During the Birmingham City Council meeting on December 2, 2014 Council:
Approved an Ordinance “To further amend the Grants Fund Budget” for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, by appropriating $61,989.00 to Police from the State of Alabama Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Grant. For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.
Other items approved by the Council at today’s meeting include the following:
1. Approved an Ordinance “To Further amend the Grants Fund Budget” for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, by appropriating $6,234.00 to Fire – Heritage Program by Fireman’s Fund Grant to purchase a Hazmat 3 Camera to allow senior personnel to zoom into emergency scenes and direct mitigation efforts of responders as well as provide a measure of safety for responders that is not available with direct line of sight. For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.
2. Approved a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Section 108 Loan Guarantee application in an amount up to $3,710,000.00 for a term of twenty (20) years to provide partial financing for removal of slums and blight and housing rehabilitation costs for the Powell School Building project; said loan guarantee will be secured by the City’s pledge of current and future CDBG funds and acknowledging that HUD may impose additional security requirements to assure repayment of said guaranteed obligations and that a portion of those additional security requirements may include assets financed by the guaranteed loan and, additionally, upon HUD’s approval of the City’s Section 108 Loan guarantee application, further authorizing the Mayor to enter into a loan agreement with Integral Development, LLC, or other affiliates of The Integral Group that may be formed to complete the Powell School Building Project for Section 108 financing in an amount up to $3,710,000.00 for a term of twenty (20) years to provide partial financing for slum and blight removal and housing rehabilitation costs for the Powell School Building Project. For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.
3. Approved a Resolution determining that the 29th Annual MLK Unity Breakfast to be held January 19, 2015 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex North Meeting Hall, serves a public purpose that promotes goodwill and serves a public interest, and requesting that City funds in an amount not to exceed $8,000.00 to REV Birmingham, be administered to pay for this event in accordance with Section 3-1-7 of the General Code of the City of Birmingham. For more information please contact the Office of Council President Johnathan Austin at 205.254.2679.
4. Approved a resolution regarding the agreement with Urbanis USA, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, in an amount not to exceed $25,000, inclusive of any reimbursable expenses, to provide advisory, assessment, appraisal, analysis and structuring services in the development and implementation of an economic development strategic plan for the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. [Appropriated for in FY2014-2015 Budget; G/L Account: 001_031_03700.527-014] For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.
5. Approved the allocation of funds in the amount of $7,800.00 to the Board of Education for the purchase of a grand piano for the Ramsay High School Choir. For more information please contact the Office of Council President Johnathan Austin at 205.254.2679.
Announcements and Reminders
1. There will be a Federal Legislative Agenda Workshop Tuesday December 2, 2014 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms D&E.
2. The Annual City of Birmingham Christmas Tree Lighting will be held Tuesday December 2, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. at Linn Park.
3. The Transportation and Communications Committee Meeting will be held Wednesday December 3, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. in Conference Room A.
4. Councilor Lashunda Scales will host the 5th Annual District 1 Holiday Gala on Friday December 5, 2014. Doors Open at 6:00 p.m. The Gala begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Huffman High School Gym.
5. The Joint Budget and Finance and Economic Development Committee Meeting will be held Monday December 8, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms D&E.
6. The Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting will be held Tuesday December 9, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. in the 5th Floor Engineering Conference Room.
7. Councilor Kim Rafferty, along with Fresh Air Family, is excited to announce the fourth annual Wacky Tacky Christmas Light Tour, scheduled for Tuesday December 16, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. at the Avondale Brewing Company. Proceeds will go to scholarships for students in our award-winning science camp, Gross Out Camp.
Are you unable to attend the Birmingham City Council meetings? Watch Council Meetings on demand. From anywhere in the world you can log on to www.birminghamalcitycouncil.org and click on the tab Watch Council Meetings; or from the comfort of your home, tune to Bright House Cable Channel 340. The Birmingham City Council meetings are free and on demand.
The City of Birmingham will make reasonable accommodations to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to enjoy all city services, programs and activities. If accommodations are required for public meetings, please contact Chiara Morrow, Public Information Officer, with reasonable advance notice by emailing chiara.morrow@birminghamal.gov or by calling 205-254-2055.
