2026-09-14 - Budget and Finance Committee

00:00All

00:12right. At this time, we'll consider a

00:14motion concerning the August 24th

00:17meeting minutes.

00:19>> I move for acceptance of the minutes

00:21from the meeting of August 24th, 2026.

00:24>> Second.

00:27>> All in favor? I

00:29>> the eyes have it. We'll move to

00:30consideration of the consent agenda.

00:54>> I can do it. Yeah. Um so first item is

00:59item five on page one. Items six and

01:03seven on page two. Items eight and 10 on

01:07page three. Item 11 on page four.

01:13Skip over to page six. Item 17.

01:17Items 18 and 19 on page seven.

01:22Um, item 23 on page nine,

01:28items 25 and 26 on page 10, items 27 and

01:3528 on page 11, item 30 on page 12, and

01:41item 32 on page 13.

01:46So those are items five, 6, 7, 8, 10.

01:5217 18 19 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 and 32.

02:05>> I second.

02:08>> All right.

02:10>> All in favor?

02:11>> I have it.

02:14>> All right. We will move forward with

02:18>> Yes, sir.

02:29The application 457.

02:58Michael,

03:02>> that's district six.

03:08>> A car agreement.

03:10>> Okay.

03:10>> Item 25.

03:13What is what's the not to exceed amount

03:16now?

03:17>> It's not to exceed 122500 for district

03:206.

03:21>> It's the same amount. He just needs to

03:22add an account to it.

03:27>> Well, I mean, it's okay.

03:28>> Are you changing the fund?

03:30>> Yes.

03:31>> Okay.

03:34>> All right. All right. So, you're

03:36changing the funding source for district

03:37six.

03:38>> That's correct.

03:39>> All right. You can go ahead and update

03:40that. Now, what is the new uh code

03:43>> uh district 6 45,000 discretionary

03:48and it's 0000

03:514260.542001

03:58and also district 677,500

04:02surplus

04:04and that account number is 031.205

04:08205

04:1004260.542001.

04:17>> All right. Thank you, sir.

04:26>> All right. We'll go ahead and start with

04:27item four.

04:30Item four, Rev. Birmingham, Inc., a

04:34resolution approving and authorizing the

04:35mayor to execute and deliver a

04:37professional services agreement between

04:39the city of Birmingham and Rev

04:40Birmingham, Inc. for a term ending on

04:43June 30th, 2028 in an amount not to

04:46exceed $125,000

04:49under which Rev Birmingham, Inc. will

04:50develop and manage a public engagement

04:53process and will develop and manage a

04:55request for proposal process and

04:57planning regarding the Richard Arrington

04:59Jr. bridge and 22nd Street Bridge

05:02submitted by the city attorney

05:04department Birmingham department of

05:05transportation extension 2450

05:09amount $125,000.

05:12>> Move the item second.

05:15>> Good afternoon committee members. My

05:16name is Colin Alexander and I serve as

05:18the program manager in the Birmingham

05:20Department of Transportation. So, as

05:22most of you are aware, we have had the

05:25Richard Arrington Bridge downtown closed

05:27for a number of years due to structural

05:29concerns in terms of the ability to

05:32carry the weight of vehicular traffic.

05:34[snorts] At this point, we're ready to

05:36start stepping up a engineering analysis

05:39of both the RHJ bridge and the 22nd

05:42Street Bridge, which is about a similar

05:44age, to really determine what would be

05:47the most feasible option going forward

05:49for both of those bridges. Before we can

05:51get to that, however, we need some

05:53capacity help. And so we are ask uh

05:56looking to for this professional

05:57services agreement with Rev Birmingham

06:00in which Rev would provide support

06:02developing the RFP RFQ process. They

06:05would kind of help manage the dayto-day

06:07of the study, scheduling, hand, you

06:10know, making sure tasks are delivered on

06:12time. They would also help us develop um

06:15a public engagement process adjacent to

06:18that. This is a high-profile area. Um,

06:20Rev has deep contacts in the area, so

06:22they're going to help us manage a public

06:25engagement process. We anticipate the

06:27whole project wrapping up by December of

06:302027. So, because this is a professional

06:33service agreement that goes across two

06:35fiscal years, we need council approval.

06:41>> All right. Thank you, Colin. Uh, any

06:43questions here?

06:44>> Uh, yes, Mr. Chairman. I thought, how

06:48long was that, y'all? It was a few years

06:50ago. The analysis was for the Richard

06:55Aronson Jr. bridge that it was more

06:58feasible or economically feasible for it

07:01to remain a walking pedestrian bridge

07:05than trying to repair it.

07:07>> So that that is our assessment. We have

07:09not actually done the structural

07:10analysis to confirm that. That's what

07:13we're going forward with this.

07:14>> Okay. And so we need a more detailed

07:16engineering firm to really do an

07:18in-depth analysis to make sure that that

07:20the structure can m maintain pedestrian

07:23activity. What kind of improvements

07:24would be needed for that? And also just

07:26determine if that is financially viable.

07:28So we we need a more in-depth study to

07:30move forward with that.

07:32>> Okay. I guess why is it taking us this

07:34long to get to this point then?

07:37>> Partially identifying funding.

07:39>> Okay. Okay. That's fair. Um, how long

07:43will it take for them to analyze?

07:46>> We expect the whole project to be done

07:47December of 2027.

07:50>> Okay. Thank you.

07:54>> I just have one question regarding the

07:57public engagement process. Tell me a

07:59little bit about what your hopes are

08:01from this. Have we given ideas to Rev

08:04Birmingham that we'd like to be a part

08:05of this process?

08:06>> So, we will be a part of this process.

08:08That's part of why we're in this

08:09contract. We have not developed fleshed

08:12fully fleshed out the thought process of

08:13what that looks like. We're going to

08:14wait until the contract is in place

08:16before having those discussions.

08:17>> Okay. Thank you. And then I see I did

08:20see developing the RFP that includes the

08:23structural assessment.

08:24>> That's correct. And the city through the

08:26Department of Transportation will be

08:27issuing the RFQ. The contract with the

08:29engineering firm will be through the

08:30city. This is just helping us manage the

08:33process.

08:34>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

08:43Okay. But clarity at the end of this

08:46process you hope to

08:49come out with a game plan or we already

08:50>> That is correct.

08:51>> So you going to make a determination at

08:52the end of this whether to repair or do

08:54something else

08:55>> or exactly and that's for both bridges

08:58which are of similar age.

09:00>> Okay.

09:03>> All right. Thank you. Um do we have a

09:06motion on this item? Yes, we did.

09:08>> All right. I'm sorry. Uh, all in favor?

09:10>> I

09:10>> I

09:11>> All right. The eyes have it. Thank you,

09:12sir.

09:14>> All right. We'll move to item nine.

09:18>> Item nine, YMCA first amendment. A first

09:22amendment to the agreement between the

09:24city of Birmingham and the Young Men's

09:26Christian Association of Birmingham,

09:28Inc. dated January 17th, 2025 under

09:31resolution number 1 1940-24

09:35increasing the total amount not to

09:37exceed

09:39$1,20,871

09:42for a term ending on or before September

09:4630th, 2029 under which YMCA will provide

09:49the Economic Development

09:51Administration's approved services

09:53specifically with the creation of a

09:55child care center of excellence

09:57servicing infants through first class

09:59prek. Submitted by Coriante Hower,

10:02Department IEO extension 8565 amount not

10:07applicable.

10:10>> The item second.

10:14>> Good afternoon.

10:15>> Good afternoon. I'm Corey Aate Hower. I

10:17serve as the director for the department

10:19of innovation and economic opportunity

10:21and with me I have Archie Stewart who

10:24serves as our reinvest plan uh officer

10:26as well. So, what's before you today uh

10:29is an amendment in the actual amount

10:31awarded. When we initially did the

10:34agreement, it was for $888,793,

10:40which was not the amount that the EDA

10:42awarded. And so as we're going through

10:44our audits and making sure all our

10:46paperwork is up to date, we're amending

10:48that to reflect actually what the EDA

10:51awarded them, which is the 1,2871

10:57uh dollars that you see here. So

10:59materially there's, you know, nothing

11:01that changes about the program, what's

11:04happening. It's just the amount on the

11:06award has to match what the EDA awarded

11:08as well.

