2024 MLB at Rickwood Field, A Tribute to the Negro Leagues.” The game between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals will be played at America’s oldest surviving ballpark on June 20th, 2024.
 
On Tuesday, the Council approved an agreement to provide the Friends of Rickwood Field, the nonprofit that oversees maintenance and operation of the facility, with $150,000 in annual funding for the next three years.
 
Councilor Carol Clarke, who represents the district, said she is excited for what the future holds for this piece of history. “We owe a great deal of credit and gratitude to this group who have acted as stewards for this incredible, historic facility,” Councilor Clarke said. “These improvements will help with the continued success and vibrancy of this ballpark, especially as we look to market ourselves for future sporting events that could be held there.”
 
Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:
 
ITEM 13. A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute to execute on behalf of the City of Birmingham an agreement with the Friends of Rickwood Field, (Rickwood), an Alabama nonprofit corporation, under which Rickwood shall manage and operate the Birmingham Rickwood Field including providing research, education, and conservation programs for the benefit of the citizens of Birmingham, for a term of three (3) years ending June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 each year subject to an annual appropriation by the City Council in each City’s corresponding fiscal year’s budget. [G/L Account: 001_400_96500_96518.550-009] (Submitted by the City Attorney) (Recommended by the Mayor and the Budget and Finance Committee)

Birmingham City Council Highlights 5.23.23

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:

WATCH THE FULL BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE