Mayor Wyatt Renews Call for ALEA to Share Body Camera Footage with Family of Jabari Peoples Mayor Alex Wyatt released the following statement regarding the June 23 shooting involving Jabari Peoples: “As the Mayor of Homewood, I continue to urge the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to allow the family of Jabari Peoples to view the body camera footage from the June 23 shooting incident. Their request is completely understandable. Legally, we don’t have the authority to release the footage because ALEA has taken over the investigation and, under the law, it controls access to evidence because it is the custodian of the footage. We have made that distinction clear in our legal filings in Jefferson County Circuit Court. We know this is an incredibly difficult time for everyone involved and want objective results made available to the family and the public as quickly as possible."

Board of Zoning Adjustments July 10, 2025 Two zoning variance requests on Devon Drive were denied, one for a partially permeable front parking pad and landscaping changes at 208 Devon, and another for an eight-foot fence setback variance at 401 Devon. Both petitioners cited safety and space concerns. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3GLQfDU Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.

Water service will be temporarily shut off in parts of Homewood on Thursday night, July 10, as Birmingham Water Works crews replace two 8-inch valves. The outage is scheduled from 11:00pm Thursday to 6:00am Friday, affecting approximately 80 connections. During this time, customers may experience low water pressure or complete loss of service. Work will begin at Tamworth Lane and Devon Drive, with additional impacts expected on Rumson Road, Windsor Drive, and a portion of Highway 280. Once service is restored, water may appear brown or cloudy. BWW recommends running cold water for 5 minutes to help clear the lines.

Planning Commission July 8, 2025 The Planning Commission approved an amended development plan for a covered porch at 134 South Pointe Drive, with has no increase in the impervious area. They also approved a re-survey and rezoning request at 1833 29th Avenue South to support the development of a high-end restaurant and public park at the old Homewood Police Department site. Both items received a six-zero vote in favor. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3GDmp4t Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.

In response to the tragic events of June 23, 2025

Finance - June 30, 2025 The Finance Committee accepted the annual audit showing a $4.9 million fund balance increase, and they approved multiple stormwater infrastructure contracts totaling over $51,000. This includes updating a drainage ditch behind Shades Cahaba Elementary that has long been an issue. Committee agreed to sign agreements for IT security, device management, and copier services. They also discussed a large retroactive insurance premium adjustment of $71,000, and provided an update on the parking deck lease with Dawson Memorial Baptist that is in the final stages of being completed.

You get to help shape our city's future! What if you, the public, had a chance to help shape the vision, goals, and priorities for your neighborhoods, wards, and the city as a whole, years ahead of time? Well, that’s exactly what this plan is for. The City of Homewood is starting work on a new city-wide Comprehensive Plan. This plan will serve as a roadmap for how Homewood grows, invests, and serves its residents over the next 25 years. Homewood’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2007. Since then, a lot has changed, and more change is coming. With the city moving to a Council-Manager form of government , this is a key time to clarify what matters most to residents. The plan will help inform capital improvements, public service priorities, housing trends, transportation needs, and future land use. It will also give newly elected officials clear direction on what the community values. Your Voice, Your City Every resident will have a chance to be involved. This isn’t just a document, it’s a shared vision for Homewood’s future, shaped by the people who live here. The plan will reflect the needs of each of the city’s four wards and identify short, medium, and long-term projects for both public and private investment. Whether it's about where new housing fits, what kinds of businesses we want, or how we move around, this process is about making those choices together. Once underway, there will be many opportunities to get involved, through surveys, meetings, workshops, and other public input events, beginning in early 2026. Current Project Timeline & Funding The first step is selecting a consulting firm to help guide the process. That work is now underway. Notice of Award to Consultant Team: Late July / Early August 2025 Negotiate Scope & Fee: August – September 2025 Notice to Proceed: November 1, 2025 Public Engagement Begins: February 2026 Funding for this project will be split 80/20, with 80% provided by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPC) , and 20% provided by the City of Homewood. RPC’s role is limited to providing this funding support. They are not involved in developing the plan in any way. Consultant Process Interviews with consultant teams begin soon, and the planning process will officially launch this fall. Although the grant is technically ALDOT-administered funding, Homewood retains full control over the selection and direction of the plan. A review committee, made up of City staff and RPC staff, scored all submitted consultant proposals, based on a standardized rubric. From that process, a short list of firms was invited to oral interviews. A panel of four to five City and RPC staff members (no elected officials) will conduct interviews and recommend a firm to the full City Council, which will make the final decision. Once selected, the RPC will contract with the chosen firm and handle grant administration, but the City will lead the planning process itself. This approach ensures that while outside funding helps cover the cost, the direction and priorities of the plan remain fully in the hands of Homewood’s staff, leadership, and residents. This will be your chance to say what matters and help set the direction for where we’re headed. It’s your city, let’s plan it together.

