Committee Meetings Sept. 22, 2025
September 23, 2025

Finance - Sept. 22, 2025


The Finance Committee approved several items including money for a fire station design contract. They also discussed a $1 million county reimbursement for Lakeshore DDI, October 2 bid date for the Shades Creek Greenway pavilion, money for new South Lakeshore streetlights. 


Agenda: https://bit.ly/48r9Y7l

  • Details

    Item 040925: The city manager was authorized to amend a contract with Kimley-Horn to cover design services and host a required public involvement meeting, which will be held at City Hall on October 28. Approved


    Item 050925: A budget amendment was approved for the replacement of an engine in a public service pickup truck to keep the vehicle in service. Approved


    Item 060925: The city manager was authorized to execute a contract with Daniel Architects, LLC for design services for the new Fire Station No. 2, with costs budgeted in the 2025–26 fiscal year. Approved


    Item 070925: The city manager was authorized to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Jefferson County for reimbursement of $1 million toward the Lakeshore Diverging Diamond project, following the city’s prior $5.8 million payment. Approved


    Item 080925: A bid date was set for October 2, 2025, at 3:00pm for the Shades Creek Greenway Trailhead Pavilion project near the soccer fields. Approved


    Item 090925: A standard fiber optic franchise agreement with Lumos was considered and approved, consistent with agreements for other providers in the city. Approved


    Item 100925: Miscellaneous fleet and traffic department items, including portable generators and other equipment, were declared surplus. Approved


    Item 110925: Additional streetlights were approved for South Lakeshore and the West Trail parking lot. This was requested to improve safety in dark areas. Approved


    Item 160925: The city manager was authorized to enter into a one-year agreement with Mimecast for email filtering and incident response to enhance protection against phishing and related threats. Approved


Public Safety - Sept. 22, 2025


The Public Safety Committee addressed growing concerns about encampments, homelessness, and public safety, which drew a packed room of residents and business owners. Citizens shared stories of children exposed to drug use, harassment, and indecent exposure. Council members stressed the importance of reporting every incident so police can act or direct victims to the magistrate for warrants. They emphasized that the city must work within constitutional limits but is committed to giving officers every tool possible, from stronger ordinances, increased patrols, and three new officers being added to the upcoming City budget.


The committee unanimously approved drafting an ordinance to ban encampments and prohibit overnight sleeping in parks and vehicles on public property. Once approved by the council next Monday, the committee will continue reviewing additional measures to keep neighborhoods safe and explore what other ordinances can be enacted under federal and state law to combat these issues.


Agenda: https://bit.ly/4gG0De6


Public Works - Sept. 22, 2025


The committee approved a request to build a small retaining wall in the right of way at 602 Warwick Road after reviewing plans, photos, and similar nearby examples, noting the project would address erosion and improve yard use. The item moves to full council next week with unanimous support.


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

  • Details

    Item 130925: This was a request to install a retaining wall in the right of way at 602 Warwick Road. The homeowner explained the wall would help control erosion, improve curb appeal, and make the yard more usable. Photos and examples from neighboring properties were shown, many of which already have retaining walls in the right of way. After discussion, the committee agreed the request was reasonable, and a motion was made and seconded. The request was approved unanimously and will move forward to the full council for final approval.

Special Issues - Sept. 22, 2025


This meeting was held only to remove tabled items from the agenda. The reason is that the city’s committee structure will change on November 3 with the new form of government, and council members did not want any pending items left unaddressed.

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.
September 30, 2026
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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