11:11Any

11:14questions?

11:20I would just ask is this a uh gap in

11:24what the request was or is this is over

11:27>> simply just like clair era u what if you

11:31recall uh when we were awarded recompete

11:33there was a transition in leadership by

11:36the time we were awarded we had to get

11:38out quite a few agreements in a short

11:40amount of time and so we knew we would

11:42have to come back at the appropriate

11:44time to make sure that these documents

11:46all reflect the same so it wasn't like

11:48an additional you know need this

11:50actually what the EDA awarded and we

11:52need our documentation to match exactly

11:54what the EDA awarded.

11:56>> All right, good deal. Um, any other

11:58questions, comments? Good. All right,

12:01all in favor?

12:02>> I

12:02>> All right, the eyes have it. Uh, we'll

12:04go to item 11.

12:08Item 11, Gauls LLC, a resolution

12:12pursuant to code 1141

12:16and 114355,

12:18code of Alabama 1975, authorizing the

12:21mayor to enter and execute an agreement

12:23with Gauls LLC under which Gauls LLC

12:26will provide uniform items and related

12:29equipment to the Birmingham Police

12:30Department as needed for a period of up

12:33to three years. Falls LLC is an

12:35authorized vendor licensed in the state

12:37of Alabama under the Byboard National

12:39Purchasing Cooperative by Board Vendor

12:42Agreement 77325.

12:44The total compensation to be paid for

12:46purchased goods under this agreement

12:48shall not exceed $2,500,000

12:52annually and shall not exceed a total of

12:54$7,500,000.

12:58Submitted by Ryan Faustst, Department

13:01Finance Extension 2269.

13:04Amount $7,500,000.

13:08>> Move the item.

13:09>> Second.

13:11>> Afternoon.

13:12>> Good afternoon. I'm Roarius Smolden. I

13:15serve as the deputy chief of the

13:16administrative operations bureau for the

13:18Birmingham Police Department. And what

13:20this is, this is for our uniforms for

13:22our officers throughout the department

13:24where they receive a $1,200 stipen that

13:27consists of all uniforms and equipment

13:29for our officers per year.

13:32>> All right. Thank you. Uh which so I've

13:36got a probably more of a finance

13:38question, but

13:40uh trying to get my head wrapped around

13:43the amount. Um and trying to find

13:47So I don't know if y'all got anybody to

13:48get into that, but basically the 2.5

13:53is more than what was in the budget

13:55itself. And so I don't and in the line

13:59items y'all have listed on that is a

14:01little bit off. So, I don't that's

14:03probably going to be something that the

14:04um somebody on finance may need to talk

14:07about or get some clarity from,

14:10but I can um

14:15uh we can table this and come back to

14:17it.

14:20So, I will I'll move to but basically

14:23want to know specifically

14:25their request is at 2.5 and trying to

14:28get clarity on that funding source.

14:32in terms of where that's coming from in

14:34the budget itself.

14:37And so what we'll do is we'll just table

14:39this and we'll call it back up um

14:43pending approval. But I'll move to table

14:45item 11.

14:48>> Second.

14:49>> Uh all in favor?

14:51>> I.

14:52>> All right. So we'll sit that on the

14:53table. We'll jump to item 12.

14:59Item 12, Ashford's Enterprise LLC. a

15:03resolution authorizing the mayor to

15:05enter into a facade improvement program

15:07loan agreement between the city of

15:08Birmingham and Ashford's Enterprise LLC

15:12for a community development block grant

15:145-year forgivable loan under which

15:16Ashford's Ashford's Enterprise LLC will

15:19undertake a project to improve the

15:20facade of the building located at 1224

15:24Avenue West, Birmingham, Alabama 35208.

15:28The facade improvement loan will amount

15:30will be $50,000

15:33and is provided pursuant to amendment

15:35number 772 submitted by Corey Stalworth

15:39Department Community Development

15:41Extension 2309

15:44amount $50,000.

15:47>> Move the item.

15:50>> Thank you.

15:52>> Good afternoon. My name is Courtney

15:54Newton and I serve as a senior project

15:55manager in community development. I

15:57bring to you today a uh applicant for

16:00our facade grant program. It is Ashford

16:03Enterprises. Um it's a Taylor Seamstress

16:06shop in the Bush Hills neighborhood. Um

16:08right there below Birmingham Southern.

16:11They're asking us for improvements to

16:12the eaves, the sophet, the fascia. Uh

16:15brick work. Some brick work will be

16:17preserved, some will be painted, but

16:18brick work, but primarily redoing that

16:21whole front entrance so that that front

16:23entrance is more inviting, bring more

16:25business in. um they've been in the

16:27community for over 50 years and this is

16:30actually a second generation owner. So,

16:32uh we're very excited to be working with

16:34them and I can um they've met all of our

16:37compliance and so I can entertain any

16:39questions you may have.

16:42>> Uh thank you, sir. Uh any questions

16:44here?

16:46>> I have one question. Is this the same

16:48location that they used to sell

16:49uniforms, school uniforms? Okay. I

16:52passed by there the other day and I just

16:53had a a question. So, operating. The

16:56business is open.

16:58>> Yes, ma'am.

16:58>> Perfect. So, glad to see that. Uh,

17:00again, this is I consider this to be one

17:02of our legacy businesses that we've had

17:05in Birmingham for a long time. And um

17:08happy to see any opportunity that we

17:10could enhance or improve to um assist

17:14with community development and economic

17:16development in that area. So, I just was

17:19wanted to be sure they were open. Thank

17:21you.

17:22>> Thank you.

17:25All right. Thank you, sir. Uh, like I

17:26said, big fan of this program. I do like

17:29the idea of being able to directly uh

17:32impact uh small business in our

17:34community. I would ask um

17:38that we pull anything that's any of

17:40these uh facade grant improvements

17:43greater than 12 months ago that were

17:45approved more than 12 months ago. just

17:47that the next time you have one of these

17:48that we can get an update on um any that

17:53have uh were approved more than 12

17:54months ago.

17:57>> Thank you.

17:57>> All in favor?

17:58>> I

17:59>> I

17:59>> All right, the eyes have it. That item

18:02will be sent to full counselor recommend

18:04>> to approve and we'll jump to item 13.

18:09Item 13, HRCA Woodlon, a resolution

18:14authorizing the mayor to execute a first

18:16amendment to the amended and restated

18:18development agreement between the city

18:20of Birmingham and Housing Reinvestment

18:22Corporation of America to reduce the

18:24number of affordable single family units

18:26in the Woodlon area from 16 to 11.

18:30eliminate the use of home funding

18:33in return of $182,61.35

18:40reducing city funding to $1,200,000

18:44and no cents in ARPA funds only and to

18:47extend the term of performance and use

18:49of funds through December 31st, 2026.

18:52Submitted by Corey Stalworth, Department

18:54Community Development, Extension 2863,

18:58amount $1,200,000.

19:02>> Second,

19:03>> sir. Good afternoon. Corey Stalworth. I

19:06serve as senior deputy director of

19:08community development. And the item

19:10before you is related to HC, which is uh

19:15Grove Homes. And so, as you recall, the

19:18city entered into an agreement with them

19:20about two years ago to do 16 single

19:23family homes around I3 Academy. And so,

19:27this uh item before you today is to

19:30recommend amending this agreement. And

19:33I'll just walk through some of the

19:34proposed recommended changes uh which is

19:37one to amend the amount of homes from 16

19:42uh to 11 and thereby also amending the

19:46total contract amount from 1.5 million

19:50to 1.1 million roundabout. And so that

19:55will eliminate the home funds that were

19:57interjected into this project of about

20:00432,000.

