Birmingham City Council Highlights 4.11.23

Birmingham City Council Highlights 4.11.23

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

ITEM 16

The Council voted unanimously to remove the 2020 Census Redistricting Committee and replace that body with the Housing Policy Committee.

The Housing Policy Committee will be chaired by Councilor JT Moore, and he will be joined by Councilors Carol Clarke and Darrell O’Quinn.

The Committee will have the responsibility of overseeing local policy and programs that guide and sustain affordable housing opportunities for all citizens and to advocate for fair housing policies.

In the 1930s, the Federal Housing Administration created maps that ranked neighborhoods based on their perceived creditworthiness, a practice known as redlining. Birmingham is one of the most redlined cities in America.

This committee will provide an opportunity for the City Council to take an active role in remediating the effects of that practice.

The time and day of that meeting will be announced in the coming weeks.

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BOARD APPOINTMENTS

There is an opening on the Birmingham Parking Authority, which regulates city's parking spaces, decks and lots.

Applicants must be a registered voter with an address in the city limits of Birmingham.

For anyone interested in serving, please forward a letter of interest and resume to Myeisha.Hutchinson@birminghamal.gov

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FAIR HOUSING MONTH RESOLUTION

Today, the Birmingham City Council passed a resolution brought forward by Councilor Darrell O’Quinn recognizing April as Fair Housing Month. April 11, 2023, marks the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, which clarifies a national policy of fair housing for all who live in the United States.

“Today we’re celebrating that achievement with this resolution. Over the past several years, the Council and this administration have made an effort to address affordable housing and blighted properties in the city,” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said. “One of the issues that we of course recognize is everyone needs to have equal opportunity to access affordable housing.”

According to the resolution, “The Council of the City of Birmingham with Mayor Randall L. Woodfin concurring, supports the goals and ideals of the Fair Housing Act and recognizes the month of April as Fair Housing Month in the City of Birmingham, Alabama, which includes bringing attention to the discrimination faced by everyday citizens in housing and housing-related transactions based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, and religion. We commend the Birmingham Association of Realtors whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment and an uncompromising standard of excellence in its endeavors on behalf of all citizens in this great city.”

Councilor O’Quinn also stated that he is working on an amendment to update the City’s current Fair Housing Ordinance to include source of income discrimination. This would not just be for housing choice voucher recipients, but also those receiving alimony, veteran’s assistance, disability checks and so forth. Cities across the country have passed similar legislation for decades.

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Miss Today’s Council Meeting? Here’s How You Can Watch the Recap.

Click one of the following links to access the
APRIL 4, 2023 Birmingham City Council Meeting:

To watch it on the City Council’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/citycouncilbham   


To watch it from the City Council’s website: 
https://www.birminghamalcitycouncil.org/council-meeting-video-archives/    

    PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL 205.254.2294 SHOULD YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Birmingham City Council Highlights 3.21.23

Birmingham City Council Highlights 3.21.23

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

ITEM 10

The Birmingham City Council approved an interlocal agreement with Lawson State Community College to provide workforce development training for Commercial Driver’s License Training for City Employees. This program will be at no cost to the city.

Currently the Department of Public Works has positions to fill for commercially licensed truck drivers, and this partnership will help in the recruitment of new employees, according to Director Josh Yates.

All of the training will be done with city-owned vehicles (older model dump trucks and trailers) and will allow for current employees to get certified at no cost to them. CDL regulations changed in 2022 and created a shortage of people nationwide who were qualified. This move is to ensure that Birmingham can remain competitive to recruit and retain employees.

Each training session will be able to accommodate roughly 10 people per session. There are roughly 20 to 25 vacant truck driver positions that the City is looking to fill.

“I think this is outstanding,” Councilor Carol Clarke said. “I think this is really going to help the city be competitive against companies like Amazon. We want to be able to retain these employees and I believe this program gives the City a big advantage in that regard.”

