[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6257060,"mediaKeyId","3155094-ec9ba89c73649b0ace26ce95472d6f06","parentId",3155094,"title","Council clears routine finance, contracts and personnel items in unanimous votes","audioSeconds",103,"startMs",774000,"endMs",877000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155094-ec9ba89c73649b0ace26ce95472d6f06&start=774&end=877","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155094-ec9ba89c73649b0ace26ce95472d6f06/thumbnail_774000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6257060/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-clears-routine-finance-contracts-and-personnel-items-in-unanimous-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257060-2334d83b9b724903ec6a0aa0b9cb8b61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026546&Signature=KXCKb-t1KFn7eG9dWYdIJnPpKNYhA5vaouoQPaScuZs2lI7Ps7l6mOgFl3F4Zj7UK6mpbFoIAXiqDZqDf9SC-gjJ-v~oV~4BXn6cpoDfxUdLKYepzO2JmnI8rHB2Y1M3dbqHqU9dFSCMjkjTJM2bxlwnv8vZU2YNB8tutDWWKOJvRk~1dV3~u934rdmi2OP6ZkqSNt3xiOKPXS7NacI2S2qiwD2ylCj1lXf62m5HHm9Ix~bJjcovn0ClrVQxl-lBK6Mvih8p9cyh33Vz74U0Z86MbK1qZwj62qFkZJoqAN39nwQV7ogpuW7stvb3b82bewfI1~PL7UuIxDZwF1rQyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Homewood, AL","date","2025-04-30T08:00:59.317Z","article","The Homewood City Council on April 20 approved multiple routine finance, contract and personnel items by unanimous votes.

Key approvals included adding electronic payments capability to the city's permitting system through Tyler Enterprise Permitting and Licensing (committee recommended 3-0); authorization for the city manager to execute construction contracts for Oxmoor Road; payment of two past-due landfill invoices to Big Sky Environmental for 2023 and 2024; authorization to hire a temporary judge to help the municipal court clear a docket backlog; a line-item budget transfer to cover police overtime; and a promotion for a revenue examiner (from Grade 18 to Grade 21) based on successful testing.

Committee action and council votes: finance committee reports showed unanimous committee recommendations (where applicable), and full-council roll calls recorded either 10-0 or 11-0 outcomes depending on attendance. The Tyler Payments addition was recorded as Resolution 25-58 and passed 10-0 at the council vote; the Big Sky invoice payments were recorded as Resolution 25-59 and passed 10-0; Oxmoor Road contract authorization passed as Resolution 25-60; the temporary judge request passed as Resolution 25-61; a budget amendment for overtime passed (Resolution 25-602); and a position upgrade to senior revenue examiner passed (Resolution 25-63).

Other items: the council also approved an ABC retail beer and table wine permit recommendation for Brookwood Shell (no objections from police and fire), adjusted May meeting dates due to Memorial Day, approved vouchers for the April 15'April 28 period after review, and authorized a Film Birmingham partnership agreement that requires no funding from the city.

Why it matters: these approvals maintain operations, allow construction contracts to proceed, and authorize staffing and temporary court support. Several items were described by finance committee members as routine or corrective (for example, paying past-due invoices), and the council emphasized prompt payment and operational continuity.

Ending: Councilors recorded no opposing votes on the listed items; where the committee had recommended action, the full council followed that recommendation. Staff were assigned to carry out contract execution and to secure required documents for implementation where applicable.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Homewood Council Meeting - April 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a series of routine finance, contract and personnel items — including a payments integration for permitting, Oxmoor Road contract authority, payment of past-due landfill invoices, a temporary judge, overtime budget transfers and a personnel promotion — all by unanimous votes.","taxTitle","Homewood City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",65544,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6257063,"Council approves amended Brookwood Village plan to allow Andrews medical use; public urged broader community engagement",152,1606000,1758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155094-ec9ba89c73649b0ace26ce95472d6f06&start=1606&end=1758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155094-ec9ba89c73649b0ace26ce95472d6f06/thumbnail_1606000.jpg","/articles/6257063/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-approves-amended-Brookwood-Village-plan-to-allow-Andrews-medical-use-public-urged-broader-community-engagement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257063-74735ec26175ad1392924e62e94ec2da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026546&Signature=ZD8rC53PTzS63JQPRpSJMfW9NXV9agY0p7CT-elEs9LPGfMULcwEKaOJg4gJt3JLUijZKa4rhpRMapeNXflNp8QqS0WOvkJvWMG3N-rNazwvXmUsTWU3cGhTlfShF2Kp8F6u9mXOyyq95cgiWuCkMwVZMBasMyISxDK-xuv0cycy8nlRGVadiUfaAI~OsyECuRtSr-obaTIeNYEkBgbFFiqFM4TgKIFSRMt7waedpsSHw7FAxsLm09VEGSnMoWSjMb~Wqs1aqz-50dZ-8OetrocJMTsascRMSzr2pKY~jsL7YCq5SBryISYY2uVl6uSOgFtJ07gZJJjqyOlUyeUbgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Homewood City Council voted 11-0 to set a public hearing and then approve an amended final development plan for the former Belk department store at Brookwood Village that would allow a conversion for medical-related uses and related off-site parking easements.

Developers' representative Paul Darden told the council the ownership group is local and committed to redeveloping the former department store to bring activity back to Brookwood Village. \"Our ownership is local here to Birmingham, is committed to the future,\" Darden said when he addressed the council.

A member of the public, Jeremy Love of 1626 20th Avenue South, urged the council to delay approval and asked for broader public engagement. \"I'm asking that you vote against tonight's proposed item so that we as community all together can come together and formulate a comprehensive master plan for the future of Brookwood Village site,\" Love said during public comment.

