Pre-Council & Council Meeting Dec. 8, 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

  • Details

    Item 011225: This item was a request to restrict on-street parking along the eastern side of Linden Avenue between Reese Street and Oxmoor Road. Only about three cars can park near the stop sign today, and those cars are causing problems for drivers trying to turn from Reese onto Linden, especially with all the ins and outs from nearby businesses and driveways. The group noted that most other parking in that block is on private property and that the businesses themselves raised the concern. The item will remove those few on-street spaces near the stop sign to improve traffic flow and safety.


    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 8, 2025


The council worked through a full agenda that included final approvals for several major projects like the Piggly Wiggly expansion, Brookwood Village medical offices, a new Valvoline on Green Springs, new stop signs and a crosswalk on Westover and Shades, plus vouchers, audit contracts, and retiring the old standing committee structure, while also setting January public hearings for a condemnation case, Homewood Community Church’s new building, and a Brookdale pickleball court. The big moment of the night was a unanimous, enthusiastic vote to bring longtime regional leader Sam Gaston in as Special Assistant to the City Manager.


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

  • Details

    Item011025: This item was about updating the development plan so the Piggly Wiggly on Oxmoor can be renovated and expanded. The council had already held a public hearing in November and did not have any new questions, and the mayor noted she is very excited to see the project move forward. The updated plan was approved.


    Item021025: This vote covered rezoning 1690 29th Court South from an office district to an institutional district so that the property lines up with the other parcels owned by Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. The public hearing and main discussion happened in November, so this meeting was just the final step to confirm the change. The rezoning was approved.


    Item031025: This amended development plan allows Brookwood Village to convert part of the old mall into medical office space and add more parking for Andrews Sports Medicine. The council again noted how encouraged they are to see positive movement at the Brookwood property, and neighbors on the council said they are looking forward to the improvements. The amended plan was approved.


    Item041025: This final development plan authorizes construction of a Valvoline Instant Oil Change in the Green Springs Shopping Center. The council revisited questions about rotating the building, dumpster placement, and how visible the garage bay doors would be from Green Springs. The engineer explained why the building could not safely be rotated and described changes to colors, extra shrubs, and new dogwood trees to better screen the bays, while the company representative stressed that operations are quiet and limited to basic oil change services. The plan was approved.


    Item071125: This request was to install a three way stop at Waverly Drive and Avalon Road, based on the city engineer’s recommendation. The first reading had already been done in November, so the council briefly confirmed there were no more questions and then moved forward. The three way stop was approved.


    Item091125: This item added a stop sign on the Westover Drive approach at the Shades Road intersection, again following a recommendation from the city engineer. The council had already discussed it at the prior meeting and had no additional comments before the vote. The new stop sign was approved.


    Item121125: The council considered a recommendation to accept a bid from Infinity Tools LLC to supply tools for the City of Homewood’s fleet maintenance shop. The details were reviewed in pre council on November 24, and there were no new questions during this meeting. The bid with Infinity Tools LLC was approved.


    Item131125: This ordinance repeals Article 3 of the city code, which described the old standing committee system for the council. The city attorney explained that, with the new form of government, the council no longer plans to use that committee structure, and the council agreed this is part of firmly moving into the new term and way of doing business. After granting unanimous consent, the repeal of the standing committees article was approved.


    Item151125: This item authorizes the city manager to sign a contract with Carr, Riggs & Ingram to provide audit services for the city. The council had walked through the details at the November 24 pre council meeting and did not raise new issues here. The audit contract authorization was approved.


    Item071225: This request covered approval of city vouchers for the period from November 24 through December 8. During pre council, there was a detailed discussion about improving transparency, and staff committed to scanning and including city credit card statements with future voucher packets so council members can review them more easily. With that process change noted, the vouchers for this period were approved.


    Item021225: This ordinance directs the City to install a marked pedestrian crosswalk at the intersection of Westover Drive and Shades Road, tying into the new stop sign approved earlier in the meeting. It also requires drivers to yield to people in the crosswalk and makes violations enforceable under the city code. After unanimous consent and a roll call vote, the new crosswalk at Westover and Shades was approved.


    Item061225: This resolution approves the appointment of retired Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston as Special Assistant to the City Manager in Homewood. The council expressed strong enthusiasm and described this as a big step forward for the city’s organization and future structure, with members openly celebrating the hire and what his experience will bring to Homewood. 

