Pre-Council & Council Meetings April 27, 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

  • Details

    Item 130426: This was to adjust the May meeting schedule so the city avoids meeting on Memorial Day. The plan sets meetings for May 11 and May 18, with back to back weeks discussed and no conflicts raised, carried over


    Item 140426: This item nominated Sam Gaston to serve on the Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors.


    Item 150426: This was to set a bid opening date for improvements to the US 31 pedestrian tunnel, including landscaping, irrigation, and upgraded finishes, with coordination mentioned with the new Piggly Wiggly, carried over


    Item 160426: This item set a bid opening date for a new parking lot at 185 Oxmoor Road on the old Waffle House site, including about 60 spaces, and drainage, carried over


    Item 170426: This was a request for the mayor to travel to Washington DC with other regional leaders to meet with federal representatives, with costs already budgeted and part of an annual trip, carried over


    Item 180426: This discussed a budget transfer of $25,000 to cover an insurance deductible for replacing a damaged traffic signal at Oxmoor and Oakview, caused by storm damage, carried over


    Item 190426: This was a request to send a letter of support for the Exceptional Foundation as part of a recurring grant application to the Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama, carried over


    Item 200426: This was a detailed discussion about the property at 2901 Central Avenue involving right of way access, past development plans that did not move forward, and a small business owner seeking to purchase city property for parking, carried over


    Item 220426: This covered a budget transfer related to an unpaid water bill from the police station construction project, where a temporary meter was billed to the city and went unpaid for years, carried over


Council Meeting - April 27, 2026


Council approved moving forward with a Microtransit pilot project, addressed a neighborhood safety concern by declaring a Dale Avenue property a nuisance, and continued progress on the 31 tunnel projects and pedestrian improvements along with setting a public hearing of note for a rezoning request for a new fitness center. 


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

  • Details

    Item 080326: The council approved declaring 201 Dale Avenue a public nuisance due to a hazardous dead tree and overgrowth, following resident concerns about safety and visibility, approved


    Item 130426: The council approved moving the second May meeting date due to the Memorial Day holiday schedule conflict, ensuring the meeting timing works better for staff and council availability, approved


    Item 140426: The council approved adding Sam Gaston to the list of potential candidates for the Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors, approved


    Item 150426: The council approved setting May 28, 2026 as the bid opening date for the U.S. 31 pedestrian tunnel improvement project, approved


    Item 160426: The council approved setting May 28, 2026 as the bid opening date for the 185 Oxmoor Road parking lot project, approved


    Item 170426: The council approved travel for the mayor to Washington, DC to meet with federal representatives alongside other local leaders, approved


    Item 190426: The council approved sending a letter of support for the Exceptional Foundation grant application, continuing the city’s ongoing support for the organization and its programs, approved


    Item 010426: The council approved sending a letter of support for a grant application tied to the Homewood Library lecture series, helping pursue outside funding with no required city match, approved


    Item 020426: The council approved work within the public right of way at 609 Devon Drive, allowing improvements to an existing walkway with proper agreements in place, approved


    Item 040426: The council approved directing the city manager to evaluate adding micro transit services and bring back a formal agreement for consideration, with strong discussion around benefits for residents and the need for public awareness, approved


    Item 050426: The council approved a budget amendment to fund legal services already being provided for municipal appeals, approved


    Item 060426: The council approved a budget amendment for stormwater and capital projects, continuing planned infrastructure work, approved


    Item 070426: The council approved adoption of a driver selection policy discussed in prior meetings, approved


    Item 080426: The council approved funding for a website chat tool subscription to improve access to information, approved


    Item 110426: The council set a public hearing for June 8, 2026 to consider rezoning properties on Montgomery Street for a fitness center redevelopment, carried over


    Item 210426: The council approved payment of vouchers for the current period, including added items for vehicle maintenance and equipment service, approved


