Council Meeting June 9, 2025

Council Meeting June 9, 2025


Agenda: https://bit.ly/3Hx7xoy

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


Summary: Samford University withdrew all rezoning and development plans tied to its proposed Creekside District projects. The city approved contracts for Fire Station No. 1 and design work at 185 Oxmoor Road, along with support for Jefferson County's Safe Streets grant and a zoning amendment allowing drive-thrus only in Wildwood Center. A new Field Plans Examiner role was approved, and hearings were set for the U.S. 31 tunnel, Bulldog District plan, and Oxmoor Road traffic calming.



Expanded:


Item 09.04.25: Rezoning request for 1601 Parkview Lane and 600–601 University Park Place as part of Samford University’s proposed Creekside District West. The applicant withdrew the request. Dropped


Item 10.04.25: Final development plan for the same property under the Creekside District West proposal. The applicant withdrew the request. Dropped


Item 11.04.25: Rezoning request for 1891, 1919, 1921 South Lakeshore Drive, and 1100 University Park Place under the Creekside District East plan. The applicant withdrew the request. Dropped


Item 12.04.25: Final development plan for the Creekside District East properties. The applicant withdrew the request. Dropped


Item 16.05.25: Contract with MBA Engineers for concrete slab design at Fire Station No. 1. Approved


Item 17.05.25: Contract to provide engineering design services at 185 Oxmoor Road and fund transfer. Approved


Item 18.05.25: Set bid date for U.S. 31 tunnel improvements for July 8 at 3:00pm. Carried over


Item 19.05.25: Field Plans Examiner position was discussed and recommended for approval. Approved


Item 21.05.25: Resolution supporting Jefferson County’s Safe Streets and All Implementation Grants. Approved


Item 22.05.25: Survey funding for a right-turn lane on Cobb Street. Approved


Item 13.05.25: Zoning amendment to allow food and beverage drive-thrus only in Wildwood Center. Public hearing was held and the change was approved. Approved


Item 10.05.25: Bid opening for Homewood Library Interior Finishes Phase 3 was scheduled for June 10. Carried over


Item 35.04.25: Public hearing on traffic calming system for Oxmoor Road set for July 14. Carried over


Item 37.04.25: Homeowner at 214 Edgewood Blvd was approved to keep planted trees in the right of way with indemnification. Approved


Item 10.05.25: Public hearing set for June 23 for Samford University’s Bulldog District residential plan at 800 Lakeshore Drive. Carried over


Item 10.06.25: Request for right-of-way work in front of the Trak Shak was added to the agenda and referred to Special Issues Committee. Carried over


Item 08.06.25: Approval of city vouchers from May 20 through June 9. Approved


Item 09.06.25: Establishment of an ad hoc committee to plan the 2026 Homewood Centennial Celebration. Approved




For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.


