2026-09-15 - City Council

00:00I wonder that you'd be [music] okay.

00:04You might have fallen down, but nothing

00:06has changed. You may have lost it. Oh,

00:09you still got your flame.

00:12Light me up, [music] let me see your

00:14fire.

00:16Light me up, let me see your fire.

00:20Light me up, let me see your fire.

00:24Light me up, let [music] me see your

00:26fire.

00:28Light me up. Let me see your fire.

00:32Light me up. [music] Let me see your

00:34fire.

00:41>> Good morning, Birmingham. Today is

00:43Tuesday, September 15th, 2026. The time

00:47is now 9:42 a.m. and call to order the

00:50regular meeting of the Birmingham City

00:51Council. Today's invocation will be led

00:54by Reverend J.R. Finny, pastor of the

00:57Covenant Community Church in Birmingham,

00:59Alabama, and I'll lead us in the pledge

01:01of allegiance. If you're willing and

01:02able, please stand and join us.

01:08>> Good morning. And if you'll press the

01:10bar in front of you. Yes, sir. We need

01:13to get his mic.

01:16Gracious and loving God, we come before

01:18you today with hearts full of gratitude,

01:21thanking you for the dedication

01:24of our Birmingham City Council and

01:26leaders. We're grateful for the rich

01:29history of Birmingham, a city breaming

01:32with resilience, diversity, and promise.

01:36and we ask for your guidance to our city

01:38council as they work together for the

01:40betterment of our beloved Birmingham.

01:43Encourage their discussions to be filled

01:46with the spirit of collaboration as they

01:48seek to address the needs of our

01:50citizens.

01:52We pray for the decisions to reflect

01:54your heart, extending beyond responding

01:57to just the influential, powerful, and

01:59wellconed,

02:00but to include those whom Jesus called

02:04the least of these among us. Help us to

02:06remember that true leadership is about

02:08lifting every voice among our citizenry.

02:12After all, the writing on the wall in

02:14this very room says the people are the

02:17city. And so we pray for grace to abound

02:21in this city and our leaders and our

02:24people. Allow our city of Birmingham to

02:27shine brightly as a beacon of hope and

02:30compassion. And may our counselors

02:33always remember that in the spelling of

02:35Birmingham B means we believe in our

02:38dreams where each step is a journey. I

02:42means we inspire others with our words

02:44and actions. R means we rise above

02:47challenges, embracing growth. M means we

02:50make connections that uplift and empower

02:53the people of the city. I means we

02:55invite positivity in every moment. N

02:59means we nurture our passions for a

03:01better city and let them shine brightly.

03:04G means we grow together through our

03:07experiences, learning from each of them.

03:09H means hope fuels our spirit, igniting

03:13the change we seek. A means aspire to

03:17make a world a better place starting in

03:19our city. And M means we move forward

03:23with courage looking back only for

03:25perspective from which we come. For all

03:28of this and so much more. We pray for

03:31our Birmingham city council and leaders

03:34in your holy name. Amen.

03:37>> Amen. Salute the flag. I pledge

03:40allegiance to the flag of the United

03:42States of America and to the republic

03:45for which it stands, one nation under

03:48God, indivisible, with liberty and

03:50justice for all. Thank you very much.

03:53You may be seated. Thank you, Reverend

03:55Finny, for that very thoughtful prayer.

03:57Thank you so much.

03:58>> Good morning, Madame Clerk.

04:00>> Good morning.

04:00>> If you'll read the role, please.

04:03>> Yes, ma'am.

04:06>> Council member Gun. Council

04:10member O'Quinn,

04:14Council Member Smith,

04:16>> good morning.

04:16>> Good morning. Council member Smitherman,

04:19>> good morning.

04:19>> Good morning, Council Member Vasa.

04:23>> Good morning, Council Member Williams.

04:26>> Good morning, Council Member Woods.

04:30>> Good morning, Council President Prom

04:32Tate.

04:34>> Good morning. And Council President

04:36Alexander,

04:36>> good morning. Thank you very much,

04:38counselors. The minutes are not ready

04:40from the meetings of July 7th, 2026

04:43through September 8th, 2026. At this

04:46time, we'll entertain communications

04:47from the mayor. Good morning, Chief.

04:53>> Good morning, Madam President. Good

04:54morning, Madam Pro. Good morning to the

04:56members of the council, members of the

04:58public, all those under the sound of my

04:59voice. I'll be presenting the mayor's

05:01report today on Mayor Woodin's behalf.

05:0563 years ago, the city of Birmingham was

05:07a battleground during the civil rights

05:09movement. On this day, September the

05:1115th, 1963,

05:13four little girls lost their lives in

05:15the horrific 16th Street Church bombing.

05:18Also on that day, two young boys were

05:21shot and killed.

05:22>> We remember them and we say their names.

05:26Addie May Collins, Denise McNair,

05:30Carol Robertson,

05:32Cynthia Wesley, Johnny Robinson, and

05:35Virgil Wear.

05:38Our mayor is actually at 16th Street

05:40Baptist Church right now as a part of

05:41the commemoration of this day.

05:46The Department of Innovation and

05:48Economic Opportunity, Economic

05:50Opportunities, Office of Business

05:51Diversity, um is launching its first

05:54legacy forward program. This initiative

05:57is designed to strengthen legacy

05:59businesses with both dedicated and

06:01targeted business support and growth and

06:04a $10,000 grant for 10 qualified legacy

06:07businesses in the city of Birmingham.

06:09Applications opened on September the 8th

06:11and will close on October the 2nd at

06:1411:59 p.m. For more information about

06:16eligibility and program details, please

06:18visit the website at

06:20ieo.irmingham.gov/leacyb

06:26um or call BHM or call 2052542799.

06:31I'll read that again. ieo.

06:34Birmingham.govacyb GV/legacybhm

06:39or call 205-254-2799.

06:42And then finally, Madam President, Madam

06:44Pro, members of the council, at this

06:45time, I'd like to ask John Bales, deputy

06:48director of the crisis center and

06:50program director of the recovery

06:51resource center and any of his guests to

06:54please join me at the podium.

07:07Recovery from substance use disorder is

07:10possible and individual and families

07:12throughout Birmingham are building

07:14healthy, meaningful lives in recovery.

07:17Today, with a special proclamation that

07:18I will read in part, we want to bring

07:20about awareness of the efforts to

07:21support those who are on their recovery

07:24journey as well as recognize those men

07:26and women who come alongside them every

07:28day. and it reads, "Whereas September is

07:31recognized nationally as recovery month,

07:33providing an opportunity to celebrate

07:35the accomplishments of people in

07:37recovery, recognize those who support

07:39them and increase public understanding

07:41of recovery. And whereas the city of

07:43Birmingham recognizes and appreciates

07:45the dedication of peer recovery

07:47specialists, health care professionals,

07:49counselors, outreach workers, first

07:51responders, community organizations,

07:54families, and others who support

07:55individuals on their path to recovery.

07:58And whereas recovery month calls upon

08:00our community to reduce stigma,

08:02celebrate recovery, and work together to

08:04create a Birmingham where individuals

08:06and families affected by substance use

08:08disorder are met with understanding,

08:10support, and hope. Now, therefore, I,

08:13Randall Wooden, mayor of the city of

08:14Birmingham, do hereby proclaim September

08:172026 as recovery month in the city of

08:20Birmingham. I encourage all residents to

08:22join in celebrating those in recovery,

08:25support individuals and families

08:27affected by substance use disorder, and

08:29continue to build a strong, healthier,

08:31and more compassionate Birmingham.

08:37>> Thank you very much. And thank you, city

08:40council, for doing this. Um, every city

08:43council can do this, but not every city

08:45council does. So, we appreciate

08:47Birmingham for taking the time to

08:49recognize September and what it means to

08:52us. Um, I am the deputy director for the

08:54Crisis Center. The Crisis Center has

08:56been serving Birmingham for over 50

08:58years. Um, but I'm also the director of

09:00the Recovery Resource Center, which is

09:02one of their programs. And the Recovery

09:05Resource Center, our whole mission is to

09:07increase access to treatment and remove

09:09barriers to recovery for people who are

09:11struggling. Um, so I thank you on behalf

09:15of the Crisis Center, the RRC, and also

09:18the Addiction Prevention Coalition.

09:19Garland Clark is here representing them.

09:22Danny Sims is with the RRC. Um, and on

09:26behalf of all of the community

09:28organizations that are doing this work

09:30every single day. Uh, more importantly,

09:33I get to thank you on behalf of the

09:35recovery community. So, what that means

09:38is I am a person in long-term recovery.

09:40Um, I've been making healthy choices uh

09:43at least when it comes to drugs and

09:45alcohol um since April 5th, 2015. So,

09:49for a long time. [applause]

09:53Thank you. Um, it's always nice to hear

09:55applause. It really is. But I would

09:57challenge you to think about it this

09:59way. Um, my story should not be a

10:02surprise. Um, there are 23 million

10:05people in our country who identify as

10:08being in recovery. recovery is a reality

10:10for many, many people. So, we shouldn't

10:13necessarily be surprised when someone's

10:15able to change, right? Um Birmingham is

10:19home to thousands of people in recovery.

10:22They work here, they live here, they

10:25contribute to this city, and they vote

10:28here. Um, that's important because we

10:33want to pay attention and we want to see

10:34what cities do uh when it comes to

10:37eliminating stigma when it comes to

10:39treating people who use drugs, treating

10:41people who are trying to enter recovery

10:44um in such a way that they don't feel

10:47ashamed to ask for help um because

10:50that's that's what it's about for so

10:52many people, feelings of shame and

10:54guilt. Um, so at the RRC we're staffed

10:58with people like myself, people who are

11:00in recovery and we can relate to people

11:01and we can show them hope. Um, it's also

11:05a time to recognize people like you,

11:08people who are champions for recovery,

11:11counselors, clinicians, doctors, all of

11:14the people, many of them right here in

11:16Birmingham who are working every single

11:18day to try and eliminate stigma and make

11:21sure that people have access to

11:23evidence-based practices so that they

11:25can stay alive long enough so that they

11:28can benefit from recovery the same way I

11:31have, the same way Garland and Danny he

11:33has. Um, we all have a purpose. Um, for

11:37me, uh, part of that is I want to be a

11:40good dad. I've got a six-year-old. I

11:42dropped him off at Advent down the

11:44street. Uh, every day we we drive by

11:46Pathways, which is another great

11:49organization, doing a lot of really good

11:51work. And my six-year-old just says,

11:53"Daddy, I wish that place would open

11:56sooner." because he sees all of the

11:58women on the sidewalk standing there

12:01every morning waiting for pathways to

12:03open. Um, a six-year-old has zero

12:06judgment. A six-year-old only sees

12:09people who are in need, who want help.

