Council approves revocation of medical-transport certificate, right-of-way vacation, property release and appointments; multiple items pass by voice vote

The Birmingham City Council on June 17 approved several administrative and land-use actions by voice vote, including revoking a nonemergency medical-transport certificate for failure to show liability insurance, vacating a 26,875-square-foot right-of-way tied to a Choice Neighborhood site, authorizing submission of weed-abatement assessments to Jefferson County for collection, confirming three appointments to the Special Care Facilities Finance Authority and approving a partial release of properties covered by a recorded settlement.

The measures were taken during the regularly scheduled council meeting in Council Chambers and were handled primarily as public-hearing or consent items. Most passed by voice vote after brief staff presentations or committee reports.

The most contested procedural item was a revocation of a certificate of public necessity and convenience held by an operator doing business as Rawls Medical Carriage Transport. The council heard that the operator had not filed the liability insurance required to operate a nonemergency medical transport service in the city; no members of the public rose to speak on the revocation. The council approved the revocation on a voice vote.

On a matter referred from the city’s planning process, the council approved a vacation of a 26,875-square-foot right-of-way between Tenth Court North and Tenth Avenue North (case SUV2025-18) so the owner could consolidate property connected to the Smithfield/Choice Neighborhood project. Roger Glover, subdivision planner in the Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits, told the council the subdivision committee had recommended approval on March 26 and the community development committee had forwarded a favorable recommendation on May 6.

Councilors also approved a consolidated resolution electing to have various weed-abatement assessments submitted to the Jefferson County tax collector for collection under Section 7 of Act No. 105 of the 1971 Acts of Alabama (special session), as presented in the agenda. Council members discussed whether such items usually appear in committee and confirmed the practice is standard.

The council confirmed three nominees to the Special Care Facilities Finance Authority to replace members whose terms expired. Councilor Tate nominated Andrea Neely, Emery Malden and Nathan Weinhardt (as presented by the public safety committee); the council closed nominations and approved the slate by voice vote.

By unanimous consent the council authorized execution and recording of a partial release of certain properties subject to a recorded settlement (instrument references listed in the agenda) and authorized the mayor to sign the related documents.

Votes and procedural notes - Most measures were approved by voice vote or unanimous consent. The meeting transcript records the approvals as “aye” on roll call or by voice; no recorded roll-call tallies naming individual votes were included for most items in the public record beyond voice approval. - Several items were withdrawn or delayed before hearings when required information was not on file (an example listed in the agenda was a liquor-license application later withdrawn by the applicant).

What the council did not do - The meeting record shows no new ordinances or budget appropriations were adopted on second reading. The actions above are administrative, land-use, appointments and settlement-related recordings.

Next steps - The revocation of the transport certificate ends the operator’s authorization to provide nonemergency medical transport within the city unless the operator later provides the required insurance and applies for reinstatement. - The right-of-way vacation will allow property consolidation for the Choice Neighborhood project as described by planning staff.

(Reporting from the June 17, 2025 Birmingham City Council meeting.)