Birmingham commission pauses Multimodal Transportation Board work, orders ordinance review and a joint workshop

The Birmingham City Commission voted unanimously Sept. 8 to pause regular work by the Multimodal Transportation Board and to ask city staff to propose clarified ordinance language and to schedule a joint workshop with commissioners and board members to agree on roles, scope and process.

Why it matters: The multimodal board advises the commission on pedestrian, bicycle, transit and street‑design matters. Over the past year the board’s review of contested street reconstructions — most notably Wimbledon, Arlington and Shirley — produced disagreement about whether the board’s scope includes ranking projects by budget, selecting road widths or deciding assessment decisions. Commissioners said the pause will allow staff, the board and elected officials to agree on a clearer set of instructions before the board continues.

Planning Director Nick Dupuy told the commission the board was created after the city adopted a multimodal plan in 2013 and that local practice has changed since then. “We’re unique in having a multimodal‑specific board in the area,” Dupuy said, describing a 2014 ordinance that converted an older Traffic & Safety board into the present Multimodal Transportation Board. He recommended staff analyze the existing chapter (chapter 110) and propose targeted edits so the board’s role is clearer for both residents and members.

City Manager Janet Ecker and City Attorney Lehi Kucherick reiterated that the board is advisory and does not have final administrative or legislative authority; the city attorney noted the ordinance says the board “serves solely in an advisory capacity” and “may make recommendations to the city commission but may not assume any legislative or administrative authority of the city commission.” Ecker said staff can prepare suggested ordinance changes and run a joint session.

Board members and volunteers who spoke at the meeting urged the commission to let the board meet to organize its recommendations and said the board needs time and a predictable process. Rosie Cool, a multimodal board member, said the board’s conversations often go beyond a single agenda item, adding that members need space to “storm” and “norm” so they can produce consistent recommendations. Gordon Davis and Pat Hilberg, other board members in the audience, urged clearer directive language and asked for the ability to deliver multiple concept options (e.g., “platinum, gold, bronze”) with trade‑offs for safety, cost and user desirability.

Commissioners responded that they want the board to produce recommendations that commissioners can use — and that staff should ensure options include order‑of‑magnitude cost guidance, not just conceptual choices. Commissioner Andrew Hague said he wanted advisory members to have more financial context so they can evaluate trade‑offs. Several commissioners urged a longer, in‑person workshop (not a single hour before a meeting) and asked staff to bring recommended ordinance edits back to the commission after consulting the board.

Action taken: the commission approved a motion directing city staff to draft clarified ordinance language for chapter 110 (Multimodal Transportation Board), to allow one special meeting for board members to prepare recommendations for a joint session, and to schedule a multi‑hour joint workshop to discuss roles and process. The roll‑call vote was unanimous with Mayor Therese Long, Mayor Pro Tem Ballard and Commissioners Anthony Long, Andrew Hague, Katie Schaeffer, Jason Emery and Clinton Baller all voting yes.

What the board will and will not do: city staff and the city attorney emphasized the board will remain advisory — it will review projects, offer prioritized recommendations and package trade‑off options, but final budgeting, policy and special‑assessment decisions remain with the City Commission.

Ending: commissioners asked staff to return with proposed ordinance language and a scheduled joint workshop date; several board members asked for a dedicated meeting so the group can prepare a concise set of recommendations for elected officials.