12:13Um, so I challenge us all to think like

12:15that when it comes to substance use

12:17disorder. Um, thank you for your time

12:20and again, thank you for doing this.

12:22>> Thank you. Thank you very much. We

12:25appreciate the work that you do in our

12:27community. We thank you for the

12:28acknowledgement of what the council and

12:30the mayor how important this is to us as

12:32well. So, we thank you for your service

12:35and um thank Mayor Whiten for bringing

12:37this presentation to us. Thank you.

12:39>> Thank you, Madam President. That

12:41concludes the mayor's report.

12:42>> All right. Thank you very much,

12:43>> Madam President. Can I just say a few

12:44words? Um I just want to say thank you

12:47to the crisis center for what you do.

12:49>> Um helping to give people second

12:51chances. Um, people shouldn't be defined

12:54by their past. And I think, and I really

12:57like what you said about breaking the

12:59stigma because what you think an addict

13:02looks like isn't the average addict,

13:05it's the doctor, it's the attorney, it's

13:08um the entrepreneur is much more. I when

13:12I transferred law schools, but at my old

13:14law school, I actually lost a classmate

13:16to overdose. And you wouldn't think, oh,

13:19a law student, they wouldn't be, you

13:20know, doing drugs. But it happens. And

13:23so, I just thank you so much. If you

13:25ever need anything, let me know. But

13:27thank you for saving lives every day.

13:42All right. Thank you very much. At this

13:44time, councilors, we'll turn our

13:46attention back to the agenda. And at

13:49this time, we will um hear the items

13:52that are being considered for consent.

13:54I'd like to read the statement of

13:55conduct regarding the consent agenda.

13:58All items designated as consent are

14:00routine and non-controversial and will

14:02be approved by one motion. All items on

14:05the consent agenda will be announced by

14:08reading the item numbers only. No

14:10separate discussion of these items will

14:12be permitted unless a council member or

14:14the mayor requests the item be removed

14:16from the consent agenda. Additionally, a

14:19citizen interest in addressing the

14:21council with respect to an item on the

14:24consent agenda designated for public

14:26hearing and that's with the small PH may

14:28request the item be removed from the

14:30consent agenda to hold the hearing on

14:32the item. Any items removed from the

14:34consent agenda will revert to its normal

14:36place on the agenda order of business.

14:38For remaining matters, all matters of

14:40permanent operation, those are indicated

14:43with a capital P, will be read and all

14:45public hearings will be announced.

14:47Madame clerk, if you'll give us the

14:48items that will be considered for

14:50consent.

14:51>> Yes, ma'am. Before I do that, I just

14:53want to make notation that that that we

14:56did not receive any nominations to

14:58boards and agencies from

14:59>> Thank you. We read that last time for

15:01September. Thank you, D.

15:02>> Yes, ma'am. All right. The first item on

15:05the consent agenda is on page two.

15:08That's item number four.

15:14And we'll go over to page 16. We have

15:18items five and six.

15:24Page 17, we have items 7, 8, 9, and 10.

15:33On page 18, we have items 11, 12, 13,

15:39and 14.

15:44On page 19, we have items 15, 16, and

15:4817.

15:52On page 20, we have items 18, 19, 20,

15:57and 21.

16:03On page 21, we have items 22, 23, 24,

16:09and 25.

16:13On page 22, we have items 26, 27, and

16:1728.

16:20On page 23, we have items 29, and 30.

16:28Page 24, we have items 32, 33, and 34.

16:37On page 25, we have items 35, 36, and

16:4137.

16:49Please note on on page 26, at the top of

16:53page 26, it is the continuation of item

16:5737 that we do have some u funding source

17:01corrections uh that were made

17:05for district five. $25,000 is coming

17:10from the account ending in 5420001

17:15and $47,000

17:18is coming from account

17:21031-205250-5420001

17:32and on for district 6 $45,000

17:36of the funds will be coming from um the

17:40account ending. Uh, it'll be

17:43001-00004260-5420001

17:53and the 75 and 77,500

17:57will be coming from Z account 031-205

18:0304260-542001.

18:10one.

18:11Okay. Also on the consent agenda is item

18:14number 38.

18:16Please note that it was also recommended

18:18by the public safety committee.

18:22Item 39.

18:25On page 27, we have items 40, 41, and

18:3042.

18:34On page 28, we have items 43,

18:3944, and 46.

18:46Page 29, we have items 47,

18:5048, and 49. Please note that item 47 was

18:55also recommended by the public safety

18:57committee.

19:01Page 30, we have items 50, 51, and 52.

19:08Page 31, we have items 53, 54, 55, and

19:1456.

19:16Page 32, we have items 57, 58, 59, 60,

19:2361.

19:26Page 33, we have items 62, 63, 64, 65,

19:3466, and 67.

19:38On page 34, we have items 68, 69,

19:4470, 71, 72, 73.

19:50On page 35, we have items 74, 75, 76,

19:5777, 78, 79.

20:02Page 36, we have items 80, 81, 82, 83,

20:1084, 85.

20:14Page 37, we have items 86, 87, 88, 89.

20:22Page 38, we have items 90, 91, 92,

20:2993, 94.

20:33Page 39, we have items 95,

20:3796, and 97. And that completes the

20:41consent agenda. And we also we also have

20:43an addendum item. [snorts]

20:46>> Thank you, madam clerk. At this time,

20:48counselors, I just want to acknowledge

20:49you did receive in writing the changes

20:51that were associated that were read for

20:53item number 37 that's been passed out to

20:56us that includes those changes.

20:59At this time, are there any items you'd

21:01like to add or remove from consent? And

21:03we do have an addendum item number 99.

21:06Yes, counselor.

21:08>> Thank you, uh, Madam President. I would

21:09like to place items 45 and 99 on

21:12consent.

21:13>> Okay, that's items

21:14>> 45 on page 28 and then the um addendum

21:18item item 99.

21:20>> Okay, there is a request to put items 45

21:23on page 28 on consent and also the

21:26addendum item number 99 on consent. Any

21:29objections to those?

21:31>> Madam President. Oh, I'm sorry.

21:34>> Yes. Uh on item number 45, I wanted to

21:37there's some corrections on the wording

21:39of the item. Uh at the end of the item,

21:43it says well four lines up it should

21:46read as it finishes up it says their

21:49community and then it should say in an

21:52amount not to exceed $50,000.

21:56So scratch out that other wording and

21:58the uh account number has the funding

22:00source has also changed. Uh that funding

22:04source will be 001-

22:0801

22:0900

22:114 09-527

22:17050.

22:20So we're striking out funding shall come

22:22from district five.

22:26>> All right. Thank you. Everyone know that

22:28those changes for item number 45 and it

22:30has been added for consent. Councelor

22:33Foster.

22:34>> Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Madam President.

22:36Um I may need to uh recuse myself from

22:38item 99 and therefore uh that may need

22:41to be uh taken off of consent.

22:43>> That's correct. Thank you. So that item

22:45we won't place on consent. So we allow

22:48for an abstension.

22:49>> Thank you.

22:49>> Thank you.

22:51>> And that was item number 99, the

22:54addendum. Any other items that need to

22:57be added or removed from consent?

23:00>> Yes, Council Williams,

23:02>> can we please take off 53 and 54 from

23:05consent

23:07>> and we can bring them up together?

23:08>> Okay.

23:09>> 52.

23:11>> The request is to remove items

23:1554 and 55 from consent.

23:18>> 53 and 54. There we go. Thank you,

23:21Council Williams. And that's on page 31.

23:27Okay. Any other items?

23:30All right. At this time, we'll entertain

23:31a motion and a second for approval of

23:33the consent agenda.

23:34>> So, second

23:41one second.

23:50Okay, the vote has started.

23:57I'm a yes as well.

24:05>> Council Woods

24:10and Council Vasa.

24:17>> Okay, that vote should be up.

24:20>> All right, thank you. So item

24:23the items that were listed for consent

24:26and those the one that was added, they

24:28have all been approved. So, at this

24:29time, we'll continue with the rest of

24:31our agenda.

24:33Okay, that will the first item is on

24:36page two. That's item one.

24:47>> Item number one.

24:48>> All right. Uh madam clerk, there's been

24:49a request that we could uh jump to.

24:51What's the next? Do we have anything

24:52left open besides one, two, and three?

24:55>> Yes, ma'am. We have uh several others.

24:57>> Okay. So, let's go to the next open

24:59item.

25:01>> So, start with one.

25:02>> Uh beyond one, two, and three. Let's get

25:04to the one the next one after that.

25:06>> I got you.

25:09>> That item will be item number

25:14item number 31 on page 23. Would you

25:18like to start with that one?

25:25>> Okay. Item 31. Yes. Thank you. Okay.

25:27>> That's on page 23.

25:28>> Yes, ma'am. Item 31, an ordinance

25:32authorizing the mayor or the chief of

25:35police to execute a three-year

25:37interlocal cooperative agreement between

25:40the drug enforcement agency, DEA, and

25:44the city of Birmingham for its police

25:46department for participation of two BPD

25:50officers in the DEA's highintensity drug

25:53trafficking areas task force program and

25:56synthetics precursors enforce ment and

26:00regulation task force program with

26:03dispersements of HIDA

26:06and SPAR resource funds to the city of

26:09Birmingham and reimbursement to the city

26:12for qualified salary and benefits as

26:14well as qualified expenses. The

26:17agreement will cover the period

26:19beginning October 1st, 2026 and ending

26:24September 30th, 2029.

26:26And this is an item of um permanent

26:29operation. So we need unanimous consent

26:32first to take up the item.

26:33>> So move.

26:38>> That was council member Williamson.

26:40>> Yes. Councelor Williams and Councelor

26:41Smith.

26:49All right.

26:51Council member out. Council member

26:53Smith.

26:55Council

26:57member Smitherman.

26:58>> Hi.

26:59>> Council member Vasa.

27:01>> Hi.

27:02>> Council member Williams.

27:04>> Hi.

