Forest Park / South Avondale (November Newsletter)

Forest Park / South Avondale

Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 6:30 p.m.

AVONDALE LIBRARY

November agenda items include:

1. Monthly Report from the South Precinct.

2. Monthly Report from Friends of Avondale Park, (April Merritt).

3. Monthly Report from District 3 Board of Education Representative (Mary Boehm)

4. Monthly Report from District 5 Councilor, (Darrel O'Quinn)

5. Monthly Report from District 3 Councilor, (Valerie Abbott)

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Brush and Trash Pick Up dates.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

https://www.birminghamal.gov/bulktrash

Missed Pick-up - Dial 311

Report Illegal Dumping - Dial 311

New Miss Fancy statue awaiting final permits for installation in Avondale Park

BYGABBY GERVAIS

After plenty of hard work bringing the bronze, 15-foot Miss Fancy to life, she’s almost ready for her official installation. We caught up with Nelson Grice, the artist behind the new Miss Fancy statue, to find out when we’ll get to see her in all her glory. Keep reading for sneak peek photos and details.
Making Miss Fancy
Bham Now has been keeping up with Miss Fancy’s progress every step of the way and we can’t wait to see the final results. When we last caught up with Nelson, he was in the midst of the final bronze pour for the long-anticipated statue. Since then, he’s been hard at work assembling Miss Fancy’s 146 individual pieces.
“Ted Metz and Hank Simpson were a huge help in assembling the big girl. We completed assembling the pieces at the end of July. Then I welded up all of the seams and by the end of this week, she will be completely finished.”
Nelson Grice, Artist
Based on the real-life Miss Fancy, a beloved elephant who roamed Avondale Park in the early 1900s, this 15-foot statue will be displayed front and center in Avondale Park.
How she came to be
The story of bringing a new Miss Fancy statue to Avondale Park traces back to one of the neighborhood’s most beloved civic leaders, Ron Council. When a smaller Miss Fancy statue in the park was damaged and later disappeared, Ron made it his mission to bring her back to her rightful place.
Tragically, he passed away before he could see Miss Fancy return. So, his wife Martha Council made it her mission to continue his legacy and raise money for a brand new Miss Fancy statue. Grice took on the project and has been bringing the beloved elephant to life ever since.
What are the next steps?
Wondering what exactly needs to happen before we can see Miss Fancy at the entrance of Avondale Park? Nelson filled us in on the next steps.
“Right now we are waiting on permits from the parts board in Birmingham. Once we get our permit, we will begin to excavate the land and pour the footer for the sculpture. Once we pour the footer, we will attach the plates and posts and weld her onto those plates. Then, we will build the pedestal box and pour the final layer of concrete. After that, we will place the stones around the pedestal to match the surrounding columns at the entrance of Avondale Park.”
Nelson Grice, Artist
Keep an eye out for the big reveal
The unveiling of Miss Fancy is scheduled for December 10 at 11:00 a.m

LINK TO BIRMINGHAM NOW STORY With more pics,
https://bhamnow.com/2022/10/24/now-the-news-50m-amphitheater-proposed-for-north-birmingham-avondale-parks-miss-fancy-statue-update-more/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=now-the-news-50m-amphitheater-proposed-for-north-birmingham-avondale-parks-miss-fancy-statue-update-more

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CHRISTMAS VILLAGE 2022
DEADLINE TO DONATE GIFTS: NOVEMBER 28

The Samaritan Place Market: A Christmas Village is a shopping experience for invited guests to shop for the children in their home. Avondale Samaritan Place will be transformed into a Christmas market where local community members will be hired to work the shop and new gifts will be available at greatly reduced prices.

