Planning Commission Highlights May 6, 2025 24.04.01: This project, which is not associated with the Creekside project currently under consideration, was approved unanimously and will now go before the full council. A representative from Landmark Development presented plans for Samford University’s Bulldog District, focused on adding apartment-style student housing to meet campus residency requirements and enhance campus life with modern amenities. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4jNcIPo Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.

Finance Highlights May 6, 2025 44.04.25: The Creekside Infrastructure Development proposal has raised many concerns among council members and citizens who believe the plan is simply too big for the community and an overreach in many ways. Comments from councilors and citizens focused on the sheer size and scope of the project that will overwhelm the city in many ways. They point to elements like the tall hotel, massive tax incentive requests, heavy traffic impacts, and questions about whether the housing will truly serve students or just become regular apartments. Despite the applicant’s efforts to frame the plan as a community benefit, several council members feel it doesn’t align with what residents want or what the area can realistically support. This item was carried over until the next committee meeting May 19. 02.04.25: The city’s mid-year budget review delivered encouraging news to council members, with revenues exceeding expectations and spending staying right on track. City Manager Glen Adams, who presented the report, highlighted that capital projects, like police vehicles, were progressing as planned and that the city was ahead of its conservative revenue estimates. While the review covered only through February and final numbers will come later, council members asked for quarterly updates in the future to strengthen decision-making and stay ahead of potential issues. 23.04.25: Committee approved authorizing a contract with Whitehead Solutions for $24,000 to overhaul the city’s core network infrastructure. I.T. Director Brandon Sims explained the project will strengthen cybersecurity, add redundancy, and create better network segmentation, especially for protecting police department systems. Work is expected to start immediately and may finish by August, depending on complexity. Key staff will be fully involved with implementation and will be familiar with the new system. This item will now go before the full council for a vote at the next council meeting May 12, 2025 at 6:00pm. 43.04.25: Committee approved a request from City Manager Glen Adams to create a new Deputy Finance Director/Chief Accountant position. Current contractor’s workflow analysis confirmed there’s enough workload to justify the role, and the Jefferson County Personnel Board has preliminarily validated the position. While the role wasn’t in the original budget, funding would come from the general fund. There was concern about waiting until the next fiscal year to include it in the budget process, but committee members emphasized the urgent need now considering the workload and issues the previous director caused. This item will now go before the full council for a vote at the next council meeting May 12, 2025 at 6:00pm. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4mle5Xp Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA Watch the full video above to learn more about all the items presented.

Council Meeting Highlights, April 28, 2025 18.03.25: Council approved a development plan for a proposed project to convert the former Belk space, at the old Brookwood Mall location, into an Andrew's Sports Medicine medical facility, complete with surgery rooms and all levels of care. A spokesman for the ownership group stressed that the renovation is the first step in revitalizing the property. Council members agreed it was important to move forward now, hoping the project will spark future development on the property. Council also set a date of June 9 for public hearings related to the proposed Creekside development by Samford University. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4lYBnCb Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.

Finance Highlights April 21, 2025 The following items will be considered by the full Council on April 28, 2025, at 6:00pm: 01.04.25 – Request to accept the quote to add Tyler Payments to the existing agreement with Tyler Enterprise Permitting and Licensing – Wyatt Pugh, Building Official 02.04.25 – Request for consideration of mid-year budget review – Councilor Barry Smith 03.04.25 – Request for consideration to pay two past due invoices (2023 & 2024) for Big Sky Environmental – Berkley Squires, Public Services 04.04.25 – Request for permission for the City Manager to execute contracts for Oxmoor Road Diet construction – Cale Smith, PE 05.04.25 – Request for consideration for Council to appoint a temporary judge – J.J. Bischoff, Chief of Staff / Laura Roberts, Court Administrator 06.04.25 – Request for consideration of budget amendment for line item transfer – Chief Broadhead, Fire Chief 07.04.25 – Request for consideration to add a streetlight at 1455 Overlook Road – Randy Hambley, Traffic Department / Councilor Smith 21.04.25 – Request to upgrade the position of Revenue Examiner (18) to Senior Revenue Examiner (21) – Bo Seagrist, City Clerk Agenda: https://bit.ly/42muJOg Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA Watch the full video above to learn more about all the items presented.

The diverging diamond would have drivers temporarily cross to opposite lanes in order to keep traffic at the interchange flowing more smoothly. Design courtesy of Volkert Engineers