Pre-Council & Council Meetings Feb. 23, 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

  • Details

    Item 020226: This item was a request to work in the right of way at 905 and 909 Frisco Street to connect to an existing sanitary sewer manhole. The applicant withdrew the request. The item was postponed indefinitely.


    Item 060226: This request was to extend a yellow curb marking on Linden near Kessler Lane to remove one parking space and improve traffic flow at a tight turn. Business owners supported the change because parked cars make it hard for vehicles to pass safely. The item was carried over.


    Item 090226: This was a budget amendment of 36,907 dollars to hire MGT Impact Solutions for a citywide organizational study. The study will review departments, job roles, staffing levels, and overall structure, and provide recommendations for improvement. The results will be presented publicly and are expected to help guide future planning. The item was sent to council and approved.


    Item 100226: This item authorizes the mayor to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Mountain Brook, Birmingham, and Jefferson County for the Highway 280 bridge improvement project, including new sidewalks leading to the bridge. The county will cover construction costs, and Homewood will only maintain one connecting block. Construction is expected to begin this summer. The item was carried over.


    Item 110226: This was a request to reimburse travel expenses for an out of state conference attended by the city manager. Council discussed the exact reimbursement amount and whether a personal airline credit was involved. Because clarification was needed, the item was carried over.


    Item 120226: This request would allow the public release of recorded interviews of the five finalists for city manager. Council plans to review and discuss it at the next meeting to stay within the required timeline. The item was carried over.


    Item 130226: This item appoints Cale Smith as City Manager and approves his employment agreement. Council discussed salary comparisons with nearby cities and future evaluation increases. The item was approved to move to council.


    Item 140226: This amendment updates the Board of Adjustment ordinance to match the city’s current council manager form of government. It adjusts how members are appointed and clarifies preferred qualifications and residency requirements, while allowing current members to finish their terms. The item was carried over.


Council Meeting - February 23, 2026


Homewood took two important steps Monday night that will shape how our city operates for years to come. By appointing a permanent city manager and investing in an organizational study, Council focused not just on today’s needs, but on building strong foundations for the future. In a unanimous 5 to 0 vote, Council appointed Carl Smith as Homewood’s first permanent city manager and approved his employment agreement. The Council also approved a $36,907 budget amendment to hire MGT Impact Solutions to conduct a citywide organizational study. That review will look at staffing structure, efficiency, and long range planning as the city prepares for the next budget cycle. They approved a little over $1k in travel reimbursement for an out of state city manager candidate, and reappointed William Johnson to the Board of Zoning Adjustments.


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

  • Details

    Item 020226: This item was a request for permission to work in the right of way at 905 and 909 Frisco Street to connect to an existing sanitary sewer manhole. The applicant asked to withdraw the request, Postponed indefinitely.


    Item 080126: This item was for consideration of an Attorney General opinion regarding the residency requirement. There was no discussion, and council agreed to carry it over to a future meeting. Carried over.


    Item 150226: This item was for approval of vouchers covering city expenses for the period of February 10 through February 23. Council approved the vouchers without discussion. Approved.


    Item 090226: This item amended the budget to hire MGT Impact Solutions LLC to conduct an organizational study of city staffing, structure, and overall efficiency. The study will help guide decisions for the upcoming budget year. The amendment moved $36k from the general fund carryover into professional services. Approved.


    Item 110226: This item authorized reimbursement of a title over $1k for travel expenses for an out of state candidate interviewing for the city manager position. The amount covered airfare, rental car, and hotel. Approved.


    Item 130226: This item officially appointed Cale Smith as the city’s first permanent city manager and approved his employment agreement. Council members shared congratulations and noted the historic nature of the decision as the city enters its 100th year. 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.
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