Council Highlights: March 31 Edition

In this episode of Council Highlights, we recap the key decisions and discussions from the Birmingham City Council meeting on March 31. From important updates to upcoming community events, get the information you need to stay connected and engaged with what’s happening in our city.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:04

Welcome to Motion to Adjourn, the podcast about the work that continues with the Birmingham City Council beyond what happens on Tuesdays during council meetings.

SPEAKER_02 0:13

All in favor, let it be known that or in the committee meeting.

SPEAKER_03 0:18

After the official motion to adjourn, the council's continue work on behalf of the city and its residents. Welcome to the motion to adjourn podcast. I am your host, Anaya Kenyan, a service project manager for the Birmingham City Council. Today we are diving into some of the most significant items that were mentioned during Tuesday's council meeting. On Tuesday, the council approved the Northside Southside Framework Rezoning Plan. This is an important community-driven initiative developed under the city's 2013 Comprehensive Plan. This framework helps translate citywide goals for housing, land use, transportation, public spaces, and economic development into targeted strategies that directly impact our neighborhoods. Let's hear from Councillor Darrell O'Quinn as he explains the benefits this rezoning plan will bring to our city.

SPEAKER_04 1:28

That's one that I'm especially excited about because it allows more density and opportunity for housing. One of the things that you know is an issue throughout the city and no different from any other part of the country is that housing prices are going up in part because there's very little availability of quality housing stock. We have, you know, unfortunately, a lot of housing stock that is dilapidated, you know, and those put downward pressure on pricing, but we want those properties to be revitalized. And in some cases, I think that this urban neighborhood uh zoning category will help incentivize that. Um it allows for a property to be used as residential and house a small business in it. Uh, it allows for accessory dwelling units. So if I have a garage uh behind my house, I can potentially you know convert that into an apartment that I can use to you know have a tenant there, additional income for me, which you know for a lot of our seniors that are living on fixed income maybe you know make a world of difference for them.

SPEAKER_03 3:05

This framework spans several neighborhoods, including Druid Hills, Found Heights, Five Point South, Glen Iris, South Side, and Central City, helping to ensure coordinated possible growth across the entire corridor. The council approved $3.2 million that will work to improve safety and increase pedestrian traffic along Richard Arrington Boulevard crossing over Red Mountain. Improvements will include reducing the number of lanes from four to two, along with a secured pedestrian path along the road. These improvements along Richard Arrington Boulevard are just one part of the city's broader effort to strengthen connectivity and create streets that truly serve residents. The council also approves a $38 million budget surplus that will be reinvested directly into our city through infrastructure upgrades, park enhancements, historic preservation efforts, workforce development initiatives, and so much more. Council President Alexander explains how important this is for Birmingham.

SPEAKER_02 4:16

This is a game changer. This will be an improvement of the quality of life for the residents that we represent. We were excited to approve this package today, and again, this is will really help us as we advocate for our residents. It is our duty to use these resources in a way that will advance projects that are already underway, that will tackle deferred maintenance, and invest in infrastructure and community spaces that again will benefit our residents for years to come. Again, all of us here understand the challenges that our communities face because we see them every day. Each of the counselors, we're out in our communities, we listen to our residents, and so we understand the challenges that they're facing. But by putting these resources to work in a thoughtful and targeted way, residents will see meaningful improvements in their daily lives. So because of this, we're very excited to have supported this package, and we look forward to the infrastructure changes, just the life-changing opportunities that these amenities will bring to our residents and the resources they will provide.

SPEAKER_03 5:18

Now let's hear from the council's budget and finance chair, Council Clinton Woods.

SPEAKER_00 5:28

Being patient, being disciplined in our spending uh has gotten us to a point like today where we have a large surplus to be able to tackle some important needs that we've seen. But uh over the years we've been very responsive to what residents have asked for, investing heavily in street paving, public safety. Uh, excited to see BPD fully staffed for the first time in uh nearly a decade, and so we're just gonna continue that work of taking on the big problems. Uh, we've been able to really solve the pension issue here, and so uh I think what we've built here is trust that residents trust us to properly manage the funds, and as we go forward, uh, we're just gonna continue to find ways to do that and continue to solve the issues and raise the quality of life for our residents here.

SPEAKER_03 6:08

So let's hear from Counselor Hunter Williams as he explains how a portion of this surplus will support key projects, including improvements to interstate lighting.

SPEAKER_01 6:19

When you drive through many municipalities throughout the state of Alabama, interstate lights are dark, they're off. Um we know that that's uh not uncommon in the Birmingham metro area as well. And part of that is uh Alabama DOT's uh decision that they will install the lighting. However, it is up to the municipality to pay the electrical bill and then maintain the lighting. And the lightness, the lighting, the lighting does require maintenance. Um, that vandalism and theft and other natural failures do occur. So it's extremely expensive. The area that we voted on today uh to get lit is the eastern area of Birmingham. So when you think of the 2059 interchange all the way on 59 to Roebuck Parkway, and then from the interchange to the Iron Dale line on I-20, all that has been dark for as long as I have been on this council for the past eight years. We were finally able to come to an agreement where we are going to split some of that cost, and Al Dot is going to help pay for it. Uh, the total cost of the project is over six million dollars. And so if you think about, and that doesn't include the the usage, the utility rates, which the city also will pay, but if you think about just keep keeping that infrastructure updated, just that small two segments is over six million dollars. Uh, the cost of maintenance of interstate lights is huge, and it's a lot of money typically that a municipality might not have in its annual budget. So I'm very excited to get these two segments of the eastern area of Birmingham lit again. Um, I want to thank Aldot for their partnership. Um I want to thank the thank the Regional Planning Commission for their partnership. Uh, and I think that it's really important. You know, one thing that people notice, whether they're residents of Birmingham or they're visitors of Birmingham, is when an interstate is dark, uh it has a very unwelcoming effect and a kind of an eerie, chilling effect for those residents that use it on a day-to-day basis, not to mention their safety issues as well. So we're excited to get those lights lit again. I know that it will probably take at least a year to get that done, but passing the funding and getting the agreement with those partners uh is is always the biggest first step to making sure that those projects happen.

SPEAKER_03 8:42

This surplus provides a meaningful opportunity to move important projects forward by strengthening safety, connectivity, and quality of life for residents across Birmingham. Don't leave just yet. We'll be right back after this quick message.

SPEAKER_05 8:57

As we recognize Women's History Month, we honor the women who paved the way and uplift those continuing the journey. Their dedication fuels progress and community. The motion to adjourn podcast proudly celebrates all women who help shape our city.

SPEAKER_03 9:14

If you missed Tuesday's council meeting, you can always tune in at our Birmingham City Council Roku channel and on our YouTube and socials at City CouncilBeham. Again, that's City CouncilBeham. Thanks for listening to Motion to Adjourn. Make sure you subscribe to the podcast to learn more about your city and local government. Also, follow us on our socials on Instagram and Facebook at City CouncilBeham. Until next time, stay informed and stay engaged.