Pre-Council & Council Meeting Dec. 22, 2025
December 23, 2025

Pre-Council Meeting December 22, 2025


This pre-council meeting was brief, with three public hearings carried to January 12, including 1625 26th Ave S, Homewood Community Church’s amended plan for a new 30,797 square foot two story building, and Brookdale University Park. The main discussion was an FY 2026 budget amendment cleanup to fix fund deficits, using carryover fund balance and corrections without changing current operations, plus a quick look ahead at an on street parking ordinance on Linden Avenue.


Agenda: https://bit.ly/44KjgsG

  • Details

    Item 031225, this was a public hearing about moving forward with consideration and condemnation for 1625 26th Avenue South. Council said they did not want anyone to have to come out on December 22, so they decided to push it to January 12, carried over


    Item 041225, this was a public hearing for an amended development plan for Homewood Community Church, to allow a new two story building totaling about 30,797 square feet, plus parking, landscaping, and other site work in the Lakeshore Renewal District. Council chose to delay the hearing so residents would not need to come during the holiday week, carried over


    Item 051225, this was a public hearing for an amended development plan for Brookdale University Park. Council said they were not discussing it on December 22 and moved it to January 12, carried over


    Item 081225, this was a request for group budget amendments for Fiscal Year 2026. Acting City Manager Cale Smith explained that budget amendments can move money between line items or use carryover fund balance when costs change, and said this set of changes was mainly correcting issues from numbers not being entered right in the finance system, which caused several funds to show deficits on paper. They also described cuts and adjustments in the general fund and capital fund, including delaying some projects and removing certain vehicle purchases from this year’s capital budget.

    Item 021225: This item was a request to add a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Shades Road and Westover Drive where new curb ramps have already been installed by Public Works. It is separate from a previous stop sign request at the same intersection but ties into that overall effort to make the area safer for people walking. 


    Item 061225: This item was a request to appoint Sam Gaston to serve as a special assistant during Homewood’s transition to the council-manager form of government. Acting City Manager, Cal Smith, shared that Sam has been a mentor for many years, has deep experience in local government, and will work up to 20 hours a week under a salary cap of $38,000 due to his retirement and pension limits. Council members and staff expressed strong enthusiasm, noting Sam’s love for Homewood and the chance to benefit from his leadership as “big time” for the city. 




Council Meeting December 22, 2025


This council meeting opened with a special invocation and pledge led by Trussville City Clerk Dan Weinrib, followed by liaison assignments, and several items carried over to January, including street parking restrictions, condemnation, and development plan hearings.


Agenda: https://bit.ly/4p9gFzJ

  • Details

    Item 011225: This item was a request to restrict on street parking on the east side of Linden Avenue between Reese Street and Oxmoor Road. The item was carried over to the January 12 meeting.


    Item 031225: This item set a public hearing for January 26 at 6:00pm to consider condemnation of property at 1625 26th Avenue South. No discussion took place at this meeting since it was only a scheduling action. It was carried over.


    Item 041225: This item set a public hearing for January 26 at 6:00pm to consider an amended development plan for Homewood Community Church, allowing construction of a new two story building with parking, landscaping, and site improvements. This item was carried over.


    Item 051225: This item set a public hearing for January 26 at 6:00pm to consider an amended development plan for Brookdale University Park to add a pickleball court behind the senior living facility on an existing paved area. This item was carried over.


    Item 091225: This item covered approval of vouchers from December 9 through December 22. The item was approved.

