2026-09-01 - City Council

00:09[music]

00:30>> Good morning, Birmingham. Today is

00:32Tuesday, September 1st, 2026. The time

00:35is now 9:36 a.m. I call to order the

00:39regular meeting of the Birmingham City

00:40Council. Today's invocation will be led

00:43by Reverend Laramie D. Long, senior

00:46pastor, 22nd Avenue Baptist Church in

00:49Birmingham. And our pledge of allegiance

00:51will be led by Councilor Clinton Woods,

00:54pastor, if you'll come to the podium and

00:55if you'll please stand and join us.

00:57Thank you.

01:01>> Um let us pray.

01:03Um Lord God, we just come now just to

01:05say thank you, Lord God. I thank you for

01:07this new day, a day we never seen and a

01:09day we'll never see again. We thank you

01:11now for this council. We thank you for

01:13the mayor and all the leaders here in

01:15Birmingham, Lord God. We ask now that

01:17you would just give them a mind not to

01:19lean to their own understanding, but to

01:21acknowledge you in all their ways that

01:22you may direct their paths. We pray that

01:24you would just continue to give us a

01:26mind to love one another and remind us

01:28of our moral obligation to speak for

01:30those who have no voice. So, Lord God,

01:32we just pray now for healing and peace

01:34and for love to rest, rule, and abide

01:36upon all of us. And when it's all said

01:38and done, we pray that you get to do

01:39glory, for it is all about you and not

01:42about us. In your son Jesus' name, we

01:44thank you. Amen.

01:45>> Amen.

01:47>> I pledge

01:48allegiance to the flag

01:50of the United States of America

01:52and to the republic for which it stands,

01:54one nation under God,

01:57indivisible, with liberty and justice

01:59for all.

02:02>> Thank you, Reverend Arnold,

02:04for that very thoughtful prayer. Thank

02:06you, Councilor Woods, for leading us

02:08in the pledge of allegiance this

02:10morning.

02:11Good morning, Mr. Clerk.

02:12>> Morning.

02:13>> If you'll please call the roll.

02:15>> Council member Gunn.

02:17Uh Council member O'Quinn.

02:19>> Morning.

02:19>> Morning. Council member Smith.

02:21>> Morning.

02:22>> Morning. Council member Smitherman.

02:24>> Morning.

02:24>> Morning. Council member Vasser.

02:26>> Morning.

02:27>> Morning. Council member Williams.

02:29Council member Woods.

02:30>> Morning.

02:31>> Morning. Council President pro tem Tate.

02:33Council President Alexander.

02:35>> Good morning. Thank you.

02:37Councilors, at this time, I'd like to

02:39ask for a

02:41motion and a second to approve the

02:42following minutes from previous

02:44meetings, the minutes of June 2nd, 2026,

02:48June 9th, 2026, June 16th, 2026, June

02:5323rd, 2026, and June 30th, 2026.

02:58>> So moved.

02:59>> Second.

03:00>> All in favor, let it be known by saying

03:02aye.

03:02>> Aye.

03:03>> say nay.

03:04>> Thank you very much. The minutes are not

03:07ready from the previous meetings of July

03:097th, 2026 through August 15th, 2026. At

03:14this time, we'll entertain

03:15communications from the mayor.

03:19>> Good morning, Madam President. Good

03:21morning to the members of the council,

03:23members of the public, all of those

03:24within the sound of my voice.

03:26So, now starting the mayor with it,

03:27we'll take over.

03:29First of all, Labor Day closure. The

03:30city of Birmingham offices, with the

03:32exception of police, fire, and 911,

03:35will be closed on Monday, September the

03:377th, in observance of Labor Day.

03:39Household garbage and recycling pickup

03:41schedules will be pushed back 1 day for

03:43all routes.

03:44That means those with a Monday trash

03:46pickup day,

03:47um

03:48will have theirs collected on Tuesday.

03:50Again, those who have a Monday trash

03:53pickup day, their trash will be

03:55collected on Tuesday.

03:56Those with a Tuesday pickup day will

03:58have theirs collected on Wednesday.

04:01Again, those with a Tuesday pickup day

04:03will have their trash collected on

04:05Wednesday, and then so on and so forth.

04:08After Friday, September the 11th, the

04:11regular trash schedule will resume.

04:15Also, Madam President, members of the

04:17council, members of the public, as a

04:18reminder, the city of Birmingham is

04:20inviting North Birmingham residents to

04:22help shape the future of underused and

04:24abandoned properties through a new

04:26Brownsville program focused on

04:28identifying redevelopment opportunities

04:30and supporting neighborhood

04:31revitalization.

04:33The city will host a Brownsville

04:34community meeting at 5:30 p.m. on

04:37Tuesday, September the 29th, at the

04:39North Birmingham Library. The address is

04:422501 31st Avenue North.

04:45Residents can learn more about the

04:47program, meet the project team, ask

04:49questions, and share their priorities

04:51for the future of North Birmingham.

04:54ACE Public Safety, another reminder, a

04:56new special edition of the city's

04:59Academy of Civic Engagement, known as

05:01ACE, kicks off this week. Public Safety

05:04ACE is a four-week series that will give

05:06residents an inside look at the at the

05:08departments and units responsible for

05:11protecting Birmingham, which include

05:13Birmingham Police,

05:14Birmingham Fire and Rescue, EMS, 911,

05:17and Emergency Communications, the

05:19Community Violence Intervention Team,

05:21and our Municipal Court. The first

05:23session begins Thursday, September the

05:253rd, with sessions held each Thursday

05:28throughout the month of September from

05:305:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Birmingham

05:32Public Library Central Branch Downtown.

05:35Registration is free and open to all

05:37Birmingham residents, but space is

05:39limited. For more info, everyone can go

05:42to www.birminghamal.gov/ace.

