Birmingham City Council Highlights 2.15.22

Birmingham City Council Highlights 2.15.22

Here are a few of the legislative highlights from Tuesday’s Birmingham City Council meeting, in case you missed it.

ITEMS 1-2

The Birmingham City Council voted to delay a public hearing for two weeks while the Council reviews the safety plan presented by the owner of Mahogany Social Club and Lounge. The business was applying for a Retail Liquor Class 1 License as well as a Division 1 Dance Permit.

Following presentations from law enforcement officials, the Council delayed the item to gather further information relative to future plans for the establishment. The item received an unfavorable recommendation from the Public Safety Committee that met last week. The item, which is labeled as a public hearing, will be back before the Council on the March 1, 2020 meeting agenda.

Here are the items as they appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:

ITEM 1. A Resolution relative to the application of Montego Temple for a Lounge Retail Liquor Class I License to be used at Mahogany, 1709 3rd Avenue West, Birmingham, and the hearing of all interested parties. (Submitted by Councilor Tate, Chair, Public Safety Committee) (Not Recommended by the Public Safety Committee)

ITEM 2. A Resolution relative to the application of Montego Temple for a Division I Dance Permit to be used at Mahogany, 1709 3rd Avenue West, Birmingham, and the hearing of all interested parties. (Submitted by Councilor Tate, Chair, Public Safety, Transportation and Communication Committee) (Not Recommended by the Public Safety, Transportation and Communication Committee)

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

The Council voted unanimously to appoint 8 members to the Birmingham Planning Commission, which is the official planning agency for the City of Birmingham. Under Title 11, Chapter 52 of the Alabama Code as amended in 1975, its broad responsibility is to plan for the orderly physical development and/or redevelopment of the City, including its transportation network, community facilities, and the arrangement of land uses. More specifically, the Commission is responsible for preparing and maintaining, on a current basis, a Comprehensive Plan, which serves as an overall guide to coordinate private and public development within the City.

The Birmingham Planning Commission is composed of sixteen (16) members; twelve are private citizens appointed by the City Council, and four are ex-officio members; the Mayor, an administrative officer selected by the Mayor, and two members of the City Council or their representatives.

Here are those appointments:

Reappointments:

Michael Morrison, term expiring October 6, 2027

Mashonda Taylor, term expiring October 6, 2026

Brian Gunn, term expiring October 6, 2026

Patty Pilkerton, term expiring October 6, 2026

New Appointments

Bryan King, replacing Devon M.T. Sims, term expiring October 6, 2022

Stephen Schrader, replacing Brian Ruggs, term expiring October 6, 2025

J. Charles Jordan II, replacing Dr. Kathryn Doornbos, term expiring October 6, 2027

Sharon Deep Nelson, replacing L.Tryce Slade, term expiring October 6, 2025

Ex-Officio Appointments

Councilor Valerie Abbott, reappointment, term expiring October 28, 2025

Councilor LaTonya Tate, vacant seat, term expiring October 28, 2025

REZONING CASES

The Council voted to set public hearings for two rezoning cases for March 22,2022. Below are the details for those items as they appeared on today’s agenda:

ITEM 47. A Resolution setting a public hearing March 22, 2022 to consider the adoption of an Ordinance “TO AMEND THE ZONING DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM” (Case No. ZAC2021-00020) to change zone district boundaries from M-2 Heavy Industrial District to MU-D Mixed Use Downtown District, filed by Clay Smith (Kimley-Horn), applicant, representing the owner AGL Properties LLC, for property located at 1028 2nd Avenue South and situated NE¼ of Section 02, Township 18-S, Range 3-West, Birmingham. [First Reading](Submitted by Councilor Abbott, Chair, Planning and Zoning Committee) (Recommended by the Z.A.C. and the Planning and Zoning Committee)**P

ITEM 48. A Resolution setting a public hearing March 22, 2022 to consider the adoption of an Ordinance “TO AMEND THE ZONING DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM” (Case No. ZAC2021-00021) to change zone district boundaries from B-1 Neighborhood Business District to “Q” MU-D Qualified Mixed-Use Downtown District, filed by Taylor Schoel (Schoel Engineering), applicant, representing the owner Magnolia Point, LLC, for property located at 2234 Magnolia Avenue South, and situated in the NW¼ of Section 06, Township 18-S, Range 2-West, Birmingham. [First Reading] (Submitted by Councilor Abbott, Chair, Planning and Zoning Committee) (Recommended by the Z.A.C. and the Planning and Zoning Committee)**

VIDEO: Full Council Meeting 2.15.22

Upcoming Hearing on the New Proposed Birmingham Operating Budget

2021 ACE Program Info from Mayor Woodfin

News You Can Use

The Birmingham Police Department will host a virtual seminar on sexual assault on Wednesday, May 19 from 6 to 7 p.m. on the department’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/bhampolice.