More

October 7, 2026
More federal funding is coming to Homewood to address stormwater issues. U.S. Representative Terri Sewell presented a check for $250,000 to the City of Homewood. This funding was obtained through the Fiscal Year 2026 federal appropriations process and is designated for stormwater improvements. It will be used to provide upgrades and expand culvert capacity in the residential neighborhoods surrounding Edgewood Elementary School to help reduce localized street flooding and better protect nearby homes and infrastructure. This follows an earlier $1 million federal allocation from Rep. Sewell in 2024 that will be used for a drainage culvert project along Griffin Creek in the Huntington Road area. That project continues to work its way through the required process, with construction currently hoped to begin in 2027.
October 6, 2026
The Planning Commission approved a resurvey at 215 West Valley Avenue, where a small restaurant is proposed. The Commission also considered changes for a proposed Dutch Bros too be placed at 832 Green Springs Highway, recommending approval of a reduced landscape buffer, but voting 4 to 2 against allowing full access for traffic to flow to and from Raleigh Avenue. That request now moves to the City Council for the final decision. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4zeIxYR
October 5, 2026
Have a lost pet, need to report a stray or have a wildlife issue? There are several important changes to Homewood Animal Control services beginning Monday, October 5. REPORT A STRAY To report a stray , call Homewood Police non-emergency dispatch at 205-332-6200 . The City of Homewood, Homewood Police Department and Homewood Animal Control are partnering with Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) for these services. FIND YOUR PET If you think your animal may have been picked up by Animal Control, call the Greater Birmingham Humane Society at 205-591-6522 . Stray animals picked up in Homewood are taken to 6227 5th Ave. North in Birmingham until GBHS opens its new facility opens on Sydney Drive, and then they will be taken there. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 11:30am. GBHS is closed Sunday. Fees for picking up an animal may include $50 if the animal is unaltered, a $30 impound fee, a $20 rabies fee if proof of vaccination is not available and a $50 City fee. wildlife issues Call Complete Animal Removal at 205-208-7777 . Homewood Animal Control will not respond to wildlife calls involving animals such as raccoons, possums, snakes, coyotes or foxes. after hours Stray animals will not be picked up after hours. If you report a stray after hours, Animal Control will handle the call the next business day.
September 30, 2026
Concerned about speeding or other traffic issues on your street? There is a process to look at what is happening and determine whether traffic calming measures are needed and what those measures could be. One example is now moving toward a vote. The City received traffic concerns involving Hambaugh Avenue between Columbiana Road and Dixon Avenue, and Dixon Avenue between Broadway Street and Hambaugh Avenue. Traffic data was collected and studied, and both streets qualified for traffic calming measures. The current proposal calls for speed cushions at two locations on Hambaugh Avenue and two locations on Dixon Avenue. The design also takes emergency response into consideration, allowing fire trucks to travel through the middle of the cushions. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal October 12, 6pm at City Hall, 2nd floor Council Chambers . View Drawings of Cushion Locations Visit Traffic Calming Page
September 30, 2026
Concerned about speeding or other traffic issues on your street? There is a process for looking at those concerns and determining whether something should be done and what measures may be appropriate. Traffic calming is not simply putting in a speed hump or adding a sign. It is a process that uses traffic data, engineering standards and input from several City departments to look at what is happening on a street before deciding what, if anything, should change. It starts with a resident submitting a traffic calming request identifying the location and concern. City Engineering reviews the request and collects traffic data so the street can be evaluated using the City’s standards. If the request continues through the process, it receives additional review from the Complete Streets Advisory Committee. Planning, Traffic, Police and Fire also have an opportunity to look at the request. That is important because a possible solution has to consider more than vehicle speed. Things such as the street itself, pedestrian safety, traffic patterns and emergency response can all be part of determining whether a particular measure makes sense. The mayor and the councilor representing the area also review the request before it can advance to the resident petition stage. If the location qualifies and the request continues, affected residents take part in the petition process required by the City’s traffic calming policy. Only after those steps and required approvals are completed can a location move toward an appropriate traffic calming improvement. The goal is not to assume every traffic concern has the same answer. One street may have different conditions and needs than another. The process gives the City a way to collect information, hear from the people who live in the area and determine whether a traffic calming measure is appropriate and safe. Submit a Traffic Calming Request Visit Traffic Calming Page
September 29, 2026
A city budget is more than a list of numbers. It’s a vital infrastructure that reflects the City’s priorities and determines how resources are used to provide services, support employees and invest in the community. On September 28, the Homewood City Council approved the City’s FY2027 budget. The General Fund is approximately $77 million and supports the day-to-day services residents rely on. Sales and property taxes provide much of the revenue, while personnel costs account for approximately $42 million. The approved budget adds three police officer positions and includes investments in street paving, stormwater projects, sidewalk repairs, replacement vehicles and equipment, and other infrastructure needs throughout the City. In addition to the revenue that supports City operations, one cent of Homewood’s sales tax is dedicated to the Homewood Board of Education. That penny is expected to generate approximately $11.5 million for Homewood City Schools this year. This was the first budget developed under Homewood’s new council-manager form of government. City Manager Cale Smith worked with department heads to identify operational needs and priorities and presented a proposed budget to the City Council. Council members then reviewed the budget through a series of public budget hearings, asked questions and made revisions before approving the final budget. The work does not end with this vote. The City plans to provide monthly reports on revenues and expenditures throughout the year, providing a clearer picture of the City’s financial position on a regular basis. City leadership will also continue evaluating ongoing expenses and revenues to work toward a sustainable budget that provides the services residents expect while responsibly managing the City’s resources. View the September 28 meeting below. View Approved Budget View All Details Inlcuding Budget Hearings
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