20:02And so uh that funding will be returned

20:06back to community development. Uh the

20:08home funds is really prompting this

20:10change due to some of the restrictions

20:13that are not as ideal for this

20:15development.

20:17Um and so those properties, those five

20:20properties will be returned back to the

20:22land bank in which the developer

20:24purchased those properties from. And

20:27last but not least, uh this

20:29recommendation is to extend the

20:31agreement until December 31st, 2026 in

20:35which this agreement expires this week.

20:38Uh and so this will extend it uh so that

20:41growth can complete uh those 11 homes.

20:46So I'll stop right there and uh there

20:48any questions?

20:50>> Uh thank you sir. Any any questions at

20:52this time?

20:56>> Uh

20:58so I would say is the

21:01amount being reduced is that a line at a

21:05house per house like is the value

21:08allocated to each home equal or is there

21:12a

21:14>> Yes. So the the home funding was

21:16allocated would was only allocated to a

21:19portion of the homes. It was allocated

21:21to the acquisition of those properties.

21:24>> Okay.

21:27Cool. All right. All in favor?

21:30>> I

21:31>> All right. Let's have it

21:33jump to item 14.

21:38Item 14,

21:40DPW Insurance National General Receipt,

21:44an ordinance to amend the general fund

21:46budget for the fiscal year ending June

21:4830th, 2027 by appropriating $25,000 to

21:52Department of Public Works for general

21:54use per insurance received from National

21:57General Receipt number TK-20260811-46

22:03submitted by Joshua Yates, Department

22:06Public Public Works Extension 6345

22:09amount $25,000.

22:12>> Move the item. Second

22:16>> Director.

22:20>> Good afternoon, Council Committee. My

22:22name is Josh Yates. I serve as the

22:24director of the Department of Public

22:25Works. Uh item before us today is a

22:28$25,000 uh essentially a settlement from

22:31the insurance company to us to repair

22:33the steps here at Lynn Park. Um, and so

22:36we'll be taking this money and working

22:37with capital projects to get that

22:39repaired.

22:42>> Any questions?

22:44>> No, I just wanted to know what the

22:45general use was.

22:50>> All right, good deal. Uh, all in favor?

22:52>> I

22:54>> thank you. Always have it. Let's jump to

22:56item 15.

23:01Item 15, HDL and Associates, a

23:05resolution authorizing the mayor to

23:07execute for and as the act of said city

23:09a tax revenue administration agreement

23:11with HDL companies under which HDL

23:14companies will provide annual software

23:16usage processing and support services

23:18through the tax and license division of

23:21finance for the city of Birmingham for a

23:23term of one year in an amount not to

23:25exceed $600,000

23:27submitted by Jessica McGee Department

23:30financ Finance Department extension 8286

23:33amount $600,000.

23:36>> Move the item.

23:42>> Good afternoon. I'm Diana Balden. I

23:44serve as the director of finance.

23:46>> Good afternoon. I'm Jessica McGee and I

23:47serve as the principal administrative

23:49analyst in tax and license.

23:51>> So, this is just the renewal of the HDL

23:53contract who hosts our tax and licensing

23:55uh services. It's in renewal for one

23:57year and it's amount not to exceed

23:59$600,000. So, we're just renewing the

24:01contract that we had since we switched

24:03from our previous provider.

24:08>> Has it been a year already? Um, any

24:11questions?

24:18>> Has that been good thus far?

24:21>> Yes, it has been.

24:24>> All right.

24:26We're good. All right. All in favor?

24:27>> I

24:29have it. That'll go to full counsel.

24:32We'll jump to item 16.

24:37Item 16, Offender Alum Association, a

24:41resolution approving and authorizing the

24:43mayor to execute an agreement between

24:44the city of Birmingham and Offender

24:47Alumni Association for the continued

24:49administration of the Jefferson County

24:51Hospital linked violence intervention

24:54program. Under the the agreement, the

24:56consultant will provide case management,

24:58education, employment, support, housing,

25:01food, utility, and transportation

25:03services to program participants through

25:06June 30th, 2027, under which Jefferson

25:10County Department of Health will pay the

25:11city in an amount not to exceed

25:141,154,574.

25:18Submitted by Uche Bean, Department

25:21Office of Community Safety Initiatives,

25:23Extension 8364,

25:25amount 1,154,574.

25:30>> Move the item.

25:32>> Second.

25:34>> Good afternoon.

25:37>> Hey, how are y'all doing today?

25:41Um, I'm really excited to bring this

25:43item before you all. Um, as you all

25:46know, we have a hospital- linked

25:47violence intervention program. We have

25:49both a trauma component and an emergency

25:51room component and our uh county health

25:55department is an amazing partner as well

25:57as the UA UAB medical center and um we

26:02are being tasked with administering this

26:04program whereas previously the health

26:06department was administering this

26:07program. So that's what this item is is

26:10that they are transferring funds to the

26:11city of Birmingham to administer an

26:14existing program with the offender

26:15alumni association and it's been wildly

26:18successful as you all are aware

26:25and I'm opening to any questions that

26:27you all may have about this item.

26:33>> We have questions.

26:34>> I have one. I'll let you go first. I

26:37just wanted to So really what we're

26:39doing the OOA would they become then the

26:44partner that is providing the services

26:47or doing a lot of the the work? Is this

26:50a change? I thought

26:51>> there's no change at all. They've

26:53actually been providing these services

26:54inside of UAB for the past three years.

26:57Um the program launched in March of

26:592023. So it's just a continuing of the

27:02program. Um previously it was paid for

27:04with ARPA funds. And so because of the

27:07success of the program, um they actually

27:09won public health champion for the

27:11county um in March with the health

27:13department, but because of the success

27:15of the program, the department of health

27:18decided to actually put it inside of

27:19their budget and they're just asking the

27:21city to administer it.

27:23>> Perfect. Because that was my I know that

27:25been such a success. I be sure they

27:27weren't changing that out. Thank you.

27:28>> Offender Alumni Association is a great

27:30partner.

27:31>> Yes, ma'am.

27:32>> Thank you.

27:34>> That was my question.

27:37Okay. Um,

27:40I think we are good. Yeah, I'm familiar

27:42with their work. I was just It feels

27:44like we got two items smashed into one.

27:46But

27:47>> you did hear this item before because we

27:49had to do an inter agency transfer from

27:52the Department of Health to come to the

27:54city. And now we're going to go ahead

27:56and begin issuing the funds to OA.

28:01>> Okay. Okay. I'm with you now. So the the

28:05funding has already been approved

28:06previously.

28:07>> Yes.

28:07>> Okay. So I was looking at two different

28:08agreements here.

28:09>> Yes.

28:10>> Uh we're good. All in favor?

28:12>> I

28:13>> All right. Eyes have it. We will go to

28:16item 20.

28:17>> Thank you.

28:17>> Thank you.

28:20>> Item 20. MO Transportation Improvement

28:24Program 0893.

28:27a resolution authorizing the mayor to

28:29apply, submit, accept, and expend all

28:31grant funds for the Birmingham no

28:34transportation improvement program for

28:36fiscal years 2028 to 2031. The request

28:41will be up to 4,6,440.

28:46The fund will be utilized to replace the

28:48bridges on West Boulevard and First

28:51Court North next to Robuck Golf Course.

28:53There is a 20% local match submitted by

28:56Adrian St department finance grants

28:59division extension 2434 amount not

29:02applicable.

29:05>> Move the item second.

29:08>> Good afternoon again to the committee.

29:11Um the MO which is housed at the

29:13regional planning commission manages

29:15what's called the transportation

29:16improvement program. This program is how

29:19they administer uh federal block grants

29:21and transportation under the congestion

29:24mitigation and air quality program, the

29:26surface transportation program and the

29:28carbon reduction program. Every four

29:30years, the no has to adopt a new tip. Um

29:33over the last eight years or so, every

29:37new tip, the MO has not been accepting

29:39new applications and rather reallocating

29:42those funds to cover overages in old

29:44projects which are now finally coming

29:46under construction. So for this new tip,

29:49they are finally accepting new

29:50applications um beginning in October.

