Public works committee approves two directional signs for Sims Garden to be installed in-house

The Homewood City Public Works Committee approved a request to place two directional signs on the public right-of-way to help visitors find Sims Garden and decided the signs would be installed using city resources.

The item, recorded as 220125, requested permission to install two directional signs at Highland & Saint Charles and Oxmoor & Saint Charles. Committee members and a garden representative discussed wayfinding problems and past grant opportunities. “If it's in the city's sign budget to put 2 signs up, then we would appreciate it. We lost a grant that we could have gotten from the community foundation last year because they were concerned about wayfinding,” said Miss Milam, who spoke for the garden’s management.

Miss Milam also noted the existing garden sign needs replacement and currently lists outdated phone numbers from when Birmingham–Southern managed the site. The committee discussed whether a city resolution or other approvals were required for directional signs and clarified these are considered directional wayfinding signs rather than street signs.

Councilor Sims moved to remove ("drop") the item from the agenda and approve the in-house installation; Councilor Hardin seconded. The committee recorded a 4-0 vote in favor. Committee members noted the city would place the signs on existing poles; a city sign worker or vendor (Randy Prince was discussed as a sign-maker) was mentioned as a potential installer, though the committee indicated the work would be completed in-house.

Committee members suggested the issue of a consistent city wayfinding design could be explored by the beautification board or local management association in the future. No project cost or installation schedule was specified in the meeting record.