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

An Ordinance, in accordance with Act 1969-916 of the Acts of Alabama, authorizing the Mayor to execute an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Birmingham and Lawson State Community College, under which Lawson State Community College will provide workforce development training, more particularly described as “Commercial Driver’s License Training” for City employees and the City will provide vehicles for use by the City employees during the course of the training, for a term of three (3) years and authorizing the Mayor to execute any other documents necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Agreement. [First Reading] (Submitted by the City Attorney) (Recommended by the Mayor and the Budget and Finance Committee)

ITEM 18

The City Council approved a resolution allowing for the submission of an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) for its Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program grant in the amount of $1,000,000.00 to develop a Parks Resiliency Master Plan.

This grant would help the City partner with local community-based organizations to perform environmental justice initiatives in the community. It would also allow for the City to complete a Park’s Master Plan to figure out best ways to utilize the City’s public parks in a way that creates equity and resiliency.

If the grant application is successful, the City will be working with members of the community who wish to provide ideas and share their opinions of how a Park’s Master Plan would be best utilized in their area.

“I want to state for the record how thrilled I am to see that we are pursuing this. I can’t emphasize enough how badly this is needed,” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said. “We have a park system that was designed around Jim Crow and for a population that was roughly 170,000 more people than we currently have. There does need to be a comprehensive look at how we manage our 117 public parks and three other major greenspaces. We need to focus on programing and finding ways in which the public can better utilize these spaces.”

ITEM 20

Today the Council voted to refer a resolution of intent to provide an economic support to Birmingham Southern College back to the Committee of the Whole for additional discussion and questioning from members of the Council.

The resolution did not include specific funding amounts and included language that any support from the City is dependent on binding commitments from the State of Alabama as well as Jefferson County. Birmingham Southern College has recently signaled the need for financial support in order to remain open.

The Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 19th at 3:30 p.m. More information about the meeting will be made available in the coming weeks.

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

A Resolution of intent to provide an economic development incentive to Birmingham Southern College during the current fiscal year, subject to Birmingham Southern securing binding commitments for funding from the State of Alabama and Jefferson County in amounts sufficient, when combined with the City’s cash incentive, to continue operation of the college and further subject to the City’s identification and allocation of funding, and authorizing the Mayor and his designated staff to negotiate the terms and conditions by which the City of Birmingham will provide such cash incentive in support Birmingham Southern College. (Submitted and Recommended by Councilor Williams, Chairperson, Economic Development and Tourism Committee and Councilor Clarke) **

Birmingham City Council Highlights 2.21.23

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

ITEM 28

On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council approved $165,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to sponsor the HBCU SpringComing event from March 17-18.

This will be the second year that the event will be held in Birmingham. Last year, the multiday festival brought in roughly $3.7 million in gross economic impact for the City.

Events will include, tennis tournament, innovation lab events, social gatherings, and up to $25,000 in scholarship opportunities for students. For the past nine years, HBCU SpirngComing has assembled some of the largest off-campus gatherings of HBCU graduates and attendees across the country; providing over $100,000+ for high-school students who have made the important decision to attend an HBCU of their choice.

“This is real exciting for our city. It hits on so many levels and I think will be a great opportunity for our young people a place to connect and meet other young people,” Councilor Carol Clarke said. “This is really huge, especially the opportunities for corporations to recruit young, diverse talent – I can see a lot of opportunities for corporate sponsorship as well.”

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

A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute and deliver a Funding Agreement with HBCU SpringComing, LLC, under which the City will provide funding to HBCU SpringComing in an amount not to exceed $165,000.00 from monies received by the City under the American Rescue Plan Act pursuant to Amendment 772 to assist, as a Sponsor, in the two day event that celebrates the HBCU experience through events, panels and service activities to be held in Birmingham, Alabama on March 17 - 18, 2023. [Funding Source: 039_000.534-040 G&A Marketing and Promotion] (Submitted by the City Attorney) (Recommended by the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Innovative and Economic Opportunity)

ITEM 30

The Council unanimously approved a grant application to the US Department of Transportation Nation Infrastructure Investments for a proposed Civil Rights Crossroads Urban Trail.

