Please join us in welcoming Aspen Collins as Homewood’s new Finance Director. Aspen brings more than 20 years of local government experience to the City. She most recently served Mobile County as Deputy Finance Director and Deputy County Administrator. She has also served as Finance Director for the Tuscaloosa and Bessemer housing authorities, along with roles as Finance Director and City Manager in two Nashville suburbs. We are glad to have Aspen bring that experience to Homewood and look forward to the work ahead.

Pre-Council Meeting - AUGUST 24, 2026

Have you ever parked in one of the two compact parking spaces beside Patriot Park near the playground? The City Council recently approved a new city-wide definition of what size vehicle can park in those and other compact designated spaces. What are the requirements? A "compact vehicle" must be small enough to fit completely inside the marked parking space when properly positioned. No part of the vehicle can extend beyond the outside edges of the lines. When larger SUVs or trucks park in those end spaces, they can block the view of children crossing the street to and from Patriot Park and nearby businesses. Keeping those available for smaller vehicles will help keeps our kids safe! Read the Ordinance HERE

You can't climb on him anymore... but beginning Monday, August 17 , you can lean on him to help you navigate information from across the City. Who are we talking about? Our new website chatbot, Bugsy! This little guy will help you find information, get answers to your questions, and connect with the services you need quickly and easily. Bugsy will be available 24/7, and can speak more than 70 languages. We're one of the first cities in Alabama to launch this specific type of tool, and we hope Bugsy, in his new role, continues to be a helpful part of our community for many years to come. About Citibot The City of Homewood is partnering with Citibot , a leader in AI-powered communication solutions for local governments, to provide this great resource. Based in Charleston, SC, Citibot LLC was founded in 2016 with the mission of making government services accessible to all. Citibot CEO Bratton Riley was inspired by the power of conversational chatbots to help governments become more accessible and accountable. “Expectations for quality customer service are always rising,” said Riley. “Cities and counties like Homewood are leading the way, implementing technology that enhances efficiency and improves access to essential information and services.” Citibot provides AI-powered chatbot solutions that enhance communication between residents and local governments. Using smart text messaging and web chat, Citibot enables residents to quickly get answers, report issues, contact staff, and receive real-time alerts. Learn more at http://citibot.io .

Scroll down to "Gift Designation" Choose "Park at Buckingham" in that drop-down

As we enter the 2027 budget cycle season , we wanted to provide a glimpse of one of the most important services we maintain for you the taxpayer. When you see a police car driving through your neighborhood, a fire truck responding to an emergency, or a Public Works crew working in your area, you probably don't think much about what keeps those vehicles running day after day. But behind every one of them is a team whose job is to make sure your investment lasts as long as possible. Homewood's Fleet Maintenance Division doesn't just repair broken vehicles. Their focus is making smart decisions that keep hundreds of pieces of equipment safe, reliable and in service for years while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. "We look at it differently now, especially in today’s economic environment," said Fleet Director Blake Graves. "With the rising cost of everything, we look at where we can save money and still make the necessary repairs. We don't cut corners. Safety is always our number one priority." The fleet team maintains police vehicles, fire trucks, administrative vehicles, standby generators for critical city buildings, tractors, mowers, heavy equipment, roll off trucks and more. They even help fabricate equipment, repair gates and assist other departments whenever a need arises. Homewood is implementing a long term fleet replacement strategy that helps determine when vehicles should be repaired, when they should remain in service and when replacing them provides the best value. A patrol car, for example, experiences far more wear than others. Many operate ten hour shifts, and accelerate or brake drastically, and repeatedly, throughout the day. Fire trucks typically serve on the front line for ten years before moving into reserve service for another decade or more. Maintaining this wide variety of life expectancy is very challenging as parts, fuel and equipment costs continue to rise, stretching every dollar while ensuring police officers, firefighters and city employees are safe and have dependable equipment when they need it most. Homewood's fleet maintenance staff brings decades of combined experience, with expertise ranging from antique vehicles and heavy equipment to fire trucks, tractors, boats and small engines. Just as importantly, experienced technicians invest in training the next generation, passing along knowledge to the younger techs. It's a culture built on craftsmanship and a commitment to doing the job right. For Blake, the best part of the job is the people we have working in our City. "Not just in our shop, but in all the departments,” he said. “When something happens, everybody comes together. We respect each other's jobs, we help each other out to reach a common goal.” That spirit of teamwork provides residents with the high level of professionalism and service they expect every day.

Homewood is in its first year operating under a council-manager form of government , marking an important transition in planning and managing its finances. Rather than focusing on short-term, reactive decisions, City leadership is emphasizing strategic priorities, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. and long-term financial sustainability. Monday, August 10 , City Manager Cale Smith presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget to the City Council, beginning a public review process that will continue until adoption at the end of September. These meetings will be live-streamed and recorded. Budget Timeline August 10: City Manager Cale Smith presented the proposed FY2027 budget. Learn More September 8: Budget hearing (Time TBD) Learn more: Where Does the Money Come From for the City Budget? September 15: Budget hearing (Time TBD) September 17: Budget hearing (Time TBD) September 21: Budget hearing (Time TBD) September 24: Budget hearing ( *If Needed - Time TBD) September 28: Planned budget adoption by the City Council - 6pm

Pre-Council Meeting - AUGUST 10, 2026

Concerned about speeding or traffic on your street? Homewood has updated its 'Traffic Calming Policy' to make the process clearer and more consistent for residents. Requests will begin with City Engineering and traffic data will be collected and reviewed. From there, the request will go through the Complete Streets Advisory Committee and a technical review that includes Planning, Traffic, Police and Fire. The mayor and councilor representing the area will also review the request before residents move into the petition process. The policy also establishes a clearer path for improvements such as speed cushions when a location qualifies. The City plans to use removable rubber speed cushions that are bolted and secured to the roadway, and funding will be budgeted for approved locations. The goal is a process residents can better understand and one that moves traffic safety concerns from a request through review and, when warranted, to an actual improvement. The updated policy was approved unanimously by the City Council on July 27. If you want to request traffic calming measures, VISIT HERE