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Pre-Council & Council Meetings March 9, 2026

March 10, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - March 9, 2026 Amy Weis, caretaker for Sims Garden, shared an update on plans to become a stronger community resource and teaching space. The garden is a city owned park with deep local history. Councilors also reviewed a budget amendment for Trane services that helps manage City Hall systems and saves money, discussed a retaining wall at 521 Edgehill Drive that extends into the right of way, and considered an annual spring cornhole series in front of City Hall. Agenda: https://bit.ly/40n8iXl

Garbage & Debris Reminders

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Homewood uses two services to collect garbage and debris . Each one handles different materials: Amwaste – Garbage and Recycling The Amwaste truck collects household garbage and recycling on your regular pickup days. Household garbage should be bagged and placed in your garbage cart, and boxes should be broken down before putting them in the cart. Carts should be placed out by 6:00am on your pickup days. Reminders: Residents can place up to three carts at the curb. You can use other types of cans/carts as long as they are 45 gal and larger. They don’t have to be an Amwaste or Republic cart. As long as you have one black Amwaste cart, or blue Republic cart, Amwaste will not provide any more. But if you have not received a black Amwaste cart, request one here. If you have (3) bags or less of small debris, leaves, pine straw, grass clippings, or small limbs, place them in your garbage cart to be picked up by Amwaste, not at the curb. City of Homewood Claw Truck – Debris and Bulk Piles The City of Homewood operates a “claw truck” that collects large debris piles such as tree limbs, brush, and other bulk yard debris placed at the curb. The truck runs weekly Monday through Thursday based on your neighborhood schedule, and residents do not need to request pickup. Please do not place debris near mailboxes, utility poles, signs, walls, or storm drains. The truck has to position itself to reach your debris pile. Reminders: Small debris, leaves, pine straw, grass clippings, and small limbs should be bagged, and you must have a minimum of (4) bags to place at the curb to be picked up by the claw truck. If you have (3) bags or less, they must go in your garbage cart for pick up by Amwaste, and will not be picked up by the claw truck. Single branches will not be picked up. It must be a pile. All construction or landscaping debris must be removed by the contractor.

BZA Meeting March 5, 2026

March 8, 2026
At the March 5, 2026 meeting, the Board of Zoning Adjustments reviewed several variance requests, approving a signage request for Pickleball Kingdom on Lakeshore Parkway and a second story setback at 422 Woodland Drive, while denying requests at 504 Hampton Drive, 301 Ascot Road, 837 Forest Drive, and the carried over case at 320 Le Prado Circle. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4b98PBj

Dawson Parking Deck Now Open to the Public

February 26, 2026
The deck is open! The 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors of the Dawson Baptist Church parking deck are now open for public use during these hours: Monday-Saturday 7:00am - 12:00am This provides over 300 additional parking spaces for the Edgewood business district. We are grateful to Dawson for making this space available for the city to lease and for partnering with us on a solution that serves the whole community.

A Safe Way to Cross Highway 280 is Coming!

February 24, 2026
For years, residents have asked for a safer way to cross Highway 280 at the Hollywood Boulevard overpass. What once felt like a long standing concern is now moving forward in a real and visible way. Nearly 20,000 cars cross the bridge every day. Yet it was built in 1960 as a two lane bridge with no protected pedestrian access. At the same time, walkers, runners, and cyclists regularly move between Birmingham, Mountain Brook, and Homewood along this corridor. The need has been clear for a long time. This effort has been discussed for more than fourteen years, bringing together Homewood, Mountain Brook, Birmingham, and Jefferson County. It is a strong example of regional cooperation, recognizing that road users do not see city limits when they drive or walk. An avid runner, Mayor Jennifer Andress facilitated those early conversations, asking how they could correct a serious pedestrian safety issue and strengthen regional connectivity. And now, they are! Phase one focuses on new sidewalks in Mountain Brook and along Hollywood Boulevard from Malaga Avenue up to the bridge. Construction is expected to begin this summer and will take approximately eight months. There will be some temporary lane shifts and possible lane closures during construction, with coordination among the cities to limit disruption. Phase two will widen the bridge, add a third vehicle lane, install a new traffic light at the exit ramp off Highway 280, add a new turn lane onto the existing on ramp to Highway 280 East, and create a protected pedestrian facility behind a concrete barrier wall. That portion is expected to go out for bid in 2027, with roughly 12 months of construction once underway. Funding for the sidewalk phase reflects a broad partnership that includes federal and state support, county participation, municipal cooperation, and private contributions from community groups and local organizations. The bridge widening phase will combine federal transportation dollars with a county match. Homewood has no financial obligation for this project. After years of steady conversations, planning, and partnership, safer passage across Highway 280 is no longer just an idea. It is moving toward construction and becoming part of the way our communities connect.