The proposed project will reduce Graymont Avenue by one lane and establish a separated cycle track connecting users to improved transit opportunities and downtown Birmingham. A mobility hub, located at Legion Field, will provide access to micromobility options and provide opportunities to “activate” the hub with amenities like food trucks and mobile markets.

Here are some of the project details that were presented to the Council:

This project reconnects, restores, and celebrates a community and landscape pivotal in America’s Civil Rights Movement— where original foot soldiers who marched and stood in protest still walk today. The 2.64-mile proposed urban trail, Complete Street, and improved transit corridor traverses through what was once one of our nation’s most prominent Black commercial centers.

The trail’s corridor took center stage in America’s Civil Rights Movement and today is 100% within either a Historically-Disadvantaged Community or an Area of Persistent Poverty, as defined by the Biden administration. This corridor will celebrate, honor, and revitalize Smithfield, the west side of Birmingham, and the Civil Rights District.

It will be the spine of a growing multimodal transportation network, providing safe and equitable options via an urban trail and Complete Streets, creating a more walkable, bikable, safe, connected, and livable community. This project will stitch together inclusivity, equity, mobility, opportunity, and safety, addressing the wrongs of redlining and interstate development that still devastate Black communities today. Birmingham Civil Rights Crossroads: Reconnecting Historic Neighborhoods Through Active Mobility is a priority project that has been identified as a key corridor in the Red Rock Trail System plan and the City Center Master Plan.

Here is the item as it was presented on Tuesday’s Agenda: A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute any and all documents required for the City to complete and submit a grant application for U.S. Department of Transportation National Infrastructure Investments (i.e., the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“Bipartisan Infrastructure Law”), Amendment No. 2 for up to $30,000,000.00 in funding to support an urban trail, Complete Street, and improved transit corridor with commitment of $4,000,000.00 in matching funds from the City. (Submitted by the City Attorney) (Recommended by the Mayor, the Budget and Finance Committee and the Finance Department-Grants Division)

Birmingham City Council Highlights 2.7.23

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

On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council received an update on the Critical Repair Program, which is now offering up to $30,000 in home repairs for residents who meet the guidelines established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This year’s program is the largest ever, with more that $4 million committed to serve at least 250 homes. This is in comparison to the $2 million spent on 224 homes over the last three years of the program.

This year, the City will also be doubling the amount of funding for each home from $15,000 to $30,000.

In addition to the allocated funding, several Birmingham City Councilors have committed money from their individual district’s American Rescue Plan Act funds to help bolster the program in their districts.

Applications are now available at all Birmingham Public Libraries and the online application portal will go live on Friday, February 17th.

“I’m very excited to see the Critical Repair Program opening up and expanding its reach,” Council President Wardine Alexander said. “I had a neighbor who spoke to me the other day and was saying how excited she was about potentially participating in this program. I know there is a great deal of interest across all nine districts so I look forward to seeing this continue to grow.”

There will be an application fair at the Fountain Heights Recreation Center on Friday, February 17th from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm – city officials will be available to assist residents filling out their applications. The window to submit applications will be from February 17th to February 28th and they will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

Applications will be accepted in person on the 10th floor of City Hall or online at Birminghamal.gov/community-development.

“I know a lot of our elderly residents and those on fixed incomes may not have the funding to make these much-needed repairs themselves. This program could be life changing for those residents,” Council President Crystal Smitherman said.

According to the application, “Eligible program participants must own and occupy the home to be repaired and have no intent of discontinuing occupancy of the home in the foreseeable future. Eligible program participants must meet the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) income requirements for low-and-moderate income households at the time of application. Eligible program participants must be current on property taxes for the assisted unit.”

Here are some of the eligible repairs that qualify under this program:

• Roof Replacement

• · HVAC repair of replacement

• ·Plumbing repairs

• ·Electrical repairs

• · • Limited sewer repairs

• · • Limited structural repairs

• · • Exterior painting

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

There are two terms expiring on the Commercial Development Authority. The five-member body partners with the City to create economic development opportunities that expand the tax base of the City.

