City Council Meeting Recap 7.30.19

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 1: Self Storage Company Appeal

A public hearing of an appeal from Thomas Lee Oliver III representing Orange Storage 280 LLC relative to the suspension of an application to construct a mini-storage and commercial office building on property located at 147 Resource Center Parkway, Birmingham in accordance with Ordinance №19–86, and the hearing of all interested parties.

On July 2nd, the Birmingham City Council passed the following legislation:

An Ordinance instituting a temporary moratorium on all activities relating to the acceptance, review and action upon applications for issuance of zoning approvals, permits site plan approvals and any other official City action or approval that would authorize or permit new or expanded selfstorage mini-warehousing facilities or uses to be constructed or create any vested rights that would authorize self-storage mini-warehousing facilities to be constructed in the future in any region other that M2 and I2 districts of the City and the hearing of all interested parties.

The item, which was submitted by Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, also leaves room for an additional 90-day moratorium if more time is needed to evaluate current zoning. During the public hearing portion, the majority of business owners and residents who spoke were in favor of the moratorium.

At today’s meeting, the Birmingham City Council unanimously approved the appeal of Orange Storage 280 LLC to allow the company to continue with their development of a self-storage facility near the Hoover City Limits, on a dead-end street off Highway 280. The City Council determined that the intent of the Moratorium was to help incentivize the development of businesses that promote hiring more employees and add to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods. The proposed facility in question is not located in a walkable neighborhood, and preventing it from opening would not be in the spirit of the legislation.

Built in to the Moratorium Legislation was a fast track appeal process that bypasses the City Council’s committees and allows applications to present directly before the Council.

Item 5 Energy Efficiency Grant

An Ordinance “TO FURTHER AMEND THE GRANTS FUND BUDGET” for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, by appropriating $95,000.00 to Mayor’s Office, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) grant to implement the Citywide Rehab Program to include conducting a formal energy audit for local residents, track pre-repair energy consumption, and create an energy efficiency opportunity map for the City (Citywide Rehab Program), and the term of the agreement is for two (2) years.

The City has received a grant, through the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, from the US Department of Energy, to conduct energy audits for the 100 homes chosen for the Citywide Rehab Program. According to the City’s Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permits, the homes will be selected from Wahouma, Gate City, Titusville, Central Park, and West End. Birmingham ranks as one of the cities with the highest average energy burden in the nation, which means that many of our residents are having to spend a large portion of their income on utility bills like power and gas. These audits will help the City find out what specific repairs need to be made with the roughly $10,000 per-home budget for the $1,000,000 Citywide Rehab Program. Additionally, the City is pursuing avenues to train residents and volunteers to perform simple repairs that will reduce energy burden.

Item 9 Ad Valorem Tax Renewal

An Ordinance providing for an election to be held in the City of Birmingham on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of said city, for their determination by ballot, several separate propositions to continue certain ad valorem taxes for public school purposes.

The Birmingham Election Commission (which consists of the Mayor, the President of the City Council, and the City Clerk,) has set October 8, 2019 as the date of a citywide referendum to renew ad valorem (property) taxes for Birmingham City Schools. These are not new taxes. City voters last approved an extension of the taxes in 1991.

The citywide referendum will also serve as the date for special elections in council districts 1, 6 and 7. Polls will be open from 7:00am-7:00pm at regular City-wide election polling places.

There will be 3 separate Propositions on the ballot:

1. A 25-year renewal of the ad valorem tax, at a rate of 42 cents on each $100 of taxable property in the City of Birmingham to be levied and collected annual for use solely and only for the use of the public schools of the City of Birmingham under the direction and authority of the Birmingham Board of Education.
2. A 25-year renewal of the ad valorem tax, at a rate of 28 cents on each $100 of taxable property in the corporate limits of the City of Birmingham to be levied and collected annual for use solely and only for the use of the public schools of the City of Birmingham under the direction and authority of the Birmingham Board of Education.
3. A 25-year renewal of the ad valorem tax, at a rate of 28 cents on each $100 of taxable property in the City of Birmingham for the use solely and only for the purpose of paying bonds which have been issued and may hereafter be issued by the City of Birmingham for public school building purposes.

Full Agenda

Upcoming Meetings

Monday, August 5, 2019

12:30 p.m. — Parks and Recreation Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — City Council Chambers

4:00 p.m. — Joint Transportation Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — City Council Chambers

Tuesday, August 6, 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 Public Improvements Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — Conference Room “A”

3:30 p.m. — Joint Public Safety Committee and Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting — City Council Chambers

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

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