Council Meeting June 23, 2025

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.

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Ordinance Moves Forward to Protect Families and Neighborhoods

September 23, 2025
The Public Safety Committee addressed concerns about encampments, homelessness, and public safety in a packed meeting with residents and business owners. 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. Residents shared stories of unsafe encounters near schools, parks, and businesses, including harassment, drug use, and indecent exposure. Many parents said they no longer allow their children to walk or play outside. Police Chief Tim Ross acknowledged the increase in encounters but reassured citizens that Homewood remains safe. Robberies, for example, are down 82% over the last two years, with only five this year compared to more than 100 in past years. Chief Ross explained the challenge officers face under state law that most misdemeanor crimes must be witnessed in person to make an immediate arrest, requiring residents to report incidents and sometimes work with a magistrate to pursue charges. He also noted that a federal court has ruled panhandling is protected free speech, limiting enforcement options. However, disorderly conduct, trespassing, indecent exposure, and other crimes remain enforceable, and police continue to act within those boundaries. But they cannot pick someone up and move them out of Homewood without their consent. 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, like stronger ordinances, increased patrols, and adding three new officers to the upcoming City budget.

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

Council Meeting Sept. 15, 2025

September 16, 2025
Council Meeting Sept. 15, 2025 The council approved bids for Green Springs Phase 2, compact-only parking at Patriot Park, new no-parking zones in Edgewood next to Otey's, and crosswalk realignments at Oxmoor and Saint Charles. Council also approved a Seven Brew Coffee development at Wildwood, nuisance cleanups across several properties, a ThinkGard disaster-recovery contract, and honored Councilor Melanie Geer for five years of service. Agenda: https://bit.ly/46mfmWR

Paving Begins on Short Oxmoor

September 14, 2025
Beginning Monday, September 15 , crews will start work on the Oxmoor Road section running from West Oxmoor to West Oxmoor, starting across from Barber Court. The road will first be milled down on September 15–16, followed by the installation of new speed tables September 17–19. Central Paving will return the week of September 22 to resurface the roadway. These upgrades are designed to prepare the surface and add traffic-calming measures, ensuring safer travel through the neighborhood.

Budget Hearings

September 11, 2025
Departmental budgets for Admin/City Manager and Finance Sept. 24, 2025

Paddles Ready? Pickleball Courts Could Arrive Soon

September 10, 2025
Pickleball courts are officially in the works for Homewood! The City has included funding in the proposed 2025–26 budget to build four new outdoor pickleball courts at the Homewood Athletic Complex , located next to the Mega Field and behind the tennis courts. Plans for the courts were drawn up earlier this summer with input from engineering and electrical design teams. The project includes: Four regulation courts with permanent nets and fencing Court colors featuring a blue playing surface, red “kitchen” zones, and white lines Benches with shade canopies and bleachers for spectators Lighting as an " add-on option" in th e bid package so costs can be managed This project is only included in the proposed budget right now . The full city budget, including these courts, will be voted on at the September 29 City Council meeting . If approved, the City will then open the formal bidding process for construction. Once built, the new courts will expand recreation opportunities at the athletic complex and provide a dedicated space for one of our community's fastest-growing sports. Watch the budget proposal HERE , go to 02:03:10 to find it.

Committee Meetings Sept. 8, 2025

September 9, 2025
Finance - Sept. 8, 2025 Finance Committee previewed a centennial visitor guide logo, awarded Green Springs Phase 2 to Gillespie Construction, targeting an October start, dropped a Southeast Veterinary Partners penalty waiver after payment was made, and opted to mark two Patriot Park car spaces “compact cars only” to improve crosswalk visibility. The committee also renewed a Birmingham Bowl sponsorship, and previewed adding a ThinkGard backup and disaster-recovery contract, around $60,000 annually, to replace the underperforming data backup system currently in place. Agenda: https://bit.ly/46aeQuT

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.
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