The qualifications to serve are as follows: Member may not be an officer of the state, county or city. Must be a duly qualified elector of the city. The term limits are four years.

All interested parties, please submit your resumes to India.Bailey@Birminghamal.gov

Birmingham City Council Highlights 1.31.23

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

ITEM 1
 
The former Western Supermarket site on Highland Ave. has been rezoned to allow for a mixed-use development that will feature 272 apartment units and 10,000 square feet of retail and office space.
 
Following a discussion centered around storm water mitigation and traffic impact, the Council voted unanimously to approve the rezoning request. According to city officials, the plan for the mixed-use development is in line with the City’s long-range land use plan and will provide improvements to the area’s walkability.
 
No streets will need to be reconfigured to accommodate the new development.
 
Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:
 
An Ordinance “TO FURTHER AMEND THE ZONING DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM” (Case No. ZAC2022-00014) to change zone district boundaries from B-2 General Business District to “Q” MU-H Qualified Mixed-Use High District, filed by C. Randall Minor of Maynard Cooper & Gale, applicant, representing the owner, 22nd Street Partners, LLC, for properties located at 2230 Highland Avenue South, 2174 11th Court South and 1128 22nd Street South and situated in the NW¼ of Section 06, Township 18-S, Range 2-West, and the hearing of all interested parties. [Second Reading] (Submitted by Councilor Abbott, Chairman, Planning and Zoning Committee) (Recommended by the Z.A.C. and the Planning and Zoning Committee)**

ITEM 10
 
Today the Birmingham City Council unanimously approved $5 million for the construction of a new amphitheater near the former Carraway Hospital site that is currently being razed.

The outdoor amphitheater will include between 8,500 to 9,000 seats and will compliment the Star and Uptown developments that have sparked millions of dollars of investments in the surrounding area.

“If there are any lessons we’ve learned over the last several years, it’s that the Birmingham metro area has been gaining momentum through regional cooperation. This is especially true when we talk about ‘big build’ economic development projects,” said Councilor Hunter Williams, chair of Economic Development and Tourism Committee. “We’ve seen the success that other cities have had by making deliberate and sustained investments in public art and entertainment venues. I believe this will pay dividends for years to come.”
 
The Jefferson County Commission is expected to approve $5 million to help fund the development as well. The contribution from the City will be funded through this year’s budget surplus.
 
Smaller cities in Alabama are able to draw large acts to their outdoor amphitheaters. The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater was completed in 2011. That amphitheater cost $18 million and has resulted in over $100 million in private investment around it. With the largest metro area, Birmingham could easily lead the state in that regard with the new amphitheater.
 
Here is the item as it appeared on the agenda:
 
An Ordinance “TO FURTHER AMEND THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET” for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, by transferring $5,000,000.00 to Non-Departmental, Transfer to Fund 102 Capital Improvement and “TO FURTHER AMEND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BUDGET” for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, by appropriating $5,000,000.00 for North Birmingham (Uptown) Amphitheater. Funding Source is Fund Balance Reserves.

ITEM 11
 
The City Council unanimously approved $4.4 million for various improvements at parks and recreation centers across the city, $3.4 million for facility improvements at public libraries and an additional $1.6 million for weed abatement and sidewalk repairs.
 
“I am so pleased that we are able to make this kind of investment into facilities and parks that improve the quality of life for our residents,” Council President Wardine Alexander said. “Having access to these kinds of facilities is so important to our residents and the overall health and wellness of our community.”
 
Here is a breakdown of the parks and libraries that will be receiving funding:

Councilor LaTonya Tate, Chair of the Council's Public Safety Committee, has released the following statement regarding the death of Tyre Nichols.

"When Tyre Nichols called out for his mom, every single mother in the world felt that. Our hearts all broke at the same time.

We all thought of our sons and daughters and the agony that the Nichols family must be going through knowing that his life was stolen from him so close to home.

In the recent days since the video was released, it’s almost impossible to put into words what the world witnessed.

Their actions were completely void of humanity. Their actions were the kind of violence that our communities have trusted the police to prevent.

