Homewood Strengthens Its Leadership Team

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.



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Pre-Council & Council Meetings April 27, 2026

April 28, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - April 27, 2026 Pre-Council discussed several projects, including improvements to the US 31 pedestrian tunnel and a new parking lot at the former Oxmoor Road Waffle House site, both now heading toward May bid openings. They also discussed a budget transfer to restore a damaged traffic signal and began early conversation around a Central Avenue property tied to access, parking, and future development questions.  Agenda: https://bit.ly/3OK6Xrj

Parking Deck Closed For a Week

April 16, 2026
Parking Alert The Dawson parking deck will be closed to the public, April 20 through April 24, for cleaning and restriping. Plan ahead for alternate parking in that area for the week.

Your Home Could Be a Film Location

April 15, 2026
Over the years, many films, tv shows, and commercials have been shot right here in Homewood. Now there is a push to keep that momentum going, and your property could be part of it. So what do you do? Take photos of a property you own and upload them using the button below. Once submitted, your location becomes visible to industry professionals looking for places to film. If there is interest, the film office will reach out directly. Film Birmingham has brought together all 34 municipalities in Jefferson County to create a more film friendly region. It is a coordinated effort to highlight what makes communities like Homewood stand out, from our neighborhoods and parks to our downtown and unique spaces. If you own or manage a property and want to take part, you can submit it through Film Birmingham’s site. It is a simple step that helps showcase Homewood and opens the door for more projects to come here.

Pre-Council & Council Meetings April 13, 2026

April 14, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - April 13, 2026 Key items the Council discussed was a proposed microtransit pilot program that could help people move around the city a little better, and a rezoning request on Montgomery Street tied to new investment and redevelopment. There was also discussion around funding shifts for paving and stormwater, along with new tools like an AI tool to improve how residents get information on the city's website. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3Ov9pSw

Planning Commission April 7, 2026

April 8, 2026
The Planning Commission discussed a request to rezone two properties on Montgomery Street from a neighborhood shopping district to a central business district so a local fitness studio could move into a larger space. There was discussion about parking and noise, with a nearby property owner raising concerns about overflow parking and loud music. The applicant explained that parking would meet requirements with about 21 spaces and that the business operates by appointment, limiting traffic. They also shared plans to add soundproofing to reduce noise. The owner agreed to restrict certain uses on the property, including no drive-throughs, gas stations, liquor stores, smoke shops, auto parts stores, or theaters. The Planning Commission approved the rezoning with conditions tied to the site plan, parking, and use restrictions, and it will now move to City Council with a positive recommendation Agenda: https://bit.ly/3PQ7et2

Sprucing Up Our Street Corners

April 6, 2026
As part of spring cleaning across Homewood, crews have been replacing old and aging street signs. So far, about 547 of the city’s roughly 572 signs have been updated, with the remaining to be finished by the end of May. They are made in house by our Traffic Department, led by Randy Hambly. His team designs, produces, and installs them. This includes street name signs, parking signs, speed limit signs, and warning signs like school crossings, pedestrian crossings, dead end signs, and stop ahead signs. Producing these in house saves the city close to $24k each year and allows crews to respond faster by designing, making, and installing signs without waiting on outside vendors. On average, the city makes about 250 to 300 signs each year. Materials are sourced from trusted suppliers, including one based in West Homewood, which allows for quick turnaround on orders and keeps the process moving efficiently. This is one of many ways the Traffic Department works each day to serve our residents and keep things running smoothly across the city.

Busy Day Saturday April 25

April 5, 2026
Block Party Join the Homewood Library Foundation Block Party on April 25 from 4 to 6:30pm at the library. Enjoy food, music, and a relaxed time with friends and neighbors. Tickets are sold at the door. $25 for ages 21 and up, $10 for ages 4 to 20, and free for ages 0 to 3. LEARN MORE

18th Street Paving Begins April 6

April 4, 2026
Crews will begin milling and paving 18th St South from Oxmoor Rd to Rosedale Drive starting Monday, April 6.  Work will take place at night beginning at 8pm and finish each day before morning traffic to help reduce impacts.

BZA Meeting April 2, 2026

April 4, 2026
At the April 2, 2026 meeting, the Board of Zoning Adjustments approved a fence variance on Irving Road to improve accessibility, and a carport enclosure on Edgemoor to create more livable space without changing the home’s character. The board also approved additional signage for a Lakeshore Parkway business to help customers better find the location, while a couple of cases were pushed to May at the applicant’s request. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4duWxpB

Yacht Rock Saturday, April 11

March 30, 2026
FREE live music is coming to downtown, Saturday, April 11 . Join the Homewood Arts Council for the Yacht Rock Spectacular at SoHo Square Plaza from 5:30pm to 7:30pm . Enjoy classic hits from the 1970s and 1980s made popular by artists like Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Ambrosia, Toto, and Christopher Cross. See you there!
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