27:04>> Council member Woods.

27:06>> Hi.

27:07>> Council President Proim Tate.

27:09>> Hi.

27:10>> And council president Alexander.

27:12>> I.

27:13>> Okay. Now we need a motion on the item.

27:16>> Second.

27:17>> All right. Councilors. This is an

27:18ordinance authorizing the mayor or the

27:21chief of police to execute a three-year

27:23interlocal cooperative agreement between

27:25the Drug Enforcement Agency and the city

27:27of Birmingham. Is there any discussion

27:29needed on this item?

27:32All right, we're ready for the vote.

27:37Okay, all in favor, let it be Well, the

27:39vote is started. You can all

27:42about that.

27:45I'm sorry. Let try that again.

27:48Did it disappear?

27:56>> Let's try that again.

28:00>> Okay, now the vote has started.

28:06>> And I'm a yes.

28:09>> Councelor Woods.

28:12>> All right, that vote should be up.

28:14>> All right. Thank you, counselors. Item

28:1731 passes. Next item.

28:20>> The next item

28:25we will go over to

28:33[cough]

28:34page 31. That'll be item 53.

28:38>> Yes. And if you will call items 53 and

28:4154 together, please.

28:42>> Yes, ma'am.

28:44Okay. Item 53 is a resolution approving

28:48the abatement

28:50of state, county, and municipal

28:52non-educational advalorum taxes for a

28:55period of 10 years to induce Parkside

28:58Hotel Apartments LP [laughter] to

29:00develop a brownfield site located at

29:031625,

29:041627, and 1631st

29:08Avenue South Birmingham for use as a 140

29:11room hotel with a signature restaurant

29:14and retail space pursuant to the Alabama

29:17Land Recycling and Economic

29:19Redevelopment Act, chapter 30E of title

29:2222 of the code of Alabama 1975 and the

29:26Brownfield Development Tax Abatement

29:29Act, chapter 9 C of title 40 of the code

29:33of Alabama 1975 and authorizing the

29:36mayor to execute a brownfield

29:38development tax abatement agreement with

29:40Parkside Hotel Partners LP. Item 54

29:46is a resolution supporting the rebate of

29:49state lodging taxes to Parkside Hotel

29:52Partners LP pursuant to the Sweet Home

29:55Alabama Tourism Investment Act.

29:59>> All right. Thank you. If we could have a

30:01motion on the

30:02>> item.

30:04I need a second.

30:07>> Second. Thank you, counselors. These

30:10items are um resolutions approving the

30:14abatement of state county municipal

30:16non-education advalorum taxes for a

30:18period of 10 years to induce Parkside

30:21Hotel Partners LP to develop a

30:23brownfield site that's located at the

30:26addresses that are listed in our on our

30:28agenda as well as a resolution

30:30supporting the rebate of state lodging

30:32taxes to Parkside Hotel Partners LP

30:36pursuant to the Sweet Home Alabama

30:38tourism investment act. Are there any

30:41questions regarding this? We have had

30:43discussion on this um with the project

30:45itself. We also had discussion on these

30:47two items during budget and finance

30:49which was approved yesterday and this is

30:51being recommended again by the mayor.

30:53Any questions or any further discussion

30:56needed?

30:58All righted. Yes, councelor. Sorry.

31:01Well, I will say um I saw the

31:02presentation yesterday and it was um

31:04real exciting to see that we have

31:06another hotel that's on the horizon.

31:08just want to ask that I think I saw that

31:09you have 275 people that you expect to

31:13be employing in the construction and

31:15just ask that um we try to have skilled

31:18and licensed labor um as a part of that

31:21workforce. Thank you.

31:23>> Thank you. Any other questions?

31:25>> All right, this time we're ready to

31:27entertain the vote. Thank you.

31:30>> The vote has started.

31:35Name. Yes.

31:40Council Tate is out. Okay, Council Tate

31:44is out

31:48and the vote should be up.

31:56>> I'm your eye. Okay.

32:03All right.

32:09All right. Um, that's

32:12six eyes and one abstension.

32:14>> Okay. Thank you. So, we have that vote

32:16passes with the six eyes and one

32:18extension. So, items

32:2153 and 54 both pass. Thank you very

32:24much. Believe the next item is that 98.

32:27>> Okay. That Yes, ma'am. That'll be 98 on

32:30page 39.

32:32[snorts]

32:36It is a resolution setting a public

32:38hearing October 13, 2026 to consider the

32:42adoption of an ordinance to amend the

32:44zoning district map of the city of

32:46Birmingham. Case number ZAC 2026-08007

32:51to change zone district boundaries from

32:53D3 single family residential district to

32:56C1 neighborhood commercial district in

32:59order to allow a new Boys and Girls Club

33:02of Central Alabama filed by Tosh Design

33:05LLC applicant for the property owner

33:08Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama

33:11for the property property generally

33:13located at 1259 Huffman Road situated

33:16headed in township 30, township 18,

33:19section 30, township 16 South Range One,

33:23West Birmingham.

33:25So, I need a

33:26>> All right. Thank you, counselors. This

33:27is a resolution setting a public hearing

33:29on October 13th to consider the adoption

33:32of some reasonzoning for district map

33:34for the city of Birmingham. Again, this

33:37action is to set the public hearing. So,

33:39we need a motion and a second to set

33:41this date.

33:43>> All right. Any questions about setting

33:44that date? We're ready for the vote.

33:48>> Yes, ma'am.

33:51Okay, the vote has started.

33:57>> Council President Alex,

33:58>> I'm a yes. Oh, there it is.

34:00>> All right.

34:02>> Right.

34:03>> Thank you, councilor. Item 98 passes.

34:05We've set that hearing date for October

34:0713th, 2026. Now, we'll go back to those

34:10items that we skipped over.

34:12We have item number addendum. Do you

34:14want to go take that one now?

34:16>> Which one?

34:17>> Item 99.

34:18>> Yes. Thank you.

34:21>> Okay. Item number 99 is a resolution

34:24authorizing the mayor to execute a first

34:26amendment

34:28to the amended and restated development

34:30agreement between the city of Birmingham

34:32and Housing Reinvestment Corporation of

34:35America to reduce the number of

34:38affordable single family units in the

34:40Woodlon area from 16 to 11, eliminate

34:44the use of home funding and the return

34:48of $182,61

34:50$1.35

34:53reducing city funding to $1,200,000

34:57in ARP ARPA funds only and to extend the

35:00term or performance and you and use of

35:04funds through December 31st, 2026.

35:09All right, councilors. This is a

35:10resolution authorizing the mayor to

35:13execute a first amendment to the amended

35:15and restated development agreement that

35:17exists between the city of Birmingham

35:19and the Housing Reinvestment Corporation

35:21of America, HRCA. We need a motion and a

35:25second on that item to discuss it.

35:29>> Right. Any questions regarding this

35:30item?

35:33>> Okay. Yes. Chief, could someone give us

35:35an explanation of this particular item?

35:50Madam President, Mr. Cory Stalworth, who

35:52is our senior deputy director for

35:54community development, is going to be

35:56coming in to address that.

35:57>> Thank you.

36:03>> Good morning, Mrs. Stalworth.

36:06>> I know we did have an opportunity to

36:08this item yesterday at budget and

36:09finance but there's been request just

36:11like some information about this item

36:13item number 999

36:15>> no problem Corey Stalworth I serve as

36:17senior deputy director for community

36:19development and I will briefly just walk

36:22you through some of the terms for the

36:25amendment of the agreement so this

36:28agreement is with growth homes as you

36:30know they are doing the 16 homes around

36:33I3 academy and so this amendment will

36:36reduce the number of homes from 16 to

36:3911.

36:41Also thereby reducing the total

36:44development amount from 1.5 million to

36:48about 1.1 million. And this is really

36:51prompted due to some of the restrictions

36:54around the uh home funds that are

36:57associated with the project. Also, last

37:00but not least, this amendment will

37:02extend the agreement uh until December

37:05of 2026.

37:12>> Any questions? You need any follow up on

37:15that?

37:16Any counselors? Council me,

37:19>> you okay?

37:24Make sure we have clarity. Is everybody

37:26okay?

37:28Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Stal.

37:30We're now ready for the vote.

37:33>> Okay,

37:35the vote has started.

37:42All right, that vote should be up.

37:47All right, thank you. Item 99 passes

37:51with one abstension noted. Thank you

37:53very much.

37:55All right, Madame Clerk, I guess we're

37:57ready to go back to that page.

37:59>> Yes, ma'am. Page two.

38:00>> Thank you.

38:01>> Item number one, it's a resolution

38:05relative to the application of

38:08Double Cups

38:10LLC

38:12for Lounge Retail Liquor Class One

38:15License to be used at Double Cups. 524

38:2019th Street, Ensley, Birmingham, Alabama

38:2335218.

38:25And this is the hearing of all

38:26interested parties.

38:30>> All right. Thank you. At this time, this

38:32is a public hearing and I'll turn that

38:34over to Councelor Pro Tim Tate, chair of

38:37public safety.

38:38>> Thank you, Madam President. Um, is the

38:41applicant here?

38:43>> Come to the podium and state your name

38:44and address for the record, please.

38:54Good morning, Madame President. And

38:58my name is Arante Picket.

39:01Um, it was what?

39:03>> Yes. State your address for the record.

39:05>> Um, 52419th Street, Angela.

39:08>> Okay.

39:09>> All right. Um, Detective Campbell, um,

39:12and Mr. Low and Miss Brown, please step

39:16to the podium. Any incidents at this

39:18location?

39:19>> No incidents.

39:20>> Okay, Mr. Low. Applicant, does the

39:22applicant meet zoning?

39:24>> Property is zone B3 and that location

39:26meets zoning requirements.

39:27>> Miss Brown, are they in good standing

39:29with taxes and revenues?

39:30>> Yes, they are in good standing with

39:31taxes and revenue.

39:32>> Anyone here to speak for against this

39:34item? Could you tell this commit, this

39:37body what this um what your venture is?

39:41Um actually uh we going to do uh live

39:44band comedy

39:46um uh things of that nature.

39:49>> Okay. Talk about your public safety plan

39:52and your hours of operation. Um, our

39:55operation is on Wednesday through

39:57Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Um,

40:01Friday through Sunday 5:00 p.m. to 2:00

40:04a.m.

40:08>> Are you open on Sundays?

40:11>> Ma'am,

40:11>> Sundays?

