[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6325921,"mediaKeyId","2330169-4b47b906c41a468c30b5a0b5ec57ad23","parentId",2330169,"title","Homewood council approves several administrative contracts and actions unanimously; staff to return on follow-ups","audioSeconds",1483,"startMs",1937000,"endMs",3420000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330169-4b47b906c41a468c30b5a0b5ec57ad23&start=1937&end=3420","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330169-4b47b906c41a468c30b5a0b5ec57ad23/thumbnail_1937000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325921/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Homewood-council-approves-several-administrative-contracts-and-actions-unanimously-staff-to-return-on-follow-ups","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325921-f4aa354fbd34f0be4c6c41066083abf1/orig.mp4?Expires=1777523597&Signature=V14Z6zj4dixkyGTXcHV6~up1fjgDUwBVNPSlEE63OYI1POn7RDBSIFcjjP0LI4Wk0rJQWrXRKL4LJbGIVti6PPZtEb~YiJklA2SXtAZUk1MQo7vce-0KG-0sVZrwWaStdV7WkcVoGCmUcFYkGi9k14jyNiN5UCiNgpZLoMB5ebBGLWnQFRLPu37PO1Tpwzk2bVjfkoZWW69uoHeFUvSRcfMcXzL72-xImkHaKvYkE8Tm6FawkYmwIjW6Axa1rxm8ny-h01c-TZPJxMgRXxMVV8eDlATJ9LTqiHSEzP8bz1uOcbs8sg8xKdCjECtPhJ2zvf~8ZcYEzmB1vk0hlAhYAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Homewood, AL","date","2025-02-18T13:15:08Z","article","The Homewood City Council approved a package of administrative items on Feb. 2, voting unanimously on a set of contracts, surplus dispositions and project changes. Councilors approved the motions by voice vote; staff said follow-up documents and public notices will be completed as needed.

Key items and outcomes:

Porter White — investment-advising contract: The council authorized the mayor to enter a contract with Porter White to provide investment-advisory and related services and to consolidate the city’s investments under a custodian (staff said Fidelity Investments would be custodian). Porter White representatives described their role as a registered fiduciary adviser and said their fee structure would be transparent and roughly equivalent to the city’s current costs. Staff said the initial work would include an investment-policy update and a consolidation of accounts; preparing a formal investment policy could take roughly 12 weeks. Motion: approve mayor to sign contract. Vote: 5-0.

Paycom — payroll and HR services: Council approved a three-year contract with Paycom to provide payroll processing and human-resources functions, including onboarding, time-and-attendance workflows, expense-reimbursement workflows and tax-filing compliance. Staff estimated an average annual cost of about $128,000 (based on an average head count of roughly 420) and said the partial-year cost for the current fiscal year would be approximately $70,000; staff said funding would come from the contractual services line (account cited as 29520400). Council set a target go-live around May 1, with payroll effective April 20. Motion: approve mayor to sign contract. Vote: 5-0.

Surplus equipment and motorcycles: Fleet director Blake Graves presented a list of miscellaneous items and vehicles the city is declaring surplus, including two motorcycles the staff said will be sold to the City of Ireland (as stated in the meeting packet). Council approved declaring the items surplus and authorizing staff to dispose of them. Motion: approve surplus and authorize disposition. Vote: 5-0.

Kettleworth stormwater project — change order: Council approved change order No. 2 for the Kettleworth stormwater project to account for additional foundation backfill required in trenches under the roadway. Staff said the contractor originally bid a unit price of $139 per cubic yard for foundation backfill but agreed to a reduced unit price of $75 per cubic yard for quantities above the originally-bid amount; the change order increases the contract by $35,005.50, and staff said the project remains within the overall budget. Motion: approve change order. Vote: 5-0.

