Pre-Council & Council Meetings April 13, 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

  • Details

    Item100426: This was a request from the Hollywood Garden Club to hold a block party event tied to their Tour of Homes and neighborhood centennial celebration, including street closures, live music, and a garden walk. The event was described as a free community gathering to showcase the historic Hollywood neighborhood and its homes. The request included needed approvals like a special retail liquor license. This item was sent to the council meeting for approval.


    Item010426: This item was a grant application request to support a public lecture series through the Homewood Public Library tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. The funding would support educational programs on American history and culture, planned for summer months. Council discussed timing. This item was carried over.


    Item020426: This request involved allowing a homeowner to install steps within the city right of way due to a steep property layout. The discussion focused on safety and placement, with no major concerns raised. The item was set to move forward for further consideration. This item was sent to the council meeting for approval.


    Item040426: This was a detailed discussion about launching a microtransit pilot program in Homewood, similar to a rideshare system, to improve transportation access, reduce parking demand, and connect residents more efficiently. The program would be funded initially by an outside foundation, with long-term costs and service levels discussed by council. This item was sent to the council meeting for approval.


    Item050426: This item involved a budget amendment to fund legal services for handling appeals in circuit court, ensuring consistent prosecution coverage beyond municipal court. The change fills a gap in current legal support. This item was sent to the council meeting for approval.


    Item060426: This was a large budget adjustment to move funds related to gas tax revenues and stormwater and capital projects, correcting how resurfacing funds had been handled in previous years. Council emphasized keeping future gas tax funds dedicated strictly to road work. This item was sent to the council meeting for approval.


    Item070426: This item introduced a new driver selection policy required for insurance and risk management purposes, setting standards for who can operate city vehicles. Departments worked together to finalize the policy. This item was approved.


    Item080426: This request was to fund an AI-powered chatbot for the city website to improve how residents find information, support multiple languages, and enhance accessibility. Council discussed its future value and functionality. This item was sent to the council meeting for approval.


    Item110426: This item involved rezoning properties on Montgomery Street to allow redevelopment into a fitness center, with discussion around zoning differences, parking, and maintaining design standards. A public hearing will be scheduled before final action. This item was carried over.


Council Meeting - April 13, 2026


Council moved through a fa short agenda including surplus equipment, emergency payment approvals, and a landscaping request along Whitehall Road. They also cleared the way for the Hollywood Garden Club block party this weekend and carried over a nuisance property item to the next meeting.


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

  • Details

    Item 080326: A public hearing for declaring property at 201 Dale Avenue a nuisance due to a dead tree was discussed briefly and moved to the next meeting for further consideration, carried over 


    Item 120326: Council approved a request to allow landscaping work to extend into the city right of way at 3200 Whitehall Road, with no major concerns raised during discussion, approved 


    Item 140326: Council approved declaring miscellaneous vehicles and equipment as surplus so they can be disposed of properly, after clarifying the process and moving forward with unanimous support, approved 


    Item 120426: Council approved emergency payment of select city expenses due to timing issues, with the understanding that all items will be reviewed and any concerns could trigger a special meeting, approved 


    Item 100426A: Council approved the Hollywood Garden Club block party event scheduled for April 18 so the event can move forward as planned, approved


More

April 10, 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!
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
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 money 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.
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.
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
March 24, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - March 23, 2026 Council worked through a short agenda, focusing on a few key items including a request to use a parking space for a crawfish boil in April and a proposal tied to landscaping extending into the right of way near Whitehall. They also reviewed surplus equipment headed to auction, an HVAC repair needed to keep part of a HPD functional, and a shift in authority for signing opioid settlement agreements to the city manager. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4bKstE3
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
March 9, 2026
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.
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
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.
More Posts