29:53And we are proposing two uh grant

29:56applications for this round for 2027

29:58through 2031. The first one is to

30:01replace the West Boulevard bridge over

30:04by Robot Golf Course as well as the

30:06First Court North Culver just

30:08downstream. Um both bridges are in need

30:11of replacement. There's been flooding

30:13issues over there to the adjacent

30:14church. So, we'd replace those bridges,

30:16try to stabilize the ditch, as well as

30:19extend a small portion of the Village

30:21Creek Trail from First Court to West

30:23Boulevard. Um, altogether, it's about a

30:26$5 million project that we're

30:27estimating.

30:38All right, any questions?

30:43I'm trying to place the exact location

30:46of this. Uh,

30:47>> it's just off of of US 111 right as

30:50you're approaching the um the Don

30:52Hawkins Park and Robot Golf Course. If

30:55you get on to West Boulevard, right

30:56there, there's a bridge where Village

30:59Creek goes into the golf course. Okay.

31:09Ashaed over it. All right. Any uh

31:13additional questions here.

31:30>> All right. All in favor?

31:31>> I.

31:33>> All right. Eyes have it. We will jump to

31:3621.

31:37Thank you.

31:40Item 21, NO Transportation Improvement

31:43Program, Vulcan Trail 0894,

31:46a resolution authorizing the mayor to

31:48apply, submit, accept, and expend all

31:51grant funds for the Birmingham NO

31:53Transportation Improvement Program for

31:56fiscal years 2028 to 2031. The request

31:59will be up to $5 million. The fund will

32:02be utilized for the Red Rock Trail

32:04Action Plan Corridor C, Robert Jimson

32:07Road to the western end of Vulcan Trail.

32:10There is a 20% local match. Submitted by

32:12Adrien Stit, Department Finance Grants

32:15Division, extension 2434, amount not

32:19applicable.

32:21>> Move the item.

32:23>> Second.

32:24>> So, this is the second of the two

32:26projects that we are submitting for this

32:28round of TIP applications.

32:30um back in 2022 2023 I believe um

32:34Freshwater Land Trust developed the Red

32:36Rock Action um plan which outlined a

32:39trail loop around the city and broke it

32:42into corridors so that we could begin to

32:43looking at funding. So we are looking at

32:46trying to fund a portion of what was

32:49called corridor C between Red Mountain

32:51Park and UAB. Specifically, we'd be

32:54looking at Robert Gemson Road, um doing

32:56a road diet and building a multi-use

32:58trail from the city limits back to 24th

33:01Avenue South. And then along 24th Avenue

33:03South, we've already put in bike lanes,

33:05but we would go ahead and build sidewalk

33:07infrastructure from Robert Gemson Road

33:09down to Green Springs where we're we

33:10have a sidewalk project that's pending.

33:13And then we would work on going from the

33:15the end of the Vulcan Trail right just

33:18to the east of Green Springs to get that

33:20down to Green Springs and have a

33:22complete trail connection. Again, that

33:24project is also looking at about a $5

33:26million price tag with an 8020 split.

33:31>> Thank you, sir. Uh any questions on this

33:33item?

33:37>> All right. All in favor?

33:38>> I

33:39>> All right. Thank you, sir.

33:41>> Thank you. Before we go forward, I did

33:44want to just check to see if anybody

33:45came in for item 11.

33:54Okay. All right. We can motion to take

33:58item 11 off the table.

34:12Afternoon again, Diana Balden. I serve

34:14as the director of finance. So, this is

34:16the GS contract for police. It's $2.5

34:19million per year, not to exceed 7.5 over

34:23the three-year

34:24>> of the contract. So, um

34:28was there any that was the only question

34:29I heard from earlier. Yeah, the question

34:31was around the amount um in terms of

34:34like the funding source specifically

34:36where that's coming from.

34:38>> It's in their general fund budget for

34:40supplies and clothing. It's in the bud

34:41budget that you all approved for 27. So,

34:44it's not to exceed 2.5. They currently

34:46have 1.5 budgeted.

34:49They have they have 1.5 in one account

34:51in like uh they have two separate

34:53accounts, safety and clothing and

34:54supplies and clothing. Galls come from

34:57supplies and clothing.

34:59So as not to exceed, but we know they

35:01can't spend over what's budgeted.

35:06>> Feels uncomfortable.

35:08>> I'm sorry.

35:08>> Say it feels uncomfortable. Um I guess

35:10my question would just be why would why

35:11would we have such a gap between what

35:14what's been is that just cushion or

35:15what?

35:17>> Well, no. The budget is 1.5. The it's

35:19not to exceed 2.5. But if we get extra

35:22recruit classes or something happens

35:23within a year, you know, they can

35:25transfer funds between their line items

35:27to cover if they need additional

35:28uniforms. But what's actually budgeted

35:31is the 1.5.

35:33>> Okay. So, y'all have

35:34>> This is not to exceed 2.5. So, they

35:35can't go over 2.5 for this contract per

35:38year,

35:39>> right? But you're saying y'all have some

35:41internal controls to cap them at the

35:43budget levels or

35:44>> do we have what now? You're saying y'all

35:45will

35:47you have internal controls that'll stop

35:49them from going above roughly 1.6. Uh

35:53>> correct. Correct.

35:56It won't allow them to spend over their

35:58budget.

36:00>> If they request anything outside of

36:01that, it will have to be additional

36:02funding. Does that make sense?

36:04>> Yeah. I'm kind of just asking I guess

36:06why

36:08why why why is the request to authorize

36:11so much more

36:13than what's budgeted?

36:17>> So with the increase of officers and

36:19staff um that constitutes the additional

36:22uh request

36:36That's a lot. Um, is that

36:41>> I don't remember that. Is that typical?

36:42Is that what I don't think we've done?

36:44>> This is actually, if I recall correctly,

36:46we're renewing the same threeear the

36:48it's three years each year and I think

36:50it's 2.5 every year.

36:51>> It was 2.5.

36:53>> So, I don't think it's anything

36:54different outside of what they've had

36:56before for call.

37:02Uh when is this on the agenda?

37:05When is this on the council agenda?

37:08>> So if it's budget finance today, it

37:10should be on next council. Next week,

37:18>> did it go back to back? Oh, he said he

37:20think it went back to back. Normally we

37:21wait a week, but

37:42All right. Well, we can send this on. I

37:44I do want some more kind of just

37:46feedback around

37:49I mean, it's almost a seven figure

37:51cushion, so to speak. So would like some

37:53more uh feedback on that reasoning, but

37:57we can uh move this to full counsel and

38:00give us some more time to talk about it.

38:02>> I will I will say it's not a cushion.

38:04The budget is the 1.5. They can't exceed

38:06that. They can't exceed that spending,

38:08but like he was saying that they have

38:10other classes. It just allows for us to

38:13spend more with GS if more money is

38:16approved to spend. So it's not like it

38:18would be unauthorized, if that makes

38:19sense.

38:21Um yeah, but I mean you got to come back

38:23to transfer funds uh anyway. So

38:28>> um just unc it just feels uncomfortable.

38:30It doesn't feel zerobased. Um

38:33>> if I could ask a question. I I

38:35understand the angst, but I guess we

38:36just want to be sure

38:39what we're doing in this action. G has

38:42the contract. you've already had a we've

38:46approved the item as a budget

38:47expenditure under the FY27 budget.

38:52>> And what you're saying then from the

38:54police department side or from the

38:55staffing side of it, you would have this

38:58opportunity. We're providing them the

38:59opportunity if they get more classes of

39:02recruits to come in, they would this is

39:05the way you're maintaining this contract

39:07with Gauls where we would have to go and

39:09get another vendor if you had to do

39:12that. Is that what we're doing here?

