Birmingham City Council Highlights 9.12.23
ITEMS 1–2
Following a months-long process, with multiple public hearing and work sessions, the Birmingham City Council has unanimously approved a comprehensive set of amendments to the City’s Parking and Towing Ordinances. These changes are meant to alleviate the concerns of residents and visitors to the city and mitigate instances of predatory towing.
Perhaps the most significant change that will help prevent confusion when parking on privately owned lots is the new requirement for uniform signage on all lots across the city. During the public hearing process, many residents voiced frustration with the fact that signage was ambiguous and not clearly labeled. The adopted amendments require these lots to have the uniform signage with hourly rates, times of operation, information on who to call if a car is towed and clearly labeled payment methods.
The lots will have 60 days to conform to these new regulations.
Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, chair of the Council’s Transportation Committee has championed these efforts over the last several months, working in conjunction with the Mayor’s Administration.
“I think over the course of working on this and the public comments we’ve received, it’s a good example of how complicated it can be when making changes to the City’s code,” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said. “I believe the uniform signage will have an immediate positive impact once they’re all up. On the second piece, it was crucial for us to update the regulations for how parking enforcement is performed on these lots. Hopefully these changes will help address the concerns we’ve heard over the course of working on this.”
There are likely additional changes that will need to be made, according to Councilor O’Quinn. “The important thing is, I believe today we made a substantial step forward in addressing the majority of complaints that we’ve been hearing from residents and visitors, alike.”
The Office of the City Attorney presented the proposed changes during a Town Hall held in June. Some of the other key points of the updated ordinances include, but are not limited to, increasing insurance requirements for operators; clarifying proof of payment to help drivers with dispute options; additional payment options — including the use of mobile and web payment systems. A pending component that was not adopted but is currently being considered is a complaint resolution process to streamline complaints and objections levied against the towing companies.
“These updates are going to completely change the way towing is handled in the city of Birmingham,” Councilor Hunter Williams said following the vote. “This will ensure that there is a unified process on how towing will be done and as we move forward, every tow lot will be required to display signs so that citizens are aware of the rules and know what they can expect.”
Here is an example of the uniform signage that will be required on privately owned parking lots:
Operation LawnCARE Presentation
Operation LawnCARE, a collaboration between Councilor Clinton Woods and Rebirth Community Corporation, was back for its second year on Saturday, July 22nd.
On Tuesday, Councilor Clinton Woods presented a resolution honoring the hard work and commitment from the partnering agencies: Rebirth Community Corporation, Plus One Landscaping, and Spring Clean Lawn Service.
This initiative is about empowering our young people to make a difference in their community by providing them with training and equipment to mow lawns in their community, while also ensuring that yards of our senior residents are being maintained. Following the success of this initiative, Councilor Woods hopes to connect even more young people with the tools they need to start their own lawn care businesses.
“We’re excited to get to work on year three with this program where we reach out to single mothers and senior citizens, and go out and cut their grass,” Councilor Woods said. “The unique thing about this program is when we are working with single mothers of teenage children, we come out, cut the grass, and show the kids how it’s done. We then provide them with a lawn mower of their own so they can keep up with it moving forward.”
Overgrown lots have been a continual issue in neighborhoods across the city and Councilor Woods believes this initiative can empower young people to be difference makers in their neighborhoods. During the presentation, several Councilors expressed interest in expanding this partnership in their districts.
“Our hope is that these young people not only maintain their own yards, but also take that next entrepreneurial step and start cutting yards in their neighborhoods with their own business,” Woods said.
This past year, Operation LawnCARE connected with 15 single mother households in District 1 and provided them with lawn mowers. For anyone interested in volunteering or if you are in need of this service for your home, please visit: operationlawncare.org