40:12>> Yes, ma'am.

40:13>> Okay. What time are you closed on

40:14Sundays?

40:16>> Um, at 2.

40:18>> Okay. Talk to us about your public

40:21safety plan.

40:23Um well one um we're going to have um

40:26training for conflict resolution

40:29training um include nonviolent

40:32um conflict uh intervention and patron

40:35intoxication will be conducted by

40:37monthly

40:39um for all new staff members. um to

40:43have um the violent incidents. Um

40:47uh we will have our security um that

40:50will be there that uh will restrain and

40:52separate the two and um and if something

40:56serious or injuries or whatnot um the

40:58police um department will be contacted.

41:02Um in the in the event of a fire,

41:07uh staff members um that's the closest

41:09to the fire will they'll notify the um

41:13security um for evacuations and um get

41:17to the nearest um fire extinguishers and

41:20whether or not to put out the fire. So

41:21the fire's not out 15 seconds uh we

41:24would be uh contacting the fire

41:27department.

41:28Um on medical emergencies um

41:32um all medical um all medical

41:36emergencies u involving the loss of

41:38consciousness um seizures will uh

41:41warrant to call for emergency uh medical

41:44service for response to establishment.

41:47Um and um if um if there's something to

41:52occur where there was no breathing on

41:54the CPR

41:57um will be

41:58>> okay. If your camera system uh you did

42:01talk to the compliance unit to connect

42:02your cameras talk about your camera

42:04system

42:05>> um that you have on your perimeters.

42:08>> Um my camera system um I have um I have

42:12two two camera systems in the front. Um

42:16um I have two that's over the bar. Um

42:19one um that um covers the inside and I

42:23have one that's in the back. Um

42:25>> and your lighting adequate lighting.

42:27>> Um yes ma'am.

42:28>> Okay. And you are connecting with the um

42:30the compliance unit to connect to the

42:32realtime crime center.

42:34>> Yes ma'am.

42:34>> Okay. Any questions from anybody any

42:37council members for this this applicant?

42:40But he did meet with the Ensley

42:41Neighborhood Association on five I mean

42:44820 2020 2026

42:4615 were in attendance two opposed and 13

42:49support. So I'll open the floor up to

42:51any council member that may have

42:53questions for this applicant.

42:55>> I have one question. I just I noted on

42:58the agenda it said no recommendation by

43:00the public safety committee. Was that

43:02just

43:02>> because we didn't have a quarum.

43:04>> Perfect. Thank you.

43:06>> All right. That was my only question.

43:07Thank you.

43:07>> Yes ma'am.

43:09All right. At this time, there any other

43:11questions?

43:13All right. Thank you, sir. We are ready

43:15for the vote on item number one.

43:17>> There's a motion.

43:20>> I thought we had one, but again, but

43:21we'll do it again. Motion and a second

43:23on this item.

43:24>> Second.

43:25>> Thank you.

43:28>> All right.

43:36The vote has started. Council

43:46Bosa.

43:51>> That vote is up.

43:57It was It was unanimous.

43:58>> All right. Thank you very much. Item

44:00number one passes. Next item. The next

44:04item is item number two, a resolution

44:07relative to the application of Weber

44:09Hospitality Group LLC for a restaurant

44:12retail liquor license to be used at Iron

44:14and Oak Tavern 2021 Parkplace,

44:17Birmingham, Alabama 35203.

44:20And again, this is an item I mean, this

44:22is a hearing of all instrument parties.

44:26>> Second.

44:26>> All right. Thank you. Uh, this item is

44:29for public hearing. So, I turn this over

44:31to Council President. Just state your

44:33name and address for the record, please.

44:34>> My name is Eddie Weber and I uh want to

44:38open up an Iron Iron Tavern at 2021 Park

44:40Place.

44:41>> Okay.

44:41>> Which is in the Tyler Hotel.

44:43>> All right. Detective Campbell. Any

44:44incidents at this location?

44:48>> No incidents.

44:49>> Thank you, Detective Campbell. Mr. Low,

44:50does the applicant meet zoning?

44:52>> Property is zone mixeduse downtown and

44:54it does meet zoning requirements.

44:56>> Thank you, Miss Brown. Good standing

44:58with taxes and revenue.

44:59>> Yes, they are in good standing with

45:00taxes and revenue. Anyone here to

45:03support or not in support of this item?

45:06Seeing none, the applicant met with the

45:09central city neighborhood on 818 26

45:12forward in attendance. For support, tell

45:15us your hours of operation and tell us

45:17about your venture.

45:19>> Uh we will be open at 6:30 a.m. every

45:21morning for breakfast and then do

45:23breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And during

45:25the week, we will close at 11:00 p.m.

45:27and on weekends we'll go to midnight.

45:29>> Open at night. Okay. and talk to us

45:31about your public safety plan.

45:34>> Uh public safety, all of our bartenders

45:36will go under tip training, which is the

45:40standard for learning how to or what's

45:42allowed with alcohol. All of our food

45:46safety courses have been completed for

45:48all of our cooks. We have the serve safe

45:49managers. We have everybody else. We

45:51have the listed exit signs to get out in

45:54case of a fire. Three safe exits.

45:58Um,

46:01>> okay. And you did talk to our compliance

46:03team about your camera system connecting

46:05with um the connect.

46:07>> Did you speak to our compliance team?

46:09>> I haven't talked to our compliance team.

46:11>> Detective Camp.

46:12>> Yeah, happy to.

46:13>> Yes. So, just speak with him about

46:14connecting your camera system to um the

46:17connect system.

46:18>> I'd be happy to.

46:19>> All right. Any questions from any of my

46:21council colleagues for this applicant?

46:26>> All right. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

46:29Now, we'll turn our attention back to

46:31this item. There are no other questions.

46:33We're ready for the vote.

46:38>> The vote has started.

46:42[laughter]

46:42Council President Alexander.

46:44>> Yes.

46:46>> All right. Thank you. That item passes.

46:48Next item.

46:49>> The next item. Item number three is a

46:53resolution

46:55sorry relative to the application of

46:57trap

47:01trap kitchen the LC for restaurant

47:04retail liqu3rd

47:08Avenue West Birmingham Alabama 35204

47:11and this is the hearing of our

47:13interested parties.

47:15>> Thank you Mel.

47:16>> Thank you. Did we get a motion and

47:18second?

47:19So we can bring the item up. [snorts]

47:21>> Move the item.

47:24>> Second. Let go ahead and you can go for

47:26the public hearing. Thank you, Madam

47:27President. Um just state your name,

47:29address for the record, please.

47:30>> Um my name Donna Cunningham, address the

47:3210003rd Avenue West, Birmingham, Alabama

47:3535204.

47:36>> Okay. Detective Campbell. Any incidents

47:38at this location?

47:41>> No incidents.

47:42>> All right, Mr. Lo, that's the applicant

47:44meet zoning.

47:45>> Property is zone C2 and they meet zoning

47:47requirements. Brown, are they in good

47:49standing with taxes and revenue?

47:51>> They are in good standing with taxes and

47:52revenue.

47:53>> All right. Anyone here to speak for or

47:55against this item? Seeing none, the

47:57applicant met with the Bush Neighborhood

47:59Association on 82526

48:0334. We're in attendance, zero opposed,

48:0621 supported. Tell us about um your your

48:10uh venture um that you're you're

48:13planning at this location.

48:16>> Okay. the trap kitchen the name u more

48:19of a urban listic name for the

48:21restaurant it's going to be a restaurant

48:23u we're opening up restaurant on the

48:25west side of Birmingham to provide a

48:27more soul food u cultural based

48:30restaurant for our neighborhood and

48:33surrounding communities

48:34>> what's your hours of operation

48:37>> hours of operation um

48:41we was planning on going from 5:00 pm to

48:445:00 a.m. Did you adjust them? Are you

48:47adjusting your hours?

48:49>> That's what it's recommending. We want

48:50to get with you to see what would be the

48:52adjustment hours.

48:53>> No. What What's your hours that you

48:55going to be open? Like what days will

48:57you be open?

48:58>> Wednesday through Sunday.

49:00>> And you're going to open What kind of

49:01food you going to be serving?

49:03>> Uh soul food.

49:04>> Soul food. So you're going to open at

49:055:00 p.m.

49:06>> Yes, ma'am.

49:07>> Okay.

49:10And what's your what time do you are you

49:12going to close? cuz it's you selling

49:15soul food.

49:16>> Yes, ma'am.

49:16>> Okay. What time What time did you decide

49:18that you're going to close?

49:20>> Well, our idea was to have a late night

49:22spot for our patrons that we seen that

49:25was the need for a late night spot for

49:27people restaurant. So, our original

49:29hours was 5:00 a.m., but

49:32we

49:33>> What's going to be your hours?

49:35[laughter]

49:36>> Well, right now, we're still sitting at

49:385:00 p.m. to 5 in the morning.

49:40>> Okay.

49:40>> But

49:43recommended to change the hours.

49:46>> Go ahead.

49:46>> You said you going to be open from 5:00

49:48p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

49:50>> Correct.

49:51>> Okay.

49:52>> And um tell us about your public safety

49:54plan.

49:58>> Our public safety plan, we uh once again

50:00like everybody else, we get with the

50:01real crime, our cameras with the real

50:03time crime. Uh we have a um a strategic

50:07plan where we going to secure not only

50:09the inside but the perimeter of the

50:11building outside of the area. Um we also

50:14cleaned up the area. We also got with

50:15our neighborhood association and got

50:18with the um our president over there

50:21about doing a little more roaming of the

50:24area. So we're going to increase our

50:25volume on police presence throughout our

50:28neighborhood area during our hours of

50:30operation. um more patrolling on not

50:33only just on our street but the streets

50:35adjacent to our building as well.

50:38>> Okay.

50:40Um

50:44any uh council members have questions

50:46for the applicant?

50:50>> Go ahead.

50:51>> Okay. Um so couple of questions. I know

50:55you mentioned that you were going to

50:56have increased police presence. So, you

50:58all will be paying for additional police

50:59to patrol that area. Correct. Correct.

51:01>> While you're open 5:00 p p.m. to 5:00

51:03a.m.

51:03>> Correct.

51:04>> Okay. And my understanding is that at

51:06the neighborhood meeting that um I think

51:08you all came and said that this was to

51:09be a family

51:11>> correct

51:11>> spot from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

51:14>> Correct.

