City Council Meeting Recap 12.18.18
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 14
An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a Redevelopment Agreement with Guster Law Firm, LLC, in substantially the same form as on file in the Office of the City Clerk, under which the City will convey to Guster Law Firm, LLC, property known as the “Old Regions Bank Building” located at 2250 Bessemer Road, and all personal property located therein to Guster Law Firm, LLC for a use value of $100,000.00, for use as an expanded professional law office, including retail space.
The City of Birmingham is conveying ownership of the “Old Regions Bank Building” in 5 Points West for $100,000 to the Guster Law Firm, LLC.
Owner Attorney Eric Guster spoke before the Budget and Finance Committee on December 10th about his plans for the property. He will invest around $550,000 in redeveloping the property for expanded law office and retail space, and estimates that 13 new jobs will be created as a result of the redevelopment.
This item was originally slated to appear on the December 11th City Council meeting, but during the December 10th Budget and Finance Committee Meeting, Councilor Steven Hoyt requested that a clause be added to the Redevelopment Agreement that stipulates that Attorney Guster not lease space to Payday Lending, Check Cashing, Title Pawn Loan, Car Title Loan, or other similar business in the property. After giving some time for the Office of the City Attorney to amend the Agreement, the Council passed the item on the agenda today.
Item 79
A Resolution setting a public hearing January 22, 2019 to consider the adoption of an Ordinance “TO AMEND THE ZONING DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM” (Case No. ZAC2018–00023) to change zone district boundaries from B-6, Health and Institutional District to MU-H, Mixed-Use High District, filed by Joseph J. Adams, Jr., representing the owners, University of Alabama at Birmingham and The UAB Educational Foundation for the properties located at 306 and 308 15th Street South and 1401 3rd Avenue South and situated in the SW¼ of Section 36, Township 17-S, Range 3-West, Birmingham.
UAB and the UAB Education Foundation are proposing a mixed-use development with ground floor business/ retail and apartment use on the upper floors. The City’s Long Range Land Use Plan identifies the property as Institutional. Although the proposed rezoning request is Not Consistent with the Long Range Land Use, the rezoning request is compatible with adjacent uses. The Five Points South Neighborhood Association met at its regularly scheduled meeting on November 26, 2018 to review the proposed project
and voted “To Recommend Approval” of the proposed rezoning request. The vote was 11 approved and 0 denied. The Planning and Zoning Committee voted to recommend this Item to the Full Council, and there will be a public hearing on this item on January 22nd, 2019 at 9:30am in the City Council Chambers.
Items 82 and 83
A Resolution appointing a representative for City Council District 1 due to a vacancy.
A Resolution appointing a representative for City Council District 6 due to a vacancy.
The Birmingham City Council appointed two new members to the governing body on Tuesday to fill the vacant seats in District 1 and District 6. Clinton Woods (District 1) and Crystal Smitherman (District 6) were selected by a vote following interviews with the final six candidates that were held while the Council was went into recess on Tuesday. They will be sworn in when the Council meets on January 2, 2019.
On Thursday, December 13, the Birmingham City Council met with 26 candidates who applied for the vacant seats. Candidates were given one minute to explain why they are the most qualified person for the position; the field was narrowed down to the six candidates who participated in extended interviews on Tuesday.
As stated in the Mayor-Council Act, Vacancies in the council shall be filled by the council at the next regular meeting or any subsequent meeting of the council, the person so elected to hold office only until the next election of any kind in which the voters of the city to which this Act applies are qualified electors, at which time said unexpired terms shall be filled by said electors in accordance with all provisions of law applicable to such city; in any event, the person elected shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified.
Full Agenda
Board Vacancies
There is currently one vacancy, and another term soon expiring on the Birmingham Public Library Board. The Public Library Board exists: “To manage and control the Birmingham Public Library and all other library property owned by or under the control of the City. To acquire for the City: land, money, securities, books or other property for library uses.” Terms are for 5 years and members are limited to 2 terms. To apply, please visit:
Upcoming Meetings
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
5:30 p.m. — District 9 Quarterly Meeting/Holiday Party — Carver High School, 3900 24th Street North — Councilor John Hilliard
Thursday, December 20, 2018
3:00 p.m. — Joint Planning and Zoning Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — 5th Floor Conference Room-City Hall
Monday, December 24, 2018
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY — CITY HALL CLOSED
3:30 p.m. — Joint Budget and Finance Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Rooms “D & E” — CANCELLED
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
CHRISTMAS DAY — CITY HALL CLOSED
9:00 a.m. — Pre-Council Meeting — City Council Chambers; 9:30 a.m. — Council Meeting — City Council Chambers — CANCELLED
2:00 p.m. — Joint Administration/Education Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Rooms “D & E” — CANCELLED
3:00 p.m. — Joint Economic Development Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Rooms “D & E” — CANCELLED
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
3:30 p.m. — Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Rooms “D & E” — CANCELLED