39:14Basically, we're setting up this FY27

39:18expenditure and now we're approving it.

39:20We've already approved the expenditure

39:22and now you're coming to us with who

39:23would be the vendor that would get this

39:25contract

39:26>> based on what we approved in your

39:28budget. And by capping it at 2.5, you're

39:33saying we still wouldn't be able to go

39:35or the getting confused with 1.5, 2.5,

39:387.5, but they would have to come back to

39:41us again and do a transfer out of some

39:44budget item within your budget if you

39:47were going to try to exceed that. Right.

39:49>> Correct. They would have to do a

39:50transfer within the within their budget,

39:52which is normal,

39:53>> which would come back before us.

39:57But I don't know if that helped or that

39:59complicated it more for you.

40:01>> No, I mean I I think we're on the same

40:03page in terms of what they're asking

40:05for. Just

40:08just a bit of a gap. Uh

40:11and that's happened before, but this is

40:13a a pretty good size gap. But I'll I'mma

40:17talk to some some of these folks, but we

40:19can go ahead and tee it for tomorrow.

40:21>> What do you What do you mean there's a

40:23gap? Um so FY27 budget

40:28uh we approved about 1.6 million for

40:32uniforms clothing whatnot.

40:34>> This request is asking for 2.5 million.

40:37>> Okay. Gotcha. So was there a typo?

40:40>> No, it's not to exceed 2.5. So, as uh

40:45council Alexander was saying, if within

40:47the year we have a 1.5 budget, but if

40:49within the year they hire more officers,

40:51have more classes, and we get to that

40:541.5 that's budgeted, we still have the

40:57ability to spend up to 2.5. We just have

40:59to identify funding at that time.

41:02>> Do we have the ability to identify

41:05funding?

41:07>> I mean, they could do a transfer. It

41:08could be I mean they may have some other

41:10professional services that they will not

41:12use and they can move within their

41:14budget like they're allowed to

41:16>> transfer funds within their budget kind

41:17of during the year.

41:18>> Yeah, I see what you

41:19>> mean to rise or they may have to come

41:21back for you all. It just depends.

41:23>> Yeah, that's a big gap. Um

41:28have we in the past have we used how

41:31much do we use per year for uniforms? I

41:35don't have that number in front of me as

41:37far as like what we spent over

41:38>> years. Yeah. So, like last year was like

41:401.5

41:41>> for uniforms.

41:42>> Yeah. Well, I mean just the general

41:45clothing

41:45>> the budgeted amount that we approved

41:47for.

41:47>> Yeah. I'm just trying to see you know

41:50what this what a year or two ago we got

41:52to fully staff. Did we use like how much

41:55money did we spend?

41:56>> Yeah. So, I say um FY25 was about

42:00920,000.

42:02>> Okay. FY26 jumped to 1.5.

42:05>> Okay.

42:05>> And I'm not saying don't have a cushion.

42:07I'm I was just asking because that

42:09jumped off the page at me.

42:10>> Gotcha.

42:11>> Um, but you seem real comfortable. You

42:13seem very comfortable.

42:14>> Well, just when you say cushion, it's

42:16like the money is there. Like when you

42:17put it in the budget as a cushion. So

42:19that's why I was saying it's not really

42:20a cushion.

42:21>> No, no, no. What I'm saying is the

42:23cushion is in the in the 2.5. The gap

42:26between 1.6 and 2.5. That's the

42:30uh, you know, it prevents you Huh?

42:32>> It's like if needed, like not to exceed

42:342.5. That's just the contract.

42:36>> Yeah. But if you go over 1.6, then you

42:38got to go find it. Um

42:40>> again, like I said, we got

42:41>> they have to bring it back to us.

42:43>> It's got to come back anyway. But uh um

42:48we're on the same page. Like it's

42:50uncomfortable, but we we'll talk about

42:52it some more. We can go ahead and tee it

42:53up for uh council agenda and but that's

42:58kind of jumped off of the page. So, um,

43:02everybody good? You guys have no

43:03question?

43:03>> Yes.

43:04>> Yes, sir.

43:05>> I'm so sorry.

43:10>> Uh, no, I just want to understand. Well,

43:12just the the size of the gap if I'm if

43:15there is an expectation that we may need

43:172.5

43:19um you know 1.8 8 to2

43:23you know I'm just trying to see was

43:24there some advantage of having such a

43:27large u top line

43:30>> this is

43:32this is

43:34pass

43:36>> I believe it's on tomorrow

43:37>> I'm looking at the agenda now to see if

43:39it's tomorrow's agenda or uh next week I

43:41think it's next week and not this one

43:45but it's not loading up for me can

43:47somebody just pull up Lee Fraser's email

43:49to

43:57Mine won't load for some reason.

43:59>> Yeah, it's on tomorrow.

44:00>> It is.

44:01>> What item number?

44:02>> 40.

44:03>> Okay.

44:11So, Mr. Chair, could we just outline

44:15what information we want from

44:17administration to bring forward to us

44:19tomorrow so that we'll be able to have

44:22more consideration? Is anything in

44:24particular?

44:25>> Uh yeah, I think to the mayor's point,

44:28just

44:31can we bring that down from 25? You

44:33know, how does it affect you? Uh if

44:36that's at two, you know,

44:50So, Mr. Chairman and and counselors,

44:54um, the way this contract works is is

44:56this was bidded. Um, so it's not

44:59necessarily like a professional service

45:00where you can just start over.

45:02Everything starts over. I think part of

45:04the challenge is

45:06um there's a whole process of order

45:09uniforms. I think there's a minimum of

45:11minimum of 15 new officers who do don't

45:14have them. Correct.

45:15>> There's a minimum currently of 15 new

45:17officers who don't have uniforms and

45:19separate from that there's this academy

45:22class that they're trying to solve for

45:23that's currently in class. Um

45:28the question is if the council

45:32and I think will probably be for legal.

45:37This is what I would request, Mr.

45:39Chairman of the council. Um, if this can

45:42pass, see, um, let us confer with legal

45:46what we can or can't do. I want to

45:48strike a balance of getting in their

45:50uniforms while also, uh, balancing what

45:53the council needs as it relates to being

45:55comfortable with the language, which the

45:57key word here is not to exceed.

45:59>> Um, but if that can be worked out and or

46:01changed after the fact and then brought

46:04back to the council at minimum. What

46:06that does is allow a process to continue

46:08for them to order the uniforms which I

46:11think we're comfortable saying as of

46:12today with the existing 15 who don't

46:15have them as well as the number in the

46:19recruiting class which I believe is 50

46:22>> 53

46:23>> 53 to be exact. We know that this does

46:26not come anywhere close to 2.5

46:30>> but starting that process over kind of

46:33push those 15 behind.

46:35In [clears throat] addition to that,

46:36making sure we're on track for the 53

46:39who need it uh when they finish. Um but

46:42I think we can strike a balance in

46:43honoring what you need.

46:46>> Um it's just a matter of timing. So, we

46:49want to keep the conversation going, but

46:51also keep it moving if that makes sense.

46:53>> Uh yeah, no, I'm I'm on board with that.

46:56I just like I said kind of just want to

46:58talk through that thought process around

47:01uh doing that but

47:05because I don't remember like you know

47:06that's just a big it's just a general

47:08gap they've got like in in order to kind

47:10of go over that they do have to uh

47:12initiate a transfer which would come

47:14back here but uh like they just it just

47:17stood out. Let us do let us make sure we

47:20get with legal and confer back with you

47:22on um language as well as post bidding

47:27um which in the ideal world we can

47:29change the language if the vendor is

47:31comfortable with it as well like if

47:33there's actual agreement where we don't

47:35have to start over then we have mutual

47:37alignment where it satisfies the council

47:39as well.

47:40>> Yeah. No, I think I think we can get

47:42there. Um but we will go ahead and move

47:46this till tomorrow. give us some more

47:48time to kind of get on the same page

47:50there. Um, any more questions or

47:53comments here?