Here’s how you can help: You can make a child’s Christmas possible through whichever of the following is most convenient for you:

• Shop at your favorite local toy store and purchase gifts from the suggested shopping list below. Bring your unwrapped gifts to Canterbury or Avondale United Methodist Church before November 28.
• Purchase gifts from our Amazon wish list. Go to https://a.co/e3PrzLx. You can even change the delivery address to CUMC Village, 350 Overbrook Road, Birmingham, AL 35213, and they will ship directly.
• Financial donations are always welcome. These will allow us to shop and fill in with gifts that are needed. Please mark your donations with “Christmas Village” in the memo line, and mail to: Avondale Samaritan Place, 3829 - 5th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222.

Second Annual BakesGiving:
ALL ARE WELCOME!

Thanksgiving will soon be here, and Avondale Samaritan Place would love to share the season with our neighbors! This FREE community event will feature delicious samplings of the very best sweets of the holidays – cakes, pies, cookies, and other tasty treats. Face painting, a cake walk, crafting tables, and more. Prepare for outstanding family fun!

Download a flyer here: https://bit.ly/3sGIGnq.

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM CODE ENFOCEMENT RESOURCE GUIDE

https://www.birminghamal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Code_Enforcement_Resource_Guide_Final.pdf ;

The City of Birmingham strives to maintain quality neighborhoods and a clean environment. In an effort to achieve this goal, we are committed to reducing blight by educating our residents, enforcing laws, targeting violators and encouraging ongoing compliance. In some instances, residents may not be aware of the various code and zoning violations that could be occurring on their property or properties around them; and may also need resources on how to address these violations.

The most common code violations include:

• High weeds, trash, junk and debris in yards
• Illegally parked vehicles in a front yard and inoperable vehicles
• Failure to maintain structures
• Businesses using residential property

The Latest Magic City Spotlight

The City of Birmingham invests in early literacy initiatives in partnership with Birmingham Talks

The City of Birmingham has announced plans to invest $1M in early literacy initiatives executed by Birmingham Talks. This is the single largest municipally funded early childhood investment in the history of the City of Birmingham. Birmingham Talks improves kindergarten readiness by increasing interactive conversation between children and their caregivers through the use of a small digital device (a “word pedometer”) that counts the number of words children hear each day.

Funding from the City of Birmingham will help scale Birmingham Talks’ programs over the next three years and ensure that more families and childcare centers have access to award-winning curriculum, innovative technology, and personalized coaching. “Children in Birmingham deserve the very best from the very beginning,” said Ruth Ann Moss, Executive Director of Birmingham Talks. “We’re honored to work with the City to expand access to high-quality early learning services in all ninety-nine neighborhoods—and make Birmingham the best city in the country to raise a child under five.”

Learn ore by clicking the image above or buttons below.

99 Voices: Sam Wiggins, Sand Ridge Farms, Oxmoor

Sam Wiggins believes we have what we need to sustain our communities right in our own backyards.

Click the image above or the button below to hear how he and other experienced farmers are looking to empower their communities to take "living matter" into their own hands.

Revitalization update: How it started vs. how it's going

Crews have been hard at work ensuring the work gets done in our communities.

Take a look at some of the progress we've made on roadwork projects since September 1.

Birmingham City Council Highlights 10.25.22

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

ITEM 5

The Council unanimously passed an agreement between the City and Housing Reinvestment Corporation of America, in which the City will provide funding to help facilitate the construction and mortgage assistance for 16 affordable single-family homes in the Woodlawn neighborhood.

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition has pledged to build 200 affordable housing units across the city; this project is another step toward reaching that goal. The 16 homes in Woodlawn will be constructed on previously vacant lots.

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. 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.

“This is going to be a real game-changer for this area,” Councilor JT Moore said. “This project offers high-quality homeownership opportunities to a well-deserving community that has weathered economic challenges. Woodlawn is ripe for this kind of project. The addition of new, affordable houses will allow this community to know the joys of homeownership, as well as stimulate much-needed growth and pride in the area.”

