Regular City Council Meeting

· Item number:Item #8 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

City partners with USGS to operate streamflow monitoring stations

Federal funding supports water quality monitoring across Birmingham's waterways, providing real-time data for flood forecasting and environmental protection. No local funding required.

👥 Counterparty: U.S. Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior (USGS) 🏛 Funding source: Federal Grant 📋 Action type: Resolution

· Item number:Item #9 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

City approves water testing agreement with EnviroLab

Water Works Board's lab will conduct sampling tests to ensure city water quality meets safety standards.

👥 Counterparty: Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Birmingham 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Resolution

· Item number:Item #10 $ Total cost: undisclosed

Fancy's on 5th gets right-of-way permit for street sign

Business receives city approval to place a sign in public right of way at 430 41st Street South. Allows commercial use of city street space.

👥 Counterparty: Fancy's on 5th, LLC 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Right-of-way easement 📍 Location: 430 - 41st Street South, Birmingham

· Item number:Item #11 $ Total cost: undisclosed

Keaton Properties gets right-of-way license for patio cover and awning

Keaton Properties gains permission to install structures over public right-of-way, including a 42-foot patio cover and 2-foot awning over a doorway. The license clarifies public access and liability terms for structures encroaching on city property.

👥 Counterparty: Keaton Properties, LLC 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Right-of-way easement

· Item number:Item #12 $ Total cost: undisclosed

Last Avenue, LLC gets permit to add 4 columns in public right-of-way

Private business installs decorative structures on city property at 1st Avenue South. City grants encroachment license; limits how the public right-of-way can be used.

👥 Counterparty: Last Avenue, LLC 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Right-of-way easement 📍 Location: 2109 - 1st Avenue South, Birmingham

· Item number:Item #14 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

Council approves city employee expense reimbursements

City employees are reimbursed for work-related expenses from the general fund. This routine approval ensures departmental operations continue without delay.

👥 Counterparty: city employees 🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Resolution

· Item number:Item #15 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

City partners with Alabama Sports Foundation to host U.S. Women's National Team

Birmingham will host a major international soccer event, bringing visibility and potential economic activity to the city through partnership with the U.S. Women's National Team.

👥 Counterparty: Alabama Sports Foundation (ASF) and Birmingham Park and Recreation Board 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Resolution

· Item number:Item #16 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

Approve advance expense accounts for city employees

Allows city staff to access pre-approved funds for work-related expenses. Affects all municipal employees who may need to cover costs and seek reimbursement.

👥 Counterparty: city employees 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Resolution

· Item number:Item #17 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

City approves employee expense reimbursements

Council reviews and approves documented spending by city employees from the general fund. This is routine expense oversight.

🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Resolution

· Item number:Item #21 $ Total cost: $661K

Council sets aside $660,720 for STRADA Transportation Initiative

Additional bank excise tax revenue funds transportation planning and projects under the STRADA program. This spending prioritizes mobility and infrastructure improvements for the city.

👥 Counterparty: Non Departmental, STRADA Transportation Initiative 🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Budget amendment

· Item number:Item #22 · 🛡️ Public-Safety Tech & Privacy $ Total cost: $750K

City awards $750K legal contract to Burr Forman through June 2016

City commits three-quarters of a million dollars in general-fund money to outside counsel for litigation and legal matters. Sole-source award means no competitive bidding.

👥 Counterparty: Burr Forman 🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Contract award

· Item number:Item #23 · 🛡️ Public-Safety Tech & Privacy $ Total cost: $50K

City hires Attorney Lawrence Cooper for litigation, $50K through June 2016

City commits $50,000 in public funds for legal representation in unspecified litigation and legal matters ending June 30, 2016.

👥 Counterparty: Attorney Lawrence Cooper 🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Contract award

· Item number:Item #24 · 🛡️ Public-Safety Tech & Privacy $ Total cost: $40K

City awards $40K legal contract to Walker Law through June 2016

City spending $40,000 in general funds for litigation and legal services via sole-source contract—a procurement method that bypasses competitive bidding. Citizens deserve to know how their tax dollars are allocated to law firms.

