Hoover City staff present multimillion-dollar engineering capital requests including drainage, sidewalks and signal upgrades

City engineering staff presented a package of capital and maintenance requests for fiscal planning that together cover drainage improvements tied to the October 2021 Shoals study, multiple sidewalk and traffic-signal projects, parking-lot and lighting work at the Hoover Met complex and a new dam-safety program required by state legislation.

The presentation highlighted a Green Valley drainage improvements project—split into two phases—intended to implement recommendations from the Shoals study after the October 2021 flood. Staff said phase 1 (downstream at Napier) is estimated at $1,000,000 and phase 2 (continuing up Paulette Drive and Charlotte Drive) at $1,250,000, with the presenter saying the two phases total $2,420,000. The engineering package also includes a request for construction funding for a Big Valleydale project (identified in the presentation as a $1,000,000 set‑aside).

Engineering staff described a request to repair and resurface the lower Hoover Met parking lot, including patching, inlet repairs, a wearing surface, striping, 22 new light poles, camera installations and receptacles on those poles. That item was presented at approximately $1,798,000. Staff said Lock Haven Park improvements will be mostly covered by a recently awarded TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant and noted $100,000 was already budgeted last year for the Lock Haven bridge.

Sidewalk and pedestrian projects on the list include a Ross Bridal Parkway extension (about 650 feet, $162,500), a Heatherwood Drive extension (approximately 850 feet, $283,500), Stadium Trace Parkway (about 1,900 feet, $627,000) and several other sidewalk segments listed with line‑item estimates. A roundabout and associated design and construction at Willow Lakes Drive near South Shades Crest Elementary School was presented with a $340,000 budget to improve traffic flow and to remove the need for a crossing guard at that location.

The Star Lake/Deodera Drive work includes a replacement of the Star Lake spillway, dredging, a redesign to lower the lake level about one foot for additional capacity, and installation of a new pedestrian bridge. Howard Lake Dam and related spillway and park upgrades were presented with an estimated $600,000. Separately, staff requested $100,000 to develop a dam‑safety program, saying “there’s state legislation that requires us … to have a program on dam safety.” (Presenter: Engineering staff.)

Stormwater system mapping and condition assessment (Stormwater Inventory and Assessment Phase 3) for one of seven city zones was listed at $150,000; staff said consultants have been locating field structures not in the city’s GIS database and adding them for future management. Multiple traffic signal items were listed, including signal upgrades at U.S. 31 and Southland Drive ($325,000), a battery backup replacement phase ($100,000), other signal upgrades and calming projects ($255,000) and timing/equipment upgrades ($100,000).

In total, the presenter stated the “total asks for capital for engineering” as a figure presented in the meeting materials. Council members asked follow‑up questions about operating support for stormwater inspections. When asked whether the operating budget includes funds for contractor support to inspect new construction sites for stormwater compliance, the engineering presenter said, “We do not,” and clarified the city currently meets ADEM permit inspection requirements (inspections every other month for sites over an acre) through its MS4 consultant but could increase inspection frequency only with additional personnel or contractor funding.

Why it matters: many of the listed projects respond to chronic drainage and flood issues cited in post‑flood studies, address public‑safety concerns (e.g., unlit parking and damaged spillways), and would alter infrastructure that affects neighborhoods across Hoover.

Looking ahead: staff presented line‑item estimates and said priorities are ordered top‑to‑bottom on their list. Council members and staff discussed inspection frequency and staffing for stormwater compliance; staff noted Jefferson County performs monthly inspections and has a larger dedicated stormwater staff.

Speakers quoted in this article are identified from the meeting transcript and are attributable to the roles shown in the speakers list below.