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July 24, 2026
Previous Public Meeting Information July 23, 2026 WATCH VIDEO VIEW PRESENTATION May 19, 2026 WATCH VIDEO VIEW PRESENTATION January 28, 2026 WATCH WORKSHOP VIDEO The early results from citizen engagement shows overwhelming satisfaction with quality of life in Homewood, especially when it comes to schools, parks, public safety, and neighborhood character. At the same time, residents made it clear they want to protect what makes Homewood special while continuing to address important challenges like traffic, drainage, sidewalks, infrastructure, and connectivity across the city. Feedback from workshops and surveys will help guide long term planning discussions as Homewood works on a roadmap for the next 25 years. Homewood’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2007. Since then, a lot has changed, and more change is coming. With the city moving to a Council-Manager form of government , this is a key time to clarify what matters most to residents. The plan will help inform capital improvements, public service priorities, housing trends, transportation needs, and future land use. It will also give newly elected officials clear direction on what the community values. Your Voice, Your City Every resident will have a chance to be involved. This isn’t just a document, it’s a shared vision for Homewood’s future, shaped by the people who live here. The plan will reflect the needs of each of the city’s four wards and identify short, medium, and long-term projects for both public and private investment. Whether it's about where new housing fits, what kinds of businesses we want, or how we move around, this process is about making those choices together.
July 20, 2026
As we work to make the most of public parking, the Homewood Police Department has hired a Parking Enforcement Officer. The goal is to help keep parking spaces available for everyone throughout the day. As a reminder, street parking in Homewood is limited to three hours. Specifically, please be mindful of the two designated ‘Law Enforcement’ parking spaces in front of SoHo Square, which must remain available for police use. There will be a short period where warnings will be issued to help everyone become familiar with the parking requirements before citations begin.
July 15, 2026
You may see a large and very visible police presence around the campus and inside OLS over the next week or so. This is training.  The Homewood Police Department will be conducting active shooter response training on the campus of Our Lady of Sorrows School July 16 and 17 and July 20 through 24, from 9am to 3pm each day. This is part of HPD's annual training and will also include medical trauma treatment and first aid. We wanted to make sure you knew what was happening if you see the activity in the area.
July 15, 2026
The Planning Commission reviewed a proposed zoning definition for minor vehicle repair after concerns about vehicle-focused businesses along the Green Springs corridor. Discussion focused on whether the proposed definition was too broad and could affect specialized businesses or existing businesses that may become nonconforming. The commission recommended using a shorter definition focused on routine, low-impact vehicle services and removing the long list of examples. The amended recommendation passed 5 to 1 and now moves to the City Council. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4vQEikP
July 15, 2026
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and may use the names of real City officials, employees or information from public meetings to make an email, text message or phone call appear legitimate. A familiar name or email does not mean the message is real. The City of Homewood will NEVER ask you to purchase gift cards, send cryptocurrency or make a personal payment to a City official or employee through an unsolicited email or text message. Cash and check are the only forms of payment currently accepted for Variance, Rezoning, Resurvey, and Development Plan applications. If you receive ANY request involving money, STOP and VERIFY it before responding. Call the City using THIS CONTACT INFO . DO NOT call a phone number included in the suspicious message. You could be calling the scammer back instead of a City official. And if you are still unsure, come see us! Visit City Hall, 4th Floor, and talk directly with our staff. We can help verify any request involving money. You can also verify using these emails: fred.goodwin@homewoodal.org emily.harrismiller@homewoodal.org If you are directed by City staff to send in your payemnt, use this information:  Attn: Department of Engineering and Zoning City of Homewood 2850 19th Street South, Fourth Floor Homewood, AL 35209
July 14, 2026
The U.S. Highway 31 pedestrian tunnel is temporarily closed while it undergoes a major renovation. While crews are at work over the next few months, we thought it would be a good time to look back at the history of Homewood's longest-serving pedestrian connection. For more than 70 years, the tunnel has provided generations of Homewood families with a safe passage beneath a busy roadway. The tunnel was constructed in 1954 after widening of U.S. Highway 31, then known as Montgomery Highway. At the time, many students who attended Shades Cahaba Elementary lived on the west side of 31. Rather than requiring hundreds of children to cross a rapidly expanding highway at street level, community leaders pushed for a pedestrian underpass. To help make room for the tunnel's west entrance, Hill Food Store, the predecessor to today's Piggly Wiggly, provided a portion of its parking lot.
July 14, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - July 13, 2026
July 10, 2026
The Board of Zoning Adjustments approved a variance for a family to build a therapeutic pool on Gran Ave. The variance allows a 105-square-foot increase in impervious surfacing. The applicant demonstrated the project would remain within the city's maximum allowable impervious surface coverage, at approximately 44.6%, while providing enough space for aquatic therapy for their son with cerebral palsy. The board denied a requested variance for a proposed condominium development on Courtney Drive after nearby residents raised concerns about traffic, alley access, and neighborhood impacts, while approving two separate requests for second story home additions on Ardsley Place and Peerless Avenue. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3SCceD3
July 6, 2026
Beginning Monday, July 6, the U.S. 31 pedestrian tunnel near Piggly Wiggly will be closed on both ends as construction begins on a major renovation project. Construction is expected to take a few months to work on new landscaping, lighting, and other upgrades designed to create a safer and more welcoming connection for everyone walking through the area.
July 2, 2026
Microtransit is now available for Homewood residents, adding an on-demand option to move around our city from the Birmingham Transit Authority (BJCTA). It works just like ride sharing whereby riders will be able to request a trip through an app and get picked up nearby, with routes designed in real time to keep trips efficient and wait times low. The service provides point-to-point transportation anywhere within the city limits for just $1.50 per trip. For more details, GO HERE. How this pilot program is being funded?  The initial phase, running from July 2026 through September 2027, is fully funded through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham , at about $792,000. This allows the city to launch the service without immediate long-term cost commitments. After that, projected annual costs are expected to be around $610,000 to $630,000, depending on how the service is adjusted according to our needs. This pilot approach gives Homewood time to see how people actually use the system, where demand is strongest, and how the service can be refined. It also keeps flexibility built in, with the ability to adjust hours, coverage, and fleet size based on real data. You can VIEW THE PRESENTATION presented to the Council on April 13, 2026.
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