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

ITEM 5. A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute for and as the act of said City, a Housing Investment Partnerships Program and Development Agreement between the City of Birmingham and Housing Reinvestment Corporation of America, under which Housing Reinvestment Corporation of America will be awarded funds under the ”HOME Investment Partnerships Program” and the “American Rescue Plan Act,” for the purpose of (i) constructing sixteen (16) affordable single-family new construction units in the Woodlawn Community; (ii) on-site infrastructure improvements; and (iii) mortgage assistance, for the development of the project, for an amount not to exceed $892,182.00

Board Appointments:

The Council appointed Jeffrey Havercroft to the Birmingham Parking Authority, replacing Dora Sims. That appointment will expire on October 31, 2026.

This board is charged with regulating city parking spaces, decks and lots.

The Council also made two appointments to the Birmingham Parks and Recreation Board. Walter Body will be replacing Montal Morton with a term expiring October 8, 2023. Meghan Ann Hellenga will be replacing Carly Miller with a term expiring October 8, 2026.

The Parks and Recreation board is tasked with operating and maintaining all City of Birmingham parks.

Upcoming Legislation

On Monday, the Council’s Transportation Committee considered and recommended an item to the full Council dealing with the expansion on Birmingham On Demand, a rideshare service that has operated in Birmingham since 2019.

According to the proposal, the service will be expanding to 19 neighborhoods to the East, a move that members on the Council have been advocating for since the service began.

“It’s logical to look into tying that service into the Birmingham Express Routes that run East to West, especially to the East Transit Center in Woodlawn” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said. “If you call for a ride within the expanded coverage zone, people can be dropped off at the transit center and be downtown in very short amount of time.”

When considering where to expand the services, City officials looked at indicating factors such as car ownership numbers and poverty rates which often dictate where transportation services are needed the most.

The BJCTA will begin their nighttime Birmingham On Demand service starting at 7 p.m. within the next month, a move that is sure to help bolster ridership across the city. The item must still come before the Council for approval. More information on this will be released when it becomes available.

Magic City Spotlight: Residents to receive new trash carts beginning in November

New trash cart system moving forward,

First deliveries begin next month

The city has purchased 100,000 garbage carts to create a more efficient and effective household garbage pick up system. Each Birmingham residential household will receive one complimentary 96-gallon industrial garbage cart. These carts protect garbage bags from animals and weather.

The delivery of the carts will move in phases of 20,000+ among the city’s four waste management districts. The first deliveries begin November 17, 2022 and will continue for approximately four weeks. Please note, only 20,000+ households will receive carts in the first phase of delivery. The second delivery phase will take place in early 2023.

Those receiving carts in October and November will receive notification in the mail either before or around the time of the cart delivery. When you receive your cart, please take the time to read the information packet attached to the cart.

The carts will be equipped with a smart chip that associates it with a specific address, like a serial number. The chip also allows for the collection of data such as when the carts are lifted and dumped.

Learn more about rules of trash pickup and other details by clicking the button below.

More Stories from the Newsroom

Volunteers needed for Asphalt Art Initiative

"Paint Party" in Smithfield, be aware of road closures

On Saturday, October 15, community volunteers will come together to create this asphalt art as a team. Lydia Walker will lead the volunteers in the installation of the intersection's new design. Water will be available for volunteers, and there will be food trucks on-site if you'd like to stay and grab a bite to eat. Volunteers will meet at the Smithfield Library and will be called prior for confirmation. Additional details on your shift will be provided at that time. Come dressed to paint and ready to create! 

Learn more and sign up for a volunteer slot on Create Birmingham's website. 

The intersection at Smithfield Library, on the corner of Center Street and Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. and 8th Ave. W, will be closed beginning Thursday, Oct. 13 through Tuesday, Oct. 18. 

Detour routes will be clearly marked. 

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Birmingham Xpress extends complimentary service through November 22

Haven't tried Birmingham Xpress yet? Do so at no cost through November 22.

The City of Birmingham and Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority have extended free rides on BX beyond the original first 30 days.

Bham Now has summed up the things you should know and how to get moving. Click the image to watch the video and the button below to read the full article.