05:48And at this time, there's the mayor with

05:51his special guest who will do the final

05:53presentation, Madam President.

05:56>> Good morning, Mayor Woodfin, and our

05:58special guest. Thank you very much.

06:01>> Good morning, Madam President. Good

06:02morning to the council. It's good to see

06:03all of you.

06:06All of us

06:07um have the pleasure to work with Ms.

06:09Gloria at the front desk. She takes care

06:11of all of us,

06:12our guests, visitors, and anyone else

06:14who comes into City Hall to see the

06:17council as well as the mayor's office.

06:18Today is her birthday, so

06:20I I would like to wish her a happy

06:22birthday.

06:22>> Thank you.

06:23>> birthday, Ms. Gloria.

06:24>> Yes, yes.

06:25>> And it's time for Mr. Goals'

06:27presentation. Yes, is he in the Is he

06:29Where is he? Right there. Come on up.

06:36>> Hi, good morning.

06:36>> Good morning.

06:37>> My name is Thomas Yeager. I serve as

06:38director of the mayor's office of

06:41resilience and sustainability. I wanted

06:43to come today to talk to y'all about an

06:46opportunity that the city's offering for

06:48our young people. This is called the

06:50Youth Climate Action Fund. We're going

06:52to be offering grants between $1,000 and

06:56$5,000

06:57to young people aged 15 to 24

07:01to do climate action work in Birmingham.

07:04Um some examples of projects they could

07:06do are things like planting trees, doing

07:09educational campaigns for their

07:11classmates,

07:13uh helping their neighbors do energy

07:15efficiency work on their homes, um or

07:18even uh handing out cooling towels for

07:21for their neighbors that may work

07:22outside during the summer.

07:24Um applications are now open.

07:28Uh

07:28the application window will be open

07:30through October 9th.

07:33Um

07:35young people must apply with a partner

07:38organization, so like a nonprofit that

07:41will handle the money for and help the

07:43young people get organized.

07:45Um you can apply at

07:47birminghamal.gov/ycaf.

07:53Again, that's birminghamal.gov/ycaf.

07:58And any help we can get with getting the

08:00word out would be great. I saw uh

08:02Counselor Smitherman, you posted about

08:04it on your social media. Thank you.

08:06Um and yep, looking forward to working

08:09with your offices and young people to do

08:11some cool work in Birmingham. Thank you.

08:14>> Thank you very much for bringing that

08:15announcement to us and I think it's a

08:17great great opportunity. Uh Counselor

08:19Smitherman, I didn't know did you want

08:21to say something? Just thank. Well,

08:22thank you so much. We appreciate that.

08:24Thank you.

08:25>> Madam President, that concludes the

08:26mayor's report.

08:27>> All right, thank you. Well, good

08:28morning, Mayor Woodfin. I do want to um

08:31uh

08:32thank you for bringing our special guest

08:34with us today. And so, we're very happy

08:36to see Joy. I did want to take this

08:38opportunity though to reflect on

08:42what we had in Birmingham this weekend

08:44as far as the Birmingham Football

08:46Classic. I'm very excited for the fans,

08:49the both of the schools and their alumni

08:51that came out. Found out that we were

08:53second in HBCU games in the attendance

08:57for this what they're calling the zero

08:59week. And so, I think I really wanted

09:01[applause] to just congratulate everyone

09:04on those efforts. And thank you. Chaz is

09:07our tourism

09:09are you the czar or

09:10>> Yes.

09:11>> Come czar.

09:13Sports Commissioner. So, I do want to

09:16again thank everyone that was involved

09:18in that. I would like to reflect though

09:20just on some of the observations that

09:24have been presented to us as far as the

09:26game. And I just like to see if we could

09:28have some lessons learned as far as some

09:30of

09:31the issues that that came about with the

09:34game. We know it was 2:00 in the

09:37when the 90 degrees, and so that was an

09:40obstacle that we had in front of us to

09:42begin with. But again, great great

09:44crowd, and I just like to see if we

09:47could just have some opportunity to talk

09:49with everyone who was involved with that

09:51just to be sure. I know there was some

09:53concerns about some of water

09:55availability, some of the hydration with

09:57concessions, some of the

10:00just people getting in and out. And

10:02again, I think it was a very big

10:03opportunity for us. But it is an

10:05opportunity for us to think about and

10:07lessons learned as we prepare for the

10:09granddaddy of all that's coming up in

10:10October. We won't have the weather

10:13challenges, but I would like to see that

10:15we just walk through and talk through

10:17some of the things that were observed,

10:19and so we can get that information to

10:20you and then we can convene and have

10:22that opportunity to discuss if that

10:23would be okay.

10:25All right, thank you.

10:25>> Madam President, something I thought

10:27Protective did really good for the Chris

10:29Brown and

10:31Astra concert, they had water stations

10:34and you were allowed to have, you know,

10:36water Well, not this big. Water bottles

10:38in there and etc. So that could be

10:39something good, something free,

10:42something relatively easy. Or working

10:44with like H2O

10:46Foundation doing that. So

10:48>> Totally agree. I know that I've seen in

10:50a lot of

10:51even in the travels that we've had as a

10:53council, we are really going towards

10:55encouraging people to bring those

10:57bottles or bring vessels that they can

10:59go ahead and go and receive the

11:02hydration and receive the water that

11:04they need. So but something we can look

11:06at. I know Legion Field has some

11:08challenges in that we're not just

11:10you know,

11:11up-to-date in some of the amenities that

11:13we could have. But I think there's some

11:15things we can work out. And again, I

11:17know in the past H2O Foundation or when

11:20it was the Birmingham Water Works, there

11:22was hydration and

11:25things that were available to sort of

11:27cool people off. So again, just some

11:29lessons learned that we can talk with

11:30others and see if we can improve that.