47:55>> No, I'm in agreement that we could go

47:57ahead and move the item. It's on the

47:59agenda for tomorrow. We could be sure to

48:00pull it off consent and then or not. Let

48:04it go forward as a consent item and then

48:07be prepared to get the uh information

48:11that would be requested from legal as

48:13part of their presentation tomorrow.

48:15That be okay. Job being a grim day.

48:18>> All right, good deal. Sorry to hold you,

48:21Deputy Chief.

48:22>> All [snorts] in favor?

48:23>> I

48:24>> All right, the eyes have it. Uh, we'll

48:26be going to item 22.

48:30Item 22, transfer to capital funds 102,

48:35court refresh, an ordinance to amend the

48:37debt reserve budget for the fiscal year

48:40ending June 30th, 2027 by appropriating

48:444,187,640

48:48to non-EP departmental transfer to fund

48:50102 capital improvement and amend the

48:53capital fund budget for the fiscal year

48:55ending June 30th, 2027 by appropriating

48:594 million

49:00187,640

49:03for 2.8 mil court refresh project.

49:07>> Move the item.

49:08>> I'm sorry.

49:10>> Submitted by Aaron Saxton, Department

49:12Finance Extension 2206, amount

49:15$4,187,640.

49:22>> Good sir. Floor is yours.

49:24>> Good afternoon. I'm Aaron Saxton and I

49:26serve as chief compliance officer for

49:28the finance department. Um this would

49:31have been the third time that you um

49:35would have seen an item um related to

49:38the court refresh project that we're

49:41doing with the um Birmingham City

49:43Schools. first time would have been on

49:46August the 4th where you approved the

49:49$50 million indenture and the initial

49:53project list. Um on August the 24th,

50:00you approve the vendor contract um

50:04related to the port refresh. And this is

50:07simply the transfer from the debt

50:09reserve to the uh capital improvement

50:12fund where we will account for that

50:15activity.

50:17>> Okay. All right. Thank you, sir. Um

50:20yeah, I was initially confused. I was

50:22trying to track down what we're doing at

50:25the courts. You you got me cleared up.

50:27So, uh any questions here?

50:31>> All right. Uh all in favor?

50:33>> I

50:34>> All right. The eyes have it.

50:37>> We'll go to item 29.

50:41Item 29, Parkside Hotel, a brownfield

50:46development tax abatement agreement

50:48between the city of Birmingham and

50:49Parkside Hotel Partners, LP, under which

50:52the city will abate non-educational

50:55state, county, and municipal ad balorum

50:57taxes for a period of 10 years in an

51:00amount not to exceed $4,700,000

51:04to induce Parkside Hotel Partners LP to

51:07develop a brownfield site located on a

51:10portion of the buildings known by the

51:12street addresses of 1625, 1627, and 1631

51:18First Avenue South Birmingham.

51:20Resolution supporting sales tax rebate

51:23to Parkside Hotel Partners LP pursuant

51:25to the Sweet Home Alabama Tourism

51:28Investment Act. Submitted by Melissa

51:30Smiley, Department mayor's office.

51:32Extension 2664,

51:35amount $4,700,000.

51:38Maximum amount of municipal ad valorum

51:41tax abatement.

51:43>> Move the item. Second

52:02uh Oh, I'm not waiting on Oh, thank you,

52:04Mr. Chairman. I apologize. uh to you

52:07again, Mr. Chairman, as well as your two

52:10colleagues. Thanks for the opportunity

52:11to be before you. My time is actually

52:12limited. There actually very talented,

52:15smarter people here on my team that can

52:17present in detail as well as um um um

52:21the development partner and their team.

52:26I came to present to share some more

52:28global aspect and then I'm going to get

52:29them in on the detail. Um we continue to

52:33want to be very aggressive about more

52:35hotel um beds in our city limits. Um the

52:39more hotel beds we get in our city

52:40limits allows us to continue to pitch

52:42and sell in partnership with the

52:45conventions bureau as well as BJCC

52:48uh more attractions, more opportunities,

52:50more conferences, more conventions, more

52:52sport, you name it. And so, um, as you

52:56know, um, the council a few years back

52:59passed an additional $3 lodging tax, all

53:02of this. So, from a global standpoint,

53:04um, this continues to be, um, something

53:07we're intentional about. And it works

53:09when we got u development u development

53:12partners who know what they're doing as

53:14well as have the capital stack to like

53:17close deals and make it happen.

53:22I would say point two in this space of

53:24an opportunity for um um this um

53:28development in front of us. Um there's

53:32been significant development in this

53:35entire footprint. I would say this is

53:38one of the few remaining. So recall this

53:40council this year has just supported um

53:43something that's going to be extremely

53:44transformational in the Palestine plant

53:47with Culture City.

53:49And so this is to add on to like kind of

53:52making sure this entire footprint has

53:54all the foot traffic moving and

53:55opportunity it deserves. And then the

53:57last third third thing I would say is

54:02we didn't go first. I think it's I think

54:04it's always cool when I can come before

54:06the council and say, you know, public

54:08private um deals that the city is not

54:12the only public partner in

54:15>> that the county's in and that the state

54:17will be in. So, the countyy's already

54:19gone. They're going to give you the

54:20detail of what that number is. I think

54:22once the county and the city goes, I

54:24think there's a um and the the best case

54:28scenario, and they will the development

54:30partner will be able to share more

54:31detail that the state will go as well.

54:33So, it'll be city, county, and state

54:37um on top of what the capital stack from

54:39the private developer does. So, I

54:42probably butchered some of that, but I

54:44wanted to give you context um of this

54:47opportunity before the council. Um allow

54:51Corante Hower um to come up and speak in

54:55more detail

54:57um or however they decide who speaks

54:58first. And then Melissa Smile is here as

55:01well because she's led on the on the

55:03contractual end and and I want to

55:05appreciate her as well as Cory Alser.

55:08So, I'll get out of the way.

55:12Good afternoon again. Corey Aate Hower,

55:14serve as director for the department of

55:16innovation and economic opportunity. Um,

55:18you are receiving a packet uh that

55:21includes some detail around the

55:23development including the hotel and

55:25their history. Um, I'll just sort of

55:27start uh where the mayor ended uh around

55:30the tourism. So, in Birmingham reported

55:32$2.6 6 billion in tourism economic

55:36impact and supported 53,000 jobs in

55:39Birmingham region over the last year in

55:412025. These figures represent continued

55:44growth over 2024 and reinforced tourism

55:47role as one of the region's most

55:49powerful economic uh drivers in

55:51Birmingham. This particular project

55:54represents an $82 million uh hotel

55:57independent boutique style with 140 keys

56:02uh over 2,000 square ft of meeting room,

56:053,500 um square foot ballroom and over

56:08collectively 20,000 square ft of

56:10community amenity space open to the

56:12public. Uh it's estimated to bring about

56:15225 construction jobs and 80 uh 80 plus

56:20permanent jobs. of which 80 to 85% of

56:23those are deemed accessible jobs which

56:26means that no prior experience is needed

56:28on the job training and upward mobility

56:31is built in. [clears throat]

56:34The Matthews Hospitality Group has

56:36delivered uh over 4,200 keys and $2.5

56:40billion in hospitality investment

56:43throughout their entire portfolio. just

56:46to name a few. The Canvas Hotel Dallas

56:48is a Michelin guide in 2024. Hotel

56:51Polaris at the US Air Force Academy is a

56:55one $175 million um hotel the Omni Fort

57:00Lauderdale uh was valued at 1.3 billion.

57:04Insignia by uh Hilton at Savannah, which

57:07was a $39 million project. Currently,

57:11the group is leading a $3.7 billion K.

57:15Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center,

57:18which is the largest public works

57:20project in Dallas history. Uh, on the

57:22current timeline and with a favorable

57:24approval of this council, uh,

57:27construction will start summer fall of

57:292027 and the hotel is slated to open in

57:33the spring summer of 2029.

