City Council Meeting Recap 6.9.20
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Here’s the video from today’s meeting:
Here are a few of the main items the Birmingham City Council discussed at the June 9th, 2020 Meeting
Face Covering Ordinance Extended
The Birmingham City Council voted to extend the city’s face covering ordinance until July 3, marking the fourth extension of the ordinance that was originally passed in April.
In May, the Council voted to reduce the fines and eliminate the possibility of arrest to anyone not complying with the order — $25 fine for the first offense, $100 for the second, and $250 for the third offense.
Avondale Entertainment District Public Hearing Set
The Council also voted on Tuesday to set a public hearing for Tuesday, June 23 to consider approving the designation and operation of the Avondale Entertainment District.
That public hearing will take place during the regularly scheduled meeting time at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall.
The designation is the fourth of its kind in Birmingham with Uptown being approved in 2015, Pepper Place in 2018 and Five Points South in 2019. The boundaries of the entertainment district allow for open containers of alcohol to be carried outside of establishments, and in turn, increase foot traffic in areas that are developed for music, restaurants and bars.
State law allows Class 1 municipalities in Alabama to have as many as five entertainment districts, leaving Birmingham with two additional districts available for the designation.
Wooden Benches in Pratt City
The Birmingham City Council approved the purchase of wooden benches along Carline Avenue and 2nd Street in Pratt City, near the Howze-Sanford Recreation Center for $13,000. The funding is coming from
Central Pratt Neighborhood Association Funds.
The Birmingham City Council encourages our Neighborhood Associations to put their funds to use to improve the lives of their residents. Here is a quick guide of what Neighborhood Associations CAN and CAN NOT spend their funds on:
CAN SPEND ON:
- Infrastructure improvements in City Property and in City Rights of Way
- Fun Days
- Landscape improvements to public property
- Facility usage for meetings
- Park improvements
- Support of Birmingham City Schools
- Support of Birmingham Public Libraries
- Supplies for neighborhood meetings
- Equipment for public use
- Travel to conferences, meetings, and workshops by neighborhood officials
- Public Transportation Services
- Programs and projects that serve a public purpose
- Decorative items for neighborhood beautification
- Electronic communication equipment for neighborhood business
- Entrance signs
(Please note this list is not exhaustive, rather it is meant to provide a better understanding of the types of projects neighborhood funds can and cannot be used for)
CANNOT SPEND ON:
- Landscaping equipment
- Motor vehicles
- Personal electronic devices not used for neighborhood business
- Employment of individuals
- Professional service fees
- Property purchases
- Giveaways not available to the general public
- Postage fees
- Contributions to non-profit organizations