51:15>> Okay. Um, so I know the neighborhood

51:18association voted in favor of this and

51:21um, you know, I support the neighborhood

51:23association, but I have to say

51:24personally I'm a bit concerned about a

51:26familyfriendly location that's open 5:00

51:28p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Um, and

51:32so I I personally just have concerns

51:35>> for that reason.

51:37Yes. So, the family part will stop at 10

51:40p.m. So,

51:42>> all right. So, as I was stating was the

51:44family portion will stop at 10:00 p.m.

51:46So, you will have to be 21 and older to

51:48enter at 10 p.m. to 5 in the morning.

51:51>> Okay.

51:52>> Yes.

51:53>> Gotcha.

51:53>> But before 10 p.m., any age may enter.

51:58>> So, no ID is required until 10.

52:01>> Say again.

52:01>> Noids are required until 10.

52:03>> 10. Correct.

52:04>> Gotcha. So,

52:07so it's like a club basically.

52:09>> No, ma'am. We're just a late night

52:11restaurant. So, think of us like Karma's

52:14Kitchen or your chef. You may go there

52:16and eat until 5 6:00 in the morning.

52:20>> Okay.

52:20>> Yes, ma'am.

52:21>> And then, um, do you all have like

52:23hookah or anything like that? Any kind

52:24of tobacco products?

52:26>> We do not. Not hookah. No, ma'am.

52:29>> Okay. All right. Thank you,

52:33>> ma'am.

52:34Yes,

52:34>> ma'am. Pro Tim. Uh, what what was the

52:36last thing you said? You said before

52:38they started talking. It was something

52:40about that's why you couldn't vote.

52:42>> Being a familyfriendly event from 5:00

52:45p.m. to 5:00 a.m. just kind of didn't

52:48quite

52:48>> Okay, gotcha. Okay, makes sense to me.

52:51>> Any other council members? Council

52:53Williams.

52:54>> All right. I have a few questions. One,

52:56I I guess start off with for our office

52:59of city attorney. Uh, is requesting a

53:03restaurant uh retail license appropriate

53:07for a club that stays open till 5:00

53:09a.m.? Because that that seems like it

53:11should be a a lounge retail class one

53:13liquor license based on ABC law. I'm

53:16confused about this designation of

53:18license.

53:21>> I will get with

53:23>> He keeps saying club. We saying

53:25restaurant.

53:27So y'all determine y'all determine it

53:29based off on the hours. Is it a

53:32restaurant or a club?

53:38>> The application that was taken was for a

53:41restaurant, retail, liquor license, not

53:43a lounge.

53:44>> So

53:48what is the diff different? How do you

53:51differentiate

53:53I guess what's the from for the office

53:55of city attorney what is the definition

53:57of a restaurant retail liquor license

53:58versus a lounge retail light liquor

54:01license class one because my

54:03understanding was is that if it's

54:05something that serves just because you

54:07serve food doesn't mean you get to call

54:08yourself a restaurant till 5:00 a.m. if

54:11you turn into a club, which this from

54:14the security plan, everything points to

54:17it being a club, that you have to apply

54:20for the appropriate license. Why

54:21wouldn't everyone just apply for a

54:23restaurant license if it was

54:27just because you serve food,

54:28>> right? I would like you to explain the

54:31definitions, please. So with the

54:33restaurant retail liquor license, the

54:36revenue would come more so from the food

54:39sales. With the lounge retail liquor

54:42license, the revenue will come from the

54:44alcohol sales.

54:46That's the difference.

54:48>> So we are to believe that this place is

54:52going to stay up until 5:00 a.m.

54:54>> and the majority of the

54:57revenue is going to be from food, not

55:00alcohol.

55:02So when the applicant come in to do the

55:05application. Yeah. So

55:07>> okay. So I I'm having a I'm having

55:10trouble

55:13digesting that. Um

55:16that 80% of this revenue is going to be

55:19from food sales instead of alcohol when

55:23the hours are from 5:00 p. p.m. to 5:00

55:25a.m. My additional concern is this

55:28security plan. So this states that that

55:30you have a maximum capacity of 250

55:34guests according to the I'm assuming

55:35which is according to fire code and you

55:38said that there will be an additional

55:40offduty officer for every 250 guest when

55:43necessary. So how are we saying that

55:46we're going to increase patrol when

55:49we're going to provide an officer for

55:52the maximum capacity? So he was stating

55:56that when we spoke with the

55:58neighborhood, they were speaking about

56:00the residences that's behind 103rd

56:03Avenue West. So we will then provide an

56:06offduty officer or two to provide to

56:09basically support that back parking lot

56:11as well as that adjacent street to where

56:14people will be parking. So there will be

56:16no breakins, no loud noise, things of

56:18that nature there. So that's what he

56:19means by we will be putting an

56:22additional officer on those back areas,

56:26>> but it's additional officer for every

56:28250 guests

56:30>> outside of what we already have. So we

56:32are already going to have uh a

56:35substantial amount of officers and

56:36security already on the property.

56:38>> That's not what this plan states. This

56:40plan says there will be one licensed

56:42security officer and then the Birmingham

56:45offduty Birmingham police officer would

56:47be for major events and you would also

56:49get an offduty police officer if there

56:51were 250 guests or more according to the

56:53safety plan.

56:56>> Okay, thank you. I'm done.

57:00>> I just need to make sure of

57:01clarification. So they cannot operate

57:065:00 pm to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday morning.

57:09So, I just wanted to make sure that was

57:11clear.

57:11>> Can they

57:13can they operate till 5:00 a.m. under

57:16ABC laws and

57:17>> under other days of the week?

57:20>> That designation is allowable. However,

57:23with the differentiation that they

57:25stated within tax and licensing.

57:27>> Okay.

57:31And again, the difference between the

57:33club and a lounge, we're not we don't

57:35have no dance floor. You're not

57:36standing. You have to have a seat. You

57:38have to come in and patronize. You have

57:40to come in and buy food.

57:42That was our requirements.

57:50>> So, um, I'll turn it back over to you. I

57:54do have a question. I just want to be

57:55sure.

57:56>> I have one more question. It's come to

57:58my attention that you you guys might

58:00have been advertising on Facebook for

58:02possible positions. Have y'all done any

58:04advertising that would indicate that

58:06y'all are more of a club than a

58:09restaurant?

58:10>> No, we took a different approach on

58:12advertising. That's the only thing we

58:13did. We took a different approach on

58:15advertising. We wanted to ramp it up, be

58:17more of a we actually doing more of a

58:20virtual

58:22almost like a what you call it? Um

58:27>> audition type. um calling um um calling

58:32for a position. We just want to do

58:34something different, spice it up, get

58:36the word out, get the room, get the hype

58:38up about the restaurant before we

58:40actually open

58:43>> because the advertising that that I have

58:46seen on Facebook indicates that y'all

58:48are a lounge. It says restaurant and

58:50lounge and it has females with not that

58:53many clothes on with liquor bottles. So

58:56that's not really a familyfriendly

58:58restaurant

59:00>> to me, but

59:01>> no problem. They're fully clothed. But

59:03to basically sum this up,

59:05>> so at 2:00 in the morning, once people

59:08leave lounges, people are hungry. They

59:10have nowhere to go eat. There's no late

59:11night food options in Birmingham,

59:13Alabama, other than your chef or Waffle

59:15House or Cookout. So we decided to bring

59:19this to Birmingham so we can have late

59:21night food options to 5:00 a.m. in the

59:23morning. Of course, we're a restaurant,

59:26but the females will have on corsets

59:28with a tie and a red dress shirt, as you

59:30saw in the picture, so they're not naked

59:34at all. But

59:36>> no, no. Yeah, I wasn't suggesting that

59:37they I wasn't suggesting that they

59:39weren't wearing any clothes. I was just

59:40saying that, you know, when you

59:41advertise something as a lounge,

59:44then it's perceived as a lounge. And so,

59:48we're here. Listen, I love late night

59:51food. I get hungry at at 3:00 am all the

59:54time. My concern is is this a restaurant

59:57or is this an actual lounge? And the

1:00:00application was made to be a restaurant.

1:00:02And if it was presented to the

1:00:03neighborhood of being a family-friendly

1:00:05restaurant, but it is in fact a lounge,

1:00:08the neighborhood might not realize that

1:00:10they are about to have a lounge instead

1:00:12of what was maybe perceived as a

1:00:15family-friendly restaurant. And that my

1:00:17concern is only about the neighbor. I I

1:00:21want y'all to be in business, make as

1:00:24much money as you can, and and and I'll

1:00:26come eat late night with y'all. But

1:00:29if if we if we we cannot allow

1:00:35businesses to come in and say that

1:00:38they're a restaurant, they're

1:00:39familyfriendly, and present that to the

1:00:41neighborhood, and then they stay they

1:00:42end up being a lounge, and they stay

1:00:44open till 5:00 a.m. and it's and it's a

1:00:47lounge. And so that anyway I think I

1:00:50those are my concerns on on the issue

1:00:52>> and and let me say I can understand what

1:00:54you're saying your concern is but I

1:00:56think only thing the difference what we

1:00:58were trying to do is we understand that

1:01:01okay far as the family we know auntie

1:01:03grandma going to come early they're

1:01:04going to come early we were just trying

1:01:06to create something for like he said the

1:01:08late nighters

1:01:11>> thank you I did have a question

1:01:14>> I had the same question just regarding

1:01:16um I just want to be clear on whether

1:01:18this is a restaurant and a lounge or is

1:01:21this what type establishment is it?

1:01:24Because you're saying now you're going

1:01:25to be serving family

1:01:27oriented crowd from 5 until 1000 p.m.

1:01:32And then after 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

1:01:35It turns mainly into where you're um

1:01:37you're going to be serving your primary

1:01:40resource there would be for selling food

1:01:43or selling liquor.

1:01:45>> Selling food.

1:01:46>> Food. Yes, ma'am. still selling the

1:01:47food. Okay. You have music.

1:01:49>> The vibe just changed all the time.

1:01:51>> Like you said, the sitting area only,

1:01:53you have to come in. You have to get a

1:01:54table.