11:32All right, thank you very much. At this

11:34time

11:35now we will revert our attention back to

11:39our agenda. Mr. Clerk, do we have any

11:41announcements of boards and agency

11:43expirations in October?

11:45>> No, ma'am, not at this time.

11:46>> All right, thank you. So, we do not have

11:48any speakers, so now we'll turn our

11:50attention to the consent agenda. And

11:52before we consider the consent agenda,

11:55I'd like to read the following statement

11:56on the conduct of business. All items

11:59designated as consent are routine and

12:01non-controversial, and will be approved

12:03by one motion. All items on the consent

12:06agenda will be announced by reading the

12:08item numbers only. No separate

12:10discussions of these items will be

12:12permitted unless a council member or the

12:14mayor requests the item be removed from

12:17the consent agenda. Additionally, a

12:19citizen interested in addressing the

12:21council with respect to an item on the

12:23consent agenda, and those are designated

12:26as public hearing PH, may request the

12:28item be removed from the consent agenda

12:31to hold a hearing on the item. Any item

12:33removed from the consent agenda will

12:36revert to its normal place on the agenda

12:38order business. For remaining matters,

12:40all matters of proneur operation, and

12:42those are indicated with a capital P,

12:44will be read, and all public hearings

12:46will be announced. Councilors, I mean,

12:49excuse me. Mr. Clerk, if you'll read

12:51those items that are to be considered

12:52for consent.

12:53>> Prior to that, let me go ahead. I did

12:55have a couple of board agencies

12:57expiration.

12:57>> Thank you, okay.

12:58>> I apologize for that.

12:59>> That's okay.

13:00>> Okay, we have the Birmingham Planning

13:01Commission. We have Charles Miller the

13:03fourth.

13:04Uh term expires

13:06uh

13:0710/6/26. Daniel Christensen, and D.

13:10Rondre Hammer. Both terms expire October

13:13the 6th, 2026. And then, they are all

13:166-year terms. This is

13:19uh under the Project Review Committee.

13:21And last, we have Demetrius Carpenter

13:23and Autumn Sanders. Both the 4-year

13:26terms expiring October the 8th, 2026 and

13:30they are under the Arts and Parks

13:32Committee. Thank you, ma'am.

13:33>> All right, thank you very much.

13:34Councilors, we'll pay attention to those

13:37upcoming announcements of boards and

13:39agency explorations and we'll forward

13:42those to the appropriate council

13:43committee. All right, Mr. Clerk. At this

13:45time, we can go

13:46>> Uh, consent agenda starts on page two

13:48with items two, three, and four.

13:51Page three,

13:52items five, six, seven, and eight are on

13:54consent.

13:56Page four, items nine, 10, 11, and 12 on

13:59consent.

14:00Uh, page five, items 13, 14, 15, and 16

14:05on consent. Page six,

14:07items 17, 18, and 19 are on consent.

14:10Page seven, items 20,

14:1221, 22, and 23 are on consent. Page

14:15eight, item 24 is on consent.

14:19And we skip over to page 20,

14:22items 25, 26, and 27 are on consent.

14:26Please note that items 26 and 27 were

14:29recommended by public safety.

14:31Uh, page 21, items 28, 29, and 30 are on

14:35consent. Uh, the same with items 28 and

14:3829 recommended by public safety.

14:40Uh, page 22, items 31, 33, and 34 are on

14:45consent. Page 23,

14:47we have items 35, 36, and 37 are on

14:50consent. Page 24,

14:52items 38, 39, 40, and 41 are on consent.

14:55Page 25, items 42, 43, 44, and 45 are on

15:00consent. Uh, page 26, items 46,

15:0447, 48, 49, and 50 are on consent. And

15:07that concludes the consent agenda.

15:09>> Thank you very much.

15:11Councilors, at this time, are there any

15:12items you'd like to have removed or

15:14added to consent? Councilor Smith?

15:17>> I'd like to remove items three and four,

15:18please.

15:19>> Sorry.

15:19>> Three and four.

15:20>> All right, items. There's a request to

15:22remove items three and four from consent

15:26by Counselor Smith. And that's on page

15:29two.

15:30Any other items?

15:33All right, thank you. At this time,

15:35we'll entertain a motion and a second

15:37for the items that will be considered

15:38for consent.

15:39>> So moved.

15:41>> Second.

15:42>> All right.

15:48I'm sorry.

15:50Give me 1 second. Have Counselor going

15:52out.

15:57All right, voting should start right

15:59about now.

16:05Counselor, how do you vote? All right,

16:07that should be up now.

16:08>> All right, thank you. Those items that

16:10were listed as consent have been

16:11approved. We'll now continue with the

16:13rest of the agenda for those items that

16:16require a review and a vote. Mr. Clerk,

16:19will you call the first item?

16:21>> Item one,

16:23>> [sighs]

16:23>> an ordinance to consider an amendment to

16:25title one, chapter eight, article two,

16:27section 11, C, and number three dash

16:31three to three through four

16:33of the zoning ordinance of the city of

16:35Birmingham, ordinance number 15 dash 133

16:37as amended,

16:38that will ensure that the city's flood

16:40plain regulations remain consistent with

16:42the requirements of the Federal

16:43Emergency Management Agency's Community

16:45Rating System.

16:47Any hearing of our support is motion,

16:49please.

16:50>> So moved.

16:53>> Second.

16:53>> Second.

16:56>> All right, thank you.