Birmingham City Council Highlights 10.4.22

Birmingham City Council Highlights 10.4.22

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

ITEM 13:

On Tuesday the Birmingham City Council passed an ordinance that will lay the groundwork for medical cannabis dispensaries to operate within the city limits.

The vote was the first step in a lengthy process that is laid out in the state bill that was passed earlier this year. In order to eventually accommodate medical cannabis dispensaries, municipalities must first pass an ordinance to allow for such businesses – which is what was accomplished today.

“It’s important for Birmingham to lead the state in regards to access to medical cannabis,” Council President Wardine Alexander said. “Not only is Jefferson County the most populated in the state, but Birmingham has been a leader in healthcare for Alabama and the region and this is another form of care that we will be able to provide to those in need. Today’s vote is about providing care to patients while also continuing to bolster Birmingham’s place as Alabama’s leader in healthcare.”

Medical cannabis dispensaries will provide a new tax revenue stream for the City while also adding employment opportunities. 

It’s no secret that marijuana-related arrests have disproportionately impacted Black communities around the country. Councilor Carol Clarke said she would like to see equitable processes be put in place to help provide economic opportunities for historically underserved communities.

“This is all new, but I want to make sure that we’re being inclusive to all our communities in Birmingham,” Clarke said. “As a city, moving forward I hope we can be intentionally inclusive in that regard with who can operate and who is benefiting from these new businesses.”

Here is a brief breakdown of what the state bill:

BILL ALLOWS THE FOLLOWING SALES : Oral tablet, capsule, or tincture. Non-sugarcoated gelatinous cube, lozenge in a cube or rectangular cuboid shape. Gel, oil, cream, or other topical preparation, Suppository, Transdermal patch, Nebulizer, Liquid or oil for administration using an inhaler.

BILL DOES NOT ALLOW: Raw plant material; Any product administered by smoking, combustion or vaping; A food product that has medical cannabis baked, mixed, or otherwise infused into the product, such as cookies or candies.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will have regulatory powers and oversight for the medical cannabis dispensaries.

The Commission will be accepting applications for dispensaries from October 31, to December 30, 2022. Following a public comment period, licenses will start be issued after July 10, 2023. There are a limited number of licenses that can be issued for municipalities.

QUALIFYING CONDITIONS FOR PATIENTS

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain

• Crohn’s Disease

• Depression

• Epilepsy or a condition causing seizures

• HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss

• Panic disorder

• Parkinson’s disease

• Persistent nausea that is not significantly responsive to traditional treatment, except for nausea related to pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Sickle Cell Anemia

• Spasticity associated with a motor neuron disease, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Spasticity associated with Multiple Sclerosis or a spinal cord injury

• Terminal illness

• Tourette’s Syndrome

• A condition causing chronic or intractable pain in which conventional therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy is contraindicated or has proved ineffective

ITEM 16

The Birmingham City Council approved an agreement between the City and Create Birmingham in which they will provide professional services in attracting and developing film, television, commercial, music video and other media productions that will have a significant impact on the City’s local creative economy while raising Birmingham’s national profile as a dynamic and hospitable place to do business.

Create Birmingham plays a key role in recruiting major film productions to Birmingham, and has seen tremendous success in recent years. The agreement also funds the production and management of a cultural arts and events calendar, community arts funding, and creative entrepreneurship assistances.

“This organization is a lean and mean economic development engine for Birmingham and our entire region,” Councilor Carol Clarke said. “Following the recession in 2008 and 2009, public funding for the arts dried up and this organization was forced to compete for corporate funding. They’ve reinvented themselves into a economic development organization that supports the arts and I think they are a hidden gem in our city. They are fueling our local economy with cool new enterprises and I want to give them a shout out for all their hard work.”

Over the past several years Birmingham has become a destination for production companies due in part to the work being done by Create Birmingham.

