Forest Park South Avondale Neighborhood Association September Meeting Notes
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Avondale Library
The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm by president, Jeff McGee.
No report was made by BPD South Precinct.
A request for Lounge Retail Class 1 Liquor License for Iron City Bar and Lounge located at 4120 3rd Ave. So. was presented to the neighborhood. Comelia Williams introduced herself as owner, and shared with neighbors her years of experience in both the bar/lounge trade and community service. The establishment has partnered with Ampersandwich to provide food to its patrons, and will operate Wed-Sat, 5-12pm/1am, and Sun 3-9pm. Jeff shared the Advisory Board recommends approval of the license. In response to a question about noise, Ms Williams assured neighbors that her 50 person capacity bar will not create any disturbances. A motion to approve the license was made by Anne Mitchell. The motion was seconded by Martha Council. During discussion, a neighbor noted he does not think the neighborhood is benefitted by establishments that serve only liquor, and no food. Ms Williams assured the neighbor that she has a well established reputation for running a tight ship, with no underage service, no complaint history known to the BPD, and community commitment. Another neighbor noted that Avondale Brewery does not serve food as well. There being no further discussion, neighbors voted with all in favor save 2 opposed.
Paul Teasley presented a request for a fence variant for his back yard along 44th St. So./6th Ave. So. Mr Teasley’s yard is a corner lot and thus triggers the City variance for 4’ fence height on a street facing property. Mr Teasley seeks to replace an existing 6’ wooden fence which is in bad shape and no longer able to contain his dog in his back yard with a similar, new 6’ fence. Jeff stated the Advisory Board recommends approval of the variance request. A motion to approve was made by Donna Florio and seconded by Chris Boehm. With no further discussion, the motion passed with all in favor.
Elizabeth Lasseter, FOAP Board member, updated neighbors on Avondale Park. The FOAP monthly meeting last week had many success stories shared. The Landscape Committee noted good numbers of visitors and volunteers to the Rose Garden, and successful bed maintenance. The Amphitheater has also seen an increase in visitors and volunteers with the recent Folk Festival. The organization is working on a new membership platform. Efforts toward maintaining the pond continue to go well with monthly dye treatments to keep algae growth at bay. And finally, Southside Ball reported a great Spring with 235 kids playing last season. The SSBall is excited to offer FREE Fall Ball to kids this year, and 125 kids are signed up so far.
In addition, Ms Lasseter announced the relaunch of the popular “Movies at Avondale Park.” In the past, movies were shown in the Amphitheater during June, and had large neighborhood support, including sponsorship by the Merchants Association. In this relaunch, movies will be shown on Thursday nights during the month of September, at 6pm, with pre-screening performances and fun activities as well as food trucks. Organizers have gotten support from the City, local media companies, as well as FOAP. To contribute to efforts to make the movies happen, neighbors may go the the movies at avondale park go fund me site.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/movies-at-avondale-park?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
Ms Lasseter requested $5000 from the Neighborhood Association to help cover expenses for the series. These funds will go to the company which licenses and projects the films, including the set up and equipment necessary as well as the organization and logistics of the series. Jeff stated that he does not believe the NA has spent any of our funds this year and the Advisory Board recommends approving the request, further stating our enthusiasm for the revival of a vibrant amphitheater and community event. Discussion amongst neighbors revealed the NA has plenty of money in our City account, but the City approval process takes time. Ms Lasseter explained that the owner of Backyard Movie Parties has agreed to front the costs of presenting the series until such time as the NA can reimburse her. Organizers are a little behind in their fundraising due to the World Games and the realities of volunteer efforts, but the hope is that the lessons learned from these efforts will lead to an annual, well organized event going forward. Ms Lasseter also encouraged neighbors to take advantage of efforts such as these to become invested in our neighborhood, to volunteer to make a difference and to promote the type of community we all wish to live in. John Forney made a motion to approve the request for $5000 to Backyard Movie Parties for the Movies at Avondale Park series. Martha Council seconded the motion. Mary Boehm asked if there was a way for companies or neighbors to sponsor the series and Ms Lasseter welcomed such requests. Sponsorships are available at three different levels, and include different benefits depending upon the level, including logo and name recognition, social media promotion and opportunity for on-site presence. For more information, please contact the Movies at Avondale Park Facebook page or @Avondale Movies on Instagram. There being no further discussion, the motion passed all in favor.