US 280 / Rosedale Drive resurfacing (LDAC resolution): Council approved a resolution supporting resurfacing work on U.S. 280/Rosedale Drive as part of an ALDOT corridor project; staff said the resurfacing element will proceed even if some other corridor work is delayed. Motion: approve resolution. Vote: 5-0.

Street light at Place and Overlook: Council dropped a previously requested street-light installation after staff confirmed an existing fixture is present but obscured by vines; members instructed public-works staff to clear vegetation. Motion: drop request. Vote: 5-0.

Chamber magazine advertisement: Council approved placement of a full-page, full-color ad in the Chamber’s annual guide; staff said the expense is budgeted in the advertising line. Motion: approve advertisement. Vote: 5-0.

Ending: Councilors approved all items presented in the package by voice vote; several items require staff follow-up on documentation, public notices or agreements before final implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Homewood Finance Committee Feb. 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Feb. 2 meeting the council approved retention of an investment adviser, a payroll-services contract, surplus equipment sales, a construction change order for a stormwater project, and several resolutions and administrative items; all motions passed 5-0.","taxTitle","Homewood City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",65544,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6325926,"Developers ask Homewood to reset timeline for $3.5 million Piggly Wiggly tax-incentive payments",0,1470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330169-4b47b906c41a468c30b5a0b5ec57ad23&start=1470&end=1470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330169-4b47b906c41a468c30b5a0b5ec57ad23/thumbnail_1470000.jpg","/articles/6325926/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Developers-ask-Homewood-to-reset-timeline-for-35-million-Piggly-Wiggly-tax-incentive-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325926-07831dbfdecd35a530dec2772700c558/orig.mp4?Expires=1777523597&Signature=Lnrmu1zn1V~WfmDzVNcSESGydmRo1l7fA26R6wZyPmTI~3GnMK6SNSV-F1kAzgAH5SJenVCB4dCWpfOrOE3KUivperE5Z6W5GZOv~jX1Vw3dRFoxk~hz9VHQKZUhM-sOERo47etLwT~Wn5MWvAwN6zra7xHLO5vd3zOulLXNkxEmulQh4gijJpHAo6n9dPPvLRdQABvkC1TWfqyhBAWEuhjn8aRhztCPKGyENRqD~BkOpd4up27XnUpPxNbJd21hgwoeCc~nCoE2tshb8JRF5ETnA3epabLUrw92xz3LV2kB6Ntp1bXv1m2f69fErnPOWAP5wrkWR7IjoKa-r5Ljiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives for the Piggly Wiggly project told the Homewood City Council on Feb. 2 that the redevelopment’s financing partners have changed and that the developer needs an amended schedule to reach a previously agreed $3,500,000 in tax-incentive payments.

Marie Lehi and Charles Terry said the amount the city agreed to remain unchanged; the request is a restructuring of the schedule so the developer has time to meet the payment conditions after construction delays. Lehi told the council a partner in the development asked for additional review of the deal, which slowed final execution.

Lehi said the developers hope to be under construction by June or July but had not yet finalized documents for an amended agreement. City staff confirmed the amendment would require a public hearing; staff said public-notice rules require at least a week between publication and the hearing date.

Councilors directed staff and the developers to work with the city attorney, and they carried the request over until documents could be prepared and distributed. No amendment was approved at the meeting.

