City Council Meeting 4.16.19 Recap

Here’s the video from the meeting:

And here’s a recap of some of the items the City Council discussed by the Council:

Item 18

An Ordinance “TO FURTHER AMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD FUND BUDGET” for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, by transferring $5,700.00 from District 2 PIC Project, $5,700.00 from District 5 PIC Projections, and appropriating $11,400.00 to Transfer to Fund 102 Capital Improvement Fund, and “TO FURTHER AMEND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BUDGET” for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, by appropriating $11,400.00 Crestwood APPLE Study/Crestwood Boulevard Corridor Study Grant Match.

The Ordinance approves transferring Public Improvement Funds from District 2 and District 5, both districts that Crestwood Boulevard runs through, to a study that would attempt to resolve certain transportation and accessibility issues along the Crestwood Boulevard Corridor, including:

-making the section of 5th Avenue (leading to Crestwood Boulevard) by the Continental Gin property in Avondale more conducive to bicycling.

-making the Aldi Grocery store more accessible for foot traffic.

The City is working with the engineering consulting firm, Sain Associates, in order to conduct the study, and then will determine what course of action to take for the actual engineering of these potential infrastructure improvements.

Item 22

A Resolution urging the legislative delegation to support all efforts to pass and enact legislation regulating alternative nicotine products, electronic nicotine delivery systems or retailers of any of these products during the 2019 Legislative Session, and that a certified copy of this resolution be filed with each Representative and Senator representing this district.

Several other surrounding municipalities, including Homewood and Vestavia, have already passed similar Resolutions encouraging the State Legislature to pass laws regulating alternative nicotine products, namely vaping.

Findings from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey indicate cause for concern in patterns of youth e-cigarette use as follows:

1. 1.5 million more students used e-cigarettes between 2017 and 2018: 78% increase among high school e-cigarette users and 48% increase among middle school users;

2. 68% of youth users used flavored e-cigarettes; and

3. 28% of youth used e-cigarettes on 20 or more days.

With the passing of this Resolution, the City Council is urging the legislative delegation to support all efforts to pass and enact legislation regulating alternative nicotine products or electronic nicotine delivery systems or retailers of any of these products during the 2019 Legislative Session.

Item 73

A Resolution setting a public hearing May 21, 2019 to consider the adoption of an Ordinance “TO AMEND THE ZONING DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM” (Case No. ZAC2019–00002) to change zone district boundaries from D-3, Single Family District to D-4, Medium Density Residential District, filed by the owner, Nancy Calloway, for the property located at 1501 4th Avenue West situated in the NW ¼ of Section 04, Township 18-S; 3-W, Birmingham.

The applicant wants to rezone this property so that the communal living facility for men that’s she’s been running for 3 men, can expand to serve 5 men. The current zoning of the property does not allow for that many non-family members to live in the same house.

The City’s Long Range Land Use Plan identifies the property for Residential Low; a designation applied to Single Family Homes therefore, the proposed rezoning is not consistent with the Plan.

The Fairview Neighborhood Association met at its regularly scheduled meeting on March 5, 2019 to review the proposed project and voted to approve it. The vote was 6 approved, 1 denied and 1 abstention.

As a courtesy, the applicant presented the proposed redevelopment to the neighboring The Bush Hills Neighborhood Association at its regularly scheduled meeting on February 26, 2019. The Bush Hills Neighborhood Association did not support the rezoning request. The vote was 1 approved and 30 denied.

The Zoning Advisory Committee met at its regularly scheduled meeting on March 19, 2019 and voted to Recommend approval of the applicant’s request.

The City Council’s Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting met on April 4th, and voted to not recommend the item, because of concern for this being spot zoning. There will nevertheless be a public hearing on this matter on May 21st during the City Council meeting.

Full Agenda

Upcoming Meetings

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

9:00 a.m. — Park Board Meeting — Maxine Herring Parker Board Room, Legion Field, 400 Graymont Avenue West

Thursday, April 18, 2019

11:00 a.m. — Joint Special Called Parks and Recreation Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Room “A”

3:00 p.m. — Joint Planning and Zoning Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — 5th Floor Conference Room-City Hall

Saturday, April 20, 2019

12:00–2:00 p.m. — Easter Extravaganza — Greater Antioch Baptist Church, 2900 Avenue G — Councilor John Hilliard, District 9

Monday, April 22, 2019

3:30 p.m. — Joint Budget and Finance Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Rooms “D & E”

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

9:00 a.m. — Pre-Council Meeting — City Council Chambers; 9:30 a.m. — Council Meeting — City Council Chambers

2:00 p.m. — Joint Administration/Education Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Rooms “D & E”

3:00 p.m. — Joint Economic Development Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Rooms “D & E”

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

3:30 p.m. — Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Rooms “D & E”