And yet here we are again.

Once again, our hearts are broken as we’re reminded of how far we still have to go for justice and peace in America.

To the family and friends of Mr. Nichols: Birmingham weeps for your loss and we stand beside you in the fight for justice.

As the first black female chair of Public Safety in Birmingham, Alabama, this senseless death has weighed very heavily on me. I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

Unfortunately, here in Birmingham, we are no strangers to oppression and police brutality that were broadcast to the world in the 1960s.

I think of all the men and women from that time who never lived to see a more just and equitable world. And in times like this, it makes you wonder how far have we really come?

But as Dr. King reminds us, ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.’ Together we are stronger, and together we can build the world we want for our children.

Tyre Nichols’ death will not be just another statistic. His name, along with those who’ve had their lives stolen before him, will be our rallying cry as we continue to dismantle these systems of oppression in our country.

Say his name. Remember his name and how you felt when you saw the video of his death.

We will honor their memory by doing everything we can to build a system that finally fulfills the promise of liberty and justice for all people. That is my hope."

Birmingham City Council Highlights 1.17.23

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

ITEM 1

Following a lengthy discussion, the Birmingham City Council voted to deny a rezoning request from Live Oak Parkway LLC for a proposed car wash in the Huffman Neighborhood.

The zoning changes would have turned the property from D2 Single Family Residential to C2 General Commercial district. Residents who attended the meeting all voiced disproval over the proposed change, stating it would create a nuisance in the form of noise and traffic in their neighborhood. Several speakers also noted that there are multiple car washes that already operate in the immediate area.

“We’ve been working through this process for a while now and I appreciate everyone’s patience,” said Councilor Clinton Woods, who represents the district. “We wanted to make sure that everyone in the neighborhood had a full understanding of what was being asked here. Our residents have been very consistent with lifting up their concerns about this project... I don’t necessarily think that a car wash provides any additional benefit to the neighborhood. There is a project that has already broken ground a half mile down the road from this location that will be a car wash. With both of those things in mind, I don’t see any way I can support this project at this time.”

Councilor Woods continued by saying he looks forward to working with the developers to find another project that would be more suitable for the area. On August 22, 2022, the Huffman Neighborhood Association voted 6-1 to not support the proposed rezoning. On November 9, 2022, the Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee also voted against the proposed rezoning.

ITEM 20

The Council unanimously approved an agreement and funding for a new youth intervention program – a partnership between the City, the Jefferson County Family Court, Jefferson County Family Resource Center and Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Center. The program is known as RESTORE.

According to a presentation that was given to the Council during a recent Budget and Finance Committee meeting, the RESTORE program will provide the following for young people that qualify and have gone through Alabama's juvenile detention system:

· Comprehensive family intake and assessment

· Intense strength-based case management

· Benefits assessment

· Pay for essential documents such as State ID

· Creation of a participant educational/career plan

· Transportation for participants

· Provision of work/training equipment, clothing, testing/certification/licensure costs

· Incentives for progress and success

· Work with families to ensure safe housing and stability

· Advocacy, systems navigation and community-based services

This program is aimed at reducing youth violence and recidivism, an issue that the Council has been focused on in recent years. In 2022, 49 youth (age 13 to 22) lost their lives to gun violence in Birmingham. This program offers officials the opportunity to not just intervene with young people, but also provide services to their families.

“I do know that as a Council we’ve approved roughly $7 million for various initiatives and programs aimed at helping our young people and reducing crime in our communities. It’s absolutely been a focus of this body to help provide pathways to success,” Council President Wardine Alexander said. “When you talk how we can help young people who have gone through the judicial system, it’s so important that we support their families as well to make sure they’re coming back into a good environment. I’m very glad to see this program have such a big focus on that aspect of reducing recidivism.”

Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda: A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute and deliver, for and as the act of said City, an agreement with Jefferson County Family Resource Center (R.E.S.T.O.R.E), under which R.E.S.T.O.R.E will offer support services to 120 court-involved youth ages 16-19 and their families through the Jefferson County Family Resource Center. The program is designed to reduce criminal activity involving young people residing in the City to provide proactive, strength-based, trauma-informed, mental health services, and developmentally appropriate case management services geared to help build on participant’s potential for success. The term of the agreement is for one year and the funding amount is $225,000.00 from Professional Fees-Youth Services

WATCH THE FULL BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL: Week in Review Jan 23rd-Jan 29th

Council President Wardine Alexander and Councilor Darrell O'Quinn appointed to prominent committee positions with the National League of Cities

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

UDPATE: Council Approves Several Districts' American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funded Projects

The Council unanimously approved several projects that will be funded through the various district’s federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding — each district was awarded $3 million in federal funds to distribute to various programs and initiatives in their district to aid in the ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts.

Councilor Clinton Woods is utilizing $25,000 from his District 1 ARPA funds for the POWER career readiness program. This curriculum is designed to prepare youth and young adults, ages 16- 24, experiencing academic learning and job training loss due to COVID restrictions for high-demand jobs through workforce education, paid student internships, and eliminating barriers of employment by connecting program participants with employers.

Another ARPA funded program that the Council unanimously approved deals with crime reporting and data collection with the Aspen Institute. Districts 1, 6, 8 and 9 contributed District ARPA funds to help bring this justice and governance partnership to Birmingham — one of only six cities nationwide.

Transportation Committee Receives Update From BJCTA 

On Monday, the Transportation Committee received a report from BJCTA Director Charlotte Shaw, who outlined progress that has been made over the last year and next steps for transit in Birmingham.

The 2023 strategic plan for the BJCTA focuses on several key areas of service: employee engagement, community value, financial growth and customer service.

It's That Time Of Year! See The 2022 City Council Jib Jab Video!

Birmingham City Council Highlights 12.20.22

Birmingham City Council Highlights 12.20.22

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

ITEM 6

Today, the Council passed an amended version of the redevelopment agreement between the City and Housing Reinvestment Corporation of America (a subsidiary of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition).

Several weeks ago, Councilor LaTonya Tate joined Pratt City residents and National Community Reinvestment Coalition officials for the groundbreaking of the new affordable housing development that was made possible through this agreement.

In November, the Council unanimously passed the redevelopment agreement in which the City conveyed a total of fifty three lots located in the Pratt City Community for the future development of single family affordable, energy-efficient houses.

The NCRC pledged to build 200 affordable housing units across the city; this project is another step toward reaching that goal. The 53 homes will be constructed on previously vacant lots along the Pratt Highway corridor.

In January, the Birmingham City Council approved an item for the pilot program that transferred 27 lots in Belview Heights to Housing Redevelopment Corporation of America to develop affordable single-family homes. In October, the Council approved a project for the development of 16 homes in Woodlawn through this program. The funding is being used to help subsidize the cost of the homes and is part of the federal American Rescue Plan funding that the City received last year.

Each home in Pratt City will be approximately 1,200-1,700 square feet and will be in the price range of $185,000.

“This is going to really help the Pratt City neighborhood continue to grow and bring home ownership opportunities to our residents in the area,” Councilor LaTonya Tate said. “My colleagues and I on the Council are constantly working on new ways to bring more affordable housing opportunities into our communities. I’ve been really encouraged with the work we’ve seen with the similar projects in other districts. This is a big step in the right direction.”

ITEM 13

The Council passed a resolution allowing the Mayor’s administration to submit a grant application for the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure program. If accepted, these funds would help connect Birmingham’s Railroad Park to the Rotary Trail, several city blocks away.

The globally competitive grant will be awarded to 10 cities for the purpose of making infrastructure improvements for cyclists. The grants will be between $400,000 and $1 million and do not require a local funding match.

The three-block stretch between Railroad Park and the Rotary Trail is a key corridor for local cyclists.

“I would love to see an increased focus on educating people about bike lanes and how they should be utilized,” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said. “I look forward to this being a successful application process so that we can begin to fill the gap that currently exists between these two popular trails.”