Committee Meetings August 18, 2025

Finance - August 18, 2025


The Finance Committee advanced a $3 million tax incentive agreement for rebuilding Piggly Wiggly on its current site with added green space and safer pedestrian access, sending it to public hearing on August 25. The committee also approved funding and agreements for the Lakeshore/I-65 diverging diamond interchange. Committee reviewed a $127.5 million FY25–26 budget plan with $21 million in capital projects, authorized budget transfers for storm debris cleanup and paving, selected a new audit firm, and carried over a $310,940 business license penalty request.



Agenda: https://bit.ly/47BSvbY

  • Details

    Item 150825: This was a request for a \$3 million tax incentive agreement tied to the new Piggly Wiggly construction plan. Instead of building a new store behind the current site, the project will rebuild on the existing location, which will temporarily close the store. The new design adds green space, improves pedestrian safety near the tunnel, provides more parking than before, and solves loading dock concerns. The project will also use the basement for storage, freeing more retail space. The original \$3.5 million request was reduced to \$3 million since construction costs are lower. The committee approved sending the agreement forward without recommendation, pending a public hearing.


    Item 030725: This set the bid date for Green Springs Phase 2. No vote was needed other than acknowledging the scheduled bid opening. Carried over.


    Item 010825: This was funding approval for the Lakeshore and I-65 diverging diamond project. The total cost came in higher than expected at \$29 million, with Homewood’s share at \$5.8 million. Despite concerns, the project was seen as critical for traffic flow, safety, and supporting businesses like Walmart and Sam’s. The committee approved funding from debt reserve accounts. Approved.


    Item 180725: This authorized the city manager to execute a traffic signal and lighting maintenance agreement connected to the diverging diamond project. Approved.


    Item 020825: This was the presentation of the city’s proposed 2025–2026 budget. It outlined \$127 million total, with \$74.8 million for operations and \$21 million for capital projects. It included cost-of-living raises, merit increases, new hires in some departments, and clarified debt service and capital improvement planning. The report was accepted and forwarded for full council presentation. Approved.


    Item 030825: This allowed budget line item transfers to cover tornado debris disposal, vehicle maintenance, water and sewer work, and paving striping. A \$90,000 grant will help offset one project cost. Approved.


    Item 160825: This approved hiring a new audit agency after proposals and interviews. The chosen firm offered strong qualifications and reasonable cost. Approved.


    Item 170825: This was about business license penalties for Southern Veterinary Partners. An audit showed they were undercharged for four years and owed \$310,940. They paid the amount but will request abatement of penalties. Since no representative was present, the item was carried over. Carried over.


Public Works - August 18, 2025


The Public Works Committee approved a request to reconstruct a storm-damaged deck and fence in the city’s right of way at 2824 16th Place South, contingent on an indemnification agreement.


Agenda: https://bit.ly/4fIowkP

  • Details

    Item 040825: This was a request to rebuild a deck and fence at 2824 16th Place South after storm damage revealed the structures were in the city’s right of way. The homeowner explained the fence had been in place since before they bought the house, and the issue only came up during replacement. Photos and surveys confirmed the placement, and the committee agreed the work could move forward with an indemnification agreement. Approved.


Planning & Development - August 18, 2025


The Planning and Development Committee set a September 15 public hearing for an amended development plan at 215 Lakeshore Parkway, allowing Southern Brew Coffee to replace a former barbecue restaurant with a 12,720 sq. ft. dual drive-thru retail building. The committee discussed site orientation, traffic flow, and visibility, ultimately sending it forward with a favorable recommendation.



Agenda: https://bit.ly/3HGwQop

  • Details

    Item 052525: This was a request to amend the development plan for 215 Lakeshore Parkway, allowing Southern Brew Coffee to replace a former barbecue restaurant with a 12,720-square-foot, single-story retail space featuring a dual drive-thru. The applicant explained the setup would operate similar to Sonic or Chick-fil-A, with employees serving customers in their cars. Discussion centered on the building’s orientation, ensuring the front faced Lakeshore Parkway for visibility, and traffic flow was also addressed. The committee voted to send the request forward with a favorable recommendation, with a public hearing set for September 15. Approved.


