Council Meeting July 14, 2025

Council Meeting July 14, 2025


Summary: The meeting opened with Dr. Wayne Harris calling for the release of bodycam footage in the Jabari Peoples shooting and threatening a coordinated boycott on business owners in The Homewood community if demands for transparency and reform are not met. During the meeting, council approved a traffic calming ordinance for Oxmoor Road to slow traffic down, several IT and maintenance contracts, and approved the list of election workers. Mayor Wyatt reiterated legal limits on releasing the bodycam footage and urged ALEA to grant the family's request. Read his full statement here: https://bit.ly/3TZ5HQp


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

Meeting schedules & archives: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT 

  • Details

    Item 18.05.25: The planned bid for U.S. 31 tunnel improvements was canceled due to scheduling concerns with construction and the school year. The project will be delayed until next summer. Dropped


    Item 11.06.25: The council approved allowing the city manager to sign a contract with Gossett Construction for stormwater infrastructure projects. Approved


    Item 12.06.25: A change order was approved for extra services from Hixon Consulting for work on City Hall and the parking garage restoration project. Approved


    Item 13.06.25: Several old city vehicles and fire equipment were declared surplus, including a 2016 Chevy Tahoe and 2015 International truck. Approved


    Item 14.06.25: The city manager was approved to sign a contract with Puma Inc. Approved


    Item 15.06.25: The city manager was approved to renew the IT contract with Huntress. Approved


    Item 16.06.25: The city manager was approved to enter a 12-month managed mobility service agreement with DataProse. Approved


    Item 17.06.25: Another 12-month agreement was approved with DataProse for mobile device management support. Approved


    Item 18.06.25: The city manager was approved to enter an annual service and maintenance agreement with Eaton Corporation for the battery backup unit at City Hall. Approved


    Item 22.06.25: The council approved payment of an insurance premium adjustment invoice to Cobbs Allen. Approved


    Item 23.06.25: The city manager was approved to sign a copier lease renewal with Dex Imaging. Approved


    Item 24.06.25: The council carried over a parking lease agreement with Dawson Memorial Baptist Church until the July 28 meeting so the church can finalize internal approvals. Carried over


    Item 35.04.25: After a public hearing with strong support from residents, the council approved installing traffic calming speed tables on the western end of Oxmoor Road near Northmoor and Oakmoor. Approved


    Item 19.06.25: The council approved placing a public fire hydrant at Oxmoor Road and Cook Street. Approved


    Item 20.06.25: An amendment to a three-road agreement with Jefferson County was approved. Approved


    Item 10.05.25: A public hearing was officially reset for July 28 to review Samford University’s updated development plan for new student housing. Carried over


    Item 11.07.25: A public hearing was set for August 11 to consider rezoning part of 1833 29th Ave S to allow a 4,500-square-foot restaurant, with the other portion kept for a public park. Approved (hearing scheduled)


    Item 12.07.25: The council approved a budget amendment for fuels and lubricants due to rising needs in that category. Approved


    Item 13.07.25: A business license refund for DaxCo was approved, though for less than the amount requested. Approved


    Item 14.07.25: The council approved a budgeted appropriation for Homewood Theatre to support programming that will offer discounted student tickets. Approved


    Item 15.07.25: A budgeted service agreement for the City Hall chiller with Trane was approved. Approved


    Item 16.07.25: An ordinance was adopted to appoint and compensate election officers for the upcoming municipal election and any needed runoff. Approved


More

2025-26 Budget Info & Hearings

August 27, 2025
Budget Hearing Schedule City Hall, 2nd Floor, South Conference Room

Council Meeting August 25, 2025

August 26, 2025
Council Meeting August 25, 2025 The council meeting major actions included adopting a $128.5 million budget proposal with funding for a new fire station, fire trucks, stormwater projects, and the Lakeshore/I-65 diverging diamond interchange. Budget hearings will go over this proposal in detail over the next few weeks. Council approving $3 million in incentives for a redesigned Piggly Wiggly expansion, hiring a new audit firm, addressing Edgewood traffic safety, multiple nuisance property hearings, and improvements tied to the Dawson parking deck lease. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3JvRmZE