Council response and vote: several council members said they appreciated Love's work and report but said the site has been vacant for years and that the city needs progress. Council discussion referenced the project as a catalyst that could spur further development; councilors described Andrews as a locally known anchor tenant that could attract additional uses. The council voted 11-0 to adopt the amended final development plan; the ordinance adopting the amendment is recorded as Ordinance 29-34.

Parking easement condition: during the ordinance reading a staff member noted an added provision to exhibit B: off-site parking spaces depicted as serving the Andrews project must be provided by permanent parking easements recorded and approved by the city attorney prior to the commencement of construction of the Andrews project. That proviso was included in the final development plan language and will be required before construction begins.

Why it matters: Brookwood Village is a high-profile redevelopment site that councilors said has been empty for several years. Some residents and nearby ward representatives told the council they want a broader, master-planned approach and stronger public engagement; developers and other councilors said a tenant such as Andrews could be the catalyst to attract further investment.

Next steps: the council set a public hearing date and added the permanent parking easement requirement to the plan; the approved ordinance instructs staff to ensure easements are recorded and reviewed by the city attorney prior to the start of construction. The council recorded no opposing votes on the ordinance.","The council approved an amended final development plan for the former Belk department store at Brookwood Village, clearing the way for a medical tenant (Andrews) and requiring recorded permanent off-site parking easements; a local resident urged the city to delay approval to form an advisory group and develop a broader master plan.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6257065,"Homewood council adopts comprehensive zoning rewrite, folds sign rules into zoning",310,1099000,1409000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155094-ec9ba89c73649b0ace26ce95472d6f06&start=1099&end=1409","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155094-ec9ba89c73649b0ace26ce95472d6f06/thumbnail_1099000.jpg","/articles/6257065/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Homewood-council-adopts-comprehensive-zoning-rewrite-folds-sign-rules-into-zoning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257065-989e7c0eabd4562853cf56d971077ddf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026546&Signature=AkWRwUY4R3UAqJVV33nGpp1D5Jo5~u8Y6LGp7CZGRMwxPTn3HjjyMvcCX9~lgZiYxcsl8bxJU5M2iMwLBwIEiIYmLOHo9KRDMSJ74Jb4zejJ9IzstZxle2kFe3F~CYnRjF~NExySPtx3gvomn4F~gP3Y0vV5YIPbWn1JGReeC-9dGtFVj6f5~CvDRHKCuyL9D0U9NpZb2RjucLc7Xllx7Obaps69qJdTwc9TX20ekaJ0mzXum3Ux9Rk-zC9XNNUsDl3-Veldr3O2x4N~F8Ro3Z1uNj1RinHOgFjTrUu~9SegWWxO2eOjXGMR36Rz-4ES0LLPjfN54bDC8NptxFs5kQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Homewood City Council on April 20 adopted a comprehensive rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance, approving Ordinance 29-33 by an 11-0 vote.

Councilors said the 225-page redlined document updates multiple development rules and brings the sign regulations into the zoning code. Planning staff told the council the Planning and Development Committee had recommended the changes 5-0 during committee review. \"We will require a boundary survey for any improvement,\" staff said while summarizing several highlights of the ordinance.

Why it matters: the rewrite changes how the city reviews new construction, clarifies sign rules and temporary sign dimensions, and adjusts standards that affect residential and commercial projects. The council and staff said the revisions aim to give clearer review standards for builders and applicants.

Most important changes the council cited include a requirement for a boundary survey for any improvement such as fences or driveways; a revised method for measuring maximum building height that requires existing site topography at the front foundation wall for new construction; a reduction in required drive-through stacking spaces from five to four per window; temporary signs limited to 4-by-4 feet with a 6-foot maximum height; updates to artificial turf rules, amenities in attached dwelling districts, and vehicle sales lot requirements; and incorporation of the city's sign ordinance into the zoning code.

The ordinance text references and repeals earlier local ordinances; the adoption document states that the new ordinance repeals Ordinance 28-87 (January 2024) and Article B (Signs) of Chapter 5, and that it becomes effective immediately upon adoption and mayoral approval unless otherwise stated.

Committee and council votes: the Planning and Development Committee reported a unanimous 5-0 committee recommendation on the revised draft (motion by Councilor Andy Guatney; second by Councilor Andrew Woolverton). At the full council meeting the motion for unanimous consent to consider the ordinance that night passed, and the final roll-call vote to adopt the ordinance was 11-0. The ordinance is recorded as Ordinance 29-33 and the adopting resolution states it becomes effective immediately per the code language read into the record.

What councilors said: councilors thanked planning staff for extensive review in committee and noted several changes were made after multiple hearings. No members recorded a dissenting vote at either the committee or council level.

What comes next: sections of the ordinance that require exhibits or detailed maps were published as redlines to give public notice; the council set related public hearings and committee referrals for other planning matters on the agenda. The city clerk read the ordinance caption and the procedural sections that set a public hearing time and describe severability and repeal of prior provisions.

Ending: Councilors and staff said the rewrite is intended to provide clearer standards for applicants and to consolidate sign rules into a single code chapter, and they indicated that specific development applications will continue to be reviewed under the new standards now on the books.","The Homewood City Council voted 11-0 to adopt a 225-page rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance that incorporates the sign code and adjusts several development standards, including drive-through stacking and temporary sign size, with immediate effect.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council clears routine finance, contracts and personnel items in unanimous votes

Council approves amended Brookwood Village plan to allow Andrews medical use; public urged broader community engagement

Homewood council adopts comprehensive zoning rewrite, folds sign rules into zoning