More

April 10, 2026
FREE live music is coming to downtown, Saturday, April 11 . Join the Homewood Arts Council for the Yacht Rock Spectacular at SoHo Square Plaza from 5:30pm to 7:30pm . Enjoy classic hits from the 1970s and 1980s made popular by artists like Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Ambrosia, Toto, and Christopher Cross. See you there!
April 8, 2026
The Planning Commission discussed a request to rezone two properties on Montgomery Street from a neighborhood shopping district to a central business district so a local fitness studio could move into a larger space. There was discussion about parking and noise, with a nearby property owner raising concerns about overflow parking and loud music. The applicant explained that parking would meet requirements with about 21 spaces and that the business operates by appointment, limiting traffic. They also shared plans to add soundproofing to reduce noise. The owner agreed to restrict certain uses on the property, including no drive-throughs, gas stations, liquor stores, smoke shops, auto parts stores, or theaters. The Planning Commission approved the rezoning with conditions tied to the site plan, parking, and use restrictions, and it will now move to City Council with a positive recommendation Agenda: https://bit.ly/3PQ7et2
April 6, 2026
As part of spring cleaning across Homewood, crews have been replacing old and aging street signs. So far, about 547 of the city’s roughly 572 signs have been updated, with the remaining to be finished by the end of May. They are made in house by our Traffic Department, led by Randy Hambly. His team designs, produces, and installs them. This includes street name signs, parking signs, speed limit signs, and warning signs like school crossings, pedestrian crossings, dead end signs, and stop ahead signs. Producing these in house saves money each year and allows crews to respond faster by designing, making, and installing signs without waiting on outside vendors. On average, the city makes about 250 to 300 signs each year. Materials are sourced from trusted suppliers, including one based in West Homewood, which allows for quick turnaround on orders and keeps the process moving efficiently. This is one of many ways the Traffic Department works each day to serve our residents and keep things running smoothly across the city.
April 4, 2026
Crews will begin milling and paving 18th St South from Oxmoor Rd to Rosedale Drive starting Monday, April 6.  Work will take place at night beginning at 8pm and finish each day before morning traffic to help reduce impacts.
April 4, 2026
At the April 2, 2026 meeting, the Board of Zoning Adjustments approved a fence variance on Irving Road to improve accessibility, and a carport enclosure on Edgemoor to create more livable space without changing the home’s character. The board also approved additional signage for a Lakeshore Parkway business to help customers better find the location, while a couple of cases were pushed to May at the applicant’s request. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4duWxpB
March 24, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - March 23, 2026 Council worked through a short agenda, focusing on a few key items including a request to use a parking space for a crawfish boil in April and a proposal tied to landscaping extending into the right of way near Whitehall. They also reviewed surplus equipment headed to auction, an HVAC repair needed to keep part of a HPD functional, and a shift in authority for signing opioid settlement agreements to the city manager. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4bKstE3
March 10, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - March 9, 2026 Amy Weis, caretaker for Sims Garden, shared an update on plans to become a stronger community resource and teaching space. The garden is a city owned park with deep local history. Councilors also reviewed a budget amendment for Trane services that helps manage City Hall systems and saves money, discussed a retaining wall at 521 Edgehill Drive that extends into the right of way, and considered an annual spring cornhole series in front of City Hall. Agenda: https://bit.ly/40n8iXl
March 9, 2026
Homewood uses two services to collect garbage and debris . Each one handles different materials: Amwaste – Garbage and Recycling The Amwaste truck collects household garbage and recycling on your regular pickup days. Household garbage should be bagged and placed in your garbage cart, and boxes should be broken down before putting them in the cart. Carts should be placed out by 6:00am on your pickup days. Reminders: Residents can place up to three carts at the curb. You can use other types of cans/carts as long as they are 45 gal and larger. They don’t have to be an Amwaste or Republic cart. As long as you have one black Amwaste cart, or blue Republic cart, Amwaste will not provide any more. But if you have not received a black Amwaste cart, request one here. If you have (3) bags or less of small debris, leaves, pine straw, grass clippings, or small limbs, place them in your garbage cart to be picked up by Amwaste, not at the curb. City of Homewood Claw Truck – Debris and Bulk Piles The City of Homewood operates a “claw truck” that collects large debris piles such as tree limbs, brush, and other bulk yard debris placed at the curb. The truck runs weekly Monday through Thursday based on your neighborhood schedule, and residents do not need to request pickup. Please do not place debris near mailboxes, utility poles, signs, walls, or storm drains. The truck has to position itself to reach your debris pile. Reminders: Small debris, leaves, pine straw, grass clippings, and small limbs should be bagged, and you must have a minimum of (4) bags to place at the curb to be picked up by the claw truck. If you have (3) bags or less, they must go in your garbage cart for pick up by Amwaste, and will not be picked up by the claw truck. Single branches will not be picked up. It must be a pile. All construction or landscaping debris must be removed by the contractor.
March 8, 2026
At the March 5, 2026 meeting, the Board of Zoning Adjustments reviewed several variance requests, approving a signage request for Pickleball Kingdom on Lakeshore Parkway and a second story setback at 422 Woodland Drive, while denying requests at 504 Hampton Drive, 301 Ascot Road, 837 Forest Drive, and the carried over case at 320 Le Prado Circle. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4b98PBj
February 26, 2026
The deck is open! The 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors of the Dawson Baptist Church parking deck are now open for public use during these hours: Monday-Saturday 7:00am - 12:00am This provides over 300 additional parking spaces for the Edgewood business district. We are grateful to Dawson for making this space available for the city to lease and for partnering with us on a solution that serves the whole community.
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