Special Election Sept. 24

**NOTE: Absentee ballots are no longer available for this election. Sept. 17 was last day to receive absentee applications by mail. 



PROCOLOMATION FOR SPECIAL ELECTION


ELECTION OFFICERS


VOTING MACHINE INSPECTIONS

September 24, 2024, voting will be from 7:00am to 7:00pm in the following locations:



Ward 1 - Homewood Recreation Center

Homewood Park - 1632 Oxmoor Road


Ward 2 - Senior Citizens Center

816 Oak Grove Road


Ward 3 - Edgewood Elementary School

901 College Avenue


Ward 4 - Homewood Public Library

1721 Oxmoor Road


Ward 5 - Shades Cahaba Elementary School

3001 Independence Drive

In February 2024, the city council voted to look at the possibility of changing the form of government in Homewood to allow for a City Manager (watch the video at the bottom of the page to see the presentation of this proposal). Currently, the city does not have a full-time executive. 


The mayor handed it off to the council to investigate the options. The council created an ad hoc committee made up of councilors, department heads, residents, business leaders, and community leaders to look at the various possibilities. They looked at three models that have city managers- Hoover, Mt. Brook and Vestavia Hills, and unanimously believed that the Vestavia's model was the best fit for Homewood. After many months of research, the committee felt comfortable with the statutory model which has the mayor as part of the city council, and then the city manager as the chief executive of the city, called the "Council/Manager" model. 


A petition garnered enough signatures from Homewood voters to have a referendum. A special called municipal election has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 for the purpose of determining whether or not the qualified voters of the City of Homewood approve the adoption of the "Council/Manager" form of government. Absentee ballots can be downloaded or obtained at city hall starting August 27th, 2nd floor city clerk's office. 


Video- view the special called council meeting that approved all resolutions needed to have this election.

*This deadline has passed


If you have not already registered, the deadline to register to vote was September 9, 2024.

The council created an ad-hoc committee made up of councilors, department heads, residents, business leaders, and community leaders to look at the various possibilities. 


The committee reviewed three cities with city managers: Hoover, Mt. Brook, and Vestavia Hills. They all agreed that the "Council-Manager" model from Vestavia was the best fit for Homewood. This decision came after they interviewed city managers from each location. Of all options available to attain a city manager for Homewood, the committee believed this was the best option to hire a city manager since the process and responsibilities are guided by state statute and it meant that the position will be accountable to the full council, including the mayor. This means the position can't be eliminated or altered on a whim. No other option to add a city manager has this.

 

As part of adopting this government style, a referendum must take place (Sept. 24), which lets the citizens vote on the change. 


It is important to note that boards, including the school board, will NOT change under this new model. They all stay the same.


This new government would reduce the number of councilors from eleven, to four, each designated to represent one of four wards (shown below). There would also be a mayor elected city-wide who would hold a dual role as council president. That would make it a five person body to vote on matters of the city. There are 11 other cities in Alabama, of similar size, with a five person voting body. Five is the "norm" for cities our size and is the reason leadership chose it instead of a seven body model.


This new model allows for an appointment of a city manager by the council to supervise the day-to-day operations of the city, with accountability to the entire council and mayor. This is the only option available to the city that assures of guidelines dictated by state statute for the responsibilities of the city manager, while making sure the position can't be eliminated or altered on a whim.


The proposed ward map with four ward boundaries, instead of five, was redrawn by the state according to census data (shown below). Right now, Homewood has five council wards, each with two elected officials – a council president and mayor.

Proposed Ward Map if Referendum is Approved

VIEW PDF

Why does the current structure have to change and why have a city manager? City leadership felt comfortable with the statutory model which has the mayor as part of the city council, and then the city manager as the chief executive of the city. To adopt this structure, the city must switch to a council/manager form of government. By law, this shift changes the entire government setup. You can't alter the council composition or the mayor's role without changing the government form. To achieve this, a referendum is necessary. The video below provides an explanation as to why city leaders believe a city manager is important.

Presentation of this proposal from February 2024

Information Session Videos


Tuesday, June 4

Full meeting video: https://youtu.be/XqveKBEyLjs

Sam Gaston, presentation only, video: https://youtu.be/7K2CsAVd-Z8. This was a presentation from Sam Gaston, current city manager of Mountain Brook, and a Q&A session. Find his Powerpoint he presented HERE



Friday, June 14

Meeting video: https://youtu.be/iIoHbrV-I8o. This was a Q&A session that included Gretchen DiFante, the current city manager of Pelham.

