Committee Meetings Oct. 6, 2025
October 7, 2025

Finance - October 6, 2025


The Finance Committee approved a $507,000 bid for the Shades Creek Greenway Trailhead Pavilion, reallocating unused tunnel project funds to cover the cost. They also set October 30 bid dates for the Library Phase 4 renovation and Central Avenue TAP project, renewed leases for Soho Social’s City Hall Plaza events and a law office, and approved a $5,000 election budget amendment. Members dropped an outdated fiscal policy update for the next council, authorized the city manager to sign approved contracts under $350,000 through October, and endorsed creating a downtown police substation at City Hall using existing furniture funds and up to three dedicated parking spaces for police cruisers.


Agenda: https://bit.ly/3KY7Kmb

  • Details

    Item 080925: This item set a bid date for construction of the Shades Creek Greenway Trailhead Pavilion. The project includes assembling a prefabricated building, major concrete work, and extending water and sewer lines from the soccer park facilities. The lowest bid came in at $507,000, well above the $250,000 originally budgeted. To cover the gap, funds will be shifted from the U.S. 31 tunnel improvements project later in the year. The committee approved the contract with Coston General Contractors for $507,000. Approved


    Item 180925: This item set a bid date of October 30, 2025, for the Homewood Public Library Phase 4 renovation. The committee noted bids will open just before the new council takes office, so this action was only to set the bid date, with approvals to come later. Approved


    Item 190925: This item set the same bid date—October 30, 2025—for the Central Avenue TAP multimodal project, which will extend sidewalks along the creek from Central Avenue to connect with Spring Park. Approved


    Item 2925: The committee renewed the annual facilities lease agreement for SoHo Social and Social Taco to host events on the City Hall Plaza. The agreement remains unchanged, requiring proof of insurance listing the city as an additional insured. Approved


    Item 210925: The city clerk requested a $5,000 budget amendment, transferring funds from the maintenance account to cover higher-than-expected municipal election costs. Approved


    Item 220925: Renewal of a commercial lease with Walter, Stewart & Kendrick LLP for office space on the third floor of City Hall, at $20 per square foot for one year. Approved


    Item 230925: The city manager proposed updating the city’s fiscal policy, but since the new council will oversee the next budget process, the committee agreed to drop the item and let the new council take it up after November 3. Dropped


    Item 240925: Discussion clarified that this was not about the city manager’s personal employment contract but about authorizing him to sign budget-approved contracts during October, provided they are under $350,000. Anything larger or urgent would return to council. Approved


    Item 250925: A new franchise agreement with Unity Fiber Gulf Coast LLC was presented. The company, affiliated with Southern Light, will provide high-capacity broadband services for commercial and municipal use. The franchise is a name and ownership update, with no new construction planned immediately. Approved


    Item 320925: The mayor proposed creating a small police substation inside City Hall, using an unused ground-floor office space to increase police presence downtown. The plan includes minor renovations and use of existing furniture funds, plus dedicating up to three nearby parking spots for police vehicles. Approved



Public Safety - October 6, 2025


The Public Safety Committee voted to raise most parking fines to $50, with handicapped parking set at $500 and fire lane violations at $250, aiming to deter repeat offenders and improve compliance. The committee also approved adding a “No Parking Any Time” restriction around the circle at Wingate Circle to ensure access for emergency vehicles.


Agenda: https://bit.ly/46CLLd8

  • Details

    Item 170925: This was a request from Court Administrator Laura Roberts to raise the city’s maximum fine limit for ordinance and parking violations. She explained that current fines were not enough to deter repeat offenders. She proposed allowing fines up to $500, giving judges flexibility to apply higher penalties when needed. The committee discussed comparisons with nearby cities, the need to discourage chronic violators, and keeping discretion for judges to adjust based on circumstances. After discussion, they agreed to set parking fines at $50 and allow ordinance fines ranging from $1 to $500. The item was approved.


    Item 260925: This request authorized a “No Parking Any Time” restriction around the circle at Wingate Circle. Residents reported that parked vehicles were blocking driveways and preventing fire truck access. The measure will include striping to clearly mark the no-parking zones around the inside of the circle. The committee approved the request.


Public Works - October 6, 2025


The Public Works Committee discussed a homeowner’s request to install steps and a handrail in the city right-of-way at 421 Devon Drive due to the property’s steep driveway. Members agreed more detailed plans, materials, and drawings are required before any approval, directing the applicant to work with the building department and city manager to resubmit under the new council in November. A separate request to close the road through Brookwood Village for construction of the Andrews Sports Medicine facility was formally withdrawn.


Agenda: https://bit.ly/4mQ9uLG

  • Details

    Item 270925: This was a request to install steps and a handrail in the city right of way at 21 Devon Drive. The homeowner explained that the steep driveway creates safety concerns, especially for elderly visitors and small children. Council members discussed two options—a handrail only or stairs with a handrail—but agreed they needed detailed drawings, materials, and measurements before approval. They advised the applicant to work with the city’s building department and city manager to develop a full plan that meets code and ADA requirements, then return for approval under the new council. The item was dropped.


    Item 280925: This was a request to close the road through Brookwood Village until April 2027 for construction of the Andrews Sports Medicine facility. The applicant withdrew the request before discussion. Council members briefly noted the road is city-owned and commonly used by pedestrians and cyclists, expressing concern about potential impacts if closure is reconsidered later. The item was dropped.


Planning & Development - October 6, 2025


The Planning and Development Committee pulled two items off of the table to drop them. No other business.


