Homewood adopts ordinance establishing council-manager government with four single-member wards

The Homewood City Council adopted an ordinance on Monday to implement a council-manager form of government consistent with a special election held Sept. 24, 2024. The ordinance establishes a five-member council consisting of an at-large mayor and four council members elected from single-member wards and sets residency and qualifying-fee rules for the Aug. 26, 2025 municipal election.

The ordinance cites the Council-Manager Act of 1982 and references Alabama Code provisions discussed during the reading. It defines four voting wards by census-tract-based descriptions (Exhibit A) and includes a map (Exhibit B). It states that the four council members must reside in the ward they seek to represent and must have resided there for at least 90 days immediately preceding the election. The ordinance also provides for continuation of current terms for sitting members and includes a severability clause.

Section 2 of the ordinance addresses qualifying fees. The text recorded at first reading sets a $50 qualifying fee generally and separately lists a $25 qualifying fee applicable to candidates for council seats; the ordinance allows prospective candidates who cannot pay the fee to file an affidavit of financial inability with the city clerk. The clerk is directed to file a certified copy of the ordinance with the Jefferson County probate judge within five days of adoption and to publish the ordinance as required by law.

The council moved for unanimous consent after the first reading; a roll call recorded unanimous approval and the ordinance was assigned number 29-27 (ordinance 2927) on passage. The ordinance is effective immediately upon adoption for purposes indicated in the text and will apply to the August 26, 2025 municipal election unless amended or repealed by the council.

Key provisions - Composition: Mayor elected at large (voting member) and four council members elected from single-member wards. - Ward boundaries: Four wards defined in Exhibit A and shown on a map in Exhibit B; boundaries drawn to equalize qualified electors as much as practicable. - Residency and qualifying: Candidates must reside in ward sought and meet a 90-day residency requirement; qualifying fees are specified with a provision for hardship affidavits. - Effective date: Ordinance effective immediately upon adoption and applicable to the Aug. 26, 2025 election.

The meeting record shows committee recommendation out of Special Issues and unanimous council approval on the floor.