16:57Item number one, Counselor assists an

16:59ordinance to consider an amendment to

17:02title one, chapter eight, and this is

17:04regarding the zoning ordinance that um

17:06ensures our city's flood plain

17:08regulations remain consistent. At this

17:10time, since this is a public hearing,

17:12I'll turn this over to one of our

17:14co-chairs for planning and zoning, and

17:16that will be Counselor O'Quinn, who said

17:18he'll do the duties today.

17:19>> All right. Thank you, Madam President.

17:21This time we'll hear from our planning

17:23staff.

17:27>> Good morning. My name is Kim Sproul. I

17:29serve as the zoning administrator for

17:31the city and Department of Planning,

17:33Engineering, and Permits. The item

17:35before you is a text change. This will

17:38probably be the easiest text change that

17:41you will see all year. It is literally

17:43just a one-word change in our flood

17:47plain overlay section of the zoning

17:49ordinance.

17:51Um if you have your attachment with you,

17:54we are just changing a word instead of

17:56saying or, we are changing it to and.

18:00So, that means that these two conditions

18:03will both be required of our

18:06manufactured homes and recreational

18:08vehicles in a flood plain instead of

18:11giving them the option for either one of

18:13those.

18:16And we'll be happy to answer any

18:18questions if you have um if you have

18:20additional questions about this text

18:22change.

18:27>> Councillors, do you have any questions

18:29about this item?

18:32If I remember correctly, the the change

18:35um in the section of code specifically

18:38refers to um

18:43structures, right? And and how they're

18:45secured to a foundation.

18:48>> Right. It is specific to our

18:49manufactured homes and recreational

18:51vehicles in a special flood hazard area,

18:54and it is requiring that the home is

18:57elevated no lower than 1 ft above the

19:00base flood elevation,

19:03and that the manufactured home is

19:05supported by reinforced piers or other

19:08elements. So, previously we had that or

19:11statement, um but we now have to revise

19:14it to and to make sure that we comply

19:17with our flood plain CRS program.

19:20>> Okay.

19:22All right. This is a public hearing. Are

19:25there any members of the audience who

19:28wish wish to speak on this item?

19:35Seeing none, we will close the public

19:38hearing and I'll turn it back over to

19:39you, Madam President.

19:41>> Thank you very much, Dr. Allen. And just

19:43for reference, councilors, in your

19:45attachment, it's the fifth page and it

19:48just has a red line that says and. I

19:50think this is the eas-

19:53the least one that I've ever seen. I'm

19:55not going to say the easiest, but um

19:57based on um

19:59we didn't have anyone to speak for or

20:01against the item from the public. We're

20:03ready now, unless there are any

20:04questions, we're ready to take the vote.

20:19>> That motion be approved.

20:21>> All right, thank you very much.

20:23Item number one passes and we'll note

20:25that change in the ordinance. Next item,

20:27please, Mr. Clerk.

20:28>> Item Item number three, a resolution

20:30relative to the application of

20:32Washington Media Group Incorporated for

20:34a lounge retail click liquor class one

20:36license

20:37to be used at Pete's Legendary, 2206

20:3931st Street, Ensley, Birmingham, Alabama

20:4135208. And hearing of all interested

20:44parties, motion, please.

20:49>> I need it. Thank you.

20:51Thank you. Item three was uh you

20:53requested to have that removed,

20:54Councilor Smith.

20:56>> I'd say yes. Um I pulled this item

20:58because

21:00when this went before the neighborhood

21:02association, the neighborhood

21:03association voted it down. And so I

21:05believe that we have representative from

21:07the neighborhood that wanted to speak to

21:09this.

21:15>> All right, this is not a public hearing

21:18for the item. So, you're asking us

21:21since it is a we pulled it off consent.

21:24You'd like to allow just someone from

21:26the neighborhood to give a perspective

21:27about the item.

21:29Okay, that's okay with council.

21:31>> It is. It is.

21:32>> We do do we need a motion for that?

21:34>> It's a public hearing, so.

21:35>> Okay.

21:36It's curious. Thank you very much. All

21:38right, we do not have a council today is

21:41not present today to conduct this. So,

21:43I'll go ahead and conduct the public

21:44hearing on this. Uh

21:46counselors, this is relative to the

21:48application of the Washington Media

21:50Group and regarding a look local retail

21:54liquor license

21:56class one to be used at PE Legendary. At

22:00this time, do we need any discussion

22:03about the item from administration?

22:07All right, so at this time we will

22:09entertain any comments from the public

22:11regarding this item. So, if you're here

22:13to speak for or against this item,

22:15you'll please come and line up to my

22:17right.

22:23Okay, so we'll let ladies go first. If

22:25you come up and if you'll state your

22:26name and address and if you will just

22:29give us

22:30anything you would like to share

22:31regarding this item.

22:33>> Yes, um my name is Molly Brunson and the

22:37address of the business

22:38>> If you could pull that down a little

22:39bit, we can't hear you.

22:40>> Okay, [laughter] my name is Molly

22:41Brunson and the address of the business

22:43is 2206

22:4531st Street, Birmingham, Alabama. Um the

22:48hours of operation will be from 5:00 to

22:5012:00. Um we did meet with the

22:53neighborhood association and one of the

22:55concerns that they had mentioned was a

22:57nuisance

22:59that you would bring to the

23:00neighborhood. And when we define

23:02nuisances, we look at the situation

23:05um that have activities or conditions

23:07that cause an ongoing annoyance.

23:11However, according to what the city of

23:13Birmingham Police Department has said

23:15that there was no history of criminal

23:17activity or safety concerns or

23:21alcohol-related incidents.

23:23Management has developed a very

23:26comprehensive safety plan.

23:28We have also connected with the city of

23:30Birmingham, Connect Birmingham, and

23:33registered our cameras with them as

23:35well.

23:36We understand some of the other concerns

23:38they had had deal with

23:40uh

23:41littering

23:43and people being outside. We've also

23:46have

23:47addressed those concerns in our safety

23:49plan that we developed.

