Birmingham City Council Highlights 3.18.25
On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council approved a number of projects backed by Council offices’ discretionary funds — programs dealing with arts and culture, healthy food initiatives, childcare for low-income families and more.
Here is a look at some of those projects:
ITEM 3: Councilor Carol Clarke allocated $7,500 of her office’s discretionary funds to assist with future art exhibits and operations at the Birmingham Museum of Art. The BMA’s collection encompasses approximately 28,000 works of art, and welcomes nearly 90,000 visitors annually.
ITEM 6: Council President Darrell O’Quinn and Councilor Hunter Williams are each utilizing $5,000 from their office’s discretionary budget to provide direct services, vital resources, and supportive programs for the LGBTQ community with a primary focus on youth ages 13 to 20, through Birmingham AIDS Outreach. Since 1985, this organization has served residents by offering free STD testing, preventative care, legal assistance, transportation to doctor’s appointments and more.
ITEM 7: Council President Pro Tem Wardine Alexander allocated $16,500 in discretionary funds to the Birmingham Board of Education to provide the following goods and services at Birmingham City Schools: The Board shall coordinate with Wenonah High School, in the amount of $8,000.00 to provide team equipment and supplies, West End Academy, in the amount of $5,000.00, to assist teacher supplies and Oxmoor Valley Elementary in the amount of $3,500.00 to assist with teacher supplies. The allocations are exclusively for the purposes stated.
ITEM 11: Councilor Hunter Williams is providing $5,000 to the Lovelady Center to provide services, skills training, meals, counseling, and temporary housing for the poor and needy women and children across the city. This organization has been serving over 500 women and children daily since it was established in 2004. The center’s efforts have saved the state over $3.8 million by housing women at the facility instead of in prison.
ITEM 16: Councilor LaTonya Tate distributed $1,500 to Renew Birmingham to empower single mothers by fostering a strong sense of community, offering practical guidance in key areas of life, and providing a platform for mutual support and alliance.
ITEM 19: Councilor Valerie Abbott allocated $20,000 to Vulcan Park and Museum to provide community-based educational workshops, exhibits, and presentations to families in order to provide age-appropriate educational programs for the citizens of Birmingham to learn the history of the museum through art, dance, music, and culture through online platforms.
Item 21
The Council unanimously approved an agreement with ZOOM Motorsports under which the group will manage the Alabama Indy Grand Prix events at Barber Motorsports Park in May.
Under the agreement, the City will provide incentives up to $350,000 for the event. Every year, this multi-national race provides an economic impact of over $30 million in Birmingham, and brings spectators from all over the world.
“This is one of the largest economic development events in the entire state when we’re talking about how many countries are involved. People from nearly 20 countries have participated and attended this race and people from 48 states have purchased tickets,” said Councilor Hunter Williams, chair of the Economic Development Committee. “This is a true international event, and that’s what sets it apart from others we host here. The Barber Motorsports Park is a huge asset for us here in Birmingham.”
The Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix will take place May 2–4 this year.
BOARDS AND AGENCIES
The Council appointed three members to the Zoning Board of Adjustments, all of them non-affiliated members. This body was established to hear appeals of decisions rendered by the zoning administrator and interpret unclear zoning provisions.
The new members and term expirations are as follows:
LaDara Lee, whose term will expire November 25, 2029
Phillip Foster, whose term will expire November 25, 2028
Janice Smith, whose term will expire November 25, 2030
The Council appointed five members to the Birmingham Planning Commission, who is charged with recommending the boundaries of various zoning districts and appropriate regulations to be enforced and any proposed amendments. The terms are for six years.
Jason Avery will serve the remaining unexpired term that was vacated. That term expires October 6, 2028.
Daniel Christiansen will serve the remainder of an unexpired term until October 6, 2026.
Nyesha Cheyenne Black, Haley Colson Lewis and Ronald Crenshaw were all reappointed, and will serve in their roles until October 6, 2029.