Council Meeting June 23, 2025 Summary: The city council approved several infrastructure and safety projects, including a stormwater diversion at East Hawthorne and Linwood, Flock cameras with Alabama Power, and a demolition contract for the former Waffle House on Oxmoor Road. A public hearing for Samford's amended Bulldog District plan was delayed due to a legal description error, with a new hearing set for July 28. This hearing is for the buildings being built by the stadium only. The other two buildings were not approved by the BZA last month. See more on that here: https://bit.ly/43xiUW8 Agenda: https://bit.ly/4ngOSOa Meeting schedules & archives: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Details & more news: https://bit.ly/3RjYw3d Expanded: Item 18.05.25: The bid date for U.S. 31 tunnel improvements was confirmed for July 8 at 3:00pm. Carried over Item 01.05.25: The council approved the bid from CT General Contractors for phase three of the Homewood Library interior finishes project. Approved Item 01.06.25: The city approved a demolition contract for the former Waffle House property at 185 Oxmoor Road. Approved Item 02.06.25: The council approved a contract with Alabama Power to install three Flock cameras—two at the soccer fields and one near the West Homewood Athletic Complex maintenance facility. Approved Item 03.06.25: The city approved a contract with the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham to manage a HUD grant for stormwater improvements in the Mayfair area. Approved Item 04.06.25: The council approved accepting a $10,000 federal library grant through the Laboratory Services and Technology Act, which requires a $2,500 local match. Approved Item 05.04.25: A public hearing was scheduled for July 14, 2025, to consider installing a traffic calming system near Oxmoor Road, Northmoor Drive, and Oakmoor Drive. Carried over Item 05.06.25: The council approved installation of a stormwater diversion device at the roundabout at East Hawthorne and Linwood. There was discussion about durability and neighborhood notice, but it ultimately passed. Approved Item 06.06.25: The council approved a request to pave a section of alley behind 3067 Devon Drive for rear garage access. Approved Item 07.06.25: The council approved installation of a 2-inch sump pump outlet line from two homes on Roseland Drive to Griffin Brook Creek. Approved Item 10.06.25: The council approved a request from Lewis Communications to use the sidewalk in front of Track Shack for a temporary lemonade stand on June 28, after confirming the project had film permitting and city insurance coverage. Approved Item 10.05.25: A public hearing was held for an amended development plan at 800 Lakeshore Drive (Samford University’s proposed Bulldog District). Due to a typo in the legal description, no action was taken. A new public hearing was scheduled for July 28. Carried over The council voted to move all July 7 committee meetings to June 30, due to an extra Monday in this month. For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.

The city is adjusting its Edgewood parking strategy as it works out an agreement with Dawson Baptist Church. Dawson has agreed to issue a letter of intent that would allow the City of Homewood to lease its parking deck for public use Monday through Saturday, from 7:00am to 9:00pm. This would provide 325 additional parking spaces on the second, third, and fourth floors of the deck, located just steps from the Edgewood business district. Sundays would remain reserved exclusively for church use. In exchange, the city will carry insurance on the deck during public access hours, be responsible for general upkeep and any damages during its use, and plans to work with Dawson on signage to clearly mark public hours and access information. Because of this new opportunity, the city will no longer pursue construction of the 29 parking spaces along Oxmoor, as previously planned.