Homewood council adopts ordinance creating four single-member wards, sets election rules for 2025

Homewood City Council adopted an ordinance on Feb. 24 that divides the city into four single-member council wards, designates the mayor as an at-large voting member and sets election and qualifying rules effective for the Aug. 26, 2025 municipal election.

The ordinance, read into the record by staff and passed by unanimous roll call, implements provisions approved by voters in a September 24, 2024 special election and delegates several administrative steps — including filing a certified copy with the Jefferson County judge of probate — to the city clerk.

Under the ordinance, the council will be composed of five voting members: one mayor elected at large and four council members elected from single-member districts. The measure describes ward boundaries by reference to an attached Exhibit A (census-tract descriptions) and Exhibit B (a map). It requires candidates to reside within the ward they seek for 90 days immediately preceding an election and directs the city clerk to file the ordinance with the judge of probate within five days of adoption.

The ordinance text read aloud in council also includes qualifying fee language; the reading referenced both a $50 figure and a $25 figure in separate subsections of Section 2. The transcript of the reading does not specify which fee applies to which office, and the council did not provide an on-the-record clarification during the meeting. The ordinance was approved with unanimous consent and is recorded as ordinance number 29 27.

Why it matters: The ordinance implements the council-manager structure voters approved in 2024 and changes how council members will be elected and where they must live. Ward lines and residency rules will shape future campaigns and representation beginning with the 2025 municipal election.

What the ordinance says (high-level): the council shall have five voting members (mayor at-large + four single-member district council members); ward boundaries are fixed as described in Exhibit A and mapped in Exhibit B; candidates must meet residency requirements; the city clerk must file the ordinance with probate; and the ordinance becomes effective immediately on adoption for the purposes stated.

Procedure and vote: The ordinance was presented as a first reading and then brought forward for unanimous consent. Councilor Harden moved for unanimous consent; Councilor Walton seconded. The roll call vote was 10–0 in favor; the mayor and council approved the ordinance as read.