*Apologies for some audio technical issues

More

Pre-Council & Council Meetings July 27, 2026

July 28, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - July 27, 2026

Comprehensive Plan

July 24, 2026
Previous Public Meeting Information July 23, 2026 WATCH VIDEO VIEW PRESENTATION May 19, 2026 WATCH VIDEO VIEW PRESENTATION January 28, 2026 WATCH WORKSHOP VIDEO The early results from citizen engagement shows overwhelming satisfaction with quality of life in Homewood, especially when it comes to schools, parks, public safety, and neighborhood character. At the same time, residents made it clear they want to protect what makes Homewood special while continuing to address important challenges like traffic, drainage, sidewalks, infrastructure, and connectivity across the city. Feedback from workshops and surveys will help guide long term planning discussions as Homewood works on a roadmap for the next 25 years. Homewood’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2007. Since then, a lot has changed, and more change is coming. With the city moving to a Council-Manager form of government , this is a key time to clarify what matters most to residents. The plan will help inform capital improvements, public service priorities, housing trends, transportation needs, and future land use. It will also give newly elected officials clear direction on what the community values. Your Voice, Your City Every resident will have a chance to be involved. This isn’t just a document, it’s a shared vision for Homewood’s future, shaped by the people who live here. The plan will reflect the needs of each of the city’s four wards and identify short, medium, and long-term projects for both public and private investment. Whether it's about where new housing fits, what kinds of businesses we want, or how we move around, this process is about making those choices together.

Improving Parking

July 20, 2026
As we work to make the most of public parking, the Homewood Police Department has hired a Parking Enforcement Officer. The goal is to help keep parking spaces available for everyone throughout the day. As a reminder, street parking in Homewood is limited to three hours. Specifically, please be mindful of the two designated ‘Law Enforcement’ parking spaces in front of SoHo Square, which must remain available for police use. There will be a short period where warnings will be issued to help everyone become familiar with the parking requirements before citations begin.

Active Shooter Training

July 15, 2026
You may see a large and very visible police presence around the campus and inside OLS over the next week or so. This is training.  The Homewood Police Department will be conducting active shooter response training on the campus of Our Lady of Sorrows School July 16 and 17 and July 20 through 24, from 9am to 3pm each day. This is part of HPD's annual training and will also include medical trauma treatment and first aid. We wanted to make sure you knew what was happening if you see the activity in the area.

Planning Commission July 14, 2026

July 15, 2026
The Planning Commission reviewed a proposed zoning definition for minor vehicle repair after concerns about vehicle-focused businesses along the Green Springs corridor. Discussion focused on whether the proposed definition was too broad and could affect specialized businesses or existing businesses that may become nonconforming. The commission recommended using a shorter definition focused on routine, low-impact vehicle services and removing the long list of examples. The amended recommendation passed 5 to 1 and now moves to the City Council. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4vQEikP

Scam Alert! Cyber-Criminals Impersonating City Officials

July 15, 2026
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and may use the names of real City officials, employees or information from public meetings to make an email, text message or phone call appear legitimate. A familiar name or email does not mean the message is real. The City of Homewood will NEVER ask you to purchase gift cards, send cryptocurrency or make a personal payment to a City official or employee through an unsolicited email or text message. Cash and check are the only forms of payment currently accepted for Variance, Rezoning, Resurvey, and Development Plan applications. If you receive ANY request involving money, STOP and VERIFY it before responding. Call the City using THIS CONTACT INFO . DO NOT call a phone number included in the suspicious message. You could be calling the scammer back instead of a City official. And if you are still unsure, come see us! Visit City Hall, 4th Floor, and talk directly with our staff. We can help verify any request involving money. You can also verify using these emails: fred.goodwin@homewoodal.org emily.harrismiller@homewoodal.org If you are directed by City staff to send in your payemnt, use this information:  Attn: Department of Engineering and Zoning City of Homewood 2850 19th Street South, Fourth Floor Homewood, AL 35209

31 Tunnel - A Little History

July 14, 2026
The U.S. Highway 31 pedestrian tunnel is temporarily closed while it undergoes a major renovation. While crews are at work over the next few months, we thought it would be a good time to look back at the history of Homewood's longest-serving pedestrian connection. For more than 70 years, the tunnel has provided generations of Homewood families with a safe passage beneath a busy roadway. The tunnel was constructed in 1954 after widening of U.S. Highway 31, then known as Montgomery Highway. At the time, many students who attended Shades Cahaba Elementary lived on the west side of 31. Rather than requiring hundreds of children to cross a rapidly expanding highway at street level, community leaders pushed for a pedestrian underpass. To help make room for the tunnel's west entrance, Hill Food Store, the predecessor to today's Piggly Wiggly, provided a portion of its parking lot.

Pre-Council & Council Meetings July 13, 2026

July 14, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - July 13, 2026

BZA Meeting July 9, 2026

July 10, 2026
The Board of Zoning Adjustments approved a variance for a family to build a therapeutic pool on Gran Ave. The variance allows a 105-square-foot increase in impervious surfacing. The applicant demonstrated the project would remain within the city's maximum allowable impervious surface coverage, at approximately 44.6%, while providing enough space for aquatic therapy for their son with cerebral palsy. The board denied a requested variance for a proposed condominium development on Courtney Drive after nearby residents raised concerns about traffic, alley access, and neighborhood impacts, while approving two separate requests for second story home additions on Ardsley Place and Peerless Avenue. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3SCceD3

US 31 Tunnel Closing

July 6, 2026
Beginning Monday, July 6, the U.S. 31 pedestrian tunnel near Piggly Wiggly will be closed on both ends as construction begins on a major renovation project. Construction is expected to take a few months to work on new landscaping, lighting, and other upgrades designed to create a safer and more welcoming connection for everyone walking through the area.
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