Agenda: https://bit.ly/4nD4D1w

More

October 7, 2026
More federal funding is coming to Homewood to address stormwater issues. U.S. Representative Terri Sewell presented a check for $250,000 to the City of Homewood. This funding was obtained through the Fiscal Year 2026 federal appropriations process and is designated for stormwater improvements. It will be used to provide upgrades and expand culvert capacity in the residential neighborhoods surrounding Edgewood Elementary School to help reduce localized street flooding and better protect nearby homes and infrastructure. This follows an earlier $1 million federal allocation from Rep. Sewell in 2024 that will be used for a drainage culvert project along Griffin Creek in the Huntington Road area. That project continues to work its way through the required process, with construction currently hoped to begin in 2027.
October 6, 2026
The Planning Commission approved a resurvey at 215 West Valley Avenue, where a small restaurant is proposed. The Commission also considered changes for a proposed Dutch Bros too be placed at 832 Green Springs Highway, recommending approval of a reduced landscape buffer, but voting 4 to 2 against allowing full access for traffic to flow to and from Raleigh Avenue. That request now moves to the City Council for the final decision. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4zeIxYR
October 5, 2026
Have a lost pet, need to report a stray or have a wildlife issue? There are several important changes to Homewood Animal Control services beginning Monday, October 5. REPORT A STRAY To report a stray , call Homewood Police non-emergency dispatch at 205-332-6200 . The City of Homewood, Homewood Police Department and Homewood Animal Control are partnering with Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) for these services. FIND YOUR PET If you think your animal may have been picked up by Animal Control, call the Greater Birmingham Humane Society at 205-591-6522 . Stray animals picked up in Homewood are taken to 6227 5th Ave. North in Birmingham until GBHS opens its new facility opens on Sydney Drive, and then they will be taken there. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 11:30am. GBHS is closed Sunday. Fees for picking up an animal may include $50 if the animal is unaltered, a $30 impound fee, a $20 rabies fee if proof of vaccination is not available and a $50 City fee. wildlife issues Call Complete Animal Removal at 205-208-7777 . Homewood Animal Control will not respond to wildlife calls involving animals such as raccoons, possums, snakes, coyotes or foxes. after hours Stray animals will not be picked up after hours. If you report a stray after hours, Animal Control will handle the call the next business day.
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Concerned about speeding or other traffic issues on your street? There is a process to look at what is happening and determine whether traffic calming measures are needed and what those measures could be. One example is now moving toward a vote. The City received traffic concerns involving Hambaugh Avenue between Columbiana Road and Dixon Avenue, and Dixon Avenue between Broadway Street and Hambaugh Avenue. Traffic data was collected and studied, and both streets qualified for traffic calming measures. The current proposal calls for speed cushions at two locations on Hambaugh Avenue and two locations on Dixon Avenue. The design also takes emergency response into consideration, allowing fire trucks to travel through the middle of the cushions. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal October 12, 6pm at City Hall, 2nd floor Council Chambers . View Drawings of Cushion Locations Visit Traffic Calming Page
September 30, 2026
Concerned about speeding or other traffic issues on your street? There is a process for looking at those concerns and determining whether something should be done and what measures may be appropriate. Traffic calming is not simply putting in a speed hump or adding a sign. It is a process that uses traffic data, engineering standards and input from several City departments to look at what is happening on a street before deciding what, if anything, should change. It starts with a resident submitting a traffic calming request identifying the location and concern. City Engineering reviews the request and collects traffic data so the street can be evaluated using the City’s standards. If the request continues through the process, it receives additional review from the Complete Streets Advisory Committee. Planning, Traffic, Police and Fire also have an opportunity to look at the request. That is important because a possible solution has to consider more than vehicle speed. Things such as the street itself, pedestrian safety, traffic patterns and emergency response can all be part of determining whether a particular measure makes sense. The mayor and the councilor representing the area also review the request before it can advance to the resident petition stage. If the location qualifies and the request continues, affected residents take part in the petition process required by the City’s traffic calming policy. Only after those steps and required approvals are completed can a location move toward an appropriate traffic calming improvement. The goal is not to assume every traffic concern has the same answer. One street may have different conditions and needs than another. The process gives the City a way to collect information, hear from the people who live in the area and determine whether a traffic calming measure is appropriate and safe. Submit a Traffic Calming Request Visit Traffic Calming Page
September 29, 2026
A city budget is more than a list of numbers. It’s a vital infrastructure that reflects the City’s priorities and determines how resources are used to provide services, support employees and invest in the community. On September 28, the Homewood City Council approved the City’s FY2027 budget. The General Fund is approximately $77 million and supports the day-to-day services residents rely on. Sales and property taxes provide much of the revenue, while personnel costs account for approximately $42 million. The approved budget adds three police officer positions and includes investments in street paving, stormwater projects, sidewalk repairs, replacement vehicles and equipment, and other infrastructure needs throughout the City. In addition to the revenue that supports City operations, one cent of Homewood’s sales tax is dedicated to the Homewood Board of Education. That penny is expected to generate approximately $11.5 million for Homewood City Schools this year. This was the first budget developed under Homewood’s new council-manager form of government. City Manager Cale Smith worked with department heads to identify operational needs and priorities and presented a proposed budget to the City Council. Council members then reviewed the budget through a series of public budget hearings, asked questions and made revisions before approving the final budget. The work does not end with this vote. The City plans to provide monthly reports on revenues and expenditures throughout the year, providing a clearer picture of the City’s financial position on a regular basis. City leadership will also continue evaluating ongoing expenses and revenues to work toward a sustainable budget that provides the services residents expect while responsibly managing the City’s resources. View the September 28 meeting below. View Approved Budget View All Details Inlcuding Budget Hearings
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