Birmingham City Council Highlights 4.25.23
Here are a few of the legislative highlights from Tuesday’s Birmingham City Council meeting, in case you missed it.
ITEM 41
The Birmingham City Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate to vote against HB 177.
Alabama House Bill 177 was introduced last month without any notice given to the Birmingham City Council. The bill would restructure Birmingham Water Works Board, and the Council’s appointing power.
“In its current form, this bill only has implications for the City of Birmingham and appears to be an affront to the duly elected leadership of our city and the residents we serve. The Birmingham City Council has demonstrated its commitment to selecting BWWB members with executive and professional experiences that align with modern business expectations and practices,” President Wardine Alexander said.
Councilor Clinton Woods, chair of the Council’s Governmental Affairs Committee spearheaded the resolution and said, “At this point it’s really important to speak up on behalf of the Council and the ratepayers we represent. This bill would dilute our ability to represent the largest block of ratepayers and we need to let the representatives in Montgomery know exactly where we stand on this issue. We’ve talked in depth about this bill and today was about making a clear statement in the form of a resolution.”
Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:
ITEM 41. A Resolution opposing House Bill (HB) 177 and requesting the Alabama House of Representatives and Alabama Senate vote against the legislation because of its adverse impact to local governance. (Submitted and Recommended by Councilor Woods, Chairman, Governmental Affairs and Public Information Committee) **
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
There is an opening on the Birmingham Parking Authority, which regulates city’s parking spaces, decks and lots.
Applicants must be a registered voter with an address in the city limits of Birmingham.
For anyone interested in serving, please forward a letter of interest and resume to Myeisha.Hutchinson@birminghamal.gov
The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 1st.
REMINDER: Temporary Council Meeting Location Change
The Birmingham City Council will be holding the regularly scheduled meetings at the Boutwell Auditorium from May 2nd, 2023 through August 1st, 2023 while the Council Chamber undergoes renovations to improve the experience for the public.
The Council unanimously passed an ordinance earlier this month to change the regularly scheduled meeting location to the second floor of the Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 Reverend Abraham Woods, Jr. Boulevard. The meeting time will remain 9:30 a.m. on every Tuesday.
Included in the renovation is upgraded seating with more handicap accessible accommodations, rewiring the electrical to improve lighting, sound and video quality for the audience members, new flooring and updated broadcasting equipment for residents following along remotely.
The meetings will still be livestreamed to the Birmingham City Council’s Facebook page during the temporary move.