Ending: Council members said they want complete documentation before setting a public hearing and will revisit the amended agreement at a subsequent meeting once the paperwork is submitted to staff.","Representatives for the Piggly Wiggly redevelopment asked council to restructure the previously approved tax-incentive agreement to accommodate a partner change and construction delay; the council carried the item over to allow staff to receive documents and schedule a public hearing.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6325930,"Developer proposes steakhouse with pocket park for Homewood City’s old police station site",143,219000,362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330169-4b47b906c41a468c30b5a0b5ec57ad23&start=219&end=362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330169-4b47b906c41a468c30b5a0b5ec57ad23/thumbnail_219000.jpg","/articles/6325930/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Developer-proposes-steakhouse-with-pocket-park-for-Homewood-Citys-old-police-station-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325930-613ae74fda0481dea9d72d74e220c694/orig.mp4?Expires=1777523597&Signature=R~kFkH826KM4AwZbOkGLJpFf~CXGQsHeB~M1OEL6-fvVV8hHXRSgI8xPf0~MYu0b8a52Y7HDov8nAm~B4qFqWJWKEvnpibpyEfn4X3wEky4qIHAep8zf~wK3EGT9BmWS4Vw7NY64Gb72osoh6vRUC9GNYg7Uq2DpOdFsxqYJXeQv3YBNqVufcb64b7runhC0HkYeDMZKR54VL7XN7i1k7~RxnK7FkG1MqQM0TP~FSxQzD6LrUlkpuO8d6CbRPfpBxsCu1tNiIuiH0UQ51gci7lo37Kvj2~pyeY6qimJjZq-qrcQmwClzENwewNBZh7EdPtNuLC4eJ-6QVGT1l9TOuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mike Perron, a local developer, told the Homewood City Council on Feb. 2 that his team is proposing to demolish the long-vacant police station and build a privately operated steakhouse while reserving most of the site as a public pocket park.

The concept, introduced during the council’s new-business discussion, calls for the city to retain ownership of the park area while Perron’s group would pay for demolition, asbestos remediation and removal of underground tanks and put the remaining funds into escrow to pay for the park’s construction. Perron said the developers would not ask the city for tax or sales-tax incentives.

The proposal pairs a relatively small ground-floor restaurant footprint—Perron estimated the restaurant would occupy roughly 35% of the site—with landscaped public space, benches and lighting. Perron said the restaurant would be run by Nick Paix’s group and that the architects and contractors proposed for the project include Chambliss King (architect), Chuck Kelly (landscape architect) and Reeves Construction (general contractor).

“The city would not be out any money,” Perron said, describing an escrow arrangement to cover site clearing and park installation and saying that any shortfall for the park’s construction would be paid by the developer.

Council members and staff asked questions about parking and access. A nearby restaurant operator who spoke during the discussion said downtown parking is already constrained and warned that an influx of customers without a clear parking solution could hurt existing merchants. “There is no parking,” the operator said, describing difficulty finding weekday and weekend spaces near downtown. Perron said the project would rely on the property’s current zoning, which does not require on-site parking, and that he planned to approach a nearby Aloft hotel about a shared arrangement or valet use; he said he had not yet contacted hotel management.

Perron described design features intended to connect the restaurant to the park: an L-shaped single-story building with extensive glazing, large shade trees, meandering sidewalks and outdoor dining facing the park. Landscape architect Chuck Kelly described pathways, large trees and focal elements such as a fountain or sculpture intended to make the pocket park usable both day and night.

Council members praised the design’s low density and the combination of sales-tax-generating commercial use with green space, but they also emphasized outstanding steps needed before a formal agreement: review of zoning and any required rezoning or access easements, a signage agreement, and negotiation of purchase documentation and timelines. No rezoning or sale agreement was proposed or approved at the meeting; councilors agreed to continue discussions with Perron and to carry the item forward for future consideration.

The city clerk will carry the proposal over for further staff and council review; Perron said he was prepared to continue working with staff to provide additional details and documentation.

Ending: The council did not vote on any sale or rezoning. The developer left the meeting with an invitation to return with more detailed documents and to work with city staff on access, parking and any required land-use approvals.","Developer Mike Perron presented a concept to convert the long-vacant Homewood City police station parcel into a white-tablecloth steakhouse and a public pocket park; councilors signaled willingness to continue talks but did not commit to any sale or rezoning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Homewood council approves several administrative contracts and actions unanimously; staff to return on follow-ups

Developers ask Homewood to reset timeline for $3.5 million Piggly Wiggly tax-incentive payments

Developer proposes steakhouse with pocket park for Homewood City’s old police station site