Council Meeting Sept. 29, 2025

Council Meeting Sept. 29, 2025


Council approved a retaining wall, nuisance cleanup, a fire station design contract, and a Greenway pavilion bid. A new fiber optic franchise with Lumos and a sweeping encampment ordinance were delayed due to each failing to garner unanimous consent. Other approvals included new streetlights, two-hour parking in Edgewood, and a corrected appropriation for the Exceptional Foundation, before passing the 2025–26 budget with raises, bonuses, and capital projects. The meeting closed with moving tributes to outgoing councilors Andrew Woolverton, Jody Brandt, Carlos Aleman, and Andy Gwaltney, recognizing their years of service, leadership, and contributions across West Homewood, finance, public safety, and city development.


Agenda: https://bit.ly/4nt7n1m

  • Details

    Item 130925: This was a request to install a retaining wall in the right of way at 602 Warwick Road. Public Works noted several homes in the area already have retaining walls due to steep grades, and this project would replace an older wall in place. Council approved the request.


    Item 280825: A public hearing was held on declaring 109 Hanover Road a nuisance property. Staff showed before-and-after photos, highlighting major improvements to the yard and home since the last meeting. With issues resolved, council voted to drop the nuisance case.


    Item 040925: Council approved an amendment to a contract with Kimley-Horn for design services. The Finance Committee had recommended approval, and the measure passed.


    Item 050925: Council approved budget amendments and transfers as recommended by Finance. Approved


    Item 060925: Council authorized a contract with Burchfield Perini Architects for the design of a new Fire Station No. 2, moving forward on a long-discussed project. Approved


    Item 070925: Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Jefferson County for reimbursement on the I-65/Lakeshore Diverging Diamond Interchange project. Approved


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


    Item 090925: Council considered a fiber optic franchise agreement with Lumos (a T-Mobile joint venture). Lumos committed to build a buried fiber network across all of Homewood. Council discussion raised concerns about digging and utility impacts faced with previous companies. A motion for unanimous consent failed, so the ordinance was carried over to October 13.


    Item 100925: Council declared surplus various fleet and traffic department equipment so it can be auctioned. Approved.


    Item 110925: Council approved adding seven new streetlights along South Lakeshore Drive and three at the small trailhead parking lot near the street. Annual cost will be $2,635 through Alabama Power. Approved.


    Item 160925: Council authorized a one-year contract with Mimecast for email filtering and incident response services. Approved, resolution 25-174.


    Item 120925: Council considered an ordinance regulating encampments and sleeping on public property, drafted after heavy resident input and collaboration with police. It includes notice and removal procedures, bans sleeping in vehicles or public areas without permits, and provides for enforcement. Unanimous consent failed. The ordinance was carried over to October 13.


    Item 030925: Council approved the full 2025–2026 city budget in one resolution. Highlights include a 4.5% cost-of-living raise, continued bonuses, full coverage of health insurance increases, new fire trucks, funding for Fire Station No. 2, new police officers, and capital projects like the I-65 interchange. Approved.


    Item 290925: Council approved an ordinance setting a two-hour parking limit in Edgewood along Oxmoor Road, Saint Charles Street, and part of Broadway Street. The goal is to push longer-term parking into the Dawson parking deck while keeping street spaces available for restaurant and shop customers. Approved.



More

September 26, 2025
Stand with those who serve! The Homewood First Responders 5K is Saturday, October 18 . Your participation directly supports the Homewood Police Foundation and the Homewood Fire Department, strengthening the resources that keep our community safe. The race begins and ends at the Trak Shak on 18th Street, moving through downtown Homewood and surrounding neighborhoods. Along the route and at the finish, you’ll see the men and women of the Homewood Police and Fire Departments, with patrol vehicles, fire trucks, and McGruff the Crime Dog on site. 🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3lXf3f0
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.
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
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
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.
September 11, 2025
Departmental budgets for Admin/City Manager and Finance Sept. 24, 2025
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.
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
August 27, 2025
Budget Hearing Schedule City Hall, 2nd Floor, South Conference Room
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
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