23:51Um we did a right of way intrusion

23:54prevention to make sure that no one

23:56would be outside at any time. That there

23:58would be nothing blocking.

24:00We also are in a This particular

24:04location has been

24:06uh that kind of establishment for

24:08several years. And like I mentioned

24:10earlier, with no incidents.

24:12We want to work with the neighborhood.

24:14We have a very valid reason. We have put

24:16a lot of investment and money into

24:18making sure that we have the office

24:21safety protocols for our cameras.

24:24Um the owners have done a vented has

24:26done a background check as required by

24:28the city.

24:29Um as well as making sure that we have

24:32no affiliation to mention that

24:34affiliation to the previous owners. We

24:35have no affiliation with them. We do not

24:37know them according to the information

24:39that we have submitted will show that as

24:41proof.

24:42Um like I want to keep emphasizing we

24:44want to work with the neighborhood.

24:45We're not there to cause any intrusion

24:47or any safety concern I understand

24:49safety

24:50is a priority. That's what we spend a

24:51lot of time working with local law

24:55enforcement to make sure we developed a

24:57very comprehensive safety plan.

25:00Thank you for allowing me to speak.

25:02>> Thank you very much. And we do know you

25:05are the applicant

25:06>> I'm I'm representing the applicant. The

25:08applicant was not able to attend.

25:09>> All right. Thank you very much.

25:11>> Thank you.

25:11>> Thank you, but just have a seat. We'll

25:12come back if we have any other

25:13questions. We have one other public

25:15speaker that would like to address this

25:17item.

25:19>> Good morning, everyone.

25:20>> Good morning.

25:22>> My name is David Eltrich. I am the

25:24neighborhood vice president for Ensley

25:26Highlands.

25:27I've been there several years.

25:29Um this particular location is right

25:32behind East of the Mississippi.

25:34That restaurant right there. The

25:36building behind it is where this

25:38particular lounge will be located.

25:41In the past, there has been two or three

25:44other lounges there.

25:46And it had become a nuisance to the

25:48neighborhood because there's apartment

25:50complex right across the street from it.

25:54And we as the neighborhood feel with the

25:56city investing over $20 million

25:59and bringing Family Life Center to the

26:01Crossplex, this is not what we want to

26:04try to bring to our neighborhood.

26:07We [clears throat] also feel that this

26:10is going to create another environment

26:12for us littering, loitering, and once

26:14the people walk out of that

26:15establishment, you have no control over

26:18them.

26:18If we have learned anything from other

26:20business in our

26:22area,

26:23once they leave, you have no control.

26:25There's going to be bottles down there.

26:27East of the Mississippi had their air

26:29condition uh tore up because somebody

26:32backed into it.

26:34The owner of East of Mississippi, I

26:36spoke with him several times. He's

26:38complained about it several times. This

26:40would not be conducive to what we want

26:43to have in our neighborhood with the

26:45Family Life Center coming across the

26:46street. We have liquor licensing all the

26:49stores around it. You can walk across

26:51the street, there's somebody selling

26:52beer and wine in that store. We denied

26:54them. We denied this location about four

26:57different times over the years. So, we

27:00are asking, please, please

27:02follow us and deny this license coming

27:05there.

27:05And that will help our neighborhood

27:07continue to strive forward. That's what

27:10we want to bring to our neighborhood.

27:12Thank you.

27:13>> Thank you very much. And again, we know

27:15that you had 16 in attendance, 10

27:17opposed, and two supported. Um it has

27:21been stated, councilors, from uh some of

27:24the comments from the public, and it was

27:27stated in the liquor application uh

27:31reported by the president, that most of

27:33the opposition was because they

27:35considered it to be a nuisance. At this

27:37time, I would like to ask our attorney

27:40King to remind us again of how we

27:44deliberate on this and what we consider,

27:46according to Alabama state law, as what

27:48we're deliberating as a nuisance,

27:50approval or denial of this type request.

27:54Attorney King.

27:54>> So, if you all will recall under Alabama

27:57State Code 28-1-6, there are seven

28:00provisions that have to relate to

28:02approving or denying a liquor license

28:05and an application for license. And that

28:07is the creation of a nuisance,

28:09circumstances clearly detrimental to or

28:12which would adversely affect the public

28:14health, safety, and welfare of adjacent

28:17residential neighborhoods, violation of

28:20applicable zoning restrictions, an

28:22individual applying for the license has

28:24a prior conviction involving the use of

28:27alcohol or controlled substance, the

28:29proximity of the business to a school or

28:32child care facility, and the business

28:34hours of the operation will create a

28:36harmful environment for children,

28:38traffic congestion,

28:40and any other reason that poses a risk.

28:45>> All right, thank you. Councilors, just

28:47wanted to be you had clarity on that.

28:49Council Smith, did you have any other

28:50comments since you pulled this item?

28:52>> Yeah, I just had a question. I know you

28:53mentioned the safety plan and was

28:55wondering had that been shared with the

28:56neighborhood association by chance?

28:59>> Yes, ma'am. If you'll come back, thank

29:00you.

29:07>> Yes, ma'am. On the night of the meeting,

29:09we did share the safety plan with them

29:11um extensively. Um we even reached out

29:14to them and said we would give them a

29:15personal phone number of a liaison for

29:19the company to make sure that there was

29:21any issues um that we would address them

29:25immediately. Um we have worked with

29:28making sure that there's not going to be

29:29trash pick up. Everything that they said

29:32that was a a issue before, we addressed

29:34it in safety plan and we addressed it

29:36with them as well. Um the meeting was

29:39was

29:40neighborhood was was consisting of

29:41people, uh long-time residents, and we

29:44understand

29:45uh how they feel. They were um elderly,

29:48young long-time residents. The two that

29:50voted were a little bit more

29:51progressive. Um we're just asking for an

29:54opportunity.