1:01:56>> Excuse me. I'm sorry. You have to get a

1:01:58table. You have to get a booth. And

1:01:59you'll be coming in patronizing,

1:02:01purchasing food. But of course, from

1:02:0310:00 p.m. to 2:00 in the morning,

1:02:05people are going to come in and drink

1:02:06alcohol. if that's a question that may

1:02:08come up on this uh panel here that we'll

1:02:11drink alcohol from 10 pm to 2 am but

1:02:14from 2 am to 5 in the morning it would

1:02:16be strictly food sales.

1:02:18>> Okay. And going back to your safety plan

1:02:20under your um item number two security

1:02:23operations. So you'll have one licensed

1:02:25security officer for every 100 guests.

1:02:28Does that security officer does that

1:02:30change or that additional security is it

1:02:34impacted by your hours of operation or

1:02:36is it triggered by the number of people

1:02:37that are in the

1:02:38>> hours of operation?

1:02:39>> Okay.

1:02:40>> So, possibly around 900 p.m. we'll have

1:02:42about two to three more security as

1:02:44well.

1:02:44>> Okay. Thank you. Those are my questions,

1:02:47ma'am.

1:02:48>> Any council Smith?

1:02:49>> Madam Pro. Thank you. Um I guess I have

1:02:52a question for either finance

1:02:54[clears throat] or attorney King. So, it

1:02:56sounds like They're trying to be similar

1:02:59to other existing establishments like

1:03:01they mentioned Yo Chef. Um I'm thinking

1:03:04Casanova Munchies. What kind of liquor

1:03:07license do they have?

1:03:10>> Allow me to consult and I'll get an

1:03:12answer for you.

1:03:13>> Okay. Cuz their establishment is very

1:03:15similar where it's a restaurant and

1:03:17turns into a nighttime lounge.

1:03:25Those

1:03:51all have the same designation as what's

1:03:53being requested yesterday.

1:03:56And then I don't know who can answer

1:03:58this but it seems like there were 34

1:04:00people that attended the neighborhood

1:04:02meeting and only 21

1:04:05supported were what what happened to the

1:04:07other 12 people that attended

1:04:09neighborhood meeting last week.

1:04:10>> They were other people coming in to um

1:04:14attend the association meeting like

1:04:1712. Okay. Gotcha.

1:04:20Um,

1:04:23okay. Those are all my questions.

1:04:27>> Uh, councelor Smith,

1:04:29>> I just um one question, two questions

1:04:32actually. What was the recommendation of

1:04:33the public safety committee? Did you

1:04:36>> No recommendation. We didn't have a

1:04:38quorum.

1:04:39>> Okay, that's right. Okay. Um, and my

1:04:42understanding was always that if you're

1:04:44open pass two, then you have to be a

1:04:46private club. And maybe this came up and

1:04:47I just missed it. Is that is that true?

1:04:50And if you're serving alcohol past two,

1:04:52you have to be like a private club or

1:04:53>> So, Madam President,

1:04:55>> yes.

1:04:55>> Well, there's two different designations

1:04:56for it's like a class 2 that allows you

1:04:58to serve past a certain time for a stand

1:05:01amount of time past 2:00 depending on

1:05:03the ABC rules. So, this restaurant would

1:05:06have to stop serving at 2:00.

1:05:09Then they can still sell food past 2

1:05:11a.m.

1:05:16>> And we just go off of

1:05:19Okay. Go off of their word that we're

1:05:21stopping it too,

1:05:22>> right?

1:05:29>> Any other council members have

1:05:30questions?

1:05:34Attorney King

1:05:37and the council again is considering to

1:05:40deny or approve. There are several

1:05:42considerations related to the denial of

1:05:45a liquor license. Number one, under

1:05:47Alabama State Code 2816 is the creation

1:05:50of a nuisance. Number two, circumstances

1:05:53clearly detrimental to or which would

1:05:55adversely affect the public health,

1:05:57safety, and welfare of adjacent

1:06:00residential neighborhoods. A violation

1:06:02of applicable zoning restrictions.

1:06:05Number four, an individual applying for

1:06:07the license has a prior conviction

1:06:09involving the use of alcohol or

1:06:10controlled substance. Number five, the

1:06:13proximity of the business to a school or

1:06:15child care facility and the business

1:06:18hours of the operation will create a

1:06:20harmful environment for children. Number

1:06:22six, the traffic congestion created by

1:06:25licensing the proposed location will

1:06:27endanger others. And number seven, any

1:06:29other reason that poses a risk.

1:06:32>> Thank you, Attorney King. Okay, Madam

1:06:34President, I turn it over to you.

1:06:36>> All right. Thank you.

1:06:36>> That concludes the public hearing.

1:06:38>> Thank you, gentlemen.

1:06:39>> Thanks.

1:06:39>> All right. At this time, councilors, if

1:06:41there no other questions, we'll

1:06:42entertain the vote on this item.

1:06:46That vote has started.

1:07:03Okay, at this time that item fails. Next

1:07:06item.

1:07:08That is the last.

1:07:10>> All right. Thank you very much,

1:07:11>> councilors. At this time, we'll

1:07:13entertain any

1:07:15updates that you have from your

1:07:18district. And we'll start with you,

1:07:19Councelor Smith.

1:07:21>> Great. Thank you.

1:07:24So, today, September 15th, marks the

1:07:28beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. We

1:07:30celebrate the contributions of our

1:07:32Hispanic Americans throughout our city

1:07:34while honoring the eight nations that

1:07:36recognize our Independence Days

1:07:37throughout the next 30 days.

1:07:40All Birmingham Public Library locations

1:07:42will be closed this upcoming Friday,

1:07:44September 18th. The Birmingham Botanical

1:07:47Gardens is hosting their annual fall

1:07:48sale this weekend on Friday and

1:07:50Saturday. Join the BC BCRI and 16th

1:07:55Street Baptist Church for community of

1:07:57readers on Saturday, September 19th at

1:08:00[clears throat] 12 p.m.

1:08:02Uh, this family reading experience

1:08:04features the book I Encourage, a book of

1:08:06resilience. The Holy Family Enrichment

1:08:09Center is hosting a free community arts

1:08:11exhibition funday this Saturday,

1:08:13September 19th, starting at 11:00 a.m.

1:08:17And we have the following neighborhood

1:08:19association

1:08:20meetings. Greymont is meeting tomorrow,

1:08:22September 16th, at 4:30 p.m. at the

1:08:24Smithfield Branch Library. Tuxedo

1:08:27Heights is hosting a neighborhood

1:08:28reunion on Saturday, September 26th at

1:08:31Tuxedo Highlands Park um on Alder

1:08:36Avenue.

1:08:37Contact Carolyn McMorris at 2056026037

1:08:41for more information. Um and just as a

1:08:44reminder, Parks and Recreation is still

1:08:46conducting a citywide survey to get your

1:08:51thoughts and opinions on how what

1:08:53happens at our parks. Visit bhm

1:08:55parks2035.com

1:08:57to complete that survey. Also, select

1:08:59parks and recreation locations are

1:09:01serving as afterchool safe havens

1:09:04offering free tutoring. And then

1:09:06personally, I want to say a happy

1:09:07belated birthday to my dad, Marcela

1:09:09Smith, who celebrated his birthday

1:09:11yesterday, September 14th. Thank you.

1:09:13Wonderful.

1:09:14>> Thank you, Councelor Woods.

1:09:17>> Uh thank you, Madam President. The Sun

1:09:19Valley Neighborhood Association will

1:09:21meet tonight via Zoom. Uh for that login

1:09:24information, you can email bhm

1:09:26district1gmail.com.

1:09:29Also, donuts for dads will take place

1:09:31today at Huffman Academy at 400 pm. Uh

1:09:35definitely always enjoy having

1:09:37opportunity to kind of fellowship with

1:09:38fathers and sons and uh have some good

1:09:40conversations. So looking forward to

1:09:41that. Today, also this Thursday, uh

1:09:45we'll be having coffee in the community

1:09:48uh plus financial literacy at the Spring

1:09:50Road Library at 9:15 to 10:00 a.m. Uh

1:09:54encourage you to join us for breakfast

1:09:56and uh coffee while we talk about uh

1:10:00district priorities, what you want to

1:10:01see done in your community. And lastly,

1:10:04join us this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to

1:10:06noon uh for another beer free cleanup.

1:10:09Uh we'll be starting at East Pinson

1:10:11Valley Rec Center and uh looking forward

1:10:13to getting out and making an impact.

1:10:16>> Thank you very much, Castle Williams.

1:10:20>> Thank you. Economic development and

1:10:21tourism will be at 11:30 in the Chambers

1:10:24uh Brown Springs neighborhood. We'll

1:10:26have a conference call this Thursday,

1:10:27September 17th at their regular 6 p.m.

1:10:30And that's all I have.

1:10:31>> Thank you, Councelor Smith.

1:10:33>> Thank you, Madam President. Um, I would

1:10:35like to thank everyone who helped make

1:10:38this past Saturday's mental health

1:10:39clinic a success. Special thank you uh

1:10:42to our partners, Nurture of Alabama

1:10:45Incorporated, uh, founded and led by

1:10:48Crystal um, Crystal Johnson and the

1:10:51Black Women's Mental Health Institute

1:10:53led by Na Richardson Johnson, Dr.

1:10:56Johnson, the Birmingham Crosslex, our

1:10:58vendors, volunteers, everyone who

1:11:00supported the event. Thank you so much.

1:11:02And thank you in particular to my staff.

1:11:04They did an amazing job, especially

1:11:06James. Also, uh this past Saturday we

1:11:09had successful Pilates at Railroad Park.

1:11:12Um thank you to our partners, Kinetic

1:11:15Fit, Kinetic Fitness, and our instructor

1:11:17was King Yale Harrison, Railroad Park,

1:11:20Harmony, and Alicia's Coffee. Get fit

1:11:23while you sit continues every Monday

1:11:25through the last Monday of this month.

1:11:27Join us for this free community fitness

1:11:29class. Our next class is Monday,

1:11:32September 21st from 9:30 to 10 10:30

1:11:35a.m. at Holy Family Birmingham High

1:11:37School. We look forward to seeing you

1:11:39there. As far as neighborhood meetings,

1:11:41Five Point South Neighborhood will meet

1:11:43in the South Hall of Highland United

1:11:45Methodist Church at 6 p.m. today. Um,

1:11:49today we pause to remember the four

1:11:51little girls who lost their lives in the

1:11:53bombing of the 16th Street Baptist

1:11:54Church on September 15th, 1963. Um, I do

1:11:59also know there were others that were

1:12:00lost that same day as well. [snorts] Uh,

1:12:02we honor their memory and their legacy

1:12:04in Birmingham and beyond. Other events

1:12:07that are happening Saturday, September

1:12:0826, that's the last Saturday this month.

