Committee Meetings Oct. 6, 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 Members dropped an outdated fiscal policy update for the next council, authorized the city manager to sign approved contracts under $350,000 through October, and endorsed creating a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

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.
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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
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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
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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
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