57:37And as the mayor mentioned, we do have

57:39the development partners here as well

57:41who can go into any other detail or

57:43answer any questions that you may have

57:45concerning the project.

57:48>> Yeah,

57:50I'll call up the development partners,

57:52Random Mer. While he's coming, I didn't

57:55get a copy of the ADM letter. Um, so if

57:58somebody has that, but

58:00>> I can email it to you.

58:01>> Go right is yours.

58:02>> Yes, sir.

58:05I should put a note to do that.

58:06>> Yeah.

58:15>> All right. Uh Randall Miner, 1901 and

58:186th Avenue North. Um thank you uh Mayor

58:20Wiffin and uh um Mr. Howser, Director

58:23Hower, uh for that um helpful very uh

58:28you know, you really kind of stole

58:29everything that we were going to say. Um

58:31we we've got u one representative today

58:34from the Birmingham um outpost of

58:38Matthews and that's Grant Bighgam and

58:39I'm going to have him come up here in a

58:41minute. We also have in town uh two

58:43other folks from Matthews. They're

58:45they're touring kind of other properties

58:48right now but they'll be at the council

58:49meeting in the morning and you know

58:51obviously they're I think touring the

58:53Tutweiler right now. Um so if you guys

58:56wanted them to pop over they you know

58:58they're just right down the street. Um,

59:00so I'm here on behalf of the applicant.

59:02Um, and the applicant as as you as was

59:05stated, uh, the sponsor team for the

59:08applicant is based out of Dallas.

59:10They're based out of Dallas, but they do

59:11projects internationally. And, um, Grant

59:14will get into that more. Um, there's two

59:16things that we're looking for from the

59:18from the city. And then and these two

59:20things just happen to be because the qu

59:23the project is uh qualifies for these

59:25two things. So, one is the the

59:27Brownfield uh program that was

59:29referenced and the other is the sweet

59:30home Alabama program that was referenced

59:32and I'm going to go through in detail

59:33with the Brownfield program just because

59:35there are some findings that you guys

59:37have to make and you know as council

59:39Woods pointed out like you have to

59:41qualify in the first place has to be

59:42brownfield property you have to have a

59:44letter from Adam uh so stating that it's

59:46voluntary cleanup program. Um, so here

59:48with me today, as I said, is Grant

59:50Bighgam. He's the VP of development.

59:52He's, you know, literally the first

59:54Birmingham employee uh of of the

59:57company. Grant's going to do most of the

59:59talking about the project, the vision, a

1:00:01little bit more um than what you guys

1:00:03heard uh from the from the mayor and

1:00:04Cory. Uh he's going to give a short bio

1:00:06of himself, and then the history of the

1:00:08the sponsor team. And so you you already

1:00:10heard the sponsor team, so I'm going to

1:00:11try to get him to go through that uh

1:00:13pretty quickly. Uh so the Brownfield

1:00:15Development Tax Abatement Act. Um so

1:00:18that's in the Alabama code. Uh you have

1:00:21to be a Brownfield property. And so that

1:00:22brownfield property it means that you

1:00:24have to have a voluntary cleanup

1:00:26[snorts] program. Um Bate is the the um

1:00:30the u environmental professional for

1:00:32this property. Uh so they submitted

1:00:34paperwork a little over a year ago to uh

1:00:37ADM and voluntary cleanup program um um

1:00:41application. it was accepted. So I think

1:00:44it was like September 10th maybe um of

1:00:48last year is when we were accepted in

1:00:49the program uh when we were when we got

1:00:52notification of that we reached out to

1:00:54um IEO and so we've really been working

1:00:57with IEO for the last year in terms of

1:00:59trying to make sure that we get all the

1:01:01information is needed to be before you

1:01:03here today. Um what we are requesting is

1:01:07a an abatement of non-educational ad

1:01:10valorum taxes. Um the statute allows up

1:01:14for 20 up to 20 years and we're doing

1:01:16we're requesting 10 years and that's

1:01:19based on our the the costbenefit

1:01:21analysis that we went through with IEO.

1:01:24Um we have been working with IO like I

1:01:26said for a while and we submitted an

1:01:28application. We also have been working

1:01:31with the law department to develop a

1:01:33form of abatement agreement and the

1:01:34abatement agreement has attachments the

1:01:37ADM letter and the application. So it's

1:01:40kind of a complete package. Um the Sweet

1:01:43Home Alabama program is something that's

1:01:45been on the books uh in Alabama for a

1:01:47while. Um it's set to expire in a couple

1:01:50of years. Um, basically it's a program

1:01:52that uh the tourism department uh did to

1:01:56incentivize tourism in the state of

1:01:59Alabama. It's really designed for um

1:02:03projects that are um not in Birmingham.

1:02:05You just if you look at the way the

1:02:07statute's written um so in order to

1:02:09qualify for a Birmingham project, uh

1:02:12you've had to be historic, you know, so

1:02:14you're doing a historic building. So

1:02:16something like you know in theory tutoer

1:02:18might qualify uh or you have to be a

1:02:21mega project over 75 million of capital

1:02:23expenditures. So we are a mega project.

1:02:26It's 100% hospitality 140 rooms up to

1:02:29140 rooms as was stated. Uh so we

1:02:32qualify as a mega project and that is

1:02:34something that um it is in order to uh

1:02:38apply for that like you can't even apply

1:02:41unless you have a support letter from

1:02:43the the city. So that's what we're

1:02:46requesting. That's the second request.

1:02:47The way it will work is there's a a 20%

1:02:51um local match. They don't call it

1:02:53match, but that's kind of what it is. Uh

1:02:55and with by doing the brownfield program

1:02:58and the the abalorum that counts as our

1:03:0020%. So that's not we don't need

1:03:03anything separate from the city for

1:03:05that. Uh we've been working um behind

1:03:07the scenes with uh the tourism

1:03:10department just to kind of confirm all

1:03:12of these things. Um, we're optimistic

1:03:15and I'm getting into grant stuff a

1:03:17little bit, but we're optimistic that

1:03:19we're going to get an award u under this

1:03:22program and getting that award is

1:03:24critical to implementing the full

1:03:26vision. Uh, so I' I've said more than I

1:03:28had planned to say. So, Grant, if you

1:03:30want to come up and uh just give a short

1:03:32bio, talk about just the vision and just

1:03:35what you guys are looking to do in terms

1:03:37of delivering.

1:03:40>> Good afternoon. Um, it's good to be

1:03:43here.

1:03:44So, I think the best place to start for

1:03:47me is to describe the two organizations

1:03:50that have come together to do this

1:03:51project. Um, you know, if I put my

1:03:54Birmingham hat on, I want a group that

1:03:58has the capacity to execute at the

1:04:00highest level and the track record to do

1:04:03it. And so, my local partner, uh, Jared

1:04:06Weinstein and I have been very patient

1:04:08with this property, which many people

1:04:10know. Um, and the reason for that is we

1:04:12just were unwilling to compromise on

1:04:14finding the very best, most aligned

1:04:17partner to deliver something that truly

1:04:19raises the bar in Birmingham and sets a

1:04:22new precedent. Um, so it's been a

1:04:25patient process to find that partner,

1:04:27but we found it in Matthews. Um,

1:04:30Matthews has a 30-year track record at

1:04:33delivering solutions around economic and

1:04:36community problems in in cities and and

1:04:39honestly in countries. Um, we have

1:04:42projects in five different countries and

1:04:44projects across the United States. And

1:04:48so to me, it's um it's significant that

1:04:51they chose Birmingham to develop. um

1:04:53they have their choice in certain

1:04:55instances of markets where they can

1:04:58develop and they chose us um and at the

1:05:00same time Jared and I chose them. So, it

1:05:03is a true 5050 partnership between

1:05:06Matthews and Overton. Um, and the

1:05:09background on Overton for those don't

1:05:10know it, and the way to find it is

1:05:12Overton Ventures, which is in the

1:05:14packet. Um, but it's an organization

1:05:16that is founded by Jared. And so we're

1:05:19calling our Birmingham based real estate

1:05:21development and investment uh

1:05:23partnership and platform Matthews

1:05:25Overton, but Overton is responsible for

1:05:28Small Magic, uh Venture for America,

1:05:31Strive, um Breakthrough Collaborative.