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

ITEM 16. A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute and deliver an Agreement for Consulting Services with Create Birmingham, Inc., under which Create Birmingham will provide professional services in attracting and developing film, television, commercial, music video and other media productions that will have a significant impact on the City’s local creative economy while raising Birmingham’s national profile as a dynamic and hospitable place to do business, for a term of one (1) year and for an amount not to exceed $150,000.00.

Birmingham City Council Highlights 9.27.22

Birmingham City Council Highlights 9.27.22

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

ITEM 35

Following a lengthy discussion about future expansion plans, the Birmingham City Council voted to approve a contract extension with River North Transit LLC to provide rideshare services with Birmingham On-Demand.

Since first coming online in 2019, the service has provided an additional transportation option within the limits of the initial program boundaries, which includes as far West as the CrossPlex and extends downtown, with access to hospitals and grocery stores.

Several Councilors highlighted the fact that they would like to see the service extended to Eastern portions of the City, a plan that has been in discussion for some time. Tuesday’s vote was to continue the current service with expansion plans expected to be presented to the Council in October.

Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, who chairs the Transportation Committee, said that the item was recommended to the Council following a presentation at Monday’s committee meeting. However, there was some hesitation from members of the committee.

“We were considering the FY 2023 Budget and the allocation for this program. The Council was unified in their desire to see this program expanded to other areas of the city,” O’Quinn said. “The hesitation comes from the fact this contract does not expand that footprint…I feel confident that everyone involved wants to get to a consensus and to a point where we can move forward with providing this service to more communities.”

Also worth noting is that the BJCTA is currently considering plans to contract with River North Transit to bring on-demand rideshare services to supplement their existing public transportation services.

Councilors noted they would like to see coordination between the City and the BJCTA to maximize their service area and provide more transportation options for residents.

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

ITEM 35: A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute and deliver an Agreement for Microtransit Services between River North Transit, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of VIA TRANSPORTATION, INC, and the City of Birmingham to provide transportation services, along with the technology, and professional services for the design, marketing, launch, operation, maintenance and performance evaluation for a period not to exceed three (3) years for an amount not to exceed $2,640,000.00 per year
 

Below is a rendering of the current Birmingham On-Demand Service Zone

ITEM 30
 

The Council unanimously approved a service agreement between the City, the Birmingham Board of Education and IMC Financial Consulting in which the group will provide financial literacy courses to BCS students.

The courses seek to address an issue that has frequently been brought up, and that is teaching students the importance of managing finances, credit scores and building wealth. Too often students are graduating high school without the knowledge they need to be able to manage their money properly. Several Councilors gave firsthand accounts of how they did not understand finances until after finishing school.

“One of the things we want to make sure we’re doing for our young people is give them skills they need to be successful in this complicated financial landscape we’re in currently,” said Dr. Mark Sullivan, Superintendent of the Birmingham City Schools. “I’m so excited about this financial freedom opportunity we will be able to present to our students and what it will mean for our future.”

“I just want to say thank you to everyone involved with bringing this to our young people. When I first started working I was just focused on getting paid until I received a W2 and was a little confused about what I needed to do,” Councilor JT Moore said from the dais. “Having a program like this gives our children the opportunity many of us didn't have and that is to better understand finances, taxes and all the things we have to navigate as adults. I applaud this effort and look forward to seeing it in all our schools eventually.”

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

ITEM 30 A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute, for and as the act of said City, an Agreement for Consulting Services between the City of Birmingham, the Birmingham Board of Education and IMC Financial Consulting, LLC, under which the Birmingham Board of Education and IMC Financial Consulting, LLC will implement a financial literacy initiative called the “Financial Freedom Project” to provide financial literacy and financial education to Birmingham City Schools for an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.00 for a term on one (1) year.

Birmingham City Council Highlights 9.6.22

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

ITEM 1:

Today the Council voted unanimously to approve the rezoning of a property in the Fairview neighborhood to allow for a community arts and cultural center.