BPD will host a book drive for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, May 24-31. Officers will accept new and slightly used books at BPD headquarters from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. See flyer for more info.

• Learn how to become a vendor for the World Games 2022 by joining a 1:30 p.m. webinar on Monday, May 24. To register, visit: bit.ly/TWG22Part1 .

• A restored vintage Greyhound bus will be at the downtown Birmingham Public Library on Wednesday, May 19 as part of the 60th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides commemoration. The bus, which is part of the Freedom Rides Museum collection, will be open to the public at 3 p.m. Two, local Freedom Riders will speak during a program that will start at 5 p.m. The 1961 Freedom Rides were public bus trips undertaken by racially-integrated groups through the Deep South to test the enforcement of a new court order prohibiting segregation in interstate bus terminals. See attached press release and flyer.

• BPD will host a promotions and graduation ceremony today, May 14, at 10 a.m. at Boutwell Auditorium. Congrats!

• The next countywide paper shredding and electronics drop-off event will be Saturday, May 15 at the Center Point Satellite Courthouse from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more info, please go here and here. Questions? Call 205-325-8741.

• If you missed Wednesday’s live WebEx update on the federal stimulus money the city is slated to receive, you may catch a replay on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rM8uid0Yb34.

• The Birmingham Legion soccer team will play Memphis at Legion Field on Saturday, May 15 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 at www.bhmlegion.com.

• Birmingham renters unable to pay rent or utilities bills due financial hardships caused by COVID-19, may be eligible to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Please visit www.birminghamal.gov/renthelp to access the link to start the application process. A call center is available at 1-844-287-1250.

60th Anniversary Freedom Rides Event on May 19, 2021

Birmingham City Council votes to extend citywide mask ordinance until May 24th

Birmingham City Council votes to extend citywide mask ordinance until May 24th

PRESS RELEASE                                      Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Contact: Kim Garner 

Email: kimberly.garner@birminghamal.gov
 

On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council voted to implement a citywide mask ordinance. The statewide mask order that has been in place since July of 2020 will expire on Friday, April 9th.
 
The City's ordinance is similar to the ordinance passed by the body last year in the early months of the pandemic. The ordinance will remain in effect until 11:59pm on May 24th; however, the ordinance can be evaluated prior to May 18th as needed to determine if changed conditions warrant it's amendment or repeal.  
 
Health experts warn that another wave of infections is possible as case numbers continue to rise in states across the country. In Jefferson County, the number of new daily cases has plateaued at roughly 70 cases a day for the last several weeks.
 
President Parker urges residents to remain diligent as vaccination efforts continue to outpace new cases in Jefferson County.
 
“This has been a tough year for all of us and I know wearing a mask in public has become tiresome, but now is not the time to relax our efforts,” Parker said. “The science is clear: wearing masks and social distancing works in preventing the spread of this virus.”
 
Here is a copy of the ordinance: https://www.dropbox.com/s/otpkrmzwzfnd7t4/ap06oca28jb%20-%20Mask%20Ordinance%202021%20-%20final.docx?dl=0

Covid-19 Vaccine Registration

Vaccine Registration

There is a new, online registration method for Jefferson County residents to be notified when they are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. To sign up for notification, go here. Currently, Jefferson County is vaccinating frontline healthcare workers, emergency first responders, and anyone over 75 and in other categories of essential workers. The online form is used to inform the Jefferson County Department of Health of one’s intent to take the vaccine once it becomes available for a person, based on the ADPH allocation plan.

Text 888-777 with the message INFOJEFFCO to sign up for COVID-19 vaccine text message updates. You can also call JCDH's hotline at 205-858-2221 for vaccine questions.