District 3 Board of Education Representative Mary Boehm reported to neighbors that she came to tonight’s meeting directly from tutoring a BCS 2nd grader as a STAIR volunteer. Ms Boehm encouraged neighbors to engage in this very rewarding volunteer experience and noted Avondale Elementary is still in need of tutors. BCS resumed classes on 8/8, and after a slow start, attendance levels are back to near 2021 numbers with 19,662 students and about 949 pre-k students. The first budget meeting is tomorrow with a proposed budget of $350 million, to include a teaching aide in every k-5 classroom for the next 3 years. The next step will be to then hire them, so help us spread the word about this employment opportunity. Mayor Woodfin and Superintendent Sullivan held a Literacy Town Hall last week, and the Mayor announced the new Page Pals volunteer program. The program invites volunteers to read to children for 30 minutes during their library time. A new restaurant in Woodlawn, The Slutty Vegan, hosted a hiring fair, and Ms Boehm was happy to report that several Woodlawn students are now working in this energetic new food operation. The District saw 15 Covid cases this week, and 197 students are voluntarily enrolled in virtual school. “BCS Under the Lights” is a new live streaming program of a weekly Thursday night football game, highlighting academic and sports talents within BCS. And finally, Ms Boehm shared that BCS are writing grants to obtain funding to bring back Community Schools for adult education. Two schools are currently proposed for the western part of the City, and will potentially provide classes targeted for those community needs and interests.
A neighbor expressed concern about the dead carp in the Avondale Park pond. Discussion of the situation revealed that neighbors have reported seeing an adult male shooting a bow and arrow at the fish, killing them, and then leaving the carcasses to rot. Police have been called but did not witness the incident, and thus warned the individual to cease. It is reported that he resumed the targeting once the police had left. A neighbor suggested that “hunting/fishing by bow and arrow” is controlled by the State Fish and Wildlife Department, and that a State Game Warden could be consulted - but his understanding is that such behavior is prohibited without a license and particularly in a setting such as Avondale. Neighbors are encouraged to call the police if an individual is seen committing such actions as we do not welcome the shooting of any weapon in the Park.
District 3 City Councilor Valerie Abbott shared highlights from the day’s City Council meeting. It was a light agenda due to the holiday. The item most directly affecting our neighborhood concerned Railroad crossing infrastructure, and the proposal to close some crossings in order to solve neighborhood cut offs. Public hearing will be held on Sept. 20th to discuss it. Ms Abbott noted that her office has received numerous complaints about the new stop signs at Clairmont and Essex, by Triangle Park. Stating that her office has no administrative control over City traffic decisions, Ms Abbott referred citizen concerns to Traffic Director James Fowler, 205-254-2000. She also noted that the stop signs were placed in response to neighbor requests, and several neighbors present voiced their support of the signs. Ms Abbott referred neighbors to the District 3 website, www.bhamdistrict3.com, for all the happenings in our area. Ms Abbott also encouraged folks to volunteer with the Page Pals Program. She herself has enlisted, and stated all you have to do is be able to read to help out. The Airbnb issue continues in the City. A City Attorney recently shared with the Council a neighboring state’s court ruling which restricted a city’s ability to control a property owner’s residency for short term rental. The City Attorneys Office continues to research neighboring ordinances in order to craft a valid ordinance for our City. In response to questions, Ms Abbott confirmed that the short term rental problem affects all districts in the City, and the only ones in favor of short term rentals, are the property owners. By and large, residents report to their Council Representatives their wish to maintain the residential nature of their neighborhoods. The “mood” of the Council appears to favor some type of regulation. Jeff McGee thanked Councilor Abbott for her continued attention in this matter that is of great concern to so many in our neighborhood.
Myeisha Hutchinson, Councilor O’Quinn’s Chief of Staff, addressed neighbors and noted that 75% of business licenses in the City come through District 5. She stated that Councilor O’Quinn is in favor of, in the least, tracking and regulating the short term rentals to insure that the City benefits from that revenue. The biggest news for District 5 in today’s Council meeting was the Railroad infrastructure discussion. Ms Hutchinson explained the situation faced by residents who live in areas bisected by railroad tracks. When tracks are blocked by trains, emergency services are prevented from reaching parts of the neighborhood as well as posing threats to pedestrians and car traffic. Proposed solutions include closing certain crossings in the short term, and building undertrack access in the long term (which will be very expensive.) Noise pollution is also to be addressed. A public hearing to discuss the planning is set for September 20th. Ms Hutchinson also reminded neighbors that Councilor O’Quinn chairs the Transportation Committee. Feel free to reach out with concerns about traffic signs, etc. Councilor O’Quinn contributed $5000 to the Movies at Avondale Park. His office is also launching a new publicity push to better inform neighbors of all the great things happening in and around Birmingham. Ms Hutchinson provided those present with a packet of announcements and highlighted the upcoming City Police Academy. In response to a question, Ms Hutchinson said the plan for the Rainbow Bridge, otherwise known as the 21st St. Bridge, remains under discussion. It will be very expensive and the planning remains ongoing. The discussion returned to short term rentals and Ms Hutchinson spoke of regulations seen in Gulf Shores and Atlanta. She again stated the need to track short term rentals and regulate them for City benefit.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:39pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Crawford
Secretary