👥 Counterparty: Walker Law 🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Contract award

· Item number:Item #25 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

City authorizes sole-source contract with STRADA Professional Services

City will pay STRADA for consulting work already partially completed. No dollar amount disclosed in the agenda, making it impossible to assess the financial impact.

👥 Counterparty: STRADA Professional Services, LLC 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Resolution

· Item number:Item #26 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

City approves sole-source consulting agreement with STRADA Professional Services

Council authorizes the Mayor to finalize a consulting contract with STRADA, which has already performed preliminary professional services. Specific scope, cost, and deliverables are not fully disclosed in the title.

👥 Counterparty: STRADA Professional Services, LLC 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Resolution

· Item number:Item #27 · 🏠 Housing Stability $ Total cost: $2K

City approves $1,688 travel reimbursement for council staff

Izola Hall, a City Council Committee Assistant, is reimbursed for conference travel expenses (Nashville, Nov 3–6, 2015). This spending comes from general funds.

👥 Counterparty: Izola Hall 🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Appropriation

· Item number:Item #28 · 🏠 Housing Stability $ Total cost: $2K

City approves $1,688 travel reimbursement for council staff

Izola Hall, a City Council Committee Assistant, is reimbursed for conference travel expenses (Nashville, Nov 3–6, 2015). This spending comes from general funds.

👥 Counterparty: Izola Hall 🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Appropriation

· Item number:Item #29 · 🏠 Housing Stability $ Total cost: $2K

City approves $1,968 expense reimbursement for Mayor's assistant

Roy S. Colson, Assistant to the Mayor, receives reimbursement for work-related expenses in Minneapolis from July 11–19, 2015.

👥 Counterparty: Roy S. Colson 🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Appropriation 📍 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

· Item number:Item #30 · 🏠 Housing Stability $ Total cost: $2K

Council reimburses Councilor Parker $1,552 in expenses

Approves reimbursement to Councilor William Parker for travel and meal costs from a September 17–19 conference or official trip.

👥 Counterparty: William Parker 🏛 Funding source: General Fund 📋 Action type: Appropriation 📍 Location: District of Columbia

· Item number:Item #31 $ Total cost: undisclosed

Public hearing set: Block 8 alley vacation near Bessemer Road

Council will consider closing a 4,356-square-foot alley between Bessemer Road and 47th Street. Public hearing is October 27, 2015.

🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Public hearing set 📍 Location: Bessemer Road and 47th Street 📅 Public hearing: 2015-10-27

· Item number:Item #32 $ Total cost: undisclosed

Public hearing set: Zoning change (Case ZAC2015-00014)

Birmingham will hold a public hearing on October 27, 2015 to consider rezoning. Details on which parcels and what new zone apply are incomplete—check the full docket for location and impacts before the hearing.

🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Public hearing set 📅 Public hearing: October 27, 2015

· Item number:Item #33 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

Zoning law updated: mixed-use districts and parking rules revised

Changes to zoning rules for mixed-use development and off-street parking requirements may affect future housing, retail, and office projects in Birmingham. Check if your neighborhood or business plans are impacted.

🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Ordinance

· Item number:Item #35 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

Water cost-sharing agreement with 5 neighboring cities

Birmingham joins a regional water arrangement with Hoover, Irondale, Leeds, Mountain Brook, and Vestavia Hills. Impact on water rates and service terms depends on agreement details not yet public.

👥 Counterparty: City of Hoover, City of Irondale, City of Leeds, City of Mountain Brook, City of Vestavia Hills, Birmingham Water Works 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Ordinance

· Item number:Item #36 · 🏗️ Property Recovery ✨ $ Total cost: undisclosed

Condemnation repair permit issued for 923 45th Street, Ensley

A condemned property in Ensley can now be repaired. The permit allows the owner to bring the blighted house back into compliance and potentially restore it to use.

👥 Counterparty: LaWhaymon White 🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Resolution 📍 Location: 923 - 45th Street Ensley, Birmingham

· Item number:Item #38 · 🏗️ Property Recovery $ Total cost: undisclosed

Council repeals 30-day capital spending freeze

The city resumes capital projects that were on hold during a pause to review spending plans. This clears the path for infrastructure and facility improvements across the city.

🏛 Funding source: Unknown 📋 Action type: Ordinance