According to the applicant’s proposal, they will “repurpose the existing building into a community arts and cultural center that is rented out to various businesses and non-profits. The Opportunity Center for Arts and Culture site will include a 300- seat venue for theatrical performances, a large reception lobby, a community dining hall, and a full-sized basketball gymnasium. The center will provide opportunities for authentic self-expression, cultural heritage preservation, and life-long learning through a trade school, daycare (Dorothy's Educational Learning Lab), and various non-profits that target the neighborhood's youth, families, women, young adults and veterans.”

Several councilors applauded the efforts that will provide more learning opportunities for Birmingham’s youth. The property is located at the former Family Life Center across the street from Sardis Baptist Church

“This is a great chance for this organization to work collaboratively with their neighbors at Sardis across the street,” Councilor Carol Clarke said during the meeting. “When we met with this group previously during a meeting about this rezoning case, they were flanked by a lot of members in the community. I can tell there is a lot of neighborhood support for this and I’m excited to see it moving forward.”

The Fairview Neighborhood Association met at its regularly scheduled meeting on March 1, 2022, to review the proposed project and voted to support the proposed rezoning request. The vote was 12- approved and 0- denied. The neighborhood is in support of the rezoning request because they want to encourage revitalization, improvements and stability within the community.

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. ZAC2022-00004 to change zone district boundaries from R-3 Single Family District to QMU-H Qualified Mixed-Use High District , filed by Daryl Jones of The Opportunity Center, LLC, the owner, for property located at 1600 4th Court West, and situated in the SE¼ of Section 33, Township 17-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)**

Railway Infrastructure Public Input Meeting

Last week, the Council voted unanimously on a landmark piece of transportation legislation that will pave the way for railway improvements that will drastically improve the quality of life for residents in the Harris Homes community and surrounding areas. The resolution authorizes the Mayor to apply for $10 million in funding for a planning and

engineering project, the first step of a much larger project to improve the rail infrastructure on the Eastern side of town. The improvements would eliminate several rail crossings and allow space for trains to stage their approach into Norris Yard in Irondale in such a way that does not impede street crossings.

City leaders are currently seeking comments from community members and there will be two public input meetings on the railway infrastructure project: One will be held at the Harris Homes Community Center from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20th and another at Social Venture in Woodlawn that same day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“I personally live in the community that has been impacted by this, nearby to Harris Homes,” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said. “I’ve been engaging with residents about these train crossings for the last 15 or 20 years, well before I was elected to represent this district. So I am very glad to see a tangible step being taken towards a solution and I thank my colleagues for their continued support.”

Comments may also be provided at the Woodlawn United Methodist website.

Code Enforcement Town Hall on September 15th!

Magic City Spotlight - August 25, 2022

Birmingham officially welcomes Slutty Vegan at grand opening in Woodlawn

Slutty Vegan CEO and founder Pinky Cole, who opened her restaurant Sunday in Woodlawn with a block party and ribbon cutting, said her company is more than just burgers, fries and pies. It’s also an ecosystem focused on people, purpose and philanthropy.

On Saturday, she met with several Black Birmingham small business leaders to discuss her climb to building her a plant-based, $100 million food company that has five locations in Georgia and is set to open many more in America. During her talk, she offered tips people need to know when starting a business.

Want the tips? Chanda Temple has the recap! Click the button below learn more.

American Rescue Plan brings $27 million to Birmingham neighborhoods

Birmingham will see a $27 million investment in our neighborhoods, thanks to the American Rescue Plan.

More than 70 projects are under review, including capital projects, housing development, economic development and public services.

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Make plans to attend K-3 Literacy Town Hall Tuesday, August 30

Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin and Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan will host a town hall on Tuesday, August 30 to encourage community support of kindergarten to third-grade literacy.

The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Boutwell Auditorium, located at 1930 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard.

Parents of children K-3, local literacy groups, current and retired educators, faith communities and residents are invited to learn how to support Birmingham children in achieving grade-level literacy.

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The City of Birmingham has approved a new uniform trash bin system

 The City of Birmingham is launching a uniform garbage cart system for all its residential homes. Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin recommended and the Birmingham City Council approved $6.5 million to purchase, assemble and distribute 100,000 large trash bins.  