1:05:34Um and then my background is with Jones

1:05:37Valley Teaching Farm as far as the city

1:05:38of Birmingham goes in addition to real

1:05:40estate. So what we're trying to do with

1:05:43this hotel is take Matthew's expertise

1:05:46and capacity and marry it up with two

1:05:49people and a group of people at a local

1:05:51level who will not compromise on quality

1:05:54and the way in which this project and

1:05:56this building and the space inside of it

1:05:59and the employees and the workforce side

1:06:01of it um truly engage and integrate with

1:06:05Birmingham and to build a 80 plus

1:06:09million dollar boutique independent in

1:06:11the Birmingham market carries a

1:06:13substantial amount of risk and if you

1:06:15look at our entire capital stack you

1:06:18know 85% is coming from us or for the

1:06:21debt that we have to go and source and

1:06:23guarantee to get this done and in order

1:06:26for us to be uncompromising and to

1:06:28protect quality we need kind of that

1:06:30extra boost from the city and the county

1:06:33and the state and in working with

1:06:35Randall have been able to find that

1:06:37creative structure we think to get there

1:06:39and the first domino to fall is the

1:06:42city. So the city supports and then we

1:06:44can move forward with the state and if

1:06:46the state says yes, which we think they

1:06:48will, um then we're kind of off to the

1:06:50races from there. Um so, you know,

1:06:52you've got a lot of information in front

1:06:54of you. I think the the economic impact

1:06:57of it is clear. Um, you know, you're

1:07:00looking at millions of dollars of new

1:07:02tax revenue. I mean, really, hotels are

1:07:04tax tax revenue machines because there's

1:07:07so many different sources of revenue

1:07:08inside of them, especially a full

1:07:10service hotel. But beyond that, I really

1:07:13wanted y'all to hear a little bit of

1:07:15detail for me on the people behind it.

1:07:18Um, and then just this like very very

1:07:21deep commitment to doing hospitality at

1:07:24the highest level. It's something our

1:07:26city does re really great. Um, I don't

1:07:29think there's anything harder than doing

1:07:31hospitality day in and day out. Um, and

1:07:34we want to build on that culture we

1:07:37already have here. And also kind of our

1:07:39stated goal as Matthews Overton is to

1:07:42build the best and raise the bar

1:07:43whenever we have the opportunity to do

1:07:45so.

1:07:52>> Mr. Chairman, I apologize. I know this

1:07:54presentation is kind of long, but it's a

1:07:56kind of a big deal in front of you

1:07:59moneywise as well as what it's going to

1:08:01do with impact.

1:08:03Um, I have something to say, but I'll

1:08:05come back, but she had a note I wanted

1:08:07to share.

1:08:10>> Good afternoon, Melissa Smiley. I serve

1:08:12as chief economic and community

1:08:13development officer for the city of

1:08:15Birmingham. Just to add to all of the

1:08:18information that you've received today,

1:08:20I wanted to point out that the form of

1:08:23the incentive that they're requesting

1:08:25from us does not include any upfront

1:08:28cash. They have indicated that they will

1:08:31spend more than $81 million on this

1:08:34project and their feasibility study

1:08:36indicates that they can project a 10%

1:08:39return on that investment. And so the

1:08:42way that we are incentivizing them is

1:08:45based on the revenue that they generate.

1:08:48So they won't get a dollar from the city

1:08:50unless they generate this tax. And we

1:08:53wouldn't even have an outlay for at

1:08:56least a year. There would be at least a

1:08:58year before there would be any of the

1:09:00abatement that would go into effect.

1:09:03And then last um the last thing I want

1:09:06you all just u while you have so much

1:09:09information in front of you I think uh

1:09:11one of the synopsis or at least my

1:09:13favorite from a marketing positioning

1:09:14standpoint is on page 13

1:09:17um when it's juaposed against two other

1:09:19hotels downtown include Illin and the

1:09:21Kelly and then one in Homewood and

1:09:24Mountain Brook and you see

1:09:26um you see the comparison and the

1:09:29contrast and I think you see the

1:09:31benefits of this and why the

1:09:34administration supports such set

1:09:35investment.

1:09:38>> And that's Mr. Chairman and council.

1:09:40That's I think that's conclusion of our

1:09:42presentation.

1:09:47>> Uh thank you mayor team. Um do want to

1:09:51open up questions here if anyone has

1:09:53any.

1:09:56>> Presently I'd like to ask before I start

1:09:59talking.

1:10:06No, I think my biggest thing was just

1:10:09around the brownfield designation, so I

1:10:12didn't have that ADM letter, but am

1:10:14excited to um Oh, they got me uh I am

1:10:18excited. They got me a copy,

1:10:20but uh I am excited to kind of see these

1:10:22type of developments continue to come uh

1:10:25to the city and I am a fan of the uh tax

1:10:28abatement approach. I think that kind of

1:10:32uh protects us and how we do incentives.

1:10:34So, I think we're good there. Uh all in

1:10:37favor?

1:10:40>> All right. The eyes have it. Uh this

1:10:42will go to full council with a

1:10:44recommendation to approve and uh we'll

1:10:46go to item 31. Thank you.

1:10:52Item 31, ESRI,

1:10:55a resolution authorizing and approving

1:10:57the mayor to execute and deliver a

1:11:00software agreement between the city of

1:11:01Birmingham and Environmental Systems

1:11:03Research Institute, Inc. under which

1:11:06ESRI shall provide updated hardware,

1:11:08software, maintenance, and support for

1:11:11the GI GIS platform systems used by the

1:11:14plat the planning, engineering, and

1:11:16permits department for a term of 3

1:11:18years. FY27

1:11:21$180,4000

1:11:26FY28

1:11:27$180,4000

1:11:32in FY29

1:11:33$180,4000

1:11:37for a total amount not to exceed

1:11:39$541,2000.

1:11:44Submitted by Daryl Burroughs Department

1:11:46IMS extension 2803

1:11:50amount $541,000

1:11:53excuse me $541,200.

1:11:59>> Good afternoon.

1:12:01>> Good afternoon. Daryl Burrus. I serve

1:12:03the city of Birmingham as director of

1:12:05IMS. Uh Mr. Glass is the business and

1:12:08technical owner for Ezra and he'll speak

1:12:11to this item.

1:12:14Good afternoon, councilors. Uh Dustin

1:12:16Glass. I serve as the city's GIS and

1:12:18permitting systems manager. Um the EZRI

1:12:22item in front of you guys is basically a

1:12:25renewal of our uh GIS enterprise

1:12:29software that supports all of our

1:12:33uh analytical tools as well as

1:12:36supporting various other systems through

1:12:40uh sharing of data to 911 um 311

1:12:45also to our permitting system as well.

1:12:48Any

1:12:52questions?

1:12:54>> All right, good deal. Uh, one thing I

1:12:55would ask is that um if y'all could

1:13:00compile all the agreements that y'all

1:13:02have and just give us a list of every

1:13:06agreement like these different software

1:13:08agreements and things like that. Um we

1:13:11have the opportunity to send it over to

1:13:13uh GA or our council administrator one

1:13:16but uh we'd appreciate that. Um all in

1:13:20favor?

1:13:20>> I.

1:13:21>> All right. The eyes have it. That'll go

1:13:23to full council. The recommendation to

1:13:25approve. Uh thank you. Got it.

1:13:29That's some good government, guys. It's

1:13:31good government. Good efficient.

1:13:34Uh all right.

1:13:38>> Second. All in favor?

1:13:40>> I