Balancing Residency And Leadership
Pre-Council Meeting January 26, 2026
Council had an item to consider whether Homewood should ask the Alabama Attorney General for guidance on the state law that requires a city manager to live inside the city limits they serve. Considering the current search underway for this position, council discussed the residency requirement from multiple perspectives, weighing the goal of attracting the strongest possible candidates who may not be able or willing to move to Homewood, against community expectations councilors have heard from residents, that the city manager live in Homewood and be fully invested in the city. It was clarified that this request only seeks legal clarification, not a policy decision.
Other items discussed included letters of support for Brookwood Baptist’s ambulatory surgery centers as part of the certificate of need process, reviewed insurance renewals, approved applying for a Rebuild Alabama Act grant to repave part of Salter Road with a small city match, use of the City Hall plaza for Taste of Homewood on March 19, discussed adding streetlights at two busy crosswalks for safety, formalized board liaison assignments under the new council manager system, and pulled back the Linden Avenue parking restriction item to preserve on street parking in leu of making light changes to existing curb markings.
Agenda:
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Full Meeting Details
Item 070126: This item was a request for the mayor to sign two letters of support for ambulatory surgery centers connected to Brookwood Baptist, one for Princeton and one for Brookwood, as part of their certificate of need application. Council discussed that other nearby cities had signed similar letters and clarified the letters only support the application process, not approval of the facilities themselves. This item was added to the council meeting.
Item 080126: This item involved a request to seek an Attorney General opinion on the state law requiring the city manager to live in Homewood. Council discussed concerns about how the requirement may limit the applicant pool, the cost and availability of housing, and the risk of getting a restrictive opinion that could reduce flexibility in the future. It was clarified that this request only seeks legal clarification, not a policy decision. This item was added to the council meeting.
Item 090126: This item was a request to apply for a fiscal year 2026 Rebuild Alabama Act grant to repave Salter Road from Broadway to Windsor. The city would request about $234,797 with a $10,000 local match already identified, bringing the total project cost to roughly $244,000. Council discussed whether to extend the paving further depending on grant results. This item was added to the council meeting.
Item 100126: This item was a request from the Homewood Chamber of Commerce to use the plaza in front of City Hall for the Taste of Homewood event on Thursday, March 19, from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. The chamber shared details about attendance, local vendors, music, and city ticket allocations. This item was added to the council meeting.
Item 110126: This item was a request to add a streetlight on an existing pole near 823 Cobb Street to improve visibility at a mid block crosswalk used by pedestrians and children. The annual cost was discussed, along with a related budget amendment to fund street and traffic lighting from carryover gas tax funds. This item was added to the council meeting.
Item 120126: This item was a request to add a streetlight at the Greenway trail crossing at Oxmoor Road to improve safety for pedestrians using the trail after dark. Council discussed the heavy nighttime use of the crossing and the lack of existing lighting. This item was added to the council meeting.
Item 130126: This item involved a resolution to formally appoint council liaisons under the new council manager form of government. Council discussed how appointments were made, balanced with the need to follow correct policies for these assignments. This item was added to the council meeting.
Item 140126: This item proposed restricting on street parking along the east side of Linden Avenue between Bri Street and Oxmoor Road. After discussion and feedback from nearby businesses, staff recommended handling safety concerns through existing traffic measures instead. This item was dropped.
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