Pre-Council & Council Meetings Feb. 23, 2026

February 24, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - February 23, 2026 Council moved forward with a proposed $36k contract with MGT Impact Solutions to conduct a citywide organizational study, aimed at evaluating structure, staffing, and long term efficiency, with findings expected before summer budget talks. The firm will spend time onsite meeting with department heads and staff, reviewing job descriptions, benchmarking against peer cities in the Southeast, and offering recommendations on structure, staffing levels, reporting alignment, and workflow improvements. A public presentation of findings is expected before summer budget discussions. Council also reviewed an intergovernmental agreement related to pedestrian sidewalks near the Highway 280 bridge, introduced updates to the Homewood Board of Zoning Adjustments ordinance to align with the council manager structure, and continued discussion on the city manager employment agreement and other carryover items. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3ZWcLQD

Traffic Advisory for Saturday Feb. 28

February 24, 2026
The Shamrock 5K is set for Saturday, February 28, from 10:30am to 12:30pm . If you are traveling through Edgewood or along Broadway, plan for temporary road closures and traffic delays during that window. This will impact traffic for a few hours so please take a look at the map and plan your route accordingly.

Citizen Survey: Help Guide Homewood’s Future

February 19, 2026
Homewood residents will soon see a community survey in the mail. It is your chance to share honest feedback about city services, including public safety, parks, streets, stormwater, trash, the library, and communication. You can also complete the survey online at: https://homewoodsurvey.org/ All responses are confidential and reviewed by an independent third party. Your input will help guide decisions and shape the future of Homewood for years to come. We hope you will take a few minutes to take part.

Cale Smith Named Permanent City Manager

February 17, 2026
The City of Homewood has selected Cale Smith as the first permanent City Manager in the city’s 100-year history. The Homewood City Council voted Monday evening to authorize Mayor Jennifer Andress to offer him the position. You can watch that meeting above. This milestone follows years of discussion about creating a full-time City Manager role. In 2024, voters approved a referendum to move Homewood to a council-manager form of government. City leaders then transitioned from interim leadership to establishing a permanent position to oversee daily operations and long-term planning. Cale shared this, “I’m thankful for the trust the City Council has placed in me. I care deeply about Homewood and am proud to both serve and live here. This is a community that values its future and expects strong, steady leadership. This permanent appointment brings stability for our staff and our residents as we approach our 100th year. My focus remains on professionalism, transparency, and consistent progress for our city.” Special Assistant to the City Manager Sam Gaston added that he has been impressed with Cale’s leadership and commitment to doing the right things for long term success, including joining ICMA and being selected for Leadership ICMA. Background and Transition Cale has lived in Homewood for over 20 years, and has been employed since 2021, first as Director of Engineering and Zoning, and then most recently as Interim City Manager. He was appointed interim following the departure of former City Manager Glen Adams. The City launched a national and state search process. Applications were posted through local, state, and national municipal associations, including ICMA and the state City Manager Association. The search drew 61 applicants . After review by HR Director Kim Kinder and Special Assistant Sam Gaston, 14 qualified candidates were identified for interviews. Eleven candidates completed initial interviews, and five finalists advanced to extended interviews before the Council’s final deliberation. Why Cale Smith Council members pointed to Cale Smith’s deep knowledge of Homewood, strong infrastructure background, and steady leadership as Interim City Manager. They noted there would be no learning curve, as he is already managing major projects and working closely with staff, Council, and residents. Mayor Jennifer Andress highlighted his leadership on the new comprehensive plan, stormwater improvements, fleet inventory, city communications, citizen survey, and regional partnerships, saying he is already doing the work needed to move Homewood forward. What Happens Next The Council’s vote authorizes the Mayor to extend a formal offer. A negotiated written employment agreement will be presented for approval at an upcoming Council meeting. With this decision, Homewood formally establishes its first permanent City Manager, a historic step in the City’s Centennial year and a significant evolution in its governance structure.

Bright Changes

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City Council approved two new streetlights for some well used spots around Homewood. A new light on Cobb Street near Hall-Kent will improve visibility helping keep children and families safe.
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