New Piggly Wiggly Plan Moves Forward

August 19, 2025
UPDATE: Council approved the $3M incentive plan, August 25  The Finance Committee reviewed a new tax incentive agreement tied to the long-awaited Piggly Wiggly redevelopment. The revised plan calls for rebuilding on the current site, which means the store will temporarily close during construction. The updated design adds more green space, provides a safer route for children using the nearby tunnel to school, improves traffic flow, and resolves earlier concerns about truck deliveries. Parking will also increase compared to today’s layout. Earlier this year, the store’s owners proposed building a brand-new location behind the current store. That plan raised concerns about traffic, loading docks, and pedestrian safety. After months of discussion, the developers scrapped that version and returned with a new design that many now see as a much stronger fit for the community. Because this plan is less expensive and slightly smaller than the original, the incentive request dropped from $3.5 million to $3 million. The committee voted to advance the incentive agreement to the full Council for a public hearing scheduled for August 25. After that, the next step is to go through the development plan process, starting in October, with the Planning Commission.

Committee Meetings August 18, 2025

August 19, 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

Council Meeting August 11, 2025

August 12, 2025
Council Meeting August 11, 2025 The council approved multiple contracts, leases, and licenses, including a parking deck agreement with Dawson Memorial Baptist, a library renovation design contract, and an ABC license for Seeds Coffee. Several public hearings were set for August 25 for nuisance properties, and a Piggly Wiggly plan, while the rezoning plan for the former police station site was dropped. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3V0BcK0

Mayor Wyatt Statement on DA's Decision

August 6, 2025
Mayor’s Statement on Jefferson County District Attorney Decision on June 23, 2025, Officer Involved Shooting August 6, 2025 "We have received the results of the District Attorney’s investigations into the shooting of Jabari Peoples. We note that the District Attorney found the “shooting is deemed justified” and that no criminal charges will be filed against the Homewood Police Officer involved in this matter. We can’t imagine the anguish of the Peoples’ family in the aftermath of this tragic event and hope the community will respect the District Attorney’s decision, which he says is based on the facts and the law." Alex Wyatt Mayor of Homewood 

Long-Vacant Police HQ Still Waiting for a New Chapter

August 5, 2025
What started as an idea to turn Homewood’s long vacant, old police property, into a steakhouse and park, has now been pulled off the table. Developer Mike Mouron, who brought the concept forward, decided to withdraw his plan and financial support after facing public criticism and legal filings. The plan aimed to rezone the property at 1833 29th Avenue South from industrial to commercial, allowing for a restaurant and community green space. Mouron offered to fund the park portion of the property through the sale and personally cover any extra costs. Also targeted in the backlash, the City of Homewood had to respond to a lawsuit and dissolve a temporary restraining order. The City stood by how it handled the process. The judge agreed and ruled in favor of the city, dismissing the case with prejudice and ordering the plaintiff’s (Kevin Misso) bond to be forfeited. Despite the legal victory, after facing ongoing personal attacks, Mouron chose to withdraw his proposal and not pursue the project further. Even though it has now been withdrawn, by law, a public hearing will still be held, as advertised, August 11. The council will then officially close this item. Mayor Wyatt expressed hope that future city leadership will “figure out the best path forward” for a property that continues to sit idle. For more background: Committee Meeting February 17, 2025 From Jailhouse to Steakhouse Legal Filings Mayor Wyatt Announces Withdrawal

Committee Meetings August 4, 2025

August 5, 2025
Finance - August 4, 2025 The committee approved dropping the Kenilworth Stormwater project and referred a large-scale lighting project to budget hearings. A representative from Recovery Resource Center presented a detailed proposal on using opioid settlement funds for assessments, training, and community outreach, which will be discussed further during budget hearings. The committee also approved a lease agreement with Navigate Wealth Management, authorized funding for UPS battery replacements, and approved design services for the library renovation Phase IV. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3U99gU6

Planning Commission August 5, 2025

August 3, 2025
Planning Commission August 5, 2025 The Planning Commission approved a request to replace the former Caster’s BBQ at 215 Lakeshore Parkway with a drive-thru-only Seven Brew Coffee stand, despite discussion over the building orientation facing away from the shopping center. The commission also voted to rescind its previous approval to subdivide the old police headquarters property since the rezoning plan was withdrawn , and announced there will be no September meeting due to lack of cases. Agenda: https://bit.ly/46MvnHy

Council Meeting July 28, 2025

July 29, 2025
Council Meeting July 28, 2025 Council covered routine business including approval of several resolutions and ordinances related to budget amendments, surplus property, stormwater diversion, municipal court staffing, and equipment purchases. Council unanimously approved Sanford University’s stadium housing project which is housing right next to their football stadium.  Agenda: https://bit.ly/4f9rDBQ Meeting schedules & archives: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT
More Posts