29:55Um a chance to do a business that we

29:58would feel would not be a nuisance to

30:00the community. The owners have no

30:02criminal background. There is no um

30:06things that we have seen by with the

30:08police being called. There were no

30:10incidents that we know of that is

30:12recorded. Now, of course, we do take

30:14into consideration uh what they're

30:16saying that happened, but we have no

30:18control of that. We had no idea of that,

30:20and it was not uh given to the police

30:22department.

30:25>> Thank you. Thank you very much.

30:27>> Thank you.

30:28>> Any other questions?

30:30Yes, Dr. McLean.

30:34>> Is Is there any um

30:37history or connection between the

30:41current applicant and any um previous

30:46um

30:48you know, businesses that were operated

30:50in this location.

30:51>> There is no affiliation at all. This

30:54really is a question for administration.

30:55>> Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. I apologize.

30:57Sorry.

30:58>> Madam President.

30:59>> Yes.

30:59>> Yeah, I confirm. I'm sorry. I confirm

31:01with business compliance this is a new

31:02applicant, so it's not related to any of

31:04the previous owners.

31:06>> Okay. Thank you.

31:08>> Thank you. Any other questions?

31:11All right, this time we're ready for the

31:12vote. Thank you.

31:26>> 1 2 3, I think that's everyone.

31:28>> All right, thank you. Item number three

31:30passes. Next item.

31:32>> Should be Did we take four off as well,

31:34yeah? Item four, a resolution relative

31:36to the application of TreLuna

31:38Catering Corporation for special events

31:40license, retail license 140 to be used

31:43at 2026 2026 UAB Art Block Party on

31:47September the 18th, 2026 in parking lot

31:50of 1200 10th Avenue South the corner of

31:5312th Street and 10th Avenue South to

31:5513th Street South and 10th Avenue South

31:58uh Birmingham, Alabama 35294. Any

32:00hearing of adverse party's motion,

32:01please.

32:05>> All right, thank you, Councilors. This

32:06is a resolution relative to the

32:09application of the special events retail

32:11license that will be used at the 2026

32:14UAB Art Block Party. This item was

32:18pulled from consent. Councilor Smith,

32:21did you just have a request regarding

32:23this item?

32:24>> I just want to recuse myself.

32:25Recuse myself from this one, that's all.

32:27>> All right, thank you. Are there any

32:28other questions?

32:31All right, at this time we'll allow for

32:32the vote.

32:43>> All right, thank you. At this time, item

32:45number four does pass and we'll note one

32:47abstention. Next item.

32:49>> Item 32,

32:51resolution appointing one member to the

32:52design review committee. That's resident

32:54member at large to fill the unexpired

32:56term of

32:58Gina Melchion. Said term expiring July

33:0130th, 2027.

33:06>> All right, thank you. Counselors, we

33:08need a motion and a second in order to

33:09pull up to review the names.

33:14All right, at this time, Dr. McQueen, if

33:15you'll read those names for us.

33:18>> Yes, ma'am. Um,

33:20so we had uh

33:21one applicant for this position. This is

33:23a resident member at large on the design

33:28review committee.

33:29Um, and this is to to fill a unexpired

33:34term vacated by Gina Melchion. So, the

33:38um

33:41Planning and Zoning Committee uh

33:43interviewed the applicant and is uh

33:46recommending Ezra Lee

33:49um to fill this vacancy.

33:52Um

33:54and the term would expire July 30th of

33:582027.

34:01>> All right, thank you. Counselors, the

34:03name of Ezra Lee has been brought

34:04forward by the committee to fill this

34:07unexpired term that has been uh this

34:09this particular board position that has

34:11been vacated and now needs to be filled.

34:14Any questions about the name

34:17presented to us to fill this seat? All

34:19right, thank you, Dr. McQueen. At this

34:20time, we'll take the vote.

34:24>> All right, voting should be open.

34:33Call some of the votes.

34:36It's It's pulled up four.

34:39>> It's 32. It's showing up four on the

34:41screen.

34:42>> I'm sorry.

34:43>> It's okay.

34:49>> All right.

34:50That was O'Quinn.

34:55All right. Now, let's try that again.

35:04Council members, Middleman, and O'Quinn.

35:10President, okay? That should be up.

35:11>> Yes.

35:12>> That vote should be up.

35:14This is unanimous.

35:15>> All right, thank you. Item 32 passes and

35:18we welcome Ezra Lee to a member of that

35:20particular committee.

35:22Any other items, Mr. Clark?

35:24>> Uh no, ma'am.

35:25>> All right, thank you. Councilors, at

35:27this time we'll entertain any updates

35:30that you have from your various

35:32districts. And Councilor Bosse, would

35:35you like to go first today?

35:37>> Yes, thank you, Madam President. Um

35:39just a couple announcements today.

35:41Uh folks, we got movies at Avondale Park

35:43starting every Thursday

35:46starting this Thursday and lasting every

35:48Thursday in September. So, this Thursday

35:51September 3rd, we have Beethoven.

35:56Lovely movie about a dog.

35:58And uh it's Seating starts at 6:00 p.m.

36:02Live music at 6:30

36:04presented by Girls Rock.

36:06And then the movie will begin at sunset.

36:08So, please pack a picnic bring your

36:11family your favorite blanket and settle

36:14in for a fun-filled community event.

36:16That's again this Thursday

36:18September 3rd at

36:20seating beginning at 6:00 p.m.

36:22at Avondale Park. We're excited about

36:24that.

36:25Uh

36:26we have a proposed tree planting for

36:2840th and 42nd Street South.