More

December 9, 2025
The City Council approved a request to place a shared toy box for Hot Wheels cars along the edge of Morris Boulevard. Andrew Elliot, the driver behind this project, worked closely with neighbors and hopes it will become a small gift to children who pass by. The idea grew out of the Elliott family’s own story. Their boys love Hot Wheels, and they first saw something like this while visiting grandparents. Their five year old helped build the box with his grandparents, and both boys plan to serve as ‘Hot Wheel-brarians.’ They already have an inventory ready so empty spaces can be filled again. They have spent many hours racing cars at home, naming each one, and turning simple toys into fun family championships. They hope this box invites other families to get outside and enjoy the surprise of finding a new car on a walk or a bike ride. Their hope is simple: “We hope the box serves as a blessing to others in the neighborhood! What's the most exciting toy / hot wheels car for a kid? A new one that you don't already have! Part of the ambition is that it gets kids around the neighborhood excited to go out on a family walk, bike ride, etc. - knowing it will result in bringing a new hot rod home!” Stop by and feed your inner vroooom!
December 9, 2025
Pre-Council Meeting December 8, 2025 Council members walked through the upcoming agenda, and heard updates on items like restricting a few on street parking spots on Linden Avenue, adding a crosswalk at Shades Road and Westover Drive, tightening oversight of vouchers and credit card use, and cleaning up shared dumpsters behind downtown businesses. The highlight was an item to appoint Sam Gaston to serve as Special Assistant to the City Manager, bringing his decades of experience to help guide Homewood through its transition to the new council manager form of government and support long term planning. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3YdB0J5
December 8, 2025
Homewood has voted to appoint Sam Gaston as the Special Assistant to the City Manager. This is a steady step as our city moves into a new form of government. Sam will work with city leadership and help guide the transition as we look to find a permanent City Manager. Sam brings 45 years in local government management and planning. He recently retired after more than 32 years as the City Manager of Mountain Brook. His roots run deep in public service. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in public administration from Auburn University. He has served as president of the International City County Management Association, the Alabama City County Management Association, the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association, and the Homewood Mountain Brook Kiwanis Club. Mayor Graham Smith of Mountain Brook offered this statement, "Sam’s decision to serve in Homewood is a gift to our entire region. He is one of the most respected municipal leaders in Alabama," she said. "His experience and steady leadership will be exactly what Homewood needs as it moves into this new government structure. Mountain Brook has benefited from his wisdom for decades and now our neighbors in Homewood will share in that same strength." Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress shared this, "We are excited and grateful to welcome Sam Gaston to Homewood as Special Assistant to the City Manager," she said. "Sam is the gold standard for city managers in Alabama. He encouraged our move toward a Council Manager form of government and we are thankful to have him join Cale Smith in this important season." We are proud to welcome Sam and look forward to the experience he will bring to our city.
December 8, 2025
Homewood is rolling out text alerts. You can sign up for as many as you like, or choose 'HWDALL' to receive all alerts. Even if you subscribed before, you will need to sign up again using the info below: Text HWDALL to 38276 to receive ALL alerts Text HWDINFO to 38276 to receive news alerts only Text HWDSTREETS to 38276 to receive street closure info only Text HWDEMERGENCY to 38276 to receive emergency alerts only Text HWDGARBAGE to 38276 to receive holiday garbage schedule alerts only.
December 5, 2025
Board of Zoning Adjustments December 4, 2025 The Board of Zoning Adjustment approved three variance requests including a detailed appeal from the owners of 800 College Avenue to rebuild on their existing footprint with strong neighbor support, and granted requests to add a second story at 564 Forest Drive South and extend a front porch at 600 Handball Avenue. A fourth case for 1707 Reese Street was continued to the January 8 meeting. Case Packet: https://bit.ly/48M4fc3
December 3, 2025
Planning Commission December 2, 2025 The Planning Commission addressed items that included a pickleball court addition at Brookdale, a large two-part request from Homewood Community Church, and a Frisco Street re-survey. Most of the night centered on the church’s proposal, with neighbors raising concerns about traffic, construction access, buffers, lighting, and flooding; the applicant responded in detail, committed to no construction access on Columbiana, and the Commission sent both items to Council with favorable recommendations. Agenda: https://bit.ly/48M4fc3
November 25, 2025
Pre-Council Meeting November 24, 2025 The council moved through a handful of items including the TAP multimodal facility contract coming in under budget, a budget amendment to complete the project this year, and the continued 80% reimbursement through the TARP grant. They also discussed new fleet-maintenance tools that will help recruit and retain technicians, an ordinance to clear out old committee language that does away with the old style of committees and now has become one "Pre-Council" meeting, tiered year-end employee bonuses supported by a strong surplus, and a new agreement with Carr Riggs & Ingram to continue supporting the finance department. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4rhpXMe
November 19, 2025
City of Homewood staff and leadership enjoyed an early Thanksgiving meal thanks to the Homewood PTO. This annual tradition rotates around our elementary schools. Edgewood Elementary School hosted this year. It is their delicious way of thanking our city employees for all they do for us!
November 13, 2025
The Board of Zoning Adjustments has an open supernumerary position and applications are welcome from anyone interested in serving the city. This is a meaningful way to assist the vision of Homewood and learn how zoning decisions can shape our community. The deadline to apply is November 24 . To apply, send your resume and cover letter to bo.seagrist@homewoodal.org If you have questions about the scope of the work itself, email emily.harrismiller@homewoodal.org
November 11, 2025
Council Meeting November 10, 2025 The council opened with a proclamation honoring landscape architect Jane Reed Ross, announcing that the large Shades Creek Greenway bridge will be named for her, then moved through business, awarding the Homewood Public Library phase four renovation bid, approving contracts including one for acting city manager Cale Smith, and giving the city manager authority to sign contracts up to $100,000.  Agenda: https://bit.ly/3JV3BPS
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