1:12:11Uh, Brenda Brown Bosom will have her

1:12:13sister strut. Uh, I think it's the 15th

1:12:15year, and it will be at Legion Field at

1:12:17700 a.m. You still have time to sign up.

1:12:20And then Urban Ministry will be hosting

1:12:22a color green cookoff that will be at

1:12:24their campus in West End. Uh they'll

1:12:27have free collard greens, free

1:12:28cornbread, free sweet potatoes, and they

1:12:31will be having a um competition. I will

1:12:34be a judge again that starts at 12, but

1:12:36the actual event is from 11 to 2. Then I

1:12:39want to say a happy early birthday to my

1:12:41mom. Her birthday is Friday, September

1:12:4325th. Thank you.

1:12:45>> Thank you very much, council.

1:12:47>> Thank you, Madam President. Uh movies in

1:12:49Aenddale Park continue this Thursday uh

1:12:52with a three-w weekek run of

1:12:54familyfriendly films. Uh open seating

1:12:56starts at 6 pm. Musician performs for

1:12:59for about 45 minutes before shorts

1:13:02showtime. This is a free event at

1:13:04Aenddale Park and a lovely event as

1:13:06well. Uh, Growing Up with Attacus is a

1:13:10play that will be running at the

1:13:13Virginia Sanford Theater from this

1:13:15Thursday, September 17th until the 27th.

1:13:18So, that's a 10-day run. We're excited

1:13:20about that play. Um, tickets online, of

1:13:22course. And lastly, we have the Five

1:13:26Point South Neighborhood meeting tonight

1:13:28at 6 PM.

1:13:31>> Thank you, Madam President.

1:13:32>> Thank you, Madam Pro.

1:13:34>> Thank you, Madam President. Um, North

1:13:36Birmingham neighborhood residents is

1:13:38having a get to know your neighbor day.

1:13:40That will be Saturday, September the

1:13:4219th from 11 to 3 at the North

1:13:44Birmingham Park located at 350128th

1:13:47Street North. So, they wanted people to

1:13:50come out, free food and games. Bring

1:13:52your chairs and tents and enjoy their

1:13:56get to know your neighbor day and it's

1:13:57sponsored by the North Birmingham

1:13:59Neighborhood Association.

1:14:01Neighborhood meetings, Evergreen

1:14:02Neighborhood Meeting will meet tonight

1:14:03at 5:00 p. p.m. at Heine Missionary

1:14:05Baptist Church. East Thomas Neighborhood

1:14:07Meeting will be held tonight. Um they

1:14:10look like they're meeting on Zoom, so

1:14:12you can call the office for the Zoom

1:14:15link. South Pre neighborhood meeting

1:14:17will be held tonight at 6:30 at Lively

1:14:19Hope Baptist Church. Ensley neighborhood

1:14:23meeting will be held on Thursday,

1:14:24September the 17th. And that's at 6 PM

1:14:27at Mackie Alpine Rec Center in

1:14:28Smithfield Estates. Neighborhood meeting

1:14:30will be held on Saturday,

1:14:33September the 19th at Bethl Baptist

1:14:35Church. And then on Monday, Jury Hill

1:14:38will meet at Protective Stadium. And

1:14:41that's September the 21st at 6 p.m. And

1:14:43the next public safety meeting will be

1:14:44held Tuesday, September the 22nd. So

1:14:47please submit your items by Wednesday,

1:14:50September the 16th, no later than 12

1:14:51noon to Gregory. family and Ashant.

1:14:54Little at birmingham.gov.

1:14:56I wanted to extend a big big big thank

1:14:59you to Park and Wreck, Birmingham Police

1:15:03Department, Fire and Rescue, City

1:15:06Workers, AJ Johnson, who helped us out

1:15:10at Legion Field on Sunday to, you know,

1:15:12maintain the the crowd. It was a good

1:15:15event. We want to just thank BG Grace

1:15:16Media. We want to thank our artists,

1:15:18Darnell Jones and Michelle A. really

1:15:20entertain the crowd and everybody had a

1:15:24wonderful time. So, I extend a warm

1:15:26thank you and a big thank you to all of

1:15:27those who played a major part in making

1:15:31sure that we had a successful event.

1:15:32That's my announcements, Madam

1:15:34President. Thank you very much. These

1:15:36are announcements for district 7. This

1:15:39evening at 6:30 p.m., the Green Acres

1:15:42Neighborhood Association will meet and

1:15:43they meet at the Lifting Christ Worship

1:15:45Center, which is over in Green Acres. On

1:15:48Thursday the 17th, the Hillman and the

1:15:50Hillman Park neighborhood associations,

1:15:52they have a combined meeting that starts

1:15:54at 5:00 pm and that'll be at Hillman

1:15:57Station at 4817 Jefferson Avenue and

1:16:00that's at Hopewell Baptist Church. On

1:16:03Saturday, I wanted to reiterate on the

1:16:0426th, you still have time to register

1:16:07and support Brenda's Brown Bosom

1:16:10Buddies. Um, as counselor Smitherman has

1:16:12already stated, they will be hosting

1:16:14their 15th annual sister strut. So, um,

1:16:17they're asking you to walk, run, ride,

1:16:19stroll, come on out to Legion Field.

1:16:21Again, that's Saturday, September 26,

1:16:247:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. And we're really

1:16:27asking you to support this event. Brenda

1:16:30Brown, Bosom Buddies, um, she has been

1:16:32doing work in the community and it just

1:16:35supports um, not only breast cancer, but

1:16:37all types of cancers and she has just

1:16:40it's not just having mammograms, it's

1:16:42providing support for an entire family.

1:16:44So we thank her for her service and we

1:16:46definitely want to support this and

1:16:48congratulations to each council on the

1:16:50events you've had. Had a great time. So

1:16:52thank you councelor Tate and councelor

1:16:55Quinn. You all had your combined event.

1:16:56It was a very good one. And um councelor

1:16:59Smitherman looks like you all were doing

1:17:01all kinds of things over cross district

1:17:03six. So thank you very much. At this

1:17:06time madam clerk will entertain um the

1:17:08speakers list. And before speakers come

1:17:10up I want to remind you you have three

1:17:12minutes. We have two video boards there.

1:17:15Your time will be counting down. When it

1:17:17goes into the red, you're about 30

1:17:19seconds um towards the end. So, we'll

1:17:22have you to call the first speaker and

1:17:23if you give your name and your address.

1:17:26Thank you.

1:17:26>> AJ Johnson.

1:17:35>> Good morning, city council.

1:17:37>> Morning

1:17:37>> uh to the mayor's office and on behalf

1:17:39of the mayor's chief of staff, Cedric

1:17:41Sparks. Um to the whole council before I

1:17:44even start I want to say that this has

1:17:47nothing to do with you as a whole. I'm

1:17:50coming to speak on behalf of a

1:17:52individual that worked with me. His name

1:17:55was Vosan Rose and I'd like to pass this

1:17:58around so y'all can touch him because

1:18:02this young man worked for the city of

1:18:04Birmingham for over 20 years.

1:18:07And Ban was a friend of mine that worked

1:18:11in construction when I was doing asphalt

1:18:14for the city of Birmingham. Uh to give

1:18:17you a little background on me, I've done

1:18:19more asphalt and more potholes than any

1:18:22person in the city of Birmingham during

1:18:24my tenure. So, with that being said, I

1:18:28want to say

1:18:30that 2 and 1/2 weeks ago,

1:18:32uh, about 8:00 at night, I got a phone

1:18:35call from Bosshan. And Bosshan told me,

1:18:38he said, AJ.

1:18:41I said, who is this? He said, this

1:18:43Bosan. I said, who? He said, Bosshan. I

1:18:47said, Bosan. He said, man, I work with

1:18:49you in construction. I said,

1:18:52okay, okay. And so talking to him, it

1:18:56started turnurning in my spirit who he

1:18:59was. So I'm like, "Oh, okay. Now I know

1:19:01who this mother is, man." Calling me. So

1:19:04he said, "Um, AJ, I need to talk to you

1:19:07about something." I said, "What's going

1:19:08on, man?" He said, "You know, I I became

1:19:12a supervisor over the night shift."

1:19:16So I said, "Man, that's great." He said,

1:19:18"Man,

1:19:20they they love me over here, AJ." He

1:19:22said, "I'm doing a great job." He said,

1:19:24"Man, I'm doing like we always talked

1:19:26about. I'm helping my people." And I

1:19:28told him, I said, "Oh, that's great,

1:19:30man. I'm so proud of you." Then he told

1:19:33me,

1:19:35"Honey," he said,

1:19:38"But they demoted me." I said, "You just

1:19:41told me you got to be a supervisor." He

1:19:43said, "Yeah." He said, "But man, my mama

1:19:46is sick." And I started going to check

1:19:48on my mother. He said, "I went to check

1:19:51on my mother and it got back to my

1:19:55supervisor that I went and checked on my

1:19:57mom and I took her some food." He said,

1:20:00"AJ, they demoted me and gave me 10 days

1:20:03off." I said, "They demoted you and gave

1:20:06you 10 days." He said, "Yeah."

1:20:09I said, "So why are you calling me?" He

1:20:11said, "AJ, I just need somebody to talk

1:20:13to." And Crystal, I need you to get in

1:20:16contact with that lady Johnson you just

1:20:18talked about because Madame President,

1:20:22Madame Pro Tim, I talked to you guys

1:20:23Sunday. These people need someone to

1:20:27talk to.

1:20:29And I'm talking to my counselor in

1:20:31District 1 Clinton. These people, city

1:20:35workers,

1:20:37attorney King need someone to talk to.

1:20:41Everybody isn't strong. And see, a a

1:20:45young lady told me Sunday, she said,

1:20:46"AJ, why are you so mean?" I said, "You

1:20:49know what? When you're mean, people do

1:20:51what you ask them to do.