“This is a very progressive step forward,” Woodfin said. “Birmingham will now be aligned with best practices of most cities in this country when it comes to trash pickup. This is a win for our refuse collectors and a win for our residents.”  

Each Birmingham residential home will receive one complimentary 96-gallon garbage cart. These industrial bins keep trash protected from animals and weather elements. They will be serviced using new automated side loader refuse trucks with other existing trucks being retrofitted with special tippers.  

Hudson opens Civil Rights Trail Market at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport

Mayor Woodfin, along with members of the Birmingham City Council, joined Birmingham Airport Authority and Hudson leaders for the opening of the Civil Rights Trail Market at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.

The rebranded retail store located in Concourse C helps tell the story of Birmingham and its role in the civil rights movement to travelers. The store carries The U.S. Civil Rights Trail book by Lee Sentell along with other items for travelers to take a piece of history along their journeys.

Birmingham City Council Highlights 8.23.22

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

ITEM 8:

On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council unanimously approved an item that will fundamentally reshape and improve the way trash pickup works across the city. The item for roughly $6.5 million includes 100,000 universal trash bins that will be distributed to households and will allow for a more streamlined collection process.

The 96-gallon bins will be outfitted with GPS tracking and will be distributed in phases, with the first batch of 25,000 bins being deployed in the next 6 to 8 weeks. This is the first step in the City reworking the way trash is collected.

Eventually, once the large uniform bins are deployed and the new trucks are in operation, the City will be moving to a schedule of collecting trash once a week, a move that will pay dividends over the years through cost savings. Currently there are 26 routes across the city that collect twice a week. This will eventually be streamlined and cut down significantly on fuel costs.

“I’ve had some residents who were part of the pilot program with this and they had nothing but good things to say about how it’s worked for them,” Councilor Valerie Abbott said. “One of them even told me that they have not yet filled up the bins despite them only coming once a week.”

The 96-gallon bins can hold roughly 6 large bags of trash. However, Council President Pro Tem Crystal Smitherman also pointed out that she is working on an ordinance that will prohibit people from leaving loose bags on top or beside the bins.

“We found out that we don’t have an ordinance on the books that doesn’t allow people to just leave loose bags of trash out for pick up,” Smitherman said. “We’re working on an educational campaign to help people understand how trash pickup works and all the ordinances we have to help prevent illegal dumping and things of that nature. Perhaps most importantly, we're going to do all we can to help educate people on this new process with the uniform bins because we understand there will be some adjustments to make for families.”

Smitherman also noted that code enforcement is a big part of this, and is something that many residents would like to see bolstered. “I’m very excited about this, it’s something we’ve been working on for a while. This will be great for our city. A lot of people might not be able to afford trash bins of this size so it’s going to go a long way towards helping to keep our neighborhoods clean once they are deployed.”

Councilor Darrell O’Quinn pointed out that there is a program already in place to help residents who might need assistance with their bins.

“A 96-gallon bin can be unwieldy. Right now, the Department of Public Works has a program that you can apply for,” O’Quinn said. “If you have a physical challenge and can’t roll a huge bin down to the curb, you can apply for Public Works to do that for you. So I would encourage residents to look into that.”

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

ITEM 8. A Resolution, pursuant to §11-40-1 et. seq., and §41-16-51(a)(16), Code of Alabama 1975, authorizing the Mayor to execute and deliver an agreement with Toter, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $6,030,000.00 for the provision of 100,000 Toter 96 Gallon EVR II Universal/Nestable Carts and accessory parts, and up to $526,002.25 for the provision of assembly, distribution and related services for a total amount not to exceed up to $6,556,002.25 to provide goods and services, which are being purchased in accordance with the terms of the Sourcewell Contract #041521-TOT. [G/L Account: 102_000.525-010] (Submitted by the City Attorney) (Recommended by the Mayor and the Budget and Finance Committee)**