36:31The Birmingham Department of

36:32Transportation will be presenting the

36:34plan

36:36at tonight's Forest Park South Avondale

36:38neighborhood meeting. This will be an

36:39opportunity for residents to hear

36:41directly from the city staff about the

36:43proposed project, to learn more about

36:46the plans for these corridors,

36:48uh, ask questions and provide feedback.

36:50So, I hope to see you tonight. Uh, that

36:53is at 6:30 p.m. at the Avondale Public

36:55Library.

36:57That concludes my announcements. Thank

36:58you, Madam President.

36:59>> Thank you, Counselor Smitherman.

37:03>> Thank you, uh, Madam President. Now,

37:05Counselor Voss, you never seen Baytown,

37:07the movie?

37:09Okay. I was about to say, dang, that's

37:11like a millennial thing. Um, but

37:13>> [laughter]

37:14>> but as far as neighborhood meetings,

37:15Oakwood Place Neighborhood Association

37:17will meet today at 4:00 p.m. at Harrison

37:19Park Recreation Center. Uh, Mason City

37:22and North Titusville will not have

37:23meetings this week. Uh, Get Fit While

37:26You Sit continues every Monday at 9:30

37:28a.m. at Cristo Rey Birmingham High

37:30School. Uh, this will be every Monday

37:34until the last Monday in this month. Uh,

37:36it's free, and we look forward to seeing

37:37you there.

37:39And then the Carver Johns Market grocery

37:41store in the Heritage Shopping Center

37:43will be having its ribbon cutting

37:44tomorrow morning. The actual cutting of

37:46the ribbon is at 7:45 a.m., and remarks

37:49start at 8:00 a.m. Uh, we look forward

37:51to celebrating this exciting addition to

37:54the District 6, uh, community and the

37:57surrounding areas. And wishing everyone

37:59a safe, enjoyable, and relaxing Labor

38:01Day weekend. Thank you.

38:03>> Thank you so much, Dr. O'Quinn.

38:06>> Thank you, Madam President.

38:08Um, if you are a small business owner,

38:11particularly, uh, small business owner

38:13that is just getting started, maybe, um,

38:16you haven't have a don't have a physical

38:20location, maybe you don't even intend

38:22to.

38:23Um

38:24we are hosting a small business

38:26networking event on Thursday, September

38:293rd

38:30at and this is in partnership with Fly

38:33B, one of our small businesses located

38:36in the historic Fourth Avenue Business

38:38District.

38:40Um this is

38:42um

38:43on again Thursday, September 3rd from

38:455:00 to 7:00 p.m. If you are interested

38:48in participating in that event,

38:51again this is a small business

38:53networking event, please call my office

38:56um to

38:58reserve a spot.

39:00Um

39:01next up we um

39:05as I've mentioned before, we have a gun

39:07safety event

39:09coming up on September 13th at at the

39:13Boutwell Auditorium.

39:17And um

39:19this is something that um I think is is

39:22very important

39:23uh even for folks who don't uh have any

39:26intention of

39:28uh ever owning a firearm, I think it's

39:31um

39:32important to know what responsible

39:37gun ownership looks like.

39:39And

39:41uh so that event is going to be again

39:45occurring on Sunday, September 13th at

39:48the Boutwell Auditorium. There'll be two

39:50training sessions that occur and you can

39:54contact our

39:55uh office for additional information.

39:58Uh also on September 13th, we will have

40:02our annual Safe Summer Concert Series on

40:06um with in partnership with District 9

40:09at Legion Field and the showtime is at

40:135:00 p.m.

40:15Um we have

40:16a few neighborhood association meetings

40:18this week. East Lake will be meeting

40:21tonight at 6:00 p.m. at Household of

40:24Faith Church.

40:25Forest Park South Avondale will meet

40:28also tonight at 6:30 at the Avondale

40:31Library.

40:33And Wilahoma Neighborhood Association

40:35will meet on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at

40:38the Southern Museum of Flight. All

40:41right, concludes my announcement.

40:44>> We apologize, Dr. O'Quinn. We obviously

40:46have some type of technical difficulty.

40:48Someone's mic is on and we're hearing

40:50everything you're saying or something.

40:52So, if we could

40:53just be sure everyone has their mic

40:55quieted. Thank you, Dr. O'Quinn.

41:00Councilor Wood.

41:02>> Thank you, Madam President. Quickly,

41:04just a few of neighborhood

41:06association association meetings to put

41:08on your radar.

41:09Apple Valley will meet today at 6:30

41:11p.m. at the East Ensley Valley Rec

41:13Center.

41:14Green Lake will meet this Thursday,

41:17September 30th at 6:30 p.m. at Huffman

41:19High School.

41:20That's also available to join via Zoom.

41:23The Echo Highlands Neighborhood

41:24Association will meet also on Thursday,

41:26September 30th at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.

41:29And then Monday, September 7th at 6:30

41:32p.m.

41:33The Roebuck Neighborhood Association

41:34will meet at the East Police Precinct.

41:37Thank you.

41:39>> Thank you, Councilor Gooden.

41:41>> Thank you, Madam President. These are my

41:43announcements for today. Upcoming

41:44neighborhood association meetings.

41:46Tonight at 6:00 p.m. we have the

41:48Fairmont Neighborhood Association which

41:49will take place at the North Birmingham

41:52Public Library. This Thursday at 1:00

41:54p.m. we have the Brown Heights

41:56Neighborhood Association which will take

41:57place at the Brownsville Heights

41:58Community Center.

42:00Collegeville will meet on Monday,

42:02September the 9th the 15th at 6:00 p.m.