1:20:54And when you don't play, see, I don't

1:20:55have time to play. They put me at Legion

1:20:58Field to keep them children straight at

1:21:01them football games." Dr. Sullivan said,

1:21:04"AJ, handle these children for us." He

1:21:07don't say, "AJ, be nice to these

1:21:09babies." See, because when you when you

1:21:11talk to them like this, baby, come on

1:21:14now, be sweet. They going to just run

1:21:17right on over you. So, my whole point

1:21:19is, honey, it goes back to what you just

1:21:21asked these two young men. What are your

1:21:24plans? So, I'm asking the council to do

1:21:27me a favor and to build a plan for city

1:21:30workers. They have a lot of mental

1:21:33constraints that they are going through.

1:21:35They bring a lot of mental things to the

1:21:37job.

1:21:39They bring stuff to the job.

1:21:42>> AJ, we really want to thank you for

1:21:44bringing this to us. I I really

1:21:45understand and

1:21:48I appreciate you bringing this for

1:21:51support of all of the employees and we

1:21:53know how just as people they have

1:21:56challenges that they everybody handles

1:21:59them differently. So, I think appreciate

1:22:01the message that you're bringing us

1:22:02because we really want to bring these

1:22:04support to our our um not only to our

1:22:07co-workers but to everyone in the city.

1:22:09I know that's why counselors I know we

1:22:11have two counselors that have invested a

1:22:13lot of revenue in discretionary support

1:22:16in wanting to be sure we have mental

1:22:18health support for our residents. So,

1:22:20>> well, in closing, President Alexander, I

1:22:22would not I was not just speaking on

1:22:24behalf of the workers. Yes, I'm speaking

1:22:26on behalf of all of us because all of us

1:22:29have started somewhere.

1:22:31>> So, I want to say this because I would

1:22:33be remiss in not saying this. I called a

1:22:36young man named Cedric Sparks. Y'all

1:22:37know him.

1:22:38>> I called him and he said, "I'm on it." I

1:22:42called a guy named Randall Woodson.

1:22:44Y'all know him. He said, "Hey, AJ, I'm

1:22:46on it." And he came. So, Hunter, my

1:22:49whole point is, and the reason I'm

1:22:51pointing these things out to you, half

1:22:52of y'all I know and I can talk to y'all.

1:22:55There are six council people on this

1:22:57council that I know personally that I

1:22:59can talk to. Everybody probably can't

1:23:01reach you guys like I can. So I'm just

1:23:04saying in that

1:23:07President Pro Tim Tate that they need

1:23:11help

1:23:12and when they can't get help I I can go

1:23:16to Chenet. I can go to Ron. I can call

1:23:19you. A lot of people can't. So, I'm just

1:23:23asking you to please keep us in mind.

1:23:25Thank you.

1:23:25>> Thank you very much. And I do just want

1:23:27to remind everyone as well, we do have

1:23:29the employee assistance program and you

1:23:32can get more details about that on our

1:23:34website and um so that we can offer the

1:23:36support we can for everyone. Thank you.

1:23:38Next speaker,

1:23:40>> Terry Michael.

1:23:49>> Thank you.

1:23:51Good morning. Um Terry Michael, 629

1:23:54Ridgetop Circle. Um today I'm speaking

1:23:56on the Enley Works property because I

1:23:59believe the vision for this land um has

1:24:01significantly changed since the process

1:24:03began. Uh for decades a large portion of

1:24:06Ensley Works has been zoned MXD, planned

1:24:10mixeduse. The Pratt Enley framework plan

1:24:13discussed a broad vision for this

1:24:15property, including previous efforts to

1:24:17transform it into a mixeduse

1:24:19transitoriented activity center and

1:24:22ultimately a vibrant district. Then in

1:24:25February of 25, residents were asked to

1:24:28endorse this resoning plan. And I want

1:24:30to be accurate, the MXD to I1 change was

1:24:34on that map that they saw, but they

1:24:36weren't voting on callers on a map. They

1:24:39were participating in a planning process

1:24:42based on a vision. Residents were

1:24:45talking about protecting their

1:24:46neighborhoods from incompatible

1:24:49industrial uses. City planners were

1:24:51talking about downsizing the necessary

1:24:54heavy industry, mixeduse development,

1:24:57and walkability. Today, the city talks

1:25:00about it becoming a major center for

1:25:02logistics and manufacturing, attracting

1:25:05national and global companies, competing

1:25:07for major employers, and preparing for

1:25:10the next generation of industry. That is

1:25:13a significant shift in emphasis. And

1:25:16maybe there are good reasons for it, but

1:25:18if the vision changes, the community

1:25:20deserves to be brought back into the

1:25:22conversation before you permanently

1:25:24change the zoning. Public participation

1:25:26shouldn't mean asking people what they

1:25:28want, getting their support, and then

1:25:30allowing the purpose of one of the

1:25:32largest properties in their community to

1:25:34evolve without going back to them.

1:25:37That's not meaningful public

1:25:38participation. It's not good government.

1:25:40I want to remind you, US Steel was

1:25:42deeply involved in both the Oxmore

1:25:44Corporate Park and Ensley Works. Both

1:25:47involve enormous former US Steel land

1:25:49holdings and both have involved

1:25:50Birmingham's unusual MXDA plan mixeduse

1:25:54framework. Today, Landon Oxmore that

1:25:56spent decades within that plan

1:25:58development framework is becoming a

1:26:00hyperscaled data center. So, here's what

1:26:03I'm proposing. The city has just

1:26:05received the seed grant for master

1:26:07planning, environmental studies, and

1:26:09site readiness work on the property. So,

1:26:12before we permanently change the zoning,

1:26:14why not allow that work to be completed

1:26:17and begin those findings and bring those

1:26:20findings back to the community?

1:26:22Birmingham already has a zoning concept

1:26:24designed for land use that's um in

1:26:27transition. That's HZD holding zone

1:26:31district. The problem is that its use is

1:26:33currently limited to recently annexed

1:26:35property. You can hold off on the I1

1:26:39reszoning altogether or amend the HZD so

1:26:43that it can be used for the

1:26:44redevelopment of properties such as this

1:26:47and then apply it to Ensley Works.

1:26:49Finish the environmental work. Finish

1:26:51the master plan. Bring the community

1:26:53back to the table. This property has

1:26:55waited decades. Waiting a little longer

1:26:57won't hurt Ensley. Getting this wrong

1:26:59could. The community participated it in

1:27:02good faith. They deserve their

1:27:04government to operate in good faith with

1:27:05them. Thank you for allowing me to speak

1:27:08today.

1:27:09>> Thank you.

1:27:11Next speaker,

1:27:13>> Yolanda Flowers.

1:27:22Good morning.

1:27:23>> Great, great morning to you all, city

1:27:26council, um, Sister Alexander, Sister

1:27:29Tate, and everyone. I am grateful to be

1:27:32able to speak this morning. Of course, I

1:27:34don't come often, but when I do, this is

1:27:36the same concerns in my community. Well,

1:27:39my neighborhood, which is Oak Oakidge

1:27:42Park community, well, neighborhood. um

1:27:45in regards to getting speed bumps and

1:27:50sidewalks.

1:27:53That community or that neighborhood is

1:27:56almost a hundred years old.

1:27:58I was born and raised in that

1:28:01neighborhood. And just over this the the

1:28:05years that I've spent in Tennessee and

1:28:08migrated back home only a block of that

1:28:13neighborhood is we have sidewalks.

1:28:17We have children in there. This is a

1:28:20school that is placed in that

1:28:22neighborhood. And we have what I call a

1:28:25chanceoriented generation which will

1:28:28come and just fly through and we have

1:28:32walkers. They are not concerned about

1:28:35our children nor our walkers. Just

1:28:39Saturday,

1:28:40Saturday morning,

1:28:43because we don't have speed bumps, one

1:28:46of my neighbors cars dislodged and

1:28:51mowled down my fence, mowed down my

1:28:55porch.

1:28:56And I have great grandbabies that are

1:28:58living there with me. I don't want to

1:29:01look, I'm almost 70 years old. My

1:29:04neighborhood is almost a hundred years

1:29:06old.

1:29:08I need to see change. I would hate for

1:29:11someone to die because of the lack of

1:29:15y'all not listening to what I've been

1:29:17coming. I'm the only one in my

1:29:19neighborhood that is coming and bringing

1:29:21this before you. We brought it to Daryl

1:29:25O'Quinn, which is my councilman. We

1:29:28mentioned it to this the chief of staff.

1:29:31They took a couple of of streets, but

1:29:35every street needs some bumps. And I

1:29:40would hate for someone to die

1:29:43because someone has run over a child or

1:29:49one of us elders for walking. So please,

1:29:54I I I am soliciting you all to please

1:29:58come. I had an opportunity to talk to uh

1:30:03brother Prince to let him know what is

1:30:06going on in our neighborhood. I need you

1:30:08all to address this thing. It should not

1:30:12go another hundred years and is not

1:30:15being dealt with and it should not a

1:30:19death should not occur before you all

1:30:22takes an action. So please this is my

1:30:25prayer. This is my concern.

1:30:30Thank you. I appreciate it.

1:30:32>> Thank you.

1:30:37>> Have any other speakers?

1:30:39>> No, ma'am.

1:30:40>> I do want to just reiterate, we do have

1:30:42a um traffic study program that

1:30:45initiates within the neighborhood. So, I

1:30:48don't know if your neighborhood has

1:30:49taken on any uh work when it talks about

1:30:52speed bumps. um they do work with the

1:30:54Department of Public Transportation to

1:30:56mitigate those type issues. So I just

1:30:58wanted

1:31:00I know Dr. Quinn you say you've talked

1:31:02with him but also a part of that comes

1:31:04through the neighborhood process. So if

1:31:06you could initiate that with your

1:31:08neighborhood president that would be

1:31:09great and we do have monies that are set

1:31:11aside in the budget where we are have

1:31:13money for sidewalk. So that's just my

1:31:15comment but thank you.

1:31:23And Miss Flowers,

1:31:25uh, we did I did hear from one of the

1:31:27transportation committee members that

1:31:29that conversation did come up yesterday.

1:31:31So, they are looking into that. So, I

1:31:32just don't want you to feel that you're

1:31:34left out with that. Okay. Thank you.

1:31:36Thank you, Councelor Pro.

1:31:39Thank you. No other speakers. All right.

1:31:41At this time, we want to thank our

1:31:43officers on duty. That was officer

1:31:45Pinkert, Wesley, and Ingram. And our

1:31:47fire inspector was Chief Johnson. This

1:31:49time we'll entertain a motion for

1:31:50adjournment.

1:31:52>> All those in favor

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