Birmingham City Council Highlights 8.1.23
ITEM 8
On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council approved an interlocal cooperation agreement between the Birmingham Police Department and the United States Marshals Service to assign BPD personnel to ongoing efforts to apprehend fugitives.
Public safety is a top priority for the Council and we want to ensure that we continue working diligently with all our law enforcement partners to protect and serve our communities,” Councilor LaTonya Tate said. “As we’re seen recently, these interlocal partnerships are a vital part of helping to solve and prevent future crimes from happening.”
Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:
ITEM 8.
An Ordinance, pursuant to Alabama Act 1969–916, authorizing the Chief of Police to execute an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the City of Birmingham and the UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE, (the “USMS”) for the purpose of authorizing the Birmingham Police Department (the “BPD”) to assign BPD Officers to assist the USMS Task Force in apprehending fugitives, and the USMS will provide for the reimbursement of certain overtime costs and other expenses for work performed by the BPD Officers. The Term of the Agreement shall not exceed a period of three (3) years from its effective date and authorizing the Chief of Police to execute any additional documents necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Agreement. [First Reading] [Funding Source: BPD Operating Budget] (Submitted by the Mayor) (Recommended by the Chief of Police)**
ITEM 29
The Council has voted to nominate Karen Wadlington to the Jefferson County Board of Equalization. The nomination will then be considered by Governor Kay Ivey for approval. Wadlington had previously served a term in this role prior to Tuesday’s vote.
The Board of Equalization consists of three members, one nominated by the Birmingham City Council, one by the Jefferson County Commission and one by the Birmingham Board of Education. They serve as a quasi judicial review panel for property owners who wish to challenge the market value and resulting assessment of their properties.
“We talked last week about how important this board is for our citizens when they have questions about their property taxes,” Council President Wardine Alexander said. “If you have any problems with your assessment, this is the channel you’re able to utilize to seek relief in the form of a potential reassessment.”