42:04at Antioch Baptist Church. Maple Grove

42:07will meet on that same Monday at 6:00

42:09p.m. via teleconference. And on

42:11September the 8th we have Kimbrough

42:12Springs at 6:00 p.m. at Smith Middle

42:15School and then Penfield Park on the

42:16same day at 6:00 p.m. at the Brownsville

42:19Heights Community Center. Upcoming

42:21announcements, just want to make sure

42:23that District 4 and beyond mark their

42:25calendar for September the 20th. I will

42:28be hosting in my safe summer series at

42:30East Lake Park, so stay tuned to social

42:32media and other media outlets to learn

42:35who the artist will be.

42:37Upcoming committee meetings, the next

42:39community development committee meeting

42:40is the 8th at 12:00 p.m. in the City

42:43Council Chambers. If you have any items

42:45that you would like to submit for the

42:46agenda, please submit them to

42:49{dot} [email protected]

42:51by close of business today, Tuesday,

42:54September the 1st. Thank you. That

42:56concludes my announcements.

42:57>> Thank you very much, Counselor

43:00Smith.

43:00>> Okay, thank you. Well, first I want to

43:02say congratulations to our Joshua

43:05on

43:07being named to the Leadership Birmingham

43:08class.

43:09Congratulations.

43:12Um

43:14I'm sure you're I know that your your

43:16colleagues will learn a lot from you, so

43:18and um

43:20you'll be a great addition to that

43:21group, so congratulations.

43:24Also, um want to say that tomorrow,

43:27Wednesday, September 2nd, Parks and

43:29Recreation is meeting at Legion Field.

43:31Also, the Parks and Recreation

43:33Department is still conducting a

43:35citywide survey. Please visit bhm parks

43:382035 to complete that survey.

43:41And we have the following neighborhood

43:43association meetings.

43:44Today, we have Fairview at 5:30 p.m. and

43:47that will be via teleconference. We have

43:49the Thomas Neighborhood Association also

43:52today, September 1st at 6:30 p.m. and

43:54that will be at Greater Saint Thomas

43:56Church.

43:58The College Hills and Rising West

44:00Princeton Neighborhood meetings will be

44:01rescheduled due to Labor Day and those

44:03will be held next Monday, September 14th

44:05at 6:00 p.m. and Rising West Princeton

44:08will be on

44:10Monday, September 14th as well at 6:00

44:13p.m.

44:14Thank you.

44:16>> Thank you very much. These are

44:18announcements for District 7.

44:20Councilwoman, did you have something

44:22else? Did I skip over you?

44:24>> No, you didn't.

44:25>> Okay.

44:26>> Well, I did get a Did I make a

44:27correction? The Roebuck meeting is

44:29actually on September 14th, so that will

44:32not be next week.

44:33>> Okay.

44:33>> Uh September 14th.

44:35>> Thank you.

44:36These are announcements for District 7.

44:39We have our first neighborhood meeting

44:40for the month of September that will be

44:42held Friday by the Jones Valley

44:44Neighborhood Association. That meets at

44:464:00 p.m. at the Powderly Library. The

44:49Graysons Heights Neighborhood

44:50Association meeting, which is scheduled

44:52for Monday, September 7th, they will not

44:54meet this month. These are the following

44:57announcements for District 7.

45:00Excuse me, District 9.

45:02The Wylam Neighborhood Association

45:04meeting is tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the

45:06Wylam Public Library. The Thomas

45:08Neighborhood Association meeting is

45:09tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Greater

45:12Saint Thomas Community Church. The

45:14Sipsey Co. Finley Neighborhood

45:16Association meeting is Wednesday,

45:18September 2nd at 5:30 p.m. and that is

45:21held at the Sipsey Co. Plant Community

45:23Room. The next Public Safety meeting

45:25will be held on Tuesday, September 8th

45:28at 1:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

45:30They're asking that you please submit

45:31agenda items via email by Wednesday,

45:34that's tomorrow, September 2nd, no later

45:37than 12:00 noon to Greg Stanley and

45:39Ashanti Little.

45:40And again, as we've already heard, Labor

45:43Day is Monday, and so please take note

45:46of the revised trash pickup schedule for

45:49Labor Day. Also want to congratulate

45:52Councilwoman on your selection to

45:55Leadership Birmingham and so we're very

45:57excited for you. For those of us who

45:59have been a member part of that, we know

46:01that it's a very rigorous program, but

46:03it's one that includes a lot of

46:04learning. And so, we want you to be sure

46:07to represent us well. So, thank you very

46:10much.

46:11>> Sure.

46:11>> Okay.

46:12>> Tim Gambrell

46:12>> At this time, we would like to thank our

46:15officers on duty. That was officers

46:17Pinkard, Ingram, Wesley, and Shelby. And

46:20our fire inspectors on duty, Inspector

46:22Priest and Inspector Shaw. Councils, I

46:25do want to remind us we had an item that

46:28we tabled that's supposed to come before

46:29us about an interlocal agreement that

46:31will require the 911 Commission to meet.

46:34So, we'll probably have that 911

46:36Commission meeting immediately following

46:38Council meeting next week. So, we can

46:40get that item before us before we have

46:42that item to come back to us the

46:43following Tuesday. Also, I just want to

46:46remind you that

46:48we will be changing the date of the

46:50September Committee of the Whole

46:52meeting. So, instead of it being the I

46:55think it's supposed to be the

46:5613th, it'll be on September 30th. 3:30

47:00p.m. September 30th. And that will be

47:02our revised date.

47:04The 16th is the date that it should have

47:06been. Thank you so much. But we'll have

47:08it on September 30th, 3:30 p.m. You'll

47:10get all of this information, but I just

47:12wanted you to note it for your calendar

47:13today. All right, at this time, we'll

47:16entertain a motion to adjourn.

47